Start of School

So I officially started school on Thursday. I am overwhelmingly overwhelmed. I told Daddy that I feel like a kid on the first day of Kindergarten. I know nothing! I have no counseling background and no theology background. I know nothing! I guess that means I just have a lot to learn. I have my classes all figured out. I will have a class at 8:00 every day and then one online. This way, I can be at work by 2 every day and hopefully have all my work done before I get there so I can spend the nights with Michael. ( I think that was a run-on sentence...sorry Kristy).

I wanted to tell you a little bit about convocation. It was held during chapel on the first day of school. All the faculty came in in their little robes that they wear at graduation. I find those things extremely humerous. For all you Harry fans, it looked like a large assembly of Dumbledore importance witches and wizards. Anyways, I digress. So apparently, there are 2 ways to be on faculty. You can be appointed by the president, or you can be approved by the Board of Trustees. Being approved by the board is way cooler. You get to be called up to the stage. Then you get to sit in the founding president's chair and sign your name in an extremely large book. I can't help but compare it to the Book of Life! Then you go and sit with the rest of the faculty.

President Patterson gave the sermon in chapel that day. He read the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet. As he was explaining the different Greek words for the term servant, he washed this dude's feet. Just called him right up on stage, sat him down, washed his feet, and never missed a beat in his sermon. WOW! The dude was very touched. He was crying as Dr. Patterson prayed over him. Dr. Patterson was stressing the importance of service within the church and how no one is above service.

I will try to do better with posting. I think I have a little schedule worked out which should allow me some time to post. I have a few ideas of things I want to post for your enjoyment.

Katie McCrary, I have not forgotten about your TAG. I actually have a sticky note on my computer. It is on the list!

My First Day of Graduate School...sort of

So today was orientation at SWBTS.  I think I have been so orientated that my head may fall off.  We started with general orientation.  Then we went to orientation by school...mine being the school of education.  Then we went to orientation by degrees.  FINALLY after that we were released to...guess what...go TAKE A TEST!!!  Yes a TEST on the FIRST day of seminary which technically was just orientation and not class.  It was a standardized test to figure out how much Bible knowledge I had.  I always thought I had a pretty good working knowledge of the Bible.  Not so.  It was very difficult.  Do you know who Joshua's daddy was or what River flows through the land of the Hittites?  Yeah...me either.  At least it was multiple choice!  **Attention parents:   This was not for a grade, don't be alarmed.  It was just to establish a baseline for what I know now.  I'll take it again when I graduate and hopefully do better.**

Oh...and guess what else...I have HOMEWORK!  Yeah, I haven't even been to class yet, but I have 60 pages to read and 3 discussions to post comments in before Thursday.

This is going to be a fun 3 years.  Please pray for me.

Another Exciting Weekend

So I will try to give you a brief update about our weekend, which is why you haven't heard from me until today.

Friday we went on a "field trip" with Kristy and Deanna to the Fort Worth Money Factory.  It is one of only two places in the U.S. that produces our paper currency.  I could not work in a place like that.  To have to stare at that much money every day and leave it there at the end of it would overwhelm me.  I am perfectly content with my life where I am but looking at millions of dollars only makes me want it.  For security purposes, we weren't allowed to have cameras or cell phones so sorry no pics.  I did meet this adorable little fellow and his brother who were visiting the area for a family reunion on the bus ride over to the "factory".  He was very friendly and told me all about his family and the money he had in the bank!  He fully expected them to give him some money on this tour!

Saturday we headed over to Plano, TX, which is about 1 hour away from us to meet Michael's brother and sister-in-law, Todd and Nicole, as well as Nicole's parents and brother for lunch.  We ate at Abuelo's which I will call an upscale Mexican restaurant.  It was a good lunch, and we enjoyed getting to visit with Todd and Nicole.  They educated us a little bit on the CPA exam and suggestions for prep courses for Michael.  Interesting indeed.

Then we headed over the Kristy and Deanna's, our lovely hostesses for the weekend.  We spent the night with them to keep from having to make the drive over to Plano twice.  We were able to visit Deanna's classroom and attempt to help her get things ready.  I don't know if we were more a hindrance or a help!  After that, we attended church services at The Village.  Then we went to eat at Babe's.  This was very good.  Everything is served family style.  We had fried chicken strips, corn, green beans, creamed potatoes with white gravy, and fabulous homemade biscuits.  It was a tasty dinner.  Then we headed back to their apartment to watch the Olympics.

**Side story--Nicole's brother has a son, Kent, who is a little younger than Matthew.  He has been watching the "bobympics" this week.  His favorite sport is diving.  He stands in front of the TV and says, "Jump boy!  Jump boy!"  Then, when they land, he breaks into applause!  TOO CUTE!**

Sunday morning we woke up and went to church a SECOND time...yes aren't we good!...with Todd and Nicole at Prestonwood Baptist Church.  Talk about HUGE!!!  When we walked in, I felt like I was in the corridor of a mall, not a church  The sanctuary was gargantuan.  The choir was AMAZING!  They were all color coordinated with the ladies in Pink, Green, and Turquoise shirts and the guys in black striped shirts.  Very good.  After church, we were saying our good-byes when Nicole's cousin suggested that we all stay and eat lunch....wait for it...wait for it...AT THE CHURCH!  He said, you're gonna wait forever at any restaurant, just eat here!  YES...we walked down the hall...and turned the corner...and there is a full buffet for lunch...all you can eat for $11.  If you aren't in the mood for the buffet or have a picky child on your hands...DON'T FEAR...There is a FOOD COURT...with pizza, hamburgers, chicken, anything you want!  IMPRESSIVE!  **Brother Sammy, you need to work on this for Fairview!**

Good times.

 

Warner Brothers Change Opening Date

Just in case anyone hasn't heard yet...Warner Bros has decided to postpone the premier of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince until NEXT SUMMER!  In JULY no less!!  That is a YEAR away!  If you are interested, you can read an article here.  I am too mad to discuss it.  If you were wondering...YES...all it has to do with is MONEY!!!

Question

Does anyone know how to attach a file to a post like you would attach a file to an e-mail?  I have something I would like to share, but its an attachment in an e-mail.

Encouragement

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the 

glory of God;

The skies proclaim the work

of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth

speech;

night after night they display

knowledge.

There is no speech or 

language

where their voice is not

heard.

Their voice goes out into all

the earth,

their words to the ends of 

the world.

In the heavens he has

pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom

coming forth from his

pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to

run his course.

It rises at one end of the 

heavens 

and makes its circuit to the

other;

nothing is hidden from its

heat.

The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul.

The statues of the LORD are

trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are

right,

giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD

are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The ordinances of the LORD

are sure

and altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the comb.

By them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is 

great reward.

Who can discern his errors?

Forgive my hidden faults.

Keep your servant also from

willfull sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless,

innocent of great

transgressions.

May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my

heart

be pleasing in your sight, 

O LORD, my Rock and my

Redeemer.

Favoritism

Scripture:  Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter began to speak, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right."

Observation:  Let me give you a little background on what has just happened in this chapter.  Cornelius, a Gentile, has had a vision where an angel tells him to send for Peter.  So he does this.  In the meantime, Peter fall into a trance and sees heaven.  He also sees a sheet being lowered with all kinds of unclean animals in it.  The Lord tells Peter to kill and eat.  Peter responds by saying that he has never eaten anything unclean.  The Lord tells Peter not to call anything impure that God has made clean.  End of trance.  Cornelius' people arrive, and the Spirit has told Peter that it is okay to go with them.  He does and then we get these verses as he begins to speak to Cornelius.  God used the dream to prepare Peter for the fact that God's salvation was not just for the Jews but also for the Gentiles.  He doesn't show favoritism.  Later in the chapter, the Holy Spirit fills Cornelius and others who heard Peter's message, and they were baptized.

Application:  God offers salvation to ANYONE from any background or nation.  Who am I to decide that only a certain type of person can receive God's forgiveness and grace?  It is natural for us to gravitate toward people who are like us.  People who come from the same types of families, economic status, schools, etc.  God doesn't want us to be like that when it comes to sharing the Gospel.  For God so loved the world, that He gave his Only Begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  How would you feel if someone had skipped over sharing the Gospel with you just because you were different from them?  Think about it.  We are called to share the Gospel to anyone and everyone.  We can also commit to pray for people living in different nations.  Pray that their hearts would be softened and open to the Word being shared with them.  Pray also for the missionaries who have dedicated their lives to bringing the Word to these people.  We have our own mission field here at home.  There are plenty of people who don't know the Truth.  Will you tell them?  Will I tell them?  This is a huge challenge for me.  It is easier for me to go off to Thailand or a Christian summer camp and share the Gospel, but right here where I am is a huge challenge for me.

Prayer:  Lord, Pour out a special blessing on those who have dedicated their lives to your work overseas.  Help me to see all people through your eyes of love.  Give me the words to say and the strength to say them and the love to say them with.   I can't do it without You.