I heart Tuesdays

1. 3 classes-Folk Dance, Choir, and Highland singers
2. Tuesday Night Prayer!!!!
3. Learning how to depend on God for all my needs.

There are my pants!

This just in...um....actually in at 10:30 this morning. The pants have been found! Thank you all for your hard work (a.k.a. listening to me rant with such phrases as, "Who would steal my pants!?") and prayers. The pants were recovered in a last ditch effort to make sure the pants disapperance wasn't related to a mistake I could have made. I called my Mom this morning and found out that I had, in fact, left my pants at home. Smooth.

I'm just glad I didn't post any of those flyers I had been designing in my brain. Then I would have felt really dumb.

The aforementioned flyer

Where are my pants?

Tonight as I began setting out my outfit for tomorrow (because I can't function in the morning) I experienced a shocking discovery: one of my favorite pairs of pants is missing!
It is so much a favorite that I even went back to buy another pair of the exact same pant. This pair of pants is also what Stacy and Clinton might call 'investment pieces', a.k.a more money=better quality=longer wear.
So far the four scenarios that I have come up with that could fit in with the college setting:

1. I misplaced them- I don't really know how someone could misplace a pair of pants between moving them downstairs in a basket, putting them in a washer, moving them to a dryer, and then bringing them back upstairs, but it's me so it's entirely possible
2. Someone wanted to play a prank and took them.
3. Someone accidentally took them. (Also weird)
4. Someone stole them. Thieves! Really, if you need pants so much as you would resort to stealing them from another college student I will drive you to the mall and pay for your own new pair of pants. This is a generous community, don't be afraid to ask for help every once in awhile.

Tomorrow myself and my "Operation Pants Rescue/Recovery" volunteers will make and distribute a flyer explaining what the pants look like as well as size and style details. Hopefully some sort of clue or tip will come up and this will not end in a tragedy. I will update as the story unfolds.

God, time management, and college

It is the normal person's response to react to the title of this post with a laugh indicative of unbelief that these three things could be effectively blended in a way that is, first of all, possible, secondly healthy, and thirdly useful.

Recently, as I have heard more and more of my peers desiring deeper relationships with God a simultaneous obstacle and question has emerged: "How the heck do we as college students manage our time effectively so that our priorities are actually represented in our use of time?"

Most people struggle with time management but I think it can be especially difficult for college students,who, at the same time as going to class, doing homework, getting involved with different activities, and building new relationships, are also evaluating who they really are and deciding who they want to be (don't forget about all the other distractions). And as Christian students we are feeling the tension between being responsible and faithful in our call as college students and the intense desire to take the time needed to develop and sustain a healthy, vibrant, pleasurable, fruitful, and mature relationship with God.

So how do we strike this balance? I don't have the right answer as I am exploring these issues myself. I hope that this can be a place of discussion and encouragement. Peers, readers, whoever else, feel free to comment on this post and any that are to come with your advice and experience with time management (any experiences are welcome, but if it pertains to college that would be great).

For now I will give you this link to an excellent blogger,Shawn Blanc, and his series of 168 hours to a focused life .

Lookie a new template

So I have to admit that when blogger wanted to me to switch over to a Google account my first thought was, "Yah right. I like everything the way it is. Like these new features are really that cool. Take that g-mail!" So imagine my surprise when blogger forced me to switch over to this new system throwing in my face the fact that "Beta is dead"! I sucked it up and switched. A few hours later I got really pumped up seeing that I can customize my template without having to know all the html codes for numbers and what not. I am a nerd but not enough to be completely nuts about html stuff. So here it is. Simple. Streamlined. I hope you enjoy this more aesthetically pleasing blog. I hope my writing skills can kick it up a notch as well.

Interterm has been....

long- One class, 3.5 hours a day, huge chunks of free time. For 3 some weeks it has felt quite long.

Frustrating- Have you ever tried to make a whistle out of clay, make coil pots that don't look like a 7 year old made them, or make a pot that is not wobbly(see picture below)? These have been some of my challenges in ceramics. The whistle was probably the worst because it took me 2 and a half hours to make some that looks like a turd and sounds like a piccolo. Just what I needed.

Fun- I got to hang out with my friends every day for long periods of time without the interference of crazy homework.

Interesting-My roomies was in New York for a week thus testing my survival skills regarding rooming alone in college. There was plenty of time and space for me to do what I wanted when I wanted like dancing around or taking my time getting dressed in the morning. I missed her a lot though. It's hard to tell nobody about my day and other random things I tend to think about.

It's been good but it's time for it to be over.
Amen?
Amen.

Immanuel

God with us. Immanuel or Emmanuel-your preference. Immanuel is a name that usually gets pulled out around Christmas time due to the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. Jesus the Son of God, born of a virgin, put on human flesh and dwelled among men. That in itself is amazing and profound and will probably take all eternity to fully understand.
I don't think that this promise was meant to be shelved away and taken out when it's time to put up the manger set in the living room. I think this is a reality that we need to examine daily in our own lives. I'll put it another way: We can't afford to ignore this reality. Why? Because Immanuel is something bigger that the great things of the Christmas season, the appearances of God to Moses, Elijah, other prophets, and the reality of God coming to earth as a man. Running through all these things stands the desire of a Holy God to be with His sinful, broken, defiled people. That is stunning!

First off there is the original set-up of God-to-man relationship, the Garden of Eden. God created this place where his creation could interact with Him in a very real, tangible way. In Genesis 3:8 it says that God walked around the garden. Imagine living in this time before the fall. Nothing stood in the way of you being with God. God desired to be in uninterrupted relationship with man.
Fast forward to the 'historical books' section of the Bible (which some consider the boring part) where this desire is seen even in the rituals and mosaic law of the Hebrew people. Ritual cleansing, food laws, laws on dealing with lepers, and accidental defilements all had one purpose: to make it possible for God to dwell among the Israelites. Just check out these passages:

"I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God." Exodus 29:45 (emphasis mine)

"Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you." Leviticus 26:11 (emphasis mine)

"You shall send away both male and female; you shall send them outside the camp so that they will not defile their camp where I dwell in their midst." Numbers 5:3 (emphasis mine)

"You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the LORD am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel. Numbers 35:34 (emphasis mine)

The passage that sums up the whole of the God's desire to be with man is, in my opinion, found in the book of Revelation chapter 21:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new " And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." Revelation 21:1-5

A lot of people sing songs and pray prayers that speak of their desire to be in heaven. This desires aren't wrong but even greater than our desire to be in heaven, God Himself wants to dwell among us on earth! This is a desire that runs throughout the entire Bible. God longs to dwell with His people. The same God who Moses was afraid to look at because he would die wants to dwell with man. Like Jesus prayed, "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. " John 17:24.

Not only goes God want to dwell among man, but He wants us to live in that place of perfect peace with no death, mourning, crying, or pain. He is going to wipe all those things out. All of creation will look on in wonder as God steps down from heaven and makes His home among men( Ephesians 3:10). Before this can become a reality a lot of things have to happen. Similar to the way the Israelites had to guard against defiling the camp and cleanse themselves and their camp God will bring about a cleansing and consecration like the world has never seen (see the rest of the book of revelation).

Everything that God does, whether it's raising up or bringing down leaders in the world, allowing natural disasters to happen, changing things in the church, allowing political unrest, or more personal things of everyday life it is all in accordance with His will and desire to dwell among men.

This can give us great comfort as change, pain, or other difficulties come into out life. Not only is this according to God's plan, but look at the plan He has! I would say yes to anything if that is what I will get to experience forever! It can also give us great hope. When you say 'yes' to Jesus and the plan of His Father you are saying yes to a kingdom that is not founded on manipulation or seeking power at the cost of anything or anyone, but founded on meekness and humility. You are saying yes to an eternity without death, mourning, crying or pain. You are saying yes to a God who wants people to know and experience Him, even humbling Himself to dwell among people. You are saying yes to a God who cares about every detail in our lives that seems insignificant, a God who wants to give us power to live lives of love, holiness, and peace, a God who wants to give us the best and the greatest of His kingdom and His heart.

This is our hope.

God desires to dwell with you, even in your weakness, brokenness or the mess of your life. Yes, it is true God wants to dwell with you in that place. This is our destiny!

Sanctify and Consecrate

This is an interesting season in my life and in the life of the Church. I feel like God has given me a lot of opportunity to take part in what He is doing as well as showing me areas where I can follow Him more. To get the most of this season I have decided to fast t.v. and movies for the rest of the semester. Here are a few reasons why:

1. "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!." Matthew 6:22-23. I don't want to voluntarily fill me heart and mind with things that aren't encouraging or healthy. Over break as I watched t.v. I realized how much the content sucks. Really bad. I'd rather fill my mind and heart with words of life. I want to be filled with light in such a way that others desire God more as well.
2. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8. That's what I want. I want to see God. For real. I want to see Him in His sanctuary. I want to see Him in His beauty and glory. Really, as long as I see Him, it's cool with me.
3. "Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, And revive me in Your ways." Psalm 119:37-What do I want to be entertained by? I want to be fascinated with God. I don't want to waste my time finding enjoyment in things that are truly empty. I want lose my self in wonder, awe, and fascination of the uncreated One.

I am purposefully setting myself apart from something that can be good for that which is eternally better. Let the sanctification and consecration begin.

Final thought: I'm not posting this to boast or to pass judgment on those who do watch t.v. I'm just letting you know what is going on in my life.

Amazing post!

I am called to be an intercessory missionary. That's right I'm going to go sit in a room with a bunch of other people(or no one) and worship God as well as saying back to Him what He tells me to say (praying) for the rest of my life. I'm so excited!
A place and group of people that has encouraged me, taught me, and I feel a certain attachment to is the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (www.ihop.org). If that is where God leads me, that is where I'm heading after college.
Today I came across a post by Dave Sliker, part of Ihop leadership and author of End-Times Simplified, on his blog He is at the door . The Ihop is undergoing a new season, noticeably different after their 7 year anniversary in September this year. Most noticeable is the new stage and their new partnership with God TV. This post explains the changes going on. This excerpt is my favorite part and is a beautiful and sstunning observation of what God is doing at the Ihop. It makes me excited and a little nervous about stepping into this environment.

"Fast forward nearly four years - December 29th, 2006. On Friday afternoon I happen to check the news during a small window of free time from my conference responsibilities - Saddam Hussein was to be executed that evening.
(For a chilling recounting via some solid reporting of the hours, and events, leading up to Saddam's execution, go here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/07/world/middleeast/07ticktock.html?ei=5065&en=528a2d4d48836088&ex=1168750800&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print)
I shot a quick email to Mike, Allen, Stuart, and a few others as an FYI. Then I jumped in to lead the 5 PM intercessory prayer meeting, which was probably one of the liveliest, action packed two-hour prayer meetings I've ever been a part of. I did not have a moment to think about the evening or the email.
At about 6:50, as we were transitioning off the platform for the next team, Misty grabbed me. She was a bit worked up, which was unusual in itself. "Mike's been looking all over for you!" She said quickly. She quickly filled me in on what was going on - Mike wanted to turn tonight"s worship time into an intercession time for Saddam and the Middle East, involving the God-TV viewing audience, led by myself and six other intercessors he wanted me to find. He wanted to begin almost immediately after the worship time began. The worship time began in less than 10 minutes.
Misty, Brent, and myself hurriedly rushed to the side of the stage as we all worked together to gather the different intercessors. Allen was out - he was preaching that evening. We found Corey and Stuart. Wes was sitting in the third row. Shelly was at her little spot. Before we could even think about what was happening, as worship was well underway, Misty got the signal from the platform. It was time. We were up. Someone shouted over the music to me - "Line us up!" No one wanted to go first, so I volunteered myself.
Since I constantly find myself in the most interesting of situations, before I knew it I was standing up front, waiting for Mike to finish his prayer so that I could take my turn. I was surprisingly calm. I rehearsed a little bit of what I wanted to pray in my head: that the Prince of Peace would be the true King of the Middle East. That mercy would triumph in Baghdad. I wanted to rebuke opportunistic demons and ask the Lord to hold back the works of darkness. I wanted God to quiet the storm of men's hearts and souls, that the Holy Spirit would establish the peace of God. I wanted God to establish the believers in Baghdad in peace, confidence, and power through His Spirit.
In a minute, it was over for me. I went back down the stairs and reflected for a moment on what had just happened - on what I had done and what we, together, were doing.
Rory and Wendy Alec, the founders of God-TV, have a vision. Their desire is to establish a context for the prayer room to be a vehicle to interpret judgment and revival for the nations in the days to come. It occurred to me that in that very moment, in that little arena with 15,000 people; and in front of millions via God-TV around the world, that we had begun to step into that role just a little bit. We had, in a moment, shifted the hearts and minds of thousands of young adults who were part of the group that applauded the execution of Saddam at the beginning of the meeting when we announced it. Now they were huddled in small groups, praying for his salvation.
I sat for a moment in awe of the Lord. "Why us?" I asked quietly in prayer. "We're so simple, so simple" I whispered to myself. The answer came suddenly: "The wisdom of leading a thousand prayer meetings..." The Lord spoke to me in that moment.
I began to weep. And weep. And weep - for quite some time.
The sentence concluded: "so that you are not crushed by the magnitude of the moment."
It was stunning to me, the dignity of our calling as intercessory missionaries. The routine, the mundane, the repetitive and stubborn manner in which we show up to the prayer room, day after day after day, grab a microphone, and ask Him again to change the earth. It struck me that, in the brilliance of His leadership, seven intercessors walked onto a platform in front of millions of people and actually prayed to a Man. They didn't preach, they didn't teach, they didn't get lost in the moment or themselves. They just closed their eyes and talked to a Man. And they weren't crushed by the magnitude of the moment. Simultaneously, hearts were shifted. I believe the heavens were shifted as well - just a little.
As we stepped in that evening in just a little bit to a little piece of our calling and mandate as the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, we did something momentous, something significant, in the plain, simple, mundane act of doing what we do in weakness and brokenness every day.
And I am not sure if, after those moments, anything will ever be the same here again. We have come to a turning point as a people as a ministry. A true new season is upon us. It will surely be messy, and truly be painful at times. But it will also be glorious for those who signed up for the honor and the privilege of watching the true Leader of the prayer movement orchestrate His great plan to usher in the end of the age, and the final moments of history that culminate with His return.
I can't wait to see what's next."