Shalom Y'all!

I'm not sure if any of you have heard about the Cowboy Church Movement that the BGCT started not too long ago, but I'm sure at some point you have seen or heard of one of these churches...if not, it's about time for you to take a trip outside the city limits ;)

To be honest, I hadn't really given them much thought until I heard some of the statistics and stories about the mission of these churches and the people they were reaching out to. In Texas alone there is estimated to be 1 million people that are "actively part of the Western heritage culture, or bear a strong affinity towards it." Some people say that we will need close to 200 churches in order to reach all of these people. And as if that weren't enough, I've read about some of these churches where over 70% of the baptisms are adults (and the majority of those were men).

Now I'm not a cowgirl, nor do I aspire to become one, but knowing that there are Christians that are being intentional about reaching and evangalizing a group of people that have previously felt neglected by the Church makes me optimistic about the future. I can't help but be excited. Regardless of how you feel about the BGCT (and baptists in general), as a believer how can you not be excited about this?! I think we need more movements like this one that will reach people that feel disconnected from modern church culture. I think we need to start going out to meet people where they're at, engage in their lives and culture, and most importantly SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION!

Whew. I need to go get a bottle of water and listen to some Johnny Cash or something ;)

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:10

"Danielle wants" lots of things.

I decided to embrace my inner 7th grade girl...

1) Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search.
2) Type in "[your name] looks like" in Google search.
3) Type in "[your name] says" in Google search.
4) Type in "[your name] wants" in Google search.
5) Type in "[your name] does" in Google search.
6) Type in "[your name] hates" in Google search.
7) Type in "[your name] asks" in Google search.
8) Type in "[your name] likes " in Google search.
9) Type in "[your name] eats " in Google search.
10) Type in "[your name] wears " in Google search.
11) Type in "[your name] was arrested for" in Google Search.
12) Type in "[your name] loves" in Google Search.

Mine is pretty rockin...

1) Danielle needs more self respect.
2) Danielle looks like she thinks George is hitting on her...
3) Danielle say's he's annoying.
4) Danielle wants to know, why does God hate Willowcat?
5) Danielle does not chat or instant message online, and does not use email to communicate with fans
6) Danielle hates cold calls from financial advisors.
7) Danielle asks for emergency diary room.
8) Danielle likes Cats. (sick-nasty)
9) Danielle eats a spicyyy samosa.
10) Danielle wears Prada!
11) Danielle was arrested for drunk driving.
12) Danielle loves Robert.

Roses are Red

Warning: This post is full of estrogen ;)

This past week has reminded me of something...

I do NOT like roses. My roomie came back with a dozen roses last night and now my room is filled with their stale scent. I know that the majority of guys that buy roses for their girlfriends/wives/mothers have good intentions, and a lot of girls genuinely love getting roses...I'm just not that girl. It's not that I think their intentions aren't good, I just think it's a cop-out (unless a girl specifically says her favorite flowers are roses).

However, I really do LOVE flowers.There are so many beautiful, fragrant flowers out there, but it's almost like 99% of Americans don't even know they exist. So here is a list of my favorites (in order of loveliness ;).

1. Hyacinth

2. Tulips

3. Oriental Lily

4. Lilacs

Lamentations 3:24

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."

Lamentations 3:24

Jehovah-Tsidkenu

I am really fascinated by all the different names for God in the Bible, they all seem so eloquent and unique. Mostly, I love that each one carries a different meaning and significance. It's kind of funny to think how elementary my vocabulary looks next to these names...

Jehovah- Self existing one
El Shaddi- The God of nourishment
Jehovah Roi- The God who sees
Olam- The everlasting God
Adoni- Master or Lord
Jehovah-Jireh-The Lord will provide
Jehovah-Nissi-The Lord our banner
Jehovah-Shalom-The Lord our peace
Jehovah-Savaoth-The Lord of Hosts
Jehovah-Rohi-The Lord my Shepherd
Jehovah-Tsidkenu-The Lord our righteousness
Jehovah-Sammah-the Lord Who is present
Jehovah-Rapha-the Lord our healer
Immanuel-God with us
El Yeshuasi-God is my salvation (Jesus)
Eli-God is my God
El Bethel-God is my sanctuary
El Elohim-God is the only true God
El Gibor-God is my mighty helper
El Roi-God is my all-seeing companion
Elohey Tehilaihi-God of my praise
Elohey Tzebaoth-God is my deliverer

(H.T. Titus 2 Men and Women)

Lil' Wayne Must be Reading My Mind

I don't know how many of y'all were fortunate enough to catch Katie Couric's interview with Lil' Wayne, but it was pretty epic...mostly because of this:

Lil' Wayne: "I'm a gangster, Miss Katie...I don't take nothin' from no one. I do what I want to do."


Apparently someone must have informed Mr.Wayne that he is well past the age requirement for "I do what I want".

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John 1:1-5

I don't know what happened, but lately it feels like everything is going on all at once. I work 18 to 20 hours a week, have class another 18, am on a VERY unskilled powderpuff football team, and have to find time to eat, sleep and talk to people. Oh, and study...something I have completely forgotten about till this last weekend. Ha. Oh man, this semester is going to be interesting, that's for sure!

In other news, I have decided to really buckle down and get serious about memorizing more scripture. So, in honor of that, I will be posting my verse for the week on here every Sunday. Feel free to quiz me on it during the week if you talk to me :)

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 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 1:1-5

Confessions...

1. I LOVE Brittney Spears...seriously, her music makes me happy.

I just needed to get that off my chest ;)

Quote of the Day:

"Trusting God comes naturally when you start viewing Him accurately." -Prof. Lash

Oy Vey!

Those of you that know me, know I have a fascination with other religions and their traditions and beliefs. Usually, I focus on the Mormons and all their hoopla, but recently I've gotten really interested in the Jewish people and the traditions they have carried out over centuries.

Which brings me to my point...I want a traditional Jewish wedding*. I know what you're thinking...and I'm talking like 208 AD, not the crazy 21st century nonsense they do now.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the idea, I'll attempt to sum it up.
Initially, the groom makes the proposal and works out the bride price with her father. Once all that has been taken care of, they are legally bound to one another (it was pretty rare that an engagement was canceled). At this point, they are pretty much a "done deal", and the groom goes back to his parents house to build a room where he and his wife will live. While he's busy building away on the home-front, the bride spends her time preparing herself for her role as a wife. Once the bride is ready for him she will start lighting a candle in her windowsill every night, until finally he comes for her in the middle of the night (I'm not totally sure that this always happened in the middle of the night, but it would make it much more romantic, so that's what I'm going with). They go off together to the place he has prepared for them, and consummate the marriage while the entire wedding party (including family, friends, and probably the rest of the town) waits outside the door. Once the marriage is consummated, they are officially husband and wife, and they join everyone outside for a celebration that lasts about a week.


Now I'm not really down for the whole living with his parents/"becoming one" while the town waits outside, but I understand the importance of those things and appreciate them for what they are. They just seem a little awk to me in this day and age...

Sadly, I feel like this will just be another goal that goes unfulfilled...I guess I'll just have to settle for the whole modern "big white dress-reception-honeymoon" thing that's so popular these days!



*for those of you that think I missed the whole point about what all this symbolizes, don't waste your time, I get all that stuff too. I guess for me, the idea of taking some of the fundamental principals of our faith and presenting it in a tangible and symbolic way would be the epitome of the perfect wedding celebration.

Quickest Way to My Heart...

1. BABIES (african, caucasian, asian, etc).

2. Frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc).

3. Acoustic music (Ernie Halter, Jason Reeves, Tyrone Wells, etc).

4. Lots of smiles and laughter (this one's pretty self explanatory, etc).

It's that simple.
The End.

Beautiful

Sunday, in the aforementioned church service, the pastor preached on something I hadn't given much thought to up to this point...the beauty of heaven. I know that may sound odd to most believers, but I normally don't take the time to dwell on heaven and all that awaits us in eternity. But Sunday as I listened to the message about eternity and the wonderful things our Heavenly Father has prepared for us there, maybe for the first time, I got a small taste of what it might be like.

I'm sure we all have our preconceived notions on what we think heaven will be like, but for whatever reason, I had chosen to abstain from coming to any conclusions about it (probably because I haven't done enough investigating to back it up with scripture). Even when I picture the best the Earth has to offer, I know it is nothing in comparison to what God has in store for believers. That just blows my mind. So even when you see the most beautiful thing you could ever behold; be it the perfect sunset, snow peaked mountains, or a tropical paradise... this world is still cursed. The very ground that we praise as beautiful and the scenery that "takes our breath away" is called "cursed" by God.

And to Adam he said,
"Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
'You shall not eat of it,'
cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life

Genesis 3:17

So how much more beautiful must heaven be if all we know and have seen is cursed? I can't even wrap my mind around it.

Creepy

Yesterday I went with some friends to First Baptist Irving, which is a great church who's pastor John Durham (the old youth pastor at Houston First Baptist) basically teaches doctrine and theology every Sunday, which I love :), but apparently I'm not the only one, seeing as it is the new "it" church for DBU goers. Well anywho, I always forget that at the end of each church service they do the whole "everyone join hands and sing" thing where you are expected to join hands with the people on either side of you and worship.

In theory, I don't have any problems with this...in practice sometimes it's a little different. Last Sunday I was seated between a girl that I know from school (no problem there) and some random guy that I assume was a high schooler (seeing as he was sitting with his mom and giving off that "awkward kid" vibe). The church service was awesome... worship was great and the message was definitely enlightening and in general it went off without a hitch, until those faithful words to join hands...

I instinctively grabbed the hands of those closest to me... but shortly after I did that, I realized that the kid on my right had the softest hands I have ever felt. It was gross. I don't know if this kid moisturized on a regular basis, or just has naturally creamy, soft, infant-like hands, but I was completely grossed out by it. It was like holding marshmallow creme without the sticky residue. No me gusta.

I feel like boys have a right to be scratchy and rough and even dirty on occasion! I don't like that I have to worry if a boy will have softer skin than me. I understand taking pride in your appearance, but I draw the line at satiny hands... it's creepy and weird.

Give me Jesus

These past few days I have really been reminded of the depth of the need we (as people) have for Jesus. We don't need miracles or "things" that we think will comfort us or bring us joy...we just need Jesus. It's as simple as that, yet we make it so much more complicated. We have a Savior that offers peace and joy and redemption, why would we need to pursue those things elsewhere?

So today my prayer is that as Christians we would realize that Jesus satisfies every need and lifts every burden. I pray that He would become my heart's desire, and I would quit settling for less and becoming distracted by so many other things. After all, when the Earth fades away, there will be Jesus.

Give Me Jesus- Jeremy Camp

Spring 2009

Seeing as my semester starts tomorrow, I figured I'd fill everyone in on what I'll be doing with the next 4-5 months of my life... I'm really excited about the classes I'm taking. This semester I'm starting to take some more specialized courses mixed in with my core stuff. As of today, this is my schedule

History from 1865-Present: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8 am
New Testament: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9 am
Chapel: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10 am
Christian Leadership: Monday, Wednesday: 2 pm
Fitness for living: Tuesday, Thursday: 8 am
Developing a Christian Mind: Tuesday, Thursday: 9:30 am
The Educational Ministry of the Church: Tuesday: 2 pm
Human Growth and Development: Thursday: 2 pm

My hardest will probably be Developing a Christian Mind, it's a core course but it is a TON of work and I'm pretty sure I got the toughest professor :/ The classes I'm MOST excited about are The Educational Ministry of the Church and Human Growth and Development...they're both only once a week for 2.5 hours, so I'm crossing my fingers that I get interesting professors!

All this is topped off by the fact that I was informed I will be working 20 hours a week at work now (last semester I only worked 15)...on top of my 18 hours of class! It's gonna be intense, but I think it's doable.

Wish me luck! I'm sure there will be many posts to follow about things I'm learning and all that junk :)

Name Snob

I'm starting to realize that I am secretly a bit of a snob when I first meet people. I try to be really polite and tell them my name and smile as they tell me theirs, but I might as well be listening to static. I don't know what it is but I can never remember peoples names! I don't forget on purpose or choose not to listen, I just blank when people tell me. I walk away scratching my head and hoping that (God forbid) I ever run in to that person again, they will forget my name so that we don't have to do the whole awkward "You-remember-me-but-I-have-no-clue-who-you-are" greeting. I feel like this happens to me a lot at work... I meet all these important deans and professors that go out of their way to be nice to me and remember my name and I can't even respond with a proper greeting. Blah. I wish I could change my ways, but in the heat of the moment it never fails... the only way I'm going to remember you is through intense repetition.

In other news, my bffae is back in town and we will be spending the rest of the week together... Scrubs marathon, our first annual steak dinner ;), taking LOTS of pictures, etc. It's gonna be pretty stinkin sweet.

P.S. Sorry I haven't posted in a while... I know all 3 of my readers are extremely disappointed in my lack of post's ;) But don't fret, regular posting will officially resume next week when I head back to Dbu.

Christmas with the Criswell/Weghorst/Cherry/Johnson's!

Christmas this year has been full of firsts! It was Kaitlyn's first Christmas, the first Christmas I could buy everyone presents with my own money (something I was VERY proud of) and the first Christmas in a long time we had all of my siblings together :) It was awesome.

I realize some of you aren't fortunate enough to have met my entire family, so this post is dedicated to them and our wonderfully crazy/dysfunctional holidays...

Christmas Tree!!

This is my beautiful sister Devon and my brother-in-law Justin...Together, they produced the cutest baby ever known to man, aka Kaitlyn Grace.

My other sister Kelly and her bf Ryan.

My crazy brother Kyle...

My "rents" overseeing the festivities ;)

Me with my favorite neice!

Here are some of my fav's of Kaitlyn...I got a little carried away, but how could I not?!

To My BFFAE

Who would have known
when we first started out
that the two of us would make it
through all the muck and clout?

We were young and reckless,
well i guess we still kind of are
but we managed to stay together
even though now you're really far.

You used to like frogs
but then they started to creep you out
and we used to always argue
and then you would inevitably pout ;)

We struggled through Jr.High
through bad haircuts and boys
you almost even hooked a few
even if they weren't so choice.

Then there came high school
and we both did separate things
you'd watch me throw
and I'd listen to you sing.

But graduation crept closer
and we chose our own schools
We both chose B.U.'s
so I guess that's kind of cool...

I'm glad you've stuck it out with me
I like to think I made you tough
and even if you're far away
you'll always be the "stuff".

At Last

Today I finished my last final! It's crazy to think that I am halfway through my freshman year of college :) Anywho, I am super-dee-duper excited about Christmas break and all that that entails.

I don't know how much I'll be able to post over break, but I'll see what I can do...