amazing

It's kinda funny how this summer's been working out for me workwise. I was expecting a struggle to get a job, because that's what befell me last year, and I was pretty much handed one within a week of getting home from school. I was expecting an average of 20 hours per week and though I did have that for the first 3 weeks, I've been getting handed extra hours left right and centre for the past two and this one up coming. I just got called to start at 4 instead of 8 today. All of this is happening under no power of my own. I'm not trying to pick up extra hours, but I'm not saying No when I get them offered to me.

God works wonders... How silly of me to expect less.

bikes in relation to prayer

I've been paying some sort of attention to the Tour De France this year. I've never watched it before, but I never thought that it'd be so captivating. One man winning this race 6 years running and so far going strong for the 7th. Kind of amazing when you think about it. So I figured out what the yellow LIVESTRONG bracelets are all about this summer. It was a question that had made me curious for a little while anyways. And I think it's a cool idea. Maybe a bit overrun and overplayed, but a good idea nonetheless. For some reason, this led me into thinking about school and how I plan on living out my next and final year at EBC. It's hard to think that I'll be out in the real world and after 4 months I won't be returning to school to continue on with my next diploma/degree.

But anways, I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to just breeze through the final year like I have been through the past 4-5 years of school. I decided to take liveStrong and change it to suit what I want. Finish Strong is what I came up with. The idea first came up in an RA meeting as we were deciding on goals for the end of the semester. I think we accomplished it to some extent, but there were areas that were definately lacking as well. Second semester was really draining on me personally, especially near the end. But I survived and passed. I even did better than a D in Wisdom Lit (which was what I was expecting, seeing as I have no clue how to do an exegetical paper... I wonder if we're going to get those back...)

So yeah, I think that I need to finish strong. I've been praying alot lately. Which is good, because the beginning of the summer was really sucky for my prayer life. I'm just praying that I have the ability to finish strong this year and make it through the final year of my current 18 year old education career.

So yeah. I'm just trying to formulate a plan as to how I can attain my goal without giving into apathy. It's a long year ahead, but it'll be worth it in the end.

T.

etc...

Here is an update:

Work: I worked full time hours this week (36) and I'm into overtime hours for next week (40), which is a huge improvement over my previous weeks of max 24 hours. Last night, I handled 784 calls in 7 hours of being online (112 calls/hr), and my quality r0x0r3d your 50x0r5 off. Booyah. Tomorrow I start an 8 day streak of working, but that's ok... it's mostly 8-12 with a few 4-12's thrown in the mix as of now. If they call me for overtime, I'll most likely take it because I really need the extra money.

School: Payment of res is due soon. I have my cheque written (signed and dated too!) and I'm going to be sending it off on Monday or so. The fee statement was off by quite a bit for some reason... it had the damage deposit on it (already been paid), and had me in a double room instead of a single, but I altered it and sent an e-mail off to the school clarifying what my cheque would be for whenever the rest of it goes.

Life: I went to camp the other night and they told me to quit Nordia and go up there for the rest of the summer. I politely declined, but it was good to go up and see people I haven't seen in a while. I was only there for a few hours but somehow managed to get told I was doing the Prune Song at campfire.... bitterness ensued... I'm leaving before 8:15 from now on.... maybe.

Also, I went to Dr. Gretzingher's office the other day for my wisdom tooth consultation. I'm going to the hospital for surgery on August 26th. My last day of work is set at the 25th, and I have to be at school on the 2nd, so I figured this was an optimal time to get it done. They called me the other day and asked if I wanted it yesterday (Friday), but I politely declined due to the 3-5 day recovery time needed and the nature of my job (using my mouth for 7 hours daily)

So that's about it.

T.

unexplicable ways

I led the opening at the church this morning. It's kinda funny how things worked out because everything tied into each other. The first service theme tied into what I did which tied into the sermon even though there was no collaboration on anyone's part regarding what we were doing. It's cool how the Holy Spirit works in the background and brings things together like this.

I started with Hail Gladdening Light, then into All Creatures of Our God and King, then Glory, then Shout to the North, then Take My Life and Let It Be, then Beautiful Scandelous Night, then ended off with Old Rugged Cross.

It was cool.

"On that wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful, scandalous night, you and me
Were atoned by His blood, forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night."

a story

Here is a story about a guy of which stupidity followed him around a lot.

Let's call him Fred.

Fred = human.
Humans = stupid.
Therefore Fred=Stupid.

Fred was stupid in the sense that some things that were usually common sense didn't come quickly to him, just like any other human being, such as why we don't gawk at the opposite gender for kicks and giggles and why we don't watch television late at night. Fred thought he learned his lesson years ago, but no, Fred was prone to make the same mistakes, even after they had been absent for years.

Enter Jesus. Jesus is a cool guy. He is full of all the things that Fred isn't. Love, peace, joy, intelligence, grace, and most of all common sense. Jesus doesn't like the things that Fred does because they're not the way things should be. So Jesus intervened in Fred's life and said "Hey Fred, you don't need to be like that anymore. All you need is me and the things I like." Fred thought that to be a good idea, so Fred went with Jesus.

However, Fred's become temporary blinded by stupidity throughout the time that he was hangin' with Jesus. It happens often and Fred feels really sucky about the whole thing, but it's cool because Jesus is like, "Hey, don't worry about that. Come and hang with me and do the things I do, and it'll be great. I forgive you of your stupidity. We'll be chillaxin together forever." No matter how many times Fred is stupid, Jesus is still willing to hang with him as long as Fred is repentant. And Fred is.

Love.

Truth.

Grace.

From Jesus alone.

The only thing worth living for.

booyah

I think tonight, on my 11th shift since training, I've reached 33 seconds/call on average. That's where I'm expected to be after 3 months. Boo yah. I would be better because I was at 31/call before my break, but after break came the longer calls one right after another until my average was up to 33.... arg.

Ah well, I'll survive. The thing I dislike about working til midnight is that by the time I get home, I'm wide awake and can't get to sleep until 1, or on nights like tonight 2.

Arg... 4 hours sleep, here I come.

T

liturgy

I prepared most of my opening for Sunday morning today and decided that it would be cool to start off with Phos Hilaron:

Hail Gladdening Light
Of His pure glory poured
Who is the Immortal Father, Heavenly Blest
Holiest of Holies, Jesus Christ our Lord

Now we are come to the sun’s hour of rest
The lights of evening ‘round us shine
We hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Divine

Worthiest art Thou, at all times to be sung
With undefiled tongue
Son of our God, giver of life alone
Therefore, in all the world They Glories Lord, Thine own.