Katie’s Blog!

Hello, my dear readers,

Today I am going to stand on a box.  It is sometimes called a Soap Box.  Please do not get offended, but see my heart about this subject.  Also, if you do not go to Lee University then you will have no idea what I am talking about.  I apologize to my readers at home for that.  Ok, here we go … 

1 John 4

“ 7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

 13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

   God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

 18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.19 We love each other because he loved us first.

 20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.”

1 Corinthians 12-13

“12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:

   first are apostles,
   second are prophets,
   third are teachers,
   then those who do miracles,
   those who have the gift of healing,
   those who can help others,
   those who have the gift of leadership,
   those who speak in unknown languages.

 29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.

   But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.

 1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

 

 

I also want you to think about who Jesus spent most of his time with:  the outcasts, the lonely, the broken.  Jesus NEVER excluded anyone who desired to be with him.  I mean, why would he?  If he came to die for ALL people, then why would he exclude anyone who did not deny him?!  As Christians, followers of Christ, we are called to show the same love as Christ did.  We are not the judge of people; it is NOT our place to judge them or exclude them from the body of Christ, or any organization that claims to profess Christ.  

Does anyone know what I am talking about yet?  ((Is anyone even reading this?!))   

You guessed it.  I am talking about Lee University’s Greek Clubs.  How can a campus that claims “Christ is King” promote such organizations?!  If there was one question I would ask Dr. Conn, it would be why on earth he ever started a greek club.  It makes me sick when I think about all of the administrators that support these organizations, especially our campus pastor.  How can it be?  I don’t understand.  

The love of God that I know, that I have experienced, that I read about, that I have studied about, is not found in these clubs.  There are many students that are in these clubs who are GREAT people, but I don’t understand how they can love God so much and not love ALL people.  If they loved all people, then they would NEVER deny membership to anyone.  Do you know the kind of pain that inflicts?  It makes me sick to think about all of the hurt children of God have experienced FROM ‘fellow’ children of God.  It hurts my heart, and it hurts my spirit.  

Ok, I think I am done.  Feel free to comment.

*See edit at the bottom*

This week has been a great week.  I have enjoyed seeing friends that I have not seen in a while, as well as my wonderful professors!  :)   You can call me a nerd if you want, but I think my professors are cool.  :)

I like most of my classes so far.  They will each be challenging in their own way.  This summer I took the second half of History of Christianity, and now I am taking the first half, with a different professor.  (One just happens to teach it in the summer, and the other teaches it in the fall and spring.)   This class will be difficult, because I had gotten comfortable with the teaching style, as well as the selection of material of one professor, and now I have to transition to a whole other class.  Also, the students in the class now are not all theology majors, and sometimes theology majors offer a different take on things, and have different perspectives to offer, than do other students.  I have come to love the atmosphere theology students offer the class, and I will miss that.  Oh well, I have 3 theology classes I can get my fill of that in.  :)  

(Ok, that last paragraph was just a really long, roundabout, trying-to-be-nice way of saying that I don’t like the teaching style of my new prof and that some of the students in the class are not so smart.  There, I said it.)

Ok, well, my life has been pretty boring outside of class … MINUS my new CELL PHONE!  yay!!  It is the little things, and the not so little things in life that make me happy  

I hope to start the semester off well by studying a lot and not procrastinating.  I also want to hang out and have fun.  But that requires having friends.  And sometimes I don’t feel like I have any, but that is mainly because they are all so busy!   And most of the time I am doing hw.   So, if you are reading this and you are in Cleveland, take some time out of your busy schedule and make me hang out this semester!!!  :)  

*edit*  I was talking to one of my very wise professors today, and he was asking about my plans for after I graduate, and I told him that I am not really sure.  His reply?  ”It’s refreshing to hear that.”

It didn’t hit me until now, as I was busy as a bee at the time, making copies.  But I think I get it;  I can hear God saying, “It’s refreshing to hear that you are finally putting your trust in me, and that you have quit trying to plan your own life.  I am glad you finally decided to stop doing things your way so that you can follow my way.”  

Thanks for reading,

Katie

Oh, and, to those of you who offered your encouragement and prayers on my last post, THANK YOU!  I really do appreciate it!  :)

wow.  my emotions are kind of on a high these past few days…  

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 will be my last, first day of classes at Lee University.  I still can’t believe it.  I will graduate in December -December 13, 2008 to be exact.  (and YOU better be there!  jk .. ok, not really, but I understand if you can’t make it…)  

Yesterday I was going through and cleaning out some stuff (partly to get organized for the new semester, and partly to make the move in December a LOT easier!).  I came across my notes from camp a while back.

One thing really stuck out to me:  ”When you want God like you want air, you’ll find God.”  

There was a powerful story that went along with it, but I don’t remember it ..sorry!  I just know that desiring God in that capacity can only lead to the life that I want to live.  

So, I have been pondering this quote all day, and I had decided I wanted to blog about it.  But when I started to blog, all that came to my mind was the events of this coming week.  So, that’s what I began to type.  But then I remembered what I had really wanted to write about.  And began to think about that week at camp, and the other things I had written that week … and I realized that God was unfolding something beautiful right in front of me.  

Those notes were from camp 2005.   For those of you who either a) don’t know me that well, or b) have a bad memory, that was my last year as a camper — the summer after high school graduation -the summer before I came to Lee.  

As I sit here, typing my heart out, I am in the last 48 hours or so of my last summer that will end at Lee University.  And yet, God is using words that spoke into my life the first fearful summer preceding my first semester at Lee, to speak to me yet again, in the last summer which precedes my final semester at Lee University.  ((yeah, sorry that is very confusing, but once you can comprehend what I said, you, too, will recognize the beauty in it))

And maybe the beauty is in what Pastor Kevin said at church this morning.  Kevin preached on hindrances to the assignments of God, the assignments God has given each of us.  Kevin said God told him this morning that the assignments are about to get specific.  Kevin also said a few other things that are a little hard for me to convey here, esp considering I am having trouble tonight with my words as it is …

However, what Kevin said spoke right to me.  I want to be open to whatever God has for me in my life-after-Lee.  And, I am ready to know specifics.   Ok, well, at least I think I am.  And if I am not ready, then God, please prepare me, because I am getting really close to DOING this post-Lee assignment … and I am excited, and scared out of my mind, and anxious, and ready to break free, and worried, and peaceful and ready to jump out of my pants all at the same time.  

• I am a plan-ahead kinda gal.
• I currently have no plan. 

• I sooo want to be close to my family again.
• I want to be wherever God can use me in my fullest capacity -even if it is farther from home.  (ouch, that stings …)

• I am extremely tired of school.
• If God wants me to continue my education, I will.  (that, too, is quite difficult to say…)

• I want to do great things for God – sometimes even in capacities that aren’t “traditionally” for a woman
• I don’t want to offend anyone, especially those I love.  

One last thing.  I am praying for connections.  Connections for my future, my future job, and for my future ministry.  Please pray with me.  Thanks!  

Until next time,

Katie 

ps  I love comments!  :)

This past Christmas, someone (very special) gave me a book: The Fred Factor, by Mark Sanborn.  In order to follow in line with my usual reading habits, I read half of it, and enjoyed it very much, yet never finished it.  Life got busy, and I forgot about the book.  Well, you guessed it, I started reading it again today.  I didn’t get very far, but I think I will finish it within the week.  However, there is a reason I am sharing this with you.  I read something today that was very impacting.  The whole book is about being a “Fred.”  ((You will have to read the book to find out what that means!))  This is what caught my attention and thoughts for a while:  ”Freds find satisfaction in their passion for significance.  They distinguish themselves not by the results they’ve achieved, but by how they’ve affected and touched others.”  

Wow.  That is powerful!  If you know me, then you now that I am an OVERACHIEVER.  Sometimes my procrastination kicks in, but most of the time, I strive for more than excellence.  

I do this for a few reasons.  1. I am a people-pleaser.  I love to make people happy!   2. Excellence gets you where you need to go.   3. As a representative of Christ, I am obligated to strive for excellence.   4.  I enjoy feed off of recognition.   

Ok, so the last reason?  Yeah, Mark Sanborn would give me a big thumbs down on that one.  He talks about your motivation for being a “Fred.”  He would approve of #1 and #3 as acceptable motivations, but 2 and 4….    #2 is simple a way of living.  #4 is where I struggle.  and always have.  I am a person who needs to hear words of affirmation.  Maybe it stems from a lag in self-confidence, but nonetheless, I need to hear them.  (The best place to hear them is from the Word of God, but being human, I still need human affirmation.)  

The statement I read today is one that will remind me of my true motivation in life:  to impact the lives of others for Christ.  In my mind, this is not telling as many people as I can about Christ, and it’s not scaring people into the prayer of salvation, but it’s living my life in a way that will “have a strong effect” on the quality of another person’s life.  A life of highest quality is a life that embraces relationship with Christ.  (note: this life will not remain the same, but will constantly be changing to reflect the true nature of God).  

However, there is a problem in my motivation connecting with my need for affirmation.  The “results” that I long for in my motivation are not always visible.  And even when they are, you hardly ever know that the results stem from your impact.  Therefore, I have to trust that in my best efforts I am impacting those around me, and not get caught up in the fact that I don’t know the details or the results.  I also need to tell the people who have impacted my life that they have done so.  

One more thought for the road — results achieved=self focus;  affect on others=outward focus

“They distinguish themselves not by the results they’ve achieved, but by how they’ve affected and touched others.”  

I’ll write again soon,

Katie

P.S.  Look up my senior picture in Triad’s 2005 yearbook and you’ll find a word I made up.  :)

As I sit here, watching Michael Phelps win yet another gold medal, I can’t help it:  I am fascinated.  I have always loved watching certain sports in the Olympics, mostly gymnastics.  However, this year I am intrigued by all of it!  Last night I watched about 4 hours of the Olympics, and tonight will only not be different.  I think that I love it because I feel connected with the world.  There is something special about the Olympics.  I think it’s something to do with world unity, national pride, and giving recognition to sports that are often ignored.  Think about it, nations from around the world forget their political views for a couple of weeks to come together and celebrate their athletes.  Every country supports their own, but also celebrates the talent of all nations.  AND, people who excel at sports like badminton have an opportunity to be recognized and show off their talent.  It’s just great.  :)

Onto my life the last week…

I went home for my mom’s birthday.  I originally had planned to meet my family in Alabama, but I went home.  I only told about 4 people I was coming home, 2 of which just happened to find out.  lol.  Tiffany and my Dad had no idea.  They were both very surprised to see me.  :)   My grandparents also had no idea.  My grandma was so excited, and was so happy.  I am glad I could put smiles on their faces.  

While I was home, we had a family dinner and I got to see a lot of my cousins and their kids, and my aunt and uncles.  I also got to spend time with my “weekend nephew.”  I really do love my family, and I don’t know what I would do without their love and support.  

When we got to Alabama, we spent an evening with my grandma’s family.  Then we spent time with my grandpa’s family.  It was my great aunt and uncles’ 50th anniversary.  We helped with their party, and it was really nice.  Overall, I love my family and had a fantastic time.  I have a wonderful family, and could not ask for better.

Lesson to be learned:  family comes first.  take time out of your busy schedule and spend time with them.  

Thanks for reading!  I’ll blog again soon…

Katie

PS:   Stacy: what sound does a hyena make?!!