Week-In-Reviews

Every Monday morning we turn in a "Week-In-Review". It is one of our assignments while we are up here. They serve as a sort of journal for us, and at the end of the year all of our own week-in-reviews will be compiled and given to us as a journal reminder of what God has done in our lives throughout the year. Mine vary from week to week, some being boring, others somewhat comical (at least to me), and others rather serious... So I thought that for my next couple posts I would share a few of my week-in-reviews with you all, bearing a little soul, hopefully giving you a little glimpse of me, however embarassing that could be in my part haha. Oh yea and a few of us decided to put at least one song lyric in each review, see if you end up seeing them :) We'll start with the most recent one written, the week before Christmas break, WIR 14...

"Final week before Christmas break, and I finally started to feel a bit more adjusted to being back, go figure. This week Rich was our speaker. The man who was supposed to come was actually one of the men who helped translate the NIV Bible, however I do believe that it was in God’s best timing and judgment that the speaker canceled, leaving Rich as our speaker. I really enjoy Rich in the setting of speaking, and if God ever does call him to be a pastor of a church, I believe he will do a fantastic job. Anyways, Rich went through the book of Romans (chapters 6-8 to be specific). The background of the book, the time period, the Roman empire, the trade and travel that “all roads lead to Rome”, Nero as king, the church that had started there, and everything in between, really making the book and the words of Paul come alive. Come to think of it I want to study that book in my quite time now. Through and through his message, Rich preached the simple gospel to us once again, and it was so refreshing to hear. We hear so much information on different theological points, and debatable issues such as “pre-destination vs. free will” and “are we living in the end times”, that we (well at least I) needed to be reminded of the gospel. That Christ HUMBLED Himself down to being man, walked in perfect communion with God, was crucified, dying arguably the worst death ever, and then conquered death by raising Himself from the dead. This is what the truth comes down to. Do I really believe this message or not; do I think that it is not possible for this to happen, or is God big enough to accomplish this task? I have to admit I have doubts, but when I am in God’s presence and letting my heart’s cares, worries, and concerns lay truthfully before Him, He never fails to comfort. Sometimes, well a lot of times, I find myself relating to “doubting Thomas”. I am such a concrete type person that I say I would believe only if I was there and I saw it, but I know that this is not possible, and I know that there is more than enough evidence for me to believe. Just looking at the world around me I know I have to believe, this creation is just too amazingly perfect to be of anything other than God Himself. But creation doesn’t speak alone, there was something that happened 2,000 years ago that has not died out, that changed so dramatically how people lived, that it has to make an impact on my life. As I was laying in bed last night (the week after this week in review) I was telling God that my worst fear is that I will die and when I get to heaven He will say to me, “depart from me, I never knew you”. However scary that fear is, it is such a good and humbling place to be in; that fear is what I would call the fear of the Lord. Only He has the power to say that to me, but I have to rest assured that His grace is sufficient for me, that nothing I could do or not do can make Him love me more or love me less. This is the gospel, that what we cannot do on our own, Jesus has done for us. I know the truth, I desire more and more everyday to be in communion with Him, even when I am tired and don’t “feel” like studying, Jesus loves me. When I am doing devotions in the morning, Jesus loves me. When I screw up, when I hurt someone or hurt myself, Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me this I know. This truth should speak wonders into how my life is played out day to day. Other than this, most of the trivial things of my week I would rather just leave out of this week-in-review.

Thing to remember from the week: I heard it said that 'we need to preach the gospel to ourselves daily'. What would my life look like if I did?"

A Midnight Drive

I realize it has been far too long since I have posted here!

This is now starting my second week of Christmas break, and I must say that the start of break was a little rough but today was amazing! Let me start at the beginning...

Yesterday I went to Anna Horn and Andrew Wilson's wedding (which was beautiful, I am so happy for them). I got home around 8:00pm and with the rest of the night being rather uneventful I texted my friend Emily to see if she had left Hawaii or not. With no response by about 10:00, I figured she was home in Vancouver and I dosed off early. At 1:30am I woke up suddenly, for no apparent reason, but being wide awake I checked my phone and loe and behold there was a text from Emily at 11:30 saying she had been re-routed through Oakland. I text her back my grievances for her delay, and again another surprise! She text me saying she was stuck in Oakland! This just started a whole chain of crazy events and by 2:38am I was on the road to Oakland!

Arriving around 5:30am we headed out to the nearest Denny's and had a scrumptulous breakfast. With a laugh and a thought of are we really in an Oakland Denny's at 5:30 on January 21st, it was no doubt God had set up this wonderful adventure. We headed into Berkeley and toured the campus, taking some fun pictures, looking at the amazing architecture, and wondered what it would have been like to go to a school like this. Though when it started raining, we remembered how we wouldn't have wanted to train anywhere else but Hawaii!

After saying our goodbyes around 11:00 nearly ten hours after this ordeal had started, I headed out. As I passed through Pleasanton I stopped at my God-sister's house and my uncles house leaving surprise Christmas notes on each's door. The drive to and from went rather well, I wasn't sure with the "no music" rule if I would make it, but it was some much needed alone time with God and my thoughts...

I arrived home around 3:00pm and just laughed at the whole day... it was exactly what I needed and I am SO SO SO thankful to have seen Emily, I miss her a whole lot! God is so good to put little promptings in our hearts (like the one to drive to Oakland at 2 in the morning) and if we are willing to act on them it is amazing what a blessing they become!