Eros <3

"Nothing is shallower than the belief that a love which leads to sin is always qualitatively lower - more animal or more trivial - than one which leads to faithful, fruitful and Christian marriage. The love which leads to cruel and perjured unions, even to suicide-pacts and murder, is not likely to be wandering lust or idle sentiment. It may well be Eros in all his splendor; heart-breakingly sincere; ready for every sacrifice except renunciation." C.S.Lewis

I'll leave this one without explanation. I'm just pondering it.

Thank you God for Friends & Roommates

"... we think we have chosen our peers. In reality, a few years difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another, posting to different regiments, the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting -- any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking, no chances. A secret Master of the Ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends "You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another."

There are no chances. You were chosen to be in my life, and I in yours. So we're stuck with each other as long as we choose to remain with each other. How wonderful and painful all at the same time.

This has definitely challenged my view of my roommates. Because of God's leading all of us have ended up in this apartment together. There are no chances. My desire is to get everything out of it that possibley can. My life will be changed because of the lives of those I wouldn't have ordinarily mingled with.

i'm an ass

Saint Francis called his body "Brother Ass". And this is C.S. Lewis commenting on that thought.

"Ass is exquisitely right because no one in his senses can either revere or hate a donkey. It is a useful, sturdy, lazy obstinate, patient, lovable and infuriating beast; deserving now the stick and now a carrot; both pathetically and absurdly beautiful. So the body. There's no living with it till we recognize that one of its functions is to play the part of buffoon."

May I live up to the example that an ass sets.

I just have lots of things to post about today. So rather than have an enourmous post I will have several smaller posts. Sorry readers.

splash & love

Have you ever seen in a movie or perhaps life in general when someone is standing on the side of the road right as someone drives through a puddle that is at their feet? well I've seen it in movies definitely and have now experienced it first hand. As I was walking to work this morning someone drove through a puddle and got me real good. It's a good thing I can laugh about things like this.

Oh and the same guy has offered me a ride two days in a row. I think we're friends now.


Can I just tell you how much I appreciate my mom? Never in my life have I talked to my mom as much as I have since I moved to Chicago. At least once a week we talk. She's great at listening, I do my best to recipricate. And she gives some really great advice. Most times. Maybe her advice on relationships wasn't the greatest but at least I got a good laugh out of it. She's so supportive of my decisions in life and so encouraging when it comes to my decisions about the future. I'm just really blessed when it comes to moms.


After talking to Emily Scott (who I'm crazy about) last night, and my mom, I realized how much is hanging on this return visit to c-bus. It's nothing to worry about I guess. But still, realizing how my life could change after this visit is a little exciting and a little scary.


1 John 4:7-12
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.

My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!

caffeine

1 John 3:18-21 (The Message)

"...let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God!"

When we're practicing real love our eyes are forced off of ourselves and onto others. We're no longer looking at our imperfections, even though they're there. God knows what's inside of us and still desires to use us for His glory. So when we're consumed by God's love for us, and we're allowing that love to direct our attention to others, we're able freely serve God. Good one John.


Last night I had a horrible nights sleep. Well sleep implies that there was some. I just laid there for hours. Probably cause I did the bad thing with the caffeine again. Sorry mom. And then when I finally feel asleep this morning between 6 & 7 I just had weird dreams about my family and hicks building houses and almost running into jess with my car and visiting my sister in maine and searching for someone but not knowing his name. Strange. And now I'm at work.

Christmas is in 2 weeks gang. That's barely any time at all.

Man, I feel almost like I want to die. Maybe not all that, but at least I want to lay down on the floor of the clinic and sleep. I bet I'm not allowed.

So there's that. Back to work.

facebook

alright facebook lovers ... it's true ... my relationship status has changed. check it.

as of today there are only 2 weeks left until i will be reentering the ohio world. needless to say ... i can hardly wait.

i'll update more tomorrow ... cause i'll be at work ... dash it all ...

I'm just glad I have you. The end.