Monday, January 26, 2009

Back to biz

The new semester started today in much the same fashion as it proceeded last semester--with me buried in Chimes work.

However, I'm elated that we've made some changes at The Chimes, most notably being the addition of apprentices, which will assist editors like myself in their weekly production. I happen to have the best apprentice--one who is very enthusiastic about her job. In a way her attitude has actually inspired even me. When you've been doing something for a while it's easy to just trudge along; so her excitement has given some extra vitality.

We've changed things up a bit in the apartment. One of our roommates moved out because he is studying in Germany this semester. The guy who was sharing my room moved over to fill the departed guy's place, leaving me all to myself. As great as that is, we do NEED to find someone new. I certainly couldn't afford the extra rent if we didn't. It's difficult, though, to find someone mid-way through the school year.

I'm really liking the new computer. It has got some decent specs, and I've been able to play Everquest 2 again (though now that school is in session I doubt I'll log too many hours). I'm being way cautious with it--going through two computers in as many years has spurned that caution in me, understandably. I'm leaving it at home most the time, only taking it with me if I really need it. I figure how much I lugged around my last laptop had something to do with its demise.

Weather here isn't quite as hot as it was a couple weeks ago, but still is around the upper-60s and mid-70s. Very comfortable, I'd say.

Been having some car trouble recently. First it was a sporadic loss of battery charge, and then it was a flat tire from running over a nail. Luckily the tire didn't go flat when I was on the road, but rather in the parking lot while I was in Utah. It sucks when you have practical problems like this and can't afford to do much other than patching up. It's in things like that that make me eager to start making a salary.

Thanks for all your prayers and support. I've been reminded even more this past month how blessed by God I am for my loving family. Without you guys there is no way I could be doing what I'm doing right now. I hope, some day, in some way, I can somehow pay it back.

Friday, January 09, 2009

Redecorating

As you can see, I changed my colors up a bit. I like it, except I'm concerned it might be a bit rough on the eyes (no, that's no an euphemism for "looks bad," I just mean the red might make it a bit hard to read).

Tell me what you think.

BTW, I got my new laptop yesterday--yay! Since I have a computer at home now it might mean I'll write more in the blog. Can't guarantee it...we'll see. :)

Saturday, January 03, 2009

From L.A. to Oregon and Back Again

After a wonderful (and wet and cold) week and a half with my family up in Oregon, I am now back in SoCal. This time I had no trouble getting off the ground, and my airport experience was rather calm — that is, despite the baby on my airplane that cried half the flight.

Now, back at my apartment, I'm wondering what I'm going to do for the next three weeks until school starts. The two jobs I applied for on campus did not work out, so I'm left with catering; but I'm not sure how many catering events there will be since I haven't heard back from my boss yet. I've thought about looking into some temp agencies around here as my last resort. Whatever it is, though, I really could use some work. School (again) is going to be hard to pay for, and I don't have too much money to spare right now. Luckily I have a lot of Christmas money, which will allow me to survive comfortably for the next three weeks.

However, I do believe that these next three weeks will give me an opportunity — a luxury, even — of doing something I rarely feel like I have time to do when school is in session: hitting the Word of God hard (and not for a class assignment). Books I've been reading, as well as a meeting I had with my old youth pastor before I left, have given me a hunger for Scripture I haven't had in a while.

And I don't intend to just do devotional reading; I mean to do serious verse by verse, Strong's-Bible-concordance-in-lap type studying.

I got off to a good start today. I went to Panera bread in the morning/afternoon and finished a book about Billy Graham that my dad gave me for Christmas. After three cups of a coffee and a brief reading from Christless Christianity—a book I got a couple months ago but haven't had a ton of time to read—I biked back to my apartment and busted out my gear: my new big, ole' ESV study Bible (thanks Grandma and Grandpa Willhite), Expositors Bible Commentary, my NKJV Bible, my journal, and two Biblical Lexicons — oh yeah, and the Strongest Strong's Bible concordance.

After praying for insight, I proceeded to spend two and a half to three hours digesting, dissecting and reading aloud the first chapter of Romans.

Great stuff. Amazing what the Holy Spirit can do when you give a little effort. I've never read one of Paul's customary greetings with such scrutiny before. But man, it was worth it. And I'm genuinely looking forward to continuing tomorrow.

One thing I took out of today's study was that faith is not only what saves us, but also something a Christian should live by every day. "The righteous shall live by faith," Paul wrote. Faith isn't just the beginning of a Christian's life, but the very means by which God changes a person from "glory to glory" into the likeness of His son. Even though I don't know where money is always going to come from, I do have faith that if God puts me in a place beyond myself He most certainly will provide.

I think with a bit of discipline, the next three weeks could be more productive than my customary Chimes weeks.