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| Just when I think that I've got this whole deal figured out ... a nice curve ball comes my way. Now, usually when such a thing happens I get hit up side the head with it and it hurts a bit ... however, this time not so much. For those who haven't heard ...or have but didn't believe it, yes, I have a boyfriend. His name is David aka Dave, and he's pretty much amazing. If you'd like more specifics or anything feel free to ask. But yeah .. he's great and I'm happy. :) Till next time, Sharondipity | | |
| So, I like it the irony of my life. I find it ironic that I can talk to a non-Christian guy for an hour about any topic and by the end of that hour there is some sort of attraction from them to me ... but I can talk with a Christian guy about the same topic and there's nothing. What the freaking crap? It gets better. I can be debating said non-Christian about the validity of the Bible and theology in general and get the same response even though at the end of the day we still don't agree. And on the flip side, I can be completely in agreement with a Christian guy about the same things and there's nothing there. Or I can debate with the Christian guy about another topic entirely and still nothing. Explain to me why it is that Christian guys suck?!?! *sigh* I fear I may forever be single just because of this tragic fact. Just some thoughts. Sharondipity | | |
| So you gotta love it when God decides to answer prayer. It's kinda sweet in an ironic sort of way. In the last three weeks God has done so much that I hardly know where to start. So let's start at the beginning. Three weeks ago I arrived at CU to begin my Junior year. I moved into my on campus apartment, unpacked my stuff and quickly settled in for yet another long and busy semester. All to quickly the weekend ended and classes began. The first week glided through without any major issues. I quietly reflected on my classes and realized that not only am I really excited about them, but I can actually see myself completing my goals and getting my GPA up to where I want it. Also, I was really happy to find that the class I am retaking is taught by someone who I was really beginning to admire and look up to. Week two began and I was way ahead on my homework and feeling a little lazy due to the long labor day weekend. Small group started up and seemed (unlike most years) like it might actually be good. Also, Civitas Festivas took place and I became aware of a few churches that I might actually want to check out. One in particular took my interest. The weekend rolled around and things were starting to come together. I had almost all of my homework for the next week completed and had gotten Alisia to agree to check out that church. I have been praying like whoa for a church to attend and get involved in. The last couple years had resulted in discouragement and a lack of motivation to keep looking. So when we pulled up to this church I was a bit nervous. Would it be like all the others? We walked in and were greeted with the typical friendly smiles and the quick hand shakes. It was obvious that they knew we were new. We proceeded into the lobby area outside the sanctuary (which is more like a small auditorium with a coffee shop kind of feel - at least color wise) and were met by the pastor (who I must add is pretty sweet). We talked with him briefly reminding him of my name (we had me at Civitas Festivas) and him pointing us in the direction of the cafe. After a quick sweep of the cafe and surrounding areas we walked into the sanctuary (which is again too formal of a word to describe what it's really like). We found a couple seats and sat down. I can't really decribe the service in normal human language to make you all understand. But it had a traditional meets contemporary feel. It was like putting my home church and my junior high youth group together and out comes this amazing combination. Needless to say I was hooked by the end of the worship time. But then came the sermon. In my experience, everytime the worship is good the sermon is aweful. So I quickly said a prayer that went something like "God the worship was perfect please please let the sermon be good too!" And yet again God was like "Ok, here ya go!" As it was winding down I felt more confident that this was the right place. Just as I thought that the pastor did something that was a bit dangerous. He did one of those "stand up if you have this issue in your life" things. Now I'm still on the fense about those. Most of the time I've seen them turn out kinda fake and emotional this week and something we forget about next week. So I said a quick "God can this just be different, can we not just have people stand but maybe as brothers and sisters come together and pray for each other?" And I just love how God was like "No problem!" A minute later the pastor had us pray for the people near us. It was amazing. Alisia and I left after talking briefly with the "welcoming commitee" and the youth pastor (b/c I wanted to get involved w/ the youth group). Needless to say God answered a long standing prayer. I found a church, and it was amazingly perfect! This last week went really well too. But as always God has a sense of humor. You know how we all have that one thing that we are constantly struggling with? It may not be an outright sin, but we know it's something we really shouldn't be messing with. Well I got one of those ... well a few of those in my life currently. And as usual I've been being a bit stubborn about dealing with it. It's just one of those things that you don't really want to give up for some reason that you really don't want to figure out. Anyway, God, in His direct and gracious way not only pointed out the issue, but explained the why this week. And He didn't do it once, no that would be too easy for me to blow off, He did it twice. It makes me laugh a little at my silliness. In class this week good old Perini explained the why we (b/c everyone goes through it in some form) do it, and where we ought to be instead. I'm am definitely not going to be able to explain it in the same way he did, but let me try. Everyone has a problem. The symptom is, at least in my life, this sin I'm struggleing with. In our churches, counseling practices etc they focus too often on the symptom, trying to deal with it, but never get to the problem. The problem is that everyone has a lack of life. We have a lack of life b/c we all have sin in our lives. Sin causes death .. therefore lack of life. We are in a constant search for life. So there's this void, even though we may be Christians, if we haven't gotten it filled all the way. So we're looking to fill it. Some fill try to fill it with food or drugs or sex or whatever it is that we are trying this week. The problem is that it's not fulfilling and we eventually move on to the next thing. This is illustrated w/ the story of the woman at the well. She had had 5 husbands and none of them were fulfilling, she was still thirsty. And the man she was with was not her husband. She would more than likely evenually get bored of him and move to another man. Jesus tells her that He can satisfy her thirst, fill her void, give her life. I've heard this story twice this week in regards to getting rid of the things we use to try to quench that thirst. So .. needless to say I think I should take the hint. To wrap up, God is working in my life right now in a way that I wouldn't have guessed would be happening last spring. I'm pretty excited but also a little nervous because if I'm not willing to follow His lead willingly it could be a rocky hike. So please continue to pray for me, to be open and willing. And pray that God will continue to shape me into whoever I am supposed to be. Thanks all .. sorry it was so long .. but I think it was worth it :) As always, Sharondipity | | |
| So you gotta love it when God decides to answer prayer. It's kinda sweet in an ironic sort of way. In the last three weeks God has done so much that I hardly know where to start. So let's start at the beginning. Three weeks ago I arrived at CU to begin my Junior year. I moved into my on campus apartment, unpacked my stuff and quickly settled in for yet another long and busy semester. All to quickly the weekend ended and classes began. The first week glided through without any major issues. I quietly reflected on my classes and realized that not only am I really excited about them, but I can actually see myself completing my goals and getting my GPA up to where I want it. Also, I was really happy to find that the class I am retaking is taught by someone who I was really beginning to admire and look up to. Week two began and I was way ahead on my homework and feeling a little lazy due to the long labor day weekend. Small group started up and seemed (unlike most years) like it might actually be good. Also, Civitas Festivas took place and I became aware of a few churches that I might actually want to check out. One in particular took my interest. The weekend rolled around and things were starting to come together. I had almost all of my homework for the next week completed and had gotten Alisia to agree to check out that church. I have been praying like whoa for a church to attend and get involved in. The last couple years had resulted in discouragement and a lack of motivation to keep looking. So when we pulled up to this church I was a bit nervous. Would it be like all the others? We walked in and were greeted with the typical friendly smiles and the quick hand shakes. It was obvious that they knew we were new. We proceeded into the lobby area outside the sanctuary (which is more like a small auditorium with a coffee shop kind of feel - at least color wise) and were met by the pastor (who I must add is pretty sweet). We talked with him briefly reminding him of my name (we had me at Civitas Festivas) and him pointing us in the direction of the cafe. After a quick sweep of the cafe and surrounding areas we walked into the sanctuary (which is again too formal of a word to describe what it's really like). We found a couple seats and sat down. I can't really decribe the service in normal human language to make you all understand. But it had a traditional meets contemporary feel. It was like putting my home church and my junior high youth group together and out comes this amazing combination. Needless to say I was hooked by the end of the worship time. But then came the sermon. In my experience, everytime the worship is good the sermon is aweful. So I quickly said a prayer that went something like "God the worship was perfect please please let the sermon be good too!" And yet again God was like "Ok, here ya go!" As it was winding down I felt more confident that this was the right place. Just as I thought that the pastor did something that was a bit dangerous. He did one of those "stand up if you have this issue in your life" things. Now I'm still on the fense about those. Most of the time I've seen them turn out kinda fake and emotional this week and something we forget about next week. So I said a quick "God can this just be different, can we not just have people stand but maybe as brothers and sisters come together and pray for each other?" And I just love how God was like "No problem!" A minute later the pastor had us pray for the people near us. It was amazing. Alisia and I left after talking briefly with the "welcoming commitee" and the youth pastor (b/c I wanted to get involved w/ the youth group). Needless to say God answered a long standing prayer. I found a church, and it was amazingly perfect! This last week went really well too. But as always God has a sense of humor. You know how we all have that one thing that we are constantly struggling with? It may not be an outright sin, but we know it's something we really shouldn't be messing with. Well I got one of those ... well a few of those in my life currently. And as usual I've been being a bit stubborn about dealing with it. It's just one of those things that you don't really want to give up for some reason that you really don't want to figure out. Anyway, God, in His direct and gracious way not only pointed out the issue, but explained the why this week. And He didn't do it once, no that would be too easy for me to blow off, He did it twice. It makes me laugh a little at my silliness. In class this week good old Perini explained the why we (b/c everyone goes through it in some form) do it, and where we ought to be instead. I'm am definitely not going to be able to explain it in the same way he did, but let me try. Everyone has a problem. The symptom is, at least in my life, this sin I'm struggleing with. In our churches, counseling practices etc they focus too often on the symptom, trying to deal with it, but never get to the problem. The problem is that everyone has a lack of life. We have a lack of life b/c we all have sin in our lives. Sin causes death .. therefore lack of life. We are in a constant search for life. So there's this void, even though we may be Christians, if we haven't gotten it filled all the way. So we're looking to fill it. Some fill try to fill it with food or drugs or sex or whatever it is that we are trying this week. The problem is that it's not fulfilling and we eventually move on to the next thing. This is illustrated w/ the story of the woman at the well. She had had 5 husbands and none of them were fulfilling, she was still thirsty. And the man she was with was not her husband. She would more than likely evenually get bored of him and move to another man. Jesus tells her that He can satisfy her thirst, fill her void, give her life. I've heard this story twice this week in regards to getting rid of the things we use to try to quench that thirst. So .. needless to say I think I should take the hint. To wrap up, God is working in my life right now in a way that I wouldn't have guessed would be happening last spring. I'm pretty excited but also a little nervous because if I'm not willing to follow His lead willingly it could be a rocky hike. So please continue to pray for me, to be open and willing. And pray that God will continue to shape me into whoever I am supposed to be. Thanks all .. sorry it was so long .. but I think it was worth it :) As always, Sharondipity | | |
| I don't know about you all ... but being in this inbetween college phase has messed with my sense of belonging. I live at home approximately 4 months out of the year ... and for the other 8 I'm at school. When at school I am so busy with homework, my job, and all the other things that go with it I barely have time to spare for the people I have come to know as my friends. Needless to say it is even more difficult to keep in touch with people that I don't see at least once a week. So keeping up on the current events in my highschool/back home friends is something that is always put to the end of the to-do list. However, when it comes time for me to be back at home the situation seems to flip ... however .. I no longer see the people I went to highschool with everyday. So I'm not reminded to call and catch up w/ them or invite them over to chill. It doesn't help matters that the people I was closest to all have significant others and are busy w/ them and work and their families. In addition we've come to the point in our lives where when we have a significant other we realize the importance of having appropriate relationships w/ those who are of the opposite gender and not out special someone. In short, it is no longer fine and dandy to hang out w/ my coupled guy friends if their lady or other people aren't around. I suppose it makes sense. But it is hard. I'm certainly glad that my dear roommate and her guy aren't quite that extreme... it would make life incredibly awkward and difficult to manage. ... Sorry tangent ... Anyway, like I was saying ... I don't really keep in touch with everyone as often as I'd like to .... and because they're all busy w/ what's goin on w/ them they don't keep in touch either. So when you ... or I .. run into them or call them up it seems like something is .. off ... not right ... awkward ... out of place. Even at home .. I just feel ... like my place in my room. I must stay in here unless otherwise notified that I'm allowed to be in the rest of the house. Now don't get me wrong my family would never even really think that ... I just feels that way. And I guess it should. I don't really live here all the much. And I really don't want to be here when I do for that matter. Personally I'd be more than happy to just get my own place and come and go as I please... but that would also be incredibly lonely. So as usual I'm conflicted ... unable to just be content. I have just been feeling ... out of place ... like I'm lost and I don't know where I can be found. For a few weeks I felt like I was living in the 3rd person ... it was all so .. surreal. Needless to say it's definitely time for me to get out of here ... to go back to school. Hopefully the business will distract me from this awareness of reality. ... I find it odd that I just wrote that ... but even you all have to agree with me ... you know you get busy sometimes for the simple purpose of getting distracted from reality. And those of you who don't have movies, video games, tv, internet etc etc. In other news: I'm about 3/4 packed ... just need to get my clothes, bedding, and a few odds and ends that I can't live without this week. 7 days ... and counting. Oh and this summer I've put in about $1600 worth of work on my car ... and currently owe my parents money .. again .. and need gas in my car ... and have things I need to buy this week. So needless to say I'm hoping my check comes early this week ... even though I know it won't ... Oh well .. Oh! I have this week off too! I'm pretty thrilled about that. Lots to do before the insanity starts again. BTW RC if you read this do you know why some of the Religion classes don't have books up on the bookstore's website yet? Usually when that happens that means they aren't in yet ... and that's never a good thing this close to the start of the semester :) Until next time... Sharondipity | | |
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