Today is the day after Christmas.  This Christmas Break I have been chillin up in Boston, Mass.  It has been great.  I have been working with my dad making money so that I can head back to TNU with a fat wallet, but knowing me I will probably spend it all before I even get back.  I need help with that.  I spend my money so easy a lot of times.  I don't know what is wrong with me.  I need help with a lot of things.  I let people get me worked up sometimes.  All the time is more of the truth, but I don't know what it is.  They are just messing with me, but I just get all crazy without even realizing it.  I am working on just chillin' so I hope everyone will see a difference.  I am under construction.

My mom, my sister, and I hit up all of the malls today.  We got some good stuff.  I got some new sweats (YEAH).  I got some new cologne because I have been wearing some curve that this girl I dated in high school bought me.  I just felt weird wearing it, plus it reminds of her.  LONG STORY.  I got some pants and this awesome shirt.  I know you really don't care, but I am talking about my day, so I dunno. 

I think about Trevecca everyday.  We live such fast paced lives there.  Here in Boston it is awesome being in the city, but I find myself watching movies and sitting around all too often.  There is only enough movies that I can watch.  I rented 30 dollars worth of videos today and will probably have them all watched by Thursday.  I am a loser. 

All in all, I enjoy being home spending time with my family.  My parents are getting older, but they are becoming friends more and more as time goes by.  They don't try and discipline my sister and I much anymore.  It is just cool noticing the change in our relationship.  It is awesome.  It is nice to know that all those times I got mad at them for doing what they knew was right makes sense now.  Honoring my father and mother isn't hard anymore.  I understand how it all makes sense now.  I know that not all parents are like mine, but if we are lucky we can begin to notice our parents and their love for us if we just take the time to notice.

-joe c

Well...Well...well.  It has been a long time since I have written on this thing.  I am very sorry to all who I have told that I would write again.  I lied to many about it and I am sorry.  I am kind of forgetful at times.  I'm trying to get better at it.  I love you all for putting up with me.

I have been back at Trevecca for about a month now.  A ton of stuff has happened.  I am an RA, I work about 5-10 hours a week, Newspaper Editor, Kings Kids, and whatever else comes up.  It has been really busy, but I love it because I am having a blast doing it.  Especially, being an RA.  I have been able to help people in ways that I was helped as a Freshman.  It is incredible.  I love it. 

Lately, I have been doing a lot of maturing mentally.  I feel as though I should share it with you.  God has been forcing me to make decisions and teaching me how to handle making these decisions.  Some of these decisions could hurt me and can help me no matter what side I choose.  I know which choice is the right one, but it would be so much easier just to choose the other.  It isn't a big sin or anything I am dealing with, but there has been important decisions that I have been facing lately.  I will and have already made some of these decisions.

What I say to you: "Make the decision that you know is right without regard to what people are going to think about you.  God knows the whole situation and people do not.  Take care of your character (who you are) and your reputation will take care of itself."  I say all this to say that we will all face decisions and if you are prepared to make them then it will be easier. 

Just a little rambling from me.  Have a great week and remember, "Just do it."

Sincerely,

"sugarfree" 

Today I have surgery.  It isn't super serious, but there are some risks.  I have surgery on my nasal cavity.  I will be on pain pills for a few days but I should be ok. I will be dosing off and on for a few days.  If you want to pray for my recovery that would be greatly appreciated.  Also, you could call my phone.  I'll answer it if I am awake, but if I don't leave a message. Thanks for all who read my xanga.  Leave a post.

Motivated by His Mercy,

joe c 

I have this friend, Jared, and we have been close since the Freshman Year of High School.  WE have this connection that you can't really explain.  Whenever we do get to speak to each other it is like we had spoken to each other the day before.  We understand eachother.  We could look at eachother and know what is wrong or what needed to be said.  I say all this to inform you that his mother died.  She "flew away" one bright morning last week. 

When he told me those over the phone I could not think of what to say or what do to comfort or console him.  "Guys aren't really too good and consoling eachother anyway." BUT I almost said "everything happens for a reason."  I didn't say it.  I have that I don't know if I quite believe in that phrase.  So the past couple of days I have been thinking about that.  So many of us say that "everything happens for a reason".  Why do we think that?...maybe it is convenient...maybe it is easy to think up a reason as to why something bad happened...maybe that is just what we have been told. 

I am not bashing anyone who believes this at all.  I am just rambling about what has been consuming my thoughts the past few days.

When we say that "everything happens for a reason" we assume that their is a divine or some sort of plan of why everything happens.  That may very well be true, but what if it isn't.  I can think of a lot of reasons why my best friends mother passed away but are they all credible?  Are they all what needs to be heard?  Or said?  Are they all true?  Are they all planned by God? 

Instead of "everything happens for a reason"...Maybe "A REASON HAPPENS FOR EVERYTHING." Nobody thinks "God may be allowing something terrible to happen to teach us a lesson" before the terrible thing happens.  People only speak up after the tradgedy occurs.  "Well, there has to be some sort of reason why somehting this tradgic would have happened."

I could be wrong.  But that is why I open it up for discussion.  Tell me your thoughts. 

Sincerely,

joe c

It is Sunday Night and I am back at dear ol' TNU visiting friends that are living here over the summer.  I am staying with Kit, Doug, and Kevin.  Thanks guys for allowing me to sleep on your couch.  I am here in Nashville getting a feel for what it would be like living here during the summer.  It would be kind of boring, but fun at the same time because it is more like you are actually on your own.  I am kind of looking forward to it.  I am also looking forward to my younger sister being here next year.  Another thing I am looking forward to is spending another year as a student at Trevecca.

I was chosen to be an RA in benson dorm on the fourth floor with the incoming freshman.  I am pretty stoked (excited) about being able to spend time with all the guys.  Seth Thompson and I will be holding down the floor together.  It is going to be a fun filled year. 

Although Trevecca has its problems: hypocrits, liars, cheats, gossipers, cliques, bad decisions by faculty, bad decisions by students, and so on and so forth, I can't help but see the good in this school.  This school has its problems believe me.  BUT I want to draw to your attention that when you spend time with someone day in and day out you really get to know who they are.  You get to know the person inside of them.  As you get to know the person you find their strengths and weaknesses, especially their weaknesses.  We all have weaknesses because we are all humans.  We learn from being here at Trevecca that everyone is weak in certain areas.  Those areas are different from one another, so that we can help eachother out.  Trevecca has taught me what it is really like to be loved by those who follow Christ. 

Can we not live as a TRUE and REAL family???  Can we not treat one another better than we would like to be treated outselves???