Fun Times on the Riviera

Last night, after spring banquet, SGA planned a cruise on a riverboat in Chattanooga. My friends and I skipped the banquet part, since we don't really have boys to go with, so banquet's kind of pointless without a dude, so we went out to eat in Hixson. The restaurant was called the Acropolis, it was supposed to be like Greek-American food. It was pretty durn good, I like Greek food. Then we went to Starbucks to pass some time before boarding the riverboat at 11:00. So I ordered some Passion tea, and we sat in Starbucks for an hour before finding our way through the ghetto to the Riverfront. I have video footage...lol

Then we had to wait in the boat's giftshop until it was time to board. We took some pictures, and talked to everyone, then we got to load the boat! It was very exciting. The first floor had poker and blackjack, the second floor had other games, that's where we stayed most of the time. We could also go to the top deck and side decks but it was too cold to stay out there for too long. But it was beautiful! The lights were reflecting off the river, and the night was so pretty!

So inside the boat, from like 12:00 to 1:00, we played Uno and Jenga, and had a blast. Everyone had a great time, everyone was screaming and laughing, it was awesome. The only bad part was having to walk in crazy heels all night. But other than that, it was so amazing! Great experience.

We rolled in Dayton at about 2:00, and we were sooo tired. So I went to bed at about 2:45, slept all day, and I am so thankful we had a good time and no one got hurt or lost in the hood. Detours can be a little scary sometimes. Haha. Don't worry mother, it was all good. After a while. Just kidding!

Here's a few pictures of us on the boat! There's more on my facebook.

Pray for North Korea

North Korea has been on the mind of my friend lately, and lo and behold, this month's Voice of the Martyrs newsletter was on North Korea, so I gave it to her. Then, we get an email that tells us a missionary who works with organizations to help North Korea will be speaking at one of our clubs (SSTOP, students stopping the trafficking of persons) on Thursday night. It was all very ironic and happened within a few days of us talking about North Korea in her room.

Anyways, we went to the meeting, which ended up lasting from 9:30 to 11, because we stayed and talked to the lady. Her name was Lisa, I think.

Here's a little history on North Korea. As everyone knows, no one is allowed in or out of the country. It is ran by an evil dictator named Kim Jung Il. His father, Kim Il Sung, is worshipped as the father, Kim Jung Il is the son, and they have another diety they worship called Juche, which represtents the spirit of unity amongst the people. The citizens of NK worship their dictator as a god, and it is required that every household has a picture of him that they bow down to. The country is very poor, but they plate statues of their leader with gold. The dictator starves his people for the benefit of the army.

China is free compared to NK. There is no freedom for North Koreans. This country is also the worst persecutor of Christians.

"The Persecuted Church Global Report 2010" from VOM reports that the population is 1.69% Christian, most of them being in concentration camps, according to our speaker, Lisa.

There are a total of 23 million people in North Korea. 13 million of the people are severly malnourished. In one decade, 3 million died from the famine. There are 400,000 refugees hiding in China, and 200,000 imprisoned in concentration camps. There are about 20 concentration camps in NK.

The only way to escape to freedom, preferrably South Korea or China, is through a river, where guards are lined up on the borders to shoot anyone or capture them to send them back, most likely to be executed or to concentration camps. The North Korean people are scared of Americans, Lisa said that they are taught in school that we have horns and tails! It's incredible the lies the people are being fed through their government.

There are very few NK refugees in the US. I think she said there were a total of around 40. What a small number. Many of them are Christians, and she has met a lot of them at rallies and galas.

Lisa told us she partners with three organizations to help the people.

One is called 318 Partners. They are going as a group to South Korea in April to launch balloons with aid over the border to the people of NK. Their website is http://www.318partners.org/

Another group is the North Korean Freedom Coalition. http://www.nkfreedom.org/

And the last one that centers more around young adults is LiNK. http://www.linkglobal.org/

To wrap this post up, I would encourage everyone who reads this to pray for North Korea. It is such a dark and hostile country. At breakfast this morning my friends and I reflected on how amazingly blessed we are to be eating a lot of food and reading the Bible openly. Unfortunately, this is not the norm in hostile countries, and the only way we can help right now is to pray. Lisa encouraged us to pray first for the government. Also pray for the people who are being tortured and starved by their leader. And finally, remember our brothers and sisters that are the only light in that country. God is powerful, and prayer can accomplish much.

Real Women

Last night, the Worldview team organized an event at Harmony House for girls only. So a few friends and I went, and oh my goodness...it was amazing. Let me tell ya'll a little about it.

First I want to say Bryan College has some durn amazing people. If I could get a degree in "sit and listen to what God has done in your life" then I so would. But anyways, they advertised around the halls with posters and made chapel announcements about this "Real Women of Bryan College" night, and we all wanted to go and what a blessing it was.

Four women were there to share about their lives. The first one to share was Mrs. Clark, one of our professor's wives. She is a stay at home mother with four kids, and one on the way. She told about her single life, how she met her husband, and how she is living her life at home. So encouraging. (She also mentioned that she was reformed.)

Next was the school Psychologist, Liz Mosley. She talked about counseling, and how to love people. I really needed this, as I get aggravated so easily and forget to love people, especially those close to me. Her talk was also very encouraging, not to mention inspiring. It really made me evaluate where I am in relationships with my friends and gave me a desire to build strong friendships and find new ones!

My English professor spoke after Liz, her name is Dr. Impson. She talked about her life, and what she wanted to be when she was younger, then how God changed her life around, and how she had to go through trials to be where God wants her to be. Again, very very encouraging.

Finally, Judy Olsen, one of our secretaries, talked to us about intercessory prayer. She is an amazing lady, and from hearing her testimony of praying for everyone, it made me realize that this is what God wants us all to do. Prayer is powerful. I saw that I need to be talking to God more than I do. Mrs. Olsen was also a great encouragement.

Wow. Overall, this event was incredible, helped me realize some things, and encouraged me immensely. (This may be the most I've ever used the word encouraged...but there are no other words!) It was great to live out Titus 2:4-5 and hear older women teach us younger women.

Other than that, I was wired up on coffee, so I went to the intramural basketball tournament with my friends and had a great time laughing and having fun. And I'm happy to report my energy is back again. Thank you God. I also have been reminded that even if it is snowing and I want it to be summer, "this is the day that the Lord has made." So I will rejoice and be glad in it. It's a good thing to rejoice. Ok, that's it, have a great day!

(One more thing:) This verse hopped out at me this morning:

But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Jude 20-23

What a lovely day. (sarcasm)

Today was one of those days.

Ughhh. That's how I've been all day.

This weekend was very fun, and I didn't get enough sleep, so that could explain some of it. A few of my friends came home with me and we did everything there is to do in Maryville, Knoxville, and the mountains--almost everything; I ran out of money.

So last night I went to sleep at 10 o'clock, refused to get up and run this morning, and slept in until 9:00. All day I've been lazy and hateful. I didn't even scream in excitement as I opened my copy of the Septuagint and Grammatical Analysis of the Greek New Testament. Not my usual behavior. I was aware of how single I am, how hard it is to trust God, how I'm failing in life, how cold it is outside...I am so discontent. And selfish. Not to mention prideful. I better stop before I start cussing, because I sure have been in my head.

I don't know what to do! Then I took a shower and reflected on how I was acting. Then the song "Your Grace is Enough" popped into my head, and now I'm feeling a little bit better.

Of course I don't want to complain to the whole world...kind of sounds like it though...but I also want to encourage everyone that God has promised us He will give us the desires of our hearts. He also promises that His will will be done and it's going to be good. So get past yourself *I'm talking to myself now* and stop moping around!

God has blessed me beyond anything I could of imagined. I go to an amazing Christian school, where everywhere I turn there's a friend. I have the most awesome family in the world, and I realized that this weekend because my friends kept saying how great they were. I live in a country where I can do or be whatever I want. And I'm healthy and I can learn anything as long as I dedicate myself to it.

WHY THE HECK would I be discontent? I should be jumping for joy every second of the day, even when I'm asleep! God has blessed us all way way way more than we deserve because, honestly, we all deserve one thing only, and that's hell. Anything better than hell is wonderful. God is so gracious. Not only did he let me take that breath I just took, but He SAVED me by His grace. Why me? I will never be able to answer that. I don't even know if I would waste the energy to save me. I don't understand how He could love someone like me-- that Jesus would leave glory to come and die for me. Wow, it really is amazing grace. I should just shut up and not ask for anything else EVER because I already have enough.

So...I hope tomorrow will be a better day. I hate when I get like this, but it happens. Sigh. Someday I'll look back and be married and have an even greater life than I have now and think how silly I was. I hope so...and I'm praying so. Until then, I'll just have to wait and pray!

Goodnight!

Weekend!

After another week of studying Greek and reading through commentaries and going to aerobics class, it's finally the weekend!
Yesterday (Thursday) was Day of Prayer at Bryan, and that means that all classes are cancelled, and students are able to have a day full of rest and prayer. So I woke up at 10:00, which is way late! And went to chapel and had a great worship service. The whole morning was a good time of prayer. So after that, we made a trip to Wal-Mart, got surprise birthday cakes for two friends, and hid them in my fridge. Then at 5:30, 14 of us managed to squeeze in at one table at Delia's Mexican...the best Mexican food in Dayton, and had birthday dinner for Rachel L. and Jandi. So much fun, these people are hilarious. That was last night. I forgot to take pictures, sorry :(
Here's what's going to happen this weekend, and I'm so excited!
Three of my friends, Lauren, Rose, and my roommate Rachel, are coming home with me and we're gonna have the best time ever. I've been excited all week.
Well that's pretty much it, time to go to class!

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

Yep. Just so everyone knows, I (along with two of my friends) have kept our goals of working out everyday (pretty much)! And I haven't had a Coke (or Pepsi or Dr. Pepper or Mountain Dew or ANYTHING but Sprite when I was sick) since August! I was a hardcore Dr. Pepper addict, so this is impressive for me. Still need to work on cutting out sweets, it's really hard. Overall, I'm very encouraged and excited about these fabulous health goals I've set! Yay! Lauren and I worked out for an hour and played around with a basketball in the gym tonight, so I'm feelin' good! I miss playing basketball with my cousins and brother...can't wait for summer still!!!

Chapter That Made Me Go "hmmm"

I've been reading Holiness, by J.C. Ryle for the past few weeks, and ran across a very interesting chapter this week. The title of the chapter is assurance. I agree with what Ryle has to say ultimately, but I never had thought about it this way. He gives four points that he expounds upon:

I. An assured hope is a true and scriptural thing. (Check, I understand that one for sure.)
II. A man may never arrive at this assured hope, and yet be saved. (Hmmm...)
III.An assured hope is exceedingly to be desired. (Yep.)
IV. Causes why an assured hope is seldom attained. (Yes.)

I followed him on the first point, then the second point is what made me think. He asserts first that a person may have saving faith in Christ, but never reach that full assurance. He says all God's children have faith, but not all assurance. I've always held to the thought that we should strive for assurance, and test ourselves to see if we are in the faith if we didn't have assurance. I can't decide if I agree with Ryle's position of a man having received grace and that he is a Christian, yet they still can never reach full assurance. I would like to think that once a person is saved, of course they will have doubts and fears about death, but ultimately they will not be afraid. Ryle says that there are degrees in our sanctification, which I agree with. In our justification, there are no degrees, once it happens it has happened. I also agree with this. Ryle quotes Romans 10:11 and says this: "'Whosoever believeth on Him'--not whosoever has a strong and mighty faith--'Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." Of course "bare, simple faith saves a man", but shouldn't a true Christian have a degree of assurance? Maybe not all the time, but even faith as small as a mustard seed is still faith, and we can be assured with small faith.

Ryle says faith is the root and assurance the flower. You can't have the flower without the root, but you can have the root without the flower. "Faith is life. Assurance is more than life...it is health, strength, power, vigour, activity, energy, manliness, beauty." I find it hard to swallow the thought that Ryle is bringing forth here. I think that Christians of course are Christians, but I think they have some assurance to hold onto. Am I making sense? Probably not, but this was tumbling through my mind today, and I thought I'd write it down.

I have struggled with doubt, everyone has, of course. But then I overcame it, and had assurance. Doubts come again and again, but I believe that a person can get over it and find assurance, but not after struggling--which just makes us grow stronger. As it says in Acts 17, "He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead." That's assuring to me...and then again..."And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end."

I don't think I misunderstood Ryle-faith is faith, and that alone saves us, but it was just a new concept to me, I guess, to think that a Christian can never reach assurance. It's nice to run across new concepts every now and then and to think about them.

This was a quote that made me go "hmm" (in a good way) in the notes of the chapter:
"This weak faith will as truly apprehend God's merciful promises for the pardon of sin as strong faith, though not so soundly. Even as a man with a palsied hand can stretch it out as well to receive a gift at the hand of a king as he that is more sound, though it may be not so firmly and steadfastly." (William Perkins, 1612)

And I liked this one:
"Faith is not created perfect at the first, as Adam was; but is like a man in the ordinary course of nature, who is frist an infant, then a child, then a youth, then a man." (Richard Ward, 1640)

So to summarize...I know what Ryle was getting at. In the end, this is what he says, "The believer who follows the Lord most fully and aims at the highest degree of holiness will ordinarily enjoy the most assured hope, and have the clearest persuasion of his own salvation." Using Scripture, Ryle exhorted his readers to pursue assurance, and not just sit back and be afraid. In the end, this chapter was thought provoking and good.

--I'm listening to Chris Tomlin's "Mighty Is the Power of the Cross", which is a good theme song to this post. :)