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October 31, 2006
Shot to the Heart
"Take off the H and modify the E, and that sign is begging to be vandalized." -Pat, as we drive past the Iowa Heart Center.
Posted by Megan at 06:25 PM | Comments (4)
October 28, 2006
Overwhelmed
Modesty triumphed at the Bali last night when my costume won the contest. It came down to a girl dressed as a referee in a costume that was more or probably less a bikini with black and white stripes and myself dressed as a blue crayon. Judging was based on cheers from the audience, and the unity and purpose of my Rock bretheren landed me with a $100 gift certificate to the Bali. By the end, I didn't care about the gift certificate, but was greatful for the support as well as the moral statement that was made -- even if it won't be recognized or remembered by most of the audience. To those who stuck around and cheered -- Chinese on me sometime.
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I'm extremely fortunate to have friends who are so wise. I received a message from a friend the other day that spoke directly to my heart:
Whenever I am going through a rough time and begin to become consciencious what others think, I remember the following quote: "Never explain--your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway." When I use it as my "rough times" motto, I don't make it an admonition against sharing it with friends---it's just a reminder that I do not need to. They will love and seek to comfort me anyway. . . .
Your worth is not in others opinion of you. If you need a reminder of what it is in, it's in being a child of God. One seeking His great purpose in her life. Sure, I can say you're a compassionate, caring, honest, fun-to-be-with person and mean it and vouch for its truth, but don't put your value in it.
I checked myself several times this past week when I realized that I was indeed putting way too much value on others' opinion of me.
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My cousin is visiting Stonebrook on Sunday, and touring Iowa State on Monday. If you see us at church on Sunday, please stop by and make him feel welcome, and encourage him to come to ISU. I know it would be a blessing for him to get involved with the Rock in Ames.
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My grandfather -- my Dad's stepdad -- was burried in Ames. I've been thinking for some time that I should visit his grave, but he passed away when I was in seventh grade, so I don't remember which cemetary it's at. I decided to do a Google search for him the other night, thinking his obituary might come up. It didn't, but I was in amazed at what did.
John R. Webb was a professor of agronomy at Iowa State. I guess I didn't have respect for Professors until I went to college. But I ran across a publication that the authors dedicated to my grandpa. And I printed off a tribute that both educated and moved me. It calls him a "quiet unassuming person." How many professors do you know that fit that description? Most of mine were arrogant and egotistcal. I'm left humbled yet inspired.
Yet I also came to the realization that had it not been for Grandpa John, I probably wouldn't be in Ames. My parents wouldn't have practically forced my brother to visit ISU (which was combined in a trip to visit grandma), Pat wouldn't have been personally offered a scholarship, he probably wouldn't have gone to college here, I would never have spent a summer in Ames, and would never have been convinced that this is where God wants me to be. All this despite the fact that I'm fairly certain my grandpa was not a believer. Kinda takes your breath away, doesn't it?
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A thousand times I've failed, still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again, still I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Neverending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing You praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Neverending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart, in my soul, Lord, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out, Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Neverending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, Lord, my soul cries out
Posted by Megan at 04:41 PM | Comments (3)
October 15, 2006
24
Twenty four oceans
Twenty four skies
Twenty four failures
Twenty four tries
Twenty four finds me
In twenty-fourth place
Twenty four drop outs
At the end of the day
Life is not what I thought it was
Twenty four hours ago
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
And I'm not who I thought I was twenty four hours ago
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
Twenty four reasons to admit that I'm wrong
With all my excuses still twenty four strong
See I'm not copping out not copping out not copping out
When You're raising the dead in me
Oh, oh I am the second man
Oh, oh I am the second man now
Oh, oh I am the second man now
And You're raising these twenty four voices
With twenty four hearts
With all of my symphonies
In twenty four parts
But I want to be one today
Centered and true
I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
You're raising the dead in me
Oh, oh I am the second man
Oh, oh I am the second man now
Oh, oh I am the second man now
And You're raising the dead in me
I want to see miracles, see the world change
Wrestled the angel, for more than a name
For more than a feeling
For more than a cause
I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
And You're raising the dead in me
Twenty four voices
With twenty four hearts
With all of my symphonies
In twenty four parts.
Life is not what I thought it was
Twenty four hours ago
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms
I'm not copping out. Not copping out. Not copping out.
-24, Switchfoot
Posted by Megan at 07:10 PM | Comments (4)
October 12, 2006
In the Name of Love
It's so easy to trust God when you can see him doing amazing things in your life. It's less easy when life seems stagnant, like a scummy pond, or annoyingly repititious, like a skipping record. Since I seem to be at a less spectacular point in my life right now, I'm trying to internalize Colossians 3:17:
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, gicing thanks to God the father through him. (Emphasis mine.)
Whether making a direct mail process flow chart at work or wrangling in two- and three-year-olds at Sunday school. Whether commuting to Des Moines at 6:30 AM or trying to learn a new song with the Rock band. Whether hanging out with friends or sitting home by myself.
But here's my question. What does it mean to do something "in the name of the Lord Jesus?" Surprisingly, all of the translations I checked, including the frequently divergant Message, translates this phrase in the same way. This makes me wonder if any of the translators even knew what it meant.
Here are my best guesses:
a) Do it for Jesus' sake.
b) Do it on his behalf.
c) Do it like Jesus would do it.
d) Change your name to Jesus.
e) Dress up like Jesus.
Okay, so as I was typing those, I think I may have inadvertantly listed them in sequence of which I think might be more accurate to those that may not be quite as accurate. But I'm hontestly not sure. What do you think?
Posted by Megan at 09:28 PM | Comments (1)
October 03, 2006
My First Broken Bone Ever
Posted by Megan at 09:18 PM | Comments (8)
October 02, 2006
Forgot a Couple
Posted by Megan at 08:44 PM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2006
My Vacation
Posted by Megan at 07:54 PM | Comments (2)