Being hot makes me grumpy April 29, 2008

I just got finished with a class of about 25 mangy high schoolers. The thermostat read 86 degrees.

Mangy high schoolers +broken air con = No fun!!!

I love how God uses times like these to reveal the ugliness of my heart that is so easily hidden when everything is going good and I am comfortable. Being uncomfortable is not an excuse. Yet, God gently reminds me that I can choose my attitude and I’m accountable for that choice.

Pinoy April 28, 2008

For those of you who may not know, Darren was born and raised in the Philippines (This little tidbit of information will help you see why this was such a momentous occasion)…

We were with our friends, Ryan and Sarah, the other day searching for a unique, hole-in-the-wall restaurant that none of us had been to before. We were driving down Mag and passed the point that we never drive past (Tyler). Sulu Grill and Video was spotted and we ended up checking it out. Wouldn’t ya know, it ended up being a Filipino restaurant. Darren had the biggest, school-boy grin on his face I have ever seen.

Darren ordered all the food for us and it was all really tasty, except the flaky, charred fish thing. Darren and Ryan were selfish and each ate a fish eye, which left Sarah and I without any. I wish I would have gotten a picture of the dessert, but before I had thought of it we were almost done with it. It was unlike anything I have ever seen. Did you know that Filipinos put weird things in their ice cream like beans and cheese?

Sulu Grill & Video: We will be back!

Indifference April 15, 2008

I got this quote from Carly when she went to Thailand. It is taken from Elie Wiesel’s speech called “The Perils of Indifference”….

“In a way, to be indifferent to that suffering is what makes the human being inhuman. Indifference, after all, is more dangerous than anger and hatred. Anger can at times be creative. One writes a great poem, a great symphony, one does something special for the sake of humanity because one is angry at the injustice that one witnesses. But indifference is never creative. Even hatred at times may elicit a response. You fight it. You denounce it. You disarm it. Indifference elicits no response. Indifference is not a response.

Indifference is not a beginning, it is an end. And, therefore, indifference is always the friend of the enemy, for it benefits the aggressor– never his victim, whose pain is magnified when he or she feels forgotten. The political prisoner in his cell, the hungry children, the homeless refugees– not to respond to their plight, not to relieve their solitude by offering them a spark of hope is to exile them from human memory. And in denying their humanity we betray our own.”

I listened to his whole speech today. I would highly recommend it. Check it out… Here

Very convicting and challenging. A good reminder that I need to fight against Indifference in my life.

Ellen April 11, 2008

Darren’s cousin visited from Michigan last weekend. We were so glad we were able to spend some time with her…We love you, Ellen!

God’s Will April 9, 2008

Way back in December, Darren spoke at a breakout session for the Tsunami State Youth Conference. He spoke on the will of God. As you can imagine, it was a popular topic. The room maxed out. There were students sitting on the ground and standing in the back until they finally shut the doors. Everyone wants to know what God’s will is for there life, right?

Darren did a phenomenal job speaking and I often find myself thinking about what he spoke about. I was really blessed and encouraged by his insight. I think so many times I focus on (specifically) what God wants me to do and neglect the how. For example, God is more concerned with our sanctification and living a righteous life than, say, what occupation we pursue. There is such a freedom in not anxiously wondering what is “God’s will” (not the same will that He has already laid out for us in His Word) and focusing on pursuing Christ in everything we do- whether you eat or drink do all things to the glory of God!