The days are flowing on by. It feels like yesterday when I last wrote a blog.
By the way, if you're looking for a refreshing Christian band, check out this guy Kristian Stanfill. He does an amazing job of keeping the music focused on Jesus through praise. I'm not saying the majority of Christian music doesn't do that, it's more of a feeling I get when I listen to him. It makes me feel that if King David were alive today writing modern-day Psalms for Jesus, they would sound something like this; spirit filled:
"You satisfy this hungry child with your love, you satisfy me for all eternity, you satisfy me"
Lyrics like these are even fun to read aloud. I like what this guy is up to, and I hope God continues to bless his music. I can't wait for his first full album to come out.
Man, I tell you, being English major can be rough emotionally. It's really hard for someone to understand the odd types of stress I get, but I want to try to explain what I'm talking about. I am currently reading at the moment, three novels (Their Eyes Were Watching God, Beloved, & A Farewell to Arms) that all have some form of melancholy. I mean seriously, I am starting to believe that if I want a novel of mine to last after I die, I should write some extremely sad work. But add having to write papers about these novels, and it's kinda hard to keep your mind off of some of the saddest parts in these books. So this is how, even though I pick myself up constantly through God and prayer, it seems that these books are trying to keep me down. Oh well, I know that everything is fine and that there is no murdered ghost baby haunting my house, nor does Liz have rabies, nor am I fighting in the trenches of WWI.
I need a coffee now.
Dried Kleenexes
Life is the way it is because God deems it be so. Or I think that's the way I wanted to say it. Anyways, nothing has really happened lately. I woke up late, thus making classes that much more interesting when I didn't hafta go to them!
Liz and I watched David Schwimmer's first directed film "Run Fatboy, Run!". It was a good British romance comedy that had me roaring at parts. It was no "You've Got Mail" (F...O...X) mind you, but the themes were cute. To tell the truth I was just glad to hang out with Liz and do a little detoxing. This whole Grad School situation has set me on a God-reliance purge, and it was good just to be with Liz and realize that there are some fun small things that we do together that I fail to recognize at times. For example, one of the best things for someone to have is a sick buddy. Recently, I became sick with the cold. My side table was filled with the snot-crusted rags of a dull, flem-filled day. Then to my own felicity Liz entered to take care of me! What would come next after her constant runs for more medicine/ soup, but for her to catch it after I started to feel better. That's why I love relationships! You share EVERYTHING, even your sicknesses.
So now came my turn today to help her feel better. She's so much easier to take care of than I was. Well, at least, she's not as needy as I can be when I'm sick. Really all I had to do was watch a movie with her and give her the remnants of my medicine. Thank God, the movie wasn't the A&E Pride and Prejudice though, I can't stand 6 hours of "Will they get together?" "Oh NO! Mr. Darcy wrote Elizabeth Bennet a LETTER! What will she EVER DO!" arg! I love Liz and I don't mind Ms. Austen much, but I just didn't want to deal with that movie/book at any time today. Maybe this weekend Lizzie, but NOT anytime this week.
This aversion for such sappy/predictable stories is birthed from the recent Hemingway writings I have been reading. That guy does not know how to write a proper woman. I feel as if he writes the female in a way that he would want them to act, instead of how actual women act. In fact, after having read "The Sun Also Rises" twice this year, and now reading "A Farewell to Arms", I have come with this idea as a Senior Seminar topic.
Allow me to explain:
A senior seminar is something that English majors at VCU have to write in order to show that they have understood the many principles and schools of literary criticism by writing a paper situating oneself in an academic discourse over a certain literary work/author/concept. Though I have already written two 15 pagers (thank you independents studies!), this one should only have to be around 13-15. I hope that it doesn't take me too long. However, I guess I better start writing big papers now if I want to get a leg up for Law school!
I'll leave you with this thought: which would be a better topic to write about?
a) certain situations about my life in a cynical tone (even if the character curses and can be a jerk in his own thoughts)
b) things I dream about during my own musings (ie: saving a person's life during WWI [thanks Hemingway!])
OR
c) a story about a man forced to take care of his son, after the death of his wife. (ie: learning all the cool new toys and what a PTA meeting is and so forth.).
Liz and I watched David Schwimmer's first directed film "Run Fatboy, Run!". It was a good British romance comedy that had me roaring at parts. It was no "You've Got Mail" (F...O...X) mind you, but the themes were cute. To tell the truth I was just glad to hang out with Liz and do a little detoxing. This whole Grad School situation has set me on a God-reliance purge, and it was good just to be with Liz and realize that there are some fun small things that we do together that I fail to recognize at times. For example, one of the best things for someone to have is a sick buddy. Recently, I became sick with the cold. My side table was filled with the snot-crusted rags of a dull, flem-filled day. Then to my own felicity Liz entered to take care of me! What would come next after her constant runs for more medicine/ soup, but for her to catch it after I started to feel better. That's why I love relationships! You share EVERYTHING, even your sicknesses.
So now came my turn today to help her feel better. She's so much easier to take care of than I was. Well, at least, she's not as needy as I can be when I'm sick. Really all I had to do was watch a movie with her and give her the remnants of my medicine. Thank God, the movie wasn't the A&E Pride and Prejudice though, I can't stand 6 hours of "Will they get together?" "Oh NO! Mr. Darcy wrote Elizabeth Bennet a LETTER! What will she EVER DO!" arg! I love Liz and I don't mind Ms. Austen much, but I just didn't want to deal with that movie/book at any time today. Maybe this weekend Lizzie, but NOT anytime this week.
This aversion for such sappy/predictable stories is birthed from the recent Hemingway writings I have been reading. That guy does not know how to write a proper woman. I feel as if he writes the female in a way that he would want them to act, instead of how actual women act. In fact, after having read "The Sun Also Rises" twice this year, and now reading "A Farewell to Arms", I have come with this idea as a Senior Seminar topic.
Allow me to explain:
A senior seminar is something that English majors at VCU have to write in order to show that they have understood the many principles and schools of literary criticism by writing a paper situating oneself in an academic discourse over a certain literary work/author/concept. Though I have already written two 15 pagers (thank you independents studies!), this one should only have to be around 13-15. I hope that it doesn't take me too long. However, I guess I better start writing big papers now if I want to get a leg up for Law school!
I'll leave you with this thought: which would be a better topic to write about?
a) certain situations about my life in a cynical tone (even if the character curses and can be a jerk in his own thoughts)
b) things I dream about during my own musings (ie: saving a person's life during WWI [thanks Hemingway!])
OR
c) a story about a man forced to take care of his son, after the death of his wife. (ie: learning all the cool new toys and what a PTA meeting is and so forth.).
I just need a cool topic to write about during this whole year-off thing, and so I'm brainstorming. But alas! I can only read the greats, and I may never become one.
This is Ernest Hemingway when he was an ambulance driver in Italy during WW1. He got the crutches because he was wounded on July 8, 1918.
He once said "There is no friend as loyal as a book". I take that to heart and hope to make one friend-worthy one of these days!
This is Ernest Hemingway when he was an ambulance driver in Italy during WW1. He got the crutches because he was wounded on July 8, 1918.He once said "There is no friend as loyal as a book". I take that to heart and hope to make one friend-worthy one of these days!
1 Thoughts on my thoughts
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
New Horizons
Labels:
Ramblings
The sun still shines on and on, yet the sun seems different for me more and more lately.
If you would have told me 6 months ago what was going to happen in the month of March, I would have simply laughed at you and called you crazy. However, I have begun to realize that God likes to readjust my life almost 180 degrees at the very last minute. Allow me to explain what has traversed:
Thanks to the (what I am calling) the "Clinical Recession", more people than usual have applied for Grad School. Where Graduate school two years ago would have been mostly for freshly graduated Undergrads, the schools are seeing more and more older people apply. The reason for this is the many layoffs around the country.
So where do I fit in here?
Well, one of the most common schools for people to apply to is the English Department. This is due to many teachers that are getting laid off, and realizing that if they receive a Masters Degree, they'll get more money when they return. Graduate schools have seen a 49% increase in applications because of older applicants. So where there should have been me and 600 other people applying there are now 900. On top of that, the schools get more governmental money from older married people. Plus, they are experiencing budget cuts. These budget cuts mean instead of the traditional 45 new students, they can only afford 20.
Based on all of this information, my chances at Grad School decreased even though I'll be graduating with at least a 3.6!
I have been respectfully declined by every school I applied to, except for South Carolina. (I haven't heard from them as of yet).
However, I am determined for this not to bother me. As of this moment, I am networking myself to the maximum! Liz and I have talked, and it seems that we are moving to College Park Maryland, because she got into UMD! This school is number 7 in the country for her degree and only about 4 hours away from home. It seems only logical to go there.
God's perfect orchestration of this story is not over yet though. I'm beginning to realize certain small things, that are just now starting to manifest.
The DC/Metro Area (attached to the College Park metrorail) has over 6 law schools. Law school has always intrigued me, seeing as I like to hear myself talk and have always wanted more trustworthy people in our law system. I never thought that Law School would be a reality. But, as it seems now at least, I'm being more and more lured in that direction. No, it's not because of the money.
For kicks, I took a practice LSAT questionnaire. (the LSAT is the GRE for Law School). I only missed one out of 20! I know I can do this, and I love the argument part of it all. I'm beginning to feel that this is where I'll be pushed toward.
It's too late to apply for this Fall semester...so the plan for us is as follows (that is, unless I get an awesome job somewhere in-between): I'll transfer as a Shift Supervisor for Starbucks somewhere up north whilst taking the LSAT, possibly twice depending on my original score. Then I can apply and start schooling it up in a year and a half from now!
I feel like this is what I'm supposed to do. Oddly enough, it has always been something where someone I love has said some small encouraging thing in my life that lifts me subconsciously. When I was younger, Melinda was sick and I fixed her her coffee. She said I do a great job fixing up a cup of coffee. Now look at me! I'm a Barista at Starbucks and have been for an extremely long time (4 years). My mother once told me, when I said that Law school could be an option for an English major, that she has always thought of me as one, saying that I "could argue the sky is purple, and people would end up believing me!". I don't know if I could do that, but it seems that these small blessings have affected me to a degree.
Here's a pic from my recent trip to Toronto, Philly, and NYC (sorry i know it's random, but I had to leave a picture...there hasn't been one lately):
The little thing in the middle is the Statue of Liberty.
This one is from FAO Schwartz!
Whatever God has in store for me, I have realized that it is better than where I wanted to be!
If you would have told me 6 months ago what was going to happen in the month of March, I would have simply laughed at you and called you crazy. However, I have begun to realize that God likes to readjust my life almost 180 degrees at the very last minute. Allow me to explain what has traversed:
Thanks to the (what I am calling) the "Clinical Recession", more people than usual have applied for Grad School. Where Graduate school two years ago would have been mostly for freshly graduated Undergrads, the schools are seeing more and more older people apply. The reason for this is the many layoffs around the country.
So where do I fit in here?
Well, one of the most common schools for people to apply to is the English Department. This is due to many teachers that are getting laid off, and realizing that if they receive a Masters Degree, they'll get more money when they return. Graduate schools have seen a 49% increase in applications because of older applicants. So where there should have been me and 600 other people applying there are now 900. On top of that, the schools get more governmental money from older married people. Plus, they are experiencing budget cuts. These budget cuts mean instead of the traditional 45 new students, they can only afford 20.
Based on all of this information, my chances at Grad School decreased even though I'll be graduating with at least a 3.6!
I have been respectfully declined by every school I applied to, except for South Carolina. (I haven't heard from them as of yet).
However, I am determined for this not to bother me. As of this moment, I am networking myself to the maximum! Liz and I have talked, and it seems that we are moving to College Park Maryland, because she got into UMD! This school is number 7 in the country for her degree and only about 4 hours away from home. It seems only logical to go there.
God's perfect orchestration of this story is not over yet though. I'm beginning to realize certain small things, that are just now starting to manifest.
The DC/Metro Area (attached to the College Park metrorail) has over 6 law schools. Law school has always intrigued me, seeing as I like to hear myself talk and have always wanted more trustworthy people in our law system. I never thought that Law School would be a reality. But, as it seems now at least, I'm being more and more lured in that direction. No, it's not because of the money.
For kicks, I took a practice LSAT questionnaire. (the LSAT is the GRE for Law School). I only missed one out of 20! I know I can do this, and I love the argument part of it all. I'm beginning to feel that this is where I'll be pushed toward.
It's too late to apply for this Fall semester...so the plan for us is as follows (that is, unless I get an awesome job somewhere in-between): I'll transfer as a Shift Supervisor for Starbucks somewhere up north whilst taking the LSAT, possibly twice depending on my original score. Then I can apply and start schooling it up in a year and a half from now!
I feel like this is what I'm supposed to do. Oddly enough, it has always been something where someone I love has said some small encouraging thing in my life that lifts me subconsciously. When I was younger, Melinda was sick and I fixed her her coffee. She said I do a great job fixing up a cup of coffee. Now look at me! I'm a Barista at Starbucks and have been for an extremely long time (4 years). My mother once told me, when I said that Law school could be an option for an English major, that she has always thought of me as one, saying that I "could argue the sky is purple, and people would end up believing me!". I don't know if I could do that, but it seems that these small blessings have affected me to a degree.
Here's a pic from my recent trip to Toronto, Philly, and NYC (sorry i know it's random, but I had to leave a picture...there hasn't been one lately):
The little thing in the middle is the Statue of Liberty.
This one is from FAO Schwartz!Whatever God has in store for me, I have realized that it is better than where I wanted to be!
2
Thoughts on my thoughts
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Holy Pete!
Ladies and gentlemen, I Ryan Matthews am being published for the first time! One of poems, aptly titled "An American Mourning" (nice pun huh?) is going to be in VCU's own Amendment journal. They have also asked me to submit a short fiction piece if I would like.
The poem was written when I was reading a ton of T.S. Eliot, which gives the poem an air of desperation/gloom on the way our generation acts.
Life has been great, moving in an ebb and flow of lifeless monotony, never ceasing. I haven't found many things enthralling lately, except that my roommate has grown a passion for English football! I hope you have a great day, and I'll send some thoughts on this after the school work slows a bit.
The poem was written when I was reading a ton of T.S. Eliot, which gives the poem an air of desperation/gloom on the way our generation acts.
Life has been great, moving in an ebb and flow of lifeless monotony, never ceasing. I haven't found many things enthralling lately, except that my roommate has grown a passion for English football! I hope you have a great day, and I'll send some thoughts on this after the school work slows a bit.
0
Thoughts on my thoughts
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Faith Shakers
Labels:
Christian thoughts
Christ has restored a thought that can plague many a weary soul. I have found that a common question among Christians and non-Christians alike is the "why is this happening to me?!" question. For example, I have found that it is quite easy to get sidetracked with my own thoughts when it comes to my future.
"Holy Pete! I'm gonna be a husband! Am I ready to be what Liz needs me to be? Will I be a great Dad?"
"Will I get into a Grad School that Liz does as well?"
"Am I a man by my standards, God's standards, or societies?"
Though these feeling can seem legitimate, they are also what I'll call "faith shakers". In one light, these "faith shakers" seem innocent; a mere thought floating by the vast expanse of constant conscious thought. However, what happens when these thoughts are entertained? Well many things end up happening. You become anxious, worried, or even depressed if these thoughts are doubts/fears. These feelings are hard to place, and they even seem hard to get rid of. If they become too hard to handle you may even resort to bad outlets: suicidal thoughts, drugs, alcohol, pornography. What was once a small thought that was entertained with your faith shaken has ended with the road going in the wrong direction.
How does this happen?
1 Peter 5:8 says "the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour"
O.K. so if he prowls like a lion and looking for someone to devour, so what?
Well, to put it frankly, the thoughts that are entertained that have lead you into a path of what feels like an uncomprimising situation was never a thought that you had. Did you ever want to feel left out? Torn up? Broken down? Of course not! However, here you are feeling "stuck" you "faith shaken".
When Paul talks of the Armor of God to the Ephesians he explains that the truth about all of the battles that we face are "not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12 KJV). So get this, the guy at work your struggling to not hate? that woman you lust after? These aren't just thoughts. They are also battles occurring in the spiritual level of things as well.
So if Satan wants to devour your life, and the battles you fight are not flesh battles but are actually a battle for your soul, how do you fight them off? Paul answers that as well when he talks of the armor of God. Among all the implements that represent this armor, Paul talks of the Shield of FAITH. And guess what its purpose is? "In addition to all this, take up the shield of FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16 NIV). With this shield of faith, you can fight back all of the attacks the enemy can throw at you.
"It feels hard"
Well, it never was supposed to be easy. In fact, as a Christian, I feel that my life has been harder than it ever was without Christ. However, the payoff that I get is so much greater than any pain here on Earth. And as a Christian, the simple answer to any thing that comes to my mind can be answered in such a way to give glory to the one that means the most to me.
"What if I don't go into Grad School?"
Well, God has something better in store for me. He tells me this in Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'".
Christ used faith in God and scipture to back it up when he was in the wilderness and tempted by Satan. In this same light, we should also be doing the same thing. (see Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13)
My prayer for you is that God will shine His love on you in such a way that His uncomprimising faith becomes established in you. May you not be shaken by the enemy, but be established and confident in the strength of our God. May your faith and the Holy Spirit be your guidance in a world full of excuses and wickedness. If you need help, a friend, a prayer you know where I am, and you know where He is too. I love you and may God bless you week.
"Holy Pete! I'm gonna be a husband! Am I ready to be what Liz needs me to be? Will I be a great Dad?"
"Will I get into a Grad School that Liz does as well?"
"Am I a man by my standards, God's standards, or societies?"
Though these feeling can seem legitimate, they are also what I'll call "faith shakers". In one light, these "faith shakers" seem innocent; a mere thought floating by the vast expanse of constant conscious thought. However, what happens when these thoughts are entertained? Well many things end up happening. You become anxious, worried, or even depressed if these thoughts are doubts/fears. These feelings are hard to place, and they even seem hard to get rid of. If they become too hard to handle you may even resort to bad outlets: suicidal thoughts, drugs, alcohol, pornography. What was once a small thought that was entertained with your faith shaken has ended with the road going in the wrong direction.
How does this happen?
1 Peter 5:8 says "the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour"
O.K. so if he prowls like a lion and looking for someone to devour, so what?
Well, to put it frankly, the thoughts that are entertained that have lead you into a path of what feels like an uncomprimising situation was never a thought that you had. Did you ever want to feel left out? Torn up? Broken down? Of course not! However, here you are feeling "stuck" you "faith shaken".
When Paul talks of the Armor of God to the Ephesians he explains that the truth about all of the battles that we face are "not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12 KJV). So get this, the guy at work your struggling to not hate? that woman you lust after? These aren't just thoughts. They are also battles occurring in the spiritual level of things as well.
So if Satan wants to devour your life, and the battles you fight are not flesh battles but are actually a battle for your soul, how do you fight them off? Paul answers that as well when he talks of the armor of God. Among all the implements that represent this armor, Paul talks of the Shield of FAITH. And guess what its purpose is? "In addition to all this, take up the shield of FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16 NIV). With this shield of faith, you can fight back all of the attacks the enemy can throw at you.
"It feels hard"
Well, it never was supposed to be easy. In fact, as a Christian, I feel that my life has been harder than it ever was without Christ. However, the payoff that I get is so much greater than any pain here on Earth. And as a Christian, the simple answer to any thing that comes to my mind can be answered in such a way to give glory to the one that means the most to me.
"What if I don't go into Grad School?"
Well, God has something better in store for me. He tells me this in Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'".
Christ used faith in God and scipture to back it up when he was in the wilderness and tempted by Satan. In this same light, we should also be doing the same thing. (see Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13)
My prayer for you is that God will shine His love on you in such a way that His uncomprimising faith becomes established in you. May you not be shaken by the enemy, but be established and confident in the strength of our God. May your faith and the Holy Spirit be your guidance in a world full of excuses and wickedness. If you need help, a friend, a prayer you know where I am, and you know where He is too. I love you and may God bless you week.
2
Thoughts on my thoughts
Monday, February 9, 2009
The Tongue is Powerful Indeed
Labels:
Christian thoughts
The words that we use on a daily basis have a profound impact on how we live our life daily. This is something that I have learned today. I don't want anyone to think that I am getting preachy, but I'm not afraid to lay my experiences on the floor before you. I admit that I can curse like a sailor. Sometimes it'll come in strong spurts, and others will come when I least expect it (ie: missing a shot on goal during a friendly soccer match or when I'm in a disagreement with someone I love). The big part of the problem is that though I don't like it I have never really felt that wrong about how my language is conducted. Today, however, I have been humbled by God.
Never did I think that there was a scripture (let alone a whole chapter) devoted on the words a person speaks. It would be a lie if I were to tell you that I have never heard a pastor or christian brother say that my words have an effect on everyone around me and myself. However, I held onto a lie that was rooted that I never found a scripture on it. Well, that's where I found myself a few hours ago. I yelled at someone with malice in my voice, and when I stopped I couldn't believe what I said and how it was conducted. Immediately after my epiphany, I prayed that He would guide me into a position that would make me harder to curse and be angry.
Last Sunday Pastor Mark of Light of Life ministries quoted James 1:19: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" so I figured this was a good starting point. I had no clue what was coming in the third chapter: an entire section devoted directly to how a person speaks to others. I became immediately humbled and repented to God of my past verbage, and now I want to apologize to any of you who read this and I have said something lacking love in it. It was never my intention to hurt, but I know that my words when used negatively have that potential.
In James 3:9 & 10, we learn that " 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be". Taking this into account it is my prayer that God takes my heart and keeps it steadfast in the ways in which I speak to others. May it be a way to glorify Him and give Him honor and praise. May you also share love in your speech and cast off the negativity in your own use of words. The following video is one I found of a Christian group that does a nice illustration on how this scripture is played out. It's funny to me though...I never realised that I have done exactly what these characters did, and it helped me in my resolve in talking with compassion and not hate, love and not anger. If you want to see it click here...and may He shine upon you this week. I love you with a deep heart, and if you need anything, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to help.
Never did I think that there was a scripture (let alone a whole chapter) devoted on the words a person speaks. It would be a lie if I were to tell you that I have never heard a pastor or christian brother say that my words have an effect on everyone around me and myself. However, I held onto a lie that was rooted that I never found a scripture on it. Well, that's where I found myself a few hours ago. I yelled at someone with malice in my voice, and when I stopped I couldn't believe what I said and how it was conducted. Immediately after my epiphany, I prayed that He would guide me into a position that would make me harder to curse and be angry.
Last Sunday Pastor Mark of Light of Life ministries quoted James 1:19: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" so I figured this was a good starting point. I had no clue what was coming in the third chapter: an entire section devoted directly to how a person speaks to others. I became immediately humbled and repented to God of my past verbage, and now I want to apologize to any of you who read this and I have said something lacking love in it. It was never my intention to hurt, but I know that my words when used negatively have that potential.
In James 3:9 & 10, we learn that " 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be". Taking this into account it is my prayer that God takes my heart and keeps it steadfast in the ways in which I speak to others. May it be a way to glorify Him and give Him honor and praise. May you also share love in your speech and cast off the negativity in your own use of words. The following video is one I found of a Christian group that does a nice illustration on how this scripture is played out. It's funny to me though...I never realised that I have done exactly what these characters did, and it helped me in my resolve in talking with compassion and not hate, love and not anger. If you want to see it click here...and may He shine upon you this week. I love you with a deep heart, and if you need anything, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to help.
0
Thoughts on my thoughts
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
A Powerful Pastor
Labels:
Ramblings
What is the most annoying thing to you? Mine right now is this cut on my lower lip that is split because they're chapped. Ergh! Why do these odd things always seem to happen to me?
The past couple of days have bee slowly mushing along without much change. I saw on the weather channel that Richmond has the possibility of snow! If this happens, my week would be awesome and somewhat complete. Gosh, I sure hope it snows.
My favorite highlight of the past week has been hanging out with Liz as much as I have been able. Last year was a conglomeration of many odd work shifts and boredom. Now though we ave been able to maintain a somewhat groove of things that really fits our personality. We look forward to our backgammon games and Starbucks study sessions. In fact, if we don't do one in a week, it begins to feel odd without it.
I've been listening to Kris Vallotton a lot. He is a pastor from Bethel Church in Redding, California. Every single time he preaches, it seems as if God is talking about my exact situation I'm going through via his sermon. Whenever I hear him speak I can't help think of Crush the turtle preaching (you know, the sea turtle from Finding Nemo? he has a surfer accent in my mind). Anyways, I love what Bethel Church is doing and the scriptual/spiritual message they are spreading. My faith has quadrupled since listening to this church. You can find their weekly message on ITunes, and I suggest you do.
Kris, if you ever end up reading this, my fiance and I are actually planning on flying from Virginia to Redding for our honeymoon just to see Bethel and to see if you won't pray specifically with us. If this is possible, please get a hold of me through this or my facebook. You're awesome, dude!
Anyways, May God keep you in His ever-abiding love my friends. And may your day be fruitful in love and life!
The past couple of days have bee slowly mushing along without much change. I saw on the weather channel that Richmond has the possibility of snow! If this happens, my week would be awesome and somewhat complete. Gosh, I sure hope it snows.
My favorite highlight of the past week has been hanging out with Liz as much as I have been able. Last year was a conglomeration of many odd work shifts and boredom. Now though we ave been able to maintain a somewhat groove of things that really fits our personality. We look forward to our backgammon games and Starbucks study sessions. In fact, if we don't do one in a week, it begins to feel odd without it.
I've been listening to Kris Vallotton a lot. He is a pastor from Bethel Church in Redding, California. Every single time he preaches, it seems as if God is talking about my exact situation I'm going through via his sermon. Whenever I hear him speak I can't help think of Crush the turtle preaching (you know, the sea turtle from Finding Nemo? he has a surfer accent in my mind). Anyways, I love what Bethel Church is doing and the scriptual/spiritual message they are spreading. My faith has quadrupled since listening to this church. You can find their weekly message on ITunes, and I suggest you do.
Kris, if you ever end up reading this, my fiance and I are actually planning on flying from Virginia to Redding for our honeymoon just to see Bethel and to see if you won't pray specifically with us. If this is possible, please get a hold of me through this or my facebook. You're awesome, dude!
Anyways, May God keep you in His ever-abiding love my friends. And may your day be fruitful in love and life!
0
Thoughts on my thoughts
Monday, February 2, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
