10.28.2006
10.24.2006
Vancouver, the Hollywood of the North
Today they were filming something on campus and I was quite intrigued at the whole setup. Bad Angel Productions was filming something from their show Fallen. I never realized what all goes on behind the scenes. But at the same time, it was rather annoying not being able to walk on the sidewalks or get to a parking lot. I've seen lots of film crews set up all around the Greater Vancouver Area since moving, it's becoming kind of routine. But today was the first time I got to see a scene being filmed. I didn't recognize any of the actors, but then if they're not on Gilmore Girls then I wouldn't know them. I tried finding a picture from the internet but I couldn't find anything. Not even on Google!
The fact that they were filming something on campus today really distracted me. I don't know why but I couldn't focus very well. Then I asked myself, "Why is this such a big deal? I don't even know who they are." Why is it such a big deal when there is a celebrity sighting? Why do we care so much about people on tv or music artists? I don't want my life to be so easily thrown off course because of a person I don't even know. I don't want to be sucked into the magazines in the checkout lines or the entertainment news tv shows. Life is about so much more than that.
The fact that they were filming something on campus today really distracted me. I don't know why but I couldn't focus very well. Then I asked myself, "Why is this such a big deal? I don't even know who they are." Why is it such a big deal when there is a celebrity sighting? Why do we care so much about people on tv or music artists? I don't want my life to be so easily thrown off course because of a person I don't even know. I don't want to be sucked into the magazines in the checkout lines or the entertainment news tv shows. Life is about so much more than that.
10.20.2006
dreams
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to grow up and be an elementary school teacher, live in a house in the suburbs of North Carolina, and have a family. I thought for sure that’s what I would be doing with my life up until about a year ago.
One evening in the fall of my sophomore year of college, I dropped to my knees in exhaustion and just started praying. My heart had been ripped out and stomped on and my mind was burned out from taking too many classes in one semester. I’d had enough. All the plans I’d made for myself were only leading me down paths of frustration and heartache. That evening I gave up my “dreams” and plans that I’d made. But rather than growing bitter and detached, I asked God for help. I told Him that for as long and as hard as I worked at planning my own life I sucked at it. I couldn’t do it. I told Him that if I was going to make it and have any sort of joy it would have to be because of Him. So I begged. I was on my knees crying and begging God. My plans weren’t cutting it. I flat out asked Him to knock my socks off with His plans for my life. I asked Him to surprise me, to make plans for me that I could never have dreamed of and so I would know that they were from Him. And He hasn’t let me down.
While my dream used to be to grow up and teach elementary kids, God has changed my heart. I still love working with kids, but my desire is now to see university students fall in love with God and change their campus for Him.
As for my dream of living in the suburbs of NC, well, it could happen some day I suppose. But for now, God has me in the suburbs of Vancouver, BC. Never had I imagined, let alone dreamed, of living in Canada. That one is completely from God.
The Lord also gave me a wonderful husband. We got married when I was barely twenty-two so a family may still be in the picture, but not for a few years (Lord willing).
When God does your dreaming for you, you will be amazed. You will be in the parking lot of a Starbucks and suddenly realize that you are in a foreign place, doing a job that you feel slightly inadequate for, living a life you never pictured. Then you will realize that even in the most bizarre circumstances God is in complete control.
One evening in the fall of my sophomore year of college, I dropped to my knees in exhaustion and just started praying. My heart had been ripped out and stomped on and my mind was burned out from taking too many classes in one semester. I’d had enough. All the plans I’d made for myself were only leading me down paths of frustration and heartache. That evening I gave up my “dreams” and plans that I’d made. But rather than growing bitter and detached, I asked God for help. I told Him that for as long and as hard as I worked at planning my own life I sucked at it. I couldn’t do it. I told Him that if I was going to make it and have any sort of joy it would have to be because of Him. So I begged. I was on my knees crying and begging God. My plans weren’t cutting it. I flat out asked Him to knock my socks off with His plans for my life. I asked Him to surprise me, to make plans for me that I could never have dreamed of and so I would know that they were from Him. And He hasn’t let me down.
While my dream used to be to grow up and teach elementary kids, God has changed my heart. I still love working with kids, but my desire is now to see university students fall in love with God and change their campus for Him.
As for my dream of living in the suburbs of NC, well, it could happen some day I suppose. But for now, God has me in the suburbs of Vancouver, BC. Never had I imagined, let alone dreamed, of living in Canada. That one is completely from God.
The Lord also gave me a wonderful husband. We got married when I was barely twenty-two so a family may still be in the picture, but not for a few years (Lord willing).
When God does your dreaming for you, you will be amazed. You will be in the parking lot of a Starbucks and suddenly realize that you are in a foreign place, doing a job that you feel slightly inadequate for, living a life you never pictured. Then you will realize that even in the most bizarre circumstances God is in complete control.
10.17.2006
missing home
As fall sets in and the leaves start to change I am reminded of how much I miss North Carolina. The leaves, the football, the basketball, the friends. I didn't realize that this place has so many evergreen trees until the few deciduous trees started turning. But I suppose that will make for a greener, less bare looking winter. As we talked about missing hiome and school, Brian and I reminisced over pictures and wanted to share a few with you.
Emily, me, and Tracey after Sunday School in fall 2004.
The view from the top of Grandfather Mountain.
All the cousins (and Brian) Christmas 2004.
After climbing back up from Mystery Falls.
Brian in his element.
10.04.2006
SUMMIT
This weekend was our fall retreat (SUMMIT) for students involved with Campus for Christ at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. Altogether we had over 50 students and 10 staff at a retreat center with a beautiful view of the ocean and the Greater Vancouver Area. The weekend was a great time for students to be challenged to live out their faith on campus and gather the tools needed to do so. It was also a good time to hang out and get to know the students and staff better. I know the Lord has great things in store for the ministry this school year.
Students discuss the topics touched on by our guest speaker.
We went down the road from the retreat center during free time to hang out by the ocean.
10.02.2006
God's presence is undeniable
How can someone think that God can only understand English? Or that their prayers are stopped by the roof? Or that God is too busy to hear two or three prayers at once? This certainly can't be true of students working on their masters living in North America. At least, that's what I thought. My fellow staff member and I had the opportunity to share about the Bible and Christianity with three Chinese students on campus last week. That hour of conversation made every minute of fighting traffic worth it. It made my entire existence on staff worth it. I had the pleasure and privilege of witnessing the Holy Spirit enter a life for the first time. God's presence was all around and inside of us. As we sat with the girls and God spoke through us, I could not help but praise Him.
These girls had heard stories from the Bible and knew who Jesus was, but they were only stories. As we shared about Adam and the fall, about man's constant struggle to reach God, and about God's love reaching down despite who we are, the stories became as real and as full of life as when God first breathed the words into their authors. Each girl was given the opportunity to accept the gift God gave through placing our punishment on His only Son. While one was not ready to make any decisions, the other two were ripe for the harvest.
God brought them from different parts of China and me from North Carolina to that very table for that exact reason. Is any more proof needed that there is a God who loves us and has a plan for our lives? It might take a while for them to grow in their understanding, but these girls have started a life-long relationship that I was given the honor of helping begin. Thank you for your prayers, and please continue in them. God's word does not return void!
These girls had heard stories from the Bible and knew who Jesus was, but they were only stories. As we shared about Adam and the fall, about man's constant struggle to reach God, and about God's love reaching down despite who we are, the stories became as real and as full of life as when God first breathed the words into their authors. Each girl was given the opportunity to accept the gift God gave through placing our punishment on His only Son. While one was not ready to make any decisions, the other two were ripe for the harvest.
God brought them from different parts of China and me from North Carolina to that very table for that exact reason. Is any more proof needed that there is a God who loves us and has a plan for our lives? It might take a while for them to grow in their understanding, but these girls have started a life-long relationship that I was given the honor of helping begin. Thank you for your prayers, and please continue in them. God's word does not return void!
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