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Posted At: 9:53am by AgentDelta
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Well, I haven't been blogging much recently, as you've probably noticed. If you're still around here to notice, I thank you.
In the meantime, since I've just completed my first year of college, I suppose I could write up some of my thoughts for those of you who are going to be diving into your freshman year this fall.
First the scary stuff, especially if you're going to the same college I go to, which you probably aren't, unless you're Seth, in which case you're definitely going to the same college I go to. There will be papers to write, and things to read (duh). The whole point of going to college is to study and learn, so expect to spend most of your time doing that. There's a reason that the phrase "full-time student" exists. You will also meet new people. You will not always agree with these people, and they may pressure you to do things you know are wrong, or not to do things you know are right. Sometimes the pressure will be light, other times, it will be quite strong. Fortunately, I haven't had to deal with any strong pressure, yet. Key word: yet. In instances like these, go with your gut. Most of my readers are life-long Christians. To y'all I say: your upbringing has instilled a lot in you. You know what's right, and in your Bible, pastor, parents, and friends back home (and God. Never forget God.) you have what you need to discern right from wrong when things are 64,000 shades of gray instead of clear-cut black-and-white. You also have the support and backing you need to not conform to the pressure.
Now for the good: you'll also meet some wonderful people. You'll encounter some wonderful professors. If your professors have office hours, take advantage of that. Stop by and visit them. If they're willing to review drafts of papers, take them up on that offer. Even if you don't have any questions related to class, drop by anyway and talk about whatever is on your mind, be it politics or whatever. If they're anything like my professors, you'll enjoy such discussions (and so will they), and you'll learn a lot. I've talked with my professors about everything from the presidential elections to Eastern culture, and I've thoroughly enjoyed and immensely benefited from such discussions.
Keep in mind that not all your learning will take place in the classroom. A lot will happen as you navigate through daily life, meeting people, debating with them, and figuring out how to live your life away from home. And if you find yourself spending a lot of time missing friends and family back home, there are 2 things to keep in mind: 1) That's perfectly normal, and 2) Somehow, someway, you are not busy enough. As soon as classes started, I found that I was so busy that I didn't have time to dwell on what I'd left behind at home. If you're missing home, and all your homework is done, then go find something to do! Find your chapter of the College Republicans or Students for Life and get involved! Find another club you like. If you don't find the club you want, start it! That's what one of my friends is doing next semester. Do all these things even if you feel like you're too busy with homework and whatnot.
Another thing: Make time to have fun. Sure, you'll have to spend most of your time on classes and classwork. But if all you do is classwork, you'll quickly burn out. So watch a movie with some friends on Friday night. Organize a game of Capture-the-Flag or Calvinball. Join an IM sports team, if you like. Find some way to have fun and keep yourself sane.
One final thought: You'll grow a lot during your college years. The person who comes back home next summer won't be the same person who leaves home this fall. You won't noticed the changes nearly as much as those who haven't seen you for a year, but you'll still be a somewhat different person. And that's a good thing. That's part of college. Enjoy it. Just don't go off the deep end. :P
I know that a lot of this sounds like what your parents would or will tell you, and for good reason: a lot of this is what my parents told me, or what I consider standard but true advice about college. However, the same thing sometimes takes on different meaning coming from different people, so I'm posting these thoughts here for y'all. Make of them what you will.
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Posted At: 8:53am by AgentDelta
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There are quite a few songs and videos on the internet written in support of our gallant soldiers. The following video falls into this category, and is specifically written for all of the pilots serving in the American military. Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHs1K79ZF20&feature=related
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Posted At: 1:22am by AgentDelta
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http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2249853620080523?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
That is awesome, in my opinion. The only thing that saddens me is that there is no car dealership in Texas (to the best of my knowledge) that does that. I really wish our local dealerships did that. :D
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Posted At: 9:42am by AgentDelta
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So, last summer my college asked me to read Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis before coming to campus. Most of the content of this post is the result of that book stewing in the back of my subconscious for the past year.
What if the temporary, short-lived nature of things is the main/only reason we enjoy them? After all, why should I take the time to enjoy my college years if I'm going to be in college forever? Our human nature finds it so much easier to gripe and complain about things, and if we have something forever, why not put off the hard work of enjoying it until later? But if we know that things are temporary, we have the incentive to take the time and effort to enjoy them. The only reason we like cake is because we only get one piece at a time. If we got an infinite amount, we would simply make ourselves sick (repeatedly) and eventually start hating it with a passion, no matter how good it actually is (or was).
The Bible repeatedly tells us that the kingdom of heaven turns things upside down. So maybe one of the main reasons that heaven is heaven is because we will have it forever. I'm not sure that I or any other fallen human can comprehend such a thing, but maybe that's how it is. Maybe heaven would become hellish if, while there, we knew that at some point in the future we would be torn from the presence of God. Instead, perhaps the forever part of heaven plays a bigger role than we would, at first glance, think it does.
Sorry for the disjointed nature of this post. This stuff has been floating around in my head for awhile, and I haven't polished it at all.
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Posted At: 10:56am by AgentDelta
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Time for another post. This one is even going to be vaguely theological!
Anyway, the other day somebody asked me “what is truth?” Men have pondered this question for centuries, and people often rank it among the most profound philosophical questions. However, I Corinthians 3:19 says “For the wisdom of this world is folly with God” (ESV). Does this verse apply to the question of what is truth? I think so. In John 14:6, Jesus says “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (ESV). So, according to the Bible, truth is not a what, it’s a who. Imagine the look you’d get from most people if you told them that!
What is the point of this post, you ask? Well, I guess there really isn’t one. I just wanted to share a thought that came to me the other night. Make of it what you will.
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Posted At: 6:45am by AgentDelta
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And as the days drag on, I continue my trend of not updating my blog. Now that I am updating, I am continuing my trend of not putting anything meaningful or thought-provoking on here. :P
So, what's going on at college, you ask? The usual. Papers, reading, and other homework make their constant demands on my time. Somewhere in all that I usually manage to do enough fun stuff to prevent myself from ceasing to function. Some people try to tell me that I work too hard. However, none of these people actually go here, so I'm not altering my habits. Sorry guys. :P
In other news, the President's Ball is tonight. It starts in roughly an hour and twenty minutes, but already the student union is almost empty, except for the people playing pool and video games in one corner. Am I going? No, I don't plan on it at the moment (what? You expected me to say something else?) Since I don't plan on going, I'm not sure what I'll end up doing with my evening. Perhaps I'll continue working on papers, as I've been doing for most of the day. Or perhaps I'll use the 110 inch TV and associated sound system to...listen to Pink Floyd. Yes indeed. It should be fun times.
Also, I've been having a lot of fun debating a Catholic friend of mine. Friendly debates are always fun, and usually educational, and this one has been no exception.
I suppose I have rambled on enough for now, so I'll wrap up this post. Maybe I'll be able to get myself back into the habit of updating this blog more frequently. I doubt it, but stranger things have happened, so keep your eyes peeled.
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Posted At: 6:46am by AgentDelta
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I'm sure there are quite a few outstanding tags that I have to respond to, but for the moment, I'm going to respond to this one (courtesy of Kelsey):
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.
My book is Essays by Michel De Montaigne.
Page 123 has part of his essay entitled "On the Custom of Wearing Clothes."
"On the subject of clothes, the King of Mexico used to change his garments four times a day, and never wore them a second time, but used them for his continual charities and as rewards. In the same way, no pot or dish, or kitchen or table utensil was ever put before him twice.
Book One: Chapter 47, On the Uncertainty of our Judgement."
I tag: RachelE, RachelD, Aaron, Paul, and Ethan.
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Posted At: 9:00am by AgentDelta
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Just a quick post to keep this place alive. School is going well, and life is pretty good, all in all. Anti-abortion fervor is running high here, as always. And it is now colder up here than it usually is in Texas. -2 degree weather does not happen often in my area of Texas. But I knew about that when I moved up here.
Other than that, not much is new. My mom has a website now: http://www.poplolliesboutique.com
Check it out if you like.
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Posted At: 10:25am by AgentDelta
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First of all, I'd like to wish all of you a happy new year!
Second of all, I was watching The X-Files tonight. Specifically, I watched an episode from season 7 called "Signs & Wonders." This was a very interesting episode, and it hinted at a few things that don't normally get said on TV shows.
The premise of the episode goes something like this: People in a small, backwoods Tennessee town are getting attacked and killed by large groups of poisonous snakes. Everybody's first suspect is the pastor of the local snake-handling church (yes, such things do actually exist). These suspicions intensify when Mulder and Scully (the stars of the show, in case you didn't already know) discover that one of the victims had recently left the snake handling church for the other church in town, a community church built on tolerance, where, in the words of its pastor "any belief is welcome." This snake-handling apostate had been persecuted in some way by his former fellow believers.
However, by the end of the episode (SPOILERS AHEAD) we discover that the murderer, a supernatural, demonic entity who is using these large groups of snakes to kill people who know the truth about him, is none other than the tolerance-preaching pastor of the community church! This discovery prompts Mulder to say "People think the devil has horns and a tail. They're not used to looking for some kindly man who tells you what you want to hear."
Isn't that the truth? Satan likes to hide in ordinary, everyday things, right where we'd never expect to find him. Thank goodness for Christ and His death on the cross. Christ has defeated Satan permanently.
If y'all ever get the chance to watch this episode, I recommend that you take it. If you dislike snakes, you'll probably be grossed-out/scared by the episode, but the overall plot and conclusion are worth it, in my opinion.
I probably could have gone into more detail here, and written a more coherent/meaningful post, but at the moment I just want to get my thoughts down before I lose them. If you want more details about the episode or anything else, get in touch with me.
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Posted At: 10:11pm by AgentDelta
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I'd like to wish all of you out there a blessed Christmas as you celebrate the birth of our Saviour.
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