I'm off this weekend to the spring regional Navigator conference. Pennsylvania here I come!
I wanted to get a couple long posts up before I went so I could come home to lots of comments...but schoolwork prevented that. Meanwhile, let's see if anyone can figure out where "Pigeon Pi" comes from. I look forward to reading the theories...
Friday, February 13, 2004
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Tonight in bible study, we took this test from Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages. We were studying Ephesians 4, how we all have different gifts but are unified in Christ and we should maintain unity through love. (Good stuff.) So we took a test to find out how each girl in our study best receives love. The five ways are through: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. All of the girls in our group turned out to be big on quality time. I wound up being "bilingual" in quality time and physical touch. Not really surprising actually, I think I would have been able to guess those were my main things. Interestingly though, most of the girls in our group tend to show love in the ways they scored lower in. I know a big one for me is acts of service, and I like giving gifts, but I'm not too big on receiving gifts, never have been.
This, of course led to wondering why. One explanation we came up with was that the areas that we haven't received much of are the ones we most crave while the ones we have received a lot of are how we learned to love.
Lots of good discussion, I would share it all, but I'm exhausted (for some odd reason) and am going to bed. I'll certainly be adding that book to my list...
This, of course led to wondering why. One explanation we came up with was that the areas that we haven't received much of are the ones we most crave while the ones we have received a lot of are how we learned to love.
Lots of good discussion, I would share it all, but I'm exhausted (for some odd reason) and am going to bed. I'll certainly be adding that book to my list...
Always some thing new here at the coop.
Well no, not always. But I did add some links. And if you go through the archives you may pick up on something you missed the first time. And you could always leave a comment...that would definitely be new.
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Denial? What denial?
I knew this was coming. I just didn't think it would be so soon.
I just learned that my brother, who I though was headed for Iraq sometime in late March, is actually already there. My brother is in the Army (has been for 8 years or so) and pilots Kiowa helicopters. I know I said before that my brother wasn't the best growing up, and he wasn't. But I also haven't seen him much in the past 8 years, and not at all since he became a Christian. So he's changed a lot. And I do love him, always have, no matter what I may say about him.
Anyway, I am thankful that (a) my dad retired before this whole Iraq thing started and (b) my brother is going now and wasn't there when everything got going.
I think I may need a hug.
I just learned that my brother, who I though was headed for Iraq sometime in late March, is actually already there. My brother is in the Army (has been for 8 years or so) and pilots Kiowa helicopters. I know I said before that my brother wasn't the best growing up, and he wasn't. But I also haven't seen him much in the past 8 years, and not at all since he became a Christian. So he's changed a lot. And I do love him, always have, no matter what I may say about him.
Anyway, I am thankful that (a) my dad retired before this whole Iraq thing started and (b) my brother is going now and wasn't there when everything got going.
I think I may need a hug.
Good Times
When I was in high school, I was in the International Baccalaureate program. One of the sure-fire ways to tell is that I can actually spell baccalaureate. For those who don't know, and are too lazy to actually click the link, IB is kind of like Advanced Placement (AP) on steroids. For one, instead of just being a national thing, IB is international; your papers, exams, and major projects are sent around the world for grading. For example, my IB exam in Anthropology was graded in Argentina. It is also twice the work. Example again: for the IB diploma, the student is required to write an Extended Essay which is the high school equivilant of a thesis. We were to work on this for two years, we had advisors for our paper, we had to work and rework every last bit. My original topic was to be "The socialization and culturalization of Inupiat Youth" or something like that. My paper's actual title (as I changed topics two weeks before the final paper was due) was "A Comprehensive Definition of Terrorism" in which I took other people's definitions of terrorism and tore them apart, explaining exactly why they didn't work and how it is next to impossible to actually define. I then proceeded to compile my own definition.
Anyway, all of this rambling is so that I have a reason to link to the You Know You're in IB page written by fellow WHS IB alum Sam Alrich (c/o 2003). My particular favorites are:
"I.B. therefore I B.S."
"You make a date to do homework together and you actually do."
"The 'due' date becomes the 'do' date."
"You find that you spend more time sleeping in class than at home."
and
"You know you have parents because you have seen their picture."
Enjoy. By the way, TOK is Theory of Knowledge, a philosophy type class we all were mandated the privilege to attend.
Anyway, all of this rambling is so that I have a reason to link to the You Know You're in IB page written by fellow WHS IB alum Sam Alrich (c/o 2003). My particular favorites are:
"I.B. therefore I B.S."
"You make a date to do homework together and you actually do."
"The 'due' date becomes the 'do' date."
"You find that you spend more time sleeping in class than at home."
and
"You know you have parents because you have seen their picture."
Enjoy. By the way, TOK is Theory of Knowledge, a philosophy type class we all were mandated the privilege to attend.
Saturday, February 07, 2004
As promised.
Perhaps the most difficult question for me to answer is what I want to do after graduation. Usually, this question comes is formed as "What do you want to do with your degree?" which I find next to impossible to answer for a couple of reasons. First of all, I don't really know. I mean, I have a general idea of what I would like to do, but nothing specific.
More than that, what I really want to say is "It's not important to me." Most people can't seem to understand why, even after I explain. Sure I would like to work at a rehabilitation center, or wildlife refuge, or somewhere I can share my love of nature with others...but I know my focus in life isn't going to be on a career. My focus is on being a wife. Yes, "is," as in present. Let me clarify: I am not married, and am not seeking a husband (God'll take care of that in His own time). The way I see it is, until I marry, God is my husband. (How I learned this has a lot to do with Hosea 2 and me finally waking up to who God really is.)
Genesis 2:18 says:
Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for man to be alone; I will make
him a helper suitable for him."
I love that the first description of woman is as a helper. This is exactly what I want to be, God has given me a heart for service. My greatest joy in ministry is when I am working with all the behind the scenes stuff, when I am providing something to bless others.
I've mentioned Proverbs 31 before. I believe it to be the best example of what a woman's role is in marriage. I especially like verse 23. It may seem odd for the verse to be in the middle of this passage, but her husband would not be where he is if it were not for all that she is. I know that every aspect of my character, everything that God is working in me is so that I may better serve Him and so that I may be the woman that my husband needs me to be.
A wife is supposed to be the support of her husband. Her husband should be able to trust her in all things (Proverbs 31:11). Life is spiritual warfare and you don't want to go into battle without fully trusting the person fighting alongside you.
Proverbs 12:4 says:
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who shames him
is as rottenness in his bones.
A wife should be an asset to her husband: encouraging him (Proverbs 32:26) and working alongside him. My husband should be better able to serve God because of me, not in spiteof me. As I said, until I meet my husband, Christ is filling that role. I therefore strive to be an asset to Christ. I serve Christ. When I marry, I will still serve Christ and one means of serving Christ will be to serve my husband.
What, then, is the husband's role? Well, I haven't spent as much time on that part. I do believe the wife is to submit to her husband in all things.
Ephesians 5:23-24:
For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of
the church, He Himself being Savior of the body.
But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to
their husbands in everything.
Husbands are to be the spiritual leader in the relationship. A husband should be an example for his wife, he should encourage her in her own walk with Christ. (Now, if the husband isn't following Christ himself, he can hardly be expected to lead his wife in righteousness, but she should still be subject to her husband. See 1 Peter 3:1-2).
So there you have it. I feel I could have said more. I probably should have elaborated more on certain parts...This just leaves room for potential sequels. We'll see.
More than that, what I really want to say is "It's not important to me." Most people can't seem to understand why, even after I explain. Sure I would like to work at a rehabilitation center, or wildlife refuge, or somewhere I can share my love of nature with others...but I know my focus in life isn't going to be on a career. My focus is on being a wife. Yes, "is," as in present. Let me clarify: I am not married, and am not seeking a husband (God'll take care of that in His own time). The way I see it is, until I marry, God is my husband. (How I learned this has a lot to do with Hosea 2 and me finally waking up to who God really is.)
Genesis 2:18 says:
Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for man to be alone; I will make
him a helper suitable for him."
I love that the first description of woman is as a helper. This is exactly what I want to be, God has given me a heart for service. My greatest joy in ministry is when I am working with all the behind the scenes stuff, when I am providing something to bless others.
I've mentioned Proverbs 31 before. I believe it to be the best example of what a woman's role is in marriage. I especially like verse 23. It may seem odd for the verse to be in the middle of this passage, but her husband would not be where he is if it were not for all that she is. I know that every aspect of my character, everything that God is working in me is so that I may better serve Him and so that I may be the woman that my husband needs me to be.
A wife is supposed to be the support of her husband. Her husband should be able to trust her in all things (Proverbs 31:11). Life is spiritual warfare and you don't want to go into battle without fully trusting the person fighting alongside you.
Proverbs 12:4 says:
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who shames him
is as rottenness in his bones.
A wife should be an asset to her husband: encouraging him (Proverbs 32:26) and working alongside him. My husband should be better able to serve God because of me, not in spiteof me. As I said, until I meet my husband, Christ is filling that role. I therefore strive to be an asset to Christ. I serve Christ. When I marry, I will still serve Christ and one means of serving Christ will be to serve my husband.
What, then, is the husband's role? Well, I haven't spent as much time on that part. I do believe the wife is to submit to her husband in all things.
Ephesians 5:23-24:
For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of
the church, He Himself being Savior of the body.
But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to
their husbands in everything.
Husbands are to be the spiritual leader in the relationship. A husband should be an example for his wife, he should encourage her in her own walk with Christ. (Now, if the husband isn't following Christ himself, he can hardly be expected to lead his wife in righteousness, but she should still be subject to her husband. See 1 Peter 3:1-2).
So there you have it. I feel I could have said more. I probably should have elaborated more on certain parts...This just leaves room for potential sequels. We'll see.
Thursday, February 05, 2004
Curiouser and curiouser.
I really don't mean for this to be a daily journal but today has been the strangest day.
To start things off, I received an email this morning from someone I haven't heard from since high school graduation (almost 2 years ago). Turns out he had some things he has been wanting to tell me for some time (nothing bad), some things he wanted to come clean about, and has finally gotten around to doing it. So, after reading that, I left for class in a little bit of a daze.
I went to my eight o'clock class and--surprise!--we won't be having class at all next week because our teacher is going to a conference. Really it should be good news, but I wasn't terribly excited. I like getting up earlier in the morning but I've gotten into the habit of sleeping in to nine or so because I don't have many morning classes this semester, so next week I may wind up slipping entirely (especially Thursday as I won't have class until 3:30 which is just dangerous).
I went to work on math lab with Drau and we wound up working (and actually being productive) for 3 hours. So now I am ahead in at least one of my classes, which never happens with me. On schedule, maybe...behind, usually....ahead, never.
The topper to the day was lunch where the guy at the register really threw me for a spin. I have to share the entire conversation:
Me: Hello.
Him: Is that it for you today?
Me handing him my card:Yep.
Him taking card, going to swipe it, pausing without swiping it, looks at me: Lemme ask you this, do you like to sing?
Me wondering if he somehow knows me: Um..yeah.
Him: Well, I'm in this band and we are going to be doing some recordings in a few weeks and need some girls to sing background, interested?
Me thinking "Oh my gosh, he has my card hostage." I'm sorry, my schedule is already crammed too full.
Him: Well, it would be in like a month.
Me: Sorry, no.
He proceeded run my card through and give it back to me, I proceeded to exit Express as quickly as possible.
Makes me wonder what tomorrow is going to be like...
To start things off, I received an email this morning from someone I haven't heard from since high school graduation (almost 2 years ago). Turns out he had some things he has been wanting to tell me for some time (nothing bad), some things he wanted to come clean about, and has finally gotten around to doing it. So, after reading that, I left for class in a little bit of a daze.
I went to my eight o'clock class and--surprise!--we won't be having class at all next week because our teacher is going to a conference. Really it should be good news, but I wasn't terribly excited. I like getting up earlier in the morning but I've gotten into the habit of sleeping in to nine or so because I don't have many morning classes this semester, so next week I may wind up slipping entirely (especially Thursday as I won't have class until 3:30 which is just dangerous).
I went to work on math lab with Drau and we wound up working (and actually being productive) for 3 hours. So now I am ahead in at least one of my classes, which never happens with me. On schedule, maybe...behind, usually....ahead, never.
The topper to the day was lunch where the guy at the register really threw me for a spin. I have to share the entire conversation:
Me: Hello.
Him: Is that it for you today?
Me handing him my card:Yep.
Him taking card, going to swipe it, pausing without swiping it, looks at me: Lemme ask you this, do you like to sing?
Me wondering if he somehow knows me: Um..yeah.
Him: Well, I'm in this band and we are going to be doing some recordings in a few weeks and need some girls to sing background, interested?
Me thinking "Oh my gosh, he has my card hostage." I'm sorry, my schedule is already crammed too full.
Him: Well, it would be in like a month.
Me: Sorry, no.
He proceeded run my card through and give it back to me, I proceeded to exit Express as quickly as possible.
Makes me wonder what tomorrow is going to be like...
And they call this science.
I've been looking up journal articles on black bears and hibernation for one of my classes. Many of the studies monitor chemical and hormonal levels in a bear's body during hibernation. Not the kind of job I want to do...I mean I doubt bears are that pleasant when you want to stick needles into them while they are trying to sleep. The best title, by far, has been "A technique for and risks associated with entering tree dens used by black bears." by Godfrey, et al. in the Wildlife Society Bulletin. I love that someone actually took the time to right down why going into a bear's den isn't the brightest idea in the world.
What have I gotten myself into?
What have I gotten myself into?
Wednesday, February 04, 2004
Sneak preview...
I've said before that it takes a while to get some things posted because I like to write out everything longhand first. I like to take my time and find exactly the words I want. One of the things I have been (and still am) working on is my view of my role as a woman and my (future...distant future) role as a wife. I couldn't help putting this up though...
Today at lunch, Becky and I were going through Proverbs 31:10-31. This is one of my favorite passages, particularly verses 10 and 30. We went through and pulled out the characteristics highlighted by each individual verse. All I can say is, wow. We found at least thirty distinct characteristics of an "excellent wife"; she is to be trustworthy, loyal, diligent, encouraging, supportive, honorable, whole-hearted and a good steward, just to name a few. It's quite a checklist. If ever there was a woman for me to envy it would be this ideal woman, she is definitely an example to follow.
May pursuit of such excellence be my life's goal.
Today at lunch, Becky and I were going through Proverbs 31:10-31. This is one of my favorite passages, particularly verses 10 and 30. We went through and pulled out the characteristics highlighted by each individual verse. All I can say is, wow. We found at least thirty distinct characteristics of an "excellent wife"; she is to be trustworthy, loyal, diligent, encouraging, supportive, honorable, whole-hearted and a good steward, just to name a few. It's quite a checklist. If ever there was a woman for me to envy it would be this ideal woman, she is definitely an example to follow.
May pursuit of such excellence be my life's goal.
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
As long as I'm procrastinating
I don't quite understand how in college I spend hours staring at the computer, sitting in class, and hanging out (usually chatting, eating and playing games) yet have still managed to lose weight. Theory: low impact lifestyle + increased food intake= new diet trend. While I'm at it...student loans are actually the money the bank owes you after graduation and six hours is too much sleep.
Seems this semester is both better and worse than I was expecting. How, you ask? Well, I've already dropped from 18 down to 15 credits because (time-wise) there was no way I would be able to make it through them all with any shred of sanity left. The group of classes I'm left with is:
evolutionary Biology
Plant Taxonomy (and lab)
Wildlife Biology
Wildlife Field Biology (and lab)
Elementary Calculus with Trig.
Other than math, all of my classes have been evolution and classification systems. Granted, the focus is different in each class, but it's still evolution, evolution, and (oh yeah) evolution. I was a little nervous about dealing with all of them, but I am actually enjoying my classes. The material is certainly interesting, and at the very least I know where other people are coming from and why some people can be so pessimistic. I mean, if I thought that my entire existence -- every thought, every action, every emotion -- was just the result of some random chemical reaction or molecular collision and had no real purpose or significance I'm sure I would find it hard to see the up side of things. (I know better, see Psalm 139; but that's another post entirely.)
The thing that is going to absolutely kill me is fitting everything into my schedule. For Wildlife Field Biology, I have to come up with an observation/research project which will require an additional two hours of field research each week. Not only do I have no clue what I'm going to observe, I have no idea when I can possibly observe it.
Seems this semester is both better and worse than I was expecting. How, you ask? Well, I've already dropped from 18 down to 15 credits because (time-wise) there was no way I would be able to make it through them all with any shred of sanity left. The group of classes I'm left with is:
evolutionary Biology
Plant Taxonomy (and lab)
Wildlife Biology
Wildlife Field Biology (and lab)
Elementary Calculus with Trig.
Other than math, all of my classes have been evolution and classification systems. Granted, the focus is different in each class, but it's still evolution, evolution, and (oh yeah) evolution. I was a little nervous about dealing with all of them, but I am actually enjoying my classes. The material is certainly interesting, and at the very least I know where other people are coming from and why some people can be so pessimistic. I mean, if I thought that my entire existence -- every thought, every action, every emotion -- was just the result of some random chemical reaction or molecular collision and had no real purpose or significance I'm sure I would find it hard to see the up side of things. (I know better, see Psalm 139; but that's another post entirely.)
The thing that is going to absolutely kill me is fitting everything into my schedule. For Wildlife Field Biology, I have to come up with an observation/research project which will require an additional two hours of field research each week. Not only do I have no clue what I'm going to observe, I have no idea when I can possibly observe it.
So a duck walks into a bar...
Mornings don't get more fun.
After turning of my 7am alarm, I roll over to "wake up" only to drift off again after a fitful night's sleep. I do wake up, but not until 7:58 and I happen to have an 8 o'clock class scheduled for Tuesdays. I proceed to get dressed (all the while debating whether 'tis nobler to go and be late or, by staying home, save some stress and then copy notes). I then check the weather on My VT to ensure I am not going to freeze only to find out that a glorious delay is in effect and my dilemma is no dilemma at all...in fact, the extra hour was just the rest I needed and the alarming wake-up was more refreshing than how I usually start my day. Fun how God tends to work things...
After turning of my 7am alarm, I roll over to "wake up" only to drift off again after a fitful night's sleep. I do wake up, but not until 7:58 and I happen to have an 8 o'clock class scheduled for Tuesdays. I proceed to get dressed (all the while debating whether 'tis nobler to go and be late or, by staying home, save some stress and then copy notes). I then check the weather on My VT to ensure I am not going to freeze only to find out that a glorious delay is in effect and my dilemma is no dilemma at all...in fact, the extra hour was just the rest I needed and the alarming wake-up was more refreshing than how I usually start my day. Fun how God tends to work things...
Sunday, February 01, 2004
The advantages of being an Army brat...
create your own visited states map
I've at least been to all of these places, how many of them I remember...that's another story altogether.
Friday, January 30, 2004
Back in the Swing of Things.
After about a month and a half of withdrawal, I finally got to go swing dancing tonight. (Ok, so last Saturday some friends and I got together to review some moves but that's not the same.) All I can say is, wow...I am so rusty. I actually was in pain at one point, certain muscles I forgot I had reintroduced themselves. I wouldn't have it any other way, though. My love of swing may not go back far (only to September) but it has definitely become a passion. I love to dance, I love to learn, I love to have fun with my friends and swing lets me do all three.
Life lesson learned from swing #12: You can learn a lot by being willing to try something new. I learn at least five new moves every dance and can't seem to get enough. As of now I've got basic East Coast, Lindy and Charleston under my belt, some Shag, and I started to pick up Shim-Sham. Man what a high.
I think it's interesting how much you learn about people just by dancing with them, especially from the girl's perspective. Life lesson learned from swing #8: Don't get Saucy with just anybody, you'll regret it. For those of you non-swinging types...Saucy is a kick in Charleston in which the girl is essentially kicking from a dip position; not something you want to do with a guy you don't trust to support you. I've learned a couple of particularly tricky moves (one being Saucy and another a basket swing in Lindy) that I've learned with certain partners and, as of yet, haven't found anybody else I've felt comfortable enough with to do those moves. A girl learns very quickly which guys she can and cannot trust, and often the guys you can trust on the dance floor are those that you can trust off. For my part, I can usually tell within the first three or four measures if the guy I'm dancing with is going to be able to carry his part or not. There are some guys I like dancing with because they are confident in their lead, a couple of guys I've danced with enough that I don't have to think about what I'm doing anymore; I can just let go and let them lead without worrying about them spinning me into a wall. Then there are some guys who just don't get the whole leading thing...You continually guess whether they are leading a spin or just being sloppy. Ergh. For those guys, life lesson learned from swing #7:If you move confidently you can get away with just about anything.
Surprisingly tonight there was a shortage of men, many a lady was in need of a partner. Luckily I knew a good number of the guys that were there, and had danced with them before, so I didn't end up on the wall too often. Still, it is quite the reverse of when I first started going to the dances.
So to recap, I am so excited to be swinging again.
While I'm on the topic of great guys, I want to say how incredibly blessed I am to know the group of gentlemen that I do. It means a lot to me to know and be able to spend time with my Christian brothers. I have a brother who is seven years older than me and was a real jerk while I was growing up. The only time he noticed me was to pick on me or have me entertain him when none of his friends happened to be around. Being an Army brat, he and my dad were the two guys I've spent the most time with in my life. This explains why I am so close to my dad; he is a strong man after Christ, a great leader for our family, and a bigger kid than I am. I can only hope to marry a man half as good as my father. (Yep, I'm his angel-baby. My future husband has some shoes to fill, let me tell you.)
Anyway, back to Christian brothers. In high school, I could count on one hand the number of guys I knew who even claimed to be Christian, let alone acted the part. So, I can't really express how much it means to me to be around men who truly follow after Christ. Example: Last semester, when hurricane Isabel came through, a group of Navigators was at the football game, some of the guys had painted up so they were shirtless and freezing. Tanya and I bought them cocoa and they were genuinely grateful. Point? These guys made us "Thank You" notes. Up until this point, I had never known a guy in my peer group that would write a thank you of his own free will, let alone quote Romans 16:1-2 in it and promise to be there if ever we needed something in return.
I still have that Thank You; I'm staring at it as it hangs above my desk even as I type this. To me, it's a reminder that chivalry is alive and thriving; that there are actual men in this world, not just skirt-chasing-hormone-sacks and machismo addicts; and that I am blessed to know men who know and live by 1 Timothy 5:1-2. I could go on commending these men of God and how important time with them is to me, how I feel completely at ease around them, how I know they would never let anybody mess with me...Like I said, I could go on for pages. I don't think I have enough words. If any of them happen to be reading this: thank you! Your deeds mean more than you will ever know.
Life lesson learned from swing #12: You can learn a lot by being willing to try something new. I learn at least five new moves every dance and can't seem to get enough. As of now I've got basic East Coast, Lindy and Charleston under my belt, some Shag, and I started to pick up Shim-Sham. Man what a high.
I think it's interesting how much you learn about people just by dancing with them, especially from the girl's perspective. Life lesson learned from swing #8: Don't get Saucy with just anybody, you'll regret it. For those of you non-swinging types...Saucy is a kick in Charleston in which the girl is essentially kicking from a dip position; not something you want to do with a guy you don't trust to support you. I've learned a couple of particularly tricky moves (one being Saucy and another a basket swing in Lindy) that I've learned with certain partners and, as of yet, haven't found anybody else I've felt comfortable enough with to do those moves. A girl learns very quickly which guys she can and cannot trust, and often the guys you can trust on the dance floor are those that you can trust off. For my part, I can usually tell within the first three or four measures if the guy I'm dancing with is going to be able to carry his part or not. There are some guys I like dancing with because they are confident in their lead, a couple of guys I've danced with enough that I don't have to think about what I'm doing anymore; I can just let go and let them lead without worrying about them spinning me into a wall. Then there are some guys who just don't get the whole leading thing...You continually guess whether they are leading a spin or just being sloppy. Ergh. For those guys, life lesson learned from swing #7:If you move confidently you can get away with just about anything.
Surprisingly tonight there was a shortage of men, many a lady was in need of a partner. Luckily I knew a good number of the guys that were there, and had danced with them before, so I didn't end up on the wall too often. Still, it is quite the reverse of when I first started going to the dances.
So to recap, I am so excited to be swinging again.
While I'm on the topic of great guys, I want to say how incredibly blessed I am to know the group of gentlemen that I do. It means a lot to me to know and be able to spend time with my Christian brothers. I have a brother who is seven years older than me and was a real jerk while I was growing up. The only time he noticed me was to pick on me or have me entertain him when none of his friends happened to be around. Being an Army brat, he and my dad were the two guys I've spent the most time with in my life. This explains why I am so close to my dad; he is a strong man after Christ, a great leader for our family, and a bigger kid than I am. I can only hope to marry a man half as good as my father. (Yep, I'm his angel-baby. My future husband has some shoes to fill, let me tell you.)
Anyway, back to Christian brothers. In high school, I could count on one hand the number of guys I knew who even claimed to be Christian, let alone acted the part. So, I can't really express how much it means to me to be around men who truly follow after Christ. Example: Last semester, when hurricane Isabel came through, a group of Navigators was at the football game, some of the guys had painted up so they were shirtless and freezing. Tanya and I bought them cocoa and they were genuinely grateful. Point? These guys made us "Thank You" notes. Up until this point, I had never known a guy in my peer group that would write a thank you of his own free will, let alone quote Romans 16:1-2 in it and promise to be there if ever we needed something in return.
I still have that Thank You; I'm staring at it as it hangs above my desk even as I type this. To me, it's a reminder that chivalry is alive and thriving; that there are actual men in this world, not just skirt-chasing-hormone-sacks and machismo addicts; and that I am blessed to know men who know and live by 1 Timothy 5:1-2. I could go on commending these men of God and how important time with them is to me, how I feel completely at ease around them, how I know they would never let anybody mess with me...Like I said, I could go on for pages. I don't think I have enough words. If any of them happen to be reading this: thank you! Your deeds mean more than you will ever know.
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Absolute Nonsense
I may not be very blog-savvy but I know enough to understand that posting things like one's own poems tends not to be appreciated much, especially when they are lengthy (as in 2 pages as mine tend to be). So I've decided to honor popular demand for the time being. The following, however, is a favorite away message of mine that has come here to retire. I would have just deleted it entirely but a couple of my friends particularly enjoyed it while in use so here it will remain. (Meanwhile, that Yeti game? 588.8, hear me roar!)
I'm starting a self-help group (I know) for the coordinationally challenged. We will be meeting to discuss some of the difficulties of everyday life, things that graceful people take for granted. Session topics to be as follows:
The Dynamics of Doors: ll vs. sh.
Getting Up Again: Learning to keep one foot in front of the other.
When Things Get Screwy: The truth behind lefty-loosey, righty-tighty.
Button, Button, Who's Got the Button: A crash course in clasps, chains, zippers and other such fascinating fastening devices.
We also will have classes for advanced learners such as:
The Bell Tolls for Thee: A detailed dialogue in dialing independence.
Let's Lace: Investigating the aspects of straight vs. crisscrossed shoe-lacing. Which will include a special hot topic debate: All Tied Up: Over vs. Under.
And, yes, I think I'm pretty darn cute.
I'm starting a self-help group (I know) for the coordinationally challenged. We will be meeting to discuss some of the difficulties of everyday life, things that graceful people take for granted. Session topics to be as follows:
The Dynamics of Doors: ll vs. sh.
Getting Up Again: Learning to keep one foot in front of the other.
When Things Get Screwy: The truth behind lefty-loosey, righty-tighty.
Button, Button, Who's Got the Button: A crash course in clasps, chains, zippers and other such fascinating fastening devices.
We also will have classes for advanced learners such as:
The Bell Tolls for Thee: A detailed dialogue in dialing independence.
Let's Lace: Investigating the aspects of straight vs. crisscrossed shoe-lacing. Which will include a special hot topic debate: All Tied Up: Over vs. Under.
And, yes, I think I'm pretty darn cute.
And in no particular order...
drum roll please
I've finally managed to get some links up. It's a short list, I know, but what begins small will someday grow. No particular order...maybe somewhat alphabetical...although to be truly alphabetical Butterworth should come first so...yeah, I'll stop rambling now.
I'm not quite sure why it's taken me so long, but things are coming together. I think I'm afraid of the code. Maybe not the code itself but that, with my luck, I'll manage to type in the one thing that will cause my computer to explode. I'm not terribly technologically literate; of course, I never claimed I was.
I've finally managed to get some links up. It's a short list, I know, but what begins small will someday grow. No particular order...maybe somewhat alphabetical...although to be truly alphabetical Butterworth should come first so...yeah, I'll stop rambling now.
I'm not quite sure why it's taken me so long, but things are coming together. I think I'm afraid of the code. Maybe not the code itself but that, with my luck, I'll manage to type in the one thing that will cause my computer to explode. I'm not terribly technologically literate; of course, I never claimed I was.
Today's wisdom:
"Do not let fear cause discontent, but through overcoming that fear, find contentment."
-Becky (sort of)
-Becky (sort of)
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
No Return Postage Required.
This month my bible study has been going through Galatians. We've talked about living for God rather than man, not letting things distract us from the gospel, and being set free from the law. One of the things we discussed tonight was the way people often try to "tack on" requirements for faith. The Galatians had fallen into what was not the pure gospel of grace through faith alone, which got me wondering why.
I suppose a basic answer is that Satan will use any method possible to keep us from connecting with Christ. What better way than to make people think they are headed down the right road already? Or, better yet, why not convince people that faith comes with certain stipulations? That way, when we can't meet the expectations we think we are supposed to live up to, discouragement will eat away at us, we'll think we aren't good enough for God and turn away on our own.
But isn't that the point of Christianity? That we are not, and never can be, good enough or pious enough to earn God's favor? Isn't that the whole reason Christ had to die in the first place, to save us because we could not save ourselves? So why then is it so easy for us (and I admit to having had my own struggles with legalism) to fall into following a doctrine of salvation by works? I mean, why do we insist on working for something that is free? Maybe it's my own lazy nature at war with the idea of doing more work than we have to, but still...
I think maybe we just can't quite get our heads around who God is, we can't understand how anyone could love so indiscriminately. Our problem is that we forger how much bigger God is. We have been so stained by the actions of man that we have a hard time realizing how different the actions of God are. No man could love so much. We aren't comfortable with such awesomeness, we like control too much to completely let go to something we don't fully understand, our faith is small. We find comfort in thinking we have something to add to the equation. We like concrete 1+1=2. But grace + works is no longer the pure grace of God.
Maybe there is something to the whole childlike faith thing after all (go figure!). If you give a child a present for no reason, they don't question, they don't try to argue. If you do the same with an adult, they want to know why, they want to know if there is something they can give you in return, they try to make things up to you, they feel indebted to you. Our world relies on reciprocity. But the things of this world are far different than the things of God. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) That's it. Free. Whether we like it or not, there is nothing we can do to earn it. Now why can't we get that through our thick skulls?
Grace alone delivers us from slavery to law, slavery to sin. We have been slaves for so long, we don't know how to adjust to freedom. Instead of embracing freedom, we look for a new master. We try to make God into one, adding tasks that we must complete to find His favor. God makes it clear that while He wants to be Lord, he doesn't want to be master and there is a difference. The way I see it, serving God as Lord means willingly turning our lives over to His will, being a "living and holy sacrifice" (Romans 12:1) whereas slavery doesn't include choice but rather hoops to jump through.
Again, God is more than we could ever understand. Christ calls us friends rather than slaves (John 15:14-15). If that isn't close enough a connection, God completely blows me away with Hosea 2:16:
"And it will come about in that day," declares the Lord,
"That you will call Me Ishi [my husband] and will no longer call Me Baali [my master]."
It doesn't get much more intimate than that.
I suppose a basic answer is that Satan will use any method possible to keep us from connecting with Christ. What better way than to make people think they are headed down the right road already? Or, better yet, why not convince people that faith comes with certain stipulations? That way, when we can't meet the expectations we think we are supposed to live up to, discouragement will eat away at us, we'll think we aren't good enough for God and turn away on our own.
But isn't that the point of Christianity? That we are not, and never can be, good enough or pious enough to earn God's favor? Isn't that the whole reason Christ had to die in the first place, to save us because we could not save ourselves? So why then is it so easy for us (and I admit to having had my own struggles with legalism) to fall into following a doctrine of salvation by works? I mean, why do we insist on working for something that is free? Maybe it's my own lazy nature at war with the idea of doing more work than we have to, but still...
I think maybe we just can't quite get our heads around who God is, we can't understand how anyone could love so indiscriminately. Our problem is that we forger how much bigger God is. We have been so stained by the actions of man that we have a hard time realizing how different the actions of God are. No man could love so much. We aren't comfortable with such awesomeness, we like control too much to completely let go to something we don't fully understand, our faith is small. We find comfort in thinking we have something to add to the equation. We like concrete 1+1=2. But grace + works is no longer the pure grace of God.
Maybe there is something to the whole childlike faith thing after all (go figure!). If you give a child a present for no reason, they don't question, they don't try to argue. If you do the same with an adult, they want to know why, they want to know if there is something they can give you in return, they try to make things up to you, they feel indebted to you. Our world relies on reciprocity. But the things of this world are far different than the things of God. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) That's it. Free. Whether we like it or not, there is nothing we can do to earn it. Now why can't we get that through our thick skulls?
Grace alone delivers us from slavery to law, slavery to sin. We have been slaves for so long, we don't know how to adjust to freedom. Instead of embracing freedom, we look for a new master. We try to make God into one, adding tasks that we must complete to find His favor. God makes it clear that while He wants to be Lord, he doesn't want to be master and there is a difference. The way I see it, serving God as Lord means willingly turning our lives over to His will, being a "living and holy sacrifice" (Romans 12:1) whereas slavery doesn't include choice but rather hoops to jump through.
Again, God is more than we could ever understand. Christ calls us friends rather than slaves (John 15:14-15). If that isn't close enough a connection, God completely blows me away with Hosea 2:16:
"And it will come about in that day," declares the Lord,
"That you will call Me Ishi [my husband] and will no longer call Me Baali [my master]."
It doesn't get much more intimate than that.
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Cannot find server...
I had every intention of actually putting up a real post tonight. After three attempts, I've given up. I have started three different posts but can't seem to get going on any of the ideas. This may take some time...especially seeing as how I prefer to handwrite everything before I type it up (I think better with pen in hand). Promises, promises, I know but they're coming. Not as if there is any rush demand or anything...
Today's wisdom:
"Beware of grape with wooden mallet."
-Larry's fortune cookie
From The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown
Yes, I am hooked on Veggietales and darn proud of it.
-Larry's fortune cookie
From The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown
Yes, I am hooked on Veggietales and darn proud of it.
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