Closed Doors

Well, the Lord has seen fit to rearrange my plans and redirect my life. I had been planning to attend the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics in Dallas to pursue a masters in Applied Linguistics. Eventually I would like to work in a Bible translation ministry. However, the accreditation board that accredits them does not recognize the accreditation board that accredits Northland. (Try saying that sentence five times fast!) So, I'm unable to go there. I have several others schools I'm looking at, but it's kind of hard to readjust my thinking. I had all my plans figured out in my head, and now they're not going to happen. I do trust that the Lord's in control. He knows what His plan is for my life, even though I can't yet see it. It was not an accident that I went to Northland. I know that was where He wanted me to be. And He will direct me to my next step as well. As Pastor reminded me, "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand. I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging bread" (Psalm 37:23-25). So that is where I am now. I would appreciate your prayers as I look at other schools, and I will keep you updated as the Lord leads.

Bibles International

Tonight was the closing service for Baptist Mid-Missions' annual conference. (My dad is director of communications at BMM.) Attending the conference were all missionaries currently in the country, plus all administrative staff. I was unable to go to any other services because of work, but my family members volunteered in various capacities. Tonight was a good one for me to go to because it was featuring the ministry of Bibles International, the Bible translation branch of BMM. I am currently waiting on the Lord's leading to take me into the field of Bible translation, specifically in the linguistics and literacy area. It was neat to see people I know from that organization, including some that were my teachers in college. It also brought tears to my eyes to hear stories of people who finally received God's Word in their own language. With two-thirds of the world's over 6,000 languages not having any Scripture verses at all, translation work is greatly needed. Praise God that He is working to bring His Word to people around the world.

Are You Old?

There's a story going around about a company in the UK that decided to generate a high-pitched noise outside their store to discourage teens from loitering there. Apparently, as we age, our ability to hear higher frequencies goes. The adults couldn't hear the sound; teens could. However, the teens twisted things to their own advantage by using the sound as a ringtone so that their parents and teachers couldn't hear their phones ring! Want to test your ears? This is the best site I found that talks about the sound and gives examples of different frequencies. (You have to download the sounds to hear them.) I guess, despite the fact that no one can tell by looking at me, I really am getting up in years. I couldn't hear the upper frequency noises! Now if I could just get the rest of the world around me to figure out that I'm over 18. . . .

Trusting God

I substitute-taught Sunday school this morning for the 1st-3rd grade class. (We missed you Rach!) The lesson was about Gideon. In preparing for the lesson, I was thinking about how we often condemn Gideon for his lack of faith. He had to be reassured over and over that God was really with him. First, he required the sign of the burnt offering from the Angel of the Lord. Then, we wanted the two different versions of the sign of the fleece. Finally (in next week's lesson!) he had to go down and eavesdrop in the Midionite camp to be reassured that God was working. All in all, not a very faith-filled guy. However, God didn't condemn him for a lack of faith; God was very patient with him. And, Gideon was even included in the "Hall of Faith."

I think one of the reasons behind this lies in where Gideon was coming from. He lived in a nominally "Yawehistic" culture. People still talked about God, but included Him in a pantheon of other gods which most notably included Baal and Ashteroth. Gideon himself, upon first meeting the Angel of the Lord, confirmed that all he really knew about God were the stories that "our fathers told us about." So, considering the lack of revelation Gideon had, maybe his lack of faith is more understandable. However, since we hold the complete cannon of Scripture in our hands, we have little excuse for not believing God. We know who God is and we can be convinced of what He can and will do. After all, "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Heb 11:1 NIV).

Family Celebration

I really liked this picture of our friends and family celebrating the Fourth of July at our local fireworks display.

It was such a cool picture that I just had to share it with someone!

We had a great time listening to a brass band concert, playing Apples to Apples, eating s'mores, and, of course, watching the fireworks.

Couldn't Have Said it Better . . .

Marvin Olasky from World Magazine expertly explains what liberty in America is supposed to mean.

How Embarrassing!

On Sunday, our church's College & Career group was going to have a fellowship at Pastor's house after the evening service. When the service was over, Dad called me aside and asked if Jared and I could drop the younger kids off at home before we went to the fellowship because he had to have an emergency meeting. (Dad is one of our church's elders.) Our house is about 20 minutes south of the church. Pastor's house is about 15 minutes north of the church. So, dropping them off was not on the way. I was pretty upset. No, I was mad. I agreed to take them, but I gave the kids a hard time and snapped at them all the way home. About the time we pulled into the driveway, the Lord finally got through to me and I did confess my anger and apologize to the kids. Then, Jared said that he was going to run in and change, so I thought I would, too. I walked in the door and "Surprise!" the College & Career group was at my house for a surprise birthday party for me. (My birthday was Saturday.) So, I felt like a complete and total idiot for having gotten so upset at Dad and my brothers and sisters. But, it was a fun party, and they definitely got me!

Thoughts on Liberty for Independence Day

"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.' They answered Him, 'We are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, "You will become free"?' Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.' " John 8:31-36

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." Galatians 5:13-18

Scary Moment

On Thursday of this past week, I had an interesting experience. I got rear-ended coming off the interstate. I was easing forward to merge onto the main road, and the lady behind me ran right into me. There was a pretty horrible-sounding crunch, but there was no visible damage. I wasn't hurt, either, except that the garage-door opener flew off the visor and hit me in the head! We exchanged insurance information, and the cop that came to the scene didn't write up an accident report. So, overall, it was a pretty slight incident. But, it shook me up a bit.

Hello and Welcome

Well, I decided to jump on the bandwagon. I had looked at blogs as kind of a fad, but now my little sister has one, so I decided it wasn't a fad anymore! I need to be up and hip!

Besides, I never have any time to talk to anyone anymore. (Those words look really weird together!) I get home from work at midnight each night and most of my friends wouldn't appreciate a chatty phone call at that time of night! So, I need a way to communicate with people on my time schedule. Here it is! I don't have a very exciting life, but every once in a while I have an original thought that I'd like to share. And, if you'd like to share back, I'd like to hear from you!

There's my intro. More to follow!