jenkins

On long hard semesters

I'd like to first begin by apologizing, I realize It has been a while since my last post and for that I am sorry. But the reasons for the waiting is also the topic of discussion today: college. This past semester has been the most difficult thus far in my college career, I have had lower grades than normal and more work todo. I have been trying to decide what the cause of this has been; let me share your thoughts with you.

I currently have three things in my life that take up a lot of time: School, Work and Church. Now, my situation is a little different than others, because I am a staff member of my church, thus, these three things can be rewritten as: School, and two part time jobs. The next thing I looked what was what I was getting the most out of? First I looked at my job at murray state (computer/tech student worker), this job in and of itself is relatively boring, however I love the people I work with. I have learn as much about Life, God and Friendship from them as I have from anyone else, as a result it is hard for me to leave such a place.

Next I looked at my job at the church, Student Pastor is what I do. This job is great! It has been a wonderful learning experience from the first step. I enjoy working with students as well as other members of the church to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ. I also love the people I work with here. It is very hard to walk away from place where people are constantly striving to become like Christ in a brotherly relationship, here I have grown as a christian no doubt.

Lastly School. Now school has its purposes, you work for a degree, and are trained in areas to be good at a certain skill; however, I have discovered that I've learned more about the tech industry from my job at murray state, than from my classes. How has this happened?! I find it frustrating that I pay x-dollars to be given information I am only going to have to "re-learn" (so to speak) once I enter the work place. I also find is frustrating the amount of busy work professors assign. During most semesters I find the one thing in my life holding me back from my full potential is school. Now understand I am not trying to say that school isn't for anyone, I'm mere pointing out that it is not what it used to be; and isn't for me. But because of they way our society views education, I need it to work anywhere.

I apologize if this post has a negative connotation, I'm really just venting a little, If you have any questions about anything I said feel free to contact me. On another note, I hope you all have a wonderful week, and a great beginning of good weather!

Love you guys,

Jeremy

On Personality, Reality, and Relationships.

I recently finished a book called Personality Plus. In this book the author describes 4 different personality type found among people. Most everyone has one dominate personality and one or 2 (and sometimes 3) sub personalities that go a long with their main. Each has positives and negatives, some more noticeable than others but they are still there. I am not going to try to describe them (because I just read a whole book trying to understand them myself), however I would like to focus on a great point made in the book.

We all have an independent personality, there is no other on this earth that is just like you; and there is no other on this earth just like me. This makes relationships very interesting, in that they are all different. You cannot go about making friends with one person the same as you go about making friends with another. Each relationship is unique. Think for a moment about someone you spend a lot of time with. Now, think of the things you really like about them. Now, think of the things you really dislike about them. Do you see some of the positives and negatives that come about? Because we are all some combination of the 4 personality types, we all have different positives and negatives. Now think about yourself for a moment. Here is where the real work begins. You begin becoming a better friend by understanding your own attributes; not by pointing out others'.

The catch phrase of this book is: how to understand others by understanding yourself. We all want better relationships with each other, but we always want the other person to change for out benefit. We have to realize that we are all different and accept our differences. I encourage you all to go out and learn something about a friend of yours, or even ask a friend or family member where you struggle. The first step in becoming a better friend is realizing what makes you a bad one. I hope you all have a great day. and make some new friends.

love you guys,

Jeremy.

On Writing

This is my third attempt to write a blog this week. It hasn't been a lack of will, or lack of topic; rather it was me beginning a post and then getting involved with something else while I tried to write it. But, this time I am dedicated to seeing it through. I came to the conclusion today that I would very much enjoy writing a book. The past couple posts I attempted were very good topics, all dealing with in depth Christianity, however they were somewhat scattered. I would like to, very much, put all of my thoughts concerning the religion into one work.

But, be aware that I am in no way claiming to know everything about God and the bible. What I have are merely thoughts I have gathered from friends in the faith, books I've read and of course the bible. I honestly believe that there are some things we will never know, we can only speculate and ask the Almighty when we have the chance.

I've also realized this week that I would like to discipline myself to express my thoughts in language. I have never been a good writer, but you can only get better through practice. Truth be told, I originally created this blog so that I could sharpen my skills as a writer. But you can be the judge of how that has turned out.

I am a fan of theology, and because of which I like to try to throw some in every post. Over the past few days I've been reading 'The Weight of Glory' by C.S. Lewis. And if you are from my church you may remember a sunday a few months back when pastor Brad read from this book. The section he read from was about how we, as humans, have become to easily pleased. About how we are small children too busy playing with our mud pies while we can't comprehend the offer of a weekend at the beach. We are too busy with Sex and Drink to realize that infinite Joy is offered to us. (the past paragraph can all be found in 'The Weight of Glory - C.S. Lewis)

I love the point that Lewis makes here, but he goes on to make another. If you look at everyone you know. Every friend you have or every relative, you will realize they all have something in common. They are all immortal souls. Someday the earth will perish, and we humans will still live on. That makes every person you know, or have ever met infinitely more important than the earth or anything in it (except other humans, of course).

When you are with each of these people there is something that takes place. At every moment you are around someone you are influencing them, just by being around them. These influences can be either positive or negative; and, for that matter, at any degree. You influence could be that of a pebble being thrown into the mississippi, or like an atomic bomb going off. either way influence is happening. Think back to what we said about humans earlier. They are all immortal souls, that, someday will either exist in salvation or in damnation. At every moment you are with someone you are either bring them closer to salvation, or drawing them away. And they the same to you. We must remember who we are in Christ so that we can be a positive influence on each other.

Love you guys!

-jenkins

On Galatians

I think its just a little ironic that our pastor Brad started preaching over Galatians this past sunday. Saturday morning I discovered I'd be traveling to Louisville with my kid brother and a friend of ours. The trip had two purposes (1) meet up with our mom who was traveling through the area and (2) meet up with a friend of ours from Louisville and go to a car show. All was good and well, we all had a good visit and all, but it was time to start heading back (as I had a bible study to lead in the morning). So here we are driving down the west kentucky parkway; and if you've ever driven the west kentucky parkway, you know exactly what I mean. Shawn, my brother and driver, didn't mind the cabin light being on, so I decided I would try to get a little reading done on the journey home. I had several books to choose from, but I settled with the bible. I've had a bad habit lately of putting my bible as one of the "todo" things and not one of the "lets-do" things. Now I started to tell this big long story about which book of the bible I choose, but then I realized it's the title of this post, thus taking away all the suspicion. Anyway, I decided to read Galatians. And like Brad said the main theme of Galatians is Freedom, I want; quickly, to take a look at one small point about this 'Freedom' Paul is talking about.

As you all already know, Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins so that we might come to know God and have a relationship with him. My question to you is, is this all Jesus died for? Personally, I believe more happened here than meets the eye. Let me explain. Take a look back at the beginning of creation and the fall of man. How did Adam and Eve feel after they had eaten the fruit? what does the bible say they felt after they realized they were naked? They were ashamed. Yet, looking at the them before they ate from the fruit "Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.". (genesis 2:25)

When we were given the knowledge of Good and Evil by eating from the fruit we were also given shame because of our sinful nature. We realize that we are bad, and we are ashamed of ourselves for it. At this time biblically people sought salvation by upholding the law, but after Jesus died on the cross we no longer try to uphold the law, you are saved by the grace of God! not by what you do, but by who you are! And who are we as brothers in christ? Sons of God! You begin to naturally uphold the law because you naturally begin to become like christ. And finally, our shame. what about our shame? some may be thinking "I know Christ and I love him and what he did for me, but I am still an awful person!". I have good news for you. Jesus died not only for our sins, but also for our shame. So that we may come to him no matter how horrible our past has been or our present is. He is waiting, with open arms, for a relationship with you.

I love you guys,

-jenkins

On Snowboarding

Oh the joys of learning a new sport, Snowboarding. I tried it for the first time this past weekend and I must say it was quite fun. Only there is something that comes a long with it I did not anticipate. Soreness. Ever since I called it quits on the slopes I've had a lot of trouble doing day to day tasks. But as time goes by I realize the soreness was worth the experience. I can't say i'm anxious to get back on the slopes, but I will be looking forward to the next time I go. Now, I want to bring something to everyones attention about Snowboarding/skiing. I would like to take the Students on a trip snowboarding and skiing sometime in the future, but you must know it is not a sport that is easily played. There is a real danger of becoming seriously injured, and a near certainty of several bumps a bruises. But again, I would still like to take the group as I believe it would be a good time.

I hope everyone has had a good week getting back to normal after the ice storm. If you have several limbs down in your yard and what not, our church will be meeting to clean up some of the mess. Just let me know if you need any help moving the debris.

love you guys!

-jenkins

On bad times

well, there aren't many words to say about what has happened here the past few days. The results of the ice storm have been much worse than any of us ever predicted. I made a trip to wal-mart this afternoon to pick up a few supplies for the next couple of days. I could not believe what I was seeing at there. Several people piling in to get whatever food or supplies they could muster. I witnessed a small family turned down the right to a second pack of bottled water. The fruit and vegetable isle (the very first one at the wal-mart in murray) had nothing on it. There were a few apples and lemons here and there but for the most part nothing. The frozen isles were blocked off because of the spoiling of the food. Keep in mind that while i'm seeing this, the place is packed. More packed than on a regular sunday afternoon. Luckily before I left, I ran into a friend of mine who works there. He told me that wal-mart is still running on generator power which surprised me because I would think of wal-mart as a priority building to have up and running. Regardless, I just wanted to share with everyone who has not been in town since the ice storm, how bad the situation has become. I hope you all have had a safe week, and that you have power!

-jenkins

On weather

Today Jan. 27th and Ice storm passed through western kentucky. The power is out in several parts of this side of the state. I understand that this is a nuisance to everyone because we haven't been able to get on facebook, to check our email and in the worst case receive a text message. But what has happened today is so closely related to what I posted yesterday I couldn't help but post again better explaining what I was talking about.

At the end of the post yesterday you should have been thinking about the beauty of the small things in life. That was the main point but I believe I failed to explain another part. We live in an age of communication, which is a great thing, however I believe it has done something horrible to our minds. We constantly find ourselves looking for the next thing, the next good song, the next party, the next class, the next book. What is so wrong with what we have now?! I'm the worst about stopping to admire something for what it is, but today, I have started on the right foot. I enjoyed this ice storm for what it was, not for what become of it. I ignored the fact I didn't go to school (but that was a treat I also liked), I went out and enjoyed that scenery created by the Ice. But in order to do that I had to turn my mind off to the worries and troubles of the day to day life. What I am trying to say is that we must force ourselves to become less dependent on our technology, however great it is!

Well I do believe the power is about to go out (a large limb is hanging on our power lines as I type this). and so I am going to cut this short, until next time!

-jenkins

Half-asleep thoughts.

I'm setting in my bed, listening to music, talking to friends on facebook. I have one speech to write, another to think about; one exam to study for, two quizzes; a bible study to prepare; two web-sites to update; a camera to learn to use; a book to read for school; another to read for pleasure; a computer to fix; two games to play and a job to do. Why am I on facebook talking to friends when I have so much to do? I have not found the answer to this myself.

This has been one of the busiest semesters of my life, there is not a single moment that passes when I don't have something that I could be doing. And yet, here I am, doing nothing. Why? I've come to the realization this week of how short life is. And how easy it is to fly by the beauty of everyday life without ever noticing it. The train of thought I am trying to give you is not that of freedom from care, but rather of realizing beauty of life. The reason I find myself talking to friends while sitting in my bed, instead of perfecting a speech is because I find my relationships with others more important than my grade in COM 161.

Now, with this being said, I do not want you to think I am trying to say you should become a slacker. 1 Corinthians 10:31 'Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God's glory'. This verse has been strong in my heart this week, whatever we do, we must do for the glory of God. But I would like to point out that in doing so we can also admire the beauty of his creation, the small things, the limb of a broken branch, the touch of a soft breeze, the warmth of an afternoon sun, the sound of a spring morning, and the comfort of a friend. The more we realize these small things the quicker we realize how great God is, and how thankful we must be for his creation, and his love.

-jenkins

The most powerful video I have ever seen.

Today began like an average day at work, but something happened I didn't expect. The guys at worked started with their normal talk of everyday life (which for this group involves basketball, computer games and, of course,  God). I was told about a skit which is based on a song called 'Everything' by a band called 'Lighthouse'. I can not describe in words how powerful this video is. By the end I had tears in my eyes, even now just thinking about it makes me emotional. I hope you enjoy this video, and I hope it has the same impact on you as it did on me.

-jenkins