tests

So I took the GRE today. The nice thing about the GRE is that you get part of your score onsite since it's a computer based exam. A few people asked me if I was nervous or "ready" this morning. I'm not really sure how to answer that, "Um... Almost--got a dictionary I can memorize real quick?" Its not like a few hours of studying are really going to change my score, and I work off of the assumption that I'm pretty smart and I'll do okay. How did that work out, you ask? 800 out of 800 on the Quantitative (math) section. The other sections aren't quite as stellar, but good enough that anyone who considers GRE scores will give me a point or two above most people. That good news was almost enough for me to get over my frustration of bombing a test on Thursday...

Something you probably haven't seen before and won't see again (for good reason)

The power button on my mp3 player stopped working a few days ago. Having learned my lesson about discarding items too quickly and not having the funds to purchase a new one, I decided to try fixing it.

I discovered that the joint where one contact on the button had been soldered to circuit board came loose. I tried soldering it back on, but I found that fitting a soldering iron with a 1 mm diameter tip and solder into a .4 mm wide space doesn't work particularly well.

I had discovered that by putting pressure on the button from the correct side pressed the contacts together and caused it to work. So I folded up a scrap of paper and wadded it inside the case so that when I reassemble the device, the proper pressure was applied to the button. Thus, my mp3 works now-I just hope it lasts till Christmas.

Being A Senior

Tomorrow is UW-Platteville's "Fall Break." Which means we get Friday off of classes. I only have one class on Friday, but all 52 minutes of it are canceled and so I'm home tonight. At the Quik Mart in Platteville we stopped for gas and I saw a friend of mine. I said something about how that's a sign that I'm a senior-I run into friends at the gas station on my way out of town. Just as I finished vocalizing that thought, a car filled with 3-4 other people I know showed up. And before I made it in and out of the gas station (to procure a mountain dew slushy) I ran into two other people I know. I like people and I know a lot of people, and that makes me happy :D

Life is crazy but good.

So I spoke at Quest tonight...

and it was kinda crazy. I really wasn't that nervous and I got a lot of positive feedback. For anyone who isn't in the loop, Quest is InterVarsity's large group meeting. I spoke for ~30 minutes to a group of about a hundred or so students. I was responding to some street preachers who came to campus a couple weeks ago. They did know the gospel, but they presented it in a somewhat incomplete and a rather offensive manner. I talked about a couple things that they did/said that don't line up with Scripture and then talked about the challenge to us to be showing authentic Christianity. You can see my notes here if you're interested.

The deeper question that it raises for me is if this is something I could see myself doing a lot more of. I did enjoy it, but right now I don't think I'd be able to spend all day every day preparing for talks and such. I need to design an amplifier every now and then to keep me sane :).

Every now and then I'm reminded of a a time when I met a pastor who immediately began ask me what I wanted to do with my life. I was probable only about 13 at the time, but I was already thinking about being an engineer and said as much. His response? "I went to school for engineering and now I'm a pastor." I still wonder if that short interchange will end up coming true.

Joy and Happiness

Different things make different people happy. This weekend I was floating pretty happily because I aced a test and a prelab for my comm class, one of my most challenging this semester. I enjoy my academic work when I do well. Other people don't care much about school.

Some people were happy because the bears beat the packers or were sad because the packers lost to the bears; I didn't even know they were playing until the game had already started and couldn't care less about who wins (although I was disappointed to find that one of my roommates is a bears' fan).

Sometimes having free time to watch a tv show makes me happy, sometimes lifting weights makes me happy, sometimes it's a phone conversation, or hanging out with some friends, or meeting a new person.

But sometimes hanging out with friends ends up depressing me... kinda weird.

Sometimes blogging seems like a chore (like the last week when I didn't blog) and sometimes it feels great (like now).

I really have no idea what I'm saying, I guess I'm trying to get back to the point that its important to keep everything in perspective: With any luck I'll be dead in 60 years or so, and most of the things that seem so important now will hardly matter.

Theology is in the Air

For the last three consecutive days we've had friendly neighborhood street preachers outside the students center. It makes things pretty interesting. This afternoon there was a crowd of close to 50 people gathered around one of them. Some were there to mock him; others to justify their faith; others to observe. I hung around for a while to see what gospel was being preached and looking for opportunities to start spiritual conversations. All in all I have a very mixed view on the preachers' presence here, but I do know that whatever gospel they preach, it gives me opportunities to communicate the truth. I also realize that there are MANY MANY people who are interested in spiritual things and I should never relax, "Always be ready to give an answer for the hope that you have."

Busy! but not...

I just got hired by tech services here on campus. My job is to do set up, backstage work, and tear down for shows at the theater and other random events on campus. Yesterday we had our scheduling meeting and I somehow ended signing up for 35 hours of work over two weeks. Scream? Actually I have time to write this right now instead of doing homework because I'm fairly sure the only homework I have to do yet this week is study for a test on Thursday, so I think I'll be okay. This morning I worked a few hours setting up lights for a show. It's pretty crazy how heavy power cables are...

I has cell phone (and other stories)

Well I discovered that I and my roommates could save a large quantity of money by changing our internet service to being just internet and no land line phone. Thusly, I was forced into getting a cell phone (tear). I was able to join the Cherney's family plan, so it's a bit cheaper than other national plans and a lot more minutes per month. It would be even cheaper if I could find another person who needs a phone though (hint hint).

I've decided that the book of Psalms is pretty much amazing. My latest rediscovery is Psalm 62, another one of those "safe feeling" Psalms.

This semester is a bit different than others. I'm crazy busy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but I only have one class on Friday. So by 2pm on Thursday, I feel like my weekend has practically started. It good for time to get things done, go disc golfing, take a nap, and other random stuff, but a feeling of impending doom rises on Sunday night.

I changed the title on my blog because I got tired of the old one, but I still haven't thought of anything good so I just did my best to be clever.

I went to see Stardust this afternoon with a new friend and an old one. I didn't expect much, so I enjoyed it quite a bit :). It turned out to be pretty clever and entertaining at bits and the guy got the girl in the end. So aside from the expected crudeness (light for a PG-13 movie, actually), it is a pretty decent film.

My modification of my project from last semester is almost done. I spent a couple hours on Friday soldering and the code is almost done. Just a few minor changes and get the timing down so the clock keeps good time and I'll be all set.

I've had my phone for three days now and I've talked on it for just over 2.5 hours already--glad I didn't get a prepaid phone.

Sorry if you were expecting something deep tonight, I'm too tired to think about anything very hard, I was working on advertising for Cross Training (InterVarsity Fall Conference), so my brain is shot now.

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields ^[b] with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Tonight Zach, BP and I had our "wing meeting." We talked about a bunch of little things ("why is the fan in the bathroom always on?") and then studied Psalm 46. BP had a different translation that instead of "Be still and know that I am God" said "Cease striving..." That gave me the picture of a drowning person who is desperately struggling to stay afloat while his would-be rescuer tries to save him in spite of his frantic efforts to save himself. When we let go and trust God, things end up getting a lot easier.

Thought number two: After reading the passage together a few times, I said "I wish I was that guy, it sounds so safe!" In truth, I am that guy, I just don't live like it.

Things are Happening

I have to get up at six tomorrow morning, so I have to make this quick, but I need to at least cover a couple things that have been happening that maybe I'll expand on later.

A few days ago BP and Zach were going through the drawers in the kitchen (add more here later)

Last night Zach, BP, Megan, Hannah, and myself made a Walmart run for food and other household items. When we got home we realized that we had to clean out the freezer to make room for our food. That led to the Refrigerator as well. An hour and a half later, we had discarded an incredible number of ancient and inedible items including multiple containers of salsa and ketchup, artichoke hearts, and some meat that was dated April.... of 2004. That meat was placed in our freezer before I graduated from high school. I have some sweet pictures that I'll post later.

Tonight Zach and Hannah went to town on the rest of the kitchen, even down to scrubbing the floor with whatever weapons of cleanliness that they could locate. BP tackled the basement and I took on some miscellaneous sweeping jobs. Mega was MIA.