Prayer

Would you please say a prayer for my friends at Central United Protestant Church in Richland, Washington tonight. It's the church I interned at for a summer a couple years ago. I just found out that they lost someone very dear to them this morning. Chris Culver was the Contemporary Worship Leader and a friend to many of the students I severed with. He was a devoted man of God above all, but also a devoted husband and father to four small children. This was very unexpected from what I understand and naturally very hard for the students (and everyone) to deal with. CUP has a very special place in my heart and I ache inside for them tonight. Would you pray with me?

Blah

It has been raining in Beloit since Friday night and the forecast is calling for rain all week long. It's bumming me out. I don't know what it is about rain that does that to people. I like a good day or so of rain...but 10 days straight is not my idea of a good time.

Speaking of excessive rain. Praise the Lord I am not a homeowner at this time...because I could not afford to repair what this rain has done to my wall:

I was also sick all weekend...still am. I just hope this goes away like tonight because I have a crazy week ahead of me. It's weird because I never get sick and when I do I can usually manage and go about my business fine. But whatever I have right now is really limiting me. I went to church this weekend and didn't have any volunteers to run the coffee shop so I was running it by myself (I did have Eli this morning and she's awesome) but anyway...so last night was fine, but this morning, I don't know what happened. I'm not sure if I was breaking a fever or what, but I got so sick I could barely stand...and we were crazy busy so it just didn't help at all. I ended up having to leave and go home. I hate feeling so sick and there is just nothing you can do about it.

I also decided church people really really bother me. Not all church people. I don't want this to be a sweeping generalization. But some people that I encounter through serving at the coffee shop just shock me. Maybe it's my fault. Maybe I shouldn't except people to be any different just because they are at church. But I still can't help it...it just irks me. This morning I had a woman take a sip of her coffee and look at me and say with the most disgusted, snotty voice you can imagine, "you might as well just through that away...that's garbage. I could make a whole pot of coffee by adding water to that." To that I say GO MAKE YOUR OWN FREAKING COFFEE! No one forced her to buy her coffee from us. If she wants bland nasty coffee she could walk 50 feet and get the free coffee we offer (and don't get me started on the fact that we still offer that just to appease people). If she would have politely asked me to add water to hers, or informed me she thought it was too strong, maybe I would have taken her suggestion to heart. And it's not just her. I get at least 3 people like that a weekend. One man commented under his breath one day, "you can tell this place is run by volunteers." Why yes sir, it is, and if you think you could do any better, then by all means, please join the team...we're pretty shorthanded!

The problem is, people seem to think the Church is a democracy. And it's not. It's not at all. Jesus never said we should take a vote and see what people think. He said do what is healthy for the body. And if it's not healthy...cut it off.

I guess the bottom line and the reason I'm so fired up is this: I'm just not the kind of person who handles being walked all over very well and I feel like because I work at a church I am forced to do that. Okay, rant over.

Tag, you're it.

I've been tagged...I'm supposed to put 8 random facts about myself and then tag three more people...so here goes.

1. I had cat scratch fever when I was five. Yes, it is in fact a real thing. I had to get surgery and everything.
2. When I was in middle school I went through a shoplifting phase...but the only things I ever stole were office supplies from Walgreens. (I have since repented...I feel no shame)
3. If I am bored and and want to get out of the house, 9 times out of 10 I will just go to Target.
4. I am terrible with money. (See fact #3)
5. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people jingle the change in their pockets.
6. I do a weird name association thing in my head when I meet new people. I think of a word that starts with the first letter of their name to put before their name...it is more often than not inappropriate.
7. I have an unhealthy obsession with purses.
8. I hate Christmas music.

I have no idea who reads this, so I don't really know who to tag. Let's try Abby, Courtney, and Jeff?

Guilty Pleasure

I love the show Big Brother. I get so excited every summer because I know it will be on. I know, ridiculous. This season is no different. I tune in when I can and call my mom for details when I miss it. But out of all the season's this one is by far the most painful to watch. There is a father and daughter on there who have been estranged for 5 years. Watching their 'reunion' was uncomfortable. There was a couple who had a bitter break up. Watching their 'reunion' was embarrassing. Watching an over-emotional girl cry on nearly every episode is humiliating. But by far, the most painful thing of all is watching one of the house guests...nick named Evel Dick...verbally attack nearly all of the house guests. This man knows exactly what to say to get people exactly where it hurts and it really just pains me to watch. In recent episodes his attacks have gone to a believer in the house.

And this bring me to my point. The way this woman reacts to his attacks are not at all what the Word has called us to. I feel terrible for her because I can see myself being that exact same way. The insults he hurls at her are just ridiculous. It would take a lot of will power to not fight back...to not get angry...to not sin. But this is the reality we live in. Christians on TV are rarely shown in a positive light. They are almost always shown as hypocrites. They are for the most part considered naive, un-realistic, and more often that not, unintelligent. It's just so sad to me. I know there is editing that is done that makes it look extra bad...but is there a way for a Christian on Reality TV to come off looking at all normal?

Maybe we aren't normal. Maybe that is the whole point. Christ called us to live radically. Is it possible to do that without being ridiculed? I can't imagine what Paul went through. It a narcissistic way, it is comforting to know this kind of torment has always been around...but it's just really hard to understand why. I just have to remember...in the end, every knee will bow...every tongue will confess.

And just to leave you all with my favorite thing that Jameka has said...

"See...that's what I love about God. God is so gangsta!"

Disturbing...

Upon a recent visit to Old Navy I found something quite disturbing. I walked in, and there before me was a table full of colored denim jeans. We're talking 1980's colored denim. Red, Purple, Green, Brown, and Gray. I just could not believe my eyes. If you see these and like them, or already own a pair, I am terribly sorry. I will not judge you. I just can't believe they have made their way back into our culture. Crazy crazy crazy.

Life Moves Fast

Man...I am terrible at keeping up with this thing. Life is just moving at lighting speed lately it's just nuts. Lots has been going on since my last post so here's a little update on my life.

Abby and Andy's wedding was fabulous. I loved it. I loved them. I loved their wedding. I loved seeing everyone. It was just an all around good time. They are just one of those couples who I have always rooted for. They are not afraid to show their love for each other. They follow hard after God. They are a blast! And they are just all together great so it was really great to be able to share their day with them.

The weekend of the wedding was a whirl wind because I got back here on Sunday and was off on my next adventure Monday. That adventure being CIY. I had never been before so I was really excited about it. And it turned out really great. I loved getting to know some of the students at Central better and I loved seeing God work in their lives. It was just a great all around experience. Something that really stuck a chord with me throughout the week the pain that kids have their lives though. It's just so crazy that some of the things happening to our students has has become so typical. There are things that our kids our experiencing that no one should ever have to go through. Especially 15 and 16 year olds. I just have to know and trust God is working.

Since I have been back things have been crazy, as usual. I have been really really homesick so that is kind of a bummer. It's frustrating because in Bloomington I hated my job but loved my life. Here is the opposite. I love my job, but I'm just not satisfied with my life. Making friends has been a real struggle. I have Lana but she's married and busy and I have Daren, but he's leaving so it's just been kind of hard lately. I just have a really hard time with surface level friendships because I know how great true authentic friendships are. I think it's impossible to go from having such authentic relationships to surface level ones because you know what it's supposed to be like. You know God had created us for genuine friendship. I know part of it is my fault. I has always taken me a long time to open up to people and it has always been hard for me to initiate things. I just have to keep praying through it. My little Bethy came to visit the last couple days and I always feel extra homesick when I am around people from home for awhile and then have to get back to real life so that's probably where all this is coming from. I didn't intend on writing about all this...it just came out.

So anyway...that's life right now

Oh yeah...one other thing. As of tonight I am officially a Gold Canyon Candle Demonstrator. Buy stuff from me!

Crap...forgot this too. I have now seen Hairspray twice and hope to again. I love it so much. If that movie doesn't make you want to get up and dance there might be something wrong with you and you should consider seeing a doctor right away.