Time slowly creeps by, but yet at times it seems to fly

Then my mind catches itself in past memories that seem so distant yet perfectly still and never changing... I try so hard to make new ones that I will be able to remember, but those awesome calm mountains in Utah still call to me.

Sorry for being so un-original, but this picture was taken on a mountain that I used to see from my window in our living room when I was growing up, and I had to share it with you all.

"Indian Paint Brush"

They are all over the place in Utah... I tried to transplant some to Nebraska last time I was there, but alas it didn't work out too well, so here is a sweet picture of one instead.

slow winter season

So here I am at work again, and I have yet to feel any sense of accomplishment, but I didn't really expect to when I rolled out of bed this morning.  I think I shall go spend some time in the word, and then study... and then maybe drive around a little while with Jenny.  The boss is gone sick for the day, and so here we are just chillin'.  I've been here since like September of '03 and plenty of people have come and gone, but it's still mostly the same.  The same feel, the same sounds, and the same feeling at the end of the day (let's go home already!). 

Lately I've been a little hobbled with a left knee injury sustained playing some basketball, so this too has hampered my activities a bit.  I had been really enjoying playing b-ball lately, until that happened.  But this has led to more time just hanging out, but mostly more time with my roommate Aaron.  I also got the opportunity to lead a workshop at nav-nite last Friday.  I led it on Fellowship, and that definitely was beneficial to the people that heard it, and myself.  I was surprised (I don't know why) to see that the people who listened to my workshop really had a change of view on what fellowship is, and why it's important.  That was pretty sweet... I suppose I'll just blog my thoughts on fellowship sometime soon, because that way I can express them more fully because I won't have a time restriction like I did on Friday. 

I also have been noticing how easy it is for us (as believers) to hold onto grudges.  I've noticed this with myself, and also with others.  I'm sad when friends get and stay mad at eachother.  Not that I'm thinking of anyone in particular, but I've just been noticing tension areas and also people drifting apart.  I see some folks all the time, but then I'm like whatever happened to when I used to hang out with so and so all the time, so I give them a call and hang out, and it just makes me so happy... *sorry for the tangent*

Well, I'm going to KSU this weekend, and then it sounds like Ron ( a guy from work) and I are going to the driving range on Sunday, so that should be fun.  yay golf!

Thinking about fasting?

A high opinion of my own dignity, importance, merit or superiority

•  when someone sacrifices self without the expectance of getting repaid, they are blessed

• In Ecclesiastes ch.9 v. 10, it says that "whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might"  This brings comfort for me when I find many things to do, and I just do them without looking forward to a reward, for it also says in v. 11 that things don't really go to those who expect them to, but rather it's just time and chance that rule.  I think that this means that I should do things, and not do them expecting a reward, but rather do them because it is what my hand has found to do.

• Humble people enjoy these small things in life:  People love them, they don't get upset easily, when things go wrong they will blame themselves (not others), they are great leaders (Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith last years coaches of the super bowl teams), they can influence those around them because others respect them and their opinion
  

• prideful people enjoy that state of "I have arrived" and they just annoy the crap out of people, and in my eyes will have little impact on those that they grow close to.

• Ecclesiastes Chapter 7:8-9
• 8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,

       and patience is better than pride.

       for anger resides in the lap of fools.

• Proverbs 29:23  A man's pride will bring him low,  But a humble spirit will maintain honor

Quiet and peaceful times...

As a Christian man, I enjoy finding places in which to get away from things and to enjoy some solitude with our Lord.  This particular photo was taken when Travis and I headed west during August.  We spent the night out at Chadron State Park and the next morning as we were exploring the park we spotted this random bluff with a tree on top of it, so we decided that was OUR PLACE to meet with the Lord.  I have always enjoyed nature, and especially in the mornings and evenings when the sun isn't so bright, and the earth is calm.  It's so beautiful and nice. 

Trav and I climbed up to this bluff, and found little nooks to spend some time reading and praying before we started our day.  We had a sweet time the rest of the day traveling up  to South Dakota to go see Austin, but it wouldn't have been the same without finding our place... later that day we found more quiet and peacefulness next to a waterfall up in South Dakota, but it was in town and not so peaceful.  I guess I just want to suggest to those whom are reading and who are distressed, or maybe they aren't, to go find your place out in nature, and read a good book, take some pictures, draw a picture, have a picnic, or just take a nap.  The point is that the soul is relaxed when everything around is calm and quiet.