Obliterating the Evil Voice of Lies

This has been SUCH a good summer! Not much has happened, but it seems like there is a new adventure at every corner

5 new things (among the many):

• I has my first apartment!
• I just got one of those big papasan chairs XD
• I <3 Minecraft
• I have a new job at Applebees that has been an incredible blessing
• Book one is FINALLY almost done!

 With all of that, life has been good, working about 50 hours a week, and spending time with my friends. But that's not the best part! This summer has been full of conviction and change.
I had a girl stay in my apartment for a week who needed a place to stay before having to go home to Minnesota and she has been one of the most spiritually charged, prayerful young women I have ever met. We had so many God talks and she challenged me in my prayer life. I had another friend who challenged me on my self-confidence and I've been working towards not just having s-c as a shell. And finally, my dearest friend and I are working on improving our relationship with each other and with God. It is so difficult and I have been doubting my endurance . . . then I realized that little voice of doubt, fear, and blame had to go. I am stronger than I have been allowing myself to be, for myself and those around me who I care about. So I curb stomped that little voice. If I have issues to address in the future I wont do it out of hurt and fear, but out of love and confidence in those I love. The next couple months will be challenging. Bring it on! XD

Till Another Day!

My Humble Critical Analysis of Susan Eilenberg's "Voice and Ventriloquy."

Good Tuesday Morning! I have been reading Samuel Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner in my Literary Criticism class and lately we have been going through some of the critics of Coleridge's poem. It's not my usual cheery post, but I thought I would put it out there since I can voice my opinion too *whiny middle-school voice*  (Bah ahahahaha!), and I felt like sharing my thoughts over Susan's analysis of a classic poem. Enjoy! 

Susan's thesis for "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is both critical, insulting, as well as ignorant in understanding of the text she is analyzing. Her thesis is that there is no meaning, that the poem makes no sense. Susan tears down "Rime," most accurately portrayed when she writes, " It depends upon a false bottom, an illusion of sourcelessness." We are given a well written piece that ends up being more confusing than the comprehensive poem being addressed. She is giving a "critical analysis" with a view saturated with uneducated opinions, is influenced heavily by the tunnel-visioned biases of her deconstructive educators, and poor comprehension of reality and intelligence of the readers in comparison to the literature she is analyzing.

 Till another day!

Random Act of the Day: crispy waffles for breakfast XD

Current Contemplation: Would my boyfriend kill me if I got one of those temporary tattoos (henna?) on my arm . . . ? ;P

Thoughts on Acts

This month I have been reading through the book of Acts and have been needing to put down my thoughts on the chapters. What better place to put them down here where I won't lose them?!
So, here goes-
1: I always wondered what happened to Matthias.
2: How amazing! Just thinking of being there when the Spirit comes upon the disciples and believers, hearing the rush of wind, and being there when three thousand cried out to know what they could do to change their lives, then actively become a part of the Body of Christ! I think worship at camps and retreats are just a small taste of how amazing it must have been, and how it should be every day.
3: We still have the same problems, able men making money off of the sick and lame.
4: "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul"
5: It boggles me every time, that the leaders actually think that by telling the apostles to stop speaking of Jesus, that they would actually obey. Then they get mad and want to kill them! I also wondered if Gamaliel converted before his death. . . .
6: Is it so difficult to function as a family, and as the Bride of Christ? Squabbling over fair shares and carpet colors is ridiculous.
7: Not that I ever want to be stoned, but to die for the name of Jesus Christ would be the greatest honor. And Stephen! What an amazing man! His death is a loss to us alive, but the lucky man to go first, and what a great example of a man to follow behind, to have a heart for Christ like he did.
8: Phillip, another good example of a man of God. He went when God told him to go. He did not hesitate, and he did not need a degree or a boards approval. He followed God's direction, and took the opportunity given to him to baptize the eunuch into Christ.
9: I understood it before, but I never sat and thought about when The Lord says to Ananias, "For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."
10: Though I find it hard to understand, on a personal level, it is interesting to see Peter and the others struggle with the fact that ALL have been redeemed, not just the Jews. I guess just like many of our own customs that we have grown up with, it is difficult for many of the Jews to no longer go to the synagogue, or understand that Gentiles are not "unclean."

That is all I will do for tonight. I have read further, but it is late and I want to continue writing when I am fully rested and alert.

Current Contemplation: Getting my back tire fixed
Random Act of the Day: Set aside time to get some much needed writing done (I know it's not truly random, so what ? :P)

Till Another Day!

No Resolutions!

Greetings all!
It is day 5 of the new year, and I am 5 days in to a year that I made no resolutions for!
I know, that they might work for some people, but let's face it, how many people do you know who actually kept their New Years Resolution and either "cheat" or end up not doing it at all? For myself I have tried these resolutions for numerous years (though not too many, I'm not THAT old), and every year I failed, whether two weeks or two days into it. Therefore, I am not making any resolutions! Course that in itself might be my resolution . . . . I figured that if I'm gonna do something I'm gonna do it, and if I'm gonna attempt something, I'm gonna attempt, instead of saying "yes" then tripping myself up.
So what have I done with my week so far? I have slept in every day, and stayed up late every night. I have read my Bible every day, done my exercises every day, read a book, figured out my schedule for the upcoming school semester, and my Minecraft mansion is looking splendid so far (if I may say so myself). I have painted with my new brushed that a dear friend got me for Christmas, watched a few sessions of Passion 2012 live stream, and I have watched two and a half Anime series (though account must be taken that the first two were no longer than 25 episodes each, and the one I'm half way through is 64 episodes long.) And this is only . . . Thursday!

Current Contemplation: You know you have been playing a game to long when you look around the restaurant appreciatively, calculating the few places where enemy could possibly spawn. *sigh* oh dear.
Random Act of the Day: Told the adorable kitty at PetSmart that I couldn't take it home with me, no matter how adorable it looked.

Till Another Day!

Day Two of a New Year

This year needs to get over already! God, forgive my impatience, but I really really really really want to know where this year is going!
(Happy New Year, btw) :P
1: I am really excited for this year! I am two of my really good friend's weddings, this is my last full semester of college, which means I can get my own place, a full time job, and hopefully do more ministry! I'm especially excited about the job since there are so many opportunities I can look into. If it was just me I had to think of, I'd already have a job lined up, but it's in North Dakota, and there are some things in life more important than a good job. Just saying ^_^ <3
2: I am really nervous for this year. It is my last full semester of college, and as I have expressed before, I am the kind of person who likes to know what's gonna happen! This whole "everythingupintheair" thing doesn't sit well with what I have come to understand as a personal need for some kind of stability, big or small. After May all I know is that I will be living with a host family till I can move in to temporary housing with some girlfriends. *deep breaths* It will plague my mind till then, but I know things will work out. They always do :) It's 2012! My book will be done, school will practically be done, my one of my best friends is getting married, I turn 23, and the world's gonna end! Sounds like an adventure ;)
SOoooo!!! I get to go to China in the end of April! My college takes a week off every year to go do missions trips and I have the privalege to get to serve in an orphanage in Beijing for seven days. It's one of those things that was nearly a spurr of the moment descision, but God made a way and I have been blessed by him through family and friends so that I can go. Once in a life time opportunity! I have to say, that the professor taking us talking about the risks, difficultys, and spiritual challenges only caused me to want to go more than before.
I hope you have a wonderful 2012!

*psst!* I finally finished my painting!

Current Contemplation: It's only been one day and I'm wondering when my boyfriend will get back from Passion 2012 (ministry conference) down in Georgia.
Random Act of the Day: I played Minecraft . . . for six hours . . . .

Till Another Day!