I miss my sisters...

It's almost 2 a.m. and all I can think about is my sisters. I haven't seen 'em for a while and I want to hang out with them. It's so wierd...when I lived at home, I got so sick of them. But now that I don't share a room with them, I miss them so much!

Small things with great love...

What really stood out to me is where he says, "If satan can't steal your soul then he will keep you busy with meaningless church work!"



Celebrate!!!

Another Way...

I will never forget how, one day, I came home from working at Dairy Queen (e.i. hell on earth) in tears because there was a lady there who was absolutely hateful to me! I half-hoped that my step-dad would offer words of encouragement to me...but instead, he just cleared his throat and said, "Keep your head down and do your job and you'll have nothing to worry about." Some kind of encouragement!

We are taught to mind our own business (while keeping tabs on who's doing what and making sure everyone else knows about it) and to ignore all our taunters, a mother's safety net for advise, (while we plan the ultimate revenge). And that is just the christians...who can a lot of times be worse than non-christians. But there is someone else...someone who hates religion and rules. Someone who teaches a much more radical lesson.

Jesus Christ taught us to turn the other cheek (Luke 6:29). He taught us to share what you have and be hospitable (Romans 12:12-13). He taught us to love people, even if they aren't in our "social class" (Romans 12:16)

So how, then, did we happen to stray so far from this message that we are overseas killing people who may or may not have harmed us? What ever happened to turning the other cheek? Or living in harmony with one another?

How is it, then, that we have people starving all over the world when we have more than enough food for everyone? What happened to sharing with God's people who are in need?

And how is it that we sit in our offices and write checks to different charities and then go back to surfing the web for more things we don't need? We have distanced ourselves from the hurting. So much so that we can easily fool ourselves into thinking that that check is enough. What ever happened to being willing to associate with people of low position?

Satan sees those people who are hurting and laughs...then he sees those people with hearts yearning to do something, and he cringes. 'what can be done about this?', he asks himself. And so he sets to work, weaving a lie that more possessions will make us happy...painting a portrait that shows happy, smiling faces in big, luxurious mansions and whispers in our ears that this is the way. He dances us into a world of masks and fake laughs...a whirlwind of nothingness. All the while, outside our little clubs and groups, there are people wanting to be loved. And inside our groups, there are people wanting to love.

I say that we take back our lives...and that we LIVE them!!! That we revive that time-tested dance that Jesus Christ was crucified for! I say we dance without fear (for perfect love casts out all fear) and vow to become even more undignified than this! Go...you sons and daughters of the most powerful, majestic, and undignified King...go into your calcutta and love like it was your weapon against that evil snake! Because, technically, it is. Our love (the love God has for us and the love He gave us to give out) is something that Satan trembles at.

so, go...MAKE HIM TREMBLE!!!!

A little Update...

I started my new job this week. I am now employed at Evenglow Inn. It's really different than what I've done in the past. I still wipe butts, do showers, dress people, etc. But now I also do activities, housekeeping, laundry, and soon...cooking! I'm definately nervous about that last one....me? Having to cook for 30 people? Oh, my! All the people there have either alzheimers or age related dementia. That tends to make this job a lot more taxing on my mind because I have to stay ahead of the game. Sometimes I stop and look around and think...what am I doing here? I feel slow, lost, and in-over-my-head sometimes. But then moments like these happen...

There is a guy named Warren there. He has alzheimer's and you have to be slow and talk soft around him. If he feels threatened in any way, he may hit you. Basically, when you can get him washed up for bed, you'd better do it! No matter what time it is! So, my trainer Linda was getting him ready for bed tonight and I was watching TV with Warren's sister. All the sudden I hear "Help!" coming from his room. I get up and run over and Linda is holding his pajama pants and warren is in the corner holding tightly to his khakis! She said she needed a second person. So, we held his hands and pulled down the pants. He then proceeded to sit down so we couldn't do anything else. Linda looked stressed and I was thinking, "What are we gonna do? We have to get something on him?" As soon as I thought that, a plan popped in my mind! I told Linda to put a new pull-up and his pants on around his ankles. I got a rag and towel ready. As he stood up, we ripped off the old pull-up, cleaned him, pulled up his new one and his pj's. Success! Sweet success!

It is at moments like these that I feel ahead of the game! Woohoo!

So far, I've encountered wanderers (who like to walk around and hate sitting for meals), a southern drama queen, a woman we affectionately call Mama who carries a doll (named either Roger or Emily) and loves anything chocolate, a woman who has a hard time hearing herself so she yells all the time, people who LOVE to lay in bed, a person who hates to eat, and many more.

Here are some quirky things about alzhiemer's patients:

~they begin to hate water as their disease progresses
~they have a hard time with changes of color on the floor (they think it's a hole)
~they don't like loud noises
~towards the end (their death) they start to see kids or their parents

I feel really special when I work with these people! I'm excited about this job and I will keep you posted and tell you all funny stories.
~lola~

Criss Angel

Lately, I've been unable to go to sleep until late...in fact, it is 1:40 right now and I'm not tired. But, anyways, I've been searching on YouTube and I decided to look up David Blaine which then led me to Criss Angel. I have watched about 20 of his videos...including him with voodoo, being impaled by a fence, impaling a man with his arm, and swallowing a quarter and cutting his arm open and pulling it out through there. I have come to the conclusion that Criss Angel is satanic! This is no joke...Criss Angel IS SATANIC!!!
~Lola~

We'll never know...

There's a song that we sing all the time in worship. It's called Here I Am To Worship.

There's a bridge that says...I'll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross...

How true! One of our seniors mentioned that Jesus didn't just die for our sins. He had the wrath, the judgement...of all man-kind...poured out on Him. All that sin was given to Him and He was given the punishment of every one of those sins. And since sinners go to hell...

Jesus literally went through hell for us!!! Wow! I mean...wow!

And when you surrender your life to Jesus Christ, that means you really will never KNOW what it cost. We will never know hell...

I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.

Amen!
~Lola~
P.S.---Thanks Gideon.

My baseball bat

For so long, I've heard of the metaphorical baseball bat. God uses it when He really needs to get through to us. And this weekend, He used it....big time!

Friday night at Dare2Share, Greg Stier talked about some people who are one person at church and another during the rest of the week. And that was me...

For the past couple of weeks, I felt abandoned by God. I felt like He had just up and left. I wanted Him to tell me something and there was nothing but silence...at least I thought so. But, going on this trip, I thought that it was important that I at least fake it because as a leader you need to be an example to students. So, while I was talking about how amazing God was, I was feeling alone and angry.

Greg talked about choosing a side...about not being two different people...about living sold out to Christ. And while he talked, something shifted inside of me. His words went straight to my heart. That's when it happened....

WHAM!!!!

I got smacked upside the head with God's baseball. I waited so long for a sign...something, anything. And I got it! He told me to choose a side and stop jumping the fence. Follow Him fully or not at all. It was exactly what I needed to hear!

God is good! He will show you things...in His time. I've heard this so much but, only when I am lying on the floor praising God for His mighty blow, do I realize just how true it is. He loves you. He loves me. He's there and He will never leave or forsake you. And just when you need it, He's waiting...bat in hand if need be.

Before I part ways with you, I just want to thank the Good Lord that four people in our group surrendered their hearts to Christ. Congrats to Jamie Morse and Christine Eilts!!! Love you guys so much!
~Lola~

Dare2Share

I am so incredibly privelidged that I get to go tomorrow with a bunch of students to a conference up by Chicago. It's called Dare2Share. It's all about learning how to share your faith with your friends. There is great music, great speakers, and great students...I can't wait! Stay tuned for an overview of what happens.
~Lola~

Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley

Watch this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2NEU6Xf7lM&NR=1

My friend Michelle introduced this song to me. I found these guys singing it and I think they're amazing!

Marty Cotter gives his testimony...

Tonight at Crossroads, Marty Cotter will be giving his testimony. I've never heard it before, so I'm pretty excited! I think it has something to do with being a rodeo clown and an exotic dancer but that could all just be rumor. We will find out soon and I will let you all know...!

Pray for Marty! Also, pray for Lena (one of our junior-highers) because she is leading worship!

Also, I want to give props to Troy Watson! Last Wednesday he taught at the student-led crossroads. He taught on faith and it rocked! Lena led worship along with the other girls and everyone had a great time playing "fish out of water". Lydia Bill demonstrated her faith by falling into a waiting crowd and hoping they would be able to catch her. You guys all rock!!!!

Crossroads is our junior high ministry at PBC and I just wanna say that I am priviledged to be a leader there. We have an amazing group of students and some equally amazing leaders!

Thank you all,
~Lola~

Bands Worth Checking Out

I was searching the internet and checking out different bands last night and here are some that I really like...

Kings Of Leon

Kill Hannah

Arctic Monkeys

Yeah, yeah, yeah's

Modest Mouse

Franz Ferdinand

The Strokes

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

The Raincoats

And some classics:

Flock of Seagulls (I love 'em!)

Kansas

Night Ranger

David Bowie

Talking Heads


These are some of my newly discovered favorites! Go on YouTube and check 'em out!
~Lola~

Life and Getting Older

Lately, I've been noticing all the changes going on.

In about three months, I will be 19 years old. My sister will be 24 the month after that and my brother will be 21. I remember playing in the backyard with them and getting into trouble all the time. Now my sister is planning her wedding and my brother is getting really serious with his girlfriend. It's unreal to think that we are old enough for that. While growing up, it felt like the days drug on and on but now, as I look back, it seems like it was just yesterday that my sister and I were playing with dolls together. I know it sounds corny, but time flies!

Another thing that is unreal to me, is that Ken and Kara actually have a kid. We've always joked with them about it and then they were pregnant and it still didn't feel real, but now they are the proud parents of a very cute little boy and it is so wierd. Ken and Kara are parents! Wow! Freaky! But totally cool!

Things change so fast! Right now I feel really out of place and I know what I want but now may not be the time. One lesson that I've been able to learn is that, though I feel really uncontent right now and I feel like I want things to hurry up, time goes fast. As I sit in my dinky little efficiency apartment, talking to the wall and planning all the ways I could destroy this wretched building, I can take comfort in the fact that this will all be over soon. Time hides it's speed behind a mask of slow, crawing monotony. Joy!
~Lola~

True Love..

I have at last found my true love. <3>

~Lola~