17 December 2008
09 December 2008
A Whole New World
Two words:
1) Gobi.
2) Desert.
Speaking of *awesome* trips I've taken in my life.....perhaps my favorite trip while in mainland China was the last one that I took - into western China. Finally, *finally*, I am posting some of my favorite pics from that trip for your viewing enjoyment! Be on the lookout for them, and check out those camels!! :)
1) Gobi.
2) Desert.
Speaking of *awesome* trips I've taken in my life.....perhaps my favorite trip while in mainland China was the last one that I took - into western China. Finally, *finally*, I am posting some of my favorite pics from that trip for your viewing enjoyment! Be on the lookout for them, and check out those camels!! :)
(Gobi Desert, Allen! Gobi Desert!!)
06 December 2008
SNOW!!!! :)
Sooooooooooo pretty!! :)
(these pics were taken with my camera phone from my bedroom window this morning...Hooray!!)
(these pics were taken with my camera phone from my bedroom window this morning...Hooray!!)
03 December 2008
Currently reading: Miracles (C. S. Lewis)
Without a doubt, one of my favorite authors. Perhaps even my *favorite* author. Having read this once before, I'm coming back to it with a slightly older and (hopefully) wiser intellect, looking to see what new insights can be gained.
Some of my past favorite quotes include the following:
This is actually a subject that has been occupying my mind a lot recently. The text comes from one of the appendices of the book, rather than the book proper, and as such should be excused from the fact that it doesn't contain Lewis' arguments in support of Miracles as found in the greater portion of the book. Admittedly, the book has many memorable quotes and points made by Lewis. As stated, the book is Lewis making arguments in support of Miracles. Sometimes his style and his intellect are so deep that I have a hard time completely grasping what he is trying to say, but in this case I feel that I have enough of a grasp that I can apply what he is saying in this passage to what is going on in my own life.
I remember when I was a teenager being at a restaurant with my youth group in pretty bad weather. It was raining, windy, you know, the perfect recipe for something bad to happen. Then we heard the tornado sirens going off. I was, naturally, kind of worried, and I suggested to one of the youth group members that we should pray about it. Her response was: "That won't work. Prayer doesn't work." My reaction to that was pretty much just shock. I think that was probably the first time in my life that I heard another Christian doubting the efficacy of prayer.
I think still to some degree I have that same feeling any time I hear a fellow Christian tossing aside prayer as something less than it is. It's simply part of my makeup to assume that prayer is effective, and certainly heard, whether the answer is what I want or not.
All that being said, let's take a look at this passage (one of my favorites) from the book. Lewis is making the point that all prayer is heard, and that it carries weight whether we perceive that or not. He argues that we should never stop praying simply because we think it's ineffective, or because we're not getting what we ask for. Prayer is a matter of faith, just as trusting in a good, loving, perfect God is a matter of faith.
I am very much looking forward to this reading of an old favorite, and seeing what new things God has to show me through it.
Some of my past favorite quotes include the following:
"All prayers are heard, though not all prayers are granted. We must not picture destiny as a film unrolling for the most part on its own, but in which our prayers are sometimes allowed to insert additional items. On the contrary: what the film displays to us as it unrolls already contains the results of our prayers and of all our other acts. There is no question whether an event has happened because of your prayer. When the event you prayed for occurs your prayer has always contributed to it. When the opposite event occurs your prayer has never been ignored; it has been considered and refused, for your ultimate good and the good of the whole universe. (For example, because it is better for you and for everyone else in the long run that other people, including wicked ones, should exercise free will than that you should be protected from cruelty or treachery by turning the human race into automata.) But this is, and must remain, a matter of faith. You will, I think, only deceive yourself by trying to find special evidence for it in some cases more than in others."
This is actually a subject that has been occupying my mind a lot recently. The text comes from one of the appendices of the book, rather than the book proper, and as such should be excused from the fact that it doesn't contain Lewis' arguments in support of Miracles as found in the greater portion of the book. Admittedly, the book has many memorable quotes and points made by Lewis. As stated, the book is Lewis making arguments in support of Miracles. Sometimes his style and his intellect are so deep that I have a hard time completely grasping what he is trying to say, but in this case I feel that I have enough of a grasp that I can apply what he is saying in this passage to what is going on in my own life.
I remember when I was a teenager being at a restaurant with my youth group in pretty bad weather. It was raining, windy, you know, the perfect recipe for something bad to happen. Then we heard the tornado sirens going off. I was, naturally, kind of worried, and I suggested to one of the youth group members that we should pray about it. Her response was: "That won't work. Prayer doesn't work." My reaction to that was pretty much just shock. I think that was probably the first time in my life that I heard another Christian doubting the efficacy of prayer.
I think still to some degree I have that same feeling any time I hear a fellow Christian tossing aside prayer as something less than it is. It's simply part of my makeup to assume that prayer is effective, and certainly heard, whether the answer is what I want or not.
All that being said, let's take a look at this passage (one of my favorites) from the book. Lewis is making the point that all prayer is heard, and that it carries weight whether we perceive that or not. He argues that we should never stop praying simply because we think it's ineffective, or because we're not getting what we ask for. Prayer is a matter of faith, just as trusting in a good, loving, perfect God is a matter of faith.
I am very much looking forward to this reading of an old favorite, and seeing what new things God has to show me through it.
02 December 2008
Senior Recital
My brother, Allen, recently performed his senior recital as a bassoon major at Indiana University. It was, in one word, wonderful. I am constantly amazed at how good he is! Although that really should come as no surprise.
He actually performed this same recital twice - once for his bassoon professor/s and once for anyone who couldn't make it to that one. I got to go to the second one, and I was very pleased, of course. The ambiance was nice (albeit cold), and the piano was out of tune, but overall it was a wonderful performance. And one day, when he's playing in Carnegie Hall, I'll be able to get some free tickets. ;) Older sibling privilege is claimed!!
I love you, Alleny!!!
He actually performed this same recital twice - once for his bassoon professor/s and once for anyone who couldn't make it to that one. I got to go to the second one, and I was very pleased, of course. The ambiance was nice (albeit cold), and the piano was out of tune, but overall it was a wonderful performance. And one day, when he's playing in Carnegie Hall, I'll be able to get some free tickets. ;) Older sibling privilege is claimed!!
I love you, Alleny!!!
Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving was spent in North Carolina with my dear grandparents. We unfortunately don't get to see them very often, living so far away, and this was an especially good time to go see them (not knowing how many more Thanksgivings there will be). I know that they also enjoyed seeing us.
It was also really great to see extended family - cousins, aunts, uncles - who we haven't seen in a while. We ended up eating at my aunt's sister's home, with their family. It was really a great time! It was close enough geographically that my grandmother was able to join the party, which was great for everyone. Great food, great company, great everything! Hopefully I can get some pictures from my mom and post them here!
On the way there I got to stay in my friend's parents' cabin in the Smokies. It was a great stopover point, although there was some trouble actually getting there. It was definitely worth the stop, but would have been even more so had I gotten to stay longer. Here are a few shots of the view (taken by my phone camera, so admittedly not the best). Not bad, eh? Maybe a future summer home? ;)
It was also really great to see extended family - cousins, aunts, uncles - who we haven't seen in a while. We ended up eating at my aunt's sister's home, with their family. It was really a great time! It was close enough geographically that my grandmother was able to join the party, which was great for everyone. Great food, great company, great everything! Hopefully I can get some pictures from my mom and post them here!
On the way there I got to stay in my friend's parents' cabin in the Smokies. It was a great stopover point, although there was some trouble actually getting there. It was definitely worth the stop, but would have been even more so had I gotten to stay longer. Here are a few shots of the view (taken by my phone camera, so admittedly not the best). Not bad, eh? Maybe a future summer home? ;)
Retirement Age
I have good genes (thanks, Mom & Dad!!) :)
Most people wouldn't guess how old I am. Bet you wouldn't either....if you couldn't just look it up in my profile. :)
My birthday this year (Nov. 14) was lots of fun! It was perfect, really - exactly what I wanted. Dinner with a bunch of friends & family. Well, I guess some things could've been different (waiting for an hour for a table, despite inclement weather, getting an odd waiter who badmouthed the restaurant, not getting actual cake or ice cream for my birthday, but rather an odd dessert-type thing made personally by our odd waiter, etc.)....but on the whole, it really was just what I wanted. I just wanted to have dinner with a bunch of my friends and family, and relax and enjoy the company. Happy birthday to me! :)
No, I'm not going to tell you how old I am.....
Most people wouldn't guess how old I am. Bet you wouldn't either....if you couldn't just look it up in my profile. :)
My birthday this year (Nov. 14) was lots of fun! It was perfect, really - exactly what I wanted. Dinner with a bunch of friends & family. Well, I guess some things could've been different (waiting for an hour for a table, despite inclement weather, getting an odd waiter who badmouthed the restaurant, not getting actual cake or ice cream for my birthday, but rather an odd dessert-type thing made personally by our odd waiter, etc.)....but on the whole, it really was just what I wanted. I just wanted to have dinner with a bunch of my friends and family, and relax and enjoy the company. Happy birthday to me! :)
No, I'm not going to tell you how old I am.....
Return to Neverland
Just a quick FYI - I've been trying to finish the posts I made about New Zealand (it's only taken me, what 2 years now?). Go back and read them!! What an incredible trip.....I would love to go back some day....
Hiatus
Why hasn't Gwyn been posting here for such a long time? You may ask....Well, it all started in China....with a certain stalker......
So, the story goes that some of my friends back in my city in China were trying to counsel a Chinese friend who has some mental disorder. One of my friends in particular put tremendous effort into counseling this young man as a Christian and as a friend. The other friend, a woman, is about the same age as me, and also tried to do her part to help this young Chinese man. Eventually, though, it became clear that he was asking too much, and my friend (the one who is my age) began to firmly tell him that he couldn't come over to her apartment to use her computer, and basically tried to redefine her own personal space. He became irrationally upset and threatening. Although he never became physically violent towards either of these two women, he did send many threatening e-mails and at one point cut the power to at least one of their apartments.
The threatening e-mails and situation eventually became such that both of my friends had to be moved out of the city.
Although I never felt directly threatened by this young man, I have a certain vicarious sense of dread. I do know him personally, and have my suspicions that he has tried on more than one occasion to look me up on the internet. Indeed, I don't think I have any need to be afraid, since his chances of getting into the U.S. are slim to nil. But while I was still in China, I had my various blogs set so that only my friends could see what I was writing. Now that I am back home (and have internet, etc.), I have changed the settings back to public, and am hoping to actually post more than once in a blue moon. We'll see how that goes with work and school. ;)
*Note: Mid-way through my Psychology (P102) class this semester, we went over various mental and personality disorders. If I were to give my very unprofessional opinion, based on the information I got from my class, I would guess that the disorder exhibited in this guy was "Borderline Personality Disorder" (a maladaptive personality pattern in which the person is moody, unstable, lacks a clear sense of identity, and often clings to others).
Now I'm in the process of trying to revamp my blog. Hopefully make it more interesting. :) This begs the question: what is the purpose of this blog? I suppose mostly it's a way for me to kind of ramble about my take on things....no, no, no, that's too obvious. Maybe I'm just trying to change the world, one blog post at a time? No, too generic. I'll think of it one of these days. And when I do, I'll post it.
So, the story goes that some of my friends back in my city in China were trying to counsel a Chinese friend who has some mental disorder. One of my friends in particular put tremendous effort into counseling this young man as a Christian and as a friend. The other friend, a woman, is about the same age as me, and also tried to do her part to help this young Chinese man. Eventually, though, it became clear that he was asking too much, and my friend (the one who is my age) began to firmly tell him that he couldn't come over to her apartment to use her computer, and basically tried to redefine her own personal space. He became irrationally upset and threatening. Although he never became physically violent towards either of these two women, he did send many threatening e-mails and at one point cut the power to at least one of their apartments.
The threatening e-mails and situation eventually became such that both of my friends had to be moved out of the city.
Although I never felt directly threatened by this young man, I have a certain vicarious sense of dread. I do know him personally, and have my suspicions that he has tried on more than one occasion to look me up on the internet. Indeed, I don't think I have any need to be afraid, since his chances of getting into the U.S. are slim to nil. But while I was still in China, I had my various blogs set so that only my friends could see what I was writing. Now that I am back home (and have internet, etc.), I have changed the settings back to public, and am hoping to actually post more than once in a blue moon. We'll see how that goes with work and school. ;)
*Note: Mid-way through my Psychology (P102) class this semester, we went over various mental and personality disorders. If I were to give my very unprofessional opinion, based on the information I got from my class, I would guess that the disorder exhibited in this guy was "Borderline Personality Disorder" (a maladaptive personality pattern in which the person is moody, unstable, lacks a clear sense of identity, and often clings to others).
Now I'm in the process of trying to revamp my blog. Hopefully make it more interesting. :) This begs the question: what is the purpose of this blog? I suppose mostly it's a way for me to kind of ramble about my take on things....no, no, no, that's too obvious. Maybe I'm just trying to change the world, one blog post at a time? No, too generic. I'll think of it one of these days. And when I do, I'll post it.
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