Writer's Blo...g

What you are reading right now took me quite a while to write... and I can't even guarantee that it will make sense. I'm struggling to figure out what one is supposed to write in a blog. On the one hand, I feel like I am simply writing to myself -- in an online journal of sorts. But, in reality, anything I divulge is published and potentially revealed to millions of casual internet browsers. Now, I am not saying that any more than perhaps 5 or 6 people will read this, but the point is I am going to have to find the fine balance between writing about personal matters and providing what you really want to know -- the finer details of college life. ... but there I go again talking to myself. I'm just gonna start writing for real now:

It is Sunday night. The end of an all-too-short weekend, which was in itself the end of an all-too-long week. But I shouldn't complain. My classes are really easy, the homework-load is relatively light (so far), and all around, things have been consistently improving every day since I got here. I've made some pretty solid friendships and my routine is ... well, actually it's not much of a routine at all. My daily schedule always has an appropriate mix of work and play... and sometimes even a little bit of sleep... sometimes.

A weekend at college:
This weekend was pretty fun. On Friday a few of us took our friend, Lauren, to the airport for a wedding in Texas on the weekend. And then we just sort of bummed around.. watched 74 episodes of Friends...and then Dumb and Dumber. Classic. Umm.. and then Sat. morning I slept in until roughly noon (a new 'skill' I've just acquired), and then a bunch of us went shopping at a nearby mall. I bought some nifty little things... but I don't mean 'little' in size, Dad. And I used a credit card for the first time. It was pretty ... exciting, I guess. Except when I had to sign and my signature looked like something a two-year-old would draw.. with a crayon.. in their mouth. Oh well. I'll work on it. And then Sat. night there was a concert on campus featuring a singer named Ingrid Michaelson. It was really good, actually! It was a sweet performance and it got me really excited about the fact that I have four years of concerts at Messiah to look forward to! For only five bucks each!! Anndd then I got to talk to Ty and Dan (at Brock right now) and then Katrina for a little bit.. and then I went to bed. And it was only 10:30 ... ish.

Church was really good on Sunday morning. We went to a mega-church of sorts (Christian Life Assembly in Camp Hill, PA). I was skeptical at first, expecting another seeker-sensitive service with fake smiles and a feel-good sermon. I was, however, pleasantly disappointed. The worship was (amazing with a massive choir, tight band, and orchestra) really sincere and the message was, of all things, highly critical of seeker-sensitive mega-churches. Go figure. Here are some quotes from the sermon, which was one part of a series called "the Big Serve":

"Serving is love in action"
"Christians seem to like services more than serving... We like to be fed more than we like to feed."
"Serving, for a genuine Christ-follower, is NOT an option."
"Christian belief that costs you nothing is worth nothing"

So that was that. A great service. Great church. I'll definitely go back.. but I'll keep shopping for now.

Anndd then the afternoon was sort of rough. I missed Katrina a lot. There were visiting boy/girlfriends everywhere. Lots of reunited couples on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I smiled outside, seethed inside -- unfairly resenting the blissful lovers for no fault of their own. BUT I'm feeling better now. Anndd I will save the real gushy stuff for my own personal (and yet unfortunately neglected) journal.

Alright, I need to sleep now. And whatever the time stamp on this post is.. it must be wrong.
If you are reading this, I love you.
More on life later,

Josh