My first three days

So I started work Monday, spent two hours filling out paper work  to start out the morning. I found out in the process of all of this that I get my own work space, a cell phone, an email, and a computer for the duration that I am working with ODOT. Pretty cool if you ask me. The only thing I could ask for is that the email stays the same and that this position opens up an opportunity somewhere within ODOT. This has been my selfish prayer for the last year to get a job somewhere and so far it is working to plan. So thankful. After getting settled in I got paired with the engineer I am shadowing. Nice guy with lots of experience. The site I am working on should be a city job but ODOT has it. A local construction company is doing all the work with the engineer I am shadowing being the main inspector. So let's just say I do a lot of standing a round but I am learning a lot. I probably make more then the laborers on the job site do but that is okay I guess. After getting settled in it was basically the end of the day. A local landscape truck delivering soil to a local resident it one of the contractors water truck but no damage was done. With this happening I can finally go into all the paper work I am going to have to deal with on the job. Should be fun. After each day I have to fill out a daily report of what construction has been done and keep it on record. Tasks should pick up as the job progresses but this is okay with me, I don't mind it.

Tuesday I started at 7 in the morning and headed out to the site. To give you a low down on the project, the road heading towards the new high school built in South Medford is being extended and having sidewalks constructed. Along this is a storm drain system that has to be dug out to be completed. This has been the main focus thus far in the project. Blueprints for projects never work out to print I have come to find out. On paper it works but in the real world you are bound to have a problem. An example is on Tuesday we hit a lateral sewer line that was not marked and not far enough down. Man are their more stories that go with this problem. This halted construction for half a day but luckily they found something else to work on. Installation on the storm drain will continue for the rest of the week.

Today I was lead inspector on the job. The engineer I shadow had another project to inspect so I imagine this will be happening a lot but I am up for the challenge. I got a little of crap today but a lot of the guys are super funny and nice so I can deal with it. Prior to the job other companies like for power, water and sewer to be exact should have finished their job. This was supposed to be done by the end of May. We had everyone their today. I have never seen so many backhoes excavators and trucks in one strip at once. I made sure I took notes of everything I saw so I could record it in my daily report. I also have a camera so we can go back and double check what has happened just to double check. So far this internship is more than I could ask for! I started my day at 7 and got home at 6 but that is okay, I want the experience. I'll get to work tomorrow at 6:30 to finish more paperwork in hopes that I get off around 3 but we will see. Overtime is time and a half so since most of the people I hang out with are in Corvallis except a select few in Eagle Point, I'll take all the overtime I can get. Look forward to filling you all in more with stories as time goes on. Should be an enjoyable ride. God bless you all and until next time

Summer of Fun

Howdy all, wanted to really try and keep the people that are interested in my life posted on what is happening this summer. As some of you know I have an internship with ODOT in Medford which is a blessing! I grew up here and living with my family one last time will be super fun and enjoyable as well. I will be working a lot but will be seeing some people I haven't seen in a while as well.  Some of you have already asked me how my internship is and I have said it is great! I want to use this blog as much as possible to update you day to day. Just in the three days I have worked I have so many funny stories and this blog will help organize my thoughts. My past three days will be posted later tonight but I wanted to put this out there to the people that might want to follow over the summer :) Thanks!

The Hurt and the Healer

Click on the title and listen to this song. Wasn't really a big fan of MercyMe until the song All Of Creation came out. Recently I just heard their new song The Hurt and the Healer and it is a great song to me at least. From my view it is a song that talks about how our hurt and suffering are met by God's mercy and grace. Essentially we collide. This song really blesses me and has become one of my favorites in just a couple of day just because of the message it sends. I hope that all the hurt and suffering I do face in life, I will put my focus on Christ remember that He loves me and is my healer! Life is full of ups and downs. Job said it best as should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? If my life was perfect where would Christ fit? I am proud that my pain and suffering has made me a better person. Everything in Christ has strengthened me even through the bad times where if really hurts, but God is always their. But when your hope is in Him, it makes it a little better to get through. Hope the song blesses you as much as it has me

Stubbornness

This week my assignment is to read Exodus. I guess you don't have to call it an assignment because it should be an enjoyment but I do have a goal to meet. Reading through the first 12 chapters has been great so far. Moses has been pleading with Pharaoh to let his people go but has failed time after time. God even says that though Pharaoh will be stubborn, it is only to multiply his miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. After ten plagues and the firstborns dying in all of Egypt, Pharaoh finally lets the Israelites go. There exodus from Egypt is finally complete. When wrapping up the night, this thought has entered my mind. Will the Lords intention for a stubborn heart always lead to us understanding his miraculous signs and wonders? Of course OT times are different from now but it is a question to ponder. Will my stubbornness in times of lukewarmness magnify God's glory? I sure hope so and I pray it never gets to that point again ever. But at the same time, I am thankful God does show us his glory in the good and in the bad times.

2.28.12

I find it fascinating almost every time when the day comes to an end. My days recently this term have been filled with a lot of studying. But at the same time, though this term by far is the toughest I've had, I've have more time to seek God through his Word. If I wasn't in this Ironman challenge with a group of guys, maybe I'd be in bed by now. Each day these last few months has taught me so much and I can totally see God's hand in everything. Not everything is perfect all the time, but I try and see the good out of it. Recently I have been at a crossroads with my job. People can share their experiences all the time. But for me their has not been a day that I have off that my boss seems to call me or has something to ask. A complete micro manager which could be good or bad. Today I thought I would be funny to ignore his phone call this morning at work and had money on it that he would call within 5 minutes. It only took two but I was still impressed. Three phone calls later and I figured something serious was going on. I will leave the rest of the story up for interpretation but a verse I come back to more than ever now is Romans 12:10-12. I love how the NLT version states the verse. It says:

"Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying"


This verse can be applicable anywhere but for me the never be lazy and work hard for the Lord really gets me. No matter how many times I can complain about my job, I have a job so I should be thankful. God has me their at this moment for a reason. Though I may not agree with half of what my boss has to say, I have to honor him. This is a constant struggle everyday with whatever it maybe. For the time being and what was on my mind tonight, this was it. So, whenever you are discouraged at the workplace or wish you has a job somewhere else, remember what we are called to do. God knows our plans, it is our job to trust him with it.

Nightly Words For Thought

I figured it has been a while and thought it would be good to check in. Nice to be back. As I write this entry the clock has struck midnight and it has really been on my heart to journal down my thoughts nightly and see what common theme shows up in my walk. Starting tomorrow I am gonna try and see what it looks like to journal every thought that either is on my heart or that God revivals to me. Not all will be posted but having continual followers would be cool. Since I won't be on Facebook to see your thoughts I hope whatever is on my heart and mind for the particular night, I pray it blesses you. Test trial coming your way, now it is time for bed :)

AloneTime

So today has been a day unlike any other during the summer. It isn't a bad thing. This weekend my cousin got married and family came into town. It was a great time! My roommates left for the hometown for the weekend leaving me at my place by myself. After my family left this morning, church and a two hour nap, I found myself super bored!! So what was I to do? Generally I will just waste time. I posted earlier in the summer on wasting time. Instead of watching TV or searching the web, I went on a walk. I won't state where I live because I fear for my safety, but it takes me about 15 minutes from my place to walk downtown. I thought it was longer but I guess not. There is something so peaceful about just having some alone time to yourself among God's creation! It is truly breath taking. I enjoyed my walk downtown. Since I work 8-5 during the weekdays, it is hard to even get time to enjoy yourself without being exhausted. The Lord is still teaching me something here and I have yet to figure it out. Patience I guess. But today was good! I had two hours down by the waterfront to just enjoy myself. I am reading John Piper's Desiring God and in a few more chapters I will be done with the book. My goal is to try and get it done before Real Life Summer Retreat since the evenings will be a video series on Piper's book at the retreat. I didn't plan it this way :) I am trying to get a lot out of it. Something that has been on my heart the whole summer is to get that quiet time that is so hard to get during the schoolyear. Well...that has yet to happen. I will use work as an excuse when their shouldn't be one. The two hours I had today "by myself" where the best I've had all summer!! I don't consider myself a loner (except for tonight) but I realized that I do need more of this time to myself. In Acts 2:42 is says the believers devoted themselves to the following. (1) The Apostle's teaching, (2) Fellowship, (3) Breaking of bread, (4) and prayer. I don't believe the order matters but one without the other is useless. This is great for community and I am so thankful that I have that here in Corvallis. But alone time is important also. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus said,

"But when you pray go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." 


I don't always pray in my room but I do need to shut the door, and do it in secret. Downtown was great today. Summer barely comes in Corvallis but when the sun is up, I've found my secret place :) We equally need both community and alone time. How are we to do that? I had a buddy tell me he had to open his Bible before he went to bed so that when the morning came he would read God's Word. I've tried this, and of course have failed. Some suggest doing it first thing in the morning, so say before you go to bed. I don't know what is best, that is between you and God. I know for me if I don't devote morning time to God, my day goes many ways. Morning devotions should include both the Word and prayer. I find myself either doing one or the other. In Desiring God, Piper shares of how George Muller started his day. George would always start his day in prayer. He states the first thing a child of God has to do morning by morning is to obtain food for his inner man. This inner food is not prayer, but the Word of God! This is super important!

So what did I learn today? It depends. All I know is that I am hungry for God's Word. There is always time for it. Today I could have made a lot of distractions and ignored God, but I chose not to. It of course will be different from day to day of course. My prayer is that a daily routine will be born from this day forth. I pray the days I wake up tired, that God's Word will give me peace and rest of the whole day! I pray their will be more days like today where I can just get away alone. It was amazing and I am so glad I was able to. There is something special about entering that special place with the Lord. Once you experience it, you hunger for more. That is where I am at. I hope the same can be said for you :)