Wowzers....

Where does all the time go? I mean, seriously? Why does time fly so fast? I realized today that I am going to college next year. Yes. NEXT YEAR. So crazy! Sometimes I'm ober excited to get done with high-school and out of our small town. But other times, like now, I love high-school...despite how school can be frustrating often. I'm so excited about this year...Our home-school play about the Titanic, NCFCA forensics, this summer with camps and hopefully a weekend on the lake, having my friend from Joanna visit, going to Rebekah's graduation in California. But I'm excited for what next year will bring, too! Lately I've been learning to live in the present, not in the future or past. It's easy for me to think that when I go to college I'll be in the "real world" or when I'm a missionary I'll start living. But I'm living NOW! Enjoy life and peace out!

Why I Love Jesus, but Hate Religion

I love this! Wanted to share it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY&feature=g-logo&context=G2adc8f3FOAAAAAAABAA

Here's the dealio

Ok. So here's my confession.

I've been thinking about it a lot lately and.......I don't really like Facebook.

Let me reword that. I like Facebook, but not the idea of FB. Does that make sense?

After getting super addicted to FB, I decided I'd only get on once a day. The more I don't get on, the more I realize how silly it is.

Let me explain more.

Here's why I DON'T like it:

(1. It's SO self-centered. (I.E. "Who liked my status?" "Who liked my status?" etc.)

(2. It's time consuming. It sucks up so much time and leaves you wondering "Where'd my time go????"

(3. It's super distracting.

(4. It can leave you feeling frustrated/jealous with people. Sometimes leaves you wishing you'd been invited to do things with people.

(5. A very CHEAP and EASY way to get involved in people's lives without caring too much. Bad.

So...what's the good about it?

(1. It can be used as ministry. When people get on my FB wall, I hope they see Jesus!

(2. Encouraging. Use it as an encouragement!

(3. VERY easy way to get ahold of people (since we don't have cell phones)

(4. Nice and fun to keep in contact with friends from my mission trips, etc.

I decided not to get on FB until next Wednesday. Not just to practice self control, but also to challenge myself to get really, personally involved in people's lives. To live in the present. Two of my great friends Grace and Joanna don't have FB so it forces me to try so much harder to get involved in their lives and stay in contact than just a little post on their wall (or Timeline).

Anyways, what do you think? How do you use FB for good?

And the truth will set you free

During Christmas break, I've been working a lot on NCFCA Speech and Forensics. It's crazy it starts next month! What categories are you competing? What are you most excited about it? Are you ready? I'm currently working on my persuasive, which is about pursuing the truth. I'm opening with an intro about martyrs in Islam and Christianity and how they both believed they're dying for the truth. I stumbled on this Islamic website with history in Islam. Here's what it said at the top of the page:

"We apologize to anyone who may be offended by the history of the founder of Islam (Muhammad) below."

I am so glad that we don't have to apologize for what Jesus said! I won't apologize when people are offended by the truth. It's interesting that there's been more Christian martyrs in the last century than in the past nineteen centuries...combined. People have found something worth dying for. I love how Jesus never made Christianity seem appealing and easy. He wasn't like, "Look at all you'll get!" but instead He urged them to pick up their cross, die to themselves, and follow Him. He demanded total, 100% commitment.

Very cool. Jesus is awesome.

I HAVEN'T POSTED AT ALL IN 2012!!!

Wow. Only a dork would have that as their title for the post. My New Year's resolution is to be a better dork. Haha, just kidding! ;) Do you have any New Year's resolutions? I'm not a big resolution person, but I like to think about how I'd like to change and grow throughout the year. Considering how I slept most of the day, I had a great New Year's day! I went to church and saw my old youth pastors, which was overall fun, helped my cousin Liz Sunday School, and played the piano. Teaching Sunday School reminded me of when I helped teach Sunday School in Nepal. It was so precious when all the little Nepali girls and boys sang Jesus Loves Me. It was so special. Today we had all the little kids pray for each other, which was equally touching and sweet.

I'm excited about 2012! Can't believe I'm going to be a senior this year. What are you most excited about this year? I think I'm going to get high-lights this year, which'll be cool. I want to learn how to sew, crochet, and play guitar and violin. I think it'll be a great learning experience to write piano music for our home-school drama. I hope I'll grow a lot spiritually and learn how to do many more things!

This and that...

I don't really have anything to write. But I felt like writing anyways. I went to the zoo today. It was pretty amazing, though kind of overwhelming because there are so many things to see! I think my favorite was watching the elephant training. The elephants, who are so cute, did all sorts of little tricks. Then my amazing cousin Liz and I had fun blasting up the music, rolling down the windows, blasting up rap (and the bass, of course!), and acting all GANGSTA! Oh, and tiliting the spiffy hat my friend Emily gave me. :) What are guys doing for New Year's? Enjoying break?

FIVE DAYS!!!!!

It's five days until I can have pop again. I can't wait! Can you believe that we're already at the end of the year? I say that all the time, but it still amazes me by how fast time flies! I've had such a fabulous year. I'm so thankful for everything that's happened. I got a job at Subway and started teaching piano lessons, got my driver's license (what I won't mention is that I got the car stuck THREE times after that:), going to Acquire the Fire, visiting my amazing friend Emily, NCFCA, working at a pumpkin patch, having my friend Grace visit, getting new youth pastors, but I think my favorite part of the year was my mission trip to Nepal. It was so challenging and stretching, but I've never felt closer to God or happier. You feel the most alive when you're serving God. I will never forget my experience there. What are some highlights from your year? What was your highlights?

Merry Christmas! :)

Honestly, I kind of forgot this blog was in existence until I checked it yesterday. My dear friend, Emily, however, inspired me to blog more. :) I hope you all are having a fantastic start to Christmas. I am excited about the Christmas Eve Service tonight, hanging out with family tomorrow (yay, Liz!), and opening gifts. Is it a white Christmas where you live? I want to close with a little something a friend of mine, Jade, (from my mission trip to Nepal) posted on Facebook. It really nails what Christmas is all about. She posted, "I'm left speechless, even breathless, that Jesus looked at this world and knew all the craziness that it would be, knew what He'd have to endure, knew that He'd have to die, but he was so destined to meet me, to know me, to pursue me, that He came anyway. I was worth the risk. It baffles my mind. Jesus is the most ardent man I know. Gotta love Him." Christmastime isn't just about celebrating the birth of Jesus, but this purpose for coming down-so He could have a friendship with You. Merry Christmas!