Just Some Thoughts...

My mind has been spinning lately with thoughts.  It's kind of strange since I am not one with many thoughts nor do I process much but lately I have been.  So here are some questions that have been in my head lately.

One precursor is that I don't think that any of the things that I ask questions about are wrong, I am just realizing that my reasons behind most of the things below were more for my own selfishness rather than for the glory of God.

• Why is Christianity only for those who read their bibles daily and when discipleship occurs, daily bible reading is one of the main focuses?
• Where in the bible does it say "Thou shalt read thy Bible for 30 minutes daily and cross reference every key word"? 

• Why are the main topics talked about when dealing with spiritual growth prayer, bible studies, and the need for community?  Didn't Christ command such things as "Go and Make disciples" (Matt 28:19). "Be Holy for I am Holy" (1 Peter 1:16), "Hide my Word in your Heart" (Psalm 119:11), and "Love for I first loved you" (1 John 4:19) as well?  Shouldn't we also focus on Love (since it is one of the most commonly used words in the Bible), Being Imitators of Christ, Being Holy, Memorization, etc.

• Why is church a 'mandatory' thing in communities of Christians?  Yes fellowship is important but can't that be found in other places as well?  So why do we look down when people miss church or don't come?
• When did "church" become a building with a band, a few songs, announcements, a pastor, and a sermon?  Isn't church the Body of Christ?

• What if the definition of a Christian became "one who loves like Christ loved" because to love like Christ is only possible through truly knowing Christ?
• When did love become 'saying positive things or serving through worldly actions?  Didn't Christ show love when he called out the Pharisee's hypocritical actions or when he acted in righteous anger and love in the synagogue and turned over the tables?  Is lvoe simply what makes people feel good or what is best and holy in light of Christ?

• "Where does the Bible say "Thou shalt focus on changing yourself?"  It doesn't.  Instead it says things such as "The word of God is living and active" (Heb 4:12), "Pray continually" (1 Thess 5:17), "Surely I am with you always" (Matt 28:20), "Deny yourself and follow me" (Matt 16:24).   
• Christianity is not about ourselves.
• Christianity is not about others,
• Christianity is about the Peacemaker, Jehovah Jirah, God, the Creator, the Alpha, the Omega, the Living God, the Holy Spirit, the Love of All, the Commander, the one and only God: Jesus Christ who came so that we may have life.
• If we could just get the fact that our lives are insignificant in comparison to the majesty of God maybe we would then be able to love and impact individuals in a way that changes the reality of this world.

 "Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God." -R.C. Sproul

Are we nuts?!?

Well, somehow Nicole convinced me to run a half marathon with her at the end of October.  I have no idea how, but she did.  So we have begun our training.  It's quite fun actually.  Tonight we ran 3.5 miles in about 30 minutes, so it's not a super fast pace but it feels great.  Other days we do yoga, biking, cross training, or rest (my favorite).  But, get this, we have also convinced Matt to run it with us as well.  YAHOO!!!  So we are all training and getting in shape!  It feels really good to exercise again.  I forgot how much of a difference it makes. 


Here's our Training Schedule.  Sunday we are running 5 miles... the longest yet... and continuing our build up to 13.1 miles!!!

August House Update!

The house is finally taking shape and things are happening.  It is so fun to see and be a part of.  My parents are doing such a great job being patient and taking life as it comes.  They are also great house builders... this thing is going to be incredible when it is done.  So here's a few pictures of the new additions to the house!  (Matthew requested lots of concrete pictures so there are quite a few of them!)  

LIGHTING- 

front hallway... a 2nd light was added

Dining Room light... and new deck door.

Kitchen Cupboards and new lighting under the cabinets (which you can't see)

Mom and Dad's new fan

Mom and Dad's bathroom lighting

Shower lights

Mom's MK room

Papa's new fan.  (It's my room right now, excuse the messy bed)

The new stair light

One of the pendants in the basement

 The fan in Mom and Dad/Amy's future room

 The fan in Papa's/Matthew's future room

The fan in Nicole and Chris's room... which is now where they are living.

Nicole and Chris's new 'home'

OUTSIDES-

The back porch decking 

The front with the newly bought chairs

The front with the new SIDEWALK!  Goodbye boards

The CEMENT DRIVEWAY!

The finished retaining wall with the toppers on and the driveway poured.

The newly stained side door.

THAT'S ALL!!!  Can't wait till you all come visit!

Ireland Couple Pictures

Here's a few fun pictures of Matt and I from our Ireland Trip!  Enjoy!

 

He asked... I said...

YES!!!

Welll... Matt and I are engaged.  Quite exciting!  It happened on July 18th in Ireland.  Here's the story...

On Sunday, Matt and I went on a walk on the beach.  After a bit it started raining so we made our way back to the cottage where his family is staying.  When we walked up, all the cars were gone but I just seemed to miss that fact.  We walked in and the front room was set up with music and candles and everything.  Matt then continued to say some beautiful things I'm sure but I can't seem to remember anything... I guess I was a bit excited or something.  Then after his beautiful things, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.  The ring is beautiful.  It has 5 small diamonds on each side of the main one which is a full carat princess cut diamond.  BEAUTIFUL!!!  After the ring was in place, he proceeded to wash my feet to show his desire to serve me for the rest of his life.  It was so beautiful and he did a great job.  

The walk before

On the beach

I may have been excited!

That's my future husband!

THE RING!!!  He did a wonderful job picking it out!

Mussoorie Days!

THURSDAY, JULY 8th-

• We got back from Amritsar this day and were just lazy all day long!  It was wonderful!

FRIDAY, JULY 9th- 

• We went into town today and picked up all the last minute things that we had ordered to be made.  Chris got two suits that were made, Nicole and I got our coats... they're BEAUTIFUL!..., picked up a suit that we had made for Matthew, and also picked up some shoes.  

• That night, the girls from the trek along with one of Nicole's old camp friends who used to work here came over for MEXICAN NIGHT!  We made homemade chicken fajitas, salsa, and fruit salad.  It was so much fun.  
• Nicole also taught me and the other girl from America how to tie our sarees.  FUN FUN!

SATURDAY, JULY 10th-

• Today we packed, took down curtains, organized, and all that jazz.
• Then that night, we went to one of Nicole's coworker's house to see his new twin boys.  Oh my they were so cute and TINY!!!  We were able to give them a bunch of stuff as well from the house and it was so beautiful to see their faces light up from gratitude.

SUNDAY, JULY 11th-

• We did a lot more packing today and got the whole house basically packed up.  Chris worked on figuring out how to transport all of the stuff and found out that we can do unaccompanied luggage all the way to the US for only a bit more money than lugging it around with us!!!  
• That night we had our SAREE NIGHT!!!  We went out to eat with three other girls to a nice restaurant all dressed up in our sarees.  It was so much fun to tie and 'situate' the saree with Nicole before we went out.  I guess that each morning all the sisters and mothers here help each other into their sarees, so it was fun to kind of see what that was like.

• Afterwards, Nicole and I found some silliness within us and took these pictures... hehehehe! 

MONDAY, JULY 12th-

• This day we did last minute packing, worked on school stuff for Nicole, and laid around!  Quite the life.  We also happened to watch some movies along the way too... why is life so stressful sometimes?!?  :)

TUESDAY, JULY 13th- 

• And what did we do this day?  Pack!  We also delivered the final things to people who had bought them around town.
• Then at 7:00 the taxi picked us up, we got all the luggage packed up, and we left for the train station.
• We got the train station fine and got onto our train no problem. 

 AGRA HERE WE COME!!!