The Voice

First, I want to warn you, this is a rant of sorts.

I am a student, most of you know that by now I believe, and am attending a liberal arts college. I am enrolled in three classes, for each class there is 3 hours of class time a week, split one of two ways. It is either held Monday, Wednesday, Friday(MWF) using 50 minute sessions, or it is held Tuesday, Thursday(TR) in 80 minute sessions. I've one class on MWF at nine, then Wednesdays I've a 2 hour lab for that class at 3. TR I have two classes, at 8am and at 1230pm. Two Tuesdays a month I also have a seminar for about 50 mins. So, lets go with weeks that I don't have seminar, using just the middle three days of the week, I have 11 hours between classes (3 on each T and R and 5 on W).

Not really a big deal, there is always homework to be done or errands to run, or texts to read or exams to study for or ppl to visit with. Well alot of these 11 hours, and often on M and F after class as well, I spend time in the Student Association Center(SAC)- the library is too quiet, the cafeteria too much commotion, and the SAC has come rather comfortable leather chairs and couches. There is a fair trade, student run coffee shop, soft music playing, and most of the time a dull murmmur of voices. It is where students meet for a coffee; SR level courses meet, white hot chocolate in hand, sitting on the comfortable leather couches; students nap, study, do homework, check their facebook, whatever; it is, essentially, a coffee shop.

So I spend alot of time here. I enjoy if for the most part, although it does seem to be kept rather cold these last few days- I wonder if if is their way of boosting the sales of the coffee shop... hmm...

But there is a problem. My problem, yes, but I know other people who also struggle with this. There is a group of students that come in with absolutely no care for those around them. They walk into the SAC, full of noise and chatter- which is fine in undertones, but they talk in exceptionally loud voices. The couches are not far apart, and if they are, you can move them, but this group of people, every part of their conversation can be heard in every part of the SAC. And it isn't like it is conversation that makes you smarter for hearing it. Last time I was here, they discussed how if one guy was the prime minister of the united states he would have all female party members who actually have no power but are just there for looks, how Texas would become part of Saskatchewan. Just now they are talking about how awesome it would be to have President Swartchenager.(You know,"I'll Be Back") , about the mess pizza pockets make in the microwave, and how fat guys want a whiskey. Not an issue if it is private, quiet conversations wiith your friends, but when you talk loudly enough for everyone in this high-roofed, rather large room can hear every part of it, it is frustrating.

It gets worse. Sure they are loud, that alone frustrates me as I just assumed coffee shop etiquite and undertones and 'indoor voices' are called for. But there is one in particular. I call him the Voice. He talks louder than the rest, more than the rest, about worse topics than the rest, he seems to believe his opinion is required, in detail, on every subject and topic under the sun, and his voice is, literally, the most annoying voice I have ever heard. I don't mean to complain but after two full months of the Voice, I am nearing the point where I am tempted to avoid my 'home away from home'- the SAC. I'll take insanity due to silence or being driven to distraction in the caf if it would save me from, the Voice.

Ok. I'm done. Sorry. I know I should love all Gods people, and I'm not saying I don't, just suffering in silence from the Voice.

Kids Prayers

So I am not usually a big fan of forwards, I'll read them and delete them without thinking twice. However, when I got this one, I couldn't help but smile at alot of the things these kids are praying about. It is pretty cute. So I figured I'd share it with you, I really like 6,7,9,10, 11, 18, and 21. Which ones do you think are best?

Kids’ Prayers

1. Dear God,
Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter.
There is nothing good in there now.
Amanda

2. Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother, but what I asked for was a puppy.
I never asked for anything before.
You can look it up.
Joyce

3. Dear Mr. God,
I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart.
I had to have 3 stitches and a shot.
Janet

4. God,
I read the bible.
What does beget mean?
Nobody will tell me.
Love, Alison

5. Dear God,
How did you know you were God?
Who told you?
Charlene

6. Dear God,
Is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his golfwords in the house?
Anita

7. Dear God,
I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world.
There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.
Nancy

8. Dear God,
I like the story about Noah the best of all of them.
You really made up some good ones.
I like walking on water, too.
Glenn

9. Dear God,
My Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy.
How far back do you go?
Love, Dennis

10. Dear God,
Do you draw the lines around the countries?
If you don't, who does?
Nathan

11. Dear God,
Did you mean for giraffes to look like that
Or was it an accident?
Norma

12. Dear God,
In Bible times, did they really talk that fancy?
Jennifer

13. Dear God,
How come you did all those miracles in the old days and don't doany now?
Billy

14. Dear God,
Please send Dennis Clark to a different summer camp this year.
Peter

15. Dear God,
Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they each had their own rooms.
It works out OK with me and my brother.
Larry

16. Dear God,
I keep waiting for spring, but it never did come yet.
What's up? Don't forget.
Mark

17. Dear God,
My brother told me about how you were born,
but it just doesn't sound right.
What do you say?
Marsha

18. Dear God,
If you watch in church on Sunday,
I will show you my new shoes.
Barbara

19. Dear God,
Is Reverend Coe a friend of yours,
Or do you just know him through the business?
Donny

20. Dear God,
I do not think anybody could be a better God than you.
Well, I just want you to know that.
I am not just saying that because you are already God.
Charles

21. Dear God,
It is great the way you always get the stars in the right place.
Why can't you do that with the moon?
Jeff

22. Dear God,
I am doing the best I can.
Really !!!!
Frank

23. Dear God,I didn't think orange went with purple
Until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday night.
That was really cool.
Thomas

Mind Boggling

It boggles my mind sometimes, how the smallest of things can mean the biggest results.
Huh?
It makes sense. I swear it does. Only problem is how do you explain it. Not sure I can completely
So its Sunday evening( not right now, but my story happened on Sunday), and I am off to Millwoods as usual. I love that church, really honestly love it. The worship is so personal and the message applicable. Great place to be and if for whatever reason I miss the service there, I notice it during my week. Anyways, back on track... So Mike came too this week and pretty quick we run into my friend Laura and her bf Steve. We go sit, and then it happened.
Turns out it wasn't a regular service. They were looking for volunteers. Two groups of people- one 6 women, and one a mix of 8-10 people- to go out and do a project. When? RIGHT THEN AND THERE!
The challenge was simple. We are here, we do church. But, do we actually do things that show we are church? Ok, so we go to church on Sundays. Pray, maybe read our bibles and do devotions. Sing along to a worship CD and drive around with our fish on the back of our car, a cross around our necks. But when the oppertunity presented itself, would we step up.
The second group was headed to the PCC to do some general cleaning stuff. But the first group, wow, did that get my attention.
They were looking for 6 women to go to a Rehab center for women. Laura and I jumped at the chance and away we went. (For the record, while the two groups left the property for service projects, the rest of everyone helped make sandwhiches and organize clothes for the Bissel Center and some 2nd hand clothing place- so it was definitely a huge night for volunteers!)
I wont say alot about it. I really am not sure if I have the words to explain it all. Ihad expected to do church, that is what they told us was going to happen. And while we definitely did church, it wasn't in the conventional- sing some songs, listen to someone talk, pray, and leave. No. It wasn't that at all. We just hung out with the women. Sat down and talked with them, listened to their stories, if they were willing to share, and then before we left sat down in small groups of 2-3 and prayed.
It was unbelievable! Ok, to be honest, I don't know many people who have suffered from addictions, in that sense I have led a rather sheltered life, but I have always assumed it was something that wasn't really talked about, that even when people were recovering, it wasn't something to discuss with people- especially perfect strangers!
Was I ever wrong.
My friend and I ended up talking to this woman. She shared her story with us. And the best part of it all? She is beating it. She is winning the battle against her addiction and the devil. She became a Christian after moving into this Rehab(it is a Christian run organization) and was baptized along with 5 other women in June. As we sat listening to her, and later praying for her, I couldn't help but realize that we had done church after all.
It wasn't just her, but with all of the women. It absolutely shook my world the way that they opened up and loved us right from the get go. They weren't just being friendly, they truly loved that we were there and truly loved having the chance to spend time with us. To share their stories, their conquests, because lets be real here- every minute of every day that they stay clean- from drugs, alcohol, or sex- is a minute more that they are conquering their 'diesease'.
By the time we left, it had been not even 90 mins. And already I knew that I was never going to forget that night. We did church that night. Not in the conventional sense. But we sat, we fellowshiped, we loved and were loved by God's creation, we appreciate His might in how He can overpower these dibilletating problems. And we prayed- for women that we didn't really know. Lifting them up, exposing them and their needs to our Father above with full confidence that He loves them with all that He has.
Because He does. He loves all of us that way. It got me thinking on the way home. You know when you drive by a field, or a park, or a forest, or a beach. Do you ever think to yourself- wow thats alot of grain/grass/trees/sand/water. Whatever of the choices. It registered for me then, really really hit home, that if God knows and loves every single blade/leaf/grain/drop of His creation, then you can bet everything you have on the fact that He knows and loves you. Mind Boggling.
Anyways, it was pretty awesome to say the least. Definitely glad I felt a need to join in on that one. And really want to encourage people, if you have the chance to do something, help out in some way- DO IT! I knows its cliche to make it seem so simple, but you probably aren't as underqualified as you think. What could I offer women who suffered addictions to things that I can't even imagine? Time. Love. An ear. A prayer. A friend.

I've been thinking about this all week. And then tonight I found a verse that really suited so I figured that was the last straw- time to type! Here is the verse
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perservers under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Mind Boggling...

Tis the Season..

Not that season. Although if you think about it, that one is just around the corner. It is the season of school. The time of year when students throughout the Northern Hemisphere( and actually for the next few months the Southern Hemisphere as well) settle back into their desks and once again suffer daily from writers cramps. The time of year when the alarm clock doesn't mean, time to go make a dollar, but instead means, time to switch where you are sleeping to a classroom... Ok perhaps its not that bad.
But yes. I have gone back to school. Whoop de do right? And you are right to a point if that is what you are thinking. But I have returned to Kings, returned to sitting in classes, following along, reading the texts, writing papers. And I really don't know how I feel about it.
This time around I am a sociology major. Which really doesn't mean much. Did you know that technically speaking, it is my fourth major at Kings. I applied for a Bachelor of Music, but quickly realized that wasn't for me and a few hours later changed to Psychology- cause that is what everyone takes. First semester passed with no psych class, but second semester, I didn't enjoy my intro Psych class. So the next fall I came back as an English major- but somewhere during my middle ages British Literature Class, when we were reading a story written in the 13th Century and I had no idea what it said and we had to do a 10 page essay on it... I figured that perhaps I wasn't meant to be an English major either. So this time around, its been a year and a half since I've been in school, and I am giving it another go as a Sociology major this time around. We shall see how it goes.
I am in three courses- which yes, is still technically full time. Research Methods, History, and Sociology of Gender. I think, once I get caught up, I will be ok. But within the next month or so, I promise I wont feel so optimistic about it. I have most definitely realized that perhaps school really isn't for me. I don't like it. Any of it really.
Thats not true, I don't mind the new knowledge- although I hate how I have to get it. I don't like the homework, the reading of dry material, the papers and research projects, the book reports, and the old and terrible movies you watch in class. I don't like sitting through lectures of what someone says is important, writing quizes and exams on it, and then- lets be honest here- within a few days have no idea what I wrote the test about. I don't like the games played by the student population. I hate trying to fit in, to not be on the outside looking in, but to not lose myself in the process. I hate watching people get shut out, or even experiencing it myself, and feeling that there is nothing that can be done about it, because when it is all said and done, we are human.
But, somehow, here I sit, working on a paper, dreading all the reading I have to do, bracing myself for IS to start tomorrow, trying to rack my brain for a research topic that is worthy of my attention this semester. Its hot and sunny outside, yet somehow I sit here, quietly alone in the AC of the SAC, bundled in a sweater, procrastinating rather then actually focusing and finishing my paper... Ahh... The life of a student...