I am a mere 8-10 pages (plus a title page and bibliography) away from temporary freedom!

I've organized all my notes for my Social Work research paper on domestic violence and victim services that is due on Wednesday and I think I might just go ahead and write a rough draft of it tonight. Seeing as how it is already midnight, that could mean I'll be getting minimal hours of sleep tonight...but hopefully I can get more sleep tomorrow!

I can't believe the semester is almost over! I hope to have some time soon to write down some of the interesting things I've learned this semester, but now is not the time.

Time to hit the books...or the word processor...whatever :)

People joke about the "Baylor bubble" but it truly showed it's ugly head the night of the election. I am embarrassed by the actions of some of the students on our campus. I know that if you take the campus as a whole, the students that committed these hate crimes only make up a fraction of a percent of the people on campus, but isn't it almost always a minority that give organizations/universities/groups/etc a bad name?

I just can't believe that students, in an institution of learning, would be so close-minded and ignorant that they would act out in hate based on the fact that our country elected a black President. Do they realize how much they are paying for their education? Put it to good use! There are thousands upon thousands of people out there who would give anything to have the opportunity to attend a university and get an education; and then there are those who completely take it for granted.

Ignorance comes from being afraid of what you do not understand. Education is the key to understanding. Pick up a book, ask questions, use your time here wisely.

People say that racism does not exist anymore. I am ashamed to say that my alma-mater proved that statement incorrect.

I pray for the safety of the Obama family. I praise God for giving President-elect Obama the strength to be a pivotal figure in our country's history. I especially pray that God will continue to work through the people in this world, to educate them, and open their minds.

Close-mindedness not only brings about ignorance but can be dangerous.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/05/ap/national/main4576929.shtml

So many people are posting their reactions (mostly negative) to the election on facebook and it's irritating me. Instead of retaliating back and making the situation worse I decided to post my views on here for two reasons: 1. it will get my irritations off my chest and 2. not many people read this so it wont seem like I'm attacking those whose views are different than mine.

In response to other people's comments:
1. Socialist? Communist? Muslim?...seriously? Is that what you really believe? If so I missed the definitive proof for any of that...
2. I don't understand people who all day long boast and brag about how patriotic they are because they voted and then once their candidate loses they say they are going to move out of the country.

My own thoughts:
1. I'm happy about the results. I think we need change. (If you want me to list the reasons and how Obama will accomplish those ask me personally)
2. There is not a "Christian" way to vote.
3. I wish people wouldn't get so divided about these elections. Yes they are important but they should not separate us. We are Americans first and foremost. Especially in the crucial time we are currently experiencing we need to be uniting, regardless of party lines, to try to figure out what is best for our country.

OK I feel much better now. I think I'm going to be avoiding facebook for a few days. It's probably better for me anyway!

Love and peace to you all!

We sang my favorite hymn in church today, "Living for Jesus". At my Papa's funeral about 5 years ago all of the grand-daughters sang this before the service, needless to say that adds a special connection for me with this song.

It's been in my head all day, I'm pretty sure I drove Steven crazy randomly breaking out into song, especially in the grocery store...oh well :)

I was searching youtube (when I should have been studying for my test this Thursday...) and found this great up-beat version of the hymn. Love it! Hope you enjoy!





Living for Jesus

Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please him in all that I do,
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
this is the pathway of blessing for me.

(Chorus)
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to thee;
For thou, in thine atonement,
Didst give thyself for me;
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for thee alone.

Living for Jesus who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv'ry my sin and disgrace,
Such love constrains me to answer his call,
Follow his leading and give him my all.

(Chorus)

Living for Jesus thro' earth's little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of his smile,
Seeking the lost ones he died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in him

(Chorus)



So simple, so profound, so great!

Have a blessed week!

I think I want to be a chaplain. At a children's hospital. St. Jude would be my dream...we'll see.

Apparently there is a process to this...although I'm not exactly sure what it is...trying to find info on the internet...no luck yet. I should try Wikipedia.

Thinking about doing an internship at a hospital...or a children's home...maybe this summer? How do I do that?

Do they make manuals on life? (besides the Bible) If so is there a "How to be a chaplain" tab? Perhaps in the index?

I should just ask people for help...I'm sure they know how to do this.

My head is literally spinning...but in a good way

Like an excited for the future way....like I'm opening the door to my future and so far it's limitless

...awesome :)

So we just finished studying the Old Testament in Intro to Scriptures, and I have come to a significant realization. I'm sure other people have already figured this out, perhaps I'm way behind the times here. Until very recently I was not all that big on reading, so when I did decide, on occasion, to pick up the BIble and read it I never went to the Old Testament. But now with my new found love of reading (and making good grades in my class) I have read through a lot of the Old Testament, and not just skipping around from chapter to chapter but starting in Genesis and ending in Malachi.

Now I don't know about you but I always had the impression growing up that there were in essence 2 different Gods. The "Old Testament God" and the "New Testament God". This God of the OT was full of wrath, judgment, fire and brimstone if you will, as opposed to the NT God who was full of grace, love, mercy, I mean he sent his one and only Son to die on a cross for us. In my mind these two views of God were so separate that I felt bad for my Jewish friends because they did not know how loving and caring God could actually be...boy was I wrong.

Just read the OT straight through, seriously try it, and see what your view of the God of the Old Testament is then. Now sure, God has his intense moments in these books: sending the Israelites to kill entire nations of people, coming in the night to kill Moses, I mean he even wiped out the entire Earth except for Noah, his family, and the animals. But look past that, what do you see? The Old Testament is about a God who yearns for his chosen people to follow him. He makes covenant after covenant with them, renewing them over and over again, and the Israelites take it for granted. He sends prophets, raises up judges, and delivers them from their oppressors, and what do they do? They worship other gods, make idols, pursue all types of immorality. Eventually they are oppressed by their enemies and then, finally, they come running back to God, begging for him to deliver them....over and over again, a never ending downward spiral. After reading Judges I was surprised God didn't give up on us right then (note to self: re-read the story of Samson...apparently not such a hero after all). But not only did he not give up, he gave the Israelites what they wanted, a monarchy.

Now I'm not sure that it was ever explicitly described to me that "the God of the Old Testament is very different than the God of the New Testament", but that's the view I apparently held as truth through my sunday school education. Let's fix this. Let's teach our children in the faith that God has been yearning for us since the creation, that God has been there the entire way trying to catch our attention and it was us who constantly turned away. That the God of the Old Testament was just as loving, caring, and merciful as the God of the New Testament. In fact let's not refer to him in these contrasting ways at all, let's get rid of the phrase "The God of the Old or New Testament." Let's teach the story of the Old Testament as it is read from Genesis through Malachi; the story of a God who loved his people so much that he picked them up every time they fell down, welcomed them with open arms whenever they came running back to him, and continues, to this day, to desire for himself to be the one we worship and adore.

This week I have two midterms on Tuesday (Intro to Scriptures and Intro to theology) and then an Ethics paper due for my social work class on Wednesday. I've spent all day in the library and actually got a lot of work done. I've decided to stay up late tonight and Sunday night so that I can get everything done by a reasonable time on Monday in order get a good night sleep before my tests.

It has been a lot easier to study in grad-school than in undergrad. I feel like I've really been soaking up the material as the weeks have gone by, so instead of learning all new material before the test, I'm just reviewing, it's so nice!

After this crazy week Steven and I are going up to visit our good friends Amber and Ryan Hatch in Stillwater OK and are going to the Baylor OSU game. I absolutely love our trips up to Oklahoma (we try to go at least once a year). It is always nice to put school and work on hold and slip away for a good time with friends...and hopefully nice fall weather! Plus it's nice to have something to look forward to while I'm studying non-stop for tests!

Alright, time to hit the books until I can't keep my eyes open anymore...


Oh one last thing. Here are a few pictures from TCU parents weekend this past week. I love my family!

By far my new favorite picture of Mom and I. We look so pretty...humble I know...


I can't believe how old we are getting. This was at dinner for Lizzie's 19th birthday!


Bubs and me! You know you have a good brother when he doesn't mind taking impromptu pictures with you.