I'm the person of the year!!

This just in:

Time Magazine has just ran out of ideas, so they elected to have me be the person of the year. As a matter of fact, since you are reading this, I'll share the honor with you. Article here.

Spiritual Warfare

Do you want to know what spiritual warfare looks like from Satan's side? Just watch me attempt to write a paper... I'm sure its a lot like that with the same outcome.


Strike 3.

I'm out.

Today's example of embarassing

My phone is on vibrate as services are going on this morning as to not distract anyone. I was in the kitchen with everybody who is about to eat before setting up the Grand Hall after church. Unfortunately for me when you hit "play" button on the outside of my phone it will start playing songs, alphabetically (with numbers superceeding letters). There is nothing like hearing "2 Legit 2 Quit" during the middle of a prayer.

Notre Dame... How I loathe Thee

I have found yet another reason to not like Notre Dame. Besides the fact that everyone and their sister touts their sports programs as a result of a mandate straight from Heaven, something happened that frustrated the socks off of me.

When it come to me and writing papers, there is one phenomenon that occurs when Jeffrey Simpson gets serious about the task at hand: That is the occasional pilgrimage to the Hesburgh Library.

I got to the Library a little after 10 p.m. I started to look up books, and found very few. After riding the super-elevators up and down from floor to floor to little avail, I finally had one place to look. In the basement, I hit pay dirt. I found the exact things I was looking for... the same things I typed in the search on the computer that showed no results.

Its almost midnight, and its time to go home. Any resemblance of a librarian leaves by 10 p.m. As a result I am left to use the electronic self-checkout. I run my I.D. through the scanner and type in my pin. After several attempts, the computer prompted me to see the "Monitor" a.k.a. the Library Police. I talked to one of the people, in which they said to try the other computer. Same lack of results. I was then informed that the only thing left was to come back tomorrow after 9 a.m. and before 10 p.m. Anybody want to go to Notre Dame with me after church?

A new Weapon in the War on Bethel's Campus

Mishawaka, In. - As the war on Bethel's Campus escalates, Administration introduced a new weapon of mass torture in hopes to demoralize the local inhabitants. Eminating from the main gazebo on campus is a collection of Christmas songs played at obnoxious levels in efforts to subdue the opposition. Opponents of the war say that they have crossed the line by instituting this new measure way too early...beginning in the month of November. "The fact that they are playing "Winter Wonderland" when there is no snow is enough to drive anyone mad." Said one Adult student who wished to remain anonymous.

Ironic

Last Tuesday night at class, I ran into one of the gentlemen who ushers at church during one of my breaks. The guy that I had been sitting by for 5 weeks also talked to the man from church. Later, the guy I sit by asked me how I knew the gentleman. I told him that I go to his church. He responded by telling me that he went to his church. I saw him today at church.

Thursday I was a little late to answering the door bell. To my dismay, I realized I missed the Jehovah's Witness crew. They left me a pamphlet saying that "The End Of False Religion Is Near!" It talked about what is false religion and how it affects you.

History has been made....

Can you do better than this?
Give it a try.

It is going to be a sad, sad day...

Cherish these last few moments. Article here.

What time is it?

So we had the time change this past Sunday morning at 2 a.m. The last time I drove my car was last Thursday. I'm up here frantically studying at Bethel because I thought I had apparently lost an hour of time, by looking at the clock in my car. Even after continually check the time in my cell phone, I still feel hurried, when in all reality, I'm doing just fine.

Thanks Mitch.

Stuff

• I just heard "Dead Man" by Jars of Clay on WFRN of all places.
• Friday for lunch, I went to the Nappanee McDonald's with another employee of the church. It was so packed, we ate in the play area, sharing a table with a family and WWIII going on in the background. Needless to say it was quite the experience.
• I got a sufficient grade for my first class as an adult student at Bethel. I'm into my second class now, and I am enjoying it thus far. I have learned so much in the past 10 weeks, and am excited to learn more .
• Freshman guys are crazy.
  
• I'm excited to see the 11-0 Falcons take on the 9-2 Jimmies this Friday.

Having a big mouth is beneficial at times

As I'm waiting for my class to start up at Bethel, I came across this.

Are You Watching Closely?

The Prestige.... go see it.

And look for Gollum.

Random question of the night

If you had to drop what you are doing and had to do something else for a living, what would it be?

I'll tell you mine. I came up with this as I watched my Fairfield Falcons improve to 9-0 on the season.

I would move to Culver, In. I would love to document Culver Military Academy and the Students that attend there. Either that or somehow work there and find a way to start a ministry there. I can't place my finger on it, but this was my first trip to CMA, and something about the place intrigued me.

Good Monsters

In my last accusation of music, I purchased the latest album from Jars, entitled Good Monsters.
There are few bands that are touted by the Christian community that can evolve and endure over time. In my humble opinion Jars of Clay is one of them. Also in my humble opinion, there are several bands out there are "beating a dead horse" and don't know when to quit. As someone I was talking to the other day put it, "It seems like when all else fails, they decide to put out a worship album."
Anyway, I like how Jars isn't much afraid of changing their style from time to time. If you a have a few bucks lying around, I recommend picking this album up.

Current favorite worship songs

Ahh... its good to be up and running on the 'net again. After a chaotic week a moving, work and school, I thought I would start off with my top favorite worship songs right now.

• Everlasting God by Brenton Brown. Its all Pastor Jeremiah's fault for playing it two weeks in a row at WNY.
• Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall. ...Sin has lost its power, death has lost its sting. From the grave you've risen victoriously. Need I say more?
• I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) by Chris Tomlin. I love the old hymns. I also love when someone puts a new twist on them.
• You Never Let Go by Matt Redman. I 'm not explaining my self on this one. I just like it.

• Madly by Charlie Hall. ...Let what we do in here fill the streets out there...

Go to Bethel and ___ ...

So, I'm currently at Bethel taking a break from my studies. In one my of my breaks, I have went to McDonald's to chat with a friend. In another break, I roamed to and fro on the campus.

I love to roam around the campus of Bethel, to listen to the movement of the trees, the gurgling of the ponds, to sit and watch people. There is something about this place... Something that calms my spirit - lets me slow down and listen to God in a way that is sometimes too unfamiliar to me.

Upon enrolling at Bethel eons ago, I had a feeling, that for some reason God had brought me here for a reason yet secret to me. Was it to help some girl with her Mrs. Degree? (its a joke... Well maybe partially) Was it to hasten my entry into the paid ministry? Was it for something else?

Seeing as how the first two are not happening quickly, I am leaning towards the last one. Maybe the last one incorporates the first two eventually, I don't know. But I will try to share with you what I do know.

As I roam the campus, I am also haunted of my actions here in the past. Haunted in the sense that the memories I have of previous time spent here will likely always invade my mind. I am slowly understanding why now.

God is showing me through my Biblical Interpretation class, a newfound love for his Word. As I was reading some of Yancey's "The Bible Jesus Read" God was slowly revealing a concept in a new light to me. Yancey was talking about how significant the OT was to Jesus, and is to us... How we can't have the complete story without it.

As much as I don't like to remember the past, God is showing me its necessary for several reasons:

• I am a little thick-headed at times, and it takes a lot for me to finally pay attention to Him
• No matter how much I don't enjoy some of the things I went through, God was with me then, and will continue to be with me now, and tomorrow

Do I know ultimately why God brought me to Bethel? Nope. But that is okay. I just need to focus and falling in love with Him, and not neglecting my studies, which I need to get back too..

Its Wenesday...

and I'm excited. Tonight is the kickoff for small groups. I'm excited to see what God has in store for these freshman boys, as well as for me. I feel like I have been refined once again, and am ready to hit it hard once more. More updates to follow...

I've been wondering...

How long are a Continental soldier's ears, and why does he throw them over his shoulder?

Is there anything good in me?

I have just gotten done looking in the mirror, and I hate what I see. After years of living a lie, I have to give it up, because there is no where else to go.
Is there nothing but evil in me, trying to look out for Jeff and not caring about anyone else? Right now I feel like it. Its a horrible thing to stare at it.
Now I know its not completely true. I feel remorse. I wish I could take back all the words, feelings, and have nothing but good memories built on a friendship.

But that can't be.

With everything that happens in life, there are consequences to actions. For me, there is a lot of hurt to endure. Pain. Emotional bankruptcy. I am down and the count is sounding off. I don't know if I will ever recover.



But in time, I will.

This is a necessary event if I want Christ to truly be what drives me. Every time I think I am there, I am once again humbled by him.


Will I ever find a special someone? Maybe one day. Right now, it looks like never. I pray that one day, when I am following after Jesus so intently, that I'd be following him so intently. If a meet someone I will, and if I don't, I don't. Either way I want it said that I followed Christ with all my heart.

To all you who know me: Can you ask me how I am doing from time to time? Am I passionately following Jesus with reckless abandon?



To that person out there, if they read this: I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything I did. I from the bottom of my heart wish you the best. Thanks for trying.

Jeffrey

Small Town Life

Its been over eleven months since I lived in this small town, yet I am continually being surprised by something. There is a phenomenon at the town square that I will not ever completely understand. Apparently at any given time, the town square will be closed, or obstructed. Near Halloween, they'll close it for pumpkin carving or trick-or-treating or something. At Christmas time there is a tree in the middle of the intersection, along with the "no left turn" signs. You have the Maple Syrup Festival in late April. At the beginning of the football season, part of the square was blocked off, and NW football players were meandering about.
There are other instances, that I still have no idea why the square was blocked. But today was the ultimate sign of a small town. Heading home from church today, a city cop veered in front of the guy in front of me, blocking the intersection in question. I thought to myself, "Well, maybe there is a funeral procession, or an ambulance is coming through." To my disappointment it was a procession, but of antique tractors and cars.

Monocle.

I first saw this on Jimmy Kimmel two weeks or so back.

Thursday, bloody Thursday

Am I the only one who can't stand Thursdays? Ok... So Thursday it itself is not a bad thing. It just so happens that for me, Thursday is the day of the week that would be classified by Daniel Powter as a "Bad Day." If I were to expect anything bad to happen to me, the occasion in which the events would transpire, would most likely happen on a Thursday.
"Jeff...Why is this so?" You might ask. After much contemplation, I have compiled a possible explanation for this freakish occurrence.
1. Thursday follows Wednesday. Wed. in itself is a long day because of Wed. Night Church. There is something about Wed. Night Youth Group, no matter having a big role or small part will do funny things to you. Most people I know will be wound up for a considerable amount of time after a Wed. Night. In this wound up state, it is futile to attempt to go to sleep, because you will inevitably fail. Your body may be tired, but the mind will keep on going.
Once you finally go to sleep, it is undoubtedly several hours after you should have went to bed. When the alarm rips into your finally peaceful rest, four hours too soon, you struggle to get up and start the daily grind all over again.
In this bedraggled state of being, one is overtly susceptible to people who are way too happy in the morning, not to mention being vulnerable to the attacks of the Enemy.
2. In my own life sometimes my own mistakes come to fruition on this day. I think because of what I explained in #1 is the perfect time for the Enemy to throw it in my face for maximum damage.
In closing, Its not that I want to complain about having bad days. I want to know how I can respond, not react to them, and and how to avoid them in the first place. That my friend, I'm still working on.

And so it begins...

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