After reading it off and on for about a year (it’s a big book and I had a lot going on), I finally finished Lectures to My Students by C.H. Spurgeon. Basically, it’s a collection of lectures he gave to his students while teaching at his college for pastors in the making. It was amazing. Spurgeon has become one of my favorite authors, right up there with C.S. Lewis.

As a side note, if I ever write something that gets published, I wonder if I should go with the ol’ first two initials followed by the last name, which would leave me at A.P. Lambert. But then again it might look like I was attempting to put myself on par with many of the great authors of whom I am far beneath when it comes to writing abilities. Hmmm. Perhaps I should just come up with a nom de plume of my own. I guess I’ve got some time to think that one over.

Anywhat (makes more sense than anywho), they don’t call Spurgeon the prince of preachers for nothing. The guy’s teaching is solid like 10 tons of marble slab. And on top of that he’s more practical than a Swiss Army Knife with enough wit to cut through two frozen wheels of Wensleydale, which, I imagine, would be a rather difficult thing to do with a Swiss Army Knife.

Here’s an example of the practicality often found in his words, “The way to get a mind worth having is to get one well stored with things worth keeping.”

On top of it, he can be very profound. For example, “True religion is as logical as if it were not emotional.”

All in all I have a great respect for the man. His honesty and good advice is a great inspiration to me and I wish there were more people like him around. This book is a must read for anyone thinking of taking a position of leadership in the ministry. It is a true classic.

Odd stuff is going on in this ‘ol world.

As I was making my way back up to LA on my weekly Sunday night drive, I witnessed something peculiar. A car in front of me turned on it’s emergency lights but continued driving at a normal speed (naturally, when I say the car did something I mean the driver inside did it, otherwise it’d be really amazing), then after some time the emergency lights were turned off. This was repeated for a good five minutes until another car drove up beside the first one and turned on his emergency lights. Then the first car turned off all the lights and sped ahead. As the second car followed the first car began quickly dodging in and out of traffic as the second car did it’s best to follow. The continued in this game of chase until they were too far ahead for me to find them. I might not have been surprised if they suddenly transformed into robots and fought each other to the death. Any idea what might have really been going on here?

Also, it seems that Germany has some very big burial plans, check out The Great Pyramid. Here’s their official page. Now why exactly you might want to build this and why, of all countries, would it be in Germany I have no idea. Personally I think they should fill it with traps, deadly animals, and treasure and then let brave adventurers have a go of it.

Japan, not to be outdone, has a few big building plans of it’s own, aka the X-SEED 4000, crazy! If you could head up a giant building project, what would it be? Me personally, I’d go for the biggest waterside ever. Just think of the possibilities!

Battle wounds. We all have them. Some suffer worse injuries than others, but no one goes unmarked. Whether they be from obstacles, unfavorable circumstances, enemies, friendly fire, or even self infliction, in this world such injuries should be expected. Many are avoidable and we can learn how to prevent them through experience. But even the best soldier can only dodge bullets for so long. Eventually, they will find their target.

However, it is not the wound that matters so much. The significant part is how we respond. Every wound will be dealt with in some way.

Some are ashamed of their injury, denying its existence, trying to ignore it, letting it fester and become infected. The longer they wait, the more difficult it will be for healing to occur. They may try to dress a wound themselves and it may even seem that they are successful, but in many cases all they’ve done is covered up the ugly surface of something that is internal. The pain and trouble it once brought will come back in more intense measures. Time can indeed be a healing component, but often time in itself is not enough. Wounds must be brought to the attention of a skilled healer. It is also essential to have companions who can provide encouragement to find healing and who will remain by your side through the healing process. Some wounds will take a lifetime to heal. And some may never fully heal. But if healing can be found, we should seek it.

Other people use their wounds as excuses. They might view them as reasons to turn tail and run, never to return to the battle. Some use their hurts as a passport for laziness. It may even become so bad that they let it color every circumstance, painting themselves as a victim in a hateful world that is out to get them. They find a way to work their wound into every part of their life, so that they can’t carry on a conversation without burdening the listener with their woes and troubles. They let their injured state become the determining factor in their life. They drag down every person who tries to help into the rut of self-pity they have dug for themselves. In their mind, it is too hard to go on, they give up after only a little effort, choosing rather to lay down and die despite the many years they have yet to live.

But let us not follow in their footsteps. Instead, let us look upon our injuries as a challenge, a reason to press on all the more. I’ve witnessed those who have endured a crippling attack and come out stronger than before. We must seek healing for our inner pains and if no healing in this life can be found, then we must determine to overcome them. It will be difficult, of that there is no doubt. It may take all the strength we have, and much more. But if we choose to, we can turn the hindrance into a help and by overcoming we can reach out to those who suffer as we have suffered.

Not all wounds are fatal and not all wounds are deep, but they all remind us that we are still alive, if we let them.

In the words of Strongbad, “Why do all my thirty year old electronics keep breaking on me?”

But alas, the stuff that breaks on me only lasts a few years at best. Yes, the terrible news is true, my iPod has officially kicked the bucket, ‘e’s shuffled off ‘is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisibile. It has become an Ex-iPod. Turns out I missed the deadline to be a cheese-ball and get the extended warranty by about half a year. So much for sticking it to the man (I’m looking at you Mr. Jobs) this time. I suppose that means I’ll have to replace it then.

And about the same time my desktop computer also took a dump, bit the dust, cashed in his chips, flatlined, and gave up the ghost. Farewell good buddy, you served me well through college while cranking out more than your fair share of 3D renders. You know, he actually ran pretty smoothly up until the point where he stopped working.

Strangely enough, my parent’s desktop computer, laundry dryer, and refrigerator also broke recently. There must be some kind of EMP going off in the vicinity of our house. Government testing or alien interference? You decide.

I’m still not sure what to do about the desktop since my laptop has basically replaced it, maybe I’ll get something cheap just to fill the void. As for the iPod, it turns out that Apple just released a whole new line of iPods (a small raft of hope amidst a torrent of misfortune). I don’t know what to get yet. The iPod touch is definitely cool, but only holds up to 16 gigs at the most and I really just want something that plays music. I have my laptop if I want to go online or watch movies. So we’ll see what I end up with. I’m not in a huge rush to spend more money. The big question now is what to do with the old, not working iPod. Any ideas?

On a completely different note, I’ve been thinking recently about the fact that people don’t behave the way we, as individuals, expect them to and I’ve come to the conclusion that, despite many negative aspects, this is a good thing. Perhaps I’ll write more on this later, perhaps not.