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...

Dismantle. Repair.

Tonight, my room was discussing Colossians 3 for our room meeting (we're going through colossians). We took away something pretty cool from it.

Colossians 3:5 says to put to death immorality, impurity, lust... greed. As my room discussed what this practically looks like, we noticed that a lot of these things slowly fall away without hard work. I have never sat down and really thought, "How can I be less greedy today?", but today I am much less greedy than before I followed Christ. So, we decided that this was proof that God works to restore us everyday, and sometimes we don't even notice!

In verse 8, some more habits are mentioned such as anger, slander, etc. Again, we all agreed that some of these things fall away themselves. One of my favorite verses is 1 Peter 5:10 - It basically confirms that God will restore us- "perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish". I love this reminder because it inspires hope. Day by day, God is working on us, breaking down, even "putting to death" our faults, and He is building up new habits, thoughts and ways in all of us.

Reminds me of a great song by Anberlin

"Save me from myself
Save me from myself
Help me
Save me from myself
Save me from myself
Oh, woah
Things are gonna change now
For the better
And woah, oh
Things are gonna change

Hands like secrets are the hardest thing to keep from you
Lines and phrases like knives
Your words can cut me through
Dismantle me down Repair
You've dismantled me
You've dismantled me"
~Dismantle. Repair.

On a completely different note, I have to tell you about postsecret.com. Basically, people send in their secrets on postcards to this guy, and he posts them on the web. Some are big, some are almost pointless, some are sad and others are hilarious. It's a way to find release, I guess, but I like to read them just to know that people deal with the same things I do. I found this one that I could have made myself:

But, a word of caution before you get too excited - most cards are very real and shocking, so be prepared for anything.

Have a wonderful wednesday,
B ryce

This post isn't a cop-out or a filler, there was a lot of thought put into it; it's a great reminder, or even better, a great thing to never forget.

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy;
without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14

Sidewalks in the Snow

Life is like walking on sidewalks in the snow.
The only way to see if you're still on the sidewalk is to look back and study your footprints.

Necessary Nonsensicality.

I needed a lighter post.

I did no work on Saturday.

I did a ton today.


The MoMiner made me risk the weather to snap some pictures of Lions Club Park.


This one's for me. (and, I guess for you too now)

Also, I guess I'm crazy, but I cut my finger today, and I really wanted a picture of it. So, here's two.



AND



It's ok. You can think it. I like to be different.

-bryce


How long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone?

Cause I know there's got to be another level,
Somewhere closer to the other side
And, I'm feeling like it's now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical?
~Mutemath (Typical)

5-4-07

I found some really inspiring words from...myself. I wrote all last spring semester and had forgotten about what had happened and what was going on until I read some old notebook. I found this entry encouraging (who would think you could encourage yourself?).

It's dated 5-4-07

"I can feel a change coming. A sobering change. I think I'm going to grow up. Yeah, that sounds cheesy, but it's time.

I want to live for God? Well, it's time to get serious, cling to His promises, and start doing it. It's time to start communicating with people for real.

I want to be a doctor? It's time to study. Time to memorize. Time to get serious.

It's time to be there for people, help them through this life. It's time to be honest, time to think about the effects of my decisions. "A life with meaning can't exist with a life with happiness". I think God has made it possible. I need to start showing some joy. Start smiling more. Stop complaining. Be there.

I need to "embrace life". I have to stop thinking about what people think of me. I have to start thinking about what God thinks of me.

It's time to do things- not because I want to, but because I'm called to, or must do for others. It's time to let the video games go. Time to let lust go. Time to stop making excuses, and be the guy. It's time for action.

-Bryce

PS
I think, although people won't admit it, people look on Christians and judge our standards. Now, why do they care if we mess up? If there is no God, then what we do should not matter to them. But, it does. When they need someone, they see God in us and trust. I think."

Did I grow up?

"For your salvation I wait, Oh Lord." Genesis 49:18

Honest Thinkings part II

I can hear my Physical Chemistry lab report screaming for completion, but there's a few thoughts a'brewing that must come out somewhere.

So, here's Honest Thinkings part II

1. God wants us to fall more in love with Him every day. I was reminded of this tonight as I walked to UC East. Above me, the stars where shining, as they do, but below, on the layers of ice, another display was beginning. The streetlights made heavens below my feet as the light reflected off tiny pieces of ice, blinking in new patterns with every step. God wants to dazzle us everyday. And he often does.

2. After every discussion about righteousness or false teaching or most anything to do with Christianity, I realize that what I do always comes down to why I do it. If the motivations are wrong, the action is wrong, no matter how 'righteous' the action makes me.

But, when I glance over my motivations, and I honestly ask myself why I do things, I don't like what I see. Do I go to church to visit with God, or because I 'have to' (what would people think of me if I never went to church?). Do I help people so my Christian friends will think I'm a super-cool follower of God, or am I trying to display God's love to a neighbor? Why do I want to be a doctor? Why do I exercise?

"Do not do your acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will receive no reward from your Father in heaven."

3. Our room has been going through the Sermon on the Mount. As we finished today, I thought about how simply not sinning is not Jesus' whole plan for us. It's step 1. Step 2 is realizing we have a body and a mind to show others around us our God (through various means).

It's so easy to sit in the CCH and not sin. It's easy to be dazzled by God in the joy we find. And, it's easy to leave things at that. But I think Jesus calls me to more than this. He calls us to do good. In the study we just finished, he gives numerous examples of how to help people and why we should. I'm living as a passive Christian. There' so much more.

4. I want to memorize Dallas Willard's conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount:

"As a disciple of Jesus I am with him, by choice and by grace, learning from him how to live in the kingdom of God: how to live within the range of God's effective will, his life flowing through mine. I am learning to live my life as He would live my life if He were I. I am not necessarily learning to do everything He did, but I am learning how to do everything I do in the manner that He did all that He did.
As his apprentices, we pass through a course of training, from having faith in Christ to having the faith of Christ. As a proclaimer and teacher of the gospel of his kingdom, I do not cease to announce a gospel about Jesus. That remains forever foundational. But, I also recognize the need and opportunity to announce the gospel of Jesus - the gospel of the present availability to every human being of a life in The Kingdom Among Us."

-Bryce