My Own Worst Critic.

I am, in fact, the above. Contrary to popular belief - this is not all negative. But I will focus on that first (to get it out of the way).

The reason why being one's own worst critic can be a bad thing is because it often tends to overexaggerate things. I tend to make many stupid mistakes in my life, and most of the time I am fully aware of them (so there's no hiding my either blatant disregard for good, or my horrible feelings about my actions). Having that nagging voice letting me know how dispicable I am...it makes things difficult. Guilt, sorrow, shame - they all tend to hang around a lot longer than they should when you let yourself become the person who tears you down.

But the criticism can be good. It allows you to remain accountable to yourself. You are able to judge your actions and understand not only their quality, but the consequences they bear. Sorrow and guilt are not bad things when they are managed and used correctly - they help to shape and guide decisions and actions in the correct direction. Testing everything by a specific criteria can help each person remain personally responsible for their own undertakings.

To understand this as a whole, however - we must understand it (at least from my own personal perspective) in relation to my faith. I am a Christian. I believe not only in Jesus (meaning He did exist) but I also believe what He said (meaning I believe He was the Son of God, I believe that He came to die for sinners that they might be set free to a new, better life). Because of this, there is a certain "blueprint" for my life. Namely, I am to do everything to strive to be made into the image of Christ Himself. If/when I look/act/think/am like Jesus - the journey is complete.

And so everyone knows now, it is a LONG journey that I am FAR from perfecting.

So how does this relate to the idea of personal criticism? In this life, because of my faith and beliefs, I am able to fully utilize the criticism to keep me accountable to the choice(s) I have made (the choice of the life I want to live and how to accomplish that perfectly). Better still, I am free from the condemnation and general displeasure that comes from personal condemnation from overexaggeration with the negative side of criticism. I do NOT have to listen to the voice that calls me evil and continuously slams my foibles. What I can do is understand that I am a precious work in progress (and indeed we all are who are in Christ). The limitless patience, love, and power of God is on my side - as hopeless as sometimes it may look.

So we must rejoice in our weaknesses and failures because they keep us humble, they keep us in an understanding of the sweetness of grace and love, and they can keep us on the right track to our desired destination. They are a means to an end. What could be a weapon has made us (and can make us) more than conquerors.

To all who believe - use these things to your advantage.

Why America Is Great.

I don't tend to the realm of politics much, for many reasons: it is a very controversial topic; I'm not very excited about what is going on right now domestically or internationally- and I would rather praise than resort to negativity; I'm not well-read and up-to-date enough to be of any assistance or vital importance; and - probably most importantly - there are others who "do politics" much better than I.

I write today because I feel very blessed to be part of this nation. And that blessing, at least recently, has been shown to me in the vast amount of freedom we have. I won't resort to arguments about the current state of "freedom" in America - those who know me personally can ask if they are interested in my opinion. But, I know that at least one freedom remains intact - and that is the freedom to
express, with biting criticism and sarcasm, the leader(s) of this country.

Many have seen the speech given by Stephen Colbert at the 2006 White House Correspondents Association dinner (click here if you have not). It went viral some time back and received massive amounts of attention, both positive and negative.

But I think we might have missed the point. In what other country in the world can someone say the things Stephen did, in the presence of the power he is speaking against, with a result such as this? Stephen is still on television (his show has not been cancelled, or censored, or boycotted - at least not a detrimental amount). Other people are now speaking out as well. This entire situation (and the others like it) create a massive stage where voices and opinions can be heard.

So I am celebrating the fact that I can write whatever I want to. And I am thankful that I can do that without fear. So, if you are an American - take advantage of this beautiful right and make your opinion known. Do it respectfully and with preparation (even Stephen did not simply get on stage and rant).

More On This Later.

Hold me to it. It's gonna be a good one.

To Do List.

It is not always a good idea for me to set goals, because I either fail or end up not accomplishing anything I set out to do. However, on my ride home this evening I decided to make a list of some things I was thinking about - some things that would do me good:

Slow Down - While I don't strictly speak about my driving habits, it's a nice illustration to use. How often have I been in a hurry to get somewhere? Or, how often have I been frustrated at someone else because they seemed to be impatient? As much as I speak about the comforts and beauty of a slow-paced life, my actions don't support that claim. I can be in for excitement, and I can understand the urgency of certain situations - but I think it is time to slow down.

Lose The Agenda - This can move directly from the above. I love a packed calendar. It makes me feel important when I open mine up and see everyday scheduled with something. Everything from meetings to friend and family time has its own little place, hour-by-hour, on my pretty little calendar. It is time to free my schedule and live life, if only for a short while, without rushing from moment to moment - without anticipating, expecting, or planning every little detail. It could be worse, but I have room for it to be much better.

Love, Unconditionally - This is such an amazingly freeing concept that I find myself shocked it took so long to see. When I speak of my church and what first drew me in - it was the love and acceptance I found there. When I think of Jesus - all the good and the bad moments I see - the thing that pulls me back every time is His love. I have been hearing the word "Love" for so long now that it has both lost its meaning and been completely refreshing for me at the same time. I understand the Biblical basis for Christian direction - the discernment of damaging behavior in people's lives, the call to something better. I'm starting with love. I'm jumping on that bandwagon and I am building on that foundation. I don't know when I'll be done there. I'm not rushing the construction.

Love Others As Myself (The Two-Fold Plan) - This is a biggie. I am my own worst critic. But how do I direct that to others? If I saw a friend or a family member in need - would I help them? If they were struggling with something - would I condemn them or would I love and encourage them? I need to do this same thing for myself. I have to realize the value that God has placed on me - I need to see myself and my worth in His love towards me - and then I need to send that out in every direction. If I feed myself, clothe myself, nurture myself - my neighbor deserves that just as much. If I listen to my neighbor, comfort them, support them, encourage them - I need to love myself in that same way. A selfless service to others, reciprocated in my selfless love of myself.

And there's so much more. They'll come to me, and some of them might go. But I see them - and I take pleasure and hope in that. I can have goals. I can make movements knowing God is leading me. Does what I feel and what I know line up with my understanding of God? As I get to know Him more these things will present themselves and they will all fall in line.

And So It Ends?

Some of you will remember my various posts about Invisible Children, the war in Uganda, and efforts to stop the violence. Checking Relevant this morning, I came across an article about the LRA and a ceasefire that has been issued, effective immediately. This is the first word I have heard - so I am not totally versed on the ramifications...but this seems to be good news. Anyone out there have a better grasp on this?

LRA Leaders Declare Ceasefire

Magnetic.

"You're magnetic
I can't help it...I'm stuck on you
There's something magic in the way that you love me
I'm stuck on you." (Sanctus Real - Magnetic)

If I'm honest, and I imagine I am, my faith is incredibly fragile. Part of that comes from the fact that I am relatively new to it (only a couple years). Another part comes from the fact that I have an intellectual bend and natural curiosity - which can get someone into trouble fast when it comes to matters of faith.

This I noticed tonight as I drove home listening to the song above - thinking about the amazing day I had and the powerful message delivered at church this evening (all lending to a very satisfied spiritual attitude), yet still feeling the pangs of doubt, fear, and other such things I would rather be rid of.

Amidst this - I found truth in the words above. The love of God, the love I have experienced and found in Jesus - this amazing person described in the Bible...it defies my logic, my understanding. Every time I am confronted with this love it pierces into me and destroys my hardness of heart, my intellectual walls, my doubt, my everything. Yet, it does not leave me weak or killed.

I have never experienced anything like this before. With friends, with family - our strongest bonds are never like this. Our returns from fights or time apart - it never feels like this. The greatest moments in my life, apart from God, never have the satisfaction - the fullness - that I feel in the presence of this love.

And so I grab hold of it - wrestling my own internal dialogue and efforts to destroy something beautiful - and I hope against everything that I will not lose sight of something as precious as this. Every day is a battle, every thought can be a struggle - but there is peace and rest to be found.

I never knew what I was in for - the worst of the worst, the best of the best.

Responsibility.

While I understand that no church is perfect, and while I do have a lot of faith in the leadership and direction of my current church, I read an article tonight that questions not only our own presuppositions about money, consumerism, and other facets of our society - but the moral, personal, and professional responsibility of the people who minister to us and have very public opinions that can not only represent an entire populous, but also dramatically affect the ideas and actions of that group. Below is an excerpt, but I would recommend reading the entire article.

This, then, is the sad state of my mind as I listen to the Sunday sermon. To those who would say that the pulpit is no place to pierce the myths and enlighten the masses to the more unfortunate truths about our nation, I would say “if not there, where?” If not our moral leaders, then whom? Pastors have a great influence over the thought processes of their congregation. Many pastors are fond of the saying, “The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it!” I’m afraid that many in the congregation believe a variant of this that goes, “My pastor said it, he believes it, so that settles it.” When pastors promote the flag, the sheep salute. When they offer no comment on war, or the ecological condition of the planet, this is a tacit endorsement of the status quo. And when they give sermons about our obligation to give, rather than receive, and never tie in the systemic contradictions of our economic system to this obligation, then they are, in my humble opinion, abrogating their responsibility as moral leaders. (from Burnside Writer's Collective, Sunday Morning Quarterbacking)

So...

...I am about to finish Blue Like Jazz and it's kind of freaking me out. As I am sitting there reading, nearing the end of the current chapter, I flip to the next page and see the title I know marks the last chapter. And while I understand I will probably read this book again (after all, something must be said about all the half-sheets, quarter-sheets, and something-sheets of paper tucked various places within the book) I still feel a sense of loss looming on the horizon.

This is how I am with every adventure in my life.

I love movies, and I am coming to love books like I once did in my youth. They are amazing things that allow me to leave behind the current world I occupy - if even for a small moment - and become part of something a bit bigger. Maybe even a bit more exciting. They are absolute treasures that free me from the sometimes-monotonous ticking of the clock and passing of the days that is my life.

(Now, don't get me wrong - I love my life and everything in it...)

Things just seem different when I am in these atmospheres. Sometimes I completely lose grip and am totally immersed in the experience - catching wind of actual reality when I can sense the approaching ending.

So, now, I head into chapter 20 of Blue Like Jazz - embarking on two separate journies. One will be the experience of book-reading and the enjoyment I will pull from the pages. The second will be my life and the next steps beyond the pages.

Here's to adventure.

Well...

EDIT: It seems MySpace is just having some database problems (why am I not shocked?). I'm a little bit bummed now that I might get my account back. Hmm...maybe that says something about the situation? Anyway...there you go. Nevermind the reaction below.


...either MySpace is going to be fixing a lot of things here pretty soon, or I am no longer a member there. And, this time, it wasn't even my own intention to stop going. I went to log in this morning and it let me know that I had an invalid userID - because my account had been cancelled or deleted. Funny...I don't particularly remember doing that.

I then tried going directly to my profile online - to be greeted with the red-lettering-of-death letting me know the same status for my little web profile.

But it seems this little mishap is a lot bigger than just me. You won't be able to find my friend Joe online anymore either. Nor will you be able to find my friend Marcus' girlfriend. I'm sure the list goes on and on.

Honestly...if this isn't fixed, I think I'll be OK with that. My only problem is the amount of people on there that I use MySpace to keep in touch with, because we don't really have any other way to communicate (and, no, the phone, e-mail, etc. are not an option - surprisingly).

So - if for some reason I never go get back on MySpace - but you're able to get here from memory or some other weird circumstance - send me an e-mail and we'll try to keep in touch. Thanks.

A New Post? Can This Be True?

I'm amazed by the fact that people continue to swing by here. While the simple tracking unit I use cannot be trusted wholly for accurate facts about who comes, why they come, and how long they stay (it seems, on average, to be about ten seconds) - I do trust it in that it says people are coming...and that makes me feel all warm inside...so these facts are my friend.

I've got a new post for you all, coming directly off a napkin to the e-world. I am thinking the future of this blog will be more lengthy articles, "essays" as some call them. I hardly ever tend to have thoughts that do not range to expansive lengths...so you all will have to cope (and thank you in advance).

Keep coming back. I love you all.

The air at 40 miles-per-hour is tangible. I stick my arm out the window and feel the cool air brush and blow by. My palm feels like it is floating and swimming through the transparent yet milky atmosphere. I want to grab this air and take it home with me. Best of all, it does not leave my hand with that horribly annoying numb-tingly feeling I so often get when I try to make my car fly with just my arms. The bugs still sting, though.

These are the thoughts I have so often when I am alone; when there is no place to scribble them down. They disappear in the same air my arms ride along and are gone forever. But it's not so bad - because, often these thoughts are just between God and I. They're our little moments...our conversations. This one gets shared, though. This one makes me happy and I remembered it. And I just happened to have a napkin in my car to write it all down.

Tonight was a good night. I got to spend some time reading about exceptionally happy thoughts and subjects. I drank some coffee. I saw a friend and gave him a letter expressing my sincere appreciation for his love towards me. And now I'm here, writing, something that makes me happy. It's been a good night.

Until June.

From "What I've Done":

And i'm alone,
And i'm ashamed,
Hold me in Your arms,
And now i'm sorry what i've done.


.The love of God amazes me.

The Word Speaks Better Than I.

In that day you will say:

"I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me,your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

In that day you will say:

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.

Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."

(Isaiah 12)

11 New Photos.

That's right...check 'em out!

Met a friend for some coffee in Lexington and she had her camera with her - so on our walk around town I decided to take some shots. It was a bit frustrating (you don't get to see all the blurry photos)...but I think some came out pretty good. I had been wanting to hit up the fountains in town for ages - so it was a nice opportunity. Let me know what you think.

So You Know.

It seems like my most frequent and widely used topic on this blog is the general update post. I apologize that I'm not "bringin' the content" like a blogmaster, but things in the real world have been rather pressing, and generally more important, than the virtual world I often inhabit.

One of my closest friends got married last weekend in a ceremony I can only conclude as being the most wonderful I've ever been a part of. There are, in fact, parts of it that I am going to graciously rob for my own ceremony - when and if the Lord draws me close to my earthly bride.

This week was a bit something. My grandfather took a turn for the worse (he had been fighting Parkinson's disease for as long as I think I've been alive). He ended that fight yesterday morning. My mother had been there since Monday - and came home last night to give me a birthday blessing and a song with my cake. She was also able to rest a bit before her and my dad left this afternoon. I leave Sunday morning for visitation that afternoon; the funeral takes place Monday.

(For those concerned, the family has great peace about the situation - a true blessing from God).

My thanks to everyone who continues to come here...I will try to put aside some time for more content - something that is really on my heart, but a bit far from action. To those I know personally, I'll see you soon and we can have some good talks over coffee or something. To everyone else - thanks for tuning in. Until next time, I imagine.

I Don't Know You.

But I wish I did. It would be amazing for us to spend more time together. To get to know each other more intimately. To create, nurture, and grow an amazing friendship. To experience life together. To be part of each other's joy. To share the burdens of this life as one.

Unfortunately, most of you out there are complete strangers to me. I know you because you stumble across this blog, for a second or maybe longer. We don't get a chance to talk - to communicate to each other apart from the one-sided story you read about on this page. And it's such a horrible story, I promise you. I am not all that interesting, and the words I speak rarely (if ever) amount to anything extraordinary. But, in real life - we would have nothing to hide. You'd see me for who I am, heights and depths. We could be real - we could take that time to be real.

What's worse...there's a lot of people who read this that I actually do know. We've been friends for quite some time. We have experienced moments in life together. I work with some of you on a daily basis. Where are the walls between us coming from? I apologize for the construction on my end - but I think it's time to tear them down. I want to spend every second we might have together doing just what we were created for - loving God and loving each other. Let us spend more time talking, building one another up in love. Let us set aside whatever it is that hinders us and take a journey. A long one. A short one. Any one.

There is a God of this universe, of all things, and His love for us blows my mind. If it were possible, to understand, I think it could possibly vaporize me. Poof. Thin air. Gone.

Let's get together sometime and marvel at God. Let's be truthful and honest about our hearts. Let's be gentle and nurturing with our responses. It's time to be transparent and vulnerable. What are we so scared of?

I am amazed by how much Jesus loves me. I am amazed by how much I am able to love Him back. He loves you with the same ferociousness. Oh, how I wish you knew and could see that. I wish we could all run with that promise wrapped around us.

I'll talk to you soon. Come say "Hello" to me. E-mail me. Comment. I'm going to fail you - because I am imperfect. But I am 100% ready to try not to.

In Lieu Of More Writing:

Since I missed last night's update, and also the day before that, I think I might just go ahead and do my Ichthus awards instead of a long, drawn out analysis of every hour of each day. So, without further ado:

The 2006 Ichthus Festival Awards:

Best Performance: (Tie) - Staple/Kids in the Way. Although my friend Joe would ultimately put Staple at the top, the KITW set was grand - with new songs and a lot of energy and emotion. Staple did a magnificent job, as always...and since it is probably the last time I will ever see them live (due to their disbanding) it also gains more points (not that it needed them).

Best Breakout Band (i.e. Best New Band I'm Listening to Now): The Myriad. These guys were pretty awesome. The entire set was great. The CD is great. I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing them again.

Honorable Mention (to above): Cool Hand Luke. I already owned their CD, so it counts a bit less than above - but it was awesome to see these guys. Totally not what I was expecting (in a really, really good way).

Happiest Moment: Jumping up and down (and all around) during Delirious' rendition of Holy Is the Lord.

Most Painful: Walking miles into the festival each day because I didn't want to fight traffic (and had fooled myself into believing it wouldn't be that bad of a journey).

Deepest Moment: Seventh Day Slumber. I had heard a lot about the band, and a lot about their heart for ministry, altar calls, and just overall nature. More affecting than the main keynote message I heard (on living a life filled/ruled by the Spirit - which was also amazing). I feel like God really uses (and I pray used, for Ichthus) that band.

Since I can't really think of any more categories I'll just finish this up now. The whole weekend was great. A lot of amazing bands, and even greater chance encounters with God (it was funny to meet Him there, knowing my heart/mindset going into the festival).

Oh, and working today (in exchange for my weekend wristlock) was an amazing and super-fun experience. I'm thinking about doing it again next year, and I can only hope it will be as nice a time as it was today.

Thursday, Ichthus: Day One.

(Note: There are probably numerous errors - grammatical or otherwise. I'm really tired, and sorry. Try your best to make it through. Thanks for reading).

3 PM - Family Force Five: They actually weren't that bad. I had heard they had a really impressive stage show, which is the main reason why I wanted to hit the 'thus earlier to see them. They were about what I expected - a little weird but nothing amazing. It was a good band to cut my teeth for 2006 on.

4 - 5 PM: Nothing too much exciting. Caught a couple tracks from a couple bands (Day of Fire, Last Tuesday) and walked around the grounds a bit. Checked out the merch tent, the youth leader tent, etc.


5 PM - Staple: Probably the best and most enjoyable show of the entire day/night. It was the first time I had caught an entire act by them, and since they are breaking up this summer, the last time I will see them (how appropriate). My friend Joe loves the band, so it was nice he got to check them out one last time. Plus, Darin (the lead singer) pushed the mic in both Joe and my faces during one of the songs - so we have both officially sung Staple songs with them, and performed at Ichthus. Awesome.

6 PM - 8 PMish: Main stage stuff. David Crowder went on (and since I have seen him numerous times, I was not terribly impressed or excited. He's great, but I was really tired and hot at this point (not burnt, thank God for sunscreen). The keynote address was AWESOME. I was amazed that I could come to the festival purely for the music (as I did last year) - but God could use my lack of energy, down time, and quietness to speak to me and convict me of some major things in my life. It was great to hear about being slave even with the freedom of Christ offered and working in your life. The big things I took away from the message was to: 1) focus more on my identity in Christ and measure all of my wants and actions based around that character; 2) do the things, focus on the things, be the things that please GOD; and 3) fill myself, and yearn to be filled, with things of the Spirit. After a long time of following my own path and being horribly selfish, plus a day filled with a fair amount of pride, selfishness, and sin (yes, even at Ichthus)...it was nice to hear the voice of God.

8 PM - Jeremy Camp: Although I did not stay for his whole show, it was nice to finally get to see him live. It also actually turned out to be a very nice time to praise God and just experience him again, in music - right after a great keynote.

9PMish - Kids in the Way: This marked the end of my evening and was another amazing performance. This was the first time I had seen them live and I had been waiting about a year for it. They put on a short, but great, set. Yet another band I was happy to see very bold about their faith.

And that's about it. I'll try to be back tomorrow evening to talk about Friday. It's going to be a much longer day for me (about 10 AM - Midnight) so it might not happen. But, I at least wanted to post something...and I figured a summary of the Ichthus days would work well.

HEY - if anyone that reads this is going to be there tomorrow (and happened to have access to the internet this evening I guess) call my cell phone and we'll meet up somewhere! See you then.

How To Save A Life.

(Or, How Taking Crappy Pictures of Railroad Signs Can Lead to Someone's Ultimate Salvation).

This is how I see it:

I take my camera and I head out for the day. I take a few hundred pictures. Maybe one or two of them look decent at all. I open Photoshop - edit them, crop them, whatever. I upload them to Flickr. A bunch of people come by and check them out. Some leave comments, others add me to their contacts list. Three things can happen from here...

One - that person comes across this blog. They read up a bit. For some strange reason they become intrigued. They continue reading. Eventually I get around to talking about Jesus and how absolutely amazing He is. That sets off a spark that eventually just burns in that person until they can't help it - the love of Christ just wears them down and builds them back better than ever.

Two - that person gets in touch with me somehow. MySpace. Email. Real life. No idea. We start talking. We continue to talk for a while because God knows I can go on forever. Eventually I get around to talking about Jesus and how absolutely amazing He is. A spark. A fire. A newfound passion erupts in this person.

Three - that person could care less about my pictures. They don't even hit MySpace. This blog has no visitors ever again. I stop writing. But I keep taking pictures. Eventually, I print them out. I frame them. I barter a deal with some guy who owns a coffee shop and he hangs them on the wall. Someone sees them. They get in contact with me (because they like them...I promise). We start talking. They're interested in a story (people like stories). Eventually I get around to talking about Jesus and how absolutely amazing He is. Something starts and it doesn't stop.

All three of these scenarios have little to do with me. Or my pictures. Or my very existence. They'd happen without me, they happen everyday despite me. Thank God, every now and then - I get a chance to be a part of it.

(And, just in case it is unclear - this invitation is open to all. You can share your faith with anyone, at anytime, anywhere, for any reason. You don't have to have a certain occupation. The bounds of expressing joy in Christ and awe of His beauty are without.)

A Cross, Not A Plaque.

First off, this post should not be construed to be an argument for or against legalism. It has nothing to do with that at all (as far as I know).

On my way home this evening I was listening to the album Fight the Tide by Sanctus Real - and in one of their songs the lead singer makes a point about the ten commandments. Since this is an older song, I imagine he was speaking about the controversy of having the commandments displayed in buildings (this debate was all the rage a while back).

Being a man of deep thought - I started to think about the act of displaying the commandments. And then, in all fairness, I started to think about other peoples/religions/beliefs hanging their own set of rules, or whatever, in the buildings as well. It started to get a bit ridiculous in my head (pettiness, arguments, biterness, etc.) so I tried to make it a bit simpler.

As a Christian, I obviously have a message to get across to people. I have some sort of agenda. Some goal. What is the absolute best way, on a public stage, to express the most important aspect of my faith and beliefs?

How about instead of a plaque with writing that most people won't understand we shake things up and mount a cross on the wall?

Bear with me.

What does the Law represent to the world? Rules...regulations...guilt...10 bothersome exercises. How about us (Christians)? Impossible standards...failure...guilt...10 bothersome exercises.

The world does not need an outline. A guideline. Another set of do's and dont's (no matter how important, valid, and powerful they may be). The world needs a savior.

We talk about putting our best foot forward. Being lights to the world. Witnessing about the glory of Christ. Showing people the way home.

Why don't we exalt the cross?

It's Been A While.

Apologies for the lack of updates (for those still actually coming by here regularly) - I've been a bit busy with life lately. Work has been absolutely amazing - I love my job...I just wish I was able to do more around here to be a better worker. Hopefully, with time, as things become more familiar I'll be worthy of the call. It tends to work a bit differently in IT...the measure of success...but I'm working towards it - trying to stay busy, trying to learn, and most importantly, trying to serve every chance I get.

Outside of work, life has also been grand. Life groups in high school ministry are over for the summer, so I have a bit of a break there (not that my guys are horrible, but it is nice). The past couple of weeks I have been "taking off" from the normal extracurricular activities at church (other than main worship/service on the weekends). It has been nice to get home a bit earlier and to be around the family - and also to get home to clean up around my room, etc.

As anyone who's been here recently can tell, I've been taking a lot more pictures. I borrowed my dad's DSLR and have been absolutely loving it. Plus, God has just given us such amazing days here recently for the summer - so it's been great to get outside and enjoy it.

Plans for the summer? I don't necessarily get a break anymore - but I have two weddings (friends') coming up, Icththus, a July 4th trip to Cincinnati (hopefully) and a few other things I am sure to keep busy with. I'm hoping to get a new bike so I can start to do some riding, and I have really been enjoying the time I get outside to go for walks. There's a couple bands coming close that I really want to see - so hopefully a show or two will be in store. Other than that, work, relax, spend time with family and friends - the usual.

I would love to promise future updates on a regular basis (life related, and my normal thoughts that I tend to ramble about on here) - but I cannot guarantee anything (I'll try, but no guarantees). As always - if you know me, or even if you don't - you can always e-mail me.

Until next time.