Quotes

My communication assignment was a little misleading.
It was more of a reading exercise, find the point of the article, rather then make a pretty layout with it. I guess I knew that was the point all along, but it's easier to get suckered into using a lot of graphic tricks and slick typography instead of actually presenting the readers message as clearly and succintly as possible. Yea, design still needs to be good. But the designer's job is to draw people in close enough that they begin to read what is written, then it's the authors job.

Sort of like being disciplined in reading the Bible, you can't make God change you to be more like Him, but what you can do is discipline yourself so that you are in the best place so that God can change you.

more cool quotes this week.

"Love God and enjoy Him forever"
-John Calvin (probably paraphrased)

Prayer from Jeff Deyo
We've got to get to the point in our lives where we actually believe God and His desires for us are truly the things that are going to make us the happiest, give us the most peace, and satisfy our souls.
We talk about this, and we know in our minds that it's true. But somehow these beliefs don't make their way into our everyday lives. If they did wouldn't we be different? Wouldn't we act different? Wouldn't we talk different?
I don't think that we don't want to be happy or that we sabotage our own lives. Maybe we just don't really trust God.
We've got to decide that no matter the cost, we've got to be satisfied in God. In Him alone.
I mean, aren't you tired of having to read your Bible because you feel you have to? I want to want to love Jesus. I want to long to spend time with Him. I want to get up in the morning and can't wait to be with him.
Anything that is more exciting or more valuable to me then God – is an idol.
I don't want to be like that.
I want to be like John Piper said in the pleasures of God "God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him"

I want God to be glorified in me, so I want to see what I can do to be most satisfied in Him.


that's all for now, internet isn't working at home so I'm at school. I heart ocad.
yayy, supertones concert saturday. and sarnia.

Lightning

That's what Keith Rushton has said so far about fourth year. That it will pass by like lightning. I believe it too. I can hardly believe the level of work I have so far and this is my 8th day of classes. Yikes.

I really like my classes so far though. I have Keith (ocad's design guru) for type and thesis. He is one of the best profs I've ever had, but he stretches you so much in the process. I leave most of his classes realizing I know nothing. And then for editorial design, I have George Haroutian. He's the awesome danish guy. He seems extremely talented at design, but he's a lot more laid back. He says that in most of his classes, we'll do most of the talking. I like that. For Graphic design, A lot of what we gain is confidence, and the ability to finally make educated decisions about design. not just move stuff around until it looks "right".

I'm so excited about this coming year. but still rather worried (in a healthy way this time) about the amount of work I am required to put in. next semester: dead man walking.

I've decided to give Jim & Marsha my computer. well my PC anyways. I've been slowly migrating from my PC to my mac the last three years anyways, until this year when my PC was only getting in the way. So I want to get it out of my way, and giving it to someone is a very good use for it. Then they don't need to buy a new computer, or struggle with using his thinkpad to hold all his new digital baby pictures. If I were him I would stick to film for the first few months. In twenty years will computers be able to read .jpg's ?? probably, but film last longer. But that's up to them.
So I've decided to give my PC to them, not even sell it to them like I was originally thinking, but give it to them. Monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard, software and all. I received it as a gift four years ago, and it would make me happy to give it as a gift to someone else.
He's done so much for me he really deserves it. Plus I was reading on Val's blob yesterday that we should not horde up treasures on earth but give to those in need. It's a model of how the church really should work. If I can meet someone's need and I can, I should. not just should, but am called by God to do just that. Plus it fits with a vision God gave me a few years ago, about how I am not necessarily going to be a missionary, or a huge leader, (phew!) but am called to help those in need and live simply.

Plus I really love to give gifts. I started cleaning the keyboard last night. I unscrewed and cleaned each key separately before putting it back together. It looks new. All the trapped dust and sesame seeds are gone. So, now I only need to clean the stickers I put on the monitor and tower, reinstall windows, and last but not least download the ridiculous amount of updates needed to patch all the holes in windows. :p

I really like receiving gifts too. And simple gifts are the best. Getting an email that someone has taken the time to write down specifically for me can really make my day. Just knowing that someone used the last 15 minutes before class to send me an email really makes me feel special. Or making perogies and delicious turkey sausage for me when I'm busy acting like a geek. In fact, just putting up with me when I'm always talking about computers takes a really really gifted person. Someone who offers to meet up with me just to talk, who daily teaches me to be humble and sensitively see the needs of other people, to put others before themselves and go out of their way to meet their needs. someone who makes washing windows seem fun is a gift. yes, yes you are.

school tomorrow

I'm normally not the type to overemphasize things, but this past long weekend (last for the summer) was seriously the best weekend I've had all year. Each day was better then the last.

On friday I took a group of frosh for a tour around downtown. I only really got lost once, although once that happened, my group was convinced I didn't know the way back to ocad. Poor froshies. It was a long walk too. We went from Dundas to Yonge, to Queen to Spadina up through China town to Kensington, Across College and back down McCaul. Then after that I went over to Jim & Marsha's place to help install some carpet. Needless to say, we only got started, and the carpet didn't get finished until noon on monday, but that's another story in itself. I guess installing carpet doesn't sound like the most fun in the world, but the part that I really like is just going over and hanging out. Jim and Marsha are always talking about how they want to create a sense of home and community, and I couldn't agree more. I love it over there. You immediately feel like family. I'd rather spend my time over there then trying awkwardly to "bond" with people from class any day. That's not to say I want to alienate myself from people I'm called to love, but you need fellowship too.
On saturday I went to the ex. Good fun. I'd never been before, so I had quite the time. I'll have to post a pic or two later. It was EXciting, EXhilarating. I just like the name. Had swiss waffles and saw butter sculptures. Saw lots of arts and crafts booths too. It was rather EXceptional just walking around in the sun. And we met a giant cow. I agree. talking over tea was good too. unstressed me a little as well.

Sunday night church was church that we had on the beach. I taught trish how to skip her first stone. yay. and bon fires at night make me so happy. There is just something about being outside singing songs to God, and listening to the greatest story ever told. around a warm fire. There is something timeless about it. ahhh bonfires. what more can I say.

And finally on labour day itself. I helped Trish and kitty move in. Kind of tiring, but a good tired. Making the bed was fun too, It was like putting together a large lego toy. and I got to go out with her family for pho. yummm. Then at night we had another (even better) and homemade meal with roast beef. And blueberry cheesecake for dessert. For Jim's birthday. He is old. :p And watching a movie was fun too. Probably not really the movie itself (agent cody banks) but to rest after a long day, and knowing that I'll be able to come over more often and just hang out with everyone. feels like home

Interview tomorrow, working on my portfolio and resumé all day. and trying to declutter the old apartment a bit for school. Kind of nervous about the interview, but I'm sure I'll do ok. It'll be good practice whatever the result.

classes start tomorrrrrow!!!

Chic-chic-chic-chicken!
Lay a little egg for me.
OH! Chic-chic-chic-chicken,
I want some with my tea.
I haven't had one since breakfast,
and it's nearly half past three.
sooo, Chic-chic-chic-chicken,
Lay a little egg for me!

I made an omelette today.

Last day of work

First day of september, last day of work. first day of the rest of my life. -_- ;;

First day of school is on wednesday, so that means my summer is an earth shattering 6 days long!! I'm not trying to sound sarcastic. I'm looking forward to my small slice of summer. The summer of mike. I will live it up!

I'm looking forward to these six days. I'm giving a tour of the neighbourhood to all the froshies and directionally impaired friends of mine. I'm going to the ex! For free! I'm going with a group of froshies. On sunday there will be a bonfire and beach service for church. and more frosh week fun on tuesday. I get to meet my group of new students I get to mentor first semester. oooh, and I'm thinking I may be helping you move in on labour day. (as in todaybourday is labourday) hint hint.

Celebrated summer coming to an end last night. It was fun. went to france for a waffle. then sat and talked for a while. I'm a hopeless romantic at heart, and I must admit I was kind of frustrated I couldn't think of something a little nicer/more original to do. Although I must say it sounds better in writing. On the plus side, I'm sure that I'll only get better at coming up with ideas.

I must say that I've had a good summer this year. I didn't necessarily do all that I've wanted to, but I'm not going to let that get me down. I really think I should have drawn more, or updated my website with my newer work. It's too easy to let guilt get the best of you. And it's sometimes hard to tell the difference between guilt and God given conviction. Although conviction is usually in regards to a particular sin in our lives, Guilt can be something that doesn't really have any spiritual or even logical basis and just keeps lingering. Something like "I should have done this instead of that" or "I really think I messed up everything by doing this" can have more of an impact on our lives, and our future then the greatest of conflicts or circumstances could ever cause. But the problem being that we don't see this lingering guilt as an issue so it remains bottled up. I think it's best to talk about it, and let others know so we can unbottle the guilt. Hebrews 14 says that Christ was tempted just as we are. No doubt He felt the pain of guilt in His life as well. Probably about little things, such as why can't I be a better carpenter, if only I had used cedar instead of oak this project would have looked so much better. and bigger things. when He was tempted in the desert, I can only imagine that He must have dealt with guilt more then any of us being wholly God and wholly man.

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 14: 15-16

I think I am going to meet that other designer (also italian and named lou) on wednesday, so pray for me that I won't be too nervous. I get nervous about stuff like this. I know I shouldn't worry. but I still do. funny (ha ha & strange) how humans are like that.

Apparently I look like a young Leonard Nemoy (aka Spock) at least that's what Al told me on Monday.

and I think young michael will stick to juice and tea for a while.