Sunday, December 28, 2008

Steph's Engagement Brunch


Today I went to Mimi's to meet up with Steph and a few of her other friends for an engagement/birthday/celebrate Steph brunch :) The food was good and the laughter was flowing. Come April 18th, Steph is going to be a married woman, but I must say her fiancee, Blake, is a great guy and they are a lot of fun together! Oh and I got to see Stacey, who I backpacked Europe with about four years ago, but I hadn't seen her in probably over a year...so that was really nice too!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Gingerbread House Making Extravaganza!

Tonight Dani, Mallorie and I decided to construct our very own gingerbread house complete with gingerbread people (I say "people" because we're not sure if they are boys or girls... :) We had a lot of fun, got icing all over us (okay, I got icing all over ME and we had only a few minor "the house is falling down" moments. If you've never made a gingerbread house, well you haven't truly lived until you have! And I suggest the Costco boxed gingerbread houses...so SO much easier...and they come with everything you need. Here are a few pictures of the process and our finished product!



Notice the icing ALL over my sleeve...









Monday, December 15, 2008

2 of the 13

Below are 2 of the 13 paradigm shifts Donald Miller talks about that he encountered when doing Christian ministry in a pagan environment...

1. Nobody will listen to you unless they know you like them: We began to understand that people, subconsciously, merit a religious or philosophical idea not on logical conclusions, but on whether or not the idea creates a “good person”…the definition of a good person being whether or not a person is kind to them, tolerant and understanding, able to listen without arguing and so on.

2. Nobody will listen to God unless they know God loves them: We came to believe there was usually a hidden pain behind hostility, that many people have been hurt by the church, or people or perspectives they believed to represent God. Many times its as simple as an interview they saw on CNN, but an apology and kindness went a long way in helping people understand God was loving.


I've been thinking a lot lately about what makes a person "good" or "bad" in reference to how people describe others. I think describing someone as "good" or "bad" is obviously completley subjective, and I often question what I really mean when I say it.

I've also been thinking a lot lately about who I'm intentionally investing into that aren't followers of Christ. I truly believe that as followers of Christ it is vital to make sure we're "doing life" (that was for you Jen :) with those who don't know Christ yet. This can obviously look differently for everyone, but this is something I try to continually remind myself the importance of, because of where I work and live, it would be incredibly easy to get comfortable in my faith and settle for mediocre living.

And I really don't want to do that...

Sunday, December 14, 2008

My Christmas Gift to You...

If you're looking for a few good Christmas songs to add to your iTunes library this holiday season, then HERE YOU GO... A free gift to you from me...well, not really from me...I'm just the messenger...


I went to Fresno Pacific with Gene, where we both served as RAs together. And Luke, well, I met him and his wife, Sarah, through mutual friends we share. Both are great guys with a passion for music and a heart for the Lord--and that's evident in these songs. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!!

Monday, December 8, 2008

"Now this is the story all about how my life got flipped turned upside down..."

I like Will Smith. I think he is a really good actor. He was chosen as number 10 on Barbara Walter's "10 Most Fascinating People of 2008". I watched this clip and really like what he had to say about marriage. Now, I'm not married, so my personal experience is non existent when it comes to this topic, however, it seems there is a lot truth in the words he spoke regarding marriage...

"Being married is the most difficult thing you're ever gonna do in your life ever. Anybody who is married and divorce is an option...you're getting divorced."

Here's the whole clip if you're interested...

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Hope, Hope and More Hope...

"My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name."

I'm reminded more and more how necessary it is to have hope. And not just hope in anything, but hope in Jesus. In Him and Him alone.

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us..." Romans 5:2-5b

Monday, December 1, 2008

Christmas must be here...

because I've eaten FOUR sugar cookies today... I better start pacing myself...! But I must say I make some mean sugar cookies with homemade icing...and red sprinkles of course.