Quotes from Classes

"A Christian with good mental hygiene recognizes his own presuppositions, retains the Biblical ones, and exorcises the false ones."

-Dr. Spinney, History of the US

"The role of a Christian journalist is to look around, understand the world around him the way God does, and communicate that truth as accurately and clearly as possible so that others can see the world the way it really is."

-Dr. Sillars, advising session

"'Walk by faith and not by sight.' Faith is contrasted with sight, not reason. Just because faith does not involve the level of certainty that sight does, does not mean that it is irrational."

-Dr. Roberts, Logic

Completely Done

Want to know my thought process?

We sang a song at church today (I was attending Grace Community, which is a sister church of Sovereign Grace) that I had never heard before. It so perfectly sums up what God is teaching me now. I found it so encouraging. I hope you do too.

Completely Done
Sovereign Grace Ministries: Jonathan Baird, Ryan Baird, and Rich Gunderlock


What reason have I to doubt?

Why would I dwell in fear?

When all I have known is grace

My future in Christ is clear


My sins have been paid in full

There's no condemnation here

I live in the good of this

My Father has brought me near

I'm leaving my fears behind me now



Chorus

The old is gone, the new has come

What You complete is completely done

We're heirs with Christ, the victory won

What You complete is completely done



I don't know what lies ahead

What if I fail again?

You are my confidence

You'll keep me to the end

I'm leaving my fears behind me now

college, crazyness, and all those acronyms...

I am here! Classes start Monday!

There is so much I can say... and absolutely no time to say it in because it's almost midnight and I need my rest because the Freshman v. RA Ultimate Frisbee game is tomorrow. (Yes, is this school not perfect for me?)

A couple things though:

First... God is faithful. Seriously. Everything is just so right. My RA (resident assistant) is amazing and I really connect with her. My roommates are awesome. My professors that I've met have not only been super smart, but just nice, godly people that I enjoyed talking to and can't wait to learn from. My wing is totally awesome. The freshman class seems really cool. I've met TeenPacters and NCFCAers. I'm slowly but surely learning names. Even the acronyms are starting to fall into place. (I've finally figured out that IPP is international politics and policy... not international proliferation prevention.)

God's got our backs. He's huge. He's wise. He knows. He is the single best planner ever. There is no one I'd rather have running my life. And the best part? He loves us!

There may be few posts because I've heard rumors that I will experience something called "syllabus shock" in three days when classes start. But again, I repeat, God is faithful. He brought me here, and He'll walk me through it. And I have a feeling I am going to learn so much about Him in the next few months. Because I will need Him more than I probably ever knew before.

Love you all! Prayers are very much appreciated.

Thought of the week, from my RA.

"You can't love if you are filled with self."

Bucket List (but not really)

A lot of people have bucket lists of things they want to do. Well, this is a bucket list only not. This is a list of things that should be on a bucket list, but I didn't think of them till I did them. So, here's my "done" bucket list for today and yesterday.

- Ate cheesecake at a streetside cafe in historic Leesburg.
- Walked through Leesburg barefoot. (because my shoes were hurting my feet...)
- Sat on a spacious back porch in the sunshine drinking lemonade and chatting with people I had just met as if we'd known each other our whole lives. Southern hospitality for the win!
- Talked debate with strangers
- Drank my first Venti frappe (Hey, if Starbuck's will make you anything you want for free 'cause it's your birthday, go big or go home. Yes, I did drink the whole thing.)
- Disobeyed the navigation system on our phone
- Set up a printer all by myself. Well... okay, haven't quite done it yet, but it will be done by the time I go to bed tonight. (hopefully...)
- Listened to the cicadas
- Ate at Chick-fil-A!

And, random thought: Southern friendliness with never cease to amaze me.

Miss you all already!

I am in Virginia, headed to Orientation at PHC tomorrow, so I may not have time to post in a while... but let me just say:

God is so good. His provision is amazing. His love is incomprehensible. His faithfulness is unchanging.

they teach you something...

There are some people who you meet once and know you will never forget. Jimmy Brazell was one of those people. They are the kind of people you learn something from.

I staffed my very first week of TeenPact with Jimmy as my co-committee leader. One week, and then I never saw him face to face again. Compared to some, that isn't that much. After all, one week is so small compared to the rest of one's life. But Jimmy left his mark everywhere he went, and he only needed a week to leave a mark on my life that I will never forget.

Jimmy passed away in a swimming accident last Sunday after Survival NW. I cried as I thought of the friend we had all lost. But there was a certain joy as well, because I knew Jimmy was where he always wanted to be - at the feet of Jesus. But Jimmy's legacy continues to live on. For some, like me, his memory teaches even more now than it may have before.

So... what did Jimmy teach me?

Jimmy taught me what it means to live each days as if it were your last. After two near-death experiences, Jimmy understood, to a level most of us don't, the frailty of life. He knew none of us are assured tomorrow. And his life demonstrated a passion to make the most of every moment.

Jimmy taught me that even the smallest, most mundane tasks, could be exciting, if you were willing to see the potential in it. He knew God worked in the small things.

He taught me that loving people is always worth it.

He taught me that you make the biggest impact on someone's life not by showing them how much you know, but by letting them know how much you care about them.

He taught me what it means to leave everything out on the field. Never hold back. Never keep some in reserve. Give everything you've got.

Jimmy taught me that joy is a choice.

He taught me that there is no fear in death.

He taught me that strangers and pilgrims on the earth have no regrets when leaving to their final homeland.

He taught me that even the most painful experience can also have joy, if we have lived for Christ.

He taught me that someone who shines Christ leaves a legacy that continues after our time on earth is over.

He taught me what it means to live in light of heaven.

Thank you, Jimmy, for everything you've taught me. The memories of that week, of the laughs, mess ups, and triumphs may fade, but the impact you have left will last. We will never forget you.

See you soon, my friend.