Friends!

Granted, I haven't written much of shenanigans and exploits of late; this has been much more of a musing season. Still, in the month and a half I have been unemployed, I have managed to spend time with the following friends (in no particular order):

Lindsay Gleason
Drew and Carlene Miller
Richard Morrison and Katie Riemann
Stephanie and David Misson (tied the knot!)
Molly Clarke
Erin Ferrier
Lindsay DeKlotz
Jane David
Mary Embree
Kate English
Steven Wolf
Brian and Karelisa King
Aimee McKeown
Anh Thu Cao
Deanna Marquez
Pam Gartner
My grandparents
My immediate family
Fawn and Joey Parish (for their film screening)
Meza Family
Cheryl Pittluck
Nicholas Hill

Perhaps that falls under traipsing? Driving about visiting friends? For exploits, I will share that my team won at pub quiz last night! First time ever. It was a narrow victory, but sweet nonetheless. I am recruiting people to the event.

Today's Encouragement

Back to Back:

It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? * I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You.

Shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. * Wait for the Lord, and He will save you. * Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. * See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

Lam. 3:26; Ps. 77:9; Ps. 31:22; Luke 18:7-8; Prov. 20-22; Ps. 37:7; 2 Chron. 20:17; Gal. 6:9; James 5:7



Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. * [Look] carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. * You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. * The tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. * Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.

Song of Sol. 2:15; Ps. 19:12; Heb. 12:15; Gal. 5:7; Phil. 1:6, 27; James 3:5-6, 8; Col. 4:6

I am thankful for...

completely paying off my government loans two weeks ago.
my car.
being able to meet up with Ventura County friends.
my room-personal space.
turkey hot dogs.
Cambria.
free time.
warmth.
grace.
Goodwill opening in Fillmore.
Trader Joe's.
Bob Pierce and Franklin Graham.
elephants.
sleep.
the beginning of my favorite season.
my parents.

Evil in the Congo

The violence in the Congo, particularly the brutal rapes of girls and women of all ages, has been haunting me for weeks. Today I read an article from the BBC that implied it's only getting worse. The most devastating part of the article was at the end:

The latest mass rapes - during July and August - were first reported by the International Medical Corps, which treated many of the victims.

Mr Ban sent his envoys to the country to learn why UN peacekeepers had apparently been unaware of the attacks.

DR Congo has a shocking reputation for sexual violence, and rape is commonly used as a weapon of war.

The UN says at least 8,300 rapes were reported in 2009 and it is believed that many more attacks go unreported.

I am going to make a commitment to pray for the Congo every day. Generally, I am an action person, but I forget that fervent prayer (not just the half-hearted promise of prayer) IS an action. It's a crucial action! Being unemployed leaves me with little financial resources, but my heart just breaks for these women. By the way, many men are killed or beaten (and unable to protect their wives). It's not just the women who suffer, but there are many new widows and rape survivors stigmatized by their husbands and communities. The repercussions are overwhelming.

Crises like these do test my faith. You might ask, how can you love a God who allows atrocities of this level? An indirect answer to that is because He is big enough yet intimate enough to care. I truly do believe He cares. I believe that His heart breaks much worse than I do. When I read the Bible, I see over and over the charge to care for the vulnerable. People who take advantage of the vulnerable are warned of destruction. Sometimes I think God tarries partially for the perpetrators' sakes. I actually believe that man is naturally selfish at heart, but oftentimes I still cannot fathom how people can be so cruel to each other. I find myself wondering how these armies can terrorize civilians, particularly women and children, and I mean truly wondering. What is it in their circumstances and hearts that compels them to ignore the voice of God and exult in their truly evil desires? Or maybe they are just going along with the crowd? I can only think about these subjects for so long because it really does tear me apart.

Today was a good day, by the way. I spoke about communication at a Christian sober living home whose residents are going through Pop's curriculum. Afterward, Emily and I went to Trader Joe's, and I made stuffed bell peppers for dinner (from my Trader Joe's cook book). Then my team came in third out of six at pub quiz, so we are improving.

Losing Control

Last month I was listening to Audio Adrenaline and finally really listened to the last song on the album "Until My Heart Caves In". Previously, I had only marked this song two stars because the vocals are rather annoying, but I gained an appreciation for the lyrics. The older I get, the more I realize the importance of perspective, and I am trying to remember to pray for God's perspective. I think these lyrics are an excellent example of that. They are also an excellent example that I really am not in control and need to let go of that illusion. I'm not sure how to add audio files to this blog, and the only video I could find has incredibly muted volume. Sorry!

"Losing Control"

This is what it feels like
To lose control
This is what it feels like
To be left alone
This is what it feels like
To lose a friend
This is what it feels like
To reach the end

God came down
And walked beside me
God came down
He sent friends to guide me
God came down to remind me
This is what it feels like
To be loved

This is what it feels like
To face the truth
This is what it feels like
To know it's through
This is what it feels like
To say goodbye
This is what it feels like
For a man to cry

God came down
And walked beside me
God came down
He sent friends to guide me
God came down to remind me
This is what it feels like
To be loved

This is what it feels like
This is what it feels like
This is what it feels like