Back to the ol' grindstone...

     Back to classes again. Its going to be an exciting semester, with the classes I have lined up. I am taking Christianity and Western Culture II (CWC II) which is the second half of our church history classes. Messianic Prophecy, which is an Old Testament Bible elective that will explore the Messiah of the Old Testament. Hermeneutics, which is how to study the Bible. British Lit. (Self explanatory title). Exceptional Children, which is a class about working with and understanding gifted children and children with disabilities. And last, but not least Beginning Weight Training, yeah thats going to be an interesting one. :) I am looking forward to all of my classes, but if I just had to pick one I think Hermeneutics is going to be one of my favorites. It's a practical class that I will use for the rest of my life.

     It was a little surreal coming back to Chicago and getting used to living in the dorm again, getting used to the food and how my days are structured. But it is starting to feel more normal and it has been good to catch up with friends here and listen to the stories from break. I am really glad I have a lighter load this semester. 16 credits is much better than 18. Right now I am feeling very free, since it is 6:30 pm on Wednesday night and I am completely finished with all of my homework for the week and have a 3 day weekend coming up. I know the home work will pick up as the semester moves on, I have a lot more papers to write. But, I feel like that is an ok trade off for hours and hours of reading and no papers. At least my homework is a little more varied this semester. We shall see if I feel the same why when it comes to writing all of the papers I have due. :) 

New Years Resolution

    I recently had a friend ask me if I had made any new years resolutions for the new year. I hadn't made any at the time but it got me thinking about it and if I should make a few or not. Personally, I have always thought resolutions were a little silly. This is due to the fact that no mater how many good intentions I have, life just always seems to get in the way. (Or perhaps it is that I am not disciplined enough...?) I guess I fall into the category of those who have forgotten their resolutions by February.
    Last year I looked into this website called my one word (myoneword.org). So the short and sweet run down of this site is that instead of making several new years resolutions you just choose one word that you place before you and live out with the idea that those things you would normally resolve to change would follow suit. Last year I choose the word passion, with the thought of I want to passionately peruse those things which God wants me to do. I honestly lost sight of this as well about 7 - 8 months into the year. Did I see a change? Was I more passionate about doing the things God wanted me to do? I think in all honesty I would have to say, yes and no. In some things I was more passionate, in others, I begrudgingly wanted to withhold any and all passion and drive to follow God's desire.
     This year I have decided to try the one word again. And this year I have chosen the word, "Glorify". Looking specifically at 1 Corinthians 10:31, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." In this year of 2012, I want to Glorify God in everything I do. This is everything from the mundane things like laundry and cleaning my dorm room. To the spectacular ... (not sure what that might be yet, but what ever it is I want to glorify God while doing it!)
      So, 2012, here is to a year of Glorifying God. And hopefully this will bring about habits that will continue into the rest of my life.

Much Joy in the Journey