Goodbye Wisdom...

No, not our beloved TBS upper-classmate - but my upper and lower wisdom teeth. I got the lot of them pulled this past wednesday. I figured I'd let the three of my blog following friends (Stauff, Ty, Benoit) check out my hamster cheeks. So - check it out boys. Laugh it up. I'm thankful to God for pain-killers. This would have been a really hard-one if I was going all-natural. If you've never seen the roots on those teeth they are huge... no wonder there is so much pain... for those scheduled > ice-packs help a lot too.

The Band...

Since my friend Ian Clary decided to post about his band I thought I should give you (all three of my blogosphere fans, and somebody from Germany!) a glimpse into my high-school past. Left to right: Your's Truly, Daniel Sylvester, & Tyler VanHalteren (both of which are single...ladies). We spent most of our highschool lives jamming out in Ty's barn in Claremont and staying up late watching thriller movies. We were called the Exceptions. We played about 12 shows in 2 years. It were pretty hype.  If you're wondering how I got to know Justine, she was our biggest fan... some say she still has our first show on VHS somewhere...

Scott's Top 7s: California Vaca-Pics #1

These pictures haven't been in favourite to least favourite just really in the order that they were taken. 

But these are definitely some of the best ones. 

Not exactly California -

this is in Chicago on our quick layover back to Buffalo

On the ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier.

Hanging atop the carpark looking over Hollywood and LA. 

Ty and Me on vacation.

Scott's Top 7s: California Vaca-Pics #2

Hanging out at The Grove - Hollywood. 

Here's Dano & I getting the Exceptions favourite: 

Bacon-Cheese Burgers at the Spaghetti Factory. 

Ty went for a big ol' steak, there was an occassion - Happy Birthday Ty.

Scott's Top 7s: California Vaca-Pics #3

Most definitely Ty's favourite part of the trip. 

Lizete did seem really nice - too bad we didn't stop by the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium to say hi to the jellyfish volunteer girl.

There was enough Jelly on the trip anyways.

Scott's Top 7s: California Vaca-Pics #4

Hanging out in Santa Monica.

TY, DANO, YOURS TRULY. 

This is from atop of the Santa Monica Pier Ferris-wheel. 

Scott's Top 7s: California Vaca-Pics #5

Nothing like skipping stones. 

Scott's Top 7s: California Vaca-Pics #6

              

Here's Danny Boy and I just maxing and relaxing on the west coast beach. This is at Venice Beach just before I burned my head. A light wind that day, and plenty of sunshine. Water was a bit cold for swimming. Skipping rocks and treasure hunting on the beach. Not a bad day at all. 

Scott's Top 7s: California Vaca-Pics #7

This is Ty and I's first day in California. Waking up at the Master's College in Santa Clarita. 

This is a view from just above Slight Hall. We set the timer. Yes, fyi Ty is currently single, 

Shadows and Breaths

"For I am a sojourner 

with you,

a guest, 

like all my fathers."

David writes this recognition of human frailty in to the end of the 39th Psalm. He is speaking to God. He sees that he will soon depart and be no more. That his life is but a breath. In this time he is recognizing the discipline that God has given him, and wonders in the small time left that he has if God would remove his hand of discipline. He wants to smile again and be happy again. David sees here that he is no different from his father and his grandfather and all his ancestors. They are here for a time and then gone. He is a sojourner on this earth. And what are we? We are alike David, here temporarily. Soon to depart in death. We like David say "my lifetime is nothing before you" YHWH, God. We are a breath. We are a shadow. And what must we say to God, that "My hope is in you"; and ask will you "deliver me from all my transgressions"?
Yes.

But do we really want those things? 

Do we really want deliverance from sin? 

To not continually deny the discipline of God

but to put our hope and trust in him?

Is that our true desire? If not then who will save us?

Who will deliver us from this evil world which we, not

the system, propagate?

Yes - we love evil, we love our sin,

We love revenge, pride, lust, money - and all of these above God!

We hate God, and we are guilty before him. 

So what are we left to do?

We must put ourselves in his hands. To hope that he will deliver.

That means to ask him to deliver, not in doubt

but in hope.

Don't try to complicate it. Don't try to excuse yourself. Don't put it off. 

Seek God for deliverance through the Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Through his life, death and resurrection - the gospel - there is deliverance.

God delivers through him, by him and for his glory. 

But will you willingly submit to God? 

Will you willingly give him glory? 

Will you trust him with the love that he came for sinners, 

for this hating world, for this rebellious world? 

Will you respond and love him in obedience? 

Or will he get glory out of your unwilling sinful self 

and cast you away from his presence into hell? 

That is the question.

We are shadows and breaths - let us be used for God's glory willingly. Let us put our hope in Jesus Christ, alone. 

California Detoxification: part 1

Woah - that was a fast week - Tyler and I had a pretty stellar time in 

Southern California. 

We crashed at Daniel's place at the Master's College in Santa Clarita and got to chill with Dilly Smalls for the week as we attended the Shepherd's Conference. I ate at least 6 cheeseburgers and heard some godly wisdom throughout the week. Encouraged by Stauffer of the west, I wore my sandals and shorts, all week.
It was excellent. More to come.

 I also burned my head...

ouch!

Cali Take Over

This is Tyler & I catching some wake 

- slash -

our appreciation card to our 6am driver to the airport tomorrow morning

Cali Here We Come

Hey y'all - so I'll be taking a break for the next week - I'm heading to California with my close friend Tyler. 

We're visiting our friend Daniel at the Masters College in Santa Clarita. Ty's looking at attending the seminary there and I'm stoked for some VACA time you know? I'm a little crazy in taking as many courses as I do here at Toronto Baptist Seminary , so I'm pretty stoked to take a deep breath on the west coast and get some of that great LA smog air.

(btw if you read this and are unawares of who TBS is you should come to OPEN HOUSE 

this Tuesday-Wednesday > it'll be awesome). 

Minus the few people who stumbled upon my blog from Germany, Belarus and Russia, those of you guys who read this are my buds from TBS so I'll try and soak up some rays for you while you trek through that left-over snow. Hope Chaps is stellar and Myrtle's chicken nuggets on friday are crispy - save some for me on monday!

What's happening to the blog? 1 week hiatus I guess - I'll be back with some more dead-guy quotes, top 7s, and I've got 2 book reviews for here in the works. And don't you worry Adam, I'll find some more country acts from SOCAL. 

This month's memory verse is:

"Grace to you and peace

from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

who gave himself for our sins

to deliver us from the present evil age,

according to the will of our God and Father,

to whom be the glory forever and ever.

Amen"

Galatians 1:3-5

Been fun - hope to be back soon.