From Katie: The following are a collection of real conversations and quotes that happened in real life, over Facebook/Twitter, or were found in books. <>< Katie
"Worship is giving God the best that He has given you." - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
John: I'm going to make another phone call. If he answers, I'm going to take it.
Neal: No matter the question, Jesus is the answer.
Katie: What's for lunch?
Stephen: Communion?
Rebekah: Katie, you're obese on the inside.
David: Anyone want anything while I'm upstairs?
Katie: I want lots of things but not that you can get upstairs.
David: If I find a job up there, I'll let you know.
Katie: Did you just say, "I'm turning my cat into an elephant?"
Rebekah: Why would I want to eat my cat?
"Never let praise go to your head. Never let criticism go to your heart." - Rick Warren
Katie: Thanks for implying I'm nobody.
Sara: No problem, Poop Brain.
Stephen: No! Righteous Holy Spirit Brain!
Katie, Sara: What?
Rebekah: I challenged Stephen that anytime he thinks about poop he has to think about holiness and righteousness.
Jim: I'm going to have to start reading your blog next month.
Jen: Ok, guys, this is what we're going to do: we're going to go buy Jennifer the exact same heater and switch them like parents do when goldfish die.
Katie: Except we have to go back in time ten years to get the exact same heater.
Alex: And we have to find ten years worth of dust to put in it.
Brett: Do you not point with your middle finger?
Garret: I do that too. Especially when I'm driving.
Kevin: God's teaching you to be content in Him.
Katie: I'm trying!
Kevin: Being content in the Lord doesn't mean you want to stay in your situation. It means He put you there for a reason and therefore it's a good place to be.
Jennifer: What time is this test tomorrow?
Allyson: Your mom.
[Lots of laughter]
Allyson: I meant to say "Nine." They kind of sound the same.
Rebekah: I'm going to toast these buns then put some of Will's apple jelly on them.
Katie: Because that doesn't sound awkward at all.
Brett: I care not about a woman's ankles!
Sara: Now we know why we don't hang out with Stephen when he's alone.
Alex: No! It boosts my self-esteem as a male to be able to fix things.
Katie: How's your self-esteem doing tonight?
Alex: Give me just a minute.
Jennifer: Ok, I give you until 8:35.
Alex: What?! I need to at least 9:00.
Jennifer: You said, "Just a minute."
Alex: Ok, give me just a half an hour.
Allyson: We can't do this to myself.
"[T]he wonderful news is that Jesus has not stopped acting and speaking. He is resurrected and at work in our world. He is not idle, nor has He developed laryngitis. He is alive and among us as our Priest to forgive us, our Prophet to teach us, our King to rule us, and our Shepherd to guide us." - Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, 19
Katie: My lemonade tastes like blue cheese.
[Facebook]
Neal: Snow? Tonight? Possible. Tomorrow? Possible. Big storm Sunday? Maybe... just maybe.
Katie: Awe, man, I'm out of milk and bread. Now I'm going to be on of those Southerners stocking up for the blizzard.
Neal: Hey, just because you are from the frozen tundra area of the US, don't be a killjoy.
Meredith: I never understood the milk and bread thing. What are you doing to do with them? Milk sandwiches?
Neal: I know, right? Milk and double stuff Oreos makes more sense.
Katie: Ok, I'll totally go buy milk, bread, and double stuffed Oreos. - Killjoy
David: If you live above the Mason-Dixon line, you're half-Canadian. If you live west of the Mississippi, you're full cowboy.
Katie: Make sure whatever comes out of the toolbox goes back in the toolbox.
Alex: Oh. I was going to put this screwdriver in the cabinet. Is that ok?
Katie: Dishwasher. Please.
"Wait for God's timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment." - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
Rebekah: You need to keep taking Vitamin B6.
Katie: I already eat four meals a day. If I take that I'm going to eat the entire house!
Rebekah: It's not going to mess with your metabolism.
Katie: That's what it says!
Rebekah: It's not true; it's just what the medicine bottle says.
Jennifer: If you break it--
Alex: It won't be any more broken than it is now.
Corey: It's not sand; don't taste it!
David: Opinions are like butts: everyone has them and they all stink.
Alyssa: Nut-uh! Some people only have half-a-butt 'cuz they're Siamese. Isn't that a cat? What?
Danielle: Let's play a game. Name places you've been. Dominican Republic.
Courtland: Honduras.
Danielle: Nicaragua.
Courtland: England.
Danielle: Scotland.
Courtland: Ben's house.
Stephen: Yoga is not as fun as yogurt.
Weatherman: There were some snow flakes tonight, and we're not done. In some places there have been accumulations of over an inch. It's icy on bridges and roads and will continue to get worse overnight. It's been following consistently for the last hour. If you don't have to go out, stay home! By tomorrow afternoon we will have a high of 54.
Katie: I really love listening to Southern weathermen.
Jen: I WANT SNOW! I've never seen it!
Katie: How old are you?
Jen: Nineteen.
Jennifer: Around here if they even say the word "snow" they close school.
Jen: Why hasn't our school done that?
Katie: 'Cuz there's NO SNOW!
Jen: Yes, there is, on the TV!
Katie: Ok, let's watch Frosty and then there will be snow on the TV and they'll surely cancel school.
Isaac, 4: When someone has a broken heart it means I think they have to fix it with tape or something.
Keith: Rappers have two choices: grow up or get shot.
Rebekah: I love being domestic. It's my favorite thing to do! No, actually laughing's my favorite thing but being domestic is second.
Katie: Praising Jesus is my favorite thing to do.
Rebekah: Right. Whatever. [Beat] Don't Tweet that!
Katie: Nah, I'll save it for Wacky Wednesday.
Neal: Have you told God how you're feeling? He's a big boy. He can handle it, and He's the only one who can.
[Over the phone]
Tara: What are you doing?
Garret: I'm putting on a hoocher.
Tara: Where are you?
Garret: In Rebekah's bathroom.
[Tara said something I didn't catch]
Garret: No, I didn't say I'm wearing a hoocher; I said I'm putting one on.
[In this case, a "hoocher" was a cabinet latch]
"Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional and pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to [herself] but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control." - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
Showing posts with label Keith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keith. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Wacky Wednesday
Author's Note: the following is a collection of ridiculous statements or deeply profound conclusions that I have heard, seen, or been told over the last month. Some are meant in jest. Some are not. As always, some have been forgotten before they could be written down. My deepest apologies. Enjoy!
<>< Katie
Tracy: We cannot prevent the storm but we can prepare for it.
Neal: Have you already eaten?
Katie: Yeah, I ate over there.
Neal: Oh.
Katie: But if I sit next to Stacy long enough I might have to eat again.
Katie: Your shirt's crooked. I would have told you that immediately when you walked in but I was kind of like, "Meh, it's Nikki, at least she's wearing clothing."
Mom [walking into an empty kitchen]: So then we... wait! Where is everybody? It's the rapture and they've all been taken but I've been left behind!
Nikki: I got some llama slobber on my formal dress.
Pete Wilson: Your crisis will become less of a crisis when you replace fear of the unknown with a healthy fear of the known God.
Girl [age 10]: How do you stop turkeys from stargazing?
Amy: I wish tomorrow was Saturday.
Nikki: Hey, now, at this point we're not wishing away days.
Amy: No, just two Saturdays in a row. Let's pray about that.
Stacy [running in from the other room]: Pray about what?
Men: Bro picture!
Michael: Let's stand somewhere with pretty flowers in the background.
Neal: Does everyone who sits at this table have to be loud?!
Katie: I can drink and dance at the same time; I'm Lutheran.
Amy: Jennifer! Can you get the bug spray? I don't want to lose sight of this spider!
Nikki: Don't smash him in the carpet! That won't come out of the carpet!
Nikki, Amy, Jennifer: AHHHHHHH!!
Nikki: Wait! We have shoes! Why don't we use shoes?
Amy: Katie!
[Apparently I'm the only one with shoes]
Professor: The brain can only absorb what the seat can endure.
Amy: Katie, can I have another Crunch bar?
Elizabeth: Did Amy just use the word "coinstar"?
Martin Luther: God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone but also on the trees and in the flowers and clouds and stars.
Neal: I am like an elephant.
Katie: What does that mean?! You're huge and you have a long trunk?
Chase: We are wired for worship. We are made to worship. But often times we worship what was created rather than the Creator.
English misspeak and mock...
Katie: When you speak three languages, we'll talk! And in one of the other ones.
Anonymous Female Friend: In heaven we will never have to wear a bra again!
Elizabeth: I'll take a coffee. Do you have any specialty coffee?
Waiter: Decaf.
Elizabeth: And I want apple butter. I'm requesting it. The menu says "on request."
Teresa: Be intentional with your relationships and be intentional with your time unless you want them to be stolen away.
Jennifer: I want to buy someone to play guitar for me while I fall asleep.
Katie: Usually when the words "buy" and "someone" are put together we use the word "hire."
Jennifer: Ok, I'm going to hire someone to play guitar for me and eventually they'll learn to do it for free and then they'll volunteer.
Keith: I was averaging a book a week in that class. I was booking it!
David: Ultimately life continues regardless of our desire for time to stand still. God has given us each day so we should take joy in those moments.
Amy: It's like we always tell Katie: mockery is the greatest form of love.
Elizabeth: Katie, they are lying to you. They just want to make fun of you.
"A story is only sad if there's no happy ending. I guess I always believe in that ending." - Dr. Julia Cates from Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
Mom: I don't know what brushing my teeth has to do with Christmas.
Pastor Russ: We don't enjoy the time in between. It feels like a wasteland.
Adam [offering a poptart]: Want some?
Sara: What kind is it?
Adam: Cherry.
Sara: Dairy?
David: Yes, earring.
Nikki: Katie, I was really thirsty, so I pretended we were in a foreign country and drank some of your water.
Micah [preteen]: Um... don't slip. Do you want to have kids?
Neal: Remember, the longer the story the more embellishing.
<>< Katie
Tracy: We cannot prevent the storm but we can prepare for it.
Neal: Have you already eaten?
Katie: Yeah, I ate over there.
Neal: Oh.
Katie: But if I sit next to Stacy long enough I might have to eat again.
Katie: Your shirt's crooked. I would have told you that immediately when you walked in but I was kind of like, "Meh, it's Nikki, at least she's wearing clothing."
Mom [walking into an empty kitchen]: So then we... wait! Where is everybody? It's the rapture and they've all been taken but I've been left behind!
Nikki: I got some llama slobber on my formal dress.
Pete Wilson: Your crisis will become less of a crisis when you replace fear of the unknown with a healthy fear of the known God.
Girl [age 10]: How do you stop turkeys from stargazing?
Amy: I wish tomorrow was Saturday.
Nikki: Hey, now, at this point we're not wishing away days.
Amy: No, just two Saturdays in a row. Let's pray about that.
Stacy [running in from the other room]: Pray about what?
Men: Bro picture!
Michael: Let's stand somewhere with pretty flowers in the background.
Neal: Does everyone who sits at this table have to be loud?!
Katie: I can drink and dance at the same time; I'm Lutheran.
Amy: Jennifer! Can you get the bug spray? I don't want to lose sight of this spider!
Nikki: Don't smash him in the carpet! That won't come out of the carpet!
Nikki, Amy, Jennifer: AHHHHHHH!!
Nikki: Wait! We have shoes! Why don't we use shoes?
Amy: Katie!
[Apparently I'm the only one with shoes]
Professor: The brain can only absorb what the seat can endure.
Amy: Katie, can I have another Crunch bar?
Elizabeth: Did Amy just use the word "coinstar"?
Martin Luther: God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone but also on the trees and in the flowers and clouds and stars.
Neal: I am like an elephant.
Katie: What does that mean?! You're huge and you have a long trunk?
Chase: We are wired for worship. We are made to worship. But often times we worship what was created rather than the Creator.
English misspeak and mock...
Katie: When you speak three languages, we'll talk! And in one of the other ones.
Anonymous Female Friend: In heaven we will never have to wear a bra again!
Elizabeth: I'll take a coffee. Do you have any specialty coffee?
Waiter: Decaf.
Elizabeth: And I want apple butter. I'm requesting it. The menu says "on request."
Teresa: Be intentional with your relationships and be intentional with your time unless you want them to be stolen away.
Jennifer: I want to buy someone to play guitar for me while I fall asleep.
Katie: Usually when the words "buy" and "someone" are put together we use the word "hire."
Jennifer: Ok, I'm going to hire someone to play guitar for me and eventually they'll learn to do it for free and then they'll volunteer.
Keith: I was averaging a book a week in that class. I was booking it!
David: Ultimately life continues regardless of our desire for time to stand still. God has given us each day so we should take joy in those moments.
Amy: It's like we always tell Katie: mockery is the greatest form of love.
Elizabeth: Katie, they are lying to you. They just want to make fun of you.
"A story is only sad if there's no happy ending. I guess I always believe in that ending." - Dr. Julia Cates from Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah
Mom: I don't know what brushing my teeth has to do with Christmas.
Pastor Russ: We don't enjoy the time in between. It feels like a wasteland.
Adam [offering a poptart]: Want some?
Sara: What kind is it?
Adam: Cherry.
Sara: Dairy?
David: Yes, earring.
Nikki: Katie, I was really thirsty, so I pretended we were in a foreign country and drank some of your water.
Micah [preteen]: Um... don't slip. Do you want to have kids?
Neal: Remember, the longer the story the more embellishing.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Just One Shirt
All of the best ideas come from a "What if?" question.
"What if we went dorm to dorm asking people to donate one shirt to homeless shelter?" Keith asked at dinner.
The idea exploded and on a Saturday afternoon Nikki, Keith, David, Ryan, and Wes wandered around campus with two plastic buckets for their "Just One Shirt" drive.
They walked dorm to dorm knocking on every door encouraging residents to find one item in their wardrobe that they don't wear.
Personally, this was a challenge. If I don't wear certain clothes, they're at home. I don't have the space to have superfluous stuff here. I did find one shirt I don't wear--a yellow coffee shop shirt that makes me feel like I'm in my pajamas all day.
They gathered a car trunk and backseat full of clothes--it's approximately twelve trash bags full of clothing!
It was also part of a school-wide service project campaign where the three best service projects won $100 each.
Another winning project (the most creative project) was a hall of students who went to the nursing home and asked the residents to make Valentines Day cards for the children at the children's home. Then, they went to the children's home and asked the children to make Valentines Day cards for the nursing home residents.
The Just One Shirt campaign won most spirited. Get this: their $100 is going to support a Compassion International child for this month and for his birthday.
What if we all gave one shirt? What if we were all servant-minded? What if?
<>< Katie
"What if we went dorm to dorm asking people to donate one shirt to homeless shelter?" Keith asked at dinner.
The idea exploded and on a Saturday afternoon Nikki, Keith, David, Ryan, and Wes wandered around campus with two plastic buckets for their "Just One Shirt" drive.
They walked dorm to dorm knocking on every door encouraging residents to find one item in their wardrobe that they don't wear.
Personally, this was a challenge. If I don't wear certain clothes, they're at home. I don't have the space to have superfluous stuff here. I did find one shirt I don't wear--a yellow coffee shop shirt that makes me feel like I'm in my pajamas all day.
They gathered a car trunk and backseat full of clothes--it's approximately twelve trash bags full of clothing!
It was also part of a school-wide service project campaign where the three best service projects won $100 each.
Another winning project (the most creative project) was a hall of students who went to the nursing home and asked the residents to make Valentines Day cards for the children at the children's home. Then, they went to the children's home and asked the children to make Valentines Day cards for the nursing home residents.
The Just One Shirt campaign won most spirited. Get this: their $100 is going to support a Compassion International child for this month and for his birthday.
What if we all gave one shirt? What if we were all servant-minded? What if?
<>< Katie
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Wacky Wednesday
"If life is worth living, then it is worth recording."
Classmate: What is that?
I glanced down at the brown bottle in my hand.
Classmate: That's kind of bold.
Katie: Well I am from the North. No, actually, it's root beer. They're serving it in the caf for Oktoberfest.
Mom: I'm bored. I want to eat, but I shouldn't. Maybe I'll just go to bed.
Katie: Read a book, that's what you always told me. Did you ever finish Three Cups of Tea?
Mom: No. I lost it.
Katie: You lost it?
Mom: Maybe it's in my music bag, but I'm not really sure. It might be in my van. No, I know it's not in my van. I think it got swallowed by a log cabin magazine.
Katie: The only thing I can actually throw is a pen.
Chelsea: That's the sign of an English major.
Ron Rash: Galloway, who has already killed the typical Rash body count of about a dozen...
[about his amazing book Serena]
Nikki: Chloe told me to feed my cat. I don't have a cat.
Allyson: What if fish were mini-giraffes swimming around? How different would our world be if all our pets were shaped differently.
Isaac [age 3]: There's a Ternanisarus Rex out the window. See it? Do you see any other ones?
Katie: No, I only see one.
[All of the other adults at the table laughed at me]
Elizabeth [to her boyfriend Andy]: It hurt last time you bit me.
Michael: I tend to not put my mouth on things that can electrocute me.
Caitlin: That's why my hair is curly.
[really the outlets exemplify sound if you're anywhere near them]
Dr. Jones: Bekah's carrying a friend to the hospital.
Katie: That's going to take awhile.
Amy: My goal for this year: to understand Katie.
Katie: Good luck.
Uncle: We just scored in the opening kick off and we've got mini-screen!
Dad: Sarah!
Mom: I'm taping my hockey game. Just a second.
Dad: Rewind!
Katie: At my house we have an actual cheese cutter.
Nikki: What's an actual cheese cutter verses a metaphorical cheese cutter?
Katie: An actually cheese cutter stinks up the place and a metaphorical cheese cutter makes a lot of noise.
Katie: My head hurts.
Jennifer: Take medicine.
Katie: I did.
Jennifer: Take more.
Andy: So are we going to the store or what?
Elizabeth: Yes. We need medium trash bags.
Amy: Medium trash bags.
Andy: Medium trash bags.
Elizabeth: Medium trash bags.
Amy: And Katie needs new Scrabble Cheeze-its.
Elizabeth: No she doesn't. We haven't played with hers yet.
Nikki: Roommie, don't be rude and play Banangrams on the floor with Katie's Scrabble Cheeze-its on then put them back into the box. Be considerate and lick all of the germs off of them before you put them away.
Random man on the phone: I'm not shaving my chest hair. Yeah, it's getting really long. It grew a millimeter already.
[Sign Choir practice]
Amber: We could have one or even two Jesuses...
Katie: Sign Choir goes polytheistic... at least we have Jesus in our songs.
[Ten minutes later]
Girl: Wait, how many Gods?
Queen Emily: Religion 1-0-1: One God!
Jake: SURE! The lactose intolerant girl brings cheesecake!
Katie: Brain fart: what's it called when there's a need and you make it go away.
Nikki: Satisfy.
Jennifer: To.
Katie: You to the need?
Jennifer: Yeah, like the number "two."
Amy: Don't let me forget, I have to mail my Compassion child tomorrow.
Katie: DON'T PUT YOUR COMPASSION CHILD IN THE MAIL! Who do you think she is? Flat Stanley?
Jennifer: WHY is there hair in the microwave?
Elizabeth: It goes there, Jennifer; it makes everything more tasty.
Keith: Katie, I'm cold. And I have that exact same sweatshirt.
Katie: Are you asking me to give you the sweatshirt off of my back?
[Keith nodded sheepishly]
Jennifer: I think Allyson's cough is getting to her ears. I said, "Your phone rang," and she thought I said, "Your padre." It was her dad who called, but I didn't know that.
Katie: Where is my phone?
Andy: In your eye.
Katie: EWW! That would be so germy!
Nikki: Don't point out the cell phone in her eye until you remove the laptop from your own eye.
Katie: It didn't work.
Nikki: It would have worked if I had done it.
Katie: That's right because you're better than me at everything.
Nikki: Except being skinny, using random German words and pretending they're English, writing really long blog posts, sanitizing light switches, and not licking things on impulse.
Shellie Warren: But as you mature, hopefully, you will encounter men of character and quality. The bad news is that they may not be your husband. The good news is that they very well could bring you one, two, or ten steps closer to him.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Putting on the Towel
I went to a small seminar where Stephanie the leader began to call names for volunteers.
"Keith, Elizabeth, and..."
I knew my name was coming and sure enough it came. The three of us went to the front of the room, and Stephanie began her analogy.
We were a family. Keith was the father and there was no mother. Elizabeth and I were Keith's daughters; we both dropped to our knees and walked towards him. Stephanie narrated that Keith loved us both very much, so he put his arms around our shoulders and held us close. We smiled. Stephanie continued by saying that Keith gave Elizabeth all of the food, the clothes, and everything and told her to take care of her sister (that's me). Then Keith went away but continued to watch on his brand new Nanny Cam.
With Keith no longer between us, there was a gap between Elizabeth and me. Stephanie said Elizabeth ate a big dinner, and I went hungry. Since I truly was hungry at the time it was not difficult to act out: I frowned and rubbed my stomach. While Elizabeth slept in her warm bed, I was left out in the cold without a bed at all.
While aspects of this drama are not Biblically accurate, it does hold some fraction of the truth.
The first chapter of James calls us to care for the widows and orphans. In the time when this was written, widows held no role in society. The least of these.
Plain and simple: He calls us to put the towel on and serve.
Just before Passover, Jesus and His disciples gathered for a meal. The disciples argued over who would wash the feet. This is a dirty job; a job for the lowest one on the totem pole. The job of a servant. Think about it, would you like to wash someone else's feet? Keep in mind the disciples were wearing sandals not nice sneakers. Think of the worst Chaco dirt-tan you've ever seen and then multiple it by twelve. Yucky, right? No wonder they're arguing.
Jesus stands up, leaves the room, and returns wearing a towel around his waist. He gets down on one knee and one by one takes the feet of the disciples and washes them clean. The Lord above all got on His knees and served His friends. The Creator of the feet (and the dirt) caressed the callouses clean of crud. Jesus, the Most High, took the role of the lowest of the low. He served His brothers, and He calls us to do the same.
In today's society, serving is the cool thing to do. People love to stand up and fight for a cause. Look at the fund raisers for New Orleans. For Darfur. For Haiti. For AIDs. For malaria. How many of those projects are Christ-based? Sure, some, but many are not.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, non-Christians are doing our job. They are taking care of one another which is what Christ calls US to do. We serve for a different reason than they do. We serve for God's glory, not our own.
Right?
Or do we sit on our couches for Christ's glory and not our own?
Honestly, when is the last time you served someone in Christ's name? I'm not talking about your Christian roommate or your church. Sure, those things are important, too, absolutely, but that's not what we're discussing today.
When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone, put the towel on, and cared for the least of these? Hugged the man dying of AIDs? Watched the single mother's children for free? Gave food to the homeless man? Reached out to the woman in the abusive situation? The least of these.
"Katie, I don't know anyone with AIDs, dying of hunger, and living on the street."
You're right. Neither do I. Because I haven't taken the time to find them. They exist in my city. I bet they exist in your city, too. They're in line at the soup kitchen every Wednesday begging for something to eat. They're in the nursing homes yearning to be visited. They're in the schools in needing someone to help them with their homework and teach them that they are important. They are all around you waiting to hear the name of Christ. Will you tell them?
Look around you. The world's isn't all hunky dory. It's a matter of opening our eyes and seeing the needs. It's only after physical and emotional needs are met that we can be God's mouthpiece to reach the spiritual needs. Do you truly believe that there are "greater things still to be done in this city"? Why aren't you out there doing them?
Otherwise it's like Stephanie's sketch where Keith told me he loved me, but I didn't see it because Elizabeth had all of the food and I had none. I saw that Keith loved Elizabeth, but I could not see how he loved me. If she would take the time to show me rather than tell me Dad loved me, I might have believed her.
<>< Katie
Note: I am preaching to myself here just as much as I am preaching to anyone else.
"Keith, Elizabeth, and..."
I knew my name was coming and sure enough it came. The three of us went to the front of the room, and Stephanie began her analogy.
We were a family. Keith was the father and there was no mother. Elizabeth and I were Keith's daughters; we both dropped to our knees and walked towards him. Stephanie narrated that Keith loved us both very much, so he put his arms around our shoulders and held us close. We smiled. Stephanie continued by saying that Keith gave Elizabeth all of the food, the clothes, and everything and told her to take care of her sister (that's me). Then Keith went away but continued to watch on his brand new Nanny Cam.
With Keith no longer between us, there was a gap between Elizabeth and me. Stephanie said Elizabeth ate a big dinner, and I went hungry. Since I truly was hungry at the time it was not difficult to act out: I frowned and rubbed my stomach. While Elizabeth slept in her warm bed, I was left out in the cold without a bed at all.
While aspects of this drama are not Biblically accurate, it does hold some fraction of the truth.
The first chapter of James calls us to care for the widows and orphans. In the time when this was written, widows held no role in society. The least of these.
Plain and simple: He calls us to put the towel on and serve.
Just before Passover, Jesus and His disciples gathered for a meal. The disciples argued over who would wash the feet. This is a dirty job; a job for the lowest one on the totem pole. The job of a servant. Think about it, would you like to wash someone else's feet? Keep in mind the disciples were wearing sandals not nice sneakers. Think of the worst Chaco dirt-tan you've ever seen and then multiple it by twelve. Yucky, right? No wonder they're arguing.
Jesus stands up, leaves the room, and returns wearing a towel around his waist. He gets down on one knee and one by one takes the feet of the disciples and washes them clean. The Lord above all got on His knees and served His friends. The Creator of the feet (and the dirt) caressed the callouses clean of crud. Jesus, the Most High, took the role of the lowest of the low. He served His brothers, and He calls us to do the same.
In today's society, serving is the cool thing to do. People love to stand up and fight for a cause. Look at the fund raisers for New Orleans. For Darfur. For Haiti. For AIDs. For malaria. How many of those projects are Christ-based? Sure, some, but many are not.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, non-Christians are doing our job. They are taking care of one another which is what Christ calls US to do. We serve for a different reason than they do. We serve for God's glory, not our own.
Right?
Or do we sit on our couches for Christ's glory and not our own?
Honestly, when is the last time you served someone in Christ's name? I'm not talking about your Christian roommate or your church. Sure, those things are important, too, absolutely, but that's not what we're discussing today.
When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone, put the towel on, and cared for the least of these? Hugged the man dying of AIDs? Watched the single mother's children for free? Gave food to the homeless man? Reached out to the woman in the abusive situation? The least of these.
"Katie, I don't know anyone with AIDs, dying of hunger, and living on the street."
You're right. Neither do I. Because I haven't taken the time to find them. They exist in my city. I bet they exist in your city, too. They're in line at the soup kitchen every Wednesday begging for something to eat. They're in the nursing homes yearning to be visited. They're in the schools in needing someone to help them with their homework and teach them that they are important. They are all around you waiting to hear the name of Christ. Will you tell them?
Look around you. The world's isn't all hunky dory. It's a matter of opening our eyes and seeing the needs. It's only after physical and emotional needs are met that we can be God's mouthpiece to reach the spiritual needs. Do you truly believe that there are "greater things still to be done in this city"? Why aren't you out there doing them?
Otherwise it's like Stephanie's sketch where Keith told me he loved me, but I didn't see it because Elizabeth had all of the food and I had none. I saw that Keith loved Elizabeth, but I could not see how he loved me. If she would take the time to show me rather than tell me Dad loved me, I might have believed her.
<>< Katie
Note: I am preaching to myself here just as much as I am preaching to anyone else.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wacky Wednesday
We all say funny things. Some of us more than others. <>< Katie
Dad: I'm booking your hotel for Festival.
[This was literally two days after Festival...he clarified it was for 2011]
Laura: Mom said you already did that.
Dad: Yeah, well, hotels are weird. Sometimes you have to call them twice.
Random Guy in the Post Office: You don't need a passport to visit Hawaii, do you? Because it's in the same country, right?
Katie: What's the purpose of a foyer?
Mom: To welcome your friends into your house.
Katie: Last time I had a friend over it was October. And we came in through the garage.
Mom: I'm sorry your friends don't live in this country.
Christina: What's another word for "mouth" that starts with a "b"?
Laura: Orifice.
Christina: That's it!
Peder: Hey, Festival, love your lawn chair. Hug your lawn chair. Take your lawn chair home with you otherwise it will go into the lawn chair morgue, and we don't want that. We love our lawn chairs. You can bring your lawn chair back at noon tomorrow.
[Easter Sunday morning]
Katie: What's in your pocket?
Andy: My pocket knife.
Katie: Why?
Andy: In case I need to cut something.
Katie: What are you cutting in church?
Andy: Who knows: sandwiches, pickles, leaves, people--I'm trained to handle that.
Katie: It's wrong to cut people.
Andy: What about surgeons? They cut people.
Katie: That's a slightly different situation.
Andy: You're a slightly different situation.
Katie: So you're bringing your knife to church because we're going to have surgery in our church clothes?
Andy: No, they cut those off.
Mom: Tina, get the blue laundry basket off of the... um... what's it called?... um...
Katie: Chair. Washing machine. Couch. Counter. Mantel.
Mom: Deck!
Katie: I'm glad you figured it out on your own because I would have been shouting nouns at you for a long time before I came up with that one.
[a facebook conversation... no photo involved]
Brother One: Brother! Nobody wants to see your poop!
Brother Two: Please?
Katie: I bet your dad's interested.
the dad: I'm as interested as Katie is.
Katie: I like poop stories better, thanks.
Sarah: I sleep in pajamas most nights.
[on the bus back from the NYG]
Katie: Pastor Russ, I don't have ample floorspace back here, so I put my flip flops under your seat. If they slide up there, just kick them back to me, please.
Pastor Russ: If they slide up here, I'm throwing them in the garbage.
Katie: That's fine, but then I get to wear your shoes.
PR: Good thing I only have four different types of foot fungus.
[Mom had just used some relatively normal medical term... Christina's in high school]
Christina: I know I'm going to be a nurse and I should know what that means, but I haven't taken physics yet.
Uncle Bill: What are you holding? A zucchini? A cucumber?
Uncle Jay: A carrot?
Dad: A grape?
Uncle Jay: With elephantitis!
[it was a potato... a normal potato.... now forever known as a grape with elephantitis]
Christina: Daddy, why were you at the doctor?
Dad [creepy voice]: Bahlud. Vampries. Bahlud.
Christina: Did they take a pint?
Dad [serious voice]: A quart. Might have been a half-gallon.
Christina: Oh.
Pastor Seth: Have you gotten dinner?
Katie: I ate lunch at like 3.
PS: So you had lunner?
Mom: I need a Rav-4 Brochure.
Katie: I don't know what that means.
Mom: A Rav-4 is a car and a brochure is a little booklet.
I took her all of the little booklets I could find.
Speaker Dude: Your story isn't about you. Look it up. [pointing to a Bible]
Nikki: Keith! I think I'm sick, I've blogged twice in a week and I have two others in draft.
Keith: If that is sick, rush me to the critical care unit. And bury Katie; she's been dead awhile.
Dad: I'm booking your hotel for Festival.
[This was literally two days after Festival...he clarified it was for 2011]
Laura: Mom said you already did that.
Dad: Yeah, well, hotels are weird. Sometimes you have to call them twice.
Random Guy in the Post Office: You don't need a passport to visit Hawaii, do you? Because it's in the same country, right?
Katie: What's the purpose of a foyer?
Mom: To welcome your friends into your house.
Katie: Last time I had a friend over it was October. And we came in through the garage.
Mom: I'm sorry your friends don't live in this country.
Christina: What's another word for "mouth" that starts with a "b"?
Laura: Orifice.
Christina: That's it!
Peder: Hey, Festival, love your lawn chair. Hug your lawn chair. Take your lawn chair home with you otherwise it will go into the lawn chair morgue, and we don't want that. We love our lawn chairs. You can bring your lawn chair back at noon tomorrow.
[Easter Sunday morning]
Katie: What's in your pocket?
Andy: My pocket knife.
Katie: Why?
Andy: In case I need to cut something.
Katie: What are you cutting in church?
Andy: Who knows: sandwiches, pickles, leaves, people--I'm trained to handle that.
Katie: It's wrong to cut people.
Andy: What about surgeons? They cut people.
Katie: That's a slightly different situation.
Andy: You're a slightly different situation.
Katie: So you're bringing your knife to church because we're going to have surgery in our church clothes?
Andy: No, they cut those off.
Mom: Tina, get the blue laundry basket off of the... um... what's it called?... um...
Katie: Chair. Washing machine. Couch. Counter. Mantel.
Mom: Deck!
Katie: I'm glad you figured it out on your own because I would have been shouting nouns at you for a long time before I came up with that one.
[a facebook conversation... no photo involved]
Brother One: Brother! Nobody wants to see your poop!
Brother Two: Please?
Katie: I bet your dad's interested.
the dad: I'm as interested as Katie is.
Katie: I like poop stories better, thanks.
Sarah: I sleep in pajamas most nights.
[on the bus back from the NYG]
Katie: Pastor Russ, I don't have ample floorspace back here, so I put my flip flops under your seat. If they slide up there, just kick them back to me, please.
Pastor Russ: If they slide up here, I'm throwing them in the garbage.
Katie: That's fine, but then I get to wear your shoes.
PR: Good thing I only have four different types of foot fungus.
[Mom had just used some relatively normal medical term... Christina's in high school]
Christina: I know I'm going to be a nurse and I should know what that means, but I haven't taken physics yet.
Uncle Bill: What are you holding? A zucchini? A cucumber?
Uncle Jay: A carrot?
Dad: A grape?
Uncle Jay: With elephantitis!
[it was a potato... a normal potato.... now forever known as a grape with elephantitis]
Christina: Daddy, why were you at the doctor?
Dad [creepy voice]: Bahlud. Vampries. Bahlud.
Christina: Did they take a pint?
Dad [serious voice]: A quart. Might have been a half-gallon.
Christina: Oh.
Pastor Seth: Have you gotten dinner?
Katie: I ate lunch at like 3.
PS: So you had lunner?
Mom: I need a Rav-4 Brochure.
Katie: I don't know what that means.
Mom: A Rav-4 is a car and a brochure is a little booklet.
I took her all of the little booklets I could find.
Speaker Dude: Your story isn't about you. Look it up. [pointing to a Bible]
Nikki: Keith! I think I'm sick, I've blogged twice in a week and I have two others in draft.
Keith: If that is sick, rush me to the critical care unit. And bury Katie; she's been dead awhile.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Reading My Summer Away
Of course, now it looks like I'm just copying Keith. I'm not. It's time to give an update on what I've been reading lately.
Native Son by Richard Wright
My adivsor has this habit where almost every day in class he says, "Every English major should read this book" and then lists a book or two (or ten or twelve). Well, Native Son is a book I believe all people must read. The historical fiction book takes a look at the enslavement of Bigger Thomas in Chicago in the early to mid-1990s. It looks at the social constraints, personal choices, and repercussions Bigger faces being a black man in a white-dominated society. Definitely a must read but not for young audiences.
Serena by Ron Rash
This is a dark book with bizarre injuries and a lot of murders. I don't normally like those kinds of books, but I liked this one. I will admit I am a little biased, but this fictional novel about forestry in NC/TN in the 1920s and 1930s is just starting to become popular and I want to be the first to tell you about it. Serena is a malicious woman who has literally burned her past and looks forward in life, aiming for complete domination of the lumber industry, worldwide. She's will to do anything she can to get there. I'd venture to say she and her counter-part, Galloway, are sub-human. She and her husband Pemberton eventually become the sole owners of Boston Lumber Company. The darkness and pacing Rash has written in this novel will keep you reading all the way through the end and vital coda. Read it!
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Hosseini exposes readers to a world many of us know little about: Afghanistan from the 1970s to the present. He follows Mariam and Laila through a variety of different situations, most of them unpleasant, as the government changed incessantly. I got lost in this book, the womens' struggles, and the culture differences. Due to the horrific experiences the characters had, I cannot call this a "great book" but it is definitely worth your time.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Apparently I was on a historical fiction kick. This book looks at race relations in Mississippi in the early 1900s. It raises a lot of questions. Can a white woman accurately represent/ write from the point of view of two black women (and a white woman)? I would be willing to say yes. Is Miss Skeeter just another white woman trying to make a buck off of a blacks? I would say no. Read the book, look at the culture, and see how (if) things have changed.
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Another historical fiction book that takes a look at life in the Dominican Republic in the 1950s and 1960s, under the reign of Trujillo. The Dominican author wrote the novel in English (with periodic Spanish words thrown in) to enlighten the English speaking world to the horrors Dominicans faced under Trujillo and to glorify some of their national heroines, the Butterflies. These three sisters fought against Trujillo and the novel talks about their plight, fight, jail time, and death. Switching points of view between the three Butterflies and the fourth sister, the novel provides several different glimspes and thus opinions on these challenging times. Another book not for young audiences but definitely worth your time.
The Shack by William Paul Young
Another book I'm a little biased about. It was written just for Young's kids in order to attempt to explain how his brain works. No one would publish it, so his friends started a garage publishing business and boom. I think it shows God in a way He (She?) has never been shown before. It may not be the answer to everything, but a lot of the things Young writes are Biblically accurate. Be prepared to cry, laugh, think, and ponder. Also be prepared to read it all the way to the end.
Redefining Beautiful by Jenna Lucado with Max Lucado
I stopped reading this book halfway through. Not because it was bad or anything but because I didn't fit the target audience, but my sister did. This book is aimed at preteen and teenage girls in order to help them realize that they are beautiful, inside and out. Since I didn't read it all the way through, I don't know if it was clean or not, but I'd say it's worth the of teenage girls (and maybe their parents).
Invisible I by Stella Lennon
Part of The Amanda Project, another young adult literature book. This one is radically changing the way people look at literature. Each book in the series is written by a different author and told from a different character's perspective. Readers also get the opportunity to write their own endings to the story through the interactive website. Great for younger readers and (as far as I can remember) clean.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I was worried about this book simply because I'd read a review and expected it to be graphic. Then I remembered I watch House and read Harry Potter, I could probably handle it. It wasn't as graphic as it could have been, which I respect Collins for since it's a young adult book and therefore her target audience doesn't need to be exposed to nastiness. However, I don't like the way Collins ended it, but the book is part of a series. Personally, I would have made it a single book and been done with it. I did find parts predictable, but there were unanticpated twists, too. If you like young adult fiction (or are a young adult), I'd read it. There is some kissing and a romantic relationship, but it's mostly clean.
The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright
This tells a very sweet, romantic story about a husband's love for his wife. It also promotes the importance of forgiveness and family. As a writer, I'm not really sure who the protagonist of this novel is, but I did enjoy the third person omniscent POV. Laura absolutely LOVED this book. It's an easy read, too.
What have you all been reading lately? My bookshelf is getting empty and I see a trip to Barnes & Noble in the near future. Anything I must read?
Back to the books!
<>< Katie
Native Son by Richard Wright
My adivsor has this habit where almost every day in class he says, "Every English major should read this book" and then lists a book or two (or ten or twelve). Well, Native Son is a book I believe all people must read. The historical fiction book takes a look at the enslavement of Bigger Thomas in Chicago in the early to mid-1990s. It looks at the social constraints, personal choices, and repercussions Bigger faces being a black man in a white-dominated society. Definitely a must read but not for young audiences.
Serena by Ron Rash
This is a dark book with bizarre injuries and a lot of murders. I don't normally like those kinds of books, but I liked this one. I will admit I am a little biased, but this fictional novel about forestry in NC/TN in the 1920s and 1930s is just starting to become popular and I want to be the first to tell you about it. Serena is a malicious woman who has literally burned her past and looks forward in life, aiming for complete domination of the lumber industry, worldwide. She's will to do anything she can to get there. I'd venture to say she and her counter-part, Galloway, are sub-human. She and her husband Pemberton eventually become the sole owners of Boston Lumber Company. The darkness and pacing Rash has written in this novel will keep you reading all the way through the end and vital coda. Read it!
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Hosseini exposes readers to a world many of us know little about: Afghanistan from the 1970s to the present. He follows Mariam and Laila through a variety of different situations, most of them unpleasant, as the government changed incessantly. I got lost in this book, the womens' struggles, and the culture differences. Due to the horrific experiences the characters had, I cannot call this a "great book" but it is definitely worth your time.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Apparently I was on a historical fiction kick. This book looks at race relations in Mississippi in the early 1900s. It raises a lot of questions. Can a white woman accurately represent/ write from the point of view of two black women (and a white woman)? I would be willing to say yes. Is Miss Skeeter just another white woman trying to make a buck off of a blacks? I would say no. Read the book, look at the culture, and see how (if) things have changed.
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Another historical fiction book that takes a look at life in the Dominican Republic in the 1950s and 1960s, under the reign of Trujillo. The Dominican author wrote the novel in English (with periodic Spanish words thrown in) to enlighten the English speaking world to the horrors Dominicans faced under Trujillo and to glorify some of their national heroines, the Butterflies. These three sisters fought against Trujillo and the novel talks about their plight, fight, jail time, and death. Switching points of view between the three Butterflies and the fourth sister, the novel provides several different glimspes and thus opinions on these challenging times. Another book not for young audiences but definitely worth your time.
The Shack by William Paul Young
Another book I'm a little biased about. It was written just for Young's kids in order to attempt to explain how his brain works. No one would publish it, so his friends started a garage publishing business and boom. I think it shows God in a way He (She?) has never been shown before. It may not be the answer to everything, but a lot of the things Young writes are Biblically accurate. Be prepared to cry, laugh, think, and ponder. Also be prepared to read it all the way to the end.
Redefining Beautiful by Jenna Lucado with Max Lucado
I stopped reading this book halfway through. Not because it was bad or anything but because I didn't fit the target audience, but my sister did. This book is aimed at preteen and teenage girls in order to help them realize that they are beautiful, inside and out. Since I didn't read it all the way through, I don't know if it was clean or not, but I'd say it's worth the of teenage girls (and maybe their parents).
Invisible I by Stella Lennon
Part of The Amanda Project, another young adult literature book. This one is radically changing the way people look at literature. Each book in the series is written by a different author and told from a different character's perspective. Readers also get the opportunity to write their own endings to the story through the interactive website. Great for younger readers and (as far as I can remember) clean.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I was worried about this book simply because I'd read a review and expected it to be graphic. Then I remembered I watch House and read Harry Potter, I could probably handle it. It wasn't as graphic as it could have been, which I respect Collins for since it's a young adult book and therefore her target audience doesn't need to be exposed to nastiness. However, I don't like the way Collins ended it, but the book is part of a series. Personally, I would have made it a single book and been done with it. I did find parts predictable, but there were unanticpated twists, too. If you like young adult fiction (or are a young adult), I'd read it. There is some kissing and a romantic relationship, but it's mostly clean.
The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright
This tells a very sweet, romantic story about a husband's love for his wife. It also promotes the importance of forgiveness and family. As a writer, I'm not really sure who the protagonist of this novel is, but I did enjoy the third person omniscent POV. Laura absolutely LOVED this book. It's an easy read, too.
What have you all been reading lately? My bookshelf is getting empty and I see a trip to Barnes & Noble in the near future. Anything I must read?
Back to the books!
<>< Katie
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Be intentional
This semester, the theme on campus has kind of been "Be Intentional." Be intentional in spending time with God. Be intentional in your friendship. Be intentional in sharing Christ. Be intentional in loving others... It took on a whole new meaning for me tonight.
As part of the college ministry at my Baptist church, John, Keith, David, and I went out on Friday evening. It was a little weird because I was the only female among three guys. Before coming to college, my only brother was the tractor. I didn't have a lot of male friends. I was pretty much clueless as to how guys work. Well, ok, I still am but I'm learning. Last night was a nice challenge for me.
Putt putt was fun. I won! I had the highest score! Unlike in soccer (which I still call futbol), you can use anything and everything including my proper end of my golf club, the handle end of the club (like a pool cue), my feet, my hands, and even my mouth (I blew the fall into the hole). Yes, I rock at mini golf! However, I did have one advantage: the guys kept complaining about the nasty water/fish stench. I grew up on the shore of a great lake... I smelt it but it didn't bother me. :-)
After mini golf, we went to the coffee shop and shared life. All four of us are bloggers, students, and Christians, but that's about where the similarities end. Sure, we're less than ten years apart in age, but we're all at different stages in life. The first time I ever worked with each of these guys individual, it was in various ministry settings. I see them as wonderful men of God and in their presence I don't feel the need to constantly be concerned with my appearance (or anything else girls fret about in a co-ed environment). Last night, we were each open with how we were doing academically and (more importantly) spiritually. It was great to hear what God is doing in the lives of these gentlemen. I know He's got great things in mind for them.
David, Keith, and I had each shared, and we were about ready to wrap up. Keith looked at John, "And how are you doing?" Keith and I are a lot alike--same double major, same germ-phobia, same thesis topic, same short attention span, etc.--but his conversation-starting ability is much better than mine. Sometimes it's a simple, "How is Katie today?" Other times, "What have you read lately?" Or, my personal favorite yet the most intimidating, "How are you and God doing lately?"
I was not surprised when he turned John's question around back on John himself. John, on the other than, was a little taken aback by it.
"You know, it's been a long time since someone has asked me that. My pastor does periodically, but no one else. Be aware of that if you go into ministry, no one asks how you're doing spiritually."
Eventually he gave us an answer, and we closed in prayer. His words, however, stayed with me: no one ever asks you that once you become a minister.
Do me a favor, be intentional about making a moment to ask your pastor how he or she is doing. If you're not comfortable with that, ask how you can pray for him/her most accurately. Be sure you follow through with that prayer, too! And follow up.
Even if you don't have the opportunity to ask your pastor, be intentional about asking someone.
Let me ask you: how are you and God doing? How can I most accurately pray for you? If you don't want to comment publically, pull me aside in the caf, send me an email, do something. I'd love to hear about what God is doing in your life and where you need some extra prayer.
Learning to be intentional and how to play mini golf,
<>< Katie
As part of the college ministry at my Baptist church, John, Keith, David, and I went out on Friday evening. It was a little weird because I was the only female among three guys. Before coming to college, my only brother was the tractor. I didn't have a lot of male friends. I was pretty much clueless as to how guys work. Well, ok, I still am but I'm learning. Last night was a nice challenge for me.
Putt putt was fun. I won! I had the highest score! Unlike in soccer (which I still call futbol), you can use anything and everything including my proper end of my golf club, the handle end of the club (like a pool cue), my feet, my hands, and even my mouth (I blew the fall into the hole). Yes, I rock at mini golf! However, I did have one advantage: the guys kept complaining about the nasty water/fish stench. I grew up on the shore of a great lake... I smelt it but it didn't bother me. :-)
After mini golf, we went to the coffee shop and shared life. All four of us are bloggers, students, and Christians, but that's about where the similarities end. Sure, we're less than ten years apart in age, but we're all at different stages in life. The first time I ever worked with each of these guys individual, it was in various ministry settings. I see them as wonderful men of God and in their presence I don't feel the need to constantly be concerned with my appearance (or anything else girls fret about in a co-ed environment). Last night, we were each open with how we were doing academically and (more importantly) spiritually. It was great to hear what God is doing in the lives of these gentlemen. I know He's got great things in mind for them.
David, Keith, and I had each shared, and we were about ready to wrap up. Keith looked at John, "And how are you doing?" Keith and I are a lot alike--same double major, same germ-phobia, same thesis topic, same short attention span, etc.--but his conversation-starting ability is much better than mine. Sometimes it's a simple, "How is Katie today?" Other times, "What have you read lately?" Or, my personal favorite yet the most intimidating, "How are you and God doing lately?"
I was not surprised when he turned John's question around back on John himself. John, on the other than, was a little taken aback by it.
"You know, it's been a long time since someone has asked me that. My pastor does periodically, but no one else. Be aware of that if you go into ministry, no one asks how you're doing spiritually."
Eventually he gave us an answer, and we closed in prayer. His words, however, stayed with me: no one ever asks you that once you become a minister.
Do me a favor, be intentional about making a moment to ask your pastor how he or she is doing. If you're not comfortable with that, ask how you can pray for him/her most accurately. Be sure you follow through with that prayer, too! And follow up.
Even if you don't have the opportunity to ask your pastor, be intentional about asking someone.
Let me ask you: how are you and God doing? How can I most accurately pray for you? If you don't want to comment publically, pull me aside in the caf, send me an email, do something. I'd love to hear about what God is doing in your life and where you need some extra prayer.
Learning to be intentional and how to play mini golf,
<>< Katie
Friday, February 19, 2010
Lost: Thumb (Drive)
You know those songs you haven't heard in five or ten years? The ones that you forgot about? The ones that when they reappear become your favorite all over again? That's where this Relient K song fits into my life. I heard it earlier in the semester when Keith and friends sang it at chapel. I fell in love with it all over again and began singing it almost constantly! I don't have it on a CD and I can't find it online, but I make Andy serenade me every time I see him. Much to Amy's chagrin, he taught me to sing it myself.
"Technically I didn't teach her to sing it. She was singing it already. I just taught her to sing it correctly. Would you rather I let her sing it incorrectly next time?"
Never underestimate my Jesus. You're telling me that there's no hope; I'm tellin' you you're wrong. Never underestimate my Jesus. When the world around you crumbles: He will be strong; He will be strong.
Well, I was very grateful for his teaching me correctly because on Wednesday I lost my thumb drive (jump drive, flash drive, life, pick your term of choice). Like I've already mentioned, I eat computers so it wasn't a big surprise when my beloved blue side kicked walked out of my life. However, that doesn't make it fair or pleasant.
You're telling me that there's no hope; I'm telling you you're wrong.
Right. Hope is not gone. My thumb drive is gone. Along with it the latest drafts of my novel, my completed powerpoint for Monday's class presentation, my resume, my collection of crazy quotes, and I don't want to know what else. Of course, my first instinct was to blog about my catastrophic loss. I couldn't. Thanks, Lent. My life is missing and I can't even use my favorite coping mechanism! Yesterday was not a pleasant day.
Never under estimate my Jesus.
I'm a creature of habit. I use the same bathroom stall, I aim for the same computer in the lab, I sit in the same section of caf, so retracing my steps isn't hard. Especially since I can narrow it down to two hours from when I had it last to when I noticed it was missing. Retracing my steps was easy: computer lab (yes, I ejected it), copy room, three different professors' offices, bathroom, and the caf. That's it. The professors haven't seen it, the secretaries haven't seen it, the police haven't seen it, the caf woman hasn't seen it. No one has seen it. It's vanished into the dark abyss!
"Maybe you flushed it," Elizabeth suggested. That doesn't help.
When the world around you crumbles: He will be strong; He will be strong.
"CARL! Why are his hands gone?!" Screamed the llama in the disturbing video Andy and Dr. Z showed me on Tuesday. Well, my hands are gone; just my thumb. Drive. Most things I lost can be replaced with an earlier version... except the quotes list. Sure, it's just for fun but gosh can it make me laugh. I could use a laugh right now.
<>< Katie
PS: If you see a blue, rubbery thumb drive that says, "Katie" when you plug it in: it's mine. Yes, the one that almost never leaves my computer
"Technically I didn't teach her to sing it. She was singing it already. I just taught her to sing it correctly. Would you rather I let her sing it incorrectly next time?"
Never underestimate my Jesus. You're telling me that there's no hope; I'm tellin' you you're wrong. Never underestimate my Jesus. When the world around you crumbles: He will be strong; He will be strong.
Well, I was very grateful for his teaching me correctly because on Wednesday I lost my thumb drive (jump drive, flash drive, life, pick your term of choice). Like I've already mentioned, I eat computers so it wasn't a big surprise when my beloved blue side kicked walked out of my life. However, that doesn't make it fair or pleasant.
You're telling me that there's no hope; I'm telling you you're wrong.
Right. Hope is not gone. My thumb drive is gone. Along with it the latest drafts of my novel, my completed powerpoint for Monday's class presentation, my resume, my collection of crazy quotes, and I don't want to know what else. Of course, my first instinct was to blog about my catastrophic loss. I couldn't. Thanks, Lent. My life is missing and I can't even use my favorite coping mechanism! Yesterday was not a pleasant day.
Never under estimate my Jesus.
I'm a creature of habit. I use the same bathroom stall, I aim for the same computer in the lab, I sit in the same section of caf, so retracing my steps isn't hard. Especially since I can narrow it down to two hours from when I had it last to when I noticed it was missing. Retracing my steps was easy: computer lab (yes, I ejected it), copy room, three different professors' offices, bathroom, and the caf. That's it. The professors haven't seen it, the secretaries haven't seen it, the police haven't seen it, the caf woman hasn't seen it. No one has seen it. It's vanished into the dark abyss!
"Maybe you flushed it," Elizabeth suggested. That doesn't help.
When the world around you crumbles: He will be strong; He will be strong.
"CARL! Why are his hands gone?!" Screamed the llama in the disturbing video Andy and Dr. Z showed me on Tuesday. Well, my hands are gone; just my thumb. Drive. Most things I lost can be replaced with an earlier version... except the quotes list. Sure, it's just for fun but gosh can it make me laugh. I could use a laugh right now.
<>< Katie
PS: If you see a blue, rubbery thumb drive that says, "Katie" when you plug it in: it's mine. Yes, the one that almost never leaves my computer
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Part II: The Writer's Notebook
This is Part II of the "Katie's a Nerd" blog series. See Part I here.
"Why do you have a Day Book?" Roxy asked me yesterday as I tried to scribble down a few more notes for my blog prior to the start class.
"I'm a writer," I told her. I could tell from the confused look on her face that my answer was not satisfactory. From her terminology, I also knew which professor she had for her English general requirement classes therefore had a place to start with the explanation that would consume my remaining writing time.
A Day Book is a catch-all often used for classes. It includes homework, class exercises, free writing, notes, thoughts, ideas, and often handouts (thank you, glue stick). A Writer's Notebook is basically the same thing with a more intimidating name, less focus on classwork, and a little bit less glue. It's really easy to separate our English students by concentration and favorite professor based on the term used for the notebook clutched to their chest.
I wasn't a Writer's Notebook/ Day Book girl. The term didn't intimidate me, the lack of organization did. I love the organization of having separate places for different things and had a system. One binder for class, the PowerPoint for quotes, Word for story thoughts, the blog for God moments, and a small journal for the day's events. The thoughts of having all of those things combined together in one composition book concerned me. Imagine the mess! Then I glanced around my room and noticed the plethora of post-it notes strewn everywhere and decided something needed to change.
Enter my Writer's Notebook. I gave in and bought a composition book only because I finally found some that were college ruled! (Thanks, Office Depot). It lives in my back pack and is almost always with me. Whether I reach for it over a loose leaf sheet of paper is something I'm still working on, but I am improving. It is also the first thing I pack when I'm traveling. The first drafts of many of these blogs are hidden within its pages sitting side-by-side with thoughts that have yet to make an appearance in blog-world. It also contains great quotes and conversations, rough scenes from my novel, and sometimes my rants that cannot stay contained inside of me. For organization, I've tried to color-code my writing in pencil, black pen, and purple pen, but sometimes I forget which color means what. Sure, I still have a post-its everywhere, but I'm learning to enjoy the chaos of my Writer's Notebook.
This also leads to bedlam when the Writer's Notebook vanishes.
"OH MY GOSH!! I lost my Day Book," Keith ran into the caf screaming. Panic stuck. I guess he even sent text messages telling people to pray for him because it was like part of his life and been ripped from him.
"It'd be like if someone stole our blogs!" He said hitting me in the arm trying to put this catastrophe in perspective for me. I already understood, but there was no cutting him off. "Can you imagine if someone stole our blogs!"
"Katie's life would be over," Nikki teased. Maybe I'll hide her Writer's Notebook for a few hours and see how she likes it!
If you don't have a Writer's Notebook/ Day Book, get one. (And don't lose it, Keith). It doesn't have to be a college-ruled composition book. It can be a 10cent notebook Wal-mart sells right before school starts but know your spine will probably get messed up. It can be a fancy leather-bound book that's soft to the fingers but know those get expensive after one or two. Adapt these ideas (that I've already adapted once) and find something that works for you. But get a Writer's Notebook. Non-writers, I won't laugh (too hard) at you if you call yours a "Day Book."
Oh, and don't use a blog to catch your thoughts. I know, I'm writing to myself here. The chances of me accidentally destroying my blog is greater than losing my Writer's Notebook. I eat computers. Paper doesn't taste as good.
Remember those stories we talked about yesterday? Go break in your Writer's Notebook with some of them. :-)
Have you found Writers' Notebooks/ Day Books work for you? Are they practical for your life? Please let me know!
<>< Katie
PS: Happy birthday, Emily. :-)
"Why do you have a Day Book?" Roxy asked me yesterday as I tried to scribble down a few more notes for my blog prior to the start class.
"I'm a writer," I told her. I could tell from the confused look on her face that my answer was not satisfactory. From her terminology, I also knew which professor she had for her English general requirement classes therefore had a place to start with the explanation that would consume my remaining writing time.
A Day Book is a catch-all often used for classes. It includes homework, class exercises, free writing, notes, thoughts, ideas, and often handouts (thank you, glue stick). A Writer's Notebook is basically the same thing with a more intimidating name, less focus on classwork, and a little bit less glue. It's really easy to separate our English students by concentration and favorite professor based on the term used for the notebook clutched to their chest.
I wasn't a Writer's Notebook/ Day Book girl. The term didn't intimidate me, the lack of organization did. I love the organization of having separate places for different things and had a system. One binder for class, the PowerPoint for quotes, Word for story thoughts, the blog for God moments, and a small journal for the day's events. The thoughts of having all of those things combined together in one composition book concerned me. Imagine the mess! Then I glanced around my room and noticed the plethora of post-it notes strewn everywhere and decided something needed to change.
Enter my Writer's Notebook. I gave in and bought a composition book only because I finally found some that were college ruled! (Thanks, Office Depot). It lives in my back pack and is almost always with me. Whether I reach for it over a loose leaf sheet of paper is something I'm still working on, but I am improving. It is also the first thing I pack when I'm traveling. The first drafts of many of these blogs are hidden within its pages sitting side-by-side with thoughts that have yet to make an appearance in blog-world. It also contains great quotes and conversations, rough scenes from my novel, and sometimes my rants that cannot stay contained inside of me. For organization, I've tried to color-code my writing in pencil, black pen, and purple pen, but sometimes I forget which color means what. Sure, I still have a post-its everywhere, but I'm learning to enjoy the chaos of my Writer's Notebook.
This also leads to bedlam when the Writer's Notebook vanishes.
"OH MY GOSH!! I lost my Day Book," Keith ran into the caf screaming. Panic stuck. I guess he even sent text messages telling people to pray for him because it was like part of his life and been ripped from him.
"It'd be like if someone stole our blogs!" He said hitting me in the arm trying to put this catastrophe in perspective for me. I already understood, but there was no cutting him off. "Can you imagine if someone stole our blogs!"
"Katie's life would be over," Nikki teased. Maybe I'll hide her Writer's Notebook for a few hours and see how she likes it!
If you don't have a Writer's Notebook/ Day Book, get one. (And don't lose it, Keith). It doesn't have to be a college-ruled composition book. It can be a 10cent notebook Wal-mart sells right before school starts but know your spine will probably get messed up. It can be a fancy leather-bound book that's soft to the fingers but know those get expensive after one or two. Adapt these ideas (that I've already adapted once) and find something that works for you. But get a Writer's Notebook. Non-writers, I won't laugh (too hard) at you if you call yours a "Day Book."
Oh, and don't use a blog to catch your thoughts. I know, I'm writing to myself here. The chances of me accidentally destroying my blog is greater than losing my Writer's Notebook. I eat computers. Paper doesn't taste as good.
Remember those stories we talked about yesterday? Go break in your Writer's Notebook with some of them. :-)
Have you found Writers' Notebooks/ Day Books work for you? Are they practical for your life? Please let me know!
<>< Katie
PS: Happy birthday, Emily. :-)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Catch Phrase
For being an English major, I'm shockingly bad at Catch Phrase. The words pop up on the screen and those words I want to say are ones I'm not allowed to use. It helps me to know Keith, who speaks almost as many languages and I do, isn't good at it either. He just sits there and screams, "OOHH!, OKAY! UHHH!!!"
I, on the other hand, stare blankly, "I don't know who this is."
"It's a person," someone guesses.
"Yes, a man."
"Describe him."
Okay, if I don't know who a person is, how on earth am I going to describe him? Lucky for me, Allyson started shouting out mens' first names and hits the right one, Jack. My entire team began listing famous people with the first name Jack. When I heard, "Jack Nicholson" I threw the controller at Nikki, sitting behind me on the couch.
"That's not what it says!" Nikki exclaimed. She'd been peering over my shoulder, enjoying my struggle. "It says Jack Nicklaus."
"Are they two different people? I don't know who either one of those people are," I admitted. A year ago I would have struggled and continued the game, lying, if necessary, that I'd heard someone say "Jack Nick-claus."
David leapt to my rescue explaining who each person was, and they gave my team a point anyway.
This same thing happens in Apples to Apples all of the time. I'll throw people-cards cluelessly if I don't have anything better to put in. Sometimes the other players find the choice hilarious and I win; other times they find the card offensive. Oops.
Learning to ask questions and admit when I don't know something,
<>< Katie
PS: I do know that text messages reading, "WHAT NO BLOG YET??? Are you alive? Are you conscious? Did you get eaten by a walrus? You do realize it's almost 4 and thus you have 8 hours left to blog" really mean "My day is not complete until Katie updates her brilliant blog. Perhaps she has forgotten about my dependency on reading it and therefore I shall remind her."
I, on the other hand, stare blankly, "I don't know who this is."
"It's a person," someone guesses.
"Yes, a man."
"Describe him."
Okay, if I don't know who a person is, how on earth am I going to describe him? Lucky for me, Allyson started shouting out mens' first names and hits the right one, Jack. My entire team began listing famous people with the first name Jack. When I heard, "Jack Nicholson" I threw the controller at Nikki, sitting behind me on the couch.
"That's not what it says!" Nikki exclaimed. She'd been peering over my shoulder, enjoying my struggle. "It says Jack Nicklaus."
"Are they two different people? I don't know who either one of those people are," I admitted. A year ago I would have struggled and continued the game, lying, if necessary, that I'd heard someone say "Jack Nick-claus."
David leapt to my rescue explaining who each person was, and they gave my team a point anyway.
This same thing happens in Apples to Apples all of the time. I'll throw people-cards cluelessly if I don't have anything better to put in. Sometimes the other players find the choice hilarious and I win; other times they find the card offensive. Oops.
Learning to ask questions and admit when I don't know something,
<>< Katie
PS: I do know that text messages reading, "WHAT NO BLOG YET??? Are you alive? Are you conscious? Did you get eaten by a walrus? You do realize it's almost 4 and thus you have 8 hours left to blog" really mean "My day is not complete until Katie updates her brilliant blog. Perhaps she has forgotten about my dependency on reading it and therefore I shall remind her."
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Jesus Shoes
"It's so funny because guitar is one of the biggest things I'm going to use in India, and I haven't touched mine in almost a week," Jesus Shoes told us this afternoon.
On Thursday he's headed to India for six months to be a witness for Christ and live up to his name: Jesus Shoes. That isn't his real name.
Last spring, my ministry team and I led a weekend youth retreat where we had a plethora of very similar names. For some reason, the youth could not get our worship leaders' names right. Instead of refering to them by instrument, the high school girls nicknamed both of them: Broken Arm Guy and Jesus Shoes. Jesus Shoes wore Chacos, and Broken Arm Guy proving it is possible to play piano while sporting a beautiful lime green cast.
At first neither one of our worship leaders liked their nicknames but didn't have the hearts to correct the youth; it was only for a weekend, after all. Personally, I think the nicknames were pretty appropriate, but I let Broken Arm Guy drop his nickname after the weekend. Jesus Shoes, however, has stuck in my mind.
As Jesus Shoes prepares for his journey to India, his name seems even more appropriate. After all, he's headed across the world to be Jesus' hands and feet. Jesus' shoes?
While what area of ministry exactly he's going to be working with in India is still being determined, he knows he'll be teaching guitar to some of the youth. This actually worries him because he doesn't have any idea how to teach guitar. Besides his putzing a little bit in my living room this afternoon, he hasn't played guitar in almost a week. When he gets to India, his guitar-playing hours will be almost unlimited, but due to time contraints he hasn't been able to play much lately.
Hey, Jesus Shoes, you're going to India to teach guitar but you haven't played this week. Hey, Jesus Shoes, you're going to India to preach the gospel, have you read it this week? I realize that's a dumb question. Or is it?
I think it's something we all need to ask ourselves on a regular basis. If we're here to be witnesses, have we showed God's love this week? No matter where we are, we're on a mission. Are we being Jesus' hands and feet?
Know you are loved and will be missed; riding the dolly through the storage unit in a tornado warning just isn't the same without you, brother. Represent our Father well. Be safe in India, but never forget that you are to be Jesus' Shoes.
With love,
<>< Katie
On Thursday he's headed to India for six months to be a witness for Christ and live up to his name: Jesus Shoes. That isn't his real name.
Last spring, my ministry team and I led a weekend youth retreat where we had a plethora of very similar names. For some reason, the youth could not get our worship leaders' names right. Instead of refering to them by instrument, the high school girls nicknamed both of them: Broken Arm Guy and Jesus Shoes. Jesus Shoes wore Chacos, and Broken Arm Guy proving it is possible to play piano while sporting a beautiful lime green cast.
At first neither one of our worship leaders liked their nicknames but didn't have the hearts to correct the youth; it was only for a weekend, after all. Personally, I think the nicknames were pretty appropriate, but I let Broken Arm Guy drop his nickname after the weekend. Jesus Shoes, however, has stuck in my mind.
As Jesus Shoes prepares for his journey to India, his name seems even more appropriate. After all, he's headed across the world to be Jesus' hands and feet. Jesus' shoes?
While what area of ministry exactly he's going to be working with in India is still being determined, he knows he'll be teaching guitar to some of the youth. This actually worries him because he doesn't have any idea how to teach guitar. Besides his putzing a little bit in my living room this afternoon, he hasn't played guitar in almost a week. When he gets to India, his guitar-playing hours will be almost unlimited, but due to time contraints he hasn't been able to play much lately.
Hey, Jesus Shoes, you're going to India to teach guitar but you haven't played this week. Hey, Jesus Shoes, you're going to India to preach the gospel, have you read it this week? I realize that's a dumb question. Or is it?
I think it's something we all need to ask ourselves on a regular basis. If we're here to be witnesses, have we showed God's love this week? No matter where we are, we're on a mission. Are we being Jesus' hands and feet?
Know you are loved and will be missed; riding the dolly through the storage unit in a tornado warning just isn't the same without you, brother. Represent our Father well. Be safe in India, but never forget that you are to be Jesus' Shoes.
With love,
<>< Katie
PS: My blogs are not pointless. Only some of them.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Forgiven
Last night, seventeen of us went out to dinner. Of course, with a group that size you need four cars, and somehow I ended up in the Deep Theological Conversation Car. I should have guess that by noticing the four men in the jeep with me, but I didn't mind.
"Ok, what kind of cool thoughts has anyone had about God lately? Let's start there," Keith said nonchalantly.
For the next hour or so we discussed forgiveness. One of the many conclusions we finally drew was that forgiveness is more for the forgiving than the forgiven. Forgiveness also doesn't mean what the other person did was right. Forgiveness does not make the sin acceptable. Rather, forgiveness is admitting, "Yes, what you did was wrong, but I've decided to put in the the past and move on. I wish you well."
This conclusion became important at dinner. Trey tried to throw an empty sugar wrapper at Matthew and missed, hitting me in the face. Me getting hit in the face is actually incredibly common. I narrowly avoided being hit in the head with a bowling ball tonight. I'm actually kind f sad it didn't hit me because that may be the only sports ball that has never collided with my face at some point in my life. Sometimes I really wonder if there is a magnetic field connecting my nose to anything being thrown.
Through laughter and tears, I told Trey I forgave him. I wasn't saying hitting me in the face was ok, but I was willing to move past it and be friends with Trey again. I wish Trey well.
While I was home for break, our church service times changed and no one bothered to tell the college students. Of course, we all showed up this morning and realized there was 45 minutes before the service started. Emily figured Matt told us. Matt thought we were on the email list. Really, it came down to John who completely forgot to mention it to us.
"I'll forgive Emily and Matt; it wasn't their responsibility. But I won't forgive John," Amber said, kind of in jest. "Ok, I'll forgive him, but not until after I tease him for it."
One of the things we pondered last night: is it ok to tell someone you forgive them if they don't know they wronged you? We concluded: no, you're shoving it in their face. Your sole motive is to hurt them back. That's wrong.
John came over and apologized. We teased about it for awhile. And then expressed forgiveness. We admitted what John did (or didn't do) was wrong, but opted to move on and wish him well instead of holding a grudge against John. After all, what had it hurt us? We lost forty-five minutes of precious sleep but that's it. No real harm done. Yes, Kevin, no real harm done; it was only 45 minutes.
Find it within you to forgive someone today. That doesn't make what he/she did right. It makes you willing to move on and wish that person well.
<>< Katie
"Ok, what kind of cool thoughts has anyone had about God lately? Let's start there," Keith said nonchalantly.
For the next hour or so we discussed forgiveness. One of the many conclusions we finally drew was that forgiveness is more for the forgiving than the forgiven. Forgiveness also doesn't mean what the other person did was right. Forgiveness does not make the sin acceptable. Rather, forgiveness is admitting, "Yes, what you did was wrong, but I've decided to put in the the past and move on. I wish you well."
This conclusion became important at dinner. Trey tried to throw an empty sugar wrapper at Matthew and missed, hitting me in the face. Me getting hit in the face is actually incredibly common. I narrowly avoided being hit in the head with a bowling ball tonight. I'm actually kind f sad it didn't hit me because that may be the only sports ball that has never collided with my face at some point in my life. Sometimes I really wonder if there is a magnetic field connecting my nose to anything being thrown.
Through laughter and tears, I told Trey I forgave him. I wasn't saying hitting me in the face was ok, but I was willing to move past it and be friends with Trey again. I wish Trey well.
While I was home for break, our church service times changed and no one bothered to tell the college students. Of course, we all showed up this morning and realized there was 45 minutes before the service started. Emily figured Matt told us. Matt thought we were on the email list. Really, it came down to John who completely forgot to mention it to us.
"I'll forgive Emily and Matt; it wasn't their responsibility. But I won't forgive John," Amber said, kind of in jest. "Ok, I'll forgive him, but not until after I tease him for it."
One of the things we pondered last night: is it ok to tell someone you forgive them if they don't know they wronged you? We concluded: no, you're shoving it in their face. Your sole motive is to hurt them back. That's wrong.
John came over and apologized. We teased about it for awhile. And then expressed forgiveness. We admitted what John did (or didn't do) was wrong, but opted to move on and wish him well instead of holding a grudge against John. After all, what had it hurt us? We lost forty-five minutes of precious sleep but that's it. No real harm done. Yes, Kevin, no real harm done; it was only 45 minutes.
Find it within you to forgive someone today. That doesn't make what he/she did right. It makes you willing to move on and wish that person well.
<>< Katie
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Door Decks
Last night at 11:30pm when I sat down to blog, no words were here, and I wanted to be in bed in the next half-hour. I'd had a plethora of ideas throughout the day, but they had all vanished. Instead of blogging, I spent the last half hour of my day talking to my sweet suitemates. Sorry, few faithful readers.
Yesterday was Tony's birthday, and I felt it necessary to give him a birthday blog. The problem is that I don't really have a lot of stories about Tony (except the time he got bit by a squirrel but I've already written about that). This morning we were both in the computer lab at the same time and he laughed as he asked me how many blogs I have. Only two: a personal blog and a work/school blog.
This semester, Tony is my RA. This means he's responsible for making our door-decks (aka name tags for the door). Several of the girls in my apartment don't go by their proper names. Well, our door-decks all say our proper names. Tony knows us and should have known to change the names. So we were giving him a hard time about it.
"Ok, listen," he said. "Keith was there when I was making the door-decks, and when I said, 'Which name should I use?' He got this devious look on his face and kind of laughed--"
"Are we ready to go to dinner?" Keith asked bursting in to our apartment in the middle of Tony's story. All of our eyes darted from Tony to Keith. Drama Queen Keith figured out what story was being told, grunted, and stormed out of the apartment.
"KEITH!" We screamed, running after him to take our anger out on him instead of Tony. Love you, Keith.
Happy birthday, Tony! We now know the truth: you are mostly innocent in the instance of the mislabeled door-decks.
<>< Katie
Yesterday was Tony's birthday, and I felt it necessary to give him a birthday blog. The problem is that I don't really have a lot of stories about Tony (except the time he got bit by a squirrel but I've already written about that). This morning we were both in the computer lab at the same time and he laughed as he asked me how many blogs I have. Only two: a personal blog and a work/school blog.
This semester, Tony is my RA. This means he's responsible for making our door-decks (aka name tags for the door). Several of the girls in my apartment don't go by their proper names. Well, our door-decks all say our proper names. Tony knows us and should have known to change the names. So we were giving him a hard time about it.
"Ok, listen," he said. "Keith was there when I was making the door-decks, and when I said, 'Which name should I use?' He got this devious look on his face and kind of laughed--"
"Are we ready to go to dinner?" Keith asked bursting in to our apartment in the middle of Tony's story. All of our eyes darted from Tony to Keith. Drama Queen Keith figured out what story was being told, grunted, and stormed out of the apartment.
"KEITH!" We screamed, running after him to take our anger out on him instead of Tony. Love you, Keith.
Happy birthday, Tony! We now know the truth: you are mostly innocent in the instance of the mislabeled door-decks.
<>< Katie
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Did I Really Just Do That?
"Hey, Keith, are you going the dinner party tomorrow night?" I shouted down the dorm hallway to my friend at the other end. He mumbled something and beckoned me towards him.
The dinner party was an exclusive party and only certain people had been invited. I'd heard about it via word of mouth (from the hosts and others), so I didn't realize it was such a secret thing. Maybe it wasn't, but either way, I'd just done what I've sworn I'd never do.
I hate it when people are talking about parties in front of others who haven't been invited. Let is be a birthday party, dinner party, Guitar Hero party, anything. Whether it be they were intentionally uninvited or it just so happened that they hadn't heard about it. Either way, I strive to not mention events in front of others if I can help it.
Then I screamed down the hall to Keith about a party. There was only one person within my viewing area that hadn't been invited (and not because she wasn't invited but because it's a Spanish party and she doesn't speak Spanish), but I don't know how many heard me. I probably wouldn't have thought anything about it except that Keith had the decency to call me out on what I did. He compassionately let me know that it was in invitation-only event, so I should probably keep it quiet.
Even though it made me feel awful, I'm glad he let me know that what I did was wrong. We all need friends like that. To let us know we're wrong, even when it hurts. Even if we didn't mean to be wrong. Even if we don't like to hear that we're wrong.
<>< Katie
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2
The dinner party was an exclusive party and only certain people had been invited. I'd heard about it via word of mouth (from the hosts and others), so I didn't realize it was such a secret thing. Maybe it wasn't, but either way, I'd just done what I've sworn I'd never do.
I hate it when people are talking about parties in front of others who haven't been invited. Let is be a birthday party, dinner party, Guitar Hero party, anything. Whether it be they were intentionally uninvited or it just so happened that they hadn't heard about it. Either way, I strive to not mention events in front of others if I can help it.
Then I screamed down the hall to Keith about a party. There was only one person within my viewing area that hadn't been invited (and not because she wasn't invited but because it's a Spanish party and she doesn't speak Spanish), but I don't know how many heard me. I probably wouldn't have thought anything about it except that Keith had the decency to call me out on what I did. He compassionately let me know that it was in invitation-only event, so I should probably keep it quiet.
Even though it made me feel awful, I'm glad he let me know that what I did was wrong. We all need friends like that. To let us know we're wrong, even when it hurts. Even if we didn't mean to be wrong. Even if we don't like to hear that we're wrong.
<>< Katie
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
"Katie, I really need to find something else for you to do while I'm driving." - Rob
This weekend I went on a FOCUS trip with eight of my team members. We spent the entire weekend hanging out with middle and high school kids at a church about an hour from campus. We had a blast! (Well, except for that no sleep part... about that...)
On Saturday afternoon the youth all loaded their van and our team of eight piled into Rob's family's '91 Taurus. We were literally piled on top of each other... Three of us were shoved in the front seat where we each hardly had enough room to breathe. Liz was talking with her hands one time and almost hit Rob (our driver) in the head. If the car would have crashed, I would have taken a hockey stick to the appendix... As squished as we were, the people in the second seat had it much worse off. There were four of them squeezed to the point where they were sitting on top of each other. Gena's pet alligator, Pete, was poking Liz in the head, Tara's knees couldn't move, and Carrie had baby powder everywhere (Pete, the hockey stick, and the baby powder are another story for another time... don't ask... my FOCUS team is a bit... er... odd... er... AMAZING!).
We were told this would be a five minute drive, we didn't understand that by "five minutes" the youth leader meant "at least thirty minutes." I don't know how many of you have ridden with Rob behind the wheel and lived to tell the tale, but according to Natalie, "Rob driving is enough to get anyone praying!" We were all praying piled into this station wagon like sardines in a car... Rob had to floor the gas petal in order to get us to move a all. We were lucky not to rear-end anyone because they stopped too quickly... Honestly, I think if we'd have gone over a speed bump we would have lost some car parts because we were riding that low to the ground. The youth in the van were teasing us because we weren't keeping up with them, but really we were going as fast as we could! So, we're all terrified and piled in too close together; it's raining and we're not sure if we're going to make it out of the car alive... We realized in the trunk of the station wagon was our buddy Keith, who plays Jesus in every skit we do, was fast asleep. So there we were, terrified we were going to die and Jesus is in the back sleeping... Sound familiar?
It is safe to say we made it to our destination and back to the church without anyone dying, but there were some close calls!
<>< Katie
"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion." Mark 4:37-38a
On Saturday afternoon the youth all loaded their van and our team of eight piled into Rob's family's '91 Taurus. We were literally piled on top of each other... Three of us were shoved in the front seat where we each hardly had enough room to breathe. Liz was talking with her hands one time and almost hit Rob (our driver) in the head. If the car would have crashed, I would have taken a hockey stick to the appendix... As squished as we were, the people in the second seat had it much worse off. There were four of them squeezed to the point where they were sitting on top of each other. Gena's pet alligator, Pete, was poking Liz in the head, Tara's knees couldn't move, and Carrie had baby powder everywhere (Pete, the hockey stick, and the baby powder are another story for another time... don't ask... my FOCUS team is a bit... er... odd... er... AMAZING!).
We were told this would be a five minute drive, we didn't understand that by "five minutes" the youth leader meant "at least thirty minutes." I don't know how many of you have ridden with Rob behind the wheel and lived to tell the tale, but according to Natalie, "Rob driving is enough to get anyone praying!" We were all praying piled into this station wagon like sardines in a car... Rob had to floor the gas petal in order to get us to move a all. We were lucky not to rear-end anyone because they stopped too quickly... Honestly, I think if we'd have gone over a speed bump we would have lost some car parts because we were riding that low to the ground. The youth in the van were teasing us because we weren't keeping up with them, but really we were going as fast as we could! So, we're all terrified and piled in too close together; it's raining and we're not sure if we're going to make it out of the car alive... We realized in the trunk of the station wagon was our buddy Keith, who plays Jesus in every skit we do, was fast asleep. So there we were, terrified we were going to die and Jesus is in the back sleeping... Sound familiar?
It is safe to say we made it to our destination and back to the church without anyone dying, but there were some close calls!
<>< Katie
"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion." Mark 4:37-38a
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