http://rathersavagedinosaurs.wordpress.com/

enjoy.

Within the 14 days Facebook gives you before it permanently deletes all of your Facebook data, I decided that I wasn’t sure enoughabout my decision.  I have deactivated (so that it is recoverable any time) my account instead.  G.K. Chesterton is reported to have said:

“You cannot grow a beard in a moment of passion.”

How very true that is, and in fact I’m working on that right now.  But the same does not apply to all things.  The opposite of growing a beard, for example, is to shave one off, which I can say from experience can be done in a moment of passion.  So can other forms of hair removal, as well as computer reformatting, and friend assaulting, but let’s not get into all of that.   So maybe getting rid of Facebook is like shaving your beard.  The question is: will it grow back?  I predict it will try to.  I suppose one could take measures analogous to laser hair removal: permanent account deletion, but I have already strayed away from that direction.  It seems I haven’t really made up my mind as to whether or not I am finally rid of Facebook, or I would not be hashing this out at the moment.  Both Facebook and beards have their advantages (ease of connection and trust), but I’m apparently not finished weighing them against their disadvantages and my ability to avoid abuse/misuse.  In all actuality it may be mostly an issue of boredom, which the wiser of you readers would rightly suggest that I find something better to occupy myself with.

This reminds me: have you ever seen Running Jesus?

http://youtu.be/goZNN8h6M6E

1)  I deleted my Facebook account. I didn’t disable it, I deleted it.  I think it’s gonna be a good thing.

2) I’m back in Ruston, LA & back in school.  It’s been a rough start, but if I can get myself together before it’s too late, I’ll be set to graduate in May.

3) I’ve started running again.  I’ve done a bit of reading on the subject, and now I’m experimenting with barefoot running.

More on all of this later.

I hate being scared.  I don’t understand why anyone would like it, I mean, Look it up. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scare Being scared of anything but Almighty God’s judgement upon our sin is simply a waste of time, energy, and emotion–and even that fear should not lead to despair, but to humility, hope, and love. But again, is that what Halloween is really about?

What spurred me to write this post, besides the impending day, is this article I ran across the other day.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2120849/posts

He makes a good point. After all, what is sin except the (partial) corruption of something good. The only thing I would like to comment on about the article is that while he notes that Easter time was also a holiday for the pagans, which finds is true fulfillment in Christ’s resurrection, it is also important to note that while that is true, Easter is first and foremost a true Historical event putting it far above the level of even Christmas.

I find the analogy between Mardi Gras and Halloween very helpful–and I can see some logic in it’s defense, but don’t think I’ll be frequenting any haunted houses.

Update: Called to Commuion, who writes some great stuff, by the way, has a good little article on Halloween.

So far,  it has been good here. There is plenty to do here, and they haven’t held back too much on my share! This is good for me.  The work is hard, but we make sure to go about it in such a way that it is always centered in and revolving around prayer. It keeps my focus on God, and on my faith and trust in Him instead of on me and my abilities.

Ah, well I ran out of time. I really just wanted to let everyone know I’m up here and doing well. Thank all of you for your prayers!

http://gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/2010/03/woman-taken-in-adultery.html

I have come to realize that there is not much keeping me here in Ruston. I don’t have a promising job. I have some friends, most of whom will leave upon graduation–as some really good friends have already done.  I intend to finish my schooling and finish my degree, but I find that secondary to the discernment of my vocation. So I’m moving to Kansas City.

Why KC? Two main reasons: I want to be near my girlfriend. She lives in KC, and intends to stay there. It is not just that I want to be near her, but I think it will help me a good bit in discerning God’s will for my life. That is because part of my discernment is to discern if God want’s me to be married to my girlfriend. I can discern the priesthood from many locations, but it’s not so easy to date (court, discern marriage) from a distance. The other reason for me to go to KC is A Simple House. A Simple House [asimplehouse.org]  is a lay missionary organization that serves the poor. I have visited them before, and even helped out a little with their work.  They called me about a month ago to try and convince me to become a volunteer. After thinking about what I have mentioned above, and other factors, I let them know I want to be a full time volunteer. Why? Mainly discipline. I really think that I need a disciplined environment–a community of people committed to the Christian life who will pray with me daily and hold me accountable for my actions. I also want to be challenged because I know I need challenges to grow. I believe the ministry they have in KC will be a challenge for me, probably in ways I don’t expect.

So this is what I’m doing. I would like to ask all of you to pray for me as I enter into this phase of my life, that I may be open to whatever it is that God calls me to. It is a little crazy feeling, stepping out into the unknown. Thanks to you all.

http://principiumunitatis.blogspot.com/2009/12/ecumenical-flowchart.html

Much has happened in my life in recent years. I have gone from engineering to history, from being a strong objector to Catholic Tradition, to a wholehearted adherent to the fullness of the Faith, and from nineteen to twenty three years old.

I have come to a point where I realize that I need to seriously discern the direction of my life.  My current situation is not working.  Out of scholarships and savings, I have been paying for school out of pocket, only taking as many classes as I can afford. Every quarter, I find myself lacking any motivation for school. I would prefer to have the degree, definitely, but right now school is not working for me …and I don’t believe I need it. What I want out of life is to joyfully serve using my gifts. I wan’t to be a saint, and I don’t need money, college, or a degree to do that. I need to take the time to more seriously listen to God’s calling to me–my vocation, whether it be married, celibate, priest, deacon, monk, or friar. I have long felt a longing for something more, a longing for something greater–I think ultimately a longing for heaven–but I think it’s something a lot deeper than simply waiting for some point in time.

So, I am resigning from the University.

I ask for your prayers that God will use this to glorify himself in my life, that he would make known his purpose for me, if only one step at a time.

In a sense, I have failed school; but in another sense,  this is good, for He says:

” ‘ My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ I will rather boast mist gladly of my weakness, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

-2 Corinthians 12: 9-10