4.29.2008

Gracious Uncertainty...

My Utmost for His Highest was good today. I am going to share it with you....

Gracious Uncertainty
By Oswald Chambers

"...it has not yet been revealed what we shall be..." 1 John 3:2

Our natural inclination is to be so precise - trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next - that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not hte nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, "Well, what if I were in that circumstance?" We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.
Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life - gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God - it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, "...unless you...become as little children..." (Matthew 18:3). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, "...believe also in me" (John 14:1), not, "Believe certain things about me." Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in - but you can be certain that He will come. Remain Faithful to him.




I love this book...If you don't have it...Get it!

4.24.2008

Down right busy...

I am so busy. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but being busy takes so much time.

I've been working a lot, of course. What's new? I like my job...enough.

I started my internship at Cooks of Crocus Hill.
It's pretty great. I get to proof read things, which I absolutely love.
The only problem is that I always get so hungry because everything I read there is about food.
Yesterday I just sent out mailings. I got to mail one to Garrison Keiller though. That was cool.

I've been super busy working on my senior research project.
We are ALMOST DONE!
I honestly don't know how much I can take.
Monday I cried because I did the APA wrong.
It was sad, but then my wonderful group bought me ice cream.
I'm okay now.

I'm looking forward to a break...someday.

4.15.2008

A blustery day...

I went to Caribou today with Stephanie to work on homework. Always a good idea, right? Generally we don't get much accomplished, but it seemed like a good day to get a nice cool beverage. So anyway, we're sitting there when all of a sudden we look out the window to find that there is a metal shopping cart cruising through the parking lot. No one is pushing it. It is being moved only by wind power. It was super windy today...so windy that I had to walk backwards at times. Anyway, by this time everyone in Caribou has fixed their eyes upon the magic metal cart, most of us laughing at the thought of it coming from no where. Once it moved out of my sight, I got up to watch it roll through the lot. Just as I get out of my seat, someone said, "What if it hits a car?...haha." That's when I notice it is going full speed right towards the shaggin wagon. For those of you who do not know, the "shaggin wagon" is my 1992 Honda Accord Station Wagon. Then smack! And I say, "Damnit, it was my car!" So I go outside to check out the new dent on my car and move the grocery cart to a safe and not-so-windy spot.

Then I laughed at what had just happend. Life happens.

4.12.2008

Help me please

I am doing my senior research project on how people present themselves online and how they percieve the honesty of others online, specifically how it relates to online dating services...PLEASE FILL OUT THIS SURVEY. Obviously, we are trying to collect data from people who have used online dating services, but anyone can fill out our survey. If you know anyone who uses online dating services, please e-mail them the link. The survey takes seriously 3 minutes.

http://CTLSilhouette.wsu.edu/surveys/ZS77593

I'm sorry I can't figure out how to link it so you may need to copy and paste.


Thanks ya'll.

Sarah Jean

4.08.2008

Bob the Builder

Bethel is building a new student center. This is not a new venture; the project started at the beginning of August. I have kept very close tabs on this project because it is directly outside my window.

This entire year I have been awakened to the lovely sounds of big construction machinery backing up. You know the sound: BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. It's like setting an alarm for 6:45 every morning but NEVER being able to turn it off!

It has been getting progressively more awkward as the student center has been built from the ground up. They are currently working on the third level, which happens to be at eye level with my apartment. I have to make sure my blinds are closed when I get dressed, which is kind of annoying because I would much prefer to have my windows wide open when I'm naked.

Sometimes we watch them. I know that sounds creepy, and rightfully so. It's called procrastination though. We have even named some of them. There is one construction worker with an especially nice jaw line who we have named Jack. Today Jack realized that we were watching them and then he dropped his hat...twice. Turns out he has quite the receding hairline.

Keep reading for more updates on the Bethel Student Center.

4.04.2008

Shhhhhhh...

Please read this entire post in a whisper...

I am in the Bethel Library. I have been in this library more this week than the rest of the year combined. I have found that I can actually focus here. Crazy thought, right? The only things I have to distract me are facebook, e-harmony, and this blog, but I've had quite a bit of self-control up until this post. Well, I've looked through a few wedding albums of friends on facebook, but other than that I've been pretty good.

I'm working on putting together a poster presentation for the CSCA conference next weekend. Then once I finish that, I have to work on editing the literature review for my senior research project and also write up a second lit review for another class, but on the same topic. LAME. This semester is almost over. I just need to focus...focus, focus, focus.

Did I mention that my senior research project is a group project? I love my group, but I hate the idea of group projects. No matter how cohesive a group is, the project will still be 10X more work than an individual project. Yay, for being a Com major. Ey yi yi yi yi.

Okay, but seriously, I need to get to work....

4.03.2008

The Official International Accent Bible Reading Day...

I read Philippians to Stephanie today in an Irish accent. Not all of Philippinas, just a couple verses. I wanted to do it in an English accent because Paul wrote "...indeed, he was ill..." and it made me think of Mr. Darcy for some reason. It just came out wrong.

Spencer is doing a three week series on joy at Evergreen Bloomington, and he's heading through Philippians (in an American accent).