Today I decided to be bold and asked a few random people if I could take their portraits. I asked a sproul preacher man named eddie, another guy with a grill who was asking people to sign a petition, and a lady who was dressed as a BP bear and trying to raise awareness about some issue with UC Berkeley and BP.

I got some self paced programming work finished this afternoon before my 3pm computer science class, and got some more done afterwards and at dwinelle in the evening.

Late in the night, Sean and I went out to the telegraph/dwight intersection and threw a football around. We also celebrated the birthday of Eric, a junior in apartment 6. I didn't stay too long, since I'm pretty busy these days.

Devotion time questions:

Zephaniah 3

List the words from this passage that describe the nature of Jerusalem’s sins. Which of these words particularly characterize areas of struggle for me?

Rebellious, defiled, arrogant, treacherous, profane, violent. Thoughts omitted here.

Reflect on vv. 2 and 7. What is in the heart of someone who “obeys no one,” and “accepts no correction”?

Pride, arrogance, and rebelliousness. They are blind to views and opinions other than their own, and refuse to consider that they might be wrong.

Reflect on the degree to which I am humble and open to correction.

Thoughts omitted here.

Reflect on God’s warning to the nations that their streets will be “deserted, with no one passing through” and “not one will be left – no one at all.” How is this true of someone who refuses to fear God or heed correction?

People who do this alienate themselves from God and from others, preferring to be individualistic in their thoughts and actions, and refuse to work with, or be guided by, others.

List the words that describe the remnant who remain after God’s judgment. What do these words reveal about what God values, and to what extent do I share these values?

Meek, humble, trusting, do no wrong, speak no lies, and no deceit. God values those who are selfless and considerate of others and of God's laws.

Reflect on the words “sing,” “shout aloud,” “be glad,” “rejoice with all your heart.” Do these words capture my sentiment regarding the fact that “The Lord has taken away [my] punishment?”

Not often enough, so this is something I need to work on and be mindful of.

Reflect on the words, “The Lord [MY] God is with [ME], he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in [ME], he will quiet [ME] with his love, he will rejoice over [ME] with singing.”

It's amazing that though God is so powerful, he cares and loves us enough to be concerned about each of us. The God that created the heavens and the earth knows each of us by name, and loves us on a personal level.

Given God’s heart and wishes for his people, what is so tragic about the kind of attitude described in v. 2 and following?

The people did not see or understand the privilege they had of being God's people. They rejected God in favor of doing what they wanted.

Are there ways in which I might be frustrating the fulfillment of God’s good will toward me because of my persistent mistrust, pride, refusal to accept correction, or pursuit of corruption?

Thoughts omitted here.