This picture was taken at IHOP after the Food Drop, I love this girl!!!!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Be The Change
Yesterday, my life changed. And every moment since then, I have been trying as hard as I can to figure out a way to share everything that happened in a clear, concise way. It has been the only thing I have talked about since 3:00pm yesterday. So, this is my attempt to explain the awesomeness that was Challenge Day.
About a month ago I was sitting in the ITC at Penn during study hall with Devin, Paige, and Craig. Devin came in a with a sheet of paper and started writing our names on it, and we really didn't know what for... He said that he was on this committee and he needed to get a list of people who would be willing to participate in an event called Challenge Day. (Insert confused faces by Paige and myself.) We had no idea what he was signing us up for, but when it was mentioned that we would miss an ENTIRE day of school, pshh we're we all for it!! We eventually found out that it was a big event that has happened all over the country to get high school kids to break out of their comfort zones, dig deep and share their feelings, and challenge us to get to know people before we judge them for just the image we see on the outside. I, for one, was extremely skeptical of Challenge Day at this point. I figured it would be just like the million of other things that the school tried to implement to discourage bullying and violence. So, at this point the only reason I was going was to skip out on a day of school. I completely forgot about it for a while until I got a sheet of paper last week that said I would be going on Wednesday, January 20th.
That morning came and I wasn't feeling too great about going. I rode into school with Nicole and just told her how I thought it was going to be a boring, cheesy, complete waste of my time. (I pre-judged, yeah, bad idea.) The only upside at this point was that I was going with a few of my best friends, Heather, Nicole, and Austin. We walked across the street to River Valley with 100 other kids, who were in the exactly the same boat we were, not too sure about what was going to go down... We walked into the atrium got name tags, and slowly began to make our way into the gym. Heather and I started to hear the beat of a rap song as we neared to doors. And sure enough, when we reached the doorway, music was blaring, and dozens of teachers, administrators, deans, principals, and parents were lined up along the entry way dancing and high-fiving us as we passed. (little wierd, not gonna lie...) We eventually found a seat in a big circle and watched as all the adult leaders shuffled into the middle of all of us and started dancing. K, I'm not joking here at all. I saw the, oh so serious, attendance dean break it down to Single Ladies. I watched my sweet, tiny, Chem teacher from last year booty shake. None of us were really sure whether to laugh hysterically, or turn our faces away, scarred for life. We went with it, and in the matter of a few minutes the rest of us found ourselves in the middle of the circle having a dance party right along with all of our teachers. One of the best parts was realizing how much the beginning of Challenge Day felt JUST LIKE CAAAAAMP!!!!! All the adult leaders acted just like us counselors act at camp, and we even danced to camp songs like Apache, Jump Around, The Train Song, it was crazy!! I could have sworn that any moment Jeffery Myers was going to grab the mic and start talking about ground bats!
We started to get a little more comfortable as we played a couple cheesy get to know you games. One of which was one where we had to link arms with someone back to back and dance with them. Yep, butt to butt. Awesome. As cheesy as the games feel like they should have been, they weren't at all. Everyone loved them!! After an incredibly loud game of volleyball on your butt, and a bathroom break we settled into hear the stories of the two leaders of Challenge Day, Chris and Berenice. This was the first time I cried during the day. They talked about growing up in a different country, losing parents to divorce, or losing a grandparent to a drunk driver. Everyone had their eyes glued on them the whole time, and after they finished they split us up into "family groups." The people in my group were totally random. I didn't know any of them. Berenice challenged us to really open up and share our real, true feelings with the group. The sentence she told us to start with was, "If you really knew me, you'd know..." Usually I would never tell a group of 5 other complete strangers something that no one else knows about me... something that has brought me to where I am today. But, somehow, and I do truly believe it was God-thing, I had no problem sharing my life with these individuals. Chris and Berenice made this atmosphere that was so comforting, and the walls in all of us just came crashing down. There was no fear of what other people might think. After more tears, and lots of hugs, we broke for a lunch break.
After lunch, Berenice brought us into a circle and told us we'd be doing an activity called the Power Shuffle. It's where every person in the room gets on one side of a line. And when Berenice read a statement off a card that applied to any person, they were to cross the line onto the other side, and turn around and face the rest of the group. While they went across the line, all the individuals that didn't cross the line put up their hands with the I Love You sign, to show support and love towards the other group. Some of the questions were, "Cross the line if you've grown up in a one parent home," "If you've ever been hurt by someone standing in this room right now," "If you have lost anyone to gang violence," 'If you've ever know someone who has seriously considered or attempted suicide.." This lasted about half and hour. Everyone shuffled back in forth in silence. It was clear how powerful this activity was when you looked upon the faces of people who had crossed the line. Tears, streaming down their faces, complete strangers reaching out to others to let them know that someone cares about them. It was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever been apart of. I learned new things about people who I have been good friends with, that I didn't even know about them. In crossing the line, I learned that some things that I didn't have affected me, truly have. I saw big, tough, guys fighting back tears. I saw girls from two opposite ends of the social scale embrace each other. I saw people who I had labeled as losers, or stupid, or mean, cross that line. And I realized that I have no right to judge them when I have no idea that they could have watched their best friend die in a gang fight. You just don't know.
After that, we made our way back to our families to go around the circle and share what statement affected us the most. I had two, but one was "Cross the line if you have ever been hurt or talked about by someone in this room." As I scanned the faces of the people who had crossed I realized that some of them could have been over there because of me... and that broke my heart. We hugged our group members for the last time and then they opened up the mic for anyone who felt like the needed to share something with the group. Students got up and said stuff about how they really wanted Challenge Day to live on, to not just be over when we walk out the door. They gave us challenges. Girls got up and said that they needed to apologize to someone in the room for being mean to them. Dozens of friendships were restored my the end of the day. People who hadn't talked in months, throwing back and forth insults about each other, could now embrace the other and be best friends again. One everyone had spoken the gave us the chance to go make any friendship right that we needed to, or just to go up and give someone a hug and appreciate them for who they are. I got to do both. I have never been more grateful for the people that God has put in my life, it changed my perspective on a lot of things.
So maybe that wasn't so concise... or very clear for that matter. But I hope that in some way you understand how phenomenally amazing this day was. The Name of God was not uttered once in the time that we were there, but as we walked out I turned to Nicole and said, "God was all over that, it's crazy that he could use a school function to change to many lives." Not one person walked away from experiencing Challenge Day the same as when the walked in.
True, I agreed to be apart of Challenge Day, because I simply wanted to be out of school for the day. But what I walked away with was worth far more than I could have every hoped or dreamed.
http://www.youtube.com/challengeday
About a month ago I was sitting in the ITC at Penn during study hall with Devin, Paige, and Craig. Devin came in a with a sheet of paper and started writing our names on it, and we really didn't know what for... He said that he was on this committee and he needed to get a list of people who would be willing to participate in an event called Challenge Day. (Insert confused faces by Paige and myself.) We had no idea what he was signing us up for, but when it was mentioned that we would miss an ENTIRE day of school, pshh we're we all for it!! We eventually found out that it was a big event that has happened all over the country to get high school kids to break out of their comfort zones, dig deep and share their feelings, and challenge us to get to know people before we judge them for just the image we see on the outside. I, for one, was extremely skeptical of Challenge Day at this point. I figured it would be just like the million of other things that the school tried to implement to discourage bullying and violence. So, at this point the only reason I was going was to skip out on a day of school. I completely forgot about it for a while until I got a sheet of paper last week that said I would be going on Wednesday, January 20th.
That morning came and I wasn't feeling too great about going. I rode into school with Nicole and just told her how I thought it was going to be a boring, cheesy, complete waste of my time. (I pre-judged, yeah, bad idea.) The only upside at this point was that I was going with a few of my best friends, Heather, Nicole, and Austin. We walked across the street to River Valley with 100 other kids, who were in the exactly the same boat we were, not too sure about what was going to go down... We walked into the atrium got name tags, and slowly began to make our way into the gym. Heather and I started to hear the beat of a rap song as we neared to doors. And sure enough, when we reached the doorway, music was blaring, and dozens of teachers, administrators, deans, principals, and parents were lined up along the entry way dancing and high-fiving us as we passed. (little wierd, not gonna lie...) We eventually found a seat in a big circle and watched as all the adult leaders shuffled into the middle of all of us and started dancing. K, I'm not joking here at all. I saw the, oh so serious, attendance dean break it down to Single Ladies. I watched my sweet, tiny, Chem teacher from last year booty shake. None of us were really sure whether to laugh hysterically, or turn our faces away, scarred for life. We went with it, and in the matter of a few minutes the rest of us found ourselves in the middle of the circle having a dance party right along with all of our teachers. One of the best parts was realizing how much the beginning of Challenge Day felt JUST LIKE CAAAAAMP!!!!! All the adult leaders acted just like us counselors act at camp, and we even danced to camp songs like Apache, Jump Around, The Train Song, it was crazy!! I could have sworn that any moment Jeffery Myers was going to grab the mic and start talking about ground bats!
We started to get a little more comfortable as we played a couple cheesy get to know you games. One of which was one where we had to link arms with someone back to back and dance with them. Yep, butt to butt. Awesome. As cheesy as the games feel like they should have been, they weren't at all. Everyone loved them!! After an incredibly loud game of volleyball on your butt, and a bathroom break we settled into hear the stories of the two leaders of Challenge Day, Chris and Berenice. This was the first time I cried during the day. They talked about growing up in a different country, losing parents to divorce, or losing a grandparent to a drunk driver. Everyone had their eyes glued on them the whole time, and after they finished they split us up into "family groups." The people in my group were totally random. I didn't know any of them. Berenice challenged us to really open up and share our real, true feelings with the group. The sentence she told us to start with was, "If you really knew me, you'd know..." Usually I would never tell a group of 5 other complete strangers something that no one else knows about me... something that has brought me to where I am today. But, somehow, and I do truly believe it was God-thing, I had no problem sharing my life with these individuals. Chris and Berenice made this atmosphere that was so comforting, and the walls in all of us just came crashing down. There was no fear of what other people might think. After more tears, and lots of hugs, we broke for a lunch break.
After lunch, Berenice brought us into a circle and told us we'd be doing an activity called the Power Shuffle. It's where every person in the room gets on one side of a line. And when Berenice read a statement off a card that applied to any person, they were to cross the line onto the other side, and turn around and face the rest of the group. While they went across the line, all the individuals that didn't cross the line put up their hands with the I Love You sign, to show support and love towards the other group. Some of the questions were, "Cross the line if you've grown up in a one parent home," "If you've ever been hurt by someone standing in this room right now," "If you have lost anyone to gang violence," 'If you've ever know someone who has seriously considered or attempted suicide.." This lasted about half and hour. Everyone shuffled back in forth in silence. It was clear how powerful this activity was when you looked upon the faces of people who had crossed the line. Tears, streaming down their faces, complete strangers reaching out to others to let them know that someone cares about them. It was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever been apart of. I learned new things about people who I have been good friends with, that I didn't even know about them. In crossing the line, I learned that some things that I didn't have affected me, truly have. I saw big, tough, guys fighting back tears. I saw girls from two opposite ends of the social scale embrace each other. I saw people who I had labeled as losers, or stupid, or mean, cross that line. And I realized that I have no right to judge them when I have no idea that they could have watched their best friend die in a gang fight. You just don't know.
After that, we made our way back to our families to go around the circle and share what statement affected us the most. I had two, but one was "Cross the line if you have ever been hurt or talked about by someone in this room." As I scanned the faces of the people who had crossed I realized that some of them could have been over there because of me... and that broke my heart. We hugged our group members for the last time and then they opened up the mic for anyone who felt like the needed to share something with the group. Students got up and said stuff about how they really wanted Challenge Day to live on, to not just be over when we walk out the door. They gave us challenges. Girls got up and said that they needed to apologize to someone in the room for being mean to them. Dozens of friendships were restored my the end of the day. People who hadn't talked in months, throwing back and forth insults about each other, could now embrace the other and be best friends again. One everyone had spoken the gave us the chance to go make any friendship right that we needed to, or just to go up and give someone a hug and appreciate them for who they are. I got to do both. I have never been more grateful for the people that God has put in my life, it changed my perspective on a lot of things.
So maybe that wasn't so concise... or very clear for that matter. But I hope that in some way you understand how phenomenally amazing this day was. The Name of God was not uttered once in the time that we were there, but as we walked out I turned to Nicole and said, "God was all over that, it's crazy that he could use a school function to change to many lives." Not one person walked away from experiencing Challenge Day the same as when the walked in.
True, I agreed to be apart of Challenge Day, because I simply wanted to be out of school for the day. But what I walked away with was worth far more than I could have every hoped or dreamed.
http://www.youtube.com/challengeday
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Motions: Matthew West
This might hurt
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care
If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions
No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care
If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life
I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions
No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Thoughts about Thoughts
Is it odd to think about the thoughts that I have? Probably... oh well. Won't stop me.
Questions I think about...
Am I having thoughts that I would be embarrassed if my parents knew them?
Am I having thoughts that are judgmental?
Am I having thoughts that are hateful?
Am I having thoughts that would lift others up, or tear them down?
Am I having thoughts that would further my relationship with God?
Am I having thoughts that are honoring to God?
If thoughts turn into actions that I should always strive to make my thoughts something pleasing and honoring to God, so that in turn, my life will please and honor God.
Questions I think about...
Am I having thoughts that I would be embarrassed if my parents knew them?
Am I having thoughts that are judgmental?
Am I having thoughts that are hateful?
Am I having thoughts that would lift others up, or tear them down?
Am I having thoughts that would further my relationship with God?
Am I having thoughts that are honoring to God?
If thoughts turn into actions that I should always strive to make my thoughts something pleasing and honoring to God, so that in turn, my life will please and honor God.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Why can't I just get it??
The Bible doesn't say "Find a church, get comfortable, become best friends with the Minister's wife, and then reach out to the community and show God's love." We are first and foremost called to love our neighbors as ourselves. Because when you come to the final scene of your life, and you are standing before a perfect and blameless God; no one else is there with you. You are all alone. You are accountable for yourself, and you can't lie. There's no, "Oh, well just let me tell you what I was going to do tomorrow!" or "But I had so many good ideas!" If you failed to turn you're thoughts into actions when you still had the chance, you're out of luck.
"Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?" James 2:14
Do not think that you have to find your perfect place in life before being able to comfort the needs of others. Serving is about surrendering everything that you have, no matter what it is, so that some one else may feel a touch of God's love in their life. There's always going to be someone who has it worse off than you, no matter how awful you think you have it. There's always going to be excuses.
The Bible has a lot to say about excuses...
"Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help. If you say, 'Hey that's none of my business,' will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know - Someone who is not impressed with weak excuses." Proverbs 24:11
"And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we'll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives."
1 John 2:28
And the list goes on...
Eden, stop making excuses!! I'll serve when my small group wants to do something... I'll love others when I'm in Mexico... I'll be nicer to people when my youth leader is watching... But God, I just really don't want to help anyone today! Can't you see, I'm tired. I just want to be alone. God, that person hasn't showered all week, you want me to talk to them? I'll go find them later... God, why do I always have to do the gross work? Why can't I ever do something glamorous where someone will see me? Why is this so hard?
Just stop.
No more.
Get off your butt and get off your excuses.
I never said that following me would be easy, but I said that I would never leave you or forsake you. Your reward in heaven will be far and above greater than you could ever imagine if you will just obey my words. Just start, don't wait. There's people all around you that need me, in your school, on your street, even in your church. Reach out, even a simple act of small kindness can change the course of someones life. The time has come. Because when it comes to the end, and you are standing in front of me, I desperately want to reach out to you with open arms and welcome you into the kingdom.
"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master, now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving." Colossians 2:7-9
"Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?" James 2:14
Do not think that you have to find your perfect place in life before being able to comfort the needs of others. Serving is about surrendering everything that you have, no matter what it is, so that some one else may feel a touch of God's love in their life. There's always going to be someone who has it worse off than you, no matter how awful you think you have it. There's always going to be excuses.
The Bible has a lot to say about excuses...
"Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help. If you say, 'Hey that's none of my business,' will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know - Someone who is not impressed with weak excuses." Proverbs 24:11
"And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we'll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives."
1 John 2:28
And the list goes on...
Eden, stop making excuses!! I'll serve when my small group wants to do something... I'll love others when I'm in Mexico... I'll be nicer to people when my youth leader is watching... But God, I just really don't want to help anyone today! Can't you see, I'm tired. I just want to be alone. God, that person hasn't showered all week, you want me to talk to them? I'll go find them later... God, why do I always have to do the gross work? Why can't I ever do something glamorous where someone will see me? Why is this so hard?
Just stop.
No more.
Get off your butt and get off your excuses.
I never said that following me would be easy, but I said that I would never leave you or forsake you. Your reward in heaven will be far and above greater than you could ever imagine if you will just obey my words. Just start, don't wait. There's people all around you that need me, in your school, on your street, even in your church. Reach out, even a simple act of small kindness can change the course of someones life. The time has come. Because when it comes to the end, and you are standing in front of me, I desperately want to reach out to you with open arms and welcome you into the kingdom.
"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master, now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving." Colossians 2:7-9
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Thanks for the Memories...
2009 - another one for the books.
It was a good year, a challenging year, and a growing year. I went to Camp Adventure and Mexico over the summer which turned out to be the best two weeks of my life so far. I have met some amazing people who have challenged me to live my life better. I said goodbye to my great-grandma who lived to be 94. I've had to let go of some friendships and trust that God knows what he's doing. I have stayed up far past my bed time to finish homework. I went to Memphis Tennesee and got inspired to live a life filled with love toward others. I led a group of girls at Renewal, which was both challenging, tiring, but extremely rewarding in the end. I was a single lady, a dreamer, and urban for a night! :) I went ice skating at a Chick Night and then was best friends with Nicole Ditto. I started dating an amazing guy. I realized that you can have a best friend live far away from you. (J-Love in Fort Wayne!!) And lastly, the biggest thing to happen to me was that I publicly declared my huge love and devotion to Jesus Christ. I got baptized alongside my brother and sister and many friends. It was one of the best nights of my life!
God, help me to not stop growing in 2010. Show me how to live for you in everything I say and do.
It was a good year, a challenging year, and a growing year. I went to Camp Adventure and Mexico over the summer which turned out to be the best two weeks of my life so far. I have met some amazing people who have challenged me to live my life better. I said goodbye to my great-grandma who lived to be 94. I've had to let go of some friendships and trust that God knows what he's doing. I have stayed up far past my bed time to finish homework. I went to Memphis Tennesee and got inspired to live a life filled with love toward others. I led a group of girls at Renewal, which was both challenging, tiring, but extremely rewarding in the end. I was a single lady, a dreamer, and urban for a night! :) I went ice skating at a Chick Night and then was best friends with Nicole Ditto. I started dating an amazing guy. I realized that you can have a best friend live far away from you. (J-Love in Fort Wayne!!) And lastly, the biggest thing to happen to me was that I publicly declared my huge love and devotion to Jesus Christ. I got baptized alongside my brother and sister and many friends. It was one of the best nights of my life!
God, help me to not stop growing in 2010. Show me how to live for you in everything I say and do.
Friday, January 1, 2010
EXCITEMENT!!
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