Bilko, vomiting, fome, what? :(

Ok so hopefullyI'll get another post in today, but I had to put this down. Bilko was fine this morning for breakfast, we went to church, and came home. I left him in my room when we went out to eat, because it was a chinese Bufegh and I didn’t want to bring him. I came home, let him out of my room and played a little tug (he only tugged for a minute), and petted him for awhile. I took him outside, but he first drank all the water in his bowl. I’m not sure how much was in it still, but he drank for awhile. I took him out and he Peaed. I came in and a few minutes later (while I was in the “.bathroom), my roommates said he was gagging so they took him outside. Apparently, he threw up white fome and no food. Could he have digested it already? Could it have been because of drinking so much water so fast? I think I may try to call Chuck if he’s in and see what he says. The food/water bowls are near the washer/dryer, but not where they would have sope and stuff. I’m really upset right now, mostly because I don’t know where that came from. I’m also mad at my roommates, because one of them insinuated that it was my falt. This person said “No offense, but it’s your responsibility to watch him.” what the heck! How the hekk am I supposed to be watching him when I’m not here? I’m in my room right now, although we have a friend (mostly of Sara and Mike’s), over, but I really hate the show they’re watching and don’t want to be around people right now. I think I’m going to post this and try to find something to take my mind off of everything. God, please let him be alright! My mind is filled with panicked fog right now, and I won’t be surprised if I either blow up at someone or start crying… or puke. I pray I’m overreacting, but you never know. God, please help him to really be alright! God please!!!!!

Angels Catched Me.

I saw this vidio on facebook, and just had to share:
This kid was 2 years old when he fell from a 2-story window! He was fine in 6 hours, thanks to the power of his parent's faith in God and prayer!
http://www.jesus-loves-you.org/?p=2089&utm_source=jly&utm_medium=fb&utm_term=video&utm_content=AngelsCatchedMe&utm_campaign=11-4-11_2pm

I who am slow of speech and tongue...

So my friend posted a status about how she was being made fun of or told she couldn't do something because of her speech impediment. I thought this was a good reminder for her, and everybody with a disability, so I'm posting my comment to her status here to remind me, and anyone else who reads this:
So, I had to look this up, but it says in Exodus 4:10 When God is talking to Moses about leading the Israelites out of egypt: Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech
and tongue." God says in verse 11: The Lord said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?
My point? Moses had a speech impediment, and he lead the Israelites out of slavery! So people are dumb and need to stop judging others because of stupid things. Who cares what people say/think. God made all of us the way we are for a reason. :)

Hope this helps somebody through tough times.

Fall Getaway 2011! :D

"Remember that the evil one attacks you continually with burning arrows of accusation. If you use your shield of faith skillfully, you can stop those missiles and extinguish their flames. Even if some of the arrows find their mark and wound you, do not despair."- Tammy Smith speaker at the H2O Fall getaway this past weekend
Here's the notes I took Friday and yesterday from the getaway, which is just a retreat of H2O churches from Bg, Kent State, Ohio State University, and University of Cincinati. Let me know if you want/need any of the notes clarified :) O and excuse the even worse than usual spelling. I was writing faOctober 22, 2011
I'm sitting in the dorm/cabain type thing I share with a bunch of other H2O BG people for the weekend. Well, I guess it was just last night and today, but whatever. This weekend has been tons of fun so far. Starting out with Katie B, Christine, Bridget and I getting lost on the way to the camp. We drove 15 minutes to far because they were looking for the wrong road number, and then the rods we had to go on were really creepy country roads and it was dark. We kept saying a guy with a chainsaw was going to jump out in front of us. Haha!
We got there late, but we didn't miss much except worship songs. Here's some of the notes I took from last night's teaching. They had a packet, but it wasn't in accessible format so I wrote my own:

theme: Truth matters.
Is there truth? Does it matter? Christians have a bounded set of truths from the Bible. The bible isn't a set of moral standards, but God didn't give us it as a moral code. There is one in it, but that's not what it is. The bible is about "breaking down the divide." God is reconciling ALL men and women to himself. Like the banquet in Matthew where God invites anybody to come. Salvation (Vista Church in Columbus), sin, (massage parlor), sit side to side, but the line of sin doesn't go between the two buildings. Line of sin goes down the center of the hearts of everyone.
Everyone has a deep longing, a deep hunger for something more. "There is a secret set within all of our hearts..." (John eldrich) We can't make it, (hunger) go away. Nothing can satisfy our crucial longings but God. We get so caught up in being caught up that we don't know why we are here. The spiritual longing can drive us to God or drive us to inside world. We look to the world for so many things.
second cor 4-4: The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

If we heed the messages of the world and go where they lead, we are in danger. If you look and act like everyone around you, or on TV, you are lost and in danger.
2 cor 5-2: Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
Where will you allow or have you allowed your hunger to take you? Philipians 3 19-20: Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Our hunger can be on earthly things. A mind on earthly things will destroy you, and it is not always easy to tell it is happening. No amount of people-pleasing will bring you the happiness and contentment you crave.
As Christians our primary identity is not here, it will not be found horrizontally, but vertically. God's love is just determined by our acttions.
1 Peter 2-9: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
I belong to God. I AM a child of God. When you act your own doing what you want to do you will be alone. You were crafted with intentional design for a specific purpose. There's a list of works that only you can do. God has a plan for you. He has a "list" for you. Proverbs 16-9: In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Everything about your life is to be a holy endeavor.
First John 1: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched -- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
God does not want to be like anybody else. Be yourself, because God made you this way! You are incredibly inportant to Gods kingdom Matthew 4 (5?)-13. You are the salt of the earth. Isaiah 42-6: I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
Your meant to be conformed to christ. Romans 8-29: For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Our you trying to conform yourself to be like someone else, not Christ? You are loved to a degree unimaginable and that love will not waiver. Jeremiah 31:3: The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
Romans 8-1: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
The love of God is everlasting. NOTHING can separate you from his intense love for you. Psalm 139.
Hebrews 13-5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
James 4-8: He's ALWAYS with you!
You have everything you need to live a beautiful impactful life. Prov 14-12: There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
This is not your true home. If you act like it is you will be discontent. The world says "do this --- and will be comforted, happy etc."
Gal 2-20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
If you walk in alinement with your feelings about yourself, you will not walk in alignment with God. Not "am I loved?" but "I AM loved." Not "am I awesome?" but "I AM awesome." You are more spirit than flesh. We are a masterpiece. Our spirit matters more than our physical appearance
1 Peter 5-8: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Jon 10 9-10: I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
2 cor 10-5: Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Rev 12 9:10: The great dragon was hurled down -- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
Lies/acusations are pummeling us all the time. Evil lies about 3 things: God, ourselves, and others. Everyone is being attacked by accusations.
Lies!
god: he doesn't care, he isn't listening etc.
Ourselves: You're ugly, you don't matter, etc.
others: they are better than you, people can't be trusted, nobody really cares etc. We can't listen to these lies! God loves us for who we are. He made us for a purpose, exactly the way we are!
I really enjoyed that teaching, because I often feel and listen to the lies, at least sometimes. Everyone does. I needed to be reminded that God always loves me.
No matter how badly I screw up, his love never waivers.

We had H2O olympics, and my team actually won a round of tug-of-war! One of the girls was a camp staffer over the summer, and they had a staffers vs. counselor tug-of-war, and they won by turning around and walking while they tugged so that they were facing forward so the center of gravity is more balanced than if you are trying to back up and tug, so we did it and won. We had another round almost right after we won, and lost it, but at least we won something! It was a great feeling! :)
We ate lunch, and then had a small group breakout session. It wasn't as epic as last year, but it was good all-the-same. Now it's break, and I'm extremely tired, but can't fall asleep, so I think I'blind go out and try to find someone to talk too. More on today's sessions later.
--------------------------------
October 22, 2011
Session 2:
"Today, today, I live for one thing, to give you praise in everything I do. Yeah, my praise goes out to you." (song quote)
Romans 10-19: Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.
Isaiah 55-11: so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Hebrews 4-12: For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
gal 2-20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!
If evil could place a trick in your mind it makes it seem like its your thought but it originate from the "pit of hell." Evil has no power over you except what you give it. 1 jon 4:4: You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
When we reject the lie we win the battle. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Resist, don't try to ignore. evil will do everything possible to thwort seeds of faith in God, it will be apposed by evil. primary scheme of hell is to get us to believe lies, comparison.
2 Cor 10:12: We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
God always wins!!
James 4:7: Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Everyone is being pummeled all the time in conversations and everything. Think of wizard of Oz, because he acts undestructible and scary, but behind the curtain, which was torn down by something very tiny, (thanks Todo), he's weak, like the devil is weak before God.
You need to fight off the lies, (represented by coats piled on a guy in the audience), because we are so cover by them we can't be seen unless we fight them off. You are designed to run on one of 2 tracks: the life track: abundant life of piece joy purpose etc with a god that loves you. The death track:
The devil isn't very creative, (you aren't--, you can't--, you won't).
Truth does matter, love trumps moral codes. If we were loving like Jesus loved we would live moral lives, but we aren't Jesus so have to have moral codes. If live by moral grid you will be forced to judge. That is the truth that kills. Romaans 8. Jesus says don't be angry, but ask forgiveness and forgive. Your shoes are meant to live on the life track of life and joy. "We are what we repeatedly du," aeristotle. Its not about a code, its about an identity, protecting the truth. Obedience is not bad, (like society says), but it is saying, "thankyou God! That's it? Give me more to do." You have to truly believe (not naturally of course), but try to believe that what God says about you is true. You are special! As his child he has set the road before us that he knows will blindless us. We can invest ourselves in this life, or in the kingdom of God. Opporate in accordence with the flesh, or in the spirit. Get waist deep in the spiritual war, or passively sit by and get pummled. Are you going to read the bible a lot, or not? Saturating yourself in the word will help you to know and accept his word.

Session 3:
acts 17 paul is in thesalanika and they start a riot, then he went to barea and people from Thesalanika came to drive him out. separating him from Silus and Timithy. They had buildings for worshiping false gods. We do too. Library, sports stadiums, etc. All ofer campuses and all over the world we have these types of places. Their is brokenness all around us. Most of us are preoccupied with ourselves, but God stirs our hearts, because people are completely looking toward things to satisfy them that Christians know will not. Holy Discontent, a book that was quoted if you want to check it out. Epicurean: athiasts. stoics: pantheists, past/suffering must be endured. We all invest in our energy in things we think will satisfy. Are these things worthy of your life. Paul invested in connecting people to the good news of Jesus Christ and not idols.
our goal as christians is to discover people's story and bring Jesus into it. How?
Develop relationships. How many times do you sit on a bus or van or someplace and not said a word to them? Reach out! Even if they are "weird" or different from you, discover their stories and teach them about God.
discern: Think and pray about what's next. How can I help get your message to them Lord.
Do it again.
We may not make changes that will be like Peter at Pentecost, but like Paul at Athens. It is a privilege to be involved in helping people come to Christ.

Thanks to anybody that actually read this far! You rock! Comment with your thoughts (good or bad), please? :))

Prayers Please!!!

I'm sending this post because I just heard some horrible news. My friend has been having a lot of problems with her health the past couple of years, and lost 4 family members in the past 10 months, oone of them a ten-month-old baby boy today. He died of heart failure. He had been on oxygen and more for months since he was born, and he was doing much better and off the oxygen and they thought he was going to be ok. He was lifelighted this morning and died. To make matters worse, his parents were only 17 and 18 years old! Why? Why does God let this happen? What are his reasons for taking such a young and helpless child? We most likely will never know, but God has a plan. He always does. Meanwhile, I'm keeping my friend and this entire family in my prayers. Will you all please do the same?

Also, my friend is going in for surgery (I can't think of the name right now but it's really, really risky), on November 15th. If you could pray for her then it would be greatly appreciated. She seems to think two more people are going to die this year, since apparently they die in sixes in her family. I told her she's being rediculous (in different, nicer words) and I'll be praying for her all-the-same, but she isn't at all convinced.
Prayers, or good thoughts if you don't pray, please? Thankyou

mandisa - Waiting For Tomorrow

really cool song. :) Hopefully this actually will play this time...

Lyrics:Maybe tomorrow we'll start over
Maybe tomorrow I will finally change my ways
Said the same thing yesterday
Don't know why I'm so afraid
To let You in
To let You win
To let You have all of me

(Chorus)
Can't live my whole life wastin'
All the grace that I know Uou've given
'Cause you've made for so much more than
Sittin' on the sidelines
I don't wanna look back and wonder
If good enough could've been better
Everyday's a day to start over
So, why am I waiting for tomorrow (x2)

Maybe today I'll start believin'
That You're mercy really is
As real as You say it is
It doesn't matter who I used to be
It only matters that I've been set free
You rescued me
You're changing me
Jesus take everything
Chorus

I'm making this my moment now
To grab the hand that's reachin down
To save me
You saved me
I'm making this my moment now
To grab the hand that's reachin down
To save me
You saved me
Chorus

I'm gonna grab the hand that's reachin down
And I'm not gonna wait until tomorrow
Oh, tomorrow

House of Mirrors

Here's another really good Tenth Avenue song: house of mirrors
Please listen to it! It is a very good song for all of us to keep in mind :)

Sanctus Real and Tenth Avenue North!

Tonight was the opening of the Stroh Center, the new athletic arina at BG. They opened with the groups. Sanctus Real and Tenth Avenue North.
I liked both groups, but Tenth Avenue was my favorite.
Here's "Healing Begins" (having problems inserting links, so here's the URL) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFUHrXfuNU4
Now: Hold My Heart http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry6udsW9leA

also, go to http://tenthavenuenorth.com/
To download a really cool song they premered tonight!
I would post Sanctus Real songs, but am really tired, so I'll get around to it, hopefully tomorrow.

Women's Weekend 2011

So this was from... like two weeks ago? It seems a lot longer hahaha! I'm posting my direct notes. I talked to the speaker afterword since friday nights talk totally applied to me, and she gave me some really good advice since I'd been thinking that I was pushing Nick away from God by breaking up with him... "You can't be God for him," she said. I know and I know all I can do now is pray for him, but it's sooo hard! We prayed together and she said she will continue praying for him.
Anyway... here are the notes. The parenthesis are just my thoughts, and most of the quotes are songs. Please let me know if this makes sence to anybody else. haha!

February 19, 2011
Expect more from God, guys, and life.
John 10 10.
You can have all God has for you, joy etc. John 4 4:14. Jesus wants to be the living water in your life. Living water satisfies like nothing can. You have had moments where you feel the living water, but then as life goes on your "cup" empties. We don't always go to God but to other things, "broken systerns. Jeremia 2 13 My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Instead of us (young women) go to living water, we build our own broken sisterns to try to fill up our own life. Guys, friends, shopping etc. We all desire marriage, so we settle for less than God's best. We don't feel fully satisfied in God so we settle for a guy who isn't quite right for you. You attract the guys, but if you dress to show...
Careers: Some people buy to what others want for life and not what God wants. what society says is popular, cool, etc and we buy into it. This leaves us empty. We settle. what have you been settling for? Settling in your relationship with God? Have you settled for a mediochar relationship with God? Settling with guys? Life?
(I have been settling with God lately. Thankyou God for getting me out of the relationship with Nick, because I know I was settling for him. He was not what you want for me, but God please help me to grow closer to you and not settle for how my relationship with you is now.) Paula settled for a guy for 4 years, he was a semi-Christian. She settled again for a Christian guy, but it ended up not being the right guy. If you surrender the ways you have settled, God is the living water. God comes first. Its about God. Philipians 3 13:14.
"You are more" Tenth Ave North. (I did the right thing! God have so much more in store for me!) "Here in my life," "One Pure and Holy Passion,"

February 19, 2011
("if I could not say a word... grace means your holding me to you.")
MORE:
M: making him number one.
Whats the first thing you think about in the morning? Commit to spending time with God. We set time aside for facebook, but not God.
Mark 1 35. Jesus got alone to spend time with the Lord. Mathew 6 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
acts prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, suplication ofaka prayer.) don't actually request anything from God unill S.
O: Offer up your plans. Paula went into college freshman year with no idea what she wanted and no guy. Got a guy but didn't work out. Proverbs 16 9, proverbs 19 21, 20 24, Jeremia 29 11.
R: Release what you are clinging to. Release the desire to be married. If you think your not beautiful this is something your clinging to. God knows who your husband is, and he will be attracted to you for the right reasons. Think of tray of cookies, you chose a little one, but don't realize a they're holding a big cookie for you, but you don't get it because you settled. Men are like cookies. Don't settle for the little cookie. Matthew 10 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. E: expect God's best. Ephesians 3 20. 1 Corinthians 2 9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

We have to wait for God's best. "Marriage is good but its not God, guys are good but they are not God." (Quote from Paula.) God says that he is more than enough for me. "Wait For Me," by Rebecca St James. Jesus' love letter to us. (in packet) Psalms 27 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

(Last Session)
God is pationatly in love with you. What to look for to NOT settle:
1. Does he *LOVE Jesus? A guy whose pation persute and lifestyle reflects his walk with Jesus. Is his life marked by servanthood and daily looking at God's word. Why settle for someone less than Christ-follower husband? 2 Corinthians 6 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
1 corinthians 15 33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
I am worth it.
2. Is he pursuing me? Is he pursuing my heart or pursuing my body? If he has a radar screen of other girls, don't settle for a guy that has you on the radar screen!
3. What is God saying to you about this specific guy? Go to God and find out what he says about this guy, pray about it and be open to his words. Iseah 30 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it.
Listen to God even if you don't like the answer.
Have a type of guy you want but focus on who God is making you to be. Stay focused on Jesus and put your worth in him and not guys or yourself. Triangle: you, him, top point, Jesus. Both of you go after same goal of running toward Christ. Always seek christ. revelation 2 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
Stay focused on Jesus and do not forget him.
2. Dress modestly. Look at God more than the mirror. Work more on heart than appearance. Proverbs 11 22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

"Beauty is abused by those who have not modisty with it."
3. Guard your heart. Proverbs 4 3. Whatever you have in your heart can control you.
"A woman's heart should be so hidden in christ that a man would have to seek Him to find her." (unknown)
4. Remember to have a realistic view of marriage. Marriage is not a fairy tail. The Reason For God by Timothy Keller. Plan for your marriage and not your wedding. Keep waiting and DO NOT settle for anything less than God's best.

Single :( :( :(

The title says it all really... Well all but the reason.
I broke up with Nick Tuesday night/Wednesday morning ish. No, it wasn't because I've found somebody else (don't think that'll happen anytime soon) or I don't love him anymore (deffinitly not!) I don't remember what all I have posted on here about the drama of religion. He and I went to the same confermation classes when in middle school, so as a stupid young tenth grader, I thought that ment that we're both Christians and it'd be allright. Well he says he's a Christian, but he doesn't go to church that much because his parents don't. He said he was willing to go to church, but that was basically it. He didn't want to read the bible or talk to anybody to learn more about what he said he believed in. We've been arguing about this for months-- since summer really-- and even off and on before that, but I thought we could work it out if he was willing to try. He'd go to church with me when he was here, and he seemed to like it, but he wasn't willing to do more than that. I know this probably doesn't make any sense what soever, it's confusing me as I right, but I thought if he loved me enough he'd at least try to get closer to God. I need someone who will challenge me and walk with me in faith. I can't be the one that believes and he just goes along for the ride. We would have fought about it for the rest of our lives, and raising children would have been hard. I want someone I can discuss what God is doing or what they think he's doing in our lives and why and stuff like that. I never thought about it before, because my parents don't really seem to do that, but my faith is more important to me than that. Does this make any sense?
I hate it, because he was my BEST FRIEND! We talked every night, and texted throughout the day. It's only been 3 days and I'm going nuts wondering how he is and what he's doing. I want so badly to call him, but know it will only make things worse for us both right now. I want to talk to him and make sure he knows that I want to be with him and if he were willing to try (he says he doesn't have the drive to do so, which is a huge part of it I won't force him to change) it could work. Ok, maybe I shouldn't tell him all that... I'm so confused!
It sucks because I think of something and am like I wanna tell Nick but then I remember I can't. The headphones I'm using are from him for Christmas this year. It would have been four years on March 21st. I'm not crying. I don't think I can cry anymore. I'm just... numb? Sure. I can't make any more tears right now. He apparently got me a voice activated clock over last weekend. Guess I'm not getting that now, but I already have a couple even though one's at least 10 years old and showing it. OK seriously this is pathetic and I'm gonna stop with the pitty party because I can't go on doing this. I just needed to write some of it down. I miss him and it's only been 3 days! Is it possible to be friends with your ex's? I don't know. Anybody done it? Does it work? Help! :(

H2O Fall Getaway

Friday night, we got to the campground around 8, and the first session was supposed to start at 8, but as usually it seems with H2O events like this, it started 10 or 15 minutes late. The speaker was Steve Haze from University of Mi... Mi... Michigan! There I said it! That state up north that I dislike because I'm from Ohio and we're rivals. LOL. Despite being from that state, he's a really good speaker. The first session was about our relationship with God. It was really comforting to me because he talked about how we tend to think that God is disappointed or angry with us when we sin, but he isn't. He knows that we are human and therefore tempted by sin and he loves us even when we sin. I needed that message.
We then went to our cabins and everything just to get our beds set up, and went to the camp fire for awhile, but soon realized there was nothing to drink so we headed to the dining hall to get drinks and snacks. We sat down to eat near a table of people playing some game where they had to pretend to kill people and it involved yelling. I think it was ninja.... Stupidest most pointless game ever! It was really annoying, and then we went to our cabin (Sara and I did at least), and got ready for bed. I couldn't get to sleep for a long time though, because people were really loud in our cabin. Sara fell asleep right away, but I couldn't. This morning the lesson was about relationship with friends. We talked about this guy named Abishai (Ab-ih-shy), that was a cousin of David's, and every time someone went against david he offered to kill them because he was so loyal to David. The lesson was basically that we should be loyal like Abishai, not that we should kill people for our friends! Abishai never did kill the people, because David always stopped him. Check out "First Samuel 26" to read about it. That's where part of it is at least. The last session was Saturday night, and about relationships with significant others. Did you know there is absolutely no verses on dating in the Bible? I did, but it just registered last night. All of them are about friendships, but not specifically dating, because dating is something our culture has created. They talked about how to tread people in dating relationships and any relationship. It was a very very very good sermon that made an impact. We had a Q and A session and I was going to ask "what would you say is the best way to bring your significant other closer to God?" Another girl asked basically the same question, but it was about how to bring your boyfriend or someone you want to date to Christ and invite them to church. I used my Braillenote to record the response, but I won't put it up here, because I don't know if that's even legal hahaha! After the service we had a small group fusion time. The guys and girls split up, and we had questions to answer about how we liked the getaway. It was awesome! My group ended up talking for two hours about anything and everything! We answered the questions, then had a big Q and A session about dating and relationships for our pastor's wife leading our group, then a bunch of questions about our own lives and everyone gave opinions and it was amazing! I loved it! :D

Right now my neck is absolutely killing me! I have no idea how I did it but somehow yesterday I did something and it started hurting, and then sleeping on that horrible camp bunk bed hurt like crazy this morning! I can hardly move it without it killing me. Sara and Mike have both tried giving me backrubs, and they helped for a little bit, but then it started hurting again. I'm sooo excited about the final session, which is in BG for us Falcons, UC has it with there church. Its about marriage.

The sermon was really good. I would tell about it, but I don't have time right now. If anybody wants to know about it leave a comment and I'll post about it later. TTYL

Drop the new and pick up the old!

Ok, so I know I haven't posted in awhile... I've actually been really busy! :D
I was just at church today for like the first time in a month (I want to change that but since I haven't been home...)
Anyway pastor was talking about the story in Luke about Mary and Martha. Mary sat at Jesus's feet and listened to him, but Marthy, while she had started out sitting and listening, got distracted by all of the things she had to do around the house. She then came back and asked Jesus why he was allowing Mary to leave Martha with all the work, and Jesus responded that Mary was doing the good thing and listening to his word rather than worrying about everything and being distracted.
Pastor told us that we do the same thing today. We get sooo distracted by all of the technology and other things in our lives-- IPods, T.V, internet, texting and more-- that we don't take time to remember that Jesus should be the focus of our lives, not earthly things that won't mean anything in the afterlife.

Just thought I'd post that... hopefully somebody gets something out of it, but if not I have it for my own reference hahaha!

Confirming Family

Ok, really corny title, I know, I c9ouldn't think of anything better! lol
My brother got confirmed today. O and for some reason whenever I say that people ask if we're catholic. Nope, Lutheran, not that it matters really. Anyway... He ended up chosing to memorize Mark 12 30: Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (that's actually a song. Maybe I'll link to it later...) I liked how my brother summarized it. He said something about how God should be first in our lives and he shouldn't take a back seat to anything. The service was good, but I'll save you all from bordum by not going in to detail. hehe. O and my brother was one of person that had his verse memorized, I don't know if the other 3 did, but they were aloud to use the bulletin, so what was the point? O well I guess they still had to look up the verse that was meaningful to them.

After church mostly all of our family came to our house and we had a party down by "the cabbin" which is basically a little cabbin in the woods that my dad built with help from family and friends. Its really fun to just go down there and its like your away from civilization for awhile even though you can hear cars and stuff. It was fun. We had a camp fire and roasted marshmallows for smores. Anybody ever had coconut marshmallows? I hadn't until my mom baught them for the party. They're good, but I'd rather have regular. They toast better. My aunt made hobo baked beans, grandma made potato salad, and mom made shredded chicken, and what she calls "peach dump cake." Its really really good! I may post the recipe later if anybody wants it.

Bilko was out of harness for awhile during the party, but I couldn't let him off leash to run with the 3 other labs and our poodle because there was a river near by and every dog was getting reeaally dirty and wet haha! Plus there's no fence and sometimes the dogs can be rough. He did get to say hi to them when they came by though, and to my family members. I harnessed him when we were eating, just because it was easier than having to deal with him spinning around to say hi to the other dogs and eat too! lol
I got a couple book recomendations from my cousin too so I'll be checking those out.
hmmm...
Outa things to say...
TTYL

IDK what to call this...

So, my brother is getting confermed on Sunday, and has to have a verse from the Bible memorized to say in front of the congragation. He also has to be able to talk a little about why he picked that verse and what it means to him. He doesn't want to do it AT ALL. (screen readers: at all is in all caps) He was supposed to be looking one up last night, but I don't think he actually got anywhere, so tonight he said he was doing Hebrews 5 4. I looked it up and this is what it is: "No-one takes this honour upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was" It's talking about being a priest, and (in my oppinion anyway) doesn't make any sense what so ever when taken out of context. I told him this, and he didn't seem to care that he could make a fool of himself in front of everybody in the congrigation. I tried looking up other verses, but he was so tired from track and baseball practice tonight that he didn't really listen I don't think. I looked up some of the verses from my notes I took during "The Well" Second Corinthians 1, 3-4:
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Kind of long, but not too bad.
I also found Mathew 12, 30: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
(NIV bible)
I think Mathew 12 30 would be the easiest to memorize in such a short time, but I don't know if he could "BS" something about it. BS in church... somehow I think that's a bad idea!
Ok, I know I wasn't all that interested in memorizing verses back then either, (I'm still trying to get in to it actually, but its better), and we didn't have to say anything about the verse we chose, so I chose Psalms 105 verse 119: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (I'm pretty sure that's exact... I don't want to look it up and it's been 6 years) And actually my pastor gave it to me and I really liked it so I stuck with it. I know how he feels about not knowing what to choose, but he's going to make himself look bad if he goes up there with no clue what he's doing.
Hmmm... I'm trying to figure out if I'm more worried about him making himself look bad or embarassing me. I feel bad thinking that. Its not about me at all, but I can't help it. I think it's both. Any thoughts? Hey... maybe, since I said I was going to read the bible every day when summer started and I haven't, God is using my brother's disinterest trying to tell me to get my butt in gear!
LOL

Wow! That was cool!

When I went to church tonight for Lent, I was kind of expecting the traditional lentin service—hymns we’ve sang every year during Lent and serman’s that somewhat hold my attention, but the pastor’s still boring so no matter how hard I try I end up zoning—but this year we have a new pastor. I forgot he plays guitar until I got to church and he started by playing “Cats in the Cradle” to go along with the serman. We also watched a video by “Rob Bell” that was cool.
The entire serman was about diciplin. Never anybody’s favorite topic, but a great serman. We talked about “Psalm 40 1-10” and “Geremiah 29 11-13” and “Mathew 7 9-11.”
We talked about how we sometimes think God doesn’t listen, or is cruel for not giving us what we want, but its always done because he loves us. A lot of what we want him to give us we think will make us happy, or make us have a good life, but it won’t. It will a lot of times come back to smack us in the face.
It was a really cool serman. (I'd post the links to the verces but my brother needs the internet lol)
TTFN