I hate cockroaches. It is rather strange. I dont really hate any other bugs. There are stranger looking bugs, uglier bugs, more dangerous bugs and, especially in the south, larger bugs. I hate cockroaches because they represent uncleanliness. They only need a little bit of water and food to live. They can live anywhere, as long as it is not completely clean.
Cockroaches are like sin. No matter how pure you look, sin always shows up. It hides and is rarely out in the open, but is always there. This is because deep down we are unclean. Sin, as a believer, is a manifestation of human nature i.e. the flesh. Like the roaches, it is not the sins themselves that are most troubling, but that they point to a deeper problem.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
After less than two weeks in SC, I headed back to Denver. My friends Jeremy and Coleen were married in Colorado Springs and I drove down with Mike, Jess and Erin. It was amazing. The trip was amazing, the wedding was amazing, the dinner/dance after were amazing. I flew out to Colorado and drove my car back to SC and even the 25 hour drive wasn’t too bad.
Some highlights of the trip:
Jeremy singing to his wife, during the wedding ceremony, much to her surprise. Jeremy is not known for an amazing voice, but his boldness and dedication to his wife, which enabled him to sing, was astonishing. He sang unfailing love. Jeremy-you are my hero.
Being around other epicureans. It has been almost 14 months since I have spent quality time with friends who love, know and value quality food a drink. It was so refreshing and made me miss that part of my life in Denver. The culinary scene in Columbia is a little lacking and the ‘foody’ culture is not prevalent at my school…for obvious reasons. Lets face it, it takes a certain kind of people to sit around and try to name exotic garnishes on their plates (it was a parsnip by the way-good job Hannah) and talk about what kind of wines we would be.
Erin, “Kalan, if you were a champagne, you would be a brut.”
Me, “Why because I am dry and have no taste?”
Erin, “Ha, no because you are complex and go well with many things.”
Who does that....really?
Meeting Megan for dinner. The worst part of any drive across the country is Kansas-fact. The speed limit is stagnating, there is an enormity of law enforcement and there is nothing interesting for miles, similar to the Republican candidate debates. I called Megan while I was driving and learned that she lives only 20 minutes from a town I would be driving through. We stopped and had Chinese food. It was amazing. I had not seen her in almost a year and half. Truly a blessing from God.
Some highlights of the trip:
Jeremy singing to his wife, during the wedding ceremony, much to her surprise. Jeremy is not known for an amazing voice, but his boldness and dedication to his wife, which enabled him to sing, was astonishing. He sang unfailing love. Jeremy-you are my hero.
Being around other epicureans. It has been almost 14 months since I have spent quality time with friends who love, know and value quality food a drink. It was so refreshing and made me miss that part of my life in Denver. The culinary scene in Columbia is a little lacking and the ‘foody’ culture is not prevalent at my school…for obvious reasons. Lets face it, it takes a certain kind of people to sit around and try to name exotic garnishes on their plates (it was a parsnip by the way-good job Hannah) and talk about what kind of wines we would be.
Erin, “Kalan, if you were a champagne, you would be a brut.”
Me, “Why because I am dry and have no taste?”
Erin, “Ha, no because you are complex and go well with many things.”
Who does that....really?
Meeting Megan for dinner. The worst part of any drive across the country is Kansas-fact. The speed limit is stagnating, there is an enormity of law enforcement and there is nothing interesting for miles, similar to the Republican candidate debates. I called Megan while I was driving and learned that she lives only 20 minutes from a town I would be driving through. We stopped and had Chinese food. It was amazing. I had not seen her in almost a year and half. Truly a blessing from God.
In Kansas with Megan
Now I am back in SC and back in the books. :)
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Welcome to CIU
Wednesday
Panicked parents and frightened freshmen made up the majority of the student population on the first day of orientation. Geographically speaking, think “CIU, next to a river, next to a Penitentiary.” So the question arises, “what do you do when an inmate escapes and is believed to be in the area the evening before Welcome Week begins and all the new students begin milling about?”
The natural answer to that question is to put the school under lockdown, detaining all students and frantic parents in a corralled area, created the prime environment for a calming effect…This is how all the parents were began the process of letting go of their children. Only a felon could bring people together in such a way.
Saturday
After a rather disappointing day, I connected with a guy named Ray sometime in the early evening. Ray, perhaps the most energetic person I have ever met. He brings a powerful personality to the Pastoral Ministries students here, along with his soon-to-be fully tattooed arms. A powerful leader, he rallied students to head for downtown Columbia for Hardies (Carl’s Jr.) and street evangelism. It was ‘just what I needed’.
Sharing the Gospel is difficult in Russia, because you have to do it in Russian-naturally. So I was eager to return to America and avoid the language barrier. Somewhere between Russia and SC I forgot that your ability to articulate has, ultimately, a limited effect on a person’s acceptance of the Gospel. I shared the Gospel with two students hanging out and, about half-way through, was struck that, even though I could articulate so clearly, it had not changed their hearts towards the Gospel. I have not been so frustrated since I left Russia.
I just want everyone to know Christ and it is painful when they reject him. Perhaps that is a confirmation that I am headed in the direction I need to be here at CIU.
Panicked parents and frightened freshmen made up the majority of the student population on the first day of orientation. Geographically speaking, think “CIU, next to a river, next to a Penitentiary.” So the question arises, “what do you do when an inmate escapes and is believed to be in the area the evening before Welcome Week begins and all the new students begin milling about?”
The natural answer to that question is to put the school under lockdown, detaining all students and frantic parents in a corralled area, created the prime environment for a calming effect…This is how all the parents were began the process of letting go of their children. Only a felon could bring people together in such a way.
Saturday
After a rather disappointing day, I connected with a guy named Ray sometime in the early evening. Ray, perhaps the most energetic person I have ever met. He brings a powerful personality to the Pastoral Ministries students here, along with his soon-to-be fully tattooed arms. A powerful leader, he rallied students to head for downtown Columbia for Hardies (Carl’s Jr.) and street evangelism. It was ‘just what I needed’.
Sharing the Gospel is difficult in Russia, because you have to do it in Russian-naturally. So I was eager to return to America and avoid the language barrier. Somewhere between Russia and SC I forgot that your ability to articulate has, ultimately, a limited effect on a person’s acceptance of the Gospel. I shared the Gospel with two students hanging out and, about half-way through, was struck that, even though I could articulate so clearly, it had not changed their hearts towards the Gospel. I have not been so frustrated since I left Russia.
I just want everyone to know Christ and it is painful when they reject him. Perhaps that is a confirmation that I am headed in the direction I need to be here at CIU.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
With this inaugural post, I hope that everyone who reads my blog enjoys it. Although I suppose if you don't enjoy it, you will just stop reading it...
In two days I will be in South Carolina. I have never been to South Carolina, but will be spending at least the next three years there studying. At Columbia International University, I will be pursuing an Intercultural Studies and a Biblical Studies degree respectively.
Spending time with my family during the recent weeks reminds me how dear they are to me and I hate to leave them. I am very eager to engage American life again however and aware of ways God is preparing my heart even before I leave.
In two days I will be in South Carolina. I have never been to South Carolina, but will be spending at least the next three years there studying. At Columbia International University, I will be pursuing an Intercultural Studies and a Biblical Studies degree respectively.
Spending time with my family during the recent weeks reminds me how dear they are to me and I hate to leave them. I am very eager to engage American life again however and aware of ways God is preparing my heart even before I leave.
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