american history = boring

with 4 down and 1 left to go, I find it hard to get motivated to study for US Turning Points.

The exams today went quite well. I got an A on the physics and the mechanics was long and tough, but I think I should be ok. It works out that you get about 8 min a problem, and that is just not enough for solving complex systems of loads and reactions on a truss. (can someone say nerd?....nerd.....thanks Tyler.)

tonight I will study for about...hmmm....30 min and the rest of the time will be spent vegging around, trying to recover from today's exams.

the end is in sight. and home is only 3 days away.

these are studious times.

it is the week of finals.

we are so close, yet so far away it seems from being finished with these classes and jumping on a plane to grab some Tim Hortons.

I had my first final this morning and I think it went alright. It was Old Testament, and I destroyed the test up to the point that it started asking about minor prophets. Those guys all get mashed together in my head and there is little hope of seperating the information. However, I am confident my few mishaps in that section will not affect my overall grade in the course. I'm happy and proud to announce an "A" in story of the old testament. (this is the part where the crowd goes wild)

my next exam today is Calc III, in which I need to get a 60 or better to keep an A in the class. I think this will be doable.

tomorrow will be the killer with physics II and mechanics. both hard courses and they will be quite lengthy. so after tomorrow I will be home free.

i have looked into the idea of possibily spending a semester in India with Nic and the Mcmillans, doing some teaching and serving over there. As much as this appeals to me right now, I think I will come back to school and finish the year at least. After that, I will be in much better position to maybe spend the summer over there or do something else like that for the summer.

I feel torn between the radical call of Jesus (the just get up and go, and He will the do rest) and the call for me to just witness where I am. Maybe I have been disallusioned for the last little while spiritually, convinced that I just need to get away from school/security/comfortable to feel like I am serving God more wholeheartedly. I think instead of me moving physically, I need to just move spiritually, and really be alert to the doors the God can open down here in the bible belt. Or maybe not...I'm not sure at this moment.

I look at my parents. They are very selfless with their money and time. They are great servants of God. However, we obviously still attain and very comfortable lifestyle in sub-urban Calgary, with day jobs and very busy schedules. Does Jesus require more than this? Is this the true meaning of entering the kingdom of God? How much more can it go beyond this? Where does that idea fit in with me and where I am/where I want to be/where I should be?

questions, questions and more questions are coming from this.

pray for me please.

1 down and 4 to go. on wednesday night we are going out for India food to celebrate the end of exams. see you guys at home soon.

all those in regina - Jordan and I will be driving down on the 29th or so, stay for New Years and then leave on the 3rd or something. be there!

tyler the heathen

With everyone in the bible belt off to Wednesday night church, I, the heathen, have decided it would be an opportune time to blog.

Wednesday night church just seems weird for Clair and I. The reason it bugs me is because I watch these "Christians," like robots, go to church three times a week and don't seem to even be questioning/searching/seeking for what it means to truly walk with Jesus in our world.

Maybe the are seeking but are to afraid or busy to want to deal with it.

I am at a weird stage.

I have moments where I just think, think and think some more about all this Jesus stuff. Then I am woken from my daze and I go on back to all the things that keep me busy.

I am so spiritually frustrated and anxious. I don't know what to do in regards to my call in the kingdom and kingdom work.

Am I getting to comfortable in this "go to classes, do homework, play intramurals, study for tests, do some service projects" bubble? Surely there must be more in store?

Should I wait it out until I have my degree? or leave school and pursue kingdom work whereever God may lead me?

I am leaning towards the latter these days. After hearing from Nic that he is probably going to India, I am SO jealous. I just want to get away like that and experience something else but school.

This is a very fragmented blog. Sorry.

I need to get some coffee with Close. 9 days till home.

I'm just going to do some calc. darn.

mochas, prison break and basketball

today was another snow day in Oklahoma. needless to stay I didn't spend it studying for upcoming exams and or anything useful like that.

I made some mochas (or is it mochi?), watched some prison break (season one is addicting and intense) and finally played some bball with the boys.

tonight Clair and I are going for someone's birthday party. I don't know whos it is, but Clair is the boss and so I am going to the party.

miss you guys up in the mother land and wish I could be there for the western vs. cofc Kings hockey game. score a goal for me Nic.

until next time. T.

snow day?

The entire state of Oklahoma has shut down today due to the heavy snowfall that has acculumated over last night. This "heavy snowfall" is less than 2 inches.

Our school has cancelled classes for the first time in 52 yrs.

Wussies.

The sucky thing is I have no classes on Thursday anyways.

jerks and bball...part II

I forgot to mention that the kid has a tattoo of the state of texas on his shoulder.

maybe that explains everything.

surely Jesus doesn't love Texans.

jerks and basketball

have you ever just looked at a guy and decided that you just wanted to punch him in the face.

i played bball against a guy like that today.

he had this smug look on his face and thought he was da $hI!, for lack of a better descrition.

man do I hate guys like that.

to his credit, he made a few nice three's and made a nice pass through my legs to the center man.

however, the whole time he was talking trash and shouting "OFF" in the middle of all my shots.

luckily I am not a big strong guy and so I didn't put him in his place. why do I always think it would be so good to just knock him down? man that would feel good.

i wonder what Jesus would have to say about competive sport? it tends to bring out the worst in everyone the majority of the time.

i'm rambling now. stupid blog.

this one is for Jason "the body" Bandura

it's true.

I am still alive.

I saw Jason Bandura the other day and he told me he checked out my blog and he thought that it was pretty out-dated. If I have people like Jason B checking out my blog, I guess I better start writing. So this one is for "the body."

Regina was great. I love going back to that place. The people there are very close to my heart and I always leave there thinking "why don't I just live in Regina?"

Nic has mentioned it already, but I did get to see everyone there a lot more when I lived in Oman. Ironic really. I wish I could be alot closer. I always feel like I'm missing out on the fellowship and fun that everyone seems to have. I think that more roadtrips are in order.

I got to play hockey for the first time since last christmas. The first game was a little shaky, and my legs didn't work after the first 10 min. It also didn't help that Nic lent me his midget stick and I had to get on my knees to even use the thing. That being said, I didn't think I performed to badly.

It was good to get out there in the cold air and have some classic Canadian fun. People only care about football and bball down here. For example, I turned on ESPN this morning to catch the highlights of Ducks vs. Oilers, and they showed one stinkin' goal from the whole game, and it was the OT goal. THAT'S IT? ONE FREAKIN GOAL FROM A WHOLE GAME?

As you can tell, I was a little riled (?) up.

Oh well. Less than three weeks now till Clair and I are back in the mother land. Can't wait.

harder than I thought.

I really thought that once I got to school I would be in a more blogging mood. But I guess I was wrong. It's hard to be motivated to type anything after 4 hours of calculus, mechanics and physics homework. Alas, here I am on a Saturday morning and nothing to do.

I find it hard on weekends, just because I love getting up to the family hanging out downstairs or outside. Its different in the dorms, because if there is no one in the room, then it feels like there is no one on campus. But if you give it to about 2 in the afternoon, life starts to appear.

The big news this week is that Clair and I finally got cell phones! We are officially cool and connected. Except its sad to see all that money leave my wallet. We were charged 300 deposit on the phones because we don't have any credit down here, and we get it back after 6 months of paying our bills. Keep your fingers crossed.

Its funny how cheap the cell phone plans are down here. For two phones, with 550 minutes shared, 300 text messages each a month, free minutes between all sprint customers and free minutes on nights and weekends, it only cost us 60 a month, plus tax. What a deal!

In other news, I have started playing JV golf, and they are making it really serious this year. We have 4 practices a week, and 5 tournaments booked. At the practices they are coaching us and giving us drills to work on, so there is mucho improvemento so faro. Im loving it a lot, and seeing my golf game shape up feels so good.

Well, this afternoon will be spent doing some more homework, but then we can relax tomorrow. Miss you guys back home.

go riders go. oh go go riders go go.

as promised...

school has started. what else can you say but it's way too soon. I had such a great summer at home and so it is hard to get back into the learning mode I was in last semester. Also, I dread the first day of classes because of the way teachers present their classes. They scare you, and I get scared. So the anxiety that comes with a new class is hard to deal with sometimes. It soon passes tho, and it sure helps to have my baby down here along with me. Clair and I have one class together, Turning Points in US History. At least we can spend some romantic nights reading in the library, and play footsie under the table...tee hee. My room is real nice all 3 of my roommates are fun and easy to get along with. So far it looks like it should be a good semester, the only problem right now is its too humid to enjoy a full round of golf...and that Im back to sucking. Im off to read my Old Testament book, a class I am really looking forward. no seriously. i really am. no, im not lying. i am excited for this class. ok, fine, don't believe me.

too soon?

there is nothing to do at work today. i've read stuff on cnn, tsn, pga, cfl etc. and now im bored.
what could I do I ask myself....mmmm.....blog? since starting this new blog, I have the uncontrollable desire to type and type and type and type and type....i must type something for the world to read! maybe it has to do with the fact that now my blog is completely unassociated with the John of the Close. i feel this cinder blog (nice one tyler) being lifted on my shoulder's. i think i could really get into this thing!

now...i need to find something meaningful to type about. let's see. something inspirational that will keep the readers coming back for more like a fat kid on steakem's. i don't have a dog, so I can't post pictures about that. i've noticed that that really brings in the audience, with the "ahh, so cute's" and the "whoof, whoof whoof's." i guess I will just have to bathe in some hardcore music for some inspiration. check back soon.

blog numero uno

i've decided to scrap my somewhat joke of a blog gotothefriendofthejohn....ok ok.....my complete joke of a blog, and start a new one to keep those of you at home informed about life down south. blogs about classes, chapel, church, sports, golf and make-out parties with clair...just kidding mom. come by and check it out. the first real posts should start around the 28th, the first day of classes. OH JOY!