Romans 13.1

Something new that I have just decided this week to start is an everyday devotional. Weird, I know. There is no real reason why I would start on March 22 (since that date doesn't hold any type of significance), but I thought it would be a good time to start none the less. On Monday my devotional focused on Romans 13.1, which talked about respecting those in authority over us. This verse seemed to hit me very deep for a few reasons. With everything that is going on with all my classes it seems sometimes almost impossible to get my work done and still have somewhat of a life. Most of the time I blame my lack of sleep, or bad grades on the professors saying that I was not prepared for the exam, or I didn't understand it. No matter what it was I seemed to have a negative attitude about all my classes and work. On Monday when I read this verse talk about conviction. I knew right away that I can not blame my misfortunes on someone else, and that even though I may not agree or like what my professors say or asign in class, I still have to do it and respect them because they have been put in authority over me. While this may not be the easiest thing to do, scratch that it is super hard to do, I am going to remind myself of what Romans 13.1. This verse also meant a lot to me for the reason that someday I am going to be the one in authority over a group of students. While I know that on any given day my students are going to hate my guts for no reason, I am going to remember this verse and try my hardest to respect those that have been put in authority over me. And who knows, maybe my actions will rub off on those around me.

Growing Up to Fast!

Everyday I am one day closure to graduation, and that means one day closure to the real world. This past weekend I went home and talked with my parents about "things". In this talk we began to discus my future and what could happen in the next few years. While this talk proved to be very good and beneficial, I still could not shake my thoughts about the future. Like a lot of other people my age I have a plan of how I would like the next 5 years of my life to unfold; whether or not things will actually turn out that way I'm not certain, but I still have that plan. It is weird to me thinking about the future because I still only feel like a kid. It seems like only yesterday my mom was driving me and my friends to soccer practice, staying up all night with my friends and playing sleeping bag tag, tping the neighbors and doing other various kid things. Now, its hard to think about having a career, getting married and having kids; I don't feel old enough or ready.

I guess the main point that I am trying to make is that I know that I am thinking way to far in the future. But I guess that who I am. I always like to be well planned and have a general idea of how I want things to turn out. Whether or not I stick to that plan or things turn out the way I wanted to is hard to say and also depends on the situation. Whatever happens in the future I will be ready, even if it doesn't turn out just how I planned ;)

Going Outside the Box

Yesterday in church the focus of the pastor's message was on going outside or looking over the box. He placed up on the main screen a picture of nine dots and he asked if it was possible to use four lines to connect all the dots. While a few members in the congregation were able to find the solution to the question right away, I was not able to complete the puzzle. He then went on to say that we get so caught up with the dots and thinking how everything has to stay within the box. He said that sometimes we put God inside a box and that we don't truly have faith in his in a stressful or trying situation. It turned out that he was right, not only about putting God in a box but also about the puzzle. The only way to solve the puzzle was to have the lines be larger then the box region of the dots. Lately it seems that I have been so caught up in everything that has been going on, whether its school, completing projects, work or family issues I have definitely been putting God inside a box these past few weeks. When you in school it seems like nothing else matters. Life outside school doesn't seem to exist for me. It is so easy to get run down and discouraged with everything that is either due or getting ready to be tested.
So my plan for these last few weeks of school it to focus on the here and now. To not let my mind dwell about tomorrow and to not put God in a box (personally I don't think I can find a box big enough). For these last few weeks of school I am going to spend my time focusing and finishing my studies and enjoying these last few weeks with my senior friends. Should be interesting to see how things play out!

Hail to the Chief

Today in forum was the Bluffton University Student Senate President debate between the two candidates Joel Wildermuth and Caleb Elsea. As a member of student senate this debate is very important, because after this debate the polls open and students can then cast their vote for whom they want to represent them in the 2010-2011 school year. Today I had the privileged being the time keeper for the debate; which basically meant that I was in charge of making sure that the speakers didn't not go over their allotted time to speak.

Both candidates did very well, with both the prepared questions and the questions asked by the student body. While each candidate had something different to bring to the table there were several issues that the candidates agreed upon. One such issue is the improvement to recycling on campus, and taking a more active role in the "Go Green" movement. Even though the candidates agreed on this issues they also had different ideas of how if they were elected what they would want senate to look like and what they would want senate to do.

While the candidates had some similarities on their issues, the style of the two candidate seemed to be very different. Joel seemed very methodical and planned with all of his answers. He also put a great bit of detail into his answers. Caleb knew the information behind his answers, and his answers were short, sweet and to the point. It will be very interesting to see how the student body reacts to the two candidates and who they want to represent them in the upcoming school year.

Burning the Midnight Oil!

One thing that they don't tell you on your college visit is that it is a must to become accustomed to very very very late nights with little or no sleep in order to get everything done. While part of staying up late might be because of procrastination, however that is besides the point. I would say that the average college student is lucky to 5 hours a sleep a night. For me I am lucky to get 3 to 4 hours a night. This semester alone I have pulled two all nighters; without having more than a 10 minute nap here and there the next day. And tonight I am going for good old number 3!

This is the normal process for my all nighters.
1.) make myself coffee with lots of creamer or fake sugars
2.) get my facebook creeping out of the way so I can focus on school
3.) get into comfy clothes (sweatpants, t-shirt, hoody, glasses and such. It doesn't matter if I match because no one will see me)
4.) put on Harry Potter movie (watched a Harry Potter movie the first time I pulled an all nighter and have done it ever since!)
5.) study, study, study, oh yeah and more studying!
6.) depending on how much I have done and how much I have to do, take a break around 4 a.m. and go the restroom, brush my teeth, or shower or just sit and not think about school
7.) get back to work and finish whatever I have left to do

While there is massive flexibility to this schedule, this is approximately how my nights tend to go.

Well wish me luck and I hope that your nights are spent conversing with the Sand Man as apposed to staying up and cramming for midterm exams!