so if there's anything i've learned
from this journey i am on
simple truths will keep you going
simple love will keep you strong
cause there are questions without answers
flames that never die
heartaches we go through
are often blessings in disguise

so thank you Lord, oh thank you Lord
how could i ask for more

Yesterday near the end of the work day, I was reading a few different passages in my Bible, and my bookmark fell out.  So I kind of just jammed it back in a random page.  Later that night at small group, I opened up my Bible to where I left my bookmark earlier in the afternoon.  Then our leader told us to flip to Micah 6.  I looked down, and there it was, Micah 6, peeking out from behind my bookmark.  Now Micah isn't one of those super popular books that everyone studies, not like the gospels or Romans or Psalms, which takes up a good chunk of the center of the Bible (and is relatively easy to accidentally flip to).  And it's only 7 chapters in a midst of 12 minor prophets.  I think someone was trying to get my attention.  Umm, ok God, I'm listening.

And what does the LORD require of you?
       To act justly and to love mercy
       and to walk humbly with your God.

                                                    Micah 6:8

Oh, ouch.  That's not a very long list, but sometimes (actually, most of the time.  possibly all of the time!) it's so stankin' hard.  Do what is right.  Love your enemies, love one another.  Forgive.  Don't hold grudges.  Don't be proud.  I guess it's not a long list, but there's a lot implied in there that as humans, with human desires and tendencies, it's kind of hard to do!  But just because it's hard doesn't mean we don't continue to try.  I guess it's just a reminder to myself.

And I think my favorite part -- walk humbly with your God.  Not just a god who is far away and only called on when we need him.  Not just some being who sits somewhere up there and watches us like ants crawling around.  He is Our God.

Random page?  Woooord.

I had a whole something written, but it was just rambling and I didn't know where I was going with it.  And I was thinking about all this stuff, and my thoughts were making me frustrated and angry and confused.  But that's not what we're called to be or do.  And then I remembered what I had heard and listened to just this very morning. And what it boils down to is this:

Be joyful always.
Pray continually.
Give thanks in all circumstances.

Word.

my semi-annual xanga update begins now.

let's see.  so i've been living in quakertown, PA for the last 9 months building houses and getting really buff and strong.  let me prove it.

(twas awhile ago.  people are moving in this weekend!  which means it's thankfully much more complete)

see all that cement block?  those piles have disappeared, because i put them...

here.  i'm an expert block layer now.  all that block laying has given me some...

yeah!  that's right.  you see that tiny little bulge of a muscle?  that only took me 9 months of lifting heavy objects!  w00t!

this is the farm house i live in all by my lonesome.  it was built in 1820 and there's a log cabin attached to it.  and it comes with its own

outhouse.  but i think squirrels live in there and i'm afraid to open it.  and yes, that is a giant barn/horse stable in the back.  i wasn't kidding about living in a farm house.

and now for some completely unrelated pictures!

ken and jums! good seeing these freshm, i mean seniors.

hey apartment 303!  remember this thing??  I DID IT.  YAY!

wayne and angela sometime in march at our uiuc invasion of freehold, part trois.  except i think our numbers have dwindled over the last few years.  come back, y'all!

and speaking of me saying things like "y'all", get used to hearing it because i'm moving to the south at the end of the summer.  south carolina, that is!  god is funny like that, always providing me with a job when i need it.    actually always providing me with whatever it is, whenever i need it.  pray for me when i head out there!  this is new territory.  and i'm scuuuured.

next post will probably be from aiken, south carolina!  catch y'all on the flip side

today was a momentous day.

I pumped my own gas for the first time!

i had to read the instructions on the pump and follow them step by step.  and apparently there's a thing you put under the handle or something so you don't have to stand there and squeeze the thing?  i couldn't find it so i just kept my hand on the pump and stood there like i knew what i was doing. 

whatever!  i got gas in the car!  i'm so awesomeeee!!  holla!

(props to all the jersey full service gas station guys who let me roll down the window and say "regular, filled up" without ever having to set foot outside the car)