procrastination post: blogging choices, life update

so i'm sitting here on a saturday morning before a huge exam week, trying to figure out things i could do before i start studying, so here i am blogging away. d:

for those who wonder why i decided not to blog about my faith on my other blog, i guess i can write about that a little bit for now.

one thing about blogging about your personal life updates is that sometimes if you have enough readers......then if you try to tell people how you've been doing in person, you'll run into a: "oh yeah i already read about that on your blog" and then that sort of kills that topic and you find something else to talk about.

so the last thing i want to do is gimp any potential conversations i want to have with my non-christian friends about the gospel and why i believe in God.

another reason is that at least 2 of my closest friends right now, who are both not Christian, have expressed to me that they appreciate how I don't seem to sneak in ways to push my faith on them, and that whenever I do talk about it, it comes off as me being genuinely talking about my life, like any other part of my life. and i want to keep that openness about religion and faith between my friends and me, so i can continue to try to abide in Him so that people might be able to notice God in my life without even mentioning it with words. i think this is a good place for that saying: "actions speak louder than words" its hard to claim how God has changed your life when your life looks a lot like that other decent guy who doesn't believe in God. there has to be a visible difference, because thats what God does. he transforms lives from the inside out. that is the power He has, and the power He desires for to use on us for Him and us.

and that is a near constant prayer of mine, ever since i started to pray over a short list of friends i deeply cherish and thank God for, who have yet to know God. there are still names that have hung over since high school, but there are now a couple of new names of people i've met the pat 5 years. i never give up the hope that they too will know the joy and understanding that transcends that comes with meeting God personally, and giving your life to Him.

I am surprised at my recent (past year) strengthening of my desire to appreciate the Word. It is reminiscent of the months after i went to Summer Training Institute with the Navigators back in 2000, where I first learned of valuable skills in studying the Bible. I think my last summer's experience at Summer Medical Institute with Val really woke up a part of me that didn't really search for God's direct voice when I read the Word. Now i look for it each time I sit down with the Bible. It is good.

maybe thats enough for now. these 2 years in first and second year medical school has been challenging. mostly because i have no study stamina. i honestly still can only study for time periods of 5-10 minutes at a time. that is why you always see my status as 'studying' because when you study for 5 mins and then take a 15-20 minute break. it takes you longer to learn the stuff. but its ok, i welcome the challenge. life is sometimes about taking on challenges, and overcoming them.

ok now i really need to get myself to the library.

hope all is well with everyone. i hope to be much more free to get back in touch with my friends next year. i don't like how my life has narrowed down to just school and church.


-john