Nearing the Beginning: With Every End

There is no end to my work today. I must continue with my English journals and complete my hebrew translations. Greek has added itself to my list of task to be done. Yet today has yielded rewards. I successfully completed and delivered my presentation in Philosophy of Religion, and received my quality grade for the last exam in that class. One more day of serious work and then off to celebrate my birthday. I am turning uneventfully twenty-two. After a dinner for class at my professor Chad Hartsock's house, some friends and myself are going to the hookah bar in Knoxville. I always enjoy hookah and drinks, but more I enjoy the conversation. After that it is time to drill myself with Hebrew grammar in preparation for my exam. I am far behind in my understanding of Hebrew grammar. This needs to be fixed. I also need to brush up on my Greek. The problem comes when I know what a word means from simply looking at it, but I can no longer parse them as a result. I have been keeping horrible dietary practices in the last few weeks. I am going to get back onto a low calorie diet until I have time to work out seriously again. I acquired a gym membership for this summer, and I will be going twice a day to meet my goals. I will also be able to eat better once I go home for the summer, and can buy groceries. I need to adapt my palate to healthy foods again.

The end of the school year is drawing close, and so comes summer. This will be the beginning and I must mentally and spiritually prepare of it. I will warm up my muscle during exams, and I will begin to concentrate on God as we approach the days of freedom, and summer work.

Academic Overload: A Day in the Life

My goals are put back to summer for a good reason. It is not because I am lazy or because I don't 'feel like' I have the time. It is because of good old fashioned academic overload. Today is an excellent example of the stressful overload holding me back from my new initiatives. The most hulking task I have is to read and journal fifteen to twenty poems and short stories. This might not sound like a lot, but it totals around 200 pages of reading and an equal amount of writing on diffuse topics. The next major task is almost as daunting. I must parse the entire third chapter of the book of Ruth and translate it into English. The final and smallest task is a two page synopsis of a ten page paper I wrote last week to be presented in Philosophy of Religion. This should come as a welcome relief, and I may do it as a break from the other two project. There will be no other breaks after all. Tomorrow I will have a hefty amount of Greek to translate, but it will be nothing compared to today.

Is blogging today to the zero loyal readers I have a waste of time? Probably. Well...yes, absolutely. I may report back tonight, but for now I am off to work.

Self Improvement: Essence of Man

There is an unlimited amount of potential in every human being. Part of life is utilized only through making serious strides towards this potential. I have been on a program of self improvement both physical, artistic, and mental. I have taken myself from a C student to consistently achieving a 4.0 each and every semester. I have dropped from 300 pounds to 230 and continue to improve my body. I have learned Koine Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Greek has become a passion. I am approaching the last summer vacation I will every have, and I will be using it to redouble my efforts at becoming more human. One more year of college will follow. Here are my goals for this final summer vacation:

1. Get below 200 pounds for the first time since sixth grade. (I am a college Junior)
2. Learn Theological German so I can advance my understanding of my scholarly discipline
3. Improve my greek vocabulary to include the entire list of words in the New Testament
4. Devote myself to prayer and contemplation for one hour each and every day.

Goals are useless without a plan and so here is my plan:

1. Work out 6 days a week and follow a strict quality meal and supplement plan.
2. Spend 3 days a week learning German basics and theological vocabulary
3. Learn 5 Greek vocabulary words from the New Testament everyday.
4. Take up my name sake Daniel's schedule of prayer. I will wake up in the morning shower, read, and pray. Pray before lunch time, and pray nightly for 15 minutes minimum. 30 minutes in the morning

This blog will be my record place. I will hold myself accountable here. I will make it public even if no one ever reads it. I will strive to be more human by coming closer to God. Yet, I will not forget my body or pure humanity. I will report my progress not only in terms of quantifiable results, but also by expressing my growing humanity. There is a potential in every man, and I will strive to reach mine. Above all else is to love God with everything, and to love each other more than myself.