you may have noticed...

I haven't posted in a while. I apologize. I just finished up my first semester of grad school and finals and what not so I am taking a little break.

Look back in the new year for some changes around here.

Sorry for the inconvenience. I promise this isn't over, just a break until the new year.

peace out,
hersch

changes...

Sorry about the changes...

I'll get the bugs out soon enough.

peace out,
hersch

working through...

So I am working my way through Ecclesiastes right now and it is bringing up some things in my inner-being that I don't like. Things like consumerism, idleness, selfishness, etc.

I am looking at simplifying things around here. I am not really sure how to do that just yet.

I'm working through the idea that in order to be happy in what God has called me to do, one of the spiritual disciplines I need to undertake is that of simplicity--such as getting rid of things I have that I don't need, not buying stuff I don't need, getting the use out of things I already own, etc.

But there has to be more to simplifying things than just dealing with my possessions. Right? Right.

I'm working through it. I'm sure there will be more on this as it continues.

peace out,
hersch

I just wanted to say...

I am one week away from a sucessful finish to my first semester upon my return to seminary. I am thankful for that for rizzle.

It has been one of the strangest semesters of my life I would say. For one, it has flown by. It seems like it was just yesterday I was moving in. Let's look at the recap shall we?

Hits:
-Finally led in some direction as to what to do with myself here and there after
-Actually took school work seriously
-kicked some butt in the land of Catan
-learned how to play Beamo

Misses:
-Anti-social behavior; I felt like Paul from "Loser" (I was anti-social, not others)
-no job as of yet
-cafeteria food
-kidney stone

___________________________________________

To be frank, it was a rough semester for me and God. As great as it was to finally get some direction, I still suck at making myself available to God in my own spiritual disciplines. But what is good is knowing I am where He wants me. And I've felt like Eusatace being descaled more than anything--which though painful, can't be bad. God is tilling the dirt of my garden and planting seeds. And I need to be sure to leave the hose and weedeater out.

Thanks to all of you who pray for me.

peace out,
hersch

plug it in please.....seriously...plug it in....

O.k. Its time to plug one of the greatest things since the last greatest thing I have touted. I am not trying to advocate consumerism during this holiday season, but I feel compelled to share with you one of the greatest collections of music ever.

Back in the day, Sufjan Stevens would make these intimate CD's with Christmas music on them for his friends. Well now he has compiled all of these recordings into one package and made it available to the general public. And it is beautiful. Go to iTunes and listen to the 30 second samples. Holy Holy Holy is stunning. O Come O Come Emmanuel is stunning. Oh Holy Night is more than stunning.


Just to see how much you get for 20 bucks, here is the track listing:
Disc: 1
1. Silent Night
2. O Come O Come Emmanuel
3. We're Goin' To the Country!
4. Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming
5. It's Christmas! Let's Be Glad!
6. Holy Holy, etc.
7. Amazing Grace
Disc: 2
1. Angels We Have Heard on High
2. Put the Lights on the Tree
3. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
4. I Saw Three Ships
5. Only at Christmas Time
6. Once in Royal David's City
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!
8. What Child Is This Anyway?
9. Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Disc: 3
1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
2. Come on! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!
3. We Three Kings
4. O Holy Night
5. That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
6. Ding! Dong!
7. All the King's Horns
8. The Friendly Beasts
Disc: 4
1. The Little Drummer Boy
2. Away In A Manger
3. Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!
4. The First Noel
5. Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)
6. The Incarnation
7. Joy To The World
Disc: 5
1. Once in Royal David's City
2. Get Behind Me, Santa!
3. Jingle Bells
4. Christmas in July
5. Lo! How A Rose E'er Blooming
6. Jupiter Winter
7. Sister Winter
8. O Come O Come Emmanuel
9. Star of Wonder
10. Holy, Holy, Holy
11. The Winter Solstice

So now that you see what your getting, you have no excuse not to buy it. Its not your typical Christmas album. Its a worshipful and reverent celebration of the birth of Christ. Seriously good stuff guys. Seriously.

peace out,
hersch

anybody....

What's up?

So today after class, i was walking to supper and talking with a friend and Dr. Stratton came upon us and reminded me that there was a seminar about burnout in ministry starting. As we entered the cafeteria he asked me if I would like to come. Because I couldn't think of any reason not to, I went.

And it was exactly what I needed to hear. Because we had just gotten out of class, we had missed the first twenty minutes that apparently dealt with burn-out. What I heard after walking in was like an answer to a prayer.

See, I've been having trouble making myself available to God. I have let school, homework, and all sorts of other things get in the way. Basically Dr. Headley, the lecturer, gave us a brief message about taking responsoibility for our selves instead of letting our circumstances dictate things. He talked about time management. He talked about prayer. He talked about Bible study.

He talked about how we can't do everything--only God can do that.

I don't want to open up the creation can of worms but I do want to use the creation narrative here. God took his time creating us and the world we live in. Whether you take that to be literal or metaphorical is besides the point. The old cliche' "Rome wasn't built in a day" stands.

God rested not just on the sabbath, but during the work also. He took time to enjoy what He had done. His work in creation doesn't end until after he had rested.

I don't know if any of this sticks to your walls, but it did mine tonight.

peace out,
hersch

oh my goodness...

So today is just one of those days.

I found myself complaining a lot-virtually taking a dump on Matt's email client. Sorry buddy.

It has been a day and its only 2 in the afternoon, but you know what? I am still better off than most of the world and that makes me sad that I am complaining.

I mean, overslept and missed breakfast, but at least I have breakfast available to miss.




I have to buy new tires. For my very own car, that is paid for.
I am typing this on my own computer.
I have a nice padded chair under my butt.
I have clothes.
I have heat.
I have all that I need.

And I am complaining. What a waste.

Sorry God.

Sorry Matt.

peace out,
hersch

deja vu was one of my favorite games for the original Nintendo...

So I've been here before.

I'm sitting in the recliner in the living room of my parents house and I am looking at Geoff's blog. On the TV is Inside the NFL and I am having deja vu of having deja vu. Weird.

I hope everyone's holiday went well. Mine was really good. I was surprised. Not that it usually isn't good, but it just seemed extra nice this year. I think it had to do with the fact that for the first time in 2 years I feel I am doing something worthwhile with my life.

I also have just been really blessed to get to be home and see my family and friends this week. I miss my friends while I'm at school and I have been trying to soak up all the time with them this week that I can.

Also, Longbrake, I stole your idea. After listening to your sermon I felt compelled to have some sort of Christmas dinner at our church as well for families in our community who we have relationships with that might not have anywhere else to go--so kudos good sir. We'll find out this week if the session approves it.

Anyways yall, its bed time.

peace out,
hersch

what week is this?

Oh that's right, its Thanksgiving week. In honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to open up this post for a chance for all of us to say what we are thankful for.

I'll start.

I am thankful for finally being in a place after 2 years where I feel God is leading me.
I am thankful to be with my family after being at school for a while.
I am thankful for my friends whom I have gotten to spend some serious ammounts of time with lately. Its been awesome.

If you want, you may join in on the comments section. I know its alittle cheesy but I think its important to stop and take stock in what we are thankful for.

peace out,
hersch

pictures...

Here's a preview...the rest are at my Flickr site.

peace out,
hersch

a cup of tea and perhaps some internet?

-So in my thoughfulness, I spoke to a group of high schoolers this past weekend about obedience. Then I read this post(Stirrings) about obedience and was confronted with my own disobedience that I live in most of the time. Hmmm.

-I would really like the internet in my room to work again.

-I would also love to have a nice hot cup of tea. Mmmm's good.

-Sometimes I like to do a personal gut check, ala Psalm 139. Sometimes I feel good about myself after...sometimes not. Today is a not. I've been a little selfish and sarcastic lately. I don't like being sarcastic but I like getting laughs. And I am good at getting laughs by being sarcastic and mean. I am trying to learn how to be funny without being sarcastic--it's hard.

-Anyone wanna buy me a new pair of glasses? My prescription is old and my vision isn't where it should be.

-This semester has been very strange to me. For one, it has FLOWN by faster than any semester of school that I can remember. It also has been more lonely than I had anticipated. I'm not sure if I have been doing a good enough job of making myself open to new relationships here. Part of me likes the alone time, but a bigger part longs for someone to disclose to.

-Apocolypto or ApocolypNO?

Tis all.

peace out,
hersch

pictures post delayed....

So due to some technical difficulties, the previously mentioned picture post has been delayed. I am in the library right now due to the fact that the internet in the dorm is out. I am also having trouble getting the pictures from my camera to my computer(ie: I left the cable in IL and I am in KY...doh).

Upon further notice, I leave you with the brilliance that is: The Office(owned by NBC-Universal)


peace out,
hersch

new post coming...

updates with PICTURES coming soon!!!

peace out,
hersch

it's all downhill from here right?

So yesterday I turned 26 and started down that steep slope to 30. Yikes. I've been thinking and I have some observations about my life so far.

-I'm not married. I can remember being 16 and thinking the angst of life would finally be gone when I graduated college and got married at 21--1 year early because I am so smart. In reality I graduated when I was 23 and a semester late because I changed my major 3 times. Geez.

-I'm still in school. Like I said, I planned on being halfway to retirement by now. It's funny I can't really remember what I thought I would be doing. Maybe a teacher? Or a Paleontologist? Who knows.

-The last couple years I've gone from thinking about nothing except the good things of God and how He wishes us nothing but prosperity and great lives not only here on earth but in heaven to thinking about how messed up we as human beings really are and how maybe God's plans for us arent actually for us so much as for others. I also still can't write a sentence clearly or without it being a run-on. See.

-When I was in high school, my parents were mild annoyances, sometimes major road blocks to my convenience. Now they are friends. Wierd.



-One of the greatest joys of my life as a child was drawing. I remember myself and a friend creating a whole world filled with people we called "Punk-wheels." They were these strange "people" without feet. Instead they had some sort of wheels-hence the name "Punk-WHEELS." Also they were punk rockers. I still like to draw but have realized my skills as a child have not transcended into adulthood.

-I have only been out of the country once. This is actually better than I had planned. I used to think I would never get out of Fairfield Illinois-let alone the U.S. Thank God for that.

-I mentioned Paleontology earlier. When I was a child I probably knew more about dinosaurs than most teachers. I actually corrected the teacher once in 1st grade and she invited me to do presentation for the class about dinosaurs. I actually did an awesome job. I made a kick-butt "dino-rama" and lectured extensively for 5 minutes. It was great and my first academic victory. If only I had that same enthusiasm today. My love for dinosaurs has also been one of my biggest stumbling blocks to my faith as well. I have yet to find a truly satisfying explanation to where dinosaurs fit in with God's story.

------------------------------------------------------------------
So I am sitting here with all these observations and wondering about my life. How did I get here? Where am I going. When I am 30 what will I be thinking?

And I remember Jesus' words in John chapter 1:
" 35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"
They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

39"Come," he replied, "and you will see."
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter[j])."

Jesus didn't tell them anything. He simply invited them to come with Him. That simple verse seems to be the theme to life as a follower of Christ. To simply come along and see with our own eyes and experience and taste and touch. And do. And feel.

And live. With Jesus. With others.

To serve.

To not worry about myself so much and look to the needs of others.

To deny myself for the sake of others.

Hmmm.

peace out,
hersch

maybe...

I have discovered that I don't really like theological study. And I am in seminary. Hmmm. What to do?

Maybe theology isn't my cup of tea. Good thing Asbury has more than that.

peace out,
hersch

I love little baby ducks...(finish this song quote-if you can)

Some things that have made me enjoy life more lately....






































WUKY-NPR in Lexington









peace out,
hersch

DO THIS...

Community photo project....jump on in....

Seriously, this is a cool photo project. Check out Longbrake for the details.

Nathan, you and your fancy new camera better have a kick-butt entry.

That is all...retire into your creative worlds...

peace out,
hersch

people surprise you sometimes...

Isn't is funny when you go into a situation with a perception of how someone will be and then you are completely wrong? Let me explain.

I had to go to the Doctor's office today. Now not to lump all doctors together, but my general experience with any doctor I've seen except for one has been with a person who is condescending and sees me as a small annoyance and not a person who mught actualy be sick. Not today though. I went and saw Dr. Demos last friday and while he wasn't a jerk, he wasn't friendly either. So I expected today to be no different. When Dr. Demos came and I described my pain from my kidney stone(yeah..its still there) he smiled and said "Good. That's what I wanted to hear." Exsqueeze me? You want me to be in pain? He then explained that the pain I am feeling, though sucky, is actually a sign that I am going to be better soon. Oh, ok. He actually took me in his private office and showed me some pictures and then we talked about me getting my degree in counseling. He was completly cool.

I guess it just goes to show you that shouldn't pre-judge a situation. I walked away from Dr. Demos' office with a much better attitude and thankful heart. Nice.

peace out,
hersch

All I need is everything....

-I've spent the last few minutes looking out my window thinking. Sometimes in those simple moments, things can become clear. Sometimes they stay the same. Today things are the same.

-I spent this morning finally watching Invisible Children and found myself actually in tears. That doesn't happen often, and I hate to share that with you for fear you might think I am looking for some kind of validation. I am not. All I want is to share with you how I was affected.

-Why can't Don and Lori's new CD be out yet? I am so ready for some new Chaffer music.

-Seminary has definitely challenged me this semester. My foundations shaken, my vision foggy, my hope grounded more deeply in Christ than ever before. Why? Where else can I put it?

-I've come to the conclusion that I would rather live in Narnia. That sounds dumb I'm sure. Things there just seem much more black and white, not gray like our real world. Sometimes I'd rather have a Lion invite me to drink with Him in the stream than deal with the pain that is often my struggle to reconcile myself to God. Sometimes I'd rather be told plainly to clean my sword than left to silence. But ease of life would not compare to the joy of humility before a God I can't possibly ever hope to fully understand.

-The weight of the consequence of my sin is getting more and more heavy, and if I could do it all over again I would change so much. I don't understand people who wouldn't change their past. Yes I am thankful to be where I am, but if I could go back and stop myself from carrying such a load now, than I would. I am forgiven, but that doesn't eliminate the earthly consequence of sin.

-Do I really care about all the things I say I do?

-I've said it before: I want a canoe.

-John 3:30 English Standard Version: "He must increase. I must decrease." How do I put that attitude into my life? How do I act on that?

-Cheryl said this week that she makes too many mud pies. I do also. Ask her to explain that one.

-I am loved. Thank God.

peace out,
hersch

again already?

Some things I thought y'all would enjoy...

-Some cool photos...
-A great book...
-Only 7 dollars a month...
-Hiya bunkmate...

peace out,
hersch