Been busy lately. As an ideal, I value being busy. I see others that appear busy, and I respect and envy that. But now that I'm in the midst of such a lifestyle, I find myself short tempered, fussy, not wanting to be bothered when I set to a task. I don't like that I'm like this. I guess both aspects of what I have described. The gap between what I value and the reality of that situation. And the fact that I get very frustrated, very easily when my mind is overwhelmed with thoughts and things to do. Even now as I type, it is a constant battle. Michelle keeps feeding me information about the home warranty, the window estimate, the boys lunch for tomorrow. I feel the emotion like an aneurysm ready to burst.

Found a gem in my old CDs the other day. A Tooth & Nail sampler called "Toast" and "Olive." Never gave it much attention back in the day, but I've been listening to it lately, and there is some really good stuff. Even a "Danielson Familie" song that I must have thought ridiculous when I first got the CD some 12 years ago. 12 years.

Saw an old captain of mine at the gym today. Not an old guy, just a captain I used to work under, Spinner. Super nice guy, good to work with. Had the wind event in Cambria with him, running non-stop to different fallen trees, and finally to a massive trunk of a tree that fell on some guy in his bedroom. The call will always stick out in my mind.

Enough for now. Too much to do.

Linked up to the internet in Paso. It is running slow. I think there is a problem with the phone line. The bedroom jack has a ridiculous amount of static, if that is any indication. I think we are at that point of unpacking where there is random stuff spotted everywhere. For some reason, I can't seem to do anything unless I feel as if we are finally, without a doubt, completely moved in. Which could accumulate to a problem, because I don't think a complete unpacking will occur anytime soon. Certainly not in the next few days. Which would be nice, since I start my paramedic internship this coming Monday.

Been hearing a lot of good sermons on the value of Jesus. Pastor Bryan spoke about worship at church the other day (which reminds me, I would love to categorize my sermon note taking somehow on my computer). The sermon illuminated the concept of idolatry, and made me aware of the idols in my life. He explained that as humans, we are set up from birth to worship...something. Whatever we find value in. We make sacrifices for what we value, we devote ourselves to it, and eventually are conformed by it. The same holds true if we value God, save that last part of the previous statement. Instead of being conformed by what we value, we are transformed by God. And then on my drives to and from work, I've been listening to podcast sermons from Pastor John Piper (found him by following a link on Pastor Bryan's page). He spoke on the new birth, and made some statements that I rather enjoyed. That the new birth is not a renewal of a new religion, but of new life. And that the new birth does not simply affirm the supernatural in Jesus, but allows us to experience the supernatural in ourselves.

I've lost the internet connection again. Time to fix.