random news and notes

The high school youth minister at Saturn Road Church of Christ has been one of the most influential people in my life. I owe so much to him. Thanks for the Rangers game on Sunday night. It was fun.

It's been a while since I have posted. I really don't have much to say. Well, I have a lot of things going on in my head, but I don't know if I'm brave enough to write them down on a website that people can see. I suspect that there are even some people who I am unaware of who may read these posts.

Lately I have been wanting a sign from God. I want something miraculous to happen in my life that definitely proves that God exists. If I look at nature or count my blessings etc., I wonder if that is really God or just what I have learned God is supposed to be. I guess I'm a bit jealous of people who have had a "come to Jesus" moment - a time where they undoubtedly know that God is working in their lives. I have grown up believing God is real - he has been part of my reality since the day I was born. So a lot of my faith is learned; it is not accepted based upon experience. I wonder what it would be like to experience God. Please don't tell me to do the study "Experiencing God." I would argue with you that even the study is slanted and leads people to believe that certain things are signs or experiences of God - again, a learned phenomenon. What I want is a Saul moment. I want a light on the road to Damascus. Do I want to be blind? Now I'm scared. Could I handle that? Probably not.

Thanks for reading.

Good Flick

I'm very excited to write that my younger sister returned from Uruguay yesterday morning. She had been gone since January, so I was really excited to see her again. She and I go to the movies together a lot. In fact, I only went to the movies once while she was away (and that was with my older sister). We saw "Akeelah and the Bee" tonight. If you haven't seen this movie yet, I would recommend it. There are a couple of cheesy parts, but the overall message is great. It warms one's heart.

I really do like the following quote from Marianne Williamson which is an important aspect of the movie.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. As we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

I pray that I along with the rest of you believe that. If you don't, keep reading it over and over - I believe it's true no matter what Satan is telling you.

Thanks for reading.