Heard an excellent sermon yesterday. It was over Romans 6:18 and Matthew 19:30.
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:18
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Matthew 19:30
The preacher (a college student actually) spoke on how we as Christians can struggle with the sin of superiority. Huh. Have I ever looked down on someone who wasn't as good as I thought they should be, or someone that had messed up their life, or chose to turn away from God? Sadly, I have to say . . . Yes. I have done that. Many times. But what does Matthew 19:30 have to do with that?
I used and heard that verse used many many times in elementary school. Of course we used it in the most theological context possible . . . in line.
"Christina, you can be line leader on the way to recess." announces our teacher.
Hanna pouts and whispers to me, "I wanted to be line leader."
As Christina takes her place in the front of the line with a flounce and a little smile, someone decides to speak up.
"The last shall be first and the first shall be last!"
Tim, in the back of the line, pumps his fist, "Ha! That means I'll be first in heaven!!"
Funny how our position in heaven always changed every time we had new line leaders. But hey, our 2nd grade minds hadn't really wrapped themselves around the concept of heaven and judgment yet.
But I hope that you all understand that Matt. 19:30 is not talking about our position in line. Not at all. I honestly hadn't thought about that verse in a while, but yesterday, I understood it. It's not talking about position, it's talking about equality. It's not about first and last, but about how there won't be a first or a last at all. When God looks at me, He doesn't see me at all. Thankfully, He sees Christ and His atoning blood. Christ covers my sin and makes me pure before Christ. That's how it is for every single Christian. How can there be a first or a last, when we are all in the same position under the blood of Christ?
The sin of superiority. Am I better than another Christian? No way! I'm just a sinner saved by grace alone.
The sin of inferiority. I feel like a terrible Christian sometimes. I fail all the stinkin' time. But guess what? I'm still just a sinner saved by grace! How awesome is that! Think of Paul and all the work he did and the souls he won to Christ. I'm on the same level with him, under Christ!
Because of Christ's sacrifice, no one finishes last in heaven.
My Comfy Place
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Imagine you're in a session with a therapist. He's speaking in a soft, lilting tone, trying to get you to relax. He tells you to close your eyes and lean back. You feel the muscles in your shoulders relax; you breathe out slowly, releasing the stress of the day. He tells you to direct your mind to a happy scene, a place where you feel comfortable. You feel yourself drift a little farther out of reality as you head to that spot of complete contentment . . .
Where did you go? You may have gone to a far off land, a place from your childhood, maybe a fictitious somewhere from a book or movie. You know where I went?
A couch.
That's silly, you tell me. Because if you're at a therapist, you're already on a couch. I know. But it's not the same. I'll tell you why.
You see, this isn't just any couch. For one, it's blue. For two, it's comfy. For three, there are usually four little kids sprawled out on it. For four, it's at the Hartzler's house. I sit on that couch, and I immediately feel at home. Usually, I fall asleep on it too. (It's really comfy and I'm usually tired). It's my comfy place.
But it's not the couch alone. If that couch were sitting in the middle of my dorm room, it would still be comfortable, but it wouldn't be my comfy place. You know why? Because then it's not a real couch.
A real couch is in a house, where you can sit surrounded by the people you love being around the most, where you can relax at the end of a hard day. It's a place to smile, laugh, sleep, watch movies, have discussions, and even turn into a mini Wipeout obstacle, if the need arises. I like that couch because it has magical abilities to put me to sleep, but I love that couch because I love that family. They invited me into their house, let me relax on their couch, and made me feel like part of the family. And for a college kid who's miles from home, that's pretty special.
I wish I were writing this from the couch, but technically my residence is still at BJU so I can't go become a squatter in the Hartzler's living room. That would be fun though. I wonder what it would be like to have a squatter in your living room . . .
So what makes your special place so special? I'd like to know.
Where did you go? You may have gone to a far off land, a place from your childhood, maybe a fictitious somewhere from a book or movie. You know where I went?
A couch.
That's silly, you tell me. Because if you're at a therapist, you're already on a couch. I know. But it's not the same. I'll tell you why.
You see, this isn't just any couch. For one, it's blue. For two, it's comfy. For three, there are usually four little kids sprawled out on it. For four, it's at the Hartzler's house. I sit on that couch, and I immediately feel at home. Usually, I fall asleep on it too. (It's really comfy and I'm usually tired). It's my comfy place.
But it's not the couch alone. If that couch were sitting in the middle of my dorm room, it would still be comfortable, but it wouldn't be my comfy place. You know why? Because then it's not a real couch.
A real couch is in a house, where you can sit surrounded by the people you love being around the most, where you can relax at the end of a hard day. It's a place to smile, laugh, sleep, watch movies, have discussions, and even turn into a mini Wipeout obstacle, if the need arises. I like that couch because it has magical abilities to put me to sleep, but I love that couch because I love that family. They invited me into their house, let me relax on their couch, and made me feel like part of the family. And for a college kid who's miles from home, that's pretty special.
I wish I were writing this from the couch, but technically my residence is still at BJU so I can't go become a squatter in the Hartzler's living room. That would be fun though. I wonder what it would be like to have a squatter in your living room . . .
So what makes your special place so special? I'd like to know.
Syndication
Monday, February 21, 2011
'O Holy Night' is the 100th hymn in my church's hymnal
9 is the 100th digit of pi
Genesis 4:20 is the 100th verse in the Bible
"At the dining common?" is the 100th text message in my inbox
This is the 100th post in my blog.
If this were a tv show, I'd be qualified for syndication by now. But I don't exactly know what syndication really is. Also, I didn't have to rely on approval ratings to get to this point. But, you know, that is the single most wonderful and terrible reality of this blog. I don't have to have any readers to actually write, but what a sad existence I would lead if none of you ever read what I wrote! I'm so thankful for all y'all that read, because otherwise I would just be a strange child blabbering . . . to nobody. Reminds me of that line in 'Just Like Heaven' where Reese Witherspoon is trying to help Mark Ruffalo face reality
"You have two realities to choose from here. Either a girl has, in a very unconventional way, come here needing your help, OR, you are a crazy person sitting here on a bench talking to yourself."
You all ensure that I am not a crazy person sitting at a computer talking to myself. Basically, you are performing a public service! So, here on my 100th post, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to all my friends and family that take time to hear about my life. Thank you x 100!
Love ya,
m(r)
P.S. Mom, you still aren't allowed to read this out loud at the dinner table...
9 is the 100th digit of pi
Genesis 4:20 is the 100th verse in the Bible
"At the dining common?" is the 100th text message in my inbox
This is the 100th post in my blog.
If this were a tv show, I'd be qualified for syndication by now. But I don't exactly know what syndication really is. Also, I didn't have to rely on approval ratings to get to this point. But, you know, that is the single most wonderful and terrible reality of this blog. I don't have to have any readers to actually write, but what a sad existence I would lead if none of you ever read what I wrote! I'm so thankful for all y'all that read, because otherwise I would just be a strange child blabbering . . . to nobody. Reminds me of that line in 'Just Like Heaven' where Reese Witherspoon is trying to help Mark Ruffalo face reality
"You have two realities to choose from here. Either a girl has, in a very unconventional way, come here needing your help, OR, you are a crazy person sitting here on a bench talking to yourself."
You all ensure that I am not a crazy person sitting at a computer talking to myself. Basically, you are performing a public service! So, here on my 100th post, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to all my friends and family that take time to hear about my life. Thank you x 100!
Love ya,
m(r)
P.S. Mom, you still aren't allowed to read this out loud at the dinner table...
Gravity
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Lately, I've been having trouble holding onto things. They drop, flip, sag, slide, and jump out my hands. Papers scatter, phones crack onto the pavement, and I even broke a glass today . . . just by picking it up! Someone suggested that my lack of dexterity is related to a lack of sleep, but I'm not sure how scientific that is. But here's what is scientific.
Yep. That's it.
Gravity is just exceptionally strong around me. Nothin' I can do about that . . . I'll just hold off from picking up anything glass for a while.
m(r)
Yep. That's it.
Gravity is just exceptionally strong around me. Nothin' I can do about that . . . I'll just hold off from picking up anything glass for a while.
m(r)
Perspective
Monday, February 14, 2011
I don't have a lot of time to write because technically, I'm supposed to be studying for an accounting test. But I would like to mention my thoughts on Valentine's Day before it's over, because it happens to have been my best Valentine's Day yet.
Remember elementary? We all wanted to send out fun valentines and candy to our friends, but we if we wanted to give to one, we were required to give to all. This meant that girls had to give valentines to boys. And the boys had to give valentines to the girls. How inhumane. For me, this simply meant that I didn't give out valentines. I could never be bothered with it. And that thought carried over to high school. Valentine's Day became a holiday to be overlooked. I spent that day trying to make it like every other day, disdaining the people that went all out. Wear pink and red? Definitely not.The only valentine I cared about was the one from my mom. She made great valentine bags.
Well, yesterday someone in my church mentioned how Valentine's Day wasn't just a day for couples, it's really a day to celebrate our love for God and for others. Huh. Never thought of that before. Then a 4 yr-old girl from my Sunday School class came up to me, gave me a hug and then handed me a little bag with Hershey Kisses and a beaded heart necklace she had made for me. Her cute little smile and second hug made it a wonderful valentine. Then I got back to my room to discover that a couple from my church had bought me one of Dr. Jim Berg's books that I had been wanting to read.
I woke up this morning with the realization that today was a day to celebrate love. I had breakfast with a friend and listened as she studied for a pharmacy/drug/nursing test. I walked to class thinking of the wonderful gift God gave us when He allowed us to feel love. I made extra time to talk to two girls in my class that I hadn't connected with before. I called my mom - I love her a lot. I went out to dinner to Olive Garden with my friend. She makes me smile. The weather was beautiful, I wore red, and it really was the best Valentine's Day.
So here's what I learned finally after 20 years of ignoring Valentine's Day. It's not about having someone to love, although that is a lovely thing to have and I'm happy for all those that have a significant other. Valentine's Day is about love, and love isn't something to take -- it's something to give.
Remember elementary? We all wanted to send out fun valentines and candy to our friends, but we if we wanted to give to one, we were required to give to all. This meant that girls had to give valentines to boys. And the boys had to give valentines to the girls. How inhumane. For me, this simply meant that I didn't give out valentines. I could never be bothered with it. And that thought carried over to high school. Valentine's Day became a holiday to be overlooked. I spent that day trying to make it like every other day, disdaining the people that went all out. Wear pink and red? Definitely not.The only valentine I cared about was the one from my mom. She made great valentine bags.
Well, yesterday someone in my church mentioned how Valentine's Day wasn't just a day for couples, it's really a day to celebrate our love for God and for others. Huh. Never thought of that before. Then a 4 yr-old girl from my Sunday School class came up to me, gave me a hug and then handed me a little bag with Hershey Kisses and a beaded heart necklace she had made for me. Her cute little smile and second hug made it a wonderful valentine. Then I got back to my room to discover that a couple from my church had bought me one of Dr. Jim Berg's books that I had been wanting to read.
I woke up this morning with the realization that today was a day to celebrate love. I had breakfast with a friend and listened as she studied for a pharmacy/drug/nursing test. I walked to class thinking of the wonderful gift God gave us when He allowed us to feel love. I made extra time to talk to two girls in my class that I hadn't connected with before. I called my mom - I love her a lot. I went out to dinner to Olive Garden with my friend. She makes me smile. The weather was beautiful, I wore red, and it really was the best Valentine's Day.
So here's what I learned finally after 20 years of ignoring Valentine's Day. It's not about having someone to love, although that is a lovely thing to have and I'm happy for all those that have a significant other. Valentine's Day is about love, and love isn't something to take -- it's something to give.
Co-inky-dink
Saturday, February 12, 2011
You know that time management seminar I went to yesterday? Well, Ron Hamilton's (aka Patch the Pirate's) daughter was there too. She's super nice . . . of course. Anyway, we had to be in a group for a quick exercise and we stood around afterward listening to the seminar facilitator talk about how wise it was to read.
pause
I love Patch the Pirate. I grew up listening to Patch tapes all day long. You can even hear Mount Zion Marathon playing in the background of some of our old home videos. If you don't know who Patch the Pirate is, click here because you and your present/future children are missing out. Stories, songs, and lots of fun. I remember falling asleep to 'A Good Knight's Sleep' from the Starry Knight tape and singing 'On Eagle's Wings' in church. The Sneaky Sheik and Giant Killer were two of my favorites, but my mom's favorite was Kidnapped on I-Land. She just loved to sing the 'Me-First' song whenever any of us were being selfish. She took strange delight in singing that one very loudly. But she always made her point. Camp Kookawacka Woods had some classic songs on it that still come to mind when I eat something that looks a little fishy in the Dining Common.
On Patch the Pirate Afraidika Fever they have a certain song called 'Readers are Leaders' . . .
play
I'm standing beside Megan Hamilton listening to someone talk about the importance of reading and I start singing under my breath
Readers are leaders
They really are succeeders
Succeeders, yes, indeeders for the Lord
Megan leaned her head in my direction and chuckled. Then it hit me and I wanted to slap my forehead. I was singing a Patch the Pirate song . . . to his daughter.
I'm a dork.
m(r)
pause
I love Patch the Pirate. I grew up listening to Patch tapes all day long. You can even hear Mount Zion Marathon playing in the background of some of our old home videos. If you don't know who Patch the Pirate is, click here because you and your present/future children are missing out. Stories, songs, and lots of fun. I remember falling asleep to 'A Good Knight's Sleep' from the Starry Knight tape and singing 'On Eagle's Wings' in church. The Sneaky Sheik and Giant Killer were two of my favorites, but my mom's favorite was Kidnapped on I-Land. She just loved to sing the 'Me-First' song whenever any of us were being selfish. She took strange delight in singing that one very loudly. But she always made her point. Camp Kookawacka Woods had some classic songs on it that still come to mind when I eat something that looks a little fishy in the Dining Common.
On Patch the Pirate Afraidika Fever they have a certain song called 'Readers are Leaders' . . .
play
I'm standing beside Megan Hamilton listening to someone talk about the importance of reading and I start singing under my breath
Readers are leaders
They really are succeeders
Succeeders, yes, indeeders for the Lord
Megan leaned her head in my direction and chuckled. Then it hit me and I wanted to slap my forehead. I was singing a Patch the Pirate song . . . to his daughter.
I'm a dork.
m(r)
Watching My Time
Time Management Seminar -- skip all your classes to come and learn how to manage your time!
I was skeptical. I mean, my planner and I are connected at the hip. We have a wonderful, full relationship. Which made me think that I had that whole time management thing down. I even bought a watch last week! I'm basically whipping time into shape. . . But then again, I did seem to be living on deadlines and feeling guilty whenever I did something fun because I should have been doing homework. I'm the queen of blowing off homework to do something else. Oh yeah, and I'd also been super tired because of late nights and early mornings of finishing up schoolwork. Then a friend recommended the seminar and pounded in the last nail in my coffin of realization. So, I signed up.
I'm a terrible manager of time. I really am. I love to plan, but I fail to implement. My poor planner. Our 'full' relationship is lacking something and it probably hates me. Anyway, I talked to all my teachers, got my homework done early, and even took a test early so that I could go to a time management seminar. Pretty organized, right? I know.
It was amazing. It wasn't a seminar on how to compartmentalize your life to get things done. Not at all. It wasn't a seminar on how to use a planner. It was more than a time management seminar. It was a life management seminar. For the first half of the day, we discussed the difference between what's important and what's urgent and how we often forget the important in light of the urgent. Did you know that just because something is urgent doesn't mean it's important? I think I knew that. But I wasn't livin' out that truth. Then we talked about how we decide what is really important. We discussed our core values. I had never thought about what my core values were. I have now. But really, think about it. Our values decide for us what things are important. And when we know what's important, we can better manage our time by doing only those things that are important. Important doesn't have to be something lofty. Hanging out with my friend is important if I consider friendship something to value. Reading a book or taking a nap can be important if I need time to rest or relax.
It's not a perfect science. But it is possible to control your use of time and do more of what matters in the time you have. Just this morning I was able to finish all my homework for the weekend (which usually doesn't get done until Sunday night or Monday morning) and even write out my core values. Then I was able to go to a wonderful Celtic music concert and go out to the Mellow Mushroom pizza place with all my work buddies. And I was able to have guilt-free fun because I knew all my stuff was done! It's a gloriously freeing feeling. And you know what I'm going to do now? You got it. Work ahead on extra homework. Yes, I am that inspired. I would highly, highly recommend/DEMAND that everyone go to a FranklinCovey Time Management Seminar.
Go. You'll never regret it.
m(r)
I was skeptical. I mean, my planner and I are connected at the hip. We have a wonderful, full relationship. Which made me think that I had that whole time management thing down. I even bought a watch last week! I'm basically whipping time into shape. . . But then again, I did seem to be living on deadlines and feeling guilty whenever I did something fun because I should have been doing homework. I'm the queen of blowing off homework to do something else. Oh yeah, and I'd also been super tired because of late nights and early mornings of finishing up schoolwork. Then a friend recommended the seminar and pounded in the last nail in my coffin of realization. So, I signed up.
I'm a terrible manager of time. I really am. I love to plan, but I fail to implement. My poor planner. Our 'full' relationship is lacking something and it probably hates me. Anyway, I talked to all my teachers, got my homework done early, and even took a test early so that I could go to a time management seminar. Pretty organized, right? I know.
It was amazing. It wasn't a seminar on how to compartmentalize your life to get things done. Not at all. It wasn't a seminar on how to use a planner. It was more than a time management seminar. It was a life management seminar. For the first half of the day, we discussed the difference between what's important and what's urgent and how we often forget the important in light of the urgent. Did you know that just because something is urgent doesn't mean it's important? I think I knew that. But I wasn't livin' out that truth. Then we talked about how we decide what is really important. We discussed our core values. I had never thought about what my core values were. I have now. But really, think about it. Our values decide for us what things are important. And when we know what's important, we can better manage our time by doing only those things that are important. Important doesn't have to be something lofty. Hanging out with my friend is important if I consider friendship something to value. Reading a book or taking a nap can be important if I need time to rest or relax.
It's not a perfect science. But it is possible to control your use of time and do more of what matters in the time you have. Just this morning I was able to finish all my homework for the weekend (which usually doesn't get done until Sunday night or Monday morning) and even write out my core values. Then I was able to go to a wonderful Celtic music concert and go out to the Mellow Mushroom pizza place with all my work buddies. And I was able to have guilt-free fun because I knew all my stuff was done! It's a gloriously freeing feeling. And you know what I'm going to do now? You got it. Work ahead on extra homework. Yes, I am that inspired. I would highly, highly recommend/DEMAND that everyone go to a FranklinCovey Time Management Seminar.
Go. You'll never regret it.
m(r)
Flour Flew
Friday, February 4, 2011
While dorms may not have ovens or dishwashers or mixers or even counters, it's surprising how many culinary delicacies have been made in the basement/snack room of my dorm. I've seen girls make fudge, rice krispy treats, reese's peanut butter bars, oreo balls, stir-fry with noodles, and a multitude of things I never would have believed. As you know, I myself learned how to make muffins and even chocolate chip cookies in a sandwich maker. But the food that was created in the snack room of my dorm on Thursday night blew all those away. We made cookie dough truffles. Cookie Dough. Truffles.
My friend and co-worker, Darla, posted the recipe on my facebook wall, to which I replied, "I think we could make those in the dorms..."
From there, Dani and Sarah, two grad students who also work with us, jumped on the bandwagon of goodness and wanted to make them too. So we decided to make a party of it. We gathered in the snack room with all our ingredients and here's what happened . . .
Oh yeah, I got pictures. Cool, huh? My friend loaned me his camera. Don't tell him, but it took a while to clean it off afterward. It got kinda messy. It's clean now though. I swear.
Seriously though, these were so rich that after two I was finished. We actually had to make a McDonald's run to get some salty to combat the sweet. But they were SO GOOD. And now that you've looked through the other 50,000 pictures, I know you wanna see 1 more.
My friend and co-worker, Darla, posted the recipe on my facebook wall, to which I replied, "I think we could make those in the dorms..."
From there, Dani and Sarah, two grad students who also work with us, jumped on the bandwagon of goodness and wanted to make them too. So we decided to make a party of it. We gathered in the snack room with all our ingredients and here's what happened . . .
Oh yeah, I got pictures. Cool, huh? My friend loaned me his camera. Don't tell him, but it took a while to clean it off afterward. It got kinda messy. It's clean now though. I swear.
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| Every good recipe begins with butter and brown sugar. Amen. |
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| Dani's disembodied hand added a lot of ingredients |
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| Look at the adorable mini-bag of flour! Stho adooorable... |
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| I'm not going to mention how many times I sprayed this mix all over my comrades |
I have a problem with fast-moving objects and liquidy stuff
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| There was a lot of flour required. The dough was getting to dry...What to do? |
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| Oh, hello gorgeous. Will you help our dry mixture? |
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| Sweetened condensed milk saves the day! |
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| Look at that action shot! Pioneer Woman would be so proud. |
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| Here's where the mixer begins to make whiny, groaning sounds as it churns |
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| Still mixin... |
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| Yeah, we were excited about dough. |
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| Sarah was reeeeally excited |
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| I wasn't super excited until we added the CHOCOLATE. |
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| An attempt at an action shot.... it didn't work. But I forgive it because it's CHOCOLATE |
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| This is when we all unrestrainedly shoved our hands into the bowl and ate the whole thing |
Kidding. We're not that disgusting. Relax, okay? We used forks instead of our hands.
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| Is there anything more beautiful than a bowl of dough? I contend that there is not |
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| Next we had to roll it into balls. WE WASHED OUR HANDS FIRST. Safety is key. No germs allowed in our food. |
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| Dani and I were excited about rolling it into balls. I don't know about Darla and Sarah . . . they're slackers. |
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| Then we popped em in the fridge! Ignore the weird things in the bottom...it's a community fridge |
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| What's better than cookie dough? Cookie dough dipped in chocolate. |
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| We were excited about dipping them . . . ok, we were basically excited the whole night. |
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| Oh yum. |
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| That spoon drowned in the chocolate. We discussed whether that would be a good way to die. What do you think? |
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| Look how orderly Sarah is |
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| Look at how delicious these look. Hungry? |
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| I got impatient and threw in a bunch at a time. They had a party in the chocolate. Woohoo! |
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| Rollin', rollin' |
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| Finished! Oh yeah. |
Seriously though, these were so rich that after two I was finished. We actually had to make a McDonald's run to get some salty to combat the sweet. But they were SO GOOD. And now that you've looked through the other 50,000 pictures, I know you wanna see 1 more.
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| The cooking crew of BJU |
And that, my friends, is the story of us.
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