i had my first class today for “religion and social change”. it was interesting though i know that it’s going to be an interesting class in which to be in since the humanities (especially sociology) are very anti-christian. the professor seems really open-minded and really tolerant (read: respecting each philosophy instead of every philosophy but christianity). hopefully i can crash and get into the asian religious art class. i think it would be interesting and it would be really good fodder if i do end up getting a degree in comparative religion some day. we’ll be studying tea ceremonies, mandalas, and other asian art pieces. it’s an art history class so it might not be too bad for me. it’s kind of daunting to walk into an upper division class in a major from which you have not taken any classes. i managed to keep my head above water in politics and reformation europe last quarter but i also knew something of what i was talking about in those classes. it was also a nice surprise to know that my soc class was at cowell college instead of oakes. in other words, a 5 minute walk away from my room, rather than a 20+ minute walk down hills and back up again after class. my asian class is also at crown. (wooohoooo!!!!!)

i was reading my verses for odb today and it was talking about how time and chance happens to us all. it’s kind of like the observation that good things happen to bad people. one of my fellow brothers in Christ really has the attitude that the stuff that happens to him is not fair and that it is God punishing him. in the olympics today, elise ray (my current favorite us gymnast) fell on her vault because the equipment was improperly set. she *did* finish as the highest american but it pretty much shot her chances at a medal. i’ve been through depression, sadness, anger, and a whole lot of hard things in the last few weeks and it doesn’t seem fair to me. the only thing that is fair is that God does help us through these things. i’m praying that elise can redeem her medal hopes in the event finals for gymnastics. if my male friend would turn to God, he would probably see the wonderful things that God has done in his life. and in my case, i can turn to God and see that all my trials/tribulations have made me a stronger child of God and a stronger witness for the power of Christ.