Snaps and Stirrups

2009-02-10T13:50:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! wow.. its been forever.

i now have a separate blog but i still want to be a part of this too! how are people??

Missing the Moment

2008-09-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

I was driving to work this morning and they were announcing See You at The Pole counts and testimonies. It brought back fond moments of Catalyst and all of the crazy. We were so focused... so passionate... so in the moment.... That I don't remember ever stepping back and embracing, relishing, drinking in those moments. I remember them all so fondly, but at the time I only saw the next... the next... the next.

It makes me think I might one day say I missed these moments. But moments of what? Moments of pushing through graduate school at break neck speed? moments of no sleep between work kids and school? moments of a ridiculous job environment?

THE ISSUE is that is how I sounded at Catalyst. I would say moments of what, and then list all of the downside. I missed the moment and now I miss those moments.

I want to live September 2008 for its moments. I want to stop focusing on the DO. I want to focus on loving each day. As Buddy likes to sing to me, "you're gonna miss this. you're gonna want this back."

Let's think of the value in this season and embrace it for everything it has. Welcome Fall 2008!

Post it up!

2008-09-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

Come on it's a new school year, lets start using this more. What's new in your life? Who are you voting for?

Where are you????

2008-08-08T09:58:00.001-07:00

Missing everybody!! Can't wait for ya'll to be back!!!

Gettin' Hitched...

2008-07-25T22:01:00.000-07:00

"And the two shall become one flesh." I'm getting married in 14hrs. to the most amazing woman in the world!

2008-06-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

Hello all!! Gotta make it quick so here goes...

Letting you all know that we here at YFN are still alive and keeping it together (though some of us I wonder about sometimes...ehem...me). Camp is, as always, challenging but rewarding. Last night we prayed for one of my guys from last year. To see the freedom in his face after about an hour of prayer was too much to describe. He has rededicated his life to Jesus and is thinking about coming to CFNI in a year. We appreciate all your prayers and encouragement...only one month until the coolest reunion ever!! I can't wait! Love you all...

~LANCE~

Catalyst...

2008-06-05T19:37:00.001-07:00

I visited the youth tonight at Freedom Life. I really miss Catalyst and the kids I remember. I wish I had another shot at reaching a lot of them. The Dylans, the Austins, and the Camerons. In other news, me and Ash have been chugging along slowly but surely with this wedding stuff. I have to pick up my wedding band tomorrow, it's cool. It's really light and made out of titanium. Also picked out the Tux's too. Flowers and cake I think are soon. I dunno she knows better then I do. Hope everyones doing well!

Thoughts from Chelle

2008-06-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is my last day of school!! There is a special feeling on the last day of school even for teachers. I have taught for 6 years now and I feel it with as much excitement now as when I was a student. There is a resiliance.. a life.. a sheer pleasure that sweeps over you as the bell sounds. A feeling of accomplishment.. a thrill of survival. May the bliss overtake me this year!!

I think that is a lot of what God meant with the design of the sabath... there should be hard work and moments you push yourself so hard that you are not sure you will make it... and then there should be summer break.

Were we happier as children because we were younger? Or were we happier because we lived in the ebb and flow of work/sabath, work/sabath? I intend to take this summer and find that rest again. We were all busy as kids. We played all day. But there was a much better balance of what tasks made us busy.
What are you filling your day with?

HELLLOOO

2008-05-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

Hi!
How are you all? I hope you check this sometimes and will start writing again. I was thrill to hear from you, Elizabeth and Lance!!

I am finishing out my school year. Wed is the last day for the kids and thurs for me. i am glad it is over. This year went really fast, but it will be great to have a break. I want to hang out with those of you in town.

I am soooo excited to go to PA in July. I haven't been there since the day we left with our jeep packed full of our life's possessions. It seems like a little while ago and a life time ago all at the same time.

Grad school starts July 7. fun?

Come by and see my bathroom. i painted it a super cool orange.

Amazon Adventure

2008-05-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!!!

I hope everything is well!!! So it has been quite an experience down here so far and the most difficult week is coming up!!!

So the guys are on there way tomorrow with construction materials to "The Valley" we are leaving on Wednesday. The guys are taking a slow boat and it will take them a few days it will take us about 12 hours. This is going to be intense, this is history in the making! The Brazillian government actually gave us permission to enter into this unreached area. We will be the first missionaries into this area in Brazil! We are opening the door for many future missionaries. Wow! It so hard to explain everything that we are preparing for and to actually explain all the details of how this is happening...

Please Pray for us! Some specifics are protection from mosquitos (they are really, really bad. we have to wear long sleeves) smooth boat rides, no sickness (the people in these villages are really sick) and just divine guidance!

I know this is breif but I'm out of time! Love you all!!!

Its been a while.

2008-05-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

hey guys!! it's been a while. i miss everyone who went to PA or on a missions trip. it seems like everyone left around the same time.

i've been slowly working on my library project wich is going to be great!:) i've taken lots of pictures and just took 7 roles of film to get developed. i've got three more just from today! it's so much fun. im eager to see what the ending result is going to look like hah.. im still playing around with ideas as far as layouts and backgrounds.

im excited to be able to go home and relax this summer. but i know that its going to go SO fast. my time here has gone incredibly speedy. whats two and a half months compared to nine?? home to my dear pennsylvania for a while and then back to new and exciting texas. i like it here. i hope to experince other states and countries like i've experienced texas.

let me know how your doin!

Day one...and two...and i think three...

2008-05-14T19:38:00.001-07:00

It's thursday here in Manilla...over twenty five hours in an ariplane and we're almost there!!

We started in Dallas Fort Worth Airport at 7am Tuesday, then flew to LA...short flight...I slept most of the way...

After about two hours in LA we borded a 777 double decker plane and flew FIFTEEN HOURS to Seoul, South Korea, then to Hong Kong...lemme just say that my new favorite airline is Cathway Pacific...movie screens on each seat with tons of movies available (Jumper, Mars Attacks, and The Golden Compass for me thanks) plus a bunch of TV shows and games...amazing...

An hour or so in Hong Kong, then back in the air...the flight to Manilla (Philippines) was like and hour and a half...one word; EXHAUSTED!!...i was really tired...the "lack of sleep this past weekend plus lack of sleep on the plane" combo really kicked me in the pants...

Got all of our baggage in Manilla...that took about 45 mins...then into a really cramped taxi and to the hotel...our room smelled like the inside of someones foot by the time we went to sleep...six guys + thirty hours of travel will do that to ya...sweat and exhaustion...gotta love em!

Breakfast this morning was good...better not get use to that...i hear the food over in Iloilo (our final destination...about and hour from here in a plane) aint exactly five star...but we're hopeful...

hopeful that our sacrifice will not go in vain
hopeful that change will continue to happen in this country
hopeful that God will move like we've never seen

I'll try to keep this thing updated...no promises though...Thanks everyone for all your prayers...please keep them comming...

ILOILO here we come!!

Fighting for love,
~LANCE

The Empire Strikes Barack

2008-05-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

This is mainly for Buddy, but I figured everybody who's been following the election might get a kick out of this.

Rob Bell and Universalism

2008-05-02T16:35:00.000-07:00

So in my final class for Relevant Church Life (Pastoral Epistles-1 Tim, 2 Tim, Titus) my instructor had some very interesting things to say about Rob Bell and his views of universalism. I've honestly never read the book "Velvet Elvis". I have read some of Blakes copy though and have read some interesting things. I do think some of the things he teaches are unique and viable. But where do we draw the line? Is it okay if we don't believe in the literal six day creation? Is everyone going to heaven? Are we still forgiven without accepting that forgiveness? What are your thoughts? Maybe we'll find out in his next book Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile.

Well well...

2008-04-29T13:34:00.001-07:00

Looks like everyone (including myself) has abandoned this blog like a herd of geeks on prom night standing along the wall during the slow dance. Lets see if we can't get this thing up and running again...

How the heck is everyone? Some of you I've been keeping up with, but a lot of people I just haven't seen in a while. Lemme know whats up...

I'm doin ok...YFN approaches rapidly as I spend more and more time bracing for impact. I just keep telling myself to push through till the end. I will admit I'm exited to go home in July. A break will be nice...and what's even better is that EVERYONE is gonna be at Nate and Ash's wedding!! (At least I'm pretty sure everyone will be there) I can't wait.

Hope you all are doin ok...

~LANCE

Wow....

2008-04-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

Can I just tell you it's not cool to be evacuated from your room at 4am because of a tornado watch....

Marriage...

2008-04-01T06:26:00.000-07:00

I'm getting married in 116 days. CRAZY!!!!

blakezook.com? what?

2008-03-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

So yeah. Check it.

Spring Break !?!?

2008-03-11T15:04:00.001-07:00

How is your Spring Break going?

Mine has been quite different than expected. I think I will choose to relish the last 5 days.

So how is PA? How is Florida? How is Dallas? Do we need to ask about Switzerland?

Woo HOO

2008-03-01T20:22:00.000-08:00

Chelle,

Please pass this on to your group...

That skit Sunday night was amazing. I laughed myself to tears and I had a drool issue. Seriously, it was the funniest thing that we've done at COTH!!! Thanks for all the time and energy you guys put in it. Everything ya'll do is 100%!!!!

Love ya!!

--
Check out our new website at www.wdpartners.com
--

Casey Coker | Guest Services Assistant

time is ticking away, tick tick ticking away.

2008-02-25T20:33:00.000-08:00

ok, so...

time is ticking away. it's hard to remember that. then i look at the calendar and realize that march is in five days. then i realize that i wont be a nanny in three months. sad!

what are you all doing after graduating CFNI?? if you dont go to CFNI then what are you doing after the summer?? just an update :)

New Blog

2008-02-25T17:48:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone, in addition to Snaps and Stirrups, I now have my own blog. You can subscribe or check me out sometime at www.rerooted.blogspot.com

Yay!

2008-02-24T22:36:00.000-08:00

Great job tonight everyone!!!

Who Gets the Power??

2008-02-21T20:27:00.000-08:00

Sociologists tell us that our self-esteem is based on what we believe the most important person in our life thinks about us.

Who is the most important person in your life? ..... What do you think they think about you?..... Why do you think they think that?

Is that who you want your self-esteem to come from? Do they deserve that much power in your life?

Forget the forty days of purpose....

2008-02-20T15:34:00.000-08:00

So, I read a lot of blogs. I don't have much time to check them all out at all times. I found a very interesting 30 day challenge one church is undertaking from Sam's blog. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED)

Funniest thing ever!

2008-02-18T08:22:00.001-08:00

Check out my blog for another hilarious video...All I have to say is, put on your depends because you may become....damp! (buddywatts.blogspot.com)

HeHe

2008-02-17T10:11:00.000-08:00

Have as many children as you like, just remember...."Home is where the school is"

How Many Babies??

2008-02-16T17:48:00.000-08:00

I have heard from several of you that there is much talk in some of your classes about babies and the quantity that is Godly. I got this email today and thought it was fitting with my take on it.....

There was a preacher whose wife was expecting a baby so he went before the congregation and asked for a raise. After much discussion, they passed a rule that whenever the preacher's family expanded, so would his paycheck.
After 6 children, this started to get expensive and the congregation decided to hold another meeting to discuss the preacher's salary. There was much yelling and bickering about how much the clergyman's additional children were costing the church. Finally, the Preacher got up and spoke to the crowd, "Children are a gift from God," he said. Silence fell on the congregation.
In the back pew, a little old lady stood up and in her frail voice said, "Rain is also a gift from God, but when we get too much of it, we wear rubbers.
"And the congregation said, "Amen."

HEE HEEE HE HEEE

excitement.....

2008-02-13T22:20:00.000-08:00

So for all of you who don't know, Sophie A.K.A. me and ash's small group, came to Tuesday Night last night.... She loved it!!! She kept saying she couldn't believe how real and genuine it was. It wasn't fake. She thought it was amazing that people could be so passionate about something positive. We went to Applebee's afterward..yeah halfprice appetizers! Me, Ash, Cindy and Sophie and talked about it. Today when I got to work everybody knew she went and another guy even asked me for information. Sophie even asked for Tuesday nights off so she could come. This is amazing guys.. please pray for her and for me and ash as we minister to her. So ash gave her Velvet Elvis to read she is halfway done and loves it. Does anyone have Blue like Jazz she can borrow? My book is in PA.

I'm excited....

2008-02-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

i just want to go to bed.

anybody eles??

Moma said there would be days like this....

2008-02-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to thank you guys for the amazing people you are. I certainly don't know how or why God put our lives together, but I am glad you are in mine.

This Just In...

2008-02-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll,

I am back in the blog world, at least for awhile. Come visit my blog to the left -----> (buddywatts.blogspot.com). It is the beginning of what could be some good discussion!

Pancakes Here We Come!!!!!!!!!

2008-02-04T17:28:00.000-08:00

So after much waiting and wondering if the whole breakfast for the teachers thing would actually happen..... I got word today that BOTH principals said they would love to have us!!!!!!! I can't even tell you how excited I am... to bless our community... to do something actually nice as a Christian (all the stories this weekend)... to connect with public schools to bring goodness and appreciation. I am SO excited.

They know we are a church and are totally cool with that. Obviously we won't preach. I told them that I work with a great group of college kids at my church who wanted to do something nice for their community.

I want us to make invitations (it is normal for school socials) and little valentines that say "Thank you for all you do". What should we make? Pancakes? Stuffed french toast? We all need to really get planning. IT IS NEXT WEEK. I know we can pull it off. You guys always do.

ISN'T IT SO EXCITING!!

bored with the superbowl.

2008-02-03T18:40:00.001-08:00

so i'm sitting here at buddy and chelle's. i've lost interest in the superbowl.
chelle and i were just talking a few minutes ago about how i have such a ridiculous extensive knowledge of pop culture. a lot of people have brought it to my attention and i'm not exactly sure where it comes from but i do know that it's all really interesting to me.
i really love movies. and music. basically anything involved with any art has my heart. but i was thinking how....it's so upsetting that it seems like people are almost afraid to invade that area. people being, believers. how many movies do we all know and love, but don't want to watch or less appreciate because of ridiculous unnecessary profanity, or some scene that just wasn't necessary. when i think of movies that are "christian...." (i'm not even sure what that means), to be quite honest, i think of lame. there are sooooooooo few movies that are....interesting isn't the right word. it's not like we need to compete with the world. we know the truth. we win guys. but, why can't we take that whole industry and use it instead of fear it? i know some people, (cough, nate, cough, i'm not biased i sware) that are perfectly capable of making movies that are even more amazing than anything we've ever seen. a little miss sunshine for the rest and best of us that won't have that label of "r". i really hope to see it sometime in my life. i would even ADORE being involved in it. i may have just unnecessarily babbled. you're the best if you stuck through.
so after all that....what movies have you guys seen lately? what music are you listening to? anything cool, i'm looking for some new books and whatnot. for me....
music- check out the band mook! search for them on myspace. listen to the song brokenbee.
movies- i want to see there will be blood but it's r so i'm gonna settle for the book it was based off of, (oil! by upton sinclair), i'm still lovin juno. and waiting for be kind rewind.
let me know! love love.

They're comin back.

2008-01-31T19:25:00.000-08:00

New Kids on the Block.

http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/56462728

Look At This

2008-01-31T18:41:00.000-08:00

So this is the Mayor's heart here in Cedar Hill. It is so amazing how sovereign God is. He has put us here now with a mayor. We have a chance to bring heaven to Earth here and now and God has put so many people here and now. So take a look at others just like us, who want to make a difference in our community with the love of Jesus.

http://transformationvision.com/index.html

Fighting....

2008-01-28T20:41:00.000-08:00

So I've been wrestling with an issue lately and I thought I might see if you guys have any opinions/convictions/whatever I just want some insight. Try to understand what I'm saying here...I'm gleaning from lots of different angles and opinions...some you may agree or not agree with. Just lemme know what you think...

I was driving toward downtown a few months back with my friend and we we're talking about a band that we both liked. I asked him if he had heard the new album that the band had just released. After he said "no", I plugged in my iPod and selected the first track. It was weird to me that he hadn't purchased this bands latest album, so I proceeded to ask him why he didn't have it.

"I had to stop listening to them". He reluctantly said.

"Really?" I asked, "Why?"

He told me about a conversation he had had with his pastor about music. Turns out his pastor used to be in a Christian punk rock band with some friends a while back. Long story short, the pastor had made a commitment not to listen to music that was not God honoring. My friend decided to make the same commitment. One of the reasons for this commitment I, along everyone reading this blogg, have heard before; if someone who is not saved sees or hears you listening to music that does not honor God, it will ruin your witness. Ok I still don't really know where I stand on this one but I've heard it before nevertheless. The other reason is new to me. He said that he doesn't want to support a band that is uplifting or upholding standards and ideals that are contrary to biblical values.

Hmm...

I've never heard that before. I mean sure they're gonna do what they wanna go...i.e. party, drink, whatever...thats their choice. The question is, am i helping pay for that life by buying one of their albums? Am I enabling them to a certain degree? I saw it as an interesting thought, not that I agree or disagree. Lemme know what you guys think...

Just somthin I've been fighting with...

~LANCE

Choose or ....Lose

2008-01-28T13:49:00.000-08:00

So, this is my first post on this blog. It's not going to be the same as everyones. I enjoy talking about current situations in my life, and many other topics just like the next person. But being Nate, I feel lead to talk about the election for just a little bit, to maybe encourage everyone to take a gander at this hot topic because it is a very important issue in my life, and yours. First off, this is going to be an extremely important election. Most elections are, but this one is just nuts. There are so many things going on in this country and we have a lot of people vying to take control. We have Iraq, a quagmire all in itself. We have an economy heading into a possible recession. America has a major immigration problem, do we send them back, keep them here, build a wall? Social Security will indeed be bankrupt by the time all of us retire, so what will there be for us, and why are we paying into something that will eventually not exist for us. A major energy crisis, and skyrocketing prices of oil. And a national debt spiraling out of control as well.

Yikes! you may say. What the heck are we gonna do about this? Well I sure don't know. But there are a few people who at least have some ideas about these things. And yep you guessed it, we have to pick one, that we think has the best ideas, to solve these problems.

Right now we're in the primary's, which means we're voting on the main two to run for the big vote in November. There's a handful of candidates to choose from, but I'm sure you've heard of all the main candidates. Names like, Clinton, Huckabee, Giuliani, Romney, Obama, and John McCain. Not to be confused with Adam. One of the above mentioned names will be president this time next year.

Now your probably wondering Nate, come on why does this concern me. I'm not a voter. Let me tell you why. First off, it's your duty. You owe it to your country to vote. Millions of men, and women have shed their blood for your right to punch a little hole through a piece of paper. I guess you can argue they also died for the freedom to not vote, but that just seems like a lazy way around it. Also I get sick of the people who complain constantly about our country. If you don't vote than to be honest you should keep your mouth shut about the status of America, you have no say in the democratic process therefore all your doing is paying your rent, "taxes", to live here.

Sorry if that seemed a little mean. I think everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I hope everyones are not like mine. The main reason I'm posting an Election '08 blog entry is because I want to see all of my friends find out what issues are important to them, and then research on who fits your views, thats all. Even if your not going to vote it's still good to know who's opinion's match yours. Below I'm going to leave some links that I found quite interesting and would like everyone to check out. One of them is a quiz, and it helps you figure out which candidate's match your views.

The Quiz-This should help you figure out which candidate's views, that concern you the most, are closest to yours.

National Debt Clock-I added this just in case you were curious how much money America owes.

Election Center-This is just website helps show you how each candidate is doing.

Like I said the whole reason I posted this was to get those of haven't checked out any candidate's to do so, because come February fifth, we will most likely know who the main two will be.

-Nate

How are you?

2008-01-27T13:55:00.000-08:00

How are you guys? I miss ya. How was your week?

I am ..... discouraged and tired. How about you?

What's the Deal????

2008-01-23T16:14:00.000-08:00

I am focusing on... patience, humility and self-control. Well, it is crazy challenging. But it's Jesus otherwise I would be throwing things at those idiots' heads by now. :)

I thought you would chuckle at my story. You see it all got kinda cloudy today. I did really well at keeping my mouth shut and take the humble route! woohoo. BUT then I had pride about loosing my pride. Yep, I definitely thought, "great Job Chelle. You have so much more self-control than person X. You are the humble person in this relationship. Maybe they will learn from my selfless example". I wish I was kidding. So did I overcome the pride or just transfer it? Does transfer growth count for anything? :)

So, here is my newest revelation... patience and self-control come from humility and a lack of them is one root... pride. Why do you loose your patience? --pride Why do you loose self-control? -- pride

Still in process,
Chelle

So here goes nothin!!

2008-01-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

so I'm now complete with my 5 day no food fast! and it felt so great! to eat! ha. i didn't have one particular thing that i focused on throughout the fast, it was more of discovering for myself what it means to completely empty yourself and to become a living sacrifice, so to speak. but there was one really amazing thing that I came to realize while I was fasting. I was in the prayer room at school, and i started journaling about what it means to really thank God for what He is in my life. and so basically I'm gonna bust a move and share a little bit....so here we go.
"January 18, 2008
Things i learned about God today:
I can affirm Him.
He wants me to.
He wants me to shower Him with compliments.
Even though they are so completely human.
I came to the realization that i can genuinely thank Him like I thank people.
But so much more then that.
so much more.
Or at least it needs to be in that way.
So many times I think Christians talk to God without listening to themselves talking to God.
Its just a babbling of articulated nonsense.
And its just mainly another superficial conversation.
Another surface relationship.
Full of empty beautiful overspiritualized words."

Why am I so tired?

2008-01-22T10:37:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here after class looking at my work schedule...exhausted. Its only the second week of school. THE SECOND WEEK!! And we're not even through the second week! Now I know in retrospect to some people my life is one of laziness and sloth, but the purpose of this post is not to compare the busyness of my day to someone else's. Rather, it is to toss a simple thought penny into the wishing well of the general populous...

WHY ARE WE SO FREEKIN TIRED?!?!

I don't understand why we rush around and have this need to be busy all the time. On the one hand you have the need to survive and make a living and be someone and have accomplishments, yes I understand all of that. The problem for me is waking up in the morning and seeing those hideous bags under my eyes get, ever so gradually, bigger and bigger as the weeks rocket by. And what makes it worse is that most of my time is taken up by things that, if I were to be brutally honest and straight forward with Lance Beiler, don't mean a stinking thing!

Maybe I'm just barking at parked cars, but I can't help but hate the fact that I'm having trouble convincing myself to use precious energy to get up off this couch. I'd love to hear some input/advice/just that I'm not alone on this.

~LANCE~

finally!

2008-01-20T19:26:00.000-08:00

finally this works for me!
i was trying to think of something really cool to write for my first big snaps and stirrups post but i think i'm gonna share something with you guys that i've been chewing on for awhile now. it's something that jacob marshall, the drummer for mae posted on one of his blogs. i really liked it. hopefully you will get something out of it like i did. this is from maeteam.com...(it's long, but bear with it.)

As many of you know, we were invited to come to the Capitol and White House for some meetings about art and its role in the development of culture. The most important thing about about this experience was the oppotunity to learn. As a band we are just a collection of individuals and as individuals we have been divided in certain aspects of personal political ideology. We have never rushed to be a "political" band because of those differences of opinion. While writing Singularity, we challenged ourselves to really explore the worldviews we each had and basically went under a drastic deconstruction of how we arrived at those foundational views and opinions. The ability to see ourselves from a distance led to an amazing season of reflection and the beginning of a reconstruction based on what we learned.I say all of that to say this. We don't have the easy "answer." We have a lot of questions and some basic things that we are all unified on. Those things are foundational. Things like responsibitly for ones actions and decisions. Care for those less fortunate than ourselves. The poor. The orphans. The widows. The disenfranchised. The isolated. Care for our planet and the future generations that will have to inhabit this place when we are gone. Belief in something greater than ourselves and not rushing to put a label on what that is. Love. Hope. Compassion. Humility. Community. Beauty. Logic. Hard work. Respect. Asking questions and not being too easily satisfied with other people's answers.I am so blessed to a part of a family that loves me and it is devistating to think that love is something that is missing from many homes and families. I can't even begin to express how grieved we were over these Va Tech shootings and the lives that were ripped apart in the wake of that devestation. I can't help but think about what could have been done to avoid that. Would love have spoken a different perspective into that moment before the first shots were fired? I don't know but I can't help but feel like it would have made a difference. Isolation is a cold blanket to be wrapped inside of. We are all born into a complicated world. Life is a story that we are thrown into without a chioce and left to figure out as we go. Its hard to find our bearings. Everywhere you look someone is selling an "answer." But those answers leave me unsatisfied. They inevitably fall apart and leave a bad taste in my mouth.I believe in the search. I believe that we are meant to be here. I believe that there is more to our story than we are aware of. I celebrate the mystery that through us the universe has become conscious of itself. I have seen some amazing (and unimaginable) things along the way and I am grateful for the patience of those who took the time to teach me something. And as hard as it is sometimes (and I will humbly admit there have been times of extreme depression that I wanted to throw it all away) LIFE is truly a gift to be treasured. If this makes you feel something, let me know. I don't believe I am alone.

D E S T I N Y

2008-01-19T17:22:00.000-08:00

Im reading the book Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus. What a great book! So far I've read every chapter at least two times so that I can fully comprehend all that he has to say. I have a short memory span, haha! The section on Intimacty is ... beautiful. I am now on the Destiny part. Here are a little of my words and thoughts from the first five chapters on Destiny:

How come when we are children, we dream of things that we haven't ever experienced? What did you want to be when you were little? Lets say you wanted to be a doctor. You didnt need a job, you needed no money, you had everything given to you. You had it made. What were you thinking? Why couldn't you have just let your parents give everything, buy everything, do everything for you? When you were eight you wanted to be eleven. When you were eleven you wanted to be sixteen, then eighteen, then twenty-one. You always wanted to go faster, be older, dream bigger. Why??

It's funny when you think about it. Not the concept of being a doctor, actor, writer, fire fighter, but the concept of becoming something. We all want to do more than survive. We want to succeed. No one dreams of being in the olympics after working for months, years and coming in 4th place. We dream BIG. Erwin says, "Our dreams gravitate toward greatness."

Quotes from the book:

"If we're going to dream, if we're going to persue a standard of greatness, once again the human spirit naturally gravitates toward the extraordinary. We dream of greatness; we dream ambitiously."

"As children we assume that greatness is within our grasp. Whatever inspires us, we begin to dream that one day we will be the best. It is only as we lose our childlike innocence that we begin to settle for far less. A part of growing up seems to be acquiescing to mediocrity. It's easy to say that we're becoming realistic, that it's just a part of growing up. But in fact, it's the death of our souls. When we stop dreaming, we start dying. For some of us, this has been a slow painful death. Others are just walking dead. They died a long time ago, and it's nothing less than a freak of nature that they're still living."

Erwin goes on to talk about what happens when we let our dreams die. What happens when our dreams don't come true? He talks about ambition and how some think that ambition is a bad thing. And then there is more that I havent read. I could fill you in on more once I continue reading but I think that you should read it for yourself!

Sincerely, Lindsay.

WHat I am thinking about..

2008-01-15T21:56:00.000-08:00

"We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located
among the
million s and millions of cows in America , but we haven't got a
clue as to
where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are located.
Maybe we
should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of
immigration."
Why is it that we really know what we want to know or more the point acknowledge or pursue what we want, but ignore the things we are happily holding on to. If we fixed the terrorism issue what would we politic over? If we fixed Iraq, which American companies would stop controlling the economy?
If we dealt with our bitterness, where would we put that emotional energy? If we stopped fantasizing about him, would we have to face the possibility of singleness and the plan of God?

Thanks

2008-01-15T11:48:00.000-08:00

Hello All,
I am slightly ashamed to admit that this is my first blog experience and at first was somewhat uncertain as to what I should write. However, with a little thought something did come to mind. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for making me feel so welcome last Sunday. (if i have not met you and your reading this, i suppose this does not relate, but hopefully i will get a chance to meet you soon!) It was so nice to be able to be able to meet such a great group of people. You all are amazing and I look forward to getting to know you better. Have a super day!!

Victoria Armbrust
(otherwise better known as jons little sister:)

Pen Pals.. Do you have one?

2008-01-14T19:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Everyone,
I love recieving mail. Even more so now, because I'm out of PA and living a new, different life. For someone to inquire about me once I've moved away is pretty special. When I get a letter in the mail it means that that person took time to write the letter; took time to find my address; and went and bought postage. They could have just called or emailed me. But that is so ... easy, effortless, free. Even if mailing a letter only costs 67 cents, it means a whole bunch. Specialy when it's a package!

so.. wanna be my pen pal?

Sincerely, Lindsay

What is on my mind....FOOD

2008-01-13T13:13:00.001-08:00

This is what these families around the world eat in a NORMAL WEEK. Be sure to count mouths.This kinda changes my perspective.

Italy: The Manzo family of SicilyFood expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

Mexico: The Casales family of CuernavacaFood expenditure for one week 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey VillageFood expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03
Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

Ecuador: The Ayme family of
TingoFood expenditure for one week: $31.55

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina.
Food expenditure for one week $341.98

Egypt: The Ahmed family of CairoFood expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53