January 13, 2003
Perhaps I shouldn't be spending time to write this, but it has been a week and a half since I put anything here. You know, if I wrote here more often, I wouldn't feel the need to preface each entry with such comments.

The exciting thing today: my diploma arrived via certified mail. I was beginning to wonder if they were going to send it. Apparently it costs $8.38 these days to send a diploma via certified mail. Yippie! So now I have a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a concentration in Electrical Engineering. Neato. "...with all the rights, privileges and marks disstinction pertaining thereto." What? Did they forget to mention the duties and responsibilities? Surely there are as many of those, and rightly so. Alas, such is the tenor of modern thought that no one wishes to think of his responsibilities, only his privileges. Certainly this attitude as been present in the past, but in the past one might have expected to hear admonitions of service as he received that little slip of paper which, then I might add, was not so expensive as now. Never-the-less, I am glad to have it. It represents many annoyances to be sure, but now they are a mere memory. And I did grow a lot in during my time in college. Some of it was because of what college offered, some of it was because of the many flaws found in acedemia, some of it was despite college, and some of it was mere because of the passage of time not spent in idleness.

I might also consider all that might have been gained were it not for the many opportunities wasted. Wasted through neglect, laziness, fear, and apathy. And wasted through poor choices. Such as been true throughout my life. My hope is that I will continue to grow and to reduce and eliminate those flaws from my character; but I find myself too weak to overcome these obsticles myself.

As the flower turns to the sun, that the bright beams may aid in perfecting its beauty and symmetry, so should we turn to the Sun of Righteousness, that heaven's light may shine upon us, that our character may be developed into the likeness of Christ.

Jesus teaches the same thing when he says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me....Without Me ye can do nothing." John 15:4,5. You are just as dependent upon Christ, in order to live a holy life, as is the branch upon the parent stock for growth and fruitfulness. Apart from Him you have no life. You have no power to resist temptation or to grow in grace and holiness. Abiding in Him, you may flourish. Drawing you life from Him, you will not wither nor be fruitless. You will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.

Many have an idea that they must do some part of the work alone. They have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, but now they seek by their own efforts to live aright. But every such effort must fail. Jesus says, "Without Me ye can do nothing." Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness,--all depend upon our union with Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily, hourly,--by abiding in Him,--that we are to grow in grace. He is not only the Author, but the Finisher of our faith. It is Christ first and last and always. He is to be with us, not only at the beginning and the end of our course, but at every step of the way. David says, "I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." Psalm 16:8.

Steps to Christ p. 68,9

[20030113-028]

January 2, 2003
Visiting the pages of those who write content shows a fair amount of activity and even some profound thoughts, questions, musings, et cetera. Concidering this, I realize it has been a month since I've put anything here. I don't think I'll be commenting on anyone else's ponderings now; that will require more consideration on my part. For now, just a short 'I haven't dropped off the face of the earth' type post.

I've been at home since Thanksgiving (excluding the trip to my brother's for Christmas). I've been doing a lot of sleeping, reading, unpacking, assembling of bookshelves, raking of leaves, and a meriad of other such aroud-the-house chores. I'm planning to go as a student missionary once the paperwork is completed. In the meantime I have plenty to keep me busy including playing amatuer mechanic for my car. The car is actually the major item of business for today although I have not yet started on it today, partly because I didn't until nine or so and partly because I'm less than excited about the whole thing.

This in not a year-in-review entry although this seems like the time for such things. I haven't sat down to do such a thing as yet, and not so sure I would wish it published at any rate.

So there you have something short in a series of things seldom coming. I should avail myself of Yanthor's commenting opportunities at some point, but I real should be working on my car.

[20030102-027]

December 3, 2002
As promised (though a bit late), I will now give an account my closing days in Washington. This will, of course, be abbreviated. The Thursday before Thanksgiving, I handed my finished project report to my advisor and bid him farewell. I was not ready to leave at that point though. I printed and bound a second copy of the epic (yes, a Jaegerism) report for myself, gathered up my project stuff that's been in the digital lab for several months, may sure I wasn't leaving anything in my drawer in the electronics lab, talked to a few people, and made my exit from the engineering building.

Now it was time to see if my stuff would indeed fit into my small car. Packing took perhaps 3 hours. I bought fuel, called my mom to let her know when I was leaving, then stopped at walmart and bought some oil lest I need add some to the car in a location less convenient for its purchase. It was approaching five o'clock by the time I actually left. Not much of an early start. My goal was to reach my relatives in Denver Friday afternoon. I wanted to get there enough before sundown so I could carry things in etc before Sabbath. It takes about 18 hours driving time to make it to Denver. I've always done it in two days, but this time, I only took 22 hours. (That included a 4 hour nap in Idaho.)

I woke up on Sunday to falling snow. I was glad to be heading east and glad I had already made it through all of the mountain passes on my route before it snowed. I arrived pretty late Sunday night and unloaded the car the next day. Monday afternoon, after my car was unloaded, my brother and his family arrived to spend Thanksgiving week. It's now the following Tuesday and they have gone back home. It's quieter now and time to sort through some of my stuff.

[20021203-026]