Thousand Foot Krutch

Thousand Foot Krutch
I love this band. I listen to them daily. Even though we are looking at another camera, we all look like we're alert for it being a fan signing and it's 11:30 p.m. on a Friday.

13 December 2011

Finals

Finals are this week, or at least this month, for a lot of people. It's a stressful time, even if a student is not attending an Ivy League school. All schools hold finals in high regard.

Why? I don't know. I guess because they are the end of the semester test, the ability for teachers to know if you have learned something from their class.

I like the non-comprehensive finals, ones that serve as a third or fourth test that students get to spend two hours dawdling over (although few, but not all, only take half that time -- still, it's the IDEA that students have two hours that people like).

The comprehensive finals add more stress to an already stressful week. Better yet, professors should just give final projects and let that serve as the culmination of a student's knowledge. After all, how many of us are really going to remember the square root of 95 in our lives, no matter how useful that might be?

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

12 December 2011

My Phone

Three days after my phone battery dropped down an elevator shaft and remained there, I finally got it back. I had almost 100 text messages that I missed over those three days.

WOW!

After whining to my RA and everyone else and spending too much time on Facebook and email, it returned.

I do, however, see the good in the situation. I was able to study for my finals, since I was not distracted by texting...and yes, texting IS a distraction. Of course, I was also thinking about my poor phone battery the whole time.

How did such a weird thing happen?

I really don't know. I was walking - really, Saturday was a horrible day, remedied only by dinner with Laura and Mike at McDonalds - to the elevator for something, I think laundry, and my phone dropped and broke open...and the battery went down the crack in the elevator. How the battery went down that crack I will never know because I wasn't watching it ... I just heard it hit the bottom. I'm pretty sure my finger got cut off (just teasing - I'm saying my phone is like a body part). And stayed there (because who can get to a battery in a crack in an elevator floor?) for three days - and a weekend, and everyone knows that weekends are a busy time for hotels.

Ugh! I worried about it, I checked on it (meaning I looked down the crack in the elevator when I went down the elevator), and I talked about it. I am sure that everyone is super annoyed about it now and happy that I got it back so that I will shut up about it.

And now Justice [the name of my phone] works again and we are back together and happier than ever.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

11 December 2011

Gossip

My favorite topic, probably because girls are so bad about knowing what is gossip and what is not gossip.

I do believe that gossips stems from insecurity. After all, if you're saying something about someone's clothes or body, things that cannot be changed and reflect who a person is, then you have deep issues that you need to confront and work through.

So, let's look at gossip from the Bible's standpoint.

1.) Gossip can stem from a lack of self-confidence that other people pick up on. After picking up on the lack of self-confidence of someone, others then discuss it in circles. God, however, punishes people who do humiliate and pick on other people who are already down, if you examine the rest of Ezekiel 36.

Ezekiel 36:3

English Standard Version -- "Therefore prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Precisely because they made you desolate and crushed you from all sides, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you became the talk and evil gossip of the people..." And so on.

MSG 1-7 -- "And now, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel. Say, 'Mountains of Israel, listen to God's Message. God, the Master, says, Because the enemy crowed over you, "Good! Those old hills are now ours!" now here is a prophecy in the name of God, the Master: Because nations came at you from all sides, ripping and plundering, hauling pieces of you off every which way, and you've become the butt of cheap gossip and jokes, therefore, Mountains of Israel, listen to the Message of God, the Master. My Message to mountains and hills, to ditches and valleys, to the heaps of rubble and the emptied towns that are looted for plunder and turned into jokes by all the surrounding nations: Therefore, says God, the Master, now I'm speaking in a fiery rage against the rest of the nations, but especially against Edom, who in an orgy of violence and shameless insolence robbed me of my land, grabbed it for themselves. "Therefore prophesy over the land of Israel, preach to the mountains and hills, to every ditch and valley: 'The Message of God, the Master: Look! Listen! I'm angry—and I care. I'm speaking to you because you've been humiliated among the nations. Therefore I, God, the Master, am telling you that I've solemnly sworn that the nations around you are next. It's their turn to be humiliated."

Evil gossip. Here gossip gets an adjective - evil, as in, malicious, awful, horrible. Cheap is also used in some translations. So this is gossip at one of its worst points, where people are trying to humiliate someone else. As you can see, the object of the gossip then falls under God's protection.

2.) Gossip can stem just from evil hearts living in a fallen world. They are making it worse for others, but that is our world, sometimes.
Romans 1:29
English Standard Version -- "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips..."
Romans 1:28-32
MSG: Since they didn't bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. And then all hell broke loose: rampant evil, grabbing and grasping, vicious backstabbing. They made life hell on earth with their envy, wanton killing, bickering, and cheating. Look at them: mean-spirited, venomous, fork-tongued God-bashers. Bullies, swaggerers, insufferable windbags! They keep inventing new ways of wrecking lives. They ditch their parents when they get in the way. Stupid, slimy, cruel, cold-blooded. And it's not as if they don't know better. They know perfectly well they're spitting in God's face. And they don't care—worse, they hand out prizes to those who do the worst things best!

3) Gossip can stem from lacking discipline, guidance and respect. A gossip may refuse to turn from their old way of life into the new way of life. Jealousy, quarreling, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder are all grouped together.

2 Corinthians 12:20
English Standard Version (ESV)
20For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

The Message (MSG)
12: 20-21 I do admit that I have fears that when I come you'll disappoint me and I'll disappoint you, and in frustration with each other everything will fall to pieces—quarrels, jealousy, flaring tempers, taking sides, angry words, vicious rumors, swelled heads, and general bedlam. I don't look forward to a second humiliation by God among you, compounded by hot tears over that crowd that keeps sinning over and over in the same old ways, who refuse to turn away from the pigsty of evil, sexual disorder, and indecency in which they wallow.

4) Gossip can stem from not having enough to do, and having a "we're just hanging out" mentality. It can stem from restlessness.

1 Timothy 5:13
English Standard Version (ESV)
13Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.

The Message (MSG)
5: 11-15 Don't put young widows on this list. No sooner will they get on than they'll want to get off, obsessed with wanting to get a husband rather than serving Christ in this way. By breaking their word, they're liable to go from bad to worse, frittering away their days on empty talk, gossip, and trivialities. No, I'd rather the young widows go ahead and get married in the first place, have children, manage their homes, and not give critics any foothold for finding fault. Some of them have already left and gone after Satan.

A clarification. Slander is malicious lies that people tell about others, with the intent of destroying another's reputation or life. Gossip may or may not be lies, but it is idle talk, may or may not be malicious, and is about people's personal lives. Some people don't realize that gossip most closely resembles "just talking about others," and mistake it for slander. Some gossip is stronger and comes extremely close to slander.

So we need to avoid it, watch what we say, and who we hang with. Sometimes we need to directly confront the person partcipating or pertuating gossip.

And remember.

If you wouldn't say it to the person you're talking about, don't say it to anyone else.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Blessed are you who mourn...

This is for everyone out there who's had a rough week/month/year. "Blessed are those who mourn [weep, wail, moan in deep sadness], for they shall be comforted." Prayer for you: "The Lord bless you and keep you. Lord, be with them in their time of mourning. Bring them Your joy and your peace, which passes all understanding. For the Lord says, "Weeping may last for a night, but the joy of the Lord comes in the morning." Love you all!" :)

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

05 December 2011

Comments

FINALLY! Comments work on my blog. They will show up now!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Lessons from Jacob

Genesis 25-Genesis 33 - Jacob lost his whole family, way of life, his material possessions, and his land. He was fleeing for his life, despite having God's blessing and being the son who would inherit from his father. Even if we lose our whole family and way of life, God is still with us. We never lose God!

Eventually, Jacob received more than he could ever dream of (all twelve of his children were born before he ever got back to the "Promised Land") despite having lost everything. And God prepared the way Jacob and Esau eventually reconciled. God is a god of RECONCILIATION, of mending broken relationships! Amen.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

04 December 2011

The Redemption (Legacy of the King's Pirates #1)The Redemption by M.L. Tyndall

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was a fantastic, must read book. It was my first introduction to MaryLu Tyndall. I bought the book with a gift card to Borders (now out of business, unfortunately). It was at the very top of the shelf, but somehow (divinely inspired), it found its way into my hands.



Charlisse is now my favorite heroine (my other favorite being Hadassah in Francine Rivers' "The Mark of the Lion" trilogy).



Charlisse is abused and neglected by her uncle in London. She flees him in search of the father she never knew, a pirate. She becomes shipwrecked and is found by Captain Merrick, a man filled with Christian compassion who desperately wants to stop Edward the Terror, one of the most vicious pirates on the sea and his former captain.



With pose, passion, and dignity, Tyndall weaves the story of Charlisse and Merrick on the tapestry of the Caribbean with God and Christ at the helm.



Merrick is noble, brave, and charismatic, but harbors deep pain.



Charlisee, too, is brave, fiery, and cautious, but hides dark secrets.



She keeps readers guessing and wondering - just what is Charlisse hiding, what happened to Merrick, who's Edward the Terror, and how does Charlisse factor in to this cylce?



There is no sexual content other than kissing, although some of the minor men (sailors, Charlisse's uncle) are licentious.



There are battle scenes, but these are well-done, and not presented as gory messes.



Drugs and drinking are frowned upon as bad habits and something people shouldn't do.



The language is appropriate with nothing foul.



A must read book, fantastic, entertaining, spiritually uplifting book!



View all my reviews



Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Discipling: Psalm 91 Five-to-ten-minute Bible study

Here is a brand new Bible study to enhance your knowledge of the Bible.

A pretty common Psalm, but it needs to be looked at deeply. Stay tuned for more Bible studies!

Read Psalm 91 out loud. There is a link below.
Psalm 91

Questions:

Who does God honor?
Where should we strive to be?
When we are under the shelter of God, who do we fear?
Does God keep us safe in any situation? How?
Does God want us to be afraid?

1.) Pick out one, two, or three verses that leave an impression or say something to you.

2.) Search through those Scriptures. Answer the following questions, if possible.

What promises from God are there?

What warnings from God are there?

How do the characters mentioned in the Scriptures (players, i.e., angels, demons, other people, God) relate to our lives?

What does this say about our culture or society?


3.) Paraphrase the Scriptures in your own words.

4.) Pray the Scripture over a family member, a friend, or someone you know who needs to be saved. Ask God how you can outreach to them and be His hands and feet to them.

4.) Make up a short song, story, drawing, or poem that relates to the Scripture (if you wish). Or think of some creative way to express the Scriptures you chose.

Thanks! Love you all with Christ's love.


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

27 November 2011

Three Weeks

Three weeks until classes end. I'm basically just preparing for finals and finishing up projects and end of the year activities.

Feel free to help out!

I am conducting a small scale survey on the effect of text message lingo on the English language for my History of the English Language class.

Everyone who isn't in college survey


This is for my UI500 class, the History of the English Language, and for my Sociolinguistics paper. Your answers are helping me out! I need about 15 people to answer. I love you all!

College students survey


Praying you have Faith, Hope and Love,

Rachel

21 November 2011

Eudodias Email

This showed up in my email:

Euodias

The Woman Who Fell Out With Her Friend

Scripture References - Philippians 4:2 (see Acts 16:13-15; 17:12)

Name Meaning - Euodias is actually a man's name. Euodia is its right form here ( Philippians 4:2, rv). Euodias means "prosperous journey" - Euodia, "fragrant." Wilkinson has the note, "Euodia is 'a good journey,' and was used in the colloquial Attic Greek as the French use the expression bon voyage." Euodia is coupled with another female, Syntyche, and both may have been among the women who resorted to prayer at the river bank (Acts 16:13-15), and among the honorable women who believed ( Acts 17:12). Scripture is silent on the genealogy and family association of these two women who, after their conversion became colaborers with Paul in the Gospel (Philippians 4:3). Belonging to a class bespeaking prosperity they doubtless ministered unto Paul of their substances.

At Philippi women were the first hearers of the Gospel and Lydia the first convert. If Euodias and Syntyche were also brought to the Lord there, they naturally took a leading part in teaching the Gospel to other women in a private sphere of labor once the Church had been formed there (1 Timothy 2:11, 12).

When Paul exhorted these two prominent workers to "be of the same mind in the Lord," he implied that they had been previously at variance. What caused the breach between these two deaconesses in the Philippian Church we are not told. Perhaps one had a more dominant personality than the other and received more attention. Whatever the dispute was, it became serious and hindered the work of the Lord, so Paul besought the two women to give up their differences and live at peace in the Lord. The lack of harmony between Euodias and Syntyche disturbed the Apostle, so he urged a reconciliation, for as those professing to be redeemed their whole life should be lived in peace and in an endeavor to please Him who had saved them.

A humorist has suggested that because of the strife between these sisters in Christ they should have been called Odious and Soon-touchy . It was sad that there was this difference of opinion, and more tragic still that divisions have kept Christians apart all down the ages. "How can two walk together except they be agreed?" is an old adage we have lost sight of. We like to believe that Paul did not plead in vain, and that Euodias and Syntyche were completely reconciled and went on unitedly to serve the God of peace. Is there any need of such a reconciliation in your life as a Christian? If so, for the sake of your own peace of heart and your influence in the world, go out and put wrong things right.

Today's reading taken from Herbert Lockyer's "All the Women of the Bible," copyright 1967. Other material copyright 2011 Bible Gateway except where otherwise noted.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

11 November 2011

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Well, I haven't had any problems with planes or trains. Big shock, as I have nothing to do with any of them.

It all started with an automobile.

Something messed up over the summer - it literally stranded my sister on the highway to St. Charles, needed a new engine and oil - and since then it's been monthly disasters.

Well, we couldn't get a good car fast enough, so we replaced the engine. Then there were oil problems, problems with keeping oil in it - a leak, plus it needed to be changed (it was long overdue). And now the power steering fluid is leaking, which is probably being chalked up to the new engine, since it wasn't doing it before the new engine.

Now I'm going home. Again. I mean, I may live in Cape Girardeau, but I'm pretty sure I reside in St. Louis, very much so. Then again, I've always mailed packages back to St. Louis because I don't "trust" the school system down here. I am finally sending something to myself down here. (Cape is south of St. Louis, pretty much south of any big city. I love Cape.)

So, compounded with fifteen credit hours, increased responsibility at the Arrow where I work, driving home in October and September to work over 20 hours a weekend, increased responsibility within every student organization I'm involved in, and inter-relational conflict, among other things, it's been stressful.

I love it. I swear I do. (The busyness, not the car trouble.) But man I don't know what else I can handle. At least death isn't being thrown in the mix. Actually, scratch that, a relative did die recently (I'm telling you, it's yearly), but I didn't personally know him - my parents did, though.

My help comes from the Lord, whom I can trust.

Cast all your burdens onto the Lord. Christ shares our yoke, and makes it light and easy. I'm worrying/stressing myself out needlessly. Christ provides, comfort, nurturing, and meeting our basic needs. He always has, always will. I'm going into His strong arms right now.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

08 November 2011

WORDS

Life and death is in the hands of God.

But they are also in spoken word. The spoken language is as natural to man as anything, unlike the written word, which must be learned. But when people are deprived of the spoken word, of the love that comes out through speech, their lives spin down an irreversible spiral of blackness leading to death.

You may say that isn't true. Words don't matter.

You'd be lying.

They do. Oh, they do.

It has been seen numerous times. We see it best in severely neglected children, such as Danielle , a girl so neglected that she could only communicate in grunts. Her eyes were distant and vacant. No one had spoken to her; she could not speak at all, despite having a mother and two adult brothers. Or the baby primates who, despite the fact that they were starving, crawled into the comforting arms rather than taking food from mechanical arms.

We see it in the babies in Romania, who died or were irrevisibly damaged from being left in rooms or in cribs and subjected to only the basic necessities - but received no love or affection or words of affirmation.

Words are everything. A negative word, a positive word. Both can uplift or depress. The way they are spoken - I love you said harshly means something different than I love you said lovingly and gently - also matters.

I made a vow today that I would speak more positive, uplifting words, as much as possible, words that give life instead of death. It will be a hard change, but one that will be worth it a thousand times over.

If I do not do what I know is right, if I am not a light in my little world, who will be? If not me, then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?

All people have are their words.

Who else will make such a vow, and keep it?

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

03 November 2011

Chapbook Ideas

Ideas for my Chapbook

black or putered

gold or silver

or red - embossed and shiny --- fire ---- ribbon

textured black

Scrapbooking letters in this font?

Colors agree with each other

COHESIVE!

Red and Black

---- Red, orange, yellow mix paper color (for background - this would represent heat)
and nice heavy duty paper (Staples ---- may be cheapest, get in bulk not individual pieces, Hobby Lobby - individual pieces)

8 - 9 pieces of inside paper


The Spirit Press
Mission statement editing


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

31 October 2011

11 - 1 Date study

Today we will see what chapter 11 verse 1 in the Bible says in honor of November 1!

Genesis 11:1
At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words.

Exodus 11:1
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will strike Pharaoh and the land of Egypt with one more blow. After that, Pharaoh will let you leave this country. In fact, he will be so eager to get rid of you that he will force you all to leave.

Leviticus 11:1
Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron ...

Numbers 11:1
Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp.

Deuteronomy 11:1
“You must love the Lord your God and obey all his requirements, decrees, regulations, and commands.

Joshua 11:1
When King Jabin of Hazor heard what had happened, he sent messages to the following kings: King Jobab of Madon; the king of Shimron; the king of Acshaph;

Judges 11:11
So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their ruler and commander of the army. At Mizpah, in the presence of the Lord, Jephthah repeated what he had said to the elders.

1 Samuel 11:1
About a month later,[a] King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead. But all the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. “Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants,” they pleaded.

2 Samuel 11:1
In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

30 October 2011

Other 10/30 s in the Bible

Deuteronomy 10:30
But Hobab replied, “No, I will not go. I must return to my own land and family.”

Joshua 10:30
There, too, the Lord gave them the town and its king. He killed everyone in it, leaving no survivors. Then Joshua killed the king of Libnah as he had killed the king of Jericho.

2 Kings 10:30
Nonetheless the Lord said to Jehu, “You have done well in following my instructions to destroy the family of Ahab. Therefore, your descendants will be kings of Israel down to the fourth generation.”

Ezra 10:30
From the family of Pahath-moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.

Nehemiah 10:30
“We promise not to let our daughters marry the pagan people of the land, and not to let our sons marry their daughters.

Proverbs 10:30
The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land.

Isaiah 10:30
Scream in terror,
you people of Gallim!
Shout out a warning to Laishah.
Oh, poor Anathoth!

Matthew 10:30
And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. [Nothing is too hard for God to keep track of, and He loves His children. This means that God is counting daily, he knows how many hairs are on your head currently, how many were in the past, and how many there will be in the future (because math can tell you that number, and God is the King and Lord of Math). God is amazing.]

Mark 10:30
"...that person will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life."

Luke 10:30
Jesus repliedwith a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

John 10:30
"The Father and I are one.”

Acts 10:30
Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me.

1 Corinthians 10:30
If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?

Hebrews 10:30
For we know the one who said,

“I will take revenge.
I will pay them back.”[h]

He also said,

“The Lord will judge his own people.” (References to the Old Testament.)

Every single one of these verses spoke to me. They made me wonder...and think! God is good.

There a lot of references to land and property. Is God trying to say something...take back the Land the Lord has given you, so you may have eternal life? It's yours in which to spread the Gospel in your sphere of influence.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

When God speaks, you listen

http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Sephar.html#.Tq1cjTuyMZM

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%2010:30&version=ASV - Genesis 10:30 - in honor of the fact that in America, the day is October30, 2011.

Genesis 10:30

American Standard Version (ASV)

30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.

I've heard people say not to randomly open the Bible and expect God to speak, a person needs to have a plan. Well, I know that isn't true. While everyone should read the Bible everyday, making it fun or a puzzle enhances it.

Well, I did just that. Since today was 10/30, I am looking up references in the Bible that have a tenth chapter and a thirtieth verse. I began in Genesis 10:30. That's the above verse.

Here Mesha and Sephar defined:

Sephar

The name Sephar comes from the verb Sephar (sapar) meaning count, or any general mathematical activity. Some derivatives: Sephar (seper), meaning writing, book, sipra (sipra), meaning book, Sephar (soper), scribe, Sephar (separ), census, sipra (seporah), number, mispar (sapar), number.

The derivative Sephar (separ), census, is identical to the name Sephar and occurs only in 2 Chronicles 2:17. There Solomon numbers the foreigners who help built the Temple, following the census satan had made David take (1 Chronicles 21:1). After this census, and after the penalty, the location of the Temple was designated and foreigners were set to hew out the stones for the Temple (1 Chronicles 22:2).

The name Sephar means Counting or Calculating. NOBS Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names both read Numbering.

(http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Sephar.html#.Tq1cjTuyMZM)

Mesha:

Mesha I (Mesha - indeed pronounced as Mesha).

This version of the name Mesha is ascribed twice in the Bible. It's the name of a port city on the Red Sea, and mentioned first as a border of the territory of the sons of Joktan (Genesis 10:30). Mesha is also the name of a Benjaminite, a son of Shaharaim and Hodesh (1 Chronicles 8:9).

This version of the name Mesha comes from the verb mush (mush) meaning depart, remove. The verb occurs 20 times in the OT, denoting how God will not depart from Israel (Exodus 13:22), or the removal of sin from Israel (Zech 3:9). The form mush (mush) also means to feel, as in touch and recognize (Genesis 27:21; Psalm 115:7; Judges 16:26). Note the similarities with the names Mash and Moses.

For a meaning of this name Mesha, both NOBS Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names both read Retreat.

(http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Mesha.html#.Tq1d4TuyMZM)

Here's the verse re-written:

"The territory they occupied extended from Mesha [retreat [from sin], remove sin, God will not be removed] all the way to Sephar [counting, calculating, writing, book, scribe [education]] in the eastern mountains."

WOW! That is a punch in the stomach (in a good way). That's where I'm trying to be, retreating from sin and knowing that God will never leave me. "If God is for me, who can be against me?"


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

25 October 2011

Book Club Idea

I think that I would like to host a book club! This has been on my mind for awhile. I love to read, and I know that other people like to read. During college, some of us are really busy and don't have much time to read. It slips to the wayside, especially if we don't have an accountability partner (same goes for reading the Bible). During other parts of our lives, like marriage and with children, we also find we don't have time to read. I think that if the group chose a book of the month, with a time we meet, then we would all at least part of a novel every month. It could also be bi-monthly. This could also be an online activity, and we could meet via Skype, Facebook, email, or a website (like blogspot or weebly or google sites). We could use the website as a discussion page if face-to-face meetings are simply impossible.

What are your ideas? What do you think of the Book Club idea? Comment here or on my Facebook profile.

Here's a Book Club start up guide: http://www.book-club-queen.com/book-club-guide.html.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,
Rachel

19 October 2011

The Bible on Clothes

The Bible talks about everything, including clothes!

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=clothing&version1=MSG&searchtype=all&limit=none&wholewordsonly=no&startnumber=26 - The Message Bible and clothes

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=clothing&searchtype=all&version1=9&spanbegin=1&spanend=73 - The KJV Bible and clothes

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=clothing&searchtype=all&version1=9&spanbegin=1&spanend=73 - The ASV Bible and clothes

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=clothing&searchtype=all&version1=46&spanbegin=1&spanend=73&startnumber=26&startnumber=1 - The CEV Bible and clothes

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

29 September 2011

James 2 ramblings

James 2

Favoritism Forbidden

1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

This is what I came across in my devotional time with the Lord today. How sad and true that this still occurs in a "Christian" society. Well, that is why God inspired Paul to write it down and record it for the generations, because we fall into this a lot.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

24 September 2011

Normal!

My blog is back to normal!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Weird

Wow. That's all I can say.

20 September 2011


Ruth 3

New Living Translation (NLT)

Ruth 3
Ruth at the Threshing Floor
1 One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. 2 Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.”

5 “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law.

7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”

10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman. 12 But while it’s true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will redeem you myself! Now lie down here until morning.”

14 So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.” 15 Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops[a] of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he[b] returned to the town.

16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?”

Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

18 Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

18 September 2011

Terra Nova!



A hundred and ten years in the future. I can't wait for Terra Nova to start. I love dinosaurs! And it looks intriguing, like the idea of "Among the Hidden" series, including the population control and the fact people are only allowed two children. Except it's because the world is overpopulated, as opposed to there isn't enough food for everyone (which turns out to be a lie...) And of course the planet is dying. When isn't it dying?

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

17 September 2011

Author Heather Harris recently came to speak. It was a great presentation. Since it was Saturday, it was a small crowd, but her words were poignant and needed. She spoke on her battle with mental illness and winning with the help of the Lord.

She had a few tips.
1) You can say no.
2) All you can do is try.
3) You are not perfect and no one should expect you to be.
4) You can relax.
5) It doesn't matter what people say.
6) People aren't thinking about you, all the time. They aren't paying attention to you, so just do it.
7) Speak with confidence.

Her website is www.http://heatherstewartharris.com/. I also bought her book to read.

We know her sister, Megan, and that was our connection to Heather Harris. I think that we should bring her back next fall if Mandy and DICE lets us.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

16 September 2011

Tyndale Reading Blogger Program Winner

I was one of the top three bloggers in the Tyndale Summer Reading Program. I'm so excited!! I chose a $50 Amazon gift card. Criminal Minds? I think so. 

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

30 August 2011

Darien's Rise

In a new and exciting series called "Passages" by Paul McCusker, Kyle and Anna, a brother and sister travel to Marus, a fantasy land, and experience unusual adventures. Belief in God in this world takes the believer on amazing trips and expeditions. History repeats itself - with the siblings in it! They also find that they have mysterious new powers.

The theme of the story is God's call on your life, and parallels that of David and Saul.

The stories were great and faith-grounded, and there was nothing too dark in them. They help show that the Bible is the living, breathing Word of God, and that the stories of real Biblical people are never too out of date. And the Bible CAN relate to our lives, if we allow it to.

A beautiful story that is also engaging!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

25 August 2011

Springtime of the Spirit

I enjoyed the latest book in the Great War series. Annaliese Duray and Christophe Brecht are a sweet couple. He is a war weary soldier, she is a fiery Socialist. They knew each other when they were younger, and they are surprised by the differences the years can bring.

The Great War has ended by 1918. Christophe Brecht has returned to his hometown from the Great War (called World War I by us). The Durays, who he knows, ask him to bring back their runaway daughter, Annaliese. He agrees, and goes to Munich, where he discovers she is caught up in the German Socialist movement, though she isn't aware that they want to create a communist government. He tries to take her home, but she refuses, and he stays near her to make sure she is safe. When an army from Berlin threatens their blossoming love, the two must make difficult choices.

A great read, and not too romantically over-the-top. The book balanced historical fiction with romance. I like that they used to know each other, and then realized that they had each changed. But Annaliese had always loved him, and now she had a chance to get him, but she really does love her country. I just wish many women didn't have to choose between their careers and marriage. Why can't women have both? I know plenty of women who can do both, and being a humanitarian is also a great aspiration! I'm glad Annaliese cared about her country, even if she didn't know everything about the people she was representing; that happens a lot!

An 8 on a 10-point scale. 

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

23 August 2011

Look to the East Book Review

Look to the East is the first book in the Great War series by Maureen Lang, a Christian writer, an introduction to the series that makes me feel upbeat about the rest of the series. 

The background setting is France in World War I, better known as the Great War. Julitte Toussaint lives in a village (Briecourt) that is isolated from the battles but not from family feuds, but soon the war comes to her back door. Charles Lassone, a wealthy Belgian-American, is hiding from the Germans in the church for now, but if they find him her entire village may be destroyed...

A sweet account of two people in the midst of, in my opinion, an overshadowed war (thanks to World War II). Julitte's family is in the midst of a feud with the de Colvilles but even that is not the worst thing that can happen to the village. Charles being Belgian was an interesting decision, because Belgium was even more overlooked. It also touches on adoption, as Julitte's parents adopted her. Julitte also experiences isolation and rejection because she is a bit different from her friends and neighbors, something that so many readers can relate to and one that I myself related to.

The book emphasizes the sexual purity of Charles and Julitte, a fact that I was pleasantly surprised about, and quite happy with the author's decision. It's nice to see just sweet love between two people without sexual sin every once in awhile, although it is hinted about with other characters.   

I would say that this book is an 8 out of 10. 

Praying you have faith, hope and love,

Rachel 

Julitte was a very perfect character. 

22 August 2011

My Foolish Heart Review

My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren takes place in Deep Haven and is book one in a series. It explores the relationship between a wounded Iraq war vet and a woman who's secretly a radio talk show host for Foolish Heart. It shows how they fall in love, slowly, over the air.

It's a lovely story.

Deep Haven is also a haven and a place to hide for the characters, who seek refuge and isolation.

I love the fact that Isadora gives love advice, when she's never had a date. Although not having had a date doesn't mean you don't know stuff, it would help. That's like me. I feel like an expert on relationships, even though I've only been on one date that I really don't count as a date (it didn't go anywhere, although it was fun) because we weren't boyfriend-girlfriend.

I also feel Caleb's (I love that name) pain. I know someone who is disabled and he also struggles with overcoming it. It hurts to watch him struggle - and then to give up and expect to be carried around.

I like the mystery of them not knowing each other, and yet they are next-door neighbors. It seems ironic, yet anything can happen, especially in a small town. The world is a very small place.

I would recommend this book, and even though I haven't read any of the others, I am sure they are just as great and wonderful as this one.

A nine out of 10.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

20 August 2011

Voyage with the Vikings

In the first of the Imagination Station series by Focus on the Family, we meet cousins Beth and Patrick, who end up traveling back in time to the age of the Vikings on a mysterious quest to save one of Mr. Whittaker's ancestors. The quest involves gathering different things from different time periods. They meet Erik the Red.

I'm a history buss, and I think it's interesting. The Viking time period is not a period that seems to get much attention, and I'm glad they decided to place Beth and Patrick there.

The books are simple, but seem realistic (other than the fact that time travel is impossible). Beth and Patrick wear costumes so they fit in semi-well, and they never seem to be able to change the past. They always find what they're looking for. The books also emphasize God more, although it seems to be everyone except the two children who refer to Him.

The characters are not always fleshed out, but given that it is for younger readers, that could be overlooked.

The content is interesting and gives information about a historical event often overlooked by writers and researchers.

I would say an 8 on a 10 point scale.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

The Imagination Station: Peril in the Palace

Peril in the Palace is the third book in the time-traveling adventure series The Imagination Station, part of the continuing saga of Adventures in Odyssey. Beth and Patrick travel through time to meet Kublai Khan while seeking yet another treasure to help save Mr. Whittaker's ancestor Albert from the mysterious Lord Blackthorn who has imprisoned him. They also meet Marco Polo, who saves their lives from vicious Mongol warriors.

The book is engaging, but has simplistic language. The history aspect is interesting, introducing various historical figures and facts but placed against the backdrop of modern children learning it. Beth and Patrick are very honest and courageous, and are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in.

The book is probably the least well-written, but children would still be hanging on the edge of it. With a good message and good principles, it's also a great learning tool for children!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

18 August 2011

The Constantine Codex

The Constantine Codex by Paul Maier is an exciting and riveting tale of Jonathan Weber, a Harvard professor who discovers the lost ending of Mark and an additional book of the Bible; if proved authentic, it would forever change how people view God's Holy Word. Then it is stolen. It appears that powerful forces don't want it published...

This was the first book by Maier that I read, and I did not know what to expect. I am leery of any mention of "lost books" of the Bible, truthfully. I know that there was so much examination of the books that could have fit originally that it seems almost impossible that one would have been passed over. But who really knows? And this book examines that possibility, and just how far people will go to keep things - unknown, which is quite alarming.

Maier's book is a fascinating and exciting read. Harvard professors are pretty intelligent, and this one is most definitely right up there.

I would say this book is an 8 on a 10 point scale.


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

17 August 2011

"The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven" Review

They always say that once you go to heaven you wouldn't want to come back to Earth, but sometimes God lets it happen. Lazarus - we assume - went to Heaven. And two months after a devastating accident, six-year-old Alex did too - and he came back, just like Lazarus did. And Kevin Malarkey wrote "The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven."

Alex had quite a story.

In a touching and eye-opening story, Alex tells of music, meeting Jesus and seeing angels, among other marvels that can only happen when you see heaven. And it sounded eerily like what characters in the Bible saw...

Now, I have never seen heaven, but look forward to it. However, I want that to be many years in the future (I'm only 21). But if God let me visit for a little bit - I'd definitely be ok with that. But not the way that Alex did. Although he now has an extraordinary story to tell, he was also hurt quite badly.

A beautiful book, at least a 9 on a 10-point scale.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always, Rachel

14 August 2011

The Imagination Station: Attack in the Arena

Adventures in Odyssey continues their series with The Imagination Station series. Attack in the Arena is the second book chronicling the adventures of the fantastic time-traveling duo Beth and Patrick, cousins who are recruited by Mr. Whittaker to travel through time on various quests so that he can save his ancestor, Albert. Aided occasionally by a mysterious knight from England who travels through the Imagination Station, the cousins find themselves on all kinds of adventures.

And this time they are in ancient Rome at the very last gladitorial game seeking a silver cup that will somehow help Albert (we are not told how). Beth is hauled off by a soldier, believed to be a bird slave to the young Emperor Honorius.

Patrick is taken in by a kind monk, Telemachus. They help a "barbarian" to run away although he is recaptured. They end up in Rome and Patrick is taken away to the arena. Beth is trying to find the Emperor's humanity while learning she really hates birds now.

And meanwhile they seek the silver cup...

Easy to read, very simply sentences, just right for that age range. I really liked it (I like anything about ancient Rome). I definitely want to read the rest of the series.

Definitely an 8 on a 10 point scale.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

13 August 2011

Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity

First introduced to Beth Moore in "Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman" and later "David: Seeking A Heart Like His" with her Bible studies, I decided to read more of Beth Moore's stuff. She is an amazing woman of God and quite enthusastic about life and everything else.

I don't really know what inspired me to pick up "So Long Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us" which actually reminds me of the song "So Long Self" by MercyMe (I don't know why).

I guess because like any woman (or person really), I can be insecure at times, which is a turnoff when you are trying to make and keep friendships and relationships in general (and also inspires jealousy and petty arguments). And like any woman, I dislike insecurity (which is rooted, to me, in a lack of trust).

Anyway, prolific writer Beth Moore gives practical advice to disarm insecurity, restore our God-given dignity as women, confront and dismantle our fears and develop a stronger sense of our own selves as women. I felt inspired and renewed after reading her beautiful books, and I recommend this to every woman, no matter how secure she seems.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

11 August 2011

Review of "Beneath the Night Tree"

Beneath the Night Tree by Nicole Baart is part of a series following Julia DeSmit, a young woman who made a life-changing decision. Content with living with her grandmother and raising her younger brother and her son, she also pursues a relationship with her boyfriend. Then one day she receives a cryptic email from her son's father, who asks if he has a child. Julia knows her life will never be the same. And the changes start...

The story is engaging and the characters are realistic. Sometimes the characters seem a little flat, but otherwise they are very engaging and interactive. I hadn't read the other novels in the series, but I didn't feel left out. I want to read the rest of the series, most definitely.

I found myself re-reading sections just because what she had to say was so intriguing and life-giving. The circumstances that Julia dealt with seemed similar to my own. All in all, I would give this book an 8 on a ten point scale. I would definitely recommend it!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

09 August 2011

This week's nightmare

It's always something. I feel like a drama queen, or someone in a perpetual bad dream (from which one doesn't wake).

Ok, I'm glad I have a blog to rant on. Or better yet, to be annoyed on.

So guess what? I'm car-less for awhile, which makes getting to and from work awkward (without begging) as well as meaning that I am stuck in this house. Comfort? My sister and her boyfriend are stuck as well, but this is not a comfort, as I do not wish this on anyone.

So if anyone wants to hang out, they have to drive.

And today was such a lovely day!

Luckily I only got three days this week, one of which I couldn't work thanks to my dad's 50th birthday (happy birthday!) and the other two are: Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully by Thursday my car will be done, but there is no guarantee.

Of course.

So what's WRONG with my beloved car?

Engine trouble.

Great. And I thought it was an oil leak.

Nope. Locked up engine. Essentially a useless engine requiring at least 2K to fix. Could buy a cheaper car used - but I wouldn't have it in time for school most likely. So my option? Get it fixed in three days, for $2K.

Great.

Oh well. God will provide. Somehow. 

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

07 August 2011

Glorious Appearing

Glorious Appearing: The End of Days is the last book in the Left Behind series. There is a sequel, but not really the best book in the series. There is also a prequel series about how Nicolae was born and rose to power just before the Rapture and the disappearance of millions, which is also awesome.

Anyway, just as the Christians and the forces of Carpathia are face-to-face and the Chrisians appear to be losing, God's glorious plan plays out on the battlefield that is Earth: Christ appears in His Glory as the King and Judge of the World, along with the martyrs and other Christians who were taken to safety in Heaven. In the midst of a gory battle, as Rayford struggles to survive, in an instant a shadowless light reveals the King of Glory and the Victor here to take His Throne, His Kingdom and His People and forever overthrow the most evil man the world has ever seen - and Satan.

And Christ ushers in the Thousand-Year Reign.

What a fantastic end to a glorious series! Rayford survives (I wasn't surprised, but in a way I was) of the four original members. They are all reunited with the King of Glory and each other. 

Although I am sad to see the end of the series, I am also pleased with the way they successfully wrapped it up.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

04 August 2011

Armagedden

Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle of the Ages is the 11th and originally the second to last novel in the famous Left Behind series, right before the Glorious Appearing until so many fans wanted to know about after the thousand-year reign that Jenkins and LaHaye wrote the "sequel" and the 13th (and the worst) of the novels Kingdom Come: The Final Victory.

Anyway, Armageddon chronicles the final battle between Christ and Antichrist and each's respective armies, and finds our Tribulation Force heroes caught in the middle of a brutal crossfire and regime. The persecution has grown so intense that the survivors can only raise their eyes to Heaven from whence their help comes and pray they live to see the Second Return of Christ. They also find themselves inexplictly drawn to the Middle East, where the physical (instead of spiritual, which happened two thousand years ago in a Garden in Gethsemane) battle between Good and Evil is playing out.

Chloe comes out of the safe house OoO. Tsion and Buck head to Israel as Carpathia plans to bomb Israel (how does the Trib Force always manage to get to Israel right when something important is about to happen?) and Rayford is injured outside of Petra. There is no safe place, except Petra.

The air is thick with evil...

Now, everyone talks about Armageddon like it's a World War III battle. But it is soo much more than that. It is Scriptural. It is the Ultimate Battle, the culmination of millenniums of deception vs. truth in which Christ dukes it out with Antichrist, and God and Satan finally come to blows (and of course Antichrist/Satan loses) and mankind FINALLY chooses sides (whether right or wrong).

Despite the "strangeness" of everyone always managing to be exactly where they need to be to witness the foretold events coming to life, The Left Behind series is actually decent, a must-read, and Armageddon, the ultimate battle, is no exception. Especially if you want to know the fates of Rayford, Buck and Chloe.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

03 August 2011

The Remnant

The Remnant: On the Brink of Armageddon (2002) is book 10 of the Left Behind series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, detailing a fictional - but possible - account of what happens to those left behind when Christ raptures His Church, as the events of Revelation unfold on the Earth.

Antichrist hates Christians and his wrath burns against them. Christ and the Christians are preparing for the Final Battle: Armageddon. The Chicago members of the Tribulation Force are scattered, and it's only been a month into the Great Tribulation (the most frightening and horrible part of the End Times). Believers are gathered at Petra and slated for destruction by Carpathia.

It's a great page turner, riveting and a fantastic addition to the series. Filled with biblical support and references, it explores a relationship with God in the most trying of times, and show the consequences of rejecting God. 

Definitely a 4 on a 5-point scale.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always, 

Rachel

02 August 2011

G.P. Taylor's The Secret of Indigo Moon

The second book in the fantastic Dopple-Ganger Chronicles meets the clever Dopple twins, Sadie and Saskia. Muzz Elliott has sent the twins back to Isambard Dunstan's School for Wayward Children (which has all girls and only one boy, who is treated as a servant). The twins and Erik get into a mystery, which backs that awful magician from the first novel stealing treasures from a neighbor through a series of underground tunnels. And we also learn that the beloved Miss Olivia was - or should I say is as she is still alive - no angel...

Dorcas Potts also comes into the picture as a detective whose uncle is being robbed. 

Combining comic-book graphics with text and color, G.P. Taylor creates a fantastic new series of books that appeals to teenagers of all ages. I like to keep myself up to date on all novels and series, fiction, non-fiction, teen, children and adult, and this one has allowed me to see where the next generation is going: graphics as well as text.

While seeming to lack a little with direct spiritual references, with only mentions of someone who may or may not be an angel, and the Companion (with a capital letter) who we sort of figure is probably a reference to Christ, the Holy Spirit or God, it is still rather fun and informative, and has excellent themes for one to think about.

Taylor raises important issues, such as abandonment (experienced by the twins, whose mother left them), guilt (experienced by Erik for his past life of stealing, although he was a child manipulated by his father), revenge (the magician who hates the twins and Erik), loneliness (experienced by all the characters) and adoption (experienced by the twins) and family, both broken and put together.

All in all, a must read.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

01 August 2011

Left Behind No. 9: Desecration

In Desecration: The Antichrist Takes the Throne. Amazing that that phrase makes up a sentence by itself. Anyway, in this exciting installment of the best-selling (although not as best-selling as the Ultimate Book, the Holy Bible) series on a theory of Revelation (whether it will happen or not this way is up to God), 25 days have passed since the start of the Great Tribulation, and just like he always has, Satan through Antichrist is murdering God's people. (He comes to steal, kill and destroy, after all, according to Christ.)

The Antichrist is bewildered by the first two "Bowl Judgments" although the Christians who are up-to-date on Revelation are not (or anything else for that matter, thanks to Tsion Ben-Judah and Bruce's notes).

In the midst of chaos, he busies himself preparing for the ultimate desecration (to the Temple of course) as he proceeds to declare himself god (exactly what evil people want more than anything, but they can never be god and we can be comforted by the fact that they will pay for their attempt).

Obviously the authors did their research (and interpretation). Although a fantastic addition and quite compelling, sometimes one wonders if the authors have something against pilots. Could they not believe before? I mean, how could so many pilots have possibly been left behind? Or is it because of that ever-connected small world of - if you are a pilot, you know other pilots (just like if you're a Christian you know other Christians)?

I'm not sure exactly where it fits on a 1-5, but it is there somewhere. And of course the ending makes you want to read the next installment.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

31 July 2011

Left Behind No. 8: The Mark

The Mark: The Beast Rules the World is the next exciting installment of Jerry B. Jenkin's Left Behind, a fictional account of one of the four theological explanations of the End Times.

That infamous mark of the beast, upon which humans must take in order to buy or sell anything, has arrived. The Tribulation Force knows that they can't take the Mark, as they have already received the Seal/Mark of Christ, both inside of their hearts and on their foreheads, and that the Mark of the Beast will seal their fate and leave them no chance to get to be saved and get to Heaven. There are some who take it, some who refuse, and some who never make a choice. But without taking it, the Force has to find another means of survival...

A great read, and part of one of the most frightening aspects - to me, anyway - of the End Times (other than the martyrs of the saints), Jenkins and LaHaye present it with tact and decorum. Throughout the novel, us readers begin to see behind the curtain into the invisible world around us, and the battle between pure good and pure evil - a battle of which we are the pawns (or the prize, from God's perspective).

Definitely a 4 on a 5 point scale.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

30 July 2011

Left Behind No. 7: The Indwelling

In The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession. Just as the Holy Spirit dwells inside the hearts of believers everywhere - or did, before the Christians were swept away and the non-believers were left to suffer plagues and other horrific events that really is simply a loving God trying to get the attention of non-Christians, so the spirit of Satan takes possession of Nicolae Carpathia, the seeming Messiah of those left behind. And when Satan gets the reigns of the most powerful man on the planet (but only as long as God lets him) he begins his destruction - which will ultimately lead to his own destruction (after all - we know the end of Satan, and he does too but that doesn't mean he isn't going to take as many of God's precious children as he can with him). First of all he targets the Jewish people (like usual, payback for being God's special people and the bloodline of Christ) but we all know he'll be moving on to the Christians soon enough (who he hates even more if that's possible because they are the only ones who can resist him and from whom he must flee by the power of God that dwells in Christians' hearts and because they have made the willful choice to follow God, of whom he is jealous and who he hates more than anyone or anything in the universe).

Anyway, Antichrist dies and Rayford Steele is blamed for the murder (although it was Chaim, which makes more sense as Chaim is Jewish and Rayford is not and Satan hates the Jews and the Jews hate Satan but on a spiritual level of course). Buck knows the truth (of course, being a talented journalist).

The entire world, tragically deceived and refusing to believe in God, mourns (of course).

And then the counterfeit/indwelling occurs. (Duh.)

But of course the world doesn't know (or care) that it's really the archenemy of mankind and God who is now ruling the world and who is bent on the destruction of everything including his own followers. He revels in blood (especially that of the Christians) and lying. They believe their Messiah is supernatural.

Yeah right. Supernaturally evil.

This novel reveals that no matter how much man tries to interfere, the plans of God proceed. And no matter how evil the world gets - it can always be more evil (especially when Satan is dwelling in the body of the "king of the world"). But we have the hope that someday, Christ will come for us, save us, and conquer His enemy, squash evil, and redeem the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve and restore Eden (in the form of a New Heaven and a New Earth and a New Jerusalem).

And it will be here soon. Are you ready?

I am.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

29 July 2011

Assassins another riveting tale

Assassins is book six of the best-selling Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. In this book, fed up of Carpathia's lies, only through which the blood-bought Christians can see, Buck Williams and Rayford Steele, our ever-fantastic heroes of the faith, plot his demise and plan to expose him as the Antichrist. (They don't realize that Carpathia has to do all this - he has to deceive the world - in order for Christ to return and conquer him and Satan once and for all.)

This is a great series. I really enjoy it. People should read it. Although it is indeed a work of fiction, it has important biblical truths in it as well. Tsion is extremely knowledgeable, and it makes Revelation come alive in new ways. It is no longer just that book or the End but it's real - and it could really happen. We could really get left behind because we have not received God's gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ's sacrifice.

Read it. You won't be able to put it down.

Spoiler alert:

Although Rayford Steele does not personally kill Carpathia for setting up his wife to look like a traitor and just being evil, his gunshot goes off which gives another man time to stab him. Therefore Rayford was involved, but not the direct killer.


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

28 July 2011

Top Five Books

These are not in any particular order.

1. The Bible

2. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien

3. A Tale of Two Cities, or Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens

4. The Boxcar Children, Gertrude Chandler Warner

5. The Queen of Spades, Alexander Pushkin

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

27 July 2011

Left Behind: Apollyon

The fifth book in the Left Behind  series by Jerry B. Jenkins about the last day according to the biblical Revelation chronicles what happens when Apollyon and his forces are released as part of the seven judgments of God. Hating Christians but unable to attack them, and only able to attack non-Christians who have not been sealed by the mark of Christ, which is a cross, the symbol of Christ's death and resurrection, people everywhere who get bitten try to die but are unable to, because God refuses to allow Death to take them, but only during that time. This shows that God reigns above everything, including our own mortal enemy, Death.

Jenkins includes a Bible-based description of Apollyon's forces, including the fact that they are able to say only one word: Apollyon, the Greek name of their ruler. Buck ends up with one and studies it, which is how we find out what it looks like.

And, as always, Antichrist Nicolae continues to try to take over the confused world. Some people turn to Christ - and others don't. We'll all face the same God, but some of us won't have Christ to intercede on our behalf.



This is an absolutely fantastic series, and I read this book in less than two days. I couldn't stop reading it!! They are quit addicting.


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

26 July 2011

Left Behind #4: Soul Harvest

Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides is the highly anticipated fourth book in the Left Behind series.  The Wrath of the Lamb Earthquake has just occurred, and Buck and Ray, our beloved heroes, search for Chloe in the midst of the rubble. Is she dead or alive, and where is she? Read to find out...

A decent read, and very interesting. This shows the relationship between Buck and Chloe, and Buck and Carpathia (who knew there could ever be a relationship between a believer and Antichrist (although he has not yet been possessed by Satan?). It leads into the other books, but still manages to maintain its own plot and hold readers. It's a gripping book; after all, we don't see any references to our beloved Chloe until Buck and Ray do, which actually is a great plot technique because that means we want to keep reading. As usual, it has plenty of biblical references although it does lack mentioning many young believers, teens and young adults. Most appearances of younger people throughout the series are Carpathia followers, although Chloe is actually only in her twenties (she seems older).

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

20 July 2011

Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity

Beth Moore is one of the best female Christian writers I have ever seen, and So Long, Insecurity is no exception, especially when it deals with various fears women face, as it focuses on women. Fear is a rampant problem in the world because of a lack of feeling secure in love, for "perfect love casts out fear" and only God has true perfect love.

I love her Bible studies and what God has revealed to her. She is a very smart and wise woman, and my college group enjoys studying everything she writes. She is quite educated and wildly intelligent, as well as put together and a strong and true believer in the Gospel and Christ.

She hasn't had an easy life, and I'm pleased to see a strong woman of God, doing His Will and changing the lives of women everywhere.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

18 July 2011

Bound by Guilt Review

I wasn't sure what to think when I picked up "Bound by Guilt" by C.J. Darlington. I am a huge fan of books and collectable books and so connected to the story's theme right away.

Although the book referenced the characters' faith, it did not seem that God was a central character or really formed the spine of the story. It seemed more like casual reference, a minor character. I understand that Roxi did not know God, and since much of the novel was from her third-person point of view, then it would not wholly be focused on it, but it did seem that anyone, except Jan, really gave her any guidance on the topic of God and even that was vague.

Christy, another character, was only slightly developed.

Still, the feelings Roxi felt and her experiences, while interesting and a bit too convenient, seemed genuine. It was a good novel and I was even surprised by the ending. The only problem was that we did not know what happened to Diego and Irene, although we could guess.

Still, a good book and a great read, probably a 7 on a 10-point scale.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

17 July 2011

Nicolae: The Left Behind Series

Nicolae: The Rise of Antichrist further explores the world of the left behind, humans who did not believe in Christ and were subsequently left behind when He raptured His Church to experience the horror of terrible disasters and the reign of the evil Antichrist, and triumph of the Tribulution and the Return of Christ to conquer evil once and for all.

In this riveting novel, the members of the Tribulation Force, now firm believers in Christ, realize in horror that the man everyone wants to rule the world, who pretends to be a man of peace, who seems charming, caring and a "Messiah" to those left behind, is really the man who becomes Satan Incarnate, the evilest man the world ever encountered, Antichrist, worse than even Hitler. And that's just the beginning...

A great read, definitely worth it! A fine third book in the ever famous Left Behind series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. Read it in two days.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

10 July 2011

New Kid Catastrophes

Short, strange and funny, this new series for younger readers by Bill Myers (author of Blood of Heaven, Eli) promises to be funny with this great first book about two 23rd century boys who go back to the 21st century to study TJ Finkelstein, a young woman who will become the most influential and important president who eliminates world hunger, etc., and actually become stranded without fuel in her time. But this TJ Finkelstein, a new junior high student, isn't the same TJ who will someday lead the world into greatness - at least not yet. She's a typical teen: obsessed with appearances, a neighbor, tormented by mean other students, and struggling to cope with the loss of her mother, whose death left behind a husband and three daughters to make it on their own. And Herby and Tuna aren't exactly helping her popularity.

The reading is short, the sentences are simple.  This would be great for both young men and young women. Each of the noises she makes (like arggghh) is accentuated by thick bold letters, which usually happens about every page. A bit annoying at first, but the reader gets used to it. However, all the incidents that happen to Hesper and TJ seem a little odd, almost unrealistic and almost like it wouldn't happen. Still, it's rather clever and creative.

It's probably a 3 on a scale of 1-5.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

08 July 2011

The First Escape by G.P. Taylor

I like to be up to date on what teens are reading nowadays, especially when you work with them. Not sure what to think about The Doppleganger Chronicles: The First Escape but intrigued nonetheless by the plot and a huge fan of anything British, I decided to check it out. At first I was annoyed by the alternating text and graphics, but then I started getting into it. I realized I actually liked it a bit and could see how kids who don't like to read long pieces of texts without pictures would actually enjoy it!

Saskia and Sadie are identical in every way, except for their eyes, one has a blue left eye and a right yellow eye, and the other has a blue right eyes and a left yellow eye. They were left by their mother, an actress, at Isambard Dunstan's School for Wayward Children, which seems to only have girls with the exception of Erik, who was abandoned on the front steps when his father left to get something and never returned. The School is actually quite a terrible place, but the twins rule the school. When a wealthy reclusive writer wants only Saskia, Sadie and Saskia are separated. Saskia stumbles into a conspiracy and Sadie and Erik are trying to find her and help. Saskia also meets a mysterious woman who gives her advice and teaches her to eat peas with a fork, who she believes is an angel and who tries to guide her to the Companion (one can only assume she means Christ, although this is never explictily said, nor even really implied other than a few vague descriptions).

It is a fine book, well-crafted. The design, pages of text and then pages of a graphic novel, are fantastic and give the book a creative feel. Definitely worth reading!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

15 June 2011

Treasure

"Anything is treasure if it is desired by someone else." - G.P. Taylor

God desires us, and we are His Treasure. Amazing to think about!! He desires us, our lives, our soul, to share Eternity with Him, more than anything else! Jesus used more parables regarding money and treasure than anything else, besides farming and nature. Wanna know why? EVERYONE who has ever spent five minutes on Earth knows that wealth is a great desire of our hearts; He knew that people would pay attention if he talked about treasure. He really does know our hearts. They are the image of His own, only corrupted by sin, which His is not.

We are His treasure. He loves us, seeks us, and desires us.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

04 June 2011

Tribulation Force Review

The second book in the popular Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins continues to follow our four heroes, Cameron, Chloe, her father Ray and Pastor Bruce Barnes, as they struggle to survive being left behind after Christ returns to rapture his Church, and survive the End Times judgments of that infamous last book of the Bible, Revelation. Focusing on one of the four interpretations of Revelation by scholars, LaHaye and Jenkins cleverly craft an intriguing novel that is both political and deeply spiritual, resounding what rejection of Christ has in store for nonbelievers on Earth and bringing Revelation to life.

It's a fascinating, yet challenging, read. The four heroes are believable, and the world of Revelation that LaHaye and Jenkins creates is both frightening and realistic, realistic as one realizes that, according to the Bible, the Earth and its inhabitants will be punished in the last day - and perhaps are already experiencing the birth pains.


Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

02 June 2011

News Stories from My Internship...!

...or most of them.

http://krcu-news.blogspot.com/search/label/Rachel%20Weatherford

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

01 June 2011

Her Daughter's Dream Review

"Marta's Legacy: Her Daughter's Dream" is by Francine Rivers, a poignant and stunning Christian author with an amazing salvation story. Readers relate to Hildemara, Caroline and May Flower Dawn and how they interacted and responded to various historical events and the broken/injured relationships brought on by the hardships suffered by each of them, and of generational abuse and cycles of abuse. Francine Rivers makes them a real family, a real people she masterfully brings to life. The brilliant Francine Rivers immortalized herself with "The Mark of the Lion" series, her "Lineage of Grace" novellas and "Redeeming Love" and this book enhances her collection of writings all the more. She wrote them based on her own family and wove faith in God and Christ into every page. A touching aspect is that Marta's, the matriarch of sorts, daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter finally get to read Marta's letters to Rose, whose family has enjoyed them, not knowing that if her family had been able to read them, they would have been spared a lot of pain. This never even occurred to Marta, and why would it have? And how Marta desperately tries to keep Hildemara strong but in the end she makes Hildemara distant. But what's so sad is that Marta doesn't want Hildemara to be raped like her sister was and be seen as "weak," but in the end, it is her granddaughter she should have feared for. This should be read by anyone who feels distant from any member of their family, especially their mother and/or grandmother.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

31 May 2011

Her Mother's Hope Review

This is a great read by Francine Rivers!

Just read "Marta's Legacy: Her Mother's Hope." Anyone who's ever tried to fulfill their parents' dreams, or who have had high expectations for their children, or dreamed big dreams and fell in love, this is for them!

A native of Switzerland, Marta's father is a cold, cruel man who forces brilliant Marta to quit school and work, while allowing her brother Hermann, who hates school, to continue attending. She tries to keep up her education, but can't. After a conversation with her mother, she flees her homeland and strikes out to own her own inn. She experiences a lot of changes in her life and eventually creates her inn in Canada, but falls in love with a German engineer who eventually can't find work and moves around until they get to California. She has her daughter Hildemara in a cabin alone. She discovers her sister was raped by the son of the wealthiest couple in their town and, after getting pregnant and losing her mother, commits suicide. Marta's determined that will never happen to her or any of her posterity (which we discover does in the second book). She is strict with her daughter, a gentle girl, who eventually does the same to her own daughter, who becomes close to Marta instead of the mother.

Basically, the story shows how the strained maternal relationship began and gives some insight into possible reasons why (Marta's abusive father and sister's rape, for example). The novel was thoroughly enjoyable and explored the themes of forgiveness, generational problems and healing, as well as showing how each develops and maintains a relationship with God.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

30 May 2011

A day that seemed like a nightmare

Today was such an awful day. I was upset the whole day (I hate working on Sundays), and it was hot and sticky and everyone just kind of wandered around. Plus, and mostly I laugh about this, a girl rang up a $25.68 order as $2568. I was in charge. I was the cashier and I tried to keep the line moving, but it was hard, because people just want to stand there and wait for it. Maybe it's amusing. Then people complained about tables (they're probably picking the only dirty table in the dining room) at least three times. Clearly we didn't look short staffed (there were three of us, one cook and a "floater" who mostly cleaned tables and washed dishes and cut up food) but we were, and we would have been even more shorthanded if we hadn't foreseen this. Tomorrow will be worse. Ugh, it was a disaster. Plus, someone thought they were entitled to free food, instead of it being thrown away (they weren't willing to pay for their "extra" food). People just want free crap. It's awful. And people kept cutting in line, and my voice hurts! And the people in charge of cash threatened me. I just want them to call my manager. I really do! Nothing is going to happen! I don't even work for them, I just work at the park, and I never will and I never want to. I tried to plaster a smile on, but it was hard.

Most of the people are mundane, but some are nice! One set of guys I think were high or something, they were confusing me, it would have been amusing otherwise. Another one was like, "Did you forget I said I could have refills?" Because I had a vacant look on my face when he asekd (I was thinking someone got away without paying for a THIRD three-entree). I didn't, and I apologized and smiled.

Another one was like, "Cheer up, Rachel, you look ---" and I can't remember what word he used (synonym for pinched, stressed). It was a weird (but fun) phrase. Then he tried to make me pay for the meal, but I wouldn't. His card worked. Really, he was all over the place, but it was great! It helped my day get better. I like it when people use my name, but sometimes it's freaky and I know they're trying to get me to do stuff for them.

I need more days off.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

29 May 2011

Francine Rivers' Sons of Encouragement series

Francine Rivers produced five novellas about five men who were behind great men of history: Aaron, the first priest, Caleb, one of the two men who believed the Israelites could conquer despite ten nays, Jonathan, David's best friend, Saul's son and heir and the prince, Amos, a minor but important prophet, and Silas, the scribe. Men would love this inspiring series. Even young women can learn from these "behind-the-scenes" great men; being heroic is something everyone needs to do. Included in each is a Bible study on their life so that readers can form their own intelligent thoughts about each of these men. Yet another must-read by clever and creative author Francine Rivers.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

28 May 2011

Left Behind Review

Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkin's innovative series Left Behind sparked interest in Revelation, the Apocalypse and the End Times. A fan of the last book of the Bible, Left Behind is a beautiful book even though sometimes people wonder just how many pilots couldn't believe in God before and why they suddenly were all changing their minds.

Left Behind is a challenging and fascinating perspective on the least-talked about book in the Bible, Revelation, although Revelation is by far one of the most important books in the Bible. These two authors create a universe in which God is judging the Earth and has taken away His Church; all that are left are those who refused Christ. Now they all must band together to survive the Tribulation and all the other events foretold thousands of years ago. It also has great imagery and talks about one of the four possibilities of Revelation.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

25 May 2011

Day Off

Finally a day off!! Well, I'm on chapter 8 of Lady in Waiting, the chapter called "Lady of Security," and it's decent! I haven't gotten very far on the meditation journal, and I'm planning to re-read the book and do the study guide and the guides at the end of the chapter while finishing the meditation journal. Some days I have more to write than other days.

It was probably just the first chapter or something, since the past two chapters have been hitting home. I mean, everyone struggles with feelings of insecurity, and a Lady of Security is not overly jealous or paranoid! Insecure people get jealous easily, and they aren't fun to be around, and guys don't like it! They don't want to be tricked or deceived. I'm not saying I'm insecure, but sometimes you doubt. But we need to find our security in God, not men.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

23 May 2011

The Last Song

I tried to watch The Last Song even though I dislike Miley Cyrus. It wasn't very successful. I watched an hour of it, but I just couldn't get into it. Nicholas Sparks is all right, but I just didn't like that movie! I wouldn't recommend it. I'm going to try I Am Number Four and The Switch.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

22 May 2011

Tired

I'm so tired I don't know what to write about. I wish I had three days off, instead I'm working six days this week, 40 hours. Not what I was expecting when I "leaped" right into work!

So I'm going through Lady in Waiting, right? Well, at my work today was just me and three guys, a 54-year-old and a teenage boy and a 22-year-old. So the teenager asked me why I'm so nice, so I explained that I was a Christian. Well, I'm guessing it spread (I don't mind) and as soon as he had a free minute, the 22-year-old comes over and says, "So I hear you're a goody-goody Christian."

Great introduction! Well, it just got worse. I'm not sure if we were flirting or not but I think we both asked some pretty nosy questions (I personally think his was worse than mine).

He's like, "My questions aren't offending you, are they?"

And I said, "No, they're embarrassing, but I'm not offended. Ask away." I try to have an open policy.

And he snorted and chuckled.

So I hope we can be cool, he asks for my number every other day, I wouldn't mind him having my number, but it's weird! He has a fiance and a daughter, so I know he isn't serious about me, he just likes to tease.

Oh, we met our sales goal. Yay!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

20 May 2011

Financial Aid

I'm so worried about my financial aid. What if I don't get enough?! That would be terrible. Even though some people don't get any, I usually get a good amount, and I'm glad. I hope I get a good amount. I mean, my parents pay taxes, so it's not like I'm living off the state!! I just want to know how much I need to save from my summer job for three semesters, roughly. You get less and less as the years progress, unfortunately. You need as much to start out with as you do to end with.

And apparently I'm "helping" out. And it's becoming embarrassing.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

17 May 2011

Lady in Waiting

I'm currently going through the book Lady in Waiting in anticipation of my college group covering the book in the fall. It's all about using your time as a single woman well. It's actually a pretty interesting book, with good applicable chapters, although I will admit the meditation journal aspect is confusing. There are no clear directions, it's basically they give you some ideas and you're supposed to write what you get out of it, I think. That's what I've been doing. There's a Bible study, which mostly parallels Ruth, one of my favorite books of the Bible other than Luke, Ephesians, Proverbs and Genesis.

I have to admit, even though reading yet another purity book was not appealing (Every Young Woman's Battle has been the best so far I've read, very black and white) I know that a lot of girls struggle with the wait. I do sometimes. Although I get impatient, I think I'm arriving at the place where I don't know more about pleasing a boyfriend than pleasing the Lord and don't care to. I'm happy not being in the muck of young dating that many people endure, but neither will I be single for the rest of my life. So we will see! I've only gotten to chapter three. The book has an interesting perspective; I'd recommend it!!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

16 May 2011

Cleaning

Cleaning is hard for me. There's not much place for anything else to go. I don't know what to get rid of. I've gotten rid of a lot of stuff already, yet my room still feels cluttered. It may always feel cluttered, even if I have nothing on the walls and nothing in my room. My room in Cape was cluttered. I think it will be even barer next fall. But I also found some good stuff! That's good! I also threw some stuff out. I don't want to be a hoarder!!!!! :)

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

15 May 2011

Pray for Courage!

I need courage to do something very hard for me. I can't say what, but know that I am determined to do it! Thanks!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

14 May 2011

GPA this semester: 3.75

I'm so sad I didn't get a 4.0. Will I ever get a 4.0? I am so striving to get one. I don't even possess a 4.0 in either of my majors or my minor. I feel like a college failure.

I should be getting a 4.0, easy. I don't care what anyone says, my standards are high. I'm not chasing guys, so what's distracting me? Am I too busy? Am I preoccupied? Yes, my grades are important to me, and I do not identify with them anymore, but I still want them to be excellent. And a 3.6 IS good, but it's not enough. It will never be enough.

Next semester, I am going to work for a 4.0. I won't be satisfied with anything else. I will study more, and pray harder. No more laz a faire (not that I am, but sometimes I do procrastinate).

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

13 May 2011

Criminal Minds

I love Criminal Minds. I still like the episodes' backdrop, but the fleshing out of the characters is becoming annoying. They are definitely not just stock characters anymore, nor, really, were they ever. For instance, Morgan was the victim of childhood sexual abuse, which changed his life and made him an FBI agent, and his cousin was most likely killed by a stalker. Hotch's wife was murdered by his archenemy. Penelope was a criminal hacker. Gideon's "girlfriend" was murdered because of him and he left the show, practically insane. Reid's mother helped muder a "creepy" man who actually was a sexual predator and child-murderer she thought was after Reid. Emily was in a relationship with the leader of the IRA (Irish Republican Army) while a spy (who knew she was a spy?!). J.J. got pregnant out of wedlock. 

I'm glad I'm involved in the show, and it should continue, as Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior is clearly not going to survive much longer. But how much longer can it survive?! Then again, Law and Order: SVU survived 12 years, Law and Order survived 19, and CSI: Miami is moving into his tenth season. 7th Heaven survived 10 seasons, the last six of which should never have been made.

I hope it survives a long time.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel