CHRISTMAS PARTY 2008

FALL FEST 2008

BACK IN THE DAY

Every time I look at this picture it makes me laugh, well snicker at least. It was taken a nearly two years ago at a HUGSR event. I came across it recently and thought I would share. It was quite a privilege to play along with the talented Jason Whaley.

SUMMER SUMMARY

This summer was set up to be one of the most memorable summers I have ever experienced. It unfolded that way, in positive and negative. To get the negative out of the way I must mention that my second trip to Wrigley and first since I was ten didn't happen because of the train mix up as previously recorded. The Ben Folds concert didn't happen because it rained. Bummer.
There was much more positive action, however. I got to spend 27 days in Africa. It was an incredible experience. I got to learn a new culture and create friendships that otherwise would not have happened. Not long after Zambia, I attended church camp with Sycamore View. This was a wonderful experience and a great venue to create and deepen some relationships with people at church. I did have to go to school for a bit, but the class was one of my favorite classes I have had in grad school, so even school was a pleasure. Erin and I celebrated 3 years of marriage in July, but not in Chicago like we were planning.
My last summer as a student (probably) was a good one.

COMING TOGETHER 2008

I AM RACIST

You will never relate with someone you fear or do not understand.
-Dr. Everett Huffard

This quote, coupled with my Multicultural Counseling course has forced me really think about how racist I am. There is no need for me to ignore the feelings I have of other races. As much as I know I should not fear or discriminate other races, I do. I feel like Paul in Romans. I do what I don't want to, I don't do what I should. I can talk the talk with the best of them when it comes to showing respect for minorities and making a concentrated effort to helping the poor in Memphis. However, what is it that I do for them? Wait until I graduate, like I tell myself? What barrier will I allow to be built after that? I am starting to act rather than just talk. It is a process I am struggling with. It must be a concentrated effort with me because it is out of my comfort zone.
Racism is more than the KKK and Neo-Natzis. In fact, in a recent documentary we watched in class a black man said he was more affected by racism displayed by people who are ignorant to the fact they are racist. I want to challenge you to examine yourself when it comes to the treatment of other races.

LET IT SNOW

This weekend reminded me how much I enjoy playing in the snow.


Friday afternoon we got a good snow in Memphis. After a good snowball fight Jacob, Glen, and I built a snowman as you can see.





















This picture shows the remnants of Saturday. I enjoyed a time of sledding and snowball fighting Saturday afternoon.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE ICE

A story about me you probably don't care about:
Saturday morning was cold at 7:30 AM.  As I found out soon after stepping outside, it was icy too.  I was heading to the classroom building to fulfill my duty of "after hours maintenance", which in this case was unlocking.  I had my hands buried in my jacket pockets because it was cold as I have previously mentioned.  I move down the walkway and start to bound down the stairs when stair number three took me out.  That thing was solid ice.  I fell back on my toosh banged my lower back and just barely hit my head.  I also attained this cool scar that I had to show off.  My arm really really hurt just after it happened.  It is better now, though.  

THE NAME IS POTTER...HARRY POTTER

Harry Potter=Me. Ginny Weasley= Erin. Tonks=Rachel Steele

Fall Fest 2007. I also made an appearance as Jerry Seinfeld. Jerry performed stand-up comedy and was a soup judge.

ONE STANDS OUT

Can you guess which apartment is ours?

MEMORIAL DAY

I realize I am about two weeks late, but better late than never. We had a great Memorial Day. Probably the best in recent memory. The Whaley's had us over to their new pad and we went swimming and enjoyed each others company before eating an evening meal. My attempt at grilling burgers in the HOOD with the Woods' earlier in the afternoon was interesting. Be that as it may, we had a good time. Here is a group picture to prove it.

PRIVILEGE OF LEARNING

I guess I will be ready to finish school when the time draws near. I guess I will be more excited when I can tell someone how close I am to finishing my degree. Right now I am not. I choose to recognize what I have right now as special. It is a privilege. There are few people who get the opportunity to be exposed to the depth of knowledge presented before me. I do not want to wish away my time here so I can hurry up and be done with it. I did that too much in my undergraduate experience. I took it for granted and did not fully expose myself to the once in a lifetime opportunities to expand my world. I realize that graduating is important to celebrate as an accomplishment, but I am not going to spend my whole time here looking forward to finishing. I am going to spend my time here soaking up all the chances to learn that I can. So please do not tell me how ready you are to graduate. Tell me something that you learned recently. Tell me how your world is being expanded and how God is shaping you. If you are getting none of these, why are you here after all? A piece of paper? I realize the importance of getting a degree to get into the "real world" to make a difference. The requirement of the degree is there for a purpose. All I am saying is to take advantage of the privilege set before you to learn.

FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES

Three of our downstairs neighbors are going to be moving soon.

The Shrock's are currently directly below us and soon they going even further down where everything is bigger- Waco, Texas. Chris, if you are reading this I expect a signed copy of your first book (with a dictionary and thesaurus). Chris and Danielle have been some of our closest friends here and we have done a lot of things together. I even visited Tulsa with them. I haven't told them yet but the other day I dropped a gallon of milk and the majority of it ran down into a pitcher they had outside, and some in their plant (whoops). Chris was the second person I met on campus on my visit.

The first person I met on my visit was Jason Whaley. The Whaley's are great people and are just moving off campus for a bit until they move to a really low place-Australia. Jason and I share a love for soccer, it is his fault that I injured my knee the second time because he coerced me into playing. OK it is not really his fault, but it has got to be someone's fault other than my own. One of the most memorable moments with the Whaley's was our picnic lunch, that was a good time. And how could I forget Jason and I entertaining the Coming Together crowd.

James and Andrea Wood have been on campus a shorter time and they are way across the courtyard so we do not share as many on campus stories. Although, it is worthy to note that James and I agreed on something Wednesday night. They are moving up and to our left across the country where they will be planting churches and coffee beans.

I am going to miss my friends below us. Harding community has been great so far. Nicole, I hope you are not crying.

Good Friends And Food

Nothing is better than prayer, fun, and fellowship over a meal. These are the things we will remember from Harding. Woods, you are awesome.

Bland Nights

Bland Nights are far from bland. I want to take this blog space to show appreciation to Dr. Dave and Nancy Bland, possibly the most kind people I know. Every first and third Sunday night you can depend on a Bland Night. A typical Bland Night consists of the group making announcements and prayer requests then Dr. Bland offers up a prayer for the requests, our fellowship, and the wonderful food that Nancy has graciously prepared for a number of people. There is always more than enough food and deserts. There is even a Bland pouring a drink for you. Bland Nights are heavily anticipated in the Lewis home. Bland Nights are one of the top five things for me in Memphis. The Blands have been a great example to me of what hospitality, fellowship, and servanthood looks like.
I will really miss Bland Nights when I leave Memphis.

The Perks of the Library Worker

In a previous post "The Curse of the Library Worker" I reported the pains and difficulties of working in the library. However, there are many advantages of a library worker. While shelving books one becomes quite familiar with where things are. This comes in very handy when I am doing research. I get to see people and further acquaint myself with those I may not regularly see. I have the most patient boss ever (Shelia). I get to look through people's mail..I mean sort people's mail. I could not mention perks of library work without mentioning Don Meredith. I can feel myself learning the Dewey decimal system and turabian just by being in his vicinity. Oh, and I know where the stash of candy is.
There are also many advantages in which only employees know...

The Curse of the Library Worker

This morning I have come to know the curse of the library. I was checking out a remote control for myself while off duty because it is easier than making a library staff member get up and walk over and do something I can easily do. I hope that did not come across as a complaint because it is not.
The curse that I am speaking of is having to assist fellow students while off duty trying to do my own studying. Multiple times I have ended up helping students while off duty. This morning I had on my jacket and backpack and not even behind the desk when my assistance was solicited. I thought for sure no one would mistake me for being on the clock. I suppose that since I am seen behind the desk then I am seen as eternally on duty when my feet are inside the Oliver and Norma Rogers Research Center. The problem is that when most people are off duty they are not at their place of employment they are somewhere else. But for me this is not the case. I spend many hours at my place of employment while not on duty. This is obviously confusing for some fellow students.
Oh the price one has to pay to work in the library.

Coming Together

This picture is from an on-campus event from about a month ago (Yeah I know a month is a really long time in blogging time but I thought this picture was funny so I decided to post). As part of the festivities Jason and I serenaded the crowd with a wide variety of tunes. The song being performed in the picture is a Jason Whaley original that was modified for the evening's theme "El Cow Song". This was our first performance together and I think I have found my calling with the marracas.
The evening also happened to fall on my birthday. For those of you who are keeping score...this year is the big 2-3.

HUGSR Soccer

These pictures are taken during and after our first game on Saturday. It was hot. We did manage one victory out of four games. If you missed the game, which you probably did unless you were Erin, Carolyn, Monica, Rusty or Rachel then you will probably have another chance as we have been challenged by the Iglasia de Christo team. Time and location TBA. Much props to Rusty for making the shirt (I am not sure why he felt the need to flex though).

Memories of a Speedy Summer

I would like to take this blogger space to look back to the summer that was. This was my first Memphis summer, and I no longer only hear about the really thick humidity and blazing heat, I have experienced it. I have decided not to complain about the lack of relaxation I have received over the summer. Usually being a student+hot weather=no school. Not this summer for me. But my wonderful wife has no such "break" as I long for and for some reason think I deserve, so no complaints here. I think that might have been a disguised complaint. Oh well.
This summer has provided me with some memories and positive experiences that I would now like to share with you, keep in mind these are only the ones I can think of at the moment. These being in no particular order:
1. World Cup/Playing soccer with my classmates
2. Group Counseling Class (the actual class time was enjoyable, I told you I wasn't going to complain about school)
3. Wednesday Night Meals-Fellow participants you know who you are.
4. Hotsprings, Arkansas
5. Winning a free DiamondJaxx ticket because of my mad bouncy ball hopping skillz.
6. A Bittersweet Memory...Jeep gone for a more reliable/gas friendly car.
7. Joesph tricking everyone into thinking he is going back to South Korea.

Well usually 10 is the appropriate number for a list like the one above, but since I go to a religious graduate school, 7 seems more appropriate for some reason. OK so I made that up, I could not think of any more. I am just a counseling student, I don't know anything about the exegesis of 7 or anything like that. But the number 7 is mentioned in Revelation alot though I hear.