Moody is famous for it's intermural sports. It's pretty much the only fun outlet most of the Moody men have :) Well it's football season here at MBI and today was the opening day. My boyfriend plays on his floor's A-team (Dryer 2!)
Today was great. First game was at noon...at which time D2 whipped the opposition 30-0. The second game was at 3, also a win at 12-6, but a few more twists...
Jesse was going for the ball just as our friend, James, was also. Pictures speak for themselves. Jesse got knocked out for about 10 seconds and couldn't remember the 10 minutes following. We had a fun 4 hour ER visit tonight :D He was discharged with head trauma and tylenol. Gotta love hospitals :)
What an adventure. We followed that visit with a visit to Portillos for some shakes and french fries :D good stuff.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
"There's no time for romance...it's football season!"
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Not what you get, but what you can give...
One of many nights I miss my family. Be well, wherever you are. You are close to my heart.
SO many thoughts rushing through my brain...mmmmmmmm...so good :) Praise God for the power to think!
I'm reading through Ezekiel at the moment and today was chapter 8. Ezekiel is given this vision...he goes to the temple in Jerusalem and is commanded to dig into a wall. He does so and finds a door...a door to the room of the people's idols. The walls give witness of the abominations of the supposedly pious people...burning incense to other gods, worshiping the sun, women weeping for Tammuz (Babylonian god), etc... Then comes this key convicting verse...
"Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, 'Yahweh does not see us, Yahweh has forsaken the land." (vs. 12)
How many of us have committed sin, maybe thinking in our minds, "I know God sees all, but maybe He can't see this..." Do you notice how sin is so much easier when brought about in darkness...the human eyes may not see as well, but God's eyes do not require light to weep at the sin He sees us committing.
How many sins have we hidden in our hearts, thinking God cannot see them there?! "Search my heart, O God...", reveal the sin in it, and teach me how to repent.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Moody's chapel speaker today is beginning a series on "Relating to One Another." I wrote down some great quotes...mostly just a bunch of thoughts to process:
"In relationships, communication is key. Assume nothing--talk about everything."
"Biblical love is ACTION not EMOTION."
"Live by the consistency of the word of god, not your emotions."
"Develop a sensitivity to our differences."
"We shouldn't let all the things we believe cause division in the body of Christ."
"See people as who they can be and who they can reach. Don't ignore those around you."
Monday, September 15, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Monday, September 08, 2008
Blessed to be so.
Blessed to be in a loving family.
Blessed to have a legacy of Christian parents and grandparents.
Blessed to be able to worship God openly without fear of persecution.
Blessed to have work--to exercise diligence and stewardship.
Blessed to have freedoms that other cultures' women lack.
Blessed to be in school--to learn and to live as Christ reveals in scripture.
Blessed to live in Christian community with others that seek after God.
Blessed to approach God's throne, despite my depravity and lame tongue.
Blessed to have health and rest and energy.
Blessed to have speech.
Blessed to hear and make music.
Blessed to know, receive, and give love.
Blessed to have hurts, and from them grow stronger.
Blessed to know doubt, so faith might be strengthened.
Blessed to be so.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
It might be hope...
"…in these pages I plead with you as a father—perhaps a father who loves you dearly, or the father you never had. Or the father who never had a vision for you life I have for you—and God has for you. Or the father who has a vision for you, but it’s all about money and status…I plead with you: Desire that your life count for something great! Long for your life to have eternal significance. Want this!”
-John Piper; Don't Waste Your Life-
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Final times with Dr. Easley
It's been a huge privilege to be a student under his leadership. I had heard such great things from my aunt and uncle, past members of his previous church, that I had high expectations for how he would lead. My expectations were surpassed, but not by his great oratory or diplomatic manner, though he has both...I was more impressed with the quiet way he spoke. I admire Dr. Easley because he never communicates any scripture to the students that has not first made an impact on his own life.
This morning was the final president's chapel that Dr. Easley would be preaching as Moody's president. His charge to the audience was this:
"What voices are you listening to?" he asked. "Radiate the wisdom of Christ. Be wise as you age."
May God prepare him for whatever ministry he is brought to next.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Face masks and capes...
Perhaps we'll discuss a different type of hero.
Who are 5 people you would consider to be your heroes in this life? (People you have known in your lifetime.) I can name several of my own...
What happens when you realize your hero is also human...has flaws...defects...sins of their own? Do you brace yourself under that pedestal to keep it from toppling over?
I've been processing this concept for the past few months and come to a few conclusions. There have been several people in my acquaintance that I've truly looked up to...worshiped, in a loose use of the term. These people have a great deal of wisdom; they approach life with a solid mind and open heart. But as with anything in the human life, we must be wary of putting to much admiration and emphasis into another person. We're all humans...depraved humans at that.
The cliche, but none-the-less true, fact is that Christ is the true hero. Our hearts long to be in awe and astonishment of someone. Humans will disappoint and fail. Christ endures forever...Christ never fails. "The soul was made to stand in awe of a Person--the only person worthy of awe. All heroes are shadows of Christ. We love to admire their excellence. How much more will we be satisfied by the one Person who conceived all excellence and embodies all skill, all talent, all strength and brilliance and savvy and goodness" (John Piper--Don't Waste Your Life).
I believe it's okay to look up to people...to appreciate the Christ-like qualities in them...but not to the extent that we cannot recognize their humanity and depravity as well.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Random thoughts...
Last night I learned that there is such a thing as "dirty chai." Chai tea+a shot of expresso. I've not tried it yet, but it must be something amazing.
I got my curfew exemption sticker today :) Much to my parent's dismay, I can stay out all night and party if I decided to turn my life that way. But thank goodness for everyone's sake, I like to be in bed before 11. :)
My favorite author is CS Lewis (like a billion other people's favorite). I found a quote of his in the preface of a textbook...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Autumn winds blow the summer gates closed.
Summer has officially come to a close. All things to their proper end, I suppose. Why are transitions so unsettling at times?
As I reflect on the summer, I've really questioned my stewardship of the time. After my trip to Africa fell through, at first I was truly settled with that reality, trusting that God had other plans. But when those other plans didn't seem to meet MY standard of importance, I was very disappointed. Instead of freeing slaves, mending physical wounds, or working in refugee camps, God prepared my hands for different work:
* Going through boxes in my parent's attic...
* Scrubbing ceiling fans and floors...
* Making posters for Psalty musicals...
* Writing letters to distant friends...
* Playing in water fountains with nephews...
* Journaling thoughts of the year in order to see God's faithfulness over time.
I learned many lessons--most of them small and seemingly insignificant, but lessons must begin simply before moving on to the complex.
As I step into another semester at Moody, I do not have the giddy feelings in my stomach of excitement. The smell of freshly sharpened pencils and new books no longer intoxicates me. Rather, I'm of a mindset of joy--I am contented in this place God has rested me. I am learning to approach the Scriptures with more reverence. I am learning to worship God for the mundane as well as the brilliant times of life. I am eager and anxious for the Spirit's conviction through classes and conferences.
I appreciate that God always has purpose. I am so blinded to His purposes sometimes, but I am grateful that He doesn't count on us seeing them to have them exist.
One step at a time.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
"Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day."
Proverbs 23:23
"Buy the truth and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding."
Proverbs 23:24-25
"The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and mother be glad and let her who bore you rejoice."
Psalm 28:7c
"Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him."
Psalm 38:17-20
"For I am ready to fall,
And my sorrow is continuously before me.
For I will declare my iniquity;
I will be in anguish over my sin.
But my enemies are vigorous and they are strong;
And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied.
They are my adversaries--those also who render evil for good--because I follow what is good."
Friday, August 22, 2008
Introspectiveness is contageous.
Perhaps it's the rain...
Perhaps it's missing people...
Perhaps it's just me. :)
I will miss my steadfast family.
Little monsters
"Hey mom! Look what the cat dragged in!" Oh wait...
So Puddy (my adorable, yet very fat and lazy cat) and I were curled up in bed...peacefully resting. *ticktick* We wake up...Puddy raises her droopy-eyed face to look at the window. Thinking it's a bug hitting the window, she stretches and jumps on the sill. By this time, I've revisited my comfortable sleep state.
Suddenly, every hair on that cat's body was standing straight up. Dug into my window screen was a set of sharp teeth!
Three coons had climbed a tree and got themselves stuck on my roof. As I banged on the window to scare the creatures away, they tried to dig a hole into my room. Deer spray and a flood light later, Puddy and I went back to bed.
Next time you think "oh how cute and cuddly" about these furry beasts, just ask one of them to smile at you...
Thoughts of another
by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
and then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crest and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
"After Great Pain"
by Emily Dickinson
After great pain a formal feeling comes
The nerves sit ceremonious like tombs;
The stiff Heart questions--was it He that bore?
And yesterday--or centuries before?
The feet mechanical
Go round a wooden way
Of ground or air or Ought, regardless grown,
A quartz contentment like a stone.
This is the hour of lead
Remembered if out lived,
As freezing persons recollect the snow--
First chill, then stupor, then letting go.
"The Garden of Love"
by William Blake
I went to the Garden of Love,
And saw what I never had seen:
A Chapel was built in the midst,
Where I used to play on the green.
And the gates of this Chapel were shut,
And "Thou shalt not" writ over the door;
So I turned to the Garden of Love,
That so many sweet flowers bore;
And I saw it filled with graves,
And tombstones where flowers should be;
And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds,
And binding with briars my joys and desires.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Prove the impossible...
Given X = Y = 1
