Beyond Our Reach

Finite: having bounds, limited. We focus on the things that are right in front of our noses, but we rarely look beyond our own existence. Our spiritual peripherals are so limited that we miss so much of what is going on around us. We miss the greater, more awesome picture. When it comes to God, we miss the bigger picture. There is so much more to discover, and so much to Him that even if we spend our entire lives trying to discover everything we could, it would be a drop in the bucket. Which is an awesome thing to think about.

I'm getting married. The rest of my life will be spent in the study of a woman. Who she is, what makes her tick, and what she is all about. And lucky me, she's the kind of woman that makes me thank God every day that I have that opportunity.

There is a sense of amazement and wonderment that entitles things we do not know. Things that are beyond our limited experience and understanding instill a sense of awe that is so exhilarating that we can't wait to seek it out, discover more of it, and soak it up as much as physically possible. 

This kid is hearing for the very first time in his life. This picture depicts exactly what true expansion of finite to the seemingly infinite looks like. I crave and yearn to experience something like this boy, who's world from this moment on was completely transformed to something more wonderful than he could have ever imagined.

Billy

Spring Break 'n Such

Saturday: Went to KC, tried to Non-Rev on a plane to New Mexico to get to AZ. Didn't make it. Ate pizza and such with the rents.

Sunday: Woke up at 5:00 A.M. and had Mom and Dad drive Kate and I to the airport yet again. This time got on a flight to Las Angeles. Really cool. Never been there before. So after my awesome sight seeing adventures in LA (it's just like in Enterage, so cool) which lasted about 20 minutes and consisted of just one wing of LAX, we jumped on another plane, this time to Phoenix. Got in, picked up by Kate's mom Maggie, and enjoyed a nice, relaxed afternoon. Ate at Tagliani's. Italian. Real real good food.

Monday: don't really remember much. hung out. ran around. I think this was the day we went shopping. Got a new pair of jeans. I had always hated Levi's when I was a kid, cause that's what my dad wore and he looked like a geek. But I finally found my number (who knew) and I have a pretty nice pair of jeans that I think fit pretty well. Kate got shoes. Hilarious.

Tuesday: We went to a hockey game with Kai. Tons of fights, 3 goals in the first, 1 in the second, and 3 in the 3rd. And both teams got real pissed at each other, hence the tons of fights. Plus the "Yotes" won with 30 seconds left on the clock. really cool.

Wednesday: We got to go to...gasp...the Royals. Pretty much the highlight of the last 5 1/2 months. Oops. I got engaged in there somewhere. If she reads this and I didn't say that, she'd rip me apart. Anywho, there you go. They lost but who's not used to that, I still got to see them!!!

Thursday: Hung out and ate lunch with Marion and Melyssa. Friends. that was fun. Now we're just chillin out. Get to go to Pei Wei for dinner tonight. Then we get to hang out w/ Lindsay and some people...I think. don't quote me on that. Anywho, should be fun.

Friday: sit on a plane, all day. boooooooooooooooo. Plus I lose 2 hours of my life that I will never ever get back. because that's the difference between LA and Kansas. But hey, get to go home. be normal again, play some video games, eat red meat, and see my roommate and my dog, both of whom I miss. And that's about it. yay.

Bill

Whoa, It's been a while

wow, way too long. very sorry. I'm sure you're tired of seeing the same 3 lame pictures on this page huh? well. Lets see where I've been in the last month:

• Finished Senior Paper (yay for me and everyone else who did it, lots of work, but learned a ton, which is essential and very good)
• Went to first official Marriage Counseling Session. Dr. Delort was great, had some fun, found out some stuff we didn't know/realize, more excited to get married... I think.
• Woke up late for church on daylight savings. go figure
• Booked flights and rooms in Key West, Florida for the honey moon. After many fights and arguments, and much debate, we found the perfect place to go. 
• Found out we're going to get to go to AZ for Spring Break. Super great. Go watch some baseball, eat some good sushi, and hang out w/ some folks (in-laws etc.)
• Lots of construction on the basement, i.e. all the walls are down, rebuilt, new electrical and plumbing throughout, this weekend we're putting up sheetrock.
• Went to an all day Marriage Seminar w/ Jenna and Joel. That was super fun actually. Got to go back to Northland, see some really great people, have them finally meet Kate. That was good.

I think that's about it. I don't know. that's all the important stuff anyway. If you want to see my pictures from the Senior Paper, I made a movie and a photo album that are pretty fun, so check em out. Alright, I'm supposed to be paying attention in class right now. So I'll take off. My next post will be from beautiful, expensive, and sandy Arizona. Have a good one till then.

B-leezy

3 Days (Roughly 13 1/2 hours)

Alright, so here's some pics of the last few days and my studies. Really I've learned a ton. No joke. I'm very glad I'm doing this paper. However, it just feels like I'm spinning my tires and not really getting anywhere (although I know I am). But there's just so much work left to do that it is painful. Almost excruciating. However, Ron Ratliff just told me to take a break after 2 1/2 hours worth of work, to let my brain cool down. So I figured I'd blog.

In fact, I am wearing headphones in all of these pictures. It helps to create my own work conducive bubble in my cubicle in the stacks. Some good things to listen to when Senior Integrating are: 

1. Incubus. Just enough music and tempo to keep you awake, but not over the top in lyrics, which doesn't distract from what you're reading. 

2. Coheed and Cambria. Lots of guitars, melody and intricate music. And nobody knows what he's talking about anyway so it's not terribly distracting, however, air-guitar soloing does hinder writing.

3. Death Cab for Cutie. Mostly because you can get lost in Death Cab and listen to 2 whole CDs without realizing you've done it. However, does have a sleep inducing factor that can in fact be hazardous to studying, not recommended for 3 a.m. stints at Hale

4. iTunes Genius Playlist. Find some music you know you can study to, and let the computer do the rest. However, can turn into number 3 on the "don'ts" list.

Stuff not good to listen to when studying:

1. Any Weezer or Blink 182. You just sing along, and it hinders concentration

2. Anything Metal i.e. As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, etc. Although it can help keep you awake, it will inevitably expand that headache that has been growing since your second word study. Give your brain a break.

3. I also do not suggest listening to iTunes on shuffle, because you are more prone to skip the songs you don't want, then, all of a sudden you realized you've wasted a half hour hunting for songs to listen to w/out actually doing any work. very terrible

Well, that's about all I've got. plus I have to get ready for class and I have a lot of crap to clear out of this cubicle. Alright, hope that helps anyone thinking of undertaking an expansive exegetical paper sometime soon. Happy studying :D

Bill

Sitting in Class

Church Admin. 

Mr. York

oh...woooooooow.

This is Chad and Curtis and I

can you tell how our nights been going?

painful

...And A New Basement Too!

So Tonight I started on my senior paper. So, as promised I uploaded a couple pics to document the process. All I can say as of right now is that this paper is going to be a freakin' nightmare. Kate apparently got bored and felt as if she didn't have enough attention so she tried to get in a couple pics. She succeeded.

We continued construction on our basement this last weekend and will continue this weekend as well. The wonderful Kecks came to help, so in total it was my mom and dad, Jenna, Joel, Kate and Me, all with white breathing masks, work gloves and various tools shredding, throwing junk away, ripping, wrecking, jack-hammering, and junking just about everything in sight. This next week we'll be working on putting in a shower, and putting up walls and such. Which will be way way fun. Except I hate the sound of circular saws going through 2x4's, but oh well. We also have a pedestal sink and toilet in our back yard. kinda funny.

In related news, Christine Capp had her room ripped away from her because of our destruction. So she is sleeping on the futon in the basement. It's almost sad, but very very funny. If you've never had a girl as a roommate I suggest it. Changes the dynamics a little and is pretty funny. On second thought, maybe that's just because it's Christine. 

Apparently there is a magic berry in South America that changes how things taste and makes them taste sweet. kewl.

P.S. my dog is dumb and a monster mooch that is exasperatingly annoying at times. But you can't help but love the stupid guy.

B.

Simpler Times, Simpler Minds

We distracted Mrs. Swihart for 35 minutes in Modern Masters today by discussing odd documentaries we like and tv shows (i.e. Destroyed in Seconds, and that new escape artist show on Discovery) that we think are cool. Maybe that class won't be so ridiculous after all. 

Kate broke my favorite glass tonight. It's an POM glass i've had for more than a year. I like POM, but it's too expensive to consume on a regular basis. But on second thought, so is bottled water and nobody has a problem with that.

We started remodeling the basement on saturday. That's pretty cool. Except we don't have a dumpster to put the giant chunks of wood panelling and sheetrock that we'vetorn from the walls. Who needs foresight, I seem to manage alright. Except now our once (as in until Saturday afternoon) clean basement now looks like a bomb has gone off down there. But hey, my room has looked like that for around a semester or so, so who am I to care too much. oh well.

I'll see if I can upload a picture of it. but i prolly won't. We smuggled the dog into Kate's apartment for a little bit. Allison got home and he started barking full voice. Moron.

Billster