So you want to hear a funny story?????

So my friend Kristen calls me and asks me if we can go to Buffalo Mountain, It was around 45 degrees windy and sunny. A BEAUTIFUL DAY! So I said of course. We got up to there and started hiking. We went up and sat at Huckleberry Knob for a while. It was gorgeous; you can see all of JC and you realize what a beautiful little place it is. We decided to go back to the trail. We just walked and talked and completed the Lady Slipper Loop. We thought about going to the Tip Top but didn't think we had time, so instead we went back to Huckleberry Knob. We sat for a while, quietly taking in all the beauty of East Tennessee. We both wanted to have a little quiet time. I read my bible and spent time in prayer and Kristin wrote in her Journal. It was incredibly serene. I noticed that the days were getting longer b/c by this time it should have been getting dark. I was so content.

It was about 5:15 when we made our way down to the Car. Kristen said she was going to go up there on her own, and I proceeded to tell her she would do no such thing b/c Buffalo Mountain is an incredibly sketchy place and weird stuff goes on up there. We got in the car and drove down and the gate was shut. I jumped out to see if I could swing it open... No its locked. We hadn't seen the park times on the sign on the way in, but it is really ridiculous that they would close the gates with cars still inside. I mean no one camps up there. I felt like this was mean of the Park Rangers b/c it was only 5:20 and it wasn't even dark yet, why would they close the gate when there was a car sitting in broad day light, why wouldn't they wait. I was pissed. I felt they did it on purpose, close the gate and teach them a lesson. Then I had the thought that some one had trapped us in there on purpose like a plot of a scary movie. We called every number that was posted. The Off-hours Park Manager on Duty would not answer there phone. I called Cindy and she was worried which made us worry, her fiance, told us to lock ourselves in the car and if we had anything valuable lock it in the trunk. I called Lisa and she told me to call the Police. I called the police, they said there was nothing they could do and for us to call a cab. I didn't need to call a cab but it frustrated me that they didn't even offer to pick us up, of all the Cops in their cars sittin around JC waiting to catch someone speeding.... they didn't even offer to send one to help us. WHAT-EV!

We were now locked in the car and a little black truck made its way up the hill we were hoping it might of been a park ranger, the truck stopped then slowly turned around and stopped and it seemed like it was waiting for something, it was definitely scary. Then I started to smell something, I knew the smell... It was horrible. I had stepped in dog poop. ARRGH! So I had to get out in the cold and get the sh*t off my shoe! It was gross and I was gagging the whole time. Then my stomach started cramping, OH WAS IT CRAMPING! All of a sudden I wanted to cry... My stomach hurt so bad and I had to GO, I mean I had to really go, like John Teilhet had to go! I was basically miserable, cold, hungry, about to throw up b/c of the dog poop, had stomach cramps, and was about to have to use the woods.

Finally, Cindy came to the rescue and then I got car sick. We dropped Kristin off and she was upset that her car had to stay up there. We were scared that her car would get broken into. About halfway to Gray I realized that my keys, cash, check, credit and debit cards, ids, and everything in Kristen's car. So I was really praying that nothing happened to her car.
About five minutes ago Kristen called me cryin saying that when she went up there to get her car that the passenger's side window was smashed in and that everything was gone, then I asked her about my keys and wallet and she said they were gone to. She said told me to check my voicemail b/c her Dad was beeping in on the other line. She told me she would call me right back. I slammed my fist against my desk and yelled a cuss word. I am sitting at work and everyone in my office asked me whats wrong. With tears in my eyes I tell them what happened as I am listening to my voicemail, in the voicemail Kristen is crying and telling me what she was telling me on the phone, sayin that the cops were on there way to check it out and all of a sudden she says " Gotcha."

She had me convinced (Im not gullible, she is a theater major.) She said everything was fine, the car and my stuff were fine. My face turned red. I had just told my whole office. I haven't told them that it was a joke, I am really mad. Kristen has called me twice and I am too heated to talk to her, but when I do I am going to tell her that I didn't check my voicemail but I have already called my credit and debit card companies to cancel the cards. HAHA I am gonna get her back. Oh well, good story, did I tell you I found five dollars? My stories aren't as good as John Teilhet's and Tim Story's but hey I tried.

Oh yeah, when Kristen called the Parks and Rec to complain and the man didn't even apologize but instead told her not to worry that she wouldn't be fined? I mean... Are you kiddin me? Whatever...

Dallas here I come.... 4 - 10 March 2006 & 4 -10 May 2006

1st Trip:
I was looking for an opportunity to serve over spring break and the trips available through The Well didn't really interest me. I saw a sign in the Culp Center for a Pres. House Trip for Hurricane relief. I ended up talking to one of my friends in the Pres Ministry about the trip and they signed me up. A few days later, my friend came back to me and told me that he was going to Dallas instead and asked me if I wanted to go. He told me that he had talked to his old college pastor from TN Tech and that they were taking a trip to Dallas to do some church renovation in a rough area of Dallas, apparently near "the river" and where the Cotton Bowl is. (like I am supposed to know where that is?) He said he had already asked if the both of us could go and his pastor said definitely. Basically I was asked if I wanted to go hang out and help a Dallas community that is in need for 65 bucks and obviously the answer was Heck Yes. My friend went on the same trip spring break of last year and he said it was awesome. We are staying with a lady named Joy who runs JOY foods, I have never heard of it but apparently it’s a big deal. I like the idea of blindly going to serve the Lord with people I have never met. I know this seems random and risky, but I like to think that it’s me being adventurous.

2nd Trip:
I am using my free round trip ticket that I got from Northwest Airlines to fly to Dallas right after exams and the week before SWAT training at the Gorge. I am going one of my best friends, Kristen Hornstein. She moved here with her Dad when he came on staff at GFC. He is a former DTS student, go figure. Her mom still lives in Dallas... so this trip is just for fun and to see the sights.

I am sooooo excited about both trips. I have always wanted to go to Dallas. It’s kind of cool that I get to go twice for not a lot of money; and the fact that they fall on the same dates with a month in between is pretty neat.

i know you guys miss me.... : P

OKAY! I'll post.... it's not like I’m in college or anything.

Two or Three for Tuesday...

1. I LOVE LIFE! I love my Friends! I love ETSU! I love my classes! I love my teachers! I love my Jobs! I love my Family! I love Grace Fellowship Church! I love my Church Family! I love my community group. I love my non-Christian friends! AND I LOVE JESUS!!!!!!! He is sooo AWESOME! I am really happy! I am so excited to see God moving in me and all around me! : )
2. I am not an avid reader. Cindy says that reading is a discipline, so I am attempting to discipline myself into reading.
I hate reading books that everyone else has read in the Christian Community, it just gets annoying. All you ever here is have you read this... oh you should read this... it will change your life. So far books like that have been few and far between for me. So that’s why I have waited so long to start Blue Like Jazz, I didn't want to do the fad thing~ which I think Don Miller would appreciate. So after much deliberation I picked up the book that had been sleeping on my bookshelf for several months. I started it two days ago and I think I will probably be done in the next two days. I really like the way Donald Miller thinks. I am really enjoying this book!!!! Which brings me to my third point…
3. I am doing my final English research paper on Post-Modernism in the Church. My class has the opportunity to research anything we want and I chose PM b/c I am really intrigued by the whole subject and I really desire to know all that I can about it. I want to be able explain it to others and know what I really believe about it all. So I need all of you insightful people to help me out! I would love to hear your ideas, suggestions, and opinions. Steve Pruitt I would love for you to help me with this if you can. : )

I have Purpose, Therefore I am

I told you all that my assignment for English was to prove that I exist. I am not sure how relevant I am and I am not completely sure that I am making a valid argument but this is all i could come up with. I honestly tried to prove that I existed without using the God Factor ( i didn't want to pull that card in this class right away) but thankfully I couldn't prove my existience without him ... in fact neither could Descartes. : ) If you have a minute feel free to read my paper... this is what I turned in.

The matter of existence relies solely on a person’s definition of existence. French Philosopher Renee Descartes defined existence when he said "I think therefore I am" (Descartes 1). Right now, I am thinking so I must in fact exist, but I want to go deeper. I want to prove that I exist because I have a purpose and if I did not have a purpose, I would cease to exist.

Descartes said, "I am a thing that thinks, that is to say, a thing that doubts, affirms, denies, understands a few things, is ignorant of many things, wills, refrains from willing, and also imagines and senses" (Decartes1). In acknowledging and accepting this I attempted, as did Descartes, to strip away all of my preconceived notions and conditioned ideas. I have found that if I am able to separate myself, meaning my mind, from my body I can better comprehend what it means to exist. When I identify myself with my body, my appearance, my occupation, my failures, or my accomplishments etc., it clouds my ability to see myself for who I really am. It is when I am able to become a mind so separated from my worldly identity that I am then able to find my purpose. In accomplishing that challenge my theory became as follows: I believe that I am an eternal being that always has and always will be in existence. My time here on Earth does not make up the constraints of my existence. I consider myself an entity consuming this body for a lifetime, however long or short that may be. I believe that physically and spiritually I have purpose and because I have purpose, I must exist.

I believe that I continue to physically exist on this earth because I have not yet accomplished my purpose. Last Wednesday a friend of mine, Jess, was in a horrible car accident; it was a miracle that she survived. In the very same day, another close friend of mine, Ashley, lost her best friend in a similar car accident. I believe that because Ashley’s best friend died his purpose on this earth was fulfilled, but I think that Jess has not yet fulfilled her purpose or her life would have been taken also. A person who had completed their purpose would have no reason to continue living. I am not advocating suicide with this statement because I believe that all things have purpose.

Everything physical and spiritual, living and lifeless has a purpose whether it realizes it or not. The wind and the rain, the sun and the moon, the oceans and the mountains, the plants and the animals, and especially you and me; we all have incredible significance that is beyond comprehension. I believe that everything in creation is part of an inconceivable cosmic plan. Everyone who lives, has ever lived, and will ever live, including me, has an important role in this plan and they exist to contribute to its completion. Therefore, I have an unfulfilled purpose so I continue to live, therefore I continue to exist. I have purpose therefore I exist.

Spiritually I have existed before, during, and after my physical existence. Even when I no longer physically exist I continue to spiritually exist to fulfill my eternal purpose. All things that exist, including me, contribute to the unfathomable plan. If everything in creation has a purpose in this vastly infinite plan, then there is obviously an author and creator of that plan. My ultimate purpose, the proof of my existence, is that I exist to worship my creator, the living God, my Father. In fact, all things in creation exist to honor and glorify God. So my purpose and my responsibility is to live a life of worship.

I exist because I have a relationship with my Creator. A part of my purpose is to live in constant communion with God through prayer. In that communion I am able to know him and begin to understand his ways. Also through prayer my heart becomes aligned with his heart, and I begin to desire what he desires. The ultimate result of communion with God through prayer is the willingness to surrender my will to his will in my life. Through constant prayer, God begins to reveal his plan and purpose for my life. In the same way, the Bible uncovers the truth of how God desires me to live my life. He gives me guidance though scripture and further reveals my purpose in his plan. The Bible gives me a clearer understanding of my Creator. Reading the Bible affirms my purpose which I exist to fulfill. Finding my purpose in prayer and scripture brings me closer to my Creator proving I exist. I know I exist if I know my Creator.

I recognize that I exist because I obey my Father by generously serving others, therefore living out my purpose. I have freewill so whether I obey God or not I am still carrying out his plan, but it is more beneficial for me to obey God. When I conform to God’s will I am blessed with divine gifts. For example, being generous is obeying God and is an additional purpose that gains heavenly rewards. When I am not concerned with the material things of this world I am willing to give of myself to serve others. When I serve others I am also serving God. My Maker designed me with gifts, talents, and abilities that he desires me to use to serve Him by serving others. He blessed me with these gifts so that I might better fulfill my purpose.
An additional important part of my purpose is relationships. God desires me to live in relationship with other believers. He desires me to have friendships and romantic relationships that honor, encourage, and reflect the relationship He has with me. God also wants me to live my life in such a way that I reflect him to others, and as a result they will notice a difference in me and desire to share in the same purpose. When I am able to acknowledge the sovereignty of my father in every area of my life and surrender my life with a thankful heart, I am able to accomplish my purpose.

Descartes concluded his existence based on the ability to form thought. For me, however, thought is not reason enough for being, but rather, true existence lies in finding life’s purpose. Therefore, I exist because I have purpose, and what is that purpose? My ultimate purpose, and I believe humanities ultimate purpose, is to love God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. Without God, there is no purpose. Without purpose, nothing exists.

Five Things ......

1. I am broke… but today I spent three hours making a fake "wish list" of the things I would buy if I had a little extra money. I found everything on my list online and minimized the pages they were on. I proceeded to make an excel spread sheet of the things I wanted, their cost and the web page where I found the item at the cheapest price. Then I broke the 18 item list down into 5 categories being... shoes, clothes, jackets, outdoors, and extra. I added up how much the items cost all together: 725 dollars. Then figured the average costs of the items which were about 40 bucks a piece and how much it would cost me if a month if I got all of these items and paid for them over a year, about 65 a month. Why did I tell you this... because I am retarded. I can't afford to get any of that stuff... yet I spent three hours today dreaming about it. I do stupid random stuff like that all the time... I could have been playing in the snow.

2. Rather than proving I exist, I am proving that I know how to procrastinate. I still haven't started on my paper.

3. I am going to fill out my 1040 EZ today. The government owes me around 200 bucks! ... I owe ETSU about 300 and Visa about 500...... Yea... : ( who can guess where my refund is going???

4. I am learning to Kayak in the CPA pool! The first class was really fun but I am finding it hard to justify taking this class because my parents think I should be working on Thursday nights not playing in the pool. I think they maybe be right.

5. I apologize that this post was mainly concerning money, I know its a sucky, depressing subject.

*** I tag anyone that reads this post and hasn't already been tagged ***

"When I think of America, I think of a sea of people from extremely different back grounds bowing down to one thing. That one thing is money. People worship the image that “money” creates. Money sells a lifestyle and conditions everyday people to think they need “things/stuff” to satisfy and gratify them. Materialism has surpassed any religious or political belief that has ever conditioned the American mind. " - Me... in the philosophy paper I just turned in two days ago... lol, i am such a hypocrite... : )

too 4 2's Day

#1. Its a fun time in life when you can make watching 24 an event. Since the season started a bunch of us have gathered every Monday night to hang out, watch, and discuss the awesomeness of 24. I guess I just realized how cool it is to be available for that kind of random fun.

#2. This semester is going by SO FAST! I feel like it has just started but we have four weeks down & around eleven to go.... That just seems crazy to me. My weeks are so INSANE! I stay pretty busy between school and work. Right now I am putting off a paper that I need to write- its not due til Monday- I don't understand why its so hard to start a paper a week before its due, its easy when its the day before but NO if you actually choose not to Procrastinate it is impossible to begin. I have to write a 5 page persuasive essay Proving that I exist..."Cogito Ergo Sum" ...I think therefore I am. If ya'll have any suggestions tell me.