Of Goats and Votes

I'm the kind of person who shows up to a bible study group with a bible. Just how it goes sometimes. So last night as I scanned the bookshelves in the BSU lounge for a bible to use I happened to stumble across several interesting pieces of literature. The international students' bible was amusing, as were several student themed versions that seemed as interested in looking "extreme" as they did in conveying the word of God. But the choicest find was also the unlikliest.
It's called Forty Acres and a Goat. Mr. Will Campbell (who, we are informed on the cover, is also the author of Brother to a Dragonfly) apparantly has some interesting memoirs. And though I have absolutely no time to read this crowning literary achievementI still found myself compelled to theft it temporarily just to see what treasures might be found inside. Thus far I have only found time for the first three words, but they certainly did not disappoint, "His uncle Coot..." Anyone with information on this classic literature should certainly feel free to contact me: I've just got to know.
On a completely unrelated note, I got my absentee ballot in the mail yesterday. Now I'm not exactly the world's biggest proponent of representative democracy (much to my father's chagrin), but even I feel obligated to fill the stupid thing out. But I really have no idea who most of the people on the ballot are and I can't help but feel I'm being irresponsible. I know Tim Matthews, but he's running unopposed. I think Pam Marion is the current Clerk of Court, but I don't really know what duties that position entails and I don't know if she's doing a good job or not and I certainly don't know if her opponent could do a better job. Come to think of it, the only vote I can cast with conviction is not for a candidate but rather against Virginia Foxx. So what should I do? I suppose the responsible thing to do would be to become informed on the issues that affect our county (just imagine how many hot-button topics there must be pertaining to the office of Sheriff of Surry County), but that's just not going to happen. So perhaps the only responsible thing to do is to just not vote. Please feel free to give me your thoughts on this as well.
One last note: Kevin and Lynette of South Africa are on their way soon and I am ultra-super pumped. Please pray for safe journeys and joyous reunions. I certainly can't wait.

Dilemma

Don't be fooled by the title; I'm fine.
I wanted to post because I have not done so in a while, but I have very little to say and cannot shake the feeling that I ought to be studying right now. So instead I will comment on what I should be studying.
I have to do a presentation on the Prisoner's Dilemma and how it pertains to OPEC. Anyone who has any ideas on fun or interesting ways to do this should feel free to let me know. Also, any helpful hints on memorizing the key concepts of the Old Testament would be great.
Oh, and how about your 25th ranked (that's higher than both Georgia and Miami, by the way) Demon Deacons? I'm greatly pumped, first that we cracked the top 25, and second that we did so against NC State, the greatest of all pretenders. And unlike the last time we were ranked, we are a mortal lock to not blow that ranking one week after getting it (we have a bye on Saturday). Now we have 14 days to prepare for the Carolina juggernaut, a game which could seal our sweep of the Big Four. I'll have to get used to the idea that we're a football school this year.

Choke

As I stood in the rain in Groves Stadium today and watched Wake Forest prepare to assume a 17 point lead, I felt a familiar feeling: as my friends high-fived and celebrated my stomach began to tighten and I suddenly felt overwhelmingly nervous. "Yes," I thought, "I've seen this movie before and I know exactly how it ends."
Eight minutes later Wake Forest was trailing by 7. By the time the clock ran out, wake had turned a sure 17 point lead into an impressive 10 point defeat. After winning 17-3 over the course of 45 minutes, we somehow managed to lose the final 15 by a count of 24-0. I'm told my face betrayed the knowledge of impending doom long before the final buzzer sounded.
For the first time, I felt like a Wake Forest student today. I'm back in familiar territory. It's good to be home?

Please Forgive Me

Sam arranged a song by David Gray called Please Forgive Me for Chi Rho to sing and we started practicing it last night. Though my part is painfully simple and repitive, the arrangement as a whole is excellent and I can't wait to start performing it. We started off learning the song by sitting in the dark and listening to original with the lyrics on the blackboard (there was enough ambient light to read, in case you're wondering). I thought I'd reproduce the lyrics here:

Please forgive me if I act a little strange
for I know not what I do
feels like lightening running through my veins
every time I look at you

Help me out here, all my words are falling short
there's just so much I want to say
wanna tell you just how good it feels
when you look at me that way

throw a stone and watch the ripples flow
movin out across the bay
like a stone i fall into your eyes
deep into that mystery

I got half a mind to scream out loud
I got half a mind to die
so I won't ever have to lose you
won't ever have to say goodbye
I won't ever have to lie
Won't ever have to say goodbye

Sam talked a lot last night about the way in which Christians often express their love for God in a romantic sense, and this is appropriate. But what struck me was his interpretation of this song as being a love song from God to us. He talked about how imperfect our love is, how we can't truthfully say we always feel like we have lightning in our veins everytime we contemplate God, but that God can and does feel that way about us. The last verse especially takes on an interesting meaning if you look at it from that perspective.
That's all for today, just thought I'd share what's been on my mind.

Oh, by the way: it's now day four and counting of having my butt on display on wake's website. Let's keep this party going!

Fame

http://student.wfu.edu
go there.
now.
Why? Because in just a few moments the picture across the top of the page will change and there will no longer be a great shot of yours truly's derrier. And really, can you afford to not have more of my butt in your life? My posterier preserved for posterity; love it.