Peace, Love, and Chocolate Silk

Moving Out

2006-03-19T11:17:00.000-06:00

After a long attempt to apply Kubrick's K2 template to Blogger with no success, I have decided to move to WordPress.

katrinawillis.wordpress.com

Please change your links! Thanks!

Burger King Kids Club

2006-03-11T16:05:00.000-06:00

Unity or Conformity?

When did it become the popular thing for Christians to seek community with people all across the board? Don’t get me wrong: I think it is very important for people to strive to connect with people cross-culturally. (Even down to the culture specificities of neighbors living on the same street-)

Is it true that followers of Christ find comfort in having their “baseball card” collection of people in their circle of acquaintance that are different from them? Does one find some sort of satisfaction and some major victory when we connect with them?

I love those commissioned, multicultural, “Burger King Kids Club” murals that have to display the exact percent of the correct demographic for the city.

Five white kids- three boys and two girls.
Three Hispanic kids: two boys and a girl.
One African-American female and one African-American male.
One short, middle-aged American-Indian male.
One tall German mother with glasses, blonde hair and a newborn, no whip.

Before you know it, you’ve got to incorporate the people in wheelchairs and the cancer patients, or it’s a TOTAL FAILURE. Heaven forbid the designers forget the promotional kid holding the french fries or Sifu, the karate master.

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones... For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."
-Jesus the Christ, Matthew 18:10

Pneumatology: Dream On

2006-03-09T09:47:00.000-06:00

When Mark and I were in Indianapolis over Christmas, his mom showed us these short concept clips (10 minutes each), produced by a small nonprofit called Nooma.

The name NOOMA is an English phonetic spelling of the Greek word pneuma, which is commonly translated to “spirit” or “breath”. Pneumatology refers to the study of spiritual beings, particularly the interactions between humans and God.

I like these fresh expressions and fluid seed presentations, and I am looking forward to more releases. I also like their readily available resources. On the site, one can download (for free), discussion booklets, with some very insightful and well-thought-out questions. There is no doubt in my mind about the current positive impact (and the potential comprehensive influence) these films continue to have on North America.

www.nooma.com

----------------------------------------

On a fairly related note, my dream job would incorporate something very similar to what the Nooma folks are after. I’m interested in good-looking (aesthetically pleasing, beautiful, "artistic") nonprofit work specifically relating to people in a real authentic way.

Inhale... Exhale... Inhale...

2006-03-03T11:23:00.000-06:00

That's It. I'm calling the hotline.

2006-03-02T21:59:00.000-06:00

I don't usually call people names. But my husband is one PARANOID NUT CASE tonight. He is playing in this game called Assassins. I don't know all of the rules, but I do know that he's been carrying around a small, palm-sized water pistol and a variety of other water weapons on his person. And he's walking quickly and more observant than ever before. He's really jumpy. I could probably play some pretty hilarious jokes on him right now, but that would probably throw him into a spin of insecurity. And that would be downright cruel. Funny, but cruel.

Anyway- I'm looking forward to the moment where someone attacks him with the water hose. Any takers?

A Greater Capacity for Joy

2006-03-02T12:03:00.000-06:00

Following up from my earlier post about Norris, she spoke in the evening after the lunch event. She asked questions like, "Why do we substitute diamonds for Jesus?" in direct response to Zales' marketing efforts: "A Diamond is Forever."

She repeated these comments citing a variety of marketing campaigns, such as the Miracle Bra. Can we hear about a real miracle for once?

So as I was watching the weather on TV before work the next morning, the weather man made a Visa plug. The latest, apparently, is: "Life is Visa."

HELLO?!

God, please squish our hearts in your hand a little more and let some joy spring out!

This press release speaks eloquently to Norris' Monday evening speaking appointment.

Kathleen Norris Press Release

Another one bites the dust

2006-03-01T20:27:00.000-06:00

On this Ash Wednesday of 2006, a gentle reminder spoke, “from dust we were created, and to dust we shall return.” The mystery of Christ emerges on days like today… and yesterday. We realize how finite we are and how infinite God continues to be.

We thank him for his peace and we strive to love him more as he loves us. “And God breathed into the dust…” Jesus was born in a dusty barn space. Everyone was looking for a king, riding on a stallion. The king was the unexpected: a dusty baby.

Communally, during this season of lent, many practice fasting. This discipline, often absent from the average “Christian” allows Jesus to define himself in us.

“I love Jesus; it’s Christians I can’t stand.” - Neil Cole, Organic Church

Ultimately, transformation is the product of the Gospel. This is not boastful, but it is with the Mind of Christ (Phil. 2) that we are able to truly commune with God for others. From dust we were created, and to dust we shall return.

Incarnational Language

2006-02-27T14:46:00.000-06:00

This morning, Kathleen Norris, the noted author and poet of Dakota, Amazing Grace, the Virgin of Bennington, and The Cloister Walk, gave a special faculty presentation on campus entitled "The Grace and Challenge of Incarnational Language." She made some interesting points about how most of the language we encounter is counter-incarnational, and made the plea for honesty in language.

The first thing that struck me was her appearance. Of course, that is
all one can notice until she opens her mouth. Nevertheless, the
change of appearance (from the Agent's promotional picture) was fitting for her plea for honest words. She contends that Incarnational language is not the language of marketing. It is not the language of the salesperson. Incarnational language is
language that tells it like it is - the good and the bad.

Tonight she will speak in Hart Auditorium, inspired by Merton's work.
The title, "To say you love God, is like saying 'Eat Your Wheaties.'"

Artists, writers, God-lovers, and curious hearts will undoubtedly
enjoy her words.

Pad Thai, Trina Style

2006-02-25T20:36:00.000-06:00

Finally, what you’ve all been waiting for: the recipe for Pad Thai Noodles ala Katrina.

Yield: 5-7 normal servings or 3 hungry men servings
Number of hands needed: minimum 2, 4-6 ideal
Approx. time needed: 1 hour

Grocery list:
1 pkg rice stick (or rice pasta – linguine thickness, try Notta Pasta or thick Chao Ching)
1 7 oz. bottle Pad Thai sauce (I use Caravelle from Thailand, sold in HEB stores –less than $2)
1 pkg cello bean sprouts (or two man-sized handfuls)
6+ scallions
1 bunch fresh cilantro
4 limes
Choose a meat/wannabe meat (or a combo): chicken, shrimp, tofu (optional)
2 T peanut butter (optional)
1 c crushed peanuts or cashews (optional)

Boil rice stick until soft, approx. 5 min. Drain and set aside. Heat oil in pan on medium heat. Add 1/2 bottle Pad Thai sauce to pan, followed by the softened rice stick and mix together. Stir in cello bean sprouts. Reduce heat and continue to stir noodles (otherwise they will become like a brick… house –yikes!)

In a separate pan, cook eggs on medium heat, stirring continually. Mix the cooked eggs into the noodle mixture and add more sauce. Melt the peanut butter on the side of the pan and stir. On the side, cook the meat (optional) as follows:

For shrimp: devein, peel (all but tail), sprinkle w/ olive oil, season generously with salt and pepper, and broil for 3-4 minutes until opaque
For chicken: use 2 breasts, cube into 1/2” pieces and cook through until opaque
For tofu: grill and cube

Thinly slice scallions (or cut them into long cylinders - your choice), cut limes into wedges, de-stem the cilantro, and crush peanuts or cashews.
Add cooked meat, the remainder of the sauce, the scallions and the cilantro to noodle mixture. Squirt with lime. Serve with lime wedges, crushed nuts and cilantro. Enjoy!

Yeah, yeah, right. Give up the dream, kid.

2006-02-23T06:38:00.000-06:00

Acts 11 - The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Northing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them this same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?”

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles a changed heart unto life.”

I wish more Jesus following communities would welcome their brothers with this sort of concern, a dialogue, and praise. We must learn to really listen to God for each other like these guys.

C'mon. You can quit it.

2006-02-22T21:31:00.000-06:00

So often we focus on the fault. Ultimately, the point is for change or life transformation. We want the best. We see a weed, and we want to pull it up… Especially when this pertains to our Christian spiritual transformation (and the argument becomes weighty when every aspect of our lives relates our every thought and action to the spiritual responsibilities.)

Why do we try so hard to change others? It’s hard enough to change our self!

Why do we try to add to the weight of others? They cannot even handle what they’re carrying!

Mark 11 –

12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went {to see} if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" And His disciples were listening. 15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. 17 And He {began} to teach and say to them, "Is it not written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS'? But you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN." 18 The chief priests and the scribes heard {this,} and {began} seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. 19 When evening came, they would go out of the city. 20 As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots {up.} 21 Being reminded, Peter said to Him, "Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered." 22 And Jesus answered saying to them, "Have faith in God. 23 Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be {granted} him. 24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be {granted} you. 25 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. 26 "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."

Forgiveness would be impossible without the junk. Acknowledge and deal with the junk. Faithfully Forgive, Forgive, Forgive. Then God will heal, heal, heal.

2006-02-20T16:32:00.000-06:00

Poster #2
the one that got away
ACU Lectureship Spring 2006

2006-02-16T17:11:00.000-06:00

Poster #1
ACU February Lectureship 2006
I WAS BLIND NOW I SEE
Shore Art Gallery
Sunday evening, February 19
following the keynote

Critically Acclaimed

2006-02-12T00:11:00.000-06:00

Isn’t that what we all want to be? The main confusion for man falls into the category of whose acclaim are we seeking.

Humans exert much energy in search of gaining the pleasing approval of others. But why settle for fast food, when you can eat a grand feast? Have you all ready sought the approval of the greatest Other? Put your feet up, for your heavenly father has all ready prepared a place for you at his table; he’s gone there to prepare a place for you. You’ve just got to call him to work out the reservation, right?

Does intimate community exist without critical acclaim? Tonight, Karen asked Mark and me what we see as ‘deep community.’ There are only two examples of this in my life that I have experienced for a period of two to four years each, and both are closer to deep community than any other church experience I’ve found.

The more recent of the two examples remains the Art department within ACU. God actively nurtured those relationships, and we didn’t always see it. We all had a load to carry, and we all needed each other to succeed. We all needed a second set of objective eyes to glance at our individual paintings. We all needed another’s studio spaces to go to for inspiration, relaxation, and collaboration. We watched each other fail miserably; we watched each other succeed and produce great works. We dedicated our time toward a common goal, and we dialogued about the journey. Constructive, honest criticism was present, confession and mystery dwelt simultaneously, and we expected each other to be fully present – and obviously so, since this circled around assessment ending in a degree.

The older example of deep community comes from my high school days, and I can safely attribute my initial conversion points to a group called “The Happening.” I was uniquely positioned to intersect with my peers in a setting where they were able to share their faith, and to this day, nothing compares to the massive impact of this influence on my faith. I have been looking for that strong influence ever since. Peers who I had sat with day in and day out in classes told me of the grace of Christ and his great gifts. They asked my parents and close friends to write me notes, and they each took the time to encourage me specifically. (This was especially powerful considering the persecution and hardship of my family’s situation.) They genuinely cared for my well-being, and they were deeply concerned about my faith and Christian spiritual transformation. I had this great cloud of witnesses around me for the final two years of high school. Ultimately, my choice to attend a Christian university was my minimum standard; I couldn’t lose my REAL family. I was desperate.

The Week in Quotables from Mark and friends

2006-02-11T11:58:00.000-06:00

“So on Library Thing dot com, I’ve found someone who has thirty-one of the books I have. *insert boyish, expectant grin here*”
-Mark on Librarything.com

“What? How is a website going to tell you how your life’s like, anyway?”
-Mark on the self-assessment from the poweroffullengagement.com

“There isn’t enough space and there aren’t enough services in the church buildings in Abilene to support the people of this city if there were mass conversion.”
-Trey on house church planting movements

"If it's a girl, her middle name might be Galadreal."
-Phil on his unborn child, God bless the little soul

“What is the site’s name? I love anything merging religion and parody…”
-Randy on the holyobserver.com

“I didn’t know that Chinese food had fajitas!”
-David Todd on MooShu chicken

“I’m going to order a brownie!!!”
-Trey at Texas Roadhouse

"Thank God for Amazon.com! It's a communicative masterpiece!"
-Me on the Amazon Wishlist system

Lovely.

2006-02-09T14:54:00.000-06:00

I've been picking through Mark's book stack lately, and I'm almost finished with The Power of Full Engagement. It's practical and has some good thought provoking conversation starters. Even though this book has somewhat of a "fad-ish" universalist spin, it surely confronts us about whether or not our values line up with our actions. I like that. Illustrated above are my self-perceived percentages from poweroffullengagement.com's free assessment. Hello wakeup call. I think this is very on target, and if you want a further explanation on this, just ask. Excuse me, while I go engage mentally now, in The Power of Appreciative Inquiry.

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

2006-02-09T14:52:00.000-06:00

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Humbly, I come to you, for I know you satisfy
Give me your strength
Thee will I cherish
Thee will I honor
Thou my soul’s glory, joy, and crown

Fair are the meadows
Fairer still the woodlands
Jesus is fairer
Jesus is purer
Who makes the woeful heart to sing?
I sing cause of you
Maker of Faith and Love
Believe
Believe

Boiling Cabbage Down Boy, Boiling Cabbage Down

2006-01-29T20:30:00.000-06:00

The lyrics: odd. The sounds: strumming. The gender: male.
There is a bluegrass band in the living room. And I like it.

Some are well practiced with their instrument. Others are new at it. And I like it!

The windows are wide open. It’s dark outside. People can see everything, and they feel comfortable just sticking their head in to say, “Hi!” I know and I love that things are changing.
I can’t help but wonder about the possibilities.

Country roads take me home!

Stand the Test of

2006-01-18T05:13:00.000-06:00

The world and its desires pass away, but the Word endures forever.

Since God gives us spiritual eyesight, since we are to build up our treasures in heaven, since the world and its desires pass away, we must discipline ourselves to exercise our spiritual Word muscles. This is the greatest preparation.

For such a time as this...

2006-01-14T09:38:00.000-06:00

For such a time as this, I would venture to say that any substantial true growth must acknowledge and embrace the eminent challenges at hand. Ease almost never spurs others onto growth – and Christian Spiritual formation is void without some level of challenge.

“A challenging task is motivating…”
-Chuck Bonwell, Ph.D

Now, the key to motivation is an appropriate challenge. We must not compare ourselves to others, but as iron sharpens iron, we are to learn from one another and compete with only ourselves.

We must always be prepared, and we must practice regularly and encourage others to do the same.

and for his pleasure all creation sings

2006-01-01T23:30:00.000-06:00

IN THE BEGINNING God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness. And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface.

As we find ourselves in the light of the new year, I remember how many times I have found myself (and find myself) reading the first sixteen chapters of Genesis. To some extent, I think we all hit a bump somewhere along the road where we read our Bibles like a broken record player. We start in Genesis, don't make it very far, and then we decide to try again... all over again.

After some inconsistent attempts from the end of the summer until now, Mark and I have decided to commit to set amount of Scripture consumption each day.

This year I'm starting two new approaches. For Mark and me, this is our second year of marriage together, so we're going to read together through the Bible in a year (on top of other scheduled readings.) I'm taking on somewhat of a challenge, for I hope to read the Bible in 90 days a few times this year as well. Whoever came up with this concept to print the Bible for twelve pages of reading per day remains great in my mind. I haven't consumed this much scripture since I was taking literature of the Bible classes, and I can all ready notice a significant amount of personal and relational transformation. By the way, you can find this Bible on Amazon.com or in other local bookstores... it's an NIV version, literally called Read the Bible in 90 Days.

I never really realized what a personality Abraham had throughout his life. The more I read the history, it feels like I'm hopping on the most familiar bike for a stroll down a changing street. Another observation about Genesis... I have found that writing out what I'm reading or drawing and charting really emphasizes events in my mind.

A good example of this from the start is found in the creation patterns of the days.

Days 1, 2, and 3 correspond with days 4,5, and 6. The pattern is creation and then the filling of creation.
Day 7 is separate.

How have you structured your reading -? Do you even keep a structure?

Flying Corks

2005-12-31T16:02:00.000-06:00

GLORIOUS!

Are you making any New Year's resolutions?

I am dedicating myself to reworking my Marketing Plan for the illustration. Most people make serious physical New Year's resolutions, but I want to make some serious Spiritual and visible resolutions. Each year seems like a new challenge; I wonder what God has in store for us this go around!

Like A Bean Sprout

2005-12-15T16:38:00.000-06:00

I have been changing my mind about my job since I could speak. Why “big adult people” like to ask the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” makes me laugh.

I wonder sometimes how much we get ourselves into trouble with excessive planning. In first grade, I wanted to be a scientist. I was so excited that I asked for a microscope for Christmas, and I would look at specimen on slides all day long. By the second grade, I wanted to BE Murphy Brown. Journalism was my calling. I was in.

That lasted for a short amount of time. Then I decided that I wanted to become a teacher. I am still trying to shake that one. As indebted as I am to all of the teachers in my life, I have learned that I can do more harm than good when I teach sometimes, so I do not teach all of the time.

For a while, I wanted to be a musician or an athlete. I did not care which one. That Christmas I received four electronic keyboards – all in the same day.

The year that Mom and Dad allowed me to burn candles was the year that I announced that, I was going to become an Aroma therapist/Holistic Medicine Practitioner. That one still tugs at my strings to this day. I did many reports in high school on the hypothalamus and how scents trigger the brain.

As I geared up for college, I had taken many language courses and many science courses. However, I had just come back from Japan and that changed my perspective on many things. Would I work in the Japanese embassy? Would I teach Japanese classes?

Then I found that my ultimate goal was to grow into being a missionary in Japan. I would teach English, write bilingual children’s books, and tell everyone about God’s love and truth.

I am still on track… minus the Japan, and minus the bilingual parts. (This is another story all together, entitled Disillusioned.)

I am working toward illustrating Children’s books and I am excited about all of the possibilities. I have been designing some things here at work (mostly graphic design), and I have been able to do some illustration here and there.

I am most excited about all of the possibilities for life wherever God takes us. Who knows what I will be when I grow up. As long as God keeps growing me - up.

Entertaining Angels?

2005-12-14T15:37:00.000-06:00

Peace to you in the Grace and Love of our precious Jesus Christ, and thanks be to the Father of all Love and Life, the creator of heaven and earth and heart and mind.

Timpy and I went to Girls’ Lunch downtown together today. (A bunch of girlfriends get together once a week to eat lunch together. It's always something interesting. NO MALES ALLOWED!) After we finished, we headed to the Java, to buy a cup of coffee for the afternoon. As we were staring at the menu, this tall, older man walked in front of us in the line. He apologized, and told us to go ahead (like he didn’t see us originally or something), and then he came up closer to us and started talking.

“Wish me a Merry Christmas, would ya?” he asked.
In unison, we said, “Merry Christmas!”
He grabbed Timpy’s hand, stared at her ring, and asked, “You’re married? Looks like someone LIKES you a lot! What is his name?”
“Jacob,” Timpy replied.
“Oh, Jacob. I know him. He’s a tall guy.”
With a smile, Timpy replied, “Yeah, he’s got a bunch of sons.”
Then he turned to me and said, “You married?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s his name?”
“Mark.”
“Ah, Mark. God Bless you two.”

Then he turned to pay for his milk and cookie, and we continued to stare at the menu. As we approached the counter and ordered, he announced that he would be paying for our coffee this afternoon.

So, he dug into his pocket and pulled out a little plastic bag, filled with coins.
At first, I was a little concerned that he did not have enough to pay for the purchase.

However, he did pay for it. It took him ten minutes, but he finally counted out ten dollars in coins, right at the cash register. The line forming behind him was quite impatient with his slow way of payment, but he insisted on paying, and he only brought coins along.

He never said his name. He did mumble something about being a minister, but I have never seen him before today, so I wonder about him.

I also saw a new friend who ended up in our house this last weekend (because he had no money and had run out of gas in front of our house... and then we saw him at the HOPE building the next night for other reasons...) I saw that he was standing on Pine as we were leaving lunch, so we greeted each other again.

God continues to amaze me when he connects people together. The craziest combinations and reactions work together in God.

Talk about Divine Appointments.

ROCK the nation

2005-12-13T17:36:00.000-06:00

post·modern·ism: 1. a blurring of distinguished boundaries found in modern ideas 2. an emphasis on fragmentation 3. a movement defined in literature, art, and the humanities characterizing stylistic features from 1970's onward 4. moral relativism 5. live life eclectically 5.tolerance is king (even if it's a lie) 6. believe everything (aka believe nothing)

The moral contours of the nation remain postmodern in nature.
The west values the individual over the group, and America remains the best example of this, from the Corporate Life to the House Wife.

With businesses like Best Buy converting their corporate buildings into a network of home-based working executives, with large churches from Hurricane devastation choosing not to rebuild, but to meet in homes, with University life becoming completely available online, we enter the zone of the individual.

With the internet and email available around the clock, men try to trump God's natural boundaries of time. We create artificial light to stay awake, just a few more hours. Wendy's stays open past midnight; Denny's stays open around the clock, just to feed the need to feed.

Health problems are rampant. The individual sinks deeper and deeper into the darkness and privacy of their bedroom, to only find it lit by a computer monitor or a TV screen.

One makes a powerful statement when they choose to unite with a group of diverse individuals, face to face, in the flesh. Not to tolerate them, but to know them fully, to love them as themselves. The sheer concept of faithful community continues to fight up stream against the current of the individual self.

Sometimes I wonder if the Church is the group who taught everyone else to be soooo tolerant in the first place.

Find precious Jesus and He'll make sure that you're secure - when everything seems to be built on sand... He will ROCK the nation. A cord of many is not easily broken, and the Gates of Hell will not overcome it!

Confessions of a Long Lost Artist

2005-12-13T10:59:00.000-06:00

I had almost forgotten how my blood cycles a little faster when I work with the Scratchboard technique. Lately, I have been working in paint, but today I am working in Clayboard again… and I love it! Honestly, I have been sitting here in front of a big computer monitor for many of the hours of my life these days, and I am starting to wiggle a little more than normal for something fresh – something worthwhile.

The Clayboard is a piece of wood, coated in white clay and covered with a dark ink layer. (Mine are black ink.) One removes the black ink with a stylus to reveal the white surface below. I find great satisfaction in the process of creating a Clayboard piece. I think it has been approximately six months since I created a clayboard picture, and for this, I have much regret. I am excited and enthusiastic about today’s product.

99 Bottles of Blog on the screen...

2005-12-12T13:04:00.000-06:00

I thought it would be a worthy experiment to flip through blogs using the next blog button 100 times. My findings are here:

100. Teacher posts questions for his students to comment.
99. A team blog, by two girls, written about high school drama.
98. Purely posting pictures. This girl looks like a political activist. She may work for Google.
97. A raunchy blog, half French, half English.
96. A poetry blog by a girl named Shayna aka “Lost Soul.” No punctuation.
95. “The Old Rugged Cross” blog. The top of his site has a news ticker. Get out of his way! He’s rearing to tell you about any Christian persecution.
94. Spanish blog. Aslan the lion is the picture adorning today’s post.
93. Portugese blog. He started blogging last week.
92. A yoga blog.
91. Whew! Talk about international. An Italian blog. Animated Teddy bears here.
90. Podcast NYC blog.
89. Hungarian blog. He writes about Hungarian rights.
88. A Spanish blog.
87. A Norwegian blog with a Christmas greeting. Looks like she’s a believer.
86. A pink blog by a girl who works on a ranch.
85. An anti-Bush blog from Canada.
84. A Brazilian blogger. Can’t understand a thing.
83. A Japanese blog that has a very cartoony style.
82. Open Source Culture blog. She’s written about Linux today.
81. “Here I Am” an Alaskan college girl’s blog. “It’s finals week.”
80. A guy into physics from Chicago. Looks like a University guy.
79. A Chinese-American girl writing about personality.
78. A French Lady’s ramblings and pictures.
77. High school girl from Mexico.
76. A pornographic blog
75. Another Mexican blog
74. An American band’s self promotion blog
73. Pictures of Vancouver
72. A mom showing pictures of her high school’s son’s eye injury.
71. A blog from Turkey.
70. A rescue the animals blog.
69. Another South American blog.
68. Random one liners with pictures blog.
--- getting tired ---
67. College student from Germany blog.
66. A blog dedicated to the worlds largest hamburger.
65. A girl from the United Kingdom. She likes the Matrix.
64. A NYC blog highlighting a city council speaker.
63. A middle-aged guy from Ohio who posts comics clippings.
62. A 23-year-old guy from Portland’s journal.
61. A pediatrics guy from Queens
60. A high school student from Nebraska. She’s doing an analysis on eyebrow shape with pictures to boot!
59. A Chinese blog – from Hong Kong. All about the iPod Nano.
58. An American remedial school teacher posts all of the assignments here.
57. German guy likes Sci-Fi
56. Another college student happy about finals
55. A cranky middle-school girl from Virginia
54. A maintenance/tech support blog for a small company.
53. Graphic design guy from Boston. He’s funny.
52. Over the hill birthday joke blog.
51. A guy mourning over a lost girlfriend.

I’m taking a break. That’s a lot of blog flipping.

Here is the first conclusion that I am drawing from my first half:
Most bloggers are not within the United States.
I have a hard time understanding most of the blogs (even the English ones...)

To be continued.

2005-12-12T05:40:00.000-06:00

Whether the weather is good
Whether the weather is bad
Whether the weather is changing
You remain constant.

The Community of the Blog

2005-12-12T05:00:00.000-06:00

Have you ever noticed the community of the blog? The "Next Blog" option on these sites lives in the upper right hand corner of your screen, and I have found myself clicking that button on occasion. The coolest blog I've seen was someone’s writings from Israel. They wrote the entire blog in Hebrew. I cannot understand a single Hebrew character, but it was a nice change of pace from the typical roman-letter blogs.

Then I've seen everything from "spam blogs" to life story blogs to the most postmodern of them all – the everything goes, randomness prevails, whatever-I-want-to-write-here blog. Who can forget those clever news commentary blogs? These are not where I spend my time reading.

I love reading the blogs of people I know in REAL LIFE. It’s a backdoor peek into someone’s inner thoughts. Sometimes, I only know the people loosely, and I enjoy reading their work, purely for the sake of relationship. I love reading other people’s blogs when they do not know that I am reading their work. It’s neat to be able to relate to them in different ways. It is as if I have been gifted with a secret power to see the inner workings of their lives.

Humility is a Frozen Waffle

2005-12-11T19:24:00.000-06:00

It's true that to cook for two is much more wonderful than to cook for one. I think Suzuki Sensei sums it up when he quotes God in Genesis saying, "It is not good for man to live alone."

Tonight, I brought Mark home early from HOPE to send him off for Dallas for the majority of the week. (Insert sad exposed lower lip here.) Honestly, I've been looking forward to the quiet and the space, but I'm not sold on the eating alone thing. Usually we eat nicely together. Sometimes it's fun, fancy and highly enjoyable; other times it's simple and sweet, but at least we're eating together. It's the time of sharing and bonding in the day. And I always get to make some sort of creation with food. It's like an art project. How colorful can I get? What funny texture can a throw in here? What new culture will we create with ethnic experimentation? Meals for us can be adventure to the extreme!

Tonight, I'm involved with a frozen waffle. Let's all pause for a moment of silence.

Oh to Sing

2005-12-10T11:02:00.000-06:00

I was flipping through the pages of the iTunes Music Store, and I ran across Tracy Chapman's latest: "Where You Live." The current single from this album is Change. It's worth a listen.

Here are the lyrics:

CHANGE

If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and Love
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that love can break your heart
When you're down so low you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?

How bad how good does it need to get?
How many losses how much regret?
What chain reaction
What cause and effect
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change
Makes you change

If you knew that you would be alone
Knowing right being wrong
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings a pain that can't be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?

How bad how good does it need to get?
How many losses how much regret?
What chain reaction
What cause and effect
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change
Makes you change

Are you so upright you can't be bent
if it comes to blows
Are you so sure you won't be crawling
If not for the good why risk falling
Why risk falling

If everything you think you know
Makes your life unbearable
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you'd broken every rule and vow
And hard times come to bring you down
Would you change?
Would you change?

If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and Love
Would you change?
Would you change?

© 2003 Tracy Chapman

You get 7...

2005-12-09T12:01:00.000-06:00

Last night, Mark chivalrously drove me home from work. As I slid into the passenger seat, I noticed he was peeking in a little Christmas Card. (Thanks to Trey!)

The gift card was for $15 smackers in iTunes loot. 15 divided by 2?! What a bind for a married couple! Each song is 99 cents.

First I said, "You get seven. I get eight. *Insert Smile*"
THEN Mark chimed in: "I've got a better idea. You get 15, I get none."
Katrina's innermost thoughts: "Now we're talking! WOooOOOoooOOOo HOOOooooOOOOO! ... and I didn't even have to spend hours haggling him to that point!"

Mark, thank you for the awesome expression of freely giving (and receiving.) That was tough. But you genuinely wanted me to have it, despite my joking and cajoling. Cool.

Know that you're a great expression of love and great at the verb itself.

To Be Human

2005-12-09T11:11:00.000-06:00

There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things I do not understand:

how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman.

2005-12-08T19:59:00.000-06:00

Some people blog to journal.
This is good - if you have another outlet for your most intimate thoughts.

There are some dangerously flippant blogs around. People will pour out their soul for all to read. - Is the hope that someone will listen?

Put the pearls where they belong - around the neck of the Queen. That's who you wanted to see afterall, right?

Fill Me Up

2005-12-08T06:22:00.000-06:00

When I hear the word "prophet," I think of a news anchor explaining the DOW/JONES trends. I think of a doctor cautioning good ol' George W. Bush to consider an upcoming, pandemic of the bird flu. I think of storm chasers.
I think of Jeremiah. I think of Isaiah. I think of graduate class work.
I think of environmentalists, nutritionists, fitness instructors and artists. :)

So, who are the prophets, anyway?

One will naturally feel great discomfort around a PROPHET.

A prophet’s perspective is radically different from that of the pastor. He hears from God and quite mercilessly questions everything, including the pastor, from God’s perspective. That, however, is his healthy and God-given duty. For that reason, there is also a historical tension between the pastor and the prophet: one is the defender of the status quo who wants to maintain the community; the other questions everything and is seen (rightly) by many others as a threat, because he disrupts things and wants ‘movement now’ (Wolfgang Simson - Houses That Change the World, p.114).

Prophets feel frustration near excessive organization.

The prophets were not leaders of men. They carried no responsibility for the Temple, for worship, for the institutional side of religion. They had no political power, no party following, no organization, no priestly or pastoral function. They were not involved in the commercial life of the nation, neither were they rulers of men. They were simply servants of the living god whose task was to declare what he was saying to the people (Clifford Hill - Prophecy, Past and Present p.60)

Prophets bring God’s challenges to the forefront.

Prophecy always calls for a faith response. God never gives opinions; he gives orders (Tom Marshall- The Coming of the Prophets).

Prophets bring words from God.

We need to get a prophetic vision of the Church; to see the Church as God sees it (John Brook.).

Prophets appear when people abandon God, and God wants the people's attention.

True prophets appear in times of apostasy. Prophets of quality move in when the people are moving away from the ideal laid down once and for all in the Book. The prophetic mind develops into its finest and most rare expressions during times of apostasy. A Jeremiah is born for and prepared for the Babylonic confrontation. A man who is prepared to watch and to cry will appear. The burden-bearer will be made ready. A man who won’t give in will always be found in times of apostasy. Such a man is made able to see - see reality. He sees God’s intervention coming. His burden is something very real, indeed tangible. He relates to reality, speaks reality, speaks quality. (Lars Widerberg - The Unwelcome Necessity - The Burden).

James 4

2005-12-07T13:22:00.000-06:00

Drawing Close to God

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?
Isn't it the whole army of evil desires at war within you?
You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it.
You are jealous for what others have, and you can't possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it. And even when you do ask, you don't get it because your whole motive is wrong--you want only what will give you pleasure.

You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can't be a friend of God. What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, jealously longs for us to be faithful? He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,

"God sets himself against the proud,
but he shows favor to the humble."

So humble yourselves before God.
Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites.
Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done.
Let there be sorrow and deep grief.
Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.

Warning against Judging Others

Don't speak evil against each other, my dear brothers and sisters.
If you criticize each other and condemn each other, then you are criticizing and condemning God's law.
But you are not a judge who can decide whether the law is right or wrong.
Your job is to obey it.
God alone, who made the law, can rightly judge among us. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to condemn your neighbor?

Warning about Self-Confidence

Look here, you people who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit."
How do you know what will happen tomorrow?
For your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone.
What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that."
Otherwise you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.

Remember, you separate yourselves from God to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

The Feast of Sharing

2005-12-07T12:56:00.000-06:00

Last night, Mark, Steven, Rachael and I went to the Civic Center for Abilene's first annual Feast of Sharing. It is a free meal for anyone in Abilene who wants it. It could pass as the new once-a-year “community well.” We saw an interesting slice of all of Abilene eating around the tables and serving the people at the tables. The only thing remotely close to this sampling of people happens at Wal-Mart or maybe in a waiting room at the hospital. Even still, those people tend to be on the move.
This raises the question: Where is the community “well” (in Abilene, TX)?

Wait for it...

2005-12-07T12:25:00.000-06:00

For lunch today, I went back to the residence to eat with Mark and Andrew... and the power in the place was completely OUT! So instead of eating the half prepared lunch Mark had started, we ate out at Cracker Barrel. It was enjoyable.

I am always amazed at Christmas time how many people will buy the craziest things in large quantities. I have been on the receiving end of a mass-mall-out before. The secret is out as soon as the youngest person opens that first gift. One year my grandma embroidered our initials on these terry-velvet bathrobes. Everyone - and I mean everyone - received an embroidered bathrobe. I think I must have accidentally exchanged it with someone else in the course of the day... someone else has the "T" robe (T is for "Trina.") One year they gave us road maps of Missouri with a small Maglight flashlight and a tire pressure gauge. Yippee! Safety in a box!

Today at Cracker Barrel, I was standing in line, and there were three different people in front of me waiting to check out. I was trying to pay for the food that we had eaten, but apparently, I was not very observant. I managed to get behind a group of people who probably had more than 50 items a piece (no exaggeration) per person to buy (they were small and hard to see). Nevertheless, it was the line I had chosen, and I thought, "To move would be a mistake."

Well, long story short and 15 minutes later, Mark finally wiggled into a line, and we managed to pay for our one-item food bill. Soon after, the people in front of us walked out with bags full of miscellaneous items, all in Country Home Store style.

Some little one will have a seriously full stocking this Christmas!

Waging War

2005-12-06T09:52:00.000-06:00

I had a conversation
this morning in my head
I had a conversation
with me in the bed

It went a lot like
I, I, I ...
And a little like
Him, Him, Him...

I want to be
He wants to be
I want to be
He wants to be

A little closer
again

At first it was 3:04
and then 5:00
The shift and turn
was it war
the flesh was in lock-

down, down, down to bed
a place so warm
from the cold and the dead
remember the day when we said

Cold cold room
and warm warm bed

CLARITY, blue ink

2005-12-05T17:38:00.000-06:00

This picture was taken at Phil and Jenna's wedding in the Highland Church building last fall. Needless to say, they're pregnant as can be, and I'll just pat them on the back for that. And then I'll take a few steps back, so God will not bless me in a similar sort of way. Speaking of pregnancy, this picture reminds me of morning sickness!

Speaking of morning sickness, my boss has made this stamp that says, "CLARITY" in big letters. The other day, I was in his office, and he took my notebook and stamped it with the CLARITY stamp. Sometimes he'll start talking and I just hear the noise from the stamp - "click-claw". I don't think I have had a conversation with him since then that didn't involve that word. Offices are funny places. Sometimes I feel like I'm in the movie Office Space. Nevertheless, he's onto something with the concept of clarity.

We could all use a little clarity... and we can all use a little uncertainty. Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and our steps will not be hampered: when we run, we will not trip.

Something to Say

2005-12-02T16:31:00.000-06:00

Well, Mark and I have been incessantly circling a map of continental United States, in hopes of making some sense of God’s calling for life.

It sits on the desk, and I wonder what God will do next. God is funny, is he not? [I suppose one can interchange funny with all-powerful, wise, clever, and wonderfully mind-blowing.] Before our marriage, I was interested in Asia: first Japan, then China. People desperately need to know about the one true God in Japan, but like Pharaoh, their soil is hard. Now I am going to give up being like Saul and start listening to what God wants me to do.

When he made us wait a year ago, I thought evil resistance had stopped us from taking the trek, and it may have been some sort of hindrance, but God works for the good of those who love Him and live according to their commands.

In retrospect, I keep in perfect peace, for I trust in God. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

Weaving

2005-11-15T13:22:00.000-06:00

True learning requires creativity. The greatest classes allow the white space for the student to break something apart and reassemble the information into some creative piece. Through this we see a common spirit among the apparent discord.

Beautiful music, paintings and writings all consist of a tapestry of God's great gifts. When you're feeling sad, the chords, the rhythym, and the compositions will introduce you to the spirit inside us all. They will draw you into the joy of the morning. They are the greatest documentation that exists in this world of evidence.

"Sculpting every move, you compose a symphony..."

Undone

2005-11-15T09:02:00.000-06:00

I'm finding myself in a place where I know only God can heal me, but I wonder how He will do it, and how long before He will do it.

This morning, the abundant life team on campus posed these three questions in reference to John and Stasi Eldredge's book, Captivating:

Why are women so tired?

Who taught me to be a woman?

and

What is my passion? (What makes you angry and what do you do about it?)

The group went around the room and shared their ideas, and the overarching idea of rest and work floated up to the surface.

I felt so sad because I couldn't articulate who taught me to be a woman (probably because I do not have enough time in my day to talk about the different influential women in life). I feel sad because only a select few understand my passion, and everyone else looks at me in a strange way. I am starting to feel life on the fringes, and today was my first realization of this.

I know I still need to be shown what it means to be a woman, but I find myself surrounded by men - all day long. Maybe they are supposed to show me? :)

I come up with all of these solution-related thoughts -
- Read scripture - to the EXTREME. (i.e. Read the entire Bible in one month - yeah right!)
- Get a closer with my group of girlfriends. (When?!)
- Start an LTG.
- Find a spiritual director.
- Get counseling.
- Build and present a mission statement to articulate my job.
- Quit my job and take up crochet and cooking. (Ha.)
- Plant a garden.
- Clean the house so it is crazy, godly clean.
- Get an extra hour of sleep at night.
- Run two miles every day.
- Buy new shoes and get an iPod. Maybe this will drown out the construction noise?

Well, here goes another day full of questions.

the PUSH UP

2005-11-11T16:23:00.000-06:00

Dreams of a few push ups around four in the afternoon dancing in your head? Join me!

1) Starting on the floor in a hands and knees position, place your hands on the floor shoulder width apart. With your arms lined up under your shoulders, straighten out your body and raise yourself up onto your toes.
Your body should be making one straight line (on a diagonal plane) from your head down to your feet (the head being the highest point while your feet are the lowest).

2) Maintaining this alignment, inhale lowering your body down toward the floor until your arms form a 90 degree angle (in other words, arms perpendicular to the floor).

3) Exhale as you push your body back up to the starting position.

Form Pointers:
1) Be sure to keep your abdominals and lower back braced during the entire exercise.

2) Avoid letting the back sag.

3) Your neck is in neutral alignment while your head stays in line with your spine. Do not let your head hang down.

4) Straighten your arms but do not lock your elbows out at the top of the movement.

Training Tip: If you would like to incorporate more of the tricep area while doing push ups, keep your arms closer to your sides as you do the exercise (closer than shoulder width apart).

What time is it, anyway?

2005-11-11T14:49:00.000-06:00

Every Friday, Mark has a class that meets in the morning at Kent's house. The class ends around 11:30, and then they all eat lunch together at Kent's. Today I had the opportunity to eat with them; it was fun.

I was evesdropping on the end of the classtime (just before lunch), and there was some pretty heavy GRAD conversations happening. They were talking about God and time and our understanding of God and time, and the difference between the two and a whole bunch of other stuff as well. It was all very complicated.

But from my point of view that is an important question to be asking. If God's thoughts are higher than my thoughts and his way higher than my ways, and if he lives inside and outside of the dimensions as we know them, then God lives around the dimension of time.

This prompts questions like: Do we have the foundation and the authority to say that God changes?

Kent mentioned that time has to do with movement. We understand the dimension of time in motion.

So if God's anger lasts only a moment, and his favor lasts a lifetime, then we can see that God's movement favors love. Weeping may remain for the night, but in the morning comes rejoicing.

Favor

2005-11-08T12:09:00.000-06:00

Some women I know use the word favor when comparing likeness between two people. They’ll say, “She favors her mother.” This must be a funny Texas thing… I mean, a brick in the house of Texas culture. That’s it.

I’ve been thinking a lot about self-esteem. It’s such a tenant in western society. What a funny concept that we’ve acquired: to evaluate the way we think about ourselves.

Here is the latest on self-esteem and self-favor:

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
[James 4.10]

Oprah says: Today’s show: Women who have let themselves go [physically, emotionally, relationally]– and how they take control to not let it happen again… the secrets to motivation, and the makeover that will change their lives-

The University says: As your education increases, your life increases. Survival depends upon knowledge, competition, and hard work. This is the way of a responsible citizen. Knowledge is the only thing man cannot take away from you.

The employer says: Do what I say to do.

Nutrition experts say: For basic health, one needs 6 to 11 servings of whole grains, five servings of fruit and vegetables per day, and eight eight-ounce glasses of purified water… for more, read my book.

Our friends and family say: I have to live a balanced life, so I have to say no to high maintenance people. Without these boundaries, I would never rest, or clean, or get anything finished. Sometimes you have to say no, even when you think that person really needs help. Someone else will help them. You are not superman.

Designers say: Your environment reflects how you feel about yourself. If you have a low self-respect, you’ll be living in trash. You probably won’t be taking care of those in your family or your friends either. If you have a high respect for yourself, you’ll make time for yourself. You’ll invest in your environment. Even if you don’t have time, make time to exercise daily, take a bubble bath, and even drink some red wine each night. You’ll be happier. You’ll treat others better, too. Paint colors on your walls. Buy some nice pillows for your bed. Get a pedicure. You deserve it. People will thank you for it later.

The teaching of Jesus remains radically different:

So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am {He,} and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. [Jn 8.28]

He views his people as chosen. His people favor him. He favors his people. He esteems his people. His people esteem Him.

In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. You will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. [2 Tim 2.21.22]

Naptime?

2005-11-02T11:02:00.000-06:00

IF ONLY we had naptime at work, I would make around 3:45 in the afternoon.

I visited the ART department yesterday briefly, and there was this wonderful energy about everyone. I think I'm getting desensitized to the little square office and a computer. This morning, Rachael and I taught aerobics up at church, but I'm feeling routinely sluggish. I can't decide if this is the weather switch or something else. Are we just worn out -- or am I missing something?

Normally, I feel the sluggishness set in around 2-4 in the afternoon. I dream of brownies and a decaf mocha with friends. I want to run a mile or take a bubble bath or do SOMETHING ELSE. After four, it's usually the home stretch. Maybe we should work a little seista into American culture. Tea time anyone? I'm all about creating a cultural daily "Sabbath". Any ideas?

Mmm. Chocolate.

2005-11-01T11:09:00.000-06:00

So, I'm obviously winning with the sheer number of blogs I'm producing compared to Mark. Let's just admit that these are the facts.

I think I'm going to bake some cookies for my faculty commons this afternoon. Yum. Chocolate. :) Today I've been working on a design for our David Leeson promotional project for his speech this Saturday. I've worked and reworked, and I think I'm finally closer to something worth showing.

Since I've been working on my own, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to create great work. This is mainly because I am alone in my design. I've gone from the best community to practically being left to my own senses. (SCARY, huh?!)
Designers desparately need community. If we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, then we can throw off everythng that entagles and run with perseverance. Who can understand the collective mind that governs the aesthetic principles of creation without others?!

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great could of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Dry Mouth

2005-10-29T21:41:00.000-05:00

"The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, And their tongue is parched with thirst; I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, {As} the God of Israel I will not forsake them."

"The tongue of the infant cleaves To the roof of its mouth because of thirst; The little ones ask for bread, {But} no one breaks {it} for them."

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

"Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD."

October will be November... soon.

2005-10-29T09:06:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite people in the world's dad made the brilliant comment, "You've got to go through the desert to get to California." And then when I'm half way through the desert, it's hard to believe there is a place called California, and moreover, it is hard to believe that THIS is THE WAY! That is how I feel about our culture of time. October, for example, is just a midway point between the end of summer and Christmas. It's a sure valley. We can all feel the movement downhill with the weather change. The pace of life, and the expectations keep the same tempo, but the people start to move a little slower. We even change our wardrobe. The darker colors come out like we are mourning. Perhaps mourning is what we need. What I love about it though: we can expect it every year. I think Mark said it best, "Abilene has a fall, not an autumn." This is the way of West-Texans. "Man, ARE WE THERE YET?!"

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.

With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.

Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

Blessed are You, O LORD;
Teach me Your statutes.

With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.

I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.

I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word.

While you were sleeping

2005-10-28T06:10:00.000-05:00

Normally on MWF, (while you are sleeping, I'm sure...) I'm up with the group at the warehouse church building teaching aerobics. On this particular day, I have all of these yucky symptoms that seem to translate for me into a viral infection (yuck). Since I can't sleep, and I am longing to be active, I've decided to spread the love all over Mark's keyboard. (I'm sure he'll thank me later.) :D

Mark made the comment last night that after he finishes with his MDiv, that I'll have to start one. But you see, I actually WANT to be able to communicate with the majority of the world on some understandable level - but I see where he wants us to be closer. It must be hard getting an education that separates your thinking from the majority of the "world," but I'm excited to watch the learning. His pursuit challenges me to meet a new level of potential within me. This is hard but exciting.

"Look to the nations, watch and be utterly amazed for I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told." (Habakkuk 1:5)

Do you ever wonder what happened to the dreams? I think I'm realizing why the baby Christians are so much more effective at sharing their desires with others- they have wonderful dreams for all of us. Could it be that they have the greatest faith? If faith is what is hoped for and not what is seen, perhaps that is the case. Increase our faith! I remember having these great dreams for all people "the hour I first believed." I wish I could go back there. Now all of my dreams are on a more microlevel. They're personal and interpersonal, specific and limited. My prayer is that God would take the glass ceiling off of my expectations and do amazing things. Who else could accomplish so much? Who else could make the impossible possible? Who else could take the unrealistic expectations and turn them upside-down?

"Look to the nations, watch and be utterly amazed for I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told." (Habakkuk 1:5)

The Fridge

2005-10-26T17:05:00.000-05:00

So, they've moved the fridge into my office. At first I was worried. Now, I'm seeing all of these lessons.

Before the fridge, it was the microwave. Before the microwave, it was the fax. Now the fridge.

Every week I hear faculty talking about a new faculty commons: a place where they can gather and talk about the things that they really want and need to discuss with each other. Maybe my office should be the place.

If they gave me a bigger office, they could keep the fridge, the microwave, the fax, the copiers, and all of the faculty they wanted in here. Not to mention, I'm really too much fun for my own good. I could make sculptures and designs right before the faculty's eyes.

It's official. My office should be the faculty commons. :)

Well, the lesson is this. Out of all the drinks, I'm housing everything in my office that I don't want to be drinking (truly). They've stocked this puppy with every soda known to man, but there isn't a bottle of water in sight. Noooo - I've got to walk down the hallway to find true hydration: the living WATER.

So that is the lesson of the fridge. Life isn't easy. It's worth taking the time and going down the hall to get a drink. Invite your friends to nuke their foods in the microwave, all while faxing a friend and grabbing a cold one and communing together in my newly formed faculty commons.

On the Road

2005-10-26T11:02:00.000-05:00

For the past few years, I have been managing a chronic illness. After many sessions with doctors, nurse practitioners, and others, their findings have ruled out many things, but they have pointed to nothing helpful (other than a slightly increased peace of mind). You could imagine the frustration I feel of spending thousands of dollars on tests, only to find myself confronted with more tests - and the worst tests of all. Is thousands of dollars worth a little piece of mind? I've chosen to manage situation in light of the fact that these additional tests will probably yield little or no help.

Of the many clues, I've learned that bimonthly, I can expect to feel absolutely the opposite of how I would choose to feel. I've learned to rely on making good choices, living a healthy lifestyle What amazes me everytime is that I forget what is coming next. I guess that must be a human characteristic - to forget. Perhaps God uses this to teach me to remember, to sharpen my senses, and to humble me. His staff and his rod, they comfort me.

In conclusion, I have to say that I am thankful for Mark, Joey and Nancy, Amber, Rachael, Pam, and my mom for all of the support they've given throughout the past few years. Mark especially shows me kindness when he least wants to show it, but it always manages to be right when I need it most. Rachael has been helping me teach my aerobics classes in the early mornings, and she has relieved me of feeling like I'm an ultimate failure for not being able to teach every single session. I thank God for these people.

I believe in JESUS!

2005-10-19T11:12:00.000-05:00

You know, about a year-and-a-half-ago, I started to blog regurlarly. Then Mark asked me to marry him, and I had to spend blog time choosing a dress and flowers and such. Now, we're just working toward and listening for God's rhythm. This something is extraordinary, and now I have been given a small portion of time to blog. Some of this new-found blogging comes directly from the influence of Mark, but mostly, I don't have to worry about 10 to 15 people reading my intimate thoughts anymore, since they've given up on the dream that I actually blog at all. :D Haha! Tricked 'em.

Anyway, back onto the thinking thing. In Christ we are each a new creation. Mark and I have been learning together about how new or "baby" Christians are the most influential for Christ. I wonder to what extent we are renewed by Christ. To what extent can the "veteran" become the "baby" Christian influence for Christ. It may be impossible. But with God all things are possible. It's hard to tell since we are hidden in Christ with God, and that is our life. But when God is glorified, the person has believed, and through that faith, we may see dimly what's up next.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Sunny days and Mondays

2005-10-17T11:34:00.000-05:00

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.

JOHN 3:36

This brings comfort to me in the midst of doubt; however, I need a greek scholar for the word "rejects". I suppose this could be read in the biggest context, or it could be boiled down to moments in life.

HeartWalk

2005-09-27T09:42:00.000-05:00

What is THE number one killer of Americans today? Heart disease. The third killer is stroke. So in effort to provide education and support for the American Heart Association, I am walking in the HeartWalk this Saturday.

If you want to raise money and/or walk with us, leave a comment here, and I'll get you the info.

If you would like to support me in the walk, go here:

Katrina's Donor Page

Peace like a river!
katrina*

Inhale

2005-09-26T21:15:00.000-05:00

How delightful is your love,
my sister, my bride!
How much more pleasing is
your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your
perfume than any spice!

[SOS 4.10]

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

[2 C 2.15.17]

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.

[Matt 9.16.17]

I will send my messenger
ahead of you,
who will prepare your way
before you.

[Mal 3.1; Mk 1.2]

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

[Matt 11.28.30]

We are weak, but...

2005-09-23T15:12:00.000-05:00

Currently, we (as a country) are mourning. After hurricane Katrina, there was a shift of urgency, frustration, and even blame that flooded the major news media. But I think covertly that the main frustrations were more grassroots. People are taking in other people. People are taking the time to help the hungry and homeless. So in my direct circle of concern, I find myself enjoying the mourning. (Most likely since it I’m not directly attacked by the hurricane, but that is another entry…) Nevertheless, I am hopeful about the stage that this destruction brings. Some things will be rebuilt, others will never be rebuilt, but we all have something to look hopeful towards. When you’re at the bottom, the only way is up.

Now, with hurricane Rita, the storms are close to home.
This morning, I tried calling my family down in Madisonville, TX, and I found myself frustrated with hardly any reliable means of communicating with them since the towers are basically out of commission. Since my little sister just returned home from the hospital (after delivering her baby girl), the focus was there instead of on the weather pattern heading their way. When I briefly spoke with my mom last night, I head an alarm going off in the background. It was really the baby’s cries, but I thought it was ironic and eerie how I heard the crying as an alarm. Earlier this week, my great-grandmother, Myrtle, died – she was a great woman, and she is finally where she belongs.

With all of these things happening, the family feels tired, anxious, and frustrated.
And I’m sure that we’re not alone. Who knows what the next few days will bring.

Whatever happens, consider it pure joy… hmmmmm mmmm hmmmm mmmm hmmmm mmmm mmmm…. “… for the Bible tells me so; little ones to him belong. They are weak but He is strong…”

katrina

Wedding Website

2004-10-29T16:31:00.000-05:00

This title link is to the website I just finished with wedding details and such.

YES!

2004-10-15T17:59:00.000-05:00

From Mark's mouth to your eyes...

She said, “Yes.” That’s right! It was so great. Everything worked out perfectly! Let me try to recreate the evening for you (since they messed up on video taping it!!!)

At about 6:15pm, all the guys involved meet for a debriefing period. Phil and Stev are adorned in full ninja outfits, and ready for action. After gathering everyone up, the ninjas take off, and the rest of us “casualers” tromp on over to the Bean Sprout, where we are meeting our friends. We’re playing and laughing as usual, and I don’t exactly feel nervous…yet.

I see Katrina as I make my way down the stairs… my heart begins to pound. She has no idea. We talk and flirt and have a good time. It feels good to actually spend time talking to my friends. We order our food and sit down. I keep looking at my watch, and the guys who were in on it keep looking at me and giving me stares. I know that whatever ends up happening tonight, I just want to get to the part where I bend my knee.

Above us there was another reality going on. Ninja-Phil was hiding out watching all of Katrina’s friends gathering at the top of the stairwell near the Bean Spout to get a good view of the action. All Phil needed was a radio from Ninja-Stev downstairs in the Bowling Alley (next to the Sprout) to inform him that we were making our way up.
Katrina was eating so slow…or maybe I was just snarfing so fast. Time was just ticking away, but I was having a good (however nervous!) time hanging out with my friends. 7:20 rolled around. The approximated time I said she and I would make our retreat. 7:20 came and went, and she was still nibbling away! I knew she didn’t want to be late to the Shane and Shane concert we were going to afterwards, so I used that as a ploy to get her to finish up a bit faster.

Finally, we got up, and made our way for the stairs. She bolted toward the stairwell, to keep her rear end away from me. You see, this stairwell is notorious in our relationship. Every time we walk up it, it is a tradition to try to tap each other on the butt. It always makes for good fun times.

When we got to the landing of the stairwell, I stopped. She was still very preoccupied with me and didn’t notice the many faces watching from both below and above.

You see, right after Katrina and I had left the Sprout, Ninja-Stev bolted from the Bowling alley and told everyone at the table what was happening. Everyone, (after a few moments of shock!) jumped up and followed suit.

So there we were. I was down on one knee, and Katrina was looking around at everyone watching. I could visibly see the revelations that kept popping into her mind. Something like, “Wow! Everyone I know is here!”

“Oh! Mark is down on one knee!” “Oh! He’s down on one knee!” It was really cute. She started screaming, “Shut up! No way!” and tossed her purse down.

Her knees buckled and she slumped to the floor right next to me. She lay her head on my shoulder, and I whispered, “You’ve got to stand up!”

She stood there, I muttered some words I had memorized, and I meant every one. I asked, “Katrina, will you marry me?” She blurted out with tears running down her face, “YES!” And then yelled it about 5 more times. It was great. As I put the ring on her finger,

there was applause, and a sea of friends surrounded us in no time. Hugs everywhere. It was wonderful. I couldn’t ask for a better beginning to this new step in our relationship! Praise God!

Happy Monday

2004-10-04T11:44:00.000-05:00

I have linked the title to an illustrator that one of my professers shared with us last semester. This painter has talent!

"He bends down and listens to me,"
katrina

"I Trust You!!!"

2004-10-01T14:44:00.000-05:00

I live with this girl named Amber. She is funny, and I love being with her. We really LIVE together, she is my roommate, but we also have our afternoon schedules in sync, so we live together in the house and out of the house. Today while we were in the house, she and I were talking.

Have you ever had a personal encounter with the living God?

Amber listens well. She is caring, loving and consistent in her own spunky way.

Well, here is the encounter. Her mother sent this box of cookies in the mail this week. And instead of leaving them out on the counter, she placed them *inside the cabinet*. This is holy ground. When something is out on the counter it says, "Eat me!" to all. But when something is inside the cabinet, it's personal; hands off. Today she revealed the cookies. These are not your ordinary cookies, either. These are those mother-made-fresh-from-the-mail-room oatmeal craisin coOkIes!! She offered me one, and I refused, politely. After finishing my lunch, I took her up on her offer. She said,

"Grab one! They're in the cabinet."

So I thought to myself, "Self.... Wait! I can't go to the cabinet! I AM THE COOKIE MONSTER!!!! What's more: that is holy ground!!!" So I said,

"I can't. That is your HIDING place!"

She said with a authority, "No, Katrina. I TRUST YOU! Get a cookie!"

So that was my encounter with the living God today. There was more, but .... we'll have to save it for another blog.

Love always trusts,
katrina

What is that screaming?!

2004-09-26T10:55:00.000-05:00

Here is an illustration: Kelli is brushing her teeth. Shellie is taking the picture. I am fast asleep... and Amber had intended to only rinse her feet. Hmmmm....

The Choice has been made

2004-09-23T07:45:00.000-05:00

Sudan Genocide Painting, it is!

I will use the style of hieroglyphs. I love some of the pictures taken on msnbc.com. If you go to their homepage, and click on "the week in pictures" you will see some pretty interesting things. Did you know there is a LOCUST plague in africa right now? It's just like Moses times. You can actually see pictures of what is happening on the slideshow archives on that same website.

Big praise-- my medical bills were completely paid for through the charity at Hendrick Hospital. Big thanks to all who helped me out during those tests last semester.

peace! -kat

In the NEWS

2004-09-21T22:33:00.000-05:00

Lately, I have been feeling rather intimate with the television, computer, and newspaper. I have been given a mission, if I choose to accept it, to paint a political painting that appropriates images, style, or subject matter from another artist or art movement from any time, place, culture, etc. This continues to prove to be very difficult for me. I have some ideas, but it seems that my professor still wants me to keep searching. The two issues I am thinking of:

1) The Fall of the American Empire (illustrating America's current status as the new Rome.)
2) Fitness quick focus (turning the focus of exercise to intrinsic rewards vs. extrinsic benefit - even though the two aren't mutually exclusive.)

bonus) A commentary on the current state of Sudan.

My main concern is the borrowed image from another artist. The cartoon up there is funny, huh? I think this artist captures the headlines well.

peace like a river,
katrina

Pictures Only

2004-09-09T20:52:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures from last weekend.

Little Critter

2004-08-24T07:58:00.000-05:00

As I was approaching an intersection this morning in the car, I noticed, off in the distance, a little white critter crossing the street.

Out of no where (it seemed), this car speedily drove over the animal... and it was still alive?! It continued to walk across the street... like nothing had even happened. As I approached the intersection, I wondered... is it a white cat? a rabbit? a little dog? And then the answer to my question became very clear, and my feelings for the thing changed quickly.

Sure enough, the white plastic bag blew across the street like a tumbleweed, and what I thought was alive was really just a bag filled with air. What a bummer.

But the morning redeemed itself. As I pulled up to park, the headlights revealed a little brown rabbit in the grass, popping up to say, "Heeeeeyyyy!!!"

Oh the assumptions... Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

And he may show you a bunny in the morning, too.

Love Love,
katrina

San Antonio

2004-08-21T13:13:00.000-05:00

Here is a quick picture from San Antonio and a fun bonus link. BIG thanks to the Gregoire fam for letting us live with them for the weekend.

48 hours until school starts again!!!
Peace like the Mississippi!
katrina

Working Out and Whining and Dining

2004-08-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

Well, you know it has to come to an end.

Summer vacation has three more days. School starts on Monday(!!!) I am finally looking forward to classes. This semester will be great. It will be hard, but it will be great. I am working in the mornings, and I am taking classes in the afternoons. And honestly, I am feeling pretty old (in comparison to the freshman ONLY!). ;) Last night at the candlelight devo (ACU's famous welcome week moment of all moments), Mark could actually quote parts of Mike Cope's speech. I am thankful for Mark's sharp memory.

This week has had unGodly amounts of eating out involved. I am beginning to groan with sadness each time someone wants to eat out. Especially when that someone is me. Ha! It's just like Paul. You know -- to live is Christ to die is gain. (Totally unrelated, but no need for food in heaven?!) The pocketbook feels it, my schedule is out of whack, and I pray to God that others will start wanting to eat in more and more. I did some math, and it adds up fast. If I eat a light lunch out... anywhere from $3-$5 and I eat a light dinner out... anywhere from $5-$7, more than four or five times a week, it adds up FAST! And this week, I have eaten out a bunch (at least FIVE times), and it is only Wednesday! (This amount of money spent equals the total I spend on groceries for two weeks.) This is very difficult for me to stop for three reasons. 1) I am a consumer-driven american. 2) I am a lover of food adventure... especially when I'm with other people. 3)Ann Thai Kitchen. Need I say more?

This is why I will stop. 1) I am seeking first the Kingdom of God and not a cinnamon scone or an iced decaf soy mocha. 2) I cannot afford this. 3) Others cannot afford this. 4) I am not supposed to pressure others into feeling obligated to satiate my food longings. (I praise God for Amber's influence in my life on this one. She is one of the most Godly women I know!) 5) I must find my greatest joy - back with my first Love. 6) Eating in is way more creative and fun, anyway - and I'll know what it is that is in the food that I am eating.

Whew! This whole process is like the last three reps on the last set of a bicep curl. I don't know whether to cry or to scream, I am tempted to not go through with the whole thing, and I am sure that I will like the consequences of following through. Hmmmm.... :)

katrina

Home Away from Home: Panoramic Style

2004-08-02T11:19:00.000-05:00

I can't decide if I like it better with color or without color.

This is what my view looks like from the library when I am NOT studying. Who can sit in front of these windows and stick their nose in a book? Not me!

Love like the ocean,
katrina

Study Study Study

2004-07-31T14:42:00.000-05:00

I am studying like a MEDICAL STUDENT for my upcoming test. I will take the test on Saturday (one week from today). Strangely, I haven't heard what time the test will be, so I am a little concerned.

Did you know that at rest, cardiac output averages about 5 liters per minute? During maximal exercise this number can increase to up to 30-40 liters per minute in highly trained individuals!!!! That's a lot of soda pop bottles.

have a great Saturday!
katrina

Moshi Moshi

2004-07-30T21:47:00.000-05:00

*sing along*

To God be the glory
Great things he has done
so loved He the world
that he gave us his son...

Who yielded his life
an atonement for sin
and opened the lifegate
that all may come in

Shameful confession number one:
I have once again squandered an awesome opportunity to share the love of Christ with people who desperately need Him.
Why do I choose to take credit for things that I am unable to do? Without the closeness and glorious mercy of God, most of the goodness from the past few weeks would have been nothing.

Now, I bet you're thinking... "What is she talking about?"

I had an opportunity tonight, as we were sending the Japanese students off, to speak in front of them. Why is it so difficult for us to say, "God has brought you to this place." Or "Jesus is the passionate lover that you need to know... " Sometimes it seems that Christians (ME) categorize saying "God" and "Jesus" with the other "off-limits" words. (The really baaaad words.) Why am I so ashamed to say the truth? Am I afraid of a room of American Christians? Am I afraid of severing a relationship that I won't really be able to continue anyway? Why do I always choose to carry the burden of glory?

Well, for what it is worth, I do think what I said was decent. But it didn't glorify God, and that is tragic. I pray that God will take my poor words and shift the students' focus onto the more mportant and urgent place.

And for you who are reading this: I want to thank my God, for I hear about how your faith is being reported all over the world. As God as my witness, I remember you often.

Grace and Peace (even when you don't know what it looks like)-
katrina

Name in Photos

2004-07-20T11:19:00.000-05:00

I have also added some webshots from bowling, pool, and other activities with the Japanese kids.
You can view those here.

I love this assignment. I have been looking at so many things in a new way.

HAVE A great DAY!!!!!
katrina

Keep Your Foot From EVIL

2004-07-18T16:37:00.000-05:00

As I opened my laptop, it "dinged" to let me know that someone had commented on my blog. This was the message (a post in response to 07/16/04's blog):

Did you get a ticket listening to RAP????

Mom

My second message enclosed in an email was from Heartlight.com; it read:

Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from
evil.

Proverbs 4:27

Haha. Turns out that both God and MOM are concerned about my driving. HA! :D

Peace like a river,
katrina
p.s. I do drive faster when I listen to certain music, but I do NOT drive faster the speed limit with the 15-passenger van. 0:) So, I didn't get a ticket... :) *I most likely would have written a lot more on that post if I had.* :D

Meow

2004-07-17T00:30:00.000-05:00

The Cat Stretch!

-Get down on all fours (hands and knees) starting with your back straight.
-Press your back toward the sky and hold for several seconds.
-From that position, slowly move torso back until your legs are completely bent, and your arms are extending over your head.
-Hold for at least 15 seconds. (30 seconds preferred.)
-Feel the stretch in your upper back and triceps.

GO WEB GO

2004-07-16T23:36:00.000-05:00

Friday has been nice. We all played games (hangman, the prop game, taboo card guessing games, etc.) today instead of the Mon-Thurs conversation time, and we had 'dinner and movie.' Spiderman II won the vote of the Japanese ones during chapel, so this evening, we ate quickly, and then we went to the theater. I love watching their surprise driven commentary on the shocking size of "American Popcorn," comfortable stadium seating chairs, and the overall 'cleanliness' of the theater. In addition, on the way there, I learned that I tend to drive faster when rap music is on the radio, so I must be aware of that! :)

Earlier this week, I had a great conversation with a girl about her Bible classes in Japan. They all go to Ibaraki Christian High School, so they take classes in Bible. Sadly, their teacher sounds pretty apathetic about the subject. He doesn't even believe in Jesus. How frustrating it must be to try to study God's Word with someone who doesn't even appreciate it. I am thankful that I am able to study in an environment where I can connect with other believers. What is more amazing (and very unexpected), one girl asked me how I love God. What an interesting question. I thought quickly about the most relevant answer for her 16-year-old, Japanese high school girl life. I immediately thought about Jesus- a lover in pursuit.

"Jesus is my super-boyfriend!" I responded.
She replied, "Who is better? Jesus or Mark?"
Quickly, I said, "JESUS!" Her eyes grew big.
"HE IS?!"
"Absolutely. There is no question." She scrunched her face a bit.
"I thought that you really liked Mark."
"I do really like Mark." Her eyebrows arched... and she changed the subject.

She went onto talk about how she loves God. *Interesting!* I am fascinated at her honesty. (I was suprised that I saw more honesty and opennes in her than I see when I sit with most Christians.)

She said, "I don't really know God. In my country there are many Gods. We have your God, we have Buddha, we have Shinto which has many many gods. I don't know which one I will choose. But someday I will choose." I pray for the gentle, yet honest confrontational spirit that I see in Amber to flood through my veins. I pray for the quiet patience of Nancy. I pray for the Spirit of discernment of people like Dr. Wade and Dan to guide me in the moment. The list goes on and on...

I am glad our Japanese friends are here. Tomorrow we will go garage-sale hopping in the morning, and we will have a Chinese food dinner tomorrow evening. Sunday appears to be an all-day ordeal, and then next week we will get into the meat of our time together! Can't wait to write more...

Peace!
trina*

Mooch A Logo, Sleep an Extra Hour

2004-07-15T11:26:00.000-05:00

The office will remain nameless.

With the illustration and design world being overcrowded right now, many designers assume that there are many obscure designs. Consequently, many of the designers are ripping off ideas from previously published logos and prints. What is worse- these people are being paid for it. With the invention of the internet and other immediately accessible forms of media, this has become more tempting for a designer to 'mooch' someone else's design. Maybe they will save some of their precious time....? I think it is a poor investment that will reap major problems. There is a differrence between being influenced by a design vs. copying it. My big squirm: that the designers who are illegally knocking off other's work have been lied to, they believe the lie, and they actually think that they will not get caught.

(My photography professor actually encouraged us to reference one of these mooch sites in class today. (See title link.))

The mooched logo I am talking about is affiliated with a Christian business office. The designer who 'created' the design for commission actually copied the logo from a major world relief organization. (It is common knowledge to think that Christians would be interested in the marginal ones of the world, right?) If I were going to knock off an image, I would take the logo from a completely unrecognizable source, but this designer will have to deal with the consequences of his actions!

And we know that this isn't anything new.

But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time!

Peace like a river,
katrina

My Greatest Desire

2004-07-13T07:29:00.000-05:00

If you don't believe in Jesus, this blog will probably bore you to tears.

Most men are not satisfied with the permanent output of their
lives. Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of Christ within his
followers except the adoption of Christ's purpose toward the
world he came to redeem. Fame, pleasure and riches are but
husks and ashes in contrast with the boundless and abiding joy
of working with God for the fulfillment of his eternal plans. The
men who are putting everything into Christ's undertaking are
getting out of life its sweetest and most priceless rewards.

J. Campbell White (1909)

Last night, Stephanie and I talked a lot about her upcoming transition. She plans to move to Waco with her husband and attend a missionary training school. Next spring, she will go away from Waco and work with one of the missionaries that the school sends out. Most of the options where she will be sent are Muslim areas of the world. Maybe southern Thailand or Sudan...

I haven't lived very long, but I know that God has given me the sweetest and most priceless rewards, and I am addicted. I am addicted not because of some "high" I get from going to work towards Christ's adoption of the world, but I am addicted because when I am not working towards this end, I have an itch that God has placed inside of me (that He scratches as I pursue this end). Oh, the mysteries of God that consume me!

Love LOVE Love Love LOVE LOVE love LoVe LoVE,
katrina*

The Wheels on The Bus Go Round and Round

2004-07-10T07:48:00.000-05:00

The Japanese students have arrived! 28 kids from Ibaraki Christian High School came last night at 8:30 pm. This morning, I will be giving them tours of the ACU campus, we'll eat lunch, and then we'll be onto the ever-popular, first-day, Super-WalMart shopping trip.

I drove my first bus yesterday!!!! AHhhhhH!!!!! I have never driven a 15-passenger van, let alone a BUS! They accidently sent an ACU bus instead of a van. I don't know if I will have to drive it again today, but it was great! I was a little concerned, b/c parking was a big issue. It was difficult to see behind the bus, because it is so long.

Breakfast is soon, so I have to run!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!
katrina

. . . . . . ! . . .

2004-07-08T22:12:00.000-05:00

I was looking at Mark's screenname for his blog, and he added an exclaimation mark to the end of his name, Mark. I wonder what that is all about.

This morning in my photography class, the professor had us go out into the hallway and shoot pictures. It was fun! (*Well, at least I thought that it was fun.) Everyone stood around and messed with the buttons on their cameras. I didn't realize that I was the child of ADD until the professor called me back to the group. He wasn't even lecturing.

More importantly, there were letters everywhere!!! He has given us an assignment to spell out name out using pictures that look like letters. This excites me GREATLY!!! So, I have been taking pictures and looking at things in search of the letters K, a, t, r, i, and n. If you can think of any good ideas, send them to me!!!

The Letter R!

So, it's obvious that I stick out like a sore thumb in this class; while everyone is standing around like sheep being led to the slaughter, I am running around taking pictures all over! I want to make the most of the time we have in this class, since it is so short. Why is it that college classes before noon seem to be so despised? It seems that there is some unwritten code that says people inside of the college culture do not really have to give their best until after 12:00 (and they forget to send me the memo!) C.S. Lewis wrote, "It's not your desires that are too strong, it's that they are too weak..."

An exclamation point is serious dedication. It usually means a serious boundary has been set. In some points, there is joy, in others, frustration; some have a mix of both, but all exclamations seriously communicate in a way that demands a witness. I feel like a row of exclamation points in a class full of commas.

This must shed some light (ha! Photography is ALL ABOUT LIGHT!) on the fact that I really like Mark! a lot... he has surely set himself apart! He is still exclaiming in Australia. (Click on the title to read more.) All right... let's get offline now, and live like we were meant to live!

We were meant to live for so much more!
katrina

Comforting Word of the day:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my
ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than
your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9, New International Version

Dream

2004-07-07T22:36:00.000-05:00

I am a student.// I am a daughter. (Mom, I am looking forward to when you will come and visit!)// I am a girlfriend.// I am an artist.// I am a princess of the King.// I hope to illustrate a book someday.// I am a Japanese daughter. // I would love to work with churches in Japan.// I am a sushi fan.// I am group fitness instructor.// I am a story teller.// I am a sister. (All sisters are invited to spend the night in my room! My bed is large enough for two!)// I tend to wander down quiet, lonely neighborhood streets instead of driving on busy roads.// I am a roommate.// I am a proverbs junkie.// I would like to be a better listener.// I am a missionary.// I am a girl.// I love to make mini-paintings on my toenails.// I am a seeker.// I would love to live to live in an apartment downtown.// I am a jars of clay fan.// I am a John T. Willis fan!// I am a book addict.// I am chocolate soy milk addict.// I am looking for the Kingdom. // I am Katrina!//

Since you've read this, would you answer this question by leaving a comment? Who are YOU? What do you dream of doing? Where do you dream of going? What do you love?

Acclimated to a Greater Culture

2004-07-05T20:28:00.000-05:00

This is dangerous ground for a blog, but let's trample onto dangerous ground. As I have watched my friends leave Abilene to travel around the world and live in new culture for the majority of the summer, I have been reminded of the important process of great preparation. Pam is in China, Melody and Jo Anna are in Italy, Rachel in Mbala, Mark, Phil, Lindsey and Karin are in Brisbane, my new friend, Lindsey is leaving for the Ukraine this week, and I have been watching them prepare to leave. For all of these, there has been great prayer, fundraising, training sessions, etc. For some, new luggage had to be purchased, phone cards, supplies, converters, underwear (*gasp*), you name it - it was purchased for this summer culture change.

More importantly, this is what we're doing here on earth, too. Just like it would be silly to watch Mark or Melody stand in an airport without luggage or any clue about the basic information they would need to find their gate, it would be silly for us to spend our lives standing around this "airport", drooling with nothing but an airline ticket in hand. Now, the Trainer has us in an intense culture class. He is teaching us the 'forever' language, the lifestyle, the kind of food and the water: we're learning about a Greater Culture. Once we get there, we will know where to find the water, where to buy the stamps, where the toilets are located... :) We will know the Map!

Love Love Love,
katrina*

HOW AMAZING!

2004-07-05T14:28:00.000-05:00

The 17-year-old Maria Sharapova took home the Wimbledon championship this weekend. On an interview, I watched her shrug without worry as a reporter asked her if she was afraid being up against all of the great, older, more experienced players. She smiled, shook her haid, and said, "I knew that the power was within me."

SO! In Her was Life, and that Life is the light of the world. John 1:4

Bursting Forth

2004-07-04T21:57:00.000-05:00

As I watched the fireworks tonight, I couldn't help but think how many of the fireworks mimic "flower" shapes.

I imagined each little spark as a firefly, swarming together to form a giant hydrangea poof and then each dispersing and flying away to do its business.

Some of the firecrackers look like mums, others like blue bonnets. Whatever the case, I love watching the people flocking together to watch the displays. In Abilene, I drove down Treadaway street, and I could see the fireworks overhead as I drove. When I turned toward Pine, I saw so many isolated people sitting and watching. Those side streets were fascinating to drive down. When I reached my destination (Erin on Pine), there they were: young and old, hispanic, white, yellow, you name it... all were there to watch the fireworks. Little ones screamed in excitement. Older ones "ooohed and awwwwed". I am looking forward to that crazy day when we will see their faces look toward heaven, and we will all be looking at something quite a bit more AWEsome than fireworks!

Joy like a firework,
katrina

Oxygen

2004-07-03T13:35:00.000-05:00

Well, here we are again at the end of another aerobics session!! I have had a great time today! There were TONS of people in class this morning, and the case seems to be that the more people there are, the more fun we have!

I made the comment (and I meant it) that it is like a little glimpse of heaven when I dream becomes realized. A year ago I was in Japan, and my health was a joke. I was eating way more than I normally eat, and I was sitting all day long. (This tends to be the situation everytime that I have been.) I know at that time in my life I was making a real difference, but I cannot disregard that I really felt horrible! (This was a valley.)

I cannot describe in words to you how heavy and overburdened I felt. This new job has been such a wonderful blessing, and none of this would have been possible if it wasn't for God's grace and such a great support system of friends and family. [Talk about an excuse to celebrate, right Erin? :)] So, I just want to say thanks again, if any of you haven't heard me say it yet - I thank God for you!

**I think of the Jars of Clay's The Valley Song.

I will sing of your mercy
that leads me through valleys of sorrow
to rivers of joy.**

Speaking of being "down" and "under", this weekend holiday break has been like Christmas! Mark called me from Australia yesterday! (This is always a special treat.) He sounds like he is doing great. I find it interesting to sit and listen to him talking and listen to the 'Australia' sounds in the background. (People speaking with an accent, strange wildlife, etc. - The strange wildlife is probably Phil! But that is another Blog! :D) I think he said that he might be meeting the Crocodile Hunter soon? *raises eyebrows and tilts head in wonder and curiousity* I'll let you know about that one. I may be completely crazy, but even still, I will keep you posted! (Haha! Pun intended! :D) You can read about his adventures here.

Whew! What a long blog!

Breathe, Sing, Get Closer to Someone,
katrina

Looks like Morning In Your Eyes

2004-07-02T20:12:00.000-05:00

I had the greatest date today with four of my wonderful girlfriends!!!! We ate lunch, and we mused about all the things single girls can muse about. Oh, the simple pleasures in life. Girlfriends, Laughter, Chicken, Avacado, Texas Monthly, and digital cameras. This may possibly be the only and most lazy Friday of the YEAR!

At work yesterday, Quetta and little Norah came to play. I looooove Norah's face here:

I am currently alone on a summer's Friday night watching the *Amber and Katrina* date-commentary video from Sophomore year. There is nothing good on TV, and I need something a little more interactive (sensory) than a book. Since the REAL Amber has left for Dallas, the video will have to do. :)

I am enjoying this break between classes. I plan to make some more art. As for the advanced drawing final, overall there was great success.

Loneliness

Joy's Letter "M"

Here are the ABC's of my JOY:
a - aerobics
b- blueberries
c - color
d - dancing
e - excellence
f - friendship
g - green grass
h - hydrangeas
i - ink
j - jump rope
k - kangaroo
l - legumes
m - mandolin
n - nonesuch road
o - onigiri zushi
p - poetry
q - quilts
r - rest
s - silk
t - three
u - utilities
v - Valentine's Day
w - water
x - xy chromosome
y - Yahweh
z - the zoo

Tomorrow's choreography is looking to be creative and wonderful! This will be the last fitness class I will teach on Saturday for awhile. My hope is that the variety of work this month will fight against burnout. Pray for me as transitions start again next week.

Delight yourself in The Lord,
katrina

Achieve

2004-06-30T07:35:00.000-05:00

If you know AMBER, this is an image of her 'beholding' :

We had a great weekend.

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will.

H e b r e w s 1 3 : 2 0 - 2 1

Mmmmmmmwwwcccchhhhhaaaaa, (grand inquisitor style)
katrina

Just A Link

2004-06-29T12:16:00.000-05:00

The title is linked to photos from the wedding. Sorry I cannot write much today. I hope to resume excessive blogging within the next two days!

Joy like a fountain!

Holding My Breath until the Wedding

2004-06-24T11:53:00.000-05:00

Another wedding. I cannot escape!!! I have been preparing for a super-road-trip tomorrow with Amber-wonderful-Lee, and I am looking forward to a change of scenery! My dad will be wed this weekend. This looks to be an interesting weekend that I probably will not forget for a long time.

We leave at seven in the morning, so I have been seriously budgeting my time. This morning, I taught aerobics at 5:30 am (AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!), and by 8:30 I had successfully drained an entire can of Acrylic Crystal Clear on my drawing. The process I chose for this project was an oil paint wash system with Acrylic Crystal Clear layers between each wash. For all of you non-artists, this is the same process that I used on "The Frog Prince." (click on title link to view)

I plan to work the rest of the afternoon on the drawing (if I don't fall over from holding my breath/inhaling the mineral spirits/aerosol can fumes!) We art people always say that fumes must be the reason why college-level art people tend to have poor math skills. Ha!

About mid-morning, I couldn't help but peel up a little corner of the painter's tape to expose the clean white surface next to the drawing. An overwhelming wonderful feeling came over me. I love the way the whiteboard stands in contrast to the saturated colors. Some people say I am easily amused. :D Oh, well.

This whole, hopeful process is a great workout for developing a tolerance towards delayed gratification!

Peace like a river!
katrina

J is for JOCK?!

2004-06-21T16:15:00.000-05:00

Snazzy title, huh? :D I enjoy the new muscle emerging all over (since I began weight training earlier last spring.) W is for weight training... or water... or wallabi...? Hmmmmm.

I have decided to make my next drawing the "ABCs of Joy" in a quilt format. I am very excited about this! My studiomate, Celeste and my other classmates, Kim, Rebecca, and Jay all aided me today throughout the excavation of joy up and down the Roman alphabet. We laughed, we cried (mainly from laughing too hard), and then we did that sigh thing that everyone does after a nice long, exhaustive laugh. It was great.

I know you must be thinking that I must give you a sneak preview. You all ready know the "S", right? "V", "I", and "A" are all give aways, too. My personal favorite is L = Legumes!! I love beans sooooooo much. (Now, I don't want to be too obvious about the "S"... wink, wink.) I look forward to posting a picture of the finished product. It must be done by next Monday, so you will not be waiting long. I cannot wait for you to see what we chose for "X"!!! ;)

*V is very very EXTRAordinary...*
katrina :D

When I turn eighty-one...

2004-06-20T23:39:00.000-05:00

As I was driving down the street today, I began to wonder if I will live to be eighty-one-years-old. (My mind tends to wander to silly things... most of the time.) The year will be 2064 (if we're still using that way of telling time). I wonder if we will refer to the style of a decade in the same way. You know, now we refer to the style of the thirties, and everyone instantly gets pictures of the world's fair, the depression, wind storms, and WW2 (all in black and white photography, of course).

But what about in 2064? Will we have to refer to the thirties as the 1930s?! Wouldn't it just be strange to imagine the twenty-thirties as a decade where Microsoft fails, China's economy is the strongest in the world, Space travel is just like an "out of this world" vacation where any old Joe can hop on a shuttle for the day and see the moon...?

You know, if my God allows this earth to even last that long, I wouldn't mind looking down from heaven or being around here. I'm sure both will be quite interesting. And who wouldn't want to be eighty-one, right? It is the pinnacle of good design. 3 cubed times three... it must be like being twenty-seven all over again! :D Okay, that is enough!

Moving forward,
katrina

Let Freedom Ring

2004-06-18T11:22:00.000-05:00

I sit before you today, a woman of change...

-because that is all that will be in my pocket now that I have CUT MY CREDIT CARD UP INTO LITTLE PIECES!

I am so thankful that I am not a slave to that with which I live. I now have built up credit, and I can smile in front of a pile of plastic ruin. *grin*

And now, with freedom, comes great responsibility. Grandpa's words of "just remember not to spend more than you make..." have been good up until now, but it's time to radically live! I have decided to take control of the money I have been given, because it has started to take control of me. Please pray for this transition into an ACTIVE budget... (as my focus turns more towards 'building up treasure in heaven') I hope that God will bless this. He said that He would.

Sigh. This will not be easy- especially with all of the temptations in Abilene. :) There are tempations, you know. Sushi *katrina raises eyebrows with excitement*, a swanky car wash, chocolate soy milk, new exercise music, Ann Thai Kitchen, giving extravagant gifts, juicing up art projects... sigh. Even without these things, I have everything I could ever need! This is a lot considering that MOST of the people in the world don't even have what they need most.

Dollars are good, change is better! :P
katrina

Shudder Speed

2004-06-12T21:07:00.000-05:00

Last night, Robin and I went storm chasing. She is only in town for a short period of time, so we enjoyed spending most of the evening together. Since she loves to take pictures, it was an adventure to be with her when the sky was storm-colored and calling her name. She drives fast, but we slowed and pulled over outisde of the southwest part of Abilene, and she stood on top of her truck to set up the tripod. We stopped for a minute and drove for two. Stop, drive, stop, drive, stop! A couple of times, she wanted to stop on the highway on dangerous bridges. Thank the Lord that we finally ended up on a shoot off an access road near a sunflower field. In the distance, we could see the lightening come down... the sky was pink and dark and swirling. It was like heaven held a disco party. The strobe-light lightening consumed Robin's attention, and I focused a little closer to the ground. I took many negative and posterized images of the sunflowers and weeds.

After we had thoroughly introduced ourselves to the local mosquitos, we decided to finish the evening. As Robin climbed into the driver's seat, a smelly, skinny, rabid-looking cat jumped into her lap. After petting and baby talking the cat, she literally had to "help" the cat fly out of her window. Ha! He really wanted to play with Robin, and I can see why... she is a lot of fun to be around!

A Radical New Order

2004-06-10T21:44:00.000-05:00

Humans gossip a lot. Blah... blah... blah. We speak to each other about others like we're ships passing in the night. So much of the “news” is just gossip. I remember teachers all throughout my pre-college education reminding all of us to stay “current” and watch the news, but the more I watch, the more I see the joke is on me. What a waste. I wonder when the pendulum will swing away from the physical and public focus. “Man shall not live by bread alone.”

Come to think of it -- What is a woodwind instrument without someone blowing air into it? A Prismacolor pencil would be tragic without the pigment-packed lead. A stability ball would not be much fun deflated. What is an Oreo cookie without the crème?

The psalmist declares, "Search me, O God." I wonder what I would be like without "the inside or the searchable". I wonder what I would be like with more inside. (Easy on the mental images! :) ) Will the transformation be as joyful as moving from an Oreo to Double Stuffed? ...from Crayola pencil to Prismacolor? ...from a squeaky instrument to a beautiful harmony?

Delivered and yours,
katrina*

Order and Balance

2004-06-08T07:39:00.000-05:00

Mmmmm. Exercise. Breathing a little wider and deeper today. I also finished my first drawing today for advanced drawing. The assignment was to create an image charged with content and containing themes of balance, logic, order, and counterbalance.

The new assignment is a Tension/Anxiety study. Let me know if you have any suggestions! :D All that comes to mind are anxious colors (reds and oranges.)

Love Love,
katrina

You know you are in college when...

2004-06-04T20:35:00.000-05:00

Japanese tongue twister number one:

"Ji shin kami nari kaji o yaji." Say that three times fast!

Proximal English Translation: Earthquake, Thunder, and Dad... all one in the same.
There is an earthquake in my spin cycle and invisible gerbils in the dryer. Everytime we start the washing machine, there is much trembling about this house! Come over for dinner and entertainment. We'll eat a light meal and do some laundry. It's sure to please even the most difficult crowds, and it's inexpensive! :)

In Need of Color

2004-06-03T23:59:00.000-05:00

I really like chocolate (a lot), but the sugar and the milk (if it is milk chocolate) just make my stomach turn. I still eat it. I know I should avoid it, but each time someone offers me the choice – I choose chocolate! What remains worse is that it is not even that good at all, and I still eat it. If I really think about it, it is BROWN (yuck), it has a funny consistency, and it does not even have “fun” design. (You may remember looking at an orange or a kiwi and seeing the bursts of colors and the pattern of the pulp or seeds; if you hold a slice of cucumber into light, it looks like a kaleidoscope; even the often dreaded green vegetables have great rhythmic design qualities!) Chocolate, (with the exception of interesting holiday molded shapes,) usually comes in blob like forms. When you slice it, it has nothing but brown mass. (Granted, some chocolates have filling…) The taste does not arrest a person; one must acquire a taste for it. It just seems nostalgic; maybe the buzz in so many magazines about the chemical properties of chocolate having a drug-like affect on the brain is true after all.

Even if all of that hype is true, after I am finished eating the chocolate, I feel so… yuck. It’s the Romans 8 of life.

What I do think is lovely, on the other hand... is stretching. After a nice stretch, I feel great. I feel great when the day comes to a close, and I am overwhelmed by the multitude upon multitude of subtle moments from the day to share... and all I can do is whisper them up as I fall asleep. I love laughing with friends over the mysteries of our time here and God's work in the world, and I love the Hope that I have. These are good things.

Hooked on a feeling,
katrina

Going for Bananas

2004-06-02T21:30:00.000-05:00

Amber and I went to United last night after I came home from work to buy soy milk and bananas. It was funny that we both checked out at different registers with the exact same shopping list. I think I can safely say that was the first time I have ever checked out with the same items as the person next to me. On the way home from United, Amber was telling me more about China.

She went to visit her sister, Erica, who teaches English in Wuhan. I remember coming back from Japan last summer and staying with Amber at her family's house in Denver for one week. She was my "de-jet-lag/re-entry" coach. I love Amber with a love so great it may be almost indescribable. We laugh. We cry. We eat. We sleep. We love living on purpose in relationship, and her family has been (without a doubt) the most influential family in my life. (That alone is a completely different blog.)

So, Erica was there in Denver when I came back from Japan last summer, and when we met, we were like epoxy and oxygen. I quickly learned that this girl has something amazing and special about her life. She graduated with a degree in English, and her eloquent and sensitive approach to writing is such that anyone can read her work and begin to understand the unseen world that Erica sees... It's an amazing world.

If only you could see the banana sellers on the street behind my school. All day the sellers sit at makeshift tables--warped boards resting on piled bricks--behind bunches of the common yellow fruit. There are white, chipped scales for weighing their goods, and bits of tattered cardboard declaring their prices, and there is also boredom and wariness in their eyes, for the sellers are always waiting and likely to be disappointed.

Some of the bananas are brown, mushed, speckled with age, like an old person's hands. Others are green at the tips, firm, not yet ripe. To me, there is such poetry and sweet longing and despair in every bunch. Row by row, brown or golden it matters not, they look like giant cupped hands with curved fat fingers. They are tentative, forced to be humble and open, waiting for compassion to drop into their outstretched palms. The bananas say, "Come." But it is not a greeting or a welcome. No--it is a plea, and it is fueled by a hope that knows its own hopelessness. Day after day the sellers are there, rotating bananas from the fresh, green rows to the brown, speckled rows. Silent and watchful, they echo the "Come" with their eyes, and at the end of the day, they feed on the fruit that no one else wants. How could leftover bananas, warmed by the sun, make me feel so very awful?

...These are my desires. But what do I know of them, of first kisses, or children stretching in my belly, or trusting a poem enough to read it aloud?

Desires fill us like organs, they are our insides, our lungs. Without them, we do not live, we are hollow, we do not breathe. But they are also wounds and empty spaces. They are humid afternoons fearful of storms. They are doctor waiting rooms with no magazines to read, where anticipation is agony...

Beloved friends, come to the feast! Come to the warped boards on bricks, where the giant banana hands are cupped and calling, where a price is paid and you never leave hungry. The sellers know more than you or I of desire. They live their lives in waiting. But we, though we are rich and filled, are denied what we truly want, because we are frightened, too frightened, to open ourselves to desire.

It is true that we sin when we worship our desires, fulfilling them in evil ways. But we also sin when we ignore what haunts us, when we deny the hunger that was given us so that we could know the joy of being full.

Beloved friends, come, come, to the feast!

This girl needs a publisher. I am the ultimate Erica groupie.

Delightful!
katrina

Tuesday!

2004-06-01T22:14:00.000-05:00

Well the results are in, and today wasn't wasted! :)

The sleeping change went well, and I kept my 5:30am gym appointment.
Advanced Drawing started and eight, I arrived on time, and I received the assignment for this week. We will be doing four major drawing this month. My first series will be a scratchboard series on balance, order, logic, and counterbalance.

After class, I ran some errands, and I started reading "Don't waste your life" by John Piper. I went to have the engine checked on the car, and found that trip to be unsuccessful, so I plan to go again tomorrow to have the engine looked at by someone different.

Piper refers to C.S. Lewis (one of my favorite Children's Book authors... and an Oxford great) and I am able to read Lewis now from a fresh perspective. I love the way Piper says that Lewis revealed to him that "newness is no virtue and oldness is no vice." Truth and beauty and goodness are not determined by when they exist. HmmmmM!

Love Love,
katrina*

Twist Me Tragically

2004-05-31T17:39:00.000-05:00

I would like to pack up my life and just move around all of the time. If only people would come with me! I have a very "short-term-attention-span", and chasing injustice and helping those who are hurting to give what I am able (especially since I am so able) is becoming the more and more attractive road to me now.

Who can sit still when nursing homes are torn apart in Indianapolis just yesterday...? Who will go?

The fact that I sit as a University Student is a wonderful thing and a painful thing. I want to be able to make use of what I have been given, but I know the gifts that I have been given are being cultivated now, so I must do what I can now while I wait. Sigh.

((Soak up the overflow of blogs while you can! Everything changes tomorrow! :) ))