Where to Begin?

I've had so much to blog about over the last couple days, but I was trying to find the right time to do it. In the end though, I think it's expected that I'd have a lot to say once I started my new life. Just about everything I've gone through has been a privilege for me to experience, and I'm glad that I am here.

First of all, how 'bout them Oilers? Man it's so awesome to see that hockey is back. The summer was just way too tough, watching baseball highlights after baseball highlights. Even though my internet feed cut out halfway through the prospects game against the Canucks, I was really happy to see watch some of Hall, Eberle, and MPS play with an Oilers' jersey.

School. Well, school is school. When I was at the orientation, I was informed that the average freshman in ministry will read about 700 pages per course. I don't know how I will manage that. I'm so lucky that I'm more of the cerebral person - I know right, who would've thought - so I am able to grasp a lot of these theological ideas more quickly. Although I have yet to really start diving into all my work, I'm able to have been able to really develop that motivation I need to do stuff. You know what they say: in life, you only get busier. Even though I don't like to look at it like that, it's true. All my professors and courses seem really demanding, but this is what I signed up to do; so I look forward to the opportunity of being able to overcome this lazy personality of mine.

While we're on the topic of school and reading, I've started reading one of my books - again, I know right - for my spirituality and Christianity course; it's a good one. It's called "Dear Church", and it's basically a book where a girl, in her twentysomethings, wrote a ton of letters addressing the church. It covers a lot of the ups and downs that a church will tend to go through, and just basically drawn from her own experience. If anyone is, at all, interested in something like that, definitely pick it up and read it.

I'm also not sure I'm going to be able to do the early mornings all semester, because three days in and I'm already tired all the time. It just makes my no-school-mondays feel that much more awesome; an extra day of rest, uhh I mean work, who would've thought?

Last, but never the least, I've only gone to my new church, as a Calgary resident, twice; and already, I seem to have people's attention; it's almost like they knew I was coming. The first week I went, I introduced myself to a man. I told him my name, and his response was this: "yes, I've heard about you". Is it just me, or is that somewhat creepy? Fast forward to this week's service. I'm in the washroom - yes, the washroom - and another man is trying to fix the paper towels. I wash my hands, because that's the cool thing to do, and when I go up to get some, he says "here you go Nathan." Last I checked, I don't remember who he is. Then he might have spotted the awkward look on my face and realized that he forgot his formality. But honestly, how formal can you get when you're in the washroom. So I proceeded to shake his hands, hopefully he washed his, and we go on; while I'm walking down the hall, I'm still confused as to how he knows my name. And finally, while I wait to go teach my first kids Sunday School class, another girl comes up to me and says "you must be Nathan. I've heard a lot about you". I didn't even know how to respond to that, and I don't remember. But what I said probably made for the weirdest first impression she could've expected.

I also find my social skills rather funny. I can talk to the most random people on the streets or in church, and be able to have a decent conversation. But in school, I seem to be the most anti-social kid you'll ever find. I have no idea why; I just don't talk. And as things stand, friends made on the streets - 1; friends made in school - ? Still waiting. I know they'll come, but I'm really slow and really bad at making friends.

Anyway, at the end of the day, everything is a blessing and I can only be thankful. I'm glad that people haven't really forgotten me at home, and I'm well enough known here that I can survive. Unfortunately, I think I'm turning out to be a... not very good example to the kids. Twice I've seen now, where I'm in the vicinity, and an adult has said to them "why have you been behaving so strange today/recently?" Then an awkward stare follows right after.

Okay, I have more to say. When you have a "home" church, and you attend other churches, it's not good, but it's really hard to avoid comparing. All I will say about this topic is that NEAC is a fantastic church. Sure there are some things that could be better, but the vibe and environment in the worships and such have improved so drastically over the last few years. Every fellow NEAC member who reads this should be really proud of what our church has become. From the praise teams, to the friendly people, to the small groups, and a lot more, it's really great. I think the thing we should work on next is improving our hostility to newcomers and reaching out to the community. We want to be able to draw people in to our church; and when they do happen to attend, we want to make them want to come back. After all, the only way a church expands is through outreach opportunities. So ask God how you can help in that aspect, because He does amazing things!

*insert cheesy exit phrase*