Hell's Maze

So, I believe that I have already made a post about the documentary film that I had to watch for my english class called Hell House. Tonight, in Huntington, there was an event called Hell's Maze. Our proffessor told us to go and check it out, and see if our views on it changed. Also, I believe there was an incentive of going. Anyways, my intentions on going were simple. Well, more complex than I would think probably. I wanted to argue. I wanted to know why they thought that what they were doing was okay! Instead, I was shocked. It was nothing like the Hell House. The people presenting didn't come across as judgmental, or anything! They came across as real people and their message was simple and welcoming. At the end, no matter what, we all had to sit down with one of their counselors and talk. It was funny because Kayla and I were with the same counselor and we chose not to talk. We were not really huge fans of what they were doing, but I felt relieved because it wasn't anything like the Hell House documentary. I have to admit that this was probably the strangest way that I have spent Halloween. Also, this weekend is Olympiad. You all better get your behinds out there and watch me run, spike, and race my behind off!

Getting Ahead, Finally!

I can't believe that I am actually saying this, but I am actually ahead in almost all of my classes. I actually do homework! Like, I actually get motivated to do it and go through with it. I never thought that this would happen haha! I have an exam Friday and I started studying for it last Saturday. Although I have not been getting a lot of sleep, at least I am getting my work done! On Sunday, I started working in the sunday school class for the two year olds. I assumed that I would either love it, or completely hate it and would never want to come back. I absolutely loved it! I have never worked with this age group before, so it was a new experience. The coolest thing about them is that thay can do whatever they want, and careless. For example, wearing a dress gives a two year old girl permission and every right to lift it up over head at any point in time. Also, if they want to take their pants off, they don't care who sees them, they will do it regardless! They also say whatever they want, without realizing what they are saying. When and if I have children, and my child is two, they will never leave the house for fear that they will say things that probably would be the most embaressing moment of my life. Alas, I must say, two year olds have to be the coolest kids to work with!

Stuck In The Middle?

So, I have found out that it is sometimes nearly impossible to stay neutral between two of your friends fighting. You see other people take sides, and you are trying so hard not to take sides. One thing that I have realized is that I can see the negatives in both of them. Looking in from the outside, I don't get why they don't just talk about it so that they both can better understand one another. I see that the conflict kind of revolves around personality differences, and I find myself struggling to get along with the one because of her personality. When I am hanging out with each of them, it is so hard not to take their side. Its hard to balance just listening and giving advice. I can give advice, but it can't seem like I am taking sides. So, that is not going so well haha! Even earlier I found one of my other friends siding with one of the girls and really said some mean things about the other. A good thing though is that I got really defensive about it and stood up for her. I just wish that things could work out for them so that we could all get along. I hate how they are treating each other, and its not the way that it should be. I wish that they could just see how immature they are being and how they are putting so much negative energy into all of this. Finally, I am extremely disappointed in how someone who is sort of a leader handled the situation. Basically, she sided with the one girl. Such a great role model for all of us to look up to right? I was reading in Romans 12 today about how we should have peace among all people and should not make enemies with them. This brought to mind this situation, which is sort of depressing, but so true. Christ calls us to love one another, not to hurt each other.

What Can Separate Us?

This weekend was full of nothing but homework, but at least it is all done. My journal for my physical wellness class was something that I was really excited to do, and its not even due until Wednesday! We were to go for a 30 minute walk and just open our hearts to God. I usually struggle with this, because my mind wonders to other things such as stuff that I need to get done. I really didn't struggle this time. Something that kept popping into my head was a quote from Dr. Smith who presented the devotional for the Divine Hours Chapel on Friday. He said "Nothing that has been done to you or that you have done can separate you from the love of God." My real struggle lately has been just not letting go of things that I have done, as well as thinking that I need to be completely perfect for Him. This, as a result, was separating me from accepting His love. But the neat thing is, nothing that we do can separate us from His love. He is always going to love us. The pastor at church this morning made the comment that He loves those who do not know Him, and He loves us all. I loved that example! He desires for that relationship with us. Not just the relationship, but the love that goes along with it. In Ephesians 3 it says that His love is deep, His love is wide...its so much more than we can comprehend. Our sins are not going to stop Him from loving us. He accepts us as we are, and is willing to wash us clean again!

Over-Zealous Christians??

Tonight, instead of having to go to two of our english classes this week, we had the chance to go to a 90 minute viewing of the documentary film on Hell House. I was actually pretty excited about it, because I thought the idea of portraying what life is really like and how our choices now effect our eternal destination. At the beginning, I didn't really find anything that I disagreed on, but towards the end I started seeing myself becoming angry with the people. There was a scene where a couple of kids were arguing with the pastor about the Hell House. I found myself agreeing with the kids more than I did the pastor. I am not saying that I agreed with them completely, but there were many times where I did. I am not sure if this is a good thing or not. One thing that I did agree on is that people really are turned off because of the stereotypes and labels that are given to non christians. I felt as if I were to be a non christian viewing the Hell House, I would feel convicted, yes, but I would feel more judged than anything. Even if I was a christian, and say that I had done drugs before, the way that it was portrayed would have made me feel as if no matter what I would have done I would be going to hell. There were certain parts in the documentary where I had to remind myself that I am forgiven and that the people being portrayed are not christians. By watching their church, and the production of Hell House, I have come to the conclusion that their approach to what they are doing is overwhelming and now they can be seen as over zealous. I am sure that I am not the first one to put that name to them. The concept is good, but the way they go about it is not intriguing at all.

The Love of a Father

Fall break is over after tomorrow, but for me, my last day of fall break will be spent driving. I am leaving tomorrow in order to get there tomorrow night. I have had a lot of fun at home, but will be extremely happy to be back at school. I have had a lot of time at night by myself where I can just reflect on the weekend and even the school year so far, and even my life in general. I started thinking about things that I have done in the past, and by the past I even mean things that I could have done like 5 minutes ago. For me, it is amazing how everything that I have done can be forgiven by God. I love comparing it to my dad. I can make my dad extremely mad sometimes, and sometimes I don't blame him for not forgiving me. I know that he loves me and always will, but he is human. I am thinking about the love that he has for me, and comparing it to God, the love that my heavenly Father is so much greater than that of anyone else on earth that its ridiculous. In the sermon at church yesterday, the pastor used Paul as the example. If we were to be persecuted, we say that we would still have our church friends...but Paul didn't. No one on earth loves you like God does, and no one can fill that void that you are longing for like God does. Everything that He does is uncomparable to what we are experiencing on earth. No one can compare to the love and care that He can give.

Fall Break

It is finally fall break, and I chose to spend it at home. I had other options, such as the fall break trip or just staying on campus hanging out. For some reason, I really wanted to come home. I think it was for the fact that I didn't have a cell phone, and if I came home I could get one. Others of you may know or think it is for a different, more complicated reason. I will have to admit that this will be a fall break that I will never forget, and its only day 2 of break. Some choices have already been made, and I'm already ready to go back. I don't miss the classes or the work, just all of my friends. I really don't miss my friends from home as much as I miss my friends from school. One thing that I have learned from being home, though, is that every choice that I make, it doesn't only effect me, but it effects so many other people. Even if its something just really small and we think that it doesn't really have any meaning, it can still effect others. Its every decision that we make that causes a situation to go good or bad. But one good thing about decisions is that no matter what decision you make, God is always going to love you, and He isn't one who is going to get angry and leave you because of it. He knows what decision we are going to make, and yet He is still willing to offer His forgiveness and grace. I must say, that is pretty amazing, and I couldn't ask for a better solution to the messes that I make.