Over fall break, I went to a country fair out in Anderson, SC while I was visiting some of my friends in Honea Path. It was an exciting night. It always brings back a lot of memories going back to those places… everything from the rides, the ferris wheel, the bumper cars, the corn dogs, and the tickets. On this particular occasion, I noticed something that I had never really paid much attention to in the past…

As Mr. May and I were walking around the fairgrounds, he said to me in his deep Southern accent, “Look around you, Philip. It’s sad… I look at these people, and I don’t see the sparkle in their eyes anymore. They don’t have anything to live for…” Click to continue »

Scratch that last post I wrote. I was talking to my mom and dad on the phone last night… asking them what they thought about me going for one of the Break on Impact trips. My mom reminded me that I already have the commitment of going on Chorale tour over spring break. I kind of kicked myself when I remembered that. Don’t get me wrong, Chorale tour is going to be incredible – there is nothing quite like touring around some of the country singing at all the stops you make (or so I have been told). But then again, there is also nothing quite like going to Peru or an Indian Reservation to serve. As my mom reminded me, “There are always more opportunities.”

So… Uganda? I’m lost. Decisions, decisions…

I’ve been thinking a lot about the possibility of going to either Huanta, Peru or the Yakama Indian Reservation in Washington for a Break on Impact trip over spring break. It’s a tough decision. I was originally planning on going to Uganda for a three week missions trip after spring semester. Covenant is sending out a missions team during May. I’m still considering that possibility, but I have always wanted to go to Peru… and this is a good opportunity. It would also give me more time to work during the summer and earn money for school. Hmmm…

Any advice? Anyone have previous experience of any of these places? At the moment, I am just keeping this in my prayers. I’ve wanted to do mission work in South America for a long time, and this seems like a good opportunity to see if that is where God wants me someday.

I’m back on the mountain… and it looks just as beautiful as always – rain, strong winds, fog, and cold. What a perfectly beautiful combination. It contains all the elements that drive me to my warm hand-woven Bolivian blanket… and the numerous pages I have to read about theology, accounting, and Christology (note the optimism in my voice…).

Two and a half more weeks of school before the semester is done and I head home for Christmas break. It was kind of a teaser being home for Thanksgiving and then having to come back to school again for another couple of weeks… but such is life. You can either embrace it or be depressed about it. Either way, it has to get done.

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I am slowly but surely realizing that this time is not about me – my life is not about me. I had a good talk with an old friend from England tonight… she reminded me of a verse in John.

“He must become greater; I must become less.” – John 3:30

That has been the farthest thing from my mind these last few days and weeks. I have constantly been focusing on my own worries, struggles, victories, hardships, and successes. I have failed to venture into the mindset that I should daily have – the mindset of glorifying God, whatever the cost may be to my own self. He must increase, I must decrease. These last few days and hours have been so intensely focused on my own thoughts and desires. I have failed to even consider the family that is surrounding me, much less my Maker. Click to continue »

There is nothing like preparing some fresh venison with mesquite marinade and adding in a few chopped up onions and garlic cloves. Not to mention doing all of the above while smelling fresh pumpkin and chocolate-pecan pies coming out of the oven.

I love Thanksgiving…

I’m home again in Franklin. We got home late yesterday evening. It’s been good to be home with my family… I went to bed around 9:30 last night – first time in a long time that it’s been that early. And yes, I definitely took a nap this afternoon.

I’m excited about Thanksgiving tomorrow. My brother and sister-in-law are coming tomorrow morning sometime to join us for the day. It’s going to be beautiful…

What is the book of Ezekiel about? Anyone want to venture a guess? I read through the first six chapters, and I’m lost as to what the meaning is behind all of it. I realize I probably should continue reading through the end of the 48th chapter, and I plan on it… but it’s somewhat confusing.

The opening chapter begins with the glory of the Lord being shown in a vision to Ezekiel, the priest… the vision was of four living creatures, each with a different head – one was of a human, one was an eagle, one was an ox, and the other a lion. It was interesting to read that and remember back to hearing something about those four heads in my ART 111 history class, and how in ages past those four heads represented the four different gospel writers – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It was a neat observation…

Anyway, it’s a confusing book so far, and if anyone has a good study Bible or a commentary on it, let me know. I want to dig deeper into the books of the Bible that are often times in my own life just left off to the side…

Two days until I’ll be hopping into Betsy’s little Honda Prelude and driving down the mountain to grab a bite to eat from Mojo Burrito’s, and then heading home to Franklin for Thanksgiving Break… two more days. I’m excited to go home.

Thanksgiving Break, here I come… I finished my statistics exam this morning – my last pre-Thanksgiving exam. It feels so good to know that it’s Friday afternoon and that I’ll be home in less than a week. I’m so excited to have a break from classes and having to follow a schedule and having to follow due dates… it’s going to be amazing to sit at home, spend time with my family, eat good food, watch good movies, hang out with my brother and sister-in-law in Nashville, read, and just have a change in scenery.

I would ask you to pray for the continual construction going on in the BUILD campaign, and particularly in building the new academic hall across from Carter Hall. It is going up fast, and they’ve been working on putting the roofing up at the moment. It’s easy to walk by it and not realize the huge amounts of planning, work, and stress going into getting the building up by the spring. Just pray that things would run smoothly, and that the overseers and workers would have the wisdom and knowledge needed. “I can’t wait until it’s finished” is a statement that my friends are tired of hearing me say…