Philip’s Blog

It’s been a long time since I’ve picked up my camera. I was driving back from Charlotte, NC today (8 hour drive) with my younger brother Johnny… and I was contemplating on how it’s been about a year since I have really taken any pictures. I miss it and the outlet it’s been for me the last few years. One of my goals next year is to revive that hobby of mine. Maybe for graduation i’ll get one of the digital SLR’s and be able to really do some serious photography. Until then, i’ll do my best to be keeping a picture journal of this next chapter of my life.

David and Me - Bass Fishing

I haven’t been able to figure out why I’ve been so exhausted and just run down the last few weeks. I’ve never had a summer where i’ve just felt so mentally and physically tired.. I was thinking about it, and then I realized that I haven’t been in just one place for longer than a few days. So far this summer, I went from Chattanooga to Nashville to Boston to Nashville.. to Iowa (and everywhere in between) to Nashville to Roanoke.. to Charlotte… and then tomorrow, I’m driving 8 hours back to Nashville, and then on Sunday driving 10 hours back to Iowa. Driving is really really tiring, and it’s getting old.

On the bright side, i’ve been able to spend a few days with my girlfriend and her family which has been good. Not long enough, but I guess that’s just part of this stage of life. I’m trying to get excited about heading back up to Iowa to work for the rest of summer. I’m not looking forward to saying goodbye to my girlfriend and my family for another 2 months.

God is faithful though. I read in Hebrews this morning - Hebrews 2:1-3 is especially insightful and something that I needed to hear today. God is giving me strength and patience for these days.

I flew back into Nashville yesterday evening. I’m here for two weeks - in and out doing various things. Beginning tomorrow, I am attending Ernst and Young’s Summer Leadership Program in Nashville. I’m so thankful for this opportunity, and I hope and pray that it leads to a full-time job offer with them for when I graduate! It’s a 3-day program that is essentially a chance for them to get to know me better, and vice versa. From the pool of people that are attending (my rough estimate is a total of 20-30 people), Ernst and Young offers internships and full-time jobs. Considering I’m graduating in another year, I pray that they like me and that, Lord-willing, i’m offered a job as a CPA.

On a different note, i’m enjoying spending time at home with the few family members that are here (right now, just my mom and four youngest siblings). I’m driving up to Charlotte, NC this coming weekend to spend a few days with my girlfriend and her family. Needless to say, i’m very excited and ready to see her! :)

After that, i’ll be coming home for a few more days… doing a little bit of work at home, and then i’ll be driving back up to Davenport, Iowa for the remainder of the summer.

I just got home from a six hour packing job about an hour away from Davenport. It was a road driver from Salt Lake City - meaning they pay cash up front and hire workers to help him pack and load a truck. It was nice to get off earlier. 

I’m tired a lot. Most days I wake up at 5:30 a.m. and am out the door by either 6:00 or 6:30. The length of each day varies with how big the moves are and how heavy the loads are. I packed and then loaded a house for the last 3 days that weighed 25,580 lbs (not including a 30 foot long storage unit they had down the road). They officially had WAY too much stuff. 

I’m heading back to Nashville in another week which I’m excited for. It’ll be nice to be home for a while..

My time in Boston, MA is coming to an end. I’ve spent the last week or so up here with my aunt and uncle and their family. My uncle flew me down to paint the interior and some of the exterior of their house. After about a week of painting, I’ve finished all the major projects that were designated, as well as had some time to do a few extra things outside. Both my aunt and uncle were pleased with my work - so if anyone needs a painter, i’ve been painting for about 5 years now and do a fairly professional job :)

All right, I’m done with the little painting plug.. I’m flying back down to Chattanooga tomorrow morning and will be there for a few days until I drive up to Davenport, Iowa for the summer. I’ll be working with a moving company called Hawkeye Movers. I’ll most likely be getting my Certified Driver’s License (CDL) and driving a truck/semi a lot of the summer. It’s going to be a fun summer!

I’ll also be driving back to Nashville from June 7-12. I’m attending Ernst and Young’s Summer Leadership Program in the Nashville Office. I hope and pray that that results in a full-time job offer for when I graduate in May 2010. For those who are unfamiliar with E&Y, they are a worldwide accounting firm (one of the Big Four).. if I am offered a job, I will most likey be doing auditing (affirmation) or tax.

Here I come…

I’m home in Franklin for a few days before flying up to Boston, MA to work for my Aunt Karen and Uncle Wim for a week or two. I’m going to be painting the interior and some of the exterior of their house, as well as just enjoying spending time with their family.

Then I’ll be heading out to Davenport, Iowa to work for Hawkeye Movers for the summer… nothing like spending the summer in an 18-wheeler, moving houses all over the country.

Mid-June, I’ll be driving back to Nashville for Ernst and Young’s Summer Leadership Program - an opportunity that I hope and pray will turn into a full-time career as a CPA with Ernst and Young.

I don’t have a whole lot of words to say here… other than the fact that my Opa - Dr. Wilhelmus Schaffers - was a great and godly man. He died two days ago on April 20, 2009 after living 81 years. He used to always say, “I’m 11 years overdue. God says that the length of our days is 70 years… any time past that is borrowed time.” My granddad lived a good 11 years and 4 months past his “due date.” I thank God for his life. He will be greatly missed.

For those of you who knew him, the funeral will be Friday, April 24th at 11:00 a.m. at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church.

Psalm 90
A prayer of Moses the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
       throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
       or you brought forth the earth and the world,
       from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You turn men back to dust,
       saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
       are like a day that has just gone by,
       or like a watch in the night.
You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
       they are like the new grass of the morning-
though in the morning it springs up new,
       by evening it is dry and withered.
We are consumed by your anger
       and terrified by your indignation.
You have set our iniquities before you,
       our secret sins in the light of your presence.
All our days pass away under your wrath;
       we finish our years with a moan.
The length of our days is seventy years—
       or eighty, if we have the strength;
       yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,
       for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Who knows the power of your anger?
       For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
Teach us to number our days aright,
       that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
       Have compassion on your servants.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
       that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
       for as many years as we have seen trouble.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
       your splendor to their children.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
       establish the work of our hands for us—
       yes, establish the work of our hands.

Every year in the spring, Covenant holds a music festival called BakerTree. Students from all over campus come together to play music - whether it be original songs they wrote or songs from well-known artists and bands. Traditionally, it’s been on the chapel lawn with the musicians playing on the chapel steps. This year, it was on the held on the Dottie Brock Lawns with the musicians playing in the breezeway of Brock Hall.

It’s always a great time. It was such an incredibly beautiful day yesterday too… tables and chairs were set out on the lawn for people to sit and listen, and then dinner was moved outside while we continued to enjoy some great music. Covenant even brought in some bouncy castles for students/staff to enjoy.

The Economy of Sound (Asher Payne and Zach Terrell)

In the evening, a concert was hosted featuring the two student bands Left-Handed (Chris Nystrom and co.) and The Economy of Sound (Asher Payne and co.). It was phenomenal. The vast majority of the songs they performed were originals, including the song Ivory Ivory which The Economy of Sound performed at Mountain Affair last year (and won 1st place with). It was a great performance.

Classes are hard right now. I’m trying to keep my head above water with tax and intermediate accounting 2. It’s been frustrating not getting the grades that I feel like I’ve been working for. My dad reminded me of an important truth yesterday -

God doesn’t make mistakes. We learn our best lessons through disappointments and failures… Persistence is key - not necessarily making all A’s.

It was encouraging to hear.. and reminded me that my responsibility is to work to the best of the abilities and skills that God has given me. That is what I am to be held accountable for. And that’s what I’m striving for.. to be all that I can be and do all that I can do with what God has given me and with where He has placed me.