In My Little Piece Of The World...

2003-05-22T15:08:00.000-05:00

So, I've spent the last week and a 1/2 resting, getting ready for camp, and getting ready for STEVE's wedding...it's pretty tiring.

Last week I slept in all week, but this week I've been trying to get ready for camp, so I've been getting up at 8am...some days it's harder than others. And I realize that 8am will be late at camp...but hey, you've gatta' start somewhere, right?

It kinda' feels like I'm leaving for school again because we've been to the store soooo much in the last week buying everything I'm going to need and then going back and getting an extra one "just in case", etc... It's enough to make you go crazy!!!

And it doesn't make anything easier with the fact that I'm lazy and hate packing all this stuff.

But I'm leaving early MONDAY morning...what time? I don't know, but I've emailed the camp asking what time I need to be there (most likely 8am or so), so I've got to wait to hear from them.

2003-05-11T15:26:00.000-05:00

Welp, school is OVER!!! It's been a LOOOONG year, but a good one...lots of life lessons learned.

I have a couple of weeks until I go off to camp. I'll be a camp counselor for 11 weeks straight...YIKES!!! Please pray about that for me.

Well, I'm going to call my GRANNY and wish her a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Enjoy the rest of your afternoon. :)

2003-01-21T11:39:00.000-06:00

Hello World,
Oh, I love the warm winter months...72 degress in January...Oh, can't beat that, no sirree, Bob.
Well, I'm doing well...except that now I have sinus junk all in my head and I can't seam to get rid of it. I've done the NYQUILL thing, the ROBITUSSEN thing, the SUDAFED thing...it's killin' me!!! Today it's my throat that hurts, yesterday it was just my head, and the day before that my nose...if this is slow death...Kill me now!!! I just want a hammer or something so I can relieve the pressure in my head...
Classes are up and in full swing here at the lovely University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. I'm taking 16 hours this semester and I think I'm going to like all of my professors and classes. I am taking Apologetics, Youth Ministry, the second half of New Testament, Intorduction to Theatre (the last Theatre class I have to take for my Theatre Minor), and Sign Language. Should be a challenging semester, but not too difficult.
I'm also trying to get into shape a little bit. I've been talking about running a lot, and I've found a couple of people who want to start running with me, so we'll see if I ever get up and go run..hahaha. I'm also trying to eat a little bit better. All those RAMEN NOODLES from last semester have stuck with me, and I'm noticing that it's starting to show...so, that's a goal for this semester...to get into the habbit of taking better care of my body.
Well, I think that's going to be all for now...thanks for reading...whoever reads this...

2002-12-13T18:59:00.000-06:00

I PASSED CHEMISTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2002-11-23T12:58:00.000-06:00

Well this weekend is PREVIEW WEEKEND. That's the time when prospective students come up to the school and check everything out, stay the night, and then go home. I had 2 Preview Students. They were really cool guys. Both are from Temple (the next town over), and we just made the most of it. It is also my 1 year anniversary of coming to UMHB to visit. Yes, one year ago, I decided to come up to PREVIEW WEEKEND, I got lost, and finally made it here!!! Hang on, my pizza is done cooking...be right back...Oh, it smells soooooo good!!! AND it was only $0.75!!! I LOVE WAL*MART!!!

Yeah, so my Preview Students are gone and my friend CHRISTY is going to come over and eat some pizza with me. Then it's off to the library where I get to watch SIGN LANGUAGE VIDEOS, then I get to work on a paper for ENGLISH that is due on TUESDAY. FUN STUFF!!!

I received word that my Great Uncle Dan passed away and his funeral is, well, in about 7 minutes. I met him maybe twice, but I remember going up to Conroe and spending the day with them a few years back. I'm sorry that he is gone, but I'm happy that his suffering is over. I hope my PAPA, his brother, AUNT OPAL, and SUSAN will take things well.

2002-11-11T11:21:00.000-06:00

It was such a blessed weekend for me.

I went to ANTIOCH's 1/2 Nigh of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on FRIDAY. It was GREAT!!! We prayed for the US, and for countries all over the world, and for missionaries, and had awesome praise and worship...oh, it was SCHWEET!!!

Then I stayed the night at DOUG's. He is one of the Life Group leaders of the group I have gone to for 2 weeks now. I'm still praying about my involvement in ANTIOCH and REVIVAL TOWN (a church in TEMPLE). But, despite that, DOUG really added to my weekend.

We woke up at about 12 or so, and went to BENNY's BAGELS. I didn't have a bagel (I always have to be different), but I got a CROISANWICH (MMMMMmmmm....), and we read part of NEMIAH together. It was the part where the walls of Jerusalem are completely rebuilt and the dedication of the wall to the LORD...it was really cool. Then we went back to his apartment and had a time of quietness. He went and sat in a chair looking out the window, and I layed on the floor. We had been talking about GREEN PASTURES and STILL WATERS (Psalm 23), and were praying about those things. As I was laying on the ground, I felt like the Holy Spirit came and took everything that was rattling around in my head away and allowed me to have complete peace. I felt like I was laying in the hands of God...really, I felt like that. Then I got up and we talked about things going on in our lives, and then one of his roomates came in and we all talked about different things we were experiencing in our walk with God...and when I left, I felt sooooooo relaxed, so at rest, so peaceful.

And then, as I was driving, I went the speedlimit, and I got home in 30 minutes...it usually takes 40-45...it was just really weird.

And even at church yesterday, GOD just continued to tell me to enter into a season of peace and rest...and I'm looking forward to this season. I've been stressed out a lot lately, with school and friends, etc...and I'd like a little more peace in my life. WHO WOULDN'T?!?!

So, into this season of rest, I go
Bidding my Savior stay beside me all my days
To Him I live,
Myself, I cannot serve
For Him, I'll do anything.

2002-11-01T12:18:00.000-06:00

WOW!!! It's been a long time since I posted...funny how time flys by. Oh, and HEY!!! Look at the counter on the side...over 600 visits by people all over the world...Awe, you shouldn't have. (blows a kiss)

Well, it's been weird lateley...time really has been flying by. It seems like the weeks all just kinda' run together. And now it's the first of NOVEMBER and I'm just thinkin', "Ok, I have 1 more test in each class, and then FINALS!!!" Maybe I just think about this stuff at the beginning of each month.

2002-10-20T17:11:00.000-05:00

Yeah, so while people are hurting all around, I continue to hold fast to God. Knowing that He wistands all pain, and suffering is more than enough comfort for me, and I pray that I may be able to share and spread the peace I have to others.

2002-10-18T00:33:00.000-05:00

Hurt, this pain all around
Hurt, this distain covering my outer garments
Cleansing, healing...no where to be found.

Your pain, it vexes you so
How did it get here?
When will it go?
Cleansing, healing...no where to be found.

Hurt, this inner turmoil
Twisting inside
Covering like an oil
Cleansing, healing...no where to be found.

Does pain have an end?
Will distain see the end of a night?
How much more must I not give in?

In almost everyone I see around me, I see pain. I see sooooo much pain...and that hurts me.

2002-10-06T21:05:00.000-05:00

WOW...it is sooooooo good to report that I have had a GREAT WEEK!!! Though I am deprived of sleep, and somewhat a little grumpy at times...it has been a completely blessed week!

Putting everything into words would be impossible, but I truly feel that things are on track. I am looking forward to seeing how GOD is going to move in this week.

My room has been changed around a little bit. Seems that yesterday, JUSTIN decided I needed to have the high bed, and he should have the low bed (we have the kind of beds you can bunk, but we don't bunk them), and he moved all this stuff around...by himself!!! He even left 2 holes in the wall!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! I was going to get to bed early last night, but as soon as I came in, I had to help and clean up all my junk that was piled on top of my new tall bed. It's kinda' weird, I feel like I need a step-stool to get up there...but getting out of bed this morning was even more interresting!!! I've never slid out of bed onto my feet before...talk about a rude awakening.

2002-10-02T00:57:00.000-05:00

Father God,
With every thing I am, I want to thank you. I could never list all the ways you have provided and moved supernaturally in and around my life in just the past 2 weeks. It sorrows me that I cannot praise you enough, or understand you completely, but that is something I must accept. I thank you for being in charge of the roller coasters I find myself on, and thank you for stopping them so I can gather myself together.
Sometimes I'm just so sick of the Christian Life. Sometimes I feel that if I keep giving stuff up, I won't have anything left for myself. But I know those thoughts, and the hundreds of others that accompany them are nothing but lies, nothing more, and nothing less.
Thank you for granting my prayers, and the faithful prayers of others, for discernment. Without your wisdom, grace, provision, direction, and mercy, I would surely be dead at this very moment, and if not dead, then longing for death. To attempt a life without you is so beyond my reach, because I don't want to reach backwards anymore.
I am soo thankful that you have placed my past in the past, and I reach forward to you. You are my future, you are my hope, you are my life, you are my every thing, nothing less, but everything more, and then some.
Why do you love me soo much? Why do you even bother? What do I have that would catch your attention from everything else in the universe? Surely, I will never know, but I do know that you will never leave me. You will never forsake me. You will never cast me aside. I love your promises!!!
Let your face be the only thing I ever seek. Allow your will to replace my petty, earthly, dead end desires. Position me on your wheel, and mold me into a vessel used by your hands every single day. Do not put me in a place of honor and allow me to steal praise from you. In every thing, absolutely every thing, allow yourself to be seen, not me.
Lord, it's all to you, for you, and by you. This is my creed, this is my motto, this is my Ebenezer.
In the name of the blood of the Lamb,
-Amen-

2002-09-30T13:46:00.000-05:00

I feel like I have been on an emotional rollercoaster and I can't get off the ride, have you ever felt like that? I mean, there have been SEVERAL really good things from the past two weeks, but there have also been SEVERAL really bad things...and I'm just waiting for it all to stop.

2002-09-27T09:10:00.000-05:00

*whew* I've made it through 2 very very very long weeks. I haven't written because my mind has been elsewhere.

In the middle of all the drama that has been going on, GOD has continually been there. He has tried to get my attention when I feel overpowered, and comforted me when I just can't take it anymore in several ways.

I'd like to say THANKS to all the people GOD has put in my life that are an encouragement. (Not limited to only these people)
My roomate JUSTIN, CHRISTY, BRETT, MATT, CJ, BLAKE, the other JUSTIN, LEAH, JERROD, and the FOCUS BAND.
These people have shown GOD's love to me these past two weeks by simply being there. Thanks to you all, I appreciate and love you more than you know.

I'm going home this weekend to relax!!!

2002-09-21T14:43:00.000-05:00

Oh dear LORD....what a week!!!

This has definately been one of the most difficult weeks I've experienced in a long time. And the thing is, it wasn't all about me. I don't want to relive everything, so I'm not going to type it all out...plus, that would just take waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long.

I know that GOD is in control and I submit to His plan.

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10

2002-09-19T02:53:00.000-05:00

Well, today hasn't been the best day of my life...but GOD made today, and I choose to rejoice in HIS purposes.

Father God. Only you truly know the battle being waged inside of me. Only you know how annoyingly difficult it is to let something that was once a part of you go, so that something better could come in it's place. Lord, you superceed me in all my thoughts, actions, words; in all my ways, you are supreme over me. If I could wish this entire situation away, I honestly don't think I would. I know that this was planned for me. I know that you have used it to glorify yourself in me. And because of those two reasons, I choose to accept those trials and challanges with everything I am. I choose to claim VICTORY over the enemy. I choose to take up my cross and follow your Son daily. I choose to allow you to take all the shame, disgrace, humiliation, and all costs of sin off of my back, and place them as far as the east is from the west. I choose to lay my testimony down at the foot of the throne of mercy and release all connections from it as a part of who I am. I choose to accept the blessings you have in store for me to replace the bottomless holes in my soul as only you can. Whatever you say, I will follow. Wherever you lead, I'll go...whole heartedly. For you alone are the Lord. You alone are the Righteous One. You alone are my All In All. You alone are More Than Enough. You alone are Infinate Agape Love. You alone are the Lover of my Soul. To you, and you alone will I bow. To you, and you alone will I submit. And to you, and you alone will I love with all of my heart; my soul belongs to you.
Be blessing, power, glory, honor, strength, wisdom, and majesty to the I AM.
In the name of the Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God the Father,
-Amen-

2002-09-08T21:46:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been in one of those "BLAH" moods? You know, the one where you are just kinda' there? You aren't doing anything, but you are thinking about everything and nothing at the same time? Yeah, that's me right now. But there is one key thing on my mind...

I go to ANTIOCH in WACO. I love this church!!! It takes between 40-45 minutes to get there, the service starts at 11 and ends after 1pm. I absolutely love this church because I can totally see GOD moving in the lives of the people around me, as well as in my own life. I can feel the presence of the LORD when I walk in the doors. It's becomming a place where I expect GOD to meet with me, not in a bad way...but HE always does, and it is extremely prevelent when I am there.

SUNDAY nights I go to REVIVAL TOWN, which is in TEMPLE (only 5 minutes away from UMHB), and I love this church, too. Almost in the same way. I know GOD is moving there and I greatly enjoy it. I feel at peace when I go to REVIVAL TOWN, there is a connection there.

REVIVAL TOWN is a church within a church...you following me? REVIVAL TOWN's "PARENT CHURCH" is CHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCH (CLC), in the same building as REVIVAL TOWN. I have been thinking and inquiring about this church for a while, now...but especially this past week. I've asked a few people what it's like, the worship, the pastor, the youth, the children, the adults, etc... and I would really like to visit, possibly even help out with the Youth. I'm now in the PRAYING STAGE about all of this. I truly desire to be in the church GOD wants me to be in, and I don't want to just be a CHURCH HOPPER like other people who go to UMHB (not all, but some). The thing is, I want to let GOD be the one to show me where HE would have me go, not me tell me where I want to go. I don't want to settle. I want what GOD wants, and that is HIS very best. I want to be used for HIS KINGDOM wherever I am. I know that I can't mess up GOD's plans. I simply don't want to settle for something that isn't of HIM for my life. It's not about just visiting another church, not at all. It's about me being placed where I can reach the potential GOD has for me. I just want to serve, serve HIM, serve HIM alone.

2002-09-06T16:12:00.000-05:00

Well, I haven't written in a few days...busy, busy, busy.

SEPTEMBER has been good so far, of course it's only the 6th.

Classes are in full swing and you guessed it...that means there is homework!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! That's like the "H" word around here. It hasn't been bad, yet. It's mainly reading...but I have a problem with that, sorta'. I'm not a big fan of reading outside of class. Why? Do you ask? Because I'm lazy. I'm not going to hide that...I really just would rather do 1,000,000,000,000 other things than read an assigned portion of a book. Hey, don't judge me...this is just how I am.

JUSTIN, MATT, and I are all in the same BRITISH LITERATURE TO 1785 (or whatever year it is) class, and that helps. But they are in the class that meets before mine, but we have the same professor. It's been interresting "helping" each other out with the out of class reading. Makes for an eyebrow raising semester.

I had my first SIGN LANGUAGE class this past TUESDAY night. IT WAS GREAT!!! I'm thinkin' I'm really gunna' enjoy this class. Our professor is almost completely deaf, but can hear some things, and is an EXCELLENT lip reader. He's funny, too...so I'm looking forward to that class. LEAH, AARON, MATT, and lots of other friends are also in the same class.

Today is my GRANNY & PAPA's 56th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!! Have a wonderful day, you two crazy love birds!!!

For the past 3 days I've been wearing CHRISTY's SCHWEET bracelet. I can't really describe whatr it looks like, but if I was from CALIFORNIA, no one would say anything because it looks like something a SURFER would wear. MATT likes it and tried to steal it from me, but I won that battle (MUAHAHAHA!!!), but some of the girls on campus don't like it. Well, I like it, and that's all that matters. CHRISTY said I could wear it on WEDNESDAY, and I was suppost to give it back that night...but she never asked for it back...HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmm...looks like I am the proud owner of a new bracelet. My precious!!! - in GOLLUM voice. You know, GOLLUM from LORD OF THE RINGS? Ok, fine...it was a stupid joke...never mind!!! SHEESH!!!

On the SPIRITUAL side of things...all is well!!! I feel that GOD has been prepairing me to tell my testimony to groups of people now, and not just individuals. My testimony isn't the easiest one to tell, and it's not the easiest one to hear, but I am learning to let GOD take care of all that and just obey HIM. It gets easier and easier every time I tell someone else...PRAISE GOD!!! I talked to JERROD about it last night, my REVIVAL TOWN PASTOR, and he wants me to speak at REVIVAL TOWN one night whenever I'm ready. WOW!!! WHAT A BLESSING!!!

I've asked my DAD if he will "support" ($$$) me buying a bike. It gets old walking all the way across campus to go to class...and then REALLY OLD walking back. He hasn't responded...and I emailed him a few days ago...what's that suppost to mean?

I just so happen to know what a pain it is it get 2 bikes into my car. Thanks to CHRISTY and LEAH.

Okay, there is a group of us going to THE DOOR in DALLAS tonight and I'm the driver. So I've got to get some gas or else we are going to be stickin' our thumbs out on the way home...

LATA'

2002-08-31T00:04:00.000-05:00

Today is the 14 year anniversary of my sister, JUDAH's, death. I am not sad because today marks 14 years that she has been praising GOD in HIS presance, and that is a wonderfully joyus thought. PRAISE GOD!!!

Around the apartment things were a little tense this week. It was just a hard week, but through GOD's never-ending grace, we all made it.

Mostly everyone on campus is at FOCUS in ARLINGTON. I decided not to go and kinda' take the weekend off, ya' know. It's been nice. JUSTIN and CARRIE are in AUSTIN, ALAN is at LAKE CONROE, and MATT and BETH are at FOCUS, and I am in a quiet apartment enjoying it all.

Since it is just me, I decided to go to the movies...but nobody likes to go alone, so I called a few guys, only CJ, a new guy from VIRGINIA, called me back. We went and saw XXX. LOL!!! "That just sounds wrong", we both said when we bought our movie tickets. It was TRIPLE X; I've seen this movie 2 times now. Before the movie, we went to WAL*MART because we had a whole hour to waste, saw the movie at 7 o'clock, and then came back to the apartment and talked for a bit. CJ is a cool guy, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to get to know him a little better...it's a total GOD thing.

Oh, the peace and quiet...I love the way the echo of my voice is all I hear.

2002-08-28T13:19:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I kinda' have a solution to the fish delima. Last night when I came back to the apartment I walked in and I felt something that was not carpet under my foot. Who can guess what it was? I looked down and to my sheer and utter amazement, it was my brand spakin' new GOLD FISH!!! He aparently jumped out of his little jar (which was a big jar), over the folded up camping chair and onto the middle of the floor. Talk about a way to go. So, I picked him up and put him back in his little jar and this morning I put him in MATT and ALAN's toilet to scare them...but he kinda' sank...I thought dead fish were suppost to float...oh well.

Today was the first day of classes at UMHB. My schedule is as follows:

Chemistry & Society MWF 8-9am
Chapel Wed 11-12pm
Psychology MWF 12-1pm

Intro to New Testament T TH 9:30-11am
British Lit. to 1785 T TH 1-2:30pm
Sign Language Tues 5-9pm

I have no classes back-to-back except for on WEDNESDAYS, and that's CHAPEL, but that doesn't count as a class. But what it means is I'll be doing a lot of walking. FUN!!!

I have a headache and I don't know why. MATT gave me some ADVIL, but I don't know if it's helping or not. I didn't have my headache until after CHEMISTRY, when I came home and took a nap. When I woke up, BAM!!! There it was...and it hasn't really let up at all. Don't you just hate that?

MATT and I are going to the BSM today at 2 to get things ready for the ALOHA party for CAMPUS BOYS. If you are reading this, please say a prayer for CAMPUS BOYS. We want to make sure CAMPUS BOYS is a place for guys that is completely blessed and sanctified by GOD and not just another club to add to our schedules. Thanks.

PRAISE GOD!!! The Janitor/Custodiam guy just came by the apartment to fix my light. Last week, when JUSTIN and I moved in, our light wasn't working...and still, one week later...it isn't working. I'm happy that it is finally going to be fixed!!!

2002-08-27T14:19:00.000-05:00

YEAH FOR MY MOMMY!!! Today I received 10 pieces of mail...and they were all from my MOM. How cool is that? One of the parcels (lol...that's just a funny word...parcel) was a package with a T-SHIRT inside that says, "My Mommy says I'm special." HOW FREAKIN' AWESOME IS THAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Happy Birthday to me!!!

Last night, after all the WELCOME WEEK stuff, I came home and found an apartment full of friends. *RING* Hang on, it's the phone...SCHWEET!!! Today I registered to win a Camping Chair and some kind of Sports Bag from my bank...AND I WON!!! AWESOME!!! Ok, back to whatever it was I was talking about: So I come home, right, and there are people in my apartment, which was a shocker, because the lights were off on the side of the apartment that I parked on, and all of the sudden they say, "SURPRISE!!!" I was like, NO WAY! I totally wasn't expecting anything like that at all. My roomates had already given me my Birthday Weggie (like right after I had gotten out of the shower, too...at least I was clean...so I wasn't expecting anything else. I have wonderful roomates who planned it all and got people to come and it was FUN!!!

So then, after everyone left, it was getting late, BRIAN (one of the guys in my WELCOME WEEK FAMILY GROUP) called and was like, "Dude, I'm sorry I missed it, I lost track of time...", and I had told him that I wanted to talk to him before the night was over, so he decided to call and then stop by. He ate some cake and we talked about his life, and my life, and how GOD has been moving in our lives, and we pretty much swapped Testimonies (which was SCHWEET!!!), and I got to pray for him. It is ALWAYS AWESOME to have another brother you can just talk to, know what I mean? GOOD TIMES!!!

This afternoon we had lunch in the Quad, and it was like a CHURCH FAIR type thing. A lot of churches from BELTON and TEMPLE came and pretty much advertised their church. I like it when they all come and don't talk about "religion", but are interrested in developing relationships. GO LOCAL CHURCHES!!! And TEMPLE BIBLE CHURCH was there and they had all these jars set up, and if you could throw a ping-pong ball into the jar, you would win! There were all kinds of fish in the jars, and guess who won a GOLD FISH? ME!!! I DID!!! GO ME!!! WHOO-HOO!!! The only thing about winning this GOLD FISH is it presents a delima. The delima is, I still have McGUIRE, but he is pretty sick. He used to be this big, bold, pretty, BLUE/RED BETA FISH, but now, he's REALLY puny, and it has almost lost all of his color, and if a fish could be blood shot, McGUIRE would win for BLOOD SHOT FISH OF THE MONTH. I don't really know why he's all discolored and puny like that. And I feel really bad for him, but there isn't much I can do. I don't like looking at him in what seems to be pain, he just kinda' swims around without putting any effort into it, and he never flairs up and looks all bad to the bone or anything anymore. So, I'm thinkin' I'm gunna' flush him. But I feel bad about it...WHAT, OH WHAT SHOULD I DO?!?!?!?!?!?!

2002-08-26T07:54:00.000-05:00

Today, I turn 21 years old. When I was little, I never thought I would make it to be 21. I never thought it was "old", but I just didn't see that I would ever be 21, I would be a kid forever. Anybody know what I'm talkin' about? Well, now that I'm 21, I STILL don't feel like it. Eventhough the other day I had one of those, "I feel old" moments, it passed away, and I felt like a kid again. Sometimes I forget that I'm even in College!!! Maybe I just don't think about it as often as I should. I find it hard to believe that I'm 21, a Junior at the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR, I don't live at home anymore (except about 3 weeks out of the year), and I'm going to be in Ministry somewhere. That description makes me sound, "All Grown Up"...I don't wanna' be "Grown Up"!!! I still think of myself as a kid. Am I the only one in the world who feels kinda' weird like this? And no, I don't have "Age Issues"...it just sounds like it...HAHAHAHA!!!

2002-08-18T20:19:00.000-05:00

We went FISHIN' today and caught about 24 fish. 23 were SPECKLED TROUT and 1 FLOUNDER. Last time we went fishing, I caught the FLOUNDER, but this year, STEVE caught it. He also caught the largest fish. There was NO TIDE what-so-ever, but we drifted for most of the time, and that seemed to work...for a while. After all of us getting tangled together 2 times, we decided we should head on in. It was a a lot of fun, and I'm glad we could all go and spend some quality time together. Now the next best part is going to be EATING ALL THE FISH!!! MMMMMMMmmmmmm...

I just talked to MELISSA. I've missed seeing her this summer...kinda' makes going back to school more than worth it. =)

Tomorrow is my DENTIST appointment at 11:20am.
Tomorrow is also the day that PATCH (our cat) goes to the VET for the very first time...HAHAHAHA!!! It's just funny.
Tomorrow is also when I really have to get it in gear and get everything all ready to go in my car and take care of everything for school. I really don't want to pack anymore.

2002-08-18T20:09:00.000-05:00

Here's what I tried to post on 07/27/02

What an interresting summer...and it's ALMOST OVER *screems histarically AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

It's been a great experience and I'm looking forward to school starting. Well, not looking forward to going to class and all that academic stuff, but seeing my friends, and living in an apartment, seeing MELISSA again *stares into space and starts day dreaming* and all that other cool stuff!!!

Oh my, now that this thing is working...I can't think of anything to write!!! Don't you just hate it when that happens?

My last day is the 11th of AUGUST, and I'll be home on the 12th. The only things I have planned for the week and a half before I go back to school are:
Sleeping
Packing
Fishing Trip

Yeppers, that's about it. Sounds like fun, huh? I have to be back at school on the 21st because I am a WELCOME WEEK DAD, and we have to do stuff for the FRESHMEN and TRANSFERS before they arrive at UMHB on the 24th. Then, my 21st BIRTHDAY is on AUGUST 26th!!! I'll be standing in line with my WELCOME WEEK FAMILY GROUP getting them all registered for classes...Fun stuff!!! Oh well...I did volunteer, so it's my own fault.

I'm hoping to leave BEEVILLE with a COWBOY HAT and a COW!!! You know, to always be able to remember the small town experience. We'll see how it goes.

Well, my time at the BEEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY is almost over...so it looks like I'm going to have to let you go. I miss you, and love you all!!!

Peace be with you,
-James-

2002-08-17T18:33:00.000-05:00

I HAVE A NEW COMPUTER!!!
I went to BEST BUY yesterday and applied for a BEST BUY CARD with 18 months 0% financing and $400 Mail-In Rebate, got approved, and bought my very own computer!!! YEAH!!! WHOO-HOO!!! It's an HP, 1.3GHz, 128MB, 40GB Hard Drive!!! Now, I know that some of you out there don't like HPs, well, this was the best computer for me, at the best price for me, at the right time for me!!! GOD has totally provided the way for me to have this computer and I'm SUPER EXCITED!!! And no, I'm not using it right now. It's not connected to the internet, plus it's on the floor...

2002-08-16T01:55:00.000-05:00

I simply cannot believe it...I had this big, long BLOG about how I can't sleep and how I must be messed up in the head and how GOD is giving me enough money for school...and my computer loses the connection, and ultimately loses EVERYTHING I had just written...URG!!!

2002-08-14T15:19:00.000-05:00

I am soooooooo bored...anyone know how I feel? I'm suppose to be relaxing this week and be getting ready for school, I leave next WEDNESDAY, and all that. But what do you do when you are bored?!?!?! I haven't done much of anything today.

When I get really bored, I look on the computer to see what my brother has changed around since the last time I was around. Every time I look, he's changed something else. It's annoying. Like, 10 minutes ago, I was looking for AUDIOGALAXY to download some new music. Guess what? It's not there anymore!?!?! He's always doing something. And I don't know why he would take away the program that downloads the music, but I guess I'll just have to ask him when he gets home from work. Not bad for someone who doesn't know much about computers.
We, my Step-Dad, and brother, are planning a fishing trip this SUNDAY. It's kinda' weird...I'm skipping church so I can go fishing. HAHA!!! This is the first time I've skipped church for something like that, you know? But I really don't feel bad about it because RAMON (my Step-Dad) NEVER, and I mean NEVER wants to get out of bed and do ANYTHING!!! He has bad medical problems, and this is the best he's felt in a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG time. PRAISE GOD!!! Plus, on top of all that, the 3 of us never get to spend any time together. With me off at UMHB, STEVE (my brother) working and spending time with his fiance (spelling???), and RAMON feeling so bad all the time, we never get to spend much time together at all. And now we have an opportunity to, so we are going to take it. I've prayed about it, and I really think GOD is okay with it all.

I've been calling people in my WELCOME WEEK family today. I cannot find my calling cards, so I've been using my cell phone...ummm...my minutes rolled over, but that was just yesterday, and it's been using a lot of them...and I still have a month before they roll over again...so I think I'm going to have to go out and buy another calling card. One of the drawbacks of having the worst cell phone plan in the world. =(

So, in exactly one week, I'll be moving back up to school!!! GO CRU!!! I've missed my friends and I'm excited about living in an apartment, and not in the noisy dorms. I'll be living with JUSTIN, MATT (not MATT from the other post today), and ALLEN. Should make for an interresting group. If I had my calling card, I could call them, too... *sigh*

2002-08-14T13:00:00.000-05:00

Last night I got to hang out with some WONDERFUL friends!!! JASON, JORDAN, AARON, MATT, and myself got to spend some time worshiping and holding each other accountable. It was a great time. Hanging out with them is actually one of the things I look forward to when I come home, and miss the most when I'm not around.

I didn't know MATT, but it was good to meet him. He's 17, and just graduated, and was really cool to get to know.

Those guys sharpen me more than I can explain. I feel refreshed and ready for this coming semester!!!

2002-08-13T16:56:00.000-05:00

Oh, give me a home...
Where the buffalo roam...
And the deer and the antelope play...
Where seldom is heard...
A discouraging word...
And the skies are not cloudy all day...

It's soooo nice to be home. I slept in my very own bed last night so peacefully and had wonderful dreams of sugarplumbs dancing around all night long...until it started raining!!! Now, I enjoy falling asleep to sounds of rain, but we must have had a TSUNAMI or something. It was pounding on the roof and on the neighbor's awning at like 4 this morning. Talk about a "Morning Wake-Up Call".

But, it is nice to be back in the city again. I've enjoyed seeing all the nice stores, and buildings taller than 4 stories, and even seeing more than 2 cars on the road at a time. Oh, and who can forget the smog so that you cannot see downtown HOUSTON when you drive up...Ahhh...home!!!

HEHE!!! Though it is nice to be home, I miss BEEVILLE...as ironic as that sounds. I don't miss the smallness or lack of variety, per-say, but I do miss the people. These were the people who accepted me, in all my city slickerness, with open arms and warm smiles. I really do miss them. If there were more people in the world like at FBC BEEVILLE, the world would be a better place. They all have big hearts and are soooo loving. *tear*

2002-07-27T16:30:00.002-05:00

Is BLOG going to let me post today? This is only a test...

2002-07-27T16:30:00.001-05:00

WOW!!! I think it's working today...

*this is only a test!!!*

2002-07-27T16:30:00.000-05:00

...

2002-06-30T01:42:00.000-05:00

I tried to post this on the 24th, but the computer I was using was on crack...

Ahh...back in the tiny town of BEEVILLE. It's soo peaceful here...well, until the cows start mooing at night, and the tractor won't start, and the chickens attack you as you run to your car, and you have to drive 20mph behind an oversized JOHN DEER CROP PICKER that is going far below the 70mph speed limit, and you get stuck behind a herd of cattle being rounded up in the 20x20ft "downtown" district, and when the one gas station runs out of gas, and when they do have gas they don't have a clue what a Debit Card is, don't accept it, and give you a weird look when you try to pay with a check from HOUSTON, then rip it up in front of you, and when the McCOY'S (Lumber Store) runs out of lumber, and the well you pump your water from runs dry, and there is no electricity unless you generate it yourself (still haven't fogured out how to do that one, yet), and the only form of etertainment is sitting on the front porch watching the cars go by, or sitting on the back porch watching the birds dive bomb your car, or sit facing the pasture and watch the cows eat (that's all they do...graze!!!), and having to pick up the rotary phone and ask the opperator to connect you, and you start talking with a HICK accent and the natives think you are making fun of them...but you can't really help it...the list goes on and on and on and on...

2002-06-22T22:06:00.000-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS TO MOLLY and my new Brother-In-Law, DAVID!!! Best wishes, and God bless you both!!!

As you may have gathered, today was my sister's wedding. It was a great service and they are such a happy couple. *sniff, sniff*

I saw MOM & RAMON today. We met for breakfast at DENNY'S (which has the world's worst parking lot, by the way), and updated them on pretty much everything I could think of, as did they to me. Breakfast only took about 30 minutes...kinda' fast. But they were on their way to see GRANDMOTHER & GRANDDADDY, so I didn't keep them long. I miss being home.

Tomorrow I'm speaking at the church my GRANNY, PAPA, DAD and over half of my extended family attend, WOODLAND BAPTIST CHURCH. 3/4 of the congregation will be related to me...no joke!!! Tomorrow I'm speaking on FAMILY. The basic point of the message says that we have 3 families: Physical Family-those you are related to by blood &/or marraige, Church Family-the congregation of your place or group of worship, and your Spiritual Family-Any and all humans who believe that Jesus is God's Son and call on Him for Salvation regardless of denomination or worship style &/or preference. The OTHER main point is, no matter if you have a big family (like me), a small family, a disfunctional family, or no family at all...you ALWAYS have GOD, and He is your Father. Please be praying that God would speak and not me.

After the service, we are going to eat, then I'm back on the road for 3 hours. I have to be back in BEEVILLE by 6pm for the service there, and then the YOUTH have SNAC-SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER CHURCH. It's just a hang out time for all the YOUTH at someone in the church's house.

MONDAY IS MY DAY OFF!!! THANK YOU, GOD!!!

2002-06-21T14:48:00.000-05:00

BACK IN HOUSTON!!! WHOO-HOO!!! YEAH FOR SKYSCRAPERS!!!

I'm in town for the weekend. My sister is getting married tomorrow, and I will be preaching at my GRANNY & PAPA's church on SUNDAY. What am I going to peach on? Only GOD knows...really.

I have been EXTREMELY busy lately, so let me see if I can catch you up with what has been going on.

Last week was camp!!! We took a total of 11 people to M-FUGE in SAN MARCOS, TX last SATRUDAY and the camp ended this morning!!! That was the longest camp I've ever been to. I came straight from SAN MARCOS to HOUSTON (I'm at my GRANNY & PAPA's at the moment), so that I wouldn't have to go from BEEVILLE to SAN MARCOS back to BEEVILLE and then take another 3 hour drive from BEEVILLE to HOUSTON. I took my car to camp.

M-FUGE was AWESOME!!! It was really cool and I'm thinking about applying to work there next summer. The 9 kids I took, and one other adult sponsor, grew SOOOOOOOO much. Please pray for all of us to not make GOD into a "Camp Experience" and leave it at that. Pray that we take the things we learned and experienced and bring them home, and share them with our own community.

I'm sorry to cut this short, but I have to get ready for the Rehearsal Dinner!!!

Peace be with you.

2002-06-07T14:39:00.000-05:00

GREETINGS FROM THE ITSY BITSY TOWN OF BEEVILLE, TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!

Ok...so, I'm in BEEVILLE...and I really really really like it here. But there is one problem...THIS TOWN IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FREAKIN' SMALL!!!!!! I miss the BIG CITY (HOUSTON), but I don't miss the traffic.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH of BEEVILLE is where I'm INTERNing this summer, and the people here are very very nice. I have been granted favor with the entire church...even down to the maintence people. I am in the "office", if that's what you want to call it, from 8-4:30pm M-TH, and only in the "office" until 12pm on FRIDAYS if I have anything to do. But I spend a lot of time at the church on SUNDAYS and WEDNESDAYS...so, finding me isn't too hard.

Living with the CULLI family is almost like living with my extended family. They keep saying, "And you thought you were going to stay with a nice, quiet family...but you got us!"...the thing is, they are SOOOO MUCH like my family, it's SCARRY!!! But I'm loving it here!!!

The CULLI's just had a HOT TUB put in...only bad thing is, the electrician lost the breaker (you know, the thing that makes it bubble and all that good stuff)...so, it's just been sitting there for 2 weeks. Talk about a tease!!!

My YOUTH are SUPER FUN!!! Yesterday we had a water gun fight, and we've hung out, and they invite me to go to PIZZA HUT (that's a BIG deal here...or, so I'm told), and much much more!!! Things are going VERY WELL with the YOUTH. We leave for camp in a week!!!

GOD has really been working all around me, especially in the lives of these kids. Please keep us all in your prayers, we REALLY need them. Please also keep my family in your prayers, as they need them just as much.

I don't know when the next time I'll have the opportunity to BLOG, but I'll try to update as soon as possible.

Peace be with you!!!

Buzzing from BEEVILLE,
-James-

2002-05-24T22:43:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is the day!!! I leave for BEEVILLE TOMORROW!!! That's just cRaZy!!!

I've been having bad sinus attacks today. So bad that I've been carrying a box of tissues with me all day, even when driving and eating out with my family!

CHRISTY made it into HOUSTON alright...bairly...LOLOLOLOL Just ask her..."Oh, my gosh James, there were all these cars, and...I couldn't get over...and I was like, 'I'm in the wrong lane!!!'...This old lady cut me off...yadda' yadda' yadda'...

BEEVILLE...TOMORROW!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

2002-05-23T15:52:00.000-05:00

Today I cut the grass and visited GRANDMOTHER & GRANDDADDY.

GRANDMOTHER & GRANDDADDY are doing alright. Life just goes on for them, and they try to keep up. I guess that's all anyone can do, huh? They were very happy to see me and I was glad I had the chance to stop by for a little bit. We had the traditional lunch-sandwiches with generic CHEETOS (they were actually good this time!), and tea. It was a good visit.

I'm going to go see REYANA in just a bit. She just got back into town from CALIFORNIA and will be visiting some of her relatives in a few weeks down in BEEVILLE. She's a SUPER COOL gal who acts weird at times (unlike me...RIIIIIIIGHT), but has an AWESOME heart for JESUS.

2002-05-22T14:14:00.000-05:00

Last night was AWESOME!!!

I went and spent some time with AARON, JASON, & JORDAN (DUSTIN didn't show up) last night. Every week they meet and have a time of accountability, reading the Word, praise, and prayer. It's informal and free, and they simply invite GOD to invade their space. And you know what? HE DOES!!! It's indescribable, really. I get to see their hearts in the words they speak, and they do not have backwards motives, or try to manipulate GOD, or get a tingly feeling on the back of thier neck and feel good about themselves. No, none of that. They simply want to spend time with GOD. They want to have a RELATIONSHIP with him, not a religion. It's refreshing to see GODly Guys who want to live a life that is pleasing to the LORD, and share the love that they have experienced in their own lives with others.

FATHER, thank you for giving me brothers who seek after your face with their whole heart. Thank you for the companionship, accounability, love, and frienship they offer with no strings attached. I ask that you bless them far beyond any expectation, want, or need. They sharpen me and I thank you for giving them to me. In the name of JESUS, Amen.

2002-05-21T19:11:00.000-05:00

I just got back from having dinner with STEVE (my bro), HOLLY (his fiance), and VICTORIA (her 4 year old daughter, my future niece) at CASA OLE. Good times, good times!!! I'm stinkin' full, too!!! I LOVE CASA OLE!!!

Tonight I'm going to hang out with my Mentor, and some very close Christian Brothers. I'm SUPER EXCITED about this. JORDAN called me and said that they get together every TUESDAY and that I was invited. It's gunna' be SCHWEET!!! Scheduled to be there are (in alphabetical order): AARON, DUSTIN, JASON, JORDAN, & myself. It's gunna' be a great time of being in the WORD, praying for each other, and just catching up. I can't wait!!!

2002-05-21T15:54:00.000-05:00

BLOG is being mean!!!

2002-05-21T15:44:00.000-05:00

Last night I figured out how to get a GUESTBOOK, so that you wonderful, wonderful people who find your way to my journal can give me some feedback or say, "HI!", or whatever.

Today I've been running all over my side of town. I got my hair cut. I used to look like this:

And now I look like this:

Talk about a GREAT CUT!!!

I also got my oil changed, paid my STRUCTURE bill, went to the bank, shopped for my apartment next semester-but I didn't buy anything... and now I'm waitin' to be taken out to dinner by my brother and his fiance.

It's been a full day...and it's not even close to being over...

2002-05-20T17:21:00.000-05:00

I'm sendin' out an S.O.S...

Today we, the members of S.O.S. (Spawns of Satan), had an informal gathering at our former institution of "education". Ok, that sounds all sadistic...allow me to clarify.

MISS AANNOOTT, was my 11th Grade A.P. ENGLISH teacher. She was/is the COOLEST. And one day she was really frustrated with us because we didn't like reading Flannery O'Conner, or thought she was the real Emily Dickinson, or something stupid like that and she developed this twitch thing with her face and said that we were all "Spawns of Satan"...so we, being the creative 11th Graders that we were, decided to take that title and run with it!!! So, we would put things up on the board, and COACH BOYD thought it was funny, so he would come into our class and make up these outrageous stories (which would also make her twitch), and he became our...almost like a Patron or Sponsor type person...OH, IT WAS GREAT!!!

VICTORIA and I went and dropped by MISS AANNOOTT's to say HI and to encourage the 3rd generation of SOS to continue doing a great job (she really likes it, even though she still twitches)!!!

2002-05-19T13:56:00.000-05:00

WHY AM I SOOOO TIRED?!?!?!?!

When I try to go to sleep, I simply cannot. I toss and turn and it is sooooooo frustrating!!! Anybody got any home remedies?

I think I need a POWER NAP!!! I'm all about the POWER NAP, they are GREAT!!!

I went to church this ke a POWER NAP first before going to the party, though...morning, almosed slept through that (seems that when I FINALLY get to sleep, I don't like to wake up), but STEVE woke me up. Thanks STEVE. It was nice getting to worship with my friends from home and talk with my Youth Minister about becomming a "Youth Minister" myself...it was just cool.

We had Chicken Cor Don Bleu for lunch...it was gooooooooood. My MOM asked if we only came home for luncg because it was Chicken, or if it was because it's free at home...I told her, "A little bit of both."

I'm fixing to go to my friend, SARAH's Graduation party. It's weird watching people you used to be over grow up...just makes me feel old.

JON turns 21 today...HAPPY BIRTHDAY JON!!! (I'm still mad that you are older than I am...even if only by a few months.)

I think I'm going to take a POWER NAP before going to the Graduation Party...

2002-05-18T18:17:00.000-05:00

I just got back from hangin' out with my DAD. I'm proud to say that I have a father who tries to be a part of my life. My parents divorced a long time ago, but he never stopped being a father to me (though some may disagree, and he would prolly tell you the same). I love my DAD, and I remember him making it to all my shows in Junior High, and seeing him on holidays, and my birthdays...it was a little hard, since he lives on the opposite side of Houston than I do, but we have always managed to make it work. And now that I'm some-what grown up, he still tries to be there for me...and I appreciate that. I love you, Dad.

2002-05-17T15:41:00.000-05:00

So, today it's been raining and I decided not to make to trip down to the mall and pay my STRUCTURE bill, but to go to my friend VICTORIA's (pictured above) house and look at pictures from various High School years instead.

We had lots of fun, just like we always do, reminissing and laughing at stupid stuff. Oh, boy, oh, boy!!!

I'm going to my DAD's house later on this afternoon, baring a hurricane or tornado or something horrible like that. I'm going to be having a homecooked meal from my GRANNY (the world's BEST cook), see my PAPA (who just turned 80!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA!!!), and then just hang out with my DAD. So, it should be a great beginning to the weekend.

2002-05-17T00:15:00.000-05:00

I went and saw CHANGING LANES with my buddy THAD tonight (05-16-02). It was a pretty good movie...a little long, but it was alright. THAD and I go back to my ACTING 1 class at SAN JAC (kids, there is NOTHING wrong with going to a Junior College...don't let ANYONE tell you different). Anyhoo, THAD cracks me up...he's one of those guys who is funny without trying to be...maybe that's why we get along so well, who knows...he's just a cool guy. I miss hangin' out with THAD and hearing his wacky explainations of things...*sigh* Oh, the memories...

So, here it is...12:15am...and I'm sorta' kinda' tired, but not terribly tired...*rolls eyes*...I think I'm gunna' get some milk...

2002-05-16T17:19:00.000-05:00

Blogger has been very mean to me today. I tried to improve my Online Journal, yet all I was met with was disaster. As you can see from a previous post, I had a picture of myself on here, but alas...it has vanished into cyber space. And you might notice that the background has changed from the happy blue template of yesterday, to this...

Was it all in vain? Dear sweet BLOGGER...would an online journal called by any other name still be so DIFFICULT? I know not, nor shall I dare say...*sigh and collapse to the ground*

2002-05-16T16:10:00.000-05:00

YEAH!!! I FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET AN IMAGE ON MY BLOG!!!

2002-05-15T23:05:00.000-05:00

My buddy JAKE did his first sermon tonight for his youth group...it was AWESOME!!! It's soo cool to see your brothers and sisters grow spiritually. WOW...I'm pumped now that I've seen what GOD has been doing in his life.

JAKE is 17 and used to be a part of a High School Ministry I was in; I was "over" him, if that's what you want to call it. but JAKE and I have kept in touch since last semester and tonight was his first night to preach. His heart is sooooooo big and tonight you could really see it.

I'm proud of you, JAKE. You have decided to serve GOD with all your heart and you make HIM smile with not only your words, but your life.

2002-05-15T17:32:00.000-05:00

Yes, I finally got to sleep... What helped me get to dreamland, you ask? Well, I wrote an email to MELISSA. It was weird because I wrote about things that I have been thinking about lately and how they have been changing...it's just weird. I feel that my thoughts are becomming more mature...like I've been thinking about a family and things of that nature. It's weird...I guess this is what they mean about boys maturing slower than girls. It's like it just cought up with me all of the sudden...and I'm not sure if I like it or not. Talk about mind boggling...

So, today I was awakened by the UPS MAN...dang that guy can knock on the door louder than anyone I've ever heard. But, alas, I didn't make it downstairs until about 10-15 minutes later...HAHAHA

I thought it was 11:30am when I woke up, but my alarm clock decided to trick me yet again...it was really 1:05pm. I just don't understand those things. Is it time for a new alarm clock? Only time will tell...get it...TIME...ALARM CLOCK...HAHAHAHAHA...ok, I didn't think it was that funny, either.

So, after the fiasco with the UPS MAN, the stupid alarm clock, and after I was somewhat coherant, I went to WAL*MART with RAMON. We had to go get cat food. I tell you, every time I come home, we have at least 3 more cats, and this summer is no exception. We bought $20 worth of wet cat food (those of you who have domesticated animals know what I mean)...my goodness...we bought 50 cans!!! Those cats have it made, I'm tellin' you. I wish I was a cat...*raises hind leg up to scratch back of ear*

Other than that, I haven't done much...oh, RAMON bought me gas...which was a HUGE shock to me. He has this thing about me paying for my own gas, which is fine with me, it's my car and that makes it my responsibility to make sure I have gas. Well, he was in a good mood and said, "How about we go down to CHEVRON and fill up your car?" THANK YOU GOD FOR FREE GAS!!!! I don't have any money, but I still had like over a quarter of a tank...and who am I to turn down such unexpected generosity?

2002-05-15T01:50:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I guess it's just not going to happen tonight. I've tried and tried, but I simply cannot fall asleep. What's up with that? I've been trying, but it just isn't working. I keep thinking about this summer and my MOM. Why? Beats me.

My MOM has been really stressed lately, but the sad thing is, that's very usual for MOM.

And I've been thinking about this summer, but I don't know why it's keeping me up at night. I'm certain everything is going to go smothly.

So, I got up, got some milk (does a body good...or that's what they say, at least), grabbed a granola bar, and I'm typing away on the internet...should be a formula for instant sleep. Well, it's worked before.

C'mon...3-2-1...SLEEP!!!...3-2-1...SLEEP!!!... Maybe I need more milk.

*Goes to get more milk 1:49am*
*Returns at 1:51am with milk and 3 Chocolete Creme Filled Oreo Cookies*

I think it's just making me more awake...crap! Well, at least the OREOs are good!!! :)

2002-05-14T15:19:00.000-05:00

I had planned on mowing the grass this morning...in fact, I even dreamed about it (weird, huh?). But when I got up at 9am to go trim the lawn, I opened the front door to find my Step-Dad finishing up the lawn. I couldn't believe it. He was the one who asked me to do it in the first place. I said, "I was going to do it." FYI, the lawn is a VERY big deal to RAMON, my Step-Dad. He's super cRaZy about it, so I was prepairing for the worst. "Oh, it's no problem.", says Ramon as he finishes sweeping the sidewalk. Oh, and the back yard was done, too. I couldn't believe it. So, this meant I was free to go back to bed...and I did!!!

I was then awakened at 1:50pm by the voice of LEAH, a friend from school, who decided to call me. I couldn't believe it was almost 2 o'clock. So we talked about random things, just like always and I decided to start some laundry, I'm still living out of my suitcase...prolly will for a while...and get some lunch. MMMMMMMmmmmmm BOLOGNA!!!

After all that, I come upstairs to check my email and what do I find? Anyone want to guess? I find in my INBOX an email from DR. HOWARD. *DUN DUN DUN!!!* This woman will not budge. She isn't going to change my grade, period. Now, she said it in a nice professional way, but oooooooooooooooh...it just makes me mad. I know that she gets to pick what she wants for a grade, and I could take it to her boss, and to that boss' boss, etc...but I have a feeling DR. HOWARD would win...wrongfully, but still a win is a win. So, I guess I have to throw in the towel, which really stinks. It's just too much energy and I still have to take one more class with this woman, but not for another semester *whew*. I think I have made my point to her, and for me, that is a victory in itself...just really sucks for me. Maybe I'll write her one of those, "You win, but you smell" emails...I don't know...

2002-05-13T22:51:00.000-05:00

So, I get home from watching SPIDERMAN (AWESOME MOVIE!!!) and there is an email from DR. HOWARD. It says that I received an A on my final (WHOO-HOO!!!), but my Class Participation was low and that's why she felt justified in giving me a B. Well, here's a copy of my responce to her. Keep in mind, this woman HATES ME!!!

Dear Dr. Howard,
Thank you for your speedy response.
The reason I did not turn in many drafts of my script was because I was having such difficulty finding material on Peter Van Daan, which I brought before the class. You and I then decided it would be better to switch from Peter's point of view, to Otto Frank's. This decision was made the week before the final. I did not hide my lack of progress and openly asked for help in class from you and the other students. I spent hours in the library looking for information from credible sources, (you know as well as I that just because it is on the internet does not make it valid), original documents, and trying to find unbiased books on the subject in general. If I had hidden this information then I would see cause for the low marks, but I did not keep anything private. I also attended every class session, except for possibly once, I honestly don't remember, and participated in helping others with their pieces during class time, as outlined in the course description.
I do not believe I earned a B, Dr. Howard, I honestly do not. I'm not trying to come across as defiant or anything less than respectful, but I feel cheated; I feel that I did my best.

Respectfully
-James-

2002-05-13T18:08:00.000-05:00

Well...it seems one of my fears has become a reality...DR. HOWARD, the professor who hates me, gave me a B in BOTH of my THEATRE classes.

She hates me because I wouldn't allow her to pressure me to perform at this big event with only a couple of days notice. I didn't want to do it, and I don't appreciate being pushed into something like that. So I politely told her, "No thank you", and to this day, she hates me. Ask anyone who knows her, she hates me.

So, I did all the work I was suppost to for her class, which I'm required to take, and she gives me a B...even when all my tests were A's (which I still have in my posession). So, here's a copy of the emal I sent her:

Dear Dr. Howard,
I just checked my grades online and noticed that I received a B in both of my Drama classes. This hit me as a surprise, not to mention shocked me; I believe my work in both classes was top-notch. Would you please send me the grades you have in your grade book for both classes? Thank you.

And I CC myself...and I'm going to find out who her boss is. I am not taking a B in the 2 easiest classes at school!!!

2002-05-13T13:05:00.000-05:00

PRAISE GOD!!! The fire at the plant is now undercontrol!!!

2002-05-13T11:57:00.000-05:00

The SHELL refinary that is about 2 miles away from my house has a HUGE fire right now. There is a large pillar of black smoke that is being blown to the South-East. Thank GOD that I am on the South-West side of the plant. It's a sad reality that we as a community must remember about these plants that so many of our friends and family work at. We must remember that though there are inumerable safety procautions, and good people on the job...life is just a heart beat away. So far no one has been reported injured or missing, and the residents are not in danger.

Thank you, GOD for watching over us eventhough we put our work before you. I ask for your hand of protection to cover the Pasadena, Deer Park, and La Porte areas. Please move within the Shell plant itself. I ask for divine intervention inspite of the fire, be with the workes trying to get the blaze under control, I ask that the winds die down and the entire situation clear up. Thank you, Father for listening to my cry. I ask it be done in the name of JESUS. -Amen-

2002-05-12T23:22:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to figure out how to put pictures on my blog...it's not going so well...

2002-05-12T23:20:00.000-05:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

2002-05-12T01:30:00.000-05:00

I found a way to cheat it...MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

2002-05-12T01:29:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to post this all evening...GRRR!!!

Oh my goodness...what a busy 2 days!!!

So, my MOM gets up to school at about 9:30am on THURSDAY and we continue packing and loading and packing and loading and packing and loading...you get the picture. Oh my goodness, I never knew I had soooooo much stuff!!! Well, it FINALLY all fit in our cars, and we set out at about 12 o'clock. I didn't spend as much time saying, "G'bye" to as many friends as I should have, and that's my fault...it's sad. *sniff, sniff*

We got back home at about 3:45ish, and unloaded and unloaded and unloaded...oh my. Only bad part about it is, my room is FULL of all my stuff from my dorm...and I have tojump over it to get to my bed... Anyone else have that problem?

Last night my friend from high school, BECKY, calls me up and lets me know that my high school choir's POP SHOW was going to be at 7:30pm. So, we went and hung out with all the other alumni and watched the show (ours was better!!!), and then she tells me that my church is having a Youth Lock In, and we decided to just stop by and say, "HI!". Well, so much for just staying a little bit, we wound up being SPONSORS and stayed ALL NIGHT!!! I got home at about 8am today.

I slept until 5pm, and now that I'm clean and awake I'm going to go to a College Bible Study. Hopefully this won't turn into an all-nighter.

SHOOT!!! I have to get a MOTHER'S DAY gift!!! WAL*MART RUN!!!

2002-05-08T23:47:00.000-05:00

Well, I just got back from hanging out with MELISSA... She and I talked for a looooong time and I have to say that things went VERY WELL!!! We have established TRUST, which is very very very very important to me...especially in a relationship. It just makes me feel...well, I can't really put into words what I feel, anybody feel me on this one? Just know it's a good feeling and I'm VERY happy.

2002-05-08T19:55:00.000-05:00

So, today was my last final...OH YEAH!!! It was nice to go to sleep after my test until 2pm!!!

Then I got a call from a good friend, CHRISTIN; she called to let me know that she was in town. She is one of the COOLEST and I haven't seen her since CHRISTMAS. But I haven't seen her, yet. I've been trying to get ahold of her, but I keep missing her by a time span of about 3 minutes. Hmmm... Hopefully I get to see her before she leaves tomorrow.

Tonight I'm going to talk to MELISSA about some rather serious stuff. It's some things I think she should know before the distance the summer is going to bring. We made a committment to not look for other people, and we are still taking things slowly. She's going to be working at a camp and I'll be in BEEVILLE for the next 3 months. I just have some things I want to tell her... I'll let you know how it goes.

2002-05-07T22:48:00.000-05:00

I AM SOOOOOOOO GLAD MY PERFORMANCE SPEECH IS OVER!!!

2002-05-07T10:57:00.000-05:00

Well, it's TUESDAY...and that means FINAL #2. Lulically it isn't unti 6 o'clock tonight *whew*. the final in question is my PERFORMANCE SPEECH final. What we have to do is perform at least a 5 minute, autobiographical piece using original documents of someone in history. I'm doing OTTO FRANK, ANNE FRANK's father, as he returns to the SECRET ANNEX for the first time. I have Power Point, and music, etc...it's going to be a tear jerker.

But see, the thing is...I don't want to do it. My teacher really made me mad about a month ago. She volunteered me for something I didn't want to do, and I told her I wasn't going to do it...and she got mad at me. It's not my fault she did all these things without me knowing, and I refused to be used like that. Needless to say, I'm not her favorite student...anymore...

Well, it's a required class for my MINOR, DRAMA...so I'm just going to suck it up and knock her socks off!!! HEHEHEHEHEHE!!! That's the plan anyway...

If you want to come see it, it's open to the public, just come to BRINDLEY at about 5:50pm TONIGHT!!! CHEER FOR ME!!!

2002-05-07T00:03:00.000-05:00

So, SATURDAY...

I got up at about 11am and we had most of the Youth Group over to the BURTON's and we had grilled hamburgers. The Youth really liked me and one fo them even gave me a SHERRIF's badge and said, "This is 'cuz you are the boss"...and this is before I decided if I wanted to take the job or not. So, I passed the afternoon by playing BALDERDASH with high school students, and then met the PASTOR.

Bro. FLOWERS is the interum pastor...and is very blunt. It was cool, though. He's cool, I can see myself working with him.

SUNDAY was the SENIOR ADULT DAY at the church. So, after i made my way through the tables of Senior Adults at the breakfast, I was announced as someone interrested in the Summer Youth Intern Position. They all did the, "Oh, how lovely..." thing.

Then I made my way over to the Youth Sunday School where I was invited to join in the praise band. It was cool. I was then introduced, yet again, and got to tell a little bit about myself...yet again. But they were cool.

After the service, Bro FLOWERS and I met again and he said the job was mine if I wanted it. Usually they just "get back to you" and vote and all that junk...but he left it all up to me. And I said, "I would love to work here this summer.", we shook hands, and I was officially hired right there in the front pew!

This summer I will be the YOUTH INTERN FOR FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH BEEVILLE.

2002-05-06T17:55:00.000-05:00

So, this weekend in BEEVILLE:

I left school at about 10:30ish, after my SOCIOLOGY make-up test and made it down to BEEVILLE (200 miles South/South-East) at about 1:30pm. There wasn't much traffic, and it was a pleasant drive.

When I got to Mr. BURTON's house, nobody was there. He drove up after I had checked all the doors, and we went up to the church to get the "Nickel Tour", as he called it.

So, we meet all the people who are still in the office at about 2 on FRIDAY afternoon, and I see where my potential office would be, and meet some more people, and see the Youth Room, and meet some more people...and then I had to unload a shipmet of Grapefruit and Onions for the Food Pantry. One of the older gentle man looked at me and said, "So, this is Youth Ministry, huh?" as he laughed. I thought that was funny.

After the adventure at the church, we took a tour of the great town of BEEVILLE...after those fun-filled 5 minutes, we headed back to the BURTON's house.

Later on, the PERSONELLE COMMITTEE came over and I meet them, too. Nice people.

Chapter 2, SATURDAY's events coming soon...

2002-05-06T07:18:00.000-05:00

BEEVILLE was AWESOME...and I'll tell you about that later because today is my first FINAL!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!

My FINAL is for OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY ay 8:30am, and LYDIA is going to meet me in the lobby to study in HARDY (the Caf). There was a group of 4 of us at WHATABURGER until 1 last night. I'm super tired from teh weekend, plus last night...but after my FINAL, I don't have another one until tomorrow night at 6!!!

Well, I'm off like....peas and carrotts...wait, that just doesn't sound right...

2002-05-03T10:03:00.000-05:00

To BEEVILLE I go...To BEEVILLE I go...

2002-04-30T23:55:00.000-05:00

I got to hang out with a great friend today...it was AWESOME!!! I have been trying to spend time with him for a while, but we are always soooooooo busy. We worked out some time today and it was SCHWEET!!! I had told him that I felt I needed to tell him my testimony, and he was very open and receptive to everything I had to say. GOD was there in the midst of my story...it was just really really cool.

Tonight I went to a REVIVAL TOWN FLOOD GROUP, kinda' like a CELL GROUP meeting. It was really, really cool. There weren't a lot of people there, so we had kind of a Leadership type meeting about the future, direction, planning, logistics, goals, etc... I've only been to REVIVAL TOWN once, plus tonight, and I really feel like a part of it. The Pastor and his wife, JERROD & KRISTIE, have HUGE hearts and are super cool people. I just wish I wasn't leaving in 2 weeks, you know? I just got involved, and now I have to leave...that stinks!!!

2002-04-29T21:14:00.000-05:00

Tonight, CODY (my roomate) has officially become a GAMER. At the beginning of the semester, he was doggin' on all these people he knows about how they spend all their time online playing these fUnKeY computer games and they talk on the phone like, "Okay, when you get to level 4 watch out for the sorcerer behind the stairway. You have to go up the stairs, turn right in the first left after the giant mystical monster. Watch out, he's got a mean punch. If you duck, you can miss all his hits, but watch out 'cuz you just don't want to mess with that guy...huh?...what do you mean it's 4am? I know...dude, but we are sooo close to beating this game...just 67 more levels and we'll conquer the dark lord Gertruideous. It's all we've worked for, man. Together, we can save the world!!! I'm skipping school to sleep, so I'll be ready tomorrow to finish off dark lord Gertruideous!!!" You know...people like that. And now my roomate is one of them...*sigh*

2002-04-28T15:55:00.000-05:00

So today I went to ANTIOCH. I LOVE that church!!! Every week GOD shows HIS glory to me in some way when I go...it blows my mind!!!

Today, during Praise & Worship, this guy was in front of me praising GOD and he kneeled down and was praying and singing, etc... And he got up and I felt like GOD was telling me to hug him. So, I tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around and I gave him this HUGE hug. I could instantly feel his heartbeat sky rocket and he was shaking. GOD then gave me some words to speak to him and he began to cry. GOD really spoke to him in a way that he won't be forgetting for a long, long time. IT WAS SCHWEET!!!

After the sermon, which was on the TABERNACLE and how JESUS is our atoning sacrifice (great message), they asked if anybody needed prayer for physical Healing, to receive the gift of TONGUES, or needed prayer for their Prayer Life. I really felt like I needed to go receive prayer for my Prayer Life. I walked over and was met by a man named JOEL. I explained to him that lately I've been feeling like I need to be an Intercessor for others more than I am now and how in my Quiet Times I cannot seem to get my mind to stop racing (know what I mean?). Last night when I was having my Quiet Time, I simply could not focus...and it made me REALLY mad, and I just went to sleep. The thing is, this has been happening a lot lately and I was just fed up with it. I really desire a time alone with GOD, but when that time comes, I cannot focus and I don't know why. JOEL began to speak words of comfort to me, letting me know that he also had been through simular seasons and we began to pray. I did not expect what happened next. As we were praying, GOD began to speak to JOEL about me (kinda' like GOD has been speaking to me about others...just like the guy I hugged). GOD had nothing but good things to say, which totally humbled me. It was like, instead of JAMES praising GOD, GOD was praising me. I mean edifying me, not worshiping me. That hasn't happened to me in a very long time. GOD told me that HE is happy with me, that I have enormous faith, that HE brags about me (that one was a BIG shocker...I felt like JOB), that the angels around me were honored to protect such a servant of the LORD (shocked me with that one, too), that HE has promises for me that I need to remember and hold onto, and to not try to pay HIM back, but just receive HIS gift. WOW!!! IT WAS AWESOME!!! I fell to my face and just cried my heart out. To know that GOD is happy with me, that HE has Joy for me eventhough I sin every single day, eventhough I fall short, eventhough I am no worthy...GOD still oves me sooooo much. Words cannot even begin to describe how I felt...honestly. It makes me smile to see GOD reach down from Heaven and just love on me so much. To see HIS hand leading me every day and to feel HIS presence at all times. To revel and bask in awe of HIM.

Father God,
I love you. Thank you for loving me when I am unloveable. Thank you for touching me when I am unclean. I feel your very hand around me at all times, LORD, and I know you are doing a mighty work around me, through me, and in me. I accept your will for my life and I surrender all my burdens, yokes, and bondage to you, and you alone. You are my redeemer, the lover of my soul, my all in all. Your love is better than life and I choose to rely on your joy to be my strength. I praise you, FATHER. You are my everything.
In the name of the SON of the MOST HIGH GOD,
-Amen-

2002-04-26T15:28:00.000-05:00

http://www.uta.edu/student_orgs/apa/present/gallery/fight.htm

Let's give it up for the FIGHTING STICK NINJA!!!!!!!!!

2002-04-26T07:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I shaved off my mustache. I haven't decided if I like it or not, and I can't tell if other people are just lying to me when they say it looks good. You know how people are when you get a hair cut and you aren't sure if you like it, but aparently everybody else does...that is, until you change the style a month later. That's when you hear, "Yes, this is sooooooooooo much better.." But I thought you liked it?!?!?!?!? *Confused*

Yeah, so, I'm turning more and more into a slacker every day. It's just not good, I tell you. I'm not motivated, I get lazy, etc...you know how it is.

My class that I skipped on WEDNESDAY is starting in about 10 minutes or so, and I just don't want to get out of my chair and go. I'm all dressed and ready for the day, but I'd rather sleep. Can anyone out there relate?!?!?!

My fingers are dry...don't you just hate that!?!?!?!?!

Well, I hope you found al of that information as interresting as I did. I mean, hey, come one, give me a break...this is my life we are talking about. Throw me a frikin' bone, here...ok? *DR. EVIL voice*

2002-04-25T00:51:00.000-05:00

Tonight after FOCUS, CHRISTY, ADRIAN, LEAH, and I went to paint. CHRISTY and I have been painting for a few weeks as a form of worship. After we are finished, we take a step back and analyze what we have painted. Tonight was Paint Night #4 and ADIRAN and LEAH joined us. It was great fun. Today CHRISTY and I went to HOME DEPOT to get more canvas and we decided that we needed more. Recently we discovered PLASTER and how much it can add to our paintings, so we thought that broken TILE would be a good addition...IT ROCKS!!! I think the best part is smashing the tile to pieces!!! *grunt grunt grunt*

2002-04-24T12:32:00.000-05:00

Do you ever just sit and not think about anything at all? Seems like that has been happening to me more often in the last month or so. Why? Can Science explain this mystery? Will we ever truly know what causes us to look at one thing then all of a sudden as a reaction our eyes are glazed over, mouths slightly open, and head tilted slightly to the left or right? Before you know it, you've missed 1/2 of your favorite TV show because you were staring at the wall for 15 minutes before your roomate walked in and waved his hands in front of your face.

Things like this bother me. Is it all just a wild government conspiracy turning in a downward spiral towards the decay of society as we know it? Or am I just really really bored? PEOPLE!!! We need to get ourselves together!!! No more of this "Oh, look at the pretty wall for 15 minutes without seeing anything..." crap!!! IT'S JUST A WALL!!! WE ALL HAVE THEM!!! DON'T THINK THAT BECAUSE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY THEM AT ALMOST EVERY MINUTE OF OUR LIVES THEY ARE OUT TO GET YOU!!! THEY WON'T CLOSE IN ON YOU!!!...unless the government tells them to...DUN DUN DUN (que the eari music) !!!!!!

2002-04-24T10:54:00.000-05:00

This morning I skipped my first class, OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY. For one, it's at 8am. Number 2 reason, I was tired!!! HAHAHA!!! I guess I am gradually turning more and more into a SLACKER...and that doesn't make me happy. Especially with FINALS 2 weeks away. But hey, give me some credit, I woke up in time to make it to SOCIOLOGY at 9am. ;)

The guys next door are yelling and shouting and laughing and if you live or have lived in a dorm, you understand how annoying this is. I mean, really. There are 2 guys in there, but one doesn't live there!!! Now, why would you come to see your friend at 10 in the morning?!?!?!?!?!? And then be all hyper and excited, etc... FREAKS!!! I just saw the quiet roomate leave, but I guess when one leaves, the rule is that another must be louder and take his place. CODY and I wonder about those guys sometimes. Random weird sounds and choice words can be heard through the thin walls...and it's enough to make you say, "Oh, I wish I didn't hear that!!!".

On my way back from SOCIOLOGY, I saw MELISSA (que the angelic voices in the background). She was on her way to class and I was leaving to come to the dorm. It's weird, I've never seen her in that spot, and I've walked that way all semester...Hmmm.... She and I haven't been able to spend a lot of time together lately. Granted, we talk on the phone throughout the day and things like that, but our schedules never align and with finals and then summer just around the corner, I know it's only going to become more difficult. *sigh*

One of the neighbors is howling...yes, I said howling...it's scarry!!!

Speaking of this summer, I'm still not 100% sure if FIRST BAPTIST BEEVILLE Youth Internship is the place for me or not. I don't think I would have a problem there, especially since I'm more Charasmatic in my worship...but GOD has really been working on me with that. I've been becomming more reserved in my worship, not prohibiting or faking my worship...but my prayer lately has been, "GOD, don't let me get caught up in the emotion of worship, let me get caught up in YOU!!!" And I've learned that true faith is the same in public as it is in private. Now, that's not to say that I have been faking in my worship or anything like that, but I feel I've moved on to a different level. A level where I don't "have to experience GOD" in a worship service...why? Because HE's with me ALL THE TIME!!! I've been working on living my life as my form of worship to GOD, and I think HE honors that and is pleased, but there is always room for improvement.

Just to let you know, the guys next door are wrestling now. If that ain't wrestling, I don't want to know what they are doing!!!

2002-04-23T22:07:00.000-05:00

Yeah...I got a BLOG!!!