will i ever have a study break?

probably not... at least not at my current pace...

I'm trying to champion the art of procrastination.
I'm trying to find a way to put off what should have been done yesterday.
I'm trying to learn how to make more hours in the day.

I had a paper due this Wednesday for Systematic Theology. It is on the Doctrine of God. Light subject, I know. My professor is pretty lenient on turning things in. If I turn it in, I get a grade for it. Plain and simple. So this paper that was due Wednesday, I'm about 5 minutes away from starting it. I should have started it a month ago when I had the assignment, but that would have been too easy. And I would have not gotten other things done that were more important at the time. But now I have to work on a paper that's already past due, while I should be writing my first sermon that I have to give next Thursday, reading my next book for New Testament, memorizing my Greek vocabulary, oh yeah, and start writing my next paper for Systematic on the Doctrine of Humanity.

It's a vicious cycle, but some has to be stupid enough to get themselves into it.

In the mean time, while you're putting off doing something else more important, check out the new Clemson Presbyterian Church website. It went live last week and it has a lot of cool features, like podcasting. I hope I'll have time to put samples up from the new CD we just started selling. It's what I sweat over for the past year, and I think it turned out alright.

must come up for air... must think to breathe... must keep treading water...

Donald Miller @ Erskine

Needless to say, I was a bit surprised to see a flier for "Donald Miller, This Thursday at 11 am" when I was on the Erskine campus. First off, why wasn't it posted at the seminary? And second, how on earth did they get him to come?

To the first question, I'd say that the average Erskine Seminarian would have a tough time listening to Don Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz. If your first contact with him was a lecture, you'd probably never want to hear him again if you were above the age of 39. But I think they all should be interested in what he's saying because the upcoming generations are reading his books, or at least they think in a lot of the same ways that he does.

To the second question, he was in Atlanta and someone from the board of trustees was able to get him to come up.

So what did I think? Well, when I first read Blue Like Jazz, I would have lumped him into the emergent church movement. His postmodern/mosaic take on everything would fit quite well with them. His follow up book, Searching for God Knows What, shed a different light on his thinking, specifically that he cares about doctrine. In his lecture, he dissed on every mainstream church movement, including the emerging church, so he finally took that nametag off himself that I had placed squarely on his chest (to the right, not the left, because then you can read the nametag when you're shaking his hand).

He talked about church architecture. He cussed, but at the right times. He told great stories about soap commercials and two-year-old temper tantrums. He understood how to communicate with college students better than the previous two big-time guest speakers I've heard there. More than just making them laugh, he gets how they perceive the world because he isn't as far removed chronologically from their generation as the other speakers, who are at least old enough to be their parents.

I appreciate what Don Miller is saying. He's saying things, mostly close to what I believe, but is saying them in ways that others aren't. He and Derek Webb have a podcast together. It's worth a listen. And his books are worth a read. At least your college friends tend to think so.

No, not that Donald Miller!

the sounds of october

I've decided that October is my favorite month, and probably that it has been most of my life. originally it was due to my sweet tooth and getting to dress up as my current favorite movie character (most memorable costumes - Jack Nicholson's Joker from Batman, and Val Kilmer's Mad Martigan from Willow).

nowadays I love October for the music and the feeling of falling leaves. I don't know why I like it. is it the clothing? is it the smells? is it the chai latte? it's probably because of the memories I associate with these things. for me, being a college student is walking across campus with leaves covering the ground. finally seeing your breath in the morning. the golden sunsets. hay rides.

now as a seminary student, I get to relive these aesthetic enjoyments. at least when I'm able to slow down and notice them. I need to make a point of studying out of doors. and wearing corduroy pants and wool sweaters... but then again, I'm in South Carolina and it's still getting into the 80s. so much for wishful thinking. at least November will arrive before I know it!

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so what does fall sound like? slowly driving acoustic guitars, mandolin riffs, the occasional plodding drum machine, and a good bit of reverb to blur the edges of any voice

music that may help you take notice of leaves yellowing:
"Please Forgive Me" by David Gray
"Walk on the Ocean" by Toad the Wet Sprocket
"White Daisy Passing" by Rocky Votolato
"Gotta Have You" by The Weepies
Any song by R.E.M. (but if you made me pick one, "You Are Everything"... which is covered beautifully by Redbird... listen here to both here)

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side note
I am in the process of producing a video for the admissions office here at Erskine. I'm trying to capture that college student feeling that I alluded to above. so what things make you think of the idealized college student life? post a comment... please! please! please!