looks like someone took the slow train from philly.

sermon on the blog.

i spent some time yesterday reading through my old blogs. some of them are funny. most of them are pointless. a few are personal. i mentioned God in two of them. way to go pastor rachel - two whole blogs! most of my blogs are littered with sarcasm..a great humor tool. mm. i bet 9/10 of my "readers" have stopped reading -- they've already navigated back to their facebook pages or maybe even shut their computers. so i write to the one who will listen.

sometimes i get so wrapped up in theology..[exegesis..biblical history..understanding..etc..] that i forget about how absolutely amazing the saving power of Jesus is. i spend hours a day trying to get to a place where i can be smarter than someone else at something. but God didn't make it complicated..that was never His intent. He sent His son..a perfect sinless being..to give hope. sometimes i feel so hopeless..i've screwed up again..add that to the list i'm gonna see at the end. there's no list. there's no list.

my mom showed me this youtube video the other day and i shrugged it off. something told me to watch it again, and it spoke truth into my life. so to the hopefully one person that is still reading this, please watch this video. take 8 minutes, and watch the whole thing. and think about what you would put on your cardboard box. think about the front. but then think about the back. because really, that's all that matters. Jesus covered that sin a long time ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ

compare yourself to these people. do you think you're better? do you think you're worse? the first time i watched it, i thought i was better. my problems are not that big. the second time i watched it, i thought i was worse. my problems aren't forgivable.

to those who can identify with that..read this simple verse. and don't just scan it and nod because you've read it before, actually read it.

[ephesians 1:7 -- in Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace]

my spiritual life is a mess..i will spend the rest of my earthly life putting it back together. i hope you can identify with me on this one..you're not the only one who feels that way.

God is so good. so good. think about that.

the dingo.

this past week i've been carsitting for TJ while she and my dad are in hawaii. as much as i enjoy driving on someone else's gas and driving a smaller vehicle in general, it really made me appreciate how much i love my dingo. here are some reasons why:

1. who would want to accelerate to full speed when it can take 5+ minutes?
2. i like the way the sun shines through the bullet hole crack in my windshield. it's like God's way of telling me he loves me. and my environmentally conscious self.
3. if i wanted to, i could drive an entire mormon family to church.
4. "the smell" - at least kayla and abbey will understand what i'm talking about.
5. i actually slow down for speed bumps while i'm driving in it because if i don't, my head will hit the ceiling.
6. i like the scratchy noise the drivers side speaker makes when i'm playing a cd.
7. leather interior..best seating money can buy.
8. every time i fill up my tank i'm reminded that lake beauty was the best place to work this summer, and each week's wages contributes almost enough to get me a tank!
9. no matter how many times i fill my front left tire, it will still deflate. which is desirable because it gives me a cushiony feel.
10. i can transport a multitude of things in the back: a computer chair, a washing machine, a large family, and perhaps a tiger.

i'm sure dodge will find this blog and come knocking on my door to see if i'll join their advertising team. because there is not even a hint of sarcasm in this whole blog. holla.

procrastination was a baaaad choice.

usually my blogs are well thought out and organized, but today i have an abundance of thoughts and i'm going to throw them together in the most confusing way possible. continue reading..

1. i'm writing a paper right now about jon foreman's song "your love is strong". i'm attempting to understand the lyrics, which as i've said before i never care to do. but hey, if you haven't heard that song, it is great. as is switchfoot.

2. i am currently (along with my favorite brother) $70 over on my phone bill. upon reviewing the many (?) excessive phone calls i made, it came down to about 3 people. and let me just say, i've only known them for just over 4 months. whoops.

3. my friend (whom i will call, um..dorothy..) and i were in market last week and a fairly sketchy guy sat in the booth next to us. he was very forward and brave (is that the right word?) and ended up asking dorothy for her phone number. do you want to know what his choice for their first date was? he wanted to take her to the dog pound to look at dogs. yes kids, he did. luckily he gave her a heads up so she could 100mph in the other direction. for my male readers, first dates should be a little more clever and a little less grungy.

4. wednesdays are incredibly busy. class from 12:30-3:00. internship right after until about 8:30. then vespers practice from 9-11. gee. i'm thinking i may have to call my old friend "MD'' to assist me in my all nighter for my pastoral ministry exam tomorrow.

5. this is the dumbest blog ever. i'm sorry you read it. i'm sorry i wrote it. get back to your homework.

6. read will's blog, he's funny, and a dear friend. and also single. williamkornbaum.blogspot.com

child prodigy.

let me give you five reasons why my nephew is better than yours.

1. he's asian
2. he watches the office
3. he has a fohawk
4. he's asian
5. he's a child prodigy: piano style.

as if that wasn't enough evidence..here are some vids from our little play date yesterday.

little boxes made of ticky-tacky.

today, i went to the bethel/johnnies football game. [we won]. i was sitting in front of 3 freshman girls that, well i don't even know how to describe them. so i will just record some of the conversations that they were having:

girl 1: so, like, i learned what a concussion is today. it's when your head gets bumped and your brain starts bleeding.
girl 2: oh really? i thought it was just like your brain expands.
girl 1: no, like it bleeds, inside your head. that's why cornell can't play right now. [quick note: his name is tim CORNISH and his brain is definitely not bleeding].

girl 1: gosh, i was so nervous the first time i did laundry, like my mom was SO worried.
girl 2: i'm not even going to risk ruining my clothes, i had my mom come pick them up yesterday.
girl 1: you are so wise.

girl 1: no like i really think he likes you. he added YOU on facebook, not the other way around.
girl 2: well i don't even know if that means anything, i mean he has like 200 facebook friends that are girls. and like 20 of them live in edgren.
girl 1: it's okay michelle, just be yourself and he'll love you.

girl 1: i really don't want to get married until i'm at least a junior in college.
girl 2: really? but what if you meet the one?
girl 1: well, we could get engaged i guess. i just want to live with my girl friends all through college, ya know?
girl 2: yeah, totally.

this concludes the convos that i can remember. and is also a symbol of why you should mock bethel every chance you get. i aspire to be like these girls in every way. and that's why you read my blog, because i'm cool.

my 17.

1. take the long way to class.
2. pop some popcorn.
3. make a list of reasons why your favorite place is your favorite.
4. listen to the beautiful letdown album in its entirety.
5. listen intently to a lecture.
6. watch anchorman.
7. go out for chipotle.
8. turn off your phone for a day.
9. say self-sustaining scallop farm 10x fast.
10. snuggle with a friend.
11. sleep in on a weekday.
12. send a letter to your grandma.
13. call someone you haven't talked to in awhile.
14. do something BA.
15. host an office marathon.
16. drink a dew.
17. make your own 17.