The Meaning of Temporary

I guess it's pretty obvious that I haven't updated in a while (if there's even anyone who's actually bothered to notice, but at least it's obvious to me=)), mainly because I have started posting elsewhere as of a couple of weeks ago. I started a page on Xanga at http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=modernvapor if anyone who hasn't seen it already is interested in checking it out. I do plan on possibly mirror posting some of my more important announcements on here, but I've been bad about that so far.

A quick update on me to get up to speed on what's happened since I started posting at Xanga. I've gotten a co-op position with Mercedes-Benz for next semester, so I will be able to stay in Tuscaloosa and keep from missing out on all the exciting happenings, but I'll also have 40 hours of work per week instead of taking classes and studying. Other than that, I just got done with finals this last week, and now I'm at home for break, so all is good.

I did have a short story to relate from my trip home from Tuscaloosa. I'd already posted this, but I figure it can't hurt to post it on here as well cuz it was kinda neat when I think about it. When I stopped for gas on the way home, I was approached by a man who asked me if I "could help a fella out", I think because I was wearing an Alabama shirt cuz he was wearing one too and I didn't see him go up to anyone else. He said he and his friend (who I could see in the truck behind him) needed money for gas because they had to get all the way to Huntsville, which didn't seem very far to me so I wasn't sure if he was lying or not. Having run into gas station "beggars" before, I tried to give him the excuse that I barely had enough money for my gas, but he persisted, saying if I could even spare a quarter that it would be appreciated and he didn't neglect to mention that it was Christmas time. In my mind, a couple of dollars was a worthwhile price to pay to get him to leave me alone, and if he really did need the money for gas, then it would be enough to get him most of the way to Huntsville. So I told him that I would see what kind of change I got back after paying for my gas, and I handed him the two dollars I received in change on my way out, which he and his buddy seemed exceptionally grateful for. I almost put the whole instance out of my mind entirely until I started thinking about what he had said about Christmas, and I was immediately reminded of Sunday's sermon. Assistant Pastor Tim Lien had been talking about how one of the outlooks on Christmas is that we get something that we have not earned; the way he put it was "it's someone else's birthday and yet we get something". He related that back to the Gospel, which isn't difficult to do because the fact that we're undeserving of God's grace is so obvious even though we are often blind to it. The whole message of the cross is that we receive something that we don't deserve. Did the guy at the gas station deserve that two dollars? Probably not, but it's not like the money was really mine to begin with. The thing was that he understood the position he was in; he was desperate enough to beg. We should be so desperate that we can come begging to the cross. We can't do anything along the lines of earning salvation, the best that we can do is beg because nothing we can do will make us deserving of the blood of Christ. It was really humbling to me to think of myself in that man's position, and yet, the position I'm in is so much more humbling and desperate than having to beg for enough gas to get to Huntsville. The cool thing was that while I was thinking about that, I was listening to a song off the old Kutless record and one of the lines of the chorus was "Take my pride away". I never would have thought that I'd be so broken by a man at the gas station asking for cash=)

Anyways, that's all I have for now; but I'll be sure to keep this page updated on the more important goings-on in my life, for all the internet stalkers and online predators out there...