There were no trips to Boss Hogg territory today. I stayed put in Austin and pretty much spent the whole day in the lab. Speaking of Austin though. I just saw on TV that tomorrow's episode of American Idol takes place in Austin. I wonder if there's gonna be anyone on there that I know... It's hard to believe that the judges have to sit there and watch dozens upon dozens of auditions. Doesn't seem very fun to me.

Anyways, in all the excitement of yesterday, I forgot to retell my Sunday experience at church. I continue to enjoy helping out with the college group. There are still a billion people whom I don't know there, but I'm slowly meeting more people as well as knowing people better through the weeks. There's a prayer meeting tomorrow morning on campus that I hope to be able to wake up early to attend. I hope to be able to really get involved with the ministry over the semester.

This speaker continued his series on sin and on idolatry in particular. We did an exercise during the service in order to help us identify the idols in our lives. These were things that took the place of God, or caused us to desire them over our desire for God. For example, the issue of desiring comfort was one of them: wanting to be so devoid of stress that you shy away from God in order to retain that comfort in your life (for example, avoiding evangelism because it's too awkward for you). There were a lot of examples that I could relate to. Again, it was almost surprising for me because I have not been on guard for these things in my life. I realize that I need to change these things about my mindset. Being made aware of these things really helped me have a God-oriented perspective, because on my own I can't change.

I think the reason I continue to enjoy EV Free and the ministries here is because of how often I am made aware of the life-changing power of God and His Word. Rather than hear a message about what NEEDS to be done, and what I am doing wrong, I hear messages of God's faithfulness and holiness, and the power of the Cross at work in me... and that causes me to desire righteousness and through that I want to change. It's awesome.