Campus Days 2008

So today was the infamous annual event called "Campus Days" here at my beloved CBU. I have fully come to appreciate it after experiencing today. Last year I was unable to attend due to work but this year I was a captain since I am an RA in the cottages.  :) There were some great memories made on our team. It was my cottages, Joe's cottages, and Courtney's cottages. I have to say that my team was simply amazing. Thanks, guys!!

Again, my team was awesome!! We were Dwight Schrute Army of Champions. We all wore glasses and Joe even dressed up...so I guess in a way, he was our team mascot. We had fun playing pictionary...

Also, we played oversized basketball...

After that, we went on to human foosball...which was amazing...Nelson was our goalie...

The guys also reenacted Iwo Jima...

We didn't win...but all in all it was a great day!!! :) I just wish I could have the same team again next year :)

Love you all!! Hope you do awesome on your finals!!!

Isn't it funny?

I find it sometimes downright entertaining how God goes about doing things. This last semester right into this semester is one such example.

My church is very missions driven. Honestly, I love it, but at first I resisted it. I didn't see the need for me to be involved. I had friends who were so why should I have to go, also? Someone's gotta stay here, right? Ugh. Yeah..sure.

Last semester, I met a boy named Jonathan who definitely challenged me to see missions differently. I was becoming more and more open to the idea but still resisted how much my church pushes missions. Really, it's nothing over the top. It's a good amount of pushing but I was resisting like no other. Then, at school, we had a speaker named David Platt who REALLY pushed us to realize that missions is a calling and that really, nowhere is "home" except for Heaven so why are we so concerned about where we are on this earth?

So David Platt pushed me to really realize that it is a command and that, really, I had been forcing down this huge desire to go. I have a gift for learning languages, I love people, my spiritual gift is encouragement, and I want other people to know the Christ I know. I want to go places, understand cultures, spread His glory, and love on people around the world. I was finally admitting it...

Then one Sunday at church, my friend Dain spoke about his trip to Rwanda. I remember with a surprising amount of clarity how much a statement of his struck me. The dumb choice on my part was to not write what that statement was. That is frustrating to me tonight because I really wish I did. However, I have some clues. I did write the following three statements:

1) "Sidenote: I just need to sign up. God will provide. Get over my fears and obey. Funny how your biggest fears become your greatest passion."

2) "Signed up: Southeast Asia. Greatest fear: Missions."

3) "Yet another push in the right direction of what I've been struggling with..."

Anyway, whatever Dain said pushed me that very day to sign up for a missions trip that was being offered. I didn't know Dain at the time, but then, he signed up for the same trip. I've gotten to hang out with him a few times. It's funny how God uses people you don't know, allows you to know them, and then just seems to bring things full circle.

Thanks, Dain, for that last little push. God is really working through you.

rollercoasters

Rollercoasters are awesome rides! I was scared of them until I turned 13 when I rode my first "big kids" rollercoaster with my sister in Oklahoma.

After that I was addicted but refused to ride them without her. Well, I went to Disneyland one summer with my parents, nephews, niece, and cousin. He is my age and he REALLY wanted to go on the California Adventure rollercoaster. What was I to do? I said yes and I rode it. I fell in LOVE with it!! Now I can't get enough of rollercoasters. They're my secret addiction.

Ever think about it? You ride a rollercoaster for the thrill. The adrenaline starts pumping, the screaming starts up, and it's a blast! But sometimes at first they seem so daunting.

My proposition is that life can be a rollercoaster. Sometimes they're nice and downhill and we're coasting. Sometimes they're uphill and take awhile to reach the top. And sometimes when we finally reach that summit, we plummet to the lowest point of the ride. And yet, we press on. We take heart and we keep going. Let us not forget that even when times are frustrating, sad, lonely, or overwhelming, we are not alone. Christ is right here with us and He is on this "rollercoaster" with us. Don't lose heart. Press on. You are not alone.

Brought to tears

This may seem like an out of the ordinary post...

Or just something you didn't expect...

Or maybe something you did expect. I really don't know...

Lately (about the last three weeks) Christ has really been softening my heart to Him and His word more and more. Growing up, my mom has always told me I have a soft heart to God's commands and the Holy Spirit. She says she has always seen that in me. Anyway, it has become softer.

Anytime I really sit down to spend time in God's word, I have been brought to tears by all that He has done...all that He does...all that He has promised to do in me. God's glory is so obvious in our lives but so often, in the past, I have bypassed it and never really paid much attention.

Not only has He brought me to tears multiple times in the last few weeks...He has also brought me to stand for my belief in Him. I have been fighting temptations left and right. I have never noticed how prevalent temptations are in my life!! They are everywhere! It is only by the grace of God that I walk away from them. Apart from Him I can do nothing. (John 15:6) Is that not so true?