The only thing I attended today was computer science lab from 11-1. The lab was pretty painful, and I didn't get out until 1:40. I went home, and selected classes for next semester at 4:00. At 7:30, I met with a person to buy a couple lenses. All afternoon and evening I worked on my music essay due tomorrow.

I finished the essay at around 10pm. At night sean, derrick, and I were hungry for some reason, so we went and got a little mexican food as a snack at la burrita. Sean and I got small quesadillas while derrick went to top dog.

I purchased a 70-300mm and a 50mm 1.8 mark 2 today used from a person selling them on craigslist. After using a 75-300 a month ago with canon's image stabilizing technology, I was hooked. Telephoto lenses are really useful, but I sold the 75-300 I had, since it was what I was planning to do, and since it was an older telephoto lens. The 70-300 I bought today is a pretty new model, and it's an extremely high quality lens considering the price.

I'm thinking about whether or not the 50mm 1.8 I bought along with the lens. I'm going to test it for a few days before I decide. I'm looking forward to taking more long range photographs around Berkeley.

I'm still in the process of selling a 20D and a 28-135mm IS USM. If you're at all interested in buying them from me for very reasonable prices, let me know. I won't have them for long.

Devotion time questions:

Jeremiah 1

Consider the scale of God’s call upon Jeremiah—“appoint you as a prophet to the nations” (v. 5) and “I appoint you over nations and kingdoms” (vs. 10)—and how Jeremiah must have felt about it. Consider the parallels between this and Jesus’ great commission to the disciples.

In both situations, God commands ordinary people to go wherever he sends and speak whatever he commands, promising that he will be with them and rescue them.

Reflect on Jeremiah’s answer to the Lord’s call upon his life. In what ways do I respond like Jeremiah—“I do not know how to ___; I am only a ___”--when God asks me to take on something that seems too big for me?

Thoughts omitted here.

What is the essence of God’s answer to Jeremiah and the disciples regarding their adequacy for the task?

Though we might be inadequate for the tasks God gives us, he will guide us, protect us, and give us words to speak. We simply need to be obedient to his will and offer ourselves as instruments for him to use, then he will use us effectively for his purposes.

How firmly have I accepted God’s call upon my life, and how clearly have I set aside notions of my inadequacy and embraced God’s provision for the mission he has given me?

Thoughts omitted here.

What impact might v. 5 have had on Jeremiah’s sense of confidence regarding his adequacy for the task God is calling him to? Do I have a sense that God has known me all my life, and that he has been directing and guiding me long before I became aware of his specific call upon my life?

He must have been encouraged regarding his adequacy after hearing that God had known him personally since before he was born. This meant that God knew exactly how he was and what his strengths and weaknesses were, yet still called him for the tasks he had for Jeremiah to do. Jeremiah could be confident, knowing that God knew exactly what his "adequacy" was.

Thoughts omitted here.

Reflect on this passage. What does v. 17 tell me about the Christian’s role as a prophet? Whom must I fear, and whom must I not fear in my life?

We are to prepare ourselves for God's work, and not be terrified of those we are sent to witness to. We are to fear and respect God and his call for us.

Think about the people and groups arrayed against Jeremiah, all of whom would oppose his message, disagree with his words, dismiss his warnings. What does this tell me about the position and relational situation I must be willing to face as I obey God?

We are to expect persecution, and people aligned against us. God does not tell us that preaching his word and obeying his will is popular among the nations, but instead he tells us not to fear them and that he will always be with us.