old times

So the other day I wrote about 9/11. Thinking about that got me thinking about me as an 8th grade. I just had to laugh. Whether you think I'm a dork now or not...I KNOW I was in the 8th grade. But when I was in the 8th grade, I never would have thought i would be where I am today. Sitting at home during my third year of college.

But no really, there are plenty of other things I hadn't even thought of in 8th grade that i have been through. At that time, college was just an afterthought. I knew I wanted to go, but where and what for were just things to decide later. Now I've had two years at Harding studying communications and now I'm at Ivy Tech for business to do photography. That's something else I hadn't given so much as a blink, and now I produce better and better images everyday. Girls were a mess in the 8th grade. Now I'm engaged to the girl that my little brother was dating when I was in the 8th grade. Weird. In fact as I typed that, she was on the phone complaining that I mentioned that little fact. (lol ha ha elaine, i still love you). In the 8th grade I was starting to get involved in Youth Group stuff at church, and now I'm about to be in charge of one. High School, graduation, Honduras, driving, relationships, moving to college, moving home, getting engaged, jobs, fun jobs, bad jobs, making money, spending money, countless weeks of camp.... It's been a busy 7 years!

But my point is.....God is amazing. He has blessed me enough to enable me to experience all of that. Nothing would have been possible if God hadn't been behind it. He has given me all the experiences to be the person I am now, and I regret none of it. I've done good things and bad things, but I wouldn't change a thing. And I thank God everyday for all of it. Now as I go on, I just hope that he will continue to bless me in my failing attempt to imitate his Son. Knowing that if I keep that effort as my focus, He will provide for me whatever I need. Thanks, God. Love you.

Remember 9/11

So today is September 11th. Well actually it will be the 12th by the time I get this posted, but whatever. But on the anniversary of the tragedy in NY, everyone always talks about where they were and what they were doing when it happened, so I will start with that.

On 9/11/01 I was in the 8th grade taking those wonderfully standardized tests....the ISTEP. I don't remember whose room I was in, but I know they didn't tell us anything about them. After we got done I went to gym and to lunch hearing nothing out of the ordinary.

Then after lunch it was time for english, a class I never really liked. Mostly because of good ole Mr. Atkinson. Not my favorite teacher, but he had enough good judgement to fill us in on what had been going on. And help to explain the significance of the event. But when I walked in, he didn't say anything. We just sat down and started watching what was on the TV. At first I thought it was something he was going to use for class. I knew that there had been an attack on the World Trade Center in NY a few years ago, but this looked a bit bigger.

Once I realized that this was not new footage, but in fact live, I was a little more concerned. Maybe not quite concerned, but more confused. What exactly had happened, and why? I will never forget seeing someone jumping out a window from the building....falling down past all the floors....then have the camera cut away before they had come to the ground. I think by then the towers had both fallen, but there was still plenty of footage to be shown. It was disturbing, and confusing. What would cause anyone to do this? Who did this? And how in the world?

Alot of those questions have been answered, but still not all of them. And I'm just some dude from Greene County, Indiana. I feel bad for all the people who were closely hit by this tragedy. I cannot relate to how you feel, but I am praying for you, praying that God is there to comfort you. Because I know he will be there when you need him.

Directions

So a few weeks ago I updated my facebook status to something along the lines of, "David is looking for direction for the semester" or something like that. But it was weird. Since I'm not at Harding things are kinda weird. Like, I had a lot going on. I was doing a lot that really seemed to be helping me in my future. Most of it was tv and photo stuff. But now I had not so much stuff. So I felt stuck, and didn't know what to do. So I posted that facebook status and prayed about it. No biggie. But now, like 2 weeks later, I found me some direction. Hand written, on a napkin, in God's chicken scratch.

I was talking to Rachel Fields about Southland, and mentioned working with them. Then I get a phone call from Bud, the minister there, I went to a meeting today, and I am now working with Southland's youth group. The pay is not much, but it's something. It looks like I have some direction now. I'm still working at the circle k (blech) but I got my raise, so working both jobs should even it all out and hopefully I can save some for that big party thing I'm having soon. I think it's called a wedding ( :) ) but I'm excited, they're excited, and God is awesome.

Long story short. I have a Youth Group I am working with. Pray for me?!?!?!

Politics: America's Modern Day Battlefield

So I've written about 3 blogs on politics...but they all get trashed before they get posted. But my friend Rachel Dardner is at the democratic national convention, and i thought that was pretty cool. so here I'm actually going to get a blog posted. Some of the old blogs on politics i wrote were kinda long, but it's already 3 in the morning and I start classes tomorrow. Ridiculous, I know, but I'm blogging anyway. Bed time after.

Overall, I really hate politics. I think the political system today severely hurts our country. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that we can have politics, and they we elect our officials. I do think it is in our best interest to put the people in power that we want in power. I just think the system of how we do that is flawed. Is my blog going to change that? I'm gonna go with no, but it makes me feel better anyway.

Politics has divided our country. We are currently split into Democrats, Republicans, and a few crazies. We are too often labeling ourselves and each other into political realms. And the grudges held between the parties drives them further apart. And it's all about how MY party is right and the OTHER party is full of idiotic fools. There's no give and all take in the whole system. In a relationship between two people, you have to try and see both sides and reach a compromise to find the best solution for both people. Yet the Democrats don't want to do that, and Republicans don't want to hear of it either. It's my way or the highway, and that has never ended well.

Doesn't it say in our pledge that we are "one nation, under God"? I'm not even going into the "under God" part, because that could be a whole other blog. But that first part says "ONE nation" that a nation divided by political parties. ONE nation. one, singular, individual nation. We all want what is best for the nation, or at least we should. We need to stop being one sided and try to see everyone's point of view. Instead of lumping each other together and holding grudges. If we can just work together as a single nation, we can accomplish so much more. Instead of having 2 energy plans, 2 plans for war, 2 economic plans... why can't Democrats and Republicans alike work as one body, as one nation to try and solve the problems we have. Instead of pushing each other away and causing more problems and more conflicts. We have enough conflicts outside of our country, we don't need to continue with more inside. "One nation, under God. With Liberty and Justice for ALL"


on a side note...my prediction for the next president....Barack Obama. Does that mean I'm voting for him? No. But that doesn't mean I'm voting for McCain. I really have no idea at this point. Not wildly impressed with either one, yet.

the long and winding road

well it seems that i am about to start a new part of life. school. wait, what? ive been in school for years, whats new? one week from tuesday i am starting at a new school. i know, sad day right? im not going back to harding. its gotten real expensive, and i wasnt going to finish in four years. and i want to be done asap. so this fall im going to tiny little ivy tech community college here at home. im living at home again, going to school here. its got its up and downs, but either way, im here.

but anyway, im studying business marketing at ivy tech. its just for an associates degree, finishing in two years, while only a few of my classes actually transfer, but it's still finish in two years. so it works for me. i'm going to study business while i work on photography otherwise, as i want to eventually be a full-time photog. i've got two senior's who want me to take their pictures already. but thats mostly cause im cheap.

but what about the last two years at harding? what about all those classes that i dont need now? well they're done and paid for. well not paid for, but they're done. but i learned alot while i was at harding, and i had a lot of fun. i learned a lot in the classroom, and outside the classroom. and i will miss it. i made a lot of friends, and a lot of people who taught me a lot. students and faculty both. you all are very important to me, and i will miss you. my two years at harding were not and never will be considered a waste. i will miss you guys, all the guys in my hall, all the people over in the reynolds, everybody. but life goes on, and god sends us in directions we never expected, so lets go with it, and accomplish what gods wants us to accomplish.

adios!!

i am off to camp in an hour!! i will be there all week!

with this short blog i ask that everyone who reads it prays for us. pray for our safety, our sanity, and our souls. both the staff and the campers. adios!

david

The Ants

So, I got to spend a few days at camp last week. I usually stay that whole week, but I had that crazy work thing to do. I mean seriously, who does that? But anyway, I went down there with Elaine on thursday, then went back on Friday and stayed until Saturday morning and took Ben home. Camp is a really cool place, and I love it very much. It's a very important place for me. It was at camp where I have made some of my closest friends. I know a ridiculous amount of people through being at camp. But most importantly it's a place where I've always grown in my faith. It's not often you get to spend a whole week where you feel like the only reason you are there is to have fun and worship God. And I get to do that every time I go to Spring Mill Bible Camp. Even just spending a couple days there last week, I got that. I had a blast hanging out with people I only get to see at camp, and we had an awesome devo and singing in the basement on Friday night. I got to see 2 baptisms, I just love it. And of course being there I had a mini-epiphany of my own. (sweet. mini-epiphany. big word. I love using big words)

When I first got to camp on Friday, I went out to the ball field to watch the end of the annual campers vs staff kickball game. I wasn't the only one just watching, so it was fun to catch up with some people in the cheering section. Then someone off to the side, sitting on the ground, blurts out, "Aren't ants amazing. So small, in their own little world?" It was random, but caught my attention.

So I thought about that, and I agree. Ants are amazing. They are so small, yet so strong for their size. And they work together better than humans do. They all have their own jobs, with each one essential for the colony to survive. Living in their own tiny world on the ball field at camp. And just imagine how many other groups of little ants there are. Just at camp alone, I'm sure there are hundreds of groups of ants. All working in their colony to support each other. That truly is amazing.

These ants had just like dumbfounded me, but it was more because I had seen the power of God in that little that colony of ants. God created each one of those ants, and know each one of them. There are more ants probably within a hundred yards of me than I have hairs on my head....and God knows how many to the exact number of EACH OH THOSE THINGS! Both how many ants are around, and how many hairs are on my head.

Now that you have been amazed by ants, imagine all the other things he made. Trees, Mammals, Grass, Rocks, Bugs, Reptiles, the mosquito that just bite me, the air i breath, the water i drink, the clothes on my back, the hairs on my head, the nails on my fingers, my fingers. the computer i an typing on, the light that allows me to see the keys, the keys, the color of the keys the wavelengths that go to my eyes, the retinas in my eyes that recognize the wavelengths, the rods and cones that convert it to an image in my brain...the brain itself. I could go on forever. God created all of that, and how it all works together. And what have we done? What have we created that can even nearly compare? Computers? Cars? The power to harness electricity? Sure those are great, but guess where all that came from? All the tools we needed to do that, the physics that make it all work? I know where it came from...God. And anyone who disagrees with me in the fact that God is Amazing, needs to open their eyes. well, actually no they don't cause he made those eyelids, too.



on a side note - my reflector i got on ebay came in today! sweet!