Classes were supposed to start today, but I got an extra day because the only two classes I have today were canceled. Dr. Linhart is out of town meeting with denominational leaders in the missionary church and he is the professor for both of the classes.
We had the back to school bash last night. Three people didn't recognize me. Two of the people were ones I lived with last year and one of them I go to house church with, so I had a lot of contact with all three of them last year. I didn't think my appearance had changed that much!
Ruth and I hung out a bit. Ruth graduated in '07, but still lives nearby, so it was easy to give her a call and be like "come see my house!" So she came over at 11pm and we spent an hour and a half talking about summer and I told her stories some of the amazing stories from this summer. She told me about her summer and her struggles to find a church that she likes (she tends to not like organized church structures anyway, and her work schedule makes it hard for her to attend anyway).
She said she wanted to be challenged and held accountable, so we decided that the two of us, and anyone who wants to get involved, will have church together on her days off. I'm really excited because it's going to be different even from the house church I go to. We will meet with one another, I don't know what we'll talk about or study yet, but we've also decided that it won't just be us (and whoever else comes) meeting within ourselves. We've decided that we are going to have times when we go out into the community and be Jesus to people. We haven't completely envisioned what that will look like yet, but we have a few ideas.
I've talked with several people now about The Tangible Kingdom and possibly starting a book study on it. A few people sounded interested, some had good ideas, and one pointed me to an option on how to get it started, so it might actually happen.
I am moving out of feeling apprehensive about this school year and starting to feel really excited about it. I think it's because I feel like a missionary who has been sent out. There are people at Bethel who are moving into viewing the world through kingdom lenses, and moving into the incarnational way of doing ministry, and I feel like this year is a great opportunity to encourage them as I continue my own learning in this area. But not only to encourage them, but also to help awaken the vision in others.
It's not what you get out of it, it's what you bring to it. I plan to bring it.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Here at Bethel...
Okay, where do I begin?
I'm here. I woke up bright and early (8:30, ha! that's not really early) and we were hoping to be able to leave by 9am, but that didn't happen for some reason. We left at about 10am, so I probably could have gone to the church today. But it's okay, Pete and Frank prayed for me on Sunday.
I got to Bethel just after noon (Eastern time), unpacked (hardly at all) went to lunch at 1pm, ate with my RD, talked with her about the summer (all the amazing God moments), went back to the room, unpacked more (almost there), went to the registrar's office (they spelled my name wrong on my grad. app.), went to the book store, bought books and supplies (phew, that's done), came back to my room, unpacked a little more (only thing left now is my clothes), put away my books and supplies, made my bed, went to dinner, ate with Nat and Gia, talked with Matt and Jamie about starting a study on The Tangible Kingdom, came to the computer lab, got my homework for next Tuesday (since there's no class tomorrow because Dr. Linhart is out of town) and here I am, blogging and talking to Martin online.
It's weird being here. I'm seeing a ton of people that I know, but most of them aren't my friends, they're just acquaintances.
I am indeed in a room by myself. It's weird though because the way the house I'm living in is set up like an apartment, but all the rooms share a kitchen, laundry room, toilet, etc. So I'm downstairs in the basement, and there are two rooms, a bedroom and a study room... I have it all to myself. I'm sure it will be great for a while, but I forsee it becoming rather lonely.
Although, there is a girl who is moving in Thursday, Neisha, I met her today, and she might move into the room downstairs with me rather than go upstairs like she was assigned (the RD already said that would be fine if that's what we wanted to do) so we'll see what happens.
Well, my body is achy so I'm out.
I'm here. I woke up bright and early (8:30, ha! that's not really early) and we were hoping to be able to leave by 9am, but that didn't happen for some reason. We left at about 10am, so I probably could have gone to the church today. But it's okay, Pete and Frank prayed for me on Sunday.
I got to Bethel just after noon (Eastern time), unpacked (hardly at all) went to lunch at 1pm, ate with my RD, talked with her about the summer (all the amazing God moments), went back to the room, unpacked more (almost there), went to the registrar's office (they spelled my name wrong on my grad. app.), went to the book store, bought books and supplies (phew, that's done), came back to my room, unpacked a little more (only thing left now is my clothes), put away my books and supplies, made my bed, went to dinner, ate with Nat and Gia, talked with Matt and Jamie about starting a study on The Tangible Kingdom, came to the computer lab, got my homework for next Tuesday (since there's no class tomorrow because Dr. Linhart is out of town) and here I am, blogging and talking to Martin online.
It's weird being here. I'm seeing a ton of people that I know, but most of them aren't my friends, they're just acquaintances.
I am indeed in a room by myself. It's weird though because the way the house I'm living in is set up like an apartment, but all the rooms share a kitchen, laundry room, toilet, etc. So I'm downstairs in the basement, and there are two rooms, a bedroom and a study room... I have it all to myself. I'm sure it will be great for a while, but I forsee it becoming rather lonely.
Although, there is a girl who is moving in Thursday, Neisha, I met her today, and she might move into the room downstairs with me rather than go upstairs like she was assigned (the RD already said that would be fine if that's what we wanted to do) so we'll see what happens.
Well, my body is achy so I'm out.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Finally...
Well, I finally started packing. I'm reducing what I bring by at least half. Stuff is just a burden. Haul it up, acquire a ton more stuff while at school, drag it home. What a repetitive, needless process.
Church was... interesting today. Definitely different. Way out of my element. I joked around that I was so put off that I decided not to come back next week, and that infact, I wouldn't return until mid-October. A few people got the joke.
I got the opportunity to go to the Dunes today, which was wonderful because the House Church I go to while at Bethel had planned a beach day today, and I had been sad not to go with them. For a little while I sat a short distance away from everyone else and just let thoughts invade my mind. I enjoyed being alone for a little while, while still being able to maintain the comfort of knowing that I could end my alone time at any time.
Pete and Frank prayed for me today because I won't be able come on Tuesday. Mom and Dad want to leave ASAP. We're borrowing Christopher's car because it's more reliable and gets better gas mileage, so we need to have it back before 3pm. Plus they have things they need to do Tuesday anyway.
My dad is in a really bad mood right now. I don't know why. I hate feeling like an inconvenience, and that's how he makes me feel. But I guess anything that is not what he wants, regardless of whether it really inconveniences him or not, is an inconvenience. I'll just lay low until I go back to Bethel. Out of sight, out of mind, can't really stir up too much trouble then.
Sara is cutting my hair tomorrow. I've told her to envision something, that I'm giving her free reign to go wild. I trust her.
I checked my email today and one of my professors emailed me (my classes) to let the class know that he will be out of town on Thursday, so we won't have those classes until Tuesday. The funny thing is that the only classes I have on Thursday are the ones that were canceled. Hehe.
Oh... anyway. that's all. I don't want to make this entry too much longer or no one will read it.
Church was... interesting today. Definitely different. Way out of my element. I joked around that I was so put off that I decided not to come back next week, and that infact, I wouldn't return until mid-October. A few people got the joke.
I got the opportunity to go to the Dunes today, which was wonderful because the House Church I go to while at Bethel had planned a beach day today, and I had been sad not to go with them. For a little while I sat a short distance away from everyone else and just let thoughts invade my mind. I enjoyed being alone for a little while, while still being able to maintain the comfort of knowing that I could end my alone time at any time.
Pete and Frank prayed for me today because I won't be able come on Tuesday. Mom and Dad want to leave ASAP. We're borrowing Christopher's car because it's more reliable and gets better gas mileage, so we need to have it back before 3pm. Plus they have things they need to do Tuesday anyway.
My dad is in a really bad mood right now. I don't know why. I hate feeling like an inconvenience, and that's how he makes me feel. But I guess anything that is not what he wants, regardless of whether it really inconveniences him or not, is an inconvenience. I'll just lay low until I go back to Bethel. Out of sight, out of mind, can't really stir up too much trouble then.
Sara is cutting my hair tomorrow. I've told her to envision something, that I'm giving her free reign to go wild. I trust her.
I checked my email today and one of my professors emailed me (my classes) to let the class know that he will be out of town on Thursday, so we won't have those classes until Tuesday. The funny thing is that the only classes I have on Thursday are the ones that were canceled. Hehe.
Oh... anyway. that's all. I don't want to make this entry too much longer or no one will read it.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Blah
Poo. I'm not feeling motivation to get anything done. I haven't even started packing to go back to Bethel or anything.
And I'm feeling angry, and some other unpleasant emotions as well. I don't like it.
Colossians 3:8
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
and
Colossians 3:12-114
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Yeah... I know. I don't like feeling this way, but I can't help it. Really.
I'm excited for Pamper Night, though. And I hope the women who come are blessed by it.
And I'm feeling angry, and some other unpleasant emotions as well. I don't like it.
Colossians 3:8
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
and
Colossians 3:12-114
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Yeah... I know. I don't like feeling this way, but I can't help it. Really.
I'm excited for Pamper Night, though. And I hope the women who come are blessed by it.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Virtual Makeover!
Why?
Because I felt like it.
Oh... they don't let you right click and save, but the way around that is to take a screen shot of your picture by pressing ctrl/print screen and opening up paint, click and press ctrl/v. It will paste the picture into paint where you can crop it and save it.
:-) I'm so smart, lol.
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