Saturday, February 25, 2012

To Infinity and Beyond

"To Infinity and Beyond." Name that movie!
Hopefully, most of you recognize this as the famous quote of Buzz Lightyear from the ever popular children's movie Toy Story. This is my best friend's favorite movie, and, awhile ago, we realized that our friendship is a lot like that of Buzz and Woody. For Christmas, I got her a stuffed Woody, and for my birthday this past week, she got me a stuffed Buzz. I think this is the present I valued most this year because of what it symbolized about our relationship. Sure, we've been through rough times, as happens in any relationship, but ours is that rare, special kind of friendship that endures. Everyone needs a Woody in their life, and I'm so glad that God has given me mine. We all need that person who knows us better than we know ourselves, who will be there through the ups and downs of life, who will be there when we feel like giving up or feel like no one else loves us. At Point, we've been talking a lot about how God intended for us to be creatures in community. We were never meant to be alone but to walk alongside one another. I'm so grateful that God has given me Woody, in addition to many other friends and mentors, who have gone "to infinity and beyond" to show how much they care and that they will always be there for me. You can probably all sing along with this song from our special movie, but I encourage you to pay attention to what the lyrics say. Who do you have a friend in? Thank God for them and don't ever take that blessing for granted!


You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
Just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
You've got troubles, well I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and we see it through
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me

Some other folks might be
A little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too
Maybe
But none of them will ever love you the way I do
It's me and you
And as the years go by
Boys, our friendship will never die
You're gonna see
It's our destiny
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Reasons the month of February is amazing, a list.

With only eight days left in the month of February, I figure its about time to sit down, and think about what makes this month so awesome - for me, anyways; I can't speak for you, since I am not inside of your head as you think about the last month.

Anyways, as you know (or may have forgotten), I like lists, and I think that the best way to try and explain why Point has been so wonderful this past month is through said list. Without further ado,

  • My birthday. I'm turning 20 in exactly one week, and it's both scary and exciting. Scary in that I will no longer be able to say that I am a teenager, and that I am just this much closer to having to be in the "real world". But, on the bright side, being 20 means that I am no longer a teenager and am now about to enter the real world. Plus, I just love birthdays.
  • Sadie Hawkins dance was enjoyable. This past Friday night the CLMs held their annual Sadie Hawkins dance (where the girls ask the guys...it's always a surprise - you get bonus points that don't mean anything if you know the reference) and the theme was "Hoedown Throwdown". It was a night filled with food, and fire, and fun. Afterwards,  a group of us went to Dwarf House (where else?!) for a late night meal (it was "Biscuit Time" after all [after 11 PM they serve Chick-fil-a biscuits]), and I along with two of the "Redmen" (name that my girlfriend calls those of us in the Redmon House) and our friend Seth stayed up until 3 AM (latest I've stayed up until by far in the past year) and needless to say, I really enjoyed sleeping in until noon on Saturday.
  • I am being published (again) in the Talon, with an article on Ash Wednesday/Lent.
  • Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent - a new season on the liturgical calendar!
  • I finally got my Microsoft Word to not auto correct "pericope" to "periscope". I figure that Dr. Carey won't want me turning in a paper where it says "The periscope says that Jesus...".
  • Valentines Day was wonderful - spent it with my girlfriend with our friends and enjoyed a nice meal together of baked spaghetti, garlic bread, and ice cream.
  • I have grown out a beard. Much to the pleasure of my friends who have been asking me to for months.
  • Spring break is only a week away!
    • Related to spring break - I get to see the beach in only a little more than a week!
Needless to say, this month is full of awesomeness - and I am stoked to see what else March brings to the table!

IHS,

Will

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Being still.

Without a doubt, the Spring semester seems to be far more fast-paced. For one, there are fewer breaks. In the fall we have Fall break, Thanksgiving break, and right at the end we have a Winter Break. In the Spring we just have Spring break. That's it.

Now, I'm saying this but I don't mean it in a bad way. There are far more events all bundled up together. For example, it is only February and we have already had an Improv Night, Manhunt, a Big Bang Theory Party, Superbowl Party, Throwback dance night, Movie Outings, Swamp People marathon, plenty of exciting Basketball games (with Baseball and Softball starting up soon!) and many more on the horizon.

In all this excitement - and in all the assortment of tests and papers, it is difficult to step back and find a moments peace.

It's also difficult when we hear so many chapel messages regarding "renewing and restoring" and have little time to let that sink in, or to put into practice. This semester, I've heard some really great sermons so far and as soon as the speaker is done, I run out of chapel as quickly as possible because I have to wait approximately 10 minutes in line, which leaves me with 15 minutes to eat before I head off to my 1:00PM Geography class.

I've had to remind myself a lot lately that sometimes allowing the Lord to speak to your heart means being still, and that is not so easy sometimes.

Sure, outings and events are fun, and sure Fried Chicken is good, but it is no substitute for the things that make your heart grow and your soul stretch. And if there's something that I'm learning more and more, it's that sometimes in order to be an agent of restoration we must first pause to allow ourselves and God time to be restored.

I'm thankful to be in a place that values things like fun events, but I'm more thankful to be in a place that challenges me to grow - with so many people I can go to and be assured to help me along in that process. So today, after I finish this essay (if I ever stop procrastinating) I am going to drink tea, play some music, and be still.

Because that's what is needed sometimes: to be still.

- Rebecca

Friday, February 10, 2012

Passing Through the Storm


Passing Through the Storm
By: A.S.B. Jr.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 The Message (MSG)

11 I took another walk around the neighborhood and realized that on this earth as it is—

The race is not always to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor satisfaction to the wise,
Nor riches to the smart,
Nor grace to the learned.
Sooner or later bad luck hits us all.

When I was in school yesterday I noticed the seemingly tired and exhausted faces of my fellow classmates, needless to say a lot of them had a challenging week thus far. Professor Dawkins noticing the circumstances started off class with corporate prayer, seeing how the spirit in the atmosphere was rough; some didn’t even make to class possibly because of the overwhelming struggles they were facing. Are you struggling through some hardship? I know this day and time have been difficult for so many, wither you are out of work, family problems, health issues, love and relationship we all should be able to relate to some fashion.

Let us take the time today or whenever you read this message and pray for each other, asking God to heal us of any matters our sister or brother may be dealing with. Asking that God may also make way the plans He has for our futures, to bless us and continue in the hope of a much grander season of life experiences. Pray that our families will be covered with the love and promises of God’s blessings, and that He will be enriched in them. We must keep moving in life, staying in this journey is doable, for the simple reason of glorifying the God who passionately loves us. God through the spirit can only lead us into the end conclusion of living the good life.

                                      In Jesus the Christ Name, Amen

Who Needs Sleep?


I'm not a morning person. I'm not a night owl. I just like to sleep. Honestly, I rather go to bed early and wake up late, but college has almost cured me of that because when you sleep you miss out on so much of the incredible community here at Point. Last night SGA put on Manhunt (like hide-and-go-seek, but way cooler and there are prizes) at 10 pm. It was pretty awesome. I hid in a Herbie Curbie (a trash can for recycling plastic bottles) and one guy literally hid in the sewer. Each person hiding was worth a certain amount of points. Two people were even worth negative points. After Manhunt, a van full of girls (and a few brave, maybe even crazy, boys) went to the midnight premiere of The Vow, an ultimate chick flick! It was so sappy and romantic and I loved it. Once we got back, we started planning. Next Friday we are having a Hoedown Throwdown Sadie Hawkins Dance and girls have to be creative in asking guys to the dance. My across-the-hall dorm neighbor, Katie, and I planned an incredible scavenger hunt for her to ask her date to the dance. Yes, I stayed up until 4am and had to wake up a few hours later to go to work at my on-campus job, but the best things happen late. That is when the best conversations happen, when you drop your guard and really get to know someone, when everything is hilarious. I would not trade those experiences for the world (or even a couple more hours of sleep)!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

When I'm down He lifts me up!

In college life there is always a time when things don't seem to ever go right or your way. you try to do all you can to prevent the bad things from happening, but it's not enough. With that comes the stress of trying to fix things, school work, family problems, friends, and other things. When you add these things to your load you suddenly realize you can't carry the load anymore, so you sit down until you find a way to carry your heavy load. that's not the way it should be though. Yes, we all will have heavy loads in life, but we don't have to carry the load on our own. In 1 Peter 5:7, it says, "Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." God is there ready for us to handle over our load of stress and anxieties whenever we are ready to do so. I recently did that! I was at a point where I was caring a heavy load and it was so heavy it brought me to my knees. Then finally it CLICKED, I needed to give it all to God. And when I gave Him my load, I immediately felt the weight of it lifted of my shoulders and felt God lift me back on to my feet. Maybe your at that point in life where you need to give God things in your own life and not worry about it anymore. Maybe you need to give God something in your life and realize that you have no control of it and that God is the only one you does. Give Him your load and the control.