My future....

I have felt very strongly, especially this past month or so, the call of the Lord on my life, particularly to go into full-time missions. Where? I don't know. When? Not for a little while. With who? Jesus for sure, other people maybe.

I was picturing myself in some Middle Eastern country, wearing traditional garb and "hiding" my true reason for being there (To share the Gospel). However, this week, I am feeling like the Lord may be calling me to somewhere else....I don't want to say anything right now, in case it is just my own thoughts/desires, but I will say it would be an urban environment, across the pond, utilizing my skills....

God, please make this call clear to me and make a way for me to share your good news with the world.

Ta-ta for now!

Another Benny blog

I seem to be posting a lot about Ben lately, but it's because he's a big part of my life! I took him to Greensboro Saturday (an hour and a half away) to meet with a couple who might want to adopt him.

On the way, he puked in the car because he was bouncing around so much (his own fault for not staying put!) Thankfully, he hadn't eaten his breakfast, so it wasn't too gross. We met Dan and Leslie at the dog park in Greensboro, where Ben and their dog Timber, played for a while, mostly with other dogs. We then went back to their house (my friend Erin was with me!) to see what kind of environment he would be in, if they adopted him.

All in all, I thought the visit went well. I heard from them last night though, and they don't think Ben and their family would be the best fit.... :( Sad day. Once again I am back at square 1, trying to decide what to do with him. Do I keep trying to find him a new home, get another dog, or learn to live with him? It will be harder and harder to find him a home the older he gets. It will be harder on me too, to give him away after having had him a long time.

I really would like someone to take him and make him their new friend. I would miss him terribly, but at the same time, he would be happier in a situation where he can run and play a lot more...Please pray, again. Thanks :)

Meanderings of my mind

This week began "wind down for the holidays time" at work, it seems. With our conferences over for the semester, and only one more chapel address to cover before the end of the semester, I have not been writing as much as I was. In order to stay productive, I am (mentally at this point) working on a series of stories I could do, with more in-depth interviews of students and professors in different departments.

I would like to expand my writing to stuff that is a bit more in-depth, personal profile, feature type stories, but to effectively do that, it would be good to have a good venue for publishing such things. Our department is working on switching over to a WordPress format for publishing chapel articles, etc., so I'd like to utilize that as well. However, it seems that may be slow in coming, so I have been compiling a list of the Baptist state papers so I can potentially send articles to them.

Anyways....last night I went to the Derek Webb concert at the Lincoln Theatre in downtown Raleigh. It was a cool time. I went with my friends Erin, Matt and Brandon. Derek Webb used to be the lead singer for the old-school Christian band Caedmon's Call, but broke away 6-7 years ago to write his own stuff, and to tour with his wife, Sandra McCracken, who is a very gifted artist in her own right. Her sound reminds me of Sara Groves, whose stuff I love.

Anyways, Derek's music has always been very challenging and very pro-Jesus in a radical way, so I have to say I was a bit surprised to see so many people with beers in hand at the concert. I think I have been in the Baptist realm so much I forget there is a huge segment of Christians who see nothing incompatible between having a drink and being a Christian. However, that's the way I was raised, so it should be no shock to me.

Derek said, "We certainly don't condone drunkenness, but we do condone drinking. So, go support the bar!" There was a lot of cheering to that statement (by the drinkers, I am sure) and someone said they were probably all Presbyterians. It reminded me of something J.D. Greear said at church on Sunday. "Those Presbyterians are free in Jesus all over the place!" Ha.

Anyways, Derek Webb's music continues to be challenging and original. He's a good "lyri-sologist!" I forgot how much I do love going to hear live music. Good times.

Tomorrow I am taking Ben to Greensboro, NC to meet some potential adopters. I am really praying he finds a home soon. He was so sweet this morning, but I know that does not last a long time! He gets hyper and gets to running and going crazy and I can't deal with it, so he goes back out on the deck! Poor thing needs more exercise and play-time, and I just can't do it...Is it bad that I am giving up on him? He's a good boy, he and I just have different views on our "relationship." Oh well.....

Red tape, regulations and the lack thereof

Today has been an interesting day. I have seen the 2 extremes of how an employee can help someone out and bend the rules a bit, and of how an employee can stick rigidly to rules that may not even exist, in an effort to feed their ego.

This morning consisted of me driving to the DMV in Raleigh to get my license, which I had to have a NC license before I could register my car. So I get there, without a Social Security card or proof of residency, only to find out I need to have those things to get my license. So, I turned around and drove back to Wake Forest, got the necessary documents out of my apartment, and drove back into Raleigh and to the DMV. Once there, I had to take (and nearly failed) the written driving exam. Thankfully, I passed with the lowest score possible. When I went to write my check for my new license, I was informed I couldn't use my check because she hadn't heard of my bank before (AmSouth) so she was sure it wasn't in NC.

"How on earth is a person supposed to do anything here if they've just moved?" I asked her. She told me, "Go find an ATM, sweetheart." Finally, after getting my license, I drove to the License/Registration place in Wake Forest to get my tag for my new car (for the 2nd day in a row; yesterday was when I was told I had to have a NC license to register my car). Once there, I found out I was required to pay my car taxes again, despite the fact she had the receipt showing I paid $419 when I bought the car. Then, she felt the need to charge me another $5 (which once again, no cash) for her signature on a paper...So frustrating. 3 hours later, and I have my new license and my new tag. Oh, BTW- NC law says I have 10 days to have my car inspected...what governmental garbage. I am already sick of all these little govt. workers on a power-trip being unpleasant and unhelpful in every way imaginable. Goodness.

This afternoon, I was prepared to get ticked off again when dealing with Time Warner Cable. I was supposed to be getting a phone call to tell me a technician was on his way to turn on my cable/internet so I could meet him at the apt. The guys told me, "Fat chance. They never call until they leave and they're disgruntled b/c no one is at home."

So, imagine my surprise when I DID get a call, and I did get home to find a TWC technician waiting on me. He was really nice and worked quickly, and then gave me the added bonus of some 60+ cable channels because he didn't carry the filters with him.

It's just such a contrast between people who do things to piss you off because they could not care less about their jobs and making their customers happy and people who are pleasant and try to give you a break when they can. Thank God for chill people. I love 'em.

So tonight, I am going to enjoy a volleyball game (I'm playing; It's our last game), then Beauty and the Geek, and seeing what else is on TV and checking facebook from home! Yippee!

Busy life

Today, Mom and Brian are coming in for a visit! I'm way excited. Brian hasn't been over here yet, so it will be good to have him come and see my place and my new life! I still need to do some laundry, clean the turtle tank and clean my apartment before they get here...yowza.

Tonight, Mom is cooking for me :) Beef tips, baked potatoes and Caesar salad. Delish. Then, I'm going to highlight her hair. Tomorrow, Brian is going to put together my desk and then we may play golf, depending on weather and how we feel. Afterwards, we're eating out and then a little chocolate fountain party at my place! Yummy. I hope lots of fun people come.

I am so blessed to have friends and a family that I love. Furthermore, I am so thankful I have things to do! I was worried about making friends, and the Lord has blessed me so much in that area! Praise God. I don't deserve friends or anything good, but in His goodness, he has given me godly girls and guys to hang out with.

In other exciting news, my tv/cable/internet is getting installed on Tuesday. So exciting! Anyways, hope anyone who reads this has a fantastic weekend!