Regent University School of Udnergraduate Studies

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

its been awhile

Wow, its been almost 4 months since my last blog post. Shocking.

In about 6 weeks, I will be in England! I'm going through the School of Government's Oxford Program, so I'm sure it will be very intensive/interesting. Before I go, I need to read 7 books for one of the classes I'm taking...so far, 2 down, 5 to go.

Here's what I've read about so far: Muslims are changing the landscape of Europe and they're doing it at a very fast rate. In the past 50 years, "Arabs" have grown from 80 million to 320 million! A common expression I've read is that Muslims are going to "outbirth" Europeans (and eventually Americans). If you have time for some extra interesting reading, check out "God's Continent" by Philip Jenkins and "The Great Confrontation" by Ilya Gaiduk.

Last week, I went to the Coldplay concert at the Amphitheater. Everyone and their mom was there because Coldplay is AMAZING! When they played Yellow, lots of large yellow balloons were dropped from the rafters onto the crowd. That was awesome enough, but to top it off, they played my favorite song, which was an answer to my prayers.
Right before the concert started, I asked God to do me a little favor and have them play my song for me (its a really obscure one, so it was a stretch). The show was almost over and they had played all their popular songs, so I was prepared to leave without my "moment," but THEN they moved to a platform on the lawn really close to where I was sitting and played my song. SO WONDERFUL! It was such a worship moment for me...oh, the little things God does for me and you : ). I left that concert with my heart overflowing.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

come what may

As I've been bombarded with article after article on the MSN newspage this week discussing love, how to be in love, how to find true love, how to kiss better, etc., I thought, "not one of those articles really discusses true love." It is only lust parading around as love. Such a farce. The secret many people give to finding love is to follow the correct body signals, dress wonderfully everyday (because you never know when you'll meet Mr. or Miss Right), and put yourself in the correct social circles. Love is so superficial...no wonder so many people get divorced.

Love is so much more than external beauty, attraction, and perfect manners. You have to choose to love. Instant attraction only lasts so long. Love is laying down your life for your friend. Bailing out when the times get tough is not love because love endures all things!!!!!

If only people were taught this stuff:

{1 Corinthians 13}

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind;
love does not envy;
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.

But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;
whether there are tongues, they will cease;
whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

Psalm 63:3 "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you."
John 15:17 "This is my command: Love each other."
Just go to a concordance and look up "love" and you'll have hours of reading ahead of you. So, here's my abbreviated lesson for the day: Look to Jesus, because He is Love. Don't look to the ridiculous articles online.


Come what may, love never fails. Thank you, Jesus.

: )

Monday, January 26, 2009

Super Bowl ads

MSN came out with the "Top 10 Super Bowl ads" today (#3 is my favorite). Here are some more that I thought were pretty funny. If you have absolutely nothing better to do, take a look : )

Fedex "Cast Away"

Monster.com "When I Grow Up"

EDS "Herding Cats"

Budweiser "Streaker" (you may not need to see this)

and another Budweiser commercial

Enjoy : )

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Inauguration facts(!)

In view of the looming inauguration, here are a bunch of facts about the ceremony. Anyone who has seen the Pink Panther movies knows it sounds way better to say "Fact!" with a French accent. Any piece of information with a French sounding "Fact!" before it sounds better, for that matter. So,


Fact -


The inauguration ceremony during which Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States will be the 55th inauguration ceremony in this country's history, and the 19th held since inauguration day was switched from March 4th to January 20th.Inauguration Day was originally set for March 4th in order to give members of the Electoral College from each State four months from election day to cast their ballots for president.


Fact -


Weather's greatest impact on inauguration day came in 1841 when William Henry Harrison decided to brave the elements and deliver the longest inauguration speech ever, an oration lasting an hour, 40 minutes.It was a cloudy, cold and blustery day, and Harrison, who wore neither hat nor overcoat, rode a horse to and from the Capitol ceremony. He subsequently caught a cold that developed into pneumonia. A month later, Harrison died.


Fact -


The warmest January 20th inauguration day came in 1981 when Ronald Reagan was sworn into office under mostly cloudy skies. The temperature at noon on this inauguration day was 55 degrees.


Fact -


The shortest inauguration speech was delivered by George Washington at his second inauguration on March 4, 1793. The speech totaled 135 words.

Fact -


At noon on January 20th the president-elect becomes President.


Fact -


Thomas Jefferson was the first president to complete his inauguration with a parade. Since Jefferson's second inauguration on March 4, 1805, it has become tradition for the president to parade down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.


Fact -


There have been nine presidents sworn in on days other than inauguration day — eight following eight presidential deaths and one after Richard Nixon's resignation.


Fact -


The coldest inauguration came in 1985 when Ronald Reagan was greeted by extreme cold and wind. The morning low was 4 degrees below zero with the temperature reaching only 7 degrees by noon. The daytime high reached 17 degrees, but wind chill temperatures in the afternoon were 10-20 degrees below zero. The swearing-in ceremony had to be held indoors and the parade was canceled.


Fact -


Though anyone legally authorized to administer an oath could swear in the President of the United States, to date there has been one person to do so who was not a judge. In 1923, John C. Coolidge, Calvin Coolidge's father (a notary public), swore in his son after the death of President Warren G. Harding. Fourteen of the 20 judges to have administered the oath were Chief Justices, dating back to when Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth swore in John Adams in 1797.


Fact -


Grover Cleveland is the only American president to attend two inaugurations as the outgoing president, enjoying the claim of being the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms. After four years as the nation's 22nd president, Cleveland was beaten in the election of 1888 by Benjamin Harrison, and attended Harrison's inauguration in March of 1889. Upon leaving the White House, Frances Cleveland told a staff member to "take good care of all the furniture and ornaments in the house, for I want to find everything just as it is now, when we come back again."When asked when she planned to return, she said, "We are coming back four years from today." And she was right.In the election of 1892, Cleveland was re-elected in a rematch against Harrison, and after four more years in office he attended the 1897 inauguration of William McKinley, who had defeated Williams Jennings Bryan.


and finally,


Last fact -


Ronald Reagan's second inaugural had to compete with Super Bowl Sunday. (1985)


God Bless America.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

drink in the Word


I was reading this passage earlier this morning, and I felt like yelling it. Such good stuff. {Especially the part about being joyful and praying continually.} Basically, it watered my soul and all I wanted to do was just soak it up over and over again. So, of course, I had to share it with you all. I hope you're drenched in it : )


1 Thessalonians 5:12-24


Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.


Be joyful always;

pray continually;

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not put out the Spirit's fire;

do not treat prophecies with contempt.

Test everything.

Hold on to the good.
Avoid every kind of evil.


May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

by faith

I don't know what to write, so read this chapter. This is POWERFUL stuff, especially the part about "looking for a better country -- a heavenly one." We're aliens in a strange land, my friends, so get used to it (or your) being wierd : )

Hebrews 11

1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

23By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Friday, October 3, 2008

shower the people you know with love

In an effort to escape from the economic/political/the world is at an end/who won the debate/stressful whirlwind currently stuck over the US, I've been listening to James Taylor.  Nevermind he's about as liberal as they come...he has amazing songs.  As I write this, I'm going to Carolina in my mind and thinking that love's the finest thing around.  Don't you agree?  Can't you just feel the sunshine?  

Speaking of sunshine, its a PERFECT day outside, and where am I?  Inside, writing a paper on impeachment.  Its my own fault for waiting until the last week before its due to start writing.  Fortunately, its not due until tomorrow, so I have time to hash out my thoughts on the best course of action Congress should take against renegade Supreme Court justices.  

The first thing that most people think about when they hear impeachment is "Clinton", but do you know the name of the other president that was impeached?  (it wasn't Nixon) No search engine cheating, please.  For a bonus point, name the only Supreme Court justice to be impeached.  

Now I really want to watch Jeopardy.  

Anyways, last night, my professor gave a devotion on the fact that God's number one concern is LIFE.  Not the economy, LIFE.  Jesus said, '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."  If everyone had followed those commandments, then this whole economic mess would have been avoided and we wouldn't have such nasty comments coming from both sides of the presidential campaign.  I don't think we'll ever reach a utopia where everyone's greatest concern is sunshine and  roses, but I do think we could all be a little more respectful of each other.  People's lack of respect is probably the thing that annoys me the most.  When I see some stupid kid bossing their dad around, I get a little mad.  "Come on dad, you shouldn't take that, use the...rod of correction" is what I'm thinking.  

We all need to focus on loving each other, because that's what everyone desires the most.  Love.  : ) Many people claim to have unfailing love, but they fail eventually.  Only God loves us faithfully.  His plans for us give us life!  Its when we strike out on our own path of selfishness that our big problems get started.  

So, shower the people you know with love.  Tell them how you feel.  And R-E-S-P-E-C-T God and man.

The end.  
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