Auburn versus LSU - Spirit Flight

WAR EAGLE! Thought this was pretty cool: 16 Sept 2006 Auburn vs LSU game, the Auburn eagle Spirit makes her pregame flight to a sold out crowd of 87,451 fans.

Attack

The past few weeks have been one thing after another. Seems everywhere I go-work, church, family, home-something is going on to distract me. Seems like every time I'm out of the woods in one area, something else comes up.
I leave for Bulgaria in less than a month and my Sunday School class is really growing, not just numbers wise, but in spiritual maturity. I'm pretty sure then enemy is not happy with me.
Your prayers are appreciated.

Poverty

by Jason Upton (who I've been listening to, a lot, lately)

There's a power in poverty that breaks principalities
And brings the authorities down to their knees
There's a brewing frustration and ageless temptation
To fight for control by some manipulation

But the God of the Kingdoms and the god of the nations
The god of creation sends this revelation
Through the homeless and penniless Jesus the Son
The poor will inherit the Kingdom to come

Where will we turn when our world falls apart
And all of the treasures we've stored in our barns
Can't buy the Kingdom of God?
Who will we praise when we've praised all our lives
Men who build kingdoms and men who build fame
But heaven does not know their names?
What will we fear when all that remains
Is god on his throne, wth a child in his arms
And love in his eyes
And the sound of his heart cries

and some other lyrics I really like. . .

from Gideon (Valley/Victory)
I don't have the power
I don't even have a clue
I don't know all the answers
I don't even know a few

from: No Sacrifice
To You I give my life
Not just the parts I want to
To You I sacrifice
These dreams that I hold on to

This is no sacrifice, here's my life

Fear?

Check out my friend Will J and what he has to say about missions.

I'm with him!

Unlovable

There's somebody in my life who doesn't love me. Someone who's supposed to love me. Even when I'm unlovable. Whose supposed to think I'm beautiful, even if the world thinks I'm not. Whose supposed to be proud, even if there's not so much to be proud of. But she never will. Maybe if I were skinnier and with better hair. Maybe if I wore pink more and wanted to be a cheerleader. Maybe if I went on dates more often or made a lot of money.
Am I really that unlovable? I must be.
I will never be enough. Never. And I have to give up the dream that I ever will.
I miss my Daddy. . .

the streets where I live. . .

Yesterday was THE most beautiful day we've had in a long time. So I decided to take advantage and went out for a walk during the afternoon. The sun was shining, but the air was so much cooler. I took the camera along. So here are a few of my fave's. . . they are pretty self-explanatory.

Another day in Paradise

FYI-it's only 68 degrees here today. And after a long Alabama summer, it's a welcome reprieve!
Check out our day.

Living Truth

We had a 4 day conference at church this week about our culture-how to be seperate and yet engage it. I was a little skeptical, but in the end it was amazing. We had some great speakers, specifically from Southern Seminary-Dr. Russ Moore, Dr. Bruce Ware, and Dr. William Cutrer. Each night we focused on a different aspect of our culture.
It would be really hard for me to put in to words all that I learned and was revealed to me this week. But a few things in particular stuck out:
We should embrace the strangeness of Christianity. It's actually better if we look really different than the world. Honestly, I think this really struck home mostly because of my new job. Here, it's a little odd that I have scripture up all over my cube and a map of Global Lostness on my wall. I was worried that people would think I am a freak, but I should embrace that. I know Jesus didn't seem normal, and pretty sure the Apostle Paul didn't either-and after all, who should I mold my life after.
Also, the Dr. who spoke last night although a professor at Southern, is an OB/GYN. It was completely enlightening. We learned about different Sanctity of Life issues. When life begins and ends. How we know what to do in irreversible health situations and what different types of contraception actually do. The biology nerd part of me totally loved it. But the little girl with out her daddy in my cried thinking back to the horrible pain he was in and wondering if I could have responded differently. It really made me think about what I would want for myself in those situations, and reminded me how grateful I am for my sister, that she thinks the same way and that I don't really have to explain what I want or why. She just knows.
So, if you were there, I'm sure you got as much out of it as I did. And if not, you should look into buying the CD's. Check it out at www.hsbc.org.

Life and Times in the Arbo/Graham Household

So, spring cleaning started tonight-in a sense. I heard Amy in the kitchen making noise and went to check out what was going on. What I discovered was a sad statement of our existence. . . we're living like boys!!


What was left once we cleaned out everything expired and just plain old!


The stash of everything that had to be thrown away. . .


You bring the lettuce, we've got the dressing.

So, don't invite us out to eat anytime soon, we've gotta be grown ups and buy some stuff for the fridge!

Home Sweet. . . Hoover, Alabama

***edit
So, apparently there's a whole lot of controversy surrounding this. Did they make Hoover look like a little red neck bumpkin town? And why did they portray the school chaplain the way they did? And since he's the youth minister at my church my pastor is a little fired up!

Okay, so as strange and surreal as it seems, there's actual a television show on MTV about my Alma Mater. Hoover High that is. No, I haven't seen it. We don't have cable so. . . but I'm kinda glad. It was weird enough seeing them play on ESPN last year.
So, you ask, what exactly is so special about Hoover, AL? Not so sure. I've been spending most of my life trying to get out of here and only stay cause the Lord hasn't let me go. But, if you want to find out more, atleast about the football kingdom they've created, check it out here.
Also, if your curiosity is peaked and you just want to know a little more about this lovely place I call home, check it out here. It's actually not all that bad, I'd just prefer a more urban feel.
We do have a Sephora store and lots of great restaurants.

War Eagle

We had a tailgate at work for the first football weekend. A little glimpse into DAXKO life. . .


Me with Amanda and Toby (Bama fans. . .)


Me and Amanda (the other girl on my team)


Me and Amy decked out in our Auburn gear!

Weightless Trifle

On the soapbox. . .

Okay, so as I was preparing to teach SS yesterday, I came across some information that still has me amazed.
The "lesson" was on 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.
As I was reading and studying on vs. 17 I learned something that still shocks me.
"For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."
The greek for "light" is the equivalent of "weightless trifle." A weightless trifle? REALLY??
In chapter 11 we read this:
"Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches."

Doesn't sound like a "weightless trifle" to me. In Colossians Paul talks about how we as believers fill up what is lacking in the suffering of Christ-the world still wants to crucify Him and we take the brunt of that. And Paul took it in such an extreme way that most could not have withstood. I couldn't have. But I want to be like Paul-for my life to scream that "to live is Christ, to die is so much gain."

Labor Day

It was nice to have a day of rest today. I got to hang out with some friends and get to know some new people. Didn't take any pictures. But of course it's safe to say we had plenty of good food.
Things at the new job are going well. I have tons to learn, but I'm having a blast and the Lord is opening up lots of opportunities. More later. . .