The best days are the ones where you're missing your pants at some point... unless you live somewhere cold, or you're homeless.

Something was different about today. But, before I start the story, I have to let you know how the day started. I began reading Romans today and I couldn't get the first line out of my head. Please, before you put me off as an awesome christian, understand that I haven't read my bible regularly in almost a month. I haven't opened it in a few weeks. I'm not a 'good' christian.

Anyways, Paul calls himself 'a bond servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God...' The part that struck me the hardest was the last part - set apart for the gospel of God. When I read this, I ask myself what would happen if that was my purpose - I am set apart for the gospel of God. What if sharing and living out the gospel was my only intention in life? Wow. Anyways, so I was chewing on that bit for the rest of the day...

Physical Chemistry II, Intermediate Quantitative Analysis, and Molecular Genetics slipped by. I was so tired. I almost fell asleep once for every letter in those class names. (I did stay up late and get up early).

But, I wasn't worried about these classes, I was worried about what lied ahead at 1:00.

I had a lab for P-Chem. But, out of five groups, me and my partner were the lucky group to start out with zero information and design an experiment to figure out a reaction rate. If you don't understand where to begin from this, then you're in my shoes.

We gave a presentation the week before about how we were going to perform the experiment (we had no idea what to do), and the teacher ripped us apart with a few specific questions. I wasn't looking forward to this lab at all.

We ended up finding a part of an experiment online that we hoped to get working. So, we went into the lab, hoping to work something out. Now, I could go into some chemistry methods and such, but I won't do that. Very simply, we got the experiment to work, but it was running too fast. So, me and Brian worked out some math, and figured out how to make it run slower. And it did! Then, we tried to speed it up, and again we succeeded! I guess I've always had my doubts in chemistry, never thinking I was 'good enough.' But, this lab today somehow proved to my doubting inner ego that yes, I can do chemistry (which is good, since I've been studying it for four years).

As I'm walking back from lab, on top of the world, I hear music coming from our neighboring house. I thought they were having a dance party or something, but no one was outside, or on the porch... then I saw five people on the roof including a violinist and a guitartist...

About three minutes later, I was up there too. Their roof is actually very comfortable if you lie down. And, something about being on a roof changes things. Maybe it's just because it's a whole new perception experience, or maybe it's because you feel superior to the peons below... I'm not sure.

I came back from across the street pretty content. I was so happy, I loaded up an episode of the Office that I downloaded for free. It was just about as close to perfection as I could get. I had a quesadilla on one plate, a cherry coke by my side, and my pants were missing. And, I watched the office to my heart's content. Amazing.

Then, our first gel group came along. I'm co-leading a group going through John 13-17 (the upper room discourse). Now, you may not know this, but I hate public speaking. I'm fine if I don't know I'll be in front of people, but once I'm there, knowing what's coming... I freak out. I've been trying to improve, trying to throw myself out there, but it's still hard.

So, I guess I was sort of dreading tonight. I was basing how this night would go off of how my last worry-wrought one was. Anyways, it ended up going really well. We didn't run out of stuff to say, no awkward moments happened, and I got to know all the people in our group. I know I'm not Larry King now or anything, but it's a nice step forward.

So, that's been my day. But, it's important not to forget where it all started. I know I won't.

Bryce

“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.” ~C.S. Lewis

[Maybe one of these days I'll put up a post that isn't as serious. I've realized lately though that I really like things that have some sort of meaning in all parts of them, especially movies. So, I guess I put a lot of thought into the things I do.]

Check this:

The Irresistible Revolution

"Too often we just do what makes sense to us and ask God to bless it. In the Beatitudes, God tells us what God blesses - the poor, the peacemakers, the hungry, those who mourn, those who show mercy - so we should not ask God's blessing on a declaration that we will have no mercy on evildoers (war). We know all too well that we have a God who shows mercy on evildoers, for if he didn't, we'd all be in big trouble, and for that, this evildoer is very glad. Rather than do what makes sense to us and ask God's blessing, we'd do better to surround ourselves with those whom God promises to bless, and then we need not ask God's blessing. It's just what God does."

~Shane Clairborne, the Irresistible Revolution

This book teaches me about living a way of life following the Prince of Peace. It's teaching me about compassion, and not to sit around and wait for things to change. It's a book about love without human boundaries. And, I'm only halfway through!

Da Hairs

Before:



During:
My dad had never done this before. We were using my brother's hair clippers.
"Oops" says Dad.
"What do you mean 'oops?!'"


I should have left it like this:


No one will notice, right?


Before/After.


Oh, the things I do for Pine Cove...

-B

Saw this on Postsecret Today

I thought it was fitting since I've said 'goodbye' to a lot of college friends who I won't see for a while.

M U S I C

I know, I know, posting song lyrics is getting old. It's so 2005, not 2008. So, let me take a second to explain why I continue to do so.

I love music. There is so much communication when you listen to a song. There are so many aspects of the song that can effect your feelings. So, my analytical mind wants to dissect it... but I won't let it. Not here. But, here's what I think can convey information from music: lyrics, tempo, key, repeated patterns, crescendos... Doesn't sound too inspiring when listed like this, but it truly does amaze me. I mean really, why does a certain set of notes produce a "minor key" and no matter what you do it's gonna sound sad? How does that happen?! I also love how a person can pick and choose from all of these things to convey a message to the listener. It's pretty fascinating... anyways, here's another.

"Listening to Freddy Mercury" by Emery

Every once in a while I think I'm lying.
Take it to the bank. I believe every word I say.
(This just isn't how, this just isn't how)
Then again this is when you start your prying.
(This just isn't how, this just isn't how)
But there's a thought it could be true.
But this just isn't how I imagined it would be.
With these random people just asking the most personal things.
And to think that somehow I could always come clean.
And you shake your head just like you know what I mean.

You're a Christian tell the sinner find repentance it's your last chance.
You believer, where's your patience?
Answer questions, put on faces.
What about God? For you and for me.

All have fallen short (To see if it's right or wrong to listen to this song.
I don't want you too. To see if you're okay with all the words I say.
It can't be this way)

Somehow, someone is more equal than others.
Depending on the words we choose to say.
A glance at her too long tonight.
But everything I am saying is right in your ears.

We are all the sisters and the brothers.
Until we find we don't believe the same, like...

Gary is getting drunk to forget Sarah.
Sarah is stealing money from her parents.
Aaron is lying straight to Jon.
About Megan and the things that went on.
Jessica is a gossip, Laura is a slut.
Derrick hits Bridget and Ben deals drugs.
Seth spends all his money gambling.
Joey stopped praying.

It is all the same thing.
We are all the same people.
With sinning hearts that make us equal.

Here is my hand, not words said desperately.
It is not our job to make anyone believe.

Tisbury Lane

Why did MAE never release this on their big albums? Second best song by MAE in my book.

"She greets the day with her hair wet
She asks them to vacate the building
Because she's got a plan they don't know yet
And if it goes wrong, there'll be no one to see

If she could just get the word out
God knows she's trying
They're watching her with eyes closed
She's always stuck with the old route
Does anyone knock when they barge in to beat her down?

Will you come back?
It's all she wants to know
She knows she's part of the problem too
Could she let it go?
It'd take a miracle
So that's what I'm praying for

No one can know just how she feels
She won't use the phone, she's too tired to pick it up
She's going back to the old way
She sits in the classroom to learn with the others

Please don't give up when it's easy
Don't you know that me and Jesus will cheer you on?
He's the only one that will be constantly everything you need

Will you come back?
It's all she wants to know
She knows she's part of the problem too
Could she let it go?
It'd take a miracle
So that's what I'm praying for

Yeah
She lives on Tisbury Lane"

I was on the Avalanche

It's funny how you can go for so long without having a break, and then all good things rush in at once.

Last weekend, I helped my (basically) brother, Smedvig, propose to his girlfriend. Well, I didn't help as much as I filmed it. Same thing, though, right? I've never really seen a proposal before, so I was a little skeptical. But, I am very thankful that he invited me to be there for the big question. I left their church soaked in joy from their radiant happiness. It was nice to have the night before I toook the MCAT.

I took a test last Saturday that I had studied for every day for 90 days. April 19th... I will not forget that day. In the midst of the MCAT, I was not seeing the light. But, when I walked out of there and gave a high five to a girl I will never see again, the light poured in. The pressure sloughed off, and clarity came through.

That night, I met up with an old friend, Mr. Andrew Nash. He just proposed to his girlfriend. At Starbucks, we talked for a good 3 hours. It was what I needed after the test, just time to relax and catch up with humorous stories. The best part? He asked me to be his best man for his wedding! He didn't plan this, but the wedding is January 3rd... important day (for me). Needless to say, sleep came easy.

When I came back to Rollasponsibilites, another surprise was waiting. Mark Smedvig asked me to be his best for a wedding on Dec. 27th! Of course, I was honored and accepted. So, the end of December/beginning of January is going to be a crazy exciting time.

On top of all of this, I've had some time to take a lot of pictures. I thought I'd relay some up here...