End of the Spear --------->

So, since Christmas break started, I started reading this book that Rob had gotten me a long time ago that I just never had gotten a chance to read yet. It is called "End of the Spear" and is written by Steve Saint. If you've ever heard the story of Steve Saint, you know that it's one that is completely mind blowing. It is so hard to imagine how he can love and consider family those who brutally killed his father when he was a little boy.

I've heard the story many times, and have seen the movie, and even got to meet Steve Saint and Mincaye, the man who finished killins Nate Saint, but this book gives so much more insight into the story. It is incredible! Every time I pick this book up and start reading it, I start reading it as a story, and every now and then I will stop reading and remind myself that this is not just a story from a book, this story is true and all of this really happened! It has given me such a new perspective of forgiveness. It's neat because in the story, his Aunt Rachel who lived with the Waodani people before he did was "adopted" into the tribe by a certain Waodani family. When he went to the jungle to live with Aunt Rachel when he was 9, he also became part of that adopted family. When he introduces different members of the tribe while telling a story about them, he will give his "relation" to them if they are a member of the family that adopted him and Aunt Rachel. So, he has aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents and siblings as if they were his blood family. He constantly refers to this tribe as his family, not his "ministry" or people he wanted to help. He talks about their true love for each other. They love him as much as he loves them...... yet, these are the people that killed his father.

When I saw him speak last year, he said something that I thought was incredible. When he went to live with Aunt Rachel in the jungle, he knew these were the people that had killed his father, but he said that "it never even crossed my mind that I should hate these people." That blows my mind. That is love and forgiveness in its purest form. It makes me think about how I react when someone does wrong against me. Do I allow it to ruin my witness of Christ with them, or do I keep loving them and keep desiring to show Christ to them? It's such a new and true perspective. I can't wait to finish the book.

Embracing Accusation

This is a song by Shane and Shane (love them) called Embracing Accusation. It's about how Satan tells us how unworthy and undeserving we are of salvation, and how he is right. But the great part of it that Satan fails to tell us is that Jesus came and died to save us and to make us righteous heirs of God! What a wonderful gift. One that needs to be remembered especially during this time of year when EVERYTHING is commercialized and taken lightly!


EMBRACING ACCUSATION

The father of lies
Coming to steal
Kill and destroy
All my hopes of being good enough
I hear him saying cursed are the ones
Who can’t abide
He’s right
Alleluia he’s right!

The devil is preaching
The song of the redeemed
That I am cursed and gone astray
I cannot gain salvation
Embracing accusation

Could the father of lies
Be telling the truth
Of God to me tonight?
If the penalty of sin is death
Then death is mine

I hear him saying cursed are the ones
Who can’t abide
He’s right
Alleluia he’s right!

Oh the devil’s singing over me
An age old song
That I am cursed and gone astray
Singing the first verse so conveniently
He’s forgotten the refrain
JESUS SAVES!

Christmas Break!

So, I am one test (not cumulative) and one project away from Christmas break! One whole month with no classes and NO HOMEWORK! It's going to be great! I have made for myself quite the list of things to do during Christmas break. I know I'll most likely not do it all, but hopefully I can get a lot of it done.

This year we're not going to Warroad for Christmas, but going to Kansas City. I'm glad. Although I miss the adrenaline rushes of the long 26-28 hour drives I took before getting married to Rob (who thinks 5 hours is a long drive), I don't miss the flying and then driving home forever from the airport. Plus, it seems that whenever I go back to Warroad, everything is still exactly the same, and it's never as exciting as I expect it to be. I feel like I've changed so much since leaving there, but that noone else has. It's fun to be home and see my old friends though, but this year family gets priority over friends.

I love Kansas City!! We're going to go to the famous PLAZA! Love it there! Then get some legendary Gates BBQ! So good! See lots of family that I haven't seen since our wedding, or before. At my grandma's house, we play this card game called Nertz for hours on end! My family is all very competitive (other than my mom) so it's a ton of fun to play together. Especially since I usually win, although noone else would admit that, but it's true. haha.

Next semester I'm starting grad school! Crazy! I'm really excited! I'm ready to get down to business and be done with all these general education class I've taken this semester. I'm ready to learn how to be a counselor! I want to help people and make them happy. I want to be a listening ear for those who have noone to listen. I want to help teenagers realize that the world's standards are impossible to meet but that they can do amazing things with their lives and live a life for Christ that will be more fulfilling than anything the world offers them. I want to help people through the grieving process when life seems to have no purpose anymore. I just want to follow Christ's command to not judge people when but to love them how He loves them! I'm ready to get out there.

Next semester, Rob is also finishing grad school. He's getting three Masters! He's amazing! He's thinking about going on to get his doctorate degree while I'm working on my M.A. "Dr. Jarman." That would be pretty cool! We'll see what happens! For now, we'll just take it one day at a time! Gotta finish this weeks work and get to Christmas break before thinking about what we'll be doing next year! We can't wait for Christmas break!

Winter Is Upon Us...

One thing I love about living in Virginia is the mild winters. I guess compared to Warroad, MN, any winter is mild. But last year was the first year I was here all winter, and I only needed a jacket. This year so far is not looking so hopeful. It's November 19, and it's cold out. It's below 30 already. This morning after taking Rob to work, I came back home and am now working on homework (I'm taking a break to blog). But I am sitting on the couch with my huge mink blanket on, in long sleeves, thick socks, and sweatpants, and I'm freezing! I don't like turning the heat on because where the heat vent is located, the air comes out warm, but by the time it gets to me on the couch, it feels like cold air and it makes me even colder and dries my eyes out. I don't want a breeze in the house right now.

This type of weather makes me wish more than ever that I lived in a cozy little modern house with a puppy and a fireplace and no homework. I would love to curl up in front of the fire on my poof with my amazing husband and puppy and some raspberry hot chocolate with marshmallows and watch a funny movie! And I don't want a little ratlike puppy that is crazy and hyper and runs all over. I want a cute, sweet, fluffy puppy that loves to snuggle like I do. Aw, that all sounds so great. Maybe one day! For now, I guess it's back to reality: homework while under my big blanket with no fire, puppy, or husband (since he's at work), but I think I'm going to go make some raspberry hot chocolate! Here comes winter.

Analyzing Toilet Paper

Ok, so, the other day I bought some toilet paper because we were getting low, and as I was taking it to put it in the bathroom I noticed that on the back it said "Safe for all standard septic systems." Being that it is toilet paper, I should hope that it is safe for my septic system. Where else would it go? Is there toilet paper that is not safe for septic systems? Then, underneath that, the package said, "If you have any questions or concerns, please call us toll free at 1-800....." I find this hilarious. First of all, what person has questions about toilet paper? Is it that difficult to use? Second of all, whose job is it to sit in an office and answer phone calls from people who have questions and concerns about their toilet paper? How many phone calls do they receive each day? Do they actually tell people where they work when asked? Then again, what kind of person analyzes a toilet paper package long enough to write about it on their blog?

Election Day...Finally!

So, today is finally election day. I'm so glad. I am so sick of all the campaign commercials and character bashing. It's not limited to just the presidential candidates, it's also the local candidates. It's gone on for so many months, and now it's finally over! But yes, I did do my civic duty and voted early this morning before taking Rob to work. I'm always curious to know if my vote really even matters. But I decided that if all people were like me and wondered if their vote really makes any difference and then we all don't vote, then I'm sure that would make a difference, so I voted, and it did feel nice because I am an American. After voting and taking Rob to work I went to the gym where all the TV channels were on news stations and so was the radio, and I kept hearing people say "Vote Responsibly." What exactly does that mean? It doesn't even make sense to say. What someone else may deem as responsible voting may be what I consider irresponsible voting. Makes no sense.

One thing that adds a whole new perspective to Election Day is Romans 13:1 whice states that "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." This verse obviously brings up the question of well what if the authorities stand for something that is not acceptable to God, like abortion or same-sex marriages? We have to remember that God isn't waiting like we are to see who wins this election and then will plan around that. No, He knows who and He has a purpose for whatever happens! It is important to remember that although we are called to obey worldly authority, our identity does not come from this world, and our security does not come from this economy.

Welcome to freedom from campaign ads, at least for a little over 3 years until the next election begins.

The Real Superman

I, beyond the shadow of a doubt, have the greatest husband in the whole world! The other morning I was looking at some of the pics we took while on our honeymoon in Jamaica and I started thinking how I want to go back there now because I think we'd have way more fun now than we did then. We had a blast when we went nearly 16.5 months ago, but we are so much closer now than then! I remember wondering back then how we could get any closer than we were when we were married, but now, 16.5 months later, we are SO much closer than back then!

Not only is Rob my husband, he's also my hairdresser, academic advisor, and my chiropractor. I popped my right hip socket out the other day at the gym and it had been bothering me. Last night I showed Rob where it hurt and he popped it back in after some working of it, and now it feels brand new! He also aligned my back which is a great feeling! Just saved us nearly $100. What a guy!! He's so sweet and loving, and he makes me laugh ALL the time! Of course there are times that are tough, but every day is a blast being married to him! I love him so much! He's definitely my Superman. Maybe I'll get him some blue tights to show him my appreciation!