An update..

Here's a few pix.. I've gotta get a real camera.. the camera on my cell phone does not do good in the kind of lighting we've got here.. besides the lens is scratched, so it's hard to get clear pix.. anyway, here's some sorta kinda pix ;)

Hehe I decided to make a sad face... convincing huh??

Sweet haircut huh? I think I'm going to keep it like this ( a little longer on top) after I get home.. It's soo easy to wash!! lol ;) plus it hides all the gray hairs that for some strange reason popped up during basic training and now I've got stray gray hairs around my ears ;) hey- the bible says grey hairs are the mark of wisdom, so maybe it will make me smart!! I'm tired of being dumb!! LOL!!!!

Sigh... ok I'll try to smile.. lol I never can smile good for a picture.. idk why.. lol

Anyway, I'm doing pretty good, I got a data plan for my cell phone, so now I can get online anywhere, it's sorta slow, but you can't really tell unless you're uploading pictures or things like that.. I'm in the middle of my 4th mod of the course to get my EMT-B license. It's supposed to be one of the hardest parts.. I just want to get done with this part and get on to the combat half of training.. I get to give myself an IV!! I tried to the first time, but they wouldn't let me, so I had to do it to another guy.. I was sad :( lol anyway...
My 18th b-day is the day after tomorrow.. YAY!! not that it matters here, but it will be cool to be considered an official "Adult" they tell us that graduating basic turns everybody into an adult, which is pretty true, but the government still calls me a minor until my b-day :)
anyway, hopefully now I'll start hearing from people, because it seems every time I call somebody either they are busy or they don't answer the phone.. ugg.. but the internet always works :) Anyways... I've got to get back to homework now..
I'll put up a few questions I have to answer for homework for fun :) I like showing peeps my homework :)

Normal electrical impulses originate in the sinus node, just above the:
A. Atria
B. Ventricles
C. AV Junction
D. Bundle of HIS

Characteristics of epiphrine include:
A. Dilating Passages in the lungs.
B. Constricting blood vessels.
C. Increasing the heart rate.
D. All of the above.

Anticholinergic medications have properties that block the____nerves
A. Parasympathetic
B. Sympathetic
C. Adrenergic
D. Parasympatholytic

as you can probably see it's pretty complicated stuff.. lol and that's just a TINY glimpse!!! so yea, I'd better get back to it.. we have a 4 day weekend because of veterens day, so we have a ton of homework assigned since we won't be in class..
so yup, God Bless, have a great day, and remember, it could always be worse.. lol like you could be doing EMT homework!!!! lol jk ;)

L8R.

Hey!

Hi guys.. Sorry I have not been able to update my blog, but my training has kept me very busy, and I can't really get online much.. When I get my iphone in a couple weeks or so I will be able to get on a lot more, but until then I'm pretty much limited to cell phone.. I don't really have any pix to share yet.. my camera is still at home and I'm waiting for it to get mailed to me.. but eventually I'll get to work on that too :) The course here is pretty tough, but fun and challenging at the same time :) IN a few weeks I'll have finished my National Registry Emergency Medical Technician Basic level course (EMT-B) and then I'll be moving on to the combat side.. giving care under fire.. advanced life support.. all that fun stuff that the legal system won't let me do in the civilian world.. I've already successfully given an IV, but it would take nearly a year of extra school to be "certified" to do an IV on a patient in the civilian world.. it's kinda stupid, but whatever.. if somebody really needed one in a life-threatening situation I would probably break the rules rather than watch them die like technically I should, but.. anyway.. I'm learning a LOT here!! I just passed my test on patient assessment/diagnostics but that's only the intro to those subjects, and I thought it was going to drown me in information!!! LOL anyway.. If I were a bit more intelligent it would be nice.. but anyway... We'll see how the rest goes..
I'm looking forward to coming home for Christmas! I'm a lot more grown-up than when I left, but otherwise I'll be the same for anyone who wonders.. and yes, I will still do stuff like ply tag with the kids and stuff.. it's just that I've learned that I don't know everything, and how to be more disciplined and stuff like that.. otherwise I'm still the same goofy me that I used to be :p me all "grown-up" would be like Tigger with no bouncing!! so nope, I'm not boringified ;) lol but anyway, I'd better get to bed! Wake-up at 4:15.. and that's sleeping in too!! :) so God-bless! and I'll be back hopefully soon whenever I get my iphone or next time I get the chance to get on otherwise ;)

BCT 2008 part 1

Hey guys, I am very proud to announce that I have succesfully completed Army basic Combat Training, and in less than 24 hours I will be walking the graduation floor, hopping a bus to the airport, and flying to my advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio texas. BCT was by far the most strenuous 9 weeks of my life, but at the same time the best use of 9 weeks I've ever done probably.. The physical aspect was a huge test of my endurance, but the part that made the physical work look like summer camp was the mental/spiritual part. The DS's mess with your minds for the first two or three weeks, but for the entire cycle I had to put up with some pretty rough stuff from other privates in training. I was CONSTANTLY made fun of in ways that make high school look like kindergarten for my refusal to stoop to looking at porn, reading my bible, not talking like everybody else, and for being a christian in general. It was not fun at times, even though I don't mind getting teased, but they just took it too far, and never stopped. I was constantly labled as a homo, or looser, and because I didn't want to get involved in fights I was a "wimp" etc... oh well, it was a test of my spiritual capacities, and God carried me through :) don't think of me as some spiritual giant because I'm not. There were times when I got angry and acted in ways I shouldn't toward those guys who have never had the light of Christ in their lives.. However, even though the scorn me now for my morals, hopefully someday they will remember me, and maybe even look into Christianity because of the influence I had on them. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but that's my goal for BCT.

Anyway, on to the FUN part!! here are a few pix.. I'm in almost all of them, I'd put up more, but without a long explanation they would be boring... lol

Heeh.... turtle head!! before qualifying with the M-16A2 rifle you have to wear a plain green helmet instead of getting the ACU cover on it like in later pix. This was week 2, and that's me attacking a dummy with a bayonet :) yea...

Pugils, yup.. beat the crap out of each other with padded sticks.. one of the more fun things.. week 3 :)

He went down first, but to win you have to do three proper attack moves, so we tied after going at it until the DS got bored of watching us ;)

Our first obstacle course.

That's me with my thumb up getting ready to go into the gas chamber :)

Sorry.. no "after" pix.. they didn't get me :( anyway, at AIT I'll get to have a camera, so I'll get lots of pix :) I'm out of time for now, so I'll get this posted. After today I won't have internet for a little while, but after 2-4 weeks at AIT I'll get my laptop, cell phone etc.. so this time it's not so long away as basic was :) I've got nearly 800 unread email notifications, so I'm going to try to catch up on a little of my other cyberspace life now.. until next time, ADIOS!! :) God bless!

Well... I guess this is goodbye..

So In a very few short hours I will be on my way to St. Louis to go to basic training. This is my last blog post until Christmas time. I'm sorry I don't have my mailing address, but if you've given my yours I will send you something whenever I get there and know my address. I'm not sure if I'm excited or scared or sad or happy about leaving for this... haha. Probably some of each. =)
I know that God is with me just the same over there as He is here.

There's a Michael W. Smith song that I like a lot called "friends"

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But well keep you close as always
It wont even seem you've gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
cause the welcome will not end
Though its hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But well keep you close as always
It wont even seem you've gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong


Although I'll be gone for a few months, you will all be in my thoughts, so it will seem as if you're right there with me :) I have a lot of maturing to do while I'm away, and hopefully I'll come back twice the man that I am now. Just don't any of you change too much on me! lol I ask for a special blessing on each of you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, that life may go well for you, and the time of these next few months may be one of strengthening and betterment to both you and I. Hopefully sometime around the beginning of November I will have my cell phone, so I'll be calling around a lot more to let people know how I'm doing (if they want to know..;P)

Galatians 5:16-18

I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.

For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want

But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Hebrews 12:14
Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Hope you all have a wonderful time without me! lol I'm sure you will.. but before you know it I'm going to be back again, terrorizing the world... J/K but anyway, I know that the same God sees me when I pray as the one who sees you. I'll be seeing the same stars at night, the same sun in the day, and praying to the same God.

I give you my final goodbye in the words of the apostle Paul:
2 Timothy 4:22
The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with all of you.

Some song lyrics I thought I'd share

Anybody who knows me well knows that I LOVE music! I almost always relate better to song lyrics than I do to a movie character, a public speaker, a book, or other forms of getting a point across.

First, I'll start with the lyrics to a song I saw on the blog of one of the speakers from steubenville. I often relate to this song almost too well, but as I progress to other songs, I'll tell my story better.


Simple Plan "I'm Just a kid (and life is a nightmare)"

I woke up it was 7
I waited til 11
Just to figure out that no one would call
I think I've got alot of friends
But I don't hear from them
What's another night all alone
When you're spending every day on your own
And here it goes

I'm just a kid
And life is a nightmare
I'm just a kid
I know that it's not fair
Nobody cares cuz I'm alone and the world is having more fun than me

And maybe when the night is dead
I'll crawl into my bed staring at these 4 walls again
I'll try to think about the last time I had a good time
Everyone's got somewhere to go & they're gonna leave me here on my own
And here it goes

I'm just a kid
And life is a nightmare
I'm just a kid
I know that it's not fair
Nobody cares cuz I'm alone and the world is having more fun than me

What the f--- is wrong with me
Don't fit in with anybody
How did this happen to me?
Wide awake I'm bored & I can't fall asleep
And every night is the worst night ever

I'm just a kid
I'm just a kid
I'm just a kid
I'm just a kid
I'm just a kid

I'm just a kid
And life is a nightmare
I'm just a kid
I know that it's not fair
Nobody cares cuz I'm alone and the world is
Nobody wants to be alone in the world

I'm just a kid
And life is a nightmare
I'm just a kid
I know that it's not fair
Nobody cares cuz I'm alone and the world is
Nobody wants to be alone in the world
Nobody cares cuz I'm alone and the world is having more fun than me tonight
I'm all alone tonight
Nobody cares tonight
Cuz I'm just a kid tonight

All too often I feel this way, but then I always remember that even if it seems like nobody cares about me, there's always Jesus.

Air 5 "I will carry you"

Just a freshmen, he's the new kid
Been six weeks and he still sits alone
Cause his happiness has ended
Ever since his dad left
Now the home is dyin
Mom's still cryin
Dads not tryin
And no one knows

Just as faith is about to let go
That's when my Jesus said
No. This one is mine
I will not let him go
Hear the voice of your Savior and know
I Will Carry You

Meet Kristina she's the prom queen
Runner up for three years in a row
And her dinner plate is quite clean
With frequent visits to the bathroom
Alone she's dyin
The Mirrors lyin
Her heart is cyrin
And no one knows

Just as faith is about to let go
That's when my Jesus said
No. This one is mine
I will not let her go
Hear the voice of your Savior and know
I Will Carry You

Broken pieces
Scattered on the
Ground's unstable
I can't find
My way is refuge
For the broken
Take my hand
I'll lead you there

Then there are times when I feel I've messed up so badly that even Jesus couldn't love me. Again, I need to be reminded that as long as I truly repent, it doesn't matter what happened, even if nobody else will do the right thing and forget about my mistakes, God does.

Stellar Kart "Second Chances"


No matter what you did or might do again
Following all the worthless trends
You know he's waiting patiently
From now until forever

Brokenhearted and confused
Feeling like you've been abused
The second chances never end
From now until forever

There will always be second chances
And you'll always be on your first try

There will always be second chances
And you'll always be on your first try

You try and you try but you're never ahead of the game
And you're wondering why you're on your face again
You feel like you've been left alone

You try and you try but you're never ahead of the game
And you're wondering why you're on your face again
You feel like you've been left alone

There will always be second chances
And you'll always be on your first try

There will always be second chances
And you'll always be on your first try

There will always be second chances
And you'll always be on your first try

There will always be second chances
And you'll always be on your first try
Forever, Forever, Forever, Forever, Forever...

And finally, when I've picked myself up, I come back to Jesus like the prodigal son.

Rush of Fools "Undo"

I’ve been here before
Now, here I am again
Standing at the door
Praying You’ll let me back in

To label me
A prodigal would be
Only scratching the surface
Of who I’ve been known to be

Turn me around, pick me up
Undo what I’ve become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, I need Your help
I can’t do this myself
You’re the only one
Who can undo what I’ve become

I focused on the score
But I could never win
Trying to ignore
A life of hiding my sin

To label me
A hypocrite would be
Only scratching the surface
Of who I’ve been known to be

Turn me around, pick me up
Undo what I’ve become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, I need Your help
I can’t do this myself
You’re the only one
Who can undo what I’ve become

Make every step lead me back to
The sovereign way that You

Turn me around, pick me up
Undo what I’ve become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, I need Your help
I can’t do this myself
You’re the only one who can undo
You are the only one who can undo
You’re the only one who can undo
What I’ve become


Hope you enjoyed seeing a little bit of my "life through lyrics" as I like to call it :) Sometimes you will understand more the things I am going through by listening to the songs I'll be playing while I'm working or whatever I am doing than you will be able to get out of me by talking with me.
Often I feel like different disciplines in my life hurt too much to bear, but I'm reminded by this verse that such is not the case.
Hebrews 12: 7-8 Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards.
Hebrews 12:11 At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.

2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

As the day comes closer when I will be leaving for basic training, on the outside it may seem like it's going to be easy for me, and in some ways it is, but deep down, it's really hard for me to leave some people behind, but in the end, I know God's will is being done, and it will be a time for me to learn discipline- not just in words, but in the way I act.
God Bless you, and protect you, and may the love of Christ shine through you to the ends of the world every day, yours truly,
Matthew