Blue_Bear's Xanga

Friday, October 07, 2005

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 07:19:14 GMT

Why you should read Pooh

http://www.boundless.org/2005/articles/a0001152.cfm

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 21:19:54 GMT

So I'm reading now.

I finished reading The Sacred Journey and Son of Laughter by Frederic Buechner. The first is an autobiography, the second a novel on the biblical account of Jacob.

His autobio reminded me a bit of C.S. Lewis because of his reflective writing style, but I found Lewis easier to read. "Son of Laughter" was pretty imaginative, and I liked his ideas about the characters. But his descriptions were over-graphic.

***

I like Buechner's thoughts on grace. He recalls the time after his father's suicide. His grandma tells his family to stay and "face reality" and become strong. Instead his family moves.

"To do for yourself the best that you have it in you to do -- to grit your teeth and clench your fists in order to survive the world at its harshest and worst -- is, by that very act, to be unable to let something be done for you and in you that is more wonderful still. The trouble with steeling yourself against the harshness of reality is that the same steel that secures your life against being destroyed secures your life also against being opened up and transformed by the holy power that life itself comes from. You can survive on your own. You can grow strong on your own. You can even prevail on your own. But you cannot become human on your own. Surely that is why, in Jesus' sad joke, the rich man has as hard a time getting into Paradise as that camel through the needle's eye because with his credit card in his pocket, the rich man is so effective at getting for himself everything he needs that he does not see that what he needs more than anything else in the world can be had only as a gift. He does not see that the one thing a clenched fist cannot do is accept, even from le bon Dieu himself, a helping hand."

The Sacred Journey

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Wed, 27 Apr 2005 08:45:40 GMT

I need sleep!

A few more topics to review. A few more hours to go...

Monday, April 25, 2005

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 09:09:28 GMT

12 more hours...

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Tue, 19 Apr 2005 05:14:35 GMT

I hope...

Monday, April 11, 2005

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 07:26:31 GMT

Three weeks of, err, "fun" ahead

After that, there are a few things I'm planning to do...

(1) Read LOTR trilogy

(2) Read "Smart Women Finish Rich" (haha, this title isn't what it sounds like. Its about money management)

(3) Read an "old" book

***

Did I mention I want to do some reading?

Saturday, March 26, 2005

Sat, 26 Mar 2005 21:03:19 GMT

Since it's been a while since I've written, I'll do a small update.

I was in court this week! I was so excited to speak, but then I backed down. When my shift leader asked if I was comfortable, I said no. So no, I didn't speak.

My relatives are visitng this week, which is the worst time for me. But I'm excited to see them.

Coffee is good. I'm moving away from ice caps and moccachinos and starting to like actual coffee.

I miss Waterloo. I miss people.

It started snowing again this week! Not a bad winter, but all the Vancouverites out here were a bit disappointed.

Something I realized the past few months. Edmontonians don't wash their cars. tsk tsk

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Wed, 09 Mar 2005 00:20:32 GMT

And sometimes you would rather be eaten than face certain things...

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Tue, 21 Dec 2004 22:57:05 GMT

What does the "sovereignty" of God mean?

It means that you cannot argue with God. It also means that He is a just God.

We argue in human terms and say "this is not fair." But our notion of what is fair is from a limited point of view. God is the God who controls the heavens. He sees what we do not see and He sees into the minds of men. From that perspective, God makes right decisions, even though we cannot reason, fathom, or comprehend his reasoning behind it.

~~

But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' " Romans 9:20

Monday, December 20, 2004

Mon, 20 Dec 2004 06:20:04 GMT

my "public" self and my "private" self. sometimes they merge.. which is good i guess. but sometimes it feels like an invasion of my privacy.

one final tomorrow...! an afternoon final.. we'll see how it goes..