Last week was very rough for me. It was probably the most difficult week I have had in college, and the roughness is not even school related.
A friend of mine, a person I know better than anyone else on campus besides my roommates, moved away. I knew that he was planning to transfer for two or three months prior to his actual leaving, but the departure and resulting absence have been harder to deal with than I ever anticipated.
Before he left, I gave him a small gift--small in size and possibly (but hopefully not) in significance but not small in the time and money spent--that included a three-page letter. In this letter I attempted to share some "last" words of encouragement and instruction in the faith (for I had been discipling him throughout this school year) and convey my thoughts on and feelings toward him. I wanted him to know that at least one person on this college campus cared enough for him to diligently pursue him in Christian fellowship and take the initiative in matters regarding him, such as keeping up with his business, and that one person is me.
He did not perceive himself as being skilled in making friends or as being well-liked by most. I think, and I could be wrong, he thought he was, in a sense, invisible--a topic on which I will elaborate further in a future post. He was never invisible to me. I am not trying to sound arrogant when I say that I took the time, went out of my way, and quite frankly did things for him that I currently would NEVER do for ANYONE else. God laid him on my heart early in the fall '06 semester, and I have carried a deep burden for his spiritual growth. I do not view myself as being as servant-hearted as people like my sister (who is amazing), but I truly enjoy serving him. I can just sit around content thinking of ways to serve him.
You can probably understand now why his departure from this campus and this city is so painful for me. I made random trips to the restroom throughout Wednesday to release my emotions and left work early. I kept telling my sister that I needed a vacation, that I needed out of St. Louis for a while. I wanted to go home to the country--a nice change of scenery and a scenery I love. Over time I am sure that I will adjust to his absence and think less of him (as extended absences always cause), but last week I felt as though a part inside me was dying, and I prayed for God's strength and His enabling me to focus my thoughts on other things and eventually get over this. Since that prayer in the women's restroom of the Field building, God has shown me His care and faithfulness in helping me think of other things and giving me His strength to continue every day without the destructive apathy I had developed last week. Praise God, and glory in the highest!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Please Pray for MH
As my long-time readers know, sometimes I ask for prayer in my blog. It's that time again. This prayer request, however, is not for an individual's health problem as my requests usually are. My home church, Meadow Heights Baptist Church, is under either spiritual attack or is in preparation for what is to come. Whichever, we have been since the beginning of this year. God has been doing amazing things among and through us, and we believe He has much more in store in the coming months. Perhaps partially because of this we have been enduring severe health crises churchwide.
Please pray for the physical health and spiritual endurance of MH as a whole.
These crises are bazaar. For example, early this year, my pastor had to have surgery on his vocal chord because of an hemorrhaging polyp. He could not talk for a while and had to undergo voice therapy. Members of the leadership staff stood in the pulpit each week on a rotating basis, and I think our church grew closer together and to God throughout it all.
Another example: A family took their four-year-old daughter to the hospital to treat her broken leg, and in the process of treatment, someone discovered she had an autoimmune disease called Takayasu Arteritis that attacks her blood vessels. She has already experienced Stage 1, so some damage to her aorta has already occurred. Prednisone and Methotrexate were prescribed for treatment. (My mom has had to take these medications for rheumatoid arthritis, so we know the effects they can have. Having to take them at such a young age, before full development, is sad.) She is also taking blood pressure medicine.
The young child's family says she is the youngest person her doctors have seen with this disease and are praising God for her broken leg. The family has had an amazing attitude throughout all this, trusting God and knowing that His hand is on the girl's life. They said in an email that they have given her to Him and are "continuing in His strength and for His glory." I truly admire them and are thankful for people like them in the Church.
One last example: Our youth coordinator/worship leader was diagnosed with walking pneumonia a few weeks ago. He was feeling better before last Friday night, when he woke up with severe pains. He was transported to Parkland Hospital in Farmington, MO, and was put into isolation. His many visitors had to suit up and wear masks before seeing him. For a while, the doctors did not know what was wrong with him, but I was informed today that his colon had ruptured from a bubble behind his chestbone. The burst released gas into his body cavity, and he became infected. As far as I know, he is so supposed to stay in the hospital untl at least tomorrow.
These examples and many deaths/life-threating illnesses (like a man's wife suddenly collapsed and died at a gas station and a boy was paralyzed from the chest down from a serious auto accident) have afflicted MH, and I ask for you prayers in regards to strength, endurance, perseverance in believing, patience, comfort, and God's healing. Most importantly, I ask that you pray that God would be glorified throughout all this.
Thank you so much!
Please pray for the physical health and spiritual endurance of MH as a whole.
These crises are bazaar. For example, early this year, my pastor had to have surgery on his vocal chord because of an hemorrhaging polyp. He could not talk for a while and had to undergo voice therapy. Members of the leadership staff stood in the pulpit each week on a rotating basis, and I think our church grew closer together and to God throughout it all.
Another example: A family took their four-year-old daughter to the hospital to treat her broken leg, and in the process of treatment, someone discovered she had an autoimmune disease called Takayasu Arteritis that attacks her blood vessels. She has already experienced Stage 1, so some damage to her aorta has already occurred. Prednisone and Methotrexate were prescribed for treatment. (My mom has had to take these medications for rheumatoid arthritis, so we know the effects they can have. Having to take them at such a young age, before full development, is sad.) She is also taking blood pressure medicine.
The young child's family says she is the youngest person her doctors have seen with this disease and are praising God for her broken leg. The family has had an amazing attitude throughout all this, trusting God and knowing that His hand is on the girl's life. They said in an email that they have given her to Him and are "continuing in His strength and for His glory." I truly admire them and are thankful for people like them in the Church.
One last example: Our youth coordinator/worship leader was diagnosed with walking pneumonia a few weeks ago. He was feeling better before last Friday night, when he woke up with severe pains. He was transported to Parkland Hospital in Farmington, MO, and was put into isolation. His many visitors had to suit up and wear masks before seeing him. For a while, the doctors did not know what was wrong with him, but I was informed today that his colon had ruptured from a bubble behind his chestbone. The burst released gas into his body cavity, and he became infected. As far as I know, he is so supposed to stay in the hospital untl at least tomorrow.
These examples and many deaths/life-threating illnesses (like a man's wife suddenly collapsed and died at a gas station and a boy was paralyzed from the chest down from a serious auto accident) have afflicted MH, and I ask for you prayers in regards to strength, endurance, perseverance in believing, patience, comfort, and God's healing. Most importantly, I ask that you pray that God would be glorified throughout all this.
Thank you so much!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Insight from Jonathan Edwards
Last Saturday, something pivotal in my life took place... and it hurt.
I was hurrying to the sofa at the apartment, and I somehow managed to strike my toe on a random staple under the sofa. How in the heck?!
Yes, it was pivotal. Hee, hee...
Every moment in time is pivotal based on the laws of action and reaction. I have a quote for you from Jonathan Edwards that I found on the Facebook wall of the group Dead Theologians Society:
"Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can."
I was hurrying to the sofa at the apartment, and I somehow managed to strike my toe on a random staple under the sofa. How in the heck?!
Yes, it was pivotal. Hee, hee...
Every moment in time is pivotal based on the laws of action and reaction. I have a quote for you from Jonathan Edwards that I found on the Facebook wall of the group Dead Theologians Society:
"Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can."
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Ol' Sup
Last October, my roommates and I went to Thei's Farm where one can buy pumpkins from a pumpkin patch as well as goods from a little shop and explore hay mazes and a cornfield maze. One can also take a guided tour through the pumpkin patch, fields, and orchards.
Anyway, about that pumpkin... my roommate spotted a beauty, and it was the winner. I named it Sup after former Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan. I bought the pumpkin for my dad and I to carve as we sometimes do around Halloween time. I go home about every weekend for church and to see my parents, and every weekend did not seem like the right time to carve the pumpkin. My dad and I kept procrastinating. Soon Thanksgiving came and went. (If you view my Thanskgiving photo album on Facebook, you can see a picture or two with the pumpkin in the foreground.) Then Christmas came and went--I think by this time I was urging my dad to get cracking on the pumpkin--and the New Year along with Passion07 came and went. Valentine's Day... Martin Luther King Day... St. Patrick's Day... Easter. Over the weekend, my mom, sister, and aunt forced me to put the infested pumpkin outside by the garbage can. I did so reluctantly. For one thing, I did not want to touch it. I will admit, ol' Sup is pretty nasty.
My dad said he was going to cut it open to see the inside. I really hope he does. My mom and sister would rather Sup take a ride off the roof.
By the way, that picture of the bird feeder is still in the works.
Anyway, about that pumpkin... my roommate spotted a beauty, and it was the winner. I named it Sup after former Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan. I bought the pumpkin for my dad and I to carve as we sometimes do around Halloween time. I go home about every weekend for church and to see my parents, and every weekend did not seem like the right time to carve the pumpkin. My dad and I kept procrastinating. Soon Thanksgiving came and went. (If you view my Thanskgiving photo album on Facebook, you can see a picture or two with the pumpkin in the foreground.) Then Christmas came and went--I think by this time I was urging my dad to get cracking on the pumpkin--and the New Year along with Passion07 came and went. Valentine's Day... Martin Luther King Day... St. Patrick's Day... Easter. Over the weekend, my mom, sister, and aunt forced me to put the infested pumpkin outside by the garbage can. I did so reluctantly. For one thing, I did not want to touch it. I will admit, ol' Sup is pretty nasty.
My dad said he was going to cut it open to see the inside. I really hope he does. My mom and sister would rather Sup take a ride off the roof.
By the way, that picture of the bird feeder is still in the works.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Amusing Events
I love my parents. Recent amusing events have plagued them. Let me elaborate...
Amusing Event #1
My parents had just parked in front of the Hallmark store in Farmington, MO. Since my dad wanted to help my arthritic mom out of the car, and my mom had a second set of keys for the car, my dad decided to leave the keys in the ignition. My mom didn't want to take her big boat of a purse into the store, so she left it in the car and locked the doors, naturally so no one would steal it. They then went on with their shopping. When my parents returned to the car, my dad wanted my mom's set of keys to unlock the car, and she, of course, did not have them because they were in her big boat of a purse, which was, of course, in the car. My parents had to call a locksmith and pay $35 to have the car unlocked.
Amusing Event #2
Some time ago, my dad went to Lowe's to return a defective Shop-Vac. The Lowe's employee gave him a Lowe's card worth $85 to use to buy a new Shop-Vac. My dad didn't know he was supposed to use the card to make the exchange, so he left the store with the $85 card--thinking it wasn't worth anything (i.e., a dead card)--and a new Shop-Vac. My mom recently persuaded him to have the card checked, and lo and behold, he found out that $85 was on the card. He knew it wasn't right to use the $85 (nor legal), but the woman servicing him insisted that he use the "free" money because, after all, it was Lowe's mistake. They should not have given him the card. My parents now have a new $100 Moen faucet in their kitchen.
Amusing Event #3
My dad was having some car trouble recently, so he was driving his '90 Chevy truck to work while the car was out of commission. While working on his car, he decided to leave the battery going to listen to music. After a snag or sure (I cannot remember how many), the project wound up taking a little longer than anticipated. As most of you know, if you leave a car battery pulling juice for too long, the car will not have enough battery power left to start. Needless to say, when my dad tried to start the car, it was 100 percent dead. He thought to himself, "It's okay. I'll just use the truck." When he turned the key in the ignition the truck wouldn't fire either! "What is going on around here?!" he wondered. He told my mom the situation, and my mom asked if he had left his lights on. My dad is very careful about things like that and thought the idea ridiculous but went ahead and checked it out. Sure enough, he had left his headlights on all day!... Hilarity.
Amusing Event #4
I've saved the best for last. My dad has been in a war against some squirrels in our backyard for a very long time. They like to climb the pole to the bird feeder and eat the bird seed. My dad has tried a funnel, a piece of wood I think, a strip of plastic, a strip of plastic with sides, and maybe even oiling up the pole. No matter what my dad has tried, the squirrel(s) end up on top (no pun intended). Recently, my dad has had to make revisions on his strip of plastic with sides and has formed it into a plastic box of sorts. For a week the squirrel was stumped (yes, the other squirrel gave up a while ago, so there is only one still fighting), then it finally happened. I was in the kitchen as my dad was walking into the dining room looking out the sliding glass doors. Suddenly he gasped. I looked out the window and saw the varment atop the plastic box, eating to his mischievous delight. For probably a good ten minutes, my dad, sister, and I stared outside the sliding glass doors, trying to figure out the seemingly genius animal's strategy. We laughed at the thought that my dad was being outsmarted by a squirrel. Make no doubt about it, we have seen these squirrels in action and know that they do actually think things through and study different angles--at least when it comes to getting on a bird feeder. For some added humor, know that the birds are particularly attracted to the squirrels' food when my dad puts it out on the ground. I will try to provide a picture of the bird feeder with its ridiculous contraption soon.
In case I do not write for a while, God bless your celebration of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection!
Amusing Event #1
My parents had just parked in front of the Hallmark store in Farmington, MO. Since my dad wanted to help my arthritic mom out of the car, and my mom had a second set of keys for the car, my dad decided to leave the keys in the ignition. My mom didn't want to take her big boat of a purse into the store, so she left it in the car and locked the doors, naturally so no one would steal it. They then went on with their shopping. When my parents returned to the car, my dad wanted my mom's set of keys to unlock the car, and she, of course, did not have them because they were in her big boat of a purse, which was, of course, in the car. My parents had to call a locksmith and pay $35 to have the car unlocked.
Amusing Event #2
Some time ago, my dad went to Lowe's to return a defective Shop-Vac. The Lowe's employee gave him a Lowe's card worth $85 to use to buy a new Shop-Vac. My dad didn't know he was supposed to use the card to make the exchange, so he left the store with the $85 card--thinking it wasn't worth anything (i.e., a dead card)--and a new Shop-Vac. My mom recently persuaded him to have the card checked, and lo and behold, he found out that $85 was on the card. He knew it wasn't right to use the $85 (nor legal), but the woman servicing him insisted that he use the "free" money because, after all, it was Lowe's mistake. They should not have given him the card. My parents now have a new $100 Moen faucet in their kitchen.
Amusing Event #3
My dad was having some car trouble recently, so he was driving his '90 Chevy truck to work while the car was out of commission. While working on his car, he decided to leave the battery going to listen to music. After a snag or sure (I cannot remember how many), the project wound up taking a little longer than anticipated. As most of you know, if you leave a car battery pulling juice for too long, the car will not have enough battery power left to start. Needless to say, when my dad tried to start the car, it was 100 percent dead. He thought to himself, "It's okay. I'll just use the truck." When he turned the key in the ignition the truck wouldn't fire either! "What is going on around here?!" he wondered. He told my mom the situation, and my mom asked if he had left his lights on. My dad is very careful about things like that and thought the idea ridiculous but went ahead and checked it out. Sure enough, he had left his headlights on all day!... Hilarity.
Amusing Event #4
I've saved the best for last. My dad has been in a war against some squirrels in our backyard for a very long time. They like to climb the pole to the bird feeder and eat the bird seed. My dad has tried a funnel, a piece of wood I think, a strip of plastic, a strip of plastic with sides, and maybe even oiling up the pole. No matter what my dad has tried, the squirrel(s) end up on top (no pun intended). Recently, my dad has had to make revisions on his strip of plastic with sides and has formed it into a plastic box of sorts. For a week the squirrel was stumped (yes, the other squirrel gave up a while ago, so there is only one still fighting), then it finally happened. I was in the kitchen as my dad was walking into the dining room looking out the sliding glass doors. Suddenly he gasped. I looked out the window and saw the varment atop the plastic box, eating to his mischievous delight. For probably a good ten minutes, my dad, sister, and I stared outside the sliding glass doors, trying to figure out the seemingly genius animal's strategy. We laughed at the thought that my dad was being outsmarted by a squirrel. Make no doubt about it, we have seen these squirrels in action and know that they do actually think things through and study different angles--at least when it comes to getting on a bird feeder. For some added humor, know that the birds are particularly attracted to the squirrels' food when my dad puts it out on the ground. I will try to provide a picture of the bird feeder with its ridiculous contraption soon.
In case I do not write for a while, God bless your celebration of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
