Friday, June 27, 2003

Excerpt from "Your God Is Too Small" by J.B. Phillips:

It is, of course, a very big step intellectually (and emotionally and morally as well, it will be found) to accept this famous figure of history as the designed focusing of God in human life. It is not made any easier by the clinging mass of sentimentality, superstitious reverence, and traditional associations which surround Him. It is emphatically not an easy matter for the honest modern mind to pierce the accretions and irrelevancies and see the Person, the Character--particularly as the records, though they have been examined far more closely than any other historic documents, are undeniably meagre. Further, many people who have a vague childish affection for a half-remembered Jesus, have never used their adult critical faculties on the matter at all. They hardly seem to see the paramount importance of His claim to be God. Yet, if, for one moment, we imagine the claim to be true, the mind almost reels at its significance. It can only mean that here is Truth, here is the Character of God, the true Design for life, the authentic Yardstick of values, the reliable confirming or correcting of all gropings and inklings about Beauty, Truth, and Goodness, about this world and the next. Life can never be wholly dark or wholly futile if once the key to its meaning is on our hands.

And that is just one paragraph. The whole book is amazing. I read parts of it and my mind just tumbles over itself trying to take it all in.

So the news just keeps getting better and better. We found out today that instead of leaving on the 2nd of July, we're now leaving on the 1st. It doesn't change any of my other travel plans. I'll just stay in Baltimore an extra day before heading home on the 4th. The best part is just that we're leaving this place a little earlier. Woo-hoo!!!

So, I probably won't be able to sleep very well tonight. Lately, I've been so excited about going home, that my thoughts go crazy each night while I'm laying in bed, causing a slight case of insomnia. So, yeah, I'm gonna get outta here and try to get some shut-eye. No worries. God Bless.

Friday, June 20, 2003

I'm reading this book called "Your God Is Too Small" by J.B. Phillips. The first half is about how people have different ideas of what God is, and how these conceptions of God limit their relationships with Him. Then, the second half is about reversing these notions to help us develop a realization of what God really is. Highly recommended.

Things are kind of starting to wrap up here at Al Udeid. I've been shipping back to Japan boxes of stuff I've accumulated over the past 7 months. I've booked my plane tickets for my leave en route. My room is clean. Only 13 more days left, and I'm just going to ride out the time.

I'm amazes me how people can have such horrible attitudes. True, we've been in the desert for almost 7 months, but it could be so much worse. We don't have to wear all our gear around, or even carry it. We have good food to eat. And best of all, we have plane tickets to leave on July 2nd. I know I keep bringing that up, but, uh, yeah, I'm excited.

Okay, it's really late, and even though I have tomorrow off, my eyelids are getting kind of heavy. No worries. God Bless.

Saturday, June 14, 2003

Yesterday was my parent's 34th anniversary. I feel so blessed. I think one of the biggest factors in determining who I am today is the fact my parents are still married. I called them this morning, and they were going up to the mountains this weekend to take a train ride through the hills and then stay overnight at a bed and breakfast. How cool is that? Yeah, I love my parents. I thank God for them.

No worries. God Bless.

Thursday, June 12, 2003

I've been way sick the past couple days. Like, nasty projectile vomiting kinda sick. I was on quarters Tuesday and Wednesday, but today I was back at work, a little queasy and a little weak, but feeling much better. Due to some kind of support group down day, I'm off tomorrow, and again on Sunday. Days off are great and all, but it starts to get old when there's nothing really to do. It's so hot, I end up sitting in my tent all day reading and playing my stupid game boy.

I'm anxious to get back to Misawa for several reasons. Reason number one is of the spiritual nature. My walk has been kind of a roller coaster lately. It will be nice to get back into the swing of things with the Chapel and the Hospitality House. It should smooth things out in a big way. Reason number two is my friends. It will be almost eight months since I've seen them by the time I get back. So many people have PCS'd, which means there are lots of new people I'm going to have to get to know. I'm going to get off the plane and hug and hug and hug. Other reasons, in no particular order, are getting into a normal routine at work, having dinner guests and movie nights, ONSENS(!), camping and road trips, and hitting the beach.

I've decided to try and crosstrain into a new career field. I think I've pretty much exhausted myself in the "utilities" (aka plumbing) area and I'm on the lookout for something new. I don't have retainability to get another assignment, so I'm going to try and use this as an ultimatum for the Air Force to let me do something I really want to do. I'm not really sure what, but I have it narrowed down to a moderately short list which includes signals intelligence, graphic design, paralegal, computer programming, and a few things in the medical group. I can't apply until July, and I'm sure I'm going to get the runaround, but this is something I realize I'm going to have to work pretty hard for. I'll be sure and keep everyone posted.

Okay, I have several e-mails to write, so I'm gonna get outtee. No worries. God Bless.

Saturday, June 07, 2003

Now I'm going to take leave en route again. I was going to go back to Misawa first in order to go on the Mt. Fuji retreat, but now I'm hearing that leave will only be granted for special circumstances upon our return. Therefore, I'm going to have to opt out of the Fuji retreat. Sure, I'm disappointed about missing Fuji, but if I don't take leave en route, then I may not get any leave at all.

Lately, I've been feeling kind of unfocused. I can't really explain it. I can barely read a chapter of a book without my mind wandering. I can't even concentrate when I'm reading scripture. I hope it's just a phase. Maybe it's just because I'm getting excited about going home in only 25 days.

I really need to control my spending. That's all I have to say about that.

I really need to control my lust. That's all I have to say about that.

I'm going to head to bed. It's not even that late, but I'm way tired. I have tomorrow off, but I'm not going downtown or anything. Just goofing off all day. I hope to get some reading done. I'm currently reading "The Celebration of Discipline" (still) and "The Rules of Attraction." Okay, I'm outtee. No worries. God Bless.