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| So I noticed I haven't blogged for a while. What do I do? I don't feel like writing a blog right now but am sick of my last post! Oh yeah, I just wrote down 25 random things about myself for facebook a few days ago. Why not make that my new blog? You're welcome to skip this if you want, especially if you're a facebook friend too.
1. Writing 25 things about me seems a little bit self-centered. (Does copying the list to xanga double the self-centeredness?)
2. I'm doing it anyway because I like reading other people's lists.
3. Other than the Bible, I have learned more about myself & God from reading Tolkien's Lord of the Rings than any other book. (Yes, I know that makes me sound like an enormously geeky fan, but so be it. I have learned a ton of amazing stuff from it.)
4. I love sitting in on discussions of a controversial, deeply spiritual, or just plain odd nature. I love it when I have to think through things to see if I could defend my side of the argument.
5. Sometimes I have a terrible time stating that argument in an understandable way, so unless I feel like I can do that I will probably just listen.
6. I am extremely passionate about God's purpose for women. I believe that most people, both men and women, have not thought enough about why God created women and what Biblical passages on women really mean.
7. One of the things that makes me most angry is when I see children used as commodities--$20,000 to adopt a kid who is at present jammed into an orphanage already bursting at the seams, handicapped children beggars who are not allowed to be taken in and taught a trade because their guardians would lose their source of income, etc.
8. Living by faith(no job, no promised source of income, in a foreign land, just trying to pay the rent) is harder now then it's ever been.
9. I hope to someday be able to read my Bible, pray, journal, and share my faith in Mandarin.
10. I think there will be strawberries, peanut butter, and chocolate in Heaven. (or maybe a better version of all 3)
11. I think one can never have too many friends.
12. I have a lifetime to do list. Currently it has 40 items on it but I'm aiming for 50.
13. I think that Christians should be the most intelligent, creative, inventive, innovative, and passionate people on the planet.
14. I think that the Mennonite church has done a poor job of encouraging the creative arts--drama, dance, art(painting, drawing, etc.), writing, etc. We've done a pretty good job at teaching people to sing, though, I'll give us that.
15. I love to be creative. Right now my favorite creative outlet is dance.
16. My favorite dance is the rumba.
17. I am not usually an extremely emotional person but I think emotions are a God-given strength. I get annoyed when guys fuss at girls for being emotional and think that makes us completely incapable of making good decisions.
18. My spiritual gift is teaching. Ask me a question on a topic I know about and I will proceed to teach you everything I know about it.
19. I love English. I hate it when it gets butchered.That's just the teacher in me I guess. In fact, I almost corrected my English in the point above to read, "Ask me a question on a topic about which I know..." but then decided that was kinda stuffy sounding even if it is correct. It still kind of bothers me.
20. Purposeful misspellings drive me crazy. Every time I see "U R so cewl" or any of it's annoying cousins(like C-ya, or frendz) I want to edit, edit, edit. And it makes me wonder what the person would do if they ever made it into a great job that required the ability to spell.
21. I think facebook is a "good" way to be friends without ever really being friends. I mean good in that it is good at making you feel like you have a lot of friends whether they are really your friend or not.
22. I am a night owl. I absolutely love to stay up late and believe that all my best creative ideas happen after 11:00 pm.
23. I am in the middle of a year of taking one picture of myself every single day-- A documentary of sorts on how life can change in a year.
24. I love photography. I am learning more all the time and have so much fun taking pictures of odd stuff. (I often have Chinese people stop and stare at me while I am taking pictures. I have, on occasion, had them come and ask me why in the world I was taking a picture of THAT?!
25. In looking back over this I felt it was only fair to mention some of my other favorite books. Here they are: When Heaven Weeps by Ted Dekker, Fight Like a Girl by Lisa Bevere, Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus, Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. Ok, the list could go forever, but I'll stop with that.
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| Yes, I am one of those people who make New Year's Resolutions. I actually have 3 different parts to the resolutions. I have intentions, which are pretty general and usually end up being a bit inspirational. I have things I hope God does in my life, things I can't do on my own, things I have tried to do and cannot accomplish to save my life. These things are often good reminders to me of things to pray for. And then I have goals, which are the more practical side of the Resolutions.
Here are some of this year's resolutions. Maybe y'all can ask me in 6 months how it's going just to keep me motivated.
INTENTIONS:
I intend to soak in and welcome every moment, to live with anticipation and joy. I intend to stop complaining and wishing I had more, more, more or better, better, better. I will be content.
I intend to embrace the talents and hobbies God has given me: to dance, to write, to photograph, and to dream. God never intended for these loves to be hidden away and buried. I want to invest them and use them to further His Kingdom.
I intend to be a good friend, to consciously make decisions that benefit others instead of myself, to love freely and without judgment, to be friendly and quick to speak and share with strangers and turn them into friends.
I HOPE GOD:
Continues to work on me. I would've given up on myself a long, long time ago. I pray He "grows" me into the person He wants me to be.
Opens my eyes to see Him in everyday occurrences. And sometimes just gives me a good shake when I'm too blind to see Him.
Uses me in any way He chooses. I am His servant.
GOALS:(in no particular order, just as they came to mind)
1. Memorize a verse a week.
2. Practice the awareness of His presence.
3. Spend more time in prayer: confession, praise, intercession, etc.
4. Dance, any kind of dance, just dance.
5. Take at least one photo every day.
6. Write a return email to everyone who sends me a personal email.
7. Write emails to friends & family often.
8. Pray for my supporters.
9. Exercise regularly.
10. Accomplish one of the things on my life list of goals.
11. Write weekly goals every Sunday.
Well, there they are. Hope you didn't find it too boring. If you did it's your own fault. No one forced you to read it. I think I should also make a resolution not to compare my blogging to all those xangans out there who write such fascinating blogs they have people they don't know following their every post, breathlessly waiting for a new one. Yep, definitely should make that a resolution.
I hope your New Year is full of good things, growth, lots of joy, just enough sorrow to make you appreciate the joy, friends, and God's love. I hope God takes you far enough out of your comfort zone that the only comfort zone is Him, that He brings things into your life that will strengthen your faith, and that He absolutely stuns you with the depth of His love this year. Blessings in the New Year!
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| Finally, I have my ticket to leave for China. The big day is coming up quickly. December 2 will find me headed to the airport. After one long 14 hour flight, I have a layover in Beijing and then another 2 ½ hour flight into Chengdu. I’m so excited to finally have my ticket. I recieved my visa yesterday in the mail. I've got tons of stuff to do yet before I leave but at least the important things are done. All I really need are a ticket and a visa. To all my xanga friends out there, if you didn't recieve a newsletter from me just a few minutes ago then you are not on my newsletter list. Somehow you got missed. Not sure if you don't want to get them or if I have the wrong email or don't have your email or what. However, if you want to get my newsletters, you can message me and I will add you to my list. I am also short on Prayer Warriors. I need 50 people to commit to praying for me(weekly, daily, when God brings me to mind, whatever works for you) before I leave for China. Please let me know as soon as you can if you are willing to pray for me. Thanks a bunch! | | |
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