13 miles and a battleship

I am now an official participant in the Battleship half-marathon in Wilmington on Sunday, Novemeber 12. While I was a little indicisive these past few weeks about whether I'd be up for another half-marathon (I did the Raleigh half-marathon my Senior year of high school), I finally decided to do it. Andrew, Daniel, and Jacob are the other guys running in it from the Manor, and a few girls we've been friends with since freshman year will also be running in it. I'm getting excited about it finally, and setting out to beat my time senior year, which was 2hrs, 2 minutes. That would be averaging 9 minute miles I think, which shouldn't be too difficult, although I feel like it's harder to run as fast now as I did in high school (something about 2 years of campus meals, some age, and weight I guess), but anyways I won't make excuses. Well, if anyone is interested in running in it (Jenny, if there's anyone you can come back from China for the weekend), you can still sign up by Novemeber 1st. Well, I'm headed to run with Daniel, then I think we are headed camping for the night. Hope everyone has a good fall break.

AP Concert

Tonight one of my collegiate dreams is coming true. No, I am not going on a date with a girl I think I will marry. Nor, am I playing in an Appalachian State basketball game after being drafted by a scout who was running around the indoor track at the rec center and saw me lighting up some three pointers in a pick-up game. Tonight, I am going to see Andrew Peterson and Jill Phillips play a show in Greensboro. Andrew Peterson has been one of my top two favorites artists since entering college - Derek Webb being the other. Although Andrew and I had a difficult first meeting in high school, as I discarded his cd because I didn't like his voice, he grew on me, as I grew in my taste of music in college. So although my dreams of playing competetive basketball, and meeting the girl of my dreams shall wait another day, Andrew, tonight we meet... Well, me in the audience, you on stage... but nevertheless, it's going to be tight.

Bound for Boston

Tomorrow I am headed as far north as I've ever been in the U.S. The next two days I will be taking part in the "Discover" weekend at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary outside Boston, Mass. I really don't know what to expect, as I've never really had any experience at a Seminary. I went to Southeastern last February for an Apologetics conference, and also went down to Columbia International University in high school to visit. My experience at Southeastern in some ways ignited a passion for me to pursue Seminary, as I sat in on a lecture on worship led by a professor there, and also heard a professor named Bruce Ashford speak a couple times. Anyways, I'm excited about visiting Gordon Conwell, and hope to gain more understanding as to what to look for in seminaries. In a way it's hard to believe these sort of decisions are right around the corner, but on the other hand I'm excited about seeing where God directs my paths. I'm also excited about visiting Boston in general. It seems like a city with a rich culture, a lot based on the history of its location. However, with the Red Sox looking like they won't be in the playoffs this year (actually I think it's impossible for them to get a Wild Card spot at this point), I'm wondering if that will affect the mood of the city. We'll see. This past week at school has been stressful as I had 3 tests this week, but Fall Retreat this past weekend was awesome. I'm really glad I decided to go at the last minute, and it was probably the best Fall Retreat of my 4 years up here. It's hard to distinguish between the different ones, as they all had the common themes of being held at Camp Tapawingo, and all usually consisted of Packy and Jon Bass decked out in camo, and me having run-ins with barbwire during Capture the Flag. This year managed to leave out both of those, but it was made up for by some solid games of volleyball, cornhole, and Mafia, as well as chillen with the fellas late Saturday night, and some incredible experiences that made me feel like some things just aren't about me. What I mean by that in terms of this weekend is first of all cabin time. In leading the discussion time, I asked one question: simply, "What did you all learn from Daron's talk tonight" (Daron by the way was the speaker). For the next 30 minutes, the 13 or so guys in Cabin 3 proceeded to encourage one another with truth God had been teaching them, whether from the talk, or other experiences or reading. It was incredible to see guys being honest with each other, while at the same time sharing truth. That's something I think I've been learning this semester, namely the importance of being honest with my brothers in Christ, like Andrew, Dan, Nate, etc... and then also sharing truth from God's word with each other. Louie Giglio put it really well in a talk I listened to through Itunes from Passion a couple years ago, called "Waking up to the Whole Gospel." This talk is one that stands at the forefront of my mind in terms of radically changing my view of the way the Christian life is lived. Even though I forget how to live it everyday, I am hopeful that I am in the process of waking up, by pressing up and in to the Gospel which changes everything - as Daron put it this weekend. I'll be sure to let ya'll know how Boston is.

- MB

Steady as she Goes

"Steady as She Goes" by Andrew Peterson

I see the thunderheads rise
In the northern sky
And my heart is sinking
In the threatening tide
'cause my portside's heavy
with the worries of life
and the worries of dying
on the starboard side

Well, I wonder, am I really
Stouthearted enough?
'Cause the ocean is rolling
and these waters are rough
There's a storm cloud brewing
In the sky above
So let my vessel be sturdy
Let my anchor be tough

'Cause the clouds are known to gather
and the wind is prone to blow
I'll keep my eyes on the horizon
Not below
And keep her steady as a river
When the wild wind comes to blow
I've already been delivered
So I'll keep her steady as she goes

Well, I shiver in the wake of the raging storm
And my rigging is tattered
And these sails are torn
Gonna cast this cargo overboard
But I ain't setting my headings
For no change in course

Though the clouds are known to gather
And the wind is prone to blow

I'll keep her steady as a river
When the wild wind comes to blow
I've already been delivered
So I'll keep her steady as she goes

So when you can't find the faith to slumber
When you're thrown by every swell
You know that you're not going under
With the captain at the helm

Pursuing God, nothing more, nothing less

Tonight I was reading the best of A.W. Tozer, one my roomates books. I was reading a short chapter called "God must be loved for himself." One of the paragraphs in there hit home for me, so I'll share it. Tozer writes, "Whoever seeks God as a means toward desired ends will not find God. The mighty God, the maker of heaven and earth, will not be one of many treasures, not even the chief of all treasures. He will be all in all or He will be nothing. God will not be used. His mercy and grace are infinite and His patient understanding is beyond measure, but He will not aid men in their selfish striving after personal gain. He will not help men to attain ends which, when attained, usurp the place He by every right should hold in their interest and affection." Later in the chapter, Tozer writes, "If we love God as much as we should, surely we cannot dream of a loved object beyond Him, which He might help us to obtain." These are exciting words for me tonight. It seems to me that if I spent more time actually seeking the heart of God, and less time complaining, wondering, being anxious about things God is clearly sovereign over, I can only imagine how things might change. Another great thought I read recently is by Francis Schaeffer who says, "God is there. Not in here, defined and shaped by my own desires. God is out there. Objective. Absolute reality. All that looks like reality to us is dependent on God. There is a creation and creator, nothing more. And creation gets all its meaning and purpose from God." Those words pierce where I'm at right now, and what I need to hear. They are truths that we can never get past, because as basic as they seem, how can we ever fully get our minds around them. I may be familiar with them, but familiarity doesn't produce deep seeded faith. Only God can produce in me the childlike faith that He desires to put in us. I would write more about these things, but I could not do any justice to the words of Tozer and Schaeffer. It's also getting late, and my roomate is snoring some. So, that's my cue for bed. Also, if anyone has skype, I just got a webcam... so we can chat it up with video for FREE!

Summer Reflections, Senior Preview

One week from today I will be headed back up to Boone. I'm excited about moving back in to the house, and certainly looking forward to the first cookout at the Stone House (although the best cook in the house will be MIA - Nathan - until September 13). It's been a solid summer for real in my opinion. It's hard to believe this is my last one though as a student.. well, unless I am seminary bound next year which I hope to be. I've definitely felt more of the reality of the fact this is my last student summer, as I see less friends from high school still around town, and also I had two internships in 'the real world'. Those were indeed enough to make a kid happy about getting one more year at college though. But anyways, After spending six weeks with Jenny in China, I've spent these past five weeks working for my dad at Coyne Beahm Shouse advertising as a copywriter. It's been a cool experience, although definitely lonely on many occassions up there in that cubicle. The second half of the summer I've gotten the chance to spend some time with Turner which has been great. He is by far one of the coolest guys I know, a great spiritual leader and encourager, and besides the basketball team at UNC, TK is one of the only reasons I'd rather be at Carolina this year. Anyways, just thought I'd update everyone on what's going on in my life. If you are searching the internet and stumbled across my blog via facebook, or somewhere else, and have some time, check out www.boundless.org. They had some great articles in July, and also have some good ones in the archives. I mention that because Boundless is the best office mate out there for down time in the cubicle. I'm out for the evening. Looking forward to seeing all you App folks in a week, and Chris.. since you one of the only faithful readers of my blog that I know of.. just want to let you know you are clearly putting my blog to shame with your stories of Tyler Hansbrough, and shooting air rifles with your wife! I'm jealous.

Paris... Rome... Boston?

Anyone who was watching the World Cup final today probably saw a live feed from the site of where this photo was taken. But for those of you who didn't watch the game, if you had to guess where this photo was taken during the world cup game between France and Italy.. where would you guess? Paris? Rome? No, it was taken in Boston, Mass. Unbelievable!! America has soccer fans?? I mean.. die-hard fans that are standing in afternoon summer heat, watching a game on a distant projection screen between two foreign teams. Well done New England!! With that kind of support, maybe we can rally behind the U.S. national team in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Italy's win today though makes the U.S. team look strong, because we were the only team throughout the World Cup to tie them in a 1-1 draw in the first round. So in a sense.. I saw the U.S. hoisting that trophy today. Well, that's a stretch, but anyways.. I really wish it were us up there. I will say though if you get a chance to go overseas during a world cup you will realize international soccer fans are crazy about their soccer, even if their team isn't in the world cup. This will be my last blog about the world cup for 4 years.. so for those of you (like my sister Lisa) who read my blog, but are disinterested in soccer, this should be good news for you. Hope everyone has a good week. I start my summer job at Coyne Beahm tomorrow, so I'll be sure and post about how that goes this week. And, if anyone wants to go see the new Pirates of the Carribean flick, which I'm stoked about seeing, John Kiser and I will be hitting that up sometime this week, so drop me a line if you are in the 'boro.