That’s right everyone, Apple has finally supercharged their iMac and MacBook Pro (formerly the Powerbook?) with Intel processors. Steve Jobs said basically they would release all future products with Intel chips instead of Motorola’s PowerPC chip. I already thought Mac laptops and desktops were pretty impressive, but now the fact that benchmark tests have proven Intel chips to be twice as fast makes me want to get a PowerMac (or whatever they’re gonna call it) desktop system for video and audio editing sometime next year. I know I might have to fork over somewhere in the vicinity of $2500, but hey it’ll be a worthy investment if I could do some media ministry for the church, like video editing and sermon podcasting. It would also be awesome because I’d be able to create a killer website on it. Not to mention, for personal gain, my website would be supercharged too. I’d also be able to create some good music on it with GarageBand, and get back into the DJing groove that I’ve been away from for so long.
But of course I have three priorities that come above that. Here they are.
A car to replace the one I have now. It’s really sad that I need a different car already, but my 1995 Chrysler Cirrus just hasn’t been the same since the week Tori smacked into it with her SUV…a week later the transmission started acting funky. Now I can’t drive for very long on city streets without the transmission getting thrown out of gear and me having to let the car sit and cool down. I’m sure the fender bender and the transmission troubles are completely unrelated, but Aamco gave me a price quote of $1,800 to get the transmission rebuilt. Horrible. I could get a good used car for twice that. Add to that the fact my CD player is completely dead. That’s even more sad than the transmission troubles because my sound system thumped out some good bass. Many Lakeside Church youth have been direct beneficiaries of the beautiful sounds coming out of my car stereo. And now it’s fried…I think a fuse inside the player is dead. Oh well. I love my Cirrus, and I have only really been able to drive it around for a year…but the trouble it’s giving me means it’s time to move on. It’s got sentimental value to it though, because Dad put a lot of time into finding that car for me. I’d hate to get rid of it but I know I have to. Hopefully I can get $2,500 for it.
An apartment in Springfield, Missouri. We all need a place to live, and when I move to Springfield I don’t plan on staying with my parents for an undetermined amount of time. I want to find a good apartment quickly and buy all the necessary furniture to go with it. Yeah, this is at least a two-year commitment I am making to Springfield. But I think once I finally have a place I can call MY OWN, my life will really start to take off. The only question is, should I get a one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment? Readers, you tell me.
A job to go with the apartment. This is only obvious. Any good paying job ($25,000 a year or so) that will also allow me to complete some schooling would really be great. I am really relying on the Lord and waiting on direction for Him for this one.
So now you know my three major goals for the next year. Let’s move on.
I’ve been listening to some great music from Deliriou5? Geez, I can remember when I was 13 and everyone was raving about how they were the best worship band out there. I’m listening to their album “King Of Fools” right now, and every song on that CD is so timely and well-written. Right as I am typing this I am listening to the song “White Ribbon Day” and it really speaks to me. I also went onto iTunes and lo and behold, their music store had Geoff Moore and the Distance’s really old stuff. I downloaded the song “Listen To Our Hearts” and it brought back a flood of memories for me.
Like the time when my family was attending the LaCamas Valley COGOP…I think it was either the 1998 or ‘99 weekend retreat at Camp Wa-Ri-Ki in Washougal, WA. I remember B.J. Jensen’s (God, I miss that guy) older sister Tracy getting up during worship and singing “Listen To Our Hearts.” The Holy Spirit really moved and Pastor Paul Arnold from Kennewick, one of the best worship leaders I know, played the song and sang it again during worship on the last afternoon of retreat. Don Blumenthal (then our youth pastor and the one person outside of my family who influenced me the most as a boy and teenager) played saxophone along to it, and it sounded so awesome. Then they played “I Sing Praises” — you know, the song that goes “I’ll sing praises to your name, oh Lord, praises to your name, Oh Lord.” After church was over and everyone was packing out they stayed up there, Paul on guitar and Don on saxophone, in one of the best duets I’ve ever heard. I remember it so clearly that it often plays back in my mind just as if I had it on a CD.
My God, I miss those times and I miss the people they were associated with. Thinking back to old camps and old days at LaCamas Valley make me remember old friends like Mike and Tim Fox, Nic and Andrew Wilson, B.J. Jensen, and a whole bunch of others who made the church experience what it was down there. Now I don’t even know where any of these folks are and I continually pray that I can one day reconnect with them all. I also want to go back and see the Blumenthals if possible when I head to Oregon this summer.
What happened to the times when I didn’t have to worry about anything, where I had many close friends and we all just went out and had good, pure, innocent fun? Look at me today. I’m sitting here in a war zone where I am not only bombarded with physical danger all around me, but there is so much around here that could drag down my morality and deal a blow to my faith in Christ if I’m not careful. Being over here has really made me think long and hard about the good times that were, when life was innocent and there wasn’t a care in the world. Guess that’s part of growing up…I’ve just had to do it all too quickly.
But praise God that He is here with me, even when I wonder about the times that were and if my ever-changing life will ever reach some sense of normalcy. He’s been with me all along. He hasn’t walked in front of me or behind me, but He has walked and talked with me through everything and there are times that He has had to carry me. I am so grateful to Him for that.
Sorry I’ve been rambling but today I’ve been in a really reflective mood, and this is one of the few posts where I really get to thinking and yes, I do get emotional when I recall good memories such as related to you all above. Seriously, I just about cried when I thought about that weekend retreat, and for a few minutes my mind was back home, far from Baghdad.
Anyway, this has been a long post, but a good one. Keep praying for me. I pray for you all too. Keep the faith and God bless.
The image at left describes what happens when I come into work on Saturday (my day off) simply to talk to Aftan Rehling, the most important girl in my life. I don’t have internet in my trailer so I come into work where there is Internet, and someone here is always requesting a work-related task from me. I don’t get it.
Recent Comments