So... I came to Louisville over the weekend to visit friends and... then I didn't leave. That's right, in 2 days I...
...decided to start classes at Southern Seminary, so I applied.
...found an apartment for less money than you're paying for yours.
...applied for jobs.
...made a major life decision.
...didn't actually do anything because HE did everything! Excellent!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
An Incomplete Thought...
Here's an incomplete thought that I'd like to talk more about, but am too tired to write at this hour. Currently I feel like the past 2 years of my life are a completely separate block of time in another dimension. In reality, they are a connected and integral part of my journey, but today they feel completely separate.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
This Side of the Journey
The past couple of months of my life have been what I would consider "wrap up" times. I was wrapping things up in China and preparing for life ahead. As I began reflecting over my two years in China, I began really sensing how spent I was. I felt and feel that I do not have much left to give. I emptied myself, and although I had great encouragement on the field, I really felt a strong sense that my iron needed to be sharpened.
God began to show me that I needed to rely more on Him, that I needed to trust Him more, and that I needed to surround myself with strong brothers and sisters to regain focus and vision for my life and walk with Him. It was through this conviction and realization that I really felt as though these next few weeks and maybe months I need to focus so much time on Him, His Word, and allowing Him to really cleanse me.
This morning I began working through the book "Returning to Holiness" by Dr. Gregory Frizzell. Below are some of the things that stuck out to me as I began working through the Scriptures and the cleansing process.
"The Christian life is not you trying to grit your teeth and somehow live for Him, it's learning to let Him live through you!" This was something God continually showed me in China, and something He, unfortunately, continually has to remind me of.
"Whatever sin He reveals, Christ already died for it! And God already knows about it anyway. God doesn't convict you to condemn you, but to set you free!"
Today I began working through the section titled "Sins of Thought" and covered assurance of salvation, taking every thought captive, and lust. Here are some verses to reflect on.
"And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." John 17:3
"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5
"But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:28
God began to show me that I needed to rely more on Him, that I needed to trust Him more, and that I needed to surround myself with strong brothers and sisters to regain focus and vision for my life and walk with Him. It was through this conviction and realization that I really felt as though these next few weeks and maybe months I need to focus so much time on Him, His Word, and allowing Him to really cleanse me.
This morning I began working through the book "Returning to Holiness" by Dr. Gregory Frizzell. Below are some of the things that stuck out to me as I began working through the Scriptures and the cleansing process.
"The Christian life is not you trying to grit your teeth and somehow live for Him, it's learning to let Him live through you!" This was something God continually showed me in China, and something He, unfortunately, continually has to remind me of.
"Whatever sin He reveals, Christ already died for it! And God already knows about it anyway. God doesn't convict you to condemn you, but to set you free!"
Today I began working through the section titled "Sins of Thought" and covered assurance of salvation, taking every thought captive, and lust. Here are some verses to reflect on.
"And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." John 17:3
"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5
"But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:28
Thursday, August 5, 2010
First Full Day in the Land of the Free
Although my first full day back in Alabama isn't over, jetlag is setting in and the day is quickly closing. I thought I'd share with you my day thus far so you can join in the laughter.
This morning I needed to go to Dollar General to buy shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc. etc. I chose Dollar General because it's small, usually reasonably priced, and there's one just down the road from the parentals'. I walked in, and that's when I almost had a come apart.
To begin with, I couldn't find the things I needed. There were SO MANY things in the store! Once I did find them, there were a TON of options and they were ALL in English. Just a week ago, choices were so easy in the "bath products" section. I just bought the things in English. This time, there were 150 choices and EVERYTHING was written in English. I finally pulled myself together to pick the things I wanted and went to the register. I got extremely flustered at the register because I forgot that plastic bags were free in America. They are not free in Asia! All in all, I survived.
As I left Hong Kong and headed to the Western Hemisphere, I got sicker and sicker. I had to go to the doctor today and use my insurance for the first time in America. I found myself being extremely apologetic. I would say, "I'm really sorry, I've lived overseas for two years and I just don't know what to do." Most at the doctor's office just looked at me. Thankfully, the pharmacist found pity on me and made me feel SO much better about myself!
After I had successfully made it through the doctor and pharmacy, I felt confident, despite my mishaps, and decided it was time to replenish my underwear stock. (Aren't you glad you know that??) Where to buy undies? I chose Walmart. Yeah, I was NOT ready to tackle Walmart. That store is HUGE! I went straight to what I needed and left as quickly as possible!! I had been to Walmart while I was in Houston, but I was not alone, and I'm positive that Walmart was not as big as the one here.
At the end of the day, I feel pretty successful. Shopping proved to be stressful, and figuring out my insurance wasn't that fun, but I survived. America is weird, but I did live here for 23 years before moving to East Asia. Surely it will feel normal again soon! Won't it?!?!
This morning I needed to go to Dollar General to buy shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc. etc. I chose Dollar General because it's small, usually reasonably priced, and there's one just down the road from the parentals'. I walked in, and that's when I almost had a come apart.
To begin with, I couldn't find the things I needed. There were SO MANY things in the store! Once I did find them, there were a TON of options and they were ALL in English. Just a week ago, choices were so easy in the "bath products" section. I just bought the things in English. This time, there were 150 choices and EVERYTHING was written in English. I finally pulled myself together to pick the things I wanted and went to the register. I got extremely flustered at the register because I forgot that plastic bags were free in America. They are not free in Asia! All in all, I survived.
As I left Hong Kong and headed to the Western Hemisphere, I got sicker and sicker. I had to go to the doctor today and use my insurance for the first time in America. I found myself being extremely apologetic. I would say, "I'm really sorry, I've lived overseas for two years and I just don't know what to do." Most at the doctor's office just looked at me. Thankfully, the pharmacist found pity on me and made me feel SO much better about myself!
After I had successfully made it through the doctor and pharmacy, I felt confident, despite my mishaps, and decided it was time to replenish my underwear stock. (Aren't you glad you know that??) Where to buy undies? I chose Walmart. Yeah, I was NOT ready to tackle Walmart. That store is HUGE! I went straight to what I needed and left as quickly as possible!! I had been to Walmart while I was in Houston, but I was not alone, and I'm positive that Walmart was not as big as the one here.
At the end of the day, I feel pretty successful. Shopping proved to be stressful, and figuring out my insurance wasn't that fun, but I survived. America is weird, but I did live here for 23 years before moving to East Asia. Surely it will feel normal again soon! Won't it?!?!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Over the Top Pet Adoption
So, as I get closer to living in America again, I have gone through certain "I want" phases. For 21 1/2 months now I have wanted a dryer. For 21 1/4 months I have wanted a steady supply of Dr. Pepper. In April, I wanted an SUV. As May turned into June I began to want a house, rather than an apartment. My latest want phase, a mere 5 days from boarding a west bound plane, is a dog.
As my "I want a dog phase" has turned into a mild obsession, I have found myself looking for dogs on the internet. Tonight I surfed over to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and began looking at dogs. As I read their adoption articles, I thought, "This is a little over the top." I'm all about pets being a part of the family. Don't get me wrong. The GBHS makes it out to be the biggest decision of your life though.
The articles got to the point where I was almost turned off from pet adoption. I'm glad I kept reading though and found the snippet on outdoor dog safety. I expected to find "the dog could escape" (which I did), "the dog could be affected by the weather" (which I did not), and several other things. The following gem is what I DID find and I laughed hysterically.
"Dogs that spend most of their time outdoors are at risk for a variety of reasons. They could escape from the yard and become lost; a disgruntled neighbor could throw poison over the fence or spray the dog with mace or pepper spray; or the dog could be stolen and possibly sold to a research facility or dog-fighting ring." [emphasis added]
Seriously? Has anyone actually ever experienced a disgruntled neighbor throwing poison over your fence in an effort to kill your family pet? Do research facilities buy dogs? I'll give them the dog-fighting ring, but only because I am from Alabama after all.
The moral of the story (ok, maybe not moral, but my opinion) is that if you want to get a pet, you should take care of it. It is, after all, part of Creation, but come on people. Let's put our priorities in the right places and not make pet adoption harder or more serious than legislation, or human rights, or the Gospel.
As my "I want a dog phase" has turned into a mild obsession, I have found myself looking for dogs on the internet. Tonight I surfed over to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and began looking at dogs. As I read their adoption articles, I thought, "This is a little over the top." I'm all about pets being a part of the family. Don't get me wrong. The GBHS makes it out to be the biggest decision of your life though.
The articles got to the point where I was almost turned off from pet adoption. I'm glad I kept reading though and found the snippet on outdoor dog safety. I expected to find "the dog could escape" (which I did), "the dog could be affected by the weather" (which I did not), and several other things. The following gem is what I DID find and I laughed hysterically.
"Dogs that spend most of their time outdoors are at risk for a variety of reasons. They could escape from the yard and become lost; a disgruntled neighbor could throw poison over the fence or spray the dog with mace or pepper spray; or the dog could be stolen and possibly sold to a research facility or dog-fighting ring." [emphasis added]
Seriously? Has anyone actually ever experienced a disgruntled neighbor throwing poison over your fence in an effort to kill your family pet? Do research facilities buy dogs? I'll give them the dog-fighting ring, but only because I am from Alabama after all.
The moral of the story (ok, maybe not moral, but my opinion) is that if you want to get a pet, you should take care of it. It is, after all, part of Creation, but come on people. Let's put our priorities in the right places and not make pet adoption harder or more serious than legislation, or human rights, or the Gospel.
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Dumbest Question Ever
"Would you ever consider going back?" Are you serious? Have my actions not displayed anything about myself? For the sake of all things pure, do not ask me "Would you ever consider going back?"
Sunday, July 25, 2010
"Goodbye" is a bad word...
Tonight I said goodbye to my closest local friend here in East Asia. What do you say to someone who has become a brother in two short years, but you're at the moment where you may never see each other again? You simply make goodbye count.
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