Nunsense is Habit Forming

I would like to officially announce that I'm becoming a nun! Now before you try to convince me that the life of solitude and loneliness isn't all it's cracked up to be, I should probably clarify that I'm only playing the role of a nun in Point University's first ever school play! I'm so excited! I did plays all thorough high school, but since I've been in college, there hasn't been much of an opportunity. However, as our school is growing, a drama program is being introduced including putting on a full fledge musical! When my dad went to school here way back in the dark ages, he was a part of the drama program, so I think it's cool that I get to continue the tradition. We've already begun rehearsals. There's only 5 people in the cast, so we're becoming a quirky little family. We have rehearsals every Monday and Tuesday from 7 to 10 pm and on Saturdays from noon to 6 pm, so we've had a lot of time together already. After all the dancing, sweating, laughing, we've all bonded fast, and I love these girls! The basic concept of the show is that the nuns are putting on a show to raise the money they need to bury 4 nuns that died and were stuck in the freezer. It's hilarious; there've been so many times that we've had to stop rehearsal for laughing breaks. The show is March 16th, 17th, and 18th. Everyone should come see it!

Because you’re Beautiful: Philia

Because you’re Beautiful: Philia (φιλία philía)

By: A.S.B. Jr.

Edited By: K. Smith

1 John 3:18

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (NIV)

When the word love comes to my mind sometimes I start to think about good R&B oldies. Artist like Earth, Wind, and Fire, Anita Baker, and Sade’ all come to mind because their classics. Bob Merrill made a great point when he wrote the song "Love Makes the World Go 'Round," from the musical film ‘Lili'. William Shakespeare produced and wrote most of his plays. Most of his plays dealt with a form of love, and they were quiet often tragedies. Romeo and Juliet and Anthony and Cleopatra dealt with the death of one’s lover. In most cases love enables the characters to overcome their difficulties and find happiness in the end as is shown in plays, The Merry Wives of Windsor and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Displaying action in love (the way the Bible interprets it) is typically clear for people to take notice of.

The writer John was showing us a tune or beat by which we should think or display genuine love to those people who we may come across. God has given you and me a new heart to love with. When you accepted Christ as your lord and savior, the things that make a genuine Christian are not words but motives and actions. Christ was able to lay down his life knowing that we have desires contrary to what He shares, and His are out of genuine love. So if our motives have been evil, He gives people an option to have a good “happy ever after” ending to what could have become dire and dismal.

Turn the volume of your heart to the Love channel…

My student worker position on campus is in the Educational Resource center: I teach freshmen how to write decent papers and I edit papers for people who already KNOW how to write. It is, in my opinion, one of the best jobs on campus. I'm aware this isn't a common thing for people who are working to help pay their way though college: plenty of my friends work jobs that are decent but not super enjoyable--there comes a point where you need a job and there just so happens to be a job open in the caf washing dishes. Nothing against dish washing (I do plenty of it; my apartment doesn't have a dishwasher) but it is not exactly exciting. So. I say all that to say that my job is actually very enjoyable. I am doing something I love (and can maybe even see myself doing long term). This means that I am blessed.

Tonight, however, is not ideal. I've got sinus congestion. My head hurts. In the words of the High School Musical song, my head is NOT "in the game." My mind is a million miles away from here. I was dreading coming into work tonight and, when 7:00 rolled around and the football players did not, I was relieved. But suspicious. I walked down from my office to the scheduling center. Lo and behold (and I truly believe this was a blessing from God), study hall has been cancelled.

This is small. This is simple. But this is an example of the overarching lesson God has been teaching me lately. He is in control. He takes care of me. He gives me what I need and even when my life is going crazy, he provides good things. My life is full of good things and I couldn't be more grateful.


Elizabeth

Home again, home again

I've been back at Point for two weeks as of today, and it feels like forever - but in a good way! I feel like I never left, and that's one of my favorite things of being here.

This past week was wonderful: Tuesday, I cooked dinner for ten of my close friends at my girlfriends apartment, Wednesday I had dinner at one of the families who live on campus' house, Friday night we (my girlfriend and I) went for frozen yogurt at Yoforia in midtown by Ga. Tech (we managed to not get lost...too badly), and then Saturday I went and had a great time on a double date with one of my housemates and his girlfriend in Ye Ol' Stockbridge.

But anyways, on a more serious front: the semester has kicked off, and things are so far, going according to plan: in love with my courses, and more so that I only have one 10:30 class on M/W/F. SGA has had a successful election, and I'm seeing the big picture of things which are exciting to think about in regards to all the awesome things that our God is doing in our lives as Point University.

I'm realizing more and more, how all of the little things tend to work together and create one massive awesome thing that happens in the end to surprise you. Knowing that God has control, and is doing what's right for you in the long run is a comfort to this college student who works two jobs, volunteers, and goes to class.

So here's to an awesome semester, and I'll catch ya later.

wbw.

Back to the Grind!!

The holidays are officially over, and it's back to life as normal (well, as normal as possible). This semester I decided to add an additional online class to my already full schedule. This extra class just so happened to fall during the holidays. Seemed like a good idea, no? Let me just come out and say it, not the best idea I've ever had. It's not because it was too much to handle, it just that this particular class required a lot of papers (A LOT)! So taking two classes, one of which required 3 papers, the other required 1. That's basically a paper a week for us ACCESS students. Not too bad as I'm certain that the traditional students probably have even more than that, but being an adult, with children, church responsibilities, as well as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years just added a whole new level of crazy to it. Taking time off to enjoy the holidays meant paying dearly for it later. All in all, I'm not unhappy I took the extra class; I'll do it again, but I'll not be planning it around Christmas for sure!
On another happy note, in a few days I will be taking my last official Associate's Degree class. By the end of the semester I will be working on my Bachelor's Degree. I can't believe my time is almost halfway over. I've met some really great people and made some new friends along the way. I'm looking forward to the next couple of years.

"The End To Dec.25"

The End To Dec. 25

By: A.S.B. Jr.

Luke 2:33-35 message

33-35Jesus' father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother,

This child marks both the failure and

the recovery of many in Israel,

A figure misunderstood and contradicted--

the pain of a sword thrust through you--

But the rejection will force honesty,

as God reveals who they really are.

 

I am so appreciative of our Lord and Savior; he came in the form of a man who gave his own life so that the father would be glorified. He viewed his life as merely nothing, we were crooked in the eyes of God the father. Jesus parents could not even understand the child that they were raising. Jesus already had a death warrant out on him when the great star hovered, and the wise men came. John the Baptizer was preparing the way while he was still rolling in his mother’s womb. A husband who is skeptical about his newly wed wife’s pregnancy by a “supernatural spirit” seems like a good dramatic soap-opera, yet it’s divine. Then how about this silent night song/story. There was nothing really silent about that night; mothers mourn the death of their infant children by the hands of a fascist king.

  Looking at this from the inside out would seem more meaningful, exciting, and we may have some questions: Was there anything silent about that night? Would I be bold enough to, “prepare the way” for others to see Jesus? Those questions like many others should be asked and discussed, unlike trying to find someone to kiss under the mistletoe, or waiting for good Ol' Saint Nick. So where does this Christmas spirit really spring from? I don’t know if a baby born next to some sheep and donkeys can make a person “cheery,” or maybe-so. I guess the big question is can we celebrate the birth of Jesus at any other time of the year? Could you say ‘Merry Christmas'! joyfully in June or July, or do you need it to be cold or snowing outside to do so? Can you bring tidings of joy in April when all you see is rain? Can we live without Dec.25? Hark! The herald angels sing….

We interrupt your regularly scheduled blog entry...

I'm slightly delayed in posting my cliche "what I did on Christmas break" post for a couple of reasons (and since I like really like lists, I'll list them):

• My laptop keyboard got destroyed. And while not physically beaten to smitherines, it would work to a degree - but not without a string of text having random characters thrown in. Thanks to my father, I was able to install a new one - and it works as good as new.
• Stuff's been busy at the shop. We had quite a few animals go home through our "Santa service" (parents buy said animal and everything to go with it, and we hold it for free until Christmas eve). I have also been in the middle of resetting (note: fancy retail term for "rearranging") dog food and toys. 
• Family has been chaotic. With mom running around cooking, dad working open to close, me working whenever I wasn't trying to catch up on sleep, and my grandma coming over.

Now, here we are, on the 8th day of Christmas and I'm finally writing all the typical stuff....but it's not typical. 

Probably, the best part of break by far was the time I spent working - as weird as that sounds. It is good quality time with my dad, and it lets me get my need for spending time with people satisfied. The best part of the best part was no-questions asked, seeing the look on the parents/kids faces when they got their new pet. The look of "Oh my gosh, this is really real?!" on the kids, and the smile on their parents' faces of "we're happy you're happy". 

In no real order, here are some more highlights (again, in list form):

• I got to give all my housemates awesome Christmas gifts (well, this was technically before break, but it was Christmas-ey, so it counts). They all *said* they loved them, so either a) they really did, or b) They're really good actors.
• I got what I wanted for Christmas, even though I was content without either thing. 
• The Redmon Christmas Tree (again, technically pre-Xmas) was a success in broke-college-students-trying-to-be-cool engineering. See what's to the right here...
• Awesome food. Both home cooked and in resteraunts.
• Catching up with my friends from home, since one goes to Clemson, one is in Auburn, one is at SUNY-ESF (State University of New York - Environmental Science and Forestry), another at Grove City College, and finally another who's still in high school.
• Beautiful weather. I mean, seriously. Can you imagine 70ish degrees in December? Sunny? Yeah. Thats what it was here. I am happy without snow.

I still have yet to go take pictures (like I keep meaning to) out this break. I need to. But I might not have the time between packing, packing, cleaning, and loading my car to make the trek to Point.

So, there we have it. A very stream of conciousness, no real plan of attack blog post about Christmas. I feel as though I should have some metaphysical, intellectual conclusion about the deepness of everything....but nah. 

Merry 8th day of Christmas, and Happy New Year!

(Yes, we are still in the season of Christmas, and will be until the Feast of Epiphany...so don't tear down the decorations just yet!)

-ww