Progress.

A week before yesterday, on Friday, AACM’s large group was in the evening. It was a night of stations and prayer, just some alone time with God. I went through the stations hoping that God will comfort me, speak something to me, but honestly, I didn’t get much out of it. Then there was the last station, which talked about pride. I went through it, and it was a good reminder about how sometimes my pride and will get in the way of God’s will and glory. After this station, I went up to the roof just to pray and be with God.

Then on the roof, I asked God, should I join AACM or Epic? And this thought just kept surfacing in my head. Join Epic. Join Epic. Join Epic. Over and over again. So that’s how it happened. I believe God was simply telling me. So I decided to stick with it.

After thinking about it, I can’t think of many logical reasons. Epic does focus a lot more on outreach, which I decided over summer to be my main goal in college. I also think that if I joined AACM, pride issues would surface, especially if I started serving.

That Friday, I had discipleship with Steven and Daniel before large group. We went over God’s glory. Basically, God does things for His own glory, and He will give His glory to none other. Everything He does, from creating us to saving us is for Himself. He doesn’t save us for us, He saves us so that we can know His glory.

God’s will is so much greater than mine. It’s infinitely greater. God will get His way. I kept thinking about this that Friday night. Then I started thinking about how I wanted to join AACM to serve and to invest in all these people. Then I realized that by thinking this, I was also thinking that it was my job to invest in them, that if I don’t do it, then it wouldn’t happen. Which is absolutely ridiculous.

So what am I thinking about AACM as I join Epic? Yes, there are plenty of people in AACM that I want to get to know and invest in, but I think God wants me to trust Him with them. I don’t think it’s my job. Maybe there are a couple guys that God will put in my way to use me. But it’s God’s work, not mine. I’m confident that He has grand plans for AACM.

Nothing can stop God from saving His elect. That’s not an excuse for me not to be proactive. But it’s a comfort to me, knowing that it is nothing I do, and everything God does.

Good start to the week.

Went to play laser tag at Blazer Tag with the Epic freshmen guy small groups today! It was a lot of fun. Andrew came too. I felt pretty sick this morning, but going and moving around made me feel better. Now, here in the Jester lounge, I’m starting to feel cold again…

Last Friday, God told me to join Epic. So I guess I found my community for the next 3.5 years.

More about the first year.

College has been intense. You would think that coming to UT wouldn’t be that new, that I’d be hanging out with all the same friends and not meeting anyone new. But it’s been completely different. The things I do with my free time are different. The people I spend my time with are different. Even my sleep schedule is (unfortunately) different. It’s amazing to see how things have changed since summer.

It’s surprising that the people I spend most of my time with are people I didn’t know before college. So many of my friends from high school and earlier are here at UT, but surprisingly, I’m not spending the majority of my time with them. I see my high school friends and have some classes with them. But it’s just fascinating that I find my community in people that I just met this year. I didn’t know anyone in my AACM small group before, and I the only person I knew in my Epic one was Jeremy. But even then, I didn’t know Jeremy that well, as we met at DCCYC and I didn’t really interact with him until now. But it’s been a blessing to be able to bond so well with all those guys.

My work ethic is pitiful. Haha. But I’m having to do more work and studying than ever. I don’t know if it actually is a lot of work, or if it only feels like a lot, but it definitely feels more than what I did at Westwood. People say, oh, coming from Westwood, college is pretty easy. Meh. I don’t think it’s easier. More responsibility is never easier.

Sleep has been interesting. I’ve been getting less and less sleep. Every week is busier, it seems. One thing that has slapped me in the face is calculus homework. Honestly, I haven’t done math homework since freshman year of high school. I did none in pre-cal, I did spontaneous problems in BC, and I did less than none in HL, haha. I always end up doing my math homework the night before (when we’re given a week) ’cause I forget about it… Can’t do this much longer though, I’m gonna actually start learning new things soon

I’ve stayed less and less in my dorm – Jon can testify to that. I’m finding that I want more to be around people, even if it’s just to be around people. I end up in the quiet lounge a lot (freakin’ quiet lounge, nothing gets done there) and the PCL. Alone time is good too. I usually spend the school day alone, going from class to class. Community comes in the late afternoon, when I’m done and ready to relax.

I’ve said before, I really enjoy one-on-ones. Grandpa Kai keeps saying, “I hate them. Man, they’re overrated. I’m telling you man. I don’t do one-on-ones.” Haha. I’m gonna find something to do with Grandpa. But other than that, I’ve enjoyed all my conversations. I’ve talked with my freshmen peers. Getting to know them and their backgrounds has been a blessing. Stories of God’s work are always encouraging. Same with the upperclassmen. Thanks to y’all for answering my questions and giving me advice on whatever decisions I have to make. Hearing their testimonies has been good. I’m really glad I’ve been able to share with people too. I feel like I’ve told my life story so many times in the past week… But it’s been good.

Things are still spontaneous here. Just like the past couple years, we just call each other up and wonder what we’re doing, so we can do nothing together. Or study together. Or maybe it’s just me calling other people up so I can join them and distract them from their work.

On another note, I feel more comfortable in Epic. What does that mean?

One-on-ones.

One aspect of college that I absolutely love is the intimacy of relationships and how quickly they escalate. I’ve done countless one-on-ones with people, and they’ve been great. I’ve met guys that have similar pasts to me, I’ve met guys that have similar goals and values as me. It’s been amazing to get so close to people that I’ve just met.

I know they’re my brother in Christ, so it’s not awkward at all. We’re just sharing stuff about each other, and laughing at things, and agreeing on other things, and it’s great. There are plenty of guys who love Jesus. And we’re all one tight community that will help each other grow in Christ. It’s awesome.

I love community. God is so good for providing these people in my lives.

On an unrelated note, the 9-1-1 campaign was tonight. I honestly went in thinking that it wasn’t really for me, but I would go check it out anyways. And oh man, did God move there.

I can’t get over how good it was, and how good the gospel is. GOD IS GOOD.

He took the story of the good Samaritan to explain God’s love. It was ridiculously moving. Oh my goodness.

God is too good, and His love is amazing.

Lord, humble me. Move me to brokenness, so that I can fully experience your love and grace. And let me take my healing experience and share it with others. God, I want your love to be known. I want your love to be desired for, I want your love to be famous.

Let your love change the world. Let it heal the world, let it change the world.

Update.

Blogging is not on my list of priorities.

However, I would like to remember when stuff happened. So here’s what’s been happening.

Last weekend: WHCC Meta Retreat! Meta is the name of their English congregation. I met a ton of cool people. I went because they asked me to lead music for them. How did they know me? I went to Bolivia with people from their church, and we bonded over there. They wanted their leaders to have a break, ’cause planning retreat sets and stuff is a lot of work. So I took up the offer. Got to go to retreat for free! Saw old friends that I haven’t seen since June, and met new friends. I like their congregation. It was definitely different. The next oldest person to me was probably 25. Haha. there were a handful of youth/kids though. But I got to hang out with the adults. Played sports, talked, etc. Not gonna lie, many of them could very well still be a college kid :P

Weekend before that: Epic Freshmen/Senior retreat! Amazing weekend, I love the Epic seniors. It’s not often that you get seniors and freshmen together to bond over a weekend. I’m incredibly glad that I had this opportunity, and the seniors had this opportunity. Made a connection that isn’t normally this strong.

Weekend before that: EKG freshmen retreat! Though AACM, this was a lot of fun. Got to hear different talks about many things, with God’s promises, evangelism, dating (woohoo Steven and Jenn!), and other things.

The fun thing about the two freshmen retreats was that it was at ACC. Haha. Nothing new there.

I am now sick. I felt bad over this past weekend at the retreat, but it was only fatigue and soreness. Monday morning, I woke up and my voice was gone. Coughing a good amount, talking still sounds funny.

School is okay. CH 301H is messed up. Quantum mechanics… Schrodinger made up the equation and it worked… everything is a particle and a wave… -__- But “messed up” is a good thing. I’m enjoying it. Yay test tomorrow. Bio is not as interesting. DNA is not interesting at all.

I am quite a boring blogger.

Small groups are nice. I love my AACM one and Epic one! Both are awesome.

IM football is going pretty well. Pretty well = we’re undefeated. Woohoo! I want to remember my stats for this season. Please don’t think I’m cocky. :P

Week #1: 0-0/1 penetration-0 penetrations. I didn’t do anything here.
Week #2: 0-0/2 penetrations-1 penetration. 2 INTs.
Week #3: 12-6, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
Week #4: 15-0, 1 TD, 4 INTs.

Now we have a bye week! Excited for playoffs. LOOK AT ME MEOW! (That’s our team name…)

I signed up for IM volleyball with Epic. Woohoo. I’m looking forward to it. But apparently IM football playoffs conflict w/ it, so we’ll see what happens…

I NEED A HAIRCUT.

First week.

It’s been a week since school started! So many things have happened, it’d be hard to share everything… I’ll just make bullet points.

• Rooming with Jon is awesome. We both spend a lot of time in the room together… We’re loners. :P But we have a good time.
• Our suite mates are from Cedar Park HS. They used to play football there. Haha, Westwood beat them. But they’re cool. Their TV is on all the time, lol.
• Classes are alright. My favorite class is chem, because it’s pretty interesting and it all makes sense. I’m also learning new stuff… We’re starting out with complicated stuff that I’m unfamiliar with, such as physics stuff (electrostatic forces, Coulomb’s law)… But it’s alright. My least favorite class is calc. Oh my gosh. Today I slept through most of it. Justin woke me up ten minutes before class ended because I was breathing too loud. Haha. But seriously, I haven’t learned anything new… He just introduced series today. Sigh. He’s not even interesting.
• I have almost no signal in the buildings I’m in. Haha. I guess that’s a good thing.
• I get to see Andrew Butler every day in the same room at 11am! MWF for bio and TTh for chem.
• Food. Bahahaha.
• Fellowships have been great. I’m still trying to decide between Epic and AACM. I went to Koinonia as well, and they hosted a great New Student Welcome Night. Really good stuff. I’m really encouraged by all the fellowships’ eagerness to welcome the new students and going way out of their way to attend to everyone passing by. Seriously, those tabling outside are hard workers. Woohoo! I’ve been to Epic and AACM fellowships, and an AACM small group. Gonna check out Epic’s small group too, and we’ll see where God takes me. I really don’t mind where He puts me… both are awesome and really passionate for God and the gospel.
• It’s not like I’m completely gone because I’ll be at ACC every weekend. Awesome. But I won’t be in Lighthouse during second hour anymore, I’ll be in Quest. Which is cool. We’re going through Genesis for two years… CRAZY. That’s a really long time, but I’m sure God will teach us a lot.
• The only library I’ve been in is the chem library. It’s nice and quite there. Imagine that, a library that’s full and only consists of chemistry books.
• I want to join AACMapella.
• I’m not behind on homework yet… But I’m not ahead anymore either. Gotta work!!!

Okay, that’s all I can think of. I have to brainstorm for my lab due next week…

Acceptance!!!

I GOT INTO UT!!!

I GOT INTO UT!!!

I’M GOING TO COLLEGE!!!

WHOOOOOO!!!

I HAVE A FUTURE!!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!!