Banannery Public » Life lessons

Birthday post: what I’ve learned

Dave — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:09:21 +0000

All right, so today is my 26th birthday. In honor of the 26th year since I popped out of my mom, I’m going to post the top 26 things I’ve learned since March 9, 2009.

Just kidding. How about the top 5?

I love practical theology. I’m not really into vast, abstract theological debates; I want to know how the wisdom of God’s Word should affect the way you and I interpret and respond to the people and circumstances we face every day.
It’s okay to call hard times suffering. Sure, you’re not dying of cancer while being tortured for your faith. That doesn’t mean that the hardship you’re going through isn’t a form of suffering. Suffering can take milder forms, too. If you recognize it as suffering, that will unlock an enormous storehouse of biblical wisdom to guide you through your trial.
Not many people want Jesus as Lord. Even many professing Christians refuse to allow Jesus to have total control over their lives. We hold ourselves back from him. We want to represent ourselves, seeking our own sinful cravings and “needs,” rather than representing him to the world and seeking his will.
Everybody’s got trust issues. None of us are very good at trusting God. Also, many of us aren’t very good at trusting people because we aren’t very good at trusting God. If you see that he is trustworthy, you will trust him in everything.
Knowing Jesus Christ is the most important thing ever. If you don’t know him, you have nothing. If you know him, you have everything. Your dreams and ambitions are boring and too small. Press on to know Christ better.

On another note, I changed my blog design to hopefully look nicer. I might tweak it a little, but it’s definitely an improvement.

Potted plant blogging finale

Dave — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:18:13 +0000

"And by a sleep to say we end the heartache…"

Some of you may remember the potted plant I bought last winter for my office. Sadly, the experiment is over. Apparently, it is next to impossible to grow a plant without sunlight. (Or those crazy hi-tech UV lamps.)

The dream died today as I carried my plant out to the dumpster. Actually, the dream probably died over a month ago when I stopped watering the dying plant and stuck it in the corner, out of sight. I will miss it forever, or at least for a few hours.

Fender-bender #2! (sorta)

Dave — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:32:25 +0000

After Monday’s incident in the jail parking lot, I had the misfortune of being involved in yet another traffic incident, this time at a stop sign at the bottom of a steep hill. As I was sitting behind a pickup truck, I saw a car approaching from behind. I looked away from my mirror and turned my mind to other things. However, the driver must have eased up on the brakes after coming to a stop, and she gave me a nice solid tap on the bumper.

The funny thing about these things is they always sound worse than they are. I heard a loud “BANG,” sat for a moment in stunned incredulity, then got out to inspect the damage. Actually, there was hardly a scratch, so once again we parted ways. It was nice to be on the receiving end of an apology, unlike last time.

Fender-bender!

Dave — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:16:02 +0000

Yesterday morning, I was visiting a prisoner at the county jail. (That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.) Unfortunately, upon leaving the jail, I got into a little accident in the parking lot.

As I was backing out of my parking spot, a lady in the opposite spot was backing out as well…and we collided. Or rather, our cars collided. After a moment of stunned silence, I pulled up into my spot again, got out of my car, and inspected the damage. The paint was scraped off of the corner of my bumper, and there were a couple small dents. Her car was mostly untouched (she had the fortune of owning a bumper made out of real metal).

The other driver’s reaction was along the lines of an irritated “DIDN’T YOU SEE ME?” I guess I could have asked the same question.

Anyway, after seeing there was no serious damage, we decided just to drive off. There’s no way it would have been worth the hassle of a police report, insurance claims, and a ticked-off woman yelling at me.

Tomorrow…I will be blogging on the the latest trend of being “spiritual but not religious.” I think you can already guess what my opinion on the subject is, but hopefully it will be a helpful (and possibly even coherent) essay.

Blister blogging reprise

Dave — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:39:44 +0000

ARGH!!

Yesterday, the raw skin where my old blisters use to be was feeling very sore, and at the end of the day, I found out why…I’ve got new blisters. Like the phoenix rising out of the ashes of its dead parent, these new blisters formed from the new skin that had grown beneath their predecessors.

The good news is that this morning, they seemed to have drained. However, the healing process will probably be set back a couple of weeks anyway because now another layer of new skin needs to grow under the new blisters. It’s pretty frustrating and discouraging…I was looking forward to being able to go running, swimming, etc.

UPDATE: They’re filling up again. Crap!

This morning I nearly traded paint with someone

Dave — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:28:09 +0000

On the way to church, I forgot to check my blind spot when changing lanes and nearly hit some woman talking on her Bluetooth headset. She honked at me. Fortunately (or unfortunately), she wasn’t headed to the church this time.

I’m making it a priority beginning Friday night to get plenty of rest. I think a lack of sleep is affecting my driving.

This morning I nearly rear-ended someone

Dave — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:12:15 +0000

Squealing breaks, the smell of burning rubber. And then the driver turned right onto Kossuth and then left onto 30th and pulled into the church parking lot. I parked along 29th and scurried into the church building so whoever it was wouldn’t see and identify me.

Not one of the most noble moments of my life up to this point.

Blister blogging, day 3

Dave — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:46:31 +0000

I went to the immediate care center at Unity Healthcare today and had my blisters popped. They’re all bandaged up now. They actually hurt more now that the raw skin is exposed, but I’m sure they’ll feel better in a few days. Then this sordid tale can come to a close.

If I understood the doctor right, I had first-degree burns on my feet which smoothly transitioned into second-degree burns by my toes where the blisters formed. How fun!

Blister blogging, day 2

Dave — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 00:13:20 +0000

An update on my fascinating blisters. As you can see, they expanded a little from two nights ago.

I got some pretty good reactions out of people at work today. It took me a couple of minutes to convince an incredulous Jared that these were really blisters and I wasn’t pulling his leg. He then recommended that I see a doctor. I figure that if Jared is recommending I see a doctor…well, then, I’d better do that.

UPDATE: Blake’s reaction this evening scored a close second to Jared’s.

Blister blogging

Dave — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:00:56 +0000

The sunburn on my feet took a turn for the worse today. I was finding it more and more painful to walk as the day wore on. Anything that would make my skin stretch (i.e. normal foot motion) would feel like I was tearing a scab off my foot. Tonight, I took off my socks…and I found out why.

Ouch!!