What is it that would make me update my website when I haven't been able to update it in over 3 months? Money of course!

Tonight I was just reading about how the US House of Representatives voted to deny the increase in the Debt Ceiling, while at the same time knowing they really cannot do anything about it. As I was reading though an interesting and very frustrating fact came out.

Did you know that when President Obama was inaugurated into office almost 3 years ago that the national debt was $10.6 trillion. Today, only 3 years later it is $15.2 trillion. Are you kidding me? Almost $5 trillion more in only three years?!?!?!

To be more precise at the time of this post it stood at:

$15,248,683,000,000

I cannot be more accurate because the numbers are changing too fast! See for yourself at www.usdebtclock.org

Now I will not sit here and say that it is all Obama's fault, as we have been in the worst recession in living memory. Both parties should be ashamed of themselves. $5 trillion in three years. Just keep thinking about that and see if that makes you as mad as it makes me.

P.S. Since I started writing the post the US national debt increased by over $6 million!

These past two months have been so incredibly busy. Even now I am writing this post from a hotel room in Iowa. Here are some thoughts from the past week:

1. Traveling as an Admission Counselor is tiring. You have to constantly be "on" for 16+ hours a day, then go and do it again and again for up to a week or two straight.

2. Hi my name is Tom and I am a spender, not a saver. Although I do not really enjoy shopping, when you are traveling sometimes the only thing you can do to pass some time is walk around a mall - which then entices me to purchase items (all usefull of course...)

3. Am I crazy to be a full-time grad student and work full time? (or more than full-time right now). I just keep imagining what it will be like to walk across that stage at graduation in April. I can do this!

4. I really want to start excercising, the trouble comes down to time. For once that is an honest issue, it's not that I am not making time it's that there is no time. I can't wait to be home again and get back into a normal routine.

5. I love the students that I get to meet with weekly for discipleship. It is such and honor to be a part of their growth in Jesus. The times with the guys the last few weeks has been the most meaningful part of my life too.

The other day I was having lunch at Bethel with a prospective student and Terry Linhart. During that lunch we were talking about communication and all the current forms of social media, and how we have no idea what will be in place 20 years from now.

During that discussion on social media we talked about how technology can actually hinder real communication. Right now Toyota has a great commercial that demonstrates this very phenominon. Whether you have seen in or not take a minute to watch it, looking for the role that social media and technology has taken in our daily lives. Which would you rather be, the child or the parents? Why? Thoughts?

Glad I went with glasses instead of contacts today...it's one of those days in class. Heavy stuff. #masters

It's been awhile since I have had time to get on here and update things. For those of you who do not yet know I am now a full-time masters student...and still a full-time admission counselor! I have chosen to go through the Master of Ministry program (30 hours) at Bethel College. My bosses and office staff have been great, allowing and encouraging me to go through the program and giving me the time I need to even do it full-time.

So full-time means 15 hours a semester, which is actually going to let me go through the entire program in 9 months. Am I crazy? Probably, but why not? I have already finished my first class and am now in the middle of two classes, with another one to start in the next few weeks.

Needless to say my life is basically work and then go home and ready/study/write. As a result I am not sure how much I will be able to post specific and longer posts throughout the next few months. I will however start including my twitter posts here on my blog. They will show up as short posts and will keep the interaction here going. I am excited for this next year, and everything I am learning in my Masters program.