Hey All! I am Tim Hurd, New England born but PA raised, in the Liberal Arts program, and taking business
classes for fun. I ended up being one of those people who loves school! I am also a huge sports fan —
Ultimate Frisbee is the best and most underappreciated sport. PERIOD. Despite being surrounded by Phillies
fans, I will always remain a member of Red Sox Nation. Random fact about me: I am a stateside MK who was
homeschooled K-12!
November 5, 2009
Celebrating Anarchy?
Ahhh.... What a time of year!
This fall season is a personal favorite due to all the wonderful events I typically have experienced growing up. Homemade Hot Apple Cider. Raking innumerable leaves with my dad and brother. Football in the afternoons when everyone is home from school (nowadays, the weekly picking of my fantasy football team has replaced the actual playing in the backyard with friends, yuck.) Recent years have added, square-dancing at the Hoe-Down, playing intramural soccer with my roommates (subsequently, getting injured!) and running around like a mad-man trying to fulfill commitments to all sorts of responsibilities.
This year I have added a new and historically significant event to my calendar of exciting and exhausting favorite activities!
You can, and should, definitely read what Anna wrote about this over on her blog (filed under, "Remember Remember...") . But I have something a little bit extra-special!
I thought about going all abstract with metaphor and thought-provoking imagery in this post but in reality I am both not thinking deeply enough this morning and not skilled enough a communicator or deep enough a thinker to do so!
Pictures all courtesy of Mako Fujimura and www.byfor.org.
Mostly just a collection of thoughts and reflections in semi-rapid-fire succession today :-)
Baseball - Cliff Lee had better get his game on tonight... (Johnny Damon put another dagger in my heart last night, it hurt)
Busyness - Chaos might be more like it! I am trying to tame the monster of overcommitment, "maybe saying yes to a nap will help me focus on the mounting stack of homework.... maybe if I watch a movie I will concentrate harder on sleep when I finally go to bed... I think I will take a few minutes to make a list of all my procrastinations and then afterwards I will, instead of working on this thing or that, ponder how I can implement change".
I wish these were hypothetical musings. They are far to real and more numerous then I can count! BUT there is still hope. I am seeking the equilibrium (economics terms keep popping into my head! MR. WARGO!!!!).
Butler - In addition to the fact that I struggle (as do some others, at least I believe so) with consistent diligence in being focused on the tasks before me. I also endeavor to foray into newer territory by adding yet another opportunity to my buffet of responsibilities! AND THIS I AM EXCITED ABOUT!
I will be acting in a small (I.E. non-speaking) role in the upcoming PBU play, "The Importance of Being Earnest"!!!!!
I LOVE THIS PLAY! Actually last semester I got together with a number of friends on a regular basis to read through it for fun and it was a LOT of fun. One of said comrades is in one of the lead roles as Algernon Moncrieff, and does a FANTASTIC job. If you can you MUST come see this play, especially if you haven't experienced Oscar Wilde's extremely humorous satire before.
Burdened - I think I saved the most important for last, unconsciously even. Though I did mess up my alphabetization but if that bothers you like it would me then at least you are attentive, if not obsessive, enough to read through to the end of this rambling missive.
I have noticed recently my propensity (now you know I am getting serious when I try to act all cool with my vocabulary...) for pushing my relationship with Christ out of the center of my life. All to often I find myself talking with some measure of eloquence about a theological or personal subject with much to much empty and white-washed (Mt. 23:27) vigor. This blog post catches me in the middle of this flux. And I am sure you can tell there are many things and thoughts threatening to take me away from a careful consideration of where my priority really lies. Even in those words I fail to sincerely communicate the depth at which I am struggling to depend more on my Lord then on myself. I know how vain and fruitless self-reliance is and yet I am sitting in a cell, imprisoned by trying to prove myself worthy of my Creator's love. Yes, it is time for a head and heart check. A time for meditation (what is that anyway?) and repentance (ahh, familiarity!).
I pray that you find yourself humbly on your knees before your Master and Lord, and that there, you and I remain.
Long time no post, huh? I suppose you might think I never came back from that hike! (IT was GORGEOUS by the way... Can't believe Jersey can be so beautiful :p) It's been quite the busy week since returning from the Appalachian Trail and to be honest, I think I would still be going if there wasn't postseason baseball and mid-term time! I have to give props to the Phillies right now, what a game! I had a good feeling about that game on Monday night though, they definitely weren't going down without a fight and J-Roll came through in the clutch and how about the 0-8 closer being perfect in the post-season with 2 saves and a win!
Enough baseball though, on to life (can't really believe I said that..). I'm having a pretty great start to the week. A marketing exam that went pretty well and a paper due tomorrow that I'll be working on at home tonight! That's right, home-cooked meals are a definite necessity periodically during the semester and if you can't make it to your house, your roommates are welcome to invite you!! I had my whole room over for some classic mac and cheese about a week ago and it was GREAT! It's cool to see different groups and important factors in life interact and relate in a new way. Plus getting to brag on mom's great recipes and family favorite dishes was a great set up for Dan, Dave or Andrew saying "yeah, well my mom...." and I can experience a whole other culinary masterpiece!
My super-awesome RA John gave a Bible-study the other night on Daniel and it really lent some new perspective to his life and circumstance. I'd never really put myself in Daniel's shoes like that before. Thinking about what it would be like to be taken from your home and country, leaving all you knew and being radically assimilated into a foreign culture and treated like royalty. How tempting must it have been for he and his friends (do YOU know there Hebrew names? A 4th grader at Sunday school stumped me with this one a while back...) to sell out and live the good life? Wouldn't I be tempted to do that? I definitely tend towards doing what is easy versus what is obedient pretty often I must say to my regret... How about you?
I hope that is an edifying thought for you and that you are encouraged to think on that and on God's revelation to us this beautiful autumn day!
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! The fall is here! Wasn't summer beginning just last week? It is truly extraordinary how quickly time seems to disappear right from in front of us and into our rear-view mirror.
At this point I am looking back at the last year and thinking, "October? I remember what that was like 'way-back-then', it seems like it JUST HAPPENED!" Some of the causes for this phenomenon are annual events like the Crimson Celebration and the "Blast-from-the-Past" talent show. These events are so much fun, opportunities for ample hooliganry as my sister would say... or at least that's what she affectionately calls me when I do something potentially embarrassing for myself or by extension - her!
This year I was invited (along with my brother!) by to join an elite force of fans cheering on the Crimson Eagle Soccer teams and one of our favorite RA's who is a senior for the PBU Men's soccer team. We painted his name across our backs and "GO EAGLES!!" across the front (without a space in between the words except for my white, white skin!). It was an epic display of fandom if I do say so myself and just an extremely fun day in general. My brother, Jon, came up and spent the day here and we had an amazing time throwing a disc around with some friends and getting caught up in all of the commotion. Brotherly bonding at its best for us involves sports, food (Chick-Fil-A delivered courtesy of my cousin Andrew fulfilled this necessity) and loud cheering/jumpingupanddown so this was a perfect mix!
This was only one of the many amazing things that are in full swing right now in the midst of the whirlwind of activity as the semester flies by in a blur.
That was a week ago (seems like forever in a way!) and this week is FALL BREAK! And guess what I am doing? Oh.... you can't guess?
CAMPING!
Me and 7 of my soon to be closest friends (and some who have been for a long time now..) are heading to the Delaware Water Gap in a few hours for a few days of fun in the (hopefully warm but if not then delightfully chilly) sun! Look out nature HERE WE COME! I am really looking forward to this and hopefully I don't forget anything crucial... like my toothbrush! WOW, ALMOST FORGOT THAT! Seriously though, that is true. But no running water will make the teeth grooming interesting that is for sure... anyways I will tackle that one when I get to it. For now, sleep is the number one priority. We've got some hiking to do.
This post is an effort to show the connection between the classroom and life. It is an excerpt from a recent paper (today!) I wrote for one of my 6 favorite classes (haha, I only have 6 classes). If this "goes over well" I probably will post a little bit more from my class assignments, this paper was literally one of my favorite EVER! I hope you enjoy!
My Growth
My growth throughout this class is one that spans far beyond just an academic exercise. It touches on everything in my life because all of my life is an interconnected entity. Not only have I been challenged within the short fifty minute segments of time that occur on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, however, I have been spurred on through the coordination of the Bible and theology curriculum here at PBU as well. This may seem like a random tangent but the fact is that I am consistently wowed by how closely these two classes, one on "theology proper" (this class, Triune God) and one an integration of biblical, systematic and practical theology (Narrative of Redemption) work together in accord. I have previously appreciated when this happens through my experience at WWC and in some measure the last two semesters at the main campus but I am being admonished frequently in the spiritual sense and also being encouraged to gain much knowledge by both the professors and the content of the course. This has been a huge blessing.
Picture courtesy of Stephanie! THANKS!
This picture, by the way, is from an event that I will be telling you more about as I gather a little spare time... not an easy feet at this point in the semester with mid-terms arriving shortly and fall break right in there too!
I am the very definition of an addict. I am sure that some of you must be able to relate, especially in the cultural climate so prevalent here in the US. We, especially as teens or 20-somethings, are regularly seen with a cell phone super-glued to our head or, even more so with the advent of text messaging with fingers flying as we relate some anecdote of interest or current thought to a friend near or far.
It really makes me wonder what these new communication methods mean in our lives. Are our interactions deepened by the minute by minute updates or are we creating superficial relationships that are fostered more by the medium then by the content?
I’ve wrestled with it some, others are far beyond my level of understanding, are doing research and cultural commentary and writing books and articles. I have had conversations with great friends who refuse to buy a cell phone (one such mentor has made the concession of using his wife’s iphone however to check his beloved Brewers ballgames on a regular basis so I question and give him a hard time about how faithfully he holds to his convictions in this area!) and I truly respect their reasons and philosophy but I wonder how long it will be before the next level of technology (fully-integrated highspeed handheld wonder-machines no doubt!) begins pulling us towards inter-dependence.
I am the guilty party. I held out for a little while without facebook or texting but now I very regularly find myself attached to these things and often for a longer period of time then I intended!
I believe though that technology is in essence a morally neutral entity but do some people find a vice in the usage of their belongings? Undoubtedly! I know questions like this will be asked and delved into far more deeply then I have by men and women far more able to speak with intelligence on these things at PBU’s Worldview Conference to be held Nov. 7th here on campus! In fact, with people like Dr. Nancy Pearcey, Mr. Ken Myers and our own president Dr. Todd Williams as keynote speakers, this event is going to be incredible! Check out the topics they are going to cover! From Women and Industrialization to C.S. Lewis and Modern Technology to Creation and the natural order contrasted with Technological and Cultural forces. I AM PSYCHED!
Not only is this something I am contemplating in isolation as I think though the implications of a video blog versus written accounts but others are also digesting the information and dialoging! The university is a great place to be (especially PBU!)!
Just as Anna posted on her blog a few days ago(Sep. 7th "Nothing to sneeze at"), there is a bug going around and, unfortunately, it found me!
I've gotten a pretty bad sinus infection recently (I still can't really hear out of my right ear, such a weird sensation) and that means it is time to sit down on the couch this weekend with a good book and a cup of tea or two as I listen to the rain coming down and the wind blowing it around.
Upcoming blogs will feature me getting out and active after I have kicked this thing AND maybe a little multimedia treat!
This is the incredible Mt. Washington, part of the famous Appalachian Trail, the place with the highest recorded winds on earth, the highest peak in the Northeastern United States and yes, the best hike I've ever done!!
A fellow PBU student/New Englander/good friend took this gorgeous shot during the summer and I told him I had to share it with you all, THANKS PATRICK! That's right I am totally double dipping on the blog today!!
I wonder what I was thinking when I wrote that… Does it really tell you anything about me? In fact, my antagonistic phrase about my baseball loyalties tells you a little bit more concerning my personality, past and passion; does it not? (Trust me, more sports talk will come!)
The fact of the matter is that I have actually lived in New England, or as some may say, “God’s country,” for a very small percentage of my life. And I do mean very small. We moved to Western, NY when I was six weeks old. But those six weeks in Maine were pivotal in the development of my identity, a firmly Yankee heritage! (Yes, it only takes a month… ;-)
I am speaking somewhat in “jest” but the reality is that I am proud and glad to associate with Mainiacs everywhere. It gives me the right to say my R’s as AH’s, even though I don’t, I COULD! And there can be no denying me the pride and pain that goes along with being a “wicked hahd-coah sawks fan”! (I have not quite given up on the division yet but the WC looks pretty attractive at the moment)
My home really does lie somewhere in the White Mountains and rolling hills of New England (Yes, this means New Hampshire in particular – where fun family gatherings with either my mom or dad’s side happened around every holiday!) BUT if you look for me you will know before long that I am here in Southeastern Pennsylvania, enjoying (not just surviving) suburbia and the hustle and bustle of the Greater Philadelphia Area. I have learned so much here and grown incredibly as well, I suppose that tends to happen over the span of a dozen plus years!
AND even though my basic “worldview” within fandom (HAH!) has not changed I can certainly appreciate and acknowledge the second best fans out there…! (I expect some comments after that! Keep ‘em coming, I’ll listen to and refute differences of opinion! ;-)
Soooooo, this turned into equal parts rant and biographical sketch but there will be more cordial postings to come as I continue explaining who I am and what PBU is in my life. (Just wait… that is where I get really excited!)
