From dust, to dust.
For dust you are to dust you will return.
People are hard, and you're one of them.
Recently I have found myself somehow in the midst of all kinds of junk. People losing friends and family to illness and accident, people hurting longtime friends, people making bad decisions, people struggling with depression, and most of all other people being clueless how to respond to all the stuff that is happening around them.
This world can be a weary place. That is something I have definitely been taught over my almost 21 years of life. It is something that I will never forget.
But the thing I always forget to remember is that I am one of those ignorant, difficult, hard, dust filled people too.
Yet Jesus lives, and for whatever reason, decides to take this sack of dust and sow some good seed on it. Suddenly, I the dust become the good soil.
Yet it is not I, but the living water that changes me from dust. And the dazzling son that sows the seed.
Thank goodness for redemption.
Let's hope and pray for determined spirits that run toward the kingdom, that we may not make the return to dust ever. The part that deserves to return to dust has returned. I'm clean. And I'm wet and muddy and in the sunshine.
Let the crop grow.
Genesis 3:19
Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 / Mark 4:1-8,13-20 / Luke 8:1-8,11-15
Titus 3:1-7
Peace and joy. And Hope. Lots of it.
boyer.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
It's been a while since I have blogged. My life is crazy right now.
Here's a quick experience,
So last night, after a long day of friends, football, fun, and sweating (I'm sorry sweating doesn't start with an f) the roommates and I and a couple other friends were hanging out at our place. Eventually, I was like bump staying awake i have to be up at the crack of dawn, so I went to shower and then go to bed. After my shower, as I was laying in bed with the lights off, I felt the strong urging of the holy spirit to go and ask whoever was out in my living room still if we could pray. I didn't. I felt guilty, but I didn't.
This morning I woke up and didn't feel guilty or shameful anymore. I felt like I had chosen the wrong thing clearly, but in doing so I had just chosen against some blessing that was set aside for me in prayer that night. It is beautiful to see how Christ's mercies really are new every morning for me, the prodigal son (or maybe just the elder son who hangs around home but isn't really about his father's business). It was also really good to realize that the prayer/situation that I neglected out of fear (of what i dunno) I was being led to was in order to bless me and my roommates. Now I find myself wishing to obey not for obedience sake but for my sake.
How good is freedom. And how good is it to remember why we are asked to obey.
1 John 5:3
Peace and Joy.... and Freedom!
Boyer.
In other news, here's a pretty little proof I did for homework tonight:
Let * be an associate binary operation on set A with an identity element, e. Proof that the inverse of an element is unique if it exists.
Let y and z be inverses of x. We want to show that they are equivalent.
y = y * e (Identity theorem)
y* e = y * (x * z) (z is the inverse of x)
y * (x* z) = (y * x) * z (associative property)
(y * x) * z = e * z (y is the inverse of x)
e * z = z (Identity theorem)
Therefore, by transitivity, y = z and the inverse of x is unique.
Here's a quick experience,
So last night, after a long day of friends, football, fun, and sweating (I'm sorry sweating doesn't start with an f) the roommates and I and a couple other friends were hanging out at our place. Eventually, I was like bump staying awake i have to be up at the crack of dawn, so I went to shower and then go to bed. After my shower, as I was laying in bed with the lights off, I felt the strong urging of the holy spirit to go and ask whoever was out in my living room still if we could pray. I didn't. I felt guilty, but I didn't.
This morning I woke up and didn't feel guilty or shameful anymore. I felt like I had chosen the wrong thing clearly, but in doing so I had just chosen against some blessing that was set aside for me in prayer that night. It is beautiful to see how Christ's mercies really are new every morning for me, the prodigal son (or maybe just the elder son who hangs around home but isn't really about his father's business). It was also really good to realize that the prayer/situation that I neglected out of fear (of what i dunno) I was being led to was in order to bless me and my roommates. Now I find myself wishing to obey not for obedience sake but for my sake.
How good is freedom. And how good is it to remember why we are asked to obey.
1 John 5:3
Peace and Joy.... and Freedom!
Boyer.
In other news, here's a pretty little proof I did for homework tonight:
Let * be an associate binary operation on set A with an identity element, e. Proof that the inverse of an element is unique if it exists.
Let y and z be inverses of x. We want to show that they are equivalent.
y = y * e (Identity theorem)
y* e = y * (x * z) (z is the inverse of x)
y * (x* z) = (y * x) * z (associative property)
(y * x) * z = e * z (y is the inverse of x)
e * z = z (Identity theorem)
Therefore, by transitivity, y = z and the inverse of x is unique.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Notes of the day:
CT scans don't take very long. Only about a minute and a half. But when the nurse says you can't swallow your saliva for that short of a time it is still really difficult to do. Especially when the whole reason you are there is sinus issues resulting in constant drainage down your throat.
The US government has the standard American family monetary problem, living outside of its means. All I'm saying is that if the debt keeps growing, pretty soon 20%+ of our annual budget will simply be interest payments. Yuck.
The new Mutemath single Blood Pressure is out on iTunes, along with the song Odd Soul. Its worth a listen to.
The only thing I don't like about OSX Lion so far is the inability to manually rearrange my desktops/full screen apps on mission control.
I got a twitter. I think i'd really like it if the musicians/celebrities/artists/athletes and such that I actually want to hear about would tweet 25% as much. As of now its ok.
A quote:
CT scans don't take very long. Only about a minute and a half. But when the nurse says you can't swallow your saliva for that short of a time it is still really difficult to do. Especially when the whole reason you are there is sinus issues resulting in constant drainage down your throat.
The US government has the standard American family monetary problem, living outside of its means. All I'm saying is that if the debt keeps growing, pretty soon 20%+ of our annual budget will simply be interest payments. Yuck.
The new Mutemath single Blood Pressure is out on iTunes, along with the song Odd Soul. Its worth a listen to.
The only thing I don't like about OSX Lion so far is the inability to manually rearrange my desktops/full screen apps on mission control.
I got a twitter. I think i'd really like it if the musicians/celebrities/artists/athletes and such that I actually want to hear about would tweet 25% as much. As of now its ok.
A quote:
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” -Søren Kierkegaard (Not saying i'm an existentialist...., just saying its a good quote)
A Poem:
Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land;
I hear them hail thy bright, ascendant star.
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers; spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned.
Hast thou no wound?
No wound? No scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And piercèd are the feet that follow Me.
But thine are whole; can he have followed far
Who hast no wound or scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land;
I hear them hail thy bright, ascendant star.
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers; spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned.
Hast thou no wound?
No wound? No scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And piercèd are the feet that follow Me.
But thine are whole; can he have followed far
Who hast no wound or scar?
-Amy Carmichael
Growing up is hard.
Monday, August 1, 2011
have you read the script?
could you picture it?
... is it worth the risk?
everything i love
is on the line,
on these neon signs.
but i need to know- when you looked away,
was it something that i said? was it something that i said?
well okay, okay, i need you more than i did before.
now that the concrete is nearly set.
here in the second act i’m living in repair.
strange how the heart adapts when its pieces disappear.
and there, on page 28, i’m so tired of drying glue,
i begin my grand attempt at building something new.
though i tend to write
the epiphany more immediately,
i guess i’m trusting that there’s such a thing
as elegance in dissonance.
God, i’m skeptical of pulling scenes.
was it something that i said? was it something that i did?
please don’t get me wrong- i still need your help
as history repeats itself
here in the aftermath, i’m pulling at the seams.
strange how the heart adapts in the absence of routine.
and there, on page 29, i find “new” and make it mine.
but i can't help casting shadows on all i leave behind.
maybe i could afford to change a bit...
even let go of the reigns?
every torn out page was worth the risk
now that the stakes have been raised.
so here in the final draft, i've given all i have.
strange how the heart expands in the absence of a plan.
there's nothing left on the page, but i'm okay with that,
for i found my resolution
was designed for stronger hands.
-Ryan O'Neal
Saturday, July 23, 2011
I am weary of this world. And I think it just means that I hold on to it too tightly.
Over the past 48 hours I have read enough headlines to make me want to give up. We've got some crazy 'fundamental christian' killing around 80 people in Norway. We've got the United States government bashing itself internally and on the verge of defaulting. We've got Casey Anthony and the hatred by everyone surrounding that trial, and the fact that a child is dead. We've got a train in China derailing and killing 32 people. We've got war. We've got hunger. We've got natural disasters. We've got a lot of crap to deal with. And this is just the headlines that I've read in the past 24 hours.
And then I look at my own life, and those close to me. I've got a dead dad. I had a friend tell me today that their dad committed suicide when they were younger. I see friends in pain from parents divorce, from breakups. Friends in financial struggles, and friends feeling hopeless as they fight to try and fix the broken-ness of the world.
And the worst part is, I think its been this way for thousands of years. Look at Paul, in Philippians (1:21-26ish) he discusses his desire to depart and be with Christ, yet out of love chooses to continue to bear his burden that was ordained for him. (Acts 9:16- "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name"). He seems a little weary to me.
In this world there will be suffering. And that's tough when you sit down and realize the implications of that.
Basically, you could say I'm depressed. But I think weary is a better word.
Its funny though, out of all of this hope stems. Slowly, but surely, the hope of redemption for the world, and justice for the world seem to break apart from their somewhat paradoxical standing and be reconciled together in the person of Jesus Christ and his hopefully soon return.
Thank goodness for hope.
On a related note, I think its interesting how the cup is a symbol of both suffering and blessing in scripture. David's cup overflows in the presence of his enemies in Pslam 23. Jesus prays that the cup be taken from him in Gethsemane. How keen.
Over the past 48 hours I have read enough headlines to make me want to give up. We've got some crazy 'fundamental christian' killing around 80 people in Norway. We've got the United States government bashing itself internally and on the verge of defaulting. We've got Casey Anthony and the hatred by everyone surrounding that trial, and the fact that a child is dead. We've got a train in China derailing and killing 32 people. We've got war. We've got hunger. We've got natural disasters. We've got a lot of crap to deal with. And this is just the headlines that I've read in the past 24 hours.
And then I look at my own life, and those close to me. I've got a dead dad. I had a friend tell me today that their dad committed suicide when they were younger. I see friends in pain from parents divorce, from breakups. Friends in financial struggles, and friends feeling hopeless as they fight to try and fix the broken-ness of the world.
And the worst part is, I think its been this way for thousands of years. Look at Paul, in Philippians (1:21-26ish) he discusses his desire to depart and be with Christ, yet out of love chooses to continue to bear his burden that was ordained for him. (Acts 9:16- "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name"). He seems a little weary to me.
In this world there will be suffering. And that's tough when you sit down and realize the implications of that.
Basically, you could say I'm depressed. But I think weary is a better word.
Its funny though, out of all of this hope stems. Slowly, but surely, the hope of redemption for the world, and justice for the world seem to break apart from their somewhat paradoxical standing and be reconciled together in the person of Jesus Christ and his hopefully soon return.
Thank goodness for hope.
On a related note, I think its interesting how the cup is a symbol of both suffering and blessing in scripture. David's cup overflows in the presence of his enemies in Pslam 23. Jesus prays that the cup be taken from him in Gethsemane. How keen.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
I need to go on a rant about somethings. It isn't a real rant, but I still give it rant status.
The following things make absolutely no sense, yet everyone accepts them like they are normal and wonderful.
First of all, every single perfume, cologne, and deodorant ad or commercial I have ever seen makes no sense. For example:
Ok, so other than the cologne bottle being thrown in their for about, oh, 2% of the commercial, this is completely unrelated to anything doing with cologne, let alone ones sense of smell. It has an attractive man, ocean waves, and music to go with the 4 second narration and brand name. If you don't feel like watching the commercial, I believe the clip order is like this: ab muscles, neck sweat, waves, back muscles, pretty face, pecs and sweat, waves, ab muscles, dive, facial shot, more chest sweat, cologne bottle, waves. I would just like to point out that nothing in that, aside from the cologne bottle is related to the product.
But, Boyer, it has acqua in the name! True. I'll concede that. But I have a feeling that this cologne does not smell like the ocean. And I guarantee it will not make you instantly ripped and shirtless. And it certainly won't make you sweat super fast. In fact, last time I checked, cologne is supposed to make the wearer smell good, (but all they usually do is make everyone around that person ask what that strange smell is) and I can't see smells.
Bottom line, apparently sex sells (we already knew that though...) and sex makes people forget that cool visual affects with attractive people is unrelated to smell (and reality).
However, I will say that old spice makes commercials so ridiculous that they make sense. I mean Ray Lewis covered in bubbles riding on a giant, jet-powered raven that blows up saturn with laser-beams from its eyes is intentionally ridiculous. I'm going to hope it was designed as a satire, because it pretty much serves as one. (Old spice commercials here.)
Second,
Who thought that a great addition to any garden would be a lawn gnome? They are creepy and purposeless. Besides, who really owns a hat that is 2/3 their body length and stands straight up? Sorry travelocity. (not really.)
This one has a couple of exceptions, but the amount of throw pillows you find on any hotel bed (and I'm sure most beds that are not in my house or apartment) makes no sense. On a bed, you need pillows to sleep on and possibly a pillow that you can use to support your back while watching TV. Nobody, absolutely nobody needs a set of 8 throw pillows, complete with 3 pairs of decreasing size squares and a pair of tootsie roll shape pillows. Nobody needs a 6 inch by 6 inch pillow and a perfectly cylindrical pillow seems ridiculous and unwieldy. Most importantly, in order to sleep on a throw pillow covered bed, you have to throw your pile of pillows somewhere else to even get to the covers. They serve no purpose. Go google image 'throw pillows on bed' and you'll see this image first.
All shapes, all sizes, and way too many tassels. It's an epidemic. Thanks for nothing pillows that stay on my floor.
Alright, I'm done. Ban perfume and cologne ads (naked and half-naked people don't necessarily smell good), ban lawn gnomes (dumb hats is reason enough), and ban throw pillows.
On a side note, no one can look cool while running out a garage door they just closed from the inside before it shuts AND successfully step over the laser safety beam. Just sayin'.
The following things make absolutely no sense, yet everyone accepts them like they are normal and wonderful.
First of all, every single perfume, cologne, and deodorant ad or commercial I have ever seen makes no sense. For example:
Ok, so other than the cologne bottle being thrown in their for about, oh, 2% of the commercial, this is completely unrelated to anything doing with cologne, let alone ones sense of smell. It has an attractive man, ocean waves, and music to go with the 4 second narration and brand name. If you don't feel like watching the commercial, I believe the clip order is like this: ab muscles, neck sweat, waves, back muscles, pretty face, pecs and sweat, waves, ab muscles, dive, facial shot, more chest sweat, cologne bottle, waves. I would just like to point out that nothing in that, aside from the cologne bottle is related to the product.
But, Boyer, it has acqua in the name! True. I'll concede that. But I have a feeling that this cologne does not smell like the ocean. And I guarantee it will not make you instantly ripped and shirtless. And it certainly won't make you sweat super fast. In fact, last time I checked, cologne is supposed to make the wearer smell good, (but all they usually do is make everyone around that person ask what that strange smell is) and I can't see smells.
Bottom line, apparently sex sells (we already knew that though...) and sex makes people forget that cool visual affects with attractive people is unrelated to smell (and reality).
However, I will say that old spice makes commercials so ridiculous that they make sense. I mean Ray Lewis covered in bubbles riding on a giant, jet-powered raven that blows up saturn with laser-beams from its eyes is intentionally ridiculous. I'm going to hope it was designed as a satire, because it pretty much serves as one. (Old spice commercials here.)
Second,
Who thought that a great addition to any garden would be a lawn gnome? They are creepy and purposeless. Besides, who really owns a hat that is 2/3 their body length and stands straight up? Sorry travelocity. (not really.)
This one has a couple of exceptions, but the amount of throw pillows you find on any hotel bed (and I'm sure most beds that are not in my house or apartment) makes no sense. On a bed, you need pillows to sleep on and possibly a pillow that you can use to support your back while watching TV. Nobody, absolutely nobody needs a set of 8 throw pillows, complete with 3 pairs of decreasing size squares and a pair of tootsie roll shape pillows. Nobody needs a 6 inch by 6 inch pillow and a perfectly cylindrical pillow seems ridiculous and unwieldy. Most importantly, in order to sleep on a throw pillow covered bed, you have to throw your pile of pillows somewhere else to even get to the covers. They serve no purpose. Go google image 'throw pillows on bed' and you'll see this image first.
Alright, I'm done. Ban perfume and cologne ads (naked and half-naked people don't necessarily smell good), ban lawn gnomes (dumb hats is reason enough), and ban throw pillows.
On a side note, no one can look cool while running out a garage door they just closed from the inside before it shuts AND successfully step over the laser safety beam. Just sayin'.
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