Monday, March 30, 2009

Another Jazz Time Session

It happened to me again tonight. I am blown away by manmade beauty. I was over at my friend Terry's apartment over the river in Indiana, and as I'm driving back, I'm looking over the bridge at the Louisville skyline, and I felt peace. I have that overwhelming sense of peace every time I look at a big city. I really don't get it, but it's just where I feel the happiest, and I feel like God is moving the most in my life. I personally feel like Japan is going to be a haven for that God-giving peace I feel when I am in a big city. Tokyo is pretty much the biggest city on earth, and when I get there, I know it's going to happen. I will feel the way I do when I drive and see the skyline of a big city. The one that I truly wish I could see again is New York. I miss that sight, seeing the lights, hearing the traffic, smelling the food from the street (you can't deny what I'm talking about). I had the idea of going back for a week or so in May (right before I leave for the internship, but because of time, it just didn't work out).

Speaking of which, Wednesday is April 1st, and that means, I only have another month to go before I am done with school for this semester and I can go home again. My brother and dad are coming up to Louisville and we are all going to drive back together. I can't wait for that, it will be good to be back in Florida for a while. I'm probably going to go to the beach, like a lot. So It's going to be a great time. If most of my readers are from the WEST PALM BEACH area, chances are, I'll be seeing you real soon!

PEACE!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

INSOMNIA

I always find that when I am trying to go to bed, I am thinking most of the time. I feel like I have left something out, like I am giving myself leverage to think in a greater sense than I already have. It concerns me to think that I can't sleep at times, but I am hoping that I won't be up late like this for much longer, after all I do have church in the morning.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Spring Break (Some Japanese Cultural Points)

School is halfway done. I am so blessed to be at this point. Today was part 2 of my Japan season. It will be Japan season for me until April the 4th. Basically it was like this. These were the original dates of my first trip. (March 26th - April 4th, 2003) So today I went out to my absolute favorite sushi restaurant in Louisville to enjoy the celebration. I haven't taken the chance to watch any anime yet. Most recently, I have found myself liking Wolf's Rain, Cowboy Bebop, and Le Chevalier Deon. I absolutely and postively must endorse my hatred for the following anime, that must be avoided at all costs:

DRAGONBALL Z
NARUTO
DEATH NOTE

These series are by far the worst ones out there. The fan followers of these series scare me beyond anything I can possibly say. My older brother Brian's friend Nick has this horrible habit of making it look like I am the biggest Naruto fan to walk this earth. I can assure you that is not true. If you were trying to torture me, I would be sitting in a room tied up someplace watching the above mentioned anime series.

MOVING ON...

I was following one of my fellow missions majors here at school, and am seeing the same anxiety about the missions internships as I am feeling. I am not just preparing for this trip spriritual (trust me, that is seriously lacking right now), but physically. I am going to find it an interesting and humbling experience to be eating nothing but rice, fish and veggies for the 10-week duration of my stay in Tokyo. (To the Japanese, that is the healthiest diet imaginable), to the American, that diet might seem dull and repative. I don't think this way at all. But I must say, for all the sushi fanatics in the world, you have to understand, our concept of sushi is very biased and Americanized. All of the sushi that we see in the States (the exotic rolls) isn't available in Japan at all. Sushi in Japan is a sliver of raw fish over a small portion of rice with some wasabi sauce as a bonding agent. (It's a bigger acquired taste than the American sushi). I have to be really humble about eating the stuff when I go, because when I went to Japan the first time in 2003, I seriously only ate it once. I really didn't like it at all, so I am hoping that while I am in Japan, I could try some other Japanese foods. Not a total loss.

Last weekend, my school had the chance to show the love of Jesus in a very real way. Boyce Student Council had the idea of the different halls in the dorms doing service projects to outreach our community. It was a whole lot of fun. Me and 3 classmates drove to downtown Louisville in my car and handed out donuts and sack lunches for people and just had the chance to talk with people about faith and did some witnessing. I must admit that sometimes I have a fear of sharing my faith because I feel that people won't listen or that they are too scared to open up to a total stranger. That usually isn't me, I am the most outgoing person I know. I will nto hestitate to get to know people. I want you all to know, that I have gained a serious understanding about theology here at school this semester. Especially the concept of perseverance of the saints. (a doctrine of Calvinism) I used to have a hard time understanding the theology here at school, but now I am starting to see eye to eye with the professors and the wiser people. I spent 2 semesters shunning this concept here at the school, and I really need to be focusing on soaking up every possible opportunity I have to witness and be a light and learn everything I can for the field.

I hope you find this blog post an encouragement today. God Bless you all.

PEACE!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Happy Japan Day!

Today is that memorable day that I went to Japan for the first time, (6 years ago). I was a junior at Spanish River High School and I had already turned in about 7 notes to 7 different teachers explaining why I was going to miss 8 days of school. Some of them didn't believe me, but I remember something that my horrid 11th grade English teacher told me. As much as I loathed that woman, her advice was something that I will never, ever forget. "Learn a lot". I still to this day remember what she told me, and I have learned a lot. I learned that I am really going back, and that I am really meant to be back in the country, so things are going to be incredible over there. I hope that my writing is an encouragment to all the people out there who are trying to find purpose to their lives today. God will guide you, and bless your efforts as you strive to do what you have to do to succeed in life. Now, I'm off to go eat sushi tonight, in honor of the occasion.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Importance of Theology

Well, another month is almost over, and officially, Japan is 2 months away (this coming Wednesday). I am more excited that a week from tomorrow, I will be on Spring Break, and I can actually take things at a slower pace than I already was. It will be nice to be able to take my time getting assignments done rather than rushing to get everything done like a frantic lunatic.

I was in Theology 3 class today, learning a great deal about Sanctification and Justification. My professor, Dr. Joslin is a knowledgable person on the subject. He makes it look so easy, and explains himself very well in this area. I am in the process of trying to prepare for the first test in that class. (Which will be an online exam, so I'm not really sure what to expect). I'll keep you updated. I just think it is a vital tool for us as believers to understand all we can about God, for after all "God made it all Good"

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Shadowlands

I am listening to the soundtrack to the Lion King play, and I am finding myself in the extraordinary postiton of being on the verge of tears. The people who designed this play are geniuses. They used the music from the movie and turned it into songs. I have never heard something so beautiful in all my life. It reminds me of the price I have to pay for my journey onto the mission field. I am leaving my family behind and I am taking a bold step, not knowing where I'll be going or what I'll be doing.

The song "Shadowlands" talks about Nala, Simba's wife in the Lion King who decides to go look for help after her homeland has been destroyed by the mindless rule of Scar. She was taking a chance leaving the pride behind, and going out into the great unknown. I mean, would help had even been there for her?

I feel like that now. I need the help and I have to travel to find it. I can't just sit still and hope that help comes, I need to be leaving to help myself. If I stay here, then I will surely die. I can't stay in the Shadowlands, I have to leave and find help and help myself. It feels like a struggle for me, fighting off all of these doubts and running towards truth.

I encourage you all to be like Nala and run away. Run from the traps of sin, and the lies that Satan is feeding into your head, and look for help. You have to seek help. You need to run and look. It's the only way you can survive.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

The Ticking Clock

It is now March 14th. I am slowing going insane with anxiety waiting for the trip to start. Okay, for those of you who don't know, the dates of the trip were changed at the last minute. I am now leaving on Monday May 25th, and will arrive in Japan on Tuesday May 26th. The International Date Line thing is so confusing. So technically, I will be landing in Tokyo at 5:00pm on a Tuesday having left Florida at 8:20am on a Monday.

Oh well, the semester will be over soon, and then I will be on my way to Japan. I am wishing that May 1st was tomorrow, then the school year would be over and I could be in a car on my way back home to Florida. But then reality sets in, and it's March 14th. Oh well, I'll just have to wait.

There are like a million thoughts running through my head about Japan. What will it be like 6 years later from the time I went last? Will much have changed, or will nothing have changed? I can only imagine!