Originally posted on Xanga, Tuesday, September 23, 2008
I just got out of our first meeting for Thanksgiving Chapel. I'm in History of Church Music this semester with some awesome people and we're going to be in charge of the Thanksgiving chapel.
So! Our first meeting! We started out with, "What comes to your mind when you think 'Thanksgiving Chapel'?" I was intrigued by what I heard. Everyone brought out some great ideas. Not just Dr. Wilhoit leading unfamiliar hymns than having a history lesson. No, we will not be having that. From out brainstorming tonight, we've decided to focus on two to three characteristics (there should be a better term for that) of God. We want to tell people about God and show how worthy of praise He is.
This is awesome! We're so bent on doing a good job and I know that the eight of us are going to put a lot of effort into this, if only because we're all excited about this. Did you hear me?! We're excited about this! We're excited about putting on the Thanksgiving Chapel. We're excited for the opportunity to share things about God that we know to be important. These things that we forget about so very, very often. We want to give to the student body a refreshing time to remember our Father and who He is.
Our Father. I know that I wouldn't be here if it were not for what my earthly father (aka Dad) has done for me. Dad has worked and saved and protected and loved. Has not God done this for each of us, yet more so? In ways that we can never know? I'll never know some of the sacrifices that my dad has made for my sake. And how can we ever fully comprehend the sacrifice that our heavenly Father made for us. Not just for you and for your friends and family, but for me, too, and for the others around us. For the people in our country, for the people in our world! Can you believe that He really loves this filthy world that much? How insane! (Seriously, He sure is amazing because I can't imagine actually, genuinely loving everyone down here. It's unthinkable.)
And now, Justin Hipp and John Moore and I are walking back after our meeting. John enthusiastically says, "We know God!" It kinda just hit me. John's enthusiasm and his sincerity forced me to mentally take a step back from what we'd been talking about and view everything as a whole. Woah. He's right! "We know God! For one, He lives in our hearts! Two, His law is written on our hearts, as well. And three, we're at Bryan College! And sometimes it's so dang hard to see God because we are at Bryan College. We're surrounded by all of this Christian stuff!" He's so right. But, we have the chance to remind everyone about who God is! We can remind them what God is about! Are you catching my spirit? Man, I wish you were here so that you could see my cheer leader face. I'm really fired up about this. This is cool! This is Good! And it's so awesome how I'm pumped about this! I'm excited about God right now! I'm thankful for His faithfulness. For His willingness to forgive. Do you ever stop and think about how God will never get tired of forgiving You? You've got your things that you're struggling with, you've got your sins, you keep doing it over and over, but God is faithful to forgive you, even the millionth and billionth time. How awesome is that?!?
With a God like this, how can I be so stuck on some of these things that run my life? Why can't I keep the right perspective when I have a God who's so mysteriously magnificent? I know it's because I'm a fallen human and I'll always have my faults, but, heck! I just want to scream at my brain and say, "What's wrong with you?!? Why can't you remember that God is worth your everything? Why is it so hard for you to take time out of you life for talk with Him? He gave you this life anyway!"
Friend, can I ask you to tell me some of those things (in a loving way) when I need to hear them?
God is awesome. Awe-some. He inspires awe. How can He not? Seriously, can you imagine having to genuinely love everyone? I mean,sometimes, it's hard enough to love my close friends. But the whole world? You've got to be joking! And yet, it's true! WOW!! Please tell me you're taking the time to really think about that. Think about how wonderful God is, just for a while, if not longer. It's so good. He's so good. Unfathomable. Just incredible.
Now, I guess the question might be, "How can you apply that to your life." No. We're not going to do that. We're just going to enjoy. We're going to enjoy God and who He is. We don't always have to do something about. Besides, in a way, that just turns everything back to us. "What can I do about what I know about God." No. Just enjoy God. Just get to know Him better. Just give Him glory for what we're learning about Him. I think that that's what He would want
Saturday, November 22, 2008
P.s.
Originally posted on Xanga, Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thank you, Trisha, for bringing up "You are On Our Side" by Bethany Dillon
It's really, really... good. I want you to read it. It sounds good too. Here's the link for it on Imeem:
http://www.imeem.com/popmusic10/music/xjP6lbrU/bethany_dillon_you_are_on_our_side_waking_up_album_version/
It's worth the quick sign up, I promise.
Now, here are the lyrics:
The orphan clings to Your hand
Singing the song of how he was found
The widow rejoices
For her oppressors are silenced now
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
The runaway falls at Your feet
You are what he has searched for
The rich man is broken
When he stands beneath a sky full of stars
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
Thank you, Trisha, for bringing up "You are On Our Side" by Bethany Dillon
It's really, really... good. I want you to read it. It sounds good too. Here's the link for it on Imeem:
http://www.imeem.com/popmusic10/music/xjP6lbrU/bethany_dillon_you_are_on_our_side_waking_up_album_version/
It's worth the quick sign up, I promise.
Now, here are the lyrics:
The orphan clings to Your hand
Singing the song of how he was found
The widow rejoices
For her oppressors are silenced now
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
The runaway falls at Your feet
You are what he has searched for
The rich man is broken
When he stands beneath a sky full of stars
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
You Learn Something New Everyday?
Originally posted on Xanga, Thursday, September 25, 2008
Today, I learned that you can clean silver with non-abrasive toothpaste!
I'm getting ready to go to the CSO and I find it funny that I still have red paint under my fingernails from my war paint from the Covenant game. We won, by the way. On their court. 2-0. Take that, you Scots!
And we at Bryan are ecstatic.
Today, I learned that you can clean silver with non-abrasive toothpaste!
I'm getting ready to go to the CSO and I find it funny that I still have red paint under my fingernails from my war paint from the Covenant game. We won, by the way. On their court. 2-0. Take that, you Scots!
And we at Bryan are ecstatic.
Some things
Originally posted on Xanga, Thursday, September 30, 2008
I almost died this weekend.
We were having a bonfire at Devon's and Mrs. Spacek put another small log on the fire. I say, "Hey! Look! A spider!"
"Where?"
"Right ... there." I point to it, very closely, and I nearly touch it, but then it comes into the light just a bit more... and I Scream, Jump back, and am totally freaked out!
"OHMYGOSHIT'SABLACKWIDOW!!!"
Huh. It was a biggin, too. The largest one I'd ever seen. Eh, it's body was about as big around as the larger circle of a normal push pin. It upset Mrs. Spacek that she had just had her hand on that log. The rest of us were paranoid every time we felt something on our skin, which was often-ish, because we were outside.
We shriveled the killer up in the fire.
How exiting!
Ever notice how we scream our lungs out for the Covenant game, but then, during Monday's corporate worship chapel, when we're given the chance to "give a shout out to God," we don't even make half that sound.
I read something this summer that advised that you leave someone better than they were when you met them. It was referring to dating relationships, but I think it should apply to friendships and even acquaintance relationships. I would love to be that kind of person to leaves people better than how I found them.
From Thriving as an Artist in the Church by Rory Noland:
- "Passionate people seem more alive. They're exuberant and dynamic. They have a compelling vitality, an abiding joy. They look toward the future expectantly because they always believe that the best is yet to come. The lives of passionate people appear to have meaning and purpose, and people want to be around the because their zest for life is contagious. That's exactly how God intended us to live."
- "Live the adventure God has planned for you to live."
- "At various times throughout the day, I find myself wondering, 'What is God up to in my immediate circle of influence?' I'll be driving to meet someone for lunch and I'll eagerly start wondering, 'God, what are you up to in this person's life, and how can I help?'
And, just for fun:
From Imagine by Steve Turner:
"At different times both the fiddle and the guitar have been regarded as special tools of the devil."
Well, I'm glad that that's no longer a popular idea.
I'm very excited about Fall Break because... dun Dun DUN! I'm going up to Virginia Beach! I'm going to get to see Nathan! Hooray!
My best friend! I miss him.
That's all.
I almost died this weekend.
We were having a bonfire at Devon's and Mrs. Spacek put another small log on the fire. I say, "Hey! Look! A spider!"
"Where?"
"Right ... there." I point to it, very closely, and I nearly touch it, but then it comes into the light just a bit more... and I Scream, Jump back, and am totally freaked out!
"OHMYGOSHIT'SABLACKWIDOW!!!"
Huh. It was a biggin, too. The largest one I'd ever seen. Eh, it's body was about as big around as the larger circle of a normal push pin. It upset Mrs. Spacek that she had just had her hand on that log. The rest of us were paranoid every time we felt something on our skin, which was often-ish, because we were outside.
We shriveled the killer up in the fire.
How exiting!
Ever notice how we scream our lungs out for the Covenant game, but then, during Monday's corporate worship chapel, when we're given the chance to "give a shout out to God," we don't even make half that sound.
I read something this summer that advised that you leave someone better than they were when you met them. It was referring to dating relationships, but I think it should apply to friendships and even acquaintance relationships. I would love to be that kind of person to leaves people better than how I found them.
From Thriving as an Artist in the Church by Rory Noland:
- "Passionate people seem more alive. They're exuberant and dynamic. They have a compelling vitality, an abiding joy. They look toward the future expectantly because they always believe that the best is yet to come. The lives of passionate people appear to have meaning and purpose, and people want to be around the because their zest for life is contagious. That's exactly how God intended us to live."
- "Live the adventure God has planned for you to live."
- "At various times throughout the day, I find myself wondering, 'What is God up to in my immediate circle of influence?' I'll be driving to meet someone for lunch and I'll eagerly start wondering, 'God, what are you up to in this person's life, and how can I help?'
And, just for fun:
From Imagine by Steve Turner:
"At different times both the fiddle and the guitar have been regarded as special tools of the devil."
Well, I'm glad that that's no longer a popular idea.
I'm very excited about Fall Break because... dun Dun DUN! I'm going up to Virginia Beach! I'm going to get to see Nathan! Hooray!
My best friend! I miss him.That's all.
Indelible Grace
Originally posted on Xanga, Saturday, November22, 2008 @ 3:21
I have blogged or journaled in a very long time. I wish that I had because I know that I won't be able to recapture lots of things that I want to remember.
There are lots of things that I wish that I would do. Well, quite a few things that have happened throughout the week have really pushed my desires away from unimportant things and towards things that matter. Like journaling, like homework, like deep conversations, like fellowship, like productive Lindsay time. I hope that I will carry out what I know I want to.
It's been a rough week in lots of different ways. It's been good in lots of different ways, too. Great times of victory and friendship and accomplishment and perseverance. But when I look back on this week, there is a majority of rough things and I see is as a rough week. I was able to see, though, how I can work with certain people on certain things and how I definitely cannot work with certain people on certain things or even at all. I learned about myself this week, and that's always cool. I always feel like I'm growing up when I can see things in myself I never saw before. Discovering how I function and under which conditions I function best is exciting.
So, it's been a rough week.
Today, as I look back over recent events in my life, I am floored by the unconditional love I have been shown by many. What Wondrous Love Is This? Miraculous, indeed. It is implied, please understand, that there have been many conditions where I have been the least deserving of this love. But still it is there. It is amazing. It is inescapable. Surpasses understanding. Love That Will Not Let Me Go.
Thank you, friends, for loving me.
---
I'm looking forward to putting on the Thanksgiving Chapel on Monday. It's been a frustrating road, but the destination is going to be good. Heck, rehearsal Thursday evening was good. Something I hate: I know I've lost a lot of my skills with my violin. He must feel so unloved. In truth, I have neglected him, but not in spite. But, I don't think that he hates me for it, even though it would be justifiable. He's just disappointed. But when we don't sound as good as we have before together, it's not because he is trying to get back at me, it's because you can't just pick things back up without expecting any bumps along the way. When you come back to someone you were such great friends with after such a long time apart, you have to rebuild before you are back on the same lever you were before. Charlie knows this, too. I hope that I haven't hurt his feelings and that he will be willing to work with me on this. Who am I kidding, I know that he will. He is happiest when he is in my hand, under my chin. I think that, as soon as he hears me beginning to open his case, he forgives me instantly without me even saying, "I'm sorry." And he does his very best for me to remind me that he loves me and that we are friends and that he wants us to be buddies again. His is an unconditional love, too. And I didn't even realize it until I wrote about him here.
Jr/Sr stuff is coming together. I'm excited about the progress we're making. The class ahead of us tells us that we're doing well and that we're steps ahead of where they were. That's encouraging. I hope that things will work out all right and that we'll be able to make it great for the seniors and juniors. I think they'll like it.
I'm going pretty slowly on my homework. I remember being ahead once. But I'm behind on some things. And lately, I've been doing my work the day before it's due. That's not cool. It's been stressful a lot lately because of it, too. And because of meetings and stuff. I'm pretty drained. And exhausted. But I feel much better and much more personable after a full night's sleep. 3:30-1:00. I think I need more than one evening to collect and calm down. I think I overestimated how much I could relax last night. Maybe. Or maybe it's just that when another stressful thing came up, I just went into hyper fix-things mode and it blew a fuse. And I began to shut down.
You know what? I have been having the worst time since I can ever remember trying to get my messages across in the past, eh... 3-4 days. It's been awful and frustrating. Like, I've not been able to come up with the word "flurry" twice in 2 days! I've been spitting out sentences that might make sense, but they're all jumbled. Whatever happened to syntax? Why am I living out The Bald Soprano? Why can't I get my ideas across without tripping over the fence? I don't know. And then, there have been times when I've really surprised myself by how well my thoughts were concisely put into words and flowed out without me even putting much effort into sounding like a business man. Those times usually happen in Senate meeting, but I caught a few other times when I was chatting with Emily Cook. But anyways, I think that some of the degeneration of my communication skills can be attributed to stress and lack of sleep. I sure hope that that's the only thing. I hope that I'll be able to snap back into place. Maybe that will only happen after Thanksgiving Break, after Nathan gets his charger back, after I'm caught up on all of my homework, and after Monday evenings with Millie. Or maybe it will happen after I post this and continue with my weekend. I don't do much talking on Saturday. Not much interaction. It's 3:19 now and I've only shared a few words with Erin all day.
Speaking of, I got a roommate for next semester! yay!
And, not speaking of, but Peter just called and he's here, so I'm gonig to stop writing, put on normal clothes, brush my teeth and go say hello.
Till next time.
Sorry to leave so ubruptly.
Ciao
(The Italian way)
I have blogged or journaled in a very long time. I wish that I had because I know that I won't be able to recapture lots of things that I want to remember.
There are lots of things that I wish that I would do. Well, quite a few things that have happened throughout the week have really pushed my desires away from unimportant things and towards things that matter. Like journaling, like homework, like deep conversations, like fellowship, like productive Lindsay time. I hope that I will carry out what I know I want to.
It's been a rough week in lots of different ways. It's been good in lots of different ways, too. Great times of victory and friendship and accomplishment and perseverance. But when I look back on this week, there is a majority of rough things and I see is as a rough week. I was able to see, though, how I can work with certain people on certain things and how I definitely cannot work with certain people on certain things or even at all. I learned about myself this week, and that's always cool. I always feel like I'm growing up when I can see things in myself I never saw before. Discovering how I function and under which conditions I function best is exciting.
So, it's been a rough week.
Today, as I look back over recent events in my life, I am floored by the unconditional love I have been shown by many. What Wondrous Love Is This? Miraculous, indeed. It is implied, please understand, that there have been many conditions where I have been the least deserving of this love. But still it is there. It is amazing. It is inescapable. Surpasses understanding. Love That Will Not Let Me Go.
Thank you, friends, for loving me.
---
I'm looking forward to putting on the Thanksgiving Chapel on Monday. It's been a frustrating road, but the destination is going to be good. Heck, rehearsal Thursday evening was good. Something I hate: I know I've lost a lot of my skills with my violin. He must feel so unloved. In truth, I have neglected him, but not in spite. But, I don't think that he hates me for it, even though it would be justifiable. He's just disappointed. But when we don't sound as good as we have before together, it's not because he is trying to get back at me, it's because you can't just pick things back up without expecting any bumps along the way. When you come back to someone you were such great friends with after such a long time apart, you have to rebuild before you are back on the same lever you were before. Charlie knows this, too. I hope that I haven't hurt his feelings and that he will be willing to work with me on this. Who am I kidding, I know that he will. He is happiest when he is in my hand, under my chin. I think that, as soon as he hears me beginning to open his case, he forgives me instantly without me even saying, "I'm sorry." And he does his very best for me to remind me that he loves me and that we are friends and that he wants us to be buddies again. His is an unconditional love, too. And I didn't even realize it until I wrote about him here.
Jr/Sr stuff is coming together. I'm excited about the progress we're making. The class ahead of us tells us that we're doing well and that we're steps ahead of where they were. That's encouraging. I hope that things will work out all right and that we'll be able to make it great for the seniors and juniors. I think they'll like it.
I'm going pretty slowly on my homework. I remember being ahead once. But I'm behind on some things. And lately, I've been doing my work the day before it's due. That's not cool. It's been stressful a lot lately because of it, too. And because of meetings and stuff. I'm pretty drained. And exhausted. But I feel much better and much more personable after a full night's sleep. 3:30-1:00. I think I need more than one evening to collect and calm down. I think I overestimated how much I could relax last night. Maybe. Or maybe it's just that when another stressful thing came up, I just went into hyper fix-things mode and it blew a fuse. And I began to shut down.
You know what? I have been having the worst time since I can ever remember trying to get my messages across in the past, eh... 3-4 days. It's been awful and frustrating. Like, I've not been able to come up with the word "flurry" twice in 2 days! I've been spitting out sentences that might make sense, but they're all jumbled. Whatever happened to syntax? Why am I living out The Bald Soprano? Why can't I get my ideas across without tripping over the fence? I don't know. And then, there have been times when I've really surprised myself by how well my thoughts were concisely put into words and flowed out without me even putting much effort into sounding like a business man. Those times usually happen in Senate meeting, but I caught a few other times when I was chatting with Emily Cook. But anyways, I think that some of the degeneration of my communication skills can be attributed to stress and lack of sleep. I sure hope that that's the only thing. I hope that I'll be able to snap back into place. Maybe that will only happen after Thanksgiving Break, after Nathan gets his charger back, after I'm caught up on all of my homework, and after Monday evenings with Millie. Or maybe it will happen after I post this and continue with my weekend. I don't do much talking on Saturday. Not much interaction. It's 3:19 now and I've only shared a few words with Erin all day.
Speaking of, I got a roommate for next semester! yay!
And, not speaking of, but Peter just called and he's here, so I'm gonig to stop writing, put on normal clothes, brush my teeth and go say hello.
Till next time.
Sorry to leave so ubruptly.
Ciao
(The Italian way)
Wisdom from Dove chocolate
Originally posted on Xanga:
I took down the small bulletin board by my desk just now because I'm sure that I can use that space for something better. On the bulletin board were my favorite Dove chocolate-isms. Here they are:
Do no look back and ask why, look forward and ask, why not?
Love is not getting, but giving.
De a role model for someone.
Forget the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey instead!
And, a sub-ism. One that reminds me of home:
A family that laughs together stays together.
Thanks, Dove chocolate for making life better in more ways than one.
I took down the small bulletin board by my desk just now because I'm sure that I can use that space for something better. On the bulletin board were my favorite Dove chocolate-isms. Here they are:
Do no look back and ask why, look forward and ask, why not?
Love is not getting, but giving.
De a role model for someone.
Forget the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey instead!
And, a sub-ism. One that reminds me of home:
A family that laughs together stays together.
Thanks, Dove chocolate for making life better in more ways than one.
More of God!
Originally posted on Xanga, Tuesday, September 23, 2008
I just got out of our first meeting for Thanksgiving Chapel. I'm in History of Church Music this semester with some awesome people and we're going to be in charge of the Thanksgiving chapel.
So! Our first meeting! We started out with, "What comes to your mind when you think 'Thanksgiving Chapel'?" I was intrigued by what I heard. Everyone brought out some great ideas. Not just Dr. Wilhoit leading unfamiliar hymns than having a history lesson. No, we will not be having that. From out brainstorming tonight, we've decided to focus on two to three characteristics (there should be a better term for that) of God. We want to tell people about God and show how worthy of praise He is.
This is awesome! We're so bent on doing a good job and I know that the eight of us are going to put a lot of effort into this, if only because we're all excited about this. Did you hear me?! We're excited about this! We're excited about putting on the Thanksgiving Chapel. We're excited for the opportunity to share things about God that we know to be important. These things that we forget about so very, very often. We want to give to the student body a refreshing time to remember our Father and who He is.
Our Father. I know that I wouldn't be here if it were not for what my earthly father (aka Dad) has done for me. Dad has worked and saved and protected and loved. Has not God done this for each of us, yet more so? In ways that we can never know? I'll never know some of the sacrifices that my dad has made for my sake. And how can we ever fully comprehend the sacrifice that our heavenly Father made for us. Not just for you and for your friends and family, but for me, too, and for the others around us. For the people in our country, for the people in our world! Can you believe that He really loves this filthy world that much? How insane! (Seriously, He sure is amazing because I can't imagine actually, genuinely loving everyone down here. It's unthinkable.)
And now, Justin Hipp and John Moore and I are walking back after our meeting. John enthusiastically says, "We know God!" It kinda just hit me. John's enthusiasm and his sincerity forced me to mentally take a step back from what we'd been talking about and view everything as a whole. Woah. He's right! "We know God! For one, He lives in our hearts! Two, His law is written on our hearts, as well. And three, we're at Bryan College! And sometimes it's so dang hard to see God because we are at Bryan College. We're surrounded by all of this Christian stuff!" He's so right. But, we have the chance to remind everyone about who God is! We can remind them what God is about! Are you catching my spirit? Man, I wish you were here so that you could see my cheer leader face. I'm really fired up about this. This is cool! This is Good! And it's so awesome how I'm pumped about this! I'm excited about God right now! I'm thankful for His faithfulness. For His willingness to forgive. Do you ever stop and think about how God will never get tired of forgiving You? You've got your things that you're struggling with, you've got your sins, you keep doing it over and over, but God is faithful to forgive you, even the millionth and billionth time. How awesome is that?!?
With a God like this, how can I be so stuck on some of these things that run my life? Why can't I keep the right perspective when I have a God who's so mysteriously magnificent? I know it's because I'm a fallen human and I'll always have my faults, but, heck! I just want to scream at my brain and say, "What's wrong with you?!? Why can't you remember that God is worth your everything? Why is it so hard for you to take time out of you life for talk with Him? He gave you this life anyway!"
Friend, can I ask you to tell me some of those things (in a loving way) when I need to hear them?
God is awesome. Awe-some. He inspires awe. How can He not? Seriously, can you imagine having to genuinely love everyone? I mean,sometimes, it's hard enough to love my close friends. But the whole world? You've got to be joking! And yet, it's true! WOW!! Please tell me you're taking the time to really think about that. Think about how wonderful God is, just for a while, if not longer. It's so good. He's so good. Unfathomable. Just incredible.
Now, I guess the question might be, "How can you apply that to your life." No. We're not going to do that. We're just going to enjoy. We're going to enjoy God and who He is. We don't always have to do something about. Besides, in a way, that just turns everything back to us. "What can I do about what I know about God." No. Just enjoy God. Just get to know Him better. Just give Him glory for what we're learning about Him. I think that that's what He would want
I just got out of our first meeting for Thanksgiving Chapel. I'm in History of Church Music this semester with some awesome people and we're going to be in charge of the Thanksgiving chapel.
So! Our first meeting! We started out with, "What comes to your mind when you think 'Thanksgiving Chapel'?" I was intrigued by what I heard. Everyone brought out some great ideas. Not just Dr. Wilhoit leading unfamiliar hymns than having a history lesson. No, we will not be having that. From out brainstorming tonight, we've decided to focus on two to three characteristics (there should be a better term for that) of God. We want to tell people about God and show how worthy of praise He is.
This is awesome! We're so bent on doing a good job and I know that the eight of us are going to put a lot of effort into this, if only because we're all excited about this. Did you hear me?! We're excited about this! We're excited about putting on the Thanksgiving Chapel. We're excited for the opportunity to share things about God that we know to be important. These things that we forget about so very, very often. We want to give to the student body a refreshing time to remember our Father and who He is.
Our Father. I know that I wouldn't be here if it were not for what my earthly father (aka Dad) has done for me. Dad has worked and saved and protected and loved. Has not God done this for each of us, yet more so? In ways that we can never know? I'll never know some of the sacrifices that my dad has made for my sake. And how can we ever fully comprehend the sacrifice that our heavenly Father made for us. Not just for you and for your friends and family, but for me, too, and for the others around us. For the people in our country, for the people in our world! Can you believe that He really loves this filthy world that much? How insane! (Seriously, He sure is amazing because I can't imagine actually, genuinely loving everyone down here. It's unthinkable.)
And now, Justin Hipp and John Moore and I are walking back after our meeting. John enthusiastically says, "We know God!" It kinda just hit me. John's enthusiasm and his sincerity forced me to mentally take a step back from what we'd been talking about and view everything as a whole. Woah. He's right! "We know God! For one, He lives in our hearts! Two, His law is written on our hearts, as well. And three, we're at Bryan College! And sometimes it's so dang hard to see God because we are at Bryan College. We're surrounded by all of this Christian stuff!" He's so right. But, we have the chance to remind everyone about who God is! We can remind them what God is about! Are you catching my spirit? Man, I wish you were here so that you could see my cheer leader face. I'm really fired up about this. This is cool! This is Good! And it's so awesome how I'm pumped about this! I'm excited about God right now! I'm thankful for His faithfulness. For His willingness to forgive. Do you ever stop and think about how God will never get tired of forgiving You? You've got your things that you're struggling with, you've got your sins, you keep doing it over and over, but God is faithful to forgive you, even the millionth and billionth time. How awesome is that?!?
With a God like this, how can I be so stuck on some of these things that run my life? Why can't I keep the right perspective when I have a God who's so mysteriously magnificent? I know it's because I'm a fallen human and I'll always have my faults, but, heck! I just want to scream at my brain and say, "What's wrong with you?!? Why can't you remember that God is worth your everything? Why is it so hard for you to take time out of you life for talk with Him? He gave you this life anyway!"
Friend, can I ask you to tell me some of those things (in a loving way) when I need to hear them?
God is awesome. Awe-some. He inspires awe. How can He not? Seriously, can you imagine having to genuinely love everyone? I mean,sometimes, it's hard enough to love my close friends. But the whole world? You've got to be joking! And yet, it's true! WOW!! Please tell me you're taking the time to really think about that. Think about how wonderful God is, just for a while, if not longer. It's so good. He's so good. Unfathomable. Just incredible.
Now, I guess the question might be, "How can you apply that to your life." No. We're not going to do that. We're just going to enjoy. We're going to enjoy God and who He is. We don't always have to do something about. Besides, in a way, that just turns everything back to us. "What can I do about what I know about God." No. Just enjoy God. Just get to know Him better. Just give Him glory for what we're learning about Him. I think that that's what He would want
P.s.
Originally posted on Xanga, Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thank you, Trisha, for bringing up "You are On Our Side" by Bethany Dillon
It's really, really... good. I want you to read it. It sounds good too. Here's the link for it on Imeem:
http://www.imeem.com/popmusic10/music/xjP6lbrU/bethany_dillon_you_are_on_our_side_waking_up_album_version/
It's worth the quick sign up, I promise.
Now, here are the lyrics:
The orphan clings to Your hand
Singing the song of how he was found
The widow rejoices
For her oppressors are silenced now
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
The runaway falls at Your feet
You are what he has searched for
The rich man is broken
When he stands beneath a sky full of stars
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
Thank you, Trisha, for bringing up "You are On Our Side" by Bethany Dillon
It's really, really... good. I want you to read it. It sounds good too. Here's the link for it on Imeem:
http://www.imeem.com/popmusic10/music/xjP6lbrU/bethany_dillon_you_are_on_our_side_waking_up_album_version/
It's worth the quick sign up, I promise.
Now, here are the lyrics:
The orphan clings to Your hand
Singing the song of how he was found
The widow rejoices
For her oppressors are silenced now
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
The runaway falls at Your feet
You are what he has searched for
The rich man is broken
When he stands beneath a sky full of stars
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
You sit at the table with the wounded and the poor
You laugh and share stories with the thief and the whore
When You could just be silent and leave us here to die
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
Still, You sent Your Son for us
You are on our side
You Learn Something New Everyday?
Originally posted on Xanga, Thursday, September 25, 2008
Today, I learned that you can clean silver with non-abrasive toothpaste!
I'm getting ready to go to the CSO and I find it funny that I still have red paint under my fingernails from my war paint from the Covenant game. We won, by the way. On their court. 2-0. Take that, you Scots!
And we at Bryan are ecstatic.
Today, I learned that you can clean silver with non-abrasive toothpaste!
I'm getting ready to go to the CSO and I find it funny that I still have red paint under my fingernails from my war paint from the Covenant game. We won, by the way. On their court. 2-0. Take that, you Scots!
And we at Bryan are ecstatic.
Some things
Originally posted on Xanga, Thursday, September 30, 2008
I almost died this weekend.
We were having a bonfire at Devon's and Mrs. Spacek put another small log on the fire. I say, "Hey! Look! A spider!"
"Where?"
"Right ... there." I point to it, very closely, and I nearly touch it, but then it comes into the light just a bit more... and I Scream, Jump back, and am totally freaked out!
"OHMYGOSHIT'SABLACKWIDOW!!!"
Huh. It was a biggin, too. The largest one I'd ever seen. Eh, it's body was about as big around as the larger circle of a normal push pin. It upset Mrs. Spacek that she had just had her hand on that log. The rest of us were paranoid every time we felt something on our skin, which was often-ish, because we were outside.
We shriveled the killer up in the fire.
How exiting!
Ever notice how we scream our lungs out for the Covenant game, but then, during Monday's corporate worship chapel, when we're given the chance to "give a shout out to God," we don't even make half that sound.
I read something this summer that advised that you leave someone better than they were when you met them. It was referring to dating relationships, but I think it should apply to friendships and even acquaintance relationships. I would love to be that kind of person to leaves people better than how I found them.
From Thriving as an Artist in the Church by Rory Noland:
- "Passionate people seem more alive. They're exuberant and dynamic. They have a compelling vitality, an abiding joy. They look toward the future expectantly because they always believe that the best is yet to come. The lives of passionate people appear to have meaning and purpose, and people want to be around the because their zest for life is contagious. That's exactly how God intended us to live."
- "Live the adventure God has planned for you to live."
- "At various times throughout the day, I find myself wondering, 'What is God up to in my immediate circle of influence?' I'll be driving to meet someone for lunch and I'll eagerly start wondering, 'God, what are you up to in this person's life, and how can I help?'
And, just for fun:
From Imagine by Steve Turner:
"At different times both the fiddle and the guitar have been regarded as special tools of the devil."
Well, I'm glad that that's no longer a popular idea.
I'm very excited about Fall Break because... dun Dun DUN! I'm going up to Virginia Beach! I'm going to get to see Nathan! Hooray! My best friend! I miss him.
That's all.
I almost died this weekend.
We were having a bonfire at Devon's and Mrs. Spacek put another small log on the fire. I say, "Hey! Look! A spider!"
"Where?"
"Right ... there." I point to it, very closely, and I nearly touch it, but then it comes into the light just a bit more... and I Scream, Jump back, and am totally freaked out!
"OHMYGOSHIT'SABLACKWIDOW!!!"
Huh. It was a biggin, too. The largest one I'd ever seen. Eh, it's body was about as big around as the larger circle of a normal push pin. It upset Mrs. Spacek that she had just had her hand on that log. The rest of us were paranoid every time we felt something on our skin, which was often-ish, because we were outside.
We shriveled the killer up in the fire.
How exiting!
Ever notice how we scream our lungs out for the Covenant game, but then, during Monday's corporate worship chapel, when we're given the chance to "give a shout out to God," we don't even make half that sound.
I read something this summer that advised that you leave someone better than they were when you met them. It was referring to dating relationships, but I think it should apply to friendships and even acquaintance relationships. I would love to be that kind of person to leaves people better than how I found them.
From Thriving as an Artist in the Church by Rory Noland:
- "Passionate people seem more alive. They're exuberant and dynamic. They have a compelling vitality, an abiding joy. They look toward the future expectantly because they always believe that the best is yet to come. The lives of passionate people appear to have meaning and purpose, and people want to be around the because their zest for life is contagious. That's exactly how God intended us to live."
- "Live the adventure God has planned for you to live."
- "At various times throughout the day, I find myself wondering, 'What is God up to in my immediate circle of influence?' I'll be driving to meet someone for lunch and I'll eagerly start wondering, 'God, what are you up to in this person's life, and how can I help?'
And, just for fun:
From Imagine by Steve Turner:
"At different times both the fiddle and the guitar have been regarded as special tools of the devil."
Well, I'm glad that that's no longer a popular idea.
I'm very excited about Fall Break because... dun Dun DUN! I'm going up to Virginia Beach! I'm going to get to see Nathan! Hooray!
My best friend! I miss him.That's all.
Indelible Grace
Originally posted on Xanga, Saturday, November22, 2008 @ 3:21
I have blogged or journaled in a very long time. I wish that I had because I know that I won't be able to recapture lots of things that I want to remember.
There are lots of things that I wish that I would do. Well, quite a few things that have happened throughout the week have really pushed my desires away from unimportant things and towards things that matter. Like journaling, like homework, like deep conversations, like fellowship, like productive Lindsay time. I hope that I will carry out what I know I want to.
It's been a rough week in lots of different ways. It's been good in lots of different ways, too. Great times of victory and friendship and accomplishment and perseverance. But when I look back on this week, there is a majority of rough things and I see is as a rough week. I was able to see, though, how I can work with certain people on certain things and how I definitely cannot work with certain people on certain things or even at all. I learned about myself this week, and that's always cool. I always feel like I'm growing up when I can see things in myself I never saw before. Discovering how I function and under which conditions I function best is exciting.
So, it's been a rough week.
Today, as I look back over recent events in my life, I am floored by the unconditional love I have been shown by many. What Wondrous Love Is This? Miraculous, indeed. It is implied, please understand, that there have been many conditions where I have been the least deserving of this love. But still it is there. It is amazing. It is inescapable. Surpasses understanding. Love That Will Not Let Me Go.
Thank you, friends, for loving me.
---
I'm looking forward to putting on the Thanksgiving Chapel on Monday. It's been a frustrating road, but the destination is going to be good. Heck, rehearsal Thursday evening was good. Something I hate: I know I've lost a lot of my skills with my violin. He must feel so unloved. In truth, I have neglected him, but not in spite. But, I don't think that he hates me for it, even though it would be justifiable. He's just disappointed. But when we don't sound as good as we have before together, it's not because he is trying to get back at me, it's because you can't just pick things back up without expecting any bumps along the way. When you come back to someone you were such great friends with after such a long time apart, you have to rebuild before you are back on the same lever you were before. Charlie knows this, too. I hope that I haven't hurt his feelings and that he will be willing to work with me on this. Who am I kidding, I know that he will. He is happiest when he is in my hand, under my chin. I think that, as soon as he hears me beginning to open his case, he forgives me instantly without me even saying, "I'm sorry." And he does his very best for me to remind me that he loves me and that we are friends and that he wants us to be buddies again. His is an unconditional love, too. And I didn't even realize it until I wrote about him here.
Jr/Sr stuff is coming together. I'm excited about the progress we're making. The class ahead of us tells us that we're doing well and that we're steps ahead of where they were. That's encouraging. I hope that things will work out all right and that we'll be able to make it great for the seniors and juniors. I think they'll like it.
I'm going pretty slowly on my homework. I remember being ahead once. But I'm behind on some things. And lately, I've been doing my work the day before it's due. That's not cool. It's been stressful a lot lately because of it, too. And because of meetings and stuff. I'm pretty drained. And exhausted. But I feel much better and much more personable after a full night's sleep. 3:30-1:00. I think I need more than one evening to collect and calm down. I think I overestimated how much I could relax last night. Maybe. Or maybe it's just that when another stressful thing came up, I just went into hyper fix-things mode and it blew a fuse. And I began to shut down.
You know what? I have been having the worst time since I can ever remember trying to get my messages across in the past, eh... 3-4 days. It's been awful and frustrating. Like, I've not been able to come up with the word "flurry" twice in 2 days! I've been spitting out sentences that might make sense, but they're all jumbled. Whatever happened to syntax? Why am I living out The Bald Soprano? Why can't I get my ideas across without tripping over the fence? I don't know. And then, there have been times when I've really surprised myself by how well my thoughts were concisely put into words and flowed out without me even putting much effort into sounding like a business man. Those times usually happen in Senate meeting, but I caught a few other times when I was chatting with Emily Cook. But anyways, I think that some of the degeneration of my communication skills can be attributed to stress and lack of sleep. I sure hope that that's the only thing. I hope that I'll be able to snap back into place. Maybe that will only happen after Thanksgiving Break, after Nathan gets his charger back, after I'm caught up on all of my homework, and after Monday evenings with Millie. Or maybe it will happen after I post this and continue with my weekend. I don't do much talking on Saturday. Not much interaction. It's 3:19 now and I've only shared a few words with Erin all day.
Speaking of, I got a roommate for next semester! yay!
And, not speaking of, but Peter just called and he's here, so I'm gonig to stop writing, put on normal clothes, brush my teeth and go say hello.
Till next time.
Sorry to leave so ubruptly.
Ciao
(The Italian way)
I have blogged or journaled in a very long time. I wish that I had because I know that I won't be able to recapture lots of things that I want to remember.
There are lots of things that I wish that I would do. Well, quite a few things that have happened throughout the week have really pushed my desires away from unimportant things and towards things that matter. Like journaling, like homework, like deep conversations, like fellowship, like productive Lindsay time. I hope that I will carry out what I know I want to.
It's been a rough week in lots of different ways. It's been good in lots of different ways, too. Great times of victory and friendship and accomplishment and perseverance. But when I look back on this week, there is a majority of rough things and I see is as a rough week. I was able to see, though, how I can work with certain people on certain things and how I definitely cannot work with certain people on certain things or even at all. I learned about myself this week, and that's always cool. I always feel like I'm growing up when I can see things in myself I never saw before. Discovering how I function and under which conditions I function best is exciting.
So, it's been a rough week.
Today, as I look back over recent events in my life, I am floored by the unconditional love I have been shown by many. What Wondrous Love Is This? Miraculous, indeed. It is implied, please understand, that there have been many conditions where I have been the least deserving of this love. But still it is there. It is amazing. It is inescapable. Surpasses understanding. Love That Will Not Let Me Go.
Thank you, friends, for loving me.
---
I'm looking forward to putting on the Thanksgiving Chapel on Monday. It's been a frustrating road, but the destination is going to be good. Heck, rehearsal Thursday evening was good. Something I hate: I know I've lost a lot of my skills with my violin. He must feel so unloved. In truth, I have neglected him, but not in spite. But, I don't think that he hates me for it, even though it would be justifiable. He's just disappointed. But when we don't sound as good as we have before together, it's not because he is trying to get back at me, it's because you can't just pick things back up without expecting any bumps along the way. When you come back to someone you were such great friends with after such a long time apart, you have to rebuild before you are back on the same lever you were before. Charlie knows this, too. I hope that I haven't hurt his feelings and that he will be willing to work with me on this. Who am I kidding, I know that he will. He is happiest when he is in my hand, under my chin. I think that, as soon as he hears me beginning to open his case, he forgives me instantly without me even saying, "I'm sorry." And he does his very best for me to remind me that he loves me and that we are friends and that he wants us to be buddies again. His is an unconditional love, too. And I didn't even realize it until I wrote about him here.
Jr/Sr stuff is coming together. I'm excited about the progress we're making. The class ahead of us tells us that we're doing well and that we're steps ahead of where they were. That's encouraging. I hope that things will work out all right and that we'll be able to make it great for the seniors and juniors. I think they'll like it.
I'm going pretty slowly on my homework. I remember being ahead once. But I'm behind on some things. And lately, I've been doing my work the day before it's due. That's not cool. It's been stressful a lot lately because of it, too. And because of meetings and stuff. I'm pretty drained. And exhausted. But I feel much better and much more personable after a full night's sleep. 3:30-1:00. I think I need more than one evening to collect and calm down. I think I overestimated how much I could relax last night. Maybe. Or maybe it's just that when another stressful thing came up, I just went into hyper fix-things mode and it blew a fuse. And I began to shut down.
You know what? I have been having the worst time since I can ever remember trying to get my messages across in the past, eh... 3-4 days. It's been awful and frustrating. Like, I've not been able to come up with the word "flurry" twice in 2 days! I've been spitting out sentences that might make sense, but they're all jumbled. Whatever happened to syntax? Why am I living out The Bald Soprano? Why can't I get my ideas across without tripping over the fence? I don't know. And then, there have been times when I've really surprised myself by how well my thoughts were concisely put into words and flowed out without me even putting much effort into sounding like a business man. Those times usually happen in Senate meeting, but I caught a few other times when I was chatting with Emily Cook. But anyways, I think that some of the degeneration of my communication skills can be attributed to stress and lack of sleep. I sure hope that that's the only thing. I hope that I'll be able to snap back into place. Maybe that will only happen after Thanksgiving Break, after Nathan gets his charger back, after I'm caught up on all of my homework, and after Monday evenings with Millie. Or maybe it will happen after I post this and continue with my weekend. I don't do much talking on Saturday. Not much interaction. It's 3:19 now and I've only shared a few words with Erin all day.
Speaking of, I got a roommate for next semester! yay!
And, not speaking of, but Peter just called and he's here, so I'm gonig to stop writing, put on normal clothes, brush my teeth and go say hello.
Till next time.
Sorry to leave so ubruptly.
Ciao
(The Italian way)
Wisdom from Dove chocolate
Originally posted on Xanga:
I took down the small bulletin board by my desk just now because I'm sure that I can use that space for something better. On the bulletin board were my favorite Dove chocolate-isms. Here they are:
Do no look back and ask why, look forward and ask, why not?
Love is not getting, but giving.
De a role model for someone.
Forget the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey instead!
And, a sub-ism. One that reminds me of home:
A family that laughs together stays together.
Thanks, Dove chocolate for making life better in more ways than one.
I took down the small bulletin board by my desk just now because I'm sure that I can use that space for something better. On the bulletin board were my favorite Dove chocolate-isms. Here they are:
Do no look back and ask why, look forward and ask, why not?
Love is not getting, but giving.
De a role model for someone.
Forget the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey instead!
And, a sub-ism. One that reminds me of home:
A family that laughs together stays together.
Thanks, Dove chocolate for making life better in more ways than one.
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