And Such Is My Life

Internet:1 Government:0

2010-12-08T19:51:00.001-08:00

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/12/who_are_those_anonymous_wikile.html

I will be the first to admit that in the hustle and bustle that is college life I have recently been lacking in keeping up with the news. I try, I skim, I tweet… but really, let’s be honest-- how is reading a few tweets from major and local news organizations really staying updated on the latest information? That has recently begun to change, though.

Recently headlines regarding the latest Wikileaks fiasco have caught my attention. I was even able to speak with a German citizen who is very involved in German politics and works with some of the politicians. The wonder as to why someone from America would release such damaging information about America itself is simply beyond me.

That is where this article, “Who Are Those ‘Anonymous’ WikiLeak Hacktivists?” caught my eye. The article, written by Natasha Tiku from The Daily Intel at New York Magazine, goes into detail about the self-appointed group who were behind the attacks of companies, such as Visa and MasterCard, who stopped serving WikiLeaks. This group of supposedly around 1,000 people “with no command structure, who come together when the spirit moves them” is made up of an unlikely group. “Ranks are mostly filled with teenagers, but there are also ‘parents, IT professionals and people who happen to have time - and resources - on their hands,’ says the Guardian.”

A spokesman from the group explained the reasoning behind the actions taken today.

“Anonymous is supporting WikiLeaks not because we agree or disagree with the data that is being sent out, but we disagree with any from of censorship on the internet. If we let WikiLeaks fall without a fight then governments will think they can just take down any sites they wish or disagree with.”

The article goes on to explain how the biggest worry of Americans was that our National Security would be compromised via Internet hackings and well; this is proving to be true.

My biggest wonder about all of the articles pertaining to the WikiLeaks and this one in particular is how Americans could see any of this as being right or patriotic in any way. They even admit that they are in fact breaking the law, but think it’s OK because they are exercising their right to post things on the Internet and do not want to see an Internet that is censored by the government.

The question that comes into play here is whether or not this is really “censorship” by our government or them protecting our country and their information. It sounds to me as though it is more of a protection move rather than censorship, but this idea seems to have many followers and they are continually growing in number. The statement at the end of this article sums up things quite well, which is something I love about New York Magazine.

“Remember when the all the crowing about hacking being our biggest threat to national security seemed overblown? The Internet won this round. Governments, your move.”

*Posted for credit for JRN215

To beat or not to beat...

2010-09-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

So here we are once again. The school year has begun and I have returned to my ever so neglected blog. One of these days I’m really going to get serious about this thing. (Maybe if I keep saying it it’ll actually happen. It’s possible, right? Right?)

What beckons me to post this time? My beat. What is my beat? Great question! If you happen to know then you should really consider filling me in because I’m not entirely sure. I’m kind of shooting in the dark and hoping to hit my target!

However, distraught at this fact I finally set aside a few precious moments (because as a college student, every moment that could be spent napping is indeed quite precious) to discuss this predicament with my wonderful EIC, Monica. We talked about what I like (which got us nowhere because I like so many things), we talked about what I do (which got us nowhere because I’m constantly in motion doing different things) and finally we talked about my work (BINGO!).

Seeing as how I am so heavily involved with the publications at California Baptist University that is typically where my time is spent. My world has revolved around college students, viral videos, social networks and other things of this nature. That actually sounds a bit shallow, but perhaps that’s simply because it is. Just kidding! Well, kind of. (Let’s be real here) But there are some serious things in there as well, which makes me feel like a bit more of a grown-up I suppose.

After cycling through all of these areas (and then some) Monica sent me on my way with the beat of (drum roll, please) Student Affairs.

What is Student Affairs exactly? Great question! (You’re simply full of those today, aren’t you?) Student affairs involves everything that college students love. What makes them tick. What they do with their spare time. What they stress out about. How they’re getting the money they desperately need. How they manage their time. Everything that involves students.

I’m pretty excited to explore this beat further in-depth than I already do. It is going to provide an opportunity for me to get to know my target audience better and will provide better, more applicable stories in the publications for the lovely students of CBU.

So, what is the moral to this wonderful would-be-fable that is my life and blog post today? (Oh yes, there is one; you didn’t think there was, did you?) Talk with your EIC! They are there to guide you and they know what they want to see, so if you don’t know what to give them… just ask!
*Posted for credit for JRN215

Inspiration At Its Finest

2010-06-01T03:40:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about the way my mind works is that an idea can strike me at anytime and in any place regardless of any variables, influences or distractions. This idea will then proceed to completely consume my every thought until I have developed the notion to my utmost ability. While this is one of my many joys as a writer it is also something I dread the most. You see, that whole “anytime, any place” rule applies even when I am sleeping soundly, peacefully and without a care in the world for the first night in what would seem to be ages. (Which of course brings me to this current post.) I was sharply awakened with a stroke of genius and an immense amount of inspiration accompanied by a newfound dose of adrenaline that is bound to keep me up for hours. I don’t so much mind that however, for you see this is when my work is simply at its finest. I have written a mission statement, editor’s note and have finally finished my first article for CBU’s prospective magazine debuting in the fall. I have had a terrible case of what my alter ego, Holly Golightly, would call "the mean reds" as of late and have been stumped at the thought of writing a single sentence; so you see, this is indeed a great achievement. Sadly however, this sudden burst of enlightenment and productivity is costing me some of my ever so precious and very much needed hours of sleep. I will be cranky tomorrow, but my work shall be flawless. Such is my life...

Eight Steps to Getting Over Him

2010-04-16T01:52:00.000-07:00

So, you got those dreaded words, “We need to talk.” These are quite possibly some of the most dangerous words when it comes to relationships. The guy of your dreams you’ve been dating for over a year has decided that you should no longer see each other. Who knows what made him come to this dreadful and obviously wrong decision, but nonetheless, the decision has been made and that leaves you with the difficult task of moving on. Here are some easy tips to help you through this rough time.

1. Don’t blame yourself. Don’t spiral yourself downward into a deeper depression than you are already in by finding ways to blame yourself. Focusing only on your flaws and where you went wrong in the relationship is not going to do you or anyone else any good.

2. Don’t hate him. While it may be easy to let out all of your furry on this obviously foolish man for letting you go, but don’t do it! You never know what could happen down the line and you running your mouth about him, posting angry blogs or a Facebook status may blow any chance you had of getting back together. Also, it just makes you look bad and not in control of your emotions.
Here’s a tip: Your anger and hurt needs to go somewhere. Journal it.

3. Have a girl's night. You need the support and the company. Surround yourself with uplifting people who won’t let you be depressed all the time. Keeping your spirits up and your attitude in check is key when going through this.

4. Give yourself one day. You don’t need to bring yourself down by spending a bunch of time mourning over your loss. However, it is healthy to spend some time doing so. Give yourself a day of nothing. Clear your schedule and do what you need to do.

5. Lots of ice cream and chocolate. Your new best friends are dying to comfort you. Grab some Ben & Jerry’s, a comfy blanket and get ready to let the tears fall.

6. Watch a movie. Find your favorite chick-flick and slip it in. Laugh, cry and get it all out. Watch it with your favorite girlfriends and make sure to have a good time.

7. Put things in a box. This guy was obviously important to you— don’t throw everything away! You’ll regret it if you do. However, you don’t need to surround yourself with these constant little reminders. So, gather everything he’s ever given you and put it in a box or two boxes or however many boxes it takes. Load them up and pack them away until you are ready to be around it all again.

8. Get back out there. Don’t stay in a rut. There are way too many exciting people to meet and exotic places to see. Don’t waste your time slumping around. Grab that dancing dress, your favorite girls and hit the clubs for some dancing. As Rihanna says, “Gotta get your body moving, shake the stress away.”

And there you have it. Much easier said than done, but you won’t regret it. Hang in there girl and stay strong. You will get through it and you’ll be better because of it.

*Posted for credit for JRN 412

4,105 Balloons

2010-03-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

4,105 balloons. 4,105 dreams. The number represents each person at CBU and each balloon represents their dream. But how can that be? I fee like just on my own I have 4,105 dreams.

Sure, my dreams have very much changed over the years and many have faded. I used to dream of being in a rock band, of playing college ball or going to the Olympics with my horse… but things happen, injuries occur, paths change and before you know it you wind up feeling like you have no dreams at all.

So then what do you do when you come to this place? Everything you have ever wished for is gone. Everything you have worked hard for no longer matters. The time you spent on it seems wasted and whatever you do from that point on seems useless.

If you can’t tell, I have been in this place; on more than one occasion I might add. It is not a fun place to be in; dark and unsure. Audrey Hepburn put it ever so well in her role as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s when she said, “The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of.” I feel like I have often been in this state where the mean reds sneak up on me. Depression sets in and before you know it you are feeling completely empty. This is truly one of the most difficult places to be, easiest places to fall and hardest to get out of. But it is possible.

It took me reaching my lowest of lows to realize that God has a bigger plan for me; His dream [will]. It took me a long time to realize it and to be okay with it. At times I still struggle with it and those darn mean reds sneak up, but I know that I am where He wants me to be and doing what He wants me to do and what will bring Him glory in the end. That is what brings me the true joy that I have, the knowledge that I am pleasing Him and living His dream [will] for me.

So what is my dream? What is His will for me? I would spell it out for you if I could, but I do not think it is really that easy. It is something I know in my heart though and something I strive after with everything that I am.

What does 4,105 balloons mean to me? Nothing. What does God’s will mean to me? Everything.

*Posted for credit for JRN412

So What Is Blogging Anyway?

2010-03-23T23:13:00.000-07:00

Blogging. Some use it to vent about the horrible fight they had with their boyfriend, show the world what an adorable puppy they have and how no one on earth seems to understand them. Others use it as a way of reaching others with their work, sharing news, breaking news and announcing new products. It has also been one of the leading tools of convergent media and allowing freelance writers to get their work out there and noticed.

So what then is it really all about? I know my blog has taken the role of getting school assignments done. That’s not all that I want it to be, but with the busyness of college life that is where it stands.

But what do others blog about? And why? This is the question that plagues me today, so let’s just take a look shall we?

The first blog I stumbled upon is http://thegrublog.blogspot.com. This blog is run by four different people and describes the purpose of their blog as, “a non-profit writing center dedicated to nurturing writers and connecting readers with the wealth of writing talent in the Boston area.”

The writing style changes with every post, as they are being written by different writers, but overall I like the flow of their writing. A lot of the subject matter (which seems to mostly consist of baseball) lost my interest however, though that could be due to the fact that it’s all very local based, and well, I’m not from Boston.

I did however enjoy the fact that they have a guest writer every Friday to sort of spruce things up as it were.

Now onto blog #2 http://birdsblog.blogspot.com. I really enjoy this blog. The writer has yet to reveal her identity and blogs under the alias of “Bird”. I’m kind of a fan of this. She states the purpose of her blog as, “Poetry, musings, observations, commentary, rants, confessions...and who knows what else!” So, pretty much whatever floats its way into her mind will find its way to becoming a blog post. She does everything from “Top Ten Milestones Indicating You Are No Longer Dating But Are In A Relationship” to her trip to Europe to a rant about birth control.

I like her writing style, though that could be because it reminds me of my own voice from time to time.

So, here we have three different types of blogs: My own, with the purpose of passing my classes, Grublog, with the purpose of connecting readers and writers together and Bird with the purpose of, well, being Bird. But what role does blogging play in media today? I would assume a rather large one.

Blogs can be used in sending out the latest news, announcing the release of a new product, providing advertisement and getting consumer reports on how business is doing.

Blogs serve a multitude of different purposes, but overall they are one of the leading forms of social media today and are certainly things to be mastered.

*Posted for credit for JRN371

Hearing God's Voice

2010-02-21T12:39:00.000-08:00

Hearing God’s voice. It’s something every Christian will talk about. Whether it be “yielding to His will” or “Feeling His spirit” or countless other names that we as Christians label hearing God’s voice speak to us. It’s something we all strive for and something that doesn’t always come so easy to some as it does others.

Hearing God’s voice is not something that came easily to me. I am a very independent person who likes to have control over things that are going on. I need to know what’s going on at all times and know at least three ways of bailing out if need be. It’s a security thing for me I guess you could say. Because of this though it took me years to finally figure out how to listen and yield to God’s voice. Here are some quick tips on how I was able to finally settle myself down and hear God speak to me. These may not work for everyone, but they have certainly helped me out.

First of all, I need to be alone. I need my space away from the world and from the typical distractions of the day. I turn off my phone for a bit and if I’m home I tell friends and family to not bother me or that I’m taking a nap or something so I won’t be disturbed.

Secondly, I pray. I pray for God’s help in clearing my mind of trivial things and from trying to take control and go with the answer I want or am looking for. I pray for discernment, guidance and sometimes to just be slapped over the head with His will because sometimes that’s the only way it will get through to me.

Next, I pull out my Bible. The Bible is the Word of God, so why not start there when I’m trying to hear from him?

After praying and reading for awhile I will sit and reflect and be as “still” as possible. (Figuratively, not physically) I again attempt to clear my mind and really focus on what God is trying to say to me. Usually I will also wrestle with certain thoughts and outcomes in my head.

Typically after that I will journal as a way to organize my thoughts and be able to look back at what I felt like God was telling me.

I will then close with a short prayer and go about my day.

And there you have it. This is not the only way I hear God's voice, but when I really need guidance or am making a big decision this is what I do. It may not be the “best” way or even the most organized way of hearing God’s voice, but it is something that has worked for me personally and who knows, maybe some of these tips will work for you as well.

*Posted for credit for JRN371

Spoiled Rotten

2010-02-14T20:31:00.001-08:00

Valentine’s Day. Single Awareness Day (S.A.D.). Whatever you call it, you cannot escape it.

Pink, red and white suddenly become every girl’s new favorite color. Teddy bears, flowers, chocolates and little blue boxes holding their supposed “best friend” consume the woman’s every thought.

Are you seeing a trend here?

Candle lit dinners, cute romantic comedies and little limericks to show his affection. Elaborate dates, expensive gifts and the simple hope for a goodnight kiss.

How about now? No? Let me help you out. How many of the things listed above apply to men? Other than the fact that they are the ones breaking their backs to attempt to please their girl by being sweet to her? This seems to constantly be the trend with Valentine’s Day. Girls expect their men to spoil them rotten and typically do nothing in return other than a nice homemade card he’ll naturally forget about or throw away. Why is this the trend?

I suppose I can’t exactly single this attitude out to only applying on Valentine’s Day. Every single day of the year men are taken advantage of. Women can at times be spoiled, obnoxious, selfish brats. And I’ll admit, I definitely have my moments of taking the gold for each of those categories. And the ever growing number of Hollywood romance movies filling our minds with this stigma isn’t helping matters much.

So why not change things? Why not take your guy out go-kart racing every once in awhile? Why not surprise him with a date YOU planned for HIM? Out of 10 different guys I talked to they all agreed that they would really appreciated it if their girlfriends did something special for them.

So there you have it. Short. Simple. To the point.

Make your guy feel special— he deserves it.

*Posted for credit for JRN371

"Hope for Haiti"

2010-01-24T23:53:00.000-08:00

It’s incredible how it takes a disaster to recognize a nation. Now I’m not saying that I’m miss perfect over here and recognize all of the poverty that surrounds us in this world; I am just as guilty as the next person when it comes to not taking the time to educate myself on such things. If you were to ask me a few weeks ago where Haiti was or if it were even a country at all I couldn’t have told you or even taken a guess. Why is it that it takes a catastrophe, such as a 7.0 earthquake striking, in order to make a country known? Are we really that caught up in our own lives that we don’t recognize the poverty in the world or the fact that people all over the world are living on less than $2.00 a day, like those in Haiti, while we’re spending $5.00 every morning on our Starbucks fix?

We go about our daily lives without a care in the world, other than the typical drama we seem to always have floating around, while those in places such as Haiti are starving, infected with HIV or Tuberculosis, are completely illiterate and living in poverty with no hope of getting out. Now, I have never really been one to go out and take a stand on being globally aware, but this disaster has kind of smacked me in the head and made me think and begin to realize that we need to care about what’s going on in the world. It shouldn’t take a 7.0 earthquake killing thousands of helpless bystanders to wake us up. We should be active in aiding countries around the world before a disaster strikes.

There have been reports of over 150,000 people killed, some may still be buried alive and others are dealing with the aftermath of the quake, such as injuries and breakouts of infections. There is only one hope for Haiti and that is to rely on the strength, the kindness and the donations of others to get through this time. You have the information, you have the means— what are you going to do about it?

Ways to give:
http://www.worldvision.org/worldvision/eappeal.nsf/egift-haiti-earthquake-relief?Open&campaign=113655125&cmp=KNC-113655125

https://my.care.org/site/Donation2?df_id=5080&5080.donation=form1&s_src=171040000000&s_subsrc=redghaitiearthquake110&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=haiti%20relief&utm_content=careisproviding&utm_campaign=redhaiti5080

You can also send aid via text message and have it on your next phone bill:

Text “Yele” to 501501 to make a $5.00 donation
Text “HAITI” to 20222 to make a $10.00 donation
Text “Haiti” to 90999 to make a $10.00 donation

*Posted for credit for JRN 371

New Year's Eve: Fail

2010-01-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

Everyone’s always looking for adventure on New Year’s Eve and most everyone comes back with some sort of tale of grandeur. Typically, as everyone brags about their stories to see who ends up as top dog, I tend to try to fade into the background and hope to not have to share my New Year’s Eve story of boring ho-hum. However, this year, I decided things were going to be different.

It started off fairly typical, so I decided to shake things up. I had heard that my friend, Alysa, would be down in Riverside, so I developed a plan to kidnap her. As I should have expected, things went horribly wrong and I ended up utterly lost and confused in the most dreadful apartment complex I have ever had the so called “pleasure” of encountering. After maneuvering between to the 20 plus buildings making up this contraption I had no choice but to call for back up, which also meant ruining the surprise.

Alysa was still shocked to see me, so I guess it didn’t all go to waste. We then proceeded to head to my house, dolled ourselves up and headed out to our favorite place, Yardhouse. The bar was pretty legit that night and the ever so enchanting acts of catching up ensued; beginning with break and school and leading down the ever so juicy roads of family and guys. Alysa and I were treated to a gorgeous waiter with quite possibly the most random name, Fabion- we called him Fabio.

Fabio was all too good to us during dinner and even offered to not card my friend or I for some of the house’s specialty drinks. My ever so sheltered friend stared at the brute in utter disbelief, so I quickly jump in informing Fabio we would be driving in a short bit so we shouldn’t have anything, but were deeply flattered by the offer. He then picked up the tab on our check and we headed out. Thanks for dinner, Fabio.

The long car ride of rocking out to Kesha and Lady GaGa followed our pre-game at Yardhouse as we headed south to visit the wonderful Miss Katie. We ended up lost; although I’m not really sure one could consider it lost. We were on the same street, the right street too I might add, but it took us 20 minutes to find the blasted house. Note to self, find friends who don’t live in the middle of nowhere, or at least have street lights to aide in finding addresses.

The party was pretty typical, the clock struck twelve and everyone immediately broke off into their ever so evenly paired off couples. Alysa, who just broke up with her boyfriend, and me, whose heart could not be any more confused at the moment as to what it wants, stood awkwardly and decided that was our cue to leave.

Final Count: Getting lost twice, one hott waiter, one free dinner, one rock out dance session, one majorly awkward moment, six drunk dials throughout the night and still a typical ho-hum New Year’s Eve.

Such is my life.

*Posted for credit for JRN 371

How to clean your tack

2009-12-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

Alright, you’ve got that big show coming up and you’re prepared in just about every way possible to go for the gold, but there’s one problem: you haven’t cleaned your tack.
Any equestrian will tell you that you don’t have a chance of placing in competition if your tack doesn’t have that certain shine the judges are looking for. Not sure how to get it? Well don’t you fret my friend; I have a simple guide of how to quickly achieve that sparkle that’ll bring you home the gold.

1.First, gather all of your supplies. The last thing you need to do is be covered in soap or oil and have to go stumbling through the stable looking for things. The essentials include: Two small buckets filled with warm water, a rag, a sponge, some form of mouthwash (I suggest Listerine, the horses seem to like that the best), glycerin soap, oils for the leather and polish.

2.After you’ve gathered everything you need it’s time to lay out your tack. Keep your saddle on a saddle rack and be sure to take off your leathers and irons. At this point you can through your irons in one of the buckets of water to begin soaking. Hang your leathers off the side of the saddle rack.

3.Next, you want to prepare your bridle for cleaning by taking it apart as well and hanging it from the saddle rack.

4.Pour mouthwash into the opposite bucket that your irons are soaking in and place your bits in to soak.

5.Pour some soap in with your irons, dampen a sponge and begin cleaning them. Be sure to remove the rubber pads and clean under those as well; You know judges are crazy and will look anywhere they can for the slightest sign of dirt.

6.Once finished with your irons hang them out to dry and begin the process of wiping down your saddle.

7.After scrubbing down your saddle, proceed to do the same to all of the pieces of your bridle. Be sure to pay special attention to cheek pieces and the browband as these are the areas that accumulate the most sweat and dirt.

8.After scrubbing everything down, pour some leather oil on your rag and begin working it into the leather of the bridle and saddle

9.After allowing some time for the oil to soak in, add a leather polish to your saddle and bridle.

10.Allow ample drying time for the polish to dry and proceed to put everything back together.

Helpful tips:
Never use soap on a bit. Your horse will refuse to take it and it is also dangerous because you never know if you got all of the soap off.

Toothbrushes work great in areas you’re really having trouble getting dirt and grime off.

If you’re having a really hard time making your bit and irons shine, put them in the dishwasher. Yes, I’m aware that it sounds ridiculous, but trust me nothing works better! Just be sure to soak your bits in mouthwash after you wash them.

*Posted for credit for JRN212

The Lovely Bones

2009-09-20T19:54:00.000-07:00

So it would seem that the tragic comedy known as my life has kept me from updating my ever so lonesome blog. However, all of that is about to change because classes have started up again and you know what that means- mandatory blogging. I suppose that isn’t such a bad thing, after all I do need SOMETHING to get my butt in gear in keeping up with this thing. I was doing quite well until my trip to Florida; things seemed to tumble downhill from there. Anyhow, I do believe I have a specific topic I should be blogging about, is that not correct? Ah, yes, a literary classic.

The previous “literary classic” I wrote of was not in fact any sort of literary classic at all and that is indeed going to be the same with this post. It’s a new book that I have been absolutely enthralled with, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

Sebold takes such an interesting point of view while telling this tragic tale of a 14-year-old girl, Susie, who was raped and murdered by a man in her neighborhood. The book opens up with Susie in her own personal heaven. Her heaven is different from other people’s heaven, but they all seem to intertwine flawlessly. Susie is telling her story and watching as her family is trying desperately to unravel the mystery of what happened to her. This is both saddening and frustrating for Susie to watch due to the fact that her family begins to make some interesting choices while uncovering the truth of her death.

I love the fact that the author chooses to use the narrative voice throughout the entire book, not many authors choose to do so nowadays. It flows perfectly with the story and really lets you into the mind of the victim. You see the grief, confusion and constant struggle of dealing with what happened. The question of “Why?” comes up time after time, which had the result of me asking myself that very same question. If I were in that situation would I have been naïve enough to make the choices that Susie had made? I like the fact that the author gets you thinking and keeps your brain working throughout the story while also keeping you very connected with the characters.

This book has also caused quite a bit controversy, however. The fact that it deals with the afterlife and Susie having her own personal heaven has caused quite a stir in the religious community. “To me, the idea of heaven would give you certain pleasures, certain joys - but it's very important to have an intellectual understanding of why you want those things,” Sebold explains. “It's also about discovery, and being able to come to the conclusions that elude you in life. So it's from the most simplistic things - Susie wants a duplex - to larger things, like being able to understand why her mother was always slightly distant from her.” Sebold has also stated that the book is not intended to be religious, "but if people want to take things and interpret them, then I can't do anything about that. It is a book that has faith and hope and giant universal themes in it, but it's not meant to be, 'This is the way you should look at the afterlife'” [1]

After reading the book Peter Jackson fell in love with the story as well as the characters and has transformed this “literary classic” into a movie that will be released in the near future.

___________________________________________________

1 (Viner, Katharine; August 24, 2002; "Above and Beyond: Interview with Alice Sebold"; The Guardian; retrieved April 4, 2007)

*Posted for credit for JRN 212

Simplicity in a complicated world

2009-08-08T00:33:00.000-07:00

Karl Barth, who has gained a reputation as being a great theologian and who wrote a study on the book of Romans which revolutionized theology only a few decades ago, was once asked, “What is the greatest theological thought that has ever crossed your mind?” One would expect a very long, in depth, complicated answer, but his was this: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” That is the simplicity that is in Christ.

It is easy to lose that in the midst of Christian activity or bible studies. One can become so involved in the captivating aspects of Scripture and give themselves over to a lifetime of Bible study only to end up losing the simplicity they have in Christ. So many great theologians have lost this concept and that of Christ is with you and that is enough.

“This is the beautiful, ‘simplicity that is in Jesus,’” Barth continued. “In Corinth they were assaulted with these teachers who were exposing them to things that caught their attention, but they were drifting from that central point. They were involved with fascinating philosophies based on the Word of God, but which went off on side tracks and rabbit paths of thought. They were being challenged with certain ego-appealing experiences, which if they could just grasp would make them feel so great, so wonderful, so God-possessed -- just like people today who are invited to explore strange and wonderful mysteries all involved with Christian faith -- but which tend to move them away from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Now, before you go filling my inbox with complaints, know this: I am by no means suggesting that Christ is simple- He is far from it. What I am saying though is that there is a certain simplicity that we have in Him that so many people seem to be losing sight of today. I think Barth put it well. Oh look at that, I threw my opinion in there. I guess the whole blog is ruined,huh? Oh well, such is my life...

The doctor is in...

2009-08-06T00:32:00.000-07:00

Recently I had one of my usual therapy sessions with my good friend, Twitty. I so look forward to these talks. We rant, we rave, we plot revenge against those who annoy us, we share things on our minds that we would not necessarily ever admit were there to others and enjoy one another’s friendship for a time. I myself was long over due for one of our little sessions and he expressed he was as well, so I hopped into his suburban, popped open my can of Arizona Raspberry Iced Tea (his treat of course), he his bottle of Dr. Pepper and we set off for what was indeed going to be a enticing ride to visit another long lost friend whom we had not seen in a year.

We began with the typical surface level conversation of “How do you do?” and our usual rant about how it’d been far too long since our previous session with one another. After spilling the latest drama in my life and he of his and rocking out to a few Taylor Swift songs we of course meandered onto the topic of our ever so excitingly dull dating lives. Neither of us has dated much; I have had one horrendous excuse for a relationship and he has endeavored on a few nightmares of his own. We spoke of our troubles, our lessons learned and discovered once again we have so much in common when it comes to what we are looking for at this point of our lives. He called me out on issues I was facing and I so kindly returned the favor.

*Side note- I tell ya, friendships where you can truly call one another out like that are hard to find, so when you’re lucky enough to come across one, take advantage of it and enjoy it for all it’s worth.

After what would seem like endless complaining and whining, on both our parts, we came to the conclusion that we are happy with where we are currently stationed in our lives. However, things always seem to be getting rushed by those around us who attempt to push us towards what they feel is right and what is considered to be the “norm” for our individual situations. Although, I suppose we cannot blame others for our predicaments, though we sure like to try and have become rather skilled at doing so. Sometimes though, however much we hate to admit it, we were just bored and ended up getting ourselves in a little deeper than we originally anticipated. Well, we both agreed that this pattern is coming to an abrupt end. We listened intently to one another’s stories, made fun of each other where needed and gave some level-headed, heart-felt advice on our specific situations. He set my head straight after knocking me on my butt and intends to make sure it stays that way. I’d like to say that our little heart-to-heart went deeper and we truly grew in who we are, our friendship began to blossom and yada yada yada, but Crazy Frog’s “I Like To Move It” came on and well- we like to move it! *Cue rock out dance party session*

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

2009-07-31T15:27:00.000-07:00

Hello,

My name is Katie and I fail at blogging.

At the beginning of the summer I decided I was going to be a good blog owner for once in my life and actually get this thing up and running. I set goals to post once a week, to get Andrew to help me out with some design work on it and to really get serious about keeping up with it. As you can see, those goals crashed and burned. Well, maybe not, seeing as how they would have to be put in motion in order to crash and the poor things never even got off the ground.

I’ve always struggled with the idea of blogging. I’m a very open person when it comes to conversing with friends, coworkers, classmates and so on, but when it comes to writing out my thoughts and prayers I am very private about all of it. Putting my thoughts out there for everyone to read has just never been a comforting feeling. Although, perhaps sometimes I’m just plain lazy and don’t feel like taking ten minutes out of my daily time spent on Facebook to type up a short blurb of what’s been on my mind. I suppose that’s a gift I simply wasn’t born with, but one in which I mostly certainly should strive to obtain.

So, here it goes, I am publicly setting my goal right now. I am going to blog at least once a week from here on out.

Now if I fail everyone will get to know about it- such is my life, I suppose.

F.I.N.A.L.S.

2009-04-22T00:43:00.000-07:00

Oh the joys of writing my final blog and closing out my first year of writing with the Angelos team. It’s been fun working with all of you! Thank you for all of the awesome memories and tremendous growth.

I suppose I should get to talking about that “literary classic” now, shouldn’t I? Now most people would not consider this book to be a literary classic. It is not on the same level as Pride and Predigest or The Scarlet Letter, but it is however the book that initially got me interested in writing. I chose to write about a recent book I have read. That book would of course be one of my all-time favorites- Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. This book absolutely grabs the reader’s attention like none other. The book takes you back in time to a “simpler time”, but leaves you with the realization that this could very well happen in today’s world as well, in fact there’s a new TV series that kinda plays off of this story line, Haper’s Island.

The author does an amazing job of flawlessly leading you down paths and kills off the murderer within the first few chapters of the book, which indeed throws the story line into a new playing field. It teases your brain and keeps it involved.

I personally have always been a fan of the background given on all of the characters and how in depth they go. The author really makes you feel for these people. It’s also kind of twisted at some points like how the murder recreates a scene from a girl’s past and she ends up hanging herself because of it, thus he did not “murder” her.

The book starts off fairly light-heartedly though, before the deaths start occurring. One by one each character “pays for their sins” with their lives, each in according to their own “sin”. At the end of the book a note is found by police explaining why all of the deaths occurred and what had become of the murderer. The reason behind the deaths is absolutely enticing. It makes you realize that you have a lot of power as a person and that it could very easily be abused.

I very much admire Christie’s writing skills and how she keeps such flawless track of the story line. I would very much recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery. I read mysteries all the time and have often been able to figure out plot lines because of how many I have read, but this book changed all of that. It was the first time the author was able to confuse me, yet keep me interested at the same time. Once you pick this book up I guarantee you will not be able to put it down.

*Posted for credit for JRN 412

How to...

2009-03-01T21:38:00.000-08:00

Straight hair is in. There’s only one problem, you were cursed (or blessed depending on what type of curls you have) with curly or wavy hair. I'm tempted to give you the lecture on accepting yourself just as you are, but I'll bite my tongue for now and give you a step by step guide on how to straighten your hair instead:

1. Wash and condition your hair as usual. Conditioning is very important- it helps protect your hair against the heat.

2. Towel dry your hair by gently blotting hair with the towel. Remember that wet hair is more vulnerable to damage so be gentle with your hair when it is wet.

3. Put a protective product on your hair, such as Biosilk hair straightening gel or Pantene frizz control with added conditioner, before you blow dry your hair. Make sure you dry the heck out of your locks!

4. If you use a straightening product, which I suggest you do, put it on your hair now and distribute evenly.

5. Now here comes the fun part. Plug in your trusty flat iron and while it heats up brush out your hair and separate it into layers and sections.

6. Using a brush or comb, select a small segment of hair from the bottom section that you did not put up. Hold it out straight and run the flat iron over the section starting at you scalp and working down. If you have thicker curls it is best to go slow or repeat the process several times.

7. Never spend too much time in one spot. You could fry your hair and who wants to deal with split ends anyway?

8. When you are finished with one layer repeat the process until you have finished all of your hair.

9. When you are finished straightening, style your hair until you get that hot chic look you’ve been wishing you were born with.

10. Spray in some volumizing hair spray and show your new luscious locks off to the world!

*Posted for credit for JRN 412

My testimony

2009-01-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

My testimony. What an interesting thing to write about. I’m not even really sure as to where I should start. I mean, I am a Christian, I have been since I was little. But I think my testimony is much more than just telling you that when I was little in Sunday school the teacher told us we would go to hell if we didn’t ask Jesus into our heats so that night I told my mommy and daddy I was scared and I “prayed Jesus into my heart”. Then many years later when I was 15 I finally understood what it meant to walk with Christ and how to have a relationship with Him, so I did a rededication. That’s not really a testimony. Synonyms for testimony are evidence, proof, demonstration… and that got me thinking. I wonder, what is the poof of my belief? What evidence is out there? What have I done to demonstrate my belief and relationship with God? So this brings me to several situations in my life when I have had to truly rely on God. I literally had no one to turn to. Here’s a short story of one or two situations in my life that I see as my “evidence” or “proof”. I wrote these to in a sense cope with what was going on at the time I suppose… but maybe it’ll give you a sense of where I’m coming from.

He is Always There

Looking back now I can see it was a blessing in disguise. I see everything that would have been… if not for this tragic event. I see loneliness, turmoil, and secrets. I see pain, both physical and emotional, but most of all, I see utter darkness.

What is this tragic event of which I speak? One of the most heartbreaking things I have had to endure, and I have endured many. It all started the day he changed, the day I saw that kindness in his eye disappear forever. The day he hit me. He said it was an accident, but I do not see how a swift movement across the cheek of ones face could be any such thing. I immediately broke off all communication with this now stranger. We were not always strangers, though; there was a time when we were inseparable. Oh, what a joyous time that was. He was my friend and my confidant, he was the person I could turn to when my family was having its usual troubles; he was my best friend.

My mind often wanders back to that day. I had not spoken a single word to him in almost two weeks because of the slapping incident. He wanted to talk to me, but I wanted no such thing to take place and I made that quite clear. I told him more than once that I did not want to speak with him and I asked him to just leave me be, but he could not take no for an answer. In a split second our relationship changed forever, as well as relationships with the people around us. He grabbed my wrist, I pulled back, he grabbed again leaving an impression on my small wrist and dragged me outside. We rounded a corner and I was thrown swiftly against the brick-like wall. I was in utter shock at what had occurred, I can remember it so vividly… too vividly. He started yelling at me and demanding that I speak with him. I tried over and over again to get away form this unfamiliar person, but to no avail. I tried to talk him down, I tried getting around him, but nothing would work! I’d make a move and he’d quickly push me back against the wall; I was pinned. I do not quite remember what occurred next, but somehow I made my way around this man and made my way quickly inside. I immediately broke down in tears.

Many weeks of fall out began. Family turned on family, friend on friend. Everything was so messed up and so unreal. I remember the look in my parent’s eyes as I told them what had occurred. I recall the look of utter disbelief as I told his mother what had happened. In one careless action our two families, that were nearly inseparable, had become like mortal enemies. A cover up quickly took place by his family and I was told to keep my mouth shut. His father, the pastor of our church, asked us to leave because I was “damaging the family’s integrity.” Everything I believed in was falling apart piece by piece, and not for the first time in my life.

This was an event that occurred over and over again in my life in different ways. I could not understand why it all kept happening to my family, to me. Did I do something to cause all of this? Was God angry at me for some reason? Had He taken his hand off of my life? So many questions flooded my mind and I endured many sleepless nights of just
crying out to God, and yet feeling as though I was only speaking to the ceiling. I felt so lonely and so abandoned.

Our families were once tighter than anything else could possibly be, but now they weren’t even speaking to each other. Rumors began to be spread about both of us and everything became so out of control. Finally my parents decided it was best to get me away from the situation all together. I was pulled out of my school four weeks before my graduation. My parents sought counseling for me, but that didn’t help, though everyone else believed it did.

I was excellent at putting on a front. In the light of day everyone thought I was doing so well and that I was so full of happiness and joy still, but at night in the quietness and stillness of my room I would cry myself to sleep. I would question everything; I still believed that I was to blame for what happened, that somehow I brought it on. I slipped further and further into a depression and finally my parents began to take notice once more. I went back into my councilor and there I began to slowly make progress. I still had this secret fear I always kept to myself. I would flinch anytime a male came near me.

It’s interesting how God begins to work in you when you’re in the lowest of lows. He wraps you in His arms and does not let go. He was there with me the whole time and I didn’t even know it. It took all summer before I could comfortably be around guys again. I still deal with the struggles of what occurred that day. I still find it hard to trust pastors and men in general. But I am learning to trust again. I have also come to realize that God did not take his hand off of my life. Rather He was working through every movement my parents made. He took me away from a very dangerous situation. My once best friend had become a total stranger and he kept going downhill. To this day his anger has never been dealt with. I pray that he seek help and find it before he does something like this, or worse, to someone else. I also came to realize that I did not cause what happened, and God was not angry with me. God has worked in me and through me in more ways than I could ever imagine. I am eager to see how He is going to use these experiences in my life to help someone else in the future and to draw even closer to Him.

Everyone says there’s nothing like your senior summer before you head off to college. And I suppose that is true. I will never forget my senior summer; I will never forget the things I learned. God never leaves us in our loneliness. He is always there, all we have to do is open our eyes and look.

The Farewell of a Son

There we stood in the doorway just staring at each other. He knew the choice that was before him, as did I; but would he make the right choice, or would he be forever lost in his decision?
Mother began begging and pleading for him to stay, father went to the other room and sat in silence pondering the thought of disowning his own son, and Jason was standing in the hall watching in disbelief at the fact that his own brother was considering turning his back on his family forever.
I could not stand the tension any longer. I ran from the doorway to my room and fell on my knees, crying before the Lord and begging Him to work in my brother's heart. You see, he had a decision before him. He had to choose between living a life with the girl he thought to be his only love and being with his family. Walking out that day meant that he would no longer have any contact with any of the ones who cared about him.
Moments passed, but it felt as though it had been hours. The constant arguing and screaming rang throughout the halls of our house that day. He walked out several times, but then he returned. We could see him struggling and torn apart by this choice. He did not want to lose his family but he also did not want to lose this girl whom he thought to be his one and only.
Finally, he fled out the door again, but this time he did not return. I can still feel the sickness in my stomach as I came to the realization that he was gone. The person I had grown up with, my protector, my best friend was gone forever. They say time heals all pain and that memories will fade, but I don’t believe that to be true; for you see, I will always have that image of my brother standing in the doorway at that sunset that evening. I will always remember the look on his face as he walked out of my life, and that of my family, forever.

These are two events that have taken place where I have had to completely rely on the Lord. He is truly my strength and my stronghold. And I think that is my testimony, that is my proof. The fact that I am still able to walk through life and with such great joy! God truly works wonders and protects and leads His children. I would be lost without the Lord in my life…

College is...

2009-01-15T23:03:00.000-08:00

College is having a spur of the moment croquet game
College is raiding school buildings for toilet paper when you're running low on funds and the tp is out
College is having shopping cart races... over speed bumps
College is pulling an all-nighter only to find out that the assignment wasn't due till NEXT week
College is finding out that you can make pizza from biscuit dough, though it is not recommended
College is making new friends who become best friends nearly every night
College is the time of your life

Final blog of the semester

2008-11-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

The semester is finally coming to an end and I could not be happier! This has been a very difficult semester for me, both with school and my personal life. I have learned so many things and grown in so many ways. This class specifically has helped me grow. I have learned how to think on my feet when the deadline is coming and I have no story and I have learned just how important it is to not procrastinate! I have always had a major problem with that. *Hence why I’m writing this blog so early, haha* I think it is mostly because in high school I never did any studying and would get A's and last year at CBU I again never did any studying and waited until the night before to write my papers and I would still get A's. But, after being in this class I have learned the importance of not doing that. I have also learned how much fun the interviewing process can be. I very much enjoyed going out and finding people and in some cases totally hunting them down and facebook stalking, haha. It was an interesting experience, but cool none the less. The interviews were fun and light-hearted which was really cool. I also loved having the opportunity to write my stories any way I want. I love being creative and it was awesome getting to play with my creative writing a bit. Working with people has also been a good experience and a big motivation to get my work done because of the fact that I have people depending on me. All in all it has been an awesome semester and I am looking forward to what else I have to learn by being in yearbook next semester. :)

*Posted for credit for JRN 212

Such a little phrase... yet so much meaning

2008-11-24T13:27:00.000-08:00

I was asked by Mocha Club to write about the concept of why ‘I need Africa more than Africa needs me.’ Mocha Club [www.mochaclub.org] is a community-based website where members can start a team and invite friends to join them in giving $7 a month – the cost of 2 mochas – to support a project in Africa. Mocha Club's vision is to provide a way for people who don't have hundreds or thousands of dollars to make a difference in Africa.

“I need Africa more than Africa needs me.”

The first time I heard that phrase it didn’t hit me any special way at all. But then the words “extra credit” came up and it suddenly had my attention. I’m ALWAYS down for extra credit! So, I scribbled down the sentence and shoved it in my binder and went about my merry way forgetting about it until today…. the deadline. That happens so often it seems. I’m so drowned by life and just keep going from one thing to the next and not ever getting anything done till the last second. It’s not out of choice, but such is life I suppose. I believe I have gone far off topic, so let’s see if I can get myself back on track here… oh, yes, Africa. It seems like such a simple phrase… “I need Africa more than Africa needs me.”…. but what does that really mean? How does it really hit you? Does it even strike you at all? It didn’t strike me at first, but then I found myself fighting with this in my mind. And I realized something; I am a very selfish person. I am so caught up in MY life and what I’M doing and what I need. Everything is about ME. And even when it’s not about me specifically, life keeps me so busy that I never have time to see outside my little bubble. How does that happen? How do we allow ourselves to even have a bubble? I think this little phrase has opened my eyes to so much. It showed me what I am not really seeing and what Ireally need to see. I NEED Africa MORE than it needs me. Even then that sounds so selfish… I think I have a lot more to think about when it comes to this topic... I feel another blog coming on in the near future...

Share your thoughts in my comments, and even blog about it yourself. Join in the worthwhile cause of recasting the damaging images that force pity over partnership. Come back Dec 1st to see what Mocha Club is doing about reforming that image.

*Posted for credit for JRN 212

Ramblings of an equestrian

2008-10-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.carolynresnickblog.com/
http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.com/2008/10/horse-training-cues.html
http://eventing-blog.com/

Nothing beats the rush of galloping down the final turn of the course, the sound of each stride hitting the powdered dirt below you, hearing every huff and puff leading up to that last jump and the ever so flawless take off and smooth landing of eventing.
Equestrians don’t quite have the spotlight they used to, which is quite a shame. I was one of these eloquent athletes for quite some time. Waking up at five a.m. to feed my furry friend then heading back out again at seven or so to do morning lounges and warms ups, dressage and ground training in the afternoon and finishing the day off with a quick run or two around the cross country and stadium jumping courses was my routine it seemed, and I was quite happy with that. The different styles of training always intrigued me. Everyone did things so differently. Some, such as myself, used the natural approach when it came to working with these heavenly creatures. Being firm and letting it be known that you are in control is vital when working with a 1300 pound animal under you or at your side, but it can very quickly become a power struggle and many people take advantage of that power in some not so great ways. Some are straight up abusive.
The natural approach is much more time consuming, but better for both you and your beloved friend in the end. After the training I did with my horse I am able to just turn my head and he will go that way. I don’t even use a bit when I ride anymore, I’ve found that it makes the horse happier and when your horse is happy he’s much more willing to do what you ask of him. I don’t understand why people would choose to use such harsh bits and at time put chains in them as well. They say it gives you more control, but really you shouldn’t have to use that much to get a horse to do what you ask of him.
Another way trainers have gone too far has been in the way they do their work outs. So many people over work theirs horses. Some do it out of selfishness because they have not gotten their fix of horse riding in for the day, while their horse is sitting there foaming and huffing and puffing because of all the strenuous work. Others do it out of nothing more than a power trip. This is so incredibly dangerous for the horse and in some cases that rider. The horse’s muscles can only take so much before they risk injury. So many needless injuries occur and it’s such a shame knowing they can all be avoided.
I seem to be ranting on about this and I think I have said quite enough for now. Plus, it’s late and I’m tired. So, this is the end of this little segment. You will be hearing more in the future on horses and training for sure, it’s a passion of mine and I’m so sad that I have had to give it up. I was training with some of the top trainers in the United States to be in the national circuit, and to know that I was that close and forced to back out do to injury is heartbreaking. But, God has a different path for me and I’m excited to see what exactly that is. :)

*Posted for credit for JRN 212

A Blog About Andrew

2008-10-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

So, as I sit in the Angelos office thinking of something to blog about (I hate blogging!) a good friend and fellow work partner Andrew Hochradel wonders into the office to finish up some designing work for the yearbook. Upon asking him what I should write my blog about he responded with himself. So, I am going to do just that.

Andrew and I have been friends since the first day of orientation freshman year. He was one of the first people I met and one of the few I've stayed close to. We've grown quite close and have so many awesome memories together because, well, he's crazy and always has something fun to say. We're Disneyland buddies and go as often as possible. Last year we went three times a week! The business of this semester has put those trips on hold though, which is in fact quite tragic. Through our many adventures together I have gotten the opportunity of meeting people from his life back home in Sacramento and he has had the same opportunity with my world. His parents are freaking awesome and totally love me, which is great. He jokes about how they care more about me than him because when they call they'll ask how I'm doing, what's new, and whether I'll be here when they come down to visit so we can go to dinner. Andrew laughs and is like "They don't even care! I'm sitting here like thanks dad, I'm good too!"

Haha, yep. So that's my blog, kinda lame, just like Andrew ;) Haha, just kidding. He's quite awesome and a great designer, so if you need help with your pages, he's the one to go to!

*Posted for credit for JRN 212

Recent Small Group Topic

2008-09-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

A common topic in my life recently has been the ever popular questions on dating. I have had so many conversations with friends and family and have had to deal with this topic recently in my life as well. After having these conversations I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and have so many ideas going in circles in my head that I thought it’d be best to just write them all out somewhere. It is something in which I am very passionate about and have very strong feelings about, so I am going to share my thoughts. And don’t worry, I’ll attempt to make my thoughts appear in order and actually make sense, hehe. By the way, this is geared more towards high school since I am a jr. high/ high school leader at my church and I’ve been talking with my girls about this recently.

Society has such a messed up view on dating. So many people think “Oh, he looks good in his Hollister clothes and has some money…. That’s good enough for me.” or “She looks fine in her baby gap clothes… that’s good enough for me.” This is absolutely ridiculous; have some standards!! Guys need to have a girl they can look to who has good Godly characteristics that they can measure girls up to. And girls need to have a Godly man in their life that they can look up to as well who has good Godly characteristics. We all need SOMEONE to look to and say “you know what, that’s what I want, that’s what I need in a person to date.” Don’t let society dictate to you who or how to date. If you want to do dating right you should be doing it by God’s standards and you should realize that it isn’t about who or how you date. Dating is about WHO YOU ARE and that determines who and how you date.

So many people end up in nightmares relationships and blame the other person when really it isn’t the other person’s fault at all. It’s your fault, you chose them. And it’s interesting how almost always the reason the relationship is jacked up and your spending every night crying over your relationship is because it does not involve God. Another big reason relationships fail or have major issues is because they are not following what God said in 2 Corinthians 6:14. Christ would NEVER pair a Christian with a non Christian, so neither should you. This cancels out “missionary dating” immediately. I have known several people who have been involved in missionary dating and it always has ended badly. The reason for this, to me, is that it is because you have the wrong motives for the person’s salvation and you are both going separate ways spiritually. Until you are a Christian the bible says you are spiritually dead. How can someone who is living for God grow in their walk when they are carrying dead weight with them? Which brings me to another point, just because you’re both Christians does not mean it’s okay to date. You must be on the same level spiritually and going the same way. Picture it like this, you have a rope which ties you to the other person, kinda like in a three-legged race. You are bound to one another in this relationship, but one of you is a “baby Christian” and just starting on your walk with God while the other is more “seasoned”. The baby Christian will hold the more seasoned Christian back because where one is going the other cannot follow; they are not at that level in their walk yet, get it? One is chasing after the Lord while the other is holding them back. So the question to ask before dating someone is, do your desires for God match?

When to date is another big question. I have seen so many 12 and 13 year olds complaining that their parents won’t let them have a boyfriend. Well, you know what, maybe you should be able to spell boy and girl before you date. And even in high school I see how dating can be seen as a waste of time, money, and putting both you and someone else in needless temptation. Song of Solomon 2:8 talks about not awakening love before it so desires. I know many of you are probably thinking “If I don’t date I will never find ‘the one’.” This is not true. Have you ever heard of faith in God that He will bring that person to you? And in fact if you are not dating and making yourself so available it may make it that much more clear when “the one” comes into your life.

What if everything you knew about dating was wrong? What if everything you’ve been doing and has been taught is wrong? Would you be willing to change it and makes things right before God? I very firmly believe that if you honor God, God will honor you. So would you be willing to change what you’re doing? How you date? My thoughts on dating have always been a little different, as most of you know. I see group dating as a better alternative for the stage of life that I am currently in. Personally I do not see anything that you can’t do in a group date that you either shouldn’t be doing or might be tempted to do if you were one on one. You still spend time with that person and still get to talk, and it protects you from needless temptation. When you do things one on one as society tells you are playing with fire. And 99% of the time, fire does burn you. Proverbs 16:18. Don’t get into a place of “couple comfort” where you are just all over one another Don’t swallow what the world tells you to do, think for yourself and line it up with God’s word. That’s not to say that I disagree with one on one time altogether, though. I think that is a very vital part in building your relationship with the other person, so alone time is important. I just do not think it should be in excess.

Finally, what should you do and how should you act on a date? First, guys MUST be very careful about what they say. Girls take things so much more seriously and different definitions about words than guys do. So, be especially careful about using the “L” word. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. You must also watch what you do physically. Physically, you are not made to stop once you start down a path. So, save yourself the trouble and just don’t even go there. Set up standards BEFORE you enter into a relationship. And if you’re really committed, write them down. And the second one of those standards is broken, the relationship is off because trust has been violated. Always remember on a date, it’s not “How far can I go?” but rather “How pure can I be?”. And remember, one can always lose, but never return to innocence. You should treat everyone you date as if they are your own brother or sister. 1Timothy 5:12. Let’s say you and your family were all having dinner and talking about your day and then suddenly, you slip your hand over on top of your sister’s thigh…. Is that jacked up in your head? It should be! That is exactly how it should be on a date you are not to treat them any different than you would your sister or brother. And be careful because you’re probably dating someone else’s husband or wife. So treat them how you would want someone to treat your future husband or wife. Please God with every one of your actions and keep Him at the center of your relationship.

Well, there you have it, just a few things that have been on my mind recently. I’m sorry if it’s kinda chaotic…