SocioBlog

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Subject:	Fine, geez.
Time:	10:03 pm.

So Rach told me that Howie had tagged me for something, my six favorite songs. Well, I don't want to tag anyone, so there. But I will tell you my current top favorite songs.

1) Ready, Steady, Go - Paul Oakenfold
2) Pain - Jimmy Eat World
3) Cocaine Blues - Joaquin Phoenix (as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line)
4) Army - Ben Folds Five
5) The Suffering - Coheed & Cambria
6) Misty Mountain Hop - Led Zeppelin

School is going well. I'm working on a senior thesis (I've got senior credit but it's only my 3rd year, I'm going for a fourth year of easy classes) and I've chosen the topic of the Presbyterian church during the civil rights movement, with a question of why the PCA split from the PCUS. I've got five pages due Monday, out of the 30 minimum due at the end of the semester. I think it will be fun.

I'm still really involved with RUF, and I lead a fellowship group that I've dubbed the Wednesday Night All-Stars. We have a Facebook group.

I don't really do much more blogging, but I do like Blogspot better. Livejournal is kitsch now. But anyways, the link is:

http://jeetkuneblog.blogspot.com

I hope everyone is doing well. This is probably a one time post, so don't get your panties in a bunch if I don't write much anymore or don't respond to your comments. Send me a facebook message or comment on the new blog. Take it easy, gang.

(tip the scales)

Time:

1:21 am.

Oh yes, I almost forgot how pumped I am for next semester. Not the least of which is perhaps my favorite schedule yet:

Existentialism
English History to 1688
Elementary French I
Beginning German Composition and Conversation
World Literature II

Also, I made 4 A's and a B this semester. The professor from the B class told me I was probably making an A. I should email him. But I'm too much of a pansy. So the perfect semester still eludes me. But I hope next semester will be the one. I can feel it.

Finally, for the last bit of ego-plugging, I met a history major at Summer Conference ALSO named Daniel. Except he's from Yale. Should I be intimidated? Not when he calls me studly. That's perty cool.

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Time:	12:39 am.
Mood:	amused.
Music:	Eminem - Lose Yourself.

Attn:

For those of you that aren't aware, and I'm not sure that many of you aren't, I will be working at Camp Maranook this summer for the entire dang length of it. No Auburn, no Pensacola. More importantly:

-no Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
-no Batman Begins
-no secular music (yes, that means no Van Halen, Metallica, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Dream Theater, Rush, ARKITEKT[!], Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eminem, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Coheed and Cambria, I should stop now because the more I write the more I'll be sad)
-no restaurants
-no coffee whenever I want!
-no Padrons, Onyxes, or Elogias for three months!
-no 24 season finale!

In any case, it will all be worth it. I'm sure of that. Andy Brink, I'm glad you're coming. I couldn't do it without you.

This past semester has been intense. But no time to talk now.

RUF Summer Conference was great. Stuart Latimer did a great job at preaching on the Bible, while Brian Habig had a great seminar on the Doctrine of the Church. I'll probably be joining Covenant Presbyterian Church in Auburn in the Fall, along with several other RUF people who were swayed. Additionally, David Wilsono's seminar on Justification was great, as well as Jason Little's seminar on Worldview. I really benefitted from all of the seminars and I couldn't have imagined that they would all fall into place and meet me where I was in life. I really came out of the week refreshed from the time.

Also, Auburn RUF won the 3on3 basketball tournaments (in which I had no part). But we also beat UT in beach volleyball, thanks to the timely arrival of Richard Vise. Our athletic campus minister boosted all of the other players' morale, and my serves became more accurate and the team came together. I'm not even kidding. I'm glad we beat UT whenever we could, because some of our Memphis members began to talk major smack to them.

This semester deserves some major reflection. Hopefully I'll get a chance at camp. Along with the reflection I also plan to do some reading. Here's the summer list:

- Biblical Theology Geerhardus Vos
- Engaging God's World Cornelius Plantinga
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams (halfway done, very recommended)
- God's Way of Peace Horatius Bonar
- English Grammar for Students of German

I also will be getting an NASB translation (camp requirements) and I hear we go through Berkof's Summary of Christian Doctrine. Neat. If I finish Biblical Theology and Engaging God's World, I am going to treat myself to either some Herodotus or some Gibbon. Who knows.

Anyways, if you want to check up on me, take a look at facebook for my mailing address. If you don't have facebook, find someone who is my friend. Because as of 2:00PM Wednesday, 18 May:

-no cell phone
-no email
-just snail mail

I think I'm ready. Peace out you guys, love you all.

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Subject:	Just one concert
Time:	12:50 am.
Music:	Arkitekt - Where I Thought You Would Be.

Jack Black, playing Dewey Finn in the movie School of Rock, pointed out that one great rock show can change the world. I'm not sure if that applies to local concerts changing cities, but the show tonight has been without a doubt, the best show I've been to.

Josh Watson, Jake Rose, and Matt Nichols opened up with a revamped set of Newstart music. I was impressed with Jake and Matt's unity as a rhythm section, and as usual I enjoyed Josh's guitar playing and unique, rich, quality vocals.

Then Carolina played. And I've never heard them before, but I enjoyed them as well. They were really a tight knit group and had some pretty catchy riffs.

Mi Capitan followed with a longer set. Shockingly enough I've never heard them either, but they've got a really good band put together as well. I will definitely check out their shows next time I'm around for one.

But then came Arkitekt. I don't think I've been more into a local band. Ever since I heard Ian Bowling play some stuff of theirs on the way back home a year or so ago I've been hooked. But tonight wasn't really about Arkitekt. It was about Pensacola, and Arkitekt's fans. It was the last night Arkitekt would play a show as Pensacola residents. They're moving to Nashville to finish recording with Charlie Peacock, a man who incidentally helped produce Switchfoot's latest album, Beautiful Letdown. And just like the boys from Arkitekt did tonight, I want to dedicate this post to Pensacola.

During football season in Auburn we often hurl insults at fans from other colleges. We accuse Bama of being so full of stupid that they're basically illiterate, and we accuse LSU fans of being so drunk that literacy wouldn't matter. In contrast, us Auburn fans are the saints of the South.

Perhaps distance makes the heart grow fonder, but so what, Pensacola, you are awesome. Walking into the show tonight I felt home. I had Rob Duffield with me, a great guy, and I saw Ian Bowling. Talk about another great Plainsman who knows how to rock and have a good time. There's nothing like seeing the old East Hill music club, like Josh Watson, Ben Gibson, Jake Rosa or Matt Nichols. Tom Williams was also a pleasant surprise, and we joked about how Poli-Sci majors like him actually do things, while historians like myself just function as scribes and write about the deeds of others. Josh Miller, who now looks like a shady computer hacker is always good for a laugh. Even seeing the faces of Caitlin Joyner's or Rae's lets you know you're home. Seeing Bonnie was great as well. Talking with Arkitekt's Thomas backstage about future plans was exciting and made me hopeful for those guys...and I think it's a pretty solid bet they'll go far. And perhaps the greatest surprise of all was seeing the ever-pleasant, total joy-to-be-around Lauren Asmus. And if I forgot you, don't worry, you probably made my night as well.

Maybe this post is too sentimental. Maybe it's too long. But Pensacolians and Arkitekt fans are great. Tonight was an amazing show, no doubt about that. It made me believe more and more that Arkitekt will change things soon. I understand what Tommy talked about when he said you grow up getting ready to leave, and then right before you do you realize how much you love your hometown. And make no doubt guys, Spring Break is over right now but I'll always be ready to go back to Pensacola.

In the words, rather letters of a friend,

wvu.

-to check out Arkitekt ( http://www.myspace.com/arkitekt )
-to check out Carolina ( http://www.purevolume.com/carolinaFL )
-to check out Mi Capitan ( http://www.myspace.com/micapitan )
-to check out Newstart ( http://www.newstartmusic.com )

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Subject:	Terri Schiavo stuff
Time:	1:05 pm.

I still don't know what to think about the Terri Schiavo case. There are a lot of things to consider, and to suggest that Michael Schiavo is out for personal gain is probably a bad call. Any life insurance money he would have made would have long since been chewed up by his attorney fees. Plus, I doubt $200,000 or so would make anyone be eager to have most of conservative America hate your guts.

If Terri told her husband she didn't want to live dependant on machines, and several of Terri's friends corroborated that information, I'm not quite sure why her parents think they have a say. Regardless of a Christian's stance on the issue, I suppose we all have to agree that Terri is her husband's responsibility, not her parents' (Gen. 2:24).

Although feeding tubes were never meant to be long term solutions to medical problems, if it works in a long term scenario do you remove it? It isn't a burden on the patient (but you do wonder if she'd notice any burden at all).

This quality of life stuff needs to be done away with, I think. Where does the buck stop? People with Down's Syndrome? Alzheimer patients?

So many scattered thoughts. I still don't know what to believe about the issue. Right now I feel I see both sides of the issue.

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Subject:	some brief notes
Time:	8:26 pm.
Mood:	excited.
Music:	Coheed and Cambria - The Velorium Camper III: Al the Killer.

- formal with sydney was awesome, i had a blast

- my first tuxedo bowtie experience was good as well

- more RUF hanging out the day after, baseball games, pita pit, frisbee, and:

- i smoked my first cigar ever, and it was fun, i'm in the market for a pipe now

- more getting to know Steven Carter, Andy Brink, Adam Hess, Kevin Cordell, which means I'm having a good time

- going to Pensacola for Spring Break - bowling anyone?

- hopefully learning how to skim, anyone interested in helping me learn?

- fell in love with Coheed & Cambria...example number 15 that when bean and/or bwad say "hey listen to this guys" i should do it immediately, no questions asked

- i got a pair of escrima sticks in today, and i like them a lot. they've already got some dents in them though because sifu (instructor) is crazy

- oh yes, i'm also in the market for a pipe, did i say that already? oh, i did, oh well.

(tip the scales)

Subject:	Anarchism? Not quite...
Time:	12:17 am.
Mood:	content.
Music:	Twothirtyeight - Les Wirth.

You scored as Anarchism. <'Imunimaginative's Deviantart Page'>

</td>

Anarchism

75%

Democrat

58%

Green

50%

Socialist

33%

Republican

33%

Fascism

Nazi

Communism

What Political Party Do Your Beliefs Put You In?
created with QuizFarm.com

Well, if you haven't noticed my renewed AIM presence...I'm back online! So maybe more journal updates? I don't know.

I've really realized how bad I am about keeping in touch with people, and so I apologize for that everyone. If I don't hang out with you, I probably don't talk with you, and that's no good. I really think God Tuesday to help me realize that. I bumped into Philip Wilson, which was awesome. He definitely began the process of making my day. I had a great conversation with Todd, then Dick, and finally a few guys from RUF's 2004 Summer Conference from Southern Mississippi. What a great day to catch up with old buds.

Last night in the park,
Singing in the dark,
Amazing grace how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch,
That saved a wretch like me.

(((Pensacola music is the best.)))

(tip the scales)

Time:

10:58 am.

Ok, so I apologize for not updating lately. My internet in the dorm is down, so I need to get that fixed soon. It's been like that for the past week or so and I'm pretty lazy about it. I'm posting this from a computer lab, oh well.

Things are going pretty well. Probably had one of the most interesting/fun Fridays of my life this past week, which was good. I got asked to the Chi Omega formal in a very unique way. So that was good. Time to go tux-hunting with Andy Brink. If you want more information, call the cell.

I've really improved some of my friendships with some guys as well. Over the past few weeks I've gotten to know Steven Carter, Andy Brink, William Parks, and Adam Hess a lot more. I love those guys. I'm glad none of them are graduating this semester, so we'll get to hang out more next semester.

My ankle has been jacked so that meant no JKD, but they're starting Kali now so I definitely need to get back in the groove, regardless of the ankle. Besides, it's pretty much better now.

And that is about it.

(tip the scales)

Subject:	RUF Winter Conference
Time:	9:17 pm.
Mood:	drained.
Music:	Van Halen - Feels So Good (thinking of Bryan), It's About Time.

Well, I just arrived back in Auburn from RUF's Winter Conference, which was definitely an interesting weekend. Despite the cold damp weather, and a pretty painful injury, it was really fun and enjoyable.

I rode with Kurt Smith, Andy Brink, Steven Carter, and John Andress up to Fall Creek Falls, TN. We got there pretty late but we were in time for the sermon. Stuart Latimer, who was the RUF minister at Vanderbilt for a while was there, and he gave a great 3 part series of sermons on the kingdom of God. Brian Sorgenfrei MC'ed the whole thing and made some pretty funny jokes, especially about there being a seminar on the Vanderbilt Sports Program: Stuck in Mediocrity and that later there would be some study rooms opened for the Vandy students. After that we went to our cabins and did some ( grappling )

The next day we had a list of seminars to choose from. I chose to go to the "New Earth" seminar which Brian Habig taught, and then "Engaging Culture" by Dr. Kim Sokoya, which was pretty amazing. A lot of his material came from Francis Shaeffer. I am reading The God Who Is There by Shaeffer which is a very good book and it helped me follow Dr. Sokoya much better.

After the seminars and lunch we did some hiking, and you can see pictures at www.dirtk.com if you want to. Most of the rest of the weekend was fellowship, and then there was a service today that went really well. I feel like I came away with a lot, including a couple of books.

- The Mortification of Sin - John Owen
- Biblical Theology - Geerhardus Vos

I'm pretty excited.

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Subject:	WARNING: REAL UPDATE
Time:	9:36 pm.
Mood:	anxious.
Music:	Green Day - Minority (just for Josh).

Well, school is going well. I've been getting to know Dr. Kicklighter, my Historian's Craft professor, a good bit. So far I think I would give it my favorite class award.

David Peake, Matt Hinshaw, and I found a townhouse (I suppose that's the correct word) that we'll be living in next semester, and hopefully for the next two years. And honestly I'm not trying to sound like Napoleon Dynamite (Lord knows that I do that way too much anyway) but it's probably the best place I've seen in Auburn. Flipping huge den, sweet kitchen, awesome rooms, a deck and a backyard. The only downside is that right behind our backyard are train tracks. But I should get used to that after a month or so. And I really like my roommates. It should be good times, good times.

RUF is going pretty well. I'm going to be playing bass next week so I suppose I should limber up my fingers. I was going to do a dorm Bible study but I have decided against it.

And I need to be drinking more calcium. Tonight Se Hing Gabe introduced us to a little Wing Chun, which did a number on my left forearm. We practiced Maun Sao (Questioning Hand) and Pak Sao (Slapping Hand). Pak Sao is pretty much what it means exactly; it invovles hitting someone with the whole of your hand pretty forcefully, but not in a kind of knock them back way. You only want to move the person's arms a little bit so you can open up a line for a punch.

Maun Sao is a ton different. It's not an attack so much as a block with attacking options. Jeet Kune Do frowns on blocks usually, so when you do take time to block a hit, you're also opening up several routes for punches or lines for attacks. So I suppose it's aggressive blocking. Basically, you deflect a punch by beating someone to the middle of the distance between you. Your forearm is facing upwards with your fingers extended. So basically that bone takes a beating when you try to get it down over the course of two hours. My forearm is noticeably swollen and I'm expecting a huge line of purple all up and down my arm tomorrow.

Gabe, who loves Wing Chun more than any of the other disciplines Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do involves, showed me what it was like. The first two hurt really bad, and the third time fire ran up and down my arm. My hand fell instinctively.

I really need to start drinking lots of milk.

This weekend is RUF's Winter Conference in Fall Creek Falls. It's a conference for all of the Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia RUFs. I'm pretty excited about going, and I look forward to some good times of fellowship and preaching. On the form that advertises the conference, Brian put under "Things to Do":

- Speed Date
- Talk about how Auburn beat Tennessee and Alabama in football
- Make fun of the Vanderbilt Sports program

I think I'll probably do all three.

Hopefully a more exciting update will follow sometime.

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Subject:	More Martial Arts
Time:	11:53 pm.
Mood:	chipper.
Music:	Caedmon's Call - Masquerade.

This is a picture of a Dog Brothers Gathering of the Pack. I doubt anyone on my journal has heard of the Dog Brothers, but it is basically an organization located out in California that studies Kali, which is Phillipino stick fighting. When most people practice stick fighting, they use entirely padded bodies. I myself have two sticks that I made of a 3/4 inch dowel rod, PVC insulation for padding, and electrical tape.

These guys, realizing that to develop Kali further, quicker responses, more accuracy, and overall better technique would only come through a more real fighting experience. So they shed most of the armor and now just use fencing masks, gloves, and some joint protection (elbow and knee pads) and kept using real sticks. Their motto is "Higher Consciousness through Harder Contact." Because they seek to develop their skills not just in stick-fighting but fighting in general, they are basically a no holds barred fighting organization, so you see a lot of grappling, Muay Thai, and boxing. They have no referees, no judges, no trophies, and only one rule, which is that at the end of the day, all participants must be friends.

And I think that's pretty cool. Check out their promo video at www.dogbrothers.com !

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Subject:	Blood blistering and weight lifting
Time:	6:14 pm.
Mood:	content.
Music:	Rush - Available Light.

In my Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do class we've stopped doing Brazillian Jujitsu *tear* but we're taken up kickboxing. It's pretty fun. I'm not very good, but I'm starting to learn. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have tons of blood blisters all over my feet in a couple of weeks.

There's an Auburn Amateur Boxing competition, and I think I'm going to try to convince Gabe, the oldest student in our group, to fight in it. That would be awesome.

Check out this site. There's a video at the bottom of Royce Gracie (180 lbs) taking down Sumo Grand Champion Akenono (451 lbs). There's a video of the match. It's pretty amazing to think how fast Royce totally owned Akenono.

Weightlifting is going pretty well. I'm enjoying it, which is good since I haven't bothered "working out" in 5 years or so. I don't lift much at all but who knows, we'll see what happens. I weigh about 163 now and I'd like to put on maybe ten or fifteen more pounds.

When I extend my right arm and raise it over my shoulder and then bring it back down I hear a little *pop* so I'll have to watch that.

Anyways, how's that for an entry. Virtually no actual content, and a couple of guys fighting.

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Time:

6:10 pm.

Ok, so I haven't posted for a while. That's because I've been in Monterrey, Mexico on a missions trip. It was definitely the best trip I've been on and I don't really want to be back in the states yet, but if I have to be then I'm glad I'm back in Auburn. I really got close to the people on the trip, including the Mexicans we met. God definitely destroyed the language barrier, and we had some true fellowship, and it was pretty funny too, so pay attention for an RUF Mexico '05 DVD sometime in the near future.

The trip really redefined my idea of a mission trip, which was good. About halfway I had this weird feeling like we weren't accomplishing anything. We weren't really doing street evangelism or anything like that. We helped paint a church and went over RUF's Philosophy of Ministry to maybe help in the founding of a truly Biblical campus ministry. At night Richard would speak on the topic from last semester, the hope of marriage (and how it applies to relationships today). After both lectures we would have discussions which were really fruitful. But something didn't feel right. We didn't see people coming to Christ, and that was the problem. I had the wrong conception of a mission trip.

Maybe this is some residue from the various churches I've been in, or the trips I've been on, but it seemed like my formula for a mission trip was evangelism = good, anything else = bad. But that's not the idea behind a mission trip. I think that (dare I say Southern Baptist) idea is a bad concept of a mission trip. A mission trip is working for God's kingdom where it needs to be helped, and Monterrey, a with a university student population of about 200,000, definitely needed help with campus ministry. At the university they had Campus Crusade and InterVarsity, but the problem with those organizations, as the pastor of Encuentra con Dios explained, is that those organizations fail to point individuals towards the church, which is where true fellowship can only occur through the preaching of the Word and the sacraments.

It was a very good trip, and I'll write more later. But for now, it's time to unpack.

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Subject:	first real entry in 4,000 years
Time:	10:16 pm.
Mood:	contemplative.
Music:	van halen.

Ok, well Christmas went well. We went to Tennessee and spent time with our grandparents and I did a little 5 mile hike with my uncle and aunt, which was very enjoyable. I even got to see my great-grandfather and we had a Christmas party for him. He's in a nursing home and probably won't have another Christmas, so I felt grateful to our Lord that he blessed our family with one more opportunity to enjoy Greatdad. It really made Christmas more important than the gifts.

I got a German Bible (Luther - Ubersetzungen) and now I read that next to my ESV, and I'm really enjoying it. I am currently in the Psalms and so I'm learning a lot of the German translations of the names of God.

Since Auburn seems to lack a strong Latin program, I think French is going to be the next language I commit to learn, and then I can either try and learn Latin on my own (a very real possibility) or study it in graduate school.

On the TN trip I finished The Da Vinci Code. It's definitely a page turner, and I did enjoy the entertaining portions of it, but his statement of factuality at the very beginning is irritating. A bold claim like that deserves a bibliography, but there isn't one. Not even an encouragement to read further on the topics of the Knights Templar, the Priory of Sion, or even art history. I imagine that a bunch of people actually think that the Code is real history. Well, parts of it are, and the numerous books (Protestant and Roman Catholic, scholarly and non) show that other parts are true fiction. Parts of the book seem like glorified name-dropping, but other parts where fun to read. Overall, I'd give it like a 6 or 7. Obviously I don't like the parts about Christ's bloodline, and I definitely didn't like Mr. Brown's taking liberty to "explain" Christian theology to the rest of the world.

I also finished 1984 and that was a good book as well.

I'm really interested in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu now like a crazy fiend. In JKD we do grappling, and that borrows a ton from BJJ. Over the break I've been doing some research on the famous Gracie family, who created BJJ in the early 1900s and dominates it in the ring to this day. There is a BJJ club in Auburn, but it's definitely going to be hard to do it. Of the three days it meets, I could go once. If I gave up RUF leadership, twice. Obviously that's not an option. I suppose I could attend the class on Monday before large group and show up in a gi with sweat from 8 different people on it. Haha, that sounds so gross. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to see if opportunities open up.

Today I bought a book on Spanish grammar to review for the RUF Monterrey Mexico missions trip, and a book of Shakespeare's tragedies (Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth) to read on the flight. On our trip we will work with students from their universities and help the local Presbyterian church we'll be meeting in any way possible. I really like that this mission trip will work with a church and that we can be confident that even though we'll be long gone, God's work will still be done in Mexico. So friends, be praying that God uses our team and the church there to continue to preach the Gospel and have an positive influence on the culture.

And I get to continue my tradition of buying a flag from the foreign nations I visit. So far, I only have one, from Costa Rica, but hey, leave me alone. Eventually I'll go through Europe and get a lot of them.

Anyways, here is this, your moment of Royce Gracie zen (he's on top):

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Time:

10:49 pm.

Just got back from Chicago. The trip in a nutshell:

- seeing A Christmas Carol on stage was great.
- Frank Lloyd Wright "The Robie House" tour - fun and educational
- Museum of Science and Industry - too tired to truly enjoy it, but some parts were fun
- seeing Blue Man Group was amazing, I bought a CD and DVD. The show is hilarious.
- Art Institute of Chicago - I loved seeing the art there. There was a medieval weapons/armor section, which was fun. I spent a lot of time in the Renaissance and Japanese/Chinese art sections. But I think my favorite piece was either a gigantic Andy Warhol of Mao or Van Gogh's Old Guitar Player.
- Last night we saw Mamma Mia, what a great fun play. Although I disagreed with about every theme they brought across, mamma mia, that was a fun show!

(4 have weighed in on the issues | tip the scales)

Time:	3:44 pm.
Mood:	calm.
Music:	Caedmon's Call - Love is Different.

Thomas Jackson on the death of his wife, Ellie, on 22 October, 1854:

I have been called to pass through the deep waters of affliction,
but all has been satisfied. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed
be the name of the Lord. It is his will that my Dearest wife and child should
no longer abide with me, and as it is his holy will, I am perfectly reconciled to the
sad bereavement, though I deeply mourn my loss. Oh! The consolations of
religion! I can willingly submit to anything if God strengthens me. I have joy
in knowing that God withholds no good things from them that love and
keep his commandments. And he shall overrule this Sad, Sad
bereavement for good.

I'm reading through Beloved Bride: The Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife. It's really good.

(1 have weighed in on the issues | tip the scales)

Subject:	Characteristic Li Jun Fan
Time:	11:19 pm.

Today Sifu John talked about a recording of an old Chinese television show that has since gone mission. In the broadcast, an interviewer was asking questions of four martial arts masters, one of whom was Bruce Lee. One master claimed that he could not be moved. The master took time to get into his "iron skin" mentality, and then the other three masters proceeded to strike him. The first master struck him in the stomach, and the master barely shook. The second master kicked the other in the leg, with the same effect as before.

Bruce Lee walked up to the master, looked him in the eye, and got in this master's face. Lee then stepped back, and slapped the master in the face. The master was shocked, and Bruce Lee shoved the man. He moved.

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Subject:	Frustrated with politics and leaders...
Time:	3:03 pm.
Mood:	irritated.
Music:	Modest Mouse - Float On.

( For Richard )

I'm pretty frustrated with the situation in Iraq. Aside from never really thinking it was a good idea to go over there, we see that we're being attacked in Saudi Arabia now and that Pakistan's president General Pervez Musharraf thinks the world is less safe because of it. Even though I'll probably tick off a few people on the journal, I'm pretty angry with our war-mongering President. If we actually manage to get out of this tangled mess, who will we attack next? Will Bush institute a draft?

Could I fight for this country? That's a very real and hard to answer question. I mean, it's not like we're even preserving our own way of life or anything like that. And it's a very real question if our way of life is worth preserving. We should all look at the way we live and see what our "way of life" really is.

I mean, why did we invade Iraq? Because they almost had one or two of the toys we had thousands of. Were they threatening us? I don't think so. Hussein may be an evil evil man, but would he really want to call down death and destruction on the entire Arab world for the price of one or two American cities? And if he was threatening us, not like he's completely in the right, but American foreign policy in the past of bulldozing over ideological enemies is pretty shady.

I'm sick and tired of waking up and checking the news to find out that more people my age are dying in a war that was supposed to be over so very long ago.

It's only a month after the election, and I'm already regretting my vote for Bush. $800 billion spending limit hikes and the situation in Iraq is getting worse and worse every single day. Good thing God is in control of this situation, because I'd be scared if our leaders did.

(tip the scales)

Time:	12:24 am.
Mood:	tired.
Music:	Caedmon's Call - The Ballad of San Francisco.

So I’m walking down the street somewhere outside of San Francisco
And I don’t really know my way around
And I’d love to stay a day or two and get into some trouble
But tomorrow I’ll be in another town

There's at least one coffee bar for every single couple
And there's at least a couple in this place
Strange the things you notice when the walls are closing in
And the walls are closing in on me today

So where oh where can I find someone, anyone
‘Cause there’s no way out of here
But here is where I live and so I guess that means
The carrot’s gonna dangle for at least another year

I love anonymity and I love being noticed
Just the same as anybody else
Years ago I told you how I loved to be alone
These days I'd be perjuring myself

So where oh where can I find someone, anyone
‘Cause there’s no way out of here
But here is where I live and so I guess that means
The carrot’s gonna dangle for at least another year

It’s like you gave me up just like I gave up drinking coffee
So I guess I would’ve done the same
So now I know I’m lost somewhere outside of San Francisco
But I’m still glad that I came

So where oh where can I find someone, anyone
‘Cause there’s no way out of here
But here is where I live and so I guess that means
The carrot’s gonna dangle for at least another year

(5 have weighed in on the issues | tip the scales)

Time:	8:52 am.
Mood:	caffeinated.
Music:	Night Fight - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

So my mom's package of presents for my birthday finally got here. It contained:

Caedmon's Call - Long Line of Leavers
Marvin Gaye - The Very Best
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Soundtrack
The God Who Is There - Francis Shaeffer

So I'm still trying to get time to write about how existentialist and a blend of ultilitarian/pragmatist attitudes have crept into the church, and how it has negatively affected the evangelical community at large. Maybe some people like

steveisright,

aftondays,

reformedpresby,

misslizzy, and

aubietodd can comment on it, once I get it done.

(3 have weighed in on the issues | tip the scales)

Time:	2:08 pm.
Mood:	lazy.
Music:	Guns n' Roses - Don't Cry.

I think this is the first time I've been home for a week and not really called anyone to do anything. Last Saturday I tried to get in touch with Rob Duffield to see if he wanted to come over to watch the Iron Bowl but he wasn't home both times I called. Other than that I've just hung out with family and been lazy. My aunt and uncle came to Pensacola, and so we spent a good bit of time together. We had a good Thanksgiving meal.

I'm not exactly sure what it is, whether I'm in a funk or I just need me-time. I think it may be a mix of both. I always seem to lose motivation towards the end of any school semester, and apparently this one is not different. I guess that means it's time to grit my teeth and make myself work. Which I guess shouldn't be too hard. Hopefully.

At Auburn, especially as of late, it seems like it's gogogogogogogogogogogo all the time, and I barely have any time to chill out and just be alone. That's something I need to do more often, and this break has really helped me just relax. I have trouble getting away from the amount of things I'm doing. Aside from being busy, I have a desire to control my situations instead of being more flexible as I go along. As much as I theologically realize that God is sovereign and in control, it's a different thing when it comes to me living like I believe that. Shame on me, naturally.

I think when I come down for break, I'm going to make it a point to visit the Hill, and perhaps go to Route 66 once or twice. I kind of feel out of touch with Pensacola at large, so that may be something I try to take care of when I'm down next time. But I needed to be a hermit for a little while for some personal time. And that's been good.

I've spent some time watching movies, like The Last Samurai and The Last of the Mohicans. I also watched To End All Wars which I think is becoming more and more my favorite movie. It's set in a Japanese prison camp in Thailand during WWII (I know, the title is a bit misleading but it's explained in the first few minutes of the movie). There's no point in trying to cover the story because it's far too detailed to try and whittle it down into summary form. One thing I like is that it shows that regardless of Western or Eastern culture, without the Gospel to renew humanity, both cultures are the same in their depravity, flawed and sinful.

I've been doing a little thinking on some philosophical trends, and some that just occured to me have had a very negative impact on the church, but I think I'll post about that sometime later.

(8 have weighed in on the issues | tip the scales)

Subject:	Food for thought and a question...
Time:	9:46 pm.
Mood:	contemplative.
Music:	Zeppelin, and wishing I had Indelible Grace III for Derek Webbs "The Love of Christ".

I think all Christians should take up studying a culture not related to theirs. For example, I have begun studying Oriental civilization, having been fascinated by the culture in my Asian history course. As a member of the West, I definitely feel like my study has given me a different perspective on life, as well as insight into the Christian faith I would not have seen had I been a student of Western Civilization alone. I think understanding a differnet civilization helps us with our own cultural blind spots, and allows us to see the failures of our own heritage. Naturally, this endeavor should be secondary to the studies of the Bible and theology.

Also...

What does it mean to be Reformed? Is it synonymous with the five points of Calvinism, or is there something more to it? I am beginning to feel that being "Reformed" means adherence to the ideals of the Reformation, which does not just include the five solas and the doctrines of grace. Without a historic Reformed attitude towards the Church, the Sacraments, and the Covenants, can someone be called "Reformed?"

Things to ponder...

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