Facebook/Internet Fast for February

Ahem.

AHem.

AHEM!!

Thank you. Now that I have your undivided attention, I would like to make an announcement. I shall not be on facebook, or the general internet, for all of February (starting tomorrow). I feel like the internet is distracting me from a lot of things (God, homework, etc) and that I need to spend a lot of time away from the internet. So, I will not post on my blog, check my facebook, or do any other internet action for February.

Be not alarmed, though - I still will have email. Because teachers use it to get in touch with me about homework, I will still check my email. I will also use internet for the online quizzes and homework I have to do, but that will be all. So, if you want to talk to me, call me or email me. You won't reach me any other way (that means no skype, aim, etc.).

Thank you. That will be all. Be back in March!

Story, Part 4

As Jude pulled into Ryan’s driveway, he saw only two other cars there, neither of which he recognized. He wondered how many people were going to be at the poker party, and hoped it wouldn’t be more than nine or ten. He shut his car off, and as he opened the door, he heard a SPLAT on his windshield. As he looked through to water running down the glass, he saw Ryan aiming another water balloon at him. Jude dove out of the car, and ran for cover behind some bushes. After he heard Ryan launch the balloon, he started running straight for Ryan and the water balloons.

“AAARRRGGGGHHH! Take that, Jude! And that!” Ryan forgot about aiming and just threw the water balloons as fast as he could. Jude managed to duck all of them, and cried back,

“Ryan! This… is… SPARTA! Prepare for glory, you dork!” Jude reached Ryan just as he was pulling back for the next throw, and smashed the water balloon while it was still in Ryan’s hand, spraying both of them with ice cold water. As they stood there laughing at each other, Jude remembered when he and his dad would have water fights during the summer nights, and how much fun they had. I wonder if Ryan was trying to remind me of Dad. No, he couldn’t be; I don’t think I ever told him about those water fights.

“So, you ready to lose, dude?” Ryan asked. Ryan had been the one to teach Jude how to play poker, during homeroom in school.

“Um, no, not really. I came prepared to win, like always, man.” Jude had been getting better, but still had trouble remembering what all the different hands were called.

“Sure, Jude, sure. I invited some of the other guys over, like Dave, Robbie, and Josh. They’re all cool, you know.” Dave, Robbie, and Josh were all classmates of Ryan and Jude’s, and none of them were “party”-goers.

“Sounds like a plan. So, where’s the food, dude? I’m freakin’ starving!” Jude was pretty hungry, since he hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

“Inside. We got pizza, pop, and ice cream. Come on!” Ryan said as they walked into the house.

Those Murky Infested Waters

First of all, let me apologize for not posting for so long. Between other distractions, there was also the fact that I didn't know what to write. But, I'm back now (for better or for worse). Here's a short story to describe how I felt in my Biology class today.

As I slowly placed my foot into the river, I felt the warmth of the water flow in between my toes. This isn't so bad, I thought. True, you couldn't see through the water because it was so murky, but maybe there weren't water-people in the river. Just to make sure, I stood with one foot in the water to make sure that the water-people that some people said were in there wouldn't come and drag me under.

Once I gained more confidence, I tried to figure out exactly where the stones were. The same people who said there were water-people in the river said that there were stones underwater that you could stand on to be safe from the water-people. I had faith that there were stones in there, I just couldn't see them. As I searched for the stones, I thought I saw something move in the water. Uh-oh. Maybe there are water-people in here.

As I continued wading deeper and deeper into the water to try and find the stones that I knew were there, I started to enjoy the warm, swirling water around me. Maybe I don't need to cross the river. Ah, it would be so nice to be in this water all of the time. I could just drift with the current, instead of having to fight it.

Then I saw her. A glowing lady, shining blue radiance in all directions, swam up to me. "Are you one of them?" I asked. She nodded, and beckoned me to follow her. "No, I don't think so. I need to find the stepping stones to get across." She looked quizzically at me, and I could tell she didn't believe the stepping stones were there. I went on to explain, "Well, you see, I need to get to the other side of the river, but don't want to drown. So, I know there are stepping stones to help me get across safely. I just have to find them."

At this point, the water-woman started to look angry. Then I heard her inside my head, "Joel, there are NO stepping stones. The water is warm, and if you follow me, I shall take you to a far better place than the other side of the river. Come, Joel, and feel the power of the water."

"NO!" I shouted, and started to dash through the water. I could feel the stones beneath my feet, but as the water-woman's cold hand grasped my ankle, I slipped. As soon as I fell off the stone, more of the water-people appeared and started to grab at me. As I struggled to rid myself of their grasp, I tried to climb back up on a stepping stone.

Upon making it back onto the stepping stone, I started to jump from stone to stone. Careful not to stumble, I kept going even as the water-people chased me. Once I made it to the other side, I stood gasping, and I realized that if I hadn't believed the stones were there, I never would have made it across. The water-people were there because they tried to cross the river without the help of the stepping stones. After living in the water for so long, they refused to acknowledge that there were stepping stones. It was by faith that the stones were there that I made it, and the lack of faith that the stones were there that the water-people didn't.

(If you can't figure out how this would apply to biology class - think evolution - then ask.)