I got back on campus around 9:30 tonight, and received a chilly surprise when I entered my room. When your expecting to walk into a nice cozy cocoon, 55 degrees is a bit... startling. Apparently they shut off the heat during break, and have not yet turned it on. That in itself would not have been a problem, but my window decided to fall open about 3 inches of its own accord, which let the frigid air blow freely into my room. It's now up to 60, so it is improving. Oh well, things could most certainly be worse. It's now onto the home stretch! Only 16 more days and this semester will be nothing but a memory. Memories... Many good. Some bad. But all to the glory of God.

Ryan

Tags: Back, Break

I had good intentions. Just a quick little half hour nap before I leave for my grandparents house (because I pulled an all-nighter last night). Three and a half hours later I realize something went desperately awry. By that time, it's too late to leave. So, here I sit, in my room, by myself, in an empty dorm. But, before you pity me too much, it's really ok. I went to Bob Evans tonight and ate some good food, then followed that up by a quick run to Starbucks and some hot chocolate. The Lord sovereignly sits unrivaled, and unchallenged on His throne, and life is good, even if it's not like I planned. Happy Thanksgiving all!

Ryan

Tags: Break

I got another care package today! My cousins heard that I liked to read the Sunday comics as a stress reliever, so they've been collecting them for a couple weeks now, and sent them to me along with two packages of mints and personal letters. It was so cool! I showed everything off at supper tonight. Where would I be without family. I also realized that I never posted any pictures of the newest addition to my room, my chair! My grandma was kind enough to purchase a chair for me and brought it down just before Homecoming (thanks, Travis, for helping me carry it up!). I love it! it is so nice to have. I also get more visitors now Not only did she get me a new chair, she also brought me a new mattress which is substantially thicker than my old one. It also seems that I have a steady inflow of food that my grandma and others send me! Cornbread & butter, homemade peanut butter cookies, homemade rice crispy treats, and other snacks to numerous to count. Life is good in my room right now! So to all of my family who has been so kind to me the past few months, my humblest, and most heartfelt gratitude! It has made my life much brighter. Here are a few pictures of the package and my room.

Ryan










lol, no idea why I did this...

Tags: Care, Family

A friend and I were talking yesterday and the topic of man's free will came up. God has given us the ability to choose right from wrong. Why? If He hates sin as much as the Bible makes clear, why would He have allowed the possibility of it to occur by giving man a free will? While this certainly is not the whole of the matter, an important part of it must be that God wants true, heart level love. In John 14:23 Jesus says, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word". The key way we show God that we love Him is if we keep His commandments ("My word"). God was not interested in having a people that loved Him because they couldn't do anything else. That's not love, that's slavery. God wanted a people who loved Him because of Who He was, and showed that love by obeying Him.

This kind of struck home to me because of some situations that I'm facing right now. These past two weeks (months, really), have been some of the most difficult that I've ever faced in my life. I now know what it means to be driven to my knees, because there was no where else to go. I've expressed through prayer the anguish that is so often my unwelcome companion. I know what it is feel pain so deep you can't express it. But this one thing has held me fast, an unwavering trust in the benevolent nature of God. If this were not so, I would not have been able to submit to His will. If God is not good, then life is worse than death. But because I believe God to be good (Psa. 94:19; 73:1; 84:11; 143:10; 109:21; Ezra 8:22), I can trust Him. Granted, this "trust" is not always easy. It requires commitment on my part, as well as maturity beyond what I possess in myself. It requires me to exercise faith (Heb. 11:6). So, while God's will may rarely be the easiest, it's always best. While I may not enjoy the pain and anguish involved with the path God has chosen for me, I submit to it because I have an unshakeable trust in the goodness of God. And I believe that it is during these times my truest submission, and love can be expressed to Him. It's when the flames of the Refiners fire are licking at my skin, and I hold fast, and instead say, "Yes, I trust You. Whatever You want." that my truest love can be expressed, and God is glorified. My submission is not contingent upon my understanding of His will. What's my role? In one word, trust.

Ephesians 3:20-21 ~ "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory..."

Ryan

Tags: Bible

Well, I just left the Schmul Center and arrived back at my room. The reason for my later (or early, depending on your point of view) arrival? The first major term paper of the semester. It's due Tuesday, and is...intense. I'm at 16 pages right now, and am not yet a third of the way through the outline. You see that beautiful picture above? That's where I'm heading! See yah!

Ryan

Tags: Homework

I love volleyball. In fact, I just played it for three hours straight at Late Nights. I must admit, however, that concrete is not as soft as sand (my favorite turf on which to play). Let's just say, my knees will be the size of a watermelon tomorrow. Just in time for us to go out on a choir trip this weekend. Great... In other news, RuthAnn Glasier was up this weekend! I know her from way back. She actually taught at the school when I went to Holiness Christian. We all went out to LaRosa's for Jenny Fikes' birthday. My sides ached from laughter by the end of the night! Good times. Well, I have a little under 2,000 pictures to sort, and edit tonight, so I think I'll get started on it. Sleep? Who needs it?!

Ryan

Tags: Volleyball, Relax

Those of you who have ever been enrolled in college (or some such experience) know that one of the greatest joys you can experience is receiving a package from home or family. I was privileged to receive both in one day! I walked in the mail room this morning and happened to glance at the boxes and saw my name leaping off of the brown cardboard box on which it reposed. I quickly searched for a return address, and found that it was from my Aunt Kathie. I took the box up to my office, and opened it excitedly. I was greeted by a wonderful assortment of my favorite things (Wheat Thins, writing utensils, beef jerky!, crackers, mints, etc.). It lifted my spirits on an otherwise humdrum day. But probably some of my favorite contents were the letters and notes I found inside, one from my aunt, and each of my four cousins. I took them outside by the fountain to read them. People looked quite strangely as I smiled uncontrollably while carefully reading each hand written word. That was this morning. This evening I received my second package from my Mom. I wasn't expecting anything more than some necessary items she was sending for the Christmas play (e.g. items for my costume), but I was elated to discover that she had also sent me some 'goodies' including Wheat Thins (can you tell I like Wheat Thins?), a white board and some markers (which I have been wanting), SUNDAY COMICS (it's my secret vice), gift certificates to my favorite eateries, and my new Passport (more about that in a later post). Today, was a good day.

I was thinking about this long before today, but I am truly blessed with a rich heritage of family. I have always been surrounded by people who loved me, encouraged me, and cheered me on. I get calls every week from family members telling me that they love me, are proud of me, and are praying for me. I am blessed with heritage! One of my most deeply held goals is to pass on to my children the great heritage of family that I have been blessed with!

Ryan

P.S. This is one of my favorite items from my Aunt Kathie's care package. You bump it and it says, "I'm the coolest!" It makes me smile every time

Tags: Care

It all began on a hurried descent from my room, down the 76 steps to Classroom A where my Greek 2 quiz over infinitives was already in progress. I needed my cameras for an event later in the day, so in an attempt to save time (and stairs) I grabbed both of my cameras while departing my room. I made it out of my room, locked the door, and had just crested the first stair when...it happened. Unbeknownst to me, the lens on my faithful Canon Digital Rebel was not fully attached, and with a sickening, gut wrenching groan I watched my camera hurtling toward the concrete steps, the lens still firmly clasped in my hand. My heart sank a little with each thud of the camera as it struck nearly every stair on the way down before sliding across the landing, smashing into the wall, and finally coming to rest. Now, some of you may be thinking, "It's just a camera. Yeah, it's expensive, but easily replaceable." To that I respond, as sentimental as this may sound, this camera was the catalyst into my love of photography. I have taken literally hundreds of thousands of photos with this camera. It is essentially an extension of my arm. Maybe that will give you a sense of the emptiness I experienced. But, I digress, I rushed over to the camera and carefully picked it up. No broken pieces. No apparent gouges or cracks. I flip the "On" switch. It comes to life. I take a picture, a horrendous, bone-chilling whine, and a blank screen. ... ... I continued on to Greek class, and took my quiz. Let's just say, I'm glad he gave this one as a "practice". My mind was far from the Greek uses of infinitives (not that it was ever close, but, that's beside the point). After the quiz, I once again remove the lens from the camera, and look at the shutter. For those of you who don't know, the shutter looks like a small mirror inside the camera, and opens and closes which takes the picture. I notice that the shutter was a little crooked. I figured, 'What have I got to loose?' I carefully took my index finger, guessed on which side needed to be adjusted, and pushed. I soon heard a snap, and it was once again, even. I turned the camera on, and pressed the shutter button. "Snap!" Relief flooded over me. I quickly reattached the lens and tried again. A picture appeared on the back of the screen! Another wave of relief washed over me.

I'm so grateful that God cares about what matters to us! He was under no obligation to intervene in this situation. He was not required to help me. But He knew how much this camera meant to me, and worked a small miracle for me. But, I would be amiss if I were to leave it there. I strongly believe that my desires were not the only reason He intervened (though they may have been a part of it). My ultimate purpose is to bring glory to my Creator, and, apparently, He still wishes me to use this camera to do it. Everything I own is sanctified (set apart) for His use, so, in essence, this is His camera. It's like Dr. Phil said, 'Isn't it nice when God wants us to use the same things we want to use.' One of my favorite instruments to bring glory to God is my camera, maybe its different for you. But if I might encourage you, look around at the things in your life. What do you enjoy doing? Stop looking at these things as 'insignificant'. Instead, view them as tools to bring glory to your Creator, and personal gifts from Him. If you do, I have a feeling things will change.

Ryan

Tags: Photography, Nightmare