Big Piney Creek

Here is our fearless group, who braved the Big Piney Creek. Bryan, Matt, Jonathan, Luke, Rachel, Elijah and me. This was at the Outfitters.

This is the beginning of the creek. The water was great, kind of cold but very refreshing, the sun was shining brightly and warmly upon us.
Here is Luke and Matt, at the beginning they were the only ones to never tump. Luke ended up only tumping like 3 times total.
Another picture of the beauty surrounding us.
Ahh yes I am scouting out the area, oh no wait I am paddling, but I look like I am scouting the area. You see the tee shirt behind me. That was there along with my shorts and top I was attempting to dry them out.
Here is my excellent partner, goofing off. He really was great at directing us and together we made great decisions minus one.
Here is me again.
Here is a beautiful refreshing waterfall that Bryan brought us to. I was totally excited, they make me so happy. I get all giddy and such.
Here is Rachie and I enjoying the cold fresh water. I love waterfalls.
The boys got a little adventursome and climbed up in search of more waterfalls.
Elijah was so adventuresome that he climbed up the waterfall in search of more waterfalls.
We finally got everyone back and got ready to head back out on the creek.
This is the top of the Mother, the most dangerous rapids on this creek. We did not know we were there until we were going over it.
That rock in the middle is the Little Mother. This is the rock that you are supposed to avoid and if you go to the left it is a level 3 to the right it is a 2+. We all took the 3. Well Bryan and I tried to take the 3 but we ended up ramping Little Mother, which was so much fun, especially for me since I was in the front. We almost made it through but I was like half hanging out after we made it over, so we tumped. Bryan made me pull my knees up which probably saved me from being totally covered in bruises.
The Little Mother would be to the very left I think you can barely see it. That huge rock is the Mother and the boys are headed right to it and hit it head on.
Here is Luke coming down on the kayak. The only ones who made it down without tumping were those on the kayak. When Bryan and I tumped I totally forgot about the clothes drying on our canoe and lost my outfit and Rachel's tee. I went back down just floating and found her top but my outfit was lost.
This is the very end of the rapids, it is very swift right here and Bryan hung onto the canoe and it pulled him between these two rocks that you can barely see and the canoe got stuck and he was being pulled under but somehow he got it unwedged. I asked him if I could just float around where it looked safer. I let him be the brave one.
This is all the way at the bottom of the Mother, Elijah is pulling me in the canoe. This was after I had found Rachel's tee shirt.
More beauty on the creek.
The beauty behind us and Bryan paddling away.
On the very left of this picture in the sunlight right by the shore is a beaver. When he was right beside us I was fishing for the camera and he was swimming up creek so the picture sucks. He was so cute though. Jon had been yelling beaver over and over before this and then we saw one. I was so excited, I have never seen one in the wild before. I am not sure I have seen one in captive either.

This is the huge bruise I walked away with. The front of my legs were covered in bruises. I looked like I was a battered woman. I was sort of fearful someone may call the cops when they saw my legs.

5000 Fed

This weekend we decided to invite everyone from Bible study over for lunch on Sunday. I did this thinking about 10 may come tops. I asked that everyone email me and RSVP to know how much I should cook. By the time we made it home and started the food off, we were up to 18 coming. Not only was I fearful about providing food for them all, but also adequate seating or even space in our 2 bedroom, 930 square foot townhouse. I had tripled the recipe but even that was only supposed to feed 15. Someone asked if I had prayed over the food (joking) because we all were satisfied and there was a tiny bit left, after it all. We had sides along with it, if not we would have run out of food.

Ministry of Music

This is my prayer today.

Draw Me Close
Michael W Smith

Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear you say that I'm Your friend
You are my desire no one else will do
There's nothing else can take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find a way bring me back to You.
You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know you are near.

I add help me want you and nothing else, because nothing else will do.

Have a Slice of Humble Pie

It is so quiet here today that you could hear a pin drop. Well that is everywhere other than my office. To make up for the lack of talking and hussle and bustle I have my music going full force and I am totally Jammin here in my office. Once again the faculty are all at their yearly retreat so I am ALL BY MYSELF! If my faculty can retreat today so can I.

As usual I finished all my work I had by about 9 maybe 9:30, I did have quite a pile. I am beginning to wonder what all the other staff do around here when they are done with their work. I know they have about as much as I do some maybe a little more, so what do they do when they get it all done.

I wonder because when I came in this morning I had a pile of tests that I just had to plug in the score on my computer, so I did it first thing. It took me about 15 minutes at the most. So I finish some other things and then head to turn some of the tests to the registrar and some to the staff who gave them to me. She was just coming in so I gave them to her she looked at me in like shock and wonder and said, "You are done with those already!?!?" I said, "Yeah all I have to do is type in the numbers and then check over to make sure I have them right." You would think no one would be impressed by doing this in this sort of time frame. But she claimed I am such a fast worker and stuff like that. I mean how should I take that, it's not like I typed it all faster than anyone in the world. I know for a fact plenty of people can type numbers faster than me and could have done it in a more timely manner.

I think I have the answer, at least this is what one of my faculty and I came up with when she was talking about the difference between my predecessor and I. Basically my faculty had to do pretty much everything themselves, because my predecessor would claim she could not do it or did not have time. I guess she spent a lot of time just staring at the computer screen. How she could spend even an hour doing this I can't even comprehend. When I came I had to show my faculty that I could work and I desired to work, I CAN'T stand staring blankly at a computer screen. They had to learn how to delegate things over to me.

Don't get me wrong I am not perfect and I am not trying to claim to be. Months ago, actually in December one of my faculty gave me something to do but had told me it was no rush. So I put it off and ended up never doing it. Well then yesterday she was looking for it really hard on her computer and could not find it but was sure I had done it and sent it to her. Because she has like 300 unopened emails, this is hard for her, but she was really trying to find it without having me send it again. She finally gave in and asked me about it. I thought about it and then remembered she had told me no rush so I had totally forgotten to do it. My pride was crushed, as it should be. Serve me up a huge slice of humble pie. They tend to brag and carry on about how fast and wonderful I am then I pull a stunt like this. Not only that but this was a document she needed to edit and have turned in by tomorrow. She ended up having to take it home to finish it, if I had done it when she asked me, or just done it a week ago, she would not be stuck having to try to get it done at home. So in NO WAY am I the best Administrative Assistant there is, but there is a difference between how I work, and how my faculty claim most everyone else works. Note to self always do work right when you get it, or after you finished what you were currently doing.

The lesson I learned... Ephesians 6:5-6
Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Eww now I think back what have been my motives for doing the work in a quick manner? Was it to receive more praise from my faculty or was it I was working as if Christ were my boss? Yeah that one is easy, the answer should be I work for God and He has only put my boss over me, so therefore I have a great attitude about getting work and I do it as quickly as possible because that pleases God. The truth is not so pretty. I do love the praise and although I do not blatantly think how can I get them to praise me, because sometimes it embarrasses me, I still think more of doing it for the praise/reputation/raise/etc. rather than because it pleases Christ. Another area of growth for me.

Mother

God custom made me for this mother.

Psalm 139:13-14

For You formed my inward parts;

You wove me in my mother's womb.

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

They say birds of a feather flock together.

My Tribute to Mom

This is my tribute to my mother. This mother's day I wanted to honor her by telling her how much I appreciate her and what she has done.

Judith Ann Johnson

“You’ll turn out to be your mother.” This phrase is threatening to some people or a source of fear. But that is not true for me. I am happy that I see glimpses of my mother in my day to day life. It is great to see how much I am like her and yet I have far to go.

You see the most important aspect of my mother is that she is a woman of God. Every day she draws her strength at the Wellspring of Life in her morning devotions and prayer. Mom prays for us in the morning and used to tuck us into bed and pray with us at night. Mom always had some biblical truth to teach my sister and I. She could turn almost any conversation heavenward. She lived out Deuteronomy 6:6-7

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Mom loved her roles in life. She loved my dad and kept our house nice and tidy, until we could get our hands on it. My mother taught me submission although I did not know the name for it. She supported and honored my father and his leadership. She cared and provided for us. It pained her when we did not obey. She kept a balanced budget and showed me how to make things work within your budget. She was a jack of most trades I acquired a love for sewing, cooking and gardening from her. My mom taught me how to be productive and not waste your time. She would not just waste a few hours or more watching a movie and not getting anything done she would put in a movie and pull out sewing, ironing, or a new recipe.

My mom played an essential part in my salvation. She has prayed for me always and when I came to the end of my rope she showed me Christ’s sacrifice and love by sacrificing a weekend trip with my father to stay home with me. I am pretty sure if she had not I would not be where I am today.

Mom was a nurse without a degree. She was so compassionate and cared for all our bumps and scrapes. When we just could not sleep she would come and lay with us until we nodded off. When we were scared in the middle of the night she would answer our helpless cries in amazing time. She was a haven for us. A place of comfort where we knew we were safe.

She taught me the healing power of tears and laughter. It is not good to bottle up your emotions, and mom never let me cry alone. She would listen patiently as we told her our pains and fears. I knew exactly where to turn when things looked bleak and I could not find my way.
I love my mother and pray I continue to grow into a woman of God like she is.

Saturday

On Saturday we attending an Unlocking the Bible conference at our church. There were three sessions: the first The Old Testament Knowing God the Father, The Gospels Trusting Christ the Son, and The Epistles Living in the Spirit. It was wonderful and I was blown away. For each session he had a diagram of mountains and valleys that he used as an outline guide.
For the Old Testament the mountains are what God has done and the valleys are what man has done.
The Gospel shows Christ in His Highest Place (mountain) and in His Lowest Places (valleys).

Then the Epistles couple the Christian walk.

In about 6 hours he covered the entire Bible. I was very blessed to be able to attend.

The downloadable sermons are available at http://64.19.50.210/. I would highly recommend listening to them. He used great illustrations to illustrate his points, I learned a lot.

My Weekend

This weekend was marvelous. It started out at a Travelor's baseball game. Aaron brought Aaron Job and Abby and when they first walked up she was reaching out for me so I was holding her. She told me she wanted to sit by me at the game. After a little while she announced that I could put her down now. When we finally went in I sat by her for the most part some of the time she sat on me. I learned a sharing song because I love nachos and it seems she does too. Yes I was being sanctified at a baseball game. I love them so much it seems really hard to share, but when you have a cutie like this gazing at you asking nicely it is hard to turn down. We also sang the BIBLE, and she tried to teach me the sharing song but I can't sing it right obviously. I guess I will have to take some lessons. I think we may have become like best friends in one night. I was a little distracted from the game but do I ever truly watch the game, well no I would have to say I don't, so Abby provided my entertainment and I think the feeling was mutual.
I will have to tell about the rest of my weekend tomorrow. I have a reception to go to now.

Of Sergers and Sewing Machines

Ah to have another job on the side. What a blessing and a stress. Saturday was the momentous occasion where I got my first 3 sewing projects. I also got to borrow a serger and have since fallen in love. Oh yes true love with a piece of machinery. Ah life is sweet. When I was ready to do serious damage to my sewing machine and quite possibly put it in it's grave I had the bright idea to serge the edge and then attempt to hem the narrow flounce. Now let me start by explaining that flounces are evil continually and I just may boycott them altogether. Flounces are ruffles that are possessed. Instead of a straight piece of cloth that you gather you cut out circles or half circles and stitch them straight on the cloth and they naturally ruffle. But you must hem a round edge and the more ruffled you want it to look, the more curved it will be. Thus it is near impossible to fight to get it all rolled under without little tucks in it or something else to make it look messy. This is where the serger became my hero. I decided to serge the rough edge and then try to turn it under and hem it. The serger proved itself good and dependable. After serging it, the cloth wanted to turn under nicely and not cause any creases or such. It only took about 2 hours of fighting before this idea came to me. But that was nothing compared to the 3 1/2 hours it took me to get the flounce measured out and cut. I am used to making clothes with a pattern or altering already made clothing, not make my own pattern or just wing it by eye. This caused much stress and use of all my store of creative juices. And Mountain Dew was by my side to help my sanity along the way.
I just love Brenda's outlook on all this. She said although we do not get paid by the hour so all that time I took to figure it out will be unpaid for, you have to take into account to learn how to do it otherwise would cost for classes, so to work it all out you are not having to pay but learning so I can know how to do it next time.

I am a Genius

I also found this on another blog. I had to post it because it proves that while I am the most excellent village idiot when it comes to Trivial Pursuit, I am a genius in some things. I got 20 of these correct without cheating.
The average person only gets 7 correct. This is based on U.S. info, so use all lobes of your brain. This can be more difficult than it looks - it just shows how little most of us really see!There are 25 questions about things we see every day or have known about all our lives. How many can you get right? These little simple questions are harder than you think-- it just shows you how little we pay attention to the commonplace things of life.
Put your thinking caps on. No cheating! No looking around! No getting out of your chair! No using anything on or in your desk or computer!Can you beat 20?? (The average is 7) Write down your answers as you go. Check answers(in my comments), AFTER completing all the questions.REMEMBER - NO CHEATING!!! BE HONEST!!!
That means no looking at your phone or anything on your desk...
LET'S JUST SEE HOW OBSERVANT YOU REALLY ARE.
1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?
2. How many states are there in the USA? (Don't laugh, some people don't know)
3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?
4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?
5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by them?
6. When you walk does your left arm swing with your right or left leg? (Don't you dare get up to see!)
7. How many matches are in a standard pack?
8. On the United States flag is the top stripe red or white?
9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?
10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?
11. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?
12. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?
13. On which side of a women's blouse are the buttons?
14. Which way do fans rotate?
15. How many sides does a stop sign have?
16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?
17. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?
18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?
19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?
20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?
21. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?
22. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?
23. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?
24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?
25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?

What is in a Name anyways?

I was thinking about changing my name last week and then I found this on a friend's blog. It truly helped me in making this executive decision.
1.YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet and current street name) Sissy Markham
2. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (grandfather/grandmother on mother's side first name, favorite candy) Virginia Caramello
3. YOUR "FLY GIRL/GUY" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) H Joh
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite animal, name of high school) Penguin Parkview
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Adams Portsmouth
6. YOUR OPPOSITE SEX NAME: (name of dad/mom, cell phone Company you use): David Cingular
7. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (first 3 letters of your last name, last 3 letters of mother's maiden name, first 3 letters of your pet's name) JohGreMis
8. YOUR FASHION DESIGNER NAME: (first word you see on your left, favorite restaurant) Altec Crazy Hibachi

I think I am leaning towards my rock star name. Oh to be known and loved as Sissy Markham. Couldn't you see it now me standing on stage banging around with my guitar with Sissy Markham in neon lights above my head. Yes, yes it is all so clear and marvelous to me, I shall now become Sissy Markham

Ok the insanity passed. I guess I am doomed to exist as Hannah Johnson. Although I think my name does suit me just fine.

Doing the Things I Love

About a month ago a friend of mine told me that there was a lady in our church who sews as a home business, she had told me that she had mentioned she could really use help. Since I love to sew I was really thinking about. This weekend I was reminded when I saw her. So I went up and asked her about it. She told me she could have really used me last week and would love to have me help her. She told me about it and then asked if I wanted to have my own business. I told her probably if, Lord willing, I was to get married and have children. She really wants to eventually hand it all over to me, at least that is what I got from her.

So now I am an official seamstress on the side. How fun is that. I will mostly be making home decor i.e. pillows, drapes, etc. But she offered to teach me how to re-upholster furniture and use a serger and any other thing I don't know how to do. I am really excited. I have been only sewing clothes, which are much harder to do, much more detail to them so I should be able to learn quickly. I wish I could make enough to just do that and go to school, that would be nice and then when I graduate do that on the side. And maybe that can happen. Who knows what God has in store for me, but this would be more of a dream for me. I like my job but this is not a passion of mine. Is typing and editing and formatting really anyone's passion? In a few years this may be me. I may just go crazy and start weaving my own fabric. Yeah right like I would have the patience for that. I think not.

I Do Work Really

All is quiet at work today. Today is the annual Research Day at Children's hospital so that pretty much leaves just us staff here. And we are few and far between in my building, on my side of the building there are two of us. No faculty=no students=no stupid questions. Today could be very relaxing. Other than the pile of work I need to finish up.

Contrary to popular belief I do work. But my work is contingent upon my faculty. If they don't provide work I am like the "humans [who] used to sit around and stare at each other, that's very boring" (what movie is that from?) so I busy myself in finding the end of the internet, scrapbooking, reading, various other activities. This week was packed with student funding databases, a database for various students who withdrew for one reason or another, another 56 page document that needs to be typed up and my scanner is playing dead or stupid (have yet to figure out which) maybe I should have Marion ask it? Then yesterday I had the tedious task of folding about half of some 1300 letters to the nursing staff, let me tell you that takes some time. That took up the bulk of my day. Then my to-do list for next week includes exam 3 compilation and the final exam too because they are within a week of each other.

Because of the emptiness in the halls I feel like I can just take over. In a random bought of insanity I took off my shoes and ran down the hall weaving back and forth. Why you ask, unless you know me and then you rather just realize I really am sort of spastic, because I felt like a kid with energy just waiting to be released.

Vacation pictures

Old Mill

Little Rock Zoo

The zoo, look mom it's like you and dad.

CEDAR FALLS OVERLOOK

The rock cave with our fearless leader.

SEVEN HOLLOWS TRAIL

Us girls under the Natural Bridge

CEDAR FALLS TRAIL

Here are Rachel and Ginger at the waterfall dipping our feet in the cool water.

Ginger and Spice and Everything Nice

Well last week went by in a fury. Our friend of many years Ginger Robbins Turner took her spring break to come and see us. This meant a week off of work, which added to the excitement. Saturday
Ginger arrived about midnight on the 8th. The next day we missed Sunday School. For one thing we were up until midnight thirty and to top it off Rachel and I had been at Petit Jean setting up, serving lunch, and hiking from 11 am til about 6 pm. On the way to the airport my eyes were closing on their own.
Sunday
We of course made it to church. After church we went to Chi's Chinese restaurant (pronounced cheese). Ginger laughed at our choice of restaurant names, we had eaten at Corky's the night before. Then we came home and took naps. We got up in time for Care Group. We got to bed pretty late, even though Rachel had to work in the morning.
Monday
So Ginger slept in Monday and I got up and dusted, vacuumed, did laundry, and rearranged my room while she slept. So I am crazy. She got up and we did some dance videos then we went to visit Rachel at work, she ate her lunch outside and in the hour we spent out there Ginger got burned. Rachel and I were fine. I made dinner and vegged out that night.
Tuesday
I got up early as usual, I just can't sleep in unless I am totally dead, there are too many things I could be doing. They got up at about 11 we got ready and hiked Pinnacle. It was a beautiful day and we also hiked the King Fisher Trail. We went home and then we went to the Old Mill to take some pictures. Then at night they went to a friend's house for dinner and I went to babysit my darling little Watson's. We got to walk in the park well Armon and I did Hanna rode in the wagon I was pulling. But she was so loud, she could not just talk she was yelling. We went to bed late and decided we would have a competition to see who could sleep in the longest.
Wednesday
I had given up the night before on winning the competition. I made it til about 10 after waking up once each hour. My body says "no there is too much you could do". The girls got up at 11:30 maybe. We decided to go to the zoo. We saw a pretty good number of animals for our zoo that is. Then we went to Walmart to prepare for our day trip to Petit Jean. We had Bible study at night and after the girls played basketball.
Thursday
We got up really early for Petit Jean. They took a while to get ready and we had to meet our friend and head over we got there about noon. We got hiking right off on easy trails like the two overlooks and the bear caves. Then we went on half of the Seven Hollows Trail, to the natural bridge. Ginger saw a snake and that freaked me out, even though it was just a tree snake. Then I tried to save a moth that would not be able to fly. Ginger and Bryan wanted to kill it. I would not have it. Then we went down to the waterfall and took off our shoes and stuck our feet in. It was great. We relaxed until my stomach acted like it was digesting the rest of my body. Then we went and I prepared the food and Bryan grilled it. It was marvelous. Then we headed home when it was about 7. I could have hiked even more but everyone else vetoed me.
Friday
Today was the sad day because it was the end of Ginger's stay. I went to work to get a test copied and was planning on staying but my stomach said no. I went home after 2 hours and everything had been done. I went back to sleep and woke up with the girls. We laid out then Ginger packed and we had to take her to the airport.
Tonight I should get the pictures back so I can post some tomorrow.

Mikayla Faith Sweeney

Mikayla Faith Sweeney born to Brad and Sylvia Sweeney on March 3, 2006.
She was so tall and skinny. And has a ton of dark hair.

She looks just like her big brother when he was born.
A big yawn
Rachie and Mika. Look at her long fingers.
Here is a cute one of Mika and Momma. Mikayla looks very confused though.

Spring has Sprung

I know this because I can barely sit a minute without sneezing. My nose is stopped up and as one of my coworkers said, "[she knew] something was wrong because I am so quiet." What exactly is that supposed to mean, I am loud otherwise? As I drove to work I shuddered at the pollen I saw dangling from trees. I have been on my shot almost a year now but I started getting them when spring was almost over. So I was not subjected to so much potent pollen. It is rough. I can only pray that God would keep sending rain to wash it all away once it starts collecting. I love plants and all that but I just hate the awful stuff that comes with them. I mean look at it, that looks like scary stuff and my body reacts accordingly.

Weekend Update

This weekend was a ton of fun.
Friday night we went to our friends house for dinner and to watch the Princess Bride. There were many of us including myself who were giggling as we quoted half of the movie. That is a classic. Even the guys were cracking up at it especially those who had not seen it before. The party was dying and my sister came to the rescue with Dance Dance Revolution. There were two guys who you would never have thought would participate but did. I was highly entertained and we all let it hang loose.
Saturday was shopping as usual. I went to the River Market that morning with some friends, I did not buy anything but had some marvelous chai and a muffin. Then Rachel dragged me to see Nanny McPhee. We wanted to go to the 7:30 show but you just can't go to Tandy at that time on Saturday. The line was about 70 people long and we would be late if we waited. Rachel came up with the so-called bright idea to go to the mall. I hate the mall. Oh how I loved to just go and shop as a teen but I hate it now. I used to spend hours at the mall and love every minute of it. We tried to drag out at least an hour there and it was torture to me. So we went to a couple more stores around there then it was time for the movie. I had been skeptical about the movie but it was really fun and cute and I did not feel like I had wasted $1.50.
Sunday we had church and after we just came home and ate. I prepared the casserole for Care Group and then took my usual nap. Oh yeah I have to admit I was happily watching NASCAR before I took my nap. Oh the guilt and shame. Now I could not sit and watch the whole race but I bet I would love it if I were there. Then we had marvelous food at Care Group. Even one of the single guys made a casserole. The women decided next time the men would be grilling for us or something like that. But that leaves us to make the side dishes, there is just no escape for us women. But at least they appreciate us right?
Oh and last night we celebrated one of the women's birthday. Her husband had not been able to do anything for her because he had been violently ill the week before and so he called our pastor's wife and had her get a cake. But he was so out of it when he called he told her he would call back on a secure line about the cake etc. That killed me. Someone joked that they did not know he was a federal agent.
It was definitely too short though.

Solution

Sit on the same side of the bus and it makes it harder and more awkward for him to stare at you. Still a little wary because for the past month or more he gets on the bus when I do every day. And the bus comes every 10 minutes or less in the morning and I am not here at the same exact time every day. Ahh!

So on a positive note, I received "Praying the Names of God" yesterday and started reading it last night. Again I have been greatly influenced to pray to God and praise God using His names by the wonderful ladies in our Sunday school. His names as revealed to us in Scripture help us to know Him. She takes one name a week and goes over 26 names for God. On Monday she gives you the background information and a study to understand the name. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday you are given devotional readings to help you pray Scripture that contain the name or relate to it. Friday there are Scriptures to memorize and reflect on that connect His name to His promises.

Creepiness Quotient

Question for you all: What is more creepy, having a complete stranger try to pursue you and use cheesy pick-up lines, or act like they know you from somewhere, or having someone shamelessly stare at you day after day in the bus on the way to work, never dare to say a thing to you or stop staring if you glance their way? Not only does he stare when I sit across from him but also, like today when I am farther up and he has to stare between some bars in his way. Ahh so creepy to me. I try to ignore it but it makes me nervous and I try desperately to find something to stare at to keep my attention away from the fact that his eyes are boring into me. It makes me nervous and I want to fidget and don't really know what to do with myself.

Megan's Wedding

These are a little late in the coming but here they are. Actually I forgot about posting them and found them as I was organizing my scrapbook stuff.

Mom and dad, Bob was a little offended that you did not make it a priority to come.

I found out the hard way to always tilt up the flash especially if there is anything in front of you.
The happy couple
I think they were praying after lighting the unity candle, how cute is that or they were just talking to each other.
Oh yeah mom's favorite picture.
Flash did not want to warm up in time and Photoshop can't help it.
Off they go
Cutting the cake
The nice
The ugly mom I can hear your moan from here and see you cringing.
Here is Megan's side of the family. Well most of them at least. I met quite a few others.

Blessings from our Elders

These past two years I have really been blessed to be under the teaching of Ms. Anne Cheairs and the ladies in our Sunday school class. Ms Anne has been real weak lately and so she has not been able to come to class. Our dear Dal Fletcher though came to her house one cold night and took her to her house to care for her. I received a desperate call from Dal on Monday night. She wanted to know if Rachel and I would be able to visit/babysit Ms Anne the next night because her granddaughter was having a birthday party they wanted to attend and she did not think it wise to leave Ms Anne alone. I was more than glad to offer myself and ask my sister if she would like to come too. My sister would not be home from work then and she wanted to work-out so she declined. I was excited.
I tried to think of some questions to ask her to gain more wisdom one on one with her. I really did not get far but that was good. She was napping when I got there and Dal showed me around and then we woke her and told her I was there. She got up and I made some tea. We sat down to tea and I am really glad I could not come up with questions for her because she had tons for me. Wow we went from how the Sunday school class was, to if there was any romantic relationships in my life, to pray requests, to how my parents were doing. I think she may have learned more about me that night than I was aware of at the time. It was great though. All in all we talked about 2 1/2 hours and then we closed by praying. Which would be one of her favorite things to do.
In classic Ms Anne style she asked a few questions during prayer then closed the prayer by telling me to pray for my parents since she did not know all the scoop on them. This reminded me of Care group a few weeks ago. One of my friends was praying and was saying he was not sure of the book of the Bible that had been translated and I had to hold my tongue not to tell him because we do that so often in our prayer time in Sunday school, but it may shock some there. So I withheld and told him after what it was. I was not the only one who wanted to tell him though.
Ms. Anne is marvelous and I pray that she will be well enough to come back to class soon. She said it was a great blessing to get to know me then too. She would love to really know us young ladies in the class but she says she never wants to push it on us. This was God's way of opening a door for both of us.

Let me take you back

As I sat at my desk journaling today about who I would like to be in Christ I was brought back to the days of Psalty. I think this may be a moment when I feel old. Like younger people would ask, who is Psalty? What about Patch the Pirate, Antsillvania, Music Machine, Sir Oliver, and Bull Frogs and Butterflies? Those tapes would reverberate through our house as children. To be real honest I think I may collect them again. I just love those songs.
Back to my point the song that came to mind was Just Like You from the Psalty family album I think it was number 3. It went something like... Give Your peace, show Your joy, give Your love Lord How I want to be like you. I want to be like you and do the good things that I want to do.
I compiled a list of the character traits I would like to possess and the ones I do possess but chose not to use often.

• I want to be wise, now I know this comes with time and I will never know it all until I reach heaven and who knows what then.
• Along with being wise I want to be a scholar and a prayer warrior, like all the women in my Sunday school class, I just have to consistently follow their example.
• I want to be a woman who is content, joyfully. I want to recognize that God has me here in this place for a reason and I am to be bringing Him glory here and now. God thinks this is the best for me and who am I to argue that what I want would be better now.
• I want to be selfless and giving, of my time, energy and things.
• I want to be quiet and uplifting.
• I want to be meditative and think before I speak or act.
• I want to be an encourager and uplifter.
• I want to be a listener, this means not thinking of my response while someone is talking but soak up everything they say and then comment. I really think this would lead to a lot less foot in mouth syndrome.
• I want to be merciful and sympathetic. One great thing I learned in nursing is even if there is no reason you can see for a patient to be hurting and you don't think they are if they say they are then it is real to them so you react accordingly. Where as I would want to argue with them that they are not hurting.
• I want to be a supporter and a helpmate (the second will come if the Lord has a husband for me).
• I want to be unhurried and not dying for some form of pure entertainment every moment of the day. I want to learn to relax and rest. There should be more Quiet retreats all around the world. I was so blessed by taking the time to get away into the quiet to sit at the feet of my Lord and Savior and soak Him up.
• Along with that I want to be patient. Be content to wait upon God to act.
• I want to be self-controlled, especially with food. I have been very convicted about my eating habits lately. I had a coworker come in and ask if there was anything scientific behind ear stapling to decrease hunger. I told her I am sure that it does decrease your hunger but at the same time I don't have to be hungry to eat, when I see things I want I eat them. She was saying she was the same way. So I was saying no amount of ear stapling is going to do the trick. Whereas practicing self-control and not eating every time I am given the chance works every time.
• I want to be submissive, with joy.

I plan on taking each one and pray and practice it for a week or two so my character will change also.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Girls Night Out

Last night we had the first of our Girl's Night Out meetings each month. Our topic was godly communication. As I am reading at work, no I don't have anything else to be doing. I found a whole chapter on communication in Josh Harris's Boy Meets Girl. I thought I would share his principles for authentic communication. I know these really hit the nail on the head for me.

1. Communication problems are usually heart problems. If our words are selfish, sinful and uncaring that is because we are selfish, sinful and uncaring.
2. Your ears are your most important communication tools. That is why we have two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you talk. When you ask a question absorb the answer.
3. Good communication does not happen by accident, just like we were talking about last night. Meditate on things and conversations will flow more naturally.
4. The absence of conflict does not equal good communication.

• Learn to express your feelings and frustrations honestly without attacking or accusing the other person.
• Choose words, expressions and a tone that are kind and gentle.
• Don't exaggerate, distort or stretch the truth. Avoid extreme words such as always or never.
• Give actual and specific examples. Make notes if necessary before communicating.
• Commit yourself to seeking solutions and not just airing your grievances.
• Listen to what the other person is saying, feeling and needing. Try to detect their underlying concerns.
• Refuse to indulge bitterness, anger, withdrawal, or argument. Those emotions are normal but indulging them is sin.
• Don't hesitate to acknowledge your own failure, and be quick to forgive the other person.
• Keep talking and asking questions until you are sure that you both understand clearly what the other is saying and feeling.
• Train your mouth and heart until you can say the right thing at the right time in the right way for the right reasons.

5. Motive is more important than technique. We need to want to be loving and serve others.

My Marvelous Family

See that white by my foot yeah that is where I initially stepped and my foot went all the way down to the road. I thought it would be a cute picture with me all the way down there but nope.

Rachel is pointing the way, while I am trying to hitchhike. The dentist she works for is Dr. Perkins and so she needed this picture.

Mom sent us some copies of her pictures from when we were in Maine. Here are a few of the family. Daddy has gotten so skinny working on the farm. Mom now is trapped in a fraternity when it has always been dad trapped in a sorority. Tables have turned and I am concerned for her sanity. Naw but she does live with two ADD inflicted men and one suffering severe dementia, she has a lot on her plate.

Wow dad is actually tanner than all of us, who would have ever thought.
Sister, sister never were there more devoted sisters. Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister and Lord help the sister who comes between me and my man. Anyone can you name that movie? Other than my sister that is.
Ahh the girl's at Perkin's cove on the Marginal Way where dad proposed to mom.
And another, yes we are on the ocean and there was snow and ice on the ground. Can you say brr.

Inductive study

I am so thankful that I have a church here that is faithful to expositorily preach the Word and not just use the Word to teach some topic. In my Place of Quiet Rest today I read about how to get the Word into you. Our devotions are not just for reading the Word but using it. Suggestions she makes for getting the Word into your life are:

1. Write down two sentences about every chapter as you read, one to summarize the chapter and one to express how the chapter spoke to you personally.
2. Write out portions of Scripture to keep with you or display in your house.
3. Make notes in your Bible, I jot down ones I come up with and what I am taught.
4. Ask yourself questions as you read, what does it say? (observations) what does it mean? (implications or interpretations) and what should I do?(application)
5. Record your responses to the Word of God and share with another what you have learned so that they may help keep you accountable.
6. Record milestones in your spiritual journey, so you can remember what you have learned.

I hear over and over to study my Bible inductively and have been learning how from the ladies in my Sunday school class. One of the most important things I have taken is to pray and ask God to show you the truth and meaning in what you are reading and then use other aids such as commentaries to help clear up passages. Because those aids were all made by man and were from their studies.

Decisions, I hate them

Oh to be able to make up my mind and stick with it. Wouldn't that be wonderful. Once again I am rethinking the whole moving to Maine in September issue. I wanted to go and get into Photography school. Well last week I was talking to my friend about how I had gone to nursing school for a year and she had said she used to be a surgical tech and got her degree at UAMS where I work. She was telling me about it and my interest was peaked.

Before I looked into Photography schools in Maine I was looking here because as a full-time employee at UAMS I only pay a small percentage of tuition at any University of Arkansas school. But if I take classes at UAMS I only pay 10%, that is like nothing. So I had really wanted to do that, then I would not have more loans added to the one I am already paying. But you can only get a minor in Photography in this state.

So as she talked it made me think about how much I love to watch the "chop 'um up" channel as Tami and I call it. And really being a surgical tech, I would have to maintain the sterile field in surgery and arrange and pass instruments to the surgeon, so in essence I would be watching a real chop um up for a career.

So the next day I researched the program and profession. I liked all that I saw. So I sent out an email for more information. I can only take up to 11 hours a semester if I work full-time, but they did not have information on the part-time students schedule. I am ready to be back in school and I think this is the profession for me. I can always do Photography without a degree, my uncle did or I can go to school for that later.

I just got frustrated when I thought I had it all figured out and then this idea was sparked. Please pray for me that my boss will allow me to take classes and have a weird working schedule. That I would get accepted into the program, they only take 4 part-time students a year.

I would be so happy if God just laid out the map of my life for me. Or He would only open one door at a time and completely close all others at that time. But then life would be boring wouldn't it, hum can't decide that one yet. This could be me.

Start the Day

The morning watch is essential. You must not face the day until you have faced god, nor look into the face of others until you have looked into His.

You cannot expect to be victorious if the day begins only in your own strength. Face the work of every day with the influence of a few thoughtful, quiet moments with your heart and God. DO not meet other people, even those of your own home, until you have first met the great Guest and honored Companion of your life--Jesus Christ.

Meet Him alone. Meet Him regularly. Meet Him with His open Book of counsel before you; and face the regular and irregular duties of each day with the influence of His personality definitely controlling your every act.
~Streams in the Desert
This was the beginning of today's devotions with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. She gives steps as to how to get started having a quiet time alone with the Lord.
1. Make it a consistent practice. "It is much easier to breathe life back into a dead routine than to get life where there was no routine at all." This is not only something we need but something God desires. God wants to spend time with you!
2. In the morning.
I met God in the morning
When my day was at its best,
And His presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.

All day long the presence lingered,
All day long, He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O'er a very troubled sea.

Other lives were blown and battered,
Other lives were sore distressed,
But the winds that seem to drive them
Bring us peace and rest.
Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I too had loosed the moorings,
With the presence left behind.

So I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way:
You must seek Him in the morning,
If you want Him through the day.
~Ralph Spaulding Cushman
3. A solitary place. Get away from all distractions to have an uninterrupted time with the Lord.

Happy Valentines Day

Here is the Cupid man of your dreams. He made me laugh. I sure would not want him shooting me with arrows of love, I just may end up dead. This song is for those of us who feel they have no Valentine. Whether you have love on this earth there is a Valentine who always has our hearts and lavishes us with gifts every day. His love will not fail and it is a perfect love. None on this earth can love so wholly and purely.
Hold On
Nicole Nordeman

It will find you at the bottom of a bottle.
It will find you at the needle's end.
It will find you when you beg and steal and borrow.
It will follow you into a stranger's bed.
It will find you when they serve you the papers.
It will find you when they locks have changed again.
It will find you when you've called in all your favors.
It will meet you at the bridge's highest ledge.
So baby don't look down, it's a long way.
The sun will come around to a new day.
So hold on, love will find you.
Hold on, He's right behind you now.
Just turn around, and love will find you.
It will find you when the doctor's head is shaking.
It will find you in a boardroom, mostly dead.
It will crawl into the foxhole where you are praying.
It will curl up in your halfway empty bed.
So baby don't believe that it's over.
Maybe you can't see 'round the corner...
To hang between two thieves in the darkness.
Love must believe you are worth it.

A Place of Quiet Rest

Recently I pulled out "A Place of Quiet Rest" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. My mother had sent this to me one time when I was in Hawaii, at the time I was not a believer but paraded around like I was one. I read it and really did not take a single thing from it. I read it again about a year ago to spice up my quiet time. I really struggle with it becoming, not really a duty, but rather a habit to me. I hate that my sinful flesh causes that hunger for His Word to wax and wane. It is written like a devotional with a chapter and then a Making it Personal section, which includes questions and activities to implement in your life.

I pulled it out again because once again I am there and found that I am not really taking anything with me from my quiet time. I pray that as I read it this time I can put all the concepts into practice and make my time with Him a delight. I do praise God that I am at least getting into His Word every day, before I just could not do it, but just reading is not enough, I must soak up every Word because it was spoken and recorded to bring me closer to my Master, Maker, and Lover.

Today I am starting the first chapter, "A Day in the Life of the Lord". She uses Mark 1 to explain how busy and harried Christ's day's were. I know many people even I have plead I am so busy. But that also reveals the priorities in your heart. What you hold highest will be what you spend the most time on or desire to spend the most time on. When every thing we do should be to bring glory and honor to God. Our life can be a day spent entirely with the Lord if we allowed it. The stage must be set. That stage is set for my by waking up at 5:30 to have my quiet time with the Lord. I need to start my day with Him and like Ms. Anne preaches give my day to Him before I even get out of bed.

Although I am sure Jesus needed sleep and His body probably called for it, Mark 1:35 says, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Nancy states, "This is precisely where you and I so often miss out on all that God has for us. Unlike Jesus, we attempt to live life in our own energy. We think we can keep giving out without getting replenished."

Take stock of your current time with God in the Word, praise and prayer. What words describe your spirit when your schedule is full or a lot is demanded of you? How did Jesus respond to pressure according to Mark 1? My prayer is God will speak to me through this study and make me more like Him. I pray this for you too.

Where is the Balance

Recently on a post-holiday stint to try to get healthy again my sister and I took on a diet that we could not really afford and half killed us. Or should I say half killed me because I was actually faithful to it until the last 2 weeks. Let's note that one night I almost passed out because I guess I was just not getting enough calories. Let me tell you, when you cut out carbohydrates you are always hungry. Which was also when I decided that the diet did not fit me. You can't just totally cut things out of your diet and totally deny yourself them. Well at least I can't.

The diet we tried is the Maker's diet. Basically you try to eat mostly organic foods (but it is not required to be organic) so that you get all the nutrients minus the pesticides. But you start out by eating really limited foods such as no carbs or beans and only goat or sheep dairy products. Then two weeks later you add a few more things cow's dairy and some beans and then the last 2 weeks you add limited carbs and that is then supposed to be a lifestyle change. The idea is that hunter gatherer people's are a ton more healthy than we are and they reason that is because of the way they eat and live. Also some of the Levitical food laws were there for good reason. I do not argue that later Peter was shown that all foods have now been made clean.
Acts 10:10-15
But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean."
Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy."
But at the same times there are foods out there that are not good for you such as pork. Just to touch on the subject they have terrible digestive tracts so it takes forever for them to digest so their meat soaks up a lot of toxins because they are not picky eaters either, they eat anything they see. I will not get into specifics, just think really nasty and you probably hit the nail on the head. Also bottom feeders the clean up, be eating the muck that settles on the bottom of oceans, lakes etc. So when you eat them you are eating that too. Now I do love my lobster, crab, clams, oysters and STEAMERS so I will indulge sometimes but not too much or too often.
Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
I liked many of the concepts and would keep them accordingly with my budget but use a twist to fit my personal needs. Such as I really do need chocolate a few times a month, and I can't afford organic chocolate.

It seems I can only be tried and true on a diet if it is really strict. Like I try the whole eating portions but the rest of the portions of ice cream stare me in the face and cry like the sirens dragging my helpless body behind and I have to surrender to its call and fill myself with another portion or 2. The thing is they have it all wrong when it comes to ice cream's portion size. There just can't be 210 calories in that bite size bit of ice cream, there should be a law against that or a way around it.

The real issue it seems is a struggle with self-control. I could just eat a portion of things but I don't want to why eat 18 chips when I could clear off half the bag easily? I love to eat, that is some of my problem not so much that I crave the food but I love the taste and I love having it over and over again, until the bag seems to have just disappeared. One of the fruits of the Spirit. I battle the flesh. My goal in life is to please the Lord and my eating habits are not glorifying Him. If I do not desire and crave Him that much then I have no right to desire food that much. That makes it an idol now doesn't it. Oh the things I have to work on. Not to mention our body is a temple and filling it with junk foods is not a way to preserve a temple of God.

Rest in Peace Dante

Job 1:21
He said," Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Last week on January 31, 2006 my friend I had gone to school with died. Dante Jacuzzi came to Walnut Valley in I think 2nd grade, we of course were not friends until about 6th grade. Before then we were both normal kids that of course did not have friends of the opposite sex. After 8th grade both he and I left, I went to Parkview and he went to Catholic, he returned his senior year to Walnut Valley and I did not.

He was crazy to say the least. I remember in 6th grade there was a boy who had a crush on me and Dante prank called me one night acting like he was him and asked me out. I had the hardest time refusing him and tried to avoid him the next day, but he came up to me and told me that we had both been pranked by Dante and another guy. I could not help but laugh even though I felt really dumb. I guess it would have been worse if I had liked him and not refused the offer.

Dante always was the class clown and many times he got away with it. On top of his clowning around the boy was a genius. When most of us took Latin and struggled through it, he was striving and also taking a Greek class. This was only 7th grade. I remember he was a favorite of that teacher and she had something against me. He helped with the plays that she put on and I clearly remember he was helping with the sewing of the costumes for the play "Little Women" and probably others. Doing "girl's work" did not scare him and he would walk around with cloth he had been working with draped on his shoulder sometimes. He would proudly proclaim that he was helping with the sewing. The boy was a jack of all trades and probably a master of many of them too.

He was a great friend while the other boys were very reserved about being friends with girls, Dante had many, he could be our friends without liking us and being awkward with us. This is not a feat most teen boys can claim.

I remember in 6th grade he had tried to skate down his slide and came in the next day with a broken wrist or arm, and I had to help him fill in the bubbles for some sort of standardized test or something like that. Yes Dante was a daredevil nothing was out there that could cause him fear. He loved skating so much, most of the time he would mimic skate tricks in his shoes, rather than walk like the rest of us, Dante would perform his skate moves no matter where he was.

I remember him being very proud of his bodily functions and flat out killing the rest of us in Mr. Chambers class. Windows would have to be opened because it just lingered.

The last time I saw Dante was a year and a half ago at the Greek Food Festival. I was always glad to see him and learn a little of what he had been up to.

I don't know what choices Dante made in his life. I do not know if he is resting with the Father right now. I pray that he is and I will see him again some day. But I rest in the fact that God planned out his days before he made him and his heart only beat the number of times it was supposed to and ultimately His will has been done.

I do wonder how we are to have hope when we do not know if the person is in heaven. If we know they are in hell then we can not hope at all and it truly is a time for mourning because they have been lost permanently and there is no turning back for them. We can have hope knowing that our eternity is secure but that does not help as far as grieving the person. I pray that through his death others would be touched by their own mortality and humbly fall at Christ's feet.

I Have Been Blessed!

God has truly blessed me and proved Himself faithful another time. In the past I posted about my problems with a software company that cashed a check they should not have and I had to pay about $52 worth of overdraft fees. I tried to talk to them and request they pay it and they refused. A coworker told me to go to the Attorney General and make a complaint, I was tired of talking to those people so I filed my complaint and let go of it all. All through I prayed for God's provision and His blessing whether they refunded me or not. Months have passed and God has enabled me to only passingly think about it. On my own I would have called the Attorney General every couple of weeks. Then this weekend I received an envelop with that companies name on it, tears filled my eyes and praise came out of my mouth even before I opened it up and before my eyes was the $52 check.
I also had a problem with my credit cards. For some reason both cards had been charged with the same amount from the same place on the same day. This was in September. I called the card I knew should not have it on there, since the other one is my gas card, and I had been purchasing gas. They had me send in all sorts of paperwork and a month later I received a letter that they needed that information again so I mailed them the information. Then a month later I received a final letter that they needed the information that they were putting the charge back on and consider it reconciled. So I called and they had needed to know if I had contacted the merchant, she said with double charges it is the company that will just refund the charge. So I called them and they asked me to send in the two statements and they would figure out what happened. A few weeks later I tried to call them back and ask what they found but I could never get a hold of someone. So I decided to let God take control of the situation. Then about 2 days after I received my check I looked at my credit card statement online and the charge had been taken off.
Lessons I learned: Trust God, do what you reasonably can about a situation and then let it go to God, also practically make sure you have the right card when pumping gas because if you scan one and press cancel it may charge both cards. Better said pay attention to what you are doing.

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Daily Wisdom

Every day I receive an email from Daily Wisdom and I thought today's email was wonderful and wanted to share it with you.

Filling In The Gaps - January 19, 2006

In early January I gassed up the car and headed into the desert. Just past Moab, Utah, I pulled into a truck stop to buy a few items and bumped into the New Testament on CD as narrated by James Earl Jones. Nineteen hours of passing the time, I thought to myself, as I bought the set. Given my new interest in Jesus, I thought my driving time would be well spent learning more about Him. Thirty hours later, I rolled into Indianapolis with the last chapter of Revelations coming to an end and a new chapter of my life just beginning.
It's interesting how the human mind fills in gaps where information is missing. For example, when we see a portion of a familiar picture, our mind automatically fills in the rest of the image. Or if we read a familiar text, our mind fills in the words of a sentence before we actually read them. Likewise, I automatically filled the gaps in my understanding of the Bible's stories. I assumed I understood Christianity. However, after listening to every word of the New Testament during my drive to Indianapolis, I became aware of how little I REALLY knew.
This experience helped me realize that I never actually understood the Bible. I only knew a distorted version, created through conversations, occasional reading of a passage or two, and by filling in the gaps. After hearing the Word from beginning to end, I was able to begin understanding the Bible's intended message.
Don't make the mistake I did by relying on your own concept of the stories in the Bible. Make an effort to consistently spend time reading the Word of God and you'll be amazed at how a distorted version of the Bible can become crystal clear.

Contributed by John R. Maculley, Jr.: John@Maculley.com John is a new Christian, having converted from Atheism in February 2005, one week before his 33rd birthday. He has spent his life studying philosophy and searching for truth in cultures throughout the world. He is currently working on his first book, entitled: "Searching for the Source", which outlines the mental process an Atheist goes through when considering spirituality.