Hello Real Life!

I have moved!!! I am now a resident of Denton, Tx and the official owner (well, renter) of my very first apartment! Last Saturday, with GREAT help, I made the BIG move from Melissa, Tx to Denton. I know 4 people that live here (including my leasing agent, so I'm not sure if she counts). This will be a mighty adventure. God has definitely brought me to this and He's been planning it from what I can physically see for 2 years. I worked at a YoungLife camp 2 summers ago where I met Cody Strange, then re-met him this past summer while working at a different summer camp 700 miles away. Ended up getting invited by Cody to take girls to camp later that summer, fell in love with the girls and made some great friends. Went back to Arkansas for school and realized how much I didn't love it there (with the help of Cody reminding me I had a YoungLife family here that loved me...pretty much daily) I knew that God was calling me to a different place. If I wouldn't have been in Arkansas in the first place I wouldn't have applied to go to SharpTop (where I saw Cody for the 2nd summer in a row) and I wouldn't have taken girls to camp and who knows where I'd be. So in conclusion Arkansas had to happen, and through everything God has really opened up my eyes. I was offered an apartment with a good friend of mine that I would have loved, but I didn't feel like God was on bored. After many late night phone calls with numerous friends and a lot of prayer I realized that God was definitely calling me to live by myself and finally grow up which brings me here. To a 450 square foot studio apartment. For now (hopefully) it's just me myself and I. I am hoping for a dog soon but it's taken a lot to convince the parental units. It's been pretty back and forth and I can see it going either way. On one side, I am living by myself and would really like someone (even if it is a dog!) here to be with me and alert me if I'm not alone. On the other hand a dog (the ones I'm looking at) live for about 15 years and that would be an issue if I ever wanted to study abroad or travel. If I eventually developed roommates I could have them fall in love with the little sucker, and then ask them to watch the dog for a few months (of course I'd pay for the food...don't think I'm going to leave them high and dry!!) while I'm away or if I just don't get a dog I can save money. I really would love one so we'll see. Keep the prayers going!! Let's see. I got internet and cable on Monday, and will start school the next Tuesday! Everything is happening so fast. Crazy. It's so crazy how God moves in peoples lives. My heart has completely shifted, when Cody first told me I should move home I thought he was crazy. I just prayed about it because I felt obligated too and it was usually the last thing I prayed about for about a second. I thought it was silly and never going to happen but God just put this detour in my life and with a little teeth pulling I'm finally here. To be honest I have always moved, from elementary school I was suppose to go to West but went to Apollo. From Apollo Jr. High I was suppose to go to Berkner and I went to Richardson, then moved in the middle of Sophomore year, stayed in Melissa for a year and then moved back to Richardson for my Senior year. I just wanted to stay in one place for college and graduate from a school I'd started at for the first time in my life and when I realized I needed to go back to Texas I was not happy about having to change. Then while apartment hunting I laughed at the idea of living alone, once again God uprooted my life. Love it. I'm happy to be following God's will and think this season of me + God is going to be incredible. There will be distractions but not nearly as many as usually. I am finally being forced to grow up, to cook and clean on my own, will it be tough? Heck yes. Will it be worth it? Definitely. This will literally just be me. and God. Cool. He has really taken everything out of my life that could get in the way, and therefore I know He is up to something, so I look forward to seeing how this all turns out. In about a month I will be completely done reading the bible and that is pretty exciting (Probably in the next 2 weeks) my goal is to be done before school starts, but that's about 3 hours of reading a day. Once I am done I will get a few of the books I've been putting off out of the way and then it's back to Genesis 1:1 in ESV. Or maybe Matthew 1:1. The old testament wasn't the easiest thing to read and I might new a small break from it for a little while. Not that it wasn't great. I learned a lot. I just think I should focus more on when Jesus was on earth, because He is the bomb. Fun times.

In the past 4 days I've really felt like this is where I belong. This is a feeling I wanted to have when I was in Arkansas but I know I convinced myself I did belong because of circumstances. Sure, I miss Arkansas a bunch already, the school spirit (although orientation today had a lot of unwanted school spirit at 8 am) the beautiful campus, the trees, etc. but when I drive through Denton or today when I walked around on campus I felt like this is where I am suppose to be and God has definitely honored my willingness to pick up and go at the drop of a hat by giving me security here. When I walked into my apartment for the first time, all my boxes were on their way to Denton thanks to my lovely neighbor, sister and mother, all I had was my purse, my contract and my key and I knew it. That very second I knew I had picked the right place. Sure one of my kitchen drawers was missing and if you stand on my porch you can see the county jail but this place was the perfect size, the perfect price, and God called me here.

Please continue to pray for me during this crazy transition, and let me know if you have anything I should be praying for you about. Prayer is so great because I get to call up my Best Friend and ask for advice from the One who knows all the answers, so it would be my privilege to pray for you...just another excuse to talk to my Dad.

Picture of my apartment will be up asap! Once I get all my furniture and everything done I'll be sure and let everyone know!

Love.

"I just don't desire to be your friend."

Disclaimer: I did not write this to offend anyone. Just saw an opportunity to learn from God and used it.

Recently a friend of mine said those 8 heart piercing words to me. It was painful. I really considered this person close and valued the friendship we shared. Don't get me wrong, or attempt to "read between the lines" this is not a blog bashing that person, this person isn't evil or rude, they are actually pretty neat and I am fully aware this is a desire that God put in their heart. At first I must admit that I was really upset. Tears were involved and I was very very angry. I originally thought this person was being selfish, and intentionally hurtful. It was only after a month of simmering in the situation that I realized the bigger (much bigger) picture.

How many times has someone have I gotten close to God just to pull away like my friend did? For example, Junior year of high school: I just got back from YoungLife camp and was thinking about doing WorkCrew (where you actually get to work at a camp for a month). I started a book required for the training process called Becoming More Like Jesus, and I really was. Well to an extent. I was going so deep and really getting a great grasp for who Jesus was and what He did...on a very basic level. I was humble (well as humble as a 16 year old girl can be), loved putting friends before myself and memorizing scripture was a highlight of my day. Jesus was changing my life and I loved it. I was getting so close to God, spending so much time with him. I'd bring my bible to school and read it every (and I mean EVERY) chance I'd get. I wasn't afraid to pull out my bible with random people in fear of offending them. I had such a childlike faith (something I yearn for today). God was my best friend. I talked to Him all the time, honestly and held nothing back. From the looks of things, everything was going great. Then I dropped a bomb. (Here is where my story about my friend, and the story about my Junior year differ) My friends back home weren't too excited about the whole God thing so after a few months of going steady, I ended things. It wasn't like a legit break up or anything I mean I still saw Him on the side, just not when my friend were around. And every time He called out to me I asked Him to hold on, but when I needed Him, I needed Him right then and there. Finally I said those 8 words. Well, plus a few. "God, I just don't desire to be your friend. Not right now at least" I saw that having fun with my friends was easier then hanging out with God because I got immediate responses, and "the now factor" was in full force. I said "see Ya later God" for quite a while. While I didn't stop going to church or YoungLife, I stopped really caring about God and having an intimate relationship with Him.

Back to my friend from before, after everything went down I couldn't believe someone could really say that to another person, let alone someone I really thought I knew, but I realized that I've said it to God a numerous amount of times. (Most) every time I get a new boyfriend it's Sayonara. Or if school gets too hard too handle, Adios! Not to say that God didn't know it was going to happen or that I got His hopes up (because He definitely created me and He of all people know how I am), but I think He did get His hopes up. How many times have you seen Moulin Rouge and rooted for the guy and the girl to be together knowing the ending? Or Titanic, you wanted so badly for Rose and Jack to make it to the mainland, even though you've seen in a million times and know Jack dies. I think that's how it was for God. He knew the ending, well that current situation's ending, but I firmly believe He was rooting for me. He wanted me to pick Him but I didn't. Now I don't want to confuse you, I'm not saying that I'm not going to end up picking Him every time, because I pray all the time that I will, and that ending I feel pretty secure about.

How about you, though? How many times have you told God you didn't desire to be His friend? That getting drunk was too much fun and you didn't have time right now. Or when God puts a mission in your life and you choose to ignore it. Believe me, moving 300 miles away from your home because God is telling you too is not easy. And this may seem like a simple lesson, this blog, but it took me a while to learn and I don't intend on forgetting it. After talking everything out with God the expression "if it were a snake it would have bit me" comes directly to me. I wish I would have learned this when I was a Junior. I've wasted so much time building up this great relationship with God just to have it smashed when I didn't desire to be His anymore. I wouldn't wish this fate upon anyone which brings me to my blog, although I'm sure its only read by few (if that), I want to send out this warning:

GOD is great. GOD created the universe (if you disagree, I'd really rather not argue with you; just read my current favorite book The Case for Christ, written by a nonbeliever [Lee Strobel]). HE is awesome. Don't put HIM on the back burner for anyone, or anything. HE is rooting for you. And most of all, HE desires to be your friend (as cliché as it sounds).

In ending I'd like to say once more, that this is not meant to be rude or hateful. I've just learned a valuable (very very valuable) lesson and feel God pushing me (He's been dropping hints EVERYWHERE!) to share it with you, personally.

Currently taking applications:

About a year ago I was at a Lydia concert. I went with a few friends and for the opening acts we sat in a booth and hung out since it was at some bar and we didn't want beer all over us from the crazy fans in the crowd. As we were all talking and sharing stories I overheard the current band's lead singer bashing Jesus. I wish I could remember exactly what he said but I remember it was along the lines of not believe in Jesus but he was exaggerating EVERYTHING, all the while he was just saying all this stuff to open up a song. I shrugged it off because I thought, What can I do? Tell him about the magic of Jesus in the middle of the concert? Tell him about His undying love for him? I was across the room in the middle of a conversation and wasn't about to leave because I paid $15 to get in and see a band that hadn't even gone on yet. While all of this was going through my mind (probably within .5 seconds of this guy's bashing's) a random guy in the crowd interrupted the band (he obviously liked because he was in the front row) by yelling out, "What's wrong with Jesus? Why don't you believe? He's awesome." The singer, in complete shock said "I was just trying to appeal to you guys, I'm sorry. I actually do believe in Jesus.".

I guess my question is,

should I have left? Probably. The concerts in heaven are going to be much better. But would you actually leave? It's so much easier said then done.

Would you have been that guy, the one that yelled out defending Jesus? Again, easier said then done. He had no idea how it was going to be received. He could have been booed out of there, hurt, punched, insulted. But regardless he did it. He made a choice. One that will be honored and get him some serious cool points in Heaven. I wish I could have been that guy. I wish I could surround myself with people like that guy.

Are we like the singer? It sounds so ridiculous to us but change the situation, change the people, the scenario. How many times have you walked out of church and cursed the sun for being too bright? (Like Constantine), or how many times have you made a Jewish joke or judged someone. All sins. All demeaning to the name of Jesus. Or maybe you're like me and if someone flat out insulted Jesus, you would do nothing.

Maybe someone asked you about your faith and you said, "uh well I believe in God but I'm not one of those bible beaters or anything so don't worry". Not okay. Jesus DIED for you. Again that's something WAY easier said then done. Have you died for anyone lately? Sure we're all willing to die for our parents or siblings, etc. but have you ever really thought about what Jesus did? Like no more life, beat to death, worst way to die ever. For you. Just so you can tell people that you're "not one of those bible beaters or anything". I'm not Jesus, but I'm pretty sure that's not why He died, and I have a whole testament backing that idea. Sure, He's God and will forgive you but do you really want to be, that guy that is having to ask for forgiveness over and over because you're too ashamed of what your friends will think? God will forgive me, but will my friends accept me? Let's look at it from a different point of view, what's more important? You're friends that will probably ditch you the next time they change their underwear or eternal salvation?

I'd like to be better. In no way am I pointing fingers. If that was the case, point the biggest finger at me. But since Jesus died for me and everything, maybe I should take some punches for Him. Maybe I should lose $15 for His name. I want to surround myself with people like that guy so if you're interested. Give me a call. But I need you to be willing to take some punches. I need you to be okay with walking out of a concert with me in honor of Him.

Timing

Little One,
Be Patient. I will bring to pass all I have promised. What now seems to you a needless delay -- even a backward move -- is actually an important step in the necessary process. Child, the pains of healing are similar to the pains of the earlier difficulty, but with one significant difference: they are the result of the steady flow of My Life which is, even now, reversing the damages you have asked Me to mend.
Keep your eyes on Me, for I know an important principle you have forgotten. Often what is quickly acquired is also quickly lost. Therefore, rest! I AM laying a solid foundation which cannot be moved.
Faithfully, Dad
(today's reading: From The Father's Heart by Charles Slagle)

[You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you. But the Lord your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion, until they are destroyed]

It's weird how timing works out. How you can forget to read your daily bible or a devo and when you get a chance to pick it up it has whole new meaning then it would have before.

I trust you Lord. And I would go to the ends of the earth for You. You give me a time and a place and I'll be there. Nothing is holding me down, no stings, no rope, no chain. It's You and me. Again. Just the two of Us.

Adam & Eve?

Let me start off this post by saying I'm sorry. This is not meant to offend anyone in away way, this isn't a shot at anyone in particular it's just my opinion. I'm not hiding behind my words either because everything that I am saying here I would say to anyone face to face.

Leggings are not pants. Constantly I am outnumbered in a room with girls wearing leggings, and a slightly oversize t-shirt. I feel like when I first started seeing leggings they were under peoples pants to keep them warm, and then there was a tiny shift to under skirts or dresses. Maybe for fashion? Maybe because the skirt was too short? I admit that I did it from time to time for fun and still do it when the weather is chilly and I want to wear a dress. From there I guess the dresses got shorter and shorter and eventually turned into T-Shirts/Jackets/Vests. Here are some examples


Bluntly put, if a guy wanted to see you naked he would ask to see you naked/marry you/etc. If I get married, my future husband is out there and I'd rather not him see what other girls look like naked from the waist down. If he messed up and saw a girl naked on his own that is/was his choice at the time but to offer yourself/your body out for everyone to see? The same reason we shouldn't wear low cut shirts and short shorts, we shouldn't wear skin tight "pants" that show every inch of our lower body. As Christian girls the reason we should be dressing the part is because we don't want our Christian brothers to stumble, and if they do we don't want to be the cause.

Adam and Eve messed up. If it wasn't for them, we would all be naked and personally I think that would be awesome. I feel like a lot of insecurities would disappear because we would have nothing to hide behind. Being naked in our own skin is comfortable, but that's not how the cookie crumbled. Instead we have to wear these clothes to cover up and in a way I feel like wearing leggings is a sorry attempt to get around it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not discriminating against just leggings. If I'm being honest I feel the same way about swimsuits and things alike, which is why I hate wearing them. My naked body is something that should be shared with my husband, not everybody on the beach or everyone on campus.

It might be comfortable for you but walking around my house naked is comfortable for me... but I'm not going to go to class naked. Not wearing a bra, wearing my slippers, unbuttoned pants, boxers, etc is comfortable for me but again, I'm not going to go to class like that. It's not comfortable for me to know that (if I have one) my future husband is out there and you give him no choice, that my brothers in Christ that are struggling to stay pure are out there and you give them no choice but to look at you're body, in it's purest form.


So I say in conclusion, save the leggings for winter when you need them for warmth. Society has told you this is "cool" but it's not. It's gross. But hey, no harm no foul. Although, if you choose not to hang up your "pants", then just remember when you look in your mirror, that your husband is looking at a girl dressed just like you somewhere else. When you look in that mirror remember that a girl dressed like you may be the reason your husband doesn't wait. Remember that you maybe be causing your brother to stumble.

In Love and grace,

God has the best sense of humor.

Instead of a weekly update I am going to give you a novel to read. Syke! But this post is going to be really long, but really worth it. Here it goes, One of my YoungLife girls sent me an email asking for advice on how to answer a question that her friend was asking her about Christianity. I worked on the response for about 2-3 hours and felt really confident about it and knew it was something I wanted to share with friends, not for my glory at all, strictly for God's glory. Here it goes.

This a copy of the email sent to one of my girls (which she forward to me):
The author of The Reason For God says that "The problem of tragedy, suffering, and injustice is a problem for everyone. It is at least as big a problem for non belief in God as for belief. It is therefore a mistake, though an understandable one, to think that if you abandon belief in God it somehow makes the problem of evil easier to handle." Fine, I agree. But, he also quotes CS Lewis in saying " My argument against God was that the universe seemed cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of "just" and "unjust"?... What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?... Of course I could have given up my idea of justice by saying it was nothing but a private idea of my own. But if i did that, then my argument against God collapsed too- for the argument depended on saying that the world was really unjust, not simply that it did not happen to please my private fantasies... Consequently atheism turns out to be too simple."
The author then goes on to say that "the evolutionary mechanism of natural selection depends on death, destruction, and violence of the strong against the weak- these things are all perfectly natural."
So then, how is it that though this natural selection only certain types of people or certain concentrated areas happen to be weak? Is the up to God to decide? But natural selection is scientific, and isn't is opposing to being science and religion together?. We learned today in my Global Perspectives in Intl Social Policy class that there is enough food to feed every man woman and child in the world. Yet 1 in 7 die of hunger. We also learned that a child dies every 8 seconds from hunger or hunger related illnesses. So these are the weak? Are these the people God has chosen for now to be the "Weak"? Will he change his mind and change his decision on who the "weak" are in a decade or so?.. Will he decide later on those who are currently white and rich will then be the weak? That those who are currently suffering get to change roles and become the strong?. That would be cool. But pointless if it doesn't happen within each others lives. The quote about not understanding someone else'spain and suffering until you are in their shoes would be a very good experiment if we were able to take it literal, don't you think?..

What do you think about this? I know you've gone through all the Bible stuff and you go to church.. What do they say about situations like these?..




My response:
First of all, The Reason For God is a great book and is very informative. She should probably read the whole thing to understand Timothy Keller's point of view. Tragedy, suffering and injustice is indeed a problem for everyone, but that can always go back to a dialogue of people saying "God, why is there suffering? Why is there Holocausts and slavery?" but what people don't understand is God could be saying right back at us, "Yea, why is there suffering? What are you doing as a Christian to cease suffering and famine? Are you loving people and caring for them or are you just loving the lovable?" [Matthew 5:45 in The Message says "If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that."] God isn't blaming us in an angry threatening way, but giving us an opportunity to step up and show people the love of God and we are failing time after time after time. Yes tragedy happens to everyone, even for people that are nonbelievers but it never ever says in the bible that if you become a Christian or if you believe in God that life will be easy and tragedy wont happen. In fact it says the opposite. Matthew 8:20 says "Jesus was curt:" Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the best inns, you know." and then not even 3 verses later it says in Matthew 23 "Then he got in the boat, His disciples with Him. The next thing they knew, they were in a severe storm.". Personally when tragedy happened my life turning to God was the greatest thing I could have done and I assume that is what Keller is getting at.
Just a little background information, C.S. Lewis use to be an atheist, and so this quote is quoting his original belief in God. Lewis has an amazing point. Just and unjust? Who says what is just? Who says what is good and what is bad? I'll give you an example from my own life. My junior year of high school I went to Young Life and at the first club my friend Nicole wrote all over my car with car paint "Young Life 7:29", "YL" and stuff like that. A few months later I was with Nicole and got in a really bad car accident, a 5 car pile up. It was my first accident and I was devastated. Everyone was exchanging numbers and freaking out, but there was this one guy, the only one close to my age, walking around not asking for anyones information, just asking questions and making sure everyone was ok. He stayed close to Nicole and I and eventually I asked him if he got all the information he needed for his insurance. He then informed me that he was the 6th car, he stopped in time and wasn't even involved in the accident. He had planned on just going around us and moving on but saw it an opportunity to be Christ, then seeing "Young Life" on the back of my car decided to stay and talk to us for a while. I was in complete shock because my spiritual life was alright, but not awesome. He then asked to pray over us and thats when it hit me. God knew I couldn't handle this event on my own and wanted to send someone that would help me through it. We stayed friends with this boy, Max, and he ended up going to Senior prom with Nicole! Now was that just or unjust? Was it unjust that I was involved in a 5 car pile up? Was it unjust that I nearly totaled a car that I worked 3 years to buy? To me and my understanding God always has a plan. He IS a just God and just because we may think that something is "unjust" doesn't mean that the light at the end of the tunnel has already arrived. Maybe when we assume something is "unjust" we are only 1/2 way through the tunnel and greater things have yet to come. "What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?" What is making the universe "unjust"? Why does she think it is unjust? Because of famine or Holocaust? Again I go back to the "What are WE doing to fix this?" God gives us so many chances to step up and do something. Her argument against God is the world is unjust and that means there is no God? What about free will? Is God being "unjust" when he saves a atheists from getting in a car accident? Is he not granting her a right of free will by saving her?
Natural selection is a completely different story. Yes, natural selection still happens but in the human world. God would never say that since someone is weak they are going to hell and because they are strong they are going to heaven. In fact the last in line are the first according to Luke 14:10-11 [When you're invited to dinner; go and sit at the last place. Then when the host comes he may very well say, "Friend, come up to the front."...What I'm saying is, If you walk around with your nose in the air you're going to end up flat on your face. But if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."] Jesus himself was last in line. Jesus was a slave. I will not deny that natural selection doesn't happen because it does. In the corporate world. Luke 13:30 says "This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and then so called first end up last." I haven't heard of natural selection in years. How many times do you see someone that has brown eyes die sooner then someone with blue eyes. That is pretty much what natural selection is about, a trait that you get from your parents that gives you a longer survival rate. But if we look back in the day, natural selection was much more common. Let's look at it in terms of the bible, if God knows where everything is going to go, how things will happen and the outcome of certain things why didn't He just fast forward, skip all the sin in the old testament and get to Jesus? It all goes back to free will. You see God looks at time in a different way then how we see it. It just is there, with us there is past present and future. God sees it all. He isn't in the present watching the movie of our lives and then fast forward, it's just all there. Anyways, so through the old testament God gave us a million and one chances to make things right. To be holy and we failed several times but every time He picked us back up. Romans 11:32 says "God makes sure that we all experience what it means to be outside so that He can personally open the door and welcome us back in." If God did everything for us, if we didn't experience hardship and was just given Jesus, life would be so much harder then it is now. We would have no idea how big of a deal it was for Jesus to die. God had to show us how bad things could get before He could show us His glory and have His son die for us. If Genesis 1 started out "And Jesus died for everyone's sin" how could we compare that to anything? How would we know what sin was? How could we know what He was dying for.
When people say science and religion don't go together it breaks my heart. Through science we have been given the opportunity to see God's work. Just look at how the brain is wired. There is no way that we could have just been apes and just so happen to turn into humans who just so happened to have a huge brain increase who just so happened to form their own language and just so happened to have the right neurons and the right organs. No way. At the same time we must understand that some science classes are bias. If you've ever heard of "Lucy" its very easy to explain. "Lucy" is supposed proof that we were originally apes or whatnot, but the bones that were found to form Lucy where MILES apart. How can someone die and have all of their bones spread out everywhere? I understand it is possible because of other animals eating "her" and then poopin' her up or taking her bones somewhere else but keep in mind that there were many different species at the time and it is VERY likely that a little confusion went down and maybe one scientist "accidently" put 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12948893 different animals together to make them look like a human ancestor. The fact of the matter is that scientific facts change all the time. All the time. Almost everyday you hear about another fraud that faked something to get his name in lights. The bible is so historically backed up and it never changes. In fact, there is more proof that all the events in the bible happened, then there is proof that Alexander the great lived. We all believe that he lived so why can't we believe the bible?
I go back again to the issues of this world. They are issues of this world and God has given all of us chances to change those outcomes. Being born into a homeless family is not natural selection, natural selection "is the process by which heritable traits that make it more likely for an organism to survive and successfully reproduce become more common in a population over successive generations." So in a way God is doing that person a favor. He is giving them a chance to get back up. He is giving them a chance to see how bad things can get -- not because He is an unjust God or because he is hateful, because when you see how bad things could be you appreciate things when they are good. God doesn't just sit there and poke fun at us. Who is to say that He doesn't constantly give those people that are homeless or hungry chances? Do we personally know that they are getting no help? He could be giving them chances, which I'm sure He is, and they could be oblivious. Just like an atheist avoiding a car accident. God brought 600,000 slaves out of Egypt. God is not unjust. God sent His son to earth to die for people that were terrible human beings, that did not deserve to have a relationship with God because of all their sin. God is not unjust. Jesus saved so many people physically while he was on earth. Let the blind see, made the sick well, raised a girl from the dead. God is not unjust. My favorite part about this is Hebrew 13:8 "Jesus doesn't change -- yesterday, today, tomorrow, He's always totally Himself."
So in conclusion, we HAVE to trust God. Romans 8:29 says "God knew what He was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of his Son." and 2 Peter 3:9 "God isn't late with His promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining Himself on account of you, holding back the End because He doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change." I really recommend you both read Romans.

This past week I have been complaining so much about how my classes have nothing to do with what I want to do with my life but if I hadn't taken Biological Anthropology and Philosophy last year I would have had no insight to this situation. What a great sense of humor God has.

Open my eyes to the things unseen.

Yesterday I was burden to skip my western civilization class and had no idea why. 20 minutes before class I prayed about going since the hot topic of the last few weeks has been religion I felt like maybe God was leading me towards staying home and reading instead. At the last minute I put everything aside and decided to go [you know since my mom is paying a ridiculous amount of money for me to go to that very class] and what I learned was priceless. The discussion started and my heart was racing, the teacher decided today's topic was Moses and the exodus of Egypt. He claimed that historically there is no proof that Moses ever existed, and there was no 600,000 person exodus out of Egypt. Now, I knew what he was saying was false because I've heard endless sermons and younglife talks about the accuracy of the Bible, plus done a small amount of research on my own. Anyways, I was so concerned about the 299 other students in my class that could have been struggling in their faith. I wanted more than anything to speak up but I knew I didn't know enough about this subject to argue so I shot a text message to Spencer, AmyKitchel and Robyn. Spencer provided me with prayer, Robyn provided me with future date to discuss notes from an old younglife talk and AmyKitchel said she'd find out more information and call me later. About 15 minutes after my class got out AmyKitchel called me and told me an incredible story. She is going through Jesus school at the moment and during class their phones must be turned off, somehow her phone got turned on while in her bag and was on loud so when I sent her that text her phone rang causing the professor to draw his attention towards the noise. He made an announcement to the class asking who it was and just to admit it so of course Amy raised her hand. The professor then told her it was okay, as long as she read the text message out loud to the class. It read "Right now my western civ teacher is saying Moses didn't exist and there was no exodus from Egypt. He is saying there is no evidence other than the bible?" She read my text causing pretty much all of her classmates to run up to her after class and let her know what to tell me resulting in her calling me and telling me this story. God is so good. After I took a step back and looked at all the events that occurred I realized that it wasn't God burdening me to skip class, it was definitely the devil. If I didn't go to class I wouldn't have thought about researching more about the history of the bible and because I did go to class I am being shown ways to speak up next time I am put in this situation. Plus 1,000,000

Classes are okay. I miss Texas. Minus 2

Last weekend I was able to go home for my dad's birthday. It was so good and he loved his birthday present (tickets to the Arkansas/A&M football game at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium). Spencer came with me and it was a lot of fun. I loved spending time with my family and am learning more and more this year how much I love them and miss them. I am so blessed to have them. My sister's house looks awesome and I'm so happy she finally has that. I also was able to spend a lot of time with Caitlin and Kathryn (I love them), two of the girls I (and Holley! love her.) took to camp. I go home on October 2nd and am excited to see everyone again. Plus 6

On Monday I was eating brunch with Caitlin and got a message on my phone saying that it couldn't make or receive calls and I had to plug it into my computer (which was 30 minutes away). I was so stressed out because I was leaving at 3 and already on a tight schedule. I went on about my day without it and once I got home I plugged it in. Nothing happened. I called apple care, they were off for labor day. I called all the apple stores, they were completely full. There are no apple stores in Arkansas so I had no choice, I had to stay another night (oh darn.) I was able to make an appointment for Monday night (through the grace of God) I had a new baby iPhone (Chuy Jr.) by 6:15 pm. Since I wasn't going home anymore I decided to go to the Frisco Young Life Sonic Pre-Club hang out! It was awesome and I'm glad I was able to see everyone again before I left. All in all it was good. Plus 5

My roommates are great. Plus 3

Some friends of mine are starting Fantasy Football and we are picking our draft tonight! Wish me luck! Plus 3

Well, that looks like a pretty full update on my life. A few more important details will be filled in at some point. If you guys could be praying for unity at the University of Arkansas with all the religious organizations that'd be awesome! They are trying to start up an all campus worship and it looks to have some real potential!

Total Points: 1,000,015