I have the joy of taking the SAT tomorrow morning. And therein lies the problem: it’s in the early morning! Instead of testing us students when we are the most rundown of any time of day, why don’t they just have the test at 10am? It would work so much better. If you don’t believe me, just read this recent study. The Germans have it down, now why can’t we?

If you want to see what it’s like when God commands attention, read Job 38:3. So powerful! Our God truly is awesome.

Ok, that’s not completely true. You need a balance between commitment, emotion, and passion. But this rant deals with the over dependance on emotion in today’s culture.

Emotions are fickle… Advertisers play to our every emotion to sell us a product, movies make us “fall in love” with the characters. The colors in a room can make us more accepting of circumstances, the food we eat can effect our mood. Even body language can play upon our emotions.

To restate, emotions are fickle. They change relative to our environment, our surroundings. The emphasis that the world today places on “love” is simply to get that emotional high. Ie, “if he’s not doing it for you, leave him.” Same reason why the divorce rate in America is over 50%, and many don’t even bother to get married in the first place, because they know they’ll leave for another some time in the future.

True love is based on action, on dedication, on an udnerstanding. Yes, it is God-based, but that’s another topic. It is sticking with it no matter what has happened, no matter how you feel about that person at that time, you don’t reject them, leave them, or denounce them because you have said “I love you.” You have committed yourself. Emotion cannot bring you down, emotion cannot sway that steadfast commitment.

Emotion is temporary. Commitment is what lasts.

I’m sick and tired of the selfish, “easy out” attitude people take in regards to romance. Suck it up, get over it, and stay the course. Marriage is meant to be forever, and that means through the difficult times even more so than the soft ones. Sure, you need emotion for a happy relationship, too – but you don’t have a relationship at all without commitment.

On an unrelated note, if only this was real.

A 17-year-old Canadian high school student is facing calls from the US computer giant Microsoft to change the name of a website, mikerowesoft.com, he built to showcase his programming skills. Microsoft has threatened legal action against the teen. Just goes to show how ridiculous corporate America can be.

Read the full article for more info.

Yes, I’ve got my favorite quotes from Bush’s State of the Union address, but before we get to that, let me share a few figures with you. Over the past month, this site had 1101 individual people log on, with a total of over 2300 visits! Now, if you guys would only leave comments, my world would be complete.

On to the quotes! In chronological order:

“The pace of economic growth in the third quarter of 2003 was the fastest in nearly 20 years. New home construction: the highest in almost 20 years. Home ownership rates: the highest ever.”

“Manufacturing activity is increasing. Inflation is low. Interest rates are low. Exports are growing. Productivity is high. And jobs are on the rise. ”

“Abstinence for young people is the only certain way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.”

“Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage.”

“Tonight I ask you to codify this into law, so people of faith can know that the law will never discriminate against them again.”

“We can trust in that greater power who guides the unfolding of the years. And in all that is to come, we can know that His purposes are just and true.”

And my personal favorite:

“America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people.”

In correlation with the President’s State of the Union address, I thought I’d give a little update of what’s going on with me at the moment, and my plans for the near future.

I recently finished a project for Momentum Radio, bringing in some much needed cash. I had excessive bills this month, but God really came through and gave me the means to meet them all. As I have just run out of my pending jobs, I trust that He will bring me more clients for next month.

I am really on a surge in my relationship with Christ! And it is just in time, as my youth pastor, Kyle Nix, announced on Saturday that he will be leaving the church, as God is calling him back to Georgia. It is a time of change, but more importantly a sign that God is moving us onward and upward in a new and powerful direction. I can’t wait to see what He has in store for us next.

I am in constant prayer over which option to choose for my future, and I ask that you do the same: whether to go to UT, community college (and then Ex’pression), or straight into the military. I keep getting thrown between the three, and I haven’t seen a clear sign from Jesus as of yet.

Keep on keepin’ on!