another clever one

Year End

2008-12-31T13:28:00.000-08:00

It's a break from school that sends me to clean up my room, my computer, my bank records...even a bit of my head. I remember bits and pieces because receipts remind me. Joel, Neal and I went to steak 'n shake, Turkey Run campground, and New Harmony. We bought a lot of gas at high prices. I went with Piper, Danielle, Jeremy, Jenny, Neal to Ben Kweller in Omaha. We've gone to 4 brothers 3 times. I've not spent much on food, but the Grille is a bit greasey. Dordt wrote a check to me for $4 dollars as reimbursement for a bag of flour and a bit of applesauce, and all the North hall RAs and I enjoyed bread pudding (though I don't know how the flour flavored the pudding).

Yes, I've run to Wal-mart for groceries...twice. But the new video store in town doesn't take debit, so I only vaguely remember renting the George Clooney 40s Noir wanna-be. The last receipts were Christmas gifts, and I still remember convincing myself December 21 was Christmas (sorry, Family); I met many Kuceras and Santmans; But did not buy food to gift anyone, who needs more?

Though my life isn't ruled by money, its realities close in a bit each year, but I'm thankful for the bit of a record to remember the past year.

Happy New Year, Auld 2008.

A Day in the Life of a Crab

2008-10-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

Waking is tough when your muscles are inside of a shell-like exoskeleton and cannot be stretched properly. I thought I knew better for most of the day. First of all, I was working on a graph in Xcel®, which of course was making a lot of mistakes for me. The graph would only turn out if I told the program the exact details needed in the graph. Needless to say, Nathan walk up and I said: "I am not going to ask for help, because it is the computer's fault" (translation: help me, but I'm too much of a crab to ask).

Next, I was reading the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church's report on Diversity and Racism. Of course, I new much better and turned red as I read things that looked like they were saying our culture cannot define us, only Christ. This would be like saying my culture (enjoying coffee) cannot be an important part of my life (spending time with people drinking coffee). Well, come on Synod representatives, where's your realism. People are within Culture. But of course, this morning I finished the article, and the ending clarified the beginning. So, they say I can still enjoy my coffee and conversations with people as long as culture doesn't become an idol, as long as I am most deeply defined by my brotherhood with Christ.

Finally, after putting jumper cables on with the help of a semi-retired farmer, failing; letting him push my car, bumper to bumper, down a hill to push-start the vehicle, failing; and trying jumper cables from my dad, success; and finally "accidentally" shutting the car off at the fuel station, walking home, and returning once more to the car only to find out the the retired-farmer was right and I was wrong---THE BATTERY CONNECTION was bad. I was wrong.

So I went to bed at 11, with peace know that I could fail three times in the day, react like a crab, and still rest under comforting ocean swells too magnificent to see.

It's a Gas

2008-09-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Choir is traveling together to Europe to sing in various churches in the Netherlands. I'm thrilled. Piper and I hope to travel to Sevilla after the tour in order that I can study for 2 months, acquiring the credits abroad that I need to graduate with a Spanish major. Following the studying, we hope to travel to Paris within a week, and fly home in order to work a bit and start another semester at Dordt College.

If you would like to help Everyone in the choir financially, and enjoy the Choir through the ages' music, buy a CD. The tour fund would a appreciate it, and if you have any trouble, leave a comment. I had a friend who had trouble; it came as a heavy blow, but we sorted out the matter.

Trip to Upland, IN

2008-08-15T14:15:00.001-07:00

This is a general update in mechanical language for my records. That is, I tend to forget a lot of things, and I would like to remember this trip. Maybe the reader will enjoy the details too.

Neal came to Orange City at exactly 10am, he is never late, and I began puttzing around the house to collect my packings to put in his car. We left at 10:30 to arrive in Des Moines at 4:30. Yes, you could say we took our time. Aurora, IA has a great little cafe with great burritos and sodes (which was a mispelling, flip the d to a p and "sope" is the actual mexican dish).

Once in Des Moines we enjoyed some homemade enchiladas, Joel's company, and the company of his family. We watched the opening ceremony to the Olympics, which was simply amazing in its orchestration. The drums, the cardboard pillars, the martial arts...

In the later evening we watched "Funny Games" a horrible movie in that it tortures the viewer and makes fun of the fact that he/she is watching a horror film. It's a tough watch, but only perhaps worth the clever idea of the film. Look up some reviews, because I'd rather forget most of the film and not recall it in writing.

Then, Isaiah, Joel, and Neal went to enjoy a bit of hookah while I lay down to sleep. I need more sleep to be an enjoyable person. They came back in and started "the Shining." I heard it in my half-sleep and scary images flooded my mind. Creepy, but good (somehow)

On to Piper's house. The winding stairs festival was flooding the town (thankfully only a 20 minute shower of actual rain came down) and we ate good pizza: Pizza Palace. In the evening we all watched Benny and June. Yeah! Parting was not sweet, but sorrowful, although I was looking forward to the rest of the trip much.

On to Turkey Run state park. We pulled into the park at 8:30 as the sun was setting and set our tent, started our fire, and I enjoyed a toasted rice-crispy bar. The night went by quickly while sleeping, and we woke around 8 to start our trek to brother Andrew's place of residence and work: the Victory Acres CommunitySupportedAgriculture site in Upland, IN.

Andrew lives in a camper on the farm. We crashed there after eating at Kay's Cafe and desserting at Payne's coffee shop. Kay's was a small, dirty-floored, beautifully tabaccoed cafe full of the local rif-raff, that is the hard-working folk of the area. I think a recently-turned ten boy was celebrating his birthday with relatives. We ordered pizza: all from scratch, cheesy mozzarella and lots of veggies and meats. Deliscious.

Payne's coffee was delicious. Too delicious. Chocolate frozen custard and two cups of coffee made me stay up late (12am) thinking of the joys of the "life on the farm" boardgame and the option of finishing a teaching degree. I wrote a letter in my head, as well.

So, after deciding to get the degree to teach, I fell asleep. We picked cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and "beef-steak" tomatoes all morning. At noon, we rushed pack up and go to New Harmony, IN. Neal had vacation at the small town that started a commune of "harmonists." There mark was evident in the town with many round gardens with a sphere or fountain in the center. I enjoyed the architecture of the episcopalian "roofless" church and the local museum. De Staebler did a lot of the sculpture in the church. Perhaps he's famous.

And then we went on to Isaiah apartment. More hookah, a Guinness, DiGiorno's, and "Them" (another thrilling movie) and I slept early again. After eggs and bacon (thanks for the Bacon from Ben) Neal and I dropped Joel off in the morning, and went home.

I'm grateful for the refreshment of seeing new things each day, though my mind is tired after restless nights in new places.

My new bed is a sanctuary of sleep. Gratefully...

A Trip to Traer, IA

2008-08-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July, Independence Day

2008-07-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

With the weekend on the back of my mind's stove, simmering; a Blue Moon beer on the end table next to the sofa; my brother's laptop on my legs; Piper driving through thunderstorms back to Traer; Anthony Bourdane investigating Greek culture and cousine; and work looming ahead for 3 more weeks...in short: with this list I am happy to relax on Sunday evening. I am now twenty-years old, I'll be married, God willing, in 7 months, and Independence day seems to have taken on a new meaning this year. I feel grown beyond childhood.
However.
Piper and I sifted through 2 of my journals this weekend. Sparing the reader embarrassing details from high school, I feel immature and dependent. I've changed, but not as a caterpillar. I think more on my own, but I'm also very much my family's child, my school's student, my church's member, my friends' friend. Next, I'll be my wife's husband and my child's father (in years, no worries, all) and dependence will flow down through me to them.
So, these "profound" thoughts I will read in later years, just as I read my high school thoughts this weekend, and I'll shake my head and laugh (once again, God willing) and realize that I've changed, become more dependent rather than independent, and, well, I suppose that's life.
And, If anyone wants a beer; I'll be happy to buy (still look forward to show my ID with a grin), if you stay for a bit of conversation.

Jonathon is back

2008-06-08T19:28:00.000-07:00

I hope I spelled his first name right. That would be strike two. I decided to not pick him up from Texas: sorry Jon.

In other news, and completely (shifty eyes) unrelated to ditching plans to texas, Piper came to the area this weekend for Brandon and Erica's wedding. And, incidentally, I live around here too. We had a good weekend, took a compatibility test (results pending), went to the wedding, had a fire with Alvin, and Alvin took photos commemorating Piper and my engagement.

Back to work on Monday. I'm getting excited to see finished products this house because I was given a small drive-by tour of past vision bldrs houses. Hopefully, we'll all have a bit of inspiration to work hard all summer.

Soffets

2008-06-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

I now know how to put metal soffets underneath the edges of the roof. They make a house look more house like and less like a barn.

I think people who work from 6 to 6 deserve a lot of respect. If I had children, I would be dying slowly of exhaustion. But, now I simply don't do much for reading or tinkering. Just supper, relax, bed.

And soccer is starting Thursday. But that's both relaxing and exhausting, a great balance for to go to sleep.

Hanging out in the Rafters

2008-05-20T18:23:00.000-07:00

Soooo...today I hung rafter hangers with a "cyclone" air nailer that pounds nails through metal into wood. Cool.

I'm living at Home

2008-05-14T17:41:00.000-07:00

Today I realized that I am old. I'm growing older in a lot of ways, along in time, and I notice little things that I never did before. My family has shaped me, but now I see how we're separating in new ways and sticking together in new as well. I do dishes gratefully, wipe the counters remembering the disgusting kitchen in covenant hall, and watch my dad mow lawn, realizing that I haven't done that in a very long time. In fact,

A gap in time left me ungrateful or at least un-aware of changes. Many people, I think, have gone home in the summer, and they see how they have changed, measuring with the standard of a more slowly changing family life and dynamic. I left for Indiana last summer, and the gap gave me no standard.

I've changed a bit, huh.

Anyway, I measured a cut stuff today. My hands are sore.

Screw Gun

2008-05-13T17:07:00.000-07:00

Today I used a screw gun. It wasn't anything similar to my household's hand-held, electric, drilling/putting in screws driver thinger. No, I could put 60 screws into 7/8" plywood in under one minute if I felt so feverishly inclined. Screws jumped out of their singular dimension of chaos and arrived in large, long boxes filled with strips of plastic connecting each screw. Harking back to military technology, I loaded strips of screws into my screw gun. Holding the trigger, I simply pressed down, and a screw drove itself into the plywood floor and hid its head just beneath the surface.

And then I measured an cut 21" 2X6's for 2 hours. 9 pieces in 2 hours in order that the floor was more solid. From the thrill of speed to the slow and tedious.

Day Two.

Swinging a Hammer

2008-05-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

My hands are slightly swollen, and the hang nail I had at 7 this morning is hanging even more precariously painful. I've become more aware of my hands after 8 hours of work. But, then I accidentally forgot to tell my Dad that I didn't need a ride home because the worksite is in Orange City (the day started in Sioux Center at the Const. Company's office). Apparently, "logic" has little to do with school, or as my friends said in high school: you have little common sense. I think I'm just abent mindedly jovial.

Oh, and my food tastes better because I actually need to eat a lot or I get hungry...maybe college should involve more HPERs after all. Or at least shop class with home ec and good food too.

Engagement

2008-05-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

Piper and I are engaged. JacobPiper.blogspot.com: check it out for updates in the future. It's empty right now, but we hope to share our joy with many via the "interweb." You can comment on this blog with advice...now! And on the new blog...then (that is, in the future, when we actually post).

I'll still maintain this blog (better than in the past) as a demonstration of my individuality.

And yes, this semester was busy, and blogging is the first to go. Thank you for understanding.

The First Blog Entry in "like" three months

2008-01-18T08:18:00.000-08:00

Come on Joel, can't you come up with better vocabulary than the valley girl stereotype "like."

So, there's this guy, he's like my friend. His name is Joel, kinda cute, but he can't like...talk. He comes up with this, like, title for this blog I'm writing, and he said [insert title her]. Then he, you know it's kind of like...weird. "I'm going to go wash my hand because it's sticky."

Regress.

I haven't written in a while. My apologies. Dordt has commenced classes with the official convocation on Thursday at 11am. Dr. Kim spoke. I have a sneaking suspicion that we Midwestern United States Citizens who know but one language cannot take seriously someone who has a thick accent. Especially a Korean Accent.

Dr. Kim is incredibly intelligent and overly gracious toward our beloved (and his beloved) college. He spoke passionately about preserving and carrying on our great reformed heritage. I agree with him, and I hope that we will all learn more about what it is that God intends for this "reformed heritage."

Clases are going well, one week is nearly finished. I'm excited for Augustine, Medieval Philosophy, learning how to use a camera, and Linguistics.

Nuther Flic

2007-11-27T12:07:00.000-08:00

I hope This is Legal...

Pretty sure it were.

Update, I 'spose

2007-11-19T11:54:00.000-08:00

The film festival was disappointing because not many judges liked our work, But I'm still happy with it:

I've been thinking about various things lately:
1. Work this summer (Perhaps Korea and then Work)
2. RA-ing with more Gusto, serving soup doesn't usually have an obvious effect
3. Thanksgiving break: Fixing my car's heater, reading
4. Being a teacher or something other
5. Future things
6. Acknowledging a specific vision for life: is this the best way of thinking?

The break will be nice, and the next two days don't give many duties either.

A long While

2007-11-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a long while. The trees still have their leaves, so it seems I jumped the proverbial gun by going to enjoy the colors in the last post. Life at college is continuing at a slower pace this year. I haven't written many intense papers or stayed up past 3am very often. I'm quite happy.
However, I did consider seriously switching my study goals. I've decided to stop studying education. I'm also trying to figure out what I think church should be, how I can can care for people on my wing, and what to do this summer.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to watching a good movie tonight, studying tomorrow, and enjoying some rest this weekend. I've found it's difficult to live contentedly during the week, but it's an honorable goal. I think our elders often have this contentedness figured out.

Events

2007-09-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'm going to look at the foliage, watch a concert, travel to Minneapolis, watch a concert, and travel home.

The Schedule and Spaces

2007-09-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

Personally, I'm linked to notes, a calendar full of assignments, and a computerized schedule. I'm thankful for empty spaces, and I have a number of them.

I used to think that If I forgot something, I was too busy. Now I'm simply forgetful.

Today, I got up at 9 am thinking that I would have 35 minutes in order to get ready for class. I had only 25, and I was late. Twice. I don't like being late. I was late 3 times today for that class, a meeting, and another class.

I'm getting up early next day. Things go better when I take time.

Spaces.

DC

2007-08-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

Driving Collectively forward, I've arrived to greet new friends, wise elder friends, and silly fun ones. And I've got a job on campus, obvious responsibility to people besides me, and a tired mind, once again. But I believe I'm ready.

I am amazed right now at how crowded the campus gets at times, but at others there are many, many lonely spaces. I'm glad for both. The upper classmen are just moving in and settling in.

"The Show" was acted out by Shaftstall and company (labeled as such because I embarrassingly forget many names). I love the show even this the second time.

I'm on duty, and feel obligated to be friendly. It's good for me, and I pray good for the building's occupants.

A beautiful summer day.

Week Nine: The End

2007-08-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

I'm home now, going over mail that long lost its importance, receipts, and little tid-bits left in a folder after the summer's work is done. For as confusing as that sentence was, I'm quite full of thoughts as well.

The last week was probably the worst of the summer. I had a new partner who didn't have patience for one of the kids, and I don't blame him. One kid can take enough energy away from the others to make for a difficult week. Everything was just a notch below superb, and I had had a superb summer to compare a mediocre week with.

But it's over, and even the poor week had its highs. One of which was very strange. On Friday, all of the kids go to the pool with one counselor while the other counselor writes letters to 5 of the parents. I went to the pool. The time started normally, but for some reason some of the leader-type kids from Buffalo (the lodge that contains Comanche and Arapaho cabins as well as Sioux and Cheyenne) began a strange ritual. As much as rituals are easy to make fun of, I think they are important. The spontaneous ones are especially meaningful.

All of the guys gathered around one person at a time and chanted their name. Rodrigo, Rodrigo, Rodrigo... Llama, Llama, Llama....Jacob, Jacob, Jacob...They included everyone, even the very annoying child in my cabin. I was happy to see that everyone was included. They were brothers for a second, and that all I can ask from them. I hope each kid got a chance to be away from a harsh world, and a chance to bring some of the refreshing atmosphere of camp back into the world. (that's the idealistic idea)

The End.

Week Eight: the end (almost)

2007-08-02T20:22:00.000-07:00

It's time, next week, to leave. And I'm excited to continue working with excitement until the end. It's hard to stay enthusiastic when the end is near. However, next week I get a new partner, and that new situation will make everything fresh.

I'm taking Jacob Krouse's place in Comanche cabin. Odd.

It's true, the next generation is the multi-taskers, I don't have a cell-phone, and I feel old.

I've learned that talking to kids individually works better than talking to them in groups. Groups are monsters. Same as with old people. Mob Mentality.

I need sleep.

Week Seven: Awkward Child

2007-07-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

Do you remember what it was like in High School? Did you feel like everyone was watching your every move? One young man in our cabin this week, the 7th, was the epitomy and the extreme of "stage" stage of youth. I made up the term, but he honestly thought he was always on a stage and constantly being judged by each person around him. He was defensive about mistakes and correction, and he told crazy stories whenever there was a willing (or unwilling) audience.

I loved him, he was unique. Any extreme personality will be hated or enjoyed. I think I 'll miss him next week, and I hope he makes it through high school with no scars.

On a higher note, another kid is from Spain and will spend 2 more weeks with us. I hope to have great conversations with him. And the other stay-over is form chicago. He's great too--since he actually lives in the middle of the city.

I get to teach ceramics after a week off, and my partner is a crazy, take life by the horns kind of guy. I'm excited, tired, and ready for the end. Two weeks to go.

Week Six: Over 1/2

2007-07-21T19:39:00.000-07:00

This week marks the 6th time for opening campfire, breakfast each morning in the scheumann lodge, flagpole ceremonies, teaching ceramics on the pottery wheel, and closing campfire. I'm quite used to being tired and alert and excited at the same time, and I'm ready for another week.

Week six went by slowly because I knew Mom and Dad were coming on Friday. Now that they are here, I'm very glad because they give new light and fresh eyes to an old, tired vision of camp.

It's the odd self-awareness you gets when someone visits someplace very dear to you: when you introduce a friend to your family, when your girlfriend first visits your church, when you bring friends from college to eat food at Grandma's house.

I'm excited to have 9 or 10 new kids next week, to be creative in new ways, to get to know my co-workers and friends even better, and to enjoy coffee each morning.

Time for a ten hour night of sleep--saturday night.

week five

2007-07-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

This past week was another great one, and my tired mind is a constant reminder of all the fun we had. The kids this week are very mature and enthusiastic, a great combination. I'm working this weekend and searching for sleep. HOping for another great week.

Week 4: 2 min. update

2007-07-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

it's already halfway through week 5 but wk 3 is fresh in my mind the kids were great guys though that description is cliche they truly were good individuals and i wish they stayed longer because toward the end of the week we were becoming a close knit group but so goes the weeks.

we went on the blobs on the lake at 6:30 in the morning a choice that i now don't regret but for the lack of sleep

i'm tired but still enjoying most of the time here and i hope to have enough alertness and energy to fully enjoy the last half of the summer

wednesday is the exact middle of the summer season here at camp and we are celebrating with all things crazy i think my cabin is 'dressing' as blueman group

the weekend was great because piper visited through sunday morning and this weekend i get to work.

2 minutes isn't very long, please send me your latest news.

Week 3

2007-07-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

As to the title, this is a post about week 3 as labeled for the campers. This is my week 4 of every staff being here and week 6.5 of camp for me (if I'm right).

Give me a yell, Give me a yell, Give me a great substantial yell
Because your left, your left, your left, right, left,
A man, A man, A man arapaho, stand arapaho
One, we are arapaho, Two, a little bit louder, Three-eeee

Arapaho's the group that can't be be,
So come on everybody do the arapaho beat,
It goes: Eh,eh eh, eh eh eh eh eh eh (obnoxious noise)What.
(repeat noise) Huh!
Ara-paHo...PING!

There's the cheer.

Last week went very well, the best yet. I think it's sad, but the next weeks will probably be a let down, but I'm glad to have enjoyed such a great group and bond of young men (I can't really call them boys).

Everyone got along very well. They even said that they shared everything, which is difficult for a predominantly small-family, wealthy demographic. Actually, two of the guys had very large families (8+), and that probably made the week that much better.

The high-light was, of course, a cheer that only just barely became annoying, and an excellent sand castle during the "lake olympics."

One kid's father is a stay-at-home dad. He sent a care package with a joke inside: teeny-bopper magazines ("Tiger Beat"). So, they took all of the cute pictures of celebrities (young men who are on the disney channel) and plastered them on the outside of our cabin. Jokes like that made the week go great. It was sort of like being in crazy college-like humor again. His dad also gave us donuts from a local shop (in Lebanon, IN) and they reminded me of the Dutch Bakery (not casey's).

I miss apple fritters.

I got a package, but I'm saving it for thursday so I can open something.

Week 3: 3 minute update

2007-06-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

Camp T, the place to be. Everything seems to rhyme at camp. The pace keeps getting faster at camp, with each week draining just a little bit more sleep from everyone, but I believe it's worth it. The camp routine was pretty much the same this week with a few new campers. They have all gone to experience their summers at home and on vacation, so we will have 10 new campers on Sunday. I'm excited for a fresh start.

The blobs at camp are connected to trampolines in a lake, there are 3. I haven't had a chance to jump on them yet, but I'm excited to give them a try.

I hope to work on gaining the kids' respect quickly next week so that discipline won't be a problem. Respect is the best motivation. That is, the type of admiration that desires to behave well for someone else, not just for the rules or for self-glorification.

I'll leave you with our cabin cheer:

Knock Knock, Who's there, Arapaho, Arapaho who?

It's Arapaho that makes Camp T so Great,
So Be an Arapaho, be-ee an arapaho.
Get Rib saw, get a buzz saw, get a rib saw, buzz saw, boom.

And the rest will come next week.

Week 2: Boundaries

2007-06-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

This week went wonderfully. I don't think I could have asked for a better group of honest, caring, and responsible young 15 year old to be my first group of kids. I have to give most of the credit for a good week to my partner, Eric, and also Sabino (other partner) for their hard work. I feel like I was along for the ride, sometimes an extra camper even. But I think I've learned a lot and will be a better help next week.

I think I've learned most of all that I need to know the boundaries for the kids and myself because they enjoy pushing them to get what they want. What they want is usually very good, such as building friendships and having great fun, but I also realized that they don't like sleep and they do like sleep. Late to bed, late to rise: and the camp's schedule doesn't fit in with that. Other boundaries such as pranks and listening to directions and repeating things...etc...all part of learning how to communicate with someone who is not my peer. And being a peer is sometimes easy to slip into.

I am very thankful for a wonderful week, and I hope they they will keep getting better. Rest is a scarce resource here, But weekends and nights off are refreshing enough.

One camper injured his back while diving from a ten foot drop, but thankfully only his muscles were injured, and I pray it won't be chronically painful for him.

I also find it difficult to distinguish what I can share with campers. I hope to be open until the boundary.

Boundaries.

Week 1: Staff Training

2007-06-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

This week was a busy one because Camp Tecumseh uses the full 7am to 10 pm day to train its staff. We started the week with many things, but the most memorable was the "man hike." Not being negative, I really enjoyed it though it was full of cliches that are often used too often, as is the nature of cliches. We hiked up a big hill, over a stream, and ended at the tope of a slope to the song "the great adventure" by Steven Curtis Chapman. We then ate a lot of pork roast that was roasted over the fire, beans, and potato salad and played various sports. My team won in ultimate frisbee. Then we had a ceremony where a litany was read, describing the camps goals of raising Christian men, and they ended the evening by giving each new staff a necklace/chain with a shield with a cross on it. I was happy to a part of everything, and I'm happy to help the camp with their goals. I pray I will never be cynical about slabs of beef, sports, and "manly" things when living Christianly is the goal of it all.

During training we did everything a camper might do during the week, while getting to know our role in it all. I learned ceramics and soccer, swam in the lake, swam in the pool, had devotions each evening, had opening and closing camp fire. The weeks here are very full, crazy, silly, but very good.

On Thursday we went on a "mud hike" to the point where ghost creek meets the tippecanoe. The mud was sandy and penetrating. After we splashed in mud puddles, covered our bodies, and generally acted childish, we hiked up the creek, stirring its bottoms, falling on its rocks, and reaching its summit: the lake. The lake is a reservoir of sorts fed by the very shallow ghost creek. We washed in the lake and returned to our cabins for showers. I especially enjoyed walking up the creek in the cold water that refreshed my rock-rubbed, sandal-wearing feet.

Staff training emphasized "leading by example," acheivement, belonging, care, and giving individual attention to each camper. We also were lectured a lot to supervise well to avoid problems. I was very nervous half way through the week, but I feel more prepared now that they've given me a certificate of completion (actually meaningless, but the time spent was meaningful and I think I'm ready because of all the support ready for my questions).

Today I played ultimate frisbee and got burnt after closing comments. We formed two concentric circles and sang "shalom" to each other as the close. As each day passes I feel more at home here, especially with the vision YMCA has for its camp tecumseh. I hope all goes well.

Tomorrow I hope to go to church, return, and be ready at 12:44 for meetings until 2:00pm when the campers come. The Campers are Coming, the Campers are Coming!

Weekend in Pictures

2007-05-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

a rainy weekend

buffalo lodge, our new residence

joe

we bought large tupperware

garage sales in brookston

team brasil arrived

andrew, back for more training (we met during lifeguard training)

Fotos

2007-05-24T18:34:00.000-07:00

Lifeguarding

2007-05-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

Here at camp the training of the week is lifeguarding. Red Cross has a great program, lots of hands-on-type learning, but it's really hard to take it all as seriously as it should be taken. I think looking after kids in dangerous situations for hours at a time should add stress to life. But all of the trainees, even those expereinced, i'm-just-brushing-up-on-skills trainees are quite relaxed about the whole thing. I think I'll have to take the middle road, again, when it comes to serious/fun attitude. I'm quite thankful someone keeps it light. Pretending to transport a paralized young lady through water is quite depressing.

Does laughter relieve the pressure or minimize effectiveness?

Tonight I plan to catch up on much sleep.

Camp Tecumseh

2007-05-17T19:05:00.000-07:00

Imagine the flatest, greenest land, then rolling hills, and finally a very small town. Then the river and trees and smells and horses hit you, and you are at Camp Tecumseh. I'm in the middle of somewhere, but the somewhere is small town Indiana and the camp is a tree haven in farmland. The camp is well-endowed and has grown steadily since 1924. The leadership is great, and my fellow workers are pretty well prepared with up to 15 years of camp experience in their satchel. I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to add, but hopefully I'll find my place, and even a voice among the loud and rambunctious. I think that pretty much describes the past day.

We grouped up and did group games such as solving a giant puzzle, crossing on pads of rubber (with various rules and fun added), and tent building. Group dynamics are incredibly complex, and I think that the leader here is a genius.

After training, we went to Buffalo Wild Wings and I ate 10 buffalo wings. Mango Habanero is spicy. Lesson: sports bars are bad for group discussion, but good for on-screen trivia games and fun distractions. Is Good Leisure time equalled to distraction and entertainment?

Seems I'll be having a bit of time to relax in the evenings, so hopefully I'll be able to write during training time, at least.

Convergence

2007-05-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

Railroad tracks are always very beautiful in pictures, the ones with mountains in the background, long tunnels with light at the end, and low-lying shots toward infinity. And then there are the busy rail yards where hundreds of lines and cars and engines converge into one bustle of activity before another trip somewhere, carrying something. It must take a train forever to get through a rail yard, a city, switching tracks numerous times to avoid collisions.

Exams are this week. Andrew is kind enough to make sure a car works for the long trip, I will need to buy a sell-out-phone plan, pack, make sure all dates are right, and set out with blessings to Indiana. One and One-half weeks. And the Baby is coming, and graduation and singing, AND the Baby is Coming.

Ag Day

2007-04-27T11:12:00.001-07:00

and Sunshine

Midnight of the Soul

2007-04-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

The skies have been cloudy like my heart.
48 is one less than perfect.
Profound
Putrid
Petty
Pittance
Pithy.

Seriously, the past two days have been rather tough, you'll have to ask me about them, and I will have forgotten because God is faithful and today is much more interesting than bad days. Like pigs in mud, I'll climb out and be someone's pot-bellied-pig-pet.

Coffee and Cigarettes

2007-04-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned to few people that I've often wanted to drink good coffee while smoking a quality cigarette. My brother has done this, and I believe I have a renewed intention. In addition, a friend mentioned the profound effect of drinking coffee just before falling asleep: trippy dreams. If the effect of inhaled nicotine and caffeine is harnessed into one trippy dream during an afternoon nap or an entire night of sleep, I could call my goal more than fulfilled. But I will settle only for the taste of cigarettes and the taste of coffee mingling in my mouth.

Because nicotine lassos one into addiction more than Tim Horton's coffee, I will only taste.

My trips will be bound by the movement of my feet.

Bicycle, Newspapers, an Ostrich, a Bugle, and a Baby Bea

2007-04-08T16:55:00.000-07:00

I think I have a rather illustrious tendancy in posting a non-specific post. Vague, if you will. I think I'll stop that for today. It's easter, I played trumpet in a little mashed together group of trumpeteers, basoonists, a floutist, a baratone, a horn, and a number of strings as well as a piano for the service. We played hymns. I also got to read with Brandon and Autumn a bit of Matthew 28, I think, about the Angel, Mary Magdalene, as well as the priests bribing the guards. We got donuts before church.

Then I went home, after taking down the improvized orchestra pit, though it wasn't a performance, per se. Piper was there, after her church's service, which starts at 8:30. We talked until Mom and Dad came home. Once the food was cooked, we walked to Grandma's. Everyone enjoyed the food after a devotional from the Today about 1 Corintians 15. If you read the devotional, please note it's confusing imagery.

While eating, I engaged in ackward conversation, a particularly "illustrious" talent of mine. Sorry Julie. Caleb was yearning for some soccer, so many of us went outside and played a game. I read Curious George, the one about the Bicycle, Newspapers, an Ostrich, a Bugle, and a Baby Bear. More talking...

Then we went home and talked some more. Then we ate some more, Angela called, talked some more, and then Piper and I left. Mostly facts, and I would really recommend reading the particular tale about the little monkey.

Camden, New Jersey

2007-03-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

I won't be able to give this city its due in the short time I have to write as I escape from the city into a world of one's and zero's, but the truth is I love this place and will always remember it in a spinning fashion, in my head, in my mind, a whirl of kids and leaders and boarded up houses and old buildings, and the time I played basketball in a gym in what used to be a church. But it's time to go, and it's been time enough for what we came for and I see now that you all should know that if you need to go to a city in need, here it is, here you can send your money and time and know that it was needed it will be used, but more, relationships reign in a place that will always want and will always need more stuff.

Sorrow

2007-03-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

It is condescending to say I feel sorrow for the people who don't think like I do, right? A unitarian has his own views, and I don't need to feel sad, or more strongly, sorrow. Why not? He's slowly dying toward hell, right? What if he's gay? Then what? It is condescending to say he is wrong, right? What if he can't help it? What if he's happy this way, a Christian, a "practicing" gay? Life is easy behind a nice white fence, sipping coffee and reading philosophy. But everyone can be right, each has his own "Christ Light."
"Respect other people's divinity." Who cares if you are "practiceing" gay, that's a sexual sin, only physical. But ignorant of the truth of Christ when you go to a church? It is condescending to feel sorrow for the people who don't think like me?

The 8th of March

2007-03-08T07:15:00.000-08:00

This is a five minute post because class is in ten. March came in like a lion, as the weathermen and all radio gurus so enjoyed saying over and over and over again. It's a great phrase, and it's very true that we had a snow storm, but I am always fascinated by the repetition of a phrase in the news. Not that I keep up on the news enough to know about these repetitions. To use one, "that really grinds my gears." And I am guilty of it. I realized that Mom and Dad picked a good week to leave Iowa because the weather was so "aweful" here compared to the tropics of Florida. So I found myself saying, often, that "they picked a good week to leave." Repetition. And I must say, I didn't mind using the phrase over and over. It's not easy coming up with something original to say when people ask about a trip I didn't go on. All I know about is the seashells, the ocean food, the beautiful weather, the sea air that makes people tired, and the modest and sufficient accomodations. The satisfying trip. And that is enough to repeat and live through vicariously for quite some time. Repetition.

Late Night

2007-02-28T06:39:00.000-08:00

I was blessed to stay awake until 1:30 without coffee, and a paper came out of three hours of typing. I'm not sure how that happened, but as a wise English teacher once explained, doing the research and thinking about the subject is half the battle (or enjoyment). I'm still a bit wary to hand it in with all its imperfections. All in all, I'm very glad to have read Mere Christianity in all its detail.
I'm staying at home to give Nilla something to do while Ma and Pa go rumnicking, holly-wackin', 'n' bushwackin' in Florida. It seems odd that I'm changing an entire week to spend time with a dog, but so far I've enjoyed it. And I get to drink better coffee each morning.

Hands Mingling

2007-02-25T21:42:00.000-08:00

I got to give you a warning, this may be sharing more than I ever have in my unexperienced experience at living. Nonetheless, I've got to say it. Piper and I held hands, and we giggled. I figure that if Kelly can write about holding hands, I can. Admittedly, he may be a poor standard as to what is right and proper to share on the internet, but I loving reading his stuff.
Joel, Piper, and I built a snow man today, but the snow didn't pack. It was a heterogeneous slush and snow man. I left to go play soccer, and they continued the project which ended up as "the gift: a replica" but fell over and was resurrected as "abstract."
I heard church was canceled today because of the snow and ice mixture of God's obstacle course on the roadways. I think it was a challenge that I failed, but so did the rest of our congregation, and I wallow with company in my guilt.
Mom and Dad are going on vacation to an island in Florida, so I get to take care of Nilla. In 2 weeks I will be going to Camden, New Jersey for P.L.I.A. We get back, God willing, on a Saturday, and the Thursday after that will bring me to Omaha and an airplane and back to New Jersey--Princeton Theological Seminary. Professor Dengler is bringing a few students to a conference there. If anyone knows anyone who lives in New Jersey near Camden or Princeton, and would like a college student to stay with them for half of the week, I would love to know them too. I'm sure New Jersey is lovely in the pre-spring, that is March 24-27.

Goings On

2007-02-24T12:19:00.000-08:00

We are having an ice investation, and I believe this is one of the two infestations I can not only put up with but also enjoy. The other would be pillows, but that's another story. It's 31 degress and raining, and so I call it endless fun. Just don't fall.

New Relationship

2007-02-18T20:53:00.000-08:00

The world seems to know, and I mean that quite literally because even Cairo has caught the scent of two young people starting something new and continuing something good. That seems just vague enough, but for Angela who doesn't have facebook--Piper and I are dating, or which ever label is most appropriate for your understanding. And, at risk of revealing my deepest thoughts to a broad readership, I digress to the ending of this post and my bed.

Profundity

2007-02-10T20:38:00.000-08:00

Insight, to be profound, is inward looking. Profound gets a noun just like many adjectives: stupidity, likeliness, purpleness, dog...

I often wish I could speak in stories about my day. Perhaps I look through my poor hearer's ear into a brain already stuffed, and my 'insights' into bathing, dressing, flossing, reading, listening, karate chopping and other such mundane activities may not flavor the rest of the stuff enough for their dish of knowledge to be palatable or otherwise beneficial. Hannibal Lecter is known for feeding a man his own brain, and the young woman off Kill Bill once chopped her way through a coffin with her bare knuckles. I borrow from mass media to flavor my insights. Don't eat too much for Sunday dinner.

Candle Flavored Lollipop

2007-01-27T10:56:00.000-08:00

If a Yankee Apple-Cinnamon scented
candle could be molded into a lollipop
and still taste good,
I have just been sucking on a candle.
Linda's apple-cinnamon flavored lollipops
are tastey but candle-esque,
and they can be purchased at
the Dordt College Bookstore.

Breeze

2007-01-25T07:10:00.000-08:00

Waves
Sound Blips
Coasters on Rollers
Heart Beats on Monitors
Snow Drifts
Breeze

The New Semester

2007-01-19T12:30:00.000-08:00

So it beginnings. I'm attending HPER 10, Elementary Statistics, and Introduction to Education on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Theology 101, Spanish 202, and Conversational Spanish on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I like my schedule and the classes are all rather interesting. I also hope to write a number of Kuyper papers in response to lectures to add one credit to my load. Voice lessons haven't started, and the Choir is still technically on tour until there final concert this friday at 7:30. I must admit that I'm anxioux about choir.

I am a bit anxious about dinner. Do you think an interesting, though fun and annoying, habit at the dinner table would be to ask questions at the moment someone puts food into their mouth? How long would it take for them to realize the scheme. What if pull this on me?

I've pulled a few tidbits out of the theology reading. I was a bit disappoited with the begining of Simply Christian, but I 'm really enjoying it. I'll keep the pulled bits to myself, just like those tastey pork sandwiches.

'nother lil' trip

2007-01-14T18:12:00.000-08:00

And so I went to Minneapolis this weekend. You might say I've traveled by car for 16 hours in the past week, and you would be right, to a certain margin of error. And quite a trip it was.

Ryan and Angela gave our family four tickets to see the Timberwolves play the Nets. Mom graciously arranged for Ryan to go to the basketball extravaganza (which it was) with Dad, Andrew, and me. Timberwolves won, Garnett matched his high points of the season, and fun was had by all. Unfortunately for me, I don't follow the NBA, or any sport, very closely, but the experience was a good one. Parking garages can be enormous, and you know you've driven in large parking structure when there is a giant cork screw for an exit.

The highlight of the weekend was eating Viatnamese for Sunday lunch. I ordered Poh, beef noodle soup. One order said "special" by it, so I got it. The gimic worked so well that after the waitress explained that the "special" soup included stomach, I said, "ok."

Stomach, presumably from the cow from which beef comes, is a bit tough and tasteless. There was a meat or fat in the soup which I can still feel in my mouth. I don't think I liked those morsels, but the whole soup was delicious. I can now say I've eaten bean sprouts, fresh basil, and cow stomach. Bean sprouts and basil sit on my tongue better than stomache.

I've been taught that images are most effect in writing. Reviewing what I just wrote, there are few images. Corkscrew, stomach, two foods sitting on a tongue. Did you picture the tongue like a park bench with two little characters reclining on it? Beanie the bean sprout (who struggles with bacteria, so he's probably scraggly like those dogs who look like they have dreds) and his friend basil (fresh and smart) discuss the end of there lives. Do you suppose personified food struggles with their doom, or are they calmly resigned and ready? And then that corkscrew. It was amazing to my countried eyes. The car sloped at what felt to be 45 degrees down a spiraling hill with space for just one car to make its descent. I suppose the garage was a cork, the spriral a screw, and the bottle the world of the city made more joyful by fragrant wine.

The Dentist

2007-01-03T17:04:00.000-08:00

I am going to be melodramitic in sarcastic fashion. I have a cavity, the first in 4 years.

I brushed and flossed every day, and this is how my pearls thank me. Tomorrow, I get to go back to the dentist, shoot up some novicane, and have the little black devil drilled and scraped out. I can hear it now. My tongue is running along the innocent little dot now. It doesn't even hurt. The unavoidable is the most stressful.

Guilty

2006-12-30T22:59:00.000-08:00

Do you do it? I read through information on blogs and facebook, and I often wonder if the authors' intention was for me to read it. I assume it's fair game if it's published to the world, but I faulter and stop each time an internet factoid comes into my head in conversations. For instance, and I'm blowing my "cover," a friend put a hilarious video on his site, and I need to log that away to myself, why? Because he doesn't know I look at his site at random, long intervals. And I describe this vaguely because I feel guilty. And you? Do I expect you to read this? Will you bring any of my ideas into a conversation? While talking with me?

Lazy

2006-12-29T10:54:00.000-08:00

I propose a conundrum. Is it lazy to sit to rejuvive oneself to re-engage with renewed vigor the repugnant earth?
I woke up at 10, ate, ran, showered, had my hair cut, and now I am sitting, typing, thinking (only a bit).
But, I fixed my car's heater fan, seatbelt, squeaky doors, light, squeaky dash, the alternator belt, and windshielf wiper.
All that in 2 days. Rather pathetic, but I learned a lot.
Tonight, the shift linkage, clean the interior, add seat-covers, new wipers, and glue the rear-view mirror. Then, I may be ready for a trip.

Off the Face of that Earth

2006-12-26T20:18:00.000-08:00

I'm unsure that the following is a novel observation, but it may be worth saying regardless. College students drop off the faces of many different earths each year. I dropped off of my family's earth for a bit as I adapted to college life, then I dropped off of the college earth to re-visit family earth during thanksgiving. My re-entry into college earth was smooth after the short break, but now I have fallen off of college earth into a permanent stay on family earth for the celebration of Christ's entry to earth earth. I'm rather content on each earth, and they are not light-years away, but perhaps they should be joined into one world, as they are, in fact, on this one planet and a mere fifteen minute drive away, on pavement no less.
This spring I may drop onto the face of a PLIA project, and before that, if the past months are exemplary, I'll have visited many cities, before I jump earths. In fact, my friend-city home may morph itself or I may move to entirely new friend-city, numerous times.
Am I to remain on my toes and adapt? Should I be more loyal? Are my communications to remain closer and more frequent between friend cities, family earth, and college earth?
The universe is truly a remarkable place.
Novel? Like bleu-white-american-cheddar cheese.

It's Almost Christmas

2006-12-24T21:59:00.000-08:00

I find it odd to spend the last few minutes before the celebrated day of our savior's birth blogging. I'm not partying (though I did drink a cup of coffee far too late), self-pitying for lack of fun, or overly anxious-ing (to maintain parellel structure, the ing) for Christmas. I'm quite content, and would be to write and read for many more hours. Thankfully God created sleep, and I will stop at some point.
My brother-in-law gave me coffee and a coffee maker (hence the late cup of coffe, all kids play with their new toys). My mom and dad gave me speakers and an ipod cover. I'm glad to say that my sister might enjoy the books I gave her. I wish I would have given mom a stocking stuffer. (this is the point where I realize that only my family might read this and the previous sentences are quite reduntant for them to read, moving on...)
I hope to spend this far too lengthy break reading, taking a test, fixing odds and ends on the car, and taking a road trip to Des Moines. One can only hope, act, and wait to see the opportunity and reaction of hopeful action.
Tomorrow is Christmas, a Kroeze-en party, no boozen, and more gifts, food, and games. Tomorrow is Christmas, just moments away, Celebrate a birth. Flesh. Word. Salvation. Redemption. New Birth.

Studying

2006-12-16T13:23:00.000-08:00

Dr Zylstra talked about his son, the doctor, who didn't "learn how to study until medical school." Scary, and a bit braggatory of natural skill, no? And yet I wonder, could I study so well throughout a semester that I don't need to study, per se, before exams? That is neat. But, I am sadly in need of refreshing for the studying that I didn't learn to do throughout the semester. I almost lost the joy of studying to-day as I tried to memorize playwrights and plays. The exercise seemed pointless. In sum, I hope to enjoy the exams somehow. And in better news, we're going to Bob's bar tonight. And I'm hungry.

2006-11-30T20:32:00.000-08:00

2006-11-22T21:07:00.000-08:00

Odd Providence

2006-11-22T20:35:00.000-08:00

I often forget the wonderful instances in my life, anyone else's, or our's together...but I forget those moments that seem connected, mystically, providentially--amazingly. Mom and Dad reminded me of the time Tiger, our 12 year old cat disappeared for 4 months and returned, haggard but alive, after we pronounced him dead.

A less dramatic moment occured to me as I noticed Andrew's reading project of the moment. Wendell Berry, the "agrarian" writer, was completely obscure to me when, in my ignorant and random research, I used a poem of his to promote a small house rather than a large house in my research paper. His whole philosophy fit my paper, while I only new that he said "small house" in his poem, which seemed to fit my paper.

Added to this moment, I'm reading Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher. I think the authors has few credentials, but he's amassed a lot of good information into an interesting book, which good be an excellent credential in itself. To the point, I don't know whether an agrarian, conservatist outlook is perfect by any means, but that life is looking best, and my seemingly random choice of books seems to point toward a beautifully simple life.

And yet, I am busy and don't shy away from added tasks. Hmmm...just thought I'd pitch that pile over the fence and see if it hits the wagon. I hope the band makes it out before contact. And, in an Alvinesque manner I leave you: Oh, don't give me that look. Haha, that's the one.

Time Well Wasted

2006-11-16T18:24:00.000-08:00

So the speech on poverty as an effect of individualistic capitalism is given. I still get to do homework on thanksgiving break, but it will be fun because it's solving poverty again. The Justice Matters club held a twenty-four hour fast and letter writing event, and I found I don't get so hungry after twenty-four hours. And, the culmination to another week of good things...

A two hour trip to WalMart, making too much raucous, and talking about all the crazy things one can buy. I had a good time, and for you who don't know names, and I know Mom is always interested, I went with Zach McCoy, Melissa Ropp (they are "together") and Piper Kucera. I bought peanut/granola bars and sweet green tea in a jug, I hope it's good.

I suppose that's the jist of it

Storm on the Horizon

2006-11-12T21:22:00.000-08:00

I have a feeling. The feeling started last week and creeped into my life up until now. The work piles up along with the feeling, adding to it. I know I worked throuhout the week, and I enjoyed free time, and I felt like it was a great week. But now, I have a pile of work to do this week. You know the feeling? Should I have done more, was I precrastinating, or did I leave myself enough time? And yet, I tell myself It always get done. The speech gets given, the test gets aced, the project gets finished, and the monster gets slayed, and inside is all sorts of fruit? Yes, the monster is warm and gooey inside, but it's good, pie and coffee, goodness. Bad image?

Long Time

2006-11-04T12:56:00.000-08:00

I think I've been busy, and I'm not saying this to be boastful. I feel like I shouldn't be doing so many things, because there is so much time to be spent with people. In the active: I should spend more time with people.

I hope everyone is well, I'm going to play indoor soccer this sunday, and next week looks like a good one. Play practice is excitingly progessing well. I'm a bit tired, but 4-6 cups of coffee helps. I wish I could swim and train for a triathalon some day, but it's hard to wake up for lap-swim at 6:45.

Effervescent Explosion

2006-10-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

We did the stupid things Dr Paul Fessler talked about by mixing mentos and diet coke and vinegar and baking soda, trying to blow up the bottles while talking VERY LOUDLY until one in the night about nothing, and the hour between 1 and 2 is repeated this fine evening, unless daylight savings was a rumor this weekend in which case I will be late for church.

Dental Hygiene

2006-10-17T21:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight is a very important occasion, even momentous. After years of using the same toothpaste, I realized that I don't so much like it. I remained stingy and used the toothpaste over the past 2 months, but I eagerly anticipated the day when I can change toothpastes. That day is nearly here. This evening, I squeezed out the second to last dollop of paste onto my toothbrush. This event means: following tomorrow morning, I will have finished the toothpaste and will begin a new brand tomorrow evening. No longer will I use crest with cavity protection, but, to my mother's chagrin, I will use Peroxicare with arm and hammer baking soda. I may even brush after lunch, so I can use the new paste.

Oak Grove

2006-10-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

I went to Oak Grove this beautiful day that is ending in raininess. Perfect fall weather, but I was disappointed with leafy colors. Rather, there weren't so many leaves. Piper Kucera and Mark Bylenga came along. They had a biology project to observe, so we looked at minnows, moss, and a millipede. Believe it, or no, we had a great time watching that millipede. And the leaves, though fallen, provided us with a pile to become covert nightmares to little children--we hid and then scared some kids. But it's ok, they tried to steal our Cheetohs. Mom and Dad drove through the loess hills, and I believe their experience with colors was better. I'm a bit jealous. Mom continues to do my laundry, and I hope that she will tell me when she is fed up with it, then maybe I'll grow up.

Price Is Trite

2006-10-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

Last night, I went to the Price is Trite. Jander Talen was Bob Barker and John Van Staalduinen was Rod Roddy. It was great fun. One costume was a tree with a piñata and kids hitting that crête covered monster. The wicked witch of the west and Cruela Deville faced off in the show case showdown. The wicked witch won. After the show, a bunch of us went to Le Mars for icecream. I split a banana split with Jander, we decided we each had a quarter then? After, we played sardines in super wal mart. That is a difficult fete, to find a person in acres of merchandise. That's how saturdays shaped up. I'm planning to gril at Oak Grove today, and hang out there, but most people leave homework for today, so I'm not sure If the hanging out will go over so well, nor the grilling. We'll see.

Prairie Grass Film Festival 2006

2006-10-13T23:49:00.000-07:00

The movies were shown the winners were declared, so I can reveal our video to the world. I hope you enjoy it.

Guess...

2006-10-12T21:23:00.000-07:00

We were having a swimming good time eating bread, drinking coffee, and talking...a lost tradition revived by RA Matt Vanderaark for every thursday at ten. "In two weeks, we'll have chili," he said, finishing his torture of the fishes, his hated pets who killed his beloved, their copatriot, sunfish. We discussed different personal media players, whether iPod or Zen is better, and then, Matt jumped out of his chair. He poked his hand into the water. He netted a golden one. "Somebody's eating a fish," he promised. "Jacob, you're eating a fish." Well, my sister had eaten one once, so I thought I could do. I didn't say no, the last mistake before Matt took off down the halls, running to tell the good news. He ran down each floor, and we gathered in the lobby, and I stared at the poor, innocent fish. With camera's ready, uneasy stomache's, and a cup of coffee to wash the little guy down, I grabbed the fish by the tale, raised it above my mouth, dropped it and prayed it would go down right. It did, poor guy, and my stomache is settling. I ate a goldfish.

Film Festival

2006-10-05T22:12:00.000-07:00

The prairie grass film festival started at 7pm on wednesday. We wrote until 2am, woke up, went to omaha, shot until 6, came back by 10 (ate in the mean time) and uploaded the movie. It's a western about a man's revenge on his wife's killer. He springs a trap on the killer at the revenge taker's fake funeral, if you got that. Anyway, we need a title. Requiem, Requiem of Mortimer, Sarasota Incident, Mortimer,
One o the main character's names is Mortimer, his wife is killed, the killer who loved the wife is bent on revenge for his jail time, Mortimer fakes his death, and then kills the killer as he "pays respects" at the funeral.

It was great fun. Kind of organized, but the flow of 12 people trying to work together was crazy and fun. Not my style, but it was good any way. And, it was a beautiful day.

Comedy League

2006-10-02T21:52:00.000-07:00

I discovered I have a jar-jar-binks impression from star wars. I went to comedy league instead of practicing a speech--rationalizing practice for the foundations of public performance is more important than mastering a presentation of a paper. Also, I viewed a the Al Gore film, him showing his slideshow with interesting documentary style, called "an inconvenient truth." This film about global warming was really very well done, and I agree with most all of it. A physics professor noted that CO^2 isn't the only cause, but it is what we know and what we can change. So, I'm getting a hybrid, showering every other day with cold water, and living in a tent this winter to avoid using CO^2 producing energy.

Here is a paper, with a few errors, but I handed it in already. Anyway, It's work that I enjoyed, but I'm growing tired of this piece of writing.

Jacob Kroeze
Professor M. Dengler
KSP151
28 September 2006
Worldview and Philosophy in Foreign Language Education
Language is complex. Consider Piers Anthony’s book Crewel Lye: a Caustic Yarn. In just the first two words there are four ideas for words, both phonetic and written. Language as a whole becomes even more complex and subjective. For instance: a paper on “My Summer Vacation” is handed in to a high school teacher. The teacher grades the paper and hands it back to the student, who then walks to the teacher’s desk and demands an explanation. The teacher tries to explain that the paper was poorly written, the grammar was incorrect, and the paper was not coherent. The student asks, “Why is it wrong?” Foreign language can be even more difficult. A Spanish teacher explains that Spanish speakers who live in Spain always say their c’s and z’s using a lisp. “Is there an explanation why?” a student asks. In any discipline that is developed to any length, questions leading to the deeper sense behind the ‘correct’ answer should always arise. Students question why something should be learned. This question leads backward to questioning how the discipline works as a whole. That explanation leads toward questioning the systems of the world. And as that question is answered, the deepest questions of belief are unearthed. Ones’s approach to vocation is entirely determined by beliefs. How a person teaches a foreign language is determined by his beliefs. We will start at the base with beliefs.
Beliefs are basic assumptions about the world. Kuyper explains that the basic assumption that must be addressed is a battle between two “life systems,” “modernism” and “Calvinism.” “Modernism” focuses on man: “bound to build a world of its own from the data of the natural man, and to construct man himself from the data of nature” (“Calvinism a Life-System” 11). Calvinism, in opposition, focuses on Christ: “all those who reverently bend the knee to Christ and worship Him and the Son of the living God” (“Calvinism a Life-System” 11). Kuyper describes a “life-system” as a comprehensive view, a framework for the world, and action based on this system. These two systems are based on an assumption about the state of the universe. The two systems develop from people declaring that the world is in a “normal” or “abnormal” state. A “normal” state means there is potential, now and from the beginning of time, and this potential is being developed. The world is evolving to “its ideal” (“Calvinism and Science” 132). This is the assumption in Deism, Pantheism, and Naturalism: man can work toward a better earth because the there is potential. An “abnormal” state means “a disturbance has taken place in the past, and only a regenerating power can warrant it the final attainment of its goal” (“Calvinism and Science” 132). This system assumes there is a Creator who made his creation, universe; that something went wrong, a disturbance; and that there is redemption, regeneration.
In “Calvinism and Science,” Kuyper explains that the “antithesis”, the battle between systems, goes deeper—to the individual human consciousness (136). Herman Dooyeweerd explains the “antithesis” saying the “condition of the heart” is the “religious ground motive” (qtd. Naugle 27), and religion is the “affections of the heart” (Naugle 27). “Affections” are the direction a person is moving in position to God’s will. A person moves toward or away from God. Their direction determines any approach to explaining the world or any action in the world. The Holy Spirit creates “affections” of the heart which are directed toward God. The Spirit explains the laws of God to convict people of the “abnormal” state of creation (Walsh and Middleton 85). The written word of God explains the history leading to the Spirit’s work, and this history starts at creation.
God spoke his word and made his creation. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Zondervan NIV Study Bible Gen. 1.3). This creational word of God shows his authority, his right, to control creation. He speaks, and it obeys. He speaks, and there is order and structure. (Walsh and Middleton, 45).
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
he puts the deep into storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
(Psalm 33.6-9)
This idea of God speaking and creation responding is a concept that comes to light throughout the bible. In Genesis 1, “Eight time God brings new creatures to life…by his commanding word” (Walsh and Middleton 45). The creation history also shows that creation is good. What God created was perfect. “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1.31).
The history of creation also outlines the essence and purpose of humanity. Humans are creatures created by God and are called his “image” (Gen. 1.27). This label from God gives a host of characteristics to humans including spirituality, morality, and rationality (Walsh and Middleton, 53). Being the “image of God” also includes caring for and developing creation: “fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen. 1.28). This is what has become known as the cultural mandate from God.
The cultural mandate comes from Genesis 2:15: “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Walsh and Middleton explain this verse using “cultivate” to replace the word “work.” They draw a link between cultivate and culture. Culture involves everything “to which we put our hand (or mind)” (Walsh and Middleton 54), because we change anything we touch (54). This complete development is illustrated by the progression through the Bible. In Genesis, humans rule over a garden while in Revelations, “a new heavens and a new earth” include “a Holy City” (Rev. 21.1). This progression shows that God’s command is to fully develop all of culture.
God had created a “good” creation. His humans, Adam and Eve, cared for and developed it, making culture, but then they rebelled against God. They decided to act against God’s will, his idea and plan for his creation. Rather than obey God, they disobeyed in the root form—idolatry. Whenever humans take something and call it the “image of a god,” they take their own place as the “image of God.” Rather than being God’s rulers on earth, humans dethroned themselves and worshiped creation rather than Creator God (Walsh and Middleton, 64). The history of the fall is disobedience, rebellion, and worshiping creation rather than Creator.
The result of the fall is a curse completely widespread. The influence of evil in every aspect of life is known as total depravity. Total depravity is the idea that men are “wholly incapable of doing any good, and prone to all evil (qtd. “Calvinism and Science” 121). Man’s only hope, his only chance for good, is regeneration from God. Only by the Holy Spirit are men regenerated and that only by Christ’s work. However, Kuyper acknowledges a problem in the concept of total depravity. If all men are totally evil, how do we perceive any good in the world? How can an unbelieving doctor heal anyone? Why isn’t our world rampant with ravages, murder, and theft? Why, instead, do we see beautiful art, medicinal cures, and brilliant politics from unbelievers (“Calvinism and Science” 121). Since we cannot find any good in human nature, because of the fall and rebellion of man, there needs to be an answer for the good that we do see. The reformed view answers this problem with common grace. “Sin unbridled and unfettered…would forthwith have led to a total degeneracy of human life. …But God arrested sin in its course” (Kuyper 123). In order that his creation is not completely destroyed by the curse, God holds sin back. He tames it like a wrangler tames a wild stallion (“Calvinism and Science” 124).
In God’s plan, common grace restrains the curse, but he also provides for a complete restoration of his entire creation. His plan started directly after man first sinned: “he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Gen. 3.15). This “crushing” in reference to the serpent’s head, Satan, looks forward to restoration in Christ. God also worked out restoration before this culminating battle between Christ and Satan through covenants, or promises. Redemptive history, God’s covenants, prepares the world for Christ (Walsh and Middleton 74).
The first promise was made to Noah. In Genesis, the curse envelops the world to the point that “every inclination of the thought of [man’s] heart was only evil all the time” (Gen. 6.5). In answer, God destroyed mankind with a flood, saving only Noah. God’s covenant with Noah, the second after the original creation covenant, renews the promise to sustain the earth: “As Long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Gen. 8.22). By Illing all but Noah, God also narrowed his redemption and covenant to this man’s descendents (Walsh and Middleton 76).
Adding to the covenants with creation and with Noah, The third covenant was made with Abraham. This covenant further limited redemption to only Abraham’s descendents. However, God also promised that through these descendents “all peoples on earth will be blessed” (Gen. 12.3) pointing toward Christ’s work (Walsh and Middleton 76). God prepared his people and his creation for one purpose—Christ’s incarnation and redemption for all creation.
Jesus Christ came into the world a human, a baby. This is the incarnation. According to the Bible, Christ was born, he demonstrated a perfect life as he taught and healed, and then he was killed. His death, as a perfect person and as divine God—absolutely human and absolutely God (a mystery)—was the act that “crushed [Satan’s] head.” As important as and along side of this act of salvation, Christ brought the kingdom. “‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). The kingdom comes in forgiveness of sins (the incarnate’s death and resurrection), and the restoration of creation. As proof of the restoration of creation, Christ healed diseases, made the blind see, made the paraplegic walk (Walsh and Middleton 79). God’s work through covenants continued in Christ’s new covenant. The final covenant commands Christ’s follower, children of God, to restore creation. Walsh and Middleton paraphrase from Paul’s writing in Romans 8:19-23: “all creation is groaning under the curse of futility, awaiting the day when it will be released from its bondage following the liberating redemption of the children of God” (80).
The children of God, believers, are not left alone this work. After Christ ascended, He sent the Holy Spirit. The Spirit convicts believers of sin, guides them in life, and so joins all believers. Walsh and Middleton explain that the Spirit is in each believer, and the body of believer are the church: “the church as Christ’s body is an extension of Christ’s presence on earth” (84). God’s original plan for individuals to image him is restored by the Spirit. As Christ, through the Spirit, is in individuals, who are the church, his redemptive work continues.
God’s series of covenants, the history of redemption for the world, are the basic assumptions, the beliefs, that are “abnormalism.” These beliefs may be useful to explain “what I believe” if ever asked, but people actually live and work in ways determined by their beliefs. Some people believe, recognizing it or not, they are valued only by their actions, so they act to gain wealth. Others, to exaggerate the point, may believe grass burns flesh, so they fight to the death to avoid all grass. James Orr may be the first to speak on worldview, the application of beliefs, in The Christian View of God and the World. Orr uses the German word Weltanschauung to descibe the “widest view which the mind can take of things in the effort to grasp them together as a whole from the standpoint of some particular philosophy or theology” (qtd. Naugle 7). Walsh and Middleton describe a worldview as not simply a vision of what life is. Rather, worldview directs a person to act—a vision “for life” (31). Worldview is action based on basic beliefs.
God’s history of redemption connects belief to worldview. Our starting point for action, worldview, focuses on bringing God’s kingdom. The Christian worldview claims all of the earth for Christ, and the Christian worldview stems from, previously mentioned, the basic belief of creation, fall, and redemption. Christian belief on creation, God’s authoritative word and creations response, illustrates a key idea for a Christian worldview—the Sovereignty of God. Kuyper explains: “Christ rules not merely by the tradition of what he once was, spake, did and endure; but by a living power which even now seated as He is at the right hand of God, He exercises over lands and nations, generations, families, and individuals” (qtd. “Biographical Note” vi) Also key to the Christian worldview is the view of the Bible. The Bible is claimed to be God’s word. Not only did God speak his word to create, he also speaks through his written word. This word includes a list of guidelines but more importantly is a guide for living. It is the history of God’s redemption so that we might know God’s will for the future of redemption. Walsh and Middleton describe redemptive history as a drama (74). The history in the written word of God is like the first three acts of a five act play. We are given the duty to write the last acts, but we need to remain consistent with the first three so that the story is complete. Finally, the Christian worldview maintains that Christians are being renewed and are renewing creation as a community (Walsh and Middleton 86). “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit” (Eph. 4.3).
With a solid, comprehensive worldview, a person naturally moves toward philosophy. Schaeffer affirmed that philosophy is the only unavoidable occupation (Naugle 30). Everyone needs to confront the question, “why?” sooner or later and in some fashion or another. To avoid answering, there is always a temptation to live dualistically. Christians often compartmentalize life into a section for God and a section of everything else. “Most of us are Christians and something else; we do not engage in our daily tasks integrally as Christians” (Walsh and Middleton, 97).
Herman Dooyeweerd worked out a philosophy so that all of life can be approached “integrally as Christians.” Philosophy is a view of reality in its totality. All of the assumptions I mentioned previously support the Christian philosophy. Philosophy adds to belief and worldview to create a Biblical “philosophical paradigm” (Walsh and Middleton 173). Dooyeweerd’s paradigm, or model, for philosophy takes into consideration the conflict between creational order (God’s laws) and human logic. It is common to think that humans should understand creational order logically, but God’s order, because he is God and creator, surpasses our logic (Walsh and Middleton 177). Christian laws for philosophy are made to explain creation, knowing God’s order is above human laws.
The philosophical model also explains that we respond to God’s creational word directionally. Humans are either obedient or disobedient to God’s word (Walsh and Middleton 179). Our response is directional in the context of God’s redemptive history. God has a created order while we are used to bring about the proper use of that order. An explanatory model for this concept is a chord of wires. Each wire is an aspect of the structure of creation, and together they are a chord. The wires are physical, emotional, biological, intellectual, political, aesthetic, economic, ethical, and devotional aspects of God’s order. These wires cannot be separate because God’s order is complex and integrated. (Walsh and Middleton 88) The wires exist for a purpose. Humans use the wires, structures, to obey God’s will. But because of sin, there is also the choice of rebellion. The wires are directional; the “electrical current” can obey or disobey. Using this philosophy, one views comprehensively. This Christian philosophy should be, after it is developed further, applied to all areas of life—especially vocations.
“Wires” and “direction” can also be escribed as “laws” and “norms.” Laws have a machine-like functionality for creation. They are the way creation operates. However, because we are calling the world “creation,” the Creator is the maker of laws. Laws, therefore, are actually God’s order for creation. We don’t know them entirely because we are in creation attempting to understand them. Dooyeweerd concisely explains this problem, “Human willing, thinking and acting required the same mechanical explanations as did the motions of the machine. For if man belongs to nature, then he cannot possibly be free and autonomous “ (qtd. Walsh and Middleton 177). Laws are God’s created machine, there is a normal method to run it. Humans are freed by running the machine of creation normally. Certain methods work best. A thirty-year veteran of carpentry knows the best methods to construct a house squarely on its foundation. Rather than struggle to adapt new methods, the apprentice should use tried methods that do not produce a crooked house. The apprentice will creatively construct his own house after he learns the correct methods. God has set out norms, the best methods, for his creation. Though there are right methods, norms are also a response from humans. Hence, they are creative, and are developed because of the historical nature of human response and “norming” (Walsh and Middleton 179).
Dr. Starkenburg, an education professor at Dordt College, describes the framework, laws and norms, for education as Biblically based. He says schools should develop gifts and abilities of individual students so that they will serve the larger community. An example from the Bible is Jesus washing the Disciples’ feet in John 13:1-17. Jesus washed their feet to demonstrate service, he asked them questions to teach them, and he challenged them to go and serve as he did. Jesus conveyed knowledge through his act of teaching.
In the modern sense, knowledge is understanding the “essence” of something while the Biblical idea of knowledge is being aware of God, his creation, and acting with that knowledge (“The Scriptural View of Knowledge and Truth 4-5). This Biblical view is acted out in Deuteronomy 6:7-9:
“when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
The knowledge of God permeates all of life, which should be applied to all of creation as well. Dr. Starkenburg went on to claim that the goal and the norm for learning is life long, and we are given the inward desire to learn as created by God. The objective, therefore, of education is not to prepare a student for the next level. “Schools prepare students for life” (“Directive for a Biblically Grounded Curriculum” 16).
To teach “for life” curriculum, the “content of education” (Starkenburg), should be designed as a whole. Curriculum can be organized by the rote set of learning. A rote set for learning focuses on memorization and facts while a meaningful learning set creates connections between facts. A meaningful learning set is comparable to a pre-schooler’s learning. Pre-schoolers have a “perceptual world, a concrete reality with which they romance” (“Meaningful Learning” 20). Steensma and Van Brummelen go on to describe how a pre-schooler takes personal ownership of education. Children question everything and create personal meaning for each discovery. This type of learning should be applied to the design for curriculum.
Divisions that may inhibit a meaningful learning set are disciplines. Disciplines are divisions made in curriculum to facilitate learning. It wouldn’t be possible to understand all the different aspects of creation at once. However, curriculum should also take into account other disciplines and make connections outside of disciplines too show the unity of God’s creational structure. A practical example of integrating disciplines is a core program. A program separate from any discipline can provide a focus for other disciplines, and an opportunity to “grasp the unity of creation and his [the students] role within our complex society” (“A Design for Elementary and Secondary Curriculum” 29). This program will take everyday situations and analyze it using multiple disciplines, including Biblical studies. For example, students would analyze “responding to illegal immigration” using economic, social science, and foreign language disciplines.
Let us now focus on foreign language and a Christian approach to teaching it. Language is a tool given by God to communicate relationships. We relate experiences, interact socially, and communicate important ideas with language (“Language” 63). Language also is connected with certain cultures and people groups. Culture reflects on language in word and meaning, creating even further division beyond the simple division of translation. An example of culture reflecting on language comes from the Gwich’in. These Alaskan natives have at least ten different words to describe snow (Adams). Because language is more than simple translation the goal of foreign language should be to relate to other cultures with “greater perceptivity and discernment” (“Language” 68).
The foreign language should be significant in relation to the student’s world. French, English, and Latin describe the development of Western culture, and so are relevant to the present diverse Western culture. Spanish, also, is relevant because of immigration into the United States and international relations with Spanish speaking countries (“Language” 69). To further integrate foreign language, students should learn literature relating to other disciplines (“Language” 69). In a social sciences class, students could read a Spanish newspaper from Southern California to clarify immigration issues.
The fog in language began after the fall of creation when God confused the languages of the people as they built a tower in honor of human achievement (Gen. 11.1-10). The fog of language cleared in Acts 2 as the apostles spoke and people of many different languages understood. God calls his children to continue to restore creation from the division between languages in Matthew 28: “make disciples of all nations.” The fog can be dissipated by foreign language education (“Language” 69).
However, this description of language education is not adequate. Donald Mackay labels the problem of over-simplifying life’s situations as “nothing-buttery” (qtd. Walsh and Middleton 180). Language is “nothing-but” lists of words and their translations. Language is nothing but strict communication of theories. Even the explanation of language as a combination of words, culture, human relationships, and creativity is inadequate. Life cannot be boiled down to any “nothing-but.” In fact, to boil down life would involve boiling away the structure of life created by the sovereign God.
We have seen that a person’s beliefs, his “ground motive,” determines how he will approach his vocation—teaching a foreign language. Starting with a belief in Creation, the fall, and redemption, a Christian sees his place to restore creation. Given this foundation, foreign language should be taught from comprehensive view of education, just as God presents his creation as a whole. The complexities of life cannot be reduced, but Christians should fully develop philosophy for all parts of life, even for teaching foreign language. In “The Scriptural View of Knowledge and Truth,” Geraldine J. Steensma summarizes the highest goal of educating Christianly: “Academic endeavor will not save an individual from sin and earth. It can only contribute deeper understanding about aspects of reality so that one’s loving service may be performed more truly” (7).

Works Cited
Abraham Kuyper. Lectures on Calvinism. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2006.
Adams, Leslie, John Busch, and Patty Craw. “Observing Snow:Exploing Native Snow Terms.” Alaska Native Knowledge Network. 17 Aug. 2006. University of Alaska Fairbanks. 29 Sept. 2006 exploring.html>.
Anthony, Piers. Crewel Lye: a Caustic Yarn. Ballantine Book, 1985
“Biographical Note: Abraham Kuyper 1837-1920.” Adapted from Dr. John Hendrik de Vries’ Introduction to his translation of Dr. Kuyper’s devotional class, To Be Near Unto God. Abraham Kuyper. Lectures on Calvinism. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2006.
“Calvinism a Life-System.” Kuyper 9-40.
“Calvinism and Science.” Kuyper 110-141.
“Directive for a Biblically Grounded Curriculum.” Steesnsma 15-19.
“A Design for Elementary and Secondary Curriculum.” Steensma 27-36.
Gordon J. Spykman. “The Place and Role of the Bible in the School.” 1-3.
“Language.” Steensma 62-71.
“Meaningful Learning.” Steensma 20-26.
Naugle, David K. Worldview: The History of a Concept. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.:William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2002.
“The Scriptural View of Knowledge and Truth.” Steensma 4-8.
Starkenburg, Dr. Edward. Personal Interview. 27 Sept. 2002.
Steensma, Geraldine J. and Harrow W. Van Brummelen. Shaping School Curriculum: a Biblical View. Terre Haute, IN: SIGNA publishing/ consulting corporation, 1977.
Walsh, Brian J. and J. Richard Middleton. The Transforming Vision: Shaping a Christian World View. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press,, 1984.
Zondervan NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002

Friends, Sigh

2006-10-01T21:04:00.000-07:00

I just spent thirty minutes checking email and blogs. Most of the communications wasn't for me, about me, directed toward me...but, It's always nice to know. I'm really unsure as to the point of facebook. I would much rather look some one in the face. Rather, I would rather spend time with person, not so much as look (replace "look" with shoot and it's really violent sounding). Spend time. I wonder if many people spend time with people. Time. It's difficult, for me, to find people to hang out. The disease of spending the time in the room is contagious. I could look at the young women who spends her days in front of the televions in the lobby of East Hall because she doesn't have a tv in her room and say, "that isn't me." But, it isn't me and I shouldn't be that. I should be social.

But don't look at this and feel sorry for me. They are just some thoughts of the moment. I'm tired too. I really did just hang out with people this evening after GIFT. No pity for me.

Have you ever played this game of actions. Boom chick-a-boom boom boom. Say that, now do a dance move/action, do another one, now the next person does the first one, then the second, pick another action, and it goes around the circle. It's a round of dance. Pretty craazy.

I Bought a Coffee Maker

2006-09-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

Alvin and I went Garage Saling. It was reported, by Alvin, that Sioux Center has much better sales, but he had gone on their Thursday, and we went on Orange City's Saturday. But I was rather disappointed. I was hoping for a laptop bag.

I'm going to play "Gotcha Wet" next week. Contract killing has always been a passion of mine. At least they will only be wet this time.

In the Humble Bean

2006-09-07T20:25:00.000-07:00

I'm in the Humble Bean. It's a nice place. I wrote an article for the Diamond on the national college health survey. It may be of interest to you, I'm not sure. They were rather normal numbers, I don't really want to publish them here, now. But it would be an interesting job to try and alter the numbers some way. Too bad the stress program didn't pick up. Maybe chapel, Praise and Worship, Welspring, Personal Devotion, and actually sleeping would be good stress relievers. I'm not feeling it now, but I'm sure I may some day. One cup of coffe, 10:22, article written...I think I'll be up too late for me. Philosophy, from my limited study and discussion, seems both very intersting and incredibly intimidating. Maybe philosophy of education would narrow it enough to phit my phancy.

9 minutes to class

2006-09-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting outside the classroom building, smelling the old smoke of students relaxing after a boring hour, and I think this is good. I get to sit outside, type, smell smoke, enjoy the day...

I've gotten a little taste of college cynisism. Professor Wolthuis found it difficult to say a lot edifying while we debriefed Week of Welcome fo the freshmen. I don't know if he even experienced half of it, or has experience half for many years. And there I am, being a cynic of the cynic. I enjoy Gen 100 for a break, and to be with a variety of students in a small class environment. It's good. We're going garage saling.

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y

2006-09-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

At dordt, if you wake up at 8:00 and eat breakfast and then do homework for the morning, you will have very few distractions. It's a saturday. But, now everyone else is trying to get homework done for the night, and I'm tired. Poor decision? No, because mornings are good, and saturdays are good, and now I can relax, right?

I read summary of research on the history of rhetoric. The section on john locke declared that he claimed language should be able to be objective. The only way it can be objective is if the generalizations of language work for everyone--a tree is a tree is a tree. And the only way this would work is if language lost it ornamentality. Right? Ok. So, through it all I had to read sentences 3 times because of the piece's verbosity. Academia is a strange bird.

Stall Art

2006-09-01T23:35:00.000-07:00

Here is It
Broken Hearted,
I tried to Shit
But only Farted.

Otorrinolaningólogo

2006-08-31T18:57:00.000-07:00

It's an ear, nose, and throat doctor.

The talent show went good. People laughed, which wasn't the reaction we were going for, but that is the nature of the audience. The gorilla showed up, but no one ate a banana. Jander Talon solved a rubics cube in under 3 minutes, and two girls made a movie of scarying people in the hallways by popping out of a box.

My classes are going well. KSP 151 is going to be challenging, but that's kind of what for what I asked. Other than that, life is going good. I'm finding that I kind of enjoy taking a lot of time to read everything assigned, is that creepy? I was told by some soccer players that they had asked for me to be on the team. But, I am kind of happy that I am not because I'll be able to play club and actually play, not merely practice.

Have you ever studied the history of rhetoric? Classical education is really amazing, I think. It disappoints me that latin and greek aren't staples in education any longer. Maybe it's for the better.

Talent Show

2006-08-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

Kenyon, Alvin, Dan DB, Jenna VeenBaas (B.C. Theatre Arts) and I are doing a little skit/song for the freshman talent show. Just tried out. Hope we make it. It think it should go well and be fun. It's a serious little piece about a love triangle involving a couple broken by a good friend--a love triangle. There will be fighting, serious moments of inaction, and hopefully the audience will be touched by the forgiveness the two brotherly friends extend to eachother.

Great Day

2006-08-28T21:55:00.000-07:00

Today, a rainy weather cool temperatured blissful day was good. I didn't learn a lot, though I know I don't know all the nooks of dordt--the library is rather foreign, but I'm starting to enjoy meeting people. People are usually a lot of fun, especially when the only object of the day is to meet people, have fun, and get to know a new place. I hope everyone is this amiable after sleepless nights and studious days. Good words, hey! Jonathon Shaftstall did a great job in "The Show." It was a cool way to present dilemmas which all new students will encounter--sex, drugs, alcohol, time management, and some interesting topics like homofobia, how to deal with conflict, seeking God and developing spiritually (not drifting away from God), etc. I was really impressed with the energy that was put into something which is usually so very preachy. Thanks for reading again, i'm doing great.

The End

2006-08-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

I haven't made the team. It was fun, I'm glad I did it, It's bitter, But the time I have and the freedom is rather sweet. Bitter, Sour, Sweet. Besides, One week of only soccer is enough for my hunger to be satisfied for a long time. On to the rest of freshman year.

Series the end

2006-08-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

I lost count. Life's pace is picking up quickly. People are moving in everywhere, I find out tomorrow if I'll make the team or not, I get to wake up at 7 tomorrow morning, and and...
It's going to be an exciting year. I'm glad that I've tried out regardless of the outcome. It was a blast.

Series 3

2006-08-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

Day three of soccer tryouts is finished. We started with a stretching at 7 and then two other normal practices including a forty minute scrimmage. Then, we went for pizza, I ate a bit too much, and then we went swimming. After the swimming troy leusink and i sat on our knees facing eachother for fifteen minutes in a 60 degree water whirl-pool. I hope it will be worth it in the morning. During the scrimmage I reached out and touched a ball because I was tired and was going to be beat in the play. It was a gut reaction. I feel rather guilty, but no one mentioned it after practice--which could be a good or bad sign. All is going well, I got to play the whole scrimmage, and it was enjoyable regardless of facing dordt's two all american forwards and being humiliated. Great times, in honest, it has been a great week. Again, the endorphines. Do you remember the gut ache after too much pizza, chicken, and lemonade at the pizza ranch?

Series 2

2006-08-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

The upper classmen are great on our team. Chad Nibelink and Brian Burgers are the captains. I've been dubbed "prospector" on account of my "stache." I don't really spend much time with everyone other than practice and meals, which coincidentally is a rather large portion of the day. Dad brought mom's oatmeal cookies to my room today. I was told to call, but they were gone, so I'll try tomorrow. They can't miss me that much. Day two was good, long, but good. We ran 5-400's at a swift pace. We have yet to sprint short distances until our arms ache. It's odd, last night I woke often, though my body is very tired. Maybe the naps throughout the day make me restless at night. It's been another good day, but that may be the endorphines talking.

Series 1

2006-08-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

Day one is over. I woke at 6:30, ran 2 miles, ate breakfast, practiced at 10, lunch, 3, dinner, 7 O'clock scrimmage. I finished a book in between. I really is sparce in the dorm. I'm rather sore, tired, but we didn't do straight sprints, so I'm not wiped out completely. Tomorrow will probably come quickly, and I am looking forward to it. Soccer is still enjoyable, and pray that it will stay that way regardless of the outcome of tomorrow. Across the hall lives Siam. He speaks africanse, lives in alberta, and plays pretty good soccer--definately the best newcomer, though he is technically a sophmore. Nice kid. Cool accent.

Soccer Series

2006-08-21T18:54:00.000-07:00

I've moved in to room 205 in North hall. It's a swell place, a bit toasty, but I think I'm enjoying to quiet here. There are only a handful of people filling its rooms at the moment, so I could go to bed at 9:00 and not get any crap. I think I'll do that. After thinking about the lovely orange couch, I've decided I need to carry on the tradition, haul up the old blue plad couch, and enjoy the comforts from it which were lacking in the orange.

Soccer tryouts officially start at 7:00 tomorrow morning. I'm looking forward to the run because that has been my habit every monday,wednesday, and friday throughout the summer. It's a tuesday, but i think my body can adjust. Seriously, I think I'll take it easy the first day. The meeting at 6:00 pm ended in pizza. Coach Steinsma is a really nice man. I think he will become a better coach through the years, or at least his head will stay on straight. It's not so easy to start up conversations with randomly new people, and I don't know that I want to hang out with anyone tonight. The bed is looking good without any coffee in my brain today. I may be going through withdrawal. That's sad. Thanks for listening, enjoy the rest of the week.

New Couch

2006-08-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

Update

2006-08-13T18:06:00.000-07:00

This week will be my last at work. I'm looking forward to mowing the new greening grass this week. Hopefully, I will find time to go shopping with Brandon, Dan, and our moms, run a bit extra, finish my book, set up a wireless router, and pack. It will be rather nice to be busy before a what is turning out to be the slightly nerve racking period of time before what is an aparently intensely grueling week of tryouts. Hopefully love for the game won't die. Andrew is back tomorrow night, so I'll get to hear about his trip from him and from Morgan at work. This will be my last week of work.

Soccer Loss

2006-08-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

Monday, after a good night of sleep, we came into a game against the Aztecas. They have all talented and experienced players. 11. We, "Socceroos," don't. But it was close for a few minutes and ended only at 3-7. We lost, and it was sad for a bit. I think I may be losing the competitivity that I gained a while back. Or perspective makes the loss ok after a second. It was a fun season regardless--especially with such a hodge-podge of people on the team.
Andrew left yesterday before I woke up. He arrived yesterday evening in Montana, and I assume he is enjoying all the beauty. I almost asked to come along.
I have one and one-half weeks of work remaining. Then soccer tryouts. Then school--meeting a lot of people in a short amount of time. I may be overwhelmed.
These are the things on my mind.

Rough Night Rollercoaster

2006-07-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

The Brian Kroeze family enjoyed Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio. It has the craziest and best roller coasters in the world. I'm jealous. Not seriously jealous, but wouldn't it be fun! I am jealous of a certain young man named Tyler. He and Lisa are dating. I guess I missed that boat sophmore year. Or was there even a boat? I'm not sure. I felt bad last night, without reason. It was one of those lows in the roller coaster--when you just got done with the massive rushing fall at the beginning of the ride. I really was getting annoyed with how she and many of my friends act anyway (sadly, this was the theme in my head for the past few weeks). So, the love boat's gone, I'm free of a crush, and life is crawling up to the top again.

Sonshine Festival 2006

2006-07-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

They were some of the craziest 4 days of my recent memory. I went to the music festival on Wednesday morning to find the best spot ever and set up 5 tents for 17 people. 17 people may not sounds so bad, and it wasn't, but the clashes were endless, fun, and made me grow. Or this is what I hope.

Adam, Brandon, Stephen, Dan, Jordan, Chris, Tyler, Ben, Andrew, Jon, Daniel John, Jina Dawn, Hillary, Lisa, Danielle, Sarah (with an H), Myself, and that makes 17. This group has a lot in common--Christian Education, Small Town life, Faith, Shared Experiences, Similar tastes, Love of Fun, but it may not be enough (and this is a good thing) to keep us together forever. It's really an amazing group. Talented, smart, creative--especially when having fun, but I am tired and becoming irritated (which I pride myself in being very seldom) with a great number of these peope. This is all probably a result of less sleep, too much time spent together (which is a sad factor) and my inhibitions with large groups. And this is where that ends.

On a happy note, we met Jason Dunn the lead singer of Hawk Nelson. It's a punk band. Not really awesome, but it's solid music that relates life well. We played soccer with the guy at Green Lake in Spicer, MN. Thursday night hit hard with two storms colliding over Willmar, so we packed up and slept in Unity CRC in Pringsburg. They even made us pancakes, bacon, and eggs. The homemade syrup was crazy sweet and tasty. I stayed with this church last year for Knightsounds, and their hospitality is unmatched.

Saturday ended the festival with Audio Adrenaline, Chris Tomlin, and Toby Mac. Toby Mac throws a great concert at the crowd. So much energy! I really liked House of Heroes, but I didn't get the record, so I'm not entirely sure. They sounded great to me. Now it's back to life and routine, and hanging with fewer people, which makes my mind smile.

Soccer

2006-07-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

I try to stay in shape, but I'm not so much mentally. It's awesome to see my teammates go after balls, miss, go again, still panting for air. I'm not so mentally tough. It's tough being weak in the push-til-it hurts part of the head. Maybe it is because I am the youngest.

We're leaving for Sonshine Music Festival Wednesday morning so we can get a good spot. The music starts on thursday, and hopefully so will the camp stove. I really enjoy camping. However, this will be with 20 of my friends. It was exciting last year, and I can only expect the same drama but with a year of wisdom to tone it down. To the hotdogs, hamburgers, and heat we go.

A Week Day Elaborated

2006-07-07T16:19:00.000-07:00

Each week day is different slightly, but there is a routine to my summer days. I am, after all, an habitual animal.

I get up at 5:10 or 6:10. On Monday, Wednesday, or Friday I get up at 5:10 to travel with Dad to the Recreation Center at Dordt. That night is convenient because I need only to push the "hour" button on my alarm clock to set my wake-up call. I run 3.5 miles Monday and Friday, and sprints on Wednesday. Is this interesting yet. I'm trying to make it unique somehow. On Tuesday and Thursday I get to sleep in an extra hour. Thursday is eat out day at work. It breaks up the week nicely. My actually work day has very little pattern other than break at 9:00, lunch at 12:00, and usually quit by 3:30 and wait for Dad for a ride. Each day involves mowing, weed wacking, picking up sticks, raking, and general yard work. Sometimes the rain or an unusual job pops into the mundane like a little wild flower in the monotony of prairie.

Blue Mountain Smokehouse and Woodfire Cooking

2006-07-05T19:54:00.000-07:00

It is my birthday today. I almost forgot, but then someone reminded me four days ago. Someday I'll forget, and that goal can be checked off the list tattooed on my inner thigh. I hope the check mark doesn't hurt as bad as the rest. Maybe I'll just sharpie it each day.

Seriously, Mom and Dad took me to the Blue Mountain restaurant. We had Crock de Jaque. Alligator breaded with french crouton breading, or something like that. It's tasty like chicken and fish combined into a supermeat. Mom had barbequeued chicken, chips, and apples. Dad had a pork sandwich, chips, and beans. Some cornbread was sweet and some was also peppered. There was one garlic breadstick. I had currie. Chicken Mallana or something like that. It came with a salad and some toasted pita bread. I've practiced detail recall and wasted your time in one paragraph. Sorry.

We went to grandma's house with Mom's rhubarb crisp (rhubarb from aunt rachel) and icecream. I had coffee there. People are used to me drinking coffee, 2 more years and it may be beer. Jon and Laura are around. Caleb and Joshua were playing soccer and wrestling. Justin is almost walking (12 months) The crisp was too sour for Kayla. Jon is working with Uncle Mer on remodeling designs for their home. I think mom bites her lip to avoid suggesting 'better' ideas for the remodeling. She's afraid Uncle Mer may be too uncreative with their limited space. Grandma doesn't sit still very often. 70 (how old?) and very active. She even made a joke.
"You went to Pizza Ranch?" slams the counter "and you didn't invite me?"
Aunt Rachel said "well we knew you had company so..." not sure if that's funny, but i never remembered grandma being so vocal in my childhood.
Uncle Dale and I watched the twins as they scored 3 runs to tie with the Royals. The twins are doing very well and yet can't gain in their division.
Heidi came later, didn't eat desert. I didn't talk with her--that was rude on my part but it didn't ocurr to me until now. I'm not so socially aware, especially when I'm tired.
Now, you have had the highlights of my day at home after a work day on my birthday. Remember my 16th when we cleaned up Grandpa and Grandma's yard?

Phenomenal

2006-06-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

To borrow a word used heavily by a friend, the day was phenomenal. I worked until eleven. Because work at Dordt is very flexible, I took this afternoon off. Kenyon Gradert is going to Calvin College for July to participate in a theology type intro or program or the like. I'm not sure what it is, but I hope it's a "good experience" (what ever that means for him). We went boating on his last day home. Ben, Dan, Kenny and I. It rained this morning, but the weather turned out to be phenomenal. But don't get the burrito supreme at Yesterday's Café in Yankton.

HTML is for Geeks

2006-06-25T20:33:00.000-07:00

I just spent the duration of "Old School" (I don't recommend it) editing links on my blog. I'm inept. I'm slow. It took a long time, so I declare everyone who is unlike me a geek. Thank you and good night.

Night Before the Wedding

2006-06-23T20:30:00.000-07:00

The first to go--Jina and Dan. I was blessed to be a part of their rehearsal. Pizza Hut pizza never tasted quite so good. The girls were giddy, and the guys were pensive (or at least I was). Life gets more from here on through.

Walawalawelcome

2006-06-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a little space of my own. I'm so glad you are graciously reading a bit of my life.