PA Social Studies Lesson

So I just heard a small news piece on Centralia, PA. If you didn't know, Centralia is where the underground mine fire has been burning for years. I learned a few interesting tidbits, though:

1) The fire has been burning since 1963.
2) The state has been buying houses there and demolishing them since the 80's.
3) There are only about a dozen people living in the town.
4) The fire could burn another 500 years!

So, there's your Pennsylvania history lesson for the day!

The Great Roadtrip

Harrisburg, PA – Chicago, IL (659.95 miles; 10 hrs. 46 min.)

Chicago, IL – Lake Itasca, MN (622.78 miles; 10 hrs. 40 min.)

Lake Itasca, MN – East Glacier Park, MT (926.93 miles; 14 hrs. 50 min)

East Glacier Park, MT – Seattle, WA (616.97 miles; 9 hrs. 57 min.)

Seattle, WA – Redwood National Park, CA (511.63 miles; 9 hrs. 2 min.)

Redwood National Park, CA – San Diego, CA (853.24 miles; 14 hrs. 17 min.)

San Diego, CA – Grand Canyon, AZ (552.42 miles; 8 hrs. 23 min.)

Grand Canyon, AZ – Taos, NM (539.54 miles; 8 hrs. 23 min.)

Taos, NM – Houston, TX (910.66 miles; 14 hrs. 48 min.)

Houston, TX – Nashville, TN (785.56 miles; 12 hrs. 33 min.)

Nashville, TN – Lynchburg, VA (497.62 miles; 8 hrs. 5 min.)

Lynchburg, VA – Harrisburg, PA (281.41 miles; 4 hrs. 47 min.)

Total Miles: 7,758.71


...that's the plan, anyway.

Relationships

So another one of my friends is engaged, and she'll be getting married this coming October. Let's recap:

Billy has been married almost a year.
Jordan has been married for over two years.
Justin is around a year and a half.

I'm happy for all of them, of course, but I wonder when for me, you know? I'm not someone "living it up" as a bachelor. I'm not some bohemian living in a flat down town. I want to be settled down. I want a wife to love, honor, and cherish. I want the family. I think that's what makes going back to school even that much more difficult. That's two more years for sure until I have that. It's actually incredibly depressing to think about.

Here's to the Future

So, long time no blog, huh?

Yesterday I received an unexpected email from West Chester University accepting me into grad school. What was unexpected is that they didn't interview me. I mean, my name written on a piece of paper is typically enough to make men everywhere jealous and all women swoon, but I figured they would want to at least meet me before accepting me.

As good news at that was, it was a little disappointing because I was hoping to hear from my first choice, the University of Delaware. They had told me they would contact me mid-week this week, and as Wednesday ended, I was becoming pretty anxious. Well today I received an email from the head of the department saying they were recommending me for admission to the graduate studies board! I guess things are officially official, but my impression is that it is merely a formality. So now all that's left to do is to secure a grad assistant position. I really want a hall director job. All assistantships pay full tuition, but a hall director gets free housing. Bonus, the guy whom I met while interviewing at UD said he felt that hall directors get special treatment. I like that, whether it's true or not. In addition, a hall director this coming year will receive $11,000 in stipend. Any other position will receive $15,000, but does not get the free room.

I guess some of my goals are actually coming to fruition. This is new to me. I'm used to having ridiculously lofty goals (re: professional baseball player) or no goals at all. Now that this is within my grasp, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel. I know this is the right decision. Teaching is not for me. I really wish it was, but it's not. I like the idea of being somebody important in a community, being a mentor to students, etc. The negatives are just too much, though. Things like constant new paperwork. New acts being passed every year. Pain in the butt students. Pain in the butt parents. Pain in the butt administration. It really just never ends. And I've had great experiences with all those parties, it's just that a few bad ones can overshadow it all.

Even though I know this is the right decision, it's hard for me to want to follow through. It's another two years until I'm really out on my own. I'll be 27 when I graduate. I was supposed to be married at 25 with kids on the way at around 27 or 28. So much for the life plans you make up in high school, huh? But this is different. It's not undergrad. I will have an on campus job. I'll be out of my parents' home. And at the completion of these two years, I will have both a B.S. in Education and an M.A. in Higher Ed. Counseling: both major accomplishments. On top of that, I will be very marketable for a real, permanent job. Stability. I haven't had that in a long time. Even grad school will provide more of that then I've had the past three years. Long-term subbing wears on you. It's your classroom, but only for a little while. The room is never really yours.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. It will be a good experience.

As a parting note, I'm really stoked (from the 90's much, am I?) about the 2009 baseball season. I turned off the Baseball Today podcast on my drive home, and talked to myself for 15 minutes about this coming season. Mostly about how I think the Reds and Marlins are really, really dangerous, and how they both remind me of Rays from last year. Not that I think either team will even make the playoffs, just that after many bad years, there will be significant improvement.

Anyway, I'm watching Villanova and Duke until I fall asleep. Me watching college basketball? Wow, I've changed. GO 'NOVA!!!

And Five to Go

So here's a current list of things I want to do before I turn 30:


1) Earn a Master's

2) Visit two more foreign countries (Any combination of the following would be ideal: Israel, Ireland, Ghana, Morroco, Brazil, or Australia)

3) Visit at least two more American cities (Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake City are my top choices)

4) Write a book

5) Own a motorcycle

6) If I get diabetes I want to run a marathon

7) Read the entire trilogy of The Lord of the Rings

8) Attend a Phillies playoff game

9) Attend a Flyers playoff game

10) Hike at least one state worth of the Appalachian Trail

11) Learn to play a few songs on the guitar

12) Attend a church service led by Mark Driscoll

13) Finish my scrapbook from when I went to Europe when I was 17

14) Read the entire Bible

15) Start a family

2:00am Budgeting

So life hasn't really slowed down much lately like I was hoping it would after that consisted of mid-trimester grades being due and taking the GRE. I will allow the fact that I am typing this entry at 2am on a Tuesday morning serve as a testimony to that.

I don't know if you were aware of this, but Jesus talked a lot about money. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's." "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." Then of course there's the time he overturned the tables in the temple because of the merchants. And what about the time he has Peter catch a fish that has money in it to pay both of their taxes? Then there is my favorite about money: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

I really need to meditate on His words. I want to go to grad school in the fall. Financially, it shouldn't be too difficult if I can get a grad assistantship. Otherwise, I don't know what I'll do. But I just spent a couple hours balancing my checkbook, looking over my savings account, and then figuring out how to pay my bills. I took some time to look over my credit card bill, which is ridiculous. I can't believe how much I spend and how quickly it all adds up. Really, it's embarrassing: tons of music, eating out at restaurants constantly, iTunes, books, etc. Now, I never pay cash, so all I pay for gas is on there too, which is a lot considering I drive about two hours a day between jobs and home. Still, it's ridiculous.

So my prayer for myself is to become a better steward with my money. Hopefully I'll be able to develop a budget to work with. I really should talk to my dad about it. He's amazing with all that stuff.

Anyway, work should be a cake this week. Tuesday is a doctor's appointment with the whole blood sugar thing, so we'll see how that goes. Then, of course, Thursday I turn 25. I think I'll probably post again before then, or maybe on my birthday and talk about how old I feel. I'll also put up my list of things to do before I'm 30. I'm going to be down to only five years to get it all done. Crazy.

Horrible, Horrible Irony

Last night I was at a Christian bookstore perusing the sparse shelves which is to be expected when it is late January during a month-long inventory clearance sale. At this time I was back in the music section failing to locate Fiction Family, however able to pick up Emery's last EP. Unexpectedly, this older man (somewhere between 40 and 50 probably) walked behind me where the rap/hip-hop section was and said, "Hip-hop? I don't think Jesus would have listened to that!"

Full of tact, I immediately turned around and started scanning the hip-hip section. Note, the man kept walking, but must have clearly seen me. I determined right then out of principle that I must purchase a hip-hop CD. Which I did. It happened to be someone who goes by Kaboose. I had never heard him before, but I played it on the scanner thing they have and it sounded pretty good. Now, I don't like much rap but I was really furious about this guy's comment. Jesus wouldn't listen to it? I really felt like asking what music he listened to. If it was anything sung in English I would have been all over him stating that Jesus didn't SPEAK English, and therefore wouldn't listen to what he liked either. It would have been a glorious moment.

So this morning the irony hit me. As judgmental as this man was towards the hip-hop community, I was being just as judgmental towards him. Now, don't get me wrong, I still absolutely disagree with his comment. I think Jesus can speak through any means of music. I can't stand gangsta rap, but that doesn't mean that the music is bad, it's just that how certain rappers use the medium is bad. But anyway, I turned around and judged a man I didn't even know. Since the Australian Open is going on, I think we'll just call that a "double-fault."

So though God has given me a great gift of discernment as to what goes against His teaching and love, my prayer is that I don't use this gift to judge others, but rather to protect Jesus' church and, when possible, teach others.

Today I Was Disappointed That...

The stock market didn't raise over 500 points

I still have to pay my wireless phone bill

I did not receive a raise

The blind cannot see

The lame cannot walk

Polar bears did not dance

The Eagles were not declared winners of the NFC Championship game

I still had to go to work

The temperature was not sunny with a high of 75

Israel and Hamas are not singing "Kumbaya"

Unicorns did not appear with leprechauns riding on their backs

Chris Farley did not raise from the dead

I did not poop a rainbow

Farewell, True Leader

You ruled with unflinching leadership. In the face of opposition from the enemy abroad known as terrorism and the domestic enemy known as liberalism, you stood tall. You prayed for guidance, made your decisions, and stood by them. That's all you can ask of a leader.

President, you had the admiration of the troops you commanded. Not every president can say that. They supported you. They trusted you. When it comes down to it, what else is there for a commander-in-chief?

Sir, you believed in a higher power while in office. You spoke of a compassionate, merciful, loving, powerful, and demanding God. For wearing your faith on your sleeve, I say thank you. I rested at night knowing that our nation's leader was a child of God.

Now I will never claim that you made every right move while in office, then again, I'm sure you'll never claim that either. But I know you always did your best, and put this country before anything else, even when it was the unpopular decision.

You kept this country safe after a horrible attack. An attack that was both unprovoked (no matter what liberals tell you) and vicious. Not for one second would I wish someone else in charge at that time. Your leadership guided us through a day that none of us will ever forget. Then you pledged your entire presidency to hunting down those evil-doers and those who helped them.

Finally, Mr. President, I wish you well. You've been made the butt of jokes, been made a buffoon, and a war-monger. You are none of those. It is my prayer tonight, that you enjoy your life after the presidency, and that history remembers you better than this ignorant generation.

God bless you, President George W. Bush. And God bless America.

"The Irresistible Revolution" Review

I don't think I've every read a book where I've passionately agreed and disagreed with the author so much. In The Irresistible Revolution, author Shane Claiborne expresses deep feelings towards community and the role it does, does not, and should play in the church. His stories are absolutely fascinating. From sleeping in an abandoned church, to being arrested for feeding the homeless in Love Park, to driving past exploding bombs in Iraq, Claiborne has given himself to the idea of community.

One of my favorite parts is when he talks about creating a pool of money for everyone to use instead of health insurance. Everyone's needs were met. Each person put what they could afford into the pot, and whoever needed it took freely. I love this idea! Let me be careful, though. I love this idea for the church. And this I think is where Claiborne and I part ways on our opinions. Everything he speaks of when it comes to community is useful for the church to implement. However, I don't think it is the government's job. The government's responsibility to keep the nation safe and running. I think it's role in the individual's life should be extremely limited. That's where the church should come in, though. The church should seek the individuals who are in need and not "reach out" to them, but love them and take care of them.

I also have difficulty with Claiborne's stance on the war. I think he oversimplifies things. He speaks against just-wars, but how? The Old Testament is full of wars. Wars that we wouldn't even find just, other than the fact that God ordered them. Thousands of years later, though, I absolutely believe in just-wars. The Revolutionary War created this great nation. And I will never claim that America is perfect; however, I do feel it is the greatest nation on earth. I know that safety often begets complacency, but there is still so much good in this country. Christians in this country have been behind beautiful things: civil rights, disaster relief, AIDS awareness, etc. I know this is a tangent, but my point is that The Revolutionary War was a just-war. As was the Civil War and both World Wars. In my mind, those four wars aren't even up for debate.

What really gets me, though, is that Claiborne often uses a passage found in both Isaiah and Micah: The people "will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks." He uses this to promote a world without war. This notion is beautiful, but impossible. It is a fallen world, and to say there will be no war is to say that there is no evil. Going back to that passage, though, what upsets me is that it is taken out of context. A few verses before, it begins by saying, "In the last days." So, this world where the people beat their weapons into farming tools is at the end of times. I am not an expert on end-times theology, but this verse is clear as to when this world peace will take place. Furthermore, earlier in the exact same verse, it reads, God "will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples." It's not the people who create the peace, it's going to be God.

I do want to be clear that I do not like war. I simply understand the fact that it is necessary. There is evil in the world. If you're a Christian and deny that, you deny a fallen world. If you deny a fallen world, you deny the need for a savior. You deny a need for a savior, you deny that Jesus Christ was God in human form, that he came to the earth, that he died on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, that defeated death and rose on the third day, and that he ascended back to heaven until he returns a second time as a lion instead of the lamb. If there is no evil in the world, Jesus died for nothing. That simply leads me to the point that we cannot allow evil, in any form, to run amock as long as we have the ability, passion, or (not and) desire to oppose it.

This was not the only time I felt that Claiborne made himself unqualified to write such a book. He began talking about when the Republican National Convention came to Philadelphia. He mentioned that it happened in 1998 during an election year with George W. Bush coming to the city. Well, you see, the thing is that '98 was not a presidential election year. Nineteen ninety-six and 2000 were election years.

With all this said, I loved this book. It challenged me. It challenged my conservative politics. It also gave me perspectives from which I have never looked. I highly recommend this book to anyone who professes their faith in Jesus Christ, to anyone who considers himself a republican, to anyone who considers himself a democrat, to anyone who believes that he or she cannot make a different, and to anyone who believes that he or she can make a difference.

To wrap this up, here are a few quotes that stuck out:

"But what had lasting significance were no the miracles themselves but Jesus' love. Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead, and a few years later, Lazarus died again. Jesus healed the sick, but they eventually caught some other disease. He fed the thousands and the next day they were hungry again. But we remember his love. It wasn't that Jesus healed a leper but that he touched a leper, because no one touched lepers. And the incredible thing about that love is that it now lives inside of us." (pg. 85)

"'When we truly discover love, capitalism will not be possible and Marxism will not be necessary.'" (Will O'Brian pg. 164)

"People who experiment in sharing may begin out of burden or guilt, but they are sustained by the matchless joy it brings." (pg. 165)

"One thing fasting does is sacrifice privilege." (pg. 168)

"Certainly the thirty-five thousand children starving to death today need not fast to connect to God. Rather we need to fast in order to connect to them and to God." (pg. 169)

"We cannot say we love God and pass by our hungry neighbor. no one has seen God, but as we love one another, God lives in us." (pg. 173)

"God's economy is one of abundance." (pg. 177)

"A love for our own relatives and a love for the people of our own country are not bad things, but our love does not stop at the border." (pg. 202)

"'All around you, people will be tiptoeing through life, jsut to arrive at death safely. But dear children, do not tiptoe. Run, hop, skip, or dance, just don't tiptoe.'" (A former professor of Claiborne's, pg. 225)

"Perhaps the most dangerous place for a Christian to be is in safety and comfort." (pg. 227)

"I remember thinking that if the world does not hate us, perhaps we should question whether we really are part of another kingdom." (pg. 236)

"So if the world hates us, we take courage that it hated Jesus first. If you're wondering whether you'll be safe, just look at what they did to Jesus and those who followed him." (pg. 241)

"The church is a place where we can stand up and say were are wretched, and everyone will nod and agree and remind us that we are also beautiful." (pg. 245)

"The paradox is that the church is healthiest during eras of persecution, and it gets sick during period of comfort and ease and power." (pg. 250)

"'God spoke to Balaam through his ass, and God's been speaking through them ever since.'" (Rich Mullins, pg. 256)

"The world of efficiency and anonymity dehumanizes us." (pg. 301)

"I did a ton of research on tithes and offerings in Scripture, and discovered they are unmistakably intended to be used for redistribution resources to the poor and not to go toward buildings and staff for church." (pg. 326)

"The early prophets would say that a church that spends millions of dollars on buildings while her children are starving is guilty of murder." (pg. 329)

"We must neither get used to the darkness of human suffering or fall asleep in teh comfort of light." (pg. 349)

"The darkness of our world will try to smother the light, so we have to surround ourselves with people who make us shine brighter." (pg. 350)

Introduction of sorts

If you're reading this, congratulations. You've stumbled upon a blog that is, for now, not being linked to anything. I think the biggest problem I have with blogs is that they are very personal, but then very open. People write whatever they want in them with no cares about what they say. Often times others get hurt. Now, I know that's not always the case; However, I don't see what the point of writing/typing everything out would be unless you really share some deep stuff. Then again, do you want all that deep stuff out there in the open?

It probably sounds like I have something to hide. Maybe I do. I'm pretty much an open book to anyone who knows me well enough, but there are always things here or there that I need to therapeutically write down for my own well being. And if I make this like super-mega public, I lose that ability. Like I did with my Xanga, facebook, and myspace. I think I'll keep this on the DL for now.

So again, if you're reading this, congrats. You're probably one of few. Shhhh...don't tell anyone! :-)