Take My Hand

Fowler

You know how every once in a while people will ask you "if you could have dinner with anyone in the world who would it be"?  Well,  besides the obvious "Jesus" answer,  at the moment for me it would be James Fowler hands down.

List

• Got the dark blue Crocs
• Found the POW whose name is on my aunt's POW bracelet
• Finished 3 of 4 essays for YTI
• took the day off from school
• ate Chic-Fil-A
• am currently procrastinating;  I don't want to write the 4th essay... argh

It's only January. . .

Yesterday morning was "Kangeiko" at my karate school.  "Kangeiko" is the Japanese name for the Winter or New Year's work out.  Basically,  it's an oppertunity to show your dedication to the art of karate, and in this case Taido.

In Japanese culture, the rising of the sun is quite significant; the workout (more like a ceremony, really) was held at 6:00 am. However, you have to get there by at least 5:45 -- I got there around 5:35 -- so you so don't risk being late and subsequently locked out to suffer sitting in seiza on the concrete until someone notices you.

Once all of the participants were lined up in rows according to rank,  the Taido flag, American flag, Japanese flag and the late founder Dr. Seiken Shukumine's picture (which I carried) were all brought in to the sounds of Taiko drums.  Representatives made pledges on behalf of the Blackbelt, Adult, Intermediate, and Junior Divisions.

After a short basic workout including demonstrations of ,  the sake ceremony began.  I, along with four other students, passed out the cups and filled the decanters for Sensei to pour. Each belt rank came up to the front and sat in seiza as he poured the sake into the cups.  Sensei raised his sake cup and said " Akemashite, Omedeto Gozaimasu " meaning "Happy New Year". The students raised their sake cups, replied in the same fashion and everyone drank together.  Sensei called on several people to make impromptu speeches,  several awards were given to blackbelts and the annual thousand dollar scholarship was given out.  We concluded this formal part around 9:30.

After the adult Kangeiko many people stayed around to clean up for the children's Kangeiko that started at 11:00.  Unlike the adult Kangeiko,  the children's Kangeiko started with making Mochi.

The traditional mortar and mallets that were used were made in Japan and shipped to the U.S.  It cost nearly $1500 to ship it alone, as it is quite large and wooden.  Mochi was an experience in itself.

After the children's Kangeiko -- which was basically the same except Sprite was used instead of sake -- and subsequent cleanup,  I finally got to go home around 2:00 p.m. It was quite a day. . . Now all I have to do is write one of my essays for YTI on Kangeiko and I'll be done.

Well, at least "Neo Orthodox" was followed by "Wesleyan"...

You scored as Neo orthodox.
You are neo-orthodox. You reject the human-centredness and scepticism of liberal theology, but neither do you go to the other extreme and make the Bible the central issue for faith. You believe that Christ is God's most important revelation to humanity, and the Trinity is hugely important in your theology. The Bible is also important because it points us to the revelation of Christ. You are influenced by Karl Barth and P T Forsyth. Neo orthodox 75% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 68% Emergent/Postmodern 61% Roman Catholic 61% Fundamentalist 54% Classical Liberal 50% Charismatic/Pentecostal 36% Reformed Evangelical 36% Modern Liberal 29%

Silence...

The blog has fallen silent for a week or so now.  What with school and MLK Jr. weekend, what can I say?  Here's a quick rundown of things that've stuck out at me in the past few days: I really want a pair of Crocs.  I hear they're quite comfortable, yet they are also obviously quite ugly.  Decisions...

I bought a pair of Cowboy boots.  And I got a $250 Ralph Lauren suit jacket for a mere $40.  I'm proud of myself for that one.

Georgia is a crazy place to live.  Only here is it near 70 degrees F in January.  And I love it.

My dog, Toby is the best dog in the world.

Dunwoody HS really is 6 minutes behind real time.  Ms. Stepney made an announcement today.  It's true.

I really miss Creative Writing class;  I learned a bunch and met some great people including my teacher, Mr. Simony.  Oh, and he's in a band called League of Evil .  I think I'm gonna post one or two of the poems I wrote at some point.

I'm addicted to reading people's blogs.

I hate rain.

The perfect breakfast ever is two eggs over easy, a pancake, sausage, and hashbrowns all from Hickory House.

If I think of something actually worth reading, I'll post later tonight.  Until next time, "That's all folks!"

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;

For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.

Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;

Hide us under the shadow of your wings.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

untitled

I'm absolutely bored out of my mind so I decided to post.  I'm sure if there was a course or instruction book for blogging they'd probably tell you not to say that.  Kind of like when you speak in front of people you're not supposed to make excuses for not sounding good, etc.

Oh well.

Second semester of my Junior year started Wednesday.  There are three things that've stood out so far:

  One,  there is no way I'll be able to get through this semester without becoming severely addicted to caffeinated coffee.  In my German IV class -- which convienently happens to be first period -- the teacher has been/ will continue to bring in his coffee maker for our use along with another coffee pot thing for boiling water so those who don't drink coffee can make themselves tea.  Let me tell you,  a big cup of coffee with hazelnut creamer and no sugar tastes amazing at about 8:15 a.m.

Two,  psychology is the most interesting subject that I've ever taken.  Yes, I've had actual classes that probably were more intersting themselves because of the teacher and so forth. Psych is incredibly intriguing to me.  I just hope I don't go crazy;  knowing me I'll convince myself that I've got some sort of mental illness and there we go.  I'm quite the hypochondraic, but I'm much better than I used to be.  Seriously.

And lastly three,  I've never had so much homework in my life.  Not only that,  but it's a huge shock to me since last semester ( we take four different classes each semester) I did absolutely no homework whatsoever. Now, I've got all "real" classes. It used to be that the bell would ring and I'd get up throw my books in the locker and walk out the door empty handed.  Now I've got to figure out how to stuff it all in my backpack.

To make matters wores, I think I've got senioritis and there's still year and a half to go. Joy.  I'm ready to be done with highschool and all the "drama".  It's all such a waste of time and we all realize it too.  Yet, half the folks continue it.

And,  I've really been struggling with what my place is in my youth group. David L. if you come across this don't you get mad etc. at me.  It's hard,  because I don't think I quite fit.  I know everyone in senior high ( about 40 people on an average Sunday night) and at least half of the middle school (varies,  when you include 6th grade thats about 100+ active kids).  So it's not that I don't know people.  I think it has more to do with the programs and that whole spectrum of things. I don't feel like it really applies to me.  And yes, I know it does "apply".  But, I want more than a lesson on say the movie "Dodgeball", or a lesson on rap.  I don't listen to rap.  It's like everything's fitted around the stereotypical white teenager and their interests and most of the time it fits just about everyone who goes.  So I guess if I said I felt a little "alienated" would be closer to the truth.  It's like because the youth group's so big,  lessons are made to appeal to the majority and most of the time I don't fit into the majority.  And it frusterates me,  and makes me sad...  But let me just say this though:  Awesome things are happening in my youth group,  and the leaders are incredibly special people.  It's just by chance I guess that I feel looked over.

Shalom,

Genesis 21:20

God was with the boy, and he grew up.

Happy 2006!

By the way,  Happy New Year!

Two Things . . .

So, I've been trying to make it habit to update at least once every other day.  And, haven't been too successful.  Alas, what can I say?

I have two things to say:

Number One. Despite all the "research" I've done,  I still don't really have a clear idea about what Emergent is.  Am I just not bright enough to get it?  Someone, please do explain.

Number Two.  As for as I can tell,  I'm pretty much an anomaly in the MethoBlogosphere (not that big of one, mind you, as I doubt more than 3 or 4 folks actually read this thing.  Not to mention the fact the Shane at Welsey Blog still hasn't changed over my listing in the Blogroll).  I haven't found any other teenagers that are active in it;  just about everyone who blogs in the MethoBlogosphere is a GenXer.  Hello to GenY?  But then again,  what is our -- GenY's-- place in the Methoblogosphere?  Do we have one?  Do folks really care what we have to say??