College Life

Two weeks into school and I'm into the swing of things pretty well! I've class every day of the work week, but a different schedule every-other day. Mixing up the work load and keeping things interesting.

Loving it here at Northwestern College, with Christ centered education and people alike. I loving being challenged each and everyday academically as well as by my peers in my own relationship with Christ.

My roommates and I are a great match. We are friends from high-school youth group, and know each-other quite well. Not only are we keeping accountability in every regard, but it's nice to always have someone to 'bro-out' with on the off hours or weekend. Looking forward to growing to be more like Christ with these men of God as well. We decided to read the book of James five times a week, on top of any other reading we might be doing. I'm excited to really learn and understand what this book has to offer! My great HS friend Robbie challenged me to this daily reading, and this is another way to keep accountable.

Our entire dorm (Knutson) is full of great men. We have a bi-weekly prayer gathering to pray for each other and challenges we might have or might face. We are coming together to fight for Christ and Break Though and do amazing things for Christ on our campus .

Loving NWC, and looking forward to an awesome year!!

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy?
Let him sing songs of praise.
James 5:31 (New International Version)

Singing songs of praise everywhere I go!

Go with Christ, show his love in everything you do.

Summer Love

This summer has gone so fast. Throughout high school, I never believed people when I was told that live only moves faster, and to enjoy HS while I could. How I wish I listened to their advice!

Working with the High School Ministry the past year, I've seen things about the 'good old days' that I never realized. How much opportunity there is to get involved with different sports, and organizations, and student groups. How much opportunity I had to share my faith, and didn't.

Regret isn't a word I would use, as I regret very little in my life. It was a learning experience which molded me into who I am today, simply a year later. That being said, the difference between a HS senior and a college freshman are immense in more ways then one (figured that one out this past year too!).

I'm so thankful for my past year as it has been so quick, especially the summer! I don't know what I've done for the past two/three months, but it seems very little to what I have done in the past. Work, and disc-golf? Is that all I've amounted to with my time... wow! I know that I've done much more, but it takes some concentration to see it! :P Friendships would be the biggest thing on my what happened recently list. Wither it's growing close, growing apart, or maintaining them, I have really seen a change in who I call friend.

God's Love is amazing. The college ministry known as 'The College Group' that I attend has been talking about phileo love, which would be best described in modern terms as brotherly or friendship love/affection. I fall so short of what God calls us to be as loving friends. My prayer is to grow in my love for God, and for others, putting Him and them before myself that I may show Christ's love though my everyday actions.

I hope that you're milking all you can out of your summer months, and that your love, phileo love only continues to grow!

I found this on Adam Young's Myspace page, relate fully and leave you with it:

I follow Jesus Christ wholeheartedly. He is my life, my strength, my all.

The Joy of Humor

I have come to realize how much I truly love and appreciate humor. Wither it's a funny video, lame joke, or simply having a good time with friends. My humor isn't the most complex, but I love it never the less.

If you don't have humor in you life, I am sorry for you! Sometimes having some fun and laughing a little is a necessity to get you through a hard day at work, school finals, or a bummer time in your week.

This is one video that I watch when I'm feeling a bit down:




Perhaps, you're not big on youtube vidoes? How about photos?
There are a few of us who have decided that the "googly eyes" don't belong solely on puppets. We travel the earth with a pair or two and create humor out of everyday objects. This is a single sample of what goes on:



Justin Flom, the main man behind the googlyeye craze that is currently sweeping the nation, has started a tumblr collective of some of the best photos thus far - http://googleyeyes.tumblr.com/

There are more pictures in facebook albums from the people participating if you want more.

I hope that you come to appreciate humor if you haven't already. If that means you need to find a friend that is ridiculous and crazy, do it. The more you can enjoy the little things in life, the more you enjoy everything else.

God gave us such amazing personalities, likes and dislikes. Let's enjoy the little things that we can in life that have been given to us: Laughter, Friendship, Cheesy Jokes and Humor!

I hope that you too appreciate humor, and how refreshing it can be.
Keep On Keeping On.

-Himp

Have You Ever Been Alone With God?

May this be an encouragement to you in your own way.
-Matt


When they were alone, He explained all things to His deciples

Mark 4:34

Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?

We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, "Oh, I’m so unworthy." We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest January 12

Job 112

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"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

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My View of the College Experience

So far I like college.
I don't regret going to a community college, not at all. It's just that it is lacking a huge part of college, even though it has it in the title: Community.

The people here are all nice, and don't have any of the prejudices or assumptions that high school is notoriously known for. But every one is doing the same thing... Come to class, do the work that needs to be done, and leave. I'm as guilty as the next person, I park in the same spot every day and walk the same hallways at the same times. It would just be nice to have real friends here, new people that were interested in genuine friendships with other NCC students.

I think the hardest part for me is the distance I have to drive everyday for two hours of class. And drive here (I'm writing this from the Copp Student Center) twice on Thursdays for my night class. Without having a job, I've watched my money go from comfortable to nerve-wracking. I applied at BestBuy and GeekSquad, and they called me back two days later. I wasn't able to talk with them, they left a message telling me I could interview on a Saturday in which I was out of town; I haven't heard from them since, even after leaving multiple messages.

Frustrating? Yes, I think so.

So I don't have a job, seemingly can't get one, won't ask my parents for money, and haven't been charging for computer help. Awesome. Topping it off, I 'work' more at church now then I did when I was actually employed.

On the brighter side, I don't have anything left to buy. I have a ZuneHD, Digital Camera, Laptop and Cellphone. That's good news, and I'm blessed beyond belief to have all that.

Saving money will be hard. Finding a job? I know of one that is a possibility, but not sure how it will work around my school schedule. Maybe if my stupid computer would sell, then I could drive for another month without sweating every time I fill up.

Church is going alright... There is a retreat this weekend and I'm super excited for it! Tons of kids signed up, and more leaders then we've had. Great news, and a good chance for me to lead a cabin of freshman gentlemen (little twerps! :P).

Alas! Night class approaches, and I'm running out of blog material to write.

Hope your life is less stressful then mine.

Find someone special and go out and have fun together, make sure they know how much you appreciate them!

Keep your stick on the ice.

< Mattie B

My Final Two Weeks Without Loans

I'm pretty excited to start college. Even though I'm only going to Normandale Community, I'm still pretty dang pumped!

I think the biggest thing I am excited for is IV, Campus Crusade or things of the like. I love getting involved with people who I don't know previously. Not that I don't like the people I already know, but I love to meet new people in new situations. I'm looking forward to the 'Student Life' aspect of college the most. My classes are currently pointing me in the direction of a 2year AA degree, but I shall see where I end up going in the coming semesters.

My job at Erik's Bike Shop is officially over. They don't really tell you that though, they just stop giving you hours. My manager walked up to me after hours and said, "Well, it's been nice!" and that was it. Walked out, never to receive paid hours from the bike man in the foreseeable future again. NBD, I'll find another job. I'm not too worried about it. Perhaps Grace Church could become more of a steady job.

Speaking of Grace, I am starting a ministry there in the up coming week or so, called 'The Gadget Guys.' J.R. and myself are going to be the Geek Squad™ for Grace, fixing and repairing the compys for people who don't know who to trust. I'm super excited, and word is seemingly already going around! =P

Alas, my energy drinks are wearing off, time to snooze

--Mattie B.