I really need to learn how to express my happiness.
But I can't think of anything to say right now.
*speechless*

chips

Rachel, the family loves my barbeque chips and are trying to eat them. Please let me know next time you go back up and you'll have to buy us several 5 gallon buckets. I mean, seriously. I hid them this morning and they still have found them and are eating them. I doubt there will be any left when I get home. However, I did eat about 2/3s of them by myself when I first brought them home. :) So... I guess they can have some.

Hannah was just talking about these. And I saw an article about them online and so I thought I would remind all of you to go buy your Muppet stamps. The 37-cent stamps were released nationally on Thursday.

Gonzo: Stop the presses!
News Editor: What happened?
Gonzo: I don't know. I just always wanted to say that.

Rowlf the Dog: It's not often you see a guy that green have the blues that bad.

Sam the Eagle: Kermit, does this film have socially redeeming value?

Fozzie: Hiya! Hiya! Hiya! Hiya!
Crowd: BOO!
Fozzie: Bye-a! Bye-a! Bye-a! Bye-a!
[Waldorf holds up a score card that says "1"]
Statler: You gave him a 1?
Waldorf: He's never been better.

Miss Piggy: But I love him.
Rowlf: How could you love him? You're a nurse.
Miss Piggy: That may be true, but I am a woman first.
Rowlf: No, you're not. You're a pig first. Nurse second. I don't think woman made the top 10.

Kermit: OK, well, we've done a lot for the music lovers on the show, so it's time we did something for the music haters. So here he is, as threatened, the Great Gonzo singing a song. [Cheers weakly]
Kermit: Yay. Uh, those of you with hearing aids may wish to remove the batteries.

Waldorf: Just when you think this show is terrible something wonderful happens.
Statler: What?
Waldorf: It ends.

So, it is really amazing what a body can do on only three hours of sleep, a cup of coffee, and a headful of dreams.

1 John 3:1-10
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! "

Three Days!!!

Yesterday a whole gang of us went over to the Townsends and blitzed their house with primer. It was a blast. I had so much fun singing with Rachel and Stef and Anna. Anna is a good little painter, one of the best!! I would have her work beside me anyday. I hit the top of the walls and she did the bottom. We are awesome. It is even better when we have Sarah along because she cuts in very nicely. The three of us are a nice little trio of good paintingness. My shoulder is definatly feeling the effects of painting too many ceilings yesterday. Haha. But who cares, it was great fun! The Townsends house is totally awesome! I can't wait to have party's and game nights there! Woohoo.

Before the painting party, I was at school (turning in my two million homework assignments and projects and various presentation). Thankfully I only have two exams next week and half a million homework problems (it isn't that I have many homework problems -- I just have homework problems that each take about three hours a piece (it done right -- if not you have to start over and see where the problem is)).

While I was at school I picked up Emily Price -- who really is a great kid. And we went to Little Caesars and laughed our heads off as they struggled to fill our order for 4 cheeses, 5 pepperonies, and 8 bags of breadsticks. It was one of those things where you had to be there to really think it was funny. But we had a blast or at least I did.

Well, it is almost the weekend (which means week 5 is almost over --> once I make it through my last Wednesday class, I consider it the weekend because I don't mind the work in my Thursday class -- it usually flies by it is so interesting). Only 10 weeks to go!!! Hip hip Hooray!

We've got all the time in the world!
Because tomorrow is another day! :)

Curses on Physics, I love it so, but it demands my full attention and it is blasted hard to give it that right now.
I need to find time to think, clearly! Which probably won't be until this weekend...

Make sure to take a walk sometime today. It is wonderfully warm.
I'll have my windows open at work!

B L E S S E D
B E ! ! !

God is good and I can't sleep. And that is all I have to say right now because I can't think clearly.

Talk to me in a few weeks when I wake up.

Ephesians 1:3-11, 15-21
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."

Matt Strawbridge is a good kid.
Thanks to him I might make it through Mechanics alive.
Man, I hate Mechanics.

I am sitting in lab and watching football on the lecture screen, while doing physics. This is entertaining.
I would say "Go Georgia!", but it isn't college football.

I love this song!

We may get the youth to sing this song gospel style (well, as gospelish as we white people can do - haha! Like the choir's offertory today...). It has potential. I don't think the group will last long, but I am being a pessimist (or logical - they are usually the same for me -- I am possitive about things when I think they can succeed). However, I Mrs. Townsend asked me to come, so I did.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

quick rundown

A quick update on how the weekend went:

• Last night Sarah, Anna, Luke F. Hannah, Jared, and I went to see the Corpse Bride. Tim Burton is a wonder. Remarkable stuff. And Danny Elfman is pretty darn hot as well. Great music. I really enjoyed the piano. I told Sarah I was going to have to buy the soundtrack just for the piano parts. I guess we will be hearing that for a while playing around the house. Anyhow, I greatly enjoyed it. Sarah liked it too. Haha. And she is hard to please.
• Happy Early Birthday to Krissy. Linnea and I decorated yesterday for her surprise party. Decorating with Linnea was a blast. Great job, chamP!
• Friday was Caedmon's Call. I gave the concert a 3 out of 5 for a poor opening act and not the best selection of songs (mainly playing none of my favorite Caedmons songs). But it was still a good concert, just not wonderful. I drove home by myself from Joppa... woohoo. All two and a half hours. It wasn't a bad drive after I got to Wilmington. Coldplay traveled home with me singing, "lights will gui-i-i-i-de you home!"

Today my family all went off camping without me. Anna might be staying home with me, but I am at SU doing homework, so I don't know. I had put it off all weekend. I really need to get it finished.

Alive

New Rebecca St. James song!

The weather has been beautiful these past few evenings. Autumn evenings are so friendly and inviting. I need to find a good field for gazing up at the stars and having deep conversations. It is really been perfect for that.

Caedmons in Joppa

Is this the strange feeling
Of you working all to good
'Cause I am so confused
I don't even ask for what I should

When I asked for and deserved a stone
You broke and gave your body as bread
And even the stone that dropped down and rolled away
Spoke of the one who bled

There you go working good from my bad
There you go making robes from my rags
There you go melting crowns from my calves
There you go working good of all I have
Till all I have's not that bad

When I asked for and deserved a serpent
You gave a net full of fish
And even the serpent that told the lie
When lifted high foretold the gift

For you so loved the unlovable
That you gave the ineffable
That who so believes the unbelievable
Will gain the unattainable

A purple sky to close the day
I wade the surf where dolphins play
The taste of salt, the dance of waves
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs
A lightning flash, my pounding heart
A breaching whale, a shooting star
Give testimony that You are
And my soul wells up with hallelujahs

Oh praise Him all His mighty works
There is no language where you can't be heard
Your song goes out to all the Earth
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

O cratered moon and sparrow's wings
O thunder's boom and Saturn's rings
Unveil our Father as you sing
And my sould wells up with hallelujahs

The pulse of life within my wrist
A fallen snow, a rising mist
There is no higher praise than this
And my soul wells up
O my soul wells up
Yes my soul wells up with hallelujahs!

w h o l e

n o t h e r

Or do you say, "whole other"? Haha. I say nother.

Bible Study was really great last night. Ryan did a good job leading. And the lesson was awesome. Hannah is making me feel really guilty everytime she speaks. But I love her for it. Keep it real, Hannah! Corpse Bride on Saturday, the 10 o'clock showing...? Maybe. Or Flightplan... Think about it.
If I could shake this cold, life would be pretty sweet (like Monkey Bread).
Thankfully, I have been able to pay pretty good attention in all of my classes. Normally with a cold I just sit there dazed and try to write down things that might make sense later on. The worst thing about being a physics major is that you get to understand these amazing concepts and ideas of how the world works and they are so interesting and exciting and there is no one to share your enthusiasm. I mean everyone would look at me and go "huh" if I started ranting about how cool (and also difficult, but rewarding) it is to take the integrals of cylindrical coordinates. Physics is mind boggling. Amazing. I both hate it and love it.

Caedmon's Call concert tomorrow!!!!

Fernando Ortega has recorded some awesome hymns!

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

truth

Romans 8:10-17
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh – 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

I really like this one:

"If your religion does not make you holy, it will damn you. It is simply painted pageantry to go to hell in."
- C. H. Spurgeon

When filled with holy truth, the mind rests. - CH Spurgeon

• Hudson Taylor - "We are not only to renounce evil, but to manifest the truth. We tell people the world is vain; let our lives manifest that it is so. We tell them that our home is above and that all these things are transitory. Does our dwelling look like it? O to live consistent lives!"
• Blaise Pascel ( I am a HUGE fan of Blaise Pascel!!! I think both of those names would make awesome middle names. Heh). "The serene, silent beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world, next to the might of the Spirit of God."
• Jerry Bridges "It is time for us Christians, to face up to our responsibility for holiness. Too often we say we are “defeated” by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated; we are simply disobedient. It might be well if we stopped using the terms victory and defeat to describe our progress in holiness. Rather we should use the terms obedience and disobedience.Faith and holiness are inextricably linked. Obeying the commands of God usually involves believing the promises of God."
• Robert Murray McCheyne "Study universal holiness of life. Your whole usefulness depends on this, for your sermons last but an hour or two, your life preaches all the week. If Satan can only make a covetous minister a lover of praise, of pleasure, of good eating, he has ruined your ministry. Give yourselves to prayer, and get your texts, your thoughts, your words from God. Luther spent his best three hours in prayer."
• C. H. Spurgeon "I believe the holier a man becomes, the more he mourns over the unholiness which remains in him."
• C. H. Spurgeon "Though you have struggled in vain against your evil habits, though you have wrestled with them sternly, and resolved, and re-resolved, only to be defeated by your giant sins and your terrible passions, there is One who can conquer all your sins for you. There is One who is stronger than Hercules, who can strangle the hydra of your lust, kill the lion of your passions, and cleanse the Augean stable of your evil nature by turning the great rivers of blood and water of his atoning sacrifice right through your soul. He can make and keep you pure within. Oh, look to him!
• Chuck Colson "Holiness is the everyday business of every Christian. It evidences itself in the decisions we make and the things we do, hour by hour, day by day."

"Dang it!" As Hannah would say. I was quite enjoying having a pity party for myself last night. After class, Anna and I got gelatis and I ate mine and went straight to bed feeling quite sorry for myself being stuck at school all day. Then I woke up at 4:30 this morning and couldn't go back to sleep so I re-read chapter three in The Holiness of God (for the fourth time this week - amazing book), checked my email and got an encouraging note from Hannah, and came to campus early to sit under the trees thinking and enjoy the quiet. It was a great encouragement. And now I feel like so stupid for feeling sorry for myself last night about things that don't even matter. I don't know why I always fail to trust God's timing. He is perfect, just and right are His ways. I like how Jerry Bridges says that God can't do anything wrong to us because it is against our nature. So we have to trust his ways, that they are the right timing and place. Praise God for His mercy and grace everytime we fall down.

Jerry Bridges

Our first problem is that our attitude towards sin is more self-centered than God-centered. We are more concerned about our own "Victory" over sin than we are about the fact that our sin grieves the heart of God. We cannot tolerate failure in our struggle with sin chiefly because we are success oriented, not because we know it is offensive to God...the pursuit of holiness is a joint venture between God (Ed note: "Jehovah MeKeddeshem") and the Christian. No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part. God has made it possible for us to walk in holiness. But He has given to us the responsibility of doing the walking; He does not do that for us...holiness is a process, something we never completely attain in this life. Rather, as we begin to conform to the will of God in one area of life, He reveals to us our need in another area. That is why we will always be pursuing - as opposed to attaining - holiness in this life...The idea of exactly how to be holy has suffered from many false concepts. In some circles, holiness is equated with a series of prohibitions - usually in such areas as smoking, drinking & dancing. The list of prohibitions varies depending on the group. When we follow this approach to holiness, we are in danger of becoming like the Pharisees with their endless lists of trivial do's and don'ts, and their self-righteous attitude. For others, it means a particular style of dress and mannerisms. And for still others, it means unattainable perfection, an idea that fosters either delusion or discouragement about one's sin. All of these ideas, while accurate to some degree, miss the true concept. To be holy is to be morally blameless. It is to be separated from sin and, therefore, consecrated to God. The word signifies " separation to God, and the conduct befitting those so separated."

I never knew this existed.

It is highly entertaining and funny.

Thank you, Jared for sharing.

And thanks to Hannah for coming over and enjoying it with me.

It was a nice break from boring homework.

Monday Monday...

Can't touch that day.

Classes until 10 tonight (my teacher couldn't make it to our morning class so she asked us to come in at night, maybe if I can't make it to a class I will ask her to come in at night). Blast it all.

snow day photos

I just found these and thought I would share them. What a great two days bumming around laughing at Jeeves and Wooster. I think we watched Collateral too. I know we watched Fargo because it was snowing outside. Haha. And we played Princess Uno. What fun.

Linnea braves the cold.
The front yard on Sunday Morning.
Jared does his ninja impression.

I love icicles. I think they are so pretty.
Little Matty U eating breakfast on Sunday morning.

I finished all my homework last week on Friday and had the whole weekend free, but nothing to do. This weekend I have too many offers and no time. I am so sorry everyone. I am staying locked in this SU computer lab until my work is finished. I would rather be elsewhere. Believe me, this is not what I call fun. It is torture to make myself sit here when I knew I could be doing fun stuff. But so goes life. You win some you lose some. It is small in comparison to eternity. Thank God for summers and breaks. :) Love you!

soccer mom

For the past two weeks I have been playing soccer mom to Hope. It is entertaining to see some of the parents get so into the game. But the kids look so cute in there little jerseys and soccer shorts and socks (that are all too big for them). I hope my kids want to play soccer (or at least some of them). Even though it is extremely busy during soccer season, "confound it all, I love it so" (Jack - from the Nightmare before Christmas -- haha).
So now I am studying my little head off at SU.

not interesting

• Not in a a state of curiosity or concern about or attention to something.
• Banal
• Drearily commonplace and often predictable; trite
• Unexciting
• Arousing little or no interest or curiosity; boring
• Commonplace
• Having no remarkable features, characteristics, or traits; ordinary.
• Jejune - Not interesting; dull.
• Not something, such as a quality, subject, or activity, that evokes this mental state.
• Unentertaining
• Lacking variety or excitement; dull.
• Humdrum
• Lacking power to evoke interest through overuse or repetition; hackneyed.
• Blah -Worthless nonsense.
• Ho hum - Used to express boredom, weariness, or contempt.
• Monotonous
• Trite
• Uninspiring

And that my friends is what I mean by "not interesting".

Fascinating

I love the way that on the Flightplan website they let you explore the plane and its design, like it is a real plane. I think it is very clever. It will probably end up being visually stunning, but ultimately pointless, but I would like to see this movie. Maybe it is just the engineer in me. :) Go Jodie Foster!!!

movie

Swear to me. Haha.

And I just wanted to say... MAN, I love soccer!!! It is the best sport ever invented. I miss the thrill of having the ball and the people charging at you. I miss the excitement of running with a ball at your feet and weaving in and out of people. I miss the way my teammates and I would know exactully what the other was thinking and play almost as one. I miss being tripped and scrambling up, with a mouthful of dirt, to chase down the one who pushed you down. I miss the sweetness of victory and the crushing blow of losing in the final seconds of a game. And above all I miss, stopping fast breakaways. Running so hard to catch the person and then being able to get the ball away from them without tripping them. That is victory in soccer. Playing harder, running faster, dribbling better.

And on that note I will say, I have had three people ask me to play on their soccer teams this year and I blasted well can't because of my shoulder. This is slightly annoying to me because next year I will be at a different college and no one will even know I can play soccer (sort of like last year at SU). So, maybe I will get to play my second senior year. That would be so great. However, since I am not playing soccer this year, I can use my time to do other things. Like take my sibings to see Batman Begins tonight. WOOHOO. Love that movie.

I left my cell phone recharging at home today. So, if anyone needs to talk to me, here is my phone number at the office. I should be back to my house around 3 or 4 after work and PT.

I can’t make the snow come down
I cannot make it rain
I can’t make the sun go down
Or rise to burn again

I can’t make You love me more
No matter how I try
Your grace alone can justify
That kind of love just mystifies
That kind of love just mystifies

It’s out of my hands though I try so hard
It’s out of my hands when I slip and fall
It’s out of my hands I will rest in You
You know my voice
You hear my call
It’s out of my hands

I can’t make the world spin ‘round
Or catch a falling star
I can’t set the night on fire
And burn away the dark

I can’t make You love me more
Can’t impress You with my deeds
I can’t make You love me less
That kind of love is what I need
That kind of love is what I need

It’s out of my hands though I try so hard
It’s out of my hands when I slip and fall
It’s out of my hands I will rest in You
You know my voice You hear my call

It’s out of my hands when I have no strength
It’s out of my hands I will look to You
It’s out of my hands You will never fail
Your love’s a grip I can’t slip through

Go Tony Vincent. Haha. I love this song.

Linnea and Rachel kidnapped me from school and let me come along to celebrate Linnea's birthday. Woohoo. It is just so good to see people you know throughout the day. School can get so BLAH sometimes. Thanks guys. I enjoyed myself greatly.

Happy Birthday once again to Linnea.

and

GO PARKSIDE BOYS SOCCER!!

following tradition

A picture of the beautiful birthday girl (and Ben). It is wonderful to know both of them. I pray you have a wonderful day today, Linnea. Thanks for always making me smile.

Happiest of Birthdays, Champ!!!

Linnea is 17 today.
Happy Birthday!

Week Three Physics Report:
* E and M (Electricity and magnetism) jumps three spots and tops our list this week for its fascination concepts, wonderful use of Calculus, brilliant ideas, and challenging homework. I am actually partly enjoying calculus. It is a wonder. Haha.
* Statics drops a place to second of the week. Although the material is interesting, the homework is easy, and it is my shortest class, it does not compare to the coolness of Green's and Stoke's theorems (just pretend like you know what I am talking about and agree -- heh) that we are studying in E and M.
* Math Physics - A boring waste of time.
* Mechanics plummets to the bottom of the list this week. Oh wait, it was already at the bottom of the list last week. It STAYS at the bottom of the list. Horrible class. Homework is so boring and stupid that I am falling asleep doing it and the computer keeps shutting down on me. Math should be done on paper and not on computers that need things typed in exactly how they are programmed to read.

cardboard

You would never think that I could get so excited about getting cardboard from Lowes. Thank you, Lowes!!!! Man, I am thrilled. I can start on the Reformation decorations now! What fun. This is the third time I have tried to get it from them and this time they finally saved some for me. I am so happy. I could dance to class now. Praise God.

Ray Lamontagne

I have to say thank you to Rachel for this wonderful cd. I had it in my car since she gave it to me, but because the windows are always down, I haven't really heard that much of it. So, I took it inside last night and loved it. I have had it on repeat since yesterday around 5 when I got home. I just copied it onto my computer at work and will be listening to it all day long today too. Thank you, Rachel for thinking to share this with me!!! Great stuff. Have you lost your Brian Regan cd yet? Do I need to burn you another copy? Haha. See you tonight.

truth

Isaiah 6:8 "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?'
And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!' "

Jeremiah 29:11 -13 " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.' "

kids make me smile

Zacchaeus was a wee little man, A wee little man was he. He climbed up in the sycamore tree, the Savior for to see. And when the Savior passed that way, He looked up in the tree, And he said, “Zacchaeus, you come down from there; For I’m going to your house today, for I’m going to your house today.” And Zacchaeus came down from that tree, and he said, “What a better man I’ll be. I’ll give my money to the poor. What a better man I’ll be. What a better man I’ll be.”

The wise man built his house upon the rock, (3x)
And the rains came tumbling down!
The rains came down and the floods came up, (3x)
And the house on the rock stood firm.
The foolish man built his house upon the sand, (3x)
And the rains came tumbling down!
The rains came down and the floods came up, (3x)
And the house on the sand went SPLAT!

I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the Calvary, Shoot the artillery. I may never zoom o'er the enemy, But I'm in the Lord's army.
I'm in the Lord's army, (yes, sir!)
I'm in the Lord's army, (yes, sir!)
I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the Calvary, Shoot the artillery. I may never zoom o'er the enemy, But I'm in the Lord's army. (yes, sir!)

Glorious.

Life is wonderful.
I always seem to forget that if I would stop feeling sorry for myself and look around at all I do have, life would be so much sweeter. So that is what I have promised myself I would do. After a great weekend, I have started off the school week well.

* Today I got to rock to Coldplay and my Cinderella Man soundtrack all day long because I actually remembered my headphones and cd player!
* I was able to park my car at Miss Donna's house, under a tree (which made it all nice and cool when I came back for my car).
* Sarah called me in the middle of my day and talked to me. I love it when my phone rings. Sarah leaves the greatest voicemails too, but this time I got to talk to her live and in person. It is so nice to have someone to talk when you are in SU land.
* Physics is still making some what of sense and I am following along. It is really facinating stuff once you understand how to apply the math. I told my dad I have never enjoyed calculus so much before. But now it has application to the real world and it is not just some random thing to do with numbers. It finds out real things that you really need to know in order to make things work. Amazingly powerful tool. I am starting to actually see and believe that.
* My Mom made one of my favorite desserts EVER!! It is called monkey bread (it is basically like a big cinnamon sugary sweet baked thing-- haha -- I'll have to make it for Bible Study some night -- it is wonderful).
* Sarah wrote me a surprise email today and I laughed out loud in the computer lab. Praise God for siblings. Let me say it again.
* My shoulder does not hurt too terrible. Not as much as I expected.
* My Dad took me to Olive Garden (and the rest of the family) and I love Italian food. Good stuff.
* AND -- I got to run for the first time in six weeks. Man, it felt good. I jogged three miles, but it was wonderul!! I am so happy. I love running, taking a shower, and going to bed. You feel so good about life. I was already on the top of the world and now I am "lifted to the heavens". Glorious!

Delirious

I'm feeling feel fine
'cos there's nothing that I want to change
I'm right on time
for the atmosphere to rearrange
'Cos I've got wings so watch me fly

And I'm free to be the man you want me to be
I'm alive when I'm alive in you
And I'm free to be the one you said I could be
I'm alive 'cose you're alive, I'm alive when I'm alive in you

Lord, you’ve let me see
I need strength to let you carry me
And love was right on time
When faith and hope were on the line
And I've got wings so watch me fly

And I'm free to be the man you want me to be
I'm alive when I'm alive in you
And I’m free to be the one you dreamt I could be
I’m alive ‘cos you’re alive, I’m alive ‘cos you’re alive
I’m alive ‘cos you’re alive in me

You’re all I ever want
You’re all I ever need
It’s all I ever want
To be free

May I love His will enough to make it mine.

two articles to ponder

"If we seek to have a biblical view of ourselves, of other people, and of God, our expectations will shift from hoping that others become like us to hoping that God (through others) will make us more like Him."
-Micah Wierenga

"The reasons that worry is not compatible with the Christian worldview are obvious. If we truly believe what God says about himself in the Bible then we have no justification for fretting.

However, sometimes it is easy to know the truth about something and very difficult to put it into practice. That is where you must begin to consciously remind yourself of the truth. When worry begins to burrow its way into your mind, remember that God is faithful and already has everything under control. He loves you, and will not abandon the good work He has begun in you.

So, in the words of Bob Marley, "Don't worry about a thing. Every little thing is gonna be all right." Hey, it takes the burden away from you. No worries."
-Denise Morris

It was a good weekend.
-I acomplished all my studying and some.
-I got to take Hope to soccer and watch her play. Man, that brings back some really good memories. Soccer used to be my life during the Fall.
-Saw Transporter 2 again.
-Signed up for the Missions Awareness Team during the ministry fair yesterday (I told them I would be back after last semester and this kills two birds with one stone - haha). It is always great fun to plan the Missions Conference. I love Mrs. Perkins. She is so cheerful.
- I got to hear my Dad teach James during Sunday School. I love my Dad too! He is really great.
-Came back early to church for a Women's Retreat Meeting
-Pastor Shelton had an awesome sermon last night. If I find time I will comment about it and the Jerry Bridges book. Haha, we shall see how the week goes.
-And finally I got to kick back and relax with Hannah and Rachel at La Tolteca.

Haha...

I saw Transporter Two again. It is a great laugh. Thanks Hannah.

funny

There is this ad on tv for a money lending service that states, "her bills clung to her to Old Bay after a day of picking crabs." I find it amusingly pathetic the way that people native to the Eastern Shore talk. AND Delmarva (and any form of the word) is one of the worst words invented! I hope I don't pick up on too much of their "language". The most often thing I hear is that I sound like I am from DC. Hmm...
If I had to pick any accent, it would be from Richmond, high class Virginian with southern style. Yay.

think

The little foxes ruin the vineyard.

I love how that is said, it makes so much sense so simply.

soccer season picture day...

I woke up this morning and the house was quiet, which can mean two things since it is a Saturday, either Sarah and Anna have gotten up and already left for work or I haven't slept in at all and it is really early still. So I studied for a while, wrote a letter to Hayley, and finally reread The Pursuit of Holiness (amazing book by Jerry Bridges -- I may find time to comment on it later).
Now I am checking my email and soon I will be starting on some more homework (I need to stay ahead in case anything unexpected pops up and I don't have time to do it later - never put off what you can do today until later). Sometime today I have to take Hope to her soccer game, call Lowes about getting more cardboard to decorate for the Reformation Party, and stop in WalMart and buy gallons of paint and supplies. Sounds like fun.
Two more days for the sling.
I have almost stopped wearing it around the house. I don't know what to do with my arm now. Heh. It is too stiff to do anything useful. But I am gettting really good with my left hand at most things. Woohoo.

how sweet...

BigGuy2003: Hello Faith.
BigGuy2003: I thought I would inquire after that arm of yours
Then we had a 45 minutes conversation about trusting God when you can't see His plan.

And that is why Ben is one of my best friends ever! I've always been able to talk to Ben about anything. He is the older brother I never had. I thank God for all the Taylors. What a blessing.

I miss all of my friends who are at college. For some reason I have been thinking about and praying for them, this week, more then usual. I love you all and I can't wait to see you all again! Life is bittersweet. Besides heaven being wonderful because we are in glory with our maker, it will be so grand to see everyone again and to worship our creator together without tears.

In the land of fadeless day,
Lies “the city foursquare,”
It shall never pass away,
And there is “no night there.”

God shall “wipe away all tears”
There’s no death, no pain, nor fears;
And they count not time by years,
For there is “no night there.”

All the gates of pearl are made,
In “the city foursquare,”
All the streets with gold are laid,
And there is “no night there.”

All the gates shall never close,
To “the city foursquare,"
There life’s crystal river flows,
And there is “no night there.”

There they need no sunshine bright,
In “that city foursquare,”
For the Lamb is all the light,
And there is “no night there.”

This song makes me cry. It is beautiful. I love the words, "city foursquare".
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.
Glorify Christ in your living and your dying.

I'm smitten

I love BMWs, especially in black with black interiors. It is absolutly gorgeous. How cool would it be to work for BMW !?!?!








Simply Genius.

creation 2004

Sometimes you gotta run into the arms of danger
Sometimes you gotta be the sacrifice
Sometimes you gotta say things that don't come easy
They say just follow your heart but what if it lies

And God only knows
How to play this game called life and living

So hold me light a candle in the window pane tonight
Stop me running from the things that could save my life
-Paul Colman Trio

I first heard this song at Creation 2004 with the Townsends. What fun! I can't wait to go next year. I don't care what artists come. It is just so much fun to hang out with the people you go with (well that is if they are cool people like I went with -- haha). Go Creation 2006!!!

better then the matrix

"Tread softly because you tread on my dreams" - W.B. Yeats

if you need a good laugh...

Watch this movie... It is so weird, it is highly entertaining. I just have to laugh. I would watch it again just to be amazed at the bizarreness of it.
The song that plays over the credits... also written by David Bowie... hmmmm.

Daddy, daddy, get me out of here (heard about a place today)
I, I'm underground (nothing never hurts again)
Heard about a place today (daddy, get me out of here)
Where nothing never hurts again (wanna go underground)
Daddy, daddy, get me out of here (wanna go underground)
I, I'm underground (get me underground)
Sister, sister, please take me down (daddy, get me out of here)
I, I'm underground (wanna go underground)
Daddy, daddy, get me out of here

Music and Lyrics By David Bowie
From the Labyrinth Movie Soundtrack, 1986

You remind me of the babe
What babe? The babe with the power
What power? Power of voodoo
Who do? You do
Do what? Remind me of the babe

I saw my baby, crying hard as babe could cry
What could I do?
My baby's love had gone
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew:

CHORUS
What kind of magic spell to use?
Slime and snails
Or puppy dogs' tails
Thunder or lightning
Then baby said
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance)
Put that baby spell on me
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump)
Put that magic jump on me
Slap that baby, make him free

I saw my baby, trying hard as babe could try
What could I do?
My baby's fun had gone
And left my baby blue
Nobody knew

CHORUS
Dance magic, dance (dance magic, dance) (x4)
Jump magic, jump (jump magic, jump) (x2)
Put that baby spell on me (ooh)

You remind me of the babe
What babe? The babe with the power
What power? Power of voodoo
Who do? You do
Do what? Remind me of the babe

Dance magic, dance, ooh ooh ooh
Dance magic, dance magic, ooh ooh ooh
Dance magic

What kind of magic spell to use?
Slime and snails
Or puppy dogs' tails
Thunder or lightning
Something frightening

Repeat a lot of danve magic, dance lines and you get the rest of the song...

two funny photos

Random but funny. :) Sarah had the great idea for this one. It is sort of scary looking. Haha.
One of my little brother Greg from our trip to Philly last summer. Good little Greg.

smile

So, I came in to school early and turned on my computer (well, it isn't mine, but I always sit here during class -- so I have claimed it for mine) and someone had wonderfully installed AOL instant messenger for me. I am so happy. What a blessing. Now when class gets slow and boring I can talk to whomever is on. Woohoo. Anyhow, I just thought that was great.
In other news, yes, the sling comes off in four days!!! How exciting. Time has both gone extremely slowly and very fast. Somedays seemed like they flew by and whole weeks seemed to drag on forever. Time is an odd thing. By the grace of God I have survived without getting to terribly upset with anyone and I should have a better arm for all this discomfort. Haha. Let's hope. PT is going to be quite a trial, but the Lord shall provide. Praise God for people like Hannah who encourage me everytime they see me. What a blessing.
Oh, and in parting I have to say, thanks to Jack for always entertaining me. What Jack says is true (in some ways), "The Harr girls aren't easily impressed." It is normally a joy to know Jack. I praise God for all the people He has brought into my life. Our church family is amazing. I am going to miss them so much when I go away to school next year. However, the Lord shall provide. He always does. I guess I just need to trust Him more. Oh, ye of little faith. It is hard to live up to my name.

borrowed from Hannah

Tell me how to keep your love
You know how I need your love
Tell me how you keep the love
Within your heart from me
Don't you know that I love you
Let me show why I'm true blue
When I know a love is true
Don't keep your love for me
If you would say to me today
The time for love is now
Could I sway your love my way
Then I say,"Tell me how."
nanci griffith

I may have to turn off my word verification... I think it is going to annoy me after a while.
It is so blasted cold in the Library's computer lab. MAN!
I need to go find some dinner before Bible Study.
Best Wishes All.

physics

Can I express how interesting Physics is? No one will understand how great it is to finally grasp a concept that you have been reading about and struggling to do problems on. You almost want to go and explain the theory to everyone. The only thing that holds you back is remembering the work that was involved and knowing that most normal people don't care that much about physics. Heh. I have passed into the world of physics. Praise be to God that I am able to go to school. Five more days of being trapped in the ultrasling II. Glory be.

To God be the glory great things He has done
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that we may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

I fall to pieces
Each time I see you again
I fall to pieces
How can i be just your friend?

I fall to pieces
Each time someone speaks your name
I fall to pieces
Time only adds to the flame
-Pasty Cline

If you got leavin' on your mind
Tell me now, get it over
Hurt me now, get it over
If you got leavin' on your mind

If there's a new love in your heart
Tell me now, get it over
Hurt me now, get it over
If there's a new love in your heart

Don't leave me here, in a world
Filled with dreams that might have been
Hurt me now, get it over
I may learn to love again
-Pasty Cline

Good morning!

I don't have anything to say this morning, so I will just say, "good morning" to Jeanne and Hannah. Thanks for reading and commenting. Hope your days are wonderful and bright. Nice to have you around.

peanut butter

I'm eating Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter on Graham Crackers today for lunch!!! It is one of my favorite snack (along with apples and peanut butter). There wasn't anything to make a sandwich with at my house today. I could have made a peanut butter sandwich, but that requires milk (which requires a refrigerator)... So here I sit happily eating my lunch. :) YAY! I love peanut butter.

don't let it get away...

It's a beautiful day!!! I had a great three day weekend pretty much studying all day Sunday and Monday. Late Monday evening, after taking a break to attend a Franklin Labor Day Picnic (which looked like a lot of fun for two armed people, heh -- got to love those marshmellow guns (Luke made me my own marshmellow gun!!! What a great little brother. )), I finally started understanding what we were talking about in class. Physics is really amazing. I mean really and truely amazing. It is just mind blowing and wonderful (especially when you start to understand all of it). WOW.

Ps. And I love getting up early!!!! I left the house at 7 this morning and my first class is at 9 (however, if you want the good parking you will get to SU by 8). So I sat under the trees on the picnic tables in "Red Square" (*laugh laugh*). It is extremely interesting to watch people wandering to and from classes (I guess it would only be to classes at that time in the morning). More on this later... but I have to go do some work. Haha. God Bless.

lowes

"Girls don't normally go wandering around Lowes for fun" - My dad.

But Hannah and I did. After a wonderful conversation with Mr. Howard over bagels at Panara Bread (talking to any of the Howards is always so interesting!), we hiked over to Lowes and wandered around for an hour or so looking at all the household appliances, paint chips, door handles, the houseplants, and even a hose nozzle that was also a flashlight (for all you serious night gardeners). Heh. Random fun is always the best. The cashier at the end of the event turned to me and said "BOO". It was the weirdest craziest thing. Man, I laughed so hard.

I laughed almost as hard as I did when Linnea, Jared, and I looked up Miphisto shoes last night. Man! Good times. I watched Equilibrium and Labyrinth last night with Hannah and Jared. Labyrinth was highly entertaining. And Equilibrium was just awesome compared to the Matrix. We had the choice of watching Michael Jorden play basketball (which is very awesome and exciting at the right time) or Equilibrium. It was great fun.

good and bad

I received a free pass to the Economist Online today. While it is a wonderful thing for me, I must admit I haven't accomplished much work today. I'll have to make up for it on Monday. :)

Two things that struck my interest this edition:

* The first was an article on Particle Physics. Great stuff. Who writes articles about Particle Physics in terms that everyone can understand and enjoy?!?! Well, maybe not enjoy -- that would only be me. Heh.

* Also, I find the politics in Japan very intriguing. If you haven't read about it you should read about their upcoming elections and why they are taking place. Fascinating stuff.

"THE big event is still a week away, but Junichiro Koizumi is looking cleverer by the day. Less than a month ago, Japan's prime minister divided his fusty old party and called a risky snap election, in a bid to win public backing for his plan to privatise Japan's massive postal-savings scheme. At the time, this looked dangerous. By chasing out the 37 members of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who had voted against his plan in parliament's lower house, Mr Koizumi has forced his ruling coalition to defend a razor-thin margin in the election due on September 11th, against an opposition party the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) that has made huge inroads in recent years. "
Copyright © The Economist Newspaper Limited 2005. All rights reserved.

--The Full Story (it might let you see it -- for the next week at least). Oh, and it is pretty funny, but the Prime Minister really does look like a Japanese version of Richard Gere. No seriously, I didn't believe Jared when he first told me that. It is rather amusing. I think it's the hair.

I would write more, but I should finish put the finishing touches on my "Executive Staff Briefing Document" (haha - yes that is the title of it -- 14 pages of institutional Facts -- When I get it finished and finalized, maybe it will be placed online and I will link if for your viewing pleasure. Not that you care how much the State pays per Student and the trend in funds over the past ten years, or the amount of service hours SU professors put it). Heh. Anyhow! Reading is a great thing. I am really thankful that I can read. Writing is nice too. Heehee. I wonder which one I would rather have...

Refreshing....

I find that getting up early is one of the most refreshing things in life, especially when the weather is absolutely gorgeous, like it is right now. These are the days I want an outside job. I quite enjoyed my walk into work today. The real reason I am getting up early and to school early is for the free parking. I refuse to pay for the parking pass. Haha. But now that I have started arriving early, I have really enjoyed the walk to class and back. Yep, it is one of the best things about fall. I love the weather. Reminds me of camping with the Taylors, watching sparks dance above the fire, and playing soccer in the evening while the bugs flutter around the lights. The days of my childhood were so good. I should have appreciated them more. However, I am sure there are many more great and wonderful days ahead. Life is beautiful. Sit back and take it all in. I have everything I need. What more could I want...?

Oh gaze of love so melt my pride
That I may in Your house but kneel
And in my brokenness to cry
Spring worship unto Thee

When beauty breaks the spell of pain
The bludgeoned heart shall burst in vain
But not when love be pointed king
And truth shall Thee forever reign
-Jars of Clay

low

You see the world in black and white
No colours or light
You think you never get it right
and you won't be mine

The sky could fall, could fall on me
The part to know decieves
But you mean more, mean more to me
Than any colour I can see

all you ever wanted to be living in perfect symmetry,
nothing is as down or as up

I was looking on Salisbury's Website for the soup of the day menu and I found a picture of one of my classmates in the dining section of SU's website. Haha. We are only in three classes together.

And we can't just post one picture of a person from physics... so here is Chris. We are in four classes together this semester. We were lab partners in Engineering last semester.

I'll have to see who else I can find pictures of.

Rambling of a mind that should be doing homework... heh

I really shouldn't allow myself to post since I haven't finished my homework, BUT I can't help it. Last night was a lot of fun. We should have Bible Study dinners more often (like three or four times a year). There was a lot of really great food there last night. Man, I love to eat. Haha. I don't know how Sarah thinks it is boring. Okay, I really need to go do school work. Grrr, responsibilities. Haha. I'll be back in a while. I also have some letters I need to finish writing once I finish todays homework.