Profile of the eagle.

In my first semester here at Biola, here's what i've gathered:

**Strictly based on observations and some judgment.

-Razor scooters weren't cool when I was a kid, and they're still not cool as an adult.

-Girls, don't get married before you graduate. Don't contribute to the statistics of "ring by spring".

-Rainbow sandals wont help you fit in.

-NOTW, Truth Soul Armor, etc.. stickers on your car doesn't make you more "Christian".

-PDA (public display of affection) still makes me laugh. I haven't seen anyone make out, luckily. Spooning is in.

-If Ugg boots were an animal, I wish they'd be extinct.

-TCG's (Typical College Guy) exist, but surprisingly there aren't that many.

-You're extra Christian if you use ESV or NASB.

-Sleeveless shirts are in. They help show farmers tans and prove that protein shakes work.

-A lot of people that wear sandals LOVE dragging their feet on the ground as they walk.

For now, those are the observations I have made.

The Reality of Prayer

"Prayer is a solemn service due to God, an adoration, a worship, an approach to God for some request, the presenting of some desire, the expression of some need to Him, who supplies all need, and who satisfies all desires; who, as a father, finds His greatest pleasure in relieving the wants and granting the desires of His children. Prayer is the outstretched arms of the child for the Father's help. Prayer is the heart, and to the Father's ability, which the Father is to hear, the Father is to feel, and which the Father is to relieve. Prayer is the seeking of God's great and greatest good, which will not come if we do not pray."

"Prayer fills man's emptiness with God's fullness. It fills man's poverty with God's riches. It puts away man's weakness with God's strength. It banishes man's littleness with God's greatness. God's plan to supply man's great and continuous need with God's great and continuous abundance."

-E.M. BOUNDS

PART 1: CAUGHT IN THE SCENERY

The other day I came to the conclusion that I rarely stopped to thank God for this beautiful earth that He created. Despite air pollution (and global warming), there are so many beautiful aspects on earth that I have never stopped and just watched. Looking at: deserts, rain forests, oceans, waterfalls, cliffs, snow, flowers,etc. . . I fail to believe that any of this is a coincidence. Seeing the beauty of God's earth reminds me of how big He is that I can't even comprehend it, and i've never stopped and enjoyed what He has already made.

Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you.

- Sometimes I secretly sing Michael Bolton and Rick Astley songs in the shower. I'm not embarrassed.

- I wonder if i'd ever survive an elevator accident, tower of terror style.

- Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to speak bird, primarily duck. Every time I'm at the Fullerton Arboretum, I always hear ducks quack like crazy. It almost sounds like they're laughing at me.

- I feel like less of a man when I ask for soy milk (only sometimes) at a coffee shop. I know if I were the person behind the counter, i'd think I was a wuss.

- I still drive around with a stuffed animal duck in my car.

- When i'm driving, I've noticed 90% of women love tailgating me. Either they know how to tick me off, or they just have no depth perception.

- I don't care how old you are, razor scooters weren't cool during my childhood, and they're still not cool in college.

- I'm stoked that i've only seen one girl wearing ugg boots. It sucks that she was wearing them, I felt her pain, but out of thousands of girls, i've only seen one pair. This really is the perfect place.

Let the songs of Heaven rise.

I am always amazed of how much God shows me compassion and how in return I'm developing a compassionate heart for others. Today, in church, we had a "Remember and Celebrate" service which lives up to what it says. A few of us on staff went up and shared what God has been doing, and how we've seen God move this summer. As I was sharing, I looked at the students and I was reminded how blessed I am to be working with my team and the students. I hope that I've positively impacted the students as strongly as they have impacted me.

It's tough not knowing where God wants me to be when Lake Hills Church and Crossline merge, but God has been giving my heart peace about the whole situation, knowing that He is going to be working through this voyage. The video I'm posting hit me hard in the fact that in the midst of my pain, troubles, and sadness, God is working and being glorified.

I encourage you to watch this video, and see how it strikes you.