The Wheels Turn [10.22.09]

Well, I am off to a better time in my life. This time goes back three years. Three years ago, I was entering a land that was new, foreign, and subtly exciting. I knew NO ONE. No one except a former teammate on my baseball team 200 miles away. A new experience in a city far from home. College. It even smelled smart. I was easily intimidated by everyone and stayed the confines of my empty, white noiseless room. This was comfort…sadly. The campus was more beautiful than I imagined. Each day, we would go around the campus with our freshman orientation group and learn the ropes. This is where I met Jenn. She and I quickly became good friends. Our sense of humors meshed into a hilarious laughing frenzy almost every time we hung out. I was glad. I had finally found someone to connect with. Through Jenn I began to meet new people. One week, we joined a intramural soccer team and there I met JJ. JJ was a crazy, long haired, freshman who lived in Jenn’s dorm. He was crazy cool and we talked for an hour outside his dorm one night after soccer about the game, life, and God. It wasn’t long before I began to hang out with his friends and thus meet more people. One night after studying a while for finals, I met up with Jenn in Johnny’s to study some more. There at the table was Jenn and her friend David Goodwin. This is when I met David, who later turned out to be my closest friend while at Calvin. We did almost everything together. One J-term, I spent the entire month in his room and never went back to my dorm. This was a fast friendship, but it was genuine. We talked late nights about some deep things; God, Grades, and Girls. He is still, to this day, the friend that I turn to for guidance and wisdom in areas I am too blind or close to see reason. I thank him for his loyal friendship, for I know that is something he values. As well as Jenn, for being the first friend and starting block to more friendships in the coming years I spent there at Calvin. I have always appreciated your enthusiasm whenever I return to visit. You are a true friend, and not many guys can say that about many people. So why go into such rich detail about a place? Why exasperate the description of a time in my life? Well, I am heading there this weekend and I am very happy to be able to see these people once again, who have made my life different. They have in most ways, shaped who I am today and have taught me many things about life. I have felt love and care from these people in ways that some never get to experience. I can say with full confidence that God had me there at that college for a very specific reason, and I feel so incredibly blessed. Thank you, to anyone who is reading this and was apart of my college experience. From the bottom of my heart. Thank You.

New Loot

Alright people, it can't be helped. I work at Apple, you all know that. Well, with the installation of new products by our wonderful company, I am geeking out beyond the point of aid....way past it. Let me introduce to you the new iMac line: The new iMac's have new displays that go all the way to the edge of the screen as well as SD card slots on the sides. Not to mention all the new KICK BUTT internal advancements that they have put into the iMac's.

What else is new?.....Introducing The Magic Mouse. Simply put: The Coolest Mouse on the Market....period. The Mouse is completely touch sensitive and is wireless. I am buying one on Thursday.

And finally, the new White Macbook. New durable unibody enclosure, improved 7 hour battery, new LED display, and now a Glass Multi-Touch trackpad like the Macbook Pros. STILL $999. How they managed to KEEP the price at $999, I have no idea.

So As you can not see, but read...I am jonesing over this new loot. Mac has been lightyears ahead of everyone for years and though there are haters out there, let them hate. One day every knee will.....wow, okay, that started to sound pretty bad, so I'll stop there.

TV for Dinner

America is the land of TV, movies and consumption of unquestionable foods. This is an indisputable fact. There is a cycle of things in this world that seems to have me dumbfounded and yet totally and utterly in its grasps. The cycle is this: We sit down for some tv, some of us on our Television, others on our computers. We flip to our show or movie and get ready for a dreamworld of magic. Periodically throughout the feature, there are little reminders that we live in a consumeristic world: Commercials.

You see, you would probably be prefectly content with your show as it is. You could watch the entire program without annoying commercials telling you to buy the newest and latest mop, or the brand new burger from McDonalds. One late night, my Achilles tendand seemed to be a commercial about a Klondike Bar. The guy on the commercial was trying to see what people would do for a Klondike bar. As I was watching this ad I started to get a little craving for a late night snack. Before you know it I am in isle 13 in the Wal-Mart trying to find Americone Dream Ice Cream by Ben and Jerry's. $3.93 cents later I am un-pausesing my program and digging into my pint of delicious caramel Patriotism.

Later the next day I reflect on what I had done that night and had realized that I had literally "bought" into the scam that they were trying to portray. Given, I know that the point of advertisements are to make you want to buy things, but this was personal. So I did a little surfing on the World Wide Web and found out that MANY people give in to these kinds of advertisements multiple times a day! I know that I didn't need to confirm that obvious little piece of trivia by going on the Googles, but what I found more disturbing on a whole new level was the amount of people that leave ZERO time between the moment the advertisement makes them want to buy a Coach bag, and the moment they start punching in their credit card digits into the online store. It is becoming a HUGE rising trend that people are mindlessly buying things. The rise in credit card debt is a key clue in the mystery AND the ability to use Direct Deposit to instantly put your recently received paycheck on your card for easy spending once again.

People are...sometimes literally...consuming their desires. It is sad, it really is and I don't see this trend dissipating anytime soon. It leads to some serious sociological problems and other important words. People are always on the boob tube and they will see those ads, even sped up on FastForward. Advertisement companies know that they have their fish and they just keep reeling it in. Smells like TV for Dinner, and I don't see it spoiling anytime soon. Leftovers tomorrow!

Eric Peterson

Apples, pipes, and Battlefront

So today I found myself waking up to dusk--which I love, and the saddening reality that I must go to work today. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my job, but sometimes its hard to juggle 5 balls. I was planning on doing my classwork today and my parents were counting on being able to use my car. Sorry Mom. I mixed up the days I was working. So at 2am yesterday I remembered that I was working at 9:45, thus waking up at 7:20. Don't think I am doing my hair for that whole time, I live an hour away from work...I'm working on changing that.

As I drive on my way to Apple I take in the rain as it splashes on my windshield and press play on my iPod. "All I Wanted" starts to play by Paramore. I have to say that this girl has some serious pipes! Her voice sounds so pure sometimes that it starts to drive emotions within me. So, is this a plugfor their new album Brand New Eyes? Yes. Go get it for $4:tinyurl.com/yjl3gw4.

Work passed quickly for the 7 hours I was there because I love what I do. I do. I help people with a product that I truly believe in and use everyday. It makes life easier when I do my "job." No crazies today at work. My usual came in today and we talked about Photography and gigs that he has done again for another half hour. Last shift we talked for a good hour and a half. Good man.

On my way back I slammed into much traffic and I was blessed to have been gifted and taught patience by my parents. For half of the ride back home, I prayed for some things going on in my life and for others. Then I put on the Paramore...good times. As I get home, I realize that I once again forgot to head out to my small group tonight as I get a call from Dan Becvar. I race to his place and as I do, I get bombarded by Lightning. I am in awe! It's the kind of lightning that makes your head hurt when you look at in. Brilliant God we serve.

As I get to Dan's, I find out that its guys night tonight, just a hang out. Sweet! So we lay back, chill and play us some Guitar Hero. Then I ask, "When are we going to invade the Empire?" and out comes the Battlefront. We play that EPICALLY till we get tired. A very good day coupled with class tomorrow = Awesomeness.

As I reflect on the day, as I am now, I can only deduct one thing: I have been blessed more than I can possibly know. I have a family, no matter how angry they get at me, I have a job, no matter if I didn't want to go today, I have food, or the ability to pay for it, I have a car, no matter the condition of it, I have friends, no matter how I treat them sometimes, I have a God, no matter how many times I forget Him. Blessed....beyond measure.

RG in GR

So I am here in Grand Rapids, MI enjoying the time away from everything. (The title means ReGrouping in GrandRapids) I needed some time to get away and enjoy the company of people that just love on you. You know the people, these are the people that you absolutely enjoy spending time with because you know that they are not gonna give you any flack for petty things, they are going to drop everything and spend time with you. Sometimes I dont feel that at home all the time, so I like to escape here.

Anyway, I am enjoying myself and I wish that more of the people I came to visit were here and not in their home towns or off on vacation, cause I miss them, but I am really enjoying the weather and the company that I DO have. God has been working in the time that I am here and I am glad of that.

I hope that you can get out and really give God some praise for the things in your life that He has blessed you with. There are many I know, but get out and thank Him for them today, and just get away from it all. Amen?

Peace and Love
Eric

The Word is the World

Fixing my eyes on the pages, I do not want anything else. Why is it that I have not turned to this before? Why is it that this paper, this word of God, has me in some sort of trance that I cannot loose? What is it that has me so undoubtedly fixated on the Holy One, the King of my Life? What about this book seems to last through all time, weather and war? Is it divine? It is truth...divine truth. The One on the throne has spoken it, so it shall be written by the hands of David, John, and Paul. So the hands of the servant scribe the words that are uttered from the One True God's lips. This word, THIS WORD IS THE WORLD TO ME. It is the truth, the life, the All of me. I lean on it for understanding, direction, and wisdom. I know I can't live without it, and yet I test its limits...how far can I go? The Bible, this is the book I speak of. But you already knew that. If you didn't...ask me. I'd be more than willing to let you in.

A while

So it's been a while since I made a post. This is partly due to the massive papers I had to write and the work that's being done at Pulse. It rained today, and as a result, I reflect on the things that I didn't have today: School, work, candy, motivation, phone, money, closeby friends, and the list can go on.

But I chose not to dwell on these things and get some hardcore work done in my room. It is one thing to think about the things I don't have, it is another to dwell on them and to let them consume me. I found out, after I got all ready today, that I don't have school. Instead of bumming out, I could get some much needed hmwk done, or work on my taxes.

Just some wisdom before you head out. Proverbs 8. The entire chapter. Just read it. Blessings on the day and keep walking after God, AMEN?

Juggling Apathy

Hey everyone. Well, I'm back from my trip and the weather is looking fine. In fact, its about to get warmer! However, my happiness of the weather is over-casted by a mood that I have been in for the past day. I don't know why, but I am in an un-emotional funk that I can't shake. It could be me trying to adjust to life again after break, it could be some upsetting news I have been getting (I heard about this past Sunday), it could be that I don't feel like I can juggle church and school anymore, it could be my battle with what I want and what God wants, and on and on.

Do you know the feeling of deciding to carry something only realizing that halfway into the journey you realize you should have taken less, but as you look around to pass off your load--you know its too late because everything is already accounted for and you just have to keep carrying what you have? I feel this way with some things in my life. If it is one thing I can give advice to you about, it's this: Make sure God wants you to do something before you do it. Include Christ in the decisions that seem too hard to make, for he will guide your path. If I seem weird to you, or different it is because of this. God will bring me out, but until then, I need time to talk with Him and with others.

For those of you who fasted over the past week, I want to know how you are doing. I want to know what you want prayed over and most importantly, I want you to talk to me if there is anything that you need to talk about. I feel that we are a close knit group and if you need something we should provide for that need. If you need something off your chest, I believe you should have people to talk to. Keep your gossip, bring your honesty. There is too much hurt going on out there to keep inside. If not me, let someone wise into your life to lend an ear if not His word. We shouldn't walk the earth alone, neither should we show up Monday nights expecting the world to change. Let's LIVE life with each other. Lets "LIFE" today, tomorrow and the next day. May we not use distance as an excuse for the disconnect we may feel, but rather find the means to gain the friendship we desire. May we improve ourselves in Christ and leave the things of this world behind us. Can we take our faith seriously? Is it possible to forget why we are really here? I know that I need to surround myself with Sun-Sat Christians and people who are honestly genuine about their faith. I need people in my life who know when something shouldn't be said or who will call me out with grace when I'm doing the saying, I need people in my life who take seriously their growth with the Most High, who are in this world--but not of this world. The Children of God. We are the children of....God.

Think this week, listen to Him and listen to the wind, the leaves, the water dripping, the sound of the still and think about this: The people who we surround ourselves with will not only change the way we listen to leaves or water, or change how we see a bird soar or a squirrel climb--but they will change how we live our faith and how we treat God.

Proverbs 11:14 Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.

Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.