tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41438767445639582092023-11-15T11:11:18.964-08:00NY152shopgirlPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-79295817417757009032013-01-26T22:03:00.003-08:002013-01-26T22:03:45.007-08:00My oceanLife is good.... Really good! Things are moving fast and slowing down all at once.
In October I accepted a job in suburban Chicago, packed up all my possessions...not much (It all fit in my car) but I like living lite at least right now. I was just happy to have a job that was within my field, wasn't somewhere I didn't want to be (Ok there really weren't that many places that I didn't want to be) and actually was going to pay me. Wow my job has exceeded that by 100 fold. I'm working directly in the area of the field I want to be working in with way more responsibility and opportunity that I would've ever dared to hope for. My two bosses are great and the companies future looks really bright.
I was just thinking about an analogy for my life.... I feel like half way through senior year of college I got out of the cruise ship and into a life raft. I was out at sea but I didn't have much figured out or nailed down and then I got an intership and stayed out at sea. My internship was initially only going to be 7 months but the job market was still tough and things in Des Moines were pretty good so I stayed for 5 more months (more time at sea). Life was good. I hope it doesn't sound like I am complaining. It just wasn't solid or very constant. I didn't know where I was going to be living in 8 or less months from 2nd semester Senior year until really this past October. After my internship ended (at which time I still had no job). I thought I was doing alright and stayed in Des Moines for a few months (I was mostly traveling actually). Then finally I decided to move to Minneapolis and move in with good old mom and pop... this would be the "Jonah level" storm of my time at sea analogy. From July to October I was living at my parents. Those might be the 4 hardest months of my life. It was tough. I wondering if I would ever make it into my field or make it at all. When things are hard like that I think it becomes natural to start question things and before you know it you are questioning everything... "Is this because I did or didn't do xy or z"... "Why did I go to college".... "Should I start doing x".... "How do you get into drug dealing!?!?".... okay maybe not the last one. Maybe ;)
The call.
Man it was unreal. In a sense you know this is how it will happen. 1 call and then suddenly everything changes. 1 call. Its almost sick. Its hard to live like that. But when I got it. SHIT... One of the best moments ever. I got off the phone and couldn't even process it. I just wanted to drive and think. almost like I was just told someone died... sort of. I wasn't suddenly filled with joy, which i think most people would assume is what would happen. It was just to much, there you are going through one of the hardest things... the hardest thing that you have ever experienced with no definitive end and you have questioned and de-solidified almost everything you thought you knew or believed Maybe I'm just bad at handling those things.. maybe I was just afraid that I would find out it wasn't real. I'm not sure why that was my reaction but I just wanted to be alone and try and process it. I think it was probably shock. That feeling of "finally"
So then I started the process of packing up and making my way (with about a week stop in Des Moines) to my Aunt and Uncles in St. Charles. I moved in and then started working and has started to smooth out. 1'st paycheck.... INCREDIBLE. Like a thousand pounds lifted off my shoulders. Being broke is pretty damn stressful. I think I would like to not do that again.
So here I am still feeling "out at sea". I think this is mostly because I am still living with my aunt and uncle. which has been really great. Coming home to a cook meal is one of the best things of my day to day. It has been good to get time with them and develop a better relationship and my uncle loves bikes/biking so it has been fun to talk about that and learn a little even though I thought I would have so much more time to spend in his "shop" working on bikes with him. Funny how you forget that when you get a job it means you will have a LOT less time than when you are unemployed. Oh well! So I still have not got settled in a place. Honestly 3/4 my stuff is still in boxes in their garage. that's OK, life has been a real joy and I'm loving the adventure. it just isn't settled. still not on solid ground if that makes sense. There is also the lag time of catching up on finances and what not. You don't really budget when you are interning or unemployed... you just live like a cheapskate. I'm adjusting to being able to buy some non necessities like music or clothes. It's pretty cool. Of Monsters and Men is definitely one of the best purchases I have made so far.
So I can see land but I still haven't hit the shore. It will come and I should be hitting my stride this spring/summer... honestly I think this summer is going to be incredible. Hopefully have some friends by then. Planning on doing some good traveling and having a bunch of different adventures. Also long days... that part of winter is really hard for me. I'm used to it but it just feels like there is so much more life and energy in the summer. But I do love the process of moving through spring. Its a wonderfully optimistic and hopeful journey every year.
What is the day to day like?
Well my day to day is good. Lots of work usually 50-60 hrs a week. Which I'm happy about I'm very excited about the opportunities at my work and it is motivating. No, that is not the expectation at my work.. well not exactly. being on top of your work is the expectation but working that many hours isn't. I just know what unemployment is like and I want to establish my reputation here. As well as trying to get as much experience as I can. Plus I don't have a social life so it works out well. After work I head to the gym and run/lift. I spent a lot of time running the past two months because I was training for a race with a friend which I did last weekend and it was great. I have never been a runner but the more I put into it the more I have enjoyed it and I look forward to the mental release. Usually I'm out of the house around 7 and back around 9ish. It is pretty simple but I'm enjoying it and I don't find myself dreading work or watching the clock during the day. I'm usually fighting the clock actually. Travel has really been the thing keeping things busy for me. I traveled the past 4 weekend in a row! This is my first weekend of being around, which has been lazy and great, and next weekend I'm off to Colorado for a ski trip. So that is life now. I think its pretty great. I might not be on land yet but I can see it and I'm getting closer and closer... get an apartment, get settled in a bit, start using christianmingle.com ;) and should be good to go.
Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-43388320684553968322012-09-12T12:11:00.001-07:002012-09-12T12:16:47.270-07:00The Lumineershttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uoCPHwPtZM&feature=relatedPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-11786406881635954582012-09-11T17:34:00.002-07:002012-09-11T17:34:46.980-07:00:)
Searching for a job is rather challenging. You need to have some idea of what you want to do, where you would like to live (and work as well) and then you need to figure out how to find the jobs that fulfill these requirements.
I feel fortunate to know what I want to do. I would like to be an Investment Analyst for a Commercial Real Estate owner/developer/investor. Essentially I want to be working with the people who make decisions for what to buy/sell and/or are responsible for making the managing decisions for a portfolio of properties. As far as location goes I'm pretty open (and becoming more so by the day) but I also have clear preferences like Denver, Chicago and Minneapolis.
I thought I was one of the fortune was to at least know what I would like to be doing and actually have some experience/background to stand on. But when you are unemployed for this long (almost 4 months) you begin to wonder.... about lots of things, excess amounts of "free time" really lends itself to wondering. But especially about working and the future. I'm pretty sure I always spend plenty of time thinking about the future but I bet I spend even more now. I find it somewhat curious that I spend more time thinking about the future when I am essentially unable to plan for the future. I'm currently able to plan 1-2 weeks out. HA HA... Man that really just sounds pretty horrible AND in that sense it is pretty horrible. Oh.. shoot. Can this please be over soon?!?
Sometimes I consider giving up (temporarily) on the career job search and moving to Colorado, out to the mountains and getting a service type job to get by... Ah! Spending an entire winter living out on the slopes seems like it would be pretty good. Maybe.
At least I will be heading back to Chicago next week for an interview. Hopefully that goes well or the company I have been in contact with and had 2 phone and 2 interviews with since the end of June will finally make a decision.
A few things I am thankful for in the meantime.
Living in the same city as my sister and brother-in-law. Extra time with them has been a nice bonus.
Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Maybe a little fruity but I am pretty sure that might be my favorite drink period. Also one of the most "seasonal" drinks. Right up there with Egg Nogg.
Fall... Great weather. Potential adventures. (I'm planning to go camping up at Lake Superior this weekend!!)
Fantasy football. Lots of fun and one of the things me and my brother-in-law spend tons of time talking about.
New Running Shoes. I'm trying to use some of my extra time to get into running. Such an incredible sport of discipline and patience. It has been difficult but I believe the rewards of becoming a "runner" are well worth it.
Flannel shirts.
Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-35438290830342282222012-09-04T16:10:00.003-07:002012-09-04T16:10:52.825-07:00The necessity of work
“Those three things - autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward - are, most people will agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying.” Malcolm Gladwell, <i>Outliers</i>
Being unemployed for nearly 4 months, that sounds like a long time, has given me opportunity to think about the value of work. Since I haven't had any, HA! Recently I have been helping my parents with some projects around the house. Which have included painting. Honestly I was not very excited about the prospect of helping out with these projects when I was first informed. But since I have been helping out it has be interesting to notice the impact that taking part in some meaningful work can affect my outlook on life or mood.
I enjoy doing work that has a high connection between effort and reward like mowing. When you finish mowing you are able to clearly see the product of your labor. Painting also has a very high connection between effort and reward which has been very nice for me since I feel a need to do productive things each day. When job hunting I feel like I spend so much time and effort without a clear reward. I can spend an entire week searching for positions and applying online without ever getting contacted for a single position. I believe that is a major part of what makes the job search such a difficult thing.
I also believe the connection between effort and reward was one of the things that made my second internship so difficult. There seemed to be a low connection between effort and reward. Which I think is what made it difficult to stay focused, that and the fact that I was constantly trying to figure out what was next in terms of my future job and city.
Last night I was sitting out on my parent's back porch sharing a few beers and consequently thoughts with one of my best friends, I believe he is in fact my longest friend (since I have known him as long as I can remember), Matt Stephenson. He was detailing how challenging his work was because of weight of going into the office and sitting at a computer from eight to five everyday. I can say that I still remember the exact challenge he was speaking of. We tried to figure out if there is a better alternative or if were we just romanticizing something different.
Is there connection between effort and reward predetermined by the work that we do or can we work to discover or expose the connection in a more obvious way?
Should the work we are looking for have more to do with the quote at the begging of this post or the relation it has to our financial well being? Maybe it is both.
Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-25121341913872937412012-08-14T09:48:00.000-07:002012-08-14T09:48:52.665-07:00Summer 2012 #2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvCBSSwgtg4
I heard this song this last week and within 30 seconds of it playing on pandora I went over to see who it was because I knew I really liked it. I love when you are listening to a song for the first time and you just know that you really like it.
My one complaint with this song is that it is about a minute short. They really needed to add a few more lines to make it a longer song.
Anyways, enjoy!Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-52398904519576282132012-07-24T11:20:00.000-07:002012-07-24T11:20:55.816-07:00Attitude"Your attitude about who you are and what you have is a very little thing that makes a very big difference."
-Theodore RooseveltPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-82951938586418454352012-07-09T10:03:00.001-07:002012-07-09T10:03:29.724-07:00Some NightsFor the past 3-4 years I have had 1-3 "Songs of the summer"
This is #1 for summer 2012
<a href="http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kl-k7LcAQU"></a>Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-70708784466631060632012-07-09T09:54:00.002-07:002012-07-09T09:54:34.801-07:00GivingLast night I was fortunate to get together with Chuck. I met Chuck through the ESL program I helped out with this past year. He and his wife ran the program I helped out with. Getting to know Chuck and Sue over the past year has been a blessing. They invited our group of 6-10 leaders over to their house for a meal, which I made sure to never miss since they are AMAZING hosts, almost monthly. The passion for people and desire to "not go quietly into the night" are two of the things I enjoy most about those two. Chuck and Sue are in their 60's and have run a small construction company together for years. They seem to be pretty well off and unlike most of their generational counter parts they choose not to spend all of their evenings closed off in their home or just hanging out with their friends. They put a lot of time and effort into running a once a week evening ESL class for refuges who are not able to make the day-time classes offered buy the Lutheran Services organization.
Anyways Chuck and I had talked about getting together for coffee for a few months now and until last night had been unable to work it out. So last night we spent a few hours in conversation and one of the things we started talking about was giving. It started with Chuck telling me a story... He said one time a few years back he decided it was time upgrade his mower even though his current one was still working. So he asked one of his employees if he would like his mower, his employee said sure. A few weeks later he was with two of his employees and one brought up to the other that he still owed him fifty dollars. Chuck asked why, the one employee said he sold the mower Chuck gave him to the other employee. My first reaction was a thought about the parable of the unforgiving servant. Then Chuck made sort of a can-you-believe look and then said something to the effect of so I said to the employee "you can't sell that mower, I gave it to you". The employee quickly retorted "Yes I can, you <i>GAVE</i> it to me. So I can do whatever I want with it". I continued to think about the parable and was thinking that it was a pretty crappy thing to do. Then surprisingly he started defending the employee. He said the employee was right. Chuck gave it to him and if he was honest their shouldn't be any considerations attached.
Which got me thinking about the attitude we give with and then Chuck said "We are called to give to the church freely, we are not called to direct". Basically when we give with an attitude of concern for how wisely our donation is being used or what it is going towards we are trying to put considerations on our giving or direct our giving. This is something I have been specifically challenged with in regards to support specific ministry staff on a monthly basis and finding myself thinking "Wait a second, when they are going on that vacation or buying xyz.... that is nicer/better/cooler than whatever I have. Should I be supporting them?"
Thought this was a good challenge for my attitude in giving.Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-87683417684874812062012-07-08T15:50:00.001-07:002012-07-08T15:50:38.659-07:00HomelessI am homeless for the first time in my life... Maybe that is being a little dramatic but I don't officially live anywhere. At the end of June I moved out of my place in Des Moines. My internship finished in the middle of May and I have been unemployed ever since.
So how have a spent almost two full months of "free time". Well I started out really enjoying having the extra time. I felt like I was on summer vacation like the good old days of high school. I spent time biking, reading, running, hanging out with friends and trying to figure out what was next. It honestly wasn't to stressful at first, it was actually rather enjoyable. After a few weeks of little feedback from job applications I realized I needed to start doing something different. So I decided to spend some time going to the cities I wanted to be in. I spent a long weekend with my parents in Minneapolis and had a couple networking meetings then went back to Des Moines to prepare for a longer trip. I left Des Moines for Manhattan, KS where my brother lives. He does construction so I thought I might be able to work for him to pay for some of my trip expenses. It worked out pretty well I worked for him for 4 days and covered the cost of my trip. From there I kept heading west to Denver where I spent 5 days roaming around downtown meeting with different people who are working in the industry I am trying to work in. Overall it was a good trip. It can be pretty uncomfortable to shoot out emails to people you don't know and ask them if you can meet with them to talk and get some advice but almost everyone I met with was very helpful and friendly. I'm thankful for the kindness that was extended to me by people who did not benefit from giving me their time and advice.
It was really good to hit the road and get out of Des Moines I think it helped me to confront some of the hard decisions I needed to make. One of them being moving out of my place in Des Moines. I decided to leave because outside of the company I did my internship with there are practically no real estate companies in Des Moines I would like to work for. I've also wanted to live in a new city & state ever since I graduated high school. I didn't quite anticipate joblessness pushing me to make the move but it could end up being something I will be very grateful for in the future.
I spent 10 days in Minneapolis with family and am now back in Des Moines to spend a long weekend with friends and then head to Chicago on Tuesday for an interview on Wednesday that will hopefully turn into a job. If not I will be spending some more time on the road and then heading to Minneapolis for at least a couple weeks to try and figure out what is next. I'm strongly considering a move to Denver probably at the beginning of September if I haven't gotten a job by that point. I was hoping to go out at the start of August but I have a week long trip to Virginia in the middle of August that makes moving then less practical.
I'm thankful for the challenge of unemployment. It has not been easy but it has been a welcomed wake up call. I have had the opportunity to have a lot of time to think and considered what I would like to be doing, where I would like to be and the things that are important to me. By no means have I come up with the answers to all of those things yet but I have been challenged to come to reality with where I am at in the different areas of life and am in a position to approach this adventure with confidence and humility.
I have spent a good deal of time trying to determine if a career in real estate is something I am passionate about. Some of the reading I have been doing, Dave Ramsey in particular, has made me think hard about passion. I believe that the ideal career is working in something you are/can be passionate about. During my internship I don't think I was ever at a point of being passionate about the work I was doing. It was big corporate and I felt disconnected from the end result and the vision of what we were doing. Hopefully some of that was being an intern and not having the same level of responsibility of an analyst. I'm not sure... I will probably be thinking about that for a while.
"Life is full of ups and downs for everyone, it is much better to enjoy the journey than wish for something better"Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-91635818535040687602012-01-10T21:04:00.000-08:002012-01-10T21:04:20.440-08:00Day TwoFirst off I know I wrote the blog about routines last Thursday but I don't included weekend nights in those routines.
Well today was my second day of my new position with the Acquisitions & Dispositions department of Principal Real Estate, Basically this is the group that purchases new properties for our Asset Management group to manage and sells properties when there is a need.
This has been a very interesting transition since I was used to working for 12-16 people on a pretty consistent basis and now I'm working with 5, maybe even more like 3, I'm not quite sure yet. The people have been pretty good so far I just hope that I can pick things up quickly enough to start helping them and actually doing a good job. I only have to make it through tomorrow and I am done working for this week as well since I am flying out to Colorado on Thursday morning with some friends to go see some friends and do some skiing.
Other than work things have been going pretty well. My living situation has changed quite a bit since one of my roommates got married and another one moved out. But one of my other friends has moved in so now we have 4 of us. We have really taken on the spirit of "resolution" and all of the roommates have been pretty active in working out and trying to eat healthier for about two weeks. It is actually pretty fun when everyone is doing it. Ian, who just moved in, has been very into lifting and exercise for a while so this is nothing new to him but the rest of us had not been doing so well since the end of the summer. I think being consistent with exercise is very important and doesn't get enough credit for how much it can affect people mentally and emotionally besides just physically. I feel much more accomplished when I make it to the gym and I get excited for the next time I get to play a sport because I feel like I will be in better shape and be able to enjoy it more. Also it is sure a get stress relief, all of us have been going after work and I think that has been very good because we are able to leave work behind by the time we are home.
Something that I have been thinking about recently is people keeping their word. It is something that has been very frustrating to me lately. So many people my age are quick to say yes to things or maybe or they think they will do it instead of just putting a hard yes or no on things. It makes life much more difficult. I'm not saying there isn't any room for maybe, or let me think about it. I'm just saying that a lot of people I have been around don't do a good job of actually following through with what they say. I think it has been a good lesson for me because I have been trying harder to be a man of my word.
)
This summer I read an article put together by someone in our corporate leadership and development (blah blah blah) department. It was something like 50 ways to develop better relationships. I think almost all of the important things in life come from relationships so I was quick to read her article. This is one of the "50 ways" that stuck out to me.
"Keep your word. If you say you'll do something, do it! Breaking your word breaks trust, faith and confidence. You ability to create powerful connections depends on you keeping your word."Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-76359954929319680012012-01-05T20:12:00.000-08:002012-01-05T20:12:44.665-08:00RoutinesYesterday I read an article about routines and the value of having routines. I truly enjoyed that article and I think there is a lot of value in what the author wrote. His basic point was that "If you have routines to begin and end your days you will be much more productive and the days will be easier" also with routines you can work on being consistent in the things that are important to you exercise, reading, quiet time, etc. I like to blog because it has a positive impact on my thinking and processing of my life and the events that are shaping it.
There is value in routines because routines require discipline, which is one of the defining factors of men of value. There is so much to do and opportunities are vast these days which can make it difficult to stay focused on the things that matter to you. Discipline is one of my greatest shortcomings and I have resolved to improve.
I like the idea of blogging and reading to end my each day (at least week day). More to come later but I must go to bed.
Goodnight.Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-22221926045927030342011-11-02T20:54:00.000-07:002011-11-02T20:54:12.099-07:00Slam your first against the table!“The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want the most for what you want now.” Zig Ziglar
Wow what an incredible quote. When I read this it just rang so true for me and my life. How often has what I wanted in the moment kept me from staying on the course toward what I truly wanted, how many times have I said I was going to loose some weight and get in shape and then I had a momentary want for unhealthy food? Or a momentary desire to not exercise because I was tired in the moment? I believe that people who have this perspective are often people who are truly happy and successful or are more likely to be. The people that consistently overcome momentary desires in order to achieve a longer term goal or accomplishment are the people that get where they want to go in life. It is kind of amazing to me how good I was at doing this for sports. I don’t enjoy working out or two-a-days or lifting and there were many days I didn’t want to do those things but I had an iron clad commitment to the goal of being a better athlete and making my team better because of it. I was also very passionate about sports and enjoyed sports. I think the lack of passion is what made school so difficult for me. I was seldom passionate about what I was studying and I didn’t have the long term commitment to getting good grades so I could get a good job… etc.
I’m trying to figure out what the driving forces in my life are and how to harness those driving forces. I have a desire to be successful and that is what motivates me day in and day out to try to become better. Maybe even more than a desire to be successful I have a fear of being of successful. I have a strong sense of fear that I could waste my life. I am afraid of looking when I am old and thinking I wasted my time. So is that the driving force in my life, or one of them that will cause me to overcome obstacles or persevere through difficulties and achieve the things I desire?
Maybe that isn’t the best driving force or maybe that is only one of many. I think perspective can be a driving force. When you are able to put things into perspective it helps you to make decisions that are based on long term desires or true desires instead of temporary desires. I believe goals help with perspective and help to be a motivator and that I was I am committed to making, tracking, discussing, tweaking and ultimately achieving my goals.
But to find real joy in life I believe that passion can not be removed from the equation. It makes sense doesn’t it? I believe we were created by the Creator and given talents and passions or tendencies towards certain things. And it brings glory to God when we use our talents and passions to the fullest.
Let me preface that last part about passion. Last night I was at K-life and Ric was giving a message but we were also supposed to discuss some of the topics he was bringing up. Well one of his points that struck me was “What are you passionate about?” which then we were asked to discuss in our small groups and Dana asked me to kick it off. I quickly created some answer while I was trying to figure out my real answer that sounded something like “well, I am passionate about progress, the process of becoming better at things, I’m also passionate about relationships and continuing do grow and deepen the relationships that I have been blessed to have in my life. I am also passionate about my faith.”
I don’t know why but I felt very fake during my answer, I don’t necessarily think that the things I said were untrue but I think I was just still very unsure of what I thought. Ric used the analogy of “what makes you slam your fist against the table? What gets you so worked up that you would slam your first against the table” Honestly my instant reaction while I was thinking was nothing. I started trying to think of things hoping something would just pop into my head and nothing did which made me think nothing. But I know that isn’t true. So on the drive home I continued to think about this idea of “What makes you slam your fist against the table?” To be honest I’m still very much wrestling with my answer, as well as the guilt that my initial response wasn’t “The advancement of the Kingdom of the Lord.” Since that wasn’t my answer or even an answer that feels real right now I’m stuck with the why. Why don’t I feel that way? Do I want to change that? How do I develop that passion? Can I develop that passion? That is a lot to think about and I don’t want to get to removed from my starting point.
So what are the things in my personal life that make me slam my fist against the table? I’m going to pause here because I’m going to spend some time considering my answer and write a follow up blog.
So I guess the most logical ending is to ask “What makes you slam your fist against the table?”Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-46618460140488358732011-09-19T16:16:00.000-07:002011-09-19T16:16:13.058-07:00goalsCheers to something new!
I have never tried blogging from my phone before. Sitting in a panera, like I havo fir so many previous posts. Honestly. I am pretty sure the ratio would be pretty ridiculous to see. Anyways I am waiting for a friend who I have been meeting with for over a month now. We stated meeting weekly to discuss goals. It has been a slow process of getting together for coffee or dinner and discussing goals as well as life in general. It is sort of a time for us to process each week together and then discuss the future by creating and working in our personal goals together.
When we were discussing the idea of doing goal setting and accountability together I started doing some research on goalsetting techniques. And strategies. At first it was a little intimidating, it was also motivating. But goal setting is intimidating because you are making decisions in what is important to you, what you think your life could be like/ what you want it to be like, how much you expect/ desire from yourself and your life.
I felt like goals took a different meaning for me when I started putting them down on paper. Honestly at that point it is just you staring at something you have decided you want to do, experience, or become. That is very real. Goal setting has made me take a hard look at what I believe about life and the things that I want out of my life. It honestly made me think I am a pretty selfish person but hopefully this will inspire growth.
Goal setting also puts your failures right in front of your face. When you say your going to do something and you get to the point that you said you would do it by and have not done it, that can be defeating. Of course you can't allow "failures" to compromise the journey of achieving your goals. I have to refocus myself when that happens and make sure I get baxck on track as soon as possible.
Well my friend is here. More on this journey later.Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-9776838998720153642011-06-19T09:50:00.000-07:002011-06-19T10:48:26.865-07:00InternWell I am over a month into my internship (Crazy). So far I have enjoyed my time in Des <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moines</span>, it has been very busy with catching up with old friends, moving into my house, and work. I feel like I have mad pretty good progress in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">getting</span> into a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">rhythm</span>. I feel like I have been maturing a lot by accepting more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">responsibilities</span> and expecting more from myself.<br /><br />Let me quickly summarize where I am what. I graduated May 7<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Th</span>, moved to Des <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moines</span> and started an internship with Principal. I moved into one of my former college roommate's house that is very very nice. I have 4 other roommates and it has been a pretty good experience so far. I spent a pretty good amount of my first month trying to hangout with my best friend Tommy because he just left for New Mexico for a month and then will be moving to Virginia for law school. I'm thankful we got to spend some time together.<br /><br />As well as things have been going I still feel like something is missing. It might be my lack of involvement with a church since I have moved to Des <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moines</span>, it might be that I am living in Des <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moines</span> again and not somewhere new. Honestly I am not exactly sure what it is but I do not feel content or satisfied. I think part of it is my roommates are not as motivated as I would like them to be or maybe just not as interested in things outside of work, golf, and hanging out watching <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">tv</span>.<br />I graduated college and I have a serious hunger to try to do some new things. I have this serious thirst to learn new things. I want to get into biking, learn how to make cocktails, read tons of books, get involved with volunteer organizations, I would love to try to do a sprint <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">triathlon, I want to learn how to cook, I'm 23 I don't want to slow down, I want to speed up. I'm not ready to settle down and accept where life is at, why would you want that? I feel like I'm looking for some community that is as excited to get after life as I am. I want to spend time with people that are going to push me and are open to me pushing them. I want more depth too, I want to sit out on the back porch and have real honest conversations, not spending two hours bullshiting and talking about sports. Yesterday my friend ryan and I went on a bike ride from the surburbs into downtown Des Moines. We stopped at a restaurant down town where we had some tacos and margaritas. I had a blast it was one of the best days I've had so far in Des Moines. We biked about 20 miles and just had a good time hanging out. </span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected"></span><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Honestly I think I just need a fresh start and new city. To many of my friends that live here are comfortable, I'm far from being comfortable. </span>Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-39373905203411996352011-03-27T10:44:00.001-07:002011-03-27T10:56:55.482-07:00Group ProjectSo I'm currently at the tail end of working on a group project and it has been tough. We are competing in a development competition in Minneapolis with 4 other colleges. Basically the committee running the competition gives us a piece of land in our case an 18 acres site in one of the Minneapolis suburbs and we are supposed to come up with a development proposal for the site. <div><br /></div><div>Well this started in early February and we have meet at least once a week since. I was involved in this same competition last year and it was completely different. First of all I think last years project was significantly easier. We had the opportunity to choose to one, two, or all three parcels and come up with a development plan for each. We chose to only do one and we only had one building on it. This year we are proposing at least 6 and we have to come up with a construction schedule and costs for each and then a financial pro-forma and other financial information. Anyways last year we also had six guys working on it and we were all pretty committed and we all had no idea what we were doing. We ended up doing pretty good, we got third but we think we got hosed ;).</div><div><br /></div><div>So this year has just been completely different we have had 13 people involved and I have been put in a position of "leading" this group and it is like people wait for me to give them things to do and it is very frustrating. Also I would say there are like 2-3 of the people in the group who have actually put a significant amount of time into this project and the rest have put very little. The experience has definitely taught me a lot about group work. Being in a position to delegate is a tough position to be in. Its like you have to understand where the whole project is going and how to explain each part to each person. It is ridiculous how delegation seems like something that is so easy, I mean you just tell other people what to do right? It has been quite the journey and it has been very stressful. I can not wait for the project to be over. We have until Wednesday afternoon to get it finished and we have some major things to get worked out before then.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have just been very stressed out with this project and am nervous about us getting it finished, So I thought that blogging about it might help a little.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well hopefully we can make this thing fly in a few days :). I only have like forty more days till graduation, that is a solid positive to think about!</div><div><br /></div>Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-35986626316109995682011-03-15T08:06:00.000-07:002011-03-15T08:47:21.863-07:00WarI'm pretty pessimistic. It is one of my many flaws I wish I was more easy going or just plain optimistic. But I tend to lean towards pessimism. I think most people struggle with perspective and I have been thinking about perspective a lot lately. Perspective is something that is difficult to maintain. I think it is because culturally "perspective" is where you land on the american dream or how you measure up to your peers in terms of success. <div><br /></div><div>I'm reading Fly Boys by James Bradley which is about some airmen who fought in the pacific and became P.O.W.s in Japan during world war two. Most of the book as actually very appalling. War is something I can't even pretend to understand and I think is far to often read about in a way that isn't really attempting to understand it. It seems to me that far to often people read a line like "one hundred thousand american military, two and a half million Japanese and <b>thirty</b> million Chinese were killed in Japan's raid of China and the fighting in the pacific during world war two" and then continue to read on without being fazed. <b>30 MILLION PEOPLE!!!!!</b> James Bradley has a chapter of his book devoted to Japans "rape" of China and it is horrific. The Japanese just killed everyone in sight when they attacked China. It isn't even the reading about "civilized" war that has been the tough parts to read but it is the sections that talk about different armies decimating civilians and the way that life was view by the different nations. I guess I have had such a sheltered life that it is hard for me to comprehend how the world hasn't stood together for peace. It is incomprehensible to me that nations have been brainwashed to believe that they are so damn different then each other and that other nations youth "deserve" to die. I apologize to anyone who reads this for my ramblings I'm trying to process as I type. </div><div><br /></div><div>While I wrestle with the insanity of racism, ignorance, and inhumane violence of the world wars of history this book has helped me to adjust my perspective of my life and to be grateful for the environment I have been raised in and the opportunities I have had. If it was the early 1940's I would almost certainly be a soldier in the war or be dead. It is refreshing to take a step back from the mentality of looking at what you haven't achieved and what you don't have to be grateful for what you do have. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not "officially" (Whatever that means ;) Participating in lent but I have been around some people that are and I have just decided for that for this season of lent/life I am trying to give up being ungrateful? I would've just said try to be more grateful but I'm pretty sure you are supposed to stop doing something for lent. This has been a very good thing for me to be challenged with during this season because I am in a season of uncertainty and stress. I feel as if I am on the brink of making some heavy decisions like what to do, where to live, what to devote time time and what things I'm trying to achieve in the next fews years. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-57538670108406543992011-02-23T10:18:00.000-08:002011-02-23T10:50:23.352-08:00Hard DecisionsSo this Friday I will be exactly 8 weeks from graduating...... WHAT! Well actually 8 weeks of class so 9.<br /><br />WHAT!!?!>1/.1/13./1./.3?.1/3.2/4.1/4./4??%7.4/YH<br /><br /><br />That doesn't even seem real. I have to enter the real world, which I must admit I am looking forward to but I'm also terrified. There are a few job opportunities I am deciding on whether to pursue or not and it is tough. Right now I have a "soft" job offer to be an appraiser in Des <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moines</span>, I am considering applying for an internship at Principal in Des <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moines</span> (Extremely Corporate), There is a company in Kansas City that has told me they are interested in higher me but they don't have any full time opening yet, and there is a company in Des <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moines</span> that has an opening for a sales agent in it's commercial brokerage office.<br /><br />I'm going to break down where I am at for pros and cons of each.<br /><br /><u>Appraisal position</u><br /><br /><strong>Cons:</strong> 1) Des <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moines</span> 2) Tough first two years to get started in the industry with lots of time spent doing continuing ed, classes, and passing some tests. 3) Since it has so many barriers to getting into it would be tough to leave. Also most people that get into appraisal and get their career going don't quick appraising. 4) I'm not exactly sure that this it is something I would be excited about doing all the time. 5) Doesn't necessarily have the suit and tie "top tier" professional requirement (Yes, I like that) 6) Des <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moines.</span><br /><br /><br /><strong>Pros</strong>: 1) You have a lot of control over your career 2) Your work and experience adds a lot of value to yourself and you are not that dependent on the company you work for 3) There is a lot of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">flexibility</span> with hours and where you work from (Potential to be on vacation somewhere and still get work done, also work from home or go into the office whenever) 4) Great opportunities for getting into coaching. 5) Could be fairly easy to relocate to another part of the country but not for 4-6 years. 6) Great opportunity to be an investor in real estate because I would be a pro at valuing it.<br /><br /><u>Brokerage position</u><br /><strong>Cons:</strong> 1) Potentially start on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">commission</span> and make very little money for around 2 years. 2) Harder leave one market and enter another market. 3) Uncertainty of commission. 4) Des <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moines.</span><br /><br /><strong>Pros:</strong> 1) lots of control over career. 2) A lot of the work is developing your network. Which i think would be a lot of fun. 3) I have already set a pretty good base for a network in Des <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moines</span> 4) Not very dependant on one employer, your network and skills add a lot of value to yourself. 5) Potential to make LOTS of money 6) A good amount of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">flexibility</span> with hours/vacation 7) I enjoy relationship managing. 8) I am not afraid of hearing no.<br /><br /><u>Internship</u><br /><br /><strong>Cons</strong>: 1) It is an internship 2) Only guarunteed for 7 months 3) Ubber corporate (Split on if this is a con or not 4) Des Moines 5) Make nothing for 7 months.<br /><br /><strong>Pros</strong>: 1) Huge Company with a strong brand name. 2) Better opportunity to relocate 3) Easier to go huge corporate then switch to smaller shop than the other way around.<br /><br /><u>Kanas City company</u><br /><u></u><br /><strong>Cons:</strong> 1) Not sure I would like the company/position 2)<br /><br /><strong>Pros:</strong> 1) KANSAS CITY 2) They also have an office in San Fransico 3) The company is headquartered in Chicago 4) Solid experience and probably pay to start out 5) Potential to move into mortgage banking (Middle man between borrower and lender 6) They could potentially open an office in Denver.<br /><br /><br />====================================================================<br /><br />I think it is pretty clear the winner is the position in Kansas City.<br /><br />Hm, I have not actually decided I need to hear more about the brokerage and appraisal positions. Tough decisions. My ideal was to get to Denver but that has been harder than I thought it would be.<br /><br />Well that is where things are at for now. It will be interesting to see how they change.Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-69110990871368740702011-02-20T18:38:00.000-08:002011-02-20T19:03:41.142-08:00Tommy<div>Tommy is one of my heroes. I know how talented he is and who he really is as a person and I love him for that.</div><div><br /></div><div>I still remember meeting Tommy. I was going into 5th grade and I had only been living in Des Moines for a few months. Tommy and I were in VBS together. I still remember the first time I ever hung out at Tommy's house, we spent hours talking about how much we loved star wars while we sat on the couch in his basement! We went to church together from that point until we graduated high school. Over the years we went through so many experiences together, we truly "grew up" together. I thought about listing all of the things we went through together or even just the significant ones and unfortunately I don't have the time.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I think there is something very special about experiencing someone through so many of life's changes. What is so amazing about our relationship is that you would think we would have so many similarities and tons of common interests but we have few. Our lives have taken very different paths. We have been calling each other "best friends" for years but the reality is we stopped being "best friends" years ago. Tommy is a brother to me. </div><div><br /></div><div>I got to spend this past weekend with Tommy and I was reminded how blessed I have been to have such an amazing friend. I know that it won't matter if we live in the same city or on different sides of the country, we will always be there for each other and ready to do anything at a moments notice to help each other.</div><div><br /></div><div>You're my guy Tom. Thanks!</div>Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-48727438587691281162011-02-16T11:15:00.000-08:002011-02-16T12:13:57.747-08:00The midst of a stormI apologize if you read this. I was planning on putting together a post about how Dropbox.com is one of the most incredible and revolutionary Applications out there but my mind has just been bouncing around since the minute I walked in the door about a half an hour ago. <div><br /></div><div>So please understand if my thoughts are fragmented and scattered. Which I think is do to A) Tiredness and B) Spending about 90% of the last two days studying or working on homework assignments. Which will not slow down until I finish my test on Friday at 11. YUCK!</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyways I am actually getting used to the constant school work and unending group meetings. I think it is all about having the right mindset. When you have the right mindset it is amazing how much easier things feel? Its like if I am expecting to spend 8 hours in the library working on stuff it isn't that bad because I have resigned myself to that but if I am planning on spending two hours there and I just go in thinking about how I hope it goes by quickly it seems to drag.</div><div><br /></div><div>So last night we had a real estate club meeting (The club I am the President of). Anyways we had an employer here from Kansas City and I have meet this guy multiple times before because of having him up for meetings in the past and I am the one who coordinates meetings. So I was looking forward to having him up he is real nice guy and I usual enjoy talking with him. Well after the meeting I was talking with him about this intership opportunity he had talked about that would be for 8 weeks starting right after I would graduate and I was telling him how I was interested and I was wondering what I should do next. At first he was like "oh yeah, okay" and he was just awkward when I was trying to ask him what I should do next after I gave him my resume. After a few minutes of these he goes "you know what this internship isn't really for you, this is for some people who don't have that much experience and we want to check out before hiring them full" and he went on to tell me that he and someone else had given me the thumbs up. He then continued to tell me they were just waiting for approval on some full time positions and that I was on their "top five" list of people to hire.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope that didn't come off as arrogant because I was really caught of guard by that and I just kept thinking "how did I get on their top five and how didn't I know that they were so interested". I mean it really makes me wonder like "Is this company honestly interested in me because I have meet this guy and a few other people from their company a half a dozen times". I mean all I have done is talk with them and organize meetings for the real estate club. I have not done anything amazing. Also what is so confusing is that my GPA is pretty weak like I feel pretty confident that I am a below average student. So is it really that easy, I mean is it more important to just have some familiarity and somewhat of a relationship? </div><div><br /></div><div>Because if it is it makes me wonder what it would be like if you were just very cognizant about building your personal brand and building up as many relationships as you possibly could. Would you really even need to be that smart? or is that being smart?</div><div><br /></div><div>There is this real estate grad student who is at a grad school in New York that created a blog titled 'a student of the real estate game". He is absolutely brilliant. I mean I he obviously works very hard but he has thought of a way to put himself in front of so many people in the industry. I guarantee that he gets a bundle of job offers because he has brilliantly marked himself and made himself considerably more valuable. Honestly IT IS RIDICULOUS! It is amazing how easy it is. You just put yourself out there and email/call people and ask if you can sit down with them and ask them questions to get advice. I would say I have opened up a solid three opportunities in Des Moines because of doing that and these people in control met me and know me by name. Amazing. Also the best part is you can talk with the stinking people at the top. It is amazing how easy it is to ask some president of a company to meet with you and it is almost like they think "well if this kid is asking me then it must be alright " WHAT!?!? </div><div><br /></div><div>Honestly I'm blown away. If there is one talent I might have I think it is resourcefulness and the ability to just ask.</div><div><br /></div><div>More to come later. Do more people know this? Is this one of those things that you think everyone would know but few people know?</div><div><br /></div><div>"The answer is always no, if you never ask"</div><div><br /></div>Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-4752480020398298552011-02-15T07:12:00.000-08:002011-02-15T07:24:12.449-08:00The hours leading up to a test....I should be continuing to review my notes, I have a test in a few hours and I have class in 15 and I will be in class until my test (Well truth be told I'm going to skip one class to study :). But still I should be reviewing notes right now.<br /><br />But i wanted to put down a quick blog post. I truly hate the hours leading up to tests, especially when you feel unprepared. Also I really really hate management classes. Management classes are just thick textbooks full of B.S. lists of definitions and lists. Ex. What are the 3 levels of strategic activity in a company? WHO GIVES A .... Not me! I seriously spend an absurd amount of time wondering if the Explicatives that write these text books and teach these classes actually think people can retain this incredible mountain of information. Or do they think that people will only retain 10% anyways so they just put an incredible amount together and they are satisfied with 10%. I mean there has to be a better way to teach this management. I can not be the only person that believes this. This is why I believe there are way to many professional professors in business colleges.<br /><br />Anyways one there is one thing that I think is very interesting about the hours leading up to a test. I find myself thinking lots of interesting thoughts in the hours leading up to a test.. well nevermind time to go to class.<br /><br />P.S. Grooveshark has changed my life.Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-23666525008731079912010-07-28T19:40:00.001-07:002010-07-28T19:46:19.856-07:00Day 31 June 21st MondayI slept in on Monday and it was wonderful. I waoke up naturally at 7:30, no alarm, no nothing. When I woke up me andHanley decided to play some video games, then we went and got breakfast. After breakfast I went and met with Ben N (Rez Director). It made me miss Mergens but we had a great talk. It was supposed to be about how he ended up at ELC but it turned into him asking me a lot of questions and me talking a lot.<div><br /></div><div>We never even got to his story of being called to ELC. But we are going to met again so he can tell me it. It was really nice to met with him and just develop our relationship some more. After that Hanley and I went down to met Jack for lunch. We had a good time at lunch and then went back to the Mcqueeney's house. We played video games for pretty much the entire afternoon and then we ran some errands and I worked on some stuff,. THne shaunda made us an amazing steak, potatos, and corn on the cob dinner. After that we had to fly up the mountain to be on time,. I also beat Jack three times at PIG. Kelsey's parents are amazing. I can't even explain how great they are, I'm getting in pretty good with Jack, I still am waiting for Hot tub time though. At one point when Hanley and I were in the car I looked over and said "we could do this for the next forty plus years" and he goes "you don't know how f&^^ing good that sounds" LOL it was really funny. </div>Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-30445451018736392072010-07-28T19:31:00.000-07:002010-07-28T19:40:14.524-07:00Day 30 June 20th SundaySunday morning was nice, I like having a late breakfast. Kyle, Chris, and I woke up early and went to take a shower (My first in six days). Which would've been amazing but I was sun burnt and I was taking a hot shower to open the pores. Then the three of us went to breakfast and hung out for the morning. It was really good to just hang out with those two guys all morning. We sat out on the balcony and had a blast. We talked about Kyle and my "situations". We might just have to make that a Sunday tradition. <div><br /></div><div>That was followed by chapel and a long time navigator spoke about being called and following. I have started having thoughts about post college and what that will look like. I feel like it is very wide open and I am prepared to follow. I think I will give some serious thought to Edge Corp and BFA (Missionary Kid Boarding school).</div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday continued with luggage runs, dinnerm and then tent bonding after dinner was amazing we had prepared for two weeks for this tent bonding. We had a highland games competition. We had kilts and sashs. We got all the guys together and changed and out on war paint.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then we walked out to the area where we were going to play our games. It was a blast and the guys loved it. Afterwards it was my night off so I went with Hanley to the A-frame. I really enjoye4d sleeping in the A-frame because I just kicked it that night with the pc's and we told stories. I actually shared the story about everything that happened with Kira last summer, it was funny to see some of their reactions as well as being able to relate. I really enjoyed it I'm sure I will do it again. </div>Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-59411645087606668642010-07-26T15:31:00.000-07:002010-07-26T15:35:46.945-07:00Day 29 Saturday June 29thDSaturday morning we had a nice late breakfast, after breakfast the campers left for Extended time alone with God (3 hours). I spent most of it cledaning and helping with tent bonding prep. But like the last half hour I was on the computer chillin and it was fantastic. <div><br /></div><div>After ETWAG we hda a picnic lunch to kick off beach day. Beach day was incredible we played lots of volleyball and blob wars. Also it was sunny and hot.I had a great time interacting wiht the kids. I also got burned on my back realy bad. for dinner we made Hobo dinners and hung out by the fire. I had to go back early to clean up the kitchen so me and Collin went and ended up having a great conversation about him and Jenn and I talked about things with Kelsey. It was the first time we really hung out 1 on 1 overall a great day!</div>Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-52884913286813598352010-07-26T12:26:00.000-07:002010-07-26T12:32:30.903-07:00Day 28 Friday June 18thFriday started with luggage runs then I helped with breakfast. On Friday I found out one of our counselors (Ben) Got denied insurance so he can't drive camp vehicles. So I got moved to working with a crew to deep clean the bathrooms on Fridays and that took till lunch.<div><br /></div><div>After lunch we had debrief which went very well, there were very few things we had on the bad list. After debrief I played soccer with Alex (Bible study guy) for at least and hour. Excursions got back. Back to seeing Kelsey! Also I had to help Derek for like an hour to set up for our tent bonding (Highland games) which I did not want to do but he needed it and none of the other counselors stepped up. After dinner I was talking with Kelsey and she looked over and was like is that your whole bible study waiting for you? I had to be honest so I told he it was and that was the end of our conversation lol. (Thanks bible study guys!)</div><div><br /></div><div>So for bible study me and my guys went to castle rock and climbed up on it for bible study. They all shared their testimonies which as good for our group. for bible study we went over Hebrews 12:1-13 we had a good bible study and then hiked back and went to bed.</div>Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143876744563958209.post-89544209177916548832010-07-26T12:20:00.001-07:002010-07-26T12:26:24.973-07:00Day 27 Thursday June 17thOn Thursday I had laundry duty. So after Devotions the two store crew girls and I filled the van with everyone's laundry and headeed down the mountain and stopped for some coffee on the way to the laundry mat. <div><br /></div><div>Laundry turned out to be fun but a pretty intense experience. Bible study Thursday night was really good. We went through phil 2:1-18 and it lead to some very good discusion. I specifically remember Chris brought up struggling to have a fear of God V12 and that really resinated with me. We talked about how we are missrepresenting God if we do not focus on all of his characteristics but just focus on a few (Love/Grace) I feel like a lot of this view comes from so many "Christians" being an unch deep and getting converted but not discipled. Also the church might be to evangilistic in the sense of trying to be appealing to the none believer. I don't know if that is it or if we are just drwan to certain characteristics of God. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyways it was just a great bible study and challenged me to be aware of all Gods characteristics and trying to have an understanding of his whole character. </div>Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288688325709505830noreply@blogger.com0