|
Joshua_Son_of_Nun
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Name: Josh
Birthday: 8/15/1985
Gender: Male
Interests: Following Christ, being transformed, learning how to live life;
Fellowshiping with others, trying to become the body of Christ, spending time with friends, encouraging each other in the Lord;
Computers, software, programming, computer games, technology;
Sports, outdoor activities, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, softball, football, hiking, biking, etc;
Knowledge, humor, interacting, music, etc.
Expertise: Software Programming
Occupation: Student
Industry: Industrial Controls
Message: message me
Member Since:
4/10/2006
|
|
| I am really surprised at how fast news travels.
I was involved in a sledding accident on Saturday, the 17th of February. I've gotten cards, donuts, e-mails, and all sorts of stuff from people that I don't even get to see that often!
I'm not sure if any of you can relate to this or not, but I sort of have a mixed reaction to this. On the one hand, it's nice to feel appreciated. You don't realize how much people are there for you until something happens, and everybody goes out of their way to show how much they care. At the same time, I had some many people asking me how I'm feeling, that I almost want to shout out, "I'm OK, I'm OK. It was only a concussion! I'm sure I'll live to see another day!"
Anyway, here's a quick narrative for those who haven't heard it yet:
We went to Malone with the Conways and Carmichaels to sled. They have a nice hill there... easy on the one side and a monster drop-off on the other. We must have been out for about 2 hours or so. Dad told us to collect the sleds and get in the van to go. I got clearance for one final trip down the hill (in retrospect, I should have passed!). I decided to try taking a saucer over the drop-off. At the time, it didn't seem like a crazy thing to do. I can distinctly remember the saucer spinning about 90 degrees to the left. I should have bailed or something. I don't even remember landing.
The next thing that I remember was being loaded into the ambulance. Turns out I had gone into convulsions just after hitting my head, so I guess it was pretty serious. Traumatic for everyone else... although I was perfectly at ease  . The strangest thing is that after I came out of the convulsions, I'm told that I was semi-responsive ("lights are on, but no one is home"). Supposedly, I was cracking jokes while they carried me up the sledding hill (doesn't that figure...  ). Mr Carmichael told me that at one point I ordered the paramedics in no uncertain terms to take off the neck brace they had put on.
The CAT scan at the hospital showed up normal, so I was released the same afternoon. Haven't had any problems since then. The headache was minimal/non-existent. It has been very easy to blow the whole thing off. I probably would have if it hadn't been for the convulsions.
Going through this caused me think through a couple of different things.
First, God has really given me a lot. Sometimes, we take so much for granted. I could have easily been paralyzed, killed, or disabled for life. It seems far-fetched in some ways because we face situations like this every day. When it comes down to it, in five minutes any one of our lives could be dramatically changed. What I had to ask myself is this: "If God had taken away all of the things that he has blessed me with (strength, wisdom, life, vitality, etc) would I still be able to praise him?"
Second, how much risk am I willing to tolerate in my life? Have you ever been to the doctor's office and had them tell you because of this test, there's a 90% chance that your fine and a 10% chance that you're in serious trouble? If you think about it, in the grand scheme of things there is no 90/10% chance. God knows it all from the beginning to the end. At the same time, there are consequences to our own actions. When I choose to take a saucer over a drop-off, I can't blame Ben because I got a concussion. We take risks every day. You could get in an accident driving to the grocery store this afternoon. So what level of risk are you willing to tolerate? Why are you choosing to take risks? Is it because you are doing something useful? Helping someone else? Just having a good time? Trying to prove something to someone? As much as we like to think it while we are young, nobody is invincible.
~J
| | |
| Hello all,
I know that it has been centuries since I posted... almost half a year!
I try to give an update of what has been going on around here.
As you can tell from my new profile pic, we were in Florida for 2 weeks in January. I guess that was almost a month ago now!
Basically, I have been very busy. We're in the process of releasing my first project at ProSoft, so I gotten to experience the roller coaster ride that product development can be! I've been working together with a test engineer, project manager, and documentation expert out in California to finish the project. The test engineer is really great. He keeps managing to find ways to break my software, but then he is real helpful about working through getting the problems fixed. Anyway, its been interesting. You get to the point were you dread getting e-mails because you are afraid it will be another bug...  . And this product was supposed to be released on the 9th, not like today... God has been faithful to give me the wisdom to solve problems. I'm confident that we are releasing a fairly sound product.
While this project was in testing, I was given another project to start working on. It's basically a radio network setup wizard. Pretty challenging stuff considering the fact that I knew next to nothing about radios before I started. You definitely have to be willing to learn new things in this field!
I updated my resume to include my ProSoft experience and Dad sent it to his boss. I've always described ProSoft as Online Development (Dad's employer) as "sister" companies, but like sisters sometimes unfortunately do, ProSoft and OLDI are falling out. I would really rather work for OLDI (OnLine Development Inc.) because that is were Ben and Dad both work. Sounds like there is a good chance that they will hire me once I finish school. Of course I'll have to finish up the projects that I am involved with at ProSoft first.
This brings me to the second primary focus of my attention: School. I'm now like 5 courses away from a BSCS. My target is to finish by or in May. So in the meantime, I'm devouring principles of human resource management and concepts of data communication like there is no tomorrow.
I'm definitely looking forward to spring. Goofy or not, my hands are always cold in the winter. I do not like trying to type with cold hands. I've actually thought that it would be nice to have a thin pair of gloves that I could wear in the house to keep my hands warm, but that seems kind of strange... Besides, warmth isn't my only motivator for spring... with spring comes softball!
We've started to talk dates for my sister's wedding. Very exciting. My cousin is getting married in June also. I guess we are moving into that time of life. I can't believe how time flies!
That's all for now...
~J
| | |
| Verses of the Day:
"What I mean, brothers, is that time is short. From now on those who
have wives should live as if they had none; thsoe who mourn, as if they
did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy
something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things
of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its
present form is passing away." 1 Cor 7:29-31
The beginning of verse 31 especially
speaks to me: "those who use the things of the world, as if not
engrossed in them." Where does our heart dwell?
It was definitely high time for a Xanga post. So much has happened the last few weeks.
Most importantly, my "little" sister, Autumn Rose, has become betrothed
to be married. Daniel Fenstemaker is the lucky gentleman, and I
couldn't have wished for a better brother-in-law. We are all very
excited as we move forward into this new stage of life.
Second, some gears started turning last week. By the end of the week, I
got a call from ProSoft. At the end of the call, I was asked "when I
could start." Consequently, as of Monday, I'm now working 20 hours a
week for ProSoft. The 20 hours part is temporary while I work to finish
up my college studies. I am now officially a part-time employee of
ProSoft! I talked to my superviser yesterday to ask some questions
about the ProSoft website and the project I'm working on, and was
embarrassed several times by her correcting my "yours" to "ours" (our
website, our products, etc)! 
Last but not least... after 3 weeks of rained out games, we finally
played another double-header last night. Seriously, they were the two
closest softball games I have ever played.
In the first game, NICC (North Industry Christian Church) was the home
team. We entered the top of the 7th tied at 12-12. Runners on 2nd and
3rd, 2 outs. Bill Sparks steps up to the plate and knocks in two runs;
14-12, top of the 7th. Dan Michaels knocks in a line shot that breaks
through the gap in right center. Bill Sparks scores from second. 15-12.
End of the first half of the seventh. NICC comes to bat. A line shot
goes through, putting a runner on third. That runner scores and another
one. Finally 2 men out. With the score at 15-14 in the bottom of the
7th, tying run on second, things are pretty tense to say the least. The
next batter grounds to short-stop. An easy toss to second base ends the
game... 15-14. (only 7 innings in slow pitch softball)
So now we're the home team. Going into the bottom of the 6th, we were
ahead, 9-8. They shut us down. Top of the seventh 9-8; if we can shut
them out, we win. NICC pulls off 2 runs, putting us down at 10-9 in the
bottom of the last inning. We have to score 1 to tie, 2 to win. Ben
leads off the inning. He grounds out to first. My hit goes between
third and short, giving us a runner on first. Keith Gieger knocks me to
second. Now the winning run is on 1st, the tying run on 2nd. Steve (not
my dad) is up, with 1 out. He steps out of the batter's box and is
called out; the ball is dead and no runners can advance. Bill Sparks,
the hero of game 1 steps up to the plate with 2 outs and runners on 1st
and 2nd. The winning run is on 1st, the tying run on 2nd. Can he come
through again? He does. His line shot hit the gap, scoring Keith from
1st. 11-10, ballgame.
By the by, the content/word count of each event does not describe its importance...  . I just like to narrate close softball games.
~J
| | |
| Verse of the Day:
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of
yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with
sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given
you." Romans 12:3
I shared this verse after our softball games last night along with James 4:6 and 10, and Philipians 2:3 (" But he gives us more grace. That is why
Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'", "Humble
yourselves before the Lord, and he will
lift you up.", and “Do
nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with
humility of mind regard one another as more important than
yourselves;”). Philippians 2:3 and Romans 12:3 pretty well encapsulate
true humility... not only behaving or "acting" as if others are more
important than ourselves, but also regarding others as more important in our
minds. Even in our thoughts.
This was a lesson that we needed last night. We played two of the most
amazing softball games I have ever seen. I don't think I have ever seen
a team hit the ball as well as we did! Over the two games, we scored a
total of 42 runs and won both games. The second game we won in 6
innings (instead of the usual 7 innings for softball) because of the
slaughter rule. The other team played very well. It was amazing to see
our team stringing hits together. In one inning in the second game we
scored 11 runs and almost batted through the batting order twice! It
was awesome.
Humility is so important. Especially when you are winning... . After
losing our first two games, we were really trying to approach the rest
of our games just to have fun without regard for winning or losing. Now
here we are, 4 games later, with 4 more wins and no more loses! Sadly,
it will be so much more of a struggle to give up winning now that we
have some thing to lose... our league standing. We are probably the
second or third place team now.
~J
| | |
| I've decided to work on a bit of creative fiction that I
started a while ago. I'm not sure how far I'll get, but here's my first
chapter anyway. My target audience is young men, but hopefully everyone
will enjoy it.
Ryan’s glove
popped as the ball disappeared inside.
“Nice throw,
Mike!” Ryan exclaimed. “That would have been a strike for sure.”
Mike grinned as
Ryan flicked the ball back.
“Thanks, Ryan.
Try this one.”
“Ooh! That was
a great curve ball!”
“Yeah. Way
outside though.”
“You’d sure
make a good pitcher, Mike.”
“I like to
think so. Too bad I’ll never have the chance.”
The back door
opened and Mike turned to see his mother watching them from the patio.
“Are you boys
having fun?”
“Sure, Mom.”
Ryan smiled.
“I want you to
come inside in a few more minutes. I would like you two to get some math done
today.”
“OK, Mom. Two
more pitches?” Mike asked. His mother nodded her assent and retreated into the
house.
Mike paused.
“Let’s see what
kind of fire I can put on this ball.”
Mike wound up and
delivered. The ball exploded into Ryan’s glove like a firecracker.
“Awesome!” Ryan
yelled. “One more.”
Mike wiped his
brow and leaned forward, pretending to read a catcher’s signal from Ryan. Then
he nodded.
“More of the
same,” Mike murmured to Ryan.
The ball soared
off of the tips of Mike’s fingers as he released it. Ryan’s face blanched as
the ball crashed wildly into the dirt just in front of the plate. Ryan
instinctively moved out of the path of the careening projectile, reaching
towards it awkwardly with his catcher’s mitt. The ball chipped the plate and
bounced high over Ryan’s glove, continuing its mad caper across the lawn. When
it finally stopped, the boys could just see it in their neighbors yard.
Ryan turned
sheepishly and went to retrieve the ball. Mike rolled his eyes and folded his
arms, waiting impatiently for Ryan.
“You have to
block the ball, Ryan!” Mike growled when Ryan returned. “If that had happened
in a real game, a runner could have stolen the plate from first base!”
Ryan turned
red.
“Yeah, but I
wasn’t wearing any equipment!” Ryan complained. “Besides, you throw too hard.”
“That’s what
makes it hard for batters to hit!”
“Mike, Ryan!”
Their mother was calling through the screen door. “Come on inside. Time to
study.”
Mike and Ryan
marched through the back door into the dinning room. Their mother looked up and
smiled.
“Thanks for
responding promptly.”
“Belated or
sulky obedience is as bad as none at all,” Mike quoted his parents.
“I wrote out
assignments for each of you in your math books. After you finish with that, I
would like you each to read a chapter in your Bible.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Jack called
while you were studying. I told him you would call him back after you were
finished with your schoolwork.”
“Thanks, Mom,”
Mike said. “I did everything you told me to. Can I call him now?”
Mrs. Harris
nodded.
“That will be
enough work for today. I’m hoping you will be able to finish that math book
before the summer is over. I want you to start studying for the ACT this fall,
and you will need your pre-calc out of the way first. I’m also going to sign
both you and Ryan up for a Chemistry co-op with some of the other families.”
“That’ll be
neat.”
Mike picked up
the phone and dialed. It took a few minutes before Jack was on the line.
“Hi, Jack,
what’s up?”
“Hey, Mike. Not
much. We don’t usually do as much schoolwork during the summer as you guys do.
I’m looking for something to do. Are you available?”
“Let me ask my
mom.”
Mike lowered
the phone and covered the mouthpiece.
“Mom, can I
spend some time with Jack?”
“Sure. What are
you guys up to?”
“Not sure yet.”
Mike returned to the phone. “I’m clear, Jack. What do you have in mind?”
“Think we can
get enough guys together for some ball?”
“I don’t know.
I think Ryan is almost done. That’ll be three of us. Why don’t you call the
Thompsons and I’ll call the Roberts? I’m sure they’ll play if they can. Should
we meet over at the park ASAP?”
“Sounds good.”
“Okay, I’ll see
you over there in a few minutes then. Bye.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
| | |
|
