Spring Break

This smattering of pictures is an attempt at describing my spring break...:)

The adventure to see the Big Horn Sheep...without seeing any sheep...we played in the water!

barefoot on the brown grass...

Graham and Jenna

The little kiddos wading.  

and of course...we played on the swing-set! :)

Me 'n my Mommy!

Project #1: sew a bridesmaid dress

Voila! 

Project #2: bake Birthday cupcakes for Sam.

Project #3: grill BBQ pizza!!!  (oh, man...this was the best)

Trip to see Aryn...and the Grace University Chorale

Liz, Leah, me, and Aryn!  

Yes, we are awesome people.  And yes, we get our coffee from Dunn Brothers

So, there you have it.  Not quiet all-encompassing, but it is a decent try!
All in all, break was really nice.  I loved getting to spend time with my family and also getting to see some old friends!
Now, to finish out the semester!  :)

A man who love the Bible

     One of my classes, "Great Christian Thinkers", have been studying the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer this semester.  I have really been enjoying the class and the opportunity to think critically about some of the contemporary issues that we are facing similar to the age of Bonhoeffer.
     For one of my assignments, I chose to do some research on what Bonhoeffer believed concerning the Bible.  As a theologian, he is almost impossible to "categorize".  Some say that he is very "liberal" because he studied under men like Harnack and Barth.  Others say that he is "conservative" because he seemed to stand in contrast to his teachers.  Where does he belong?  This is a hard question to answer, especially after reading through his biography, for I was struck again with the oddities of this man.  Yet, he also lived during a time when there were extreme political agendas being pursued--Hitler and Nazi Germany.  He was attacked by the German state church for preaching the Bible and speaking boldly for the truth.  He was faced with many hard decisions to make.  And in the end, he died a martyr.
While Bonhoeffer believe some odd things concerning the Bible (i.e. not inerrant, capable of human discrepancy, made the Word of God as God spoke through the human words), he did have a devotion and love for the Word of God that stood out in stark contrast to the "theological norm" of the day.  For a person, who according to our standard was less than "fundamental" in thinking, he loved the Bible.  He truly and honestly wanted to hear God speak to him.  He wanted to obey God.  He wanted to grow in the knowledge of God.  He counted it a privilege to preach the word of God.  Because of this, there are a few things that we would to well to learn from our brother in Christ.
     The following includes excerpts from my paper concerning Bonhoeffer's beliefs on bibliology:

Introduction  

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was an early twentieth century theologian and pastor.  He was known as an intense thinker and student.  While he decided to study theology at an early age, it was not until later on in life that he came to a personal knowledge of salvation and desired to live out the theology that he was learning.  It was this same fervor, excitement, and seriousness for the things of God with which he employed himself and taught his students. His passion for the things of God, the Word of God and preaching was his most telling characteristic.  This zeal for the Word of God is seen in most all of his writings.  He said, “I believe that the Bible alone is the answer to all our questions and that to receive an answer from it, we only need ask with persistence and a little courage.”

Bonhoeffer is to be commended for his commitment to the word of God.  We would do well to take up this “torch” and learn to approach the Word with the same attitude.  Many scholars during his time (and in our day as well) were forsaking the Holy Scriptures for man’s ideas and treating the Bible only as an historical book to be criticized.  Yet, Bonhoeffer truly believed that the Bible contained the word of God, and he desired to practice this truth in his life. 

The Word of God needs no decoration...

“How terribly dangerous it is for anyone who has stood in St. Peter’s in Rome to hear and love the heavenly voices of the Sistine Choir—and not to love the very voice of God as it sounds forth from the language of the Bible.  How close to blasphemy to use such rich, splendid accomplishments of human art to celebrate the memory of the man who wore carpenter’s clothes and spoke the clear and simple language of everyday life; this might obscure the poverty and lowliness of Jesus Christ.  That we love the creation more that God, this is the deep danger and temptation of all those who want to love music for God’s sake….There is great seriousness in this approach, much knowledge of the uniqueness and exclusiveness, the austerity of the divine revelation, for which there can be no replacement.  The word of God needs no decoration.  We want to keep this firmly in mind: the word of God, as found in the Bible and as it sounds forth to us in the proclamation of the gospel, needs no decoration."

In a letter that Bonhoeffer wrote to some of the former seminary brothers, he encouraged them concerning their diligence to the Word.  He wrote: “as well as meditation, however, daily, plentiful reading of Scripture must keep its place.  No day of our life in office may go past without our having read the Bible on it.  The very controversies of the last months (referring to the church struggle and rise of Nazism) have once again clearly shown to our shame how unversed in the Holy Scripture we still are….We must make it a rule to look for the Scriptural evidence for every decision that confronts us, and not to rest until we have found it.  Our confidence in dealing with the Bible must increase year by year.”

                                                              

                                                               Conclusion

            One cannot read any of Bonhoeffer’s writings without acknowledging the fact of his devotion and love for the Scriptures.  Even when he was imprisoned, his daily disciplines of meditation and the reading of the Bible were most important to him.  In light of this, we would do well to come to the word of God with as much fervor and love.  However, in contrast to Bonhoeffer, we know that the Bible is the Word of God which is totally breathed out by God and inerrant.  There is no new special continuing revelation of the Word of God.  There is nothing that can be added or taken from the revealed Word of God. 

In relation to the preaching of the Word, a focused seriousness of proclaiming the Word of God is necessary for pastors.  Yet, we know that preaching is the exposition of the special revelation of God from the past, rather than new revelation.  God has given all things that “pertain to life and godliness” through His Son and His completely revealed Word.  We need not seek any “new revelation” from God, but only submit and yield ourselves to the indwelling Holy Spirit for the illuminating of God’s revelation to us.  

Of dictionaries...and prolific hugs

You know those times when you say a certain word in a sentence that you believe is grammatically correct, and then the person you are talking to gives you a really odd look?  Then, you start thinking, "Wait, was that the right word?"  "What did I just say?"  "What does she think I mean?"  With these questions in mind, your face becomes a mask of quizzical-ness as you evaluate what it was that you just said. 
Now, I know that I am not the only one that has experiences like this!  (I think :)

My story has to do with the word "prolific".  I used it in the context of a friend of mine giving another friend a hug.  "You hugged her prolifically."  To this comment, we both started laughing.  Then the questions ensued. 

"What?" 

According to the dictionary, prolific has several different definitions, including: producing offspring, young, fruit, etc., abundantly; highly fruitful: a prolific pear tree. (2) producing in large quantities or with great frequency; highly productive: a prolific writer. (3.) profusely productive or fruitful (often followed by in or of ): a bequest prolific of litigations. (4.) characterized by abundant production: a prolific year for tomatoes.

Therefore, in the sentence that I used, giving hugs prolifically just means that they are given in abundance.    But does this really work? 

With this thought in mind, I realized how many "creative" words I think I know and yet may not.  There is definitely something to be said of expanding your vocabulary! 

Word of the Day: appertain; to belong as a part, right, possession, or attribute. 
Synonyms: apply, be characteristic of, be part of, be pertinent, be proper, be relevant, bear, have to do with, pertain, refer, relate, touch upon, vest

Try to use this word today.  It appertains to the development of your vocabulary! 
And tell me what you think of prolific hugs!!

February 29th: Leaping Day

So, there we have it.  All done! 

29 pieces of Happiness.

I can't believe how fast February went!  It honestly--and I know that everyone says this--feels like it was just yesterday that we were beginning February.  And now it's on to March! 

February's theme: 

God's continued grace to show me His plan for my life. 

Looking back over a month of  time a person is able to see God's work specifically.  I want to be open and willing to do whatever God would have me do.  This takes faith.  And patience.  And joy!  Yet, none of these things are easy...  In fact, I am pretty sure that I will be constantly learning these lessons for the rest of my life. 
So, what made February better?  Nothing in particular, I guess.  But I do know that each day as I am walking with Him, He reveals His word to me and encourages my heart through His Word, other believers, pastors, teachers, music, and so much more.  Isn't God good! 

My goal for blogging about happy things all month was not to play up an "artificial happiness" (which is very easy to do).  But, I have been challenged by looking at my daily circumstances in light of the promises of God.  This means that nothing is really as bad as it seems.  God is truly in control of everything!  It means that things could be better, or they could be worse, but God still loves and cares for me! 

And now...we leap on! 

This is happy! 

February 28th: Psalm 92

We had an Evidence concert today.  Heritage Christian Academy called the school and scheduled us to come and sing for them.  Many in our group have been fighting this horrible sickness (I am still trying very hard to stand firm against it!!!), and so we were not "on the top of our game".  In spite of this, God's grace is always sufficient. 
He blessed me with Psalm 92:

Psalm 92

How Great Are Your Works

A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath.

 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night,

3 to the music of the lute and the harp,

to the melody of the lyre.

4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;

at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

5 How great are your works, O Lord!

Your thoughts are very deep!

6 The stupid man cannot know;

the fool cannot understand this:

7 that though the wicked sprout like grass

and all evildoers flourish,

they are doomed to destruction forever;

8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever.

9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord,

for behold, your enemies shall perish;

all evildoers shall be scattered.

10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;

you have poured over me[a] fresh oil.

11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;

my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.

12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree

and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;

they flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They still bear fruit in old age;

they are ever full of sap and green,

15 to declare that the Lord is upright;

he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

February 27th: a letter from home

Last year, my little sister and I began to write letters to one another.  She was learning how to write letters in school and we thought that it would be fun to write back and forth.  Our pen-pal-ship is a little sporadic.  It often takes me longer to reply, but she is very understanding!  But I finally sent my family a package for Valentines day, complete with letters, chocolate, and the long-promised "Chronicles of Narnia" books for my sister. 
And today, I received their reply!  May I just elaborate on how much I love a hand-written letter!!!  Don't get me wrong, though, because I am all about texting, face-booking (funny how that is now considered a noun!), tweeting, and other forms of social media!  But really, there is nothing quite like seeing some one's handwriting on a piece of paper addressed specifically to you!  (I know, just call me "old-fashion"!) 

What made me happy about the letters?
Simply: the fact that each letter presented the personality of the one writing it! 

Letter #1 - from my sweet sporty little sister.  She told me all about the volleyball team that she is going to play for.  Her excitement screamed from the page!  Then she asked if my dorm room had purple walls, because if they were purple then she was going to move in with me.  (maybe I should re-paint my walls!)

Letter #2 - from my ridiculously imaginative little brother.  He told me very plainly that I shouldn't worry about coming to any of his basketball games, because the gym had been bombed and half of Nebraska had fallen into the ocean.  :)  At the end of the letter, he thanked me for sending him some candy because it had helped him survive the apocalypse! 

Letter #3 - from the very dramatic littlest sister.  She started out by thanking me At Least 6 times for sending her some candy!  She was also very excited about the books that I sent her, and was going to start reading them right away.  She wasn't too keen on sharing them, but she told me that she would do it anyway!  Then, to top it all off, she ended the letter with the sweetest little poem that she wrote herself. 

I love my little brothers and sisters!!!
They make me happy!

February 26th: Evidence concert

"I will bless the Lord at all times,

His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

Ps. 34:1

I am so privileged for the opportunity to sing with some fabulous musicians.  We not only get to sing together, but we also get to minister to other brothers and sisters in Christ.  What a blessed and enormous responsibility! 

I am still awed by the strength that God supplies for ministry.  It is those times when we are most tired or sick or have a lot on our minds that God encourages our hearts more so that His grace, love, and mercy is spilling onto others.  It is a very humbling experience!  What an amazing God we serve!!!

One of the encouraging parts of the morning was the time that our group met and prayed together.  The church people let us use a room in the basement that was very very small.  So all 9 of us crowded in.  At first, we were just laughing and joking.  But then the atmosphere became more serious as we started to share from the Word of God what God has been teaching us through the last couple of days.  We shared and sang (imagine a Little Room and 9 people singing loudly!  Awesome!) and prayed together.  It was such an encouraging way to spend the time preparing our hearts for ministry. 

When it was our turn to sing, the Lord gave grace.  The concert wasn't perfect.  We made many mistakes.  But that shouldn't be the focus (although we should be challenged to work on our music more diligently). 

As our hearts and minds are focused on worshipping God through song, we should give that to Him and pray that He would use us in spite of our failure.  And the good news!  He does!!!