Well, I guess I forgot to say how the wedding went. It was awesome. She was amazingly beautiful, and he didn't stop smiling the entire time we were at the church, which was about 5 hours by the time the actual ceremony started.

Now, on to this week......Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Alabama. I don't care care how big of an elephant they may have as a mascot, they will need to bring a little more than that on Monday. Tune in and watch for me on TV....

I don't know about ya'll, but I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt on Christmas day...

Tomorrow, one of my best friends gets married. Tomorrow, I am a groomsman for the first time in my life. Tomorrow, I get to stand at an alter with people that I would have never even met if it weren't for our mutual love for Christ. Tomorrow, I get to answer the question, "How do you know Jonathan?" with the answer, "I worked with him at Kanakuk, and he encouraged me in my spiritual life more than he could ever know and it's an honor to be one of his groomsmen."

I'd have to say that 90% of my closest Christian friends, I would probably not hang out with if it weren't for the ONE thing we have in common, God. And it is incredible to see how that ONE thing in common sparks the most meaningful relationships. This past week of being with my friend Jonathan and his fiance's families, I have come to understand the unity that Christians should have...at least as good as it can get in this broken world.

So, soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Cherry, thank you for allowing me to be a part of this, and I wish the best for you in your future together.

My grades came in. Funny story actually

Spanish: A
Trigonometry: A
Band : A (I think everyone gets one)
History: A (by far my hardest class)
Political Science: B


Wait a minute. Did I just get a B in my MAJOR? Haha, oh well. I can't complain because I did absolutely NO studying for that class. I'll take that 3.8 GPA, which I'm very grateful for and have a merry Christmas, hope you all will too.

Well, I'm in FloMo but this Christmas break is going to go really fast. I'm in a wedding next week so I will be spending a lot of time this upcoming week helping with that. In fact I won't be at the college Christmas party Saturday because I'll be helping my groom-to-be friend move. The day the wedding is over, I will be heading directly to my Granny's house for Christmas. After a few days out on her farm I will be heading up to northern Oklahoma to visit my other Grandmother for New Years. BUT!, I won't get to stay for New Years because I have to report on Dec. 30 for the bowl game which keeps me busy until Jan. 2. Not much of a "break" but it will be fun for sure.

My roommate left for home yesterday afternoon and left me with 2 exams and 2 days alone. Last night, however, was the best nights sleep I've had because I was alone in the room, but it still sucks being stuck here for 2 days studying when the entire student population is done with tests. There are very few sujects that have finals on wednesday of this week and political science just happens to be one of them. I guess I drew the unlucky card on that one. I'm outta here tomorrow afternoon.......

My exam on Friday went really well. Only three more to go. Today when I was supposed to be studying for my other exams, I "wasted" three hours watching the 101 most outrageous moments of Saturday Night Live. I have to say, I don't think my time could have possibly been spent any better.

Church today officially put me in the Christmas mood. Bring on the eggnog and candy canes...

I wasted most of dead day. Very little studying was done, lots of tv watching and sleeping though. I tried to study quite a bit this morning...Now I'm off to my first final.


A little scared...

DEAD DAY '05

No classes
No band rehearsal
No leaving the room
Tons of studying for finals

At least the first three seemed nice...

Wow! The coldest I've ever been in my life was about two hours ago. 7 degrees with 30 mph winds. I never really understood the true meaning of wind chill until I walked across campus in Lubbock in December. It was below 0 with the wind chill this morning. I guess the cold held off long enough.

Well it's official. I have gained 10 pounds since coming to tech. Why???? It's a combination of pizza rolls and hurting my knee so I can't wrestle...can't even run.


Not a good feeling.

Rumor has it that it will be snowing in Lubbock some time next week.

I barely even own a coat.
ugh.....

Man! It's awesome When God lets me see the stuff that He is doing. Sometimes it is so hard to see the progress God is making in the lives of people that you love and it is easy to get discouraged. Especially when prayers seem to remain unanswered. But when God shows you even the slightest glimpse of His plan it is so encouraging. As my buddy Brent puts it, "spiritual things are afoot" in Lubbock.

My oldest brother is borrowing my cell phone for a day or so until he can figure out how to get his new one. What happened with his phone is (in a short version) it was knocked off of my dashboard, landing perfectly into a large cup of water. It was actually pretty incredible if you think about it. But anyway, I never really noticed how dependent I am upon my cell phone. I've only had one for 5 months and I already feel as if something is missing when I don't have it, like I'm half naked or something. What is with my need to constantly know what is going on? Maybe I should get rid of the phone for a while until I can learn to be ok with not being IN the loop...

Home Sweet Lubbock

Being home for a few days was really great. I got to hang out with so many of my friends from high school. As a matter of fact I was out every day AND night of the break, still managing time to spend with my family. Things were way different though, just something that I couldn't put my finger on. When I was hanging out with my friends that have also gone to college they seemed the exact same, but when I was with some of the people who are still in high school, they seemed quite different...not in a bad way, just different. I had thought it would be the other way around. But everything aside, I loved hanging out with all of you this weekend back in FloMo, so thanks for an awesome week. It is so good to have friends that despite the changes occuring on both sides, we are still just as close as ever.

Could I BE any more ready to go home for Thanksgiving?

-said like Chandler Bing from Friends.

The OU game was an emotionaly rollercoster. It was the most exciting game I've EVER seen. The crowd rushed the field 3 times, each time the field was cleared because a call was being reviewed. It was insane. Since we technically won the game three times yesterday, that means that Mike Leach is 3-5 to Stoops, even though this was his first win against OU since being at Tech...he got three victories out of the deal. Does that mean we could be leading the series next year if a similar thing happens?



It is that time of year when I start thinking about the mission trip to Mexico I go on every year. This state of mind lasts for 6 months, then I go on the trip, then a new mind set of "Man that was awesome" lasts until winter time when I start thinking about the upcoming trip. It's a big cycle. This year, however, I seem to be getting excited earlier than usual.....

Well, I made a mistake and I can't stop laughing at it. Tonight as my roomate and I were driving home from the Navigators (a Christian organization...quite possibly the best one EVER) we were talking. It was a pretty solid conversation, so I was concentrating very intensely as we were discussing Acts 8. Concentrating so intently that I didn't see the red light that I was DRIVING through. I noticed it when my roommate said, "You just ran a red light." It was too late, so I decided to start swerving and pull of to the side of the road. We then proceded to run around screaming, "BEES". When the police arrived, one of them was allergic to bees so they left immediately...We were home free. Ok so that last part was stolen from the movie "Tommy Boy," and it didn't really happen. What really happened was we drove back to the dorm contiuing the conversation. When we stepped out of the car, Jack said, "Remember that time you ran a red light?" Classic moment. I'm sure it was more interesting to be there.




And then I found $10... Go Tech!

I just spent the last hour or so walking around the lobby of my dorm in a Darth Vadar mask, shooting people with a nerf gun.


Man I wish I had a digital camera!

My dorm room is quite possibly the messiest room that I have ever seen in my life. If I want to go from my door across the room to my computer I have to make a path. It can take several minutes. We haven't done dished in over a month, there are clothes just piling up waiting to be washed, but won't any time soon because I have a ridiculous amount of clothes that I haven't yet busted out. If I get access to a digital camera then I might post a picture of it. It is not safe. There are seriously piles of clothes waist high. There are empty/ half empty cups sitting in the same place I left them in september. There are about 7 pizza boxes piled by my door that I don't even remember eating because it was so long ago. The worst part about it is that I am oddly comfortable with the mess.

If we aren't careful, is it possible for solid theology to keep us from viewing God as involved and intimate in some areas?


The question mark is there because I am curious...meaning I wouldn't mind some responses.

We play A&M here tomorrow and since they have the 9th worst passing defense(or around there) and we have the #1 passing OFFENSE it might be a pretty high scoring game...on our side anyway. We'll just have to see. Make sure to watch. Get those guns up.

But the really cool thing about this weekend is that Tschirhart and Daniel Riskey are going to be in town. Talk about sweet.

I went in to talk to my professor about my grade and he raised it. He said that it didn't deserve that low of a grade but my paper a couple of weeks before was so solid so he was surprised on my effort on the test. Whatever that means....he's a good guy.

God is continuing to show His faithfulness to me in incredible ways....even when certain people in the Tech band continue to refer to me as a "holy-roller"...pretty much only on the basis that I don't drink. It is REALLY hard for me not to laugh when terms like that are used. But I AM meeting some really awesome people who are genuinely interested in seeking whole-heartedly after Christ and I am loving that fellowship. Just a few more weeks until Thanksgiving, and then one more week of classes and then Christmas! Crazy...Can't wait.

To be honest, I have never really struggled with school. As a matter of fact it has always come ridiculously easy to me. That is why I didn't know what to do when I got my essay test back yesterday with the number 55 on it. I thought to myself, "Where's the other half of the score?" but then I realized that I just failed a test that is worth 1/4 of my final grade in this class.

It's time to get things done. It's time to study. It's time to develop habits that I never got in high school. But most importantly, it is time to realize that school is NOT the most important thing in the world and this is NOT something to get depressed over. Lesson learned....man it sucked....but the lesson is learned.

I thought it was bad waking up for a 9 o'clock class. I have to be at work at 5:50 in the MORNING on tuesdays....Talk about harsh.

Why is complacency such a common theme in the spiritual lives of many college students?

This weekend I am going camping at Possum Kingdom Lake. Well, it's not really camping because we're staying in a cabin, but it IS going to be manly. The weekend has been named The Man-Maker Overnighter. It's a bunch of guys from the Navigators here at Tech and we are all going to go have guy bonding time. We will be studying God's word together and talking about what it's like to be a man living for God. All in all, this weekend is going to be incredible. I have a lot of acquaintances in the Navigators, and I'm hoping to strengthen them into great friendships over the weekend.

Be sure to watch Tech dominate Baylor this weekend...I won't get to see it.

Austin

Well, the team didn't pull it off. In fact, they played worse than I've seen them play all year, but the trip to Austin wasn't a total loss. It was awesome, actually. I got to hang out with some of my friends that go to UT and see what it would be like to go to college in the middle of a large city. To be honest, it was fun to hang out there, but I don't think that going to school there would be too great. Tech's campus is better, the dorms at Tech are better, the food in Lubbock is better, the fans at Tech have more fun...and so on. I toured the infamous 6th street, and hung around the UT campus with Andy, Jack, other Jack, Katie B, and Emily. Turns out the Alicia was in Austin this weekend too, but my phone is stupid and I didn't get her voice mail until yesterday. Sorry Alicia.

Texas Tech is now 6-0, and the coaches poll has us ranked at 8th in the Nation. This upcoming weekend we are heading down to Austin to play the toughest game of the season. Luckily I'll be there, for FREE, playing my saxophone as Cody Hodges, Taurean Henderson, and Joel Filani pull an upset over the UT cows. For that to happen we will have to play the best game that our guys can possibly play. It isn't impossible, in fact, some polls have Tech walking away with the victory. So for this week, no matter your school affiliation, get those guns up because I'm sure that you want to see UT lose at their home stadium the same year that they are hoping for a National Championship.

I have my Kanakuk interview a week from yesterday! I am so excited to get the chance, AGAIN, to sit down one on one with one of the most amazing servants of God on the earth to discuss life, God, family....and pray with eachother. Last summer was incredible getting to serve God in the most amazing place I've ever been to, with some of the most amazing people that I've ever met. To be able to do that again, and to have my own cabin of kids this year, would be unreal. Please pray that God would calm my heart for the interview because I am SO excited and a little nervous. Also please pray that God would guide the decision of the Kanakuk staff members about whether or not He wants me at Kamp this summer. Thanks everyone..

I am so excited!

MAN, I haven't had anything good to post about in like a month. Sorry for the lame blog month. Hopefully more interesting stuff will happen in the near future.

Almost lost it

Last thursday night, I was stuying at my desk in my dorm room. I looked up at the clock and realized that I was almost late for a class that I have on Thursday nights..and since it only comes around once a weekd, it's easy to forget. So I jumped up and started getting my stuff together for class..then I looked back at my desk.........when I had started getting my books together I had spilled 20 ounces of dr. pepper on my laptop. They keyboard was just sitting in sticky brown liquid. The bad thing is that under the keyboard of a laptop is the actual COMPUTER. I dumped it over as quickly as I could and did my best to clean it off. The keys were SOOOOO sticky, and half of them didn't work. I talked to someone who said that they spilled sprite on their laptop and it was completely fried..ruined. That didn't make me feel any better. Well, I went home this weekend really sad that my computer might be ruined, only to return to a perfectly clean, perfectly usable laptop. I don't understand it. By using the keyboard you can't even tell that the keys were ever sticky. It is mind blowing. I guess I dumped it out fast enough not to ruin anything, and it was able to dry enough over the weekend that there isn't any damage. If anyone can explain this to me I'd love to hear it.

Last night my brother, Brad, Jordan, and I pull into a place called Big Buddha Tattoos. Why??you might be asking. Well, it's fairly simple. My brother and I decided that we wanted to put holes in our body. He got his eyebrow pierced and I got the cartilage on the top of my ear pierced. I only have one small request. Please don't tell my mother. NO, I'm not trying to hide it from her...in fact I'm coming home this weekend. I just want her to see for herself. SURPRISE!

Just thought I'd let everyone know about my new purchase.

My brother Adam and I go to the rec center here at Tech pretty often to work out. Yesterday we decided to get some boxing gloves, which you can rent for free from the rec, and box. Well, we pretty much just knocked the crud out of eachother for about five minutes, and decided that we shouldn't continue without mouthpieces and head protection, so we went to lift weights. After that, we went to the wrestling room and wrestled..because well..because it's the oldest sport known to man and is the most fun ever, not to mention that it's MY sport. Anyways, I messed up my knee again, and he messed up his knee again. Final score 7-1, Craig wins....but we both lose because we limped out of the rec together.

Just when I thought my knee was getting so much better.

So aparently this old template is more "Craig". So for those of you who don't like change...here you are.

I know this may be a little dangerous to ask of all of you,(because God tends to answer prayers like this) but I would appreciate your prayers for patience on my part. Nothing big has happened, no huge outbursts or anything....just a lot of little small impatient/annoyed/selfish thoughts and what not...I hate admitting things like this!

I'm really not too pleased with the choices for blog templates...I think blogger could step it up a little in that area.

What do ya'll think of this one????

Off to take my trigonometry mid-term.



This could be trouble.

I never expected God to be this awesome to me...I know that may sound stupid on my part but let me explain. After leaving home, like many people from my church, I never thought that I would find a place in Lubbock that I would get excited about going to..as far as Christian organizations. Well, I was proved wrong. I LOVE every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday...without a doubt the best days of the week. God has put incredible people in my life to sharpen me, disciple me, and just chill like every college student does. Nothing will ever replace crossroads, Brent, or my small-group..EVER. But God has, without a doubt, taken care of my every need spiritually. Why did I ever doubt?


I'm coming home this weekend...and I can't wait!

The cool fall breeze is blowing into Lubbock as we speak. It's going to be a low of 53 or so today and I'm not really looking forward to it. I'm probably the only one that wishes the hot Texas summer would continue on year-round. There's even a chance for rain this afternoon...How unlucky is that? In less than a month and a half, it will probably be snowing here. I'm not made for that!

I'm putting on my jacket and walking to class...

I was informed that I made a mistake on the score of this past weekend's game. It was 63-7 Texas Tech over Indiana State. I didn't leave early and miss the last touchdown. I'm in the band so I had to stay the whole time, However, about the 2nd half, we all stopped paying attention because it was too brutal to watch with our 3rd string in and still uncontrollable scoring. I just hope we don't get too cocky because there are some tough games ahead of us.


I officially quit my job today. I will be finishing out the week at The Market and then I will be unemployed. I'm looking..I applied at Starbucks and I have some other options...but mostly I just feel relieved that I don't have to work in that sweat shop anymore.

I had an amazing weekend with Katie, Katy, Amanda, and Heather. They visited Tech and I think they liked it. It was so refreshing to see some friends from back home two weekends in a row, since Nathan and Steve-O were up here last weekend...(see earlier post).

Another outstanding victory for the Red Raiders..56-7 .not that it matters because we've played a bunch of nobody teams. This Saturday, however, we play KU. I have a feeling the JayHawks are going down.

Gameday

It is once again a glorious Saturday in Lubbock, Texas. The Texas Tech Red Raiders are about 8 hours away from kick-off....a kick-off that will lead to another victory.

I can't wait until conference play....maybe we'll get to see a REAL game..none of this 80-21 stuff.

Does anybody have their guns up with me?

today has been quite possibly the busiest day of my life...and it doesn't get any easier for the rest of it...

It turns out procrastination is an art form that must be slightly adjusted in the college scene.

Gotta go write ANOTHER paper...that's due today.

I pretty much hate my job......I'm probably not going to quit because of the convenience....and they seem to realize that. Maybe starbucks would work around my schedule.

Two of my favorite people in the world came and visited me this past weekend. That was good news. More good news...........four more of my favorite people in the world are coming this weekend.

"If the spirit of God has transformed you from within, you will exhibit divine characteristics in your life, not just good human characteristics. God's life in us expresses itself as God's life, not as human life trying to be godly" - Oswald Chambers

WOW! Very nicely put.

That CAN'T be faked.

This is what went down...

I mentioned in my previous post that my knee is messed up. Well, when I woke up yesterday I guess i had taken enough ibuprofen the night before to make it fairly comfortable to walk short distances. So yesterday went fine. I went to bed and woke up with my knee hurting like no other at about 5:30 this morning....shrugged it off and went back to sleep. Alarm goes of at 8:30, step out of bed, putting pressure on my knee and I collapsed. A little concerned I took two more ibuprofen and literally hopped to class. I was planning on just getting an appointment at the on-campus health thingy right after my 9:00 spanish class, which meant skipping my Trig class. Well after spanish was over I stood up and my leg felt fine.....but I was already set on not going to Trig, so I didn't, I just went back to my room. I think ibuprofen works wonders...so I'm not going to the doctor just yet and I have marching band in less than two hours....

To say the least I'm a little concerned about my knee.

I just had an incredible weekend. Steve and Nathan came up to Lubbock and we had the best time EVER. There was a little frisbee golf action, some 80-21 Texas Tech victory, a hardcore dust storm, and a close call to going to the emergency room. For some reason my knee just gave out last night at like 1 and I almost had Nathan, Steve, and Brad take me to the ER. I decided to try and sleep it off, that sorta worked. We'll just have to see.

Big gulp huh?....Well, see ya later.

I just ate the world's most greasy calzone. When I bit into it grease exploded all over me. It was like bursting a water balloon..but with grease. I have to admit though...it was really good.

I just had my first small group Bible study of the year. I am so excited to get to grow closer to God with this group of guys. One of the really cool aspects of this small group is that it's mainly a greek-based small group. Most of the guys in it are in fraternities. The amount of people that could be reached through all of these guys is incredible. I'm pumped about this on so many levels.

WOW! My God is good.

Anyone agree with me?

Today is our first Texas Tech football game of the season. It will be my first time to march in front of 50,000 people, and participate in all of the traditions that I don't even fully understand yet. But all I know is that it is going to be incredible. Wreck'em Tech.

Have you ever seen anyone that looks like someone you know? Well yesterday I saw someone who looked like me! It was the creepiest thing ever.

The Tulane University baseball team moved into my dorm building today because their school happens to be under water at the moment. I think that it is incredible that Texas Tech, as well as most other colleges are getting to serve the students from the Louisiana schools that can't continue classes.

I have heard, however, that the students from Tulane don't like to be referred to as "refugees"...i thought that was a little humorous because i would have never even thought of them as refugees because that word puts a mental picture in my head that these people don't meet up to. It just hits a little closer to home when I realize that the people affected by this disaster are no different than I am..at all.

Made to feel like a 2nd-rate citizen

I'm a bit younger than most people in my circumstances. I turned 18 two days before college classes started for me. I did everything that you're supposed to do when you become of legal age. I registered for the draft and to vote. I renewed my license, and I even got a job to be less dependent upon my parents. Well, I showed up to get all of the paperwork done so I could start making some money and they tell me that I can't work there. "What?" Apparently the paperwork showing that I had registered for the draft hasn't gone through yet. It can take up to a couple of months to clear and they can't hire me until the Selective Services get my signed form saying that i would love to be forced to die for them.....
I have nothing against serving my country...I'm not even completly against the draft...I would die for my country if I had to. But are you telling me that no, law abiding, male in the country can get a job within the first few months of turning 18? I think something might need to be changed about that.

Just got back from a sweet weekend at a family reunion. It was SO much fun. But, I am really excited to be back in Lubbock..because....well... because I love going to school here. I'm rushing Kappa Kappa Psi starting today, and Tech's first football game is this weekend. SO EXCITED.

I will probably be in the Flowerplex the weekend of October 8th. So clear your schedules...haha

"There are times in our life when our peace is based simply on our own ignorance. But when we are awakened to the realities of life, true inner peace is impossible unless it is received from Jesus." -Oswald Chambers

That for some reason fits the situation of leaving the cozy suburbs, a nice house, and no terribly difficult circumstances and coming to Lubbock, Texas. Praise God for his peace!

On Tuesday's and Thursday's I don't have class until 11. It is incredible.

I never really realized how much college life is centralized around food. Free food here, free food there....good food somewhere else..but you have to pay...but it's worth it...8 meals a day! Not really, but i feel like I'm eating way to much.

Today, Jordan, Brad and I visited a church here in Lubbock. I really enjoyed it. The teaching was Biblical, well studied, and you could tell that the pastor LOVED his job. Classes start tomorrow...and I just spent $454.54 on books! That is a ridiculous amount of money to spend on something that I will probably rarely use.

Well...i usually don't tell people this, but since i'm 5 1/2 hours away and no harm can be done...it's my birthday. The big 18...My friends Robin and Melissa knocked on my door at 8 o'clock this morning with a big birthday cake and sang happy birthday to me. It was really sweet....the cake that is...haha. But really, my birthday is going pretty well considering that I had band pretty much all day today. Until next year.......

I am definitely in the Bible-belt here in Lubbock, Texas. There are churches on every corner, and people all over campus offering you the "right church home for you". Some might be...others are definitely not. Jordan and I are visiting a local church on Sunday..and I'm pretty excited about it. Praise God in advance for taking care of me while I'm out here. Isn't He cool?

I've been busy these past couple of days with marching band. I am now a member of the Texas Tech Goin' Band from Raiderland. Unlike high school...band doesn't suck, it isn't nerdy, in fact it is really cool to be in band. We got a tour of all the athletic facilities (which just so happen to be some of the best in the nation) and we got to meet players and coaches beacuse they like us THAT much It's kinda weird attending a school where the students actually have school spirit. And the school appreciates the band. To be honest I'm pretty pumped for the football season to start...Rose Bowl????

I'm not sure whether or not it has sunk in yet.

Movin' to Lubbock as we speak...

I keep spending too much money. I need to find a job very quickly when I get out to Lubbock because I have to be able to pay for pizza! What will college be without pizza?

I registered for the draft today and I feel very patriotic because of it.

I said goodbye to a lot of people yesterday...it kinda sucked.

A few more days and I'm gone!

I now own my own coffee pot, ice cream scoop (but I don't have a freezer), can opener, strainer, computer chair, and many other "things". But it's weird because this time it's my can opener, not my family's can opener..."Where is the ice cream scoop??? Oh yeah, exactly where I left it because its mine.." It's just cool.

I'm thinking about buying a sweet sub and speakers for my laptop, so if you have any suggestions let me know.

Why do I have that tape on my nose???...EXACTLY Lawn Wranglers for life.

I leave for good in 8 days....

Hanging out with my friends borders on a spiritual experience at times. I don't have to be out doing something exciting or crazy to be having the time of my life. One thing that I'm going to miss about the flowerplex is the fact that there is no place to go and do stuff....you have to just hang out at starbucks or someone's house when you're looking for something to do. All through high school I hated that, now I believe that it is the reason that I am so close with the people that I am. My relationships with some of my best friends were rooted out of boredom. I'm very thankful for my "boring" suburban lifestyle...

I had so much fun tonight hanging out with the college group. I have some of the coolest friends that I will miss dearly when we all go our separate directions in a week or two. Good news is that I have great friends going the same direction that I am...wreck 'em Tech

I think that my parents are realizing that, in 16 days, they won't have a son to mow the grass, take out the trash, paint the fence, vacuum, dust, wash cars, clean out the garage, or run to the grocery store for them. SO, they are eating up these last 16 days with great pleasure. Last night at Bible study we studied "kindness", one of the fruits of the spirit that we tend to shrug off, or take the "MANliness" away from. We discussed how it normally isn't the manly thing to be tenderhearted and kind....maybe I should work on that in this situation with my parents and give the glory to Him and not myself. DANG IT! I start to write a blog about how I'M the victim and I always realize that I'm the one in the wrong....

As nathan says...it makes me want to kick a puppy.

I get to paint my fence today. You have NO idea how excited I am about this....(sarcasm)

My car that I just bought is having problems already...gotta love American cars.

I just got back from orientation at Texas Tech. I spent three days touring the campus, meeting people and professors, and registering for my fall classes. I now have my fall schedule in hand and I am finally excited about college. It is going to be so much fun. Unlike high school, I get to take classes that I'm interested in, no more of the junk that I hate to take...I only have one math class in all of college, and it is easier than the algebra that I took freshman year of high school. It is going to be incredible. I am taking 15 hours, but my schedule is worked to where I am finished with class relatively early in the day so I have plenty of time to work or play. My guns are so far up right now it isn't even funny! Get your guns up!

I am a little bitter towards American society right now...

Don't get me wrong. I love the country, I love the people, I even love the leaders of the country. I am just disappointed in the ideals of the people, especially of those who claim to be among God's elite. This feeling may or may not pass...it is just that I have had the rare opportunity this summer to serve one group of people in ONE extreme situation...complete poverty, and then turn around and serve a different group of people in the opposite extreme....wealth to the point of boredom.

I don't know if that made any sense..but it's how I'm feeling.

GREAT NEWS! It turns out that I don't have to leave for school on August 10th like I thought I had to. I don't have to be there for band until August 20th. That gives me so much more time to hang out with people and get things done before I leave for good.

It is really good to be home. I have had a blast hanging out with people that I haven't seen in a while. I have been able to hang out with katie, as well as other people from my church. I had coffee with Miles yesterday, which was SWEET. It is just so good to be home and enjoy the people that God has blessed me with. If I haven't seen you yet...call me and we can hang out.

I really missed Tim's sermons..church today was incredible.

I'm back!!!!

I just had the most amazing month of my life. I got to see over 30 kids come to Christ... I also got to serve and minister to, as well as learn a ridiculous amount from tons of kids. I am so thankful that God put me at Kanakuk this summer. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers this past month.

Tomorrow morning...well I guess later this morning I'll be off to Kanakuk. Please pray for my safe travel as well as my time there. I will see you all in a month!

Tonight was so bitter-sweet it isn't even funny.

Almost time...

In two days, I will load my recently purchased, dark green, Saturn SL2 and head up to the good 'ole Ozark Mountains. I will be up there for four weeks. It will quite possibly be the best four weeks of my life thus far. I get to serve God with some of the most Christ-like people on Earth. Each and every one of the people that I'll be working with has an unwaivering love for God that I envy. Pray for me that God would soften my heart as well as the hearts of the kids that I will be in contact with through my time at Kanakuk, and that God would use me to show His love to the kids. I'll try and post at least once more before I head out...

I had one of those moments a couple days ago where I KNEW that without a doubt, God was using me. I can't go into much detail at the present, but just know that God answered some long term prayers of mine and He is amazing. Just wanted to share some of my joy with all of you...

It's about time...

Guess who finally bought a car?

Do you ever feel like you can't do anything right?

I have a healthy disdain for both of the teams playing in the NBA Finals...But seeing San Antonio get their faces wiped all over the court puts a huge smile on my face. Sorry Tim Duncan...but I would rather see the Pistons take it.

I remember recently getting my drivers license on my 16th birthday....Oh wait. That was about two YEARS ago! Where does the time go?
'
Do you ever remember walking through the mall and looking at the "older" "cooler" kids. I used to pretend what it would be like when I was in high school, and I could drive, and I had a letter jacket, and all that stuff. Well now all that stuff is over with. I have finished high school, and don't wear my letter jacket anymore (mainly because it's like 105 degrees outside) and I don't even have a curfew anymore. It just seems like life was going at warp speed and when the coolness was occuring, I wasn't paying attention to how cool it actually was. I feel like I skipped four years of my life because I was too preoccupied with meaningless, trivial things...

This years goal...realize how cool it is to be in college. Enjoy life, friends, and most importantly...God, and don't STRESS OUT. Bring Glory to Him in all that I do by enjoying the life He's given me. That is something that the college group at Crossroads does unbelievably well.

Random thoughts

• sometimes you just have to burn to tan
• grapevine lake rocks, especially when you're there with people who rock
• it is definitely summer and I'm loving it
• there is no feeling quite like the one you get riding in a jeep without doors on it
• wakeboarding is easy....at least getting up is
• after owning a laptop I don't ever want a regular PC again
• cars don't just show up and wait for you to buy them, you must pursue them
• I'm realizing that I am actually starting a new part of my life
• I wish I would have gotten to know certain people sooner

Good News...I heard from Kanakuk.

Bad News...buying a car is no fun. It will be fun once I get the car, but the whole process sucks.


I got to have breakfast with one of the coolest people on the planet this morning. I feel so lucky for every second that I get to spend with this individual. AMAZING!

Mexico was wonderful. But now that I'm back I have so much to do. I leave in like 8 or 9 days for Kanakuk. I have to:

• sell my car,
• buy a new car,
• have my Eagle Scout Board of Review,
• run down to drop paperwork off in Fort Worth,
• mail in the rebates for my laptop,
• do my thank you letters from graduation

On top of all of this, I haven't heard from Kanakuk in over a month. I have no clue what time I am supposed to get there, what they want me to bring, and all of the stuff that one would expect to get from his employer in advance. I realize that everyone at Kanakuk is extremely busy right now doing the whole CAMP thing. But they hired me, sent me the forms they needed me to fill out, sent my a confirmation letter, and I haven't heard from them in a month...But I would like to know whether or not they still want me to show up. If I can't get a hold of them this week, I might be spending the next month in the Flowerplex. I hope we can get in touch..it is the most amazing place on the planet.

Craig!!!, Just trust God...just trust God.

I'm south of the border for the next week....


Juarez '05

Brent...can that funk be contagious?

My friend just got me the coolest gift EVER. He got me a copy of The Message by Eugene Peterson. It is a nice leather back bible with my name on it. I have such amazing friends. Thank you Seanathan...it means more to me than you know.

I don't really know when i'm supposed to find time to get ready for Mexico....and I don't think I have given Nathan my birth certificate yet.

I was in the Marcus Band for 4 years. They have this thing called music camp the first week of summer where everyone goes up to school for like 6 hours a day and plays their instruments and gets to know the music we'll be playing for the marching show and what not. Well....I got a call this morning from my old band director. "Craig, we need a Saxophone teacher and were wondering if you were free this week...we'll pay you for it." Cha-ching. I will be getting paid for doing the exact same thing that I was forced to do last summer. I was the saxophone teacher the past two years too because I was an officer that was able to teach, therefore not requiring them to hire one..i guess they didn't have any students that could take it over this year, so they get to pay me to do it. What makes it even better is that I love playing my saxophone....I love talking to other sax players...and I love making music with people. I would probably do it for free if they hadn't already offered to pay me for it.

Sorry for canceling coffee.

I just got my new laptop today!!!! It is AWESOME.

The last Mexico meeting was today...we leave in 6 days. It is unreal how excited I am for this trip.

There is nothing like a few runs to Race Track to get a cheap fountain drink refill and then going to play some frisbee golf to get the summer started off properly. Except the fact that I LOVE 100 degree weather(I might be the only one) and its only been about 85-90 recently...but I can live with that...

High school Wednesday night Bible studies at my church are now over for the summer...and in my case, forever. So last night I attended the college and young adults Bible study. It was really cool to see these people accept me, and the other graduating seniors/new freshman...or whatever we are called now. We were pulled straight into the group. It was interesting to see new view points on issues and hear the wisdom that God has given them through experience. I will say however, it is a little weird that half of the guys in the group are married. And what is even more weird is that I went to part of high school with some of the married couples....and one of the guys that is now IN my Bible study TAUGHT my freshman Bible study...it is just a different atmosphere, but at the same time we are all followers of Christ wanting to grow and mature. The love of Christ can pull any group of people into a tight knit group, despite age, interests, or personalities. So thank you college and young adult group.

Seniors 2005, It has been an honor.

More thinking about graduation...

I am so used to seeing the same faces in the hallways at Marcus High School. Some of the faces I have seen practically everyday since 2nd grade. But this last week of school is weird. It seems like every time that I see many of those people, I make a mental note in my mind that "Hey, this might be the last time I ever see that person." I also find myself telling people good-bye and good luck in the future more than once...because I'm not sure whether or not I will get a chance to see them again before our 10 year reunion...and then sure enough...I see them again so I must tell them good-bye and good luck in the future because I may never see you again.

I'm sorry...my mind works very akwardly.

My Buddy Brent, who just so happens to be a youth minister with a passion for teenagers like that of no one else, has a list of links to blogs of current students in his youth ministry and a list of links to blogs of former students in his youth ministry. I was realizing that in a few short days, he will take the names of all of the seniors, myself included, and put them under the Blogs of Former Students link list. I'm not sure when it will hit me that I won't be taught on a regular basis by this amazing servant of God again. But really...Seniors...isn't that sad?

I just finished introducing my brother to the greatness of Bottle Rocket. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Tax dollars hard at work

Tomorrow the senior class will be going to Main Event for 5 hours rather than attending school. We will have free laser tag, bowling, pool, arcade games, and food. I say free...but I mean for $20. But if you know Main Event, you recognize that this is a great deal. Why do seniors even go to school the last few weeks???

GET OUT!!

So when I got home this weekend, my parents had dropped another subtle hint that they are ready for my departure. My bathroom, which used to be dark blue and very obviously a "boy's bathroom", is now bright red and pink with fluffy carpet mats and matching light switch and electricity outlet covers. The shower curtain is also VERY GIRLY. It almost makes me uncomfortable to go in there. I'm sure that my sister will really enjoy her new bathroom. But COME ON!!! At least wait until I'm gone.

So my weekend has been pretty cool. I went down to College Station and camped at a state park down there. On Saturday, I went and did an obstacle course-type-deal that was 30 feet in the air. It involved jumping off of 30 feet tall telephone poles and grabbing a trapeze, walking a balance beam(also 30 feet in the air) BLINDFOLDED, Tight-wire walking and rapelling. It was nice just to get in nature and relax, as well as have a good time.

It's time for my last full week of school....EVER......or at least until I have to start paying for it.

Ok. So am I excited about graduation, or am I afraid to leave a very comfortable atmosphere? One in which I have tons of friends who accept me for who I am and respect my decision to follow Christ whether they have made that same decision or not. An environment where I never have too much "stuff" to worry about, even when I make life out to be stressful and difficult. An atmosphere in which I have amazing people who disciple me and help me to grow.

I like how our emotions follow exactly what we are thinking in our minds. It is really stupid. Here I am thinking about all of the things that I will be leaving, and not thinking about all of the amazing things that God has for me next year. Your emotions are responders....they only RESPOND to what is going on inside of your head. If error or completely false thinking is going on, your emotions react to that false thinking as truth, when in all reality it isn't.

I doubt any of this made any sense...but it's clear as anything to me.

Well I feel like I need to update, but there are way too many things going on in my head to pick one or two and write about them. But an underlying message recently seems to be that God's plan for my life is definitely going to take me out of my comfort zone. The sooner I accept that, the easier this will all be.....

There is this elderly couple that I take care of their lawn, trees, and other jobs for. Well yesterday spent about 4 1/2 hours trimming their trees and putting the limbs out for the trash people to take on Tuesday. Well there was a bit of a storm last night and I received a phone call. I had to go and move all of the branches off of Homestead(which is a street near theirs) and back next to the sidewalk because they had blown away during the night. And then I received some very funny looks from people driving by as I was sweeping off the street with a broom when it was all finished. I'm sure that looked peculiar.

When I woke up this morning, I was informed by my mother that I needed to clean out my room, put everything in boxes, and be pretty much ready to move out. It sounds like they are trying to get rid of me a little too soon considering I don't leave until June 21, and then I'll be back and leave for good in mid-August. And then I asked her about looking for a small car with good gas mileage for me, because both of my brothers got a better car when they graduated so that they could drive back and forth from college. Well...my mother is a little dramatic at times and I must have caught her at a bad time, but she pretty much said that she thinks that I can share a car with my brother next year in Lubbock. So I laughed and left the room....then I realized that she might not be joking so I went back in the room...turned out to not be so much of a joke. I'm sure that I will get a car for next year, I just probably shouldn't bring it up too much. If I look on my own, find a good deal, and then confront my parents I will have much better luck.

I have such amazing friends. We had our Band Banquet tonight. (Don't laugh, we aren't as big of dorks as you think) It was really cool to hang out with the people that I have spent the past four years with (some of them 7 years) for one last time. It's really sad in a way, because those people will never be together in the same room again.

I've never really understood the meaning of bitter-sweet until these past few weeks.

Diet Dr. Pepper does NOT taste more like regular Dr. Pepper...Disgusting

May of Senior Year!!!!!!!! So much stuff to do, I wish it would all just go away. I can't wait for summer.

I'm really going to miss Tuesday nights with the mid-schoolers. 7th grade guys...ya'll are all so awesome and God will use you in amazing ways in your futures...I KNOW it!

Did you see the Mavericks game????? Oh my gosh. That is what I'm talking about.

I have a question. Why didn't Bradley play tonight? I missed the last little bit of the 4th game in the series...did something happen to him. I used to think that he was just a 7ft 6 in. waste of space, but he has been able to do some damage recently and I was wondering why he didn't play tonight. We could have used him against the Chinese giant, Yoa Ming. I doubt that anyone else cares...I'm a dork.

There are few people that I respect as much as some of the guys in my junior and senior guys Bible study. "Iron sharpening iron", as we grow together in Christ. When there is an issue, we will call eachother on it and most of the time our hearts are softened by God and we mature further in our walks. I don't know how I will even begin to say good-bye to some of my brothers in Christ as I leave Flower Mound to start a new phase of my life, and as some of them also leave and others stay... Each year, the seniors at my church get a few minutes to give a senior speech. I don't know how I will address these guys in my speech....I don't know if I can... But if any of you are reading this...Thanks for being studs. Keep God #1 and go serve him as I know that each of you will have amazing impacts on the Kingdom...and I can't wait to see the fruits of you labors...whether it is in Flower Mound during your senior year next year for you juniors, or if it is somewhere else for those of us graduating.

I know that I said I wouldn't have many serious blogs anymore...it was just really brought to my attention.
Enjoy the people that God has put in your life NOW!

Let's see if the Mavs can pull it off again today at 4:30. Dirk's gotta make his shots.......

Do you ever have one of those days where every small thing that could possibly go wrong does? That's how today was for me. I wake up with a headache, stub my toe getting out of bed. OUCH!!! I head to Starbucks and the same girl who makes my drink everyday made it again today, but for some reason she messed it up. No big deal, i didn't say anything because coffee is coffee and it was good anyway. I get to school and my first period teacher asks if I will run to Chick-fil-a for him. So I agree because he said that I could get something for myself with his money. So I get to Chick-fil-a and head inside to order. I get his four-piece chicken minis, his large Diet coke with extra ice, a Dr. pepper for my friend Jack, and a chicken biscuit for myself. I start to walk back to my car, reach into my pocket for my keys.....and.....and.....CRAP! They are in my ignition with my car running and my doors locked. Which is twice as bad when you are nearly out of gas and your gas gauge doesn't work. So now I have to guess how much gas was eaten up while I was waiting to get back into my car. I have to call my mom with some guys cell phone at Chick-fil-a, because I don't have one, and ask her to bring the spare set of keys to me at the restaurant. As I'm sitting and waiting for my keys, I unwrap my chicken biscuit only to find that there is no chicken in my biscuit...there is sausage. I wasn't even going to try and ask them to fix it...so I put on a smile and ate my sausage biscuit. Nothing major....nothing went drastically wrong. Just about a hundred tiny things adding up to one crappy morning. It happens........

As most of you probably know, I go to Starbucks on average..4 out of 5 school days, at least once each weekend, and about 2 times each week during weekday evenings. But I have noticed that I rarely go in there without seeing someone that I know. Apparently it isn't just me who lives at Starbucks. People actually come up to my parents and start a conversation with, "Hey, I saw Craig at Starbucks yesterday..."

If you have ever seen me at Starbucks, enjoying God's wonderful, smooth, rich creation of coffee, leave a comment. This could get interesting if the right people read my blog....

I've been having so much fun preparing my lesson over Romans 15 that I'll be teaching this wednesday while Brent is out. As I start to pull all of my notes and stuff into an actual, applicable lesson..pray that I would be sensitive to where God is leading the lesson. It is one thing to have a cool Bible study where everyone learns some cool facts. But it is something completely different for someone in the room to walk out looking a little more like Christ at the end of the night. God's word is able to change our lives for the better every time that we open it and my prayer is that God uses me as a tool to do exactly that. It may just be a small high school Bible study...but it is the Word of God and I won't take this responsibility lightly. Just keep me in your thoughts.



Is it possible to have a case of the Monday's on a Tuesday????

Now that prom is over, high school is coming to an end very quickly. As it ends I am realizing all of the great things that I will be leaving behind. Why are they coming to me so late in my high school career that I am almost out of time to enjoy them? Some things I have just taken for granted for four years. Others I am just now seeing...missed opportunities hurt.

Now it is almost bitter for me to tell you that I got my letter of acceptance into the Honors College today at Texas Tech. Now I will be learning with the smart people. I wonder how long it will take them to realize that I'm not one of them.

Amazing. Everything about it....AMAZING!

And that is a lot coming from me.

You won't believe this...

So if you read my blog, you know about the fish, the rock, and the smashed head...(see yesterday's blog). Well today a shocking similar experience happened to me. I was at school helping the set up of the after prom party that the school hosts. I get service hours in doing this. One of the ladies that was in charge asked if I would help her move a couch from a classroom into the cafeteria. Two other guys and myself went into this room, picked up this couch, and watched as four mice ran out from under the couch. The lady screamed...us guys smiled really big. One of the guys picked up a yardstick and started swinging. I, however, knew that it was unlikely to hit a small mouse with a yardstick so I picked up a 2004 yearbook off of a nearby shelf. After picking up said yearbook, I watched as one mouse that hadn't already gone back under the couch continued running....then SLAM. The mouse's screeching stoped... and there was blood on the yearbook....mission accomplished. Now usually things like this don't happen to me. It has been an eventful week.

I am doing a stock market project in Economics class and I have stock in a few companies. But the one that is hurting me the worst is Starbucks. It has been going down for days. So...I need everyone's help. TODAY, go to Starbucks at least once. You will be helping me to get an A.

....I wish it were that easy to make stock go up, I'd be a millionaire.

Someone is either walking in the flesh or they are walking by the Spirit. When you(when I say you, I mean I) let trivial, meaningless things catch your attention, you are no longer walking by the spirit. However, "healthy" these trivial pursuits might be, if they are causing you to put them ahead of God...it's sin. Whether it is school, relationships, money, or whatever you may be dwelling in or on...it isn't glorifying to God. Notice that school, relationships, and money are all good things when put into perspective. It doesn't take things like selfishness, anger, or self-pitty to be walking in the flesh...however those don't help.

I don't write about serious, real life stuff, like this, much anymore because I have noticed that whenever I'm being honest and sincere no one comments. But here it is...I'll try to hold off on the next un-mindless blogging for a while.

The beauty of TAKS week continues. The past two morning I have gone fishing at Grapevine lake with some friends. Jack put one of his fish in a plastic bag and then left it in his car the rest of the day yesterday. And then today, he decided to keep another fish, put it in a plastic bag (without water), and the fish was pretty much without the ability to breathe for TWO hours. When we took it out of the car it was still alive. So we had to do the only humane thing...put it out of it's misery. I took a large rock the size of my head or so and dropped it on the fish's head. STILL ALIVE. This fish was a fighter. So I slammed the rock onto the fish's head again. It was over...

This week is going to be awesome. First of all Seniors get to arrive late at school everyday at 11:30. And then on Saturday we have prom...which I'm not stressed out about this year, because in the words of some unknown person, "I'm not in control of the situation." So I am going to show up and have a great time.

OK. For the first time it is really feeling like late April. It's not the weather, it's not the advertisements for season finales of TV shows, but it's school. I go to school everyday and hear teachers talk about "end of school" stuff like caps and gowns for graduation, or our senior T-shirts. It will be May in like 11 days.

We had our first Mexico mission trip meeting today. I can't even begin to explain how excited I am. This is my favorite trip in the world.....SO EXCITED!

My mom is making good pie for dessert today...mmmm....(trust me, it needed to be said)

Sometimes things are so different that they are refreshing...

Grrr...no more Wendy's 99 cent value menu. A Jr. Bacon Cheese Burger for $1.29? It's almost not worth it. However, I think that the Wendy's cup of Chili stayed the same price...they aren't charging extra for fingers these days.

When I first saw this I figured that everyone would do it and it would get old fast. I soon found out that it didn't and I really enjoyed reading everyone's comments on other people's blogs whether I posted or not...so here it comes...three days late.

"If you read this, you must make a comment of a memory you have of me. It can be anything you want, it can be good or bad, just so long as it happened. Then post this to your journal. See what people remember about you."

My past couple of blogs have been short, one liners. I'm sure that most of you actually prefer shorter blogs...but occasionally I might have more to say.

The Senior English classes got to go to Medieval Times today. It was pretty fun. I just don't understand some of the people in my class. We have six more weeks of school and a couple of seniors just blew it. There were a couple of guys that decided to bring alcohol to the field trip...I know..STUPID. Well, they ended up getting expelled. Bad trade-off. They don't get to graduate with the rest of us. If they finish high school this year, it will have to be a JJAP or AEP alternative school. Another person decided to start smoking during the performance. Also STUPID...considering we were indoors and everyone in the room could smell it. I think there needs to be a Common Sense Booster shot in order to be admitted into school.

Katie is right, I am going to start making the choice to be happy about the rest of school. It won't be easy...

Scavenger hunt and a free cowboy hat. That's all that I have to say.

I've gotten into the habit of constantly looking around for ministry opportunities. Many of you would say, "well that's a good thing." And it would be, except for that I am not realizing what actually is a ministry opportunity. Mission fields are not only those that involve helping people, serving the less fortunate, or traveling to another country to build houses. I am active in doing those, and when they are done, I ask when the next thing is that I can do. Every breath that I take, every word that I mutter should be my ministry. I should be a full-time missionary whether I live in Djibouti, Africa or Flower Mound, Texas, whether I am stocking shelves at CCA, or playing paper football in the lunch. Those other things should be awesome, exciting ways to serve my God, but not the only ones.
Everyone.....a minister, at all times.

Do you ever have one of those nights when you just stress out over the most stupid things thinking that the longer you lay awake in bed, the more likely it is that the problem will be solved. It doesn't make any sense. It would make more sense to stop worrying about it, get a good nights rest, and worry about it the next day if at all. But no...I, for some reason, expect all of life's questions to be answered while staring at my ceiling at night, when I am already exhausted and not in the right mind-set(especially since I'm not a night-time person).

Recently I have been really missing wrestling. What I would give for just one more match...
Any takers????Anyone at all?

Dentist Part II

I got three more fillings today. It isn't my fault, I inherit bad teeth. But once again, as soon as they put me on the gas...I couldn't have cared less.

Well I must go to school now, but tonight is my favorite night of the week so I'll have something to push me through Economics. grr.

I just realized that I didn't blog Dentist Part I. So just to let you know, Wednesday of last week I had four fillings on the right side of my mouth. FUN. However, it's kinda sad that I would rather be getting my teeth drilled than have to go to band first period.

Epidemic

The most severe case of senioritis yet swept through Craig County today. It was disastrous. Right after third period I went to the band hallway to talk with some of my friends before D-lunch. However, most of my friends were leaving for senior out, while I was staying to attend the second worst class in the world, BCIS(2nd only to Economics). As this took place the only thought that I had in my mind was, "Why didn't I graduate early?" Very unhealthy......


I have decided. The coin landed on heads(see blog March 21) and I will be getting my guns up at Texas Tech next year. It feels so good to finally know for sure. I can think of a lot of people who are probably very excited about my decision, not to mention any names ....Nathan....Jude...
And there are plenty more....Brad...Jordan....Adam....Parents

Daylight savings time really throws off my schedule. Since I'm a morning person, 7:00 seemed really late this morning, almost like I wasted part of my day. This will take some getting used to.

But this weekend rocked anyway.

I, unlike Brent, do not like days like this, all rainy and cold. That means no frisbee golf with Danny and Nurge. It really means no anything, with anyone outside. I did have coffee with my friend Seanathan this morning. That was awesome. It's always cool just to sit with a brother in Christ and have "Eternity Practice." Fellowship that will continue one day in the Kingdom. But in the Kingdom it won't be RAINY! Anyway, I'm not bitter or anything...

Well I finally figured out how to add links to my blog. Now the next step is figuring out how to add a list of other people's blogs. Don't bother trying to explain it to me...I am computer illiterate.

I just mowed the lawn. It only took me about 20 minutes to do the front and back. It's kinda funny to think about all of the excuses I used to make a few years ago to get out of mowing the lawn. I would spend over an hour just coming up with reasons to tell my parents as to why "this is a bad time for me," instead of just doing it in 20 minutes and getting it over with.

Don't tell my parents this....but they usually are right, they do know what's best(most of the time), and I don't view them as two unlimited ATMs. I have a lot of respect for them. They will have three kids in college next year (and they are paying for it) as well as one still at home. I have no clue how they are going to do it. I'd quit....I know that much for sure.

Do you know what is really weird? When people change font color every line or couple of words. It's actually pretty annoying........ Maybe that's just me. I don't mean to offend anyone, because if you do it, then more power to you.... I just find it a little distracting.


You know what I mean????

I'm back from Baylor............and still just as confused. Oh well, the time has come to flip a coin. Heads is Tech, Tails is Baylor....here it goes.............OH NOOOOOO, the coin rolled into the air vent below the computer deks. This is terrible. I'll never know. I'll just go to high school for another year.

I am off to good ol' Waco, Texas this weekend. I am visiting Baylor, and to tell you the truth, I hope that I don't like it. If I DO like it, then I will still be confused as to where to go to college. But if I don't like it, then I will finally know for sure that I will be going to Texas Tech next fall. So everyone be praying that I have a horrible time......just kidding. Just pray that I keep God first in my decision. If I do that, then I can't make a wrong decision.

Peace out, Napoleon...

So the fact that I won't be attending any more mandatory school in 9 weeks is starting to sink in. I am really excited about what is going on this summer and the next school year. I can't wait to see how God teaches me and uses me in the next year or so. It's gonna be so awesome.

So I had to drop wrestling and pick up another "real" class...Economics. The kind of thing that makes you want to drop out of high school 9 weeks before it is over. MOST BORING CLASS EVER. But I am in there with cool people...so let's try and make the best of this shall we?

Ok, so here's the deal. I am more of less computer illiterate. I know how to check my e-mail, blog, and play online pool if I feel so inclined. However, I don't know how to add links to my blog. If someone could help me out a little here that would be great.....I'm a failure.....

Exams are over!!!! Spring Break is here......... wait scratch that....... Exams are over!!! More school next week.....
What else is there left to say?

I thought that I would change my background....mainly because I got tired of the old one.....and....well everyone else has changed theirs recently too. What do ya'll think? Is the green too much? Should I try something different? I need input.

THIS SATURDAY-
I am having my Eagle Scout project at Lewisville Lake Park. I will be building a retaining wall and finishing something that has taken about twelve years. The project itself is just the last thing in a process of many years and requirements. It is finally over. You have no idea how happy that I am to be finished, for the most part, after this Saturday. The main reason that I am bringing this up is because I NEED HELP. If you can help me any time this Saturday from
9 am-4 pm, let me know. I can get you a map and all of the information you need. It will be fun and there will be free food. Please, if you don't mind a little physical labor come by for any amount of time that you can help.

I pray that I, "being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Paul's prayers are so awesome. If we could really know this love (agape- love in which no sacrifice is too great) that Paul is talking about here and now, our lives would be drastically different. Just something that I was thinking about last night...
-quote from Ephesians 3:17-19

It is exam week again. The time of the year when I frantically try to learn 9 weeks worth of material in less than two days. However, it is much easier this time because of my extremely light class load.

Almost Spring break......Already Spring fever......

Well, wrestling is over. If you haven't heard I went 2-2 at regionals and pulled out about 7th place. I say about because they only count the top 6 as "placing" and the top four get to go to state. It was a fairly successful season and I am kinda glad that it is over.

I just got back from a college visit at Texas Tech. I am really not sure that it is the right college for me. It is still 50% Texas Tech and 50% Baylor when it comes down to my choices. Sorry Nathan and Jude, I know that isn't the news you want to hear. Anyway, if you want to pay for my college education, let me know. My parents would be thrilled.

Hey, I just thought that I would go ahead and let everyone know that I got 2nd at District and I will be going on to regionals. The top two get to go and I was seeded 3rd going in to today, but I sucked it up and went all the way to the championship match which I lost. But I can't complain since I am still going to regionals. That just gives me another chance to beat that guy.


That's enough for tonight................

For those of you who go to my church, Nathan taught sunday school a few weeks ago and he focused on a certain Christian musician. (it might have been when some of you were at Pine Cove) This artist is controversial, however has great points. Well, one of his points had to do with Christians today being identified by the bumper stickers on thier cars, or by the T-shirts that we wear.
I tell you that story to tell you this story. I was at CCA getting my last minute service hours for NHS and an older guy walks up to me. He asked me if I am involved with a church and I told him that I was. And then he asked if I would ever wear a hat with a cross on it. I said yeah, so he hands me this hat with a cross on it. Which is great and I really like the hat. He said that he was trying to get people out of the "spiritual closet", and went on to tell me that he has no room for any more bumper stickers on his car, that all he wears is Christian apparel, and he walks around all the time handing out Christian clothing. Now, in no way am I bashing the way that this guy has decided to serve Christ. I believe that his intentions are great and he is doing good things for the Kingdom. But I remembered the point of the song that goes, "They'll know us by the T-shirts that we wear...." It is that we shouldn't have to be identified by "name tags". It says in the Bible that they should know who we are because of the way that we love. John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
I really don't mean to offend anyone, in fact I have Christian T-shirts and hats and the like. But the question is should we HAVE to wear them?

I'm in BCIS right now(2nd period) so I thought that I would update. Once again Brent...this is your tax dollars hard at work.

I jammed/ possibly broke my thumb last weekend and I keep hurting it in wrestling. I have this week to rest it and nurse it back to health before I have to wrestle the most important tournament so far of the season. If I don't place in the top two on Saturday, my season is over. However, if I do, than I get to go on to regionals the following weekend...and it is a similar situation at regionals to go on to state.

Senioritis is getting worse....any treatment suggestions are appreciated.

I have been a camper for 9 years at a camp called Kanakuk Kamps. It is a Christian high adventure and sports camp. www.kanakuk.com for more info. But anyways, it is one of the most amazing things that ever happened to my spiritual life and relationship with Christ. Because of this, I want to work there as a cousnler in training this summer and I had my interview last sunday. If I do get the job I will be so pumped to get to serve there this summer. It will be amazing and life changing. But if that isn't where God wants me this summer, I know that there will be something just as glorifying to Him that he wants me to do this summer. But either way I am excited that I even got the chance to get interviewed by such an elite staff.

Wrestling season is still trucking on and getting a little more fun. I will be kinda sad to see it go but at the same time relieved for the amount of time that I will have to be able to devote to other things.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the mission trip to Juarez, Mexico that I go on every year to build houses for some families who literally have nothing. I cannot wait to go back. This may sound wierd, but that week of intense physical labor, blinding sand storms, bucket showers with water that will make you sick, and little sleep gives me more rest than most other weeks in the year. Most of it is that I spend the time with great friends and enjoying fellowship with them and God for a week. Not to mention doing God's work and seeing His influence on other people's lives....crazy!!!
I think that we should build eight houses and spend at least two weeks there. Brent....get on top of that...actually I hear that Nathan might be in charge of it this year. I would like to see a schedule and expected cost on my desk by wednesday.

I only have to miss one more Tuesday Night Discipleship. The one thing that I hate about wrestling season is that I have to miss spending time with my 7th grade guys on tuesdays for a couple of months. But that is almost over.

So many things to do...so many things to do....so many things to do....gotta go