The joy of paperwork

I apologize for not posting for the last few days. I had company, so I didn't think it would be very appropriate to spend time here rather than with them. On Friday night, Joe (a guy from Bible study) came home with us for the weekend. He was definitely a blessing to us. I brought him back to school yesterday afternoon, and then a drama team from Bob Jones University came to our church, and we had the privilege of hosting two guys from that team. They were such an encouragement to me. It was really refreshing to see some college guys that really were trying to live for Christ in everything that they did. After seeing the average Christian guy in the dorms at Cal baptist, and then seeing these guys, it really makes me think that BJU does have good stuff going on. I realize that they are very conservative, beyond what I would enjoy; however, I think it is better to sacrifice some freedom for godliness. There are godly and ungodly people anywhere we go, but environment is a huge thing. I would say that the environment at BJU is better even though there are regulations that I wouldn't agree with. I was talking with Jon (one of the guys from BJU) last night, and he was telling me that he really does disagree with quite a few of the rules, but it has challenged him to be submissive to authority. Someone explained to him why those rules were there. They said that there may be rules that apply more to some people than others. For example, one guy may struggle with dressing appropriately, and another guy my struggle with listening to inappropriate music. As I see it, BJU's solution to this is to limit both freedoms in order to maintain a high standard among all. While we should be mature enough to make these decisions on our own, if we look at the freshman dorms at almost any school, we clearly see that this is not the case! Just something to think about when choosing a college. I am not saying that any school is perfect, but I am do think it is important to see how people are coming out of different schools. Today, I tried to register for classes, and ended up spending a couple hours running around campus getting different paperwork to get filled out. I still haven't been able to register. I actually had to fill out a reapplication form because I took a semester off. I am working on my application for graduation which is due before the start of this next quarter. Hopefully, I'll be able to register tomorrow for my classes. I read Jeremiah 1 which reminded me a bit of Joshua 1.

Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. "See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

What amazing words of courage! When we are weak, He is strong! Just as Joshua needed God's encouragement to do what God had called him to do, we need to be reminded who we are doing this for. If it is God's will, of course He is going to help us accomplish the task that He tells us to do! How amazing it is that God would stoop down to help us... that He would know us by name. Let us be people of courage that depend on Him for strength!