Auughhh! I am so sick of my paper! If I never hear about the UN again, it will be too soon. Plus, I just ate a whole bar of Toblerone chocolate in about 7 minutes. Shows how focused I am. And prior to that I ate 1/3 bag of snap peas from Trader Joe's. These two incompatible food groups are now having a duel in the depths of my interior. I think we call that "stress eating."
Almost done! On an ironic note, I accidentally achieved an A in my credit/no credit Math 112 class. It was such a joke. It saddened me that I wasted a credit/no credit. Oops. Should have gone with my instinct, but I figured since I skipped about 1/3 of the classes I should play it safe...evidently not.
Wow, I'm in full stream into complaining mode about inconsequential things. I'm leaving now.
Good-bye.
March 18, 2008
March 16, 2008
In His prescence is fullness of joy.
It's been rather a crazy week, and though I could come up with a list of reasons why, the overall reasons for stress are still semi-nebulous. However, the Lord has really been using those stressful factors to teach me more about myself and my priorities. I think my heart is more in the right place than it was last Sunday (i.e. focused on the Lord and my relationship with Him rather than on myself or my relationships with people).
It makes me smile when I stop and think how kind and gentle the Lord is to work with me in spite of my blinders. He has used several people that I did not anticipate to directly and indirectly encourage me this week, moving me more towards a much-needed Mary mindset rather than trudging on as a Martha.
Praise the Lord that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and even more so, that He is faithful. Psalm 16:11 has impacted me this week: In His presence is fullness of joy. Oftentimes I remind myself of the verse, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10). However, the joy of the Lord comes from His presence and from having a relationship with Him. Again, it was reinforced that I am nothing apart from God.
I've also been conducted two interesting experiments this week that will be revisited after break. More on that later. They're still very much works in progress, but have the potential to have a significant impact on my mindset and the way I spend my time.
Aside from the topics mentioned above, cognition has also been expended in gleeful anticipation of my trip to Seattle/road trip to SLO. I fly up on Thursday. 'Twill be grand. I also decided to tint my hair red again during the last weekend of break and have been looking forward to that. You have to appreciate the little things in life. Besides, I get so bored with my hair.
This post is becoming mundane. My apologies.
Kudos, David, for getting this far. ;)
It makes me smile when I stop and think how kind and gentle the Lord is to work with me in spite of my blinders. He has used several people that I did not anticipate to directly and indirectly encourage me this week, moving me more towards a much-needed Mary mindset rather than trudging on as a Martha.
Praise the Lord that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and even more so, that He is faithful. Psalm 16:11 has impacted me this week: In His presence is fullness of joy. Oftentimes I remind myself of the verse, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10). However, the joy of the Lord comes from His presence and from having a relationship with Him. Again, it was reinforced that I am nothing apart from God.
I've also been conducted two interesting experiments this week that will be revisited after break. More on that later. They're still very much works in progress, but have the potential to have a significant impact on my mindset and the way I spend my time.
Aside from the topics mentioned above, cognition has also been expended in gleeful anticipation of my trip to Seattle/road trip to SLO. I fly up on Thursday. 'Twill be grand. I also decided to tint my hair red again during the last weekend of break and have been looking forward to that. You have to appreciate the little things in life. Besides, I get so bored with my hair.
This post is becoming mundane. My apologies.
Kudos, David, for getting this far. ;)
February 12, 2008
Excerpt from history section of Samaritan's Purse
"Go and do likewise," Christ commanded after explaining the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. So we do. Samaritan's Purse travels the world’s highways looking for victims along the way. The work is often dangerous—as it was for the Samaritan—but the message we carry is much too important. We are quick to bandage the wounds we see, but the Samaritan didn’t stop there, and neither do we. In addition to meeting their immediate, emergency needs, we help these victims recover and get back on their feet.
No matter where we go or what we do, though, we offer more than help. We offer hope. To suffering people in a broken world, we share the news of the only One who can bring true peace—Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
No matter where we go or what we do, though, we offer more than help. We offer hope. To suffering people in a broken world, we share the news of the only One who can bring true peace—Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
February 11, 2008
Excerpt from UN account of their "efforts" in Sudan
On 7 October 2004, the Secretary-General [of the United Nations]announced the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to determine whether acts of genocide had occurred in Darfur. In its final report, the Commission concluded that while the Government of Sudan had not pursued a policy of genocide, its forces and allied militia had “conducted indiscriminate attacks, including killing of civilians, torture, enforced disappearances, destruction of villages, rape and other forms of sexual violence, pillaging and forced displacement.” The panel concluded that “international offences such as the crimes against humanity and war crimes that have been committed in Darfur may be no less serious and heinous than genocide.” It urged the Security Council to “act not only against the perpetrators but also on behalf of the victims”.
On 21 April 2005, the Commission on Human Rights (predecessor of the Human Rights Council) appointed a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan. The Special Rapporteur, Sima Samar, has travelled to Sudan regularly and issued oral and written statements to the Commission (and later the Human Rights Council) and to the Third Committee of the General Assembly.
In February and March 2007, the Human Rights Council deployed a special mission to report on the human rights situation in Darfur. The Council subsequently set up a human rights expert group to work with the Sudanese Government and the AU to ensure implementation of all resolutions and recommendations on Darfur in relation to human rights. On 20 June, the mandate of the expert group was extended for another six months. In its seventh report on the human rights situation in the Sudan (18 May), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported on aerial attacks conducted from January to March 2007 against civilians in Darfur. The Secretary-General has repeatedly drawn the attention of the Security Council to the continuing violence in Darfur and has condemned the targeting of civilians, including aerial attacks on villages.
http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/background.html
On 21 April 2005, the Commission on Human Rights (predecessor of the Human Rights Council) appointed a Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Sudan. The Special Rapporteur, Sima Samar, has travelled to Sudan regularly and issued oral and written statements to the Commission (and later the Human Rights Council) and to the Third Committee of the General Assembly.
In February and March 2007, the Human Rights Council deployed a special mission to report on the human rights situation in Darfur. The Council subsequently set up a human rights expert group to work with the Sudanese Government and the AU to ensure implementation of all resolutions and recommendations on Darfur in relation to human rights. On 20 June, the mandate of the expert group was extended for another six months. In its seventh report on the human rights situation in the Sudan (18 May), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported on aerial attacks conducted from January to March 2007 against civilians in Darfur. The Secretary-General has repeatedly drawn the attention of the Security Council to the continuing violence in Darfur and has condemned the targeting of civilians, including aerial attacks on villages.
http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/background.html
February 8, 2008
Samaritan's Purse
I sent in my application for the volunteer relations position with Samaritan's Purse yesterday. This job is totally a "God thing" as it seems to fit me (and visa versa) so exactly. Also, it appeared just at the time when I needed to start the job search process. I rest assured in the knowledge that Lord will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11), and I know that this is an area of my life that I have continuously given over to the Lord. He has a specific plan for my post-graduation plans as well as my long-term career. But I get really excited contemplating myself in this particular position. And, oh, how I love California! Someday I think I'll make it back up to the Central Coast.
Life has been super busy, and I often think that we lose sight of who we are supposed to BE in the midst of concentrating on all we have to DO. I have been disappointed that I do not have more time to spend on people, though in actuality I have been sacrificing sleep and personal time (not to mention devotions) to do just that. But I do enjoy my job at Bishop's Peak/Teach tremendously and actually don't have too much homework considering that I'm taking 17 units. My personality class is so fulfilling. One of the best decisions I've ever made, to the point that it prompted me to "go for" the psych minor. Another stupendous decision.
It would be beneficial (at least for my own self-processing) to continue to chronicle some of the main points of the past five weeks, but then I would be late for yet another engagement. So I'll end with a verse that really hit me a few days ago. I love mentions in the Bible of how much God values words, to the point that Jesus is called the Word. Anytime Jesus is called something, we really should listen up! Also, God SPOKE the world into existence, and salvation is made by confession of the mouth (Romans 10). Anyway, the verse is Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
We could spend weeks discussing the implications of that verse, even to the subject of how living things are affected by speech. Talking to plants or examining the impact of positive v. negative messages on health are two examples. I love my major. :)
Life has been super busy, and I often think that we lose sight of who we are supposed to BE in the midst of concentrating on all we have to DO. I have been disappointed that I do not have more time to spend on people, though in actuality I have been sacrificing sleep and personal time (not to mention devotions) to do just that. But I do enjoy my job at Bishop's Peak/Teach tremendously and actually don't have too much homework considering that I'm taking 17 units. My personality class is so fulfilling. One of the best decisions I've ever made, to the point that it prompted me to "go for" the psych minor. Another stupendous decision.
It would be beneficial (at least for my own self-processing) to continue to chronicle some of the main points of the past five weeks, but then I would be late for yet another engagement. So I'll end with a verse that really hit me a few days ago. I love mentions in the Bible of how much God values words, to the point that Jesus is called the Word. Anytime Jesus is called something, we really should listen up! Also, God SPOKE the world into existence, and salvation is made by confession of the mouth (Romans 10). Anyway, the verse is Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
We could spend weeks discussing the implications of that verse, even to the subject of how living things are affected by speech. Talking to plants or examining the impact of positive v. negative messages on health are two examples. I love my major. :)
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