Moment of Silence

Sadly, our beloved Manu Ginobili will have to sit out the first part of the season due to an ankle surgery he had at the beginning of September.



I know this is a sad day for us all, but I'm sure he'll be back to his normal awesomeness in no time...

Pff. Bump that.

This week is going to be a crazy one. I have 3 tests, 2 papers, and I'm working till 6 every night. That being said, I haven't studied hardly at all tonight because I just can't seem to focus. Seriously. I will just sit there and stare, have an inner monologue about how I should be studying or doing something productive, after that I will commence daydreaming and then stare blankly at the closest wall.

I have found that daydreaming is the best time waster ever...and it helps that I'm really good at it. I know what you're thinking, "how can someone be good at daydreaming?". Well trust me, I am. I'm rather creative when I want to be. (Nothing weird. don't fret)

Also, I got to go see Fireproof on Friday. I ended up really liking it. If you're really critical of movies then you will probably find something wrong with it, but if you can just sit back and take it for what it is then you will probably end up enjoying it. It had me laughing out loud, gasping, and on the verge of tears. Anyways, if you see it and don't like it, don't blame me. I like what I like.

Paper-Schmaper

So I have to write this paper for one of my religion classes about a bible characters call to ministry. I'm really excited about the idea of the paper, but I haven't decided who I'm going to choose yet. I'm a little partial to Jeremiah (for multiple reasons). But, I don't know if I should write about him because I think it would make it too easy since I already have a lot to say. Plus, I think it would be good for me to learn about someone else. The people I can choose from are as follows: Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Paul, Jonah, Gideon, Samuel, Elijah and Elisha.

Any input?

Genesis 29:20

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

Genesis 29:20



Okay, so I know this may seem border-line sappy, but today we read over this scripture in OT and I loved it. It is so crazy to me that Jacob would work for seven whole years so that he could marry this girl. I mean obviously he thought she was beautiful, but is that it? Seven years of his life spent toiling away so that he could marry this beautiful girl?! At first I couldn't get over how crazy that sounded. I mean seriously, how many modern guys would WAIT seven years for a girl...much less spend the entire time EARNING the right to be her husband?! But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is one of the most awesome things I've read in regards to love and sacrifice (from a purely romantic standpoint)... Obviously Christ was the ultimate picture of love and sacrifice, but that's a whole 'nother post. I'm normally not a sucker for the hallmark movie/happy ending story, but the bible doesn't make it overly sappy and romantic. It's so plain and so simple..."and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her". Ah. Love it.

In a perfect world...

So tonight I was talking to some guys that do a service project with me every Wednesday about our Old Testament class. And I was talking about how much I LOVE that class and our professor... so imagine my surprise when they both say they fall asleep in that class all the time! I was shocked! It hadn't even occured to me that anyone could fall asleep in there. I'm still baffled by the whole thing. Am I that big of a nerd? I know I sit right in front of the podium, so I can't see like 95% of the class, but still. It's weird to me. And it wasn't like these were loser guys, they are both Christian Studies majors who say they love the Old Testament!

This got me thinking...what would the world be like if everything was "perfect" (according to me of course). So I decided on a few key things that I would change about the world...



1. Everyone would love/have a relationship with Jesus.
2. Everyone would love ME.
3. People would smile and laugh all the time
4. There would be no curse words...we wouldn't have any use for them.
5. Girls would wear dresses 90% of the time.
6. Once a year everyone in the world would join hands and sing "Let it Be".
7. Everyone would get/send at least one encouraging note a month.
8. People would argue for pure entertainment value, not because they were really angry.
9. Boys/Men of all ages would always be gentlemen.
10. Iced Tea would be served with every meal.
11. Movie tickets would never exceed 25 cents.
12. There would be a dance party every Friday night.
13. Ernie Halter would sing me to sleep every night.
14. Barney would be a real dinosaur that walked the streets of major U.S. cities.
15. Strangers would exchange high 5's and head nods and smiles on a regular basis.
16. No one would be skanky/inappropriate.
17. I would be able to read people's minds.
18. Large groups of people would burst in to song and dance, but not everyone would be singing the same thing.
19. Fingers and Toes would never get cold.
20. Everyone would wake up every morning well rested and with a positive attitude.



So I know some people won't like all of those, but I'm ok with that. It's MY perfect world.

Some "Loftier" Goals...

So recently I was informed that my previous post (about the ten things I want to do in the next ten years) was too easy. Though I do think that some of those things will take longer than others to accomplish (like going to Ireland), I realize that most of the goals I listed for myself I could probably accomplish by Christmas.

That being said, I have decided to set out some loftier goals for myself. Ones that are going to be harder to accomplish, and therefore, more rewarding. Goals that might really take me 10 years to achieve. However, I am keeping some of the ones from the previous post.

10. Go on a long term mission trip. I still really want to see this one materialize. I know it will come down to God's timing and His plan for me more than my own desires, but I really think it would be awesome to live in another country and just serve Him. Having my main concern be furthering the gospel as opposed to the worldly things that so often cloud my vision in the U.S.. That being said, I know that God's timing is far better than mine, so if He does not have this in store for me in the next ten years, I just pray He gives me the opportunity eventually.

9. Go to Ireland. I'm not giving up on this one.

8. Learn to speak another language and be able to use it from time to time. I kind of want to learn sign language. I feel like I would be better at that than Spanish or French or something. I have a hard enough time speaking proper English so this is definitely one of the "loftier" goals.

7. Get a dog. Though this may seem easily attainable, it is something I won't do until I have my own home. So I guess this one might as well be: get married, buy a home, then get a dog. That's the order I want them to go in. ha.

6. Read the entire Bible from start to finish. Not one of my loftier ones, just one I haven't sat down and actually done.

5. Go scuba diving.

4. Go to a Spur's game and sit courtside (or directly behind the players). I can't even begin to explain the kind of joy this would bring me. It is something I've always wanted to do and never thought possible.

3. Be able to do "the splits".

2. Take a tour of The Holy Land. This is something I've always wanted to do with my hubby, but it's also one of those things that I think won't happen until I'm much older...

1. Become more domestic. I'm not talking about cooking macaroni and cheese and tidying up the house... I want to be the next Sterle Coker. I doubt I'll ever achieve her level of awesomeness in this arena but I'd sure like to give it a shot. I'd like to be able to cook the best meals, maintain a clean home and be able to sew. I'll ask Sterle to take me under her wing and show me her ways...

ten more

Okay, like I said in the last post, I've been kind of in to lists all day. This time I think I will list ten random* things I want to do in the next ten years...



10. Go to Ireland. I don't know what it is about this place, I could claim wanting trace back to my redheaded roots, but I'm barely Irish so that doesn't really count. I mostly want to go because it seems like one of the most beautiful, scenic, peaceful places ever. Maybe I'll honeymoon there one day or something.



9. Leave the state on a completely spontaneous road trip. In my mind I would have someone with me on this trip...though I don't know who or where we would go yet.



8. Go on a "longer" term mission trip. I'm not sure how long just yet...longer than any of the ones I have done up to this point. Maybe weeks or months...possibly years, who knows.



7. Go on a date.



6. Go to a Mormon tabernacle. (Just for the experience not because I'm thinking about converting.)



5. Really experience snow. I'm talking snowman-building, thermal-underwear-wearing, fingers-turning-purple, snow-sports type of snow.



4. See an opera. (I'm not totally dedicated to this one but I do think it's one of those things that everyone should probably do in their lifetime).



3. Have a spa day with my girls.



2. Go camping again.



1. Go see SNL live in NYC.



So I realize a lot of these involve travel, because to be honest, I feel like there are just a ton of places I want to go!



*I choose random ones because I assume ones like "get married" and "start a family" are obvious.

Ten

So I have decided to compile ten of my favorite scriptures. Trust me this list could be much longer, but for the sake of time and my fingers, I'm only going to list ten. I know this list will be constantly changing and evolving, but for now, these are ten that stick out, that have meant something to me at certain times in my life, or are just way too awesome to keep to myself...

10. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

9. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

8. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory...

1 Peter 1:8

7. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

6. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:4-5

5. "...Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:19-20

4. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 25: 4-5

3. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him." The Lord is good to those that wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.

Lamentations 3:24-25

2. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:11-13

1. Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak..."

Jeremiah 1:6-7

There are others that I would have put but they wouldn't have made sense out of context or without an explanation, so I'm leaving it at this :)

And for whatever reason, I'm really in to lists today...there are probably more to come. ha.

Mmm Thursdays...

So today was my "welcome to the work force" day. I've been working at the Graduate School of Business for about 3 weeks now, but today was a day unlike any other. It started out with me not doing too much, just kinda sitting around. But it ended with me standing in a bustling doorway passing out flyers for an hour and a half. That being said, it wasn't all that bad. Sure there were lots of awkward hand-offs and word-exchanges, but overall I would deem it a success.

In other news, I really love my Thursday classes! Well...at least most of them. I have Math first thing in the morning (8 am to be exact), but it's relatively easy so I usually just zone out. The time always seems to go sooo slow in that class, but I know it's only because I get really excited about going to Old Testament next.

I know it's kind of nerdy, but it's seriously the highlight of my week. Right now we are going through Genesis (obviously) but more specifically, we just finished the "period of the beginnings", and now we're moving on to "the age of the patriarchs". I know I've pretty much told everyone how awesome my professor is for this class, but seriously, he's the best (or I'm just really excited about what we're learning). In the class of 90, which is EXTREMELY large for DBU, I sit in the front row...right in front of the podium. I feel like a dweeb, but it's totally worth it :)

My next class is Intro to Christian Ministries which I only have once a week since it's a hybrid. My professor for that class is pretty rockin, but the class is much smaller and much more conversational than Old Testament. I'm learning all types of fun stuff about my personality and spiritual gifts, and today we went over conflict resolution and such which I thought was pretty interesting.

Thats basically it as far as my fav. classes. My history class is tight, but nothing compares to Thursdays.

Oh Thursday, must I wait another 7 days?!

bliss

we just got a chocolate/strawberry frozen yogurt machine in the caf.

yea. i'm pretty excited about it too.

Unanswered Questions

So recently I have become rather bogged down with this whole "where do you want to end up in four years" question. As if it wasn't hard enough stepping out on a limb and going to a university I never thought I'd be at... and pursuing a major with limited possibilities. My future is unsure. I know that. In the past I have never let that bother me. It was always just "one step at a time". First go to the right college and get my degree, then God will reveal His plan for me. But who am I to put God on a time restraint? As hard as it may be, I need to learn to accept the things I do not know.

I don't know where I'm going to be in four years. So what? As long as I am seeking after God and trying to bring glory to His name, what's the problem? Where is my flawed logic? I feel like everyone else around me needs answers and I have begun to let it influence my thinking. I hate that I worry about this. I know that I just need to be faithful to do what He has called me to, and to serve where He has placed me now... so why am I getting so wrapped up in the future? I know He has been more than faithful in supplying me with the things that I need. And the funny thing is, I think one of the things that makes faith so beautiful is that it's blind. Why do I keep thinking that I need things spelled out for me or the answers written in the sky?

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
-Hebrews 11:1

In the past I have always considered it a good thing to have "faith like a child". But sometimes I worry that that's not good enough for the people around me. Why isn't it? I still invest in scripture and knowledge. I know that can be dangerous or scary for some people to trust blindly, but I don't how else to live my life. When people ask how I expect to support myself, my future family, etc., I can't give them a straight answer. And I've been mocked for not knowing. For being naive and overly optimistic. I just don't understand why so many people need to know all the answers? I believe God will be faithful to me. He will provide all that I need. And that is more than enough for me.

Current Obsession

So recently I have become rather obsessed with Amos Lee. Especially his song "In the Arms of a Woman". mmhhhmm. Me Gusta.

I mean, he hasn't taken Ernie's place as my fav. yet...but he is certainly up there.

Oh, and I've also decided that I desperately need to go see more of these guys live. It's pretty much a necessity.

ENTJ

So I had to take this personality test for sociology and I was actually pretty surprised with the results. It pretty much had me dead-on (or at least I think so). Well, I think it was really interesting so...oh, and I was an ENTJ meaning (extrovert, intuitive, thinking, judging)

ENTJ


ENTJs look at the world around them and see judgments—impersonal, analytical
judgments—that need to be made. They see people and things to be organized. They
see new and innovative challenges all around them. And they want to be the ones
to make it all happen. They want to do the
leading.

Of all the types, only the ESTJ feels a similar leadership drive. ENTJs and
ESTJs share a desire to be in positions of influence and control. Where the two
types differ is in the kinds of leadership positions they seek and what gifts
they bring to those positions. ENTJs often look for positions that offer them
opportunities to strike off in new directions, to satisfy their entrepreneurial
and creative
instincts.

ENTJs move surely and confidently into the external world. They see things and
people that need organizing. They don’t start out with a preconceived blueprint
for what they want to do. They see the need as it presents itself to them. They
are “take-charge”
people.

Even young ENTJs demonstrate an instinctive drive for leadership. A 15-year-old
ENTJ asked his mother to drive him to where his friends were building their
homecoming float. He just wanted to see what was going on. He came back in
charge. His class won first prize. For the next two years, he was in charge, and
all three years his class won first
prize.
As
a senior, his interests had matured. He overheard his teachers complaining that
their county ranked second or third in the nation in per capita income. They
also ranked 127th in teachers’ salaries. That made the young man angry. Within
two weeks he had organized “Students for Teachers.” In his county, he put
students to work collecting petitions. He organized students and parents to
speak to the school board and the board of supervisors. And he loved every
minute of it. ENTJs’ interest in new or entrepreneurial ventures comes from
their preference for focusing on possibilities. They are quick to grasp
complexities, and they enjoy making connections and seeing relationships. As
leaders, therefore, they focus on the large picture. They see things in
long-range terms. They want to provide overall direction and leave the detailed
execution to subordinates. They are, therefore, change-oriented leaders. They
will reshape an organization’s goals and seek more efficient ways of getting the
job done.

Even as parents, they reflect their “I’m in charge here” personalities. One
young ISFP noticed a pattern in how his father came home from work. He
invariably went straight to either the TV or the stereo to turn it down or off.
“I think Dad does that,” observed the young man, “just to show he’s the
boss.”
At
an early age, ENTJs begin to manifest their drive for closure. When they are
young and dependent on others for transportation, for example, they want things
settled—on the spot. It is unfair to see that behavior as a manifestation of a
childish need for “instant gratification.” Before making that judgement, watch
their reaction to being told they cannot have what they want. Do they become
angry but quickly get over it? The chances are that they have reflected on the
decision, accepted it as final, and made other plans. They are now ready to move
on. It is often useful, then, to ignore initial angry reactions. Confronting
anger with anger is likely to block ENTJs’ ability to re-decide and to prolong
their
outburst.

Do not, however, look for young ENTJs to be organized and orderly, to keep their
rooms neat, or to make lists. Their need for having things settled does not
extend to many matters as
these!
The
speed with which ENTJs make judgments and the confidence they have in themselves
often make them somewhat overpowering personalities. They can, in short, be
intimidating people. Many ENTJs expect others to show similar strengths and are
sharply critical of those who do not. It is, in short, often difficult for ENTJs
to listen to those who do not “speak their language.” Thus, in leadership
positions, they can deprive themselves of important information from
subordinates who fear to speak up. ENTJs are more likely than most types to
surround themselves with other ENTJs, thus reinforcing their strengths, but at
the same time compounding their
weaknesses.

Some ENTJs are so decision-oriented, so quick to form judgments, that they run
the risk of making hasty judgments or of forming judgments based on insufficient
information. Other ENTJs appreciate the need for decisions based on good data.
These ENTJs have a strong reflective side that brings balance to their
personalities. They enjoy time alone, for that is when they feel the need to
reflect. The need for making decisions recedes. They turn things over in their
minds. They look at things from different perspectives. They find new insights
and discover new
possibilities.

Even reflective ENTJs, however, want to have things settled. They, too, make
quick decisions and act confidently on them. They will, though, remain open to
reconsidering decisions when challenged or given new information. They arrange
their lives or their schedules so that they can have time to
reflect.

Put several ENTJs side-by-side and they seem very different. Some are “hard.”
They appear really cold and impersonal, giving orders and tolerating no
opposition. Others seem “warm” or “soft.” They are more aware of people and more
collaborative in their decision-making processes. And it’s not a male-female
difference. The difference lies in the extent to which they give themselves time
for inner reflection. Balanced and truly powerful ENTJs have a private side, a
need to turn inward periodically to explore intuitive possibilities.
While
ENTJs can focus on details, they are more likely to do so when in the service of
an intuitive insight or in support of a thinking judgment. Facts alone do not
interest them very much. Indeed, they are likely to get impatient if they have
to deal with details for very long. Details are for others, not for them, for
the next bold stroke or large issue is always there to beckon them
away.

Judgments based on personal values constitute ENTJs’ least developed side. They
are often unaware of the impact of their behavior on others, and they are often
unaware of how others are feeling. ENTJs are least skilled at deciding things on
the basis of personal values. They are uncomfortable with decisions that involve
being sensitive to people and their
emotions.

When under stress or down on themselves, however, ENTJs will often make
value-laden, subjective judgments about themselves or others. If they express
these judgments, they may do so with an explosive outburst. ENTJs can have
terrible tempers! They can use feeling judgments as a weapon to beat up on
themselves. They can use them to challenge their accomplishments, their
competence, or their
self-esteem.

On the other hand, ENTJs are also likely to have a strong sentimental streak.
Inside, they can have emotional attachments to people, groups, or ideals that
defy logical explanation. Some ENTJs may see the sentimental side of themselves
as a sign of weakness. They often seek to mask it with gruffness, thinking no
one will notice! Sometimes their value-based or people-centered judgments are
ill-conceived—childish, even—and, if acted upon, can cause them
trouble.

The ENTJ personality is a strong one. Unlike many of the other psychological
types, ENTJs do not need to assert themselves or get out of their own way in
order to live up to their potential. For them the challenge is to avoid the
tendency to make hasty decisions, to act on them before checking them out, to
fail to encourage others to speak up, to dismiss opposing points of view without
consideration, and to forget that sensitivity to people is an important part of
life. Those ENTJs who develop the discipline to avoid these pitfalls are truly
powerful people in the best sense of the word.

Sunday. The 7th of September. 2008.

So I've recently come to the conclusion that college is nothing that I thought it would be. I came in with so many expectations and idea's about what it would be like, and it has definitley been hard to realize how silly they all were. Now don't get me wrong, I know that my entire college life isn't decided in two weeks time. But I have learned a lot about myself in the meantime. My personality. My flaws. My thoughts and desires. I have never reflected and analyzed as much as I have recently. Life is changing and I need to be ready. And reguardless of how things appear on the surface, I'm excited for what the future holds.

I really want to start this year out right. I know that God has me here for a reason. He opened way too many doors for me to get here for this to be some freak accident. I just need to be patient (a fruit I am somewhat lacking). I still feel as if the entire world is at my fingertips... I need to be seeking Him and willing to go where He leads.

These past few weeks I have been church hopping with a friend I met up here. She's a sweet girl named Elizabeth and she comes from Katy so we both are always up here on the weekends when everyone else goes home. Well, anyways, we've tried a variety of different churches...some great, some boring, and some I just felt indifferent about. So far I really like The Village best. I think it's a combination of Matt Chandlers passionate speaking, the welcoming congregation, and the sense of community you feel when you walk in. I still have one more church I'm going to visit before I make my final decision, but I think my mind's already made up.

Between church hopping, school, and work I've stayed pretty busy. When I get back to my room I usually just want to collapse and relax. Oh college...