"I don't think it bothers the world that we sin. I think it bothers the world that we act like we don't. There are times that instead of being myself and exposing my own weakness and hurt, I portray a character of the person that I know I should be. But when I expose myself as weak and frail at times, it frees the Body of Christ to restore me as it should and invites others to unmask as well." Mark Hall, Casting Crowns
I think this is a great quote. He's right. If we were honest about our own sins, instead of simply judging the world for its sins, perhaps we would establish new transparency with those around us and they would offer us the freedom to tell them about the ONE who has helped us all to overcome the guilt and punishment of our sins.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The Fruits of the Holy Spirit and Moldy Vegies.
My only consolation about not writing as often as I'd like (and maybe you'd like) is that you're used to this, faithful friends. I'm not always a good, consistent writer. And I'm sorry about it.
Today, I was working on a bible study regarding the Holy Spirit that we will discuss at tonight's Kenya meeting.
The last question made me think. "In light of other scripture read today, how do you think we receive the fruit of the Spirit?"
I was thinking about how when we receive the Spirit of God, we also receive the fruit. The bible says we put off the sinful nature, that we are no longer controlled by it, but instead are controlled by the Spirit. And that if we live by the spirit we will no longer gratify the desires of the sinful nature (Gal 5).
A couple things about this.
FIRST: A couple years ago I gave a workshop at a women's retreat about "moldy vegetables." Some of you, friends, may remember this. I spoke about the things in our lives that we don't want to talk about or acknowledge, and how our lives can be like refrigerators - full of vegetables - some fresh and some not so fresh, and how hard it is to force yourself to open the vegetable drawer and take out those moldy smelly vegies. But that if we don't remove them and clean out that drawer, the mold will spread and infect even the fresh vegies until our entire fridge reeks and we are afraid to open it when we have people over. People go to open the door and we're like - "OH, we just drink tap water around here - nothing for you to see in that appliance!" Because we are ashamed that we can't even keep our own house clean.
What a glorious thing, that with Jesus we can clean out that fridge at any time without embarassment - and even better, Jesus sticks his hands into that drawer (without gloves, even!) and just pulls out those vegies, throws them in the trash, ties it up and even takes it to the dumpster for us. Then he sends in his assistant to clean that fridge until it shines. Its like he says to us, "I know you can't do this job. But I can, and I love you and will do it for you, if you really want it to be cleaned." Well, the assistant is the Holy Spirit, who purifies our impurities and cleanses us through. And then he works like "Arm and Hammer" to keep out the stench and to help us stay clean.
But the thing is that we keep buying vegies - because we like them and want to be healthy - but sometimes we leave them in too long again and anyway.... you get what I'm saying.
In fact, recently a gal who I know approached me and said, "I have to show my room to a campus tour and I don't have time to clean it and its REALLY, REALLY messy" (that was my paraphrase). I encouraged her to ask a friend for help and that it wouldn't take as long as she feared. But get this - when she got home, some friends of hers had gotten her extra key and were in the process of cleaning her room for her. Pretty amazing. That is Holy Spirit work to me. God knows our needs and will find a way, if we are seeking him. These friends exemplified what it means to be a Christian, and to live according to the Spirit.
SECOND. So I was thinking about the refrigerator and the moldy vegies, because of the question above. I was thinking about how the Holy Spirit is like a grandmother who comes to visit and she brings all this great stuff with her - baked goods, homemade presents, etc. She offers all of it to you, but in order for you to really have it, in order for it to be part of you, you have to reach out and take it from her, and then put it to use - either eating it, or sitting under it (if its a blanket) or whatever.
And I was thinking the Holy Spirit is like a friend who stocked your refrigerator with good things - apples, pears, strawberries, peaches, etc. Well, that friend can sit with you at your kitchen table all day long and you can never reach into the icebox for an apple. In fact, you might reach past the apple and grab the Coke or pull ice cream out of the freezer instead. Your friend isn't going to force you to eat the apple or peaches - even though those are better for you.
The Holy Spirit is like that. By receiving him into our home (our body) we have access to all these good things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, but if we don't reach for them and use it - or eat of it - we will not necessarily be living by the Spirit and shutting down the desires of the sinful nature.
I'll admit it - I like ice cream. Frankly, broccoli (though good) is not an adequate subsitute to my brain, my heart, my stomach - I like ice cream better. But when I stop eating ice cream for a while and eat other things (broccoli included) instead, I feel better. My body feels better. Now, I don't necessarily realize this when I'm eating the better things, but I do realize it when I go back to ice cream and I feel tired, lethargic, sick to my stomach and when my pulse changes. Then I realize how much better I feel eating things that are good for me.
I realize that by eating good (better) things I am starving my desire for sweets, which makes it die (slowly, but truly) and I am stoking my desire for good things. When I eat better, I want to work out more, read more, pray more. When I eat less well, well.... I want to eat more and sit more.
I have to be proactive to eat healthy. I have to be proactive to live the fruits of the spirit. I can't say, "Hey, I guess I'll just be loving today because the holy spirit dropped a big bushel of love apples in my fridge" - I have to grab the apple and take a bite - which will make me want to offer apples to those around me and then I'll BE loving. I have to make a choice to BE peaceful in the face of frustration, to BE joyful in the face of grief, to BE gentle when I want to be harsh.
I don't always do this stuff very well. But I'm going to try to be more proactive now.
And to eat more fruits.
Blessings to you today! Love, Tiff
Today, I was working on a bible study regarding the Holy Spirit that we will discuss at tonight's Kenya meeting.
The last question made me think. "In light of other scripture read today, how do you think we receive the fruit of the Spirit?"
I was thinking about how when we receive the Spirit of God, we also receive the fruit. The bible says we put off the sinful nature, that we are no longer controlled by it, but instead are controlled by the Spirit. And that if we live by the spirit we will no longer gratify the desires of the sinful nature (Gal 5).
A couple things about this.
FIRST: A couple years ago I gave a workshop at a women's retreat about "moldy vegetables." Some of you, friends, may remember this. I spoke about the things in our lives that we don't want to talk about or acknowledge, and how our lives can be like refrigerators - full of vegetables - some fresh and some not so fresh, and how hard it is to force yourself to open the vegetable drawer and take out those moldy smelly vegies. But that if we don't remove them and clean out that drawer, the mold will spread and infect even the fresh vegies until our entire fridge reeks and we are afraid to open it when we have people over. People go to open the door and we're like - "OH, we just drink tap water around here - nothing for you to see in that appliance!" Because we are ashamed that we can't even keep our own house clean.
What a glorious thing, that with Jesus we can clean out that fridge at any time without embarassment - and even better, Jesus sticks his hands into that drawer (without gloves, even!) and just pulls out those vegies, throws them in the trash, ties it up and even takes it to the dumpster for us. Then he sends in his assistant to clean that fridge until it shines. Its like he says to us, "I know you can't do this job. But I can, and I love you and will do it for you, if you really want it to be cleaned." Well, the assistant is the Holy Spirit, who purifies our impurities and cleanses us through. And then he works like "Arm and Hammer" to keep out the stench and to help us stay clean.
But the thing is that we keep buying vegies - because we like them and want to be healthy - but sometimes we leave them in too long again and anyway.... you get what I'm saying.
In fact, recently a gal who I know approached me and said, "I have to show my room to a campus tour and I don't have time to clean it and its REALLY, REALLY messy" (that was my paraphrase). I encouraged her to ask a friend for help and that it wouldn't take as long as she feared. But get this - when she got home, some friends of hers had gotten her extra key and were in the process of cleaning her room for her. Pretty amazing. That is Holy Spirit work to me. God knows our needs and will find a way, if we are seeking him. These friends exemplified what it means to be a Christian, and to live according to the Spirit.
SECOND. So I was thinking about the refrigerator and the moldy vegies, because of the question above. I was thinking about how the Holy Spirit is like a grandmother who comes to visit and she brings all this great stuff with her - baked goods, homemade presents, etc. She offers all of it to you, but in order for you to really have it, in order for it to be part of you, you have to reach out and take it from her, and then put it to use - either eating it, or sitting under it (if its a blanket) or whatever.
And I was thinking the Holy Spirit is like a friend who stocked your refrigerator with good things - apples, pears, strawberries, peaches, etc. Well, that friend can sit with you at your kitchen table all day long and you can never reach into the icebox for an apple. In fact, you might reach past the apple and grab the Coke or pull ice cream out of the freezer instead. Your friend isn't going to force you to eat the apple or peaches - even though those are better for you.
The Holy Spirit is like that. By receiving him into our home (our body) we have access to all these good things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, but if we don't reach for them and use it - or eat of it - we will not necessarily be living by the Spirit and shutting down the desires of the sinful nature.
I'll admit it - I like ice cream. Frankly, broccoli (though good) is not an adequate subsitute to my brain, my heart, my stomach - I like ice cream better. But when I stop eating ice cream for a while and eat other things (broccoli included) instead, I feel better. My body feels better. Now, I don't necessarily realize this when I'm eating the better things, but I do realize it when I go back to ice cream and I feel tired, lethargic, sick to my stomach and when my pulse changes. Then I realize how much better I feel eating things that are good for me.
I realize that by eating good (better) things I am starving my desire for sweets, which makes it die (slowly, but truly) and I am stoking my desire for good things. When I eat better, I want to work out more, read more, pray more. When I eat less well, well.... I want to eat more and sit more.
I have to be proactive to eat healthy. I have to be proactive to live the fruits of the spirit. I can't say, "Hey, I guess I'll just be loving today because the holy spirit dropped a big bushel of love apples in my fridge" - I have to grab the apple and take a bite - which will make me want to offer apples to those around me and then I'll BE loving. I have to make a choice to BE peaceful in the face of frustration, to BE joyful in the face of grief, to BE gentle when I want to be harsh.
I don't always do this stuff very well. But I'm going to try to be more proactive now.
And to eat more fruits.
Blessings to you today! Love, Tiff
Friday, April 20, 2007
Kenya Supplies
Hi Friends,
Here are some of the supplies we need and my estimated cost:
Soccer Balls - we are hoping to take over about 20 - est. cost: $120.
Picture Frame Craft Supplies - we want to take over materials to make picture frames and then print out pictures of the kids from our first meeting with them and give them to them for their frames - est. cost: $100.
Crayons and Coloring Pages - kids love to color - est. cost: $70.
Notebooks - for our team members to write in as they go through reflection excercises: est. cost: $85
Toilet Paper - little toilet paper rolls for everyone on the team - est. cost: $35
Snacks - we would like to bring snacks with us that won't melt, but that we can eat as we travel and work - est cost: $125.
That's probably a good start for now.
Blessings to you! And thanks for considering!
Here are some of the supplies we need and my estimated cost:
Soccer Balls - we are hoping to take over about 20 - est. cost: $120.
Picture Frame Craft Supplies - we want to take over materials to make picture frames and then print out pictures of the kids from our first meeting with them and give them to them for their frames - est. cost: $100.
Crayons and Coloring Pages - kids love to color - est. cost: $70.
Notebooks - for our team members to write in as they go through reflection excercises: est. cost: $85
Toilet Paper - little toilet paper rolls for everyone on the team - est. cost: $35
Snacks - we would like to bring snacks with us that won't melt, but that we can eat as we travel and work - est cost: $125.
That's probably a good start for now.
Blessings to you! And thanks for considering!
Kenya Update!
Hi Friends!!
As of today we have raised... with your help and God's provision.... about $35,600!!!!!!!!!!!
This is 82% of our goal!!! AMAZING!Thanks be to God for his faithfulness!
And thank you for your obedience to help!
We only have a little bit more to raise (about $8,000). To do this, we are still receiving donations (through may 1st), we are selling t-shirts and collecting coins.If you are interested in making a donation to the team in general, please email me and I will explain how (just comment on this note and leave your email and I'll write back to you privately).
Additionally, at this point we are giving away free t-shirts for any donation of $15 or more. Of your $15 donation, $10 will go toward the trip and $5 will cover the cost of the t-shirt. Please make your checks payable to "Tiffani Riggers" (we will give one check to Baylor). If you live outside the Waco area, we may have to take $1-2 shipping out of your donation, so please consider that as you make out your check. Contact me (by leaving a comment) for more information about how to get a shirt, or contact the person you know on the Kenya Gen Min team. We anticipate raising between $1000 and $2000 with this effort - but we need your help!
Finally, we started collecting our "Koins for Kenya" cans and rolling the coins this week. So far we have rolled about $350 in change and are expecting to collect about $1,800 from this effort. Thank you so much for your donations! If you live in Waco and you still have spare change lying around, please either bring it to the Harris House (let them know its "Koins for Kenya") and they'll get it to us, or give it to your friendly Kenya-bound general ministry team-er. We are so grateful for the generousity of everyone who has tossed us their pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters (and sometimes 50-cent pieces!) - AND their paper money.
We are also getting ready spiritually, as we continue to work on our "I Believe" bible study weekly - learning about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as we work through the Apostle's Creed together each Sunday night.
Thank you for praying for us - that we will be prepared spiritually and emotionally for this trip.
I will post a second post in just a few minutes with a supply list, in case you want to donate money for specific supplies.Thanks for your continued support of us!
Love, Tiff
As of today we have raised... with your help and God's provision.... about $35,600!!!!!!!!!!!
This is 82% of our goal!!! AMAZING!Thanks be to God for his faithfulness!
And thank you for your obedience to help!
We only have a little bit more to raise (about $8,000). To do this, we are still receiving donations (through may 1st), we are selling t-shirts and collecting coins.If you are interested in making a donation to the team in general, please email me and I will explain how (just comment on this note and leave your email and I'll write back to you privately).
Additionally, at this point we are giving away free t-shirts for any donation of $15 or more. Of your $15 donation, $10 will go toward the trip and $5 will cover the cost of the t-shirt. Please make your checks payable to "Tiffani Riggers" (we will give one check to Baylor). If you live outside the Waco area, we may have to take $1-2 shipping out of your donation, so please consider that as you make out your check. Contact me (by leaving a comment) for more information about how to get a shirt, or contact the person you know on the Kenya Gen Min team. We anticipate raising between $1000 and $2000 with this effort - but we need your help!
Finally, we started collecting our "Koins for Kenya" cans and rolling the coins this week. So far we have rolled about $350 in change and are expecting to collect about $1,800 from this effort. Thank you so much for your donations! If you live in Waco and you still have spare change lying around, please either bring it to the Harris House (let them know its "Koins for Kenya") and they'll get it to us, or give it to your friendly Kenya-bound general ministry team-er. We are so grateful for the generousity of everyone who has tossed us their pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters (and sometimes 50-cent pieces!) - AND their paper money.
We are also getting ready spiritually, as we continue to work on our "I Believe" bible study weekly - learning about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as we work through the Apostle's Creed together each Sunday night.
Thank you for praying for us - that we will be prepared spiritually and emotionally for this trip.
I will post a second post in just a few minutes with a supply list, in case you want to donate money for specific supplies.Thanks for your continued support of us!
Love, Tiff
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
On Suffering...
I'm re-reading "Hinds Feet on High Places" right now, by Hannah Hurnard. I just finished reading "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens, which I enjoyed tremendously (it was very funny - ironic kind of humor and some straight up comedy, too). But at the end of Great Expectations I was surprised to find that it was like dust - no lasting "meaning." Most of the books of Dickens time had some sort of "wrap up" that made you think or contemplate new ways of behavior or belief. "The Brothers Karamazov" for instance (which I think was written about the same time, but in Russia...) really made me think about punishment and justice, and is it OK for someone to escape punishment if they are innocent? "Great Expectations".... good book, so far, not necessarily making me change my thinking.
So, on to "Hind's Feet." I've written about it before in the old blog (tiffs life in waco), but never here. Its an allegory, so its full of meaning. Here is the quote that has me thinking today. Its an excerpt from Chapter 6: Detour through the Desert. (first note that the heroine, Much Afraid, is journeying to the high places - the Kingdom of Love - and the two companions that the Great Shepherd gave her to help her get there are Sorrow and Suffering, who take her hands and help her to climb)
+++++
A friend of mine received some bad news yesterday that is breaking the hearts of his family, and of us who know this situation.
This is one of my favorite parts of the book, because (I think) I know what Much-Afraid is feeling - the wonderment and confusion of trying to walk forward with God but watching as you turn 180 degrees away from your dream.
After hearing the sad news of my friend and his family, I was struck by more than just the fact that we often have to go through the desert on our path toward the high places. Our companions, who are strong and surefooted and will indeed lead us through these desert places.... are Sorrow and Suffering. We (like Much-Afraid) would choose to have Joy and Peace lead us through these times, but I think sorrow and suffering serve a greater purpose. I know for me that to have experienced sorrow and suffering along the way through the desert makes the decision to continue on through the desert that much more sweet. If it were easy, if our companions were happiness and mirth, would the desert be as difficult as it is, and would I grow in the same way?
Even knowing all of this, I pray for my friends to avoid the desert. I know the desert is necessary, and I know Sorrow and Suffering are good companions in our lives.... but I don't want my friends to experience pain or loss or confusion or broken hearts. Nor do I really want those things for me, if I were honest.
But I do want to be closer to my Lord. I do want to grow in grace and godliness - and sometimes the desert is the only way.
Do YOU trust God to keep his promises to you, even though the way you are headed appears different or contradictory? Are the promises you think you are headed toward really promises of God's or are they hopes that you've pinned onto him (marraige, kids, a certain job)? Are you avoiding the desert right now, trying to climb sheer rock faces to get to your heart's desire?
To myself I say, "Dear heart, be of good courage and be not afraid. Believe in God and also in Jesus and trust Him to lead you down right paths." To my friends I say, "May God go with you in this time of suffering and may you see His Glory at the path's end and be able to say along with the psalmist - My God is in the heaven's and he may do as he chooses"
And to God I say, "Your ways are not my ways, Oh God, and my ways aren't yours. Your paths are beyond searching out and no one can truly understand what you are doing. Only help us to follow you more closely, Lord, to argue less when we see the desert path in front of us, and to allow sorrow and suffering to do their helping work in our hearts that we might eventually make it to the places you have set aside for us." Amen.
So, on to "Hind's Feet." I've written about it before in the old blog (tiffs life in waco), but never here. Its an allegory, so its full of meaning. Here is the quote that has me thinking today. Its an excerpt from Chapter 6: Detour through the Desert. (first note that the heroine, Much Afraid, is journeying to the high places - the Kingdom of Love - and the two companions that the Great Shepherd gave her to help her get there are Sorrow and Suffering, who take her hands and help her to climb)
Then one day the path turned a corner, and to her amazement and
consternation she saw a great plain spread out beneath them. As far as the eye
could see there seemed to be nothing but desert, and endless expanse of sand
dunes, with not a tree in sight.... To the horror of Much-Afraid, her two guides
prepared to take the steep path downward.
She stopped dead and said to them, "We mustn't go down there. The Shepherd
has called me to the High Places. We must find some path which goes up, but
certainly not down there." But they made signs to her that she was to follow
them down the steep pathway to the desert below.
Much-Afraid looked to the left and right, but though it seemed incredible,
there was no way possible by which they could climb upward. [They were
surrounded by sheer walls of rock on all other sides.]
"I can't go down there", panted Much-Afraid, sick with shock and fear. "He
can never mean that - never! He called me up to the High Places, and this is an
absolute contradiction of all that he promised."
She then lifted up her voice and called desperately, "Shepherd, come to me.
Oh, I need you. Come and help me."
In a moment he was there, standing beside her.
[Much-Afraid appeals for a different way, she knows he cannot contradict
himself, so she asks him to fulfill his promise by sending her up higher.]
He looked at her and answered very gently, "That is the path, Much-Afraid,
and you are to go down there."
"Oh, no," she cried, "You can't mean it. You said if I would trust you, you
would bring me to the High Places, and that path leads right away from them. It
contradicts all that you promised."
"No," said the Shepherd, "it is not contradiction, only postponement for
the best to become possible"
[Much-Afraid asks if it is "indefinite postponement of the promise," and
Shepherd nods yes. Much-Afraid begins to despair because this is the completely
opposite direction of his promise and her heart's desire.]
Then he answered her very quietly, "Much-Afraid, do you love me enough to
accept the postponement and the apparent contradiction of the promise, and to go
down there with me into the desert?"
+++++
A friend of mine received some bad news yesterday that is breaking the hearts of his family, and of us who know this situation.
This is one of my favorite parts of the book, because (I think) I know what Much-Afraid is feeling - the wonderment and confusion of trying to walk forward with God but watching as you turn 180 degrees away from your dream.
After hearing the sad news of my friend and his family, I was struck by more than just the fact that we often have to go through the desert on our path toward the high places. Our companions, who are strong and surefooted and will indeed lead us through these desert places.... are Sorrow and Suffering. We (like Much-Afraid) would choose to have Joy and Peace lead us through these times, but I think sorrow and suffering serve a greater purpose. I know for me that to have experienced sorrow and suffering along the way through the desert makes the decision to continue on through the desert that much more sweet. If it were easy, if our companions were happiness and mirth, would the desert be as difficult as it is, and would I grow in the same way?
Even knowing all of this, I pray for my friends to avoid the desert. I know the desert is necessary, and I know Sorrow and Suffering are good companions in our lives.... but I don't want my friends to experience pain or loss or confusion or broken hearts. Nor do I really want those things for me, if I were honest.
But I do want to be closer to my Lord. I do want to grow in grace and godliness - and sometimes the desert is the only way.
Do YOU trust God to keep his promises to you, even though the way you are headed appears different or contradictory? Are the promises you think you are headed toward really promises of God's or are they hopes that you've pinned onto him (marraige, kids, a certain job)? Are you avoiding the desert right now, trying to climb sheer rock faces to get to your heart's desire?
To myself I say, "Dear heart, be of good courage and be not afraid. Believe in God and also in Jesus and trust Him to lead you down right paths." To my friends I say, "May God go with you in this time of suffering and may you see His Glory at the path's end and be able to say along with the psalmist - My God is in the heaven's and he may do as he chooses"
And to God I say, "Your ways are not my ways, Oh God, and my ways aren't yours. Your paths are beyond searching out and no one can truly understand what you are doing. Only help us to follow you more closely, Lord, to argue less when we see the desert path in front of us, and to allow sorrow and suffering to do their helping work in our hearts that we might eventually make it to the places you have set aside for us." Amen.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Tiff's Life today.... 4/3
Hi Friends!
Here is a quick update of my current life - recent past/present/future. :)
Jenn came to visit last weekend (see pics)!! She flew into Dallas during a tornado watch and it took me 5 hours to go the 80 miles to the airport. I was worried she'd have to wait 3 hours in the airport for me.... but actually, she had to wait 2 extra hours in the plane just for it to land, and then another hour on land for me to finally show up! Texas drainage is not that great (at least not on the interstate) - but I'll give them credit - they aren't afraid to just drive through deep water. I however, was a little nervous in the tiny Saturn, but we both (me and the car) survived the drive up, and it was a lot better to drive back with Jenn in the car!
Friday... more rain. It was raining hard enough we decided to skip the campus tour for the day and go to a movie.... we saw "Blades of Glory" - ok, it was funny. lets just admit it - FUNNY. and then rented the Holiday and got Pei Wei to go - went home and hunkered down for a good rainy day afternoon. Sarah came home and we were watching the flick when suddenly Jenn says, "is that a siren? can you hear it?" (I couldn't at first) Yes, folks - we were having a tornado WARNING. Redic. So we watched the news for a bit (Andy Wallace on our ABC affiliate - we love him!) after about 20 minutes it was clear that even Andy wasn't going to convince us to give up the movie to go huddle in the bathroom - the storm wasn't going to hit Waco - so we turned back on the movie! :) Later we played Wii with the Schwartzs and "Train Ride to Europe."
Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL day - amazing - and because of the rain the day before, everything was super green and vibrant colors. This is why they call Seattle the "emerald city" because the rain makes everything REALLY green! Anyway, we decided to take a walking tour of campus, grabbed a starbucks along the way and then got in the car to explore Indian Springs Park and the suspension bridge (the first in the US) downtown. Because my church was having an outdoor service the next day and we wanted to get familiar with the area. And because the suspension bridge is pretty neat. The river was REALLY high - even yesterday, 4 days after the storm it was still pretty high - crazy. We went to Rudy's BBQ for lunch and then explored Cameron Park (the second largest municipal park in the country - second only to NYC's central park!). We went to Lover's Leap and looked down, hiked around a little and enjoyed the sun. Saturday evening we had a fundraiser at Pizza Hut for our Kenya trip and then Jenn and I went home and watched a movie together.
Sunday came too soon! It was Palm Sunday and another beautiful day. Church was outside and it was a great, great time. We had about 7 baptisms, communion, great music by Crowder and the band, funny announcements and I really felt the Lord's presence with us as we worshipped him from that beautiful setting. As we sat down after communion, there were still really long lines and they kind of formed around where we were sitting - so people lining up on either side of us, and joining in the middle ahead of us. I was really moved thinking about how that is how it looked when Jesus was doing ministry - people were just lined up, waiting to talk to him, swarming him - young and old, healthy and infirm, dressed up and dressed down. That was really neat to be in the middle of that and think about how people still come to him that way and in no situation is that more true than when we line up to get communion.
Jenn left on Sunday afternoon - we had a nice stop at a crazy Texas-style southwestern truck stop and got her to the airport really early... only to find out here flight was delayed - yuk.
I had a Kenya meeting that night and have been working on homework ever since. In fact... I need to get back to homework right now! I have a big paper due in a couple weeks and another smaller one due next week. Then we also have a group project due in 3 weeks - yikes! Add to that this weekend is Easter and we'll (sarah and I) be headed to San Antonio on Friday morning, not to return until Monday lunchtime and you can imagine I'm a little stressed out!
My brother turned 30 on Saturday. My parents had a big garage sale and then took him out for lunch. I'm really proud of all he's accomplished in his 30 years. He's a neat man, kind and gracious, and really funny (and fun). Happy Birthday Ben!
My dad turns 58 this Thursday. I wish I could be home to celebrate all these birthdays, but I'm looking forward to moving back toward the West (in theory) after I graduate so that I can be with my family when my dad turns 60 (what!?) and get to spend some valuable quality time with my family members on days like their birthdays. I haven't been home for birthdays in about 7 or 8 years, I think, so that will be great when its possible!!!
So that's the news for now. Make it a great day, friends. I'm going to be typing for a while now. :)
For a look at the pictures, check out this link to the webalbum!
Here is a quick update of my current life - recent past/present/future. :)
Jenn came to visit last weekend (see pics)!! She flew into Dallas during a tornado watch and it took me 5 hours to go the 80 miles to the airport. I was worried she'd have to wait 3 hours in the airport for me.... but actually, she had to wait 2 extra hours in the plane just for it to land, and then another hour on land for me to finally show up! Texas drainage is not that great (at least not on the interstate) - but I'll give them credit - they aren't afraid to just drive through deep water. I however, was a little nervous in the tiny Saturn, but we both (me and the car) survived the drive up, and it was a lot better to drive back with Jenn in the car!
Friday... more rain. It was raining hard enough we decided to skip the campus tour for the day and go to a movie.... we saw "Blades of Glory" - ok, it was funny. lets just admit it - FUNNY. and then rented the Holiday and got Pei Wei to go - went home and hunkered down for a good rainy day afternoon. Sarah came home and we were watching the flick when suddenly Jenn says, "is that a siren? can you hear it?" (I couldn't at first) Yes, folks - we were having a tornado WARNING. Redic. So we watched the news for a bit (Andy Wallace on our ABC affiliate - we love him!) after about 20 minutes it was clear that even Andy wasn't going to convince us to give up the movie to go huddle in the bathroom - the storm wasn't going to hit Waco - so we turned back on the movie! :) Later we played Wii with the Schwartzs and "Train Ride to Europe."
Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL day - amazing - and because of the rain the day before, everything was super green and vibrant colors. This is why they call Seattle the "emerald city" because the rain makes everything REALLY green! Anyway, we decided to take a walking tour of campus, grabbed a starbucks along the way and then got in the car to explore Indian Springs Park and the suspension bridge (the first in the US) downtown. Because my church was having an outdoor service the next day and we wanted to get familiar with the area. And because the suspension bridge is pretty neat. The river was REALLY high - even yesterday, 4 days after the storm it was still pretty high - crazy. We went to Rudy's BBQ for lunch and then explored Cameron Park (the second largest municipal park in the country - second only to NYC's central park!). We went to Lover's Leap and looked down, hiked around a little and enjoyed the sun. Saturday evening we had a fundraiser at Pizza Hut for our Kenya trip and then Jenn and I went home and watched a movie together.
Sunday came too soon! It was Palm Sunday and another beautiful day. Church was outside and it was a great, great time. We had about 7 baptisms, communion, great music by Crowder and the band, funny announcements and I really felt the Lord's presence with us as we worshipped him from that beautiful setting. As we sat down after communion, there were still really long lines and they kind of formed around where we were sitting - so people lining up on either side of us, and joining in the middle ahead of us. I was really moved thinking about how that is how it looked when Jesus was doing ministry - people were just lined up, waiting to talk to him, swarming him - young and old, healthy and infirm, dressed up and dressed down. That was really neat to be in the middle of that and think about how people still come to him that way and in no situation is that more true than when we line up to get communion.
Jenn left on Sunday afternoon - we had a nice stop at a crazy Texas-style southwestern truck stop and got her to the airport really early... only to find out here flight was delayed - yuk.
I had a Kenya meeting that night and have been working on homework ever since. In fact... I need to get back to homework right now! I have a big paper due in a couple weeks and another smaller one due next week. Then we also have a group project due in 3 weeks - yikes! Add to that this weekend is Easter and we'll (sarah and I) be headed to San Antonio on Friday morning, not to return until Monday lunchtime and you can imagine I'm a little stressed out!
My brother turned 30 on Saturday. My parents had a big garage sale and then took him out for lunch. I'm really proud of all he's accomplished in his 30 years. He's a neat man, kind and gracious, and really funny (and fun). Happy Birthday Ben!
My dad turns 58 this Thursday. I wish I could be home to celebrate all these birthdays, but I'm looking forward to moving back toward the West (in theory) after I graduate so that I can be with my family when my dad turns 60 (what!?) and get to spend some valuable quality time with my family members on days like their birthdays. I haven't been home for birthdays in about 7 or 8 years, I think, so that will be great when its possible!!!
So that's the news for now. Make it a great day, friends. I'm going to be typing for a while now. :)
For a look at the pictures, check out this link to the webalbum!
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| Jenn's Visit |
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