Archive for June 2004
June 26, 2004
Greetings from Berlin!
11:00 am | My Life | Comments: 0
I write to you from an internet cafe in the middle of Alexanderplatz, in the center of east Berlin. We’ve completed our training week, which was very encouraging. The coming week is going to be a very very interesting experience.
I now have close to 90 minutes of film of our wanderings through the city of Berlin and I have to say that I love it. It really is an amazing experience which I will never, ever forget. We’ve been riding around the city on the various different forms of public transportation (streetcars, busses, subways, etc.) just exploring and taking on the capital city of Germany.
There’s been some rough times, as well. I’ve had some issues with my groupmates, who are all very tight highschool chums that have a hard time letting people into their circle. But in spite of that, I’ve been making some friends and have been able to support and encourage the team in a unique way.
I really can’t say everything I want to. Send me an email and I’ll fill you in! 
Anyway time to get back to the hotel. Until next time, stay safe and I love you all.
June 20, 2004
Happy Trails
10:28 pm | My Life | Comments: 0
Well folks, this is my last post before I board the plane for England. I will likely be able to post during the trip from the various internet cafes around Berlin.
This evening I went over to 7th Reformed Church (where my group is primarily from) for our commissioning service. It was very nice; text was I Peter 3:15, which was ironic. On my last short-term mission trip (to Mexico), I was in charge of one of the evening devotionals and that is the text I chose to talk about. A very important passage, especially around Grand Rapids where so many young Christians find it hard to talk about their faith. We all need to be ready at any time to open up about our faith to anybody that asks. It’s not an option, it’s a duty. So I think having that on our minds as a group will be very helpful to us over in Berlin.
“Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.” - Psalm 144:5
June 19, 2004
The Black Hat retires!
11:48 pm | My Life | Pictures | Comments: 0
With a room as small as mine, I cannot normally afford the luxury of having huge bags of luggage lying around. Currently, my suitcase is taking up a full tenth of the airspace available to me in my bedroom. While it is not refrigerator-sized, it’s large enough that I’ve tripped over the blasted thing twice already. But, I have it and my A.L.I.C.E. packed, my hair cut (back to the eastern european refugee style… sorry Maggie, I just can’t let it get floppy), and my boots are beautifully polished. I also managed to polish a section of my jeans, which I am not terribly thrilled about.
It is with great sadness that I announce the retirement of my Black Hat from its noble service atop the head of the greatest thinker currently in my room. It was discovered this afternoon that it is now too small. Join with me in giving thanks for the full year of service it provided. It was a constant companion. Never selfish, never moody; always willing to hear your stories and commiserate with them. It will be missed. Despite nasty rumors, some say the Black Hat was the most beautiful thing they have ever seen. Here is a picture of it while on active duty.
Late Shift
1:31 am | Politics | Comments: 0
I like my job. Both of them, actually. My first starts at 1pm, and the second one starts whenever I feel like going. Usually 8:30pm, but tonight: 12:00am! So now it’s 1:30am and time for a shower. Tomorrow is big: banking, shopping, packing, boot-polishing, and a haircut (in addition to other random assorted things) in preparation for my trip to Berlin.
I’ve been talking with friends about my political outlook. And I do think that not voting can be construed as apathy or laziness. But I do not go as far as to say that voting is a civic duty. It is part of a political system (one which has major flaws - believe it or not, folks); and that political system does not require its citizens to vote. It’s a privilege, to be sure; and the privilege is extended to all. I appreciate that. I am thankful for that. But that doesn’t obligate me to vote.
It’s alot like the second amendment: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Does having the right to keep and bear arms require me to do so? No; it’s a choice of conscience. Personally, if I had the money, I would be bearing arms as we speak (naturally, being a college kid, I am so broke I can no longer pay attention).
June 16, 2004
Thoughts on Election Season
11:06 pm | Politics | Thoughts | Comments: 0
Yes that’s right, it’s coming around again: U.S. presidential elections. I was reminded of it today after hearing a segment of a talk radio show. Ahhh, nothing like a bit of talk radio to get your political veins popping. I used to be big into this kind of stuff. In fact back during the Dole/Kemp race of ‘96 I was nothing short of a fanatic. But since then I’ve had only a passing interest in politics, which peaks every four years.
The thinking I’ve done along these lines has been on the nature of our party system here in the U.S.. Basically you have two choices, R. or D., and you’re guaranteed that nobody outside those parties is going to be elected. So most people just say that you need to vote for the better man of the Big Two; now, is that really a choice? I don’t think so. This is why I am not registered to vote. I don’t like the party system here. I refuse to just climb on board a party and let it do my thinking for me. The “straight party ticket” option on your voting card is the most anti-American thing I’ve ever seen (well not really, but it does emphasize my point).
Some people might wonder where my sense of patriotism is. “You have been given the freedom to vote, and you’re passing it up??” Truth be told, I value the option to abstain as much as I do the option to vote. Abstaining is a much clearer statement of what you think than voting straight party ticket. In the meantime, I pray for the leaders of the country that are doing the job today, whether they are Republican, Democrat, or [insert random party name here].
June 15, 2004
Gunfire in the Ghetto
11:49 pm | Sport | Comments: 0
Congratulations to the Detroit Pistons, the new world champions of basketball. Game 5 was almost a constant celebration. After the final buzzer the neighborhood began popping with small-arms fire; if basketball is always like this, sign me up as a Pistons fan!
That’s all I got right now.
June 14, 2004
The Real Enemy
10:28 pm | My Life | News | Religion | War | Comments: 0
I was reading in the paper today about the latest Baghdad bombings. Seems that the people of Iraq really didn’t learn anything from all that’s been going on in their country the last year. Sure, I hear you when you say it’s just a few “extremists” that are bombing stuff. But I don’t think that’s entirely accurate.
I was talking with a good friend about this the other day. We’re not fighting an army over there. We’re fighting a religion, namely Islam. That’s the root of all these problems. The war in Iraq is a spiritual war, and as long as there are Muslims, there will be bombings. History shows that Islam is a religion that was born and raised in bloodshed, and that legacy is being born out in the streets of Baghdad day by day. It’s not going to stop, either. Not until the final day when the Great Captain comes to claim his victory.
So here is why I am going to Berlin in about seven days. There’s a group of reformed missionaries in the city who have been running an English camp for middle school kids. The idea is if you can just get the kids some exposure to Christians, they can watch and hopefully learn more important things than just English along the way. But anyway, our first week over there will be training, then we’re going to be the English teachers for the second week. It’s something I’ve never done, so I am very interested to see how it’s all going to work out.
June 13, 2004
The Everlasting God
8:22 pm | Religion | Comments: 0
One of my favorite verses in the Bible is John 8:58, in which Jesus says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you: before Abraham was, I am.” The strength of this statement is simply amazing. Recall all the way back to Moses and the burning bush when Moses asked of God his name, that he might tell it to the Israelites in captivity. Almighty God replies, “I AM that I AM: Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”. This was Jesus, son of man and son of God, talking to Moses. It’s just another example of how pervasive Jesus is throughout all of scripture; he’s everywhere. But nowhere else in scripture does Jesus make a more powerful claim to the throne of Heaven than in John 8.
“Jehovah liveth, and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.”
- Psalm 18:46
June 12, 2004
Play that funky music, white boy!
1:30 am | My Life | Thoughts | Comments: 0
I officially had that song stuck in my head all night and all day today. It’s a dangerous song, I’m telling you; makes me kinda wanna disco down and check out the show!
At any rate, tonite I was at a campfire with a local group. I’m all about fire and talking all nite, but something struck me about the group I was with. That being the aversion to substantive conversation that was generally exhibited. It’s a pattern I’ve noticed in my generation of kids; a form of anti-intellectualism that frowns upon serious conversations on any topic. In a woman, this is a big turn-off to me. Truth be told, I find the ability to establish a premise and support it to be incredibly sexy. And you don’t find it much. I promised my sister I’d marry the first woman I find that can do it.
Berlin is a mere 9 days away… the excitment builds every day. My last short-term mission trip was an incredible experience and that was only half as long as this trip, so I await it with much anticipation. In the meantime I’m gonna keep dancin’ and singin’ and movin’ to the groovin’!
June 11, 2004
Ready for Primetime
1:34 am | News | SIO | Sport | Comments: 0
This Blogspot has some interesting features. I can goof with the template all I want, and I can email posts in. The FTP issue remains unresolved; I will start sacking people if need be, until we have conquered all obstacles.
Tonite the Pistons won Game 3 of the NBA Championship series. I’ve never really cared for basketball; I remember going to 2nd and 3rd grade and hearing all about the “Bad Boys”, seeing T.V. commercials with that Inner Circle song from Cops playing. Also I was one of the best “Knockout” players during my time at Lamont Christian elementary. Since then I’ve always believed basketball to be a highly repetitive sport that gets very tense when you play a whole game only to lose at the last second by one point when a guy throws the ball from halfcourt and it magically goes in. But championships always bring out the best in a sport, and I enjoy watching the best in any sport. Even, dare I say, tennis.
Ronald Reagan died this past week, and I have to admit I don’t remember anything about the man. From what I’ve read and heard, he was a true christian man who brought dignity, respect, and leadership to his office. I couldn’t really ask for more than that.
