FYI

It was my honest intention to provide a legitimate blog update sometime during the first week of January--complete with pictures, and explanatory captions (sounds good in theory, eh?). It was about this time that I discovered I had permanently misplaced my camera cords (or accidentally donated them to Goodwill, perhaps?)...and this discovery somehow lessened my motivation. Alas, one could almost liken it to an inhibitor being added to a chemical reaction, which would increase the activation energy necessary in order for the reaction to occur...for such was the net effect.

I am now updating despite the lack of motivation, however, because I am told that doing so is probably good for my character in some way, shape, or form (although in truth, I very much suspect that advice of this sort is simply a new form of bribery).

New Year's Eve was spent with an absolutely remarkable group of people--remarkable both for the amount of potential and kinetic energy found in the group as a whole, and also for their propensity to enjoy themselves.  

This is our crew...in a photo taken just after the final marshmallow war and the last frenetic game of Pit. And if there are pieces of hay in some people's hair...um, that's from something else. *cough*

There really hasn't been a whole lot going on since the beginning of 2007--mostly just walking to and from class, and doing homework. *laugh* However, all this is probably about to change in the near future, when this very special young FBI agent comes to spend a week in Milwaukee (Lord willing...and parental permission pending [PPP]):

Thinking of you guys often! I hope that each of you (on every part of the globe) had a wonderful Christmas, and are heading into 2007 feeling envigorated and ... motivated?  

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone,
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand.

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me,
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed.
The waves, they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you can never win!
You can never win!"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory."
And out of all the voices calling out to me,
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.

As we round the bend going into the second week of the second quarter here at MSOE, I must admit that there are moments of each and every day when I allow myself to become so distracted by the waves that I forget to listen for the Voice which speaks the truth. The waves ask whether I’m truly stupid enough to think that it’s possible to memorize three chapters of biology terms for that quiz on Thursday? And the Voice whispers, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” The waves ask whether I suppose God could use someone so flawed, so insignificant, and so weak in order to bring Him glory on this campus? And the Voice replies, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…and when you are weak, then am I strong.” The waves ask why I fail so often, and whether God can truly redeem the situations I’ve botched? And the Voice says, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth. And now, I’m gonna go study some bio.

Ach, what kind of a lousy blogger would go for almost two months without updating?! Shame on that person! Fortunately, such individuals usually have very persistent friends. *laugh*

Alright, folks—recent history in brief: I came to this school at the beginning of September, and in the time that has elapsed since then, I have learned a smitch of chemistry, a smattering of computer basics, a small collection of theories which apply to the study of psychology and sociology…and much about human nature. I have discovered that many of the most important lessons in life are not learned in classrooms, and that some of the lessons taught in classrooms are not worth learning.

Since my last update, I have recovered my honey bottle (with the help of a certain gracious professional sleuth—many thanks, my friend!), attended my first hockey game (and therefore, naturally, witnessed my first hockey fight—best part of the game), tasted sushi for the first time (and found it to my liking, much to the horror of Michelle, whom I am secretly convinced is suffering from an acute case of jealousy, although she firmly denies this), and altered my biological clock by staying up late too many nights in a row (or so I am told by the wise and learned).

Perhaps one of the most amazing experiences during the past two months was coming home for Thanksgiving break, however…because no matter how long you’re gone, or how many amazing people you meet, or how many different things you experience, there is nothing else in this world that even begins to compare to the wonder of being part of a divinely-designed family. In a way, it’s thrilling just to wake up in the morning to the sound of three not-so-little boys scuffling energetically in the room next door rather than the slamming doors of bewildered freshmen rushing off to another day of classes. *laugh*

That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy the challenge of college life, and that I’m not feeling ready to be back on campus, or that I’m not looking forward to tackling second quarter—because, by the grace of God, I am! It just means that I also have a new appreciation for my family, and I’m really, really looking forward to seeing them—and hopefully many of the rest of you all—at Christmas this year. *grin*

God bless!