Things that aggravate me:

I know that once I say it on the internet there is no turning back.  However my convictions are strong.  A lot of these pondering's come from Follow Me by David Platt.  Go read the book.  It will change your life.  For real.

SO....things that aggravate me:

1-how Christ views the church and we view the church are two separate entities.  The church is not 'FBC of *insert city*' or 'St. *insert name*'.  The church is you and I.  Last summer I got asked what would happen to the church if a fire took out the building, and I had the pleasure of leading a guy to understand fully what 'the church' was.  That the church is who Christ calls to be His.  Period.

2- how cultural Christianity is running rampant before my eyes.  I know too many people going to hell to not address this issue.  It doesn't matter for an instant what happened when you were 5...7...9 years old.  What about now?  Salvation is not a one a one-time deal and then finished.  Salvation is a day-by-day process.  Christ is THE only way to heaven, and a personal relationship with Him until death do us part.

3-how we have to be different people at church.  One time I remember saying 'pissed off' at something or whatever at church, and someone told me that I should wait to say it until I am not at church.  As if Christ doesn't already know our hearts?  So we need to be a stained glass masquerade on Sunday's?  I'm here to tell y'all-I don't want to fall into that category.  If I am pissed off-I'm gonna be pissed, and will speak my mind.  Jesus and I will talk it out later.  Thank you.

4- how language controls my life.  With being pissed off-since I'm going to say it 9474721 times in a blog.  I am pissed off at my language these days.  Sheesh.  Hell, Damn, God, and Jesus Christ need to be words describing either my Savior or what happens to those who don't know Him.  Not what happens when I bite my tongue, or accidentally run a stop sign.

5- how much sin SUCKS and tries to overrule our lives.  Romans 7 is the cry of my heart, 100% of the time basically.  I wish I could punch Satan in the face; all the time.

6- how can we spend thousands of dollars on mundane things, like food courts for mega-churches, or random things that won't matter next year when thousands of people are plummeting into Hell DAILY. I am not bashing mega-churches or anything-I am simply stating the facts:  people are going to hell.  Let's GO tell 'em about the Hope they don't know about! :) 

7- how people assume that missionaries are 'called'.  Nope.  Once becoming a Christian you are called to spread the gospel.  You are called to go to the ends of the earth.  For ever?  Not necessarily.  But for a period of time?  Yep.

Thank you for listening.  Tune in next time for a lighter blog probably.  This is what happens the night before my final for American Literature.  Instead of studying..

And that was the death of me and Literature

As if I already didn't appreciate Literature, Maymester is the death to my philosophy of any kind of literature.  I really don't like the crazy underlying meaning, I am too up-front for all this stuff.  If you want to say something, just say it.  Why write about it in a poem sketchily.  If you want to say 'she is a promiscuous but a  good girl', just SAY IT.  Don't use a pink ribbon in her hair to signify it; I will not pick up on it unless you USE WORDS and tell me; is that not the point of language?  Sheesh.

I apologize to all my English-y friends.  I hope you can forgive me. (Becca...)

And in other news I realized I have wisdom teeth-brutally.  Chocolate chips are now death to my teeth.  I have an appt. May 30th to get 'em check out.  The woman on the phone goes 'if you need to get them removed would you like to do it that day?'.....I was like, really?  Don't worry-I think I had a heart attack *cue song in your head*.  All this happened in the span of 2 hours mind you.
So if this actually happens-i will have spent TWO summers having spontaneous surgery.  My life.

My crazy adventures with Ashleigh, which are not worth any amount of $.  That is probably the best part of Maymester.  Never knowing what will happen when you put us together.  I can only imagine a whole year with that crazy chica.  Random adventures sums up our hangouts/times together.
Also, going to Trisha and JD's new house everyday to help them get it...more put together than the day before with Madison.  I think we are going to be in their will for the cabinets, the cabinet doors, and the flooring.  But really.  All our love languages are quality time, so we are just loving it up this week!
This is my life.  I know.  So exillerating.

Mid way point for Am. Lit!

Well- I am 5 days in to class and have had my mid-term!  I am hoping for a B.  Depends on how leniently she grades....hehe.   It's actually been a pretty fun class that I have actually enjoyed kinda learning about!
I have had a wonderful week filled with lots of fun people.
I have gotten to hang out with various friends, and even see Shane and Shane on Wednesday night!

These guys are my heroes.  But really.  The guy on the left sings as high as I do.....I'm a soprano.

I had the pleasure of seeing the concert with Ash, Lindy, and Wes (photo cred.).  It was a super fun night!  Then we all went to Gangus Grill for a late dinner.  It was SO delicious.  I love that place.  Then Lindy and I hung out, and stayed up much too late talking about life.  It was so good for my heart.  But really.

I call it our discipleship tree....love these ladies so much.

I have had sleepovers with Becca, which involves us baking, ordering pizza, and talking about boys.  I have gotten to hang out with Christa, and Elaine, which also involves baking, food, and talking about boys.  Yes-we are typical girls-don't judge.  I finally practiced piano-more like played some Jesus piano and learned the theme for my piano piece this summer.  Either way my fingers missed it.  So lame.  So true.

Lately I have been so overcome with Jesus' faithfulness.  Sin separates us from Him without Christ-and He still looks at us with such love, and calls us to be with Him through Christ.  BLAHHHHHHHH that is crazy.  We willingly disobey, over and over, and He wipes it away every time.  He keeps no record of how many times I have screwed up.  

Whoa.

The analyses of May-mester-day 1.

May-mester has started.  American Literature.  Day 1 we talked about the American Dream.  What is the typical american dream verses mine?  Basically fire and ice.  I don't plan to reside in America in a year.  One year and a few months from now I will be studying abroad in China Lord willing, to hopefully move somewhere in East Asia after.  So-at the very beginning my dream is not just an American dream, but a world-minded dream.  I'll post some of my journal from class.

"My American dream is to develop as many close friends as possible to do life with, with full intentions of leaving and scarcely coming back, but knowing life will keep us connected...My dream is to be able to leave for how ever long, come back, and people know me only by the great God that I serve...I dream to travel with my best friends I've made here at MC...I dream of cloudy skies that inhabit because of pollution.  I dream of taking every blue sky captive in my thoughts, and pray to never forget the sight, smells, and basic vicinity of it all."

I am sometimes quite dramatic with my thoughts so I apologize, however you get the jist of it all.

The Lord is clearly showing me that I am not even close to finished with this task, of making as many close friends as possible.  I am still eagerly having friend crushes; how God and I communicate of who to befriend and when.  I love how life happens before my eyes, and I still have the pleasure of glorifying the Lord with my life here in America, with my future life in Asia, and with my past experiences.  I love watching Romans 8:28 come alive in my life, daily; no matter the circumstance.

That is day 1.  Short.  Sweet.  To the point.  I don't plan to blog every day, but with the amount of time I have right now, who knows what to expect!

Finals-I'm a senior.

Finals were in full swing, and being knocked out left and right by some people.
Or some people like me had one final every day-dragging it out as extensively as possible, saving the best for last * sarcasm*.
Here is my blog about final week-because this semester is my last time to have all these core music classes!  *Hallelujah chorus sounds*

Music History and Cross-Cultural were Friday and Saturday.  Yup.  Not bad.

I decided to take a sporadic trip to the 228 (home) for Saturday and Sunday because I wanted 3 things:
1- to drive on the beach and have Jesus time with my feet in the sand.
2- to go to the revival BVBC is having and just be at my home church.
3- to see my dad.  He's pretty cool.
I ended up going to an internal medicine doctor.  Because I am re-getting this whole cough til you die thing, while I still have it!  It's crazy!  So.  Long story short something about allergies...I must be PRETTY allergic to SOMETHING around here.  Whew.

never get's old.

Juries:  I can hardly believe I finished the dreaded advanced standing:  I sang an English, Italian, and German piece.  That is exactly the combo I wanted and I am ever so thankful that is how it got chosen.  Then piano is one that always is a motivation booster because the teachers are appreciative that I practice.  I can count on one A every semester!

Aural Skills...........we dictated this awesome song as seen below.  It's an even better song when I don't have to understand the complexity to it.  Oh well.

Form and analysis.......our final?  the class name is quite self-explanatory.  We analysed music and diagrammed the form of it all.  Hoping your case is plausible.

And with that-there ends my junior year of college.

Grand picture of us with below-average scores on a test!

I can not believe I am a senior and have 2 semesters left, Lord willing (but really).  I am about to have a year of 'lasts', Lord willing.  First is the summer where I anticipate the Lord having big plans; He always does.  Getting to study piano with one of my favorite people I don't get to see much anymore, and studying/doing the bible with Lindy makes taking 4 core classes manageable.
Until then.....here we go with the close-down of campus #raproblems and then the SHORT transition from spring semester to maymester.

packing....i'd rather have my teeth pulled out. with no drugs.  but really