Sup my friends,

I am in a very good mood today cuz God has blessed us with the awesomest weather ever. 72 degrees with a comfortable breeze... woo hoo!!!

Anyway, I've had a really cool week, dressing up as a Gryffendor for three nights in a row. Being a non-muggle for a few days was a lot of fun:) Halloween is superb in my book, just because you get candy and dress up. I wish the holiday didn't have so much baggage, so I didn't feel guilty for liking it so much... o-well.

Last night Lee gave the best talk on worship @ 519. It is amazing how many times I just give God parts of me and not the whole of me. Worship means worth-ship, and God is definately worth all of me (and more). Lee encouraged us to give our all to God and not just our voices. I will dance to Chicago the musical, I will scream at the top of my lungs at a Reuben concert, and I will bow to so many other things, but do I always give all that to God? Nope... and it was way cool to give it up to him last night. He likes it and so do I:)

So yeah... there's some stuff I've been thinking about lately. Now I am going to go get some stuff done and get ready to go out with Eds tonight. We are going to see "Lost in Translation" with Bill Murray. Oh and Jer's having a party too. Read his blog. It's funny. I didn't realize I had a DARK sense of humor. I guess by definition that means that I find things funny that are serious. Hmmm... I dunno Jer;) I do find it funny that I am God's cookie sheet according to Jer though. Ah well... gotta go.

boo

I am preparing for Bible Study tonight and it is hard with a lot on your mind, so I figured I would blog some of it.

I've been in a Sixpence mood today, and you know how sometimes, when you hear a new CD you don't actually hear the lyrics until the 1000th time you've heard a song. Well that's what happened to me today. I was listening to a song called "Paralyzed" and I loved the song musically (whatever that might mean:) ever since it first passed through my headphones. However, I have never really listened to the words before and the meaning hit me on the way to Linguistics. I probably looked a little funny because not many get teary-eyed in linguistics. I was thinking about the application that I gave my Bible Study for the week, to make our hearts and minds supple to God's manipulation and try to feel as though God feels as he gazes upon this world and upon a non-believer.

So as I was walking to Linguistics, these lyrics penetrated my heart.

"Paralyzed

I look out to the fields
where blood is shed upon the ground
I breathe in and breathe out
change the channel, mute the sound
I take a match, a cigarette, and a walk to clear my head
my stomach's reeling at the thought of all those human beings dead

I breathe in, I breathe out
then go down to do an interview
about a song, three minutes long
I just need something to do
especially when your dearest friend
was sent to cover Kosovo
his last assignment brought a bullet
and now he's gone, he's gone

Chorus
feels like I'm fiddlin' while Rome is burning down
should I lay my fiddle down, take a rifle from the ground
I need the ghost to breathe a northern gale tonight
'cause I'm paralyzed, I'm paralyzed

I packed his books up, left the office
went to tell the wife the news
she fell in shock, the baby kicked
and shed a tear inside the womb
I breathed in, I breathed out,
soaked the ground up with my eyes
it's hard to say a healing word
when your tongue is paralyzed"

Wow... just when I tried to grasp what it is like to love like God does, tears well up and my tounge becomes paralyzed. Isn't God's love amazing... it is so strong it can only paralyze us, make us stop in amazement. All we can do is soak it up and cry out to one who loves unconditionally. I used to think that it was possible for a human being to love in such a way, but I think that we can only try and when we cannot we have to breathe in and breathe out God's love.

The lyrical epiphany happened again as I listened to another song, "Tension is a Passing Note." It was more of a mysterical epiphany, however. What does it mean that "tension is to be loved when it is like a passing note, to a beautiful chord"? I looked up the lyrics to the song on lyrics.com when I arrived back to 1004 and at the bottom it had an author's comment.

"»"Tension Is A Passing Note" explores the hardness of living life on the road as well as the way tension in our lives can lead to a beautiful resolve. The lyrics tie into the writings of Jeremy Begbie and C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain.«"

Ahh... the song is illustrating a dicotomy that I have struggled with before I became a Christian and have struggled and argued about with non-Christians since my rebirth. The dicotomy between God=Love, and Suffering. In other words, why is the world full of suffering if it is controled by a loving God? The tension hurts, and the note may sound horrible; however, the note is passing and leads to a beautiful chord.

"Tension Is A Passing Note

do I murder when I forget you from afar?
too drunk on the poison of endless roads
and the countless smoky bars

but tension is to be loved
when it is like a passing note
to a beautiful, beautiful chord

do I murder us
putting pavement in my veins
shooting it in, special heroin
for the seeking and displaced?

but tension is to be loved
when it is like a passing note
to a beautiful, beautiful chord

but tension is to be loved
when it is like a passing note
to a beautiful, beautiful -
tension is to be loved
when it is like a passing note
to a beautiful, beautiful chord"

Mike-- Do you have a copy of "The Problem of Pain" by C.S. Lewis?

Here is a link about Lewis and Begbie's work.

http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ ap0032.html" title="http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ ap0032.html" target="_blank"http://www.catholiceducation....

Feels good to unload all that somewhere... I like this bloggin thing....

<--I'm out-->
boo

FALCONS...errrrrk!!!! Hee hee.

I had so much fun today and I usually am not too into football. I think it was the "thundersticks." It was just so much fun. My fam got to meet Mike too, which was way cool (even though my fam is pretty wierd:)

Friday, I had a good time getting all made up at the Mary Kay party. It was a bunch of girlie food and girlie chatter, but a lot of fun. Any event is good if it involves a new lip gloss... eww... I just exposed a feminine weakness...ahhh:)

Anyway, that was my weekend so far... Stayed tuned for Sunday's events and some deeper thoughts... none are coming to me at the moment:)

Night all:) boo

Lately it has been hard not to let my heart break upon hearing some prayer requests and lifting up some non-believers to God in prayer. And then I thought about it, and maybe God wants my heart to break. I shouldn't resist it; rather, I should heed it because Christ showed this amazing sense of compassion. He calls us to have an undying compassion for one another because this compassion leads us to action. Whether the action be prayer, or whatever to help someone, it is something that I should be working on.

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. "

On a lighter note... I forgot to blog about a very cool experience. The night before last, Eds and I got stuck in one of the Offenhauer elevators. Yeah! It was pretty intense as we anticipated our escape for 20 min or so. Eds was worried we would have to make a movie escape and crawl out and then the elevator would fall and chop our legs off. Well, fortunately that didn't happen. We made it out safely, thanks to the BGSU fix-it man.

On another note... I don't know what Joel and Roo have been talking about, but they have been accusing Eds and I of a heinous, yet ambiguious crime. Who knows what it is. Obviously we were stuck in an elevator when something happened, so we are both clueless. You know what I think... they are so uncreative that they had to make up an excuse to start a war with Edsboo. Geez.

boo

No I really do not love nakie parameters or anything else that has to do with statistics. Thanks to Eds, I understand some of what we are supposed to be doing for our IMPACT meeting tonight. But it'll still be torture for boo and roo brains:)

There was a question on our stats homework sheet about Las Vegas gambling and the game Keno. I asked Dr. Browne why anyone would ever play that game (because the probibility of winning is low- the house wins a majority of the time). He told me a story of how people get hooked into gambling. He and his wife were playing in a blackjack tourney and she lost, so she started playing video poker. After three games ($3.25), she won $43,000!! I don't think I ever would want to start gambling, because it would have to be a hard habit to kick, especially with a $43,000 incentive. Geez. It's amazing, the temptations that lie around our world.

So I had a great day yesterday. I've really been thinking and praying about what I am going to write in my NCUR paper. I have a general idea, but I really want it to be superb. I want to write about the lack of intellectualism in the Christian church. Not that Christians are stupid, but as a whole we tend to stay in our own circles and shy away from anything that unbelievers are into. We are called to be set apart, but we should be able to relate to non-believers. Look who Jesus hung out with. It seems as though Christianity has abandoned reason because it may lead to doubting, but it has done nothing but bolster my faith. When people become Christians based on a lack of knowledge and sucking in the warm fuzzies, their faith is bound to crack. However, if we find out the logical argument of our religion, then we are golden. We are golden because we, first and foremost, have the knowledge of God, plus the knowledge of man. One is most definately supreme; however, one without the other sticks us into a box. It's hard to shine our light if we are stuck inside our box, if we do not know the arguments that non-believers will throw at us, and if we do not think about their arguments in an empathetic way. In fact, we'll probably turn people away... scary! Ultimately, we can't convince anyone of anything, because that's totally up to God. Ultimately, the holy spirit has to penetrate one's mind for them to actually get it. However, I think we need to embrace a Christian intellectualism to rid ourselves from the fungus that clings to our church. Think of what non-believers precieve as a Christian- homophobics, people who shoot at abortion clinics, and Brother Jeds judging every passerby. Think what knowledge of God's Word would do, if it were only as loud as these people... wow... that'd be awesome dude man (lee-ism intended:).

Some quotes:

"Oh how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides, know this: God has forgotten even some of your sin. Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens- what can you do?" Job 11:5-8

"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6

"When we ask questions, we don't just want answers that help us merely because we believe them. We want to be comforted because our answers to these questions are really true. For the wise person of virtue, a life well lived is based on the truth, not on a placebo." J.P. Moreland, "Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul"

Well, that's just what's on my mind:)

Later, boo

Okay, so I don't want to become one of those bloggers that only blog a few times and then gives it up. That's silly... and people shouldn't be silly right? Nevermind... I disagree with my own assumption:)

Anyway, since I blogged last a lot has happened. I had one of those weeks that I paid for some procrastination and for taking 4 English classes this semester. But every week like that comes with a weekend of intense happiness and relief.

Sometimes, when things are going good though, I tend to forget to lean on God for the little problems. At times when I really can't handle things though, God mighty arms find me crawling into them. I think God uses crazy times like those to make me realize how comfortable and nice his super buff arms of love are. I always remember that he can carry the heavy stuff that I cannot; however, I forget that he likes to carry my light stuff too.

So the rest of the week, I have been hanging out in God's arms, and even though I am not stressed and it has made me very very jovial and calm.

The weekend was one of the most wonderful weekends I've had in a long time. It started out with good times at Chad and Heidi's, Q-Zar, and Major Magic's on Friday. Saturday, Eds, Easy Street, Orange County, Pool, and Prayer. Sunday, good teaching at church, Godfrey's, sweet and low all over Eds, good teaching at Bible Study, and good times with Eds.

Today has been going about as good... I mean how could it be so bad with the sun shining so brightly and the temperature so pleasant. Only bad thing that has happened today is that my Mom got some, what could be, not so good news from the doctor about some tests they took... So if ya all could lift her up in your prayers.

Thanx, boo:)

In two hours, Tess will be able to buy us all booze and teach Jeremy how to drive:) I'll bet Roo cannot wait for the birthday surprises I have in store.... hee hee hee. I am almost done with her real present, but she may have to wait until this weekend to see the completed rectangle.

I don't know whether or not to be mischievious while creating Tess' b-day gifts or not. She did say something about a conspiracy she is working on with Joel against the number one tag team "EdsBoo." Tess, I would have thought you would have learned your lesson by now... I am the mastermind at pranks, and... well Eds is the perfect complement to my sinister ways:)

[image]HollyBoo_371351619 .jpg[/image]

http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/" title="http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/" target="_blank"http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~mrdarius/music/tunak.ram (Tunak)

I just read an article that says that Daler is on the run... check it out...

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=33440" title="http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=33440" target="_blank"http://www.indianexpress.com/...

Anyway... I am not going to write anything of importance because I am pretty sick of writing and I need sleep. I know its only 10:30... I am a loser:)

Night, Boo

As I drove back from my fall break ("camping" with the Barnes fam) I had a whole hour and fifteen minutes to think about... stuff.

Don't you think it is so amazing how fast God changes things? For example, when I drove home (Bryan) on Friday, the trees were still so green. I drove home (BG) today, and God had transformed the all the green into an awesome golden hue. The change seemed so immediate, yet sooo awesome at the same time. Wow.

Night, boo

Okay... so I forgot to blog yesterday. But I am determined not to become one who blogs once or twice and then abandons the whole endeavor.

I really have no excuse either, other than I forgot. I've just been enjoying fall break. I learned how to play "There She Goes" by Sixpence (or whatever band sang it before them) yesterday, well kinda. It doesn't sound very good, but by the end of the weekend...maybe:)

As much as I am enjoying just chilling out and being with my family, I can't wait to get back to BG. Which is why as soon as I am done with this, I am going to do my homework so that I can be worry free when I get back. Well... hopefully:)

Next week will be extra exciting because it will be a Birthday Week!!! If you do not know my friends and I very well, you might not know that we don't just celebrate for a day but for a whole week. This year is my friends and my special year because we will all be turning 21. Woo hoo! Party hearty! j/k:) So if you know Tess, surprise her in any and every way possible next week, because next week is her b-day week!!!!

I love Eds' new song, "Part of Your World." I have it in my head, thus the picture.

Later, Boo [image]HollyBoo_979345357 .jpg[/image]

I have been trying to write this blog for sometime now. It is so hard to concentrate when you are so happy. Anyway, today has been a really good day and I think God might get a little tired of me praising him for it pretty soon. Nah... I don't think that's possible:)

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. " Psalm 126:3

Welcome to my blog. Check out my first blog below. It is better than this one, but I cannot figure out how to switch them around. This bloggin thing is pretty fun. I guess I will actually talk about my day, since that seems to be the trend. My day was fantabulous (after I killed all of the mean stinky ladybugs in our room) because I turned in two papers that I have been stressing about for the past week. So tonight I can have some fun, creating a blog, playing my guitar (I HATE THE F CHORD), and going shopping for yarn. Yeah, back to the whole chord thing. If you don't know, I am learning to play the guitar and I love it. We are starting to learn bar chords however, and they suck. O-and I am getting calloused too (rather my fingers are). But soon I may be able to play "Baby Hot Dogs" and that is when I will reach the point of self-actualization on Maslow's hierarchy of needs... ahhh.

~boo

Hmm... This is a bit wierd for me. I have never blogged before. Blog blog blog. (I'm warming up). Well the main reason I wanted to blog something today is that my friend Joel made a nasty mean pic of my friend Tess. So I made a funny pic of him and I wanted to share it with you all. So here it is. Refer to the Garage Song by Eds and Joel to understand the picture. Later, Boo [image]HollyBoo_414199752 .jpg[/image]

Garage Song- by Eds and Joel
http://www.pseudobook.com/michael/garage.mp3" title="http://www.pseudobook.com/michael/garage.mp3" target="_blank"http://www.pseudobook.com/mic...