I've Been Tagged...

I was "tagged" by Stephanie. Here goes...

1. One book that changed your life: (Other than the Bible) A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George

3. One book I’d want on a desert island: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

4. One book that made me laugh: I Rode the Pink Pig published by Hill Street Press

5. One book that made me cry: Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore

6. One book that you wish you had written: Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey

7. One book you wish had never been written: Political Science, An Introduction (current text book)

8. One book that you are currently reading: Mythology by Edith Hamilton

9. One book that you’ve been meaning to read: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

Words of Encouragement

The following appeared in a devotional, A Faithful Soldier, put together for Dr. Jerry Vines' retirement.


Old Time Religion

The only time I saw W. A. Criswell was during the 1998 Pastor's Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Silence filled the room as he was helped up the stairs. Then, with a clear, powerful voice, this aging man brought the greatest sermon I have ever heard. Though I was only twelve years old, I knew I was in the presence of a great man of God. I can still hear his words echoing faintly as he closed his sermon by leading the congregation in, "Give me that old time religion..."

Having answered the call to ministry when I was thirteen, I was prepared to enter it with enthusiasm and hard endurance. It felt like pure bliss in that air of youth to think of serving Jesus every day of my life. Now, having taken just a tiny step through the threshold of the ministry, I suddenly realize what hard endurance is. When answering the call, no one every warned me of the unwanted jobs that become yours, the grumpy guests, and the shattered heart that often accompanies your day-to-day life. The ministry held a new light. Not only was it the passon of my existence, but at times,it was also the thorn that piereced my very heart. Discouragement can surround me with its grip of weakness, causing me to feel overwhelmed. I can find myself thinking that I am giving it my best shot and sacrificeing all, yet everthing concerning my ministry lies in a heap of cold, unwanted ashes. During these moments, I wonder if there is even a flicker of passion left for this calling that Christ has asked of me. But then I remember, He asked this of me. Jesus, the One who spilt His precious blood, asked me to endure for His sake just a little heartache, compared to what He sacrificed for me.

The ministry once again rises before me. Though challenges loom ahead and the rain of despair can at times be heavy, these aches can be shattered with the joy of ministering. It will be worth every bit of pain if I touch the heart of a child, make a minister's load lighter, or have a hand in leading a heart to Christ. And throughout my life of ministry, somewhere a distant echo will encourage me onward, "Give me that old time religion, 'cause it's good enough for me..."

Lauren at the Lakehouse

This weekend I spent a few days with Katie and her family at a lakehouse. It was a wonderful time to get away from the beginnings of a hard semester, enjoy God's creation, and relax with friends.
I have also became a fan of the tv show "24" and managed to watch 5 or 6 hours during my stay....

Katie & I bonded with nature by canoeing and horseback riding...A storm came up while we were canoeing and we rushed our 83 pound boat up about 200 feet of steep stairs....I discovered sore muscles that I didn't even know existed.

A College Woman & Responsibility?

I was telling J.V. the other day that my motto for this semester is, "To do what's right." I know, the ultimate of cheesy, but it's true. I'm taking some classes that demand reading (Great Books), working a 15 hour week as an Ambassador, and also participating as the "Coordinator of Infants Through Ones" at Highview. It's work, it's not always fun, but it's "the right thing to do" in this season of life. All of these commitments have brought up the concept of responsibility and discipline. Several times I've been tried to be persuaded that I should go see a movie, and had to decline (weekends, friends), and go do a load of laundry and read. Other times I've been asked to go play a game, and had to instead enjoy reading Mythology.

My planner has become my best friend and my reading glasses have kept the position of my right-hand-man. Just today I took a deep sigh as I slid into my 8:30 class and congratulated myself on making it through a week of classes....Only to discover 20 minutes later that I didn't need this class with the changes they had made with the Christian Ed. and Church Leadership degree. 2 hours later, I have now memorized the classes being offered, dropped a class, added a class, talked with an advisor about my education, ran by academic records, and now sit in utter defeat of any kind of congratulations to bestow upon myself.

With all that said on responsibility, I'm off on vacation to enjoy a much needed weekend of relaxation, ‘destress’, and fun.

A College Woman & A Bookcase

These past couple of days...weeks...have been remarkably busy. Between getting settled back into my room, to going to Highview's Kids' Camp, to student orientation, the days have flown by.

Before the craziness of orientation was to ensue, I decided around 8 pm last night that I should go ahead and purchase a much needed bookcase and assemble it before Friday morning hit. After a trip to Target, I lugged a huge box of what-would-be-a-bookcase into my small dorm room. Upon removing the many materials of lumber, nails, and instructions, I found that I was beginning to feel like a carpenter. After I carefully separated all the screws, nails, and what-nots, I opened the instructions. The first words that hit me read, "Before you begin, You may find it helpful to have a helper while assembling unit." Helper was not available, so I told Jesus He was going to have to do a few things to make this work out well. Suffice to say, 2 hours later I managed to build a bookcase all by myself....It does wobble a little, but I'm sure it's suppose to do that.

2 College Women & A Suitcase

I arrived in Louisville late yesterday afternoon. In what felt like 200 degree weather, I began the task of unloading a packed car. By my 5th trip up to my dorm room, I decided that I would wait for my good friend J.V. before trying the impossible task of getting a really stuffed suitcase out of the trunk. J.V. arrived from work and agreed to helping in my endeavor...So off we went to my car.
Upon opening the trunk we stared in silence at a "Tuscan orange" suitcase that was bulging in every direction. My Dad had kindly hoisted it and plopped it into the trunk, and as to getting it out--That would be a whole adventure in itself. But with determination J.V. and I grabbed on and pulled with all our strength! It didn't budge. 5 min. later, we had examined the suitcase from every angle, stopped pulling every time a car passed because of how stupid we were looking, and I was beginning to chant along with J.V.'s new motto "pull up and out, up and out, no Lauren, up and then out." Finally we decided to give it one last heave before giving up, and with that the suitcase came out and we almost fell over onto the pavement with the momentum we had built up. One could then observe us pulling it up the stairs and watching it fall over every time we had to put it down. Needless to say, I have mastered the art of packing a lot and the joy of unpacking it all again....