The superbowl is tomorrow. Can't tell you how excited I am. My soul just falls over, enthralled and in chains - my eagerness to watch a ball get passed back and forth is undeniable. Deep-rooted sarcasm. I don't really like football. If there's a waste of time, there it is :-).

So what are my plans tomorrow? Hang out with friends. Eat good food. Much like today. Ice cream. Hot dog. Pasta and garlic bread. Pillow-fight while listening to Gladiator music. Massive battles in Rome. That 70's Show, King of Queens, a man who got struck by listening and can read peoples' minds. Enya. Never-ending laughter. Ceasar's Legion. In the Name of Rome and 17 Melons. Of course bagging and running the cashier. Such is my Saturday. I am sure you are equivocally jealous. I listen to Gladiator now. I actually watched some of that movie today.

"vox quod veneratio." That's Latin. Translate it.

In physics we have learned a little bit about "string theory." While I don't really know all the specifics, there is supposedly evidence for this. One major component of string theory is the idea of "multiple" or "parallel" universes - or dimensions of reality - that co-exist with us, beside us, within us, that are tied into the fabric of the universe we touch and taste and see, but yet we cannot see or experience. This is some pretty crazy stuff, and here are some things that have been running over and over in my mind:

1) Could heaven/hell exist in possible parallel dimensions?

2) In the Bible it says angels/demons belong to another realm/dimension. Could this 'spirit world' be yet another parallel universe that co-exists with the one in which we live our day-to-day lives?

3) Could ghosts be those who transcend parallel dimensions into different parallel dimensions? In the Old Testament, God allows the spirit of Samuel to 'come up' to those who have not yet died (1 Samuel 28). Is it possible that Samuel was allowed to travel from one very real dimension (Heaven) to our dimension (the one in which you read these words)?

4) Perhaps Satanists or spirit worshippers are those who, through some weird way, can open windows for the dimension of the spirits to enter into our dimension and interact with us in ways they are usually not capable of (possession, occultic problems, etc.)?

Weekend looms. Just seven more hours of school, and it is here. I don't enjoy the weekends as much as I used to - never have, since part time started. I.G.A. likes to work all its baggers/cashiers at least two days of the weekend, and so I spend most of my weekend - usually - in the store; I am jealous of my friends, because a lot of times they get their Fridays and Saturdays off. Today I work four and a half hours, then tomorrow I'm working four hours as a bagger, two hours as cashier, so it's going to be easy. A lot of my friends are going bowling tonight, but probably not me. I didn't get too good a sleep last night - up till midnight, tossing and turning, just insomnia I imagine.

Now I must be off. I prepare for a day of school. Farewell for now.

It has, I admit, been a while since I've posted (at least in my scale of things). For a host of reasons dealing with the worthiness of my internet, I wasn't able to actually get on and post, and whenever it decided to work (which was rare), I was out of the house. Finally a friend came by today and did some work, reset some things, and it looks golden now.

Today at small group we talked about why we need God. We talked about capital punishmet. We talked about John 8:1-11. We discussed the story of the prodigal son. We attempted to define grace. And then Jeff led us forward in some time before the throne, and a few of us spoke up with things on our heart. It reminded me so much of the CIY His Time's from last summer. Summer. Ah. Good times. My detest of school shines through.

I have spent most of my time lately hanging out with friends. Driving around, drinking coffee, browsing books at Borders. This trend will break tomorrow, as I am a slave driver for I.G.A. for three hours (4-7, odd shift, eh?). I just wanted to break the monotony of you always seeing the same thing on my blog. You are probably disappointed. Sue me. Hah. Good-bye for now.

the simple life and the 18th Century

Lately I have really been seeking a simple life. The simple life has been a big thing with me over the last year or two, perforating much of my life. Today in sociology class I was flipping through a National Geographic I saw a picture of an African village: some herding pens, dusty crops, some chicken coops, and a few huts scattered about. I actually would like to live there.

Most people don't know it, but one of my favorite vacations was a trip through the Smokey Mountains, looking at old 1700 buildings up in the woods. I would love that so much! Working the land for a living, working around the house, going to sleep at night in the middle of nowhere. I specifically remember this house beside a stream, and I imagined waking up, going outside, and sitting by the stream and reading. There was an overgrown field in front of the house facing a majestic mountain. What a view! Living there would be so much more enjoyable in this hurried and busy and driving world we live in: waking, working, eating, working, relaxing, sleeping, day after day, working to live and not worrying about all this crap we have to worry about (school, deadlines, business plans, nonsense, nonsense, nonsense...). Also on the trip we visited an old 18th Century church (that's the 1700s, folks); I just imagined traveling to church through the woods, under the sun, and worshipping God in that small shack of a building, hearing messages, and just enjoying life with others.

I know I sound like a fool, maybe, but it's true. I think I was made for the 18th Century. Life would be so much better there. The simple life is what I want. I think the simple societies around the world are closer to God than we are: intense family values, work for your food, worship God, the Maker and Creator. I just wish I were there, not here, in a world driven by success, success, success!; a world driven by money, money, money!; a world driven by hurry, hurry, hurry!; a culture of 9-5 and eat yourself mad trying to succeed. Gosh.

Tonight we discussed the characteristics of God, and then we bowed down before the throne for several minutes of intense worship. One of the songs Lee and Pat led us forward on was, "Better is one day." After we finished the song, I said,

We've worshipped to "Better is One Day" three times in the last two days, including Sunday morning gathering and Student Revolution. Through each song, the words, "Better is one day in your courts..." have rang out with me. I used to imagine a courtroom with a big gavel and judgment, and then I'd think to myself, I don't like this song at all. Yet over the past few months, many friends and I have had discussions - sometimes very lengthy - and participated in lessons that revolve around the idea of Heaven not as a church service in the sky, but a paradise that is unlike anything we can imagine or hope for! How much better it really would be to spend just ONE DAY in that paradise. David Crowder's words instill hope and excitement within me in his song, Make a Joyful Noise/I will not be silent: "Running through the forest, dive into the lake, bare feet on beaches white; standing in the canyon, painted hills around, the wind against my skin..." I believe this is an extremely accurate portrayal of the paradise we will live in, and yet I must admit that I cannot even fathom it. How much better ONE DAY in that paradise would be than even a thousand, a million, as many days as there are stars, to spend here! The song continues to say, "One thing I ask and I would seek, to see your beauty... To find you in the place your glory dwells..." I don't think God will show us paradise before our time has come - to me, it's like spoiling a Christmas gift we can hardly imagine. I'm sure God will love the unparalleled smiles and excitement running through us when we first step into this new, renovated world known as paradise. One day, perhaps soon, perhaps later, I will find God in the place his glory dwells.

Jeff told us all there, on Sunday and even tonight, that he hoped the His Times of C.I.Y. would be found in these small groups. He had to leave for a worship team meeting, but had he stayed, I believe he would've been blown away. The worship was radiant. God saturated the atmosphere. He would go to sleep a very happy and joyful man :-). And so shall I.

It is tough getting used to these contacts. It feels like a new pair of glasses, except without the... glasses. It's really strange. My eyesight is so clear it almost feels like it's too sharp. I remember this feeling when I first got glasses, constantly worried that the prescription was wrong. It will take me some time to adjust to the contacts. I should wear them through the rest of the day. Didn't wear them to school.

Lee, Chris, Pat D. and I are going to go out for coffee later, then we're all hanging out at the Williams' house for the kick-off Sr. High Co-Ed Tuesday small group. We're going to be talking about, Who is God, and it's some really neat stuff. Lots better than 40 days of community, I must say. Hopefully these small groups go better. I have taken advice from mentors, friends, and various oozers (www.theooze.com) with some tips on how to get more creative, get the kids involved, and explore God together.

We'll see how it goes!