Author: Justin

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Prayer in the Darkness

I left the house at around 9:10pm last night headed to the church.  While I was halfway to the church, I just said to myself that I know prayer works.  Maybe that’s what started last night.

I’m not sure how to explain it, but after the first Prayer in the Darkness a few months ago, I lost faith in it.  I’m honestly not sure if it was faith or hope, or just my attitude (or a mixture of all of those).  Secretly, I’d been putting more stock in the actual turnout than I was on the purpose of the night.  Since the first night, I’ve been learning (more or less) that it’s not really about the numbers.

With all of that said, I started last night completely different.  While the actual Prayer in the Darkness doesn’t start until 10pm, I got there at around 9:15pm.  I wasn’t about to let numbers defer what the focus of the night was.  I was there for one thing, and that was for prayer.  I’m not sure I could tell what the first song I turned on was (it was a David Crowder song, though).  I’m not sure how many times I went and adjusted the sound (I think it was three times, though).  I’m really not sure how lame I looked (not going to comment about that).  I also decided after I had been there a minute or two, that I wasn’t about to stay in my box the entire time.

So that’s what I did.  I moved out of where I’m always at and did what I’m better at doing.  I didn’t even think about the numbers before service.  I just knew that when everyone else got there, I wanted God to already be there — and I didn’t want to be so enveloped in something else to completely miss it.

To make a long story short, it was the largest turnout ever, and I believe know that walls were broken.  It was the first time where I wish there was room for one more hour … at least.  And everyone left smiling?  At midnight?

September 23.  That’s the next Prayer in the Darkness.  One night at a time, this cities walls are crumbling.  That city on that hill over there is going to be known for what it’s meant to be soon (soon) …

Until next time …

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Lessons

The first week of school is now over.  Most of the classes seem to be decent.  The only class that I don’t think I’ll like at all is a computer class.  I don’t think she (the instructor) likes Google.  It’s basically the same class I took last semester, which is lame.

Someone hit my car yesterday.  I’ll have to take it to a body show.  It was at the dangerous intersection of Taylor Road and the I-85-west off ramp.  We were both okay.  I just want to get my car fixed.  I don’t like having anything wrong with it.

Prayer in the Darkness is tomorrow night at 10.  I hope people come.  Something I’ve had to learn is that there may not be a lot of people, but never to be discouraged.  It’s easy to get discouraged, though.

This past week has been busy with the release of a new version of E-Blah.  It’s been a little bit of a pain this time, as there were several problems at the start.  I’ve fixed just about all of them right away, though.  I just didn’t have enough people to beta test before release.

I’ve really been enjoying my Urge music subscription.  I’ve found so many new CD’s and artists that I would have otherwise never listened to.  Ten dollars a month may seem like a lot, but when compared with buying several CD’s every month that costs the same amount, it’s well worth it.  Currently I’ve been enjoying Jessie Daniels, Decypher Down, and Fireflight, among others.  One of my favorite songs right now has to be “You Decide” by Fireflight.  The music video made me fall in love with it all over again.

Someone told me not so long ago that one of the reasons why it’s good to get out of Tallassee sometimes, is to see joy.  I guess I wasn’t so sure what was meant by that … until this week.  Maybe I wasn’t paying attention.  Maybe I was overlooking it.  I’m not really sure, but I’m beginning to see that what this person said was true.  Maybe everyone’s just hopeless (or feels that way, I should say).  I went to several places in Tallassee this week and the people were just so down.  I went to Wal-Mart today, for instances, and the lady checking me out literally looked like a zombie.  I’m not sure what needs to be prayed for first — things broken (such as drugs and religion) or fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, etc).

Something I have been learning recently is attitude and how I look at things.  When I first walked into English class (late, I might add) and realized it was British Literature, I could have turned off and just said I’m going to hate this, or I could go in with the mind set that it’s going to be interesting.  So far it has been interesting.  It’s attitude though.  I wonder if I just have a bad attitude about a lot of things, so that’s something I’m going to try to work on getting out of. I don’t want to make pre-judgements about anything — people, things, places, ideas, etc.

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Run or Hide

It’s 11pm on a Saturday.  I had a pretty full day today.  I went to Auburn with the family, then washed and cleaned some of my car, and then went to Starbucks with Jennifer.

We listened to one of the sermons from theFurnace on the way to Montgomery and back.  It was “Methods of Grace” and was about praying the scriptures.  It’s one of the sermons I really enjoyed.  I enjoy a bunch of them though.  On that note, I need to start doing the things he said.

I’m going to keep with my list, I think.  I’m not going to make it something above what it’s meant to be though.  It’s guidelines.  It’s what I want for the long-term.  I know there’s someone out there, I’ve met one or two.  They’re just harder to find, I guess.

I’ve decided to wait on a new computer.  I have the money, but I need to save some up.  I think that’s the wisest thing to do right now.  Also, I think the parts I want are just going to keep going down.  On top of that, I should probably wait until Windows Vista is closer to launch.  So far, I’m liking XP better though, as it’s easier to get stuff done — it’s more efficient for a computer programmer.  Vista is a pain to get simple stuff working.

I’ve been trying out Windows Live Writer, which is a program that lets you post to your blog.  I love it.  It’s quick and simple.  It does everything perfectly fine.  The last three entries have been written with it.

I wish it were easy to write all the things I think out.  I started this at 11pm, and it’s now 1am and I’ve not wrote anything about what I really want to write about.  Nor will I.  How lame.

I meant to mention this about three or four days ago, but got side tracked: recently the messages from New Life Church has been like a mirror of what I hear the next week or so at my church.  Really there’s just a few main scriptures that I associate with them, which has been cool.  So far it’s been pretty much about grace.  Perhaps it’s coincidence that I listened to “Methods of Grace” (David Perkins) series and “Living in Graceland” (Aaron Stern) series at almost the same time.  Maybe it’s not.  But they were released almost right after the other.  Sometimes it feels like they go one ear and out the other.  I hate that.  I pay attention, but sometimes it’s not something I really remember for an extended period of time.

I’ve been thinking about Passion ’07 again.  Just thinking, though.

I guess it’s better if I just get to bed now …

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The Last Day

I ended work today.  It was actually quick and easy.  I feel they do want me to come back, which is good.  Last year I was late, and they really didn’t seem like they wanted me there.  Anywho, that’s good.  I enjoyed the people I worked with this year too.  I’ll probably go back in December.

My dad finished replacing my clutch.  I love it.  It works perfect.  I’ve never felt a new clutch, and I love how it feels.

Jennifer came over, and we eventually went to eat at Ruby Tuesdays.  It was pretty good.  It was the first time I’ve ever been there.  The food was good and filling.  I had a good time anyway though …

So, the last day ends for a new one to begin.

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Reverse

Already 9:30.  It was a tired day today.  Quite repetitive, but that’s okay.  I have two more full work days left, which I’m kind of wishing wasn’t so now.  I like the job a bit more now that I’ve got stuff I can do.

My car is getting a new clutch.  There’s always hope.  I’m hoping that replacing the clutch is going to fix everything.  Right now, the people on the car forum I’m on are saying it may be a bit more of a problem than it was.  Bit more of a problem meaning more time and money.  There’s always hope, so that’s all I’m doing.  This is why I like computer.  Only a few mechanical parts.  Cheap replacement for those parts too.

Not sure how to type the other thing on my mind now, plus I need to get to bed.  Coffee just don’t wake me up.  My sinuses are all screwed up now.  I never remember having such problems with my sinuses in Colorado (because it’s dry?) … but some people did (bloody noses, and such).  It’s life I guess.

Oh, on Monday I found someone (a customer at work) to fill out an evaluation form on me.  Those things help in re-employment next year.  I’d enjoy coming back out next year.

School starts back Monday.  Excited and nervous.  And middle-sided.

iTunes did something really bad … they added the History Channel to their TV Shows.  I guess I may purchase my first show on there sometime.  Two dollars isn’t too bad, I don’t guess.  Plus, I like ’em!

Finally, “reverse” — the entry title — is for that thing I’m not sure how to type.

Edit: Okay, so I just bought one of the shows from iTunes and the History Channel.  It’s The Revolution series that’s been on.  I’ve not been able to watch it because it comes on a 9pm on Sundays — the time I get to bed.

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New Things Come in Time

I’ve been looking at getting a new computer this year.  I’m not totally sure I’ll be able to get it yet because of monetary reasons.  I should have enough for college, cell phone, and gas and a little left over to use however I want to.  I want to keep a fair amount stored away because of anything I may need it for (ie: the clutch in my car needing replacing).  I still want to get something going in helping someone.  I’m still thinking of sponsoring a child; however, I don’t want to commit and then find something else I want to contribute to that’s closer to home.  It’s not an excuse for waiting, I would rather focus on my community first before hand.

I’ve got a few more minutes left on the last message in the “Living In Graceland” series from theMill.  In the last one Aaron Stern talks about helping the needy.  I want to help them.  I would really love to focus on my age group (which is fast approaching: “used to be my age group”).

There was an entry I added, ironically, a year ago tomorrow.  I wasn’t even aware that it was the “anniversary” of the post, but either way — I was going to talk about.  In brief, the post is about who I’m looking for in a future wife.  Recently, I’ve just about grown to the point where I’m not sure it can be met — and others around me have told me the same.  So I’m keeping the list until September 15th, 2006 — unless something changes.  That’s a full month.  If nothing has changed from now and then, I’m changing it.  Some of the things that I feel are essential for me to connect to whomever I date (and hope-to marry), are the things I’ll probably reform or remove.

Of the items on my list that’ll be changed is music.  Why did I add music in the first place?  It all comes down to this: garbage in, garbage out.  I want a pure relationship.  I can’t relate to music that has ungodly content.  I mean, the music doesn’t have to have plain out “wrong” lyrics.  Even if they’re about just relationships, I don’t relate to most.  Does that mean I specify all secular music as “wrong”?  Of course not, I like a few (key word: few) secular groups.  They’re not on my media library, though.  I don’t listen to them in the car.  I just don’t have enough time to listen to Christian music and secular to see what I like and don’t like and worry about the lyrics.  This is just one of the few things I’ll change.

A few days ago I felt like just striking out most of the entry, but have decided just in the past hour or so to wait.  If I get rid of some of the constraints, I may find someone whom I like.  I suppose I could talk about it all day, but right now it’s not going to change anything.

All I’m going to do now is pray and hope for the best.  I’ve prayed that if I’m living in legalism, or my list is legalistic, that it’ll be revealed to me.  I want to be real with people, but I also have deep convictions.  I try to be as real with people as I can.

I’m enjoying work this year.  The air conditioner doesn’t work in our office, but that’s life.  Last year I complained of it being too cold.  So I shouldn’t complain, I guess.

I’m ready for school to start … I think.  Next week is going to be different.  I’ll probably go eat lunch at least one day out of the year.  Maybe I can see some people in class and sit with them at lunch.  Meeting people is horrible though.  Especially if you don’t have anything in common …

New things, they come in time …

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18 More Days

Classes start in 18 days.  Until then, I’ll be working at another school.  I’ve stayed in school just about this entire year, technically.  I’m working at ACSC (Air Command and Staff College), which supplies the students with help for their laptops, which we provide.  We hand out a little over three-hundred laptops next week.  It’s interesting sometimes.  Right now we’ve done all the tasks that were scheduled for this week (minus a few minor items), so tomorrow may be a lax day.  Our main offices air conditioning doesn’t work so we’ve been hanging out in other rooms as much as possible (until the students show up, anyway).  When it’s 90 degrees outside at 9:00pm, just imagine what it is in our room.  I’d say it’s about 85 degrees in there, but I could be wrong.  No computers have died, so I guess they’re holding up pretty well.  I’ve been working ACSC for a good 4 to 8 weeks now, and like it pretty well.

Anyway, my classes start back on Monday 21 August 2006.  The main thing I’m looking forward to is being able to have a normal sleeping pattern.  Right now I get up at 5 and get to bed by 9 … or try.  Here lately I’ve not been able to sleep until 11 or later, which is bad (and also messes up my eating habbits and such).  I’ve got Calculus 1, Literature, Biology (I couldn’t take it last year because of scheduling), and some MIS class.  I’m not sure how the load will be.  I’m taking one more credit hour, so the tuition went up a little bit.

I’ve set a release date for the next version of E-Blah, 19 August 2006.  Hopefully I can get the new version, E-Blah 10.0, out to the public that day.  Normally, when a new version comes out that helps me out monetarily (so I’ll have a little spending money and such).  It would have been great to have gotten it out mid-June or so, but that would have been an entirely unrealistic date due to the number of changes to the entire system, which have been quite extensive.

Oh!  A few weeks ago I somewhat retyped out a list of scriptures I posted several months ago.  I retyped the, origionally, for someone at church that I’ve yet to be able to hand to that person.  I think others may find it helpful so I’m going to post it here.

I’ve had a pretty good week!  Other than being tired, it’s been pretty good.

Well, I’m off to bed as I have to drive to work tomorrow …