So, I may have had a boring day, but I just concluded the night with a ton of fun. The whole campus was invited to play a game called Nation Ball in the gym. Each dorm was assigned a color and you were supposed to wear a shirt of that color for your team uniform. Basically, Nation Ball is just dodgeball with a little twist ( the people who get out can go to the other side and throw balls at the opposing team).
It was incredible The noise in there was absolutely immense. Everyone was being as loud as they could for there dorm. Crazy.
The competition was between Upper Campus dorms and Lower Campus dorms. Teams from the Upper Campus competed against each other until there was one winner, and Lower Campus did the same. Then there was a championchip. The way the game is designed makes it pretty much impossible for any of the smaller dorms to win, so Sigma Chi (the dorm I am in) got eliminated when we went agaist one of the biggest dorms on campus. It was still really fun, though. I've never seen such massive dodgeball games before. The final, which was between the two biggest dorms on campus, probably had about 200+ people playing. Crazy.
After that, the crazy guys on my dorm decided to have a wrestling match. We all ran outside yelling wrestling match. Was hilarious. Even funnier because the guys that wrestled had to wear those funny looking masks that you see the Mexican wrestlers wearing.
Anyways, glad the whole day wasn't boring. I love Biola. Oh yeah, and I got a free shirt at the Nation Ball game...they were throwing them out to the crowd.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tired
I don't know what it is, but today I am so tired. I mean, first I took a nap right after lunch, and now, at 8:45, I still feel like I should be sleeping! Weird. I don't know. Maybe it was just because today was kind of boring. Nothing really interesting happened, just went to classes, did a little homework, ate, and caught like 20 mins of the girls' soccer game, which I just happened to come across while perusing aimlessly about the campus.
But yeah, so I just got back from my first Foundation of Christian Thought class. Having a class at 6:00 PM is a killer! It was pretty interesting. But I think I enjoyed reading the book more than sitting in class today. Not that I disrespect the professor or anything, but he just seemed to wander through the lecture. There's no doubt that he is very intelligent, but it seemed like there wasn't any real focus. A lot of it could be, I suppose, that I'm not used to studying the Bible in a class of 70+. I'm used to the smaller more intimate groups where it is a little easier to share your thoughts openly. Hopefully it'll get better as the semester progresses.
Anyhow, I'm not quite sure what I am going to do over Labor Day weekend. I thought about maybe seeing the relatives in San Diego, but I'm not sure about that. It's either that or I got to find something entertaining to do around here for 3 days...it's hard not being around my normal friends; not being able to just go over to someone's house and hang out.
Well anyways, things are going pretty good. I am enjoying college life. Last night I pulled my first late-night essay!! I told Javier, "Yeah, this is what college is all about." Hehe. It's also cool to be able to worship together for services multiple times during the week. Last night we had an amazing service called "After Dark" at 9:15 PM. Was one of those times where you just forget about everything else and just yell praises out to God.
So, I'll talk to you all later. Hope you're not tired like I am.
But yeah, so I just got back from my first Foundation of Christian Thought class. Having a class at 6:00 PM is a killer! It was pretty interesting. But I think I enjoyed reading the book more than sitting in class today. Not that I disrespect the professor or anything, but he just seemed to wander through the lecture. There's no doubt that he is very intelligent, but it seemed like there wasn't any real focus. A lot of it could be, I suppose, that I'm not used to studying the Bible in a class of 70+. I'm used to the smaller more intimate groups where it is a little easier to share your thoughts openly. Hopefully it'll get better as the semester progresses.
Anyhow, I'm not quite sure what I am going to do over Labor Day weekend. I thought about maybe seeing the relatives in San Diego, but I'm not sure about that. It's either that or I got to find something entertaining to do around here for 3 days...it's hard not being around my normal friends; not being able to just go over to someone's house and hang out.
Well anyways, things are going pretty good. I am enjoying college life. Last night I pulled my first late-night essay!! I told Javier, "Yeah, this is what college is all about." Hehe. It's also cool to be able to worship together for services multiple times during the week. Last night we had an amazing service called "After Dark" at 9:15 PM. Was one of those times where you just forget about everything else and just yell praises out to God.
So, I'll talk to you all later. Hope you're not tired like I am.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Classes
Hey everyone. It's about 11:10 here, and I'm just hanging out in my dorm lobby. Just did some reading for my Convergent Journalism class...there happens to be quite of bit of reading in college :p . Anywho, I more or less just wanted an excuse to post something else, so here I am on my laptop typing away.
About 45 mins ago I got back from my first year seminar class. The class simply introduces us to Biola and associates us with the journalism major...I'm like one of two guys in the class of about 25 people. Did I pick a feminine major?? Lol. Heh, but anyways, our assignment for the week is to meet with our groups (that were assigned today), and just discuss, well, life I suppose. Sounds weird, I know, but it's just another one of those things that makes Biola so much different than anywhere else. Here they encourage you to go beyond the classroom work and make connections...saying that it is just as important as any of the school work.
In about 30 mins I have to be at my Cultural Anthropology course (I know, a mouth-full). The class is huge. We meet in an auditorium, and there are 117 people in the class! I'm not sure what I think about this class yet...seems interesting, but I also think it has potential to be a yawner. One of the things that did grab my attention, was the fact that the book we've been assigned to read, opens up talking about human evolution. You may think it's strange that I'd be reading that in a Chrisitan university, but I actually think it is a good thing. It's like the book Love Your Lord Your God with All Your Mind says, we need to educate ourselves in worldly knowledge so that we can better defend our faith. People who argue and don't know the other side, appear ignorant and uneducated--not a great position to be in when you're trying to prove a point.
Later today I have a class called Appreciation of Art--a 3 hour course. All of you out there who know me are probably cracking up with laughter right now. Hey, I got to take it. It's a general ed requirement. I'm trying to be positive about it right now...I need to expand my mind beyond the usual right...think in new ways.....We'll see how long the optimism lasts :)
Supringly my math class hasn't been so bad. It's very much not your typical math class. We don't just sit around and learn how to do problems, we actually talk about the nature and history of math. And believe it or not, we talk about God in math...and not just as a fleeting idea, but really in depth. Interesting...
My last class is Foundations of Christian Thought, but I don't have much to say about it yet, as the class has not yet been held. I am quite sure it will be excellent, though. I have begun reading the books for the class, and I am really enjoying them.
Anywho, I better start getting ready for my next class.
Have a wonderful day,
About 45 mins ago I got back from my first year seminar class. The class simply introduces us to Biola and associates us with the journalism major...I'm like one of two guys in the class of about 25 people. Did I pick a feminine major?? Lol. Heh, but anyways, our assignment for the week is to meet with our groups (that were assigned today), and just discuss, well, life I suppose. Sounds weird, I know, but it's just another one of those things that makes Biola so much different than anywhere else. Here they encourage you to go beyond the classroom work and make connections...saying that it is just as important as any of the school work.
In about 30 mins I have to be at my Cultural Anthropology course (I know, a mouth-full). The class is huge. We meet in an auditorium, and there are 117 people in the class! I'm not sure what I think about this class yet...seems interesting, but I also think it has potential to be a yawner. One of the things that did grab my attention, was the fact that the book we've been assigned to read, opens up talking about human evolution. You may think it's strange that I'd be reading that in a Chrisitan university, but I actually think it is a good thing. It's like the book Love Your Lord Your God with All Your Mind says, we need to educate ourselves in worldly knowledge so that we can better defend our faith. People who argue and don't know the other side, appear ignorant and uneducated--not a great position to be in when you're trying to prove a point.
Later today I have a class called Appreciation of Art--a 3 hour course. All of you out there who know me are probably cracking up with laughter right now. Hey, I got to take it. It's a general ed requirement. I'm trying to be positive about it right now...I need to expand my mind beyond the usual right...think in new ways.....We'll see how long the optimism lasts :)
Supringly my math class hasn't been so bad. It's very much not your typical math class. We don't just sit around and learn how to do problems, we actually talk about the nature and history of math. And believe it or not, we talk about God in math...and not just as a fleeting idea, but really in depth. Interesting...
My last class is Foundations of Christian Thought, but I don't have much to say about it yet, as the class has not yet been held. I am quite sure it will be excellent, though. I have begun reading the books for the class, and I am really enjoying them.
Anywho, I better start getting ready for my next class.
Have a wonderful day,
Monday, August 28, 2006
Don't mind the pics
Those pics on the last two posts need to be there because in order to put them where I wanted on the page, I had to list a URL (which I just made my page). If that doesn't make sense to you, don't worry about it...just know that I know they're there...as I post more they'll be pushed to the bottom the page.
Hello friends
Hello, if you're viewing this blog than you probably already know me. Nevertheless, I will dulge out the appropriate western introductions just in case your curious eyes simply fell upon this page by chance.
My name is Michael, and I lived all of my recollectable life in Salem, Oregon. Now, though, by God's leading and grace, I find myself a freshman at Biola University in La Mirada, California. Biola is a private Christian liberal arts college just outside of Los Angeles. I am majoring in journalism, and so far am loving my time here.
Some of my hobbies/interests include playing soccer, writing (hence the journalism major), playing computer/video games, playing the drums, and learning more about God through many facets of life.
To understand me better, you should know that I am the oldest of four brothers. My brothers are three years old, nine years old, and eleven years old. So, as you can see, there is a pretty big age gap.
The title of my blog, Beyond the Pedantic, is an expression of my desire to live beyond the shallow knowledge of books and worldly learning. My desire is not to dispel of knowledge, but rather expand upon it; looking at how I can apply the knowledge to my life in deeper ways other than tests. Jesus told us to not only love God with all your heart and soul, but also with our mind (Matthew 22:37). I wish to remember that in this college environment where it is so easy to be made docile and ineffective by the loads of school work and pressure to 'make the grade'. I'm here at Biola to develop my God given talents for His glory, not to simply get an 'A'.
Anyhow, not that you know what I'm about, I can now hereforth digress from the thick formalities that I felt must be present in this first post.
For all my friends an family out there, keep checking back; I want to use this blog a lot to communicate how I am doing, and to hear from you. Not at all that you can't email me, I just wanted to set up something cool.
Later,
My name is Michael, and I lived all of my recollectable life in Salem, Oregon. Now, though, by God's leading and grace, I find myself a freshman at Biola University in La Mirada, California. Biola is a private Christian liberal arts college just outside of Los Angeles. I am majoring in journalism, and so far am loving my time here.
Some of my hobbies/interests include playing soccer, writing (hence the journalism major), playing computer/video games, playing the drums, and learning more about God through many facets of life.
To understand me better, you should know that I am the oldest of four brothers. My brothers are three years old, nine years old, and eleven years old. So, as you can see, there is a pretty big age gap.
The title of my blog, Beyond the Pedantic, is an expression of my desire to live beyond the shallow knowledge of books and worldly learning. My desire is not to dispel of knowledge, but rather expand upon it; looking at how I can apply the knowledge to my life in deeper ways other than tests. Jesus told us to not only love God with all your heart and soul, but also with our mind (Matthew 22:37). I wish to remember that in this college environment where it is so easy to be made docile and ineffective by the loads of school work and pressure to 'make the grade'. I'm here at Biola to develop my God given talents for His glory, not to simply get an 'A'.
Anyhow, not that you know what I'm about, I can now hereforth digress from the thick formalities that I felt must be present in this first post.
For all my friends an family out there, keep checking back; I want to use this blog a lot to communicate how I am doing, and to hear from you. Not at all that you can't email me, I just wanted to set up something cool.
Later,
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