Birthday Fun!!

I bet you have never had a Cake as cool as this one was!!!

It was the best B-day cake ever!! Thanks Kelly! p.s. I bet you never thought you would be celebrating Jeremy's B-day along with your A.N.'s ??


Jeremy's Cake
My Cake
Kelly's Creation

The best Thank-You E-mails Ever!

Dear Courtney:

Thank you for the writing book now I can rit my own storys and when I finesh one of my storys I will tipe it in a emaiall wons agen thank you for the writing book . from Michael.G

Thanks for the notebook Courtney,it is very nice.I'll be using it soon because I get new ideas every day!One of my ideas is a card game called SOLDEX,I think it's cool and a great idea.It's the perfect gift for me.So thanks again and a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

To:Courtney

From:John

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Gift

As I walked down the wet path I spotted something dark lying in the middle. Amanda had already passed it by. I bent down and discovered that it was a Carhartt Hat. I was amazed and overjoyed to find it. Amanda said it was a Birthday present from God...maybe it was. We ended our walk at the Gazebo and I looked down at my hand and it was covered in sparkles. Pixie Dust. I think it is a magic hat...

Thanksgiving--Giving Thanks...

62) Leon thinks moshing is called mushing.
63) Kelly loves to sing Disney Songs.
64) Hollis trying to hum for name that tune...'nough said
65) Jeremy waiting for Kelly
66) The gate around Heather's tree so that Caden won't knock it down.
67) My Christmas Tree

BJU

Arn't You Glad You Don't Go To Bob Jones!!

Dress Code for Men

General Dress

Hair must be cut in a traditional, conservative style–not shaved, spiked, tangled, or shelved. It may not be colored or highlighted.

• Sideburns should not extend past the middle of the ear. Men are expected to remain clean-shaven.
• Necklaces, earrings, and bracelets are not permitted.
• Hats may not be worn indoors except in the gym.
• Men are not permitted to get tattoos or wear body piercings.

Abercrombie & Fitch and its subsidiary Hollister have shown an unusual degree of antagonism to the name of Christ and an unusual display of wickedness in their promotions. In protest, we will not allow articles displaying their logos to be worn, carried, or displayed (even if covered or masked in some way).

Morning Dress–dress shirt (no denim/chambray) with tie, dress or neat casual pants (no jeans, cargo, carpenter, or sloppy pants), dress or leather casual shoes; sweaters should show shirt collar and tie knot (no sweatshirts).

Afternoon Dress–collared shirt (no crew necks), neat casual pants, dress or casual shoes (no slides or sandals), socks above the ankle, sweatshirts or sweaters.

Sunday Dress–coat, tie, and dress shirt; dress shoes; dress or dressier casual pants.

Recreation and Work Dress–jeans, t-shirts, shorts at athletic facilities (not as spectators at sports events), sleeveless athletic shirts (indoor activities only), socks required (including at work).

Dress Code for Women

Classroom/general dress consists of a dress or top and skirt; however, pants may be worn for some recreational activities. Shorts may never be worn outside the residence halls and fitness center.

Tops

• Tops must be long enough that the midriff is never exposed.
• Sleeves are required. (Sleeveless tops and dresses may be worn with a blouse, jacket, or sweater.)
• Necklines may come no lower than four fingers below the collarbone.

Skirts

• Hemlines and slits or other openings should never come higher than the bottom of the knee.
• Denim skirts may be worn for casual dress (not to class or other professional-type events).

Pants

• Loose-fitting pants may be worn between women's residence halls, for athletic events, and to homes in the area.
• Loose-fitting jeans may be worn between women's residence halls and when participating in activities where the durability of the fabric is important, such as skiing and ice-skating.

Ease

• All dresses, skirts, pants, and shirts must be loose-fitting, having a minimum of three inches of ease at bust and hips.
• An informal way to measure ease is to stand up straight and pinch the loose fabric on both sides of the hips or at the bust line. Without stretching the fabric, there should be at least a 3/4-inch fold of fabric on both sides.

Other

• Sheer clothing may be worn only when the garment underneath conforms to normal dress regulations.
• Hose must be worn for all professional-type activities including class, church, and recitals.
• Combat boots, hiking boots, or shoes that give this appearance are not permitted.
• Hairstyles should be neat, orderly, and feminine. Avoid cutting-edge fads and cuts so short that they take on a masculine look.
• Students are not permitted to get tattoos. Excessive makeup is not permitted. Earrings may be worn only in the lobe of the ear (maximum of two matched sets). All other types of body piercings are prohibited.

Please note the statement concerning Abercrombie & Fitch under Men's General Dress.

What Not to Bring

• Posters of movie and music stars and fashion models are not permitted. The subjects of personal photos should exhibit the modesty and appropriate physical contact we expect from our students.
• Music must be compatible with the University's music standards:
  • New Age, jazz, rock, and country music is not permitted.
  • Contemporary Christian music is not permitted (e.g., Michael W. Smith, Stephen Curtis Chapman, WOW Worship, and so forth).
• Televisions and DVD/videocassette players are not permitted in the residence halls; computer DVD players may not be used to view movies.
• You may not possess or play computer and video games rated T, M, or A or having elements of blood and gore, sensual or demonic themes, or featuring suggestive dress, bad language, or rock music.
• Due to space considerations, appliances such as mini-refrigerators and microwaves are not permitted in residence hall rooms. A refrigerator for medical-related needs and microwaves are provided in each residence hall.
• Residence hall students may not watch videos above a G rating when visiting homes in town and may not attend movie theaters.
• All weapons must be turned in for storage. Trigger locks are required for pistols. Fireworks are not permitted on campus.

Dating and Mixed Groups

We want students to have wholesome social opportunities in a setting that provides accountability for biblical requirements of purity. It is with this in mind that we chaperon campus activities where men and women students are present and require a chaperon when students date or interact in a mixed group off campus.

Work

• Students may work in town until 10:25 pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends. Freshmen must have a prayer captain, assistant prayer captain, or upperclassman with them. Sophomores and upperclassmen may work alone.
• Freshmen and sophomores may not use their vehicles to go to and from work.
• Students may not serve alcoholic beverages when waiting tables at restaurants.
• Students may not do house-to-house sales anywhere in the Greenville area. Students offering services to the community must have a retail license or have clearance from the Dean of Students to do door-to-door solicitation for their services.
• Students may not miss nightly prayer meetings on weekdays.

Great-full (My life really is great and full)

52) The Golden Boys
53) Michael's Story
54) John's Story
55) Our add-on story
56) Mr. Golden
57) Mrs. Golden
58) All things Golden
59) Adult Conversation
60) Rochester College
61) Being in a real Home

Thankful

32) Kelly can finger weave
33) I went to the Bargin Bookstore today
34) I get to babysit for Mr. Golden
35) Shawn McDonald is in concert on Sunday!!!
36) Taco Bell has become a ministry
37) VOSS Water
38) Carol and Sherril came to visit!!!!
39) My Lunch Bag
40) Patrick's interpretation of "head" of the family
41) Kelly has a house where we can cook good food
42) Jeremy does the Ewok walk
43) and also wears pink/purple striped socks that are fuzzy
44) Number the Stars is on Friday
45) Dr. Keller
46) John Eldredge
47) Mr. Watson did not skinny dip in Austrailia
48) Mrs. Light's Glasses
49) Two more weeks of conditioning left!
50) My Black (Goth) Hair
51) Caden

The Inferno

We've traveled to Hell and back alongside Mr. Golden, I would have minded if it were someone else guiding us. But I trust Mr. Golden to help us take the hill. We made it through the fire and the ice and came out alive and better for it. Strange isn't it. Yet so real and true...

Wal-Mart

There is this guy who works at Wal-Mart who is always greeting you with a smile and "Welcome to Wal-Mart". Today he was doing something else and didn't say it. I almost couldn't walk into the store because he hadn't said it. I wanted to walk up to him and say "Welcome to Wal-Mart".

$6.66

So, we went to Taco Bell on the eve of All Hallows Eve and asked the guy taking our order how he was doing, he replied: "Diabolical". Then our total order came to $6.66!! Amanda wrote this distrubing news story about the event:

Rochester College student is the Devil

Young Amanda Webb's suspicions were, arguably, confirmed in an eerie exchange at a Taco Bell drive-thru Sunday night.

As the story goes, former roommate Courtney Jenko inquired after the well-being of an unnamed male employee, whose only legitimate task at the time was to take an order from the two girls. His response? He was feeling "diabolical".

"I honestly wish I could just pass it off as a joke," comments Amanda Webb, Jenko's passenger, who witnessed the conversation. Her voice trembles with disbelief. "And I was going to. But I-- she-- it..." She breaks off, unable to give us more information, possibly out of fear for her own life.

The rest of the story becomes frighteningly, elaborately clear when Webb reveals the Taco Bell receipt. The bill, totalling the prices of two chalupas, two hard (crunchy?) tacos, a large soft drink, and several packets of mild sauce, comes to six dollars and sixty-six cents.

Yes, you read that right.

Later that night, Rochester College, where Jenko is a student and a "Resident Advisor", experienced a strange power outage that lasted nearly half an hour. Jenko's behavior came across as concerned, almost parental, says Webb. But for now, the true nature of her furrowed brow can only be a source of speculation.

Terrible, and untrue I say, UNTRUE!!!!

dahling

hey chika two orders of business,i will give you the sword tomorrow after classes, also can you send me some of the pictures you took of me for my parents?if so cool, if not thats cool too. see you later dahling.
Brandon Arthur Young

Very Funny!

Ah-ke-ah-ta means "danger"

I got to enjoy the Ewok movie after so many years. I was estatic!!! Ever since we left it at the Kumbier's house I've never seen it. Amanda and I went with Kelly and Jeremy to Kelly's dad's house, ate Taco Bell, and watched "Caravan of Courage". AMAZING!! It was so great. I even had Kelly believing I could understand Ewokish.

What is sounds like when a white girl raps

This was a rap I wrote in New Testament Class last year:

Yo, this Jesus-he was God
But he didn’t get at thinking to much ‘bout
His power
Cuz yo check this-this Jesus he
Came down to earth and he became
Nothing, nothing, nothing
A servant he came-to serve, not to be served
He came as a man with flesh and blood
Humbling himself he followed God to his death
Not just a death, but a death on a cross
Dang
Lend me your ear he’s the name above all names, yeah the name above all names,
Yo he’s the Jordan of baseketball,
Revealing his self in the bod of a poor boy
Yeah when his name is spoken all you people get down, right here, up there and even under the ground
Lets make a minor confession let me hear yall scream
Jesus is the Lord, yeah, the Lord of everything

Fall Festival September 29th 2006

Yes, There Is Good

14) There are about twenty-five skeins of yarn on my floor
15) 7-11 is open 24-hours, even if Starbucks isn't
16) We might have heat tomorrow
17) The Barbierians chilled in "The Jenko"
18) Grandmas have saggy arm flab
19) Sarah dresses up after watching a movie
20) A good part of AG is going as LOTR for Halloween
21) Yesterday was Friday the 13th
22) Tony and Kristin are getting married
23) I have cups
24) Brandon thinks I support bi-racials
25) My room has been been given the smell approval of the Barberians
26) I almost beat Duane in "I Never"
27) Jenny is getting married and Amanda won't miss Marriage and the Family
28) Katie Wiggins is alive
29) My Calendar has Sailboats
30) Debbie is coming to HOG
31) This picture is amazing

Life

Life is about sharing with others.

Today we shared our class with Andi and Al Tauber from Emmaus Ministries in Chicago and they shared about their outreach to male prostitutes. They shared a bit about their daily tasks, and we go to know them.

We also shared our class with a 74 year old man who has been preaching at the same church for 55 years. His wife died in January and he is still in the process of grieving. We were able to listen to his stories and in a way share in his life.

It is so sunny outside and the snow is coming down heavily.

Sugardoodle

I was just called "Sugardoodle" by one of the Male residents. I'm not quite sure what to think. But, since his initials are HW I think I'll laugh!

Ghosts of Ireland

I found this article on the Relevant Magazine Website, It's entitled "Ghosts of Ireland" By Curt Lamm

“The great Gaels of Ireland are then men that God made mad, for all their wars are merry and all their songs are sad.” -Old Irish proverb

“It’s the same old thing since 1916 / in your head, in your head they’re still fighting." - "Zombie", the Cranberries

The first time I set foot in Northern Ireland, in 1999, I believed I was prepared for whatever would be thrown my way. I had spent some time studying the country’s history (I mean seriously, how many other Americans even knew that Northern Ireland was part of the United Kingdom and not Ireland). Protestant/Catholic feuding? No problem: My mom’s family is Roman Catholic and my dad’s lineage is Methodist. I was on the down-low with all parties involved.

I would be lying if I didn’t say that I half expected a parade announcing my triumphant entry. Prepare ye the way! But my heart was broken by the fifth day of my journey as my arrogance was replaced with terrible grief. Each successive trip over the next 5 years would continue to undo everything that I thought I believed about God and humanity and pain and joy. Northern Ireland must be lived and breathed, for no amount of theory does it justice.

There is a thought in Ireland that nothing is ever new or final; history repeats itself and evolves in cycles that refuse to accept linear motion. Century-old transgressions rear their head at the most inopportune moments. The real attraction to this divided land is the physical, tangible prospect of peace in a culture that has known division and segregation since the tenth century. It is a story of hope that hovers right around the periphery. It is a tale of reconciliation in a world of epic madness.
The divide within Northern Ireland transcends politics and religion and DNA and whose football club a person supports. There is a sadness that blankets souls and suffocates the joy that screams to be heard. There are enough ghosts haunting the memories of this beautiful country to fill a thousand cemeteries. Ireland is called the Terrible Beauty not by accident; everything about her embraces you and shoves you away all at once. She asks you to be both amazed and understanding.

If Ireland is considered the terrible beauty, then Northern Ireland could be thought of as the Intentional Beauty. A nation of symbols and anthems, subtlety has long been swapped for audacity. Streets and neighborhoods declare allegiance to the past as they unfurl in Union Jacks and Irish Tricolors. Some murals croon the most tragic and beautiful verses ever penned while others unabashedly spew venom and intolerance.

Here’s the skinny on Northern Ireland in a huge and generalized Cliff Notes sort of way:

Protestants and Catholics have been living together since the early 1000’s. Each have some pretty valid claims to support their belief.

Catholic argument: The six counties that compose Northern Ireland should be enveloped back into the whole of the Republic of Ireland.

Protestant argument: Northern Ireland must remain a member of the United Kingdom.

This is a broad stroke, and it is painted with the extreme positions in mind. Throw in some more confusing terms like: Unionist, Republican, Nationalist, IRA, UVF—the list of stereotypes and acronyms are endless. And certainly, there are some moderate positions. Not all Catholics want the same thing, just as there are variations within the Protestant system. I have friends on both sides of the fence—literally. There is a massive, barbed-wire wall that segregates Catholic and Protestant parts of Belfast, and they all just want the same thing: Peace and a self-governing system that represents them fairly.

This terrible, intentional beauty came alive to me in 2002. All the ideas that can never be trapped in text accosted me. Any preconceived notion that plagued my mind was challenged as the group I was with spent a few weeks in a little town called Larne, just a few bus stops past Belfast. Once I was there, I understood how little I knew because Northern Ireland is not a place that an outsider ever really gets to know. She reveals parts of herself at her own convenience and leisure. I attempted to forget and displace any agenda that I might have. I wanted the country to speak for itself.

Boyne Square and Seacourt were two notorious housing estates in Larne. Each with its own paramilitary presence, they held an intimidating reputation outside their respective boundaries. While they were only separated by a mile or so, they might as well have been eons and continents apart, because Catholics never went to Boyne Square and Protestants would never set foot in Seacourt. To do so meant probable and immanent danger. Perhaps even death.

My group adopted a time-honored tradition that dated back to Christ … we helped the little children. We rented a giant inflatable bouncy castle and divided our days between the two housing estates: Seacourt in the morning and Boyne Square in the afternoons. We learned more from these kids than we could have ever thought. They had grown up with definite and deliberate views. They were products of hundreds of years of segregation, feuding, bombings and terrorist activities. But they were more than statistics to us. They brought home the troubles of Northern Ireland in a personal way. They all have dreams and want to do things like other kids all over the world.

They just want to be kids.

Editorial note: Author Curt Lamm just returned from another trip to N. Ireland. Expect more reads in the coming weeks.

Ghosts of Ireland Part II
There’s a saying in Northern Ireland that if you think you understand what is going on, then you know nothing. It is easy to categorize people and events into pretty little boxes that allow us to label things for our own convenience. And while generalizations have connotations for a reason, they are not absolute; there is some wiggle-room for variation. My intention in "Ghost of Ireland (part I)" was not to simplify centuries of conflict into a nice, neat package, but to paint, with broad strokes, on a canvas that might give someone a tiny glimpse of what life is like there.

I will never understand what it has been like to grow up and live through daily life in Northern Ireland. All that I can do is relate my experiences to others. I have seen the result of unemployment and boredom. Little hope mixed with futility equals a debasement of value that eats at a person’s soul with starved veracity.

This past winter, I spent time in Belfast at a drop in center. The guys who came in on a daily basis were anywhere between 17-and 25-years-old. We played pool and darts, but mainly two things happened: I lost miserably at every game I played, and I listened. A question was posed to me several times over my two months in Belfast. Sometimes it was asked with cynical mockery, and other times it was whispered with barely audible curiosity: Why would you come to Northern Ireland?
Ah—my chance for glory! Perhaps my divinely-inspired retort would spark mass-revival. There wouldn’t be enough catchers for the huge K.O. the Holy Spirit was about to throw down. Time to make history; I was only a hours removed from the BBC coming live on the scene to record this event for all time.

“Why did I come to Northern Ireland (lights, camera, action)?” I asked back. “Because God told me to.”

Realistic hope for a future must be an option that is put back onto the table. All the hours and hours of listening to these guys painted a picture of bleak hopelessness. There was no anticipation for a future. I told them the truth: That God asked me to go because He wants them to have hope. He created them and He is crazy about them. Their mere existence made Him smile and broke His heart all in the same instance. There was more to life than the daily grind of routine. They were created in the image of a loving and personal God who instilled value within them from day one. They were not statistics.

Rather than God being looked upon as the root of most problems in society, there needs to be a reckoning of revival, but not of the "old time gospel hour" variety. Northern Ireland has seen her share of this tired, played out spectacle. No, there needs to be a revival of the soul and spirit. An awakening of the intellect that is enveloped into the very fabric of who God created His children to be. Not a new renaissance or reformation, but a simple realization should suffice: The understanding that value is inherent to every living person under the sun. A validation and reinforcement that God is not only alive, but that He is very much on the move. Faith, hope and love with feet.

I have met and worked with these "hands of God" in Belfast. I volunteered with a group called Youth With A Mission. My latest trip to Northern Ireland had me living in Belfast, in a community infamous for its past legacy of violence. I saw, first-hand the difference between people who are trying to reach their community, and people who are simply living godly in a place they love. The divide between these two categories is much deeper than semantically coined phrases. People who employ the "reaching their community" ethos typically see themselves (whether they admit it or not) as having the ability to offer a solution to others who are in desperate need of "saving." There can tend to be shadowed by a martyr complex that borders on patronizing. That is, they view themselves as outside the very community they want to reach.

YWAM, rather, chooses to be part of that community. They are involved with everything from teaching forgiveness curriculum in the school system, to running breakfast clubs for younger children who might not get a healthy meal at home. They have not segregated themselves outside of their community. It is implicitly understood that not only did Jesus offer hope, He offered availability. He showed up.

This, I think is what revival can look like. It doesn’t mean an orchestrated, predictable church sermon blared from a pulpit. It’s not a message so familiar that people can lip-synch to it. No … I think revival can be a whisper on a crowded bus or a smile that looks into the soul of the hopeless and presents genuine hope. It is the reviving of the plan that God has for all his children: a future.

I can think of nothing more sinister than the loss of hope. In one breath, life can go from eagerly awaiting the future, to living in a damneable state of comatose-like existence. Why is hope considered as one of the three greatest things? Faith, hope and love. Maybe because it allows a person a glimpse that things are going to get better. Maybe it affords us the chance to understand that our present struggles are not the point of this life, but rather an enhancement of what the true point actually is: There is something greater than all of us. Something that is unaffected by our present situation, no mater how despicable or glorious. Hope is not just an idea. It’s a lifestyle.

But one cannot present hope unless one shows up.

The Good, The Great, and the Outstanding!

There are people who cross your path that you form opinions about. Sometimes they are not very good, healthy, or true, but they are your opinions. In attempts to wrestle with these opinions, and to state the good, Amanda and I have taken up writing about people we know. This will, if all goes well, help us to find the good in others.

We have agreed to write about one guy and one girl.

So here goes, my first:

Tony Heil and Kristin Graham

Kristin was my RA last year but I really didn't get to know her that well. But, I did observe her at work in the hall, and it was her example that led me to want to be an RA. Kristin is a very strong woman and is incredibly organized. She is supportive and understanding. I'm glad she is marrying Tony.

Last year I thought Tony was aloof. He was just my RA's fiance and all I can remember about him was a time he threw rocks at her window when we were having a Bible study. Now that we are on staff together this year I have really got to know him. He has become like a big brother. We all call him "Pops" and he thinks it's funny. He is by far the easiest person to carry on a conversation with. The AG staff has spent quite a few nights up late talking. Tony is very considerate and funny. He makes people fell comfortable around him. He has an amazing work ethic and I really admire his perseverence. He worked so hard over the summer so he could pay for Kristin's ring. He wouldn't let his Dad help out because he didn't want to say, "here, this is from me and my Dad." Pops is awesome and he and Kristin are going to be great parents someday.

In Amanda Fashion

Amanda's April 22nd post read:

Courtney is now asleep under her new brightly-colored Mexican blanket, but a little while ago we were reciting poems and talking about school. I noted my relative hopelessness as far as the Golden class is concerned, concluding, "Everything sucks."

"...But no, everything does not suck."

I know God's goodness -- regardless of my performance. So, with every intention to avoid artificiality, I think it'd be wise to remind myself.

I will begin my own list:

1) Amanda's room smells like Tuna.
2) One day I will get to meet the Martin Family.
3) Josh Graves exists.
4) Dr. Westerfield has a prissy walk.
5) I have class with Mr. Golden.
6) Tyler was walking with Dave's brother.
7) I got a job offer.
8) Amanda, Kelly, and I are starting a book discussion on Iresistible Revoltion.
9) I will have a waffle for breakfast.
10) The lady of Shallot is hanging on my wall.
11) I dug flowers out of the garbage.
12) Straw smells good.
13) Thirteen is not an unlucky number.

"Marriage Is What Brings Us Together Today..."

One of my friends just got married, had a baby, and is now suffering from depression.

One of my friends just got engaged, and then broke it off.

One of my friends is planning his wedding with the girl of his dreams. They are so incredibly perfect for each other.

I'm surrounded by all this, I guess that is what happens when you get to be my age.

Saw an old friend today. I wish all my friends from last semester could come back. Back from Australia, back from Arkansas, back...

Blog

I've been told to blog more by someone who only posted one thing this summer... I'm not sure what to blog about. I've been accused of being overly sentimental or trying to push meanings on things.

Farm Fun!

I took a group of AG girls to Cook's Farm Dairy for a social program. Everyone had a lot of fun. Tom let a couple of the girls hand milk a cow. They were thrilled about the whole thing. Of course their flip-flops were covered in manure and we had to hose them off in the milk house. My first social program was a success!

Unexpected Gift

One of my residents heard me talking about how expensive the RC sweatshirts are in the bookstore, so he made me one. It even has my name on the back. It was so thoughtful of him I was really surprised when he gave it to me last night. I really enjoy what I do at times like that, when you feel appreciated. I'm wear my new custom RC shirt right now. It's very warm!

Clapping Off Tune

DISCLAIMER! I've been warned by a person in authority that I can nolonger make my blog entries sentimental. I did not find them sentimental but the aforementioned authority did.

Yesterday at church there was a young boy standing a few pews in front of me singing and clapping to the songs. He is the child of a faculty member but the first thing I noticed about him was that he was clapping off tune. I smiled and directed the authority to watch him. Seeing him made me so happy, for some very odd reasons. The first being that I myself clap off tune so it was nice to find a fellow off-tuner in the Church, the second was that it is refreshing to see kids worshiping in their own way. I have a lot of faith in the coming generation. Especially if they clap off tune.

Cair Paravel

While walking alone in the woods I discoved the ruins of Cair Paravel. The joy that filled me was uncontrolable. I wasn't really sure why until today when I realized that when the Pevensies discover the ruins they remember their times as kings and queens of Narnia. It's almost like Aslan was reminding me that I am a Princess, I was as a little girl and I still am today...

Butterfly Funeral

We followed in quiet as Thor led the way to the cemetary- his face blacked by the butterfly's wing dust. War paint we called it. There was only the sound of our footsteps on the dirt road to break through the silence and the heat. Beneath the oak in the old cemertary we laid the fragile creature to rest. Sam said a few words over the open grave before I smoothed the dirt over. The grave was marked by a birds feather and three sticks. We proceeded back to the house and Marcee read Psalm 23. Amen.

Communion

The Church is a community, not one you hand pick, but more like a family you get stuck with. As I served communion this morning and looked into the faces of the congregation it really hit me that this was a reason Jesus wanted the "Kingdom". All gather together. The 95 year old who has been attending the same Church on the corner all her life, the woman with the wayward husband, the dairyfarmer, the corporate worker, the seeking college graduate, the 2 year old with an attitude. All gather at the Lord's Table, all may receive communion, all are equal.

Rescue

A cat was stuck in a tree today across the road from where I was babysitting. Mr. W. had to climb up a ladder to try and coax the cat down. After about ten minutes of calling "kitty, kitty" and "come on, I won't let you fall" the cat was still up on a branch unreachable from the ladder. I began to think: The cat realizes that his salvation is only a foot below and all he needs to do is let go, but he cannot bring himself to cross that line. That would mean taking a risk and depending on someone else. All it takes is letting go and getting on with life. But the letting go was so scary for him. Eventually Mr. W. got the cat down, after 15 minutes of coaxing and reassuring the feline that he would be safe. God desires for us to live, but in order to live we must let go of life as we wanted to live. Rid our selves of the comfort of the tree branch which leads to nowhere and embrace our true desires for life. "Standing outside the fire" doesn't get you anywhere. Abandon of self to Christ and taking up your cross is a difficult task. One that cannot be accomplished unaided. We all need help. We all need to be rescued.

A Day On The Farm

Life is never boring when you work at Cook's Farm Dairy. Today I chased two cows who got loose, ran the John Deere tractors to get the silage up the silos, helped milk half the cows, and managed the store. It's really all in a days work. It was me and the guys working tonight and we were all pretty crazy. I'm thinking about calling Alex, Garrett, and Stephen the Three Stooges. But it really only works when they're together. According to them time goes by fast when Jeff is working... I saw Monica yesterday while I was working the morning shift...She goes to Aussy Land on the 20th. I'll really miss her. While we were milking Tom Cordes told me about this great movie plot he came up with. He also said he finally told his pastor that he's been called to preaching since he was 17. He would really li8ke to get into it but doesn't think he really can right now. Family and everything... Rodney asked me if I'm a Farm Girl now. I borrowed his shirt when mine was covered in silage. I want to steal Garrett's John Deere Sweatshirt. He got it in Arizona!? Nathan has Chicken Pox and Alex has Strep.

Fishing With Andrew

Mulberry Hill is incredible this time of year and tonight was the perfect night for fishing. Andrew and I threw the pole in the back of my Dad's truck and drove along Glass Road to Mulberry Hill. Half-way to the water we ditched our shoes under a bush. The lake looked movie-like as we came over the hill. A few pontoon boats and a jetski were making their way around Lake Louise but they didn't bother us. I waded out into the seaweed-clothes and all- and went under. I came up laughing. There is something about water that is so refreshing and cleansing. I understand why Jesus used it in the ways He did. We swam for quite awhile enjoying the waters warmth. Andrew tried to drown me a couple times and I baptized him Methodist style "sprinkle, sprinkle". Andrew gave me the "full emersion".
We started to fish and the first time Andrew's first cast brought in a nice blue-gill. Alternating catching we caught between us over ten fish. (That's not telling a tale) But it wasn't about the catching. We were just enjoying being alive. You know how there are those times in life when you think, this is why I'm here. Those moments you want to keep with you and remember. Not all that Hallmark movie stuff- just life. Being with a friend, catching fish.
We climbed a big tree as the sun was going down and talked Church, Religion, Eschatology, and living life differently. There is something sacred about Mulberry Hill. It feels like Holy Ground. People talk about making pilgrimages to Israel- but perhaps we all find our own Israels- those places we feel close to God. Any place can be an Israel.

Fishing is a noble past time.

Helping End A War

Global Night Commute went well. We had over 200 people. Only one newspaper showed up to cover it so that was kinda depressing but... I think those who were there really had a good experience. I was really inspired by Tyler choosing to walk the four miles on crutches. That's commitment! Some people who saw the IC guys on OPRAH showed up and we were able to show the documentary and have a Q&A time. The Candlelight ceremony at the end was quite a sight to see. 93 letters were written to the President and our state senators.

It doesn't stop here. We will continue to press the government to get involved in pressuring the Ugandan government for peace. Don't stop praying for these children. Keep writing letters. Together we can end this war.

Global Night Commute

Global Night Commute is in 1 week. This time next week we will have completed our walk and be hanging out on the lawn here at the college. Hopefully we will have alot of media coverage so that this event gets on the news! All across the nation!!! Log on to invisiblechildren.com and watch their newest music video.

"We're taking this lying down."-GNC

You Can Pick Your Friends...

We've all heard the phrase: "You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose!" I believe this applies to my new desktop...this little guy looks like he's a hard core nose picker...It wouldn't surprise me if he picked his friends nose!!

Third Floor

Guess who will be the RA for third floor AG? Yup, you guessed it! ME! I just found out a few hours ago. I'm really excited. I get to work with incoming freshmen and help them settle into college life!

Fashion Church- A Satire

Minister: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome on this bright Sunday morning to Fashion Church. We here at Fashion Church believe in only the highest quality clothing. Well, lets get our service started with a number from the Choir.

*Choir enters singing, Oh, Victory in Jesus*

Minister: Today's soloist Janelle Roberts is styling in her Abercrombie outfit complete with beaded accessories and complemented by her Ug boots in pale pink. Janelle, thank you for blessing us with your style sense. Now if the children could come forward for childrens sermon, Mrs. Kelly Zeta-Jones is going to share with you.

Mrs. Kelly Zeta-Jones: Good morning kids, does anyone know what this is? *Holds up Fasion Magazine*

Barbie: That's Fashion Magazine, my Mommy keeps one next to her bed.

Mrs. Kelly Zeta-Jones: That's because your Mommy is a good christian and follows all the rules of Fashion Magazine and does what it says.

Barbie: A have the kids edition, Young Illustrated Fashion.

Mrs. Kelly Zeta-Jones: That's great Barbie. We need to do everything the Magazine says so we can be juat like Paris Hilton.

IC In The News

Ash and I with our Africa hats

This Story appeared in the College Newspaper. It was written by a fellow classmate and member of the Student Action Diversity Commitee...

Invisible Children Documentary screens at RC by C. E'Jon Moore
"Can a story change the world?" This is the question raised by three young Americans who chose to embark on a journey to Uganda in the spring of 2003. It was an experience that would change their lives forever-an experience that would spark a movement thousands of miles away.
"What started out as a trip to document the civil war in Sudan took a divine turn when the filmmakers were stranded in Uganda…The filmmakers discovered a story of children being kidnapped nightly from their homes and forced to become child soldiers," explains their website.
Returning home, the three young filmmakers wondered what they could do with their footage. Thousands of miles away from the people they had chronicled…would they forget about the experience, or would they take action? They chose the latter. Not only would they splice together their film, they would begin showing the documentary to friends, family and anyone else with a heart to listen. The story of the Invisible Children had to be told.
Over several months, the filmmakers and a host of others, organized to create the Invisible Children National Tour, dubbed "Suburban Safari." Finding, begging, borrowing and renting seven RV's at little to no cost, the organization commissioned seven teams to travel the country telling the story. And people have heard that story. People like sophomores, Ashley Mackinnon and Courtney Jenko, who organized a screening of the film at the Rochester Church of Christ on March 15. Over 700 people attended.
"I first heard of this conflict when I was in Uganda this last summer...I felt I needed to find some way to be involved, so I got on the website and e-mailed Invisible Children. [They] responded back the next day asking if the school could host a screening and how we could get involved with the screening tour," comments Ashley.
During the screening, there were gasps of outrage from the audience. Faced with the cold reality of cruelty inflicted upon children is oftentimes a wake-up call for some.
"It's so easy for us here in the "land of the free" to forget that freedoms are being stripped away from others everyday. The children of Uganda can't even stay in their homes without fear of abduction….After watching the documentary many times, I am still hit by the strong sobs of Jacob as he cries out for his dead brother. He speaks of how he would rather be dead, because he has nothing to live for. Today Jacob is in school and smiling. Every time I turn on my computer his beaming face reassures me I am helping a good cause. I am also hit each time I watch the DVD by the request by one of the young boys to not forget him. I can't get those words out of my head. Sometimes I want to yell across the ocean, 'We haven't forgotten!'" says Courtney.
Rochester College and the Rochester Church of Christ will participate in a national event called the Global Night Commute on April 29, 2006 in Lansing, Mich. To participate in this event contact Sara Barton at 248.218.2048 or sbarton@rc.edu. To find out more about this great organization, log on to www.invisiblechildren.com.



This is the Mid-West Team L-R Darren, Sarah, Joseph, and Michelle

Encouragment from Lindy

After being back for a few weeks it's nice to hear things are still going on in the Bronx because of our prayers and work...



Lindy Writes:


Rochester College Spring Break Bronx 2006
You just finished a week of work, prayer, and service. How does it feel? Can you believe the week is over already, and you once again have returned to your normal routine? You perhaps arrived a week ago, skeptical of the large amounts of time in prayer. I wanted to give you an overview of ways the Lord used you and continues to use you through the Power of Prayer to the Lord Almighty.
1.As you handed out flyers for our upcoming relationship seminar, many of you were faced with rudeness, getting kicked out of apartments,etc. There is already around 15 people registered for the seminar which is GREAT, and the first one registered was a building you got kicked out of. 2.You held a birthday party for a 16 and 17 year old last minute. Thebirthday party was the FIRST birthday this 17yr old girl had ever had.
3. You took a group of teenager guys out to eat at a cheap sit down Mexican restaurant, and it was the first time they had been to a sit down restaurant and one of the few times they had ever seen the generosity and hospitality extended to them.
4. You hosted a movie discussion that opened up dialogue of the racialtensions in the Bronx that exist, and caused discussion that is continuing after you left.
5.You prayer walked the Morris Park church area. Two days later, a man at that home church made a decision to take the Lord on in baptism.
6. You prayer walked the Valentine Rd. area for more committed people to come to this church body and the following Sunday two visitors arrived that brought much encouragement to this discouraged house church. The prayers offered for this family brought their mother home from the hospital after a 5-day hospital stay.
7. You prayed with a church that is just beginning with new people who are seeking the Lord. The following weekend two ladies came for prayer, and the lady hosting the bible study begin speaking about John 13:34, having NEVER read the verse, but speaking what she only knew to be true in her relationship with the Lord. The Holy Spirit is moving in this house, turning it into a place of prayer.
8. Your interactions with a teenager that had been kicked out of school for a week for punching a teacher, then spent part of his time off school serving at a soup kitchen with you.
9.You had such an impact on a teen that he traveled an hour to spend 45minutes with you, and give you a poem he had written about the impact you had on his life.
10. Your influence caused two teens to get up early and meet you at 5:45 on a Saturday morning to say goodbye as you headed back to Michigan. Teens who would later confess to crying after you left.
11. You sang to people as they were getting on the subway for a longmorning commute. You brought joy to their faces as they not only saw your joy, but also found out about the relationship seminar.
12. You reminded me of the joy I have, but often gets covered up by theharshness of the city and also reminded me that although you are gone and no longer are walking with me, there is still an army that is walking with me through prayer.
Funny stuff:Donna- Christina says hello. Donna and Joshua were missed at Christina’s home church and she offered for you two to share the spare bed she has. :)
Paul- “If they are going to fast, can we have their lunch money?”
Pauls comment as we are praying for Hannah’s breakdown during handing outflyers- “What about me?”
Riley after hearing about Dave’s steak dream- “Dave you are turning into a fat kid”
Me riding the bus after you all left on saturday:A small kid yelled.
“It’s 7:32- we are never going to make it, we’re nevergoing to make it”“Oh no, it’s 7:36, we are never making it now, never.”
“It’s 7:38, we’re never going to make it. Tell the bus driver to go faster,he keeps stopping, make him hurry”
Dave walking out of the Brooklyn subway- “Wow, it doesn’t look as ghetto asI thought it would.”
Riley talking quite loudly to Dave on a crowded subway- “Dave you look likea little happy Asian”
Paul saying he could imagine Courtney left for her devo to get a costume on. Josh, completely lost it, thinking of what outfit she was coming out in!
Running through the subway to catch the train, and then the adjustment that Steph and the guys made once stopping.
I wanted to tell you what a blessing it was to have your group here. You probably thought you were coming to work with the people of the Bronx, but more than anything you encouraged me. It was such a blessing to have people who knew my past, my history, people I could be myself with. It was so nice to not have to worry about where I was, and what time it was because I was with a group instead of by myself. You blessed me richly by your cards, gifts, and money. You were self-sacrificial in so many ways, and there is really no way to quantify the impact you had on me, my teammates, and the people of the Bronx.


Hey gang - I wanted to give you some updates that you won't see on the email i send out to everyone. I know the email's long.. but read it anyway!:)1. We had a slightly higher number attend the seminar, but NEVER have we had the overwhelming response of people wanting to find out more about Christianity and the Bronx Fellowship.2. the area you handed out flyers on thursday had the most people come to the seminar than any other area, and the majority of them got them via under their door.3. I had dinner at my house last night for Tuoi, Victor, Anh, and Chris. The relationships you began are being continued by the grace of God. Did you know that Anh met Felix and Evelyn for the first time the week you all came,and b/c of their interactions I have seen all of them (except Felix) almost every other day. Anh spent the day at the seminar, and although he didn’t seem that entertained he later said that there is a peace that he can't find anywhere else than around us. God is moving.4.Nathan's mother was sick which is why we didnt have the fast lastsaturday. That sunday I was told they were sure she was sick b/c she had carried a curse from Africa and it was just now showing itself. I couldn’t help but let some American skepticism seep in. But that sunday we prayed for healing, protection and the curse to leave. When i went to visit her reply to how she was feeling was a smile and with hands raised a joyful "Praise God". She spent 5 days in the hospital and they couldnt find a thing, she got prayed for, and she was being healed.5. REQUEST- Jared needs any picture you may have of the youth for a person that is trying to raise full time support to move to the Bronx and work with youth. So if you could in the next couple DAYS send him 1, 2 pictures at the most of a quality picture that would show the diversity of teens here in the bronx that would be great!!! gracias!! email them tojared@bronxfellowship.orgI received your surveys today and i wanted to thank you for your honestcomments...Just out of curiousity is there any other comments concerning changes that could be made to city search that you didnt mention, we are refining it for a group coming this summer.I wanted to commend you for the fact that many of you requested to not have a full free day. This shows the servant and mission minded attitudes you had. Other groups in the past have come to the Bronx, as a means to see the city, and you came to serve the Bronx. This was a major difference and a major blessing to us. Thank you for being about the Father's work.Many of you also indicated that you would have liked to learn more about the missionaries way of life, know more info about the church itself, etc. We will make sure that in the future this gets more attention, but for your sake please check out our website which answers a lot of questions about home churches and bronx fellowship. (bronxfellowship.org) and also feel free to email any of us about random questions you still have. We are still here,so we can still give perspective to your questions.. :)As far as flyers.. i hated them too and honestly we had 2 other groups come for a day each to hand out flyers and they seriously faced NO opposition,yet few came from those areas where they handed out flyers. I can't help but think that the battle was raging, and the enemy knew that you putting flyers under doors in those harder neighborhoods is where people were needing to find out about this seminar. thank you for being soldiers on the front lines and as you well know, front lines get attacked the hardest.
This is from Jared's email after the seminar."Last year a woman who spent the following few months wrestling with her faith among us said that she brought her checkbook to the seminar because churches always are after your money one way or another. She was literally shocked that we never asked for anything.This year a woman wrote in her evaluation: "I came to see what they were selling, but then I found out that they were just giving." What this woman experienced was a taste of grace. Grace is giving. It is counter-cultural. It doesn't command allegiance, but by its sheer power it demands it.Grace is one of the key factors that seperates Christianity from all other world religions. In reality if we put religions on a shelf in their various sections, Christianity really doesn't belong there. Not really. Until... we remove grace from the equation. We replace it with control, with legalism, with certainty not in what Christ has done but in what we've done through our religion. Then, we put Christianity back on the shelf as just another religion. We rob it of its power. Then, when I have conversations with people in our city, they say Christianity is the same as all the other religions, and as far as the graceless religion they have often encountered,its true.But when we open up the Scriptures and let the Word speak and take down our idols of religiosity, control, and self-justification, then we are free to live in community, participate fully in mission, and give -- give as we have been given to. Nothing kills fervor like religion, and nothing wakes up our hearts & makes us alive like Jesus. "Keep praying. And keep talking with the teens if possible.I love each of you and I continue to see the blessings of your presence here in the Bronx.Have a wonderful day and may your day be filled with the light of Christ coming from you! blessings~Lindy

Inspired By Ahn

DISCLAIMER: I wrote this poem about the teens in the Bronx. The language is not meant to be offensive- but to make a point.

Bronx
Who are these boys?
Three Musketeers?
Throwing themselves upon the floor
Pant chains clinking
The words from their mouths
Like unfiltered tap water
You mother fucker
You bitch ass
A language foreign to me
King James' thees and thous
More at home on my tongue
But their's so fresh and raw
Real
Their existence-not obscure
They've lived
Everyday they live
Gangs, fights
Detention- punched a teacher
Soup Kitchen?
Cheap Spanish food
Dig-in-Today's Special
Hypocritical religion
With a large strawberry milkshake
Dessert
Talk of home runs- in the bedroom
Only 16!
Their lives-my life

Intertwined

A Bronx Boy's Poem

Meeting a group of older people is somewhat new
It was cool & outta the blue
I met these college students on Sunday
It was different than any other day
They threw a party, bought a cake, & went out of their way
I hope I didn’t leave a bad impression
Especially after yesterday’s non-aggression
I wish you could stay & have a blast
But you’ve got to get back and go to class
Don’t forget us, we’ll be right here
And when you leave, I might be up in tears
Till we meet again, my heart is where you stay
Even though you’re miles away
I wish you guys would never go
It’s mostly with you that my true emotions show
Only had a week to get to know you guys
I’m hoping none of you are full of lies
Yea, I admit, I had fun & won’t deny
From the bottom of my heart, I’ll miss you all
Maybe sometime you’ll give me a call

-Ahn

This Poem was written for us by Ahn, one of the teens from the Bronx. He loves to write poetry and was deeply affected by all of us and was moved to write this poem...

Bronx

This is an article I wrote for Church about our time in the Bronx...

Of Prayer, POTS, and Parties
A Reflection on the Bronx Mission Trip

Josh Graves and Stephanie Corp took a group of us college students to encourage Lindy Emerson and the work of the Bronx Fellowship of Christ in New York. Our time there over spring break was some of the most stretching and fulfilling I’ve experienced.

The Apostle Paul urges us to pray without ceasing. How many of us take that literally? That is what we did in the Bronx. Our entire schedule revolved around prayer. We all went on prayer walks and as we walked the streets praying for whatever came to mind– places and people we passed – or stopping to pray over graffiti – we all felt at peace in the Presence. Much of our time was spent in the subway cars and we found ourselves offering up simple prayers for those around us.

God’s hand was in everything. We all got to experience Church in a new way as we visited various house churches and joined in their worship. It was amazing to be in someone’s living room and see the close-knit community that meets there. I heard strikingly different prayer requests. One young girl casually asked us to pray for a friend who had been stabbed in the neck “again”. We met some of the Bronx teens on Sunday afternoon, and hanging with them turned out to be a highlight for many of us. First we met “the boys”: Felix, Chris, and Anh. Talk about a multi-cultural group of friends! Felix is from the Dominican Republic, Chris is African-American, and Anh is Asian. We also met 17-year-old Evelyn, who lives with Malissa, one of the leaders of the Bronx Fellowship. On Wednesday we threw a birthday party for two of them. Felix was turning 16 and Tuoi, Chris’s girlfriend, was turning 17. We found out the next day that Tuoi had never had a party before. We gave her the first birthday party EVER! Full of energy, the boys had fun wrestling with Josh (who they affectionately called “geezer”).

Working at P.O.T.S. (Part of the Solution), a soup kitchen, was a rewarding experience. They have the place set up like a restaurant, which makes the people who eat there feel valued and not embarrassed to come. The workers there made us feel right at home.I feel as though we got a chance to encourage and bless the Bronx Fellowship – but I feel even more that we were blessed. God had something to reveal to each of us that week. Being back in Rochester I can’t help but wish I were back in the Bronx, hanging with the boys and discussing religion with a teen who views the Church as hypocritical. (The truth is, he had some good points.) For a few days we were able to be the Body of Christ simply by giving them the time of day. I pray you will continue to keep Lindy and the house churches, as well as the teens, in your prayers.

IC Screening

Invisible Children: Discover the Unseen

This first part is an excerpt from the newsletter at Rochester Church of Christ that Ashley and I wrote.

"Take this, you have to watch it," said Josh Graves upon exiting his New Testament class. Looking at the cover of the DVD, it was hard to know what to expect. Living as a college student it seemed like just an extra assignment your Bible professor throws in your lap. Yet it is now March and this "assignment" has become an everyday part of life for us.
The assignment seemed simple: watch a DVD. The DVD was Invisible Children: The Rough Cut. So while it seemed simple it was watching that became the difficult part.

I first watched Invisible Children in October of last year. At first I couldn't stop saying, "I can't believe this." The next thing I did was go online and order my own copy of the DVD.

Within a week of watching the DVD Ashley had found out that we could hold a screening right here in Rochester and signed us up. I jumped on board with Ashley to start planning and Invisible Children quickly became a major part of our lives. We were both inspired by the courage of the children of Uganda and haunted by their cries for help. We knew we couldn't sit back and do nothing. Invisible Children gives people the resources they need to get involved. They seek to inspire our generation to "dare to be different, dare to change the world". I think in some way or another all of us feel the desire to do something about the problems in our world. But, we aren't really sure what we can do. Invisible Children has given the nation, and especially it's youth, a way to help make a difference.

After watching the documentary many times now I am still hit by the strong sobs of Jacob as he cries out for his dead brother. He speaks of how he would rather be dead, because he has nothing to live for. Today Jacob is in school and smiling. Every time I turn on my computer his beaming face reassures me I am helping a good cause. I am also hit each time I watch the DVD by the request by one of the young boys to not forget him. I can't get those words out of my head. Sometimes I want to yell across the ocean, "We haven't forgotten!"

It's so easy for us here in the "land of the free" to forget that freedoms are being stripped away from others everyday. The children of Uganda can't even stay in their homes without fear of abduction.

I would encourage everyone who wants to become involved to first simply pray. Ask God to show you how you can help. There are many ways to become involved with Invisible Children- some as simple as writing to your senators. Other ways are just telling others about the plight of the children. We need to spread awareness about this. One big way is to come join us in the Global Night Commute on April 29th. We will be walking into town as the children in Gulu do every night. We will be sleeping outside to raise awareness, especially with the media. With people all across the country doing this on one night the government is sure to feel the pressure.