The end of a season

Well, you all have probably heard by now the Grace Community Church will be no more than memories in a couple of week. We're folding back into Crossway. I'm excited, yet, well, it's hard to pinpoint my exact emotion. I can't wait to make more friends, but I'm sad to leave the enivorment of a small church, and all the oppurtunities of serving that brings. Not, of course, that we can't do that at Crossway, it will just be different. Everything will be different. I've changed since we left to go on the church plant, and my friends back at Crossway have changed. I've grown closer to my friends at Grace, while not growing father away from those at Crossway, it really hasn't gotten closer. I really don't know what to expect, and that kind of scares me. I like to know what's going to happen, and what it's going to be like, but simply, in this case, I can't really prepare myself fully. I'll have to trust God's plan for me and my family. But I'm still excited, and so many other things! See you all in September!

The Bible bill?

It gets very iteresting when Congress start discussing the Bible. It's sad, too, that those who claim to be Christians don't more advicitly support the Bible because they want to stay in congress. Here is an article I found on-line talking about just this, though in a secular view.

Victoria McGrane Victoria Mcgrane – Fri May 22, 5:40 am ET
When the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, 2009, Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.) hopes you’ll be ringing in “the Year of the Bible.”
It’s probably just wishful thinking.
Broun’s simple congressional resolution aimed at honoring the Good Book has produced a push-back of biblical proportion in the blogosphere, with critics dismissing it as either unconstitutional or a waste of time. Jews in Congress and atheist activists are dismissing the resolution, while none of the many Democrats in Congress who are Christian have bothered to sign on as co-sponsors.
According to GovTrak.us, the resolution is among the most-blogged-about pieces of legislation, with most posts less than complimentary in nature.
“Does that mean 2009 is not the year of the Bible?” mocked Rep. Barney Frank ­(D-Mass.), who is Jewish. “What is 2012 the year of? The Quran?”
“That’s an endorsement of religion by the federal government, and we shouldn’t be doing that,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), even though he has introduced his own legislation dealing with religion.
“Republican lawmakers with apparently too much time on their hands and no solutions to offer the country are pushing a resolution that will not address the nation’s problems or advance prosperity or even untangle their previous governing mistakes,” blogged the Progressive Puppy.
Broun rejects the critiques leveled at this effort.
“This doesn’t have anything to do with Christianity,” he said in an interview with POLITICO. Rather, he says, it seeks to recognize that the Bible played an integral role in the building of the United States, including providing the basis for our freedom of religion that allows Muslims, Hindus and even atheists to vocalize their own beliefs.
And even as Nadler criticized Broun, he has done his own share of mixing religion and legislation.
Last year, he introduced a bill that would overturn a federal appeals court ruling — an “idiot” decision, he says — that a condominium board in Chicago had the right to ban Jews from installing mezuzahs, which consist of a piece of parchment inscribed with a specific religious text put inside a case and hung on a door frame.
Condo boards shouldn’t be able to interfere in an individual’s right to practice his or her religion, Nadler said.
But he himself declined to install a mezuzah on his congressional office door when asked by a rabbi, even though he does so at home.
“That’s my religious symbol, and the office does not belong to me; it belongs to the people of the congressional district, and no one should feel uncomfortable walking into the office if it’s not their religion,” Nadler said, describing his feelings on religion and Congress.
“Same thing with the Bible. ... It’s not everybody’s religion. And the federal government should not be imposing religious viewpoints.”
Atheists, who might feel themselves a particular target with the declaration of a biblical year, aren’t even worried about Broun’s effort.
“Right now, we’re seeing atheism on such a rise,” said David Silverman, vice president and national spokesman of American Atheists, a group dedicated to fighting for the civil rights of atheists.
“We are seeing Christianity on such a dramatic decline that we’re not particularly worried about it. We’re thinking that this kind of old-style George W. Bush Republicanism is about to go away,” Silverman said, referring to the latest Pew Forum survey of American religious life, which showed nonreligious Americans as the fastest-growing group.
And it may be the best-selling book of all time, as Broun’s resolution points out, but the Bible isn’t such a popular legislative topic.
A search of Thomas, the online congressional database, for “Bible” yields just one other bill: a resolution to have the “Lincoln-Obama Bible” on permanent display in the Capitol Visitor Center.
The resolution specifically asks the president “to issue a proclamation calling upon citizens of all faiths to rediscover and apply the priceless, timeless message of the Holy Scripture which has profoundly influenced and shaped the United States and its great democratic form of government.”
As for the economy, health care, global warming and all the other issues on Congress’ plate?
“While we must focus on fiscal policies that provide relief to families during these tough economic times, an endeavor I have been working tirelessly towards in this Congress, we must also not forget to protect and celebrate our fundamental freedoms that the Bible has influenced,” Broun said.
Broun has gathered 15 co-sponsors, all Republicans, but says he’s looking for more and hopes Democrats will sign on, as well.
“This is not a partisan issue,” he said. “I want it to be bipartisan.”
Whether he’s successful or not — the same measure didn’t go anywhere last year — at least Broun and his fellow supporters can take heart in one fact: They already had a “year of the Bible.”
Ronald Reagan designated 1983 as one, with Congress’ blessing.

Well...

Despite popular belief, I have not fallen off the edge of a cliff = D No, but I have been incredibly busy, like seriously busy!

As always, I have school, though the year is winding down! Jared started baseball a couple weeks ago, and he usually has practice or games a couple times a week. Add any other usual weekly activities, and it amounts to a lot.

This Saturday was beyond busy! Saturdays usually are. Any way, the boys went to help someone finish their basement, and us girls had some cleaning up to do in the house. Then we got a phone call from one of our good friends saying that they had found a kitten under their house that they could not keep because they already had a cat and dog. We ran over to pick him up, not thinking that it would take very long. When we got there, we found out that he was 2-4 weeks old and had been under the house for around a week without food. We than had to go to another friends house because she had found a kitten that was very young and had nursed him back to health, so she had all the necesary supplies. She showed us what to do, and then we went home to grab some stuff for the youth event we were in charge of and head up to Mooresville. This all being said, we had a pretty busy day!

Duke, which is what we're calling the kitten for now, has to be fed 3-4 hours, and he lets you know when he's hungry! He's cute, and black, and, well I'll let you see for yourself!

Tea Party

Our TOG went to the Charlotte tea party. If you didn't hear about it, it was a "peaceful" protest to government spending. It was very interesting. I didn't hear any of the speakers names, but they sure had a lot to talk about. Anyway, here a some of the pictures I took.

Here is our group photo!

*Important Update*

*Update*

Now I've got you all curious :) I won't keep you in suspence for very long! I bet you all are wondering what is going on in Grace Community Church. Well, first things first. We are now meeting in Mooresville Middle School. It's a really nice school and we are very grateful to be meeting in it. Right now, only 1/2 of the church is already living up in the Moorseville/ Kannapolis/ Davidson area. Because of the market down turn, several houses on the market have been a few weeks (or months) without showings (including us), so please continue praying!

Now about our Youth Group. I must warn you, stop reading if you don't want to be jealous! We call our group Youth Talk. That is because of our set-up. After a brief time of snacks, we gather in a member's family room. Mr Detwiler, our Senior, Youth, and only Pastor, usually starts by asking us a question, then allows anyone to ask him any kind of theoligal, biblical question, etc. We've covered everything from Creation to the end times, from sanctification to election, and sooo many other things. I've really enjoyed it and so have the others!

I can't think of anything else anyone would want to know, so if you have any questions, just leave a comment!

Romeo

I decided to "adopt" a new virtual pet. They didn't have gerbils, so I picked a fox and named him Romeo. Scroll down on the side bar to see him. He's so cute and you can feed him and everything.
If you want to adopt a pet, it's really easy, and you don't have to feed them every day!

My new room!

Here is some pictures from my new room. No, we have not moved yet, but we decided to switch around rooms. I got the guest room, and Jared moved into my old room. It has it's own bathroom, which is awesome! :D

A wee bit of change

I decided that I needed to change a few things on my blog, but I adore my backround, sooo I changed my header and profile picture, in case you hadn't notice. I also have a bunch more picture from our trip to Iowa, so I should be able to frequently change my header, so stay tuned!

So sorry, but...

Sorry! I haven't posted for like a whole week, but I have a good excuse. Last Wednesday(4th), we found out that my grandpa on my dad's side had died. We had gotten somewhat prepared because he had been struggling w/cancer for several years. So Thursday morning we got up at 4 am and drove 15 hours straight to get to Iowa(where both sets of grandparents live). The next afternoon/evening (Friday) was the visitation, which was quite interesting, since it was my first. The next morning (Saturday) was the fuenral service and the burial. We left the farm on Monday(9th), and got home on Tuesday. It was great to see all my cousins at the same time(at least on my dad's side), which had never happened before. Needless to say, we were wipped out when we got home. After that I had to get caught up with school, which I am thankfully finished with. So that is why I haven't been posting! Here are some pictures from the trip.
All the grandkids. Austin and I are the two oldest, thus the tallest.

The kids were hyper after the lunch which was after the fuenral, except of course Austin and I!

Me with my mom, and one of my aunt and uncles after the visitation.

Lauren, my youngest cousin! Isn't she cute!

At the farm.

We got Snow!!

This morning, I woke up to a winter wonderland! We got like an inch and a half of beautiful white stuff. I haven't gone out yet, but I probably will soon to take pictures! (This one is not mine, though I think it is very magnificent!)

Daily Life

I have been really, really, really busy lately wtih school. I had to write a speech , which I LOVE doing, it just take a long time. May be I'll post it when it's finished. Did anyboby watch the inguration on Tuesday. I thought Obama's speech was very well written (he wrote it himself!). I can't wait to see the changes he makes. Hopefully they'll be good ones! Man, next election I'll be able to vote!

Happy 2009!

Happy 2009! I know this is a bit late (the other one doesn't really count 'cause it was automatic, though I did write it). To get the new year started right, I thought I would thank a few of my many blessings, or friends.

Grace- You are truly my sister and best friend in every meaning of the words! Your willingness to serve your family is an example to me. You put up with all my plans, and you are always up on stage to be the "other girl" with me! I love you!!!!

Recah- I have enjoyed getting to know you better through the church plant, Care Group, and being to two Rhetoric girls in TOG. You always encourage me in the Lord, which is greatly appreciated! I love having you as my "big sister!"

Rebecca P.- You are such a sweet person!!! I have so enjoyed getting to know you as we work together helping to clean up after church! I can't wait to get to know you better in '09!


To all my friends at Grace- I can't wait to get to know you all better as we
evangalize in Moorsville/Kannapolis!

To all my friend at Crossway- I miss you all! I hope the Lord richly blesses you all in 2009!

I Wanderd Lonely as a Cloud

To change the flow of things, I decided to post a poem insted of song lyrics. I've been reading a ton of poetry lately for school and have found a couple that I really like. So here's one of them and more to come later!

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

By William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed--and gazed--but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

A New Everything!

I didn't really like my old header and backround, so I changed it to a much more country girlish theme. Like it?

BTW, that picture was taken when we went back to Iowa this summer. There are a ton of corn cribs in Iowa. This one is my papa's, so we got to climb to the top and go inside it.