Just let it marinate for a second...

So here's my deep, penetrating question for today.

What do you enjoy?

My last post was all about me venting my frustrations with my current job, the status quo, and the fact that people so rarely get what they want out of life.  Since then, it's gotten to marinate a bit.

Marinade is good.

Steak is good...marinated steak is better.

Alright, now I've gotten completely distracted by my own mnemonic device.

So after distilling (great, now I'm remembering organic lab) all that frustration down, and letting it reduce down to its useful parts...and I've figured out that the Bible is really a good source for useful information.

Be content.

I can spend the next three months (or a little less) trying to just get by at my job, or I can learn to appreciate what I've got there.  What I've got there is a group of people...and a job that isn't all that interesting, but I'm uniquely qualified to do.

So what's going to keep me content?  Probably the people.  So often we go through our day, and we don't pay attention to the people around us.  People around us are obstacles, special barriers between what we have and what we want...and if we can just say the right thing, they may let us have happiness.

Sounds crazy?  Yep.

Is that something you've done?  Probably.

Next time you get frustrated with someone, put yourself in their shoes.  Why do you think they're saying no?  What kind of a home do they go home to at night?  Do they look tired?  What would Jesus think about this person if He were standing here and not you?

So here's my gameplan for the next bit.  Instead of being frustrated at this job...maybe I'll take it as an opportunity to get to know people around me.  Get into their heads a bit...maybe even enjoy what I do...even though it's not my first choice.

Also, I need some cello music...anyone have any?  Pandora + YoYo Ma is all I've got atm.

Career? What's that?

...no seriously, that's what has been running through my head lately.  See, I've got this issue.  I don't like where my education is taking my career.  But I'm getting ahead of myself, let me back up.

I went to school when I was in kindergarten...but that might be a little too far back...let me try again.

I went to college so I could get a good job.  I liked science, and it was kindof cool.  I liked hanging out with people.  Scientists don't usually hang out with people.  I figured if I taught high school science, it might be the one job where I get to do both things.

Enter Dr. Baldwin.

He tempts me with all these cool sounding ideas like "you get PAID to go to grad school" and "you can teach college, which is WAY cooler than high school!"  Well, maybe not in those exact words, but the guy got my attention, and I went along with it.  So I ended up applying to grad school, thinking that it was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I ended up getting into Wayne State (my backup school, which I didn't realize is an excellent Chemistry graduate school), Purdue, and University of Wisconsin.  I ended up picking Wayne State because it was between my parents and Mel's parents, and I liked the campus/professors.

I went all the way through my first year and a half or so of grad school after I got married, not totally absorbed in what I was doing.  It was interesting enough, but it wasn't the type of thing I hopped out of bed in the morning thrilled to get at.  It was a means to an end, I wanted to teach Chem.

At this point, I've gotta stop the story.  I really have no reason to complain, right?  I've got a job that pays reasonably well (sortof) that's leading to a job that everyone is telling me is great, and I'm married to the best woman in the world.  Sounds like the American Dream, right?

Forget the American Dream, forget mediocrity, forget an existance based on getting along.

Screw normal.

All my life, I've been told that "I'm better than that."  I was put in groups with kids who didn't pull their weight all through school because the teacher counted on me "help them learn."  Of course I ended up doing most of the work, and my group mates were rewarded for doing nothing.  I've been told over and over and over that it's my responsibility to do my best, because I'm supposed to help those that can't do as well as I can.

Screw that.

It's not my responsibility to help others and do things they can't, just because I can.  It's not my responsibility to get  PhD in Chemistry because I'm good at my job.  It's not my job to stay in Rueda's lab doing my HIV research because I've been able to collect data in ways he said were impossible.  It's not my job.

There is one person that I'm responsible to.  His name isn't David Reuda, it's not going to be the name of my next boss, it's not my father's name, and it's also not my wife's name.

It's also not my name.

I'm responsible to God alone.

Now at this point, some of you are probably thinking that I'm being very arrogant about all this, and that I should really settle down, take a chill pill and finish grad school, because I'm good at it.  Some of you may even be offended that I'm claiming that I'm not responsible for helping anyone else.

Hear me out.

"God has a plan for each of us."  I've heard that sentence so often that I was sick and tired of hearing it.  I started subconsciously tuning out chapel speakers as soon as they uttered that hated phrase, along with other gems like "getting out of your comfort zone" and "giving your life entirely to God."  These phrases were thrown around carelessly, without really thinking about what they were doing.  They were all code for the same basic idea, giving up what you want and what you enjoy for the good of those around you.

I take offense at that.

I believe in a few things, and if you'll bear with me I'll explain why I'm justified in saying that.

I believe in a God who knows everything.  I believe in a God who loves me.  I believe in a God who puts the two together and has the universe arranged around me so that I can live to become my best, just as he arranged the universe around you, my wife.  Even Hitler had a universe arranged around him to allow him to become a righteous man, but we all know how that ended.

Since the universe was created by God to give me the best opportunity to cheerfully give my life to serve Him, there's one conclusion that will finally tie back into the beginning of this post.

God wants me to enjoy my job.

I believe that God gave each of us a set of abilities and preferences that direct us to a career and a vocation that allows us to hit the ground running, looking forward to serve Him while earning our daily bread.

I allowed myself to be guilted into doing grad school so I could do "something better."  I want to be clear here that I don't blame Dr. Baldwin.  He saw a potential in me, and I appreciate his faith in me.  But that doesn't mean that his influence lead me in the right direction.

Everyone should have a vocation that they live to do.  Your job should be your hobby.  You should wake up every morning looking forward to a new challenge, a new set of opportunities, and you should love every minute of it.

That's what God calls us to.  We are to be cheerful givers, not only in giving Him our tithe, but in giving every moment to Him as we go to work each morning.  That's what the Bible means when it says "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men."  We should go to work in the morning for God, not for our paycheck.

I'm going to quit grad school.  I'm going to teach high school Chemistry.  I'm looking forward to teaching at a school, going to the football games on Friday nights, maybe some other student events, and getting to know and witness (silently, of course) to my students while trying to instill as much knowledge and work ethic as I can.

That's going to be my career.  I'm looking forward to it.

I've really gotta work on this

...because it seems like I never update this, but I enjoy hammering out some thoughts whenever I do. Who knew that we don't always do what's good for us? *looks at God, and sees him raising his hand*

Which brings me to my next point...I've been trying to boil down my faith to something that I can easily explain that doesn't rely on Christian-ese. When I'm surrounded every day by people who literally laugh at the thought of a God that has a relationship with people...referencing the Bible to explain why Christianity is my "world view of choice" just doesn't seem to work well. Go figure.

So when you're not allowed to reference the Bible...what does Christianity boil down to. And if there is a God, why bother following Him? If He cared, wouldn't he let you know? Why hide, right? And why in the world would you wake up on Sunday morning to listen to some crazy guy read from an old, error prone book, just to tell you that the world came into being over 6 days, and is less than 10,000 years old?

Valid questions, I've got to admit.

Sure, we know that Jesus died for our sins, and we know that God loves us, and we don't want the people around us to burn in h-e-double hockey sticks, right? The bible says that we shouldn't lie, shouldn't kill, and it definitely gives us the responsibility to go into Iraq and bomb Sadaam out of power, right? He was a bad guy! Maybe these are all true, maybe they aren't...but the point is that those are all hot button issues that will get you ignored if you assert them with evidence that starts with "The Bible says that..."

As Christians, we've got to quit talking to each other so much. Fellowship is important, I get that. But when Fellowship Halls are more used than the altars...we have a problem. When Fellowship halls are only used for Christians to get together, and not for communities, "unsaved" friends, and people wether or not they belong to the church, why are we meeting on Sundays again?

Now don't get me wrong...I love learning about Jesus on Sunday morning, and Jesus taught in the synagogue "as was his custom" so we know that the Big Guy thought that church and meeting as believers was important. But I think that Jesus spent far more effort on the sick than the healthy...and I bet he didn't quote the Law to the Gentiles. Not because it didn't apply, but probably because He knew better than today's church does that the people who don't respect God already won't respect that old book that is supposedly "written" by him.

I think we need to simplify our view of Christianity. It's not about systematic theology, excatalogical speculation, and certainly not dogmatic teachings of one denomination over another. I wonder if Jesus would head over to the Playboy Mansion to try to chat with Heff about God. I wonder how many churches today would condemn any public evangelist who went into the Playboy mansion. I wonder how concerned Jesus was with "avoiding the very appearance of Evil." Yes, to clarify that one a bit. I don't think Jesus engaged in sinful activity...but that doesn't mean that he didn't go to a (likely shady) party with tax collectors that got him severely judged by the religious establishment of the day.

Jesus was simple. Jesus was clear. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We want to get to The Father, we go through Him. God isn't into this whole complicated business...we live His way, we go to heaven. No debates over Eternal Security, Denominations, whose church condoned slavery 150 years ago...none of it matters.

So here's my take on Christianity. You may feel like I left something out, but I challenge anyone to find something wrong with it.

1) God made us for a relationship with Him

2) We (as humans in general) ran off

3) God sacrificed Jesus to restore our relationship

4) EVERY rule in the Bible is there for our benefit, because He knows what we need better than we do.

5) Our job is to follow those rules, because it's in Him and in fulfilling our purpose that we are truly happy.

Not lying, not coveting, not stealing, killing, or being a jerk to the cashier in line in front of us. It's all for our benefit. Jesus put it well. "Love God with everything you've got. Love people as much as you love yourself." (the Kevin Paraphrased Translation) It's that simple, and I'm sick of people getting wrapped up in the details.

So you want to know how to talk to an unsaved person about God? Tell your own story. I guarantee that we all have a story about that time that we committed a sin and it screwed us over. Tell them about a God that loves us enough to give us all the answers we need. He made us for a relationship with him. We messed up, so he made a huge sacrifice to fix it. If we want to, we can live His way and be happy.

Who wouldn't want that?

Bachelorhood is overrated.

So I'm sitting in the office at work, and I'm pondering why I haven't updated the blog in [INSERT APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TIME HERE].  It's been forever, and I missed writing on here, but somehow I never seem to get around to it.  I was politely reminded by a few of my relatives (side note: "relative" is the word that knocked me out of the third grade splling bee...I got second place) that I hadn't kept this even remotely up to date.

One of the biggest things that has happened lately is that I am totally finished with grad school classes.  No more sitting and trying to learn nonlinear spectroscopy, viral biology, or mechanics of ribozymes.  No sir.  Now that doesn't mean I walk out with a PhD yet, I've still got to finish up 3-4 years of research (or more, but hopefully 3-4 years).  Then I can graduate, and fulfill the dream that Ben and I had Sophomore year at SAU...walk into a crowded room of worried people and say "It's ok, I'm a doctor!"

On the research front, things are going fairly well...I have what we at the SAU chemistry department called a "minion."  There's an undergrad who's working in the lab, and Dr. Rueda thought we'd get along well, and we do.  His name is John, and he's actually a Math major, which means that he's taken to the data analysis we do pretty well.  Now it's just a matter of trying to make lots of pretty graphs this week because...

I'm headed to Wisconsin next week for a national RNA conference where I'm giving a poster presentation.  It's kindof like a science fair on steroids, only we're trying to do things like cure AIDS instead of make a Lemon power a light bulb.  Which one was cooler is debatable.  But in any case, I'm signed up for time on the "scope" (also known as the lasers in the dark room) this week because I figured Rueda would have some last minute project for me to work on that I didn't see coming.  At least Mel is gone this week so I don't have to be frustrated in case I end up pulling some ridiculously long day on Wednesday to finish everything up.

About Mel being gone...it's reduced me to hoping that she cooked enough good food in the fridge, because I've now realized how accustomed I've been to having someone share my schedule with me on a regular basis.  I almost forgot to eat lunch yesterday after church because she wasn't around to remind me I was hungry.  Pitiful, I know.

Speaking of yesterday, it was pretty exciting.  I went to church in the morning, and after doing the Bass guitar in the worship band thing, and then doing the whole church biz...but I'm getting ahead of myself.  When I was leaving the house in the morning, I locked the door behind me.  With the door still open, I realized that I didn't have my keys on me.  I was running a bit late, and I was planning on picking up a house key for my in-laws who are going to stay in the house on Friday anyway.  So I locked the door behind me, planning on using the church's spare key to let myself in, and leave it for Mom2 and Dad2.

Back to after church finished...we couldn't find the key.  All of a sudden I was filled with visions of myself sleeping outside...or worse yet, driving to Detroit and sleeping in the lab for the next 5-6 days.  Rueda would be thrilled to see such "diligence" from a grad student, but even so, I was less than excited about the prospect.  After we started a search party and scoured the church for the key, turns out that it was hanging in the key cabinet...but there were about five slots for a parsonage key...and we only checked four of them the first time through.  =(

So if you're going about your week this week and you have someone do something nice, like your wife cooks you dinner, think of me, and thank the nice person that's keeping you happy.  Anyway, now I've gotta go cure AIDS with lasers.  Enjoy yourselves today, even if it is a Monday.

The beginning of the tournament, girl scouts, and Ayn Rand

Well, I was appalled this morning when I realized that I was going to be actually in the office by 7:30 or so.  =D  One thing that I'm actually getting pretty happy about March Madness starting up, I'm going to have to pick up a guitar pick on the way home.  Then I can spend this evening in the basement trying to figure out how to play while watching Basketball...I'm hoping YouTube pulls through for me with some good lesson videos on electric guitar.  

To comment on the last 66.66% of the title, I heard an interesting story this morning about how there was a girl scout who posted a YouTube video about how everyone should buy girl scout cookies because they're tasty.  She became one of those viral videos that apparently tons of people linked to (although I totally missed it...) and she ended up selling a boatload of cookies.

Here's the squeeze...you're not allowed to sell girl scout cookies online.  So even though she (and her parents, obviously) thought that it was ok to advertise online and sell by mail, the other moms in the troop (or whatever they're called...the "pan" of brownies?) started complaining, and she was disqualified.

Now I understand, she was skirting (no sexism intended) the edges of the rule about selling online...but I'm awfully tired of America's obsession with mediocrity.  It's like that de-motivator poster (http://www.tarantulas.net/funny/graphics/demotivation/underachievement.jpg) that tells you that the best way to get attacked and cut down is to do something that other's can't or didn't think to do.  Yes, she got an "unfair advantage" because she had a video online that others didn't.  She was smarter than the other girl scouts...she got the video up, and followed the letter of the law in taking mail orders, which are not using the internet.  I'm just irritated that our culture has taken to telling little kids that they have to do it a certain way...you'd think we'd be trying to get them to think more entraprenurial instead of stifling the best idea to hit girl scout cookie marketing in years.  

I don't know, maybe I'm way off, but I would have liked to see her get the credit that I think she was due.

Wow, this is lame...but kindof fun...

1.If your doctor told you TODAY that you were pregnant, what would you say?

I'd call CNN and ask Oprah for a million for an interview...I totally one-upped that other preggers guy...

2. Do you trust all of your friends?

If I didn't, they wouldn't be my friends.

3. Would you move to another state or country to be with the one you love?

If I didn't...I wouldn't really love them.  (these questions show a lot about the general opinion of your "friends" and the people you "love"...

4. Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?

*looks at the Bible*.....yep

5. Can you make a dollar in change right now?

nope, I carry plastic.  But my plastic is worth enough I can have a field day in the dollar store...want to come?

6. Which one of your friends do you think would make the best doctor?

considering I'm in a PhD program, answering that question would make all my other friends mad...so I'm going to say Mel.

7. Are you afraid of falling in love?

...who writes these questions?  *looks at his wedding ring*

9. Is there someone who pops into your mind at random times?

Mr. Rodgers just popped into my mind.  Did you hear the urban legend that he was a sniper in WW2 and has a full sleeve of tattoos?

10. What’s your most favorite scar?

The one from Lion King

11. When was the longest flight you were on?

the one from New York to Detroit...after not seeing Mel for 12 weeks.

12. What did the last text message you sent say?

I don't text.

13. What features do you find most attractive in the preferred sex?

interesting question...below I will either keep this PG rated by not answering, or answer honestly.

14. Fill in the blank. I love:

my hat...that I haven't met yet.  And Mel.  Has anyone found a really cool hat?  Cause it's mine...even though it doesn't know it yet.

15.What is a goal you would like to accomplish in the near future?

learn to play guitar...and find an awesome hat.

16. If you were to wake up from being in a coma for an extended time who would you call?

Ghost Busters!

17. How many kids do you want to have?

enough.  Or 3, whichever comes first.

18. Would you make a good parent?

Ask the youth group.  =D  But yeah, I'll have fun putting the fear of God into the kids that come to date my daughters, and my sons will know that women are God's gift to men for being made first.  We don't deserve it, but instead of questioning it, treat the gift well and run away with her before God or the woman can change her mind!

*wonders how many people now disagree with my answer to #18*

19. Where was your profile picture taken?

in front of the house...next to the awesomest snowman ever.

20. What’s your middle name?

Michael

21. Honestly, what’s on your mind right now?

the electric guitar I want to buy...but I wish it were the awesome hat I own that I haven't found yet.

22. If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?

Great Scott!  Haven't you people seen back to the future!  You could alter the fabric of the space-time continuum and destroy space-time as we know it!  Besides, I haven't finished the flux capacitor yet...

23. Who would be the maid of honor in your wedding?

I'm starting to become very suspicious that this test was designed for women.

24. What are you wearing right now?

jeans and an awesome sweatshirt from the concert Sat night.  And my wedding band.  And the hat that I haven't found yet, but that's just in my head, not on it...yet.

25. Righty or Lefty?

Righty-tighty, lefty loosey.

26. Best place to eat?

Wherever Mel is, but just out of arms reach so she doesn't steal bites.  =D

27. Favorite jeans?

comfy ones.

28.Favorite animal?

PENGUINS!

29. Favorite juice?

Apple Cider, but not the crappy type...the kind that you can actually taste the apples...otherwise it's just dirty apple juice.

30. Have you had the chicken pox?

heh, that's a funny disease.  Yes.

31. Have you had a sore throat?

if you haven't...you should come see me so I can cough on you.  It's only fair.

32. Ever had a bar fight?

ummm...no.

33. Who knows you the best?

This guy...named Jesus...but he cheated, cause he wrote the test.  So I guess Mel wins by default.

34. Shoe size?

anywhere from 9.5-11

35. Do you wear contact lenses or glasses?

yes

36. Ever been in a fight with your pet?

yes...she won, but I think she cheated.

37. Been to Mexico?

yes...I recommend NOT eating the pickeled pork rinds...they taste as good as they sound.

38. Did you buy something today?

not yet, but I'm hoping to buy an electric guitar...and an awesome hat.

39. Did you get sick today?

you're about 3 days late with this question, but thanks.

40. Do you miss someone today?

nope, I've been practicing.

41. Did you get in a fight with someone today?

no, but it's only 8:30 AM

42. When is the last time you had a massage?

not sure.

43. Last person to lie in your bed?

Mel...I hope.  *looks angrily south*

44. Last person to see you cry?

honestly not sure, but it was probably Mel...

45. Who made you cry?

probably me.

46. What was the last TV show you watched?

Cold Case, but I almost never pay attention to TV.  Someone gets shot, someone dies in the first 3 minutes, and somehow it seems entertaining to spend an hour dwelling on the topic of death...

47. What are your plans for the weekend?

just finished it, but the concert was sweet.

48. Who do you think will repost this?

I don't know, but a bunch of my friends just lost the game.

49. Who was the last person you hung out with?

probably your mom, but I'm not sure.

50. If your significant other asked you to marry them TODAY what would you say?

I'd look at her weird, and then we'd laugh.  Then I'd say yes.

being sick is overrated

You know, it's kindof ironic that I got sick this past week after talking with Mel about how she's always sick.  Apparently God (or the evil little viruses floating around...or both) thought that it'd be amusing to take my faith in my immune system down a notch.

Mel did a great job of taking care of me, and I'd like to think that I didn't complain too much...although yesterday I was pretty out of it.  I actually had to stay home from work for the day, which is something I haven't done in a very long time...probably since my Junior year of college.  Luckily Thursday is a day where I don't have any classes, so I didn't miss anything, and I did read a paper or two and go over some data during the day, so it wasn't completely unproductive.  Just pretty close.

Just wanted to post real quick, so I don't get out of the habit (if posting once got me IN the habit...we can debate that later).  Mel, thanks for being a sweet wife and making pizza.  =D