And then there was nine

Week one at camp with staff is over.

Staff training done. Officially trained. I'm tried. A little sick. Big fan of tetris for the DS.

Next week is VBS. (volley ball school... I think). reguardless. This is a post.

N.W.O. ( and for those of you who didn't watch wrestling in the 90s: New World Order)

As a student I look forward to the downtime outside of the classroom. Generally one spends this time playing the video games they missed, watching the DVDs they didn't give priority to and basically achieving the ever consistant way of life that distracts from their studies. But aparently I gave up on that...

You see out at camp, here in my fortress of solitude (I mean really it has like 20 rooms), I have spent much time trying to define in biblical, socialogical, and general life terms what I do believe on things. As part of the nature of studying you catch alot of ideas but rarely play them out in your head, if not in your life.

Thus the experience of education has been moving me and shaping me in ways I can see but may not have fully thought through. This has left me with much to think about and frankly I'm confident I won't ever stop thinking about these things (since I understand part of the human nature is to be flawed and so my human logic, thoughts and ideas, although consistantly bearing truth (I hope) also bears flaws) With this breif post post I now can digress to my most recent thought process... which is focused on Eschatology (words of the end).

I have often questioned "Am I going to heaven when I die?" And most of the church has been shaped by this question. But I'm rethinking my answer (note by this I don't mean I am going to hell I just have a different way of looking at this thing we call salvation). Let's see why...

I have seen and heard and even watched dramatic breakdowns of what will happen in the end. And we've all seen Kirk Cameron stuck in the book of revelation-ish and battling for his life. But today I just don't buy it.

Christianity has set-up a frame work of the end. In the most basic terms (that even exclude the notion of Rapture cause thats a whole other issue) we find a basic outline of the end as: Jesus died on the cross, is coming back, at the point which He comes back He is going to take me, as a christian, and all the other christians to heaven. Heaven then, depending on what you think, is us sitting on clouds, playing harps or joining a big choir, or just being in an eternal eternity however that would all play out. Which satisfies much of our personal needs and even to some extents makes a logical breakdown. But I think this breakdown breaksdown because here I am left with one question: what about earth?

From one angle, I guess, the earth goes down in flames with those going down in flames. From others, they can happily ignore the world and figure that 'Well I'm heaven... who knows and who cares?' but does this really make sense if we look at the bible.

The notion that the earth is to be destroyed and lost seems to contradict with the declaration of God in Genesis that creation is good (in fact very good). And revelations at the end seems to note that God's throne will exist on new earth. And even the prayer of Jesus, taught to us so that we can learn to pray, says explicitly... "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven" And so to abandon the world and say that it is evil, lost or beyond saving is to lose a very important part of the biblical story.

From this notion, unless I'm off the deep end, we need some serious reclaimation of the story of God's world, God's plan. and God's justice.

But I guess that's for tommorrow.


(On a side note, if you actually made it this far into this rather lengthy post and are a long term reader of this blog... I would like to note that I have officially beaten my highscore in Space Cadet pinball. It was 6 million or so and is now 9,450,000 odd some. Thank you)

Patman the Theologically inclined and spaceman

Halo 3 Beta

I never expected to play it... but talk about fun.

Web-a-thon

Its happening all around us... but no one makes a sound.

Thousands abandoned... left without care.

We have a new terror sweeping the land. Across the internet and around the world people everywhere are abandoning what they started. In 2006 the exciting and interconnected "Facebook" arrived on the scene. At first it was a wonderment... People were happy, excited, reconnecting with old friends, and inter-connecting with current friends. It was a happy time for the internet... or was it?

Behind the scenes of this modern craze there was a dark alley of abandonment. You see all over the internet people are giving up on their traditional blogs and opting for a 'note' based system of posting. But what about the blogs? What about the pointless stories you once wrote for all the internet to see? What about the photographs and epitaphs you churned out on a semi-almost-sort-of daily to weekly basis? What about the hours you already wasted, invested in this faction of internet culture? What are you going to do?

With the abandonment of blogs everywhere there is more need in the internet today for people like you to step up and support traditional blogs. But this is more than a call to donate money (send all donations to rubic_@hotmail.com) but you can do more (although donations would be great: rubic_@hotmail.com). If money isn't available you can:

1) talk to a friend who has abandoned their blogs (maybe even write on their wall)

2) start support groups in your community to raise blog awareness

3) think about adopting a blog that is already out there

Blogs matter.

(This has been a paid advertisement by the "Pat Needs a Life Foundation" if you would like to be involved in the PNLF please send all donations to rubic_@hotmail.com)

Law?

So I had a fun conversation this evening. I was talking to a man and I was telling him about my current perspective on law, from my course on Law and Religion. And he got really excited and told me it was my calling.

I just didn't have the heart to tell him how much I really didn't like the course.

Patman the Pat

Where have all the bloggers gone?

Look I have three things going against me... 1- I'm alone, manageable. 2- I have an ample supply of time on my hands. 3- I have dial up Internet.

With that in mind I am attempting to read my friends blogs (listed to the left) and find exciting new updates. As of recently I have found no new updates (except Fulford's blog) and its making me right cheesed.

Friends I'm calling you out. Pick up your electronic pen (the keyboard) and say something.
(if you are reading this and I don't know your blog and you are frankly up set that I would write such grandiose claims let me know what your blog is... although technically I may already read it if it is listed on someone else's blog... I'm just too lazy to update that list)

Patman the Pat

One...

is the loneliest number that you'll ever know... it is aparently many other things as well.

Today marks day one of my official 'solitude' at camp. This pretty much means I live on the camp property alone. This is an interesting development in all that is Pat, since I generally do enjoy the company of a select few individuals and prefer some form of social interaction. This being the case I am intrigued by the prospect of being alone.

Tanya K., as all those former RAs would know, would say that it is good to spend time in the quiet and in solitude (but I think she stole that from a book or two) Some movies mark that those who spend extended time alone go crazy. As for me... I'm hoping to land somewhere in the middle... a cross between the desert fathers and Gollum.

+

=

Develop a strong spiritual life by communing solely with the Father while at the same time developing a strong inner life by communing with myselfs.

With that being said we would like to bid you farewell...

Patmen the Pats

Application

I have recently begun working at camp and to actually work at camp you occasionally have to fill out the proper forms (you know like apply for the job). Needless to say I had to write a page on how to lead a child to the Lord and since all of you need to take from my vast knowledge I decided to post it here.... shall we?

To Save a Child

This is an instructional page on how to lead a child to a saving knowledge in Jesus Christ. Before you attempt to bring a child to the Lord remember safety first. In all occasions where you attempt to work something for the Glory of the Lord remember to pray. This is not only a great way to keep you in contact with the Lord but also remember it is not you that saves the child but the Holy Spirit who works in both you and the child. Invite Him and draw on His strength first.
It is best when bringing someone to the Lord that you know them and they are comfortable with you. Most children respond well when they are with someone they know. Also perceive the situation: A child playing baseball or is very preoccupied with a craft may not want or have the attention to follow what you are saying or take it seriously. But a child that is, let’s say crying on Vesper Rock because of what the speaker said, this child may want to talk about life and love and maybe even Jesus.
Understand of course that you can never force Jesus upon someone but look for opportunity in conversation when it arises. For instance if a child says “Boy that sunset is so beautiful” One could respond “That’s one of God’s gifts to us: the beauty of creation” Therein turning the conversation to the fact that God loves us. But if a child says something like “Boy I really love candy” A comment like “That’s one of God’s gifts to us: Candy!” may not be quite right. But it is clear that at anytime and in anyplace you can speak about Jesus.
It is important that a child has some understanding of what they are doing and what you are talking about. A child that think Jesus shot fire from His eyes and therefore thinks he is cool might accept him as their savior on these terms alone. So talk to the child and fill them in on the truth about Jesus.
Often you will find that fear is an excellent tool to manipulate a child into ‘loving’ Jesus. But that sometimes draws the question of what that ‘love’ really means. Ultimately a child who accepts Christ out of fear isn’t that bad off considering we do have much to fear but make sure the child also gets the “Do not fear” aspects of God (i.e. love, relationship, fatherhood).
When it comes right down to it is difficult to pin-down exactly how to lead a child to the Lord but if you give them the understanding that they are sinners, that God loves them, that Christ died and rose for the sake of all of our sins and that they need a life devoted to Christ, then the child can do with it what they will. You can aid them by helping them pray and teaching them verses and even just laying out the choice. But just let them know and they’ll decide. They are after all just little people ready to make decisions in the real world.

Fact! I got a cool gift for my birthday...

Well corporate sellout I may be but I got a a Dwight K. Shrute bobble head. I think it will eventually sit nicely beside the Homer Simpson bobble head down at 493.

P the P

Ask me no questions...

Patman here... moments before my first exam. I have been chillin' all week therefore I have not probably studied enough. Although at the moment you could name a chapter in Genesis and I could probably give you a good idea what is going on there but ask me in a month and I'd be hard pressed to get it... probably cause I only really need the information for another 3 hours at the most.

This has been Patman the Pat trying to waste time before his exam. Tune in next time to hear Patrick say... Plato: The original Knight of the Old Republic.

We'll have bizarre celebrations... 2

well the season of pat has now reached its climax on today... my birthday.

I even got a gift from the Xbox... new Halo 2 maps... of course I have to pay for them but its the thought that counts

P the P 22

We'll have Bizarre Celebrations...

I read a lot this semester. It was mainly because of this class I had, Issues in the New Testament. The course breakdown was pretty much: read books and talk about them. It was a great course. It was taught by my favorite professor, Dr. Erwin Penner. Today was the last day of class. I, along with Dan and Brad, had to do a presentation on the last book. But once that was done we could celebrate, Manwhich style.

Good times.

Choose my own adventure

Pat is on the verge of completing his education at Tyndale University.

What should he do?

1) continue to seminary with focus on youth and family

2) leave it all behind for the film industry education (based on current joy from Tyndale the musical venues...) so a career in Christian film and such...

3) find an overly complicated way to merge them both

If you select option 1 turn to page 324, option 2 turn to page 23, option 3 turn to page 520

Resurgence

The war at home has taken a whole new meaning this week. Since Thursday there has been fight after fight. It has taken its toll on us all. I never knew that in a house so built on community there could be such a struggle. Paul even had to be evacuated. Its crazy. All I'm saying is Age of Empires is back.

Thats right, we intend to end the semester right where we started: playing our beloved Age.

from 1997 to now this game has given entertainment to the most bored college student, the lonely high school student and once again to us here at 493.

Age of Empires 2 we salute you

tap eht namtap

April Makes Fools of us all...

Now I would expect friends to prank me... enemies to prank me... even strangers on occasion might just prank me. But I think I have been pranked by technology.

Today as I went about my business (playing video games and whatever) I noticed two things. First that the house smelled of pancakes and second, that the VCR said that it was 3:00pm. This made some semblance of sense but as I peered over my shoulder the wall clock said 2:00pm. I figured the wall clock was wrong because it had led me astray once before. I carried on with my day and at 4:00pm (VCR time) I went grocery shopping (hoping to be back so that I could prepare dinner for around 4:00pm (Wall Clock Time).

As I returned from shopping and began to put away my food I noticed two things wrong in the kitchen. First, as a diversion from the actual story, I notice the front element of the oven was still on (for what I assumed was about 2 hours) and on that element was in fact a pancake which had lost all fluids and was rock hard. As I turned off the element (avoiding potential fires) I notice the clock was in line with the Wall Clock which read 4:00pm. Inevitably I turned on the TV, because the TV clock is never wrong, and found out that it was actually 4:00pm and that the Wall Clock, and Oven Clock were correct. So I fixed the VCR clock and carried about my business (Watching internet TV and whatever).

This was of course the end of the slightly confusing events or so I thought. Down in my room later my computer clock decided to be in contention with my alarm clock: again one hour different. Now at this point I didn't know what to do. The TV was upstairs thus I couldn't approach it for wisdom and there were no clocks around to save the day. And for that I reason I messaged my good friend Dan "What time is it?" Low and behold I found out the important facts. It was the computer that was wrong. And Dan, being the intelligent and knowledgeable person that he is, had a theory to why technology was making me an April Fool.

To Dan it wasn't technology but Y2K (no Dan isn't a crazy nut believing that it has finally happened) like symptoms. It seems with the change of Daylight Savings some technology is not compliant and so today, what would be Daylight Savings a year or two ago, my computer and VCR caught the bug.

In conclusion the technology pranked me but the Government was responsible.

Patman the Pat

(Note as well today marks the halfway point in the lenten-like month of Pat. Keep on celebrating)