Hello Everyone

So, this will be my first post in almost exactly a year.  Apparently, xanga will not close me down no matter how unactive I am.  One quick note to anyone who wonders why I haven't posted in a year (aside from my normal tardiness in such things): my current web access is through my school's ISP which is very heavily filtered (as it should be) and prevents me from accessing either my xanga account or my gmail!  Thus, I've virtually disappeared from the internet map.  Anyone who wishes to reach me should email me at bposton@unitychristianschool.org

That aside, here's a quick news update on my life.  I'm about a week away from finishing my first year as a school teacher.  Praise God for that!  If I had a dollar for every time I though "I'm not gonna make it"... well it'd be a lot.  But God has sustained me through much grace, protection, and provision.  It has been one of the most challenging and difficult years of my life, but in many ways also one of the most rewarding.

My current plans include to go to Summit in OH followed by Summit TN, so if anyone's hanging out in Dayton or up at Summit, I'll look forward to seeing you this summer!  For everyone else, send me an email sometime and let me know how you're doing and what's up.

Blessings!

Currently Reading When I Don't Desire God: How To Fight For Joy By John Piper see related

One small step (for me), one giant leap for Bradfordkind

Wow.  So it has been approximately 1/2 a year since I last posted.  Here's an update on my life:

I've finally escaped from the Cubicle Police.  I'm leaving my desk job for something way cool...<unsubtle foreshadowing>!  All kidding aside, my time spent working at Southern Champion Tray was all in all a good experience.  I discovered an awful lot about myself, the biggest being that I couldn't possibly work in an office for the rest of my life without losing my sanity.  But I also discovered the difference my attitude could make in my job.  It is a shame really, but I didn't have a good attitude until about these last couple of months.  Things weren't nearly so bad then.  And I actually managed to make friends with co-workers who were for the most part older, married, and with families.  God has used this time to teach me a lot about patience, discipline, hard work, and trusting in Him.  So I guess I can't whine too much about losing my stapler :)

Now for the way exciting news:  after working Summit this summer, God has opened an opportunity for me to teach at a private Christian school (Unity Christian School to be exact) in Rome, GA.  This job is amazing!  I'll be teaching 2 history classes, a gov't and economics class, and a Bible class.  Also, part of my job will be doing student leadership development...a vague sort of title that means supervising their SGA and helping to coordinate all sorts of neat activities from fun, to spiritual, to worldviewesque.  Two of my classes will be highschool and two will be 6th grade (poor things don't know what's coming).

A wise friend once told me there are two kinds of jobs: the ones that bore you to death and the ones that scare you to death.  I spent most of last year exploring what it was like to be bored to death.  I didn't exactly die, but it was...well... boring.  So this year it looks like I'll be exploring scared to death.  In all honesty, I covet your prayers because I'm not entirely sure what I'm getting into.  In fact, I don't even know all I don't know, and that's an awful lot of don't-knowing.  One of the big things I don't know is how I'm going to make the transition.  I have one week before Summit starts, and approximately 3 days after Summit ends, during which time I need to secure housing and prepare enough lessons that I won't stand with my mouth hanging open after the first day in class.  I'm feeling a lot of anxiety, insecurity, and uncertainty right now.  Please pray not only that God will provide the answers to my questions, but that fundamentally I learn to trust him rather than give into anxiety during times like this.  He has given me this job and provided for all my needs thus far, I know that He will provide for me all the way through.

I know I've been scarce, and in all honesty it looks like I'll be dropping off the grid before long.  But know that I miss you Bryan peeps and hope all is going well.  Some day I'll try and post a word or two on your blogs before you forget me or give me up for dead :)

May God's Peace be with you all!

Well, it has been quite awhile since my last post.  At the moment, I don't have much to say...but I just found out my name in elvish is Mablung Eärfalas.  Not to shabby eh?           (check out yours at: http://www.chriswetherell.com/elf/ ).  Okay...so it isn't a technical translation of my name...just a generated name from the similarity between the characters in my name and the characters in a complicated mapping system developed by this guy.  But until I learn to speak elvish...it'll do).

The debates on Justin's blog on LOTR has reawakened in me a desire for the books.  I have been visiting them in my spare time, lingering over the words and the story like a cup of coffee shared with a friend after a long separation.  I think that I draw more inspiration and heart from this book than any other work I've ever read outside of Scripture.

For an interesting aside, I am becoming convinced that Tom Bombadil, the mysterious interloper in the book form of the story may be Aule, one of the Valar.  Pam asked me some while book who I thought it might be.  For a fascinating analysis of the texutal argument behind this claim, check out this article. http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html

That's all for now...I'm off to bed.

It is amazing how time seems to slow down after college while the days pass at a faster rate.  Sometimes I feel like a truck caught in a rut: running the engine at 100 mph, going nowhere, and throwing mud everywhere.  It amazes me that nearly half a year has passed since graduation without seeming to go anywhere.  And as all my goals become less time conscious, they consequently telescope into the infinite tomorrow.

Just as a brief update, I'm currently working as a Customer Service Rep/ Data Entry at Southern Champion Tray.  I have looked corporate America in the face, and found...a cubicle that feels like home without at all offering hospitality :) The people are good, and the work isn't too bad, but it is hard not to wonder if this was what it was all for.

I am finding that it is very difficult to not lose heart in this so called "real world."  It is harder to think and to dream.  And I miss all of you Bryan folks so much!  I miss breaking bread with you in the cafeteria and staying up late arguing about the mysteries of life.  Most of all...I miss the fun of sharing your lives.  It seems the challenge in this world is to live and not merely exist.  The path of least resistance is to distract yourself from one day to the next (with work being the most substantial chunk of distraction). 

How quickly I forget my Lord and His mighty works: His revelations to me of His love and goodness.  How easy it is to be consumed with emptiness...to become a cistern without water as Scripture says.  I translate that to mean "the appearance of life without the substance."  I feel I am stuck in the dessert waiting for the Promised Land.  Oh Father, how I need your manna to make it to the next day!

I don't desire to be melodramatic.  I have no real life crisis threatening me.  But if you think about it, please remember me before the Father.  I could use the encouragement.

Peace be with you all! 

Silly idea no. 172 for a rainy day:

Are you feeling down about yourself?  Create a half-dozen phony xanga accounts.  Have them all post tremendous and glowing praise on your main account.  Others will think you are a genius, and follow suit.  Pretty soon, you are the talk of the whole Xanga community.  Then, the world...

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