Just felt like writing one...

This week everything caught up with me. I had been able to coast along -- doing as little homework and studying as possible. Then this week I had a ten page paper due, an industry analysis (that turned out to be twelve pages) and a four page paper due...luckily my professor moved our test that was supposed to be today to Monday.

So last night I veged. I watched Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Burn Notice (which I dvr'd) and America's Best Dance Crew (also dvr'd). Then I even read some of a book my friend gave me, it was fantastic! It was The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella (who also wrote Tales of a Shopaholic I think...now a major motion picture).

Speaking of books, my friend gave me about five so I have soooo many to read: Something Borrowed Emily Griffin, Mansfield Park, Persuasion, The Boy next Door Meg Cabot, Every Boy's Got One Meg Cabot, Houston, We have a Problema Gwendalyn Zepeda, and Taken by Storm Tami Hoag. Sheeesh that'll keep me busy for quite some time. O and I have Accidental Mother also...don't want to forget that. Wow.

I have 78 days left until I graduate. And the closer it gets, the more it scares the shit out of me. I need to figure it all out and get my shit together or else it's going to be the middle of April and I'm trying to frantically find a job.

Greetings

I am currently pondering whether our society has come to the point that we have traditional greetings. I mean, I know we already have some sort of one -- but it's not like in Niger where you say the exact same thing to a person every time you greet them. Usually it's "Hi, How are you (today)?" and usually someone says "I'm doing fine/great/good/adjective, (thanks), how are you?".

I'm just wondering because it seems like when I say anything other that "I'm good how are you" I receive some sort of comment on what I've responded with...sometimes good, sometimes bad.

For instance, my viola instructor asked me today "How are you?". I said "I'm good, I'm a little tired, that's all". To which he said "O...you'll live". And it's not that it was mean or anything -- he's a really nice guy. It's just that I didn't want my tiredness to underplayed I guess because I was really tired. Anyway, it stuck out to me.

And I think that's why I usually just say "good" or "fine" because of this fact -- which sometimes I'm lying! But, it just seems so rigid now that I feel like I can't really say anything else. Or maybe it's because later I think about and worry about every little thing I said or did. I'm getting better -- but for a while it was very time consuming. Anyway, just a thought I had.

Random

So I did not realize that if you ever injure a body part, that it will ache everytime the weather hurts. I mean, I knew my mom's aches were from the weather, but she's had so many surgeries on her knees and shoulders that it's expected.

I was sitting here trying to figure out why my right knee has been aching -- welp it's the one I fell on a while back. Suck.

I "ate" dinner with a friend tonight (more like getting it to go with her for a meeting at 9:30). She said "I think I might get a beer, would that offend you?" I said, NO! Of course not. The only reason I'm not having one is because I'm not 21 haha.

She said "Ok cool, you don't really seem like the type to judge". That kinda made my night, because I really do try hard not to. But, I know I fail a lot of the time at that. For some reason, she didn't end up getting a beer though, lol. Who knows why?

So for everyone that is a Hotel Rwanda fan (*JEFF*)... Paul Rusesabagina is speaking next Monday night the 16th in the Great Hall in the Allen Chapman Activity Center (ACAC) on TU. So, I'll be going! He's going to be speaking about his experience and how he saved 1200 lives so I think it should be really interesting and moving -- I may bring kleenex. Seriously.

Well, gotta go catch up on my reading that I've now fallen behind on :-}

Living Waters and Rob Bell

So, I was searching emergent/postmodern on yahoo for churches in case I ever decide to move out of Oklahoma. I was just curious.

Well first it, I go to this site: http://www.heartforthelost.com/2008/09/emergentpost-modern-sayings.html. Kind of sad really...I think that this person is coming from a christian background...so I think it's sad that they are putting their energy into discounting emergent/postmodern viewpoints rather than making relationships with other people. O well.

So, I clicked on the "pull the plug on atheism" under his/her February blog posts. Go look at it. It's a picture of a billboard that talks about how athiests believe in something that cannot possibly exist. Which, yea ok, I agree. But put it on a billboard? Really?

So, if you click on the picture of the poster it takes you to their site. And then when you're on their site it has a link for livingwaters.com.

I did not know that this was the church that Kirk Cameron is so associated with. The one that has the TV show out there were they force people to talk with them and, in my opinion, have become the very essence of the "bull horn guy".

(And I just found this satircal piece to Rob Bell's video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9XorvaC4qs. Wow. That's just sad. )

Why do christians have to fight and argue and spew hate at other christians. They put so much energy into that...I'm reading Unchristian right now and I think it definitely shines the light on why people think that christians are more concerned with being right than being loving.

And here's another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wSAEezBc3s&feature=related Why is this man's first premise about arguing whether or not Peter has little faith in himself or little faith in Jesus? Is it easier for us in any way to think that he has little faith in Jesus? Does it discredit what Jesus did by pulling Peter out of the boat and helping him stand on the water? If it's true that he had little faith in himself, would it prove that Peter is some sort of God or that God wants us to act like we're immortal beings? Does this affect anyone outside of the church? I don't get it. What is the point here? What does it say for us? I guess my point is, other than trying to discredit Rob Bell...what is he saying? He says we should be in "DEF COM1" all the time (something else I took issue with). He goes so far as to call it humanism disguised as christianity. (And if you go and look at the comments, who comes up again but Ray and Kirk from LivingWaters...really interesting).

There are TONS of videos out there to discredit Rob Bell by the way. I didn't even realize it! Wow! He must've really struck a nerve!

Anyway, just my two little cents on this subject.


Here's a little tidbit from the comments as the person who posted the video and "pastor jer" discuss the virgin birth and Bell's teachings. I don't have a comment, but I just found it interesting so I thought I'd post it as well:

preachercam (1 year ago)
Rob Bell, though affirming the virgin birth, denies it is an essential Christian doctrine in Velvet Elvis. That's shocking coming from a graduate of Wheaton.
PastorJer (1 year ago) he does not out-right deny it as unessential but in fact affirms that he believes everything in the creeds, which by the way, can't scripturally quoted. In Velvet Elvis, he merely challenges us to remain in discussion about what it means to live biblically in modern times...such discussion can be very scary yet if we aren't discussing we aren't wrestling and meditating with God's word and that scares me even more
preachercam (1 year ago) He does deny it's necessity asking if we could still be a Christian if there was no virgin birth. No virgin birth means that it wasn't God dying in our place which means that it wasn't the perfect sinless subtitute and no saving power.
PastorJer (1 year ago) I have read and talked about this excerpt from his book many times and I have to say I think you are taking his comments too literally here. He is giving speculative teaching actually asking if Mary was a virgin based on teh Hebrew definition of the word, wouldn't we still believe Jesus was Jesus and that He was in fact God and our redeemer? You are saying no we wouldn't.Then he wouldn't have been God.Rob Bell is saying Hebrew definition or modern, He was in fact God and that doesn't change
preachercam (1 year ago) Rob Bell and Brian Mclaren and Tony Campolo affirm the creeds and then go about radically redefining them. Rob Bell denies the divine inspiration of Scripture, the necessity of repentance, downplays depravity and sin, redefines hell to something on earth, says everyone is already redeemed,and claims that John 14:6 is not about Jesus being the only way of salvation. These aren't minor doctrines.
PastorJer (1 year ago) I have actually sat under many conservative preachers, theologians, and read many commentaries that use biblical criticism to redefine Hell from some spiritual prison of eternity to a more literal place Jesus and others referred to. This isn't a new teaching or interpretation...just not a heralded one...who is right? Both camps can defend it scripturally
preachercam (1 year ago) On Hell, Rob Bell says it is a reality we can create for people here on earth by how we live or how we treat people. He also says that his goal is NOT to stop people from going to hell but to stop hell from coming to earth. That really trivialises the horror and contradicts the real eternal punishemnt Jesus spoke of in Matt 10:28, Luke 12:5 and many other instances.
TheGroup11306 (1 year ago) Rob does not deny this doctrine, he simply uses it as a point that we should be willing to discuss, doubt and question. His use of the virgin birth gets to the point of in that day a virgin was also known as a woman who was impregnated the first time she had intercourse. He then brings the reader to a place to discuss the ramifications of this then known meaning and how it affects what we currently think. God bless brother and thanks for questioning and doubting like the rest of us!
preachercam (1 year ago) I actually said that he affirms the virgin birth but denies that it is essential doctrine.
rryanreid (1 year ago) what a joke to say that isn't essential doctrine.

He's Just Not That Into You

So my mom and I went to go see He's Just Not That Into You. Very good movie. I've read the book and it's something that I think every female should read! Haha. In fact, I just gave my copy to a friend!

It's a chick flick though! So guys, beware. But I generally liked the message inside the movie also. And yea, the romance too. I can live vicariously through the people haha.

Actually, in one of my psych classes a semester ago, we talked about how people can feel sympathetic for people on screen or in movies. And actually, when you watch a movie, time for you kinda stops. You're in a state of light hypnosis. So, the movie in a sense becomes "real" for about 2.5 hours. Kinda weird huh.

So I have to wake up at 9:00 tomorrow for a 10:45 meeting. Then I'm working on a ten-page paper with my group for my I/O psych class tomorrow. Sometime this weekend I need to go try on bridesmaids dresses again and also read this book that was assigned for my abnormal psych class because I have a paper due on the 19th. So...pretty busy weekend I guess. Guess I should get to bed. Good night.

O, and I never thought of the Mac guy as being sexy...but in this movie he's pretty darn sexy.

Bodily Aches

So part of this post is going to be my complaining post. So if you don't like to hear people complain about stuff don't read or comment. Thanks.

I think I'm falling apart -- physically that is. People that know me really well, know that I try never to complain about physical stuff because I just think it's whiny and that it could be so much worse. Well it can, but right now I don't give a shit.

So a few weeks ago, I was chasing my mini schnauzer 3-year-old sweetheart through the house playing ball. I had on my Uggs from, what, two years ago. I think I sprained my ankle or pulled something. I didn't notice until the next day that it was a little swollen. It seemed to get better. Then later, I was sitting on the couch watching TV, moved my foot, and something popped. And now it hurts all over again. But, I actually think it's getting better again so that's good. Still hurts a little though.

My left eye has been twitching for the last 8 days now! 8! I looked it up online to make sure I wasn't dying (lol, just kidding) or anything and it said that it was likely the cause of stress or lack of sleep. Well I have both so there ya go.

My carpal tunnel/tendonitis is back in full force. Not really sure why either because I still practice the same amount as before. My pieces have gotten a little tougher I guess. And I've been texting a lot more haha. But yea, it sucks. Hands going numb and achy never really feels good.

My jaw is mysteriously hurting. Only my right side. I think it's muscular or a tendon. Everytime I'd take a drink it's tightening up hardcore. Everytime I chew something hard or chewy it hurts. No fun at all.

I think I have an ulcer or at the very least need to change from Nexium. I have woken up a few times to extreme stomach pain - reminiscent of my pre-gallbladder surgery days. And it does it during the day too. No fun.

And let's see, anything else. I think that pretty much covers it.


So, NOW on a GOOD note. I got my hair colored and cut yesterday. I've gotten some very good responses.

The first person I talked to today was a guy in one of my classes.

He said "Hey did you change your hair?"

To which I replied "Yea, I colored it"

He said "I thought you did something. When was this?"

I said "Yesterday".

He said "O, Ok I knew it. I thought I remembered you were a redhead"

I said "yea my hair turns red if I haven't colored it. And the last time I colored it was 11 weeks ago"

He said "well it looks really good!"

SO TOTALLY made my day.

Then, in my next class, this football player walks by and makes eye contact. Something he rarely does with me...usually he just asks for a pencil, paper or a stapler. But he actually smiled. So that was nice. He's an idiot. But I liked the attention.

Then I had another guy play with my hair. So I guess people like it! I do too, I'm fond of it! :)

I fell asleep with my chin on my chest today watching the Dog Whisperer. That's how sleepy I am. So instead of reading my chapter for my class tomorrow...I'm going to go get some extra sleep. Goodnight!

Unmotivated

I cannot get motivated lately, to do much of anything really.

I hit the snooze button about 5 times now, slowly growing each week and I have to compensate by either getting dressed and ready faster or setting my alarm even earlier.

I'm sick of the extra pounds that I've packed on since last March when my Gallbladder was taken out. I do very little exercising. The last time I exercised was a couple of weeks ago and I know that I should exercise more. Ever since I've gotten sick twice -- like emergency room sick -- from exercising I've developed a slight resistance and fear to it. I also know that I should be eating healthier but I keep shoving food down my mouth for instant gratification.

I am slacking off on my homework. I know part of it is senioritis because my friends are doing the same thing. But, I think I'm really unmotivated because I still don't know what I want to do. (Although I'm thinking strongly about physical therapy for some reason.) It makes it hard for me to be really interested in something when I don't know if I even like the subject. Take my specialization for example - I'm starting to think it's VERY boring. Sometimes interesting. But overall, pretty much boring. I hate doing stuff that I don't find interesting. Too late now I suppose --better to just graduate now if you ask me.

And probably because I'm a little depressed for some reason. I've been in awkward moods lately. Very unsocial and that's usually not like me. I've said before I think that I'm a shy extrovert because I really like being around other people, but I just lack the social skills. I did manage to kick a habit/addiction since the beginning of this year. So yay!

Now, I'm going to go continue to study for a hopeless test tomorrow in I/O psych (which I hadn't started studying for until about 2 hours ago and I'm already taking a break). Good thing I'm taking the class pass/d/fail now or else I'd really be in trouble!