Well, I'm back in Tampa for a couple days between my summer camp tours, and I thought I'd update my blog.

First thing: I am no longer planning on moving to PA. It's actually been a while since the Pittsburgh trip was a likely scenario, but my previous entry had no way of knowing that. The plan for now is to stay in Tampa for the next year, if God so wills it. I'm still dating Julianne, so that's keeping me in the Tampa area. No full-time preaching opps have fallen into place for this fall, so I plan to stay working at the Florida College. I still hope to be able to preach the Good News full-time someday (someday soon, hopefully), but until then I'm trying to do what I can for His kingdom in my spare time. Exciting things under that umbrella:

- Beneath the Cross (shown here) will hopefully be a help and encouragement. The editors worked hard to keep the price down so that as many people as possible could buy one who so desired. You can pre-order a copy now (which the publishers would prefer, actually), or you can always get one off Amazon later.
- Some bible studies were generated at the past week of camp (FL). That is very exciting, although they will not begin, unfortunately, until mid-August when I get back in town.
- Many in Tampa were blessed with a I Samuel study on Friday nights this past year, a study usually led by Kyle Fisher. Fortunately, Kyle is moving to Pittsburgh to spread the gospel there, but unfortunately that means that II Samuel will be taught by someone else... me. So your prayers for that study are appreciated, as would Amazon gift cards (for the purchasing of commentaries, you see.)


I am excited about the remaining camps of the summer (MO and Chicagoland.) If they are as encouraging as the others have been this summer, I will be blessed richly. I am also excited about various things that will be happening this fall, like such as spending qt with old friends (and quite young friends as well.)

Well, a great deal has changed since the last time I put something on pleonast. Sorry it's been so long. (I feel like most of my posts begin with some sort of statement like this. It's like that person you can't call without first apologizing, then stating that you'll be better, and that you really do mean to stay better in touch. Empty promises, mark my words.) But cetainly, a lot has changed. Several lots, actually.

So what's going on? I think it calls for a top 10 list.

10) I live in Temple Terrace with Micah Bingham, Caleb Dunn, and Jonathan Engel. We're a quiet bunch, which is fantastic. We also don't see a lot of each other, which is not as fantastic. But my apartmentmates are all in school, busily scurring about the rat-race of academia, while I work and stay busy elsewhere. So we bond when we can.

9) I work at Florida College as an admissions counselor. I work there (and work the summer camps associated with the school) because I think FC really helps people spiritually while it helps them academically. God certainly used FC to bless me, and I believe He is continuing to do so. Thus my job of recruiting. It's a good job, and I work with good Christians and friends who make fun of me all the time. They're great.

8) I still go to North Livingston. Today's service, btw, was very good. Jason Moore, our new preacher, is doing good for our group, and I'm thankful for that. Good things are happening there, and I'm facing some good challenges there that are helping me grow. God be thanked!

7) I might be moving to Pittsburgh in the fall. Crazy I know, but it really is so. This could change, of course, but Pittsburgh is the most likely scenario at this point, and it has been for a while. Why Pittsburgh, you ask? A small group of Christians on the east side of town (who drive an hour to the nearest congregation) are interested in starting a new work on the east side by all the colleges. If they do that, some people and I would like to move there to help out that work, not to "preach" but just to help them with evangelism in general. If you can, please pray for this situation and for those of us who are trying to decide if this is a good opportunity.

3) I've gotten the chance to be involved with some really good bible studies this semester and last. Ben is now leading Jeremiah, Kyle's leading I Samuel, and other studies are really helping me to grow. I came across a prayer list from this summer, and I saw on there that one of my biggest concerns for this fall and new year was my use of my free time. Looking back at my life since I moved back here in August, I can see how God has continued to bless me in helping me to use my time better. Thank you all who have been a part of those encouraging works.

2) I have very good friends who have been a huge blessing in my life these past months. God has helped me so much through you guys, and I thank Him and you for that. You are all a blessing, especially you. No, really. you. I mean it.

1) God has been... indescribably blessing me. He has given me a job that allows me to travel, Christians in all parts of the country, friends and family that are trying to do what is right, and grace and mercy to help me every day.

So that's what's up.

aeroplane of the day: JM

Well, I'm here in New Salisbury, IN. How did I get here?

1) Graduated from college, circa May. It was a fantastic semester, and I am thankful to be done with college (for who knows how long). God certainly blessed me with a great opportunity to go to FC for four years, and, through the connections, people, and years there, God has really touched my life. Thank you, Florida College!

b) Went to Nebraska, circa May. Helped out with stuff there. Met lots of people there. Hung out with old and new friends there. It was rockin'. In hindsight, Nebraska was just what I needed so I would be able to jump into preaching when I arrived in Indiana.

4) Went to Birmingham for a wedding, circa Jay. Fun times, there and back again.

IV) Went to Indiana and Ohio camps. Both were great. Thank you, all those whose efforts made those camps possible, and thank you, all who were there and made camp better than it would have been otherwise.

4) After camps, I started preaching here in New Salisbury. I cannot express adequately how fantastic an opportunity this has been so far. God has certainly been preparing me for this work for a long time now, but He has continued to allow me to grow into what I need to be, so that I can do what I need to do. I've always wanted to be a preacher, but I've never gotten the chance to work as a "full time" evangelist before. Now I have, and I don't want to stop. What an amazing blessing it is to serve our God.

One thing that has been really good for me here has been this group's openness with each other. So far in life, I've tended to do the "I'll make it on my own" technique, which doesn't work so well. How refreshing is it when you can be honest and forward and really get down to the details of how we can help each other! How many christians out there have never had an actual, sincere, and frank discussion of what they need, or how they're doing? I never again want to be a friend who applies cute bandages to gaping wounds. Please don't be afraid to help me or ask what I need, because I need all the help I can get. And I'll not be afraid to help you, too.

Some of you have been praying for me for this summer, and I know it has helped. Thank you so much, and please continue.

aeroplane: the bread that Gary hands out when we study, and the bread that Sandra hands out when she bakes it fresh and it tastes amazing.

well, it's been over two months. I suppose it's a good a time as ever to update. I remember the good old days when I would update my pleonast account every couple days, which I can now go back and look at and actually see what my life was like, making it serve as a sort of journal for my life. or a log, if you will. A log on the web.

But I'm trying to refocus everything, hence the two month breaks. This semester has been out of control out of control. A little out of control is usual, I guess, but this semester has really taken the proverbial cake, and I want it back. My classes have been good, like Romans, and Great Books, and my senior thesis project. With Dostoevsky and Fiddler o'th' Roof, I've had a very Russian year so far. But studying BK has been amazing. I've written 21 pages of my senior thesis so far (the additional five pages of summary of where the paper is "going to go" made for the 25 page rough-draft deadline) and I've got much more to write. But it's really helped me think through some of the traditional apologetic methods we use. There is a role and place for cosmology or intelligent design, but people need Jesus, you know?! "Thomas didn't believe because he saw the risen Lord, but because he wanted to believe."

God has certainly been with me this year. Looking ahead to my summer, and seeing how my strength was unequal to my task, I prayed a while ago that I would grow these last months of college to make me ready for what lies ahead. And I've felt it. Every new day, every early morning, every "prayerful yearning" - it's refining me.

But it's kinda weird to be intimidated by the preaching I'll be doing this summer. I think most people would be more anxious about a summer full of camps, travel, and interacting with who knows who. But camps must decrease. As must this blog.

aeroplane: Hoosiers. I just saw it for the first time, and it make me want to grow up in the fifties, play basketball, and win a state championship.

- Yesterday, musical rehearsals started. As some of you know, last november I spontaniously agreed to be in the show "Fiddler" which FC is putting on. I decided to do it since nearly everyone I spend time with in Tampa would be in rehearsal for the month of January. So why should they have all the fun. Anways, it has been fun, and I enjoy learning music again / having to run sectionals again / having lots of attention.

- I'm going to be doing a lot with the Brothers Karamazov for my senior thesis, so I've been reading it again (it's only the second time through for me). Boy, do I love that book. What a real delight and treat. My goal for my thesis topic at this point is to compare his defense of God ("theodicy") with other writers (Pascal, primarily, but others, including Ravi Zach) and most importantly, how and if his ideas fit what the Bible has to say about similar ideas.

- I'm giving the L.S. talk tomorrow at Livingston for the first time. My text: Gen. 22 and I Peter 1. Even if the presentation goes poorly, I have enjoyed the preparation.

- Two days of freedom left. More or less. Then it's the beginning of the end. sweet.

aeroplane of the day: the following dialogue from the worst movie of all time, "War of the Planets": "When will it all end?" "It'll end when we all die, or when we put an end to it."