I think I like to sleep. I don't get to do it nearly as much as I'd like to, but I can't really blame anyone but myself. You see I get myself into these perdicaments and I'm like, "crap! I'm going to have to get this done no matter what" The no matter what usually translates into "... instead of sleep." I'll be surprised if I don't come out of here with some sort of sleep issue. On other news, Misti and I are still in the training for this race in July. It's pretty cool running with her as she makes me want to run faster and harder without quitting or giving up. I don't think the issue is so much that she's more adament about running than mantor is, I think she's still new and I want to beat her so desprately that I'm willing to try really hard until I have beaten her... or at least gave my best effort to do so.
On a completely different topic... I wish I fit in here at Trinity. I think more than last year I fit in better, but I still don't feel like I'm the typical or even close to typical guy. I'm not excited about preaching, I'm not excited about working at a church, I'm not even all that excited about most of my classes to be all that honest. My brain just hurts because I can feel my heart shrinking every minute of every day here. I'm sure this has nothing to do with the emphasis of Trinity's ethos but, I realize it's happening none the less. Maybe I'd be a little more excited about this school if I was done with my 15 page paper on the Catholic Church documents of Vatican II that's due tomorrow, HECK! I'd be stoked if I had 10 pages written... but alas I have only 1 done.
The greatest thing I've experienced here are the relationships with my buddies on campus and to an even greater degree with my Youth at the Church. I'm telling you what, a young man in High School has no idea how much he's brainwashed by the people around him and the world at large. Nothing is set up for a student in High School to excel his faith, beyond what the Church is willing to provide through youth groups or other entities like young life. There is in no way a public school telling the students there, "do what you can but, for the sake of all that is Good, do not do everything." To the contrary it seems that the ethos of the public school system is that we want you to be involved in EVERYTHING else you'll not be the head of the class the best in the party. Who needs sleep when you have homework, sports, class work, and any other 15 things to occupy every waking hour of that students time. Good thing too, else that student would have to learn how to actually make a friend that wasn't in school, or he'd have to think for himself as to how he could best spend his time. And here's a novel thought... a parent telling a student "no" you can't do everything. You can however choose what you want to do within the limited scope of what you are capable of doing. Why is it that we can't see we are raising insomniacs, with no capacity of saying no, and no understanding of what is really important to the life that we live!
Man, I sure wish that paper wasn't due tomorrow... or at least wasn't 15 pages.

Shea

blasted computer!

Today I got home around 5am from the Lightrider overland excursion with the youth group. A pretty wild time I must admit 4 days on a stinky bus, driving across america to God knows where to do God knows what. We skiied, hiked, and ate... so on and so forth. It makes me glad to know that I'm having an impact on these guys. Even the ones I'm not discipling and close to, feel a closeness to me and a trust with me that's pretty unbelievable. It's taken a year for them to be this comfortable with me, and being a patient person, I've been pretty overwhelmed with the speed at which they grown and grown in friendship with me. I think it's been a little tougher for Misti though, at times seeing the impact she's having on her girls. She's not around them 24 - 5 like the last place she was at, and so it's difficult for her to see the great growth of those girls, but last night it became pretty clear to her the impact she's had on them (and the impact they've had on her.) As most anyone knows I'm an emotional guy, but I didn't expect to tear up when I was encouraging sam, after all I was able to encourage all the other 15 people without getting worked up, but when I came to sam, it hit me that he's become more than just a disciple learning under me and friend that I'm mentoring, he's become my right hand in working with those guys and the little brother I haven't had since I was in ministry with DiBella. Pretty neat indeed. There's definitely more to say, but for now, I've said plenty.

Shea

today I've encountered a new and interesting problem - my future. Yes, I know this must seem shocking to those of you who know me well, and think of me as a by the seat of my pants kinda' guy. My back usually hurts because I'm so stressed out about my stinkin' schedule and my lack of focus on the next two years, what I'm going to do to earn money, so on and so forth. I guess the obvious thought is that there are plenty of jobs out there and it's just a matter of following through and just getting one of them, and to a very great degree I would agree. Then I run up against these talents I've been deemed worthy to get, and I'm forced to reconsider, "how are using what you've been given." and that folks is where things get a little dicey. Lately, I keep running up against this notion of actually doing art for a living (how ridiculous is that?!? not all that crazy.) Well, those three little words that have always plagued me and will continue to do so, are all the answer I seem to have as of yet -- I don't know. Oh well. Guess I just need to be faithful until the Lord sees fit to give me the full answer.

later

Axe - the freshmaker!!!

One of these days, I'm actually going to write on my blog at my computer at home... at which point I promise I'll have pictures up there, until that day comes my blog will stay severely low tech.
I've found something interesting out about myself here at seminary, if you have to study and you really want to do well, sometimes bathing trumps all things. I'm sure this isn't the case for most people here, but somehow or the other in this strange heirarchy of needs that I have, showering isn't as high a priority as one might think. With the modern day aid of deoderant, I find one can get away with not having to shower very often (assuming that individual isn't training and sweaty). Anyway, I really didn't have time to even write this blog, so I guess I better go.


Shea

Honeymoon in my eyes!

Honeymoon's are great - it's like having your cake and eating it too, and then having a BarBQ, and a pizza party! I'm pretty stoked to see what this marraige stuff is all about now that the honeymoon is officially over as of monday, I'm pretty sure I have no clue what I'm in for on this matter. So unfortunately for misti and I the HM fun is all over, and the long arduous days of school are to begin again. The bonus here is that instead of this being a downer, I can look at the bright side, remembering that no matter how much school work I have - I still get to sleep with my WIFE at night. Pretty Rad if you ask me (though I know no one is).