Lessons in selflessness

"Ah, Finally Finished" I thought, "Room's all clean, now I can start working on my project". I walked downstairs to empty the garbage can, but as I was on my way back up, Dad called in from the other room "Paul, could you help Emily with the pancakes?" I really didn't want to at that moment, "Emily's a fine cook, she doesn't need my help" I reasoned, but when I walked over, and she was melting 1 3/4 cup of butter, I knew something was up. "That's a lot of butter!" I thought, I looked at the recipe, and sure enough, it called for 1 3/4 cup of flour, not butter. "Well, maybe she does need help". So, after some more inner conflict, and trying to reason why she didn't really need my help, I decided that my project could wait, but dinner couldn't. So I played Scullery maid, and helped her prepare the pancakes.
I'm really glad I did. Not only was it a good lesson for me, about dying to self, but she's a fun girl to cook with! Emily (who is 7 by the way) almost always has a positive attitude about her, so even when something doesn't go quite as planned, she just let's it slide, and looks to fix it.
I didn't really get to work on my project that evening, but as far as I'm concerned, it was an evening well spent!
~Sir Paul

A Candle in the Window

I was listening to Generations Radio a while back, and he interviewed the people who started this wonderful website, called "A Candle in the Window" (You can find it here) of which Ross and I are now members.

It's a wonderful concept, and one that I think we as Christians have in the last few decades lost a vision for:

Hospitality

Not just having friends over, but people who are complete strangers! This site seeks to help connect traveling christians find find families with whom they can stay overnight, or even just for a meal. I personally have yet to have occasion to use the service, because I haven't been doing much traveling, but I'm really looking forward to when I can do so!

I would urge you to give them a look, an consider signing up, or asking your parents to do so. 

If you do sign up, I'd love it if you'd let me know with a comment!

~Paul

LIve and Learn

Here's my journal entry for today, unedited. I hesitated sharing it because I made such a stupid judgment error, but maybe by my sharing it, I can help you keep from making the same mistake, I hope that it might be beneficial to some of you! 

December 9, Friday

I learned an expensive lesson today. I got scammed $500.

I am shopping for a macbook for Mrs. Cornelious (I'm not buying it, I'm simply doing the shopping, and she'll pay me back), and there was one on craigslist up in traverse city that looked pretty good, not too good to be true, but a good deal. So I was in contact with the seller via text message, and decided to buy it. He said that how I we needed to do it was for me to buy a moneypak card, and then we’d use an escrow service to hold the money, until I received the computer, and then it releases he money to the seller. Well, that probably would have worked, but I didn’t follow the directions exactly. I followed his instructions, figuring that he’s done this before. I gave him the number on the back of the card, and that was the last I heard from him. I should have seen the signs, there were quite a few. He said that he was out of minutes, so I couldn’t call him, He told me to give him the number on the moneypak card, and I did, even though it says not to do that right on the back of the card, I asked for his address before I gave him the number, which he did, but once I realized I’d been scammed, I looked the address up online, and it’s a house that’s for sale. Then I called the phone number, and it’s a pay per use phone, so no contract, no address, no nothing. 

So I’m out 500 bucks. 

But you know what? I’m ok with that. I mean, not that I wanted to lose that money, I still feel like an idiot (maybe that’s a little strong, foolhardy perhaps) for not seeing all the red flags, but I learned an important lesson from it. God is sovereign, so he’s in control right? So who allowed/made that man steal my money? Well, God did! And I’m thankful for it!! Because it says in James 1:2b-4 ...count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. So I can either chose to be bitter, and angry at that man for scamming me, or I can rejoice, and be thankful to the Lord for this lesson. I mean, 500 dollars for a lesson that will last me a life time? Quite a deal if you ask me! Because I know I’d learn it at some point, so better it happen now when there aren’t as many zeros on the end of the price tag. Well, I’m back in the market, and I’m going to be sure that I can hold the macbook before any cash changes hands. I won’t make this mistake again! So I’d say it was worth it. Thank you Lord!

Family Economics Conference 2012

This is the first conference that I have been to of my own free will (as in, one that I wanted to sign up for, rather then just going along because mom and dad were going), and I'm really looking forward to it!!! I would humbly suggest that you consider (or ask your parents to consider) signing up for this event. Click  Here to go to they're website. We have problems on the national scale (big ones) and problems on the state level, and on down, but one of the problems that isn't being widely addressed in the media (other then by Glen Beck) is that the family is breaking down. So this is a very timely conference, and I'd love to see you all there!

~Paul

And the winner is...

And the winner of my very first blog giveaway, is:

(spoken in a deep booming voice)'

Peeeeteer Mixooooooon!!

Congratulations!!!

I'll contact you via email to arrange shipping!

Enjoy!

Be checking back in about a month, as I'll be giving away another book!

~Paul

Five Love Languages Giveaway!!

As you'll recall, I'm reading this book, and I've talked to several people from our home church, and a lot of them have heard the name before, some not at all, but non of them have read it. It's such a great book, and I think that it should be high up on peoples reading lists. So, rather then simply bemoan it's lack of popularity, I thought I'd do something about it! So I am going to do my first blog giveaway! Since My reader base is mostly younger single's, I'll be giving away the singles edition. Depending on how well this goes, there will probably be more giveaways in the future. Bear in mind that this is my first giveaway, so I might not have all of the procedures quite right.


I will announce the winner at around 5pm on Tuesday the Twenty-Ninth! 

All entries must be submitted by 3 pm eastern standard time. so if you're on the west coast, by noon.

So here's the rules of engagement:


For one entry:
Follow this blog, and then leave a comment saying so (if you already are, then just leave a comment)


For one extra entry:
Link to this giveaway on your social networking site, and then leave a comment saying you did. (I.E. Facebook, twitter, Etc. I have no way of verifying this, so be honest) 


For two extra entries:
Link to this giveaway on your blog, and leave a comment here with with a URL to your blog post with the link.


So, if you do all of these you'll have a total of 4 entries! If you do multiple of these, leave a separate comment for each one (I.E. One for following, one for linking on facebook, and one for linking on your own blog)


Thanks a bunch!

Courtship Interviews

Ross and I had an amazing opportunity to participate in a documentary that it currently being filmed about courtship! I won't give you all of the back story, because it's not particularly interesting, but in summery, Ross was put in contact with this family (the Wrights) by one of his other friends in the area, and when they found out about Ross's views on courtship, told him that they were in a documentary that was being made about courtship, and asked if he'd like to come over for a visit and be interviewed for it! Well it just so happened that around this time, I came out to Michigan, so I got to come along and participate.

I was expecting to be interviewed by the producer, and have my responses video taped. But what actually happened was that as Ross and I walked in the front door, and they all greeted us, off to the side, hiding in the shadows, was the camera man filming us. I immediately realized that this wasn't going to me an interview driven documentary, but more of a reality TV style, where it looks like all the people aren't even aware that there is a camera in the house. So after I saw the camera, I did my best not to look at it, even though it was a really nice camera. Throughout dinner, and the conversation afterwards, the camera was floating around us, sometimes close up, sometimes off in the corners. It took a little bit of focus at the beginning to act normal, and resist the temptation to look at the camera, but after a little while, it wasn't such a distraction, and the conversation flowed naturally.

Now before I go any farther, you all would probably like to know who this mysterious family is that we were visiting. They look like a pretty normal homeschooling family on the outside, but on the inside, they're much more! It became apparent after just a short time that they all love each other so much, and they have so much fun together. They laugh and joke together, often telling us interesting (and occasionally embarrassing) stories about the different members of the family, as well as deep, heart touching stories about they're life, how Mr. and Mrs. Wright met, the trials they'd had in they're marriage, and how they got saved. They have a website called "Before the Kiss" which is a compilation of books and recourses on courtship! They have two daughters, as well as a 'somewhat' adopted daughter. (I say 'somewhat' because her parents are still living,but in another state). Read their story on they're website here:

http://www.beforethekiss.com/about.html

So for most of the filming we sat around the dinner table, eating a delicious meal, and talking about home churches and courtship. They're working on starting a home group, so we talked for awhile about our experiences with our home church, it's strong points, and it's weak points, and then we moved onto courtship. It was mostly an ongoing dialog between all of us, rather then them simply asking questions, and us answering them. It was a great time. The producer and camera man left at about 11pm, but we kept talking until about 1am. Ross had originally planned on driving back home that night (about 2 1/2 hours), but he decided that it was a little late for that, so he asked if we could sleep on the floor and leave in the morning. They said that would be fine, so we got to spend the night. Ross was planning on being out the door by eight the next morning, but after they got up, we started chatting again, and then they made breakfast (eggs and hand made sausage), and we kept talking until we finally left a little behind schedule, about noon.

I am really looking forward to going back to visit them some time soon, they're such a great family to be around!

~Paul

P.S.

The Producer is about 6 months into this project, and she said that ones of this length usually take about three years. So I'll keep you updated.

Reflections

I've now been in Michigan for over a month, coming up on a month and a half, I am starting to feel a little (more) homesick. I don't regret being here what so ever, but I do miss the fellowship of people back in Oregon. They're just so one of a kind. If any of you are reading this, I miss you all! I won't be coming home until Christmas Break, and even then, it will probably only be for three weeks or so, and then I'm hopping that I'll be able to come back. I am learning so much here from Mr. Parunak it's unfathomable. I can't imagine a better person to thrust me into the engineering world. This is just sort of a reminiscing post, and I don't have any deep theological lightbulbs for you this time (not that I usually do). If I were to encourage you all to one thing, it would be this: Love and cherish those around you!! Relationships are so precious! Guard and protect the ones you have. They are more valuable then you can imagine (at least, then I can imagine, though I don't have the most creative imagination, so maybe you all can imagine how valuable they are). All the cars, houses, power, fame, and riches pale in comparison to relationships, especially our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus. So, if someone you love is near you right now, go give 'em a big bear hug, and tell them how much they mean to you!
~Sir Paul

How you treat your Mom...

...Is how you'll treat your Bride.

I’ve heard is said many times, 'how a young man treat’s his Mom, is how he’ll treat his wife". “Wait, What!?!?” you might think “But my mom’s so much different then who I’d like to marry!” It still rings true! It’s taken awhile for this to really sink in, but It really has been these last few weeks. It’s so easy for me to imagine how I’ll treat my future bride. “I’ll be one of the best husbands ever!” I think. That’s all well and good, but what about when things get tough? Am I really willing to make the choice, even when it can hurt? What if my wife would really like to have “blank”, but I can’t see why? Am I willing to put her desires above my own? How can I know? How can I prepare? Can I know?

Enter “Mom”.

God’s design for marriage and raising children so amazing. He give young adults someone who we live with,who is very forgiving, who is much, much wiser then us, to teach and train us how to treat our future spouses. They also know you inside and out, and will be able to spot a bad attitude from a mile away. So when they are giving instruction, give them your full attention! You won’t regret it later!

It also allows us to see how other people will treat they’re future spouses. In my case, when a young lady catches my interest, one of the first things I’ll want to observe is how she treats her father. Is she rude and short tempered? Does she just kind of blow him off? Or does she treat him with kindness and respect? Similarly, my Mom is the perfect proving ground for how I will treat my wife!

I heard a good quote the other day:

Sew a thought, reap a desire. Sew a desire, reap an action. Sew an action, reap a habit. Sew a habit, and reap a lifestyle.

And one that is a little more well known:

Deuteronomy 5:16

Honor they father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord has thy God giveth thee.

In conclusion, think about how you can bless your parents today. Maybe some kind words, maybe doing the dishes without being asked, maybe a note, be creative. It’s a very rewarding process. Having a close relationship with your parents is one of the biggest blessing you’ll ever have!!

Review of "The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition" Coming soon!

A couple of weeks ago, A great friend of mine loaned me a copy of "The Five Love Languages". It's an amazing book, and has given me a new insight to my relationships with other people (Mostly my family at this point). It is directed primarily towards married couples, which made applying some of the concepts in is somewhat challenging. So it was with great delight that I found that, on at the back of the front cover, was a list of other books that he author had written, one of which the "For Singles" edition! Once I got to Michigan I ordered it and am now greatly looking forward to reading it late into the night, as is my habit with really good books. 

So, when I'm finished with it, or maybe while I'm reading it, I'll post my thoughts on it. So be watching!