Monday, August 28, 2006
Another Day, Another Taste of Seattle
He was able to pull out a rhyme as I took the pic. "I ain't on the cover of rolling stone, but I did get on your picture phone..."
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Addiction and Grace
This is the latest book I’m reading, recommended by Matthew as it was part of his curriculum at
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
First night on the town
The time spent downtown seemed to kick off for me what will be a time of unique experiences in a city that has more of a focus on the arts than most. Last night it was music, and I was able to see a variety of genres, from bluegrass to alternative, and some were really good.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Day 6
A little while later the city came into sight and soon enough we were at my house. It was very easy to find, right off of the major highway that runs through Seattle. I don't think I could've picked a better location, thanks to my roommate Katie who we trusted with our living situation and she came through. I think I will have a great time with the two roommates I have met so far, Katie and Meredith. The other two will be back tomorrow.
I am obviously in major adjustment mode, living right in the middle of this huge city. It is quite a shock to drive out of my street and be in the middle of everything. Looking forward to this new life here.
Day 4 & 5
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Day 3
Day 2
After the Badlands we finally entered another state, Wyoming, where we drove along the edge of the beautiful rocky mountains.
We ended up in Billings, Montana. We thought we could quickly get into a hotel room right off the highway. To our surprise it was full, and then the next hotel we checked was full, and we ended up scrambling around town to get an open room. We happened to stop in this city when a huge fair was in town. Luckily we were able to get the last room a little farther out of town.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Day 1
We started out early and made it all the way to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. And pretty much the whole way there, the surroundings looked about the same as they do in Michigan. Minnesota brought some big hills after the Mississippi River and then miles and miles of cornfields. Sioux Falls wasn't exactly a happenin' place. But I was able to read a bit more of Irresistible Revolution, and Chapter 3 is my favorite one so far, where Shane talks about his trip to Calcutta to live alongside Mother Theresa. Couldn't help but get very moved by what was going on there, where people were constantly giving of themselves. He described such an amazing community in the midst of so much pain and death.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Starting to Set In
This last weekend I was able to spend some good time with good friends. After my roommate Justin's wedding, Matthew and I were able to go next door to the Black Rose and meet up with Josh and Charlie. We had the perfect atmosphere outside to discuss what's really going on with us, and what's going to happen the next year. Our paths will be diverging to say the least, but we would still carry the common desire to live better. And living better was woven into our dialogue, just like old times back at MSU when we would have thoughts like what it would really look like if we actually lived out everything that we said we believed.
Reality of my upcoming move quickly set in when I said goodbye to Josh the next day, and I knew I wouldn't see him again for quite some time. The next step then came when Matthew headed back for Chicago later that night. Dad set up some last pictures. Hard to see him go.
Friday, August 04, 2006
The Emergent Church
http://www.modernreformation.org/dac05emerging.htm
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
What the Bleep Do We Know?
Just watched this documentary the other night, and many of its ideas were very interesting. I had never really been introduced into the real thought of quantum physics, and the clear as mud theory is described as well as it can be in this film.
I would highly suggest renting it (I got it from blockbuster) and enter into something that attempts to change every way you think about the world. The only thing I didn't like is many of their views of God, in which some quickly make conclusions even in the midst of so much talk about life being mysterious and that we should ask questions instead of drawing conclusions.
Yet I did enjoy how most of the people on the documentary were interested in asking the question why. They were interested in some of the bigger questions in life, exercising the freedom we have as humans to actually think about what is really going on instead of just reacting to instinctual desires. Pretty refreshing to experience the passion of those who want to think bigger – and especially interesting to hear this from those who do not necessarily believe in Jesus as I do. I do not find many irreligious people today who are asking the deeper questions in life.
The part I enjoyed the most by far was the incredibly well taught piece on how our thoughts affect our body. It brought me to a new level of belief in the idea that you can change your life by changing the way you think. I liked the practical demonstrations on our thoughts and body that are shown here more than the way they try to link this to quantum physics. If you do not at least attempt to move towards more positive way of thinking after seeing this, I don’t think you ever will.
As for the more philosophical questions this documentary poses, even after days of mulling over what they had to suggest, it is hard to really know what to do. This documentary needs to be discussed with others after viewing, and I hope to do more of that soon.