Monthly Archives: October 2008

Two Days

Posted on October 30, 2008 by DN

 

In two days the summer project applications go up and I will begin the process of applying for the East Asia summer project. I am starting to think of ways that I am going to tell my parents that I am going to go to East Asia this summer. To be quite honest, I have no idea how I am going to do this. When I talked to my mom on Sunday I mentioned that I had gone to see Kung Fu Panda, and when she asked if it was good, I quickly said, “It makes me really want to go to China.” I am getting really anxious about it though. I know that tons of people are praying with me, that my parents’ hearts will be softened for the news. When and how do I tell them is my question. Should I drop it on them during the day on Thanksgiving while my mom and sister are cooking? I risk turning the day into a stressful time and the dinner virtually silent. I could do it during Thanksgiving dinner. Perhaps when each of us goes around and says what we are thankful for, I can say, “I am thankful that God is giving me the opportunity to go to East Asia next summer.” That could turn dinner into a yelling match, which would be less good than the silent dinner. Plus, I have this thing I do, that when faced with confrontation with my parents that is going nowhere, I get up and just walk away, and that would be a big mistake, so I need to make sure not to do that. Or I could wait until Friday or Saturday to talk to them about it. Meh, maybe I should just take Dennis’ advice and wait as long as I can to tell them, and on that day in May, be like “Oh can you take me to the airport, I have a flight to catch to East Asia.”

Two days. I start applying for summer project.

Categories: Evangelization, Summer Project | Tags: , , , , , ,

Heather and Raneesha

Posted on October 30, 2008 by DN

 

Brandy and I were sharing at SDSU, it must have been only the first or second week on that campus. We had wandered over this pedestrian bridge that lead to all the residence halls on campus and we shared with quite a few people in that area, two of them being Heather and Raneesha. They were sitting on a bench eating some home lunches between classes. Brandy and I went through the Quest Survey with them, and when we got to the fourth question, which asks what they would tell their friend who was seeking out advice on becoming a Christian, they hit it on the head. They talked about truly believing in Christ and inviting him into their heart. We were pumped. They were believers and had been so for awhile. They hadn’t really thought about starting a movement or becoming involved in a movement at SDSU, but hopefully we planted that seed. I pray that they are still at SDSU and having an influence for Christ on their classmates.

Categories: Evangelization, Summer Project | Tags: ,

President Obama

Posted on October 29, 2008 by DN

 

I am not an Obama supporter, as you have probably figured out by now, but I am almost 100% confident that Obama will win the presidential election next week and so it is something that we, as Christians, need to prepare for. I don’t normally write a lot of political things in my spiritual journal, but last night, I did write about Obama, and I wanted to share it here:

I normally wouldn’t bring up politics in my spiritual journal, but with the election being a week away and the candidates being so controversial, I cannot help but have something to say. I want to say first that neither McCain nor Obama are my ideal choices and so my vote is really choosing the lesser of two evils. That being said, I choose McCain not because I think he is amazing or because I have high hopes in what his administration can do for America, because my hope is in Christ alone, but because Obama is such a dangerous antichrist. I am not saying that Obama is THE prophesied Antichrist in Revelation, but I feel like he is very much so not a Christian, and does not have our best interests in mind. I am confident that this election will put Obama in the White House and I fear the worst. I feel like this is a critical time for my faith and for the faith of the Church as a whole. Many churches are so wishy-washy in what their beliefs and doctrines are. They change at the drop of a needle and many churches are becoming more and more conformed to society’s idea that certain sins do not matter, that Jesus Christ accepts us the way we are. The truth is Christ meets us where we are, and then we must follow him out of our sin and into something better. That following leads us away from what we once were and into a new person. Each church interprets the Bible differently and if members feel like they don’t like what is being taught, they can just split off and form a new sect with their own beliefs. So what does this have to do with Obama? From what I see, many of Obama’s beliefs and ideas are so counter-Christian, yet so many Christians are so gung-ho for him because he is just so charismatic and you want to follow him for the hope that he offers in such an uncertain time in America. I feel, though, that he is a wolf in sheeps clothing and many “Christians” will be lead further astray by him and drag tons more with them. For one, his views on abortion are much more radical and detestable (if that is even possible) than most pro-choicers I know of. He has a complete disregard for and mockery towards the Bible, having been quoted as saying that Romans 1:26-27 is an obscure passage in relation to homosexuality (which is clearly not the case). He has been two-faced by praising one group of people, and then turning around in another state and bashing them. He wants to fiddle with an already dangerous and fragile situation in Iraq and I do not think he is wise enough to properly handle it. I forsee a lot of intolerance for Christians (at least the ones who stand beside the Bible) coming from him, and all the name of tolerance. I know that Christ said that persecution is to be expected and endured, but I cannot see how followers of Christ can look at Obama and think, “yeah, he is the best fit for our country right now and most beneficial for our faith.” The people of the church will eventuallly realize the mistake of leading Obama into the highest human seat in our land, but by then it will be too late and the only one we can look to will be Christ, which is actually a good thing I suppose. And so, in the coming year, as Obama takes his position and our freedoms change, and our nation takes a turn, think will either look “better” or they will already look worse, but the wolf in him will eventually have to be revealed and we need to be ready for it. All I can do right now is trust in God and make sure as fire that my faith is strong enough to cling to God no matter what happens. The time is coming and if we think things are hot right now, all we need to do is wait. The temperature is rising.

Categories: America, Life in Christ | Tags: , , , , ,

My Mass Experience

Posted on October 28, 2008 by DN

 

I am posting this due to a request to hear about my experience at Mass. I went to St. Joseph’s across the river in Moorhead, MN. To begin with, the actual church building was not what I would typically associate with a Catholic church. It seemed fairly new, and so, thus, my perception was already changed in one way or another. I came into the service knowing that there were a lot of things that would be done that I wouldn’t understand, and I knew for sure that I could not take Communion, and I wasn’t sure what else I would not be able to do, so I just kind of fumbled around. Immediately as we walked in was a fount of some sort with holy water or something. Megan dipped her hand in it, I didn’t though, I probably should have though. Once we found our seat, we knealt down and joined in the prayer being spoken by a woman somewhere from within the church. I am pretty sure that they were saying the rosary because they continued saying, “Hail Mary, full of grace….something something…..and blessed be the fruit of your womb, Jesus Christ,” or something to that effect and then something different would be said between those Hail Mary’s. Then it got confusing as we went into the actual Mass, going through some liturgical worship. Even though I didn’t sing along, it fealt good to listen to them sing. I have to admit, though, that for me the highlight of the service was the Eucharist (Communion). It was strange to me, they way they blessed the bread and wine and such, and I remembered what Tom told me, that Catholics believed that the bread and wine were the actual blood and flesh of Jesus Christ. I thought, “What if that is true? What if they very body of my Savior is like right there, in this room? What if this really does perpetuate his sacrifice?” I shuddered, thinking about how amazing that would be, and I really wished that I could have taken Communion with everyone else. That’s really all I remember. I enjoyed it and I really hope that I can go again this weekend.

Categories: Catholicism | Tags: , , , , ,

Snow!!!

Posted on October 26, 2008 by DN

 

I was just saying yesterday how I wanted it to snow and I woke up this morning to a howling wind and thought, “hmmm, probably raining again.” But when I looked out my window it was snowing. I don’t think I will ever lose my child-like wonderment at the first snowfall and you think I would be used to it living in Minnesota all my life! I can’t wait to go sledding at the dike, Fargo’s only hill!

Categories: Miscellanea

The ‘A’ word is a betrayal of the ‘F’ word

Posted on October 25, 2008 by DN

 

Last week, our campus had feminist Karen Shablin come and speak to us on how abortion actually betrays feminism, and does not enhance it. The feminist movement is actually a movement to bring equal status to all human beings. It began at a time when women were treated simply as property, for men to do with which, whatever they pleased. For more than a century now, the fight has gone on to bring the status of women up that of men, and while there are still obstacles to overcome, much progress has been made. Women don’t need to marry any more, they are able to obtain a higher education, get many of the same jobs that men do, are able to speak in public, vote, and much more. Women are unique, though, and as hard as men would like to (or maybe not), we will never be able to carry a child. One of the things that makes women, uniquely feminine is their ability to give birth, and it often seems like this is looked down upon by feminists (I said often, not always, so please do not flood me with hate comments). Today, the hidden message is often that children will impede career paths, or freedoms in life. And so, we treat our unborn children as property. Property to be kept or discarded as circumstances show convenient. And so the feminist movement continually pushes for women to be more and more equal, and treated less and less like property, yet…yet, we treat our children more and more like property, and try so desperately hard for women to have the choice to treat their child like so.

And what about the argument of “I would personally never do it, but it’s each woman’s choice.” You never hear that argument with car-jacking, arson, money-laundering, or child molestation, so why is it acceptable in this case? Ask someone a little deeper about why they would not personally do it and it will come out that they feel it is quite wrong and cruel. So why then is it ok for someone else to do it? It’s an illogical argument that has no place in such a serious matter.

I hate to beat this subject to death, because it has been talked about so much, that nobody seems to want to listen. And it’s both sides, not just pro-choicers. But it is so important and so vital that we start working together, start listening. Pro-choicers need to stop saying “what about the woman?” and pro-lifers need to stop saying, “what about the baby?” Rather, we all need to say, “What about the mother and child?” What about both of them? And as a society and especially as Christians, we need to not look down upon a woman or teenage girl who has found herself in such a position. Surely she is paying the consequences for her sin, but we need to not drive her into thinking she has no other choice but abortion. And as a society, maybe we should stop putting so much emphasis on material things, which leads to obsession with career and money, which leads many to believe that children can be a hindrance and a nuisance, leaving abortion as a necessary option.

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” -Dr. Seuss

Categories: Sanctity of Life and Marriage | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Roommate Found!

Posted on October 23, 2008 by DN

 

Finally! Someone decided to take the roommate postition open at my old house! I am so happy that God has finally answered my prayers, and the light at the end of that particular tunnel has come. Yeah!

Categories: Miscellanea

Lessons from Genesis 41:16

Posted on October 20, 2008 by DN

 

“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharoah, “but God will give Pharoah the answer he desires.”

Of course, this is Joseph’s response to Pharoah’s request of Joseph to interpret his dreams about the cows and grains. It’s a short verse, and seemingly unimportant, and it is highly likely that most of us would scramble right past it without giving it much thought. But I realized today that often my attitude is not anything like Joseph’s here. I don’t give God credit when I use my skills that I am most known for (though, I’m not exactly sure which skills those would be). I am so self-absorbed that I don’t stop to remember that it is not me, but Christ in me that enables me to do anything.

Categories: Life in Christ, Scripture | Tags: , , , ,

Fallapalooza Was Great

Posted on October 19, 2008 by DN

 

I went to Fallapalooza this weekend which is the Fargo-Moorhead Campus Crusade’s fall retreat. I came into the weekend kind of dejected, but at the same time super excited. I have been stressed out a lot lately with the house and that is actually where I will start. My last post was kind of angry in regards to the house situation. The Lord just showed me this weekend that the money isn’t mine to begin with so I shouldn’t stress out about it. I also prayed more about going to East Asia and I still am feeling lead there. But I did decide that I would wait to tell my parents until Thanksgiving. I also went into the weekend just praying about finding the truth and I feel the Lord still calling me to keep exploring what the Catholic church is all about, which is a touchy subject in some Cru circles and so I have been pretty reluctant to bring it up to anyone else because I just have this gut wrenching feeling that anyone I talk to would either dissuade from searching there, or completely start bashing Catholicism, like I have done, and that is not what I want. So I haven’t talked about that to anyone else. I also went in with another question and am finally getting some clarity on that area as well, and I am pretty excited, because God is trustworthy and so I am getting excited.

I wasn’t too impressed with our speaker this weekend, not that he wasn’t good, but I just feel like I wasn’t there for the speaker, but for fellowship, prayer, worship, and discernment. It was a great weekend and I realized that everything is going to be ok when I fully surrender everything to the Lord.

Categories: Catholicism, Life in Christ | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

F R U S T R A T E D

Posted on October 17, 2008 by DN

 

I debated for awhile whether to write this post and whether writing it could signify the beginning of “Burning Bridges 2009″, a term dubbed by Dennis. Let me quickly show you some numbers before I go any further:

Damage deposit: $250
August: $267
September: $270
October: $250
TOTAL: $1,037

This is the amount of money I have paid for the one month living in the house. I have to talk to them. I can’t do this. As a follower of Christ, though, I will. I understand that I backed out of the agreement we had. But now, it has become more frustrating. Before, I was told I wouldn’t have to pay utilities, which is only fair, but apparently Xcel energy charges an $18 base every month just to have the ability to have power and they expect me to split that with them. I can’t believe that they are squabbling about paying $4.50, rather than $6! I suppose you could say the same back in my face, but I am NOT paying for them to have power.

This situation has become such a nightmare for me. I am forking out $250 each month which I could arguably be spending elsewhere, like trying to reduce my tens of thousands of dollars in loans that I have since I have had to pay for college with absolutely zero assistance from family. Not to mention now that I am trying to find someone to live in the smallest room of the house, which was not the room that I moved out of. Do you know how much harder that makes it? It is completely unfair to me. Once I pay the November rent, I will have paid about the same amount of money that it would have taken any one of them to pick up the slack for the rest of the year. And then there are my parents on top of that. They were very supportive of my choice to move back into the res hall, but if they knew I was still forking out $250 a month they would tell me to move back out. They would try to baby me into not having to pay it. They just don’t get that the world doesn’t work like that.

Here is what it comes down to. I am not happy with the fact that I am trying to sell someone else’s room. I am not going to pay for their utilities. I will pay the rent, all year if necessary, but I am hoping that they see that that is a ridiculous thing and quite honestly, if I am still paying rent in January or February, I can assure you that there is going to be a huge, and I mean huge strain on those friendships, not to mention my pocketbook. I need to talk to them and hopefully Dennis is wrong when he says I am burning bridges 2009.

Categories: Miscellanea

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