HHHEEEELLLLLOOOOO

Hello all, decided I shouldn't take another month long break from the blog again!

So here is a life update.

A few weeks ago, Me, Austin, Becky, and Ashley decided to work on the playground where the church did some mission work. We spent $50 and put up some new swings, fixed a suspension bridge, and and a few other minor things. I hope the kids like it!

I went to Brenner's Childrens Hospital on Monday for my hearing and the news was less than helpful. The doctor looked at me as serious as day and said "We have no clue what caused your hearing loss, and it may or may not get better." The he got up and walked out of the room . . . . Less than encouraging.

LAst thing here is kinda big, and kinda vague. If you know me well enough you can ask some details, otherwise-sorry. Today a certain person said some certain things that made me very uncomfortable. Really really wish that I could witness to this person, but right now, I can not seem to get up the courage to do so.

Ask.

I have also decided to make a conscious effort at becoming healthier. Me as well as a few other friends are riding everywhere from 25-100 miles a week on our bikes. I am hitting the gym a few times a week, and skipping meals and substituting protein shakes instead. Hopefully this will all pay off.

Other than that and working at subway, my life is pretty much boring. Somebody should talk to me :)

Tyler

You don't have a universe

I am sure that everyone who is reading this has heard of the OnePrayer series where churches from around the world can listen to the same messages together through the use of technology. If you haven't, here is a little clip. (If you are reading this within the first few hours after I posted, the video may not be processed by youtube completely yet.)

Well, this week we had a special guest on screen from Simi Valley, California. Francis Chan. With Chan, we explored the topic of God is . . .Strength. Chan made very good points and used many tangible illustrations, but one thing stands out from that message, a quote by an age old pastor, J. Vernon McGhee.

"This is God's universe, and God does things his way. You may have a better way, but you don't have a universe."

I don't know about you, but that says something to me. I guess the point is, if you think that you can do something better than God, go make your own universe then give him a shout. You may think twice then!

Anyways, thanks for reading and peace out.

Tyler

Wow!

Ok, so last Thursday I felt a little pressure in my left ear, having interned with the local ENT, I thought I should have it checked out, so I scheduled an appointment. I expected that the tympanometer would show that there was a lack of motility of the ear drum and that there was some fluid behind it. Boy was I wrong! I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Sensorineural Hearing Loss. The suspected that it was caused by a virus but are not sure. I wasn't too worried since he told me that the steroids he put me on would most like bring back at least 70% of it. I went back to him on Friday after my MRI expecting the audiogram to show that the hearing was coming back. Wrong again. There was a 10 dB drop from the 15 dB loss that was exhibited last week.

Good news is that the MRI indicated no tumor in the brain, and ruled out Acoustic Neuroma. But, since the hearing unexpectedly got worse even tho I was on the steroids and antibiotic, I have to go to the Otolaryngology specialist at the Brenner's Children's Hospital in Winston Salem.

I really hope that this clears up and gets better, but who really knows? I think that no matter what, I can adapt to it and that it will not have a profound effect on me. Hopefully!

On a completely different note, GOV. SCHOOL IS OVER! I made it through exams without too much brain death! Now I can relax and concentrate on some more important things, like my Harlem Renaissance in english. UGH.

Oh well, enough rambling for now. Peace out.

Tyler

Life Update

So, in the past few months, the Governors School has seriously caused a bad BAD case of senioritis to set in early. I haven’t done anything productive recently. Now it’s exam time and I am afraid that I am going to feel my lack of preparation. But the one thing that I have acknowledged, is that it is my fault. I can not blame this on my teachers, and can’t ask God why he didn't bring me through. I slacked, now I am going to have to pay. My pastor post on his blog a few months back, something that I just kind of glanced over until just recently and this was the fact that you have to learn how to learn. Here is a little excerpt from that post:

During my senior year, one of my wise professors made the statement that “when you start a job, you won’t use 90% of what we have taught you. But we have taught you how to learn, and how to learn quickly.”

I think that I have just tried to breeze through the past couple of months and have not really been trying to learn to learn - If that makes any sense . . . . But I will be glad when the summer starts and I have time to clear my mind and really get some things taken care of. God has put some heavy things on my heart that I have been trying to avoid, and I know that eventually I am going to have to face them. It is truly going to be a relief to get them cleared up and have some time to do something FUN! Now I have to try to study for some final exams next week, so until next time, adios.

Scars, videos, friends, and other random stuff.

Ok, so you all read my post last week about helping a friend, right?

Well, good news, everything has been going great with everything that we have been helping each other with! I do want to throw out there that I started out just holding him accountable for things, but in the past week, that has escalated to both of us holding each other accountable. We have both opened up to some problems that we know that we have and do not want to hide them. We want them fixed.

Ok, here is the reason that I am blogging tonight. At youth tonight we watched a video from lifechurch.tv and had a discussion afterwards . . . everything is I guess routine youth until this . . . . the discussion afterwards talked about some things that people should do if they know that they have a problem. The things that were suggested be done are things that my bud and I started last week. I guess that I decided to go tonight for a reason. I really needed to stay home and do homework, but I decided against and went.

Tonight’s discussion reminded me of one of the messages at Resurrection this year. Justin Lookadoo mentioned that if you are fully aware that you have a problem, you can NOT ask for someone to just pray for you and not know what they are praying about. You MUST have someone that you can tell and someone who you can confide in. He also talked about the process of getting a scar. You may have some things in your past that do not bring out your best features, but once you resolve your problems sure you will have scars, but you can then relate to other people with the same problem and help them through the same way that you were helped through it.

Well, now that my random babbling is over I will get to my main point, Tell someone if you have a problem. Tell somebody that you can trust and things will get better. A good friend is all that a person ever needs!

Number 1!

Hola blogger amigos! Como estas?

Not gonna lie, my Spanish skills are awful so enough of that! So in case anyone was wondering, I have been extremely busy the past couple of weeks and have really not had any time to sit down and write (which I love to do). So I am sitting on a school bus heading to Ashland, VA for the state Science Olympiad tournament at Randolph Macon.

Introduction aside, I just wanted to talk about something great that has happened just recently. I have a really close friend that has been struggling somewhat with his spiritual life and he has confide in me to help in keeping him on track and holding him accountable to his quest to become closer to God. I will just start off my saying that I love this guy like a brother and wouldn’t want that to change for anything. 

Ok, so we have class together everyday, I am a junior and he is a senior, and I just sit back and do my work like always but, I have started paying a little more attention to his actions and interactions with others. Now instead of walking up to him in the middle of the class and telling him “hey man, I heard that word you just said, you should be ashamed of yourself...,” I get online and chat with him every night. We discuss everyday things as well as some things that he might want to change to portray himself as a more Christlike person and to not let his mind stray from the true goal that he is trying to achieve, growing closer and making God his #1 friend. The biggest problem that I have noticed that we have addressed is the desire to fit in. I personally have never really been in the “in crowd,” but I am fine with this, I am my own person and am happy with this. However my bro here has a desire to fit in which does not always bring out the best qualities in him. We have addressed this issue together and discussed ways to change it, and I am already seeing a change for the better!

I really love sitting and talking to him because not only do I get to help him, but it reminds me daily that I too need to stay a fully devoted follower of Christ. I truly encourage everybody that really wants to accomplish something to confide in a friend that you can trust will keep you on the right track, as this motivation can be the driving force that keeps you moving in the right direction. Friends can be a blessing and can help you get through each day even during you most trying times. . . . Got Friends?

Hey if you are reading this bro, just know that I love ya man and hope that we can work through this together and achieve you ultimate goal!

some more randomness

How are all of my blog buds doing?

Hopefully everyone is doing well.

I just wanted ti ket everyone know what is goin on in my life and catch up on some blogging.

Ok, to start off, right now the MACC season is going great, with the Science team ranked at 1st with 6 wins and 0 losses. As it looks right now, with only 2 matches left, I think that we will do good for the season! 

I decided to take this weekend off from everything, and I mean EVERYTHING! I have sat at home the whole weekend and done absolutely nothing, and it has been absolutely amazing! Everybody should just take a day or two off from their lives and sit around at just have fun. I have played games on my computer, which I have not done since school started, and played some guitar hero! So needless to say it was a great day. Now after I ate lunch I decided that I would come home and take a nap, so I did! The good thing about not having any place that you have to be, and knowing that you don't have to go to school the next day, you really can think. Now, do not think too hard or too deep, because this can be dangerous. When really and truly pondering a matter, think beyond the level that you usually would, BUT not so hard that your mind starts making things up (which it will do!). 

That last thought aside, let's make this next point simple. End the DRAMA! I have had some unnecessary drama at school lately with some things that were going on, and I have talked through some things with some of my really close friends about trivial matters that are causing hardships in their lives. Just please. Stop. End the drama. 

If you have ever read my blog before, you will realize that this next item is a recurring topic. Friends. Talk with them. Laugh with them. Cry with them. You are friends with people for a reason: you need them and they need you. DO NOT bottle up thoughts, anger and other emotions, and let them affect your life, talk to a friend you can trust, whether it be a fellow class mate, a friend a few years older than you, or a parent 20 years older than you. Just talk to somebody and they will listen.

Be a positive influence. I realized over the last couple of months that many more younger kids that I realized look up to me. I don't want to sound conceited, but for some reason, younger kids cling to me. I have always loved being around these little guys, but sometimes I have caught myself acting like I don't see them or didn't hear them when they were around. Not good. If you know that you have a little kid around that looks up to you, even if you are a little busy, talk to them, chase 'em around a little bit, and let them know that they are loved. This can change a person's life. Trust me.

Ok, so that was my endless rambling for the night. Will post again soon!

Hmmmmm . . .

It's late, so some of this may be a little jumbled, but here goes.

So, I have definitely had to make some very hard decisions over the last week or so, and these tough decisions have made me think, which is sometimes dangerous, about how I see other people. 

I have found that when looking at other people, I always tend to see them the way that others see them, and not looking at them through unbiased eyes.  I have really struggled with, but semi succeeded with the fact that I don't need to view people as being out to get me, or directing all negative comments at me.  It is the tendency of the human mind when in an excited state to over think comments and turn them all into negative and demeaning comments toward themselves. This can be a good thing in a high risk situation, but also can be a bad thing in a casual setting when the person is upset.

I guess that what I am getting at, is that if you are upset or mad at something / somebody, don't get angry at the person, yet address the problem and try to resolve it in a friendly and Christ like way. Also, know that you can not always be expected to handle tough situations alone.  TALK TO PEOPLE!  You have friends and they do want to help you.  Just ask.

I am speaking this from experience, and hope that everyone takes this advice to heart.  Thanks to all of my friends and adults who helped me with my decision this past week.  I love you all, and don't think that I could have made the good choice that I did with out you.

I heard a great speaker say onetime, that you may not know why God put you through what he did, but you will eventually, God will use your scars from your not so pleasant times to help others, and to better yourself

Tyler

Random thoughts from me.

So I heard someone speak today, and the message really said something to me. The speaker said that if you do not forgive others of their sins against you, then why for should God forgive you of your sins? Whoa! hold up a minute. So does this mean that if I am holding a grudge, then this applies to me? Yup. So I think that I am going to make an honest effort now to try and make right things with some of my friends that I have not really been close with.

SO I think that this sounds like one of my plan’s that I stick with for a couple of weeks, then my passion to do this will fade away . . . . this is another problem that I see, I always seem to be gung ho about something for a while . . . .then it’s back to the same ol’ stuff. This is a problem that everyone has. If you do not have people to support you, then you will not be able to dredge along your path, which brings me to another point. Friends. I have said a lot about how much I love my friends, and how helpful they can be. I know, that no matter what the issue, time of day, or anything else, that I can confide in a good friend that will help me through. Just recently I had a talk with a friend and we both shared some personal things that well, nobody else knows . . . . friend . . . you know who you are . . . .THANKS!

So my ADD kicked in and got me off track, so here goes back to where I was. There are a couple of people that I have a strong dislike for that I need to forgive. This goes right back to where I was before, can I really stick with a plan long enough to let go of these hard feelings, and step closer to God? Truthfully, probably not. But am I going to try? Heck Yea! I don’t know how everything will play out, but God has a plan, and I’m just going to listen.

Never Been Unloved

I was browsing through YouTube again, and found this video. It really has a great message if watch it all the way through.



Check it out!

OH, DON'T FORGET TO GO TO THE RESURRECTION DISCUSSION BLOG @ WWW.RESURRECTION09.BLOGSPOT.COM

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Resurrection '09

WOW. That is all that I can really say about what happened in Gatlinburg this weekend!

Justin Lookadoo was an amazing speaker, and probably the best one that I have ever seen at Resurrection. He really did seem to connect with the audience by not making things sound too good, and better than they really are, he just plain and simply said, that if you do this, that "you ain't right." But besides that, the message was very thought provoking, as well as interesting.

I took some notes on my handy dandy iPod touch, and here are some of the highlights that I got from it.

Commitment vs. Experience

We all know how when we have something that we want to do, that we go absolutely crazy and tell everyone about it and try to get them to come with us.  This is an experience.  Now after this experience, most of the time you will talk about how exciting it was for a couple of days and then it wears off.  

Now when you talk about commitment, this is when after you try something that first time and you like it, you go and you constantly and continually spread your joy and enthusiasm about whatever it may be that enjoy. 

This is what we should all do about being christians, don't be "luke-warm" and expect the "hot" or "radical" christians to do the talking for you.  Don't just be excited about accepting Christ for a few days, actually live it out and tell everyone of his great love for you.

Are You a 100 Dollar Bill?

If you were there, this will make a little more sense to you. . . . . But, If you take a 100 dollar bill,  and stomp it on the ground, spit on it, and crumple it up, is it worth any less?  NO. Do you still want it?  This is how God sees us, and it doesn't matter how many times that we do wrong, we are still worth the exact same amount to God.  Still want the 100 dollars?

Scars

The process of getting a scar is usually not the most fun thing that you can do.  But, after you get one, you can go around and show it off and tell everyone exactly how you got it.  This is the same way that God uses the less than admirable events that we experience.  You might have just recovered from being an alcoholic, and from now on, just by looking at a person and talking to them for less than a minute, you can immediately tell if they are in the same boat that you were in.  Knowing this, you can reach out to and minister the the people that you can connect with.

This ties in a little with the scaring . . . You did not get where you are at right now overnight.  Do not expect that as soon as you accept Christ, that you will automatically wake up the next morning and everything will instantly be better and all problems will be gone.  You have to live with some of the consequences of your actions.

Weak Character

Shoot a window with a bb gun, once, doesn't break.  Twice, Doesn't break. Three, Four, Five, Six. Still no break.  Seven . . .CRACK!  One bb alone is not enough to cause the window to break, but each one causes the glass to become weaker, eventually causing it to break.  This can also be applied to our character.  Say that you are 15 minutes late getting home, and your parents are in bed, the next morning, you tell them you were there right on time. . . weak spot.  You order water with your meal, and go to the soda fountain and fill up with whatever you want. . .weak spot.  These little things continue to add up until something big goes wrong. It is the little flaws in our character that causes for the eventual break.

This is all that I have for right now, as I am still processing everything that Justin said.  The will probably be more to come here soon.

Comment Please!

New Look

Check out the new look for my blog!! I thought my other setup looked a little childish, and this one just seems to be a little more organized. For more info on how I did it, just comment me.

FRIENDS

Well, I have been thinking about some things recently, and realized that I have some absolutely amazing friends that I can talk to and share my feelings with. Everybody on earth should have at least one or two close friends that they can talk with about things that they are going through and also be there for their friends when they are in their times of need. All that I can say is if you are one of my friends and you are reading this, thank you. Thank you for being there when I needed to talk, and thanks to all of the people who said that they were there for me.

Open your eyes.

I just watched a Re-run of Idol gives back 2008, and it was a really informational show on how hard some kids in africa and other countries have it. I had an argument with my mom today because she took my car for the day.  I now realize after reading up on some statistics in Africa, how trivial a matter that no car for a day is. 

One of the examples of the hard living condition that I saw, was in a small village in africa.  A young 6 year old child had to lead his blind dad around town, just so he could make enough money to survive.  On top of having to do that the young boy had to sleep on a small piece of foam that looked to be about 3 feet wide.  This is itself is bad enough, but he has to share it. With 2 other siblings.  

I think what this taught me was that I really don't need to get in a tussle over such trivial matters.  Think about it. 

Take a look at this video.