Good

"Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." Romans 7

We're going through Romans this semester. This verse isn't my favorite by any means from Romans, because there are beautiful pieces of scripture that display Christ's love in powerful ways! This verse is just something that rings truer the older I get. I think its interesting growing older in the faith. I can't put my finger on it, because you're growing, and slowly bearing fruit and being molded into the image of Christ. But, even though you're growing and good things are happening, I feel like you become more desperate for Christ at the same time. I guess you realize your brokenness, and His amazing love and grace, and I don't know, you just grow in your hope and love for Him. It's a good thing.

Lunch

Haha, so my boss took me to lunch yesterday and we ended up sitting with a bunch of professors in Thomson. There were 2 former professors of mine there in fact. And I just have to say, that all of the professionalism gets thrown out the window at lunch time, it's just like a table of college students. Cause they were all just sittin back and having a good old time. And just the language, it seemed so familar and casual. I don't know it's just funny to see them in another light. And btw, for those of you who've had Dr. Stone, he's halirious. Hold crap. The man can crank out jokes faster than you can finish laughing at them. Totally makes fun of his friends the whole time, it's great.

Psalm 126

"Those who walk the fields to sow casting their seed in tears, will one day tread those same old rows amazing by what's appeared" -Songs from the Voice

This song is maybe one of my favorite when it comes to dwelling on God how He's at work in the world. It's from this album that they gave out at encounter one year, and it's seriously amazing. The whole album is inspired from verses out of the psalms, and I love it, everything about it. It's just simple, but beautiful. And this specific song really became my favorite when I went to Bosnia a few summers ago. I was listening to the song one day after we got back to our house there in the city, and it just totally become my rally cry for the entire summer. The students we came across there in Bosnia were so often really broken in a genuine way. The leftovers from the war there and people's experience with it, and the continual darkness that just hangs over the city, it was just tough setting for people, and hearts were hard to the gospel. And it could become discouraging to see the hatred and religious conflicts because of the war between the Orthodox and Muslims and to see brokenness and hurting, but a refusal for people to come to the one who can heal, Jesus.

So that song just meant a lot to me that summer. The idea that those who go out and sow the word of God so often don't see the fruit from it, but much later may return to see what God has done in their life, well, was really encouraging. It gave me hope to what we were doing there in Bosnia, intrusting God to change lives despite what was going on, because we were being faithful to His calling. Think of Isaiah's commissioning, and how he was sent out to proclaim the kingdom even though he knew the people wouldn't listen to him. He was still faithful to go.

Anyways, I've been listening to that song recently, and I don't know, it's just something I can really rally behind. That we can be faithful to trust in the Lord. We have joy to proclaim the kingdom, and our response to ministry shouldn't be how successful we are, but that we have the opportunity to share of the deep and amazing love of Jesus. That is our goal. That is our heart behind it. We have an incredible boldness and confidence through Him. Be faithful. Jesus is at work. Be faithful. The love of Christ is huge. Trust in Him. Amen.

Sarajevo, Bosnia

October

I can't get over how good life is right now. Holy crap. It's just been one thing after another, and it just keeps coming. I just need to verbalize the goodness of the Lord. Let Him be glorified by the grace and mercy and love He shows to His people.

You know, the combination of golden sunshine at the lake, good friends, hard work, learning, understanding, developing, and just hanging out, ah, it's all just a bit much. And of course, the best is yet to come.

By the way, Halloween Oreos are better than regular Oreos. Just sayin.

What do you think?

So in the world of ethanol, there's a lot of buzz about scientists creating these genetically engineered bacteria to convert biomass into ethanol. People have spent millions and decades in the lab messing with bacteria, trying to make them into the perfect tool for ethanol production, and they're apparently getting close. The thing is that normally, no one specific bacteria has the ability to breakdown and convert the all of the carbohydrates in a plant into ethanol. So, these people have taken the charge to create a super bug that will tear it up, and be really be successful in bioconversion in a single organism.

Initially I thought the product was good, but I realized what it was, and I've taken a stance against it. I'm not comfortable with people messing with creation. God has wondrously created thousands and thousands, if not millions, of different types of bacteria, and they all have unique abilities. It just doesn't make sense, why mess with what God has called good? Why not just combine some bacteria to work together? I'm just saying, that's going with the flow of how things operate on Earth.

Anyways, I know how I feel about genetic modification for this specifically. But I'm sure it's all over the spectrum of the scientific world. How do you feel about it? Do you think its wrong to mess with God's creation? Do you think that because of the fall, and because creation is affected by it, we need to repair some things that got messed up? Can a scientist bring glory to God by using their abilities to create something new? God is the creator, and we're made in His image, so is not being like Him? Can you even argue that when God is holding everything together, even atoms?

Like I said, I know how I feel about it, what do you think?

It's coming home

For a few months now I've been thinking about what country I want to pull for in the upcoming World Cup. Everyone in the world loves soccer, and I really really want to get into it. I played soccer as a kid, for 5 years actually, thus, it only seems like I'll be getting back to my roots in a lot of ways. I have chosen England as my country! They pretty much invented the game, they've been good in the past, and I think they've got the stuff to do it again. There are many many things that I like about England, and I like the history the game has with the country, and I like their fans too. It just seems like a good fit, though, Germany was a close second! Plus, they're kind of a long shot, and I like that. Why pull for the favorite?

The only national soccer game I've been too was Bosnia vs. Turkey in Sarajevo. That was an unforgettable experience! Riot police, flares, firemen, barricade fencing, oh yea, good times. I don't think England has crazy of fans to that extreme, but, I'm sure there will be some shenanigans going on!

He is jealous for me

It's true.

The crazy thing is, that no matter what I run too, what I try to satisfy myself with, what I look to in trouble, how much I rebel or how faithful I am to Him, He loves me. He is jealous for me. He just didn't redeem me. HE LOVES ME. He's jealous for my affections to Him. A broken man in repair. Crazy stuff hun?

I feel like the simplest things in our walk, like God's love, grace, mercy....I don't know. I mean it's something that's received and understood immediately, but....I think it's gona take a lifetime to try and figure out too. You know what I mean? It's like you can go deeper and deeper, but there's no bottom you know?

It's like a tree. I mean, we've all seen trees before. We've grown up with them, climbed them, walked under them, played hide and seek behind them. But, have you ever tried to wrap your mind around a tree before? It's like, what the crap? How amazing and beautiful and complex is a tree. And that's just a tree for crying out loud. Haha.

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." -1 Cor 13

Up and away

Holy crap. Ever since I was a kid I've loved everything related to space travel. NASA, astronauts, even airplanes and all of that too. I love to fly, I love to travel, I love science, I love big explosions, and a space shuttle launch pretty much is the greatest of each of these rolled into one big beautiful machine ready to sing her song. And boy, can she sing.

I looked up the shuttle launch schedule a few weeks ago, and it's been in the back of my mind ever since. I want to go and see a launch sometime in the next two years. So, you can hold me accountable to that! Seems like they've got one going up about ever 2 or 3 months maybe, so, there's just no excuse on my part not to take a week off to drive to Florida to see one take off.

Ahh!!! I have to see it. Just imagine the ground shaking from the two main rockets. I just can't get over how much energy that is, how much thrust one of those dudes gives. It's amazing. But, the real show is when you get up there I bet. Getting to see creation in a new way for the first time, that's amazing. Amen.

Men are the Ocean, Women are the Mountains

So this past week I went to Charleston on Thursday, and then camping in the mountains on Sunday. I'm never at both the ocean and the mountains within the same week, so, this unique time brought some preservative.

To me, the mountains are my favorite. They are just downright beautiful, but much more than that, they're so deep in their complexity and mystery. There are just so many trails you can take, and creeks and waterfalls and ridges to explore and figure out, that its truly hard to get your head around the layout of a ridge. You can go to a given area of the mountains year after year after year and still find out new things that you never knew before. So, to me, women are like the mountains. They're very open with their complexity and mystery, their beauty is apparent, but to get to know them its quite a hike. This may be why many guys like the mountains, they like the challenge, the unending mystery and beauty. It's all just very apparent when you look at the mountain, what you're really getting yourself into. To some its worth it, to some it isn't. I really don't know relationships well, but, I feel like a guy trying to figure out a girl is somewhat like it. Really getting to grasp the terrain, where the creek flows, how to scale the ridge, and just all of the depth and beauty of what it holds while walking the path, would be like figuring out a woman. When you're walking the trail, you usually can't see the top except for glimpses here and there, so, its quite an adventure to the top. And once you get there, you realize you just scratched the surface of everything it holds.

Men are like the oceans. When you look out at the water, you see the calm and quiet of a flat and endless plain. It would appear that there was no complexity or diversity to it, just flatness and rolling waves, a steady, reliable, sound and sun, peaceful. This might be why women like the ocean, its beauty and simplicity. However, this simplicity is just the surface, the ocean is DEEP. So deep. So much diversity, valleys & plains, cannons, and hills, reefs and icebergs, and of course mountains. Oh yes, men have mountains too, except they're not beautiful, they're under miles of water, no sunlight can get to them, its just quiet and cold and muddy mountains, no life. Men don't like to talk about their mountains, its usually regret or hidden sins from the past, plunged away beneath the deep. Women have an even greater challenge to explore these waters, and I wonder if many would want to go there. You really have to want to go there to figure it out, you need a freakin submarine or at least sonar! It may seem more daunting of a task that one would want, but, they're down there ready for exploration when the time is right. You may want to hang out at the surface taking in the sun, and that's all good and fun, and should be done. But, the ocean is beautiful, and complex, and full of life, much more than the calm. Or the not so calm, aka hurricanes, pissed off guys, haha, seriously, just let the storm die down before you go back.

Well, this isn't to say that women don't have regret or anything, I just don't have anything to compare it too, cause I haven't figured it out. Still working on figuring out women, but, at some point you've just got to embrace the mystery for the time being. It's gravy baby.

Ok, just two fun facts:
-There are underwater mountains that surpass Mt. Everest in terms of their height. The highest mountain in the world makes up the base of Guam. Also, an island in Hawaii is higher than Everst.
-The deepest spot in the ocean has only been visited by 2 people, its 6.78 miles deep! More people have been to the moon (12) than to the Mariana Trench, that's how hard it is to get down there! They say if you dropped a cannon ball from a boat above the trench, it would take 64 minutes to reach the bottom!

I Don't Get It

I still don't get it. Why do people eat aged cheese? I was watching this video about France, and there was this guy going on and on about how great the cheese was, and they were showing all of this cheese with things growing on it. Not only do the French love it, they pay crazy amounts of money for it!

Can someone who likes aged cheese explain it? To me, it just don't add up. Does the cheese section at Earth fare bother anybody else besides me? Just a thought.

Keep her steady as she goes

I wonder what life would be like at the sea. I never imagined living there before, but I'm curious, what would it be like?

I've always wanted to live in the mountains, they're my fav....the mainland is cool too. But the sea...humm. Never really liked fish, or lobster, or shrimp, or crab......or anything from the water, fresh or marine. Hah, I'm a land lover, what can I say. But I suppose I can just cook at home and not hit up the restaurants.

I think the thing that really gets to me is how freaking huge the ocean is. Sure land is big too, but it's safe mostly. The sea is an untame land. And I can't get over how deep it is. It is HUGE, and I can't imagine what it's like to be on a boat and to not be able to see land in any direction. It's got to be intimidating.

The ocean and space are two things that truly intimidate me because they're so much bigger than me. But it's beautiful too, so, I don't know if its something you get over in time.

I'm gona be honest, there's no conclusion to this post.

Hello, Hello....Hola!

Do you remember those ipod commercials from years ago where people would be dancing with bright colored backgrounds? Well, U2 had one of those commercials for their song Vertigo, and it is by all means the coolest commercial I've ever seen. Of course there are funnier commericals out there, but nothing spells rock like U2 to me, so nothing can compare to the sheer coolness it produces.

In fact the commercial was so plainly awesome that I wonder if it was the overriding factor to Apple's success for the past 5 years. My theory is that U2's coolness rubbed off on the company in that commercial, and Apple has thus been cool ever since. So Steve, better be thanking Bono your success. Check out the graph below of Apple's stock value, the star show's when U2's commercial debuted. I think the numbers speak for themselves.

Happy St. Patrick's day!

Disclaimer: this isn't meant to be taken seriously

Parting is the price, it is the price that I must pay

That's another Andrew Peterson song, inspired from Lord of the Rings.

Ok, I had to have one sad post about leaving Rock Hill. It will be bittersweet. More bitter than sweet at this point. I will miss my friends deeply. But, this is my road, and I go down it with joy. I'm really excited to see what happens with this whole ethanol gig.

I will visit as often as I can. Columbia ain't too far. It was easy to talk about the move back in January, but, it isn't something that I've been thinking about the past few weeks. Just have been enjoying Rock Hill and the people here.

I'm looking forward to this next season of life in Columbia.

Now the old king is dead. Long live the king!

That title is from the very famous Coldplay song "Viva la Vida." Lot's of people say its about Jesus, but, I say it's about Napoleon Bonaparte, former emperor of France.

I heard something very interesting on the History channel. Apparently at one time, Aluminum was a very very scare metal. It was more valuable that gold because it was so rare! That's because Aluminum is almost never found naturally in its pure state, because it binds with oxygen and is ruined. Even though it is the most abundant metal on earth, it is only due to modern technology that we have aluminum so abundantly and cheaply. Something about being able to take it in its impure state and make it pure.

Anywho, apparently when Napoleon would have banquets back in the day, he would pull out the aluminum spoons for the guests of honor, and everyone else had to deal with golden spoons. Could you imagine what he would think to know that that most houses have dozens of aluminum spoons, forks, and knifes! At least college students, since we can't afford stainless steel.

So, google tells me that gold is worth $940 per ounce, so if his spoon collection weighed about a half a pound, it would be worth about $10,000 since aluminum was worth more than gold. Today his spoons would be worth, oh, about 30 cents, since Aluminum is about 60 cents per pound.

Not only did Napoleon loose his empire and get sent into exile, he can't even pawn his silverware!

Well that's all interesting, but, I think it's a portrait of Christ and the world. I mean, people put so much of their worth and value into the world...what is it in the end? What was once such a prized possession, is now worthless. The same goes for the believer too....once they know Christ, what is the world have to offer? Those trinkets we used to show off to people are worthless to what the riches of God are for us.

3 things

Three things that I hope never change in my life as a grow older.

1) The excitement of getting mail. I love opening up packages and letters. It's like Christmas, except that you probably know what's inside the box. But, it's cool to mess around with new things, like a magnetic stirrer, or microscope.

2) The joy of flying. I love flying, just the sight of an airport gets me excited. Just something about a place where everyone is going somewhere, the thoughts of travel, and of new things, its just great. Plus, once you're on the plane, the sounds of the engines starting up, and the thrust of velocity on take off. Yea.

3) The changing of seasons. I think fall is my favorite change, when leaves start to turn their colors, and a crispness hits the air. Plus I know somehow there's gona be mountains involved with the fall. This weeks weather has reminded my love for spring too, lawn sittings, and lake days are close to my heart. Plus summer is just around the corner too.

Brosandi, Hendumst í hringi

That's from a song by Sigur Ros, they're a band from Iceland. The good news about Sigur Ros is that they're lyrics aren't apart of any formal language. What they sing is basically gibberish that they make up to go along with the music, it's called Hopelandic. So, what they say can mean anything you want it to mean.

It's a really inspiring song. It's way more about the music than the lyrics to me. But what it "says" to is about hope. With the future, and everything. Ethanol, girls. You know, I'd like to marry a girl one day, and do life with her, and follow the Lord, and be in love, and to grow to love the Lord more and more.

But I can't hope in that. I can only hope in Him. And that is enough for me. It is reason for hope in many things.

Now that I think about it, the song really does have to do way more with hope in general of good things to come rather than specific things.

Iron shine of a golden dream

I have recently decided that I'm gona use song lyrics/titles to describe my life. It'll be my facebook status sometimes, plus titles for this blog.

Anywho, this title of this post is from a song called "Rocket" by Andrew Peterson. It's probably my favorite on his new cd (maybe...hard choice). Well it just reminds me of my days as a kid being really interested in space and Nasa. Lots of just awesome stuff. I have a friend who works for Nasa now, so maybe one day I'll try to get him to pull some strings to get a good seats at one of these rocket take offs. I'm sure its just amazing to see the raw power of millions of pounds of thrust within seconds of lift off. Escape velocity baby.

Well, I think the words "iron shine of a golden dream" relate to me more with industry and ethanol now a days than rockets do. New and shiny distillation columns will be good sight one of these days. That is assuming things work out. Either way, the dream is still there.

Sometimes I really am just over the whole thing, tired, and frustrated. Ethanol is a tough cookie. Still other times, I have focus. Things become a bit clearer.

I hope more often that not it is the latter, but, that takes perseverance. Will be working on that.