Yeah Baby!!!

March Madness begins today!!!!!

not to beat a dead horse

ok, i know there has been all this talk about authentic community. i have even blogged about it in the past! but, i was really thinking about it this past weekend. what really got me to thinking was some believers that i met in central asia around this time last year. i went there with campus crusade for christ to encourage the staff there and to encourage the local believers. however, i think my team and i were the ones that were so encouraged. first of all, God is moving in such amazing ways! we are talking about a country where the gospel cannot be spread or talked about in a legal way. we had to go into the country as "tourists". the way these believers interacted together just made my heart sink for believers in america. here these people are, laying it all on the line to pray together, worship together, and just share in their learning together. they could be arrested, beat, kicked out of the country, shunned from their family, or even put to death for being a christian. these folks are risking it all for their savior!

the reason this keeps coming up in my life is because after leaving staff with crusade, i don't know that i have experienced much community. that is partly my fault i'll admit, but partly the fault of american christians. we want our privacy and our own stuff. we don't want to share in it with others. we don't want to have to walk through tough stuff with someone else. we are too busy for that. it is hard to deal with others issues when we certainly have our fair share of issues that we are desperately trying to hide from those same people.

i don't know that i have a good conclusion for this. these are just kind of some thoughts that have been running through my brain lately. all i know, is that i am SO thankful for the believers in that central asian country that i got to meet and pray with. meeting them has forever changed my life.

-C

What's your Focus?

a co-worker and i were talking about our focus the other day. where we wanted to be by the end of the summer and then again in a few years. to help him stay on track, he actually has a quote on the wall in front of his desk that says "focus on where you want to be." so, i have to confess. i don't know where i want to be this time next year. i'm not really sure what i think God is calling me to do. right now, i know i am where i am supposed to be with the job i have, but i think it is just a temporary thing. so, it is so easy for me to get distracted from the Lord b/c i keep wanting to see what lies ahead. part of this stems from my "plan ahead" nature, but part of it is not just trusting the Lord and enjoying where i am for the time being. this means i miss out on some opportunities that the Lord has prepared for me. so, how do you balance the trusting where God has you with the preparing for what lies ahead?

-C

see someone's reaction to the maze!

ok so i might be a little morbid on this, but i have to say i laughed out loud at it...see this kid's reaction to the "hand of a surgeon maze"!

http://www.youtube.com/v/kKGxaol4qws

-C

miracles still happen

ok, i know the title of this one is a little cheesey, but stay with me. i promise you won't regret it :) this saturday, my family got to celebrate something that a year ago i thought we would never celebrate again...my cousin shannon's birthday. on jan. 28th last year, shannon was in a terrible car accident. she had a broken jaw, pelvis, collar bone, arm, several scratches and bruises, and a serious brain injury. i was at an airport in north carolina on a layover when i got the news. i was on my way to a training conference. it didn't really sink in though until i saw her after i got back. her body was lifeless. she had tubes coming out of her from everywhere. it was heart wrenching to say the least. i prayed, my family prayed, people in taiwan prayed...for a miracle. this saturday we celebrated shannon's 21st birthday!!!! what a miracle...a gift from God. we ate cake, sang happy birthday to her, she played games with us, and she opened gifts. it was truly a miracle. there were lots of tears shed that day, but they were different than on her birthday last year. these were tears of joy and thankfulness. she was hands down the best gift there. praise God for healing her body and giving us more days with shannon. it was such a sweet reminder of how God cares so much for us and has something to teach us even through the hardest situations. he definately taught me about perseverance, faith, and the power of prayer. thanks shannon for being such a willing vessel and for never giving up. your attitude and faith through this past year has been so refreshing! love you girl!

-C

revival

ok, so i went to campus crusade at bethel last night. i try to go every once in awhile to show my support to the leadership team and the students who go. chaplain hames stepped up to share a little news with us all as the meeting was coming to a close. she said that asbury college had their "normal" chapel service on monday at 10 am and they are still in service!!!!!!!! how amazing is that. the president is there, professors, staff, students....amazing! she said she has been having trouble getting a hold of her daughter this week b/c she is in worship all the time. my heart longs to experience that. i have to think that it comes with major repentence and major acknowledgment of who God is...being in total awe of Him. i am praying that for bethel's campus, for the students, staff, and faculty's hearts here,... and for your heart.

http://www.asbury.edu/press/chapeldaytwo06

-C

my own place

ok, so this might not be exciting to everyone, but it totally was to me. the apartment that i am currently living in is my own. meaning i don't have a roommate. so, this is the first time i have ever lived completely on my own. and i have to say i really like it. so, after living in my place since mid-august, i decided it was time to purchase some things to decorate with. i have to say i was pretty pumped about the idea! it was a lot of fun looking around kirklands, bed bath and beyond, and hobby lobby. i found some great stuff. however, i have encountered one problem. it is almost impossible to hang stuff when you live by yourself! so, i guess my walls are staying bare until some good samaritan comes along (probably my sweet mom) and helps me hang stuff. until then, i guess cream is my motif.