so..
So my other blog is supposed to be uploading on this one too but apparently it hasn’t been doing its job very well. Not much has changed…few things have gotten better but most have stayed the same or what not. Really hoping that this internship to germany works out. I’d really like to go. Bit if it doens’t happen….I’ve got a back up, so it’d be ok. so yup. pure luck is kickin in again.
Oh. and I’ll be 21 in less than a month. its scary. ha ha
these past days
As most know, I’ve been on spring break for the past week. Unlike most spring breaks, I didn’t go down to New Orleans to work there, instead I stayed on campus and hung out and stuff. It was pretty uneventful until Wednesday wehn things picked up for a couple days. Now its back to the typical boring Saturday where I spend six hours trying to watch a two hour movie. Yeah. So this week I got to hang out with some of the people that I think are amazing. It was awesome to get to stay up there and not have to drive back and forth between campus and there to do everything.
So Wedneday went pretty well…had a meeting with Chuck (campus pastor) and we got a lot of things done. I’m supposed to be working on a few papers for that and all (shh…) and hopefully a few things will start moving and the ball will start rolling and the force will be unstoppable! I’m really excited about that and all the stuff that will be happening. Later that day I got to groom a dog, which is always fun for me. Its one of those things that I just like to do and enjoy a whole lot. It was awesome 🙂 And then gel group happened. I seriously have the best gel group ever. For those who don’t know, gel group is pretty much like a small group/bible study, but a lot cooler. Those people are amazing.
Thursday was all nice and laid back. Got the chance to hang out with an amazing lady who works for a sweet orginazation (http://www.frontierhorizon.org). She does so much for those kids and they really do a lot of good for them. Its pretty cool–check it out!!
Managed to finish two books while up there–Messy Spirituality and Irresistable Revolution. Now its on to In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy day. Pretty awesome books. Definantly check out the first one. Its one of those, you should read because its awesome books. Also got to hang out at the Forefront office for a while. Totally thought it was sweet getting to chill with all the peeps there.
That catches us up to Friday. Which was fun in and of itself. Got to go to a gallery showing–which I love going to by the way. Met many artists who are very chill and talked to one guy who said he’d do a couple canvases of my photos for not a whole lot. I’m really excited about that because I’ve been trying to figure out how and where I could do that. Oh– the reason for the art show was because my youth pastor , James, had a piece in there (http://www.jamesdavisonline.info/). It was really cool to see that up there among all the other paintings–it really stood out in a good way.
And all that brings us back to now, Saturday, and the watching of movies, finishing of papers, posters, edits and everything else I didn’t do on the other days. Looking back…it was a pretty dang awesome week and I’m really thankful for all the people that made it so amazing. Seriously thankful for all of them…even the Starbucks lady that gave me weird looks for chillin in there for four hours. Hey, I was reading a book, and I did buy something…haha. Can’t wait for Sunday to roll around and see somethings put in action.
p.s. it is somewhere around 72 degrees outside, sunny and there’s a light breeze. don’t hate 🙂
Camp?!
I’m watching Jesus Camp right now. I’m only a few minutes in and found it kinda funny that this guy said he’s a “Christian. A Bible believing Christian.” Do we really need to say that we are bible believing if we are Christians? Shouldn’t that just be a given? I mean…what kind of Christian doesn’t believe in the bible? Honestly…
Anyway…I’m ten ish minutes into it right now…it kinda scares me. These little kids…just wow. If you haven’t seen it, don’t see it if you’re not secure. If you are, see it. Its different.
Ok…that’s all on that for now. I’m going to go back and watch it.
Starbucks, baptism
Today’s message was really great. It was a hard hitting one that was just…awe inspiring for the lack of better terms. It really hit the heart and was great. If you want to hear it, go to forefront and click media then messages. Its the last one in the broken people series. Its just something that you’d have to hear.
After church and hanging out in the food court, I chilled at Starbucks. While I was there, a couple of youth pastors were working on their sermon. Which was a sermon that we just did in the high school group. I thought it was pretty funny that we had just done that. I talked to them about it for a while and they took it a totally different route than we did, but that’s cool. There’s no wrong or right way about it. Just so long as the students learn. Managed to finish Messy Spirituality. Its a must read. Very cool book. Also, talked to a girl that I knew in high school for a while…she’s in Poland now. It was neat to be able to talk to her and catch up with all that’s happened in the past couple years and all. I love talking to people and hearing their stories and how they’ve changed and everything.
Later was the baptism service. Which was sweet. Claire went with me (after a hour at Starbucks–seriously believe the people there think I’m crazy lol) and she ran powerpoint and it was cool. Just being there and seeing stuff happen in people’s lives is cool. Got told something that caught me off guard and made me extremely humble…but that’s not to be revieled yet 🙂 All in all it was a pretty good day. Tomorrow looks to be a slow one, as does the day after, but Wednesday…..Wednesday is gonna be a busy one 🙂
Compass, Ministry, Service
Apparently people get really up in arms when you tell them that you’re watching the Golden Compass. Its supposed to be “anti-Christian and pro-atheism” but I don’t really see it that way. Its a really great movie that tells how a girl saves a bunch of kids from this evil lady’s experiments. At least that’s what the first movie is about. I’m kinda hoping they make another one so the rest of the story will be found out and you’re not left hanging at the part where they are going to go give her father something he needs. I don’t understand where the whole atheism part plays into it, but if people want to see it, they’ll see it. And yes I know that the author of the books said that’s what its all about, but in the movie? Not visible at all. Sorry folks. Its not as blatant as the Narnia Chronicles–which I’m attempting to watch Prince Caspian, but the video player is being cruel right now lol.
On to a new topic, the student ministry that I’m in now is going well. There’s a few ideas out there on the board that look like its going to start something new. I’m really excited about the stuff that’s going to be going on. And not only that, but a few things were solved- kinda- and things are a little better. Hopefully the relationships that need to be built up will start getting built up. Next week is going to be mad crazy with all the activities that will be going on, but I’m so looking forward to it all. Really. This is what I love to do. Working with student ministry, planning things for them, working out the kinks, hanging with them and the other leaders….things don’t get much better than that.
Tomorrow is Starting Point at Forefront! Starting point is basically the what we are and where we are going talk for new people. Its a really neat thing and they feed you lunch (always a bonus!). If you’re new or new-ish to Forefront, come check it out and see what’s going on. Also, its a baptism Sunday for the church! Totally a cool thing! Gonna go support the baptees and chill with some awesome people.
Yup. Hectic times, but goodish times.
spring break
Its spring break. Oh yes, starting at 1:20 today, I was released from the educational responsibilities and told to take the week off. Unfortuently, I’m one of the few people in the world who would rather be in school than on a break. I’m not sure what should be accomplished on this break…lots of homework will be done, several books will be read and a few meetings attended. That’s about all that I know of. I’m hoping to get to do a little work somewhere to keep me busy because I hate not doing anything for days on end. Maybe God has something really cool in store for me this week….we’ll just have to wait and see I guess…
E-mail!
As we all know, or now will know, I was offered an internship with Kontaktmission for this summer to Germany. I’m really excited about it! Its going to be a ten week stay and will involve everything from youth work to church planting. Today was the first day I received contact about it! Yay! First e-mail for luck and good wishes! It was the best part of the day 🙂 Reading happy emails about that is always exciting!
Back to the mission, I’ll be in Stuttgart/Jena Germany. I leave May 20th and return August 10th (or something close to the date in august). The trip costs a bit, but it covers my ticket, meals, boarding, materials, training, travel there…pretty well everything but souviners. Hopefully, I’ll be able to raise the money in time to get there (if you’d like to support e-mail me).
The main thing I’m asking for from everyone is to pray that the trip goes well and that communication is understood and that everyone has a good time and the work needed is done. Prayer is the most important part of any trip!!
So yeah! that’s the fun part of the day! Reading an awesome e-mail! 🙂
Winterjam
Today was Winterjam. Its pretty much this big concert with a lot of Christian artists. The day started off pretty normal, went to church really really early, helped set up a bit then went over to get Claire to go to the concert. We get there really early so we’d have good seats and all. For the time frame….its 11am and its rainy, cold and windy. Around 3:30 that afternoon, after standing there all day, this lady comes through the crowd asking for volunteers. I was like sure, why not? Claire has a friend so she’ll be ok and I mean, it’d be cool to give a hand. So they station me at the special door with programs. I passed out over 1300 programs in a little over an hour. It was insane!! Then Paula , the lady in charge, asked if I’d mind counting money. And I was like sure, why not? Well, this is where it gets interesting. I go down to the room to count money and there’s this girl there who says she knows me but I have no clue as to who she is. Turns out she’s a girl from AWANA back in Waynesville, Mo. She worked in Cubbies and I worked in Sparkies but we were both in 24/7 together. It was insane!! We talked forever about monkey ball, baptizims, ninja tag, songs….it was really really cool running into her. How odd is that?! How small the world is to be running into AWANA buddies from years and years ago! So that’s the crazy part of it, the awesome part of volunteering is that I was downstairs, backstage, right next to Tobymac’s dressing room! I got to meet Hawk Nelson, Stephanie Smith, Brandon Heath, PuNRG, and many others! It was awesome, and when time came for the show to end, most of them remembered me and let me cut in to get my program signed and pictures taken. It was really cool!! Plus all the tech work behind the scenes…..oh my gosh. It made me wonder why I ever left theater tech. Just astounding. I’m hoping to volunteer again with them when they come through next year and when ever else I get the chance to. All in all today was pretty awesome. And now I’m wiped out and about ready to crash. Till later….peace…
Birds on a wire…
Me. Being the awesome person I am. Am reevaluating what I want to do in life. Its really scary because I don’t know if this is what is supposed to happen, what will happen or if its just me getting antsy about everything.
Honestly though, I think what is going on with everything is a subtle kick in the pants of saying this is what I’m really supposed to be doing and that it’ll fall into place someday soon. I just sent a e-mail to a person asking their opinion. And hopefully, they’ll get back with me and let me know what they think and everything. I think that’s what I’m supposed to do. There’s that “heavy heart” feeling in my chest about it. Don’t know if that’s good or bad or just the effect of too much caffeine.
I’ve questioned my position in life so much. I’ve changed things so much. And the only thing that has ever remained the same is this passion that most don’t know about. Here’s to finding out what it means…
Gay and Compassionate
“As Christians, that should be our approach to homosexuals. We have seen clearly that God hates homosexuality, but as Christians we are called to treat people with compassion. We are called love people and demonstrate Christ to them. The greatest way to demonstrate love for sinners is to compassionately show them their sin. To withhold God’s hatred for the sin of homosexuality is not compassionate, even if it’s masked with the label of “tolerance.” Withholding the only truth that can bring salvation is the opposite of compassion; it is condemnation.
As Christians we are called to proclaim the truth; and not simply for truth’s sake. We are called to proclaim God’s truth regarding the sin of men so that through the knowledge of sin God may grant faith and repentence that leads to salvation. With homosexuality it is no different. If a homosexual will turn from their sin and turn to Christ, they too can be saved.”
This came froma blog that I normally don’t read because the people who write it I don’t particularly agree with.Their views don’t coincide with mine hardly at all when it comes to people with alternative lifestyles and whatnot. I agree that we need to treat everyone with compassion, but I do not agree that it is our place to show them their sins. Pretty sure that’s the work of the Holy Spirit. Granted, if they come for advice, and are open, willing and really want it…then its our place to show them what they need to see. But nowhere does it state that it’s our place to point out how wrong they are and how right we are. Remember the Pharisees? They let everyone else know about the sins that the people around them were carrying. Were they compassionate because they were saving the people from themselves? Yes, homosexuality is wrong, but we don’t need to point out how wrong they are. We need to love them like Jesus told us to. That’s what we’re called to do. Not to point out sins, but to love. By loving them, we’re showing that we care and are truly compassionate. It’s not withholding truth or condemning them to hell if we don’t point out their sin. If we love them like Jesus, eventually they will turn and see it for themselves. We don’t’ need to shove our “religion” on them and condemn them for their actions now. We should be merciful and meek. Kind and caring. Loving and nonjudgmental. And we need to remember that before we try to “fix” or “save” someone else from sin(s), we need to ask forgiveness for our own.
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