It's summer and I am just as busy as I am during the school year. Summer is supposed to be a time of relaxation and rest. Mine is not. Oh well. I'm beginning to miss being at AU more and more. I work in the office 3 days a week, so being on an empty campus is pretty sad. I can't wait to be back with my amazing friends goofing off and "doing school work."
On a happier note, these past couple of weeks have been wonderful. A certain boy has come back into my life after much deliberation and prayer. We couldn't be happier! He's moved to Anderson and since I'm there 3 days a week, we actually get to spend quality time together... which is more than what we used to do last go-round.
I hope this lasts because I'm loving every minute of it.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Home from Guatie
It's taken me a while but I'm finally home and writing a little about Guatie. Let me just say that the trip was absolutely amazing and there is no possible way I can write about everything that happened. So this is a short recap.
We built 8 "houses" which were 12 x 12 tin rooms with one door, one window, and a cement floor. But to the villages in Guatemala, this is a mansion.
We worked at 2 orphanages. One of them was Amor Del Nino, which was a coed orphanage with children from infant ages to toddlers and school age. We leveled the ground for a playground, tiled a patio, built a pulley system for the thousands of clothes on multiple clothes lines and of course, played with the children. The second orphanage was called Prince of Peace and it was a girls orphanage with mostly teenage or preteen girls. Both orphanages were very nice but so, so sad. There was one little boy at Amor Del Nino who was 15 days old when I first held him. They found Diego on the side of the road outside of a hospital. No one wanted him. How in the world people could just leave their baby on the road is beyond me. I wanted to take him home.
I always knew I was a blessed person and that I always have gotten what I've needed without much of a problem. These people in Guatemala live in complete poverty. They are lucky if they have a shelter over their head and shoes on their feet. They live, walk, sleep, and cook on dirt floors. Their clothes are tattered and torn. Their health is poor and but their spirits are high. They are completely content and completely happy. The believers rejoice in what the Lord has given them. They know they are blessed.
I came back feeling so guilty and so undeserving. Right now, I'm sitting in my air conditioned home, watching tv, typing on my laptop, wearing clean pjs, relaxing with a full belly and about to take a warm shower. All the while, there are families in these villages who are working their tails off, barefoot and dirty. Crazy.
If you want to see some of the pictures, check out my facebook or email me. I'll send some to you.
Take a minute to thank God for all you have.
We built 8 "houses" which were 12 x 12 tin rooms with one door, one window, and a cement floor. But to the villages in Guatemala, this is a mansion.
We worked at 2 orphanages. One of them was Amor Del Nino, which was a coed orphanage with children from infant ages to toddlers and school age. We leveled the ground for a playground, tiled a patio, built a pulley system for the thousands of clothes on multiple clothes lines and of course, played with the children. The second orphanage was called Prince of Peace and it was a girls orphanage with mostly teenage or preteen girls. Both orphanages were very nice but so, so sad. There was one little boy at Amor Del Nino who was 15 days old when I first held him. They found Diego on the side of the road outside of a hospital. No one wanted him. How in the world people could just leave their baby on the road is beyond me. I wanted to take him home.
I always knew I was a blessed person and that I always have gotten what I've needed without much of a problem. These people in Guatemala live in complete poverty. They are lucky if they have a shelter over their head and shoes on their feet. They live, walk, sleep, and cook on dirt floors. Their clothes are tattered and torn. Their health is poor and but their spirits are high. They are completely content and completely happy. The believers rejoice in what the Lord has given them. They know they are blessed.
I came back feeling so guilty and so undeserving. Right now, I'm sitting in my air conditioned home, watching tv, typing on my laptop, wearing clean pjs, relaxing with a full belly and about to take a warm shower. All the while, there are families in these villages who are working their tails off, barefoot and dirty. Crazy.
If you want to see some of the pictures, check out my facebook or email me. I'll send some to you.
Take a minute to thank God for all you have.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Home Sweet Home
Finally. After 3 weeks of intense Maymester classes... I'm home. Tonight I will sleep in my own bed. In my quiet house. Amazing.
I'll probably be going crazy in a couple weeks. Oh well.
A week from today I leave for Guatemala. Am I excited? Yes. Am I nervous? Yes. Am I anxious? Yes. Am I ready? Probably not. This week will be chaotic.
I'm going to post more later, maybe tomorrow or Sunday. It's so past my bedtime and I've been up for about 20 hours now. So goodnight.
I'll probably be going crazy in a couple weeks. Oh well.
A week from today I leave for Guatemala. Am I excited? Yes. Am I nervous? Yes. Am I anxious? Yes. Am I ready? Probably not. This week will be chaotic.
I'm going to post more later, maybe tomorrow or Sunday. It's so past my bedtime and I've been up for about 20 hours now. So goodnight.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Assorted
Well, once again, it's been a crazy week. Once again, God has been teaching me patience. Patience is a virtue. I know. It's so hard though. So hard.
"The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride." ~Ecclesiastes 7:8
My problem is that I try so hard to push through things and speed them up to my pace instead of God's. The end result is something that I hope will be so amazing, that I rush through it and miss the patience part that I need. I look so far ahead that I get frustrated when the end is not there yet. I guess an illustration would be the easiest way to explain this. It's like you're working really hard toward something... like the end of a chaotic semester and you're only halfway through. You focus so much on how wonderful the end will be that you forget to pay attention and work on and be patient with the beginning and middle part. You start to set yourself up for failure. You think that the end will be so amazing, but how do you know? You could end up failing a course, or even worse, failing all. You could end up having a horrible end of school because you realize you have to take summer courses. Anything could happen. And you've focused so much on the end that you've set yourself up for failure.
This is what I do. I need to focus on now. I need to be patient. I need to relax.
Sigh. It'll happen eventually.
On a happier note, Elizabeth and I went to the jockey lot this morning... SO much fun! (esp. all the little puppies! ahhh!) We had fun and now I'm pooped. I would take a nap, but in about an hour I have to go to mass for Rel 305. This shall be interesting. This weekend I'm going to a Catholic church, non-denominational/contemporary church, and a pentecostal church. I'm really going to get me some Jesus! I'll try to write a post about each of the services, but it may end up just being the paper that I have to write reflecting on all three. We will see.
I love the weekends, but I'd love them more when I don't have to write papers and do work all weekend. Sigh again. Time to go.
"The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride." ~Ecclesiastes 7:8
My problem is that I try so hard to push through things and speed them up to my pace instead of God's. The end result is something that I hope will be so amazing, that I rush through it and miss the patience part that I need. I look so far ahead that I get frustrated when the end is not there yet. I guess an illustration would be the easiest way to explain this. It's like you're working really hard toward something... like the end of a chaotic semester and you're only halfway through. You focus so much on how wonderful the end will be that you forget to pay attention and work on and be patient with the beginning and middle part. You start to set yourself up for failure. You think that the end will be so amazing, but how do you know? You could end up failing a course, or even worse, failing all. You could end up having a horrible end of school because you realize you have to take summer courses. Anything could happen. And you've focused so much on the end that you've set yourself up for failure.
This is what I do. I need to focus on now. I need to be patient. I need to relax.
Sigh. It'll happen eventually.
On a happier note, Elizabeth and I went to the jockey lot this morning... SO much fun! (esp. all the little puppies! ahhh!) We had fun and now I'm pooped. I would take a nap, but in about an hour I have to go to mass for Rel 305. This shall be interesting. This weekend I'm going to a Catholic church, non-denominational/contemporary church, and a pentecostal church. I'm really going to get me some Jesus! I'll try to write a post about each of the services, but it may end up just being the paper that I have to write reflecting on all three. We will see.
I love the weekends, but I'd love them more when I don't have to write papers and do work all weekend. Sigh again. Time to go.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
To Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth,
This post is for you. This is to tell you all the reasons I love you... leaving out a few that will be kept secrets. Here are our many quotes and jokes.
That's what she said! What's what she said?
1...2....3.... HAHAHAHA.
Baby laughs! (1 and 2 were the best)
I can cover both of mine with one hand...
I can't cover one with both hands...
They could card me!!
Awkward turtle... and giraffe.
Wanna go to Chief's?
Let's go to the "store" tonight!! HA!
The Big O! (Hand signal)
Tokoyo... toyko?
We're learning Italian tonight!
Why did you move your bed there?
That man took off half his face!
No, no!
Yes, yes. This, Elizabeth, is why I love you. This is why I'm so glad we're living together (only for 3 weeks, tear tear). And THIS is why you make me laugh.
(Yes, I used a Gandhi quote.)
I LOVE YOU!
This post is for you. This is to tell you all the reasons I love you... leaving out a few that will be kept secrets. Here are our many quotes and jokes.
That's what she said! What's what she said?
1...2....3.... HAHAHAHA.
Baby laughs! (1 and 2 were the best)
I can cover both of mine with one hand...
I can't cover one with both hands...
They could card me!!
Awkward turtle... and giraffe.
Wanna go to Chief's?
Let's go to the "store" tonight!! HA!
The Big O! (Hand signal)
Tokoyo... toyko?
We're learning Italian tonight!
Why did you move your bed there?
That man took off half his face!
No, no!
Yes, yes. This, Elizabeth, is why I love you. This is why I'm so glad we're living together (only for 3 weeks, tear tear). And THIS is why you make me laugh.
“I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship. I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings. My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for unity and love.” ~Gandhi
(Yes, I used a Gandhi quote.)
I LOVE YOU!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Purgatory
I know, I know... purgatory. Can I really post a cohesive entry about this? Most likely no, but this will be my pathetic attempt at explaining how purgatory (and even limbo, but we'll get to that later) does not exist. Very simply put, I don't believe this will require many words from my brain but instead words from the Bible. If there is a verse out there that says "thou shalt go to purgatory in order to be cleansed from your iniquities," please let me know. I'd love to read it.
I'll start off with a verse that everybody knows: 1 John 1:9.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Simple enough right? Yet another IF, THEN clause (I love those). IF we confess, THEN he will forgive and purify. A common response to this by those who believe in purgatory goes something like this: "Well, what if you die before you can confess a sin?" Honestly, I do not know. I've never died without confessing a sin and lived to tell about it, sooo.... yeah. I'll wait to ask God about that one.
Second verse: Hebrews 9:27.
"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,"
This verse is a double whammy. Not only can it be used to combat purgatory, it can be used against the idea of reincarnation as well. But we'll stick with the issue at hand for now. The verse says you die, AND AFTER THAT, you face judgment. I don't see anything in here about going to a holding place to be purged of sins. Simply, this verse says that you die, then are judged. No wiggle room there.
Third verse: 1 John 1:7.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
The blood of Jesus purifies us from ALL sin. Past, present, future. ALL sin. I know this loops back into your belief of the origin of sin but whether or not you were born with it or you created it, Jesus' blood still purifies us from it. So, why would we need to be purged of the sins we have committed when Jesus has already done that for us?
Fourth verse: Isaiah 1:18.
"'Come now, let us reason together,' says the LORD. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'"
Remember the Dr. Suess book about how a person is a person, no matter how small? Think about sin this way: to God, a sin is a sin, no matter how big or small. If your sins are like scarlet, he will wash them white as snow. If your sins are as red as crimson, they will be like wool. No matter how big, no matter how small, God will cleanse your sins and wash you white as snow. All sins. He doesn't leave any hanging around for us to later fix in purgatory. He cleanses all of them.
Fifth verse: 1 John 2:2.
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
Jesus is THE atoning sacrifice. He is THE one, THE only, THE all. It doesn't say "Jesus and purgatory are the atoning sacrifices for... blah blah." No! He is THE sacrifice. He did it all. We don't need anyone or anything else to forgive our sins or help make us clean. Jesus does it all.
Sixth verse: Luke 23:43
"Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Remember this verse? Think back on the crucifixion of Christ. The thieves Christ was hung beside to die? One of them repented to Jesus as they were dying and asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered into Paradise. Then Jesus told him this verse. Notice that Jesus does not say "after you get out of purgatory," but instead says "today." The same day! People who believe in purgatory believe you will be there for an extended amount of time. Obviously, that's not the case here. The SAME DAY, the thief was going to be in Heaven with God! No pit stop on the way there!
Last verse: 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
"Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."
These verses put a message across that is best displayed with a few simple words:
Away from God = In the body.
Away from the body = At home with the Lord.
I don't see purgatory anywhere in here.
Hmm.
I'd love comments, more verses, etc. Help me understand why people think purgatory is real because I cannot fathom believing in it after reading these verses straight from God's word.
I'll start off with a verse that everybody knows: 1 John 1:9.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Simple enough right? Yet another IF, THEN clause (I love those). IF we confess, THEN he will forgive and purify. A common response to this by those who believe in purgatory goes something like this: "Well, what if you die before you can confess a sin?" Honestly, I do not know. I've never died without confessing a sin and lived to tell about it, sooo.... yeah. I'll wait to ask God about that one.
Second verse: Hebrews 9:27.
"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,"
This verse is a double whammy. Not only can it be used to combat purgatory, it can be used against the idea of reincarnation as well. But we'll stick with the issue at hand for now. The verse says you die, AND AFTER THAT, you face judgment. I don't see anything in here about going to a holding place to be purged of sins. Simply, this verse says that you die, then are judged. No wiggle room there.
Third verse: 1 John 1:7.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
The blood of Jesus purifies us from ALL sin. Past, present, future. ALL sin. I know this loops back into your belief of the origin of sin but whether or not you were born with it or you created it, Jesus' blood still purifies us from it. So, why would we need to be purged of the sins we have committed when Jesus has already done that for us?
Fourth verse: Isaiah 1:18.
"'Come now, let us reason together,' says the LORD. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'"
Remember the Dr. Suess book about how a person is a person, no matter how small? Think about sin this way: to God, a sin is a sin, no matter how big or small. If your sins are like scarlet, he will wash them white as snow. If your sins are as red as crimson, they will be like wool. No matter how big, no matter how small, God will cleanse your sins and wash you white as snow. All sins. He doesn't leave any hanging around for us to later fix in purgatory. He cleanses all of them.
Fifth verse: 1 John 2:2.
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
Jesus is THE atoning sacrifice. He is THE one, THE only, THE all. It doesn't say "Jesus and purgatory are the atoning sacrifices for... blah blah." No! He is THE sacrifice. He did it all. We don't need anyone or anything else to forgive our sins or help make us clean. Jesus does it all.
Sixth verse: Luke 23:43
"Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Remember this verse? Think back on the crucifixion of Christ. The thieves Christ was hung beside to die? One of them repented to Jesus as they were dying and asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus entered into Paradise. Then Jesus told him this verse. Notice that Jesus does not say "after you get out of purgatory," but instead says "today." The same day! People who believe in purgatory believe you will be there for an extended amount of time. Obviously, that's not the case here. The SAME DAY, the thief was going to be in Heaven with God! No pit stop on the way there!
Last verse: 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
"Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."
These verses put a message across that is best displayed with a few simple words:
Away from God = In the body.
Away from the body = At home with the Lord.
I don't see purgatory anywhere in here.
Hmm.
I'd love comments, more verses, etc. Help me understand why people think purgatory is real because I cannot fathom believing in it after reading these verses straight from God's word.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Empty
Anderson is empty. I have never seen a college campus so quiet. I think I'm going to go crazy.
More later.
More later.
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