Enterprising

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2011-07-12T10:49:00.000-04:00

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https://plus.google.com/114633851697520813220/posts

Aftermath

2011-02-10T13:21:00.000-05:00

I'm long overdue in my assignments that I gave myself over Christmas break. The good news is that even though I've failed to report on it, I was (praise God) met with a sound measure of success. I've read four works of fiction since my last post, two were indeed over break. I will review them in my next posting.

Indycc was a beautiful experience. I was blessed by my dear friends. It was so much more fulfilling than I had expected it to be. It wasn't that I was going into the conference with a negative mentality, the reality is, I was just a recipient of over the top, unexpected blessing. The price is right game show we put on, and I helped out with, flowed so much better than I expected. People "ate it up". For me, it was so much fun to take part. I got to spend time getting to know some very cool people that I would have otherwise not been able to share experiences with. If you want to know more, or are interested in going to indycc next year, hit me up and we'll talk.

My food endeavors were not successful this break. I was not motivated or diligent to prepare and document what I did. Thinking back on it, I'm still somewhat bummed that I didn't do better about making this happen. Although since the 31st, I've been able to sample a number of tasty beers. I may write a post about them in the near future.

Unfortunately given the nature of UT and how they take pleasure in my vexation. They print many of their own books and the bookstore website was not working for over a week so I wasn't able to get my books until I went back to school. It was somewhat of a last minute dealeo. I'm not happy with it, but I've yet to find a better solution.

I came back to school full of life, the spirit, vitality, and rest. Over the weeks that have passes many of those things are somewhat emptied out of me and in need of another recharging. I found rest in the Lord over break. Even though I kept busy and the time went by like a flash of lightning, it was a "good kind of busy". There was a very limited amount of stress in my life over break.

That is the debt I believe I owe. With the exception of my thoughts on the books I read which I will happily post next time for all to read if they so desire. I'm feeling a bit goofy so I'm going to stop before I say something I regret.

Maintaining Goals pt. 1

2010-12-17T00:57:00.003-05:00

Since exams are finally over for me I am going to take the first step to follow through with my winter break goals. Let's talk food. I spontaneously met up with Matt Huffman at my apartment and cooked up some dinner. Upon looking around my kitchen, I realized that I have almost no food because of preparations to go home. I was able to dig out some potatoes and catfish I picked up on manager's special at K-Rog. This is what I cooked and how I did it, using only what I had at the time. Had I prepared, I would have steamed some green veggies and a salad to go with it, just to add some small measure of healthiness to the meal.

Pan Fried Potatoes:
Unpealed potatoes evenly sliced about 1/4" thick
Butter, Salt, Peper, Cajun Seasoning, Onion Powder

Melt a generous amount of butter in a skillet (cast iron, if you have it) over medium heat. Add the potatoes and stir around to coat on all sides with butter. Add in the seasoning (don't measure just add some and taste it after). Cover the skillet, but leave a sliver open for some steam to free out. Cook until the potatoes are soft and have some nice golden color. Make sure they don't stick to the bottom, the fewer times you flip them the prettier they will turn out.

Fried Catfish:
Cat fish fillets
Vegetable Oil
Flour, eggs, milk, salt, pepper, old bay seasoning, Cajun seasoning

Heat up 2/3" oil in a skillet to 350 degrees (this is difficult without a candy thermometer. I didn't have one and I didn't get my oil hot enough so my fish didn't turn golden brown but it was still really tasty) Beat an egg with some milk and put it in a shallow bowl. Throw your dry ingredients on a plate. Rinse the fillets, dip them in the egg/milk and then cover them with the dry ingredients. Place the fillets into the oil, be careful, when you flip the fillets make sure they land away from you so you don't splash yourself. Cook until the fish just begins to flake when you drag a fork across it.

That's it. It was suuuuper easy and pretty fun even though I slopped cooking oil all over the floor. Comments, additions, and questions are welcome. Please let me know if you actually try this out. Happy Chrsitmas break!

Finals Week and Break Preparation

2010-12-14T11:58:00.002-05:00

Finals week is an interesting animal. Every year it offers unique challenges and repeat pitfalls. As I am sitting here, hungry but warm under my blankets on this blustery day in Ohio, I am granted an opportunity to reflect. Yesterday I fumbled through a double dose of two hour finals in calculus and organic chemistry. I wasn't able to make it through either of the exams so I turned them both in with unfinished questions. That is something that I am not feeling very good about right now and it is effecting my ability to study for my later finals.

Despite my failure to be successful on my finals it seems this semester was a success. I knew coming into it that I would probably be facing the most challenging semester of my life. I got a new job, new(ish) major, moved to a new town, moved out from my two best friends, and started studying at a new university. I've always liked exploring fresh areas but everyone has their limits. I made it through and I'm proud of that fact.

Lastly, I feel it is important for me to set some goals for Christmas break in a desperate attempt to be productive in my season of rest (and to find rest in a spirit of productivity). So I set my list of goals to be as follows:

Read at least one work of fiction and blog my review upon completion.
Document and blog my culinary creations and experiences.
Live up every moment at IndyCC and love on those around me.
Order my textbooks before the last possible moment.
Be rested in body, mind, and soul in preparation for my scholastic triumphs in the upcoming year.

Tea time.

Quick Update From My Life

2010-11-02T21:32:00.000-04:00

Katie is out getting popcorn because she has the munchies so we will have a tasty treat for a chilly evening. Popcorn is one of those things that remind me of Autumn because I rarely partake because I am seldom in the mood, however tonight I am indeed desiring popcorn.

Right now I should be studying because I have another exam tomorrow but I have not the attention span for it. I just worked my butt off for an anatomy exam which I know I scored poorly on. I am left with very little drive to study for this exam. I intended to study while she was gone but I was distracted. The good news is that after much annoyance, I have finally come across a blog theme and background that I find acceptable. Everyone should rest easier now.

The positive experiences from my recent past are: my free oil change coupon which I redeemed today, finding a geocache (likely to be my last for the season) with Katie today, eating at Cici's Pizza for the first time (also with coupon, thanks Tyler), going to Brookside for the first time in too long, and teaching Katie how to play Dominion.

I Agree Charlie Brown

2010-10-29T22:34:00.001-04:00

For the past week I have been obsessed with the hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". Growing up I was drawn to this song and I have to say it has always been one of my favorites (along with "Oh Come all Yea Faithful" and "Oh Holy Night"). What you should probably know about me is that I am not one for Christmas traditions. I want my family to be together, that is my favorite part of every holiday. Outside of that, I enjoy some eggnog, "Charlie Brown Christmas" and, provided I haven't heard the radio very much, a metered dosage of T.S.O. Christmas to me feels like one of the least honest times of the year and like my favorite characters in the aforementioned cartoon, mourn the commercialization of Christmas. I cannot get this song out of my mind.

What is so incredible to me is how detailed and Biblical the poetry is. I linked up a few things. Take the time to just look at the lyrics and be pensive. I love what this song says about salvation and a waiting heart.

1. Oh, come, Oh, come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

2. Oh, come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny;

From depths of hell Thy people save

And give them victory o'er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

3. Oh, come, Thou Dayspring from on high,

And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

4. Oh, come, Thou Key of David, come

And open wide our heavenly home:

Make safe the way that leads on high

And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/lyrics/tlh062.htm

What I'm reading and why

2010-10-18T14:56:00.000-04:00

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/10/18/31132.htm

College forced to pay legal fees after law suit for infringing on 1st and 2nd amendment rights. Thank you for protecting our constitutional rights.

http://votesmart.org/

This is a pretty good summary of the candidates' positions based on one's zip code. They have voting records and endorsements from special interests. It is a useful tool.

http://is.gd/g78ot

A barefoot Virginia professor is preaching shoelessness. I like it.

http://is.gd/g78w2

The turmoil in France is causing problems with world transportation. It seems French protests sadly end in violence too often.

http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/

If you're an Ohio resident and someone who is interested in protecting your fundamental freedoms, it will be worthwhile for you to keep up to date with the Firearms news.

Why I Hate Facebook pt. 2

2010-09-03T12:01:00.000-04:00

In one word, Places. Facebook has now cloned some of Foursquare's functionality of location tagging. The catch is this, it is now on by default, added without most user's knowledge, and it is possible to be tagged without your knowledge. Mistake? Yes facebook, it really was.

So why should we care about the results of this? Because, a pastor could log into facebook and find himself tagged in a strip club or casino. This is a horrible idea because it is not an opt-in feature, it is enabled by default. There is definitely some massive potential for abuse here. I don't dig it.

FFlick

2010-08-28T22:31:00.000-04:00

If you haven't seen FFlick (http://fflick.com), than I suggest you check it out. If you're a twitter fan and/or a self proclaimed movie buff, you'll want to check out this creative new web property. It is a brilliant new way to learn what people say about a movie. If you've had problems trusting IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes, or Roger Ebert, this might be the site for you. FFlick searches twitter for tweets about movies, decides whether they are positive or negative reviews, and publishes the information in a very usable way. It also takes your movie reviews and your friends' movie reviews and turns them into feeds. I find it interesting and very easy to use. Let me know whether or not you've found it useful.

My FFlick link:

http://fflick.com/jshaffe#

India and More

2010-08-09T23:20:00.000-04:00

I've recently been 'craving' India. I'm not quite sure if craving is even the right word to use, but it is the one who's definition seems to be most akin to my desires. Of late, I find myself thinking about the time I spent there and longing to go back. I see things on facebook that are posted by people I met while I was there and I want to be standing in these places. The food, the sights, the drinks, and the interaction were so very different there. I feel this sense of being caged up swelling up within me, a feeling that will not go away, it will only grow stronger. Perhaps it is simply my adventurous spirit fighting the American way of life that is so comfortable yet so boring. I cannot forget the feeling of being alive that I felt so keenly on those streets. I knew I was not only making a difference, but partaking in a great adventure with a group of individuals who now hold a very special place in my heart. Push back one more layer and I am struck again with the wave of nausea I felt when I realized it would be only hours before I was on my way back to the USA.

I love America as well as the life I am living here, but the part of me that remains untamed, childlike even, detests the prim and proper of its daily grind. I find myself wanting to fill my pack, tie my boots, and be off on a quest to anywhere. More than that, I desire to renew the unique way I was searching for relationships and spirituality as I began it in India. I was strangely at peace because I was out of my element. My peace came from being truly alive, in experience, in spirit, and in relationships.

Craigslist

2010-08-05T00:02:00.000-04:00

I'm interested to hear about what everyone's experiences have been with Craigslist. I've recently been browsing the lists of items to see if I can find any good deals on, well anything really. In essence, I am working now and have pushed past the point where I am breaking even when it comes to my income vs. expenses. There are a number of little things that I would like to pick up if the price is right. Like I said, money is tight. The problem is this, it seems that people don't realize that this is the internet age. I can google, ebay, or kelly blue book whatever they are trying to get someone to buy and find out in about two minutes that they are selling it for as much or more than what it would cost to pick up a new one. It is just another situation where I find myself frustrated by people's greed and utter lack of honesty. So, what have your experiences been while on Craigslist? Is it just the Toledo area that is so poopy? Have you ever purchased anything from Craistlist? How did that purchase work out for you in the end? Comment, FB, tweet, or text responses are all welcome.

"Dumbing Down"

2010-07-22T11:10:00.000-04:00

I was reading an article about the "Dumbing Down" of the Gospel (link) and I thought it made some pretty interesting points. It is basically about how the way we have summarized the gospel to those we witness too has changed dramatically since the industrial revolution.

New Way: The Four Laws

1. God's Love (John 3:16)

2. Our Sin (Romans 3:23)

3. His Plan (Romans 5:8)

4. Our Response (John 1:12)

Old Way: Relationally Contextualized

"You are the bride to the Bridegroom, and the Bridegroom is Jesus Christ. You must eat of His flesh and drink of His blood to know Him, and your union with Him will make you one, and your oneness with Him will allow you to be identified with Him, His purity allowing God to interact with you, and because of this you will be with Him in eternity, sitting at His side and enjoying His companionship, which will be more fulfilling than an earthly husband or an earthly bride. All you must do to engage God is be willing to leave everything behind, be willing to walk away from your identity, and embrace joyfully the trials and tribulations, the torture and perhaps martyrdom that will come upon you for being a child of God in a broken world working out its own redemption in empty pursuits." - Donald Miller

Thoughts?

BP

2010-07-12T12:14:00.000-04:00

The BP corporation is being vilified on every medium of media on the planet. Let's be honest here, the effects on the environment are a big deal. What I don't like is that I haven't heard any stories published on how the families and loved ones of the 11 workers killed in the explosion are doing. Nor have I heard how the 17 injured are recovering. If stories have even been published about them they have been flooded away by a multitude of other reports on the "environmental backlash".

I care about the environment. I love nature, hiking, camping, backpacking, and swimming. If I can enjoy something outside, I probably find myself spending time outside doing it. We are tasked with the stewardship of this planet. It is ours to take care of. This is what bothers me about the news. BP didn't blow up their own billion dollar oil rig, killing 11 people, because they felt like it. It wasn't in their best interest to do so. Force a company to drill offshore through miles of ocean and earth crust in a hurricane prone area because locations easy to drill are too highly regulated, and accidents will happen. This won't be the last time this happens. I think the American people share some responsibility for this tragedy. It was the representatives that we elected, who voted on the laws to make it impossible for companies to drill on American soil.

Did transocean (the company BP contracted to do the actual operation of the rig) screw up? Look at the pictures of the gulf of Mexico and you'll get your answer. This mistake will be costly in so many ways we cannot begin to calculate it, including a toll of human lives. Grow up America! We are the ones driving around cities gunning our V6 and V8 engines in our super-duties, SUVs, and vans. We are the ones creating the massive demand for fossil fuels (Source).

Here is the problem as I see it. The political leaders of the nation are going to tell the people, "stricter regulation is the key. Keep on driving, flying, and buying. We'll regulate the industry some more and then cap the prices on gas for you when it goes up too much, but still increase the amount of taxes we take per gallon." Unfortunately, people will believe them, the laws will pass, and the situation will become worse. It is a convenient ending where BP is temporarily blamed for all of America's energy problems until a new scapegoat must be found.

Problems With Facebook / I don't really like basements

2010-07-02T15:59:00.000-04:00

My New Internet Interests

2010-07-01T14:41:00.000-04:00

Evernote is supposed to keep me from forgetting anything. I can save anything I see on my phone or pc. Foursquare lets my friends know what I'm doing and lets me know what they're doing. Geocaching is GPS powered high tech treasure hunting. Google Voice is a sweet new take on telephony. Google Chrome is a browser, I have finally decided to replace firefox with chrome. Why? Because chrome has the extensions I want to use, syncs my bookmarks with my google account, and runs each tab in a separate environment so one wayward tab won't sink the whole program.

Home

2009-05-18T13:22:00.001-04:00

In an odd way, being home again is proving to be just as unique of an experience as moving to Bowling Green. I had taken plenty of college classes before, so there wasn't really anything new for me in that aspect. I had gone to visit all my older siblings while they were in their dorms and apartments in college, so I had a glimpse of what 'live away from home' experience was all about. What I have never experienced, other than coming back from camp or Alive, was what it would be like to come home after and extended period of time.

All of my tasks and priorities which perpetually drove my life forward while at BG are completely nonexistent here at home. There are no meetings, no classes, no papers, no projects, and no ridiculous assignments due. My phone's calendar literally has "No upcoming appointments." I've not seen that in nine months. My concept of irony is certainly not being over sensitive when I claim that the most challenging thing about being at home is finding motivation in an environment which lacks challenges. Today I'm going to mow the law, not because I have to but because I have nothing else I have to do, and maybe fix the tire on my car, not because I have to but I am simply tired of "not fixing" it.

A big part of my life at Bowling Green has been the community there, something I am proud of. I'm not an extrovert by any measuring scale, nonetheless I became intentional about being relational (extra point for using Cru words). This outward focus has unfortunately morphed into text messages and wall posts because of the distance between my lovely community and myself. A change which I am exceeding and increasingly unhappy with.

Of course the summer will have its legitimate challenges. I will be taking classes from University of Findlay, classes which I am well aware will be dominating my time and attention because of their intensity. However, I am not content with these classes being the sum and total of my summer. Although not from any of my teachers or instructors, I found inspiration and motivation in BG. Now I'm looking for a way to keep it from going to waste.

This is not a blog created to search for complements or motivation from people. The point is, that I am separated from the tasks which drive me to be motivated, the environment which distracts me and thus causes my attention to sharpen, and the people who make being motivated worth it. By this point you may notice the apparent lack of God in this blog. Although I do not deny, God has been involved in virtually every aspect of my struggles and triumphs in BG, more so than at any point previously in my life. I seek to distance myself from the ironic-ly surface-y use of "God" as the answer to all of these questions. I would then be forced to concluded that there was no betterment of myself in my time spent in BG, simply that God did everything for me. Certainly God is paramount in my life goals, but I find no satisfaction in God completing these goals for me and, I believe, neither does He. Although His help is oft asked for and finally under appreciated.