Tidbits
My final went ok. I started another new class today and it seems like it will be more interesting than the last. (But there's a lot more work involved.)
Is it wrong to look for maturity and intellectual discussion within your friendships with people? In terms of my faith specifically, I know that my commitment has been made stronger through discussion with people. I don't think we should be too quick to write that off. I know that I've never been able to be close with anyone that I couldn't have a serious and frank discussion with. Maybe that's just me...but I hate the surface stuff.
And finally...
I have kidnapped my husband and taped his fingers together so he can't type. That's the reason he hasn't blogged. (Or is it?)
Quote
I found this quote on my friend Deb's blog. It was among some other very cool quotes, but it stuck out to me the most.
“Poverty, pain, struggle, anguish, agony and even inner darkness may continue to be part of our experience. They may even be God’s way of purifying us. But life is no longer boring, resentful, depressing, or lonely because we have come to know that everything that happens is part of our way to the house of the Father.” (Henri Nouwen, in Soul Survivor)
Final time once again
I have a final tomorrow that's worth 60% of my final grade in a course. The problem is that I procrastinate when I study and this class has a lot of material, but I'm hoping that it will work out ok. I'll be more available on Thursday. (And then I'll be able to manage to respond to some of my emails. Sorry you guys.) We'll see what happens anyway. Prayers are appreciated for sure.
Thanks everybody
We just wanted to say thanks to all of you who came out yesterday. It was a lot of fun and we promise we'll have you all out again soon. We were saying that we probably should because when we're having company we actually get work done around the house...and yeah....it's good to hang out too. ;-)
Answers to the quiz:
Well, it is obvious that Lo ruled this quiz. I figured that since no one else answered I may as well post the answers now. I'm sure that some of you will be kicking yourselves at not getting these. (Or you'll be wondering why I picked such obscure songs...one of the other)
1)Nirvana - Lithium
2) Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
3) David Gray - Flame Turns Blue
4) Lauryn Hill - Every Ghetto, Every City
5) James Taylor - Fire and Rain
6) Gin Blossoms - Follow you down
7) Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
8) Duran Duran - Ordinary World
9) Dave Matthews Band - So much to say
10) Radiohead - Black Star
11) David Bowie - Lady Stardust
12) Ben Harper - Picture of Jesus
13) The Cure - Friday I'm in love
14) U2 - Running to stand still
15) Blur - Parklife
16) Guns n' Roses - November Rain
So there you have it. I'm going to take time to learn from the master's in the music quiz business before I continue. (You know who you are) ;-)
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Today is my birthday. (24) It seems like each year my birthday gets a little bit more laid back. Not a problem though. 3 of my uncle will's daughters are here to visit their dad so we went out for lunch with them. They are so cute. They looked at our wedding pictures and pointed to Jer saying, 'That's our new cousin!' Then, they decided they would draw some pictures for he and I. So...we'll have lots of artwork to display around the house.
I'm trying to get over a bad cold, but aside from that it's been a good day. I got an eliptical (sp?) trainer from Jer and his parents and a patio set from my family. (Which I'm excited to use when you all come out to our place on Saturday.) I'm surprised that I haven't bought any CD's, but I'm learning to restrain myself. (Especially on my birthday because otherwise I'd go nuts.)
Anyway, there's still a few of the music quotes in the post below that haven't been answered so feel free to have a try with those. I'll post the answers for them tomorrow.
Jumping on the music quiz bandwagon
Well, I can't remember if I've ever done one of these so I thought that I might as well try it. I'm pretty sure I won't fill the shoes of the many music quiz greats (i.e. Kirk and crew) but here goes anyway: (Jer, I'm afraid you can't answer because I'm sure you'll probably guess all of these since you live with me)
1) "Light my candles in a daze ...
’cause I’ve found god"
2) "Said there ain’t no use in crying. cause it will only, only drive you mad"
3) "Different places, yeah but they all look much the same
Dreams of faces in the streets devoured by names"
4) "Jack, jack, jack ya body
Nah, the biz mark used to amp up the party
I wish those days, they didn’t stop"
5) "Won’t you look down upon me, jesus
You’ve got to help me make a stand
You’ve just got to see me through another day
My body’s aching and my time is at hand
And I won’t make it any other way"
6) "I know we’re headed somewhere, I can see how far we’ve come
But still I can’t remember anything"
7) "Relax.
I need some information first.
Just the basic facts:
Can you show me where it hurts?"
8) "Well now pride’s gone out the window cross the rooftops, run away,
Left me in the vacuum of my heart."
9) "my heaven is a nice house in the sky
Got central heating and I’m alright"
10) "The trouble words of a troubled mind, I try to understand what is eating you."
11) "And he was alright, the band was all together
Yes he was alright, the song went on forever
And he was awful nice"
12) "So let us say a prayer
For every living thing
Walking towards a light
From the cross of a king"
13) "Dressed up to the eyes
It’s a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise"
14) "I see seven towers
But I only see one way out"
15) "Who’s that gut lord marching? you should cut down on your porklife, mate, get some exercise!"
16) "I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you."
So there you go folks. I know it's long, but believe it or not I wanted to make it longer. I always miss something after the fact. Regardless, this should keep you busy for awhile.
It's a miracle
Well, evidently the Lord must care about my little dog. My brother found her this morning running around Arbor Creek. She didn't smell good at all and was quite shaken up. After he picked her up she didn't want to get out of the van. He had to bribe her with bacon. (Sounds like Nop alright)
I'm so SO relieved. As are my mother and brother who were dreading having to tell my Dad and Sister that she was gone. (Claire's at camp and Dad is away on business) So thanks for the prayers and encouraging words. Thank the Lord. Phew!
In other news...we're having our housewarming on Saturday night. I think I made the mistake of saying Friday to some people...but it isn't Friday....Saturday night. I don't know too much about it. I think we're going to have supper out here (6ish) and then just hang out. Email Jer if you have any questions. He has directions and such for you as well. All are welcome but you need to let Jer know if you're coming so that he can plan for those numbers. Look forward to seeing as many of you Sat. as possible.
Blessings.
Nop is missing
One of my parents dogs (my childhood dog really) ran away last night and we can't seem to find her anywhere. She's run away before but never overnight.
I'm concerned I guess because I love that little dog so much. I hope nothing happens to her. It's my birthday in two days and I'd hate to get sad news then. It really is true that in some ways a pet becomes an actual part of your family...so, even though I'm sure it sounds silly in comparison to some prayer requests...I'd appreciate it if you would all pray that my little dog comes home to my parents house safely. She's very important to us. Thanks.
Thunderstorms
That last post is all over the place. I'm sure I lost most of you with it. Since, I've slept about another hour so I think that helped a bit.
On another note, I'm really enjoying all of the thunderstorms lately. God is so powerful. It's been pretty crazy out here in Warman in terms of that. The lightning has been beautiful to watch. Jer stands in our backyard in silence just watching. He thinks it's very cool. At least we haven't had to water our garden! (And here's hoping that my husband doesn't get struck by lightning).
Sleepy doesn't even begin to explain it...
I've just spent the last day working on a paper focusing on Karl Marx's theory of alienated labour. (due this morning at 8am) A lot of the concepts didn't click with me until 4:15 this morning when I was just finishing it. But, it is interesting stuff. (I did sleep for two hours before that.) I know that I don't agree with all of the theories assumptions and points but it's interesting to analyze it and put my own spin on what's being said.
So... it's a good mix... I have a lot of Karl Marx's concepts of this theory like his critique of the political economy approach followed by the oppression of particular classes (which I'm sure sounds confusing to some who haven't been reading these same 8 pages for the last week) and only two hours of sleep with no coffee. (I'm trying to go off of caffeine again.) I'm sure my husband will be excited to talk to me when he comes home from work. I need to remedy this situation somehow. ;-)
Have a good day everyone.
Mel and Kev are now 'The Sawyers'
Congrats Mel and Kev on getting married. We're so happy for you guys and have a lovely honeymoon.
Supersize Me
Jer and I went with Matt and Kirk to see 'Supersize Me' at the Broadway theatre last night. It's a documentary about a guy who decided to eat nothing but McDonald's food for every meal for one month. It's crazy what it did to him. If there's a way you can see this movie I recommend it. But.... I don't suggest eating at McDonald's ever again.
On friendship...
A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world. -- Leo Buscaglia
It's the ones you can call up at 4:00 a.m. that really matter.-- Marlene Dietrich
Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen.
-Samuel Paterson
Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty. -- Sicilian Proverb
Good friends are good for your health.-Irwin Sarason
True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation. -- George Washington
I have lost friends, some by death, others through sheer inability to cross the street.
- Virginia Woolf
In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
-Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)
It is easy enough to be friendly to one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. The other is mere business. -- Mahatma Gandhi
Where did God go?
I remember being a very young child and getting lost in the grocery store. My mother, a symbol of security and safety for me at the time was no where to be found. 'Where's my mommy? Did mommy leave me all alone?' These questions were continually going through my mind. What does a child feel in a time like that? I felt scared, and most importantly I felt alone. The person that I'd placed all my trust in was gone, and suddenly I was overwhelmed by what might happen now that I was by myself. I wasn't an inquisitive child. I didn't think to look around the corner to another isle.
She didn't leave. She was just out of my vision for a moment, but my first reaction was to think that she left me.
Even though I'm a lot older now, I can see a parallel to my relationship with God. When trouble strikes, my first assumption is often, 'Where did you go God?' rather than to trust He is in control of the situation...that He won't leave me...that it will be ok.
Proverbs 3: 5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths."
"I know of no more steadying hope on which to focus my mind when circumstances tempt me to wonder why God doesn't "do something." He is always doing something--the very best thing, the thing we ourselves would certainly choose if we knew the end from the beginning." -Elisabeth Elliot
Daily Bible Reading
I was just reading through 1 Peter and I came across something that really stirred me. 1 Peter 2:13-25 talks about submission to authority. I have heard many Christians say that we need to speak out against being unjustly treated. That we need to retaliate when people beat us down as Christians and speak up for what we believe is right. Well listen to verses 20-23 in particular:
20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Now, for anyone who has seen The Passion of the Christ this is simply to put it into perspective, but read it again and think about the pain and agony that was displayed in that movie as the Christ endured the beatings that were given Him. That is the example that is set before us. That we should endure as much agony in life as our Savior did and with the same strength and humility. Not fighting. Not complaining. That is the example that we need to show to those around us who don't have a saving knowledge of Jesus, our Savior and Lord.
