What?
I did not realize that my previous post was the 100th post since I started this blog. It has taken awhile to reach this point. Hopefully my 200th post will come a bit quicker than the 100th.
Just 99 more posts to go!
Realizations
Realizations.
The thing about realizations is that they usually come when you least expect them, and when you never want them. Realizations are something that I both love and hate, they cause greatness and strife. Realizations are something that happens to everyone. Here is my realization.
As you may have noticed, the theme for my blog has changed, again. I have had difficulties with the other theme regarding uploading, resizing, and adding pictures. So I have decided to go with a more blog friendly, less back-end intensive theme. While I enjoy taking pictures, I did not enjoy the constant resizing of pictures just to make it fit the theme. I want to upload pictures and share them with you readers, but I don't want to worry about resizing them before uploading. This theme allows me to do that.
I have also noticed that my blog has tended to focus on familiar understanding to familiar passages of Scripture. How boring is that? I am still looking for some sort of niche that I can fill, but so far it has been frustratingly difficult between study, school, and training for a bike race. I would like to find a way to make the Scriptures seem fresh while incorporating many of my life experiences into the blog as possible. If you have any suggestions, let me know.
I am looking forward to then end of my educational journey coming up in a few months. This has been another frustration of mine. The grilling time commitment that school entails has been difficult to work on this blog. I hope that as the year ends and I am able to have my own schedule that I will be able to more frequently work on this blog. I am greatly looking forward to that day.
Thank you for all you who read this blog, I know that there are only a few right now. I appreciate your comments and emails. They are a source of encouragement to me.
Vacation
If you haven't noticed, there has been a lack of updates recently. There is a good reason for that. My wife and I were on vacation during Christmas, in Europe. We spent 3 1/2 weeks touring (backpacking) 6 different countries in Europe. I did not take my laptop so I did not have access to update the site.
Some of the pictures that I took on the trip will probably end up on the site on some of the posts. This is good for me, but I will still need to get out and take more pictures.
Some things that I noticed about Europe:
1. Train travel was less stressful than airplanes
2. People generally spoke English as long as I asked if they would in their language first
3. People were very friendly and helpful
4. I love the autobahn
5. Europe is cold in the winter
Both my wife and I had a great time and hope to return someday. We were able to see my old home where I lived when I was 2-6 years old and some of the town surrounding my old home. Unfortunately I do not know enough German yet to feel comfortable knocking on the door to ask if I could see the inside of the house (would they even let me?).
Overall our experience, though lonely on Christmas, was a good one. I definitely wish to return and continue traveling through more countries in Europe, particularly Eastern Europe. We shall see what happens in the future.
Housekeeping
- So, we've finished our discussion on the Sermon on the Mount. I think I have an idea of what I want to do next, but I'm not completely sure. If anyone has any suggestions of things they want me to write about let me know.
- Fall semester here at the Seminary starts next week and I have a Hebrew Qualifying exam coming up on Thursday. Prayers are welcomed. I've been studying like a maniac to make sure I'm ready for it
- Nathan Hellman, a pastor from the Oregon Conference as well, is here at the Seminary. He has a good and interesting story of how he and his wife got here. Check it out at http://nhellman.blogspot.com/
- Redskins don't seem to be doing too well so far. 0-23 against the Ravens is not cool. We'll see how it all plays out. (Sorry, I just had to throw some sports in here)
- Since the semester is starting soon, I should be able to update more regularly. Summer seems to be the time where I go insane with 4 weeks classes and then my brain seems to shut down the month I have none. I am looking forward to a "normal" schedule next week.