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!

Biker Granny

hey look everyone, my grandma is the coolest. she lives in the other side of Bloomington than we do, so every Sunday for church my aunt and uncle pick her up. well uncle rick has a Harley, and sometimes he will ride it to church and let one of the kids pick up Memaw. and every time he does that, they will joke about picking Memaw up on the Harley. it usually pretty funny. but a couple weeks ago while we were at the church's yearly picnic at the park it finally happened. my 80 some odd year old grandma got on the back f a Harley and rode around. best part is, she had a blast. lol enjoy



more are here. (hotlinked this time for jeff montgomery, lol)

so i finnaly got to go see rachel this summer, at her house. and it just so happens that the day i went out there, her little niece marrissa was there too. she is 8 years old and loves to ham it up. we went out to eat at rachel's aunt debbie's resaraunt in kurtz, indiana. we ate, and then we walked around town taking pictures and stopping to talk to francis. then we went to the playground a took pictures here. all these were taken with my d70 and my new 50mm prime.

sorry the formatting is crazy. but im too lazy to fix it. see more here
http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=177456
or here
http://family.webshots.com/album/563116965aNbmlS

so i got my birthday present from elaine on tuesday, even though my birthday isnt until thursday. o crap, its wednesday night and i didnt renew my license. it's now in need of renewal. but anyway, elaine got me a lens i wanted. its the nikon 50mm 1.8 prime. i love it already. its's real sharp, gives me great depth of field, and it was cheap (for a lens that is). so here is a picture of my brother i took today. i like it. anyone want some portaits?


o ya, and here's one i took in the mirror of elaine's car after i got it. it went on the camera before we left the store and i dont think its come off since.