for some reason the computer i'm using is occasionally blocking pop ups.... there is probably 4 blockers on the computer and I'm only disabling two of them or something.
Anyway, updates to come friends, updates to come. But for now I don't want to annoying pop-up blocked noise to bother me or my dad any longer.... so we'll all have to wait.
Love, Tiff
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
NANO-Nano
Not like Mork from Ork.... "Nanoo, Nanoo" but more like NANO!!!!!!!!!!
I'm really excited about the gifts I received for Christmas. First of all, I recieved a little cash that allowed me to go shopping with my mom and get a few pairs of pants, a few tops and a case for my new ipod nano. :) :)
I also got a new ipod nano. this was the gift I was saving up for myself, but then in the face of a couple unforseen expenses hadn't been able to purchase... In an awesome display of parental love, my parent's purchased one for me. This Christmas was over the top that way. My dad got the big Ipod from my mom (the 40-gigger was on sale for the price of the 20 - shocking!) and my brother got all this poker stuff. Neat.
Anyway, here are a couple pics of the nano. I'm loading it with songs on my mom's computer, then will revamp the lists, etc when I get home.... but I want to be able to listen to it now. :)
(above - the nano with its color screen, in its cute pink case and a side view - this joker is SMALL!)
Anyway, thats not a great update, except I'm excited about it today. More updates to come involving grad schools and jobs.
Love, Tiff
Friday, December 16, 2005
mini-update (#4 - christmas/year in review)
mini-updates (#3 - advent)
Before this year I have not really "experienced" advent as a part of the church calendar. But this year I have really been listening to the advent part of the services on Sunday, and thinking a lot about what it means to prepare ourselves to receive our King.
A friend of mine recently gave me her much used and beloved copy of book entitled: Jesus, Be in My Christmas (morning and evening meditations for every day of advent) by Sarah Hornsby. She told me how blessed she had been by it over the years, how the Lord had used it to minister to her specifically through its pages. And then she told me that she felt like the Lord had told her to give it to me. She didn't want me to feel burdened or as though I had to enjoy it.
But I was able to tell her this week how sweet and special it is to me already.
A few quotes for you to consider:
from pages 84-85: Jesus, Be in My Abounding
"Father God, You are the One who enables me to be faithful. Pour out on me the abundance of gifts needed to communicate Your healing presence in this hurting world. Grow in me the abundance of fruit needed to nourish and sustain life in the Spirit. Jesus, be in my abounding."
from pages 72-73: Jesus, Be in My Plans
Psalms 20:4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
"Mary and Joseph planned their engagement, but God had other plans. Mary and Joseph planned to dedicate their baby and then take him back to Nazareth by the normal route, but God had other plans.... God has a perfect plan for every one in his creation. Only God knows all the circumstances and relationships that touch and shape me and the flow of my history. In spite of all the pressures of the world to conform to its ways, in spite of my own weaknesses and sinful nature, in spite of the hate-filled strategies of Satan's furious forces, I can seek and find God's path. God is committed to me...."
wow.
And the reading for "today" - the third Friday in Advent:
from pages 90-91: Jesus, Be in My Wounds
"The blessing of God does not mean that everything will be easy and comfortable. After Simeon's blessing, he warned Mary that this Child would change the way things had always been done in Israel, in the world. There would be violent disagreements. Powers would clash, a sword would pierce their souls. The conflict over who Jesus says He is continues. Every person who hears of Him must decide if He is Lord. And if He is Lord, He is due total allegiance. That rubs against the grain of all other people and institutions that demand my time, resources, allegiance, homage. I will be involved with some of these, but as a representative of God's kind of government, I will be an advocate for the poor, homeless, hungry, blind, imprisoned, sick. Being involved with these people in the name of Jesus will hurt, but it is also where the blessing of His presence abounds."
I was thinking as I read this today about Mary and Jesus and then a friend of mine was considering Mary and this is what I said in response to her; thoughts which began, I suspect, with this devotion:
I can resonate with your questions about Mary. Sometimes its hard to remember she was a real person, that they aren't just literary characters created to teach us a lesson. I'm glad for the historical references to Jesus outside of the bible to know that he was real, and if HE was real, then he really had a mom. I think that our moms are probably more like Mary in a lot of ways than we realize. The things that potentially made Mary cry: her hopes for Jesus, his fears about his future, contemplating what all the different things said about him (i.e. by Simeon or Anna or the Magi, etc) really meant and how this little boy could do what was hoped of him...... all these things probably made our moms cry when we were growing up, too. You should ask your mom about it. Ask her what her hopes were for you when she first found out she was pregnant with you, what her expectations for you were at that 2nd birthday party.
So I was thinking about this and thinking that ultimately my life will be a thorn, because Jesus was a thorn. Its uncomfortable to think of. I may be a thorn to my family because I make different choices than they, to my friends, my community, the world. But as long as I'm following Jesus and doing what he says, then its what I have to do. Ouch.
So the mini-updates do not conclude here, except "for now". I'm re-reading Hinds Feet and have more of that to include soon, too!
Much love to you!
A friend of mine recently gave me her much used and beloved copy of book entitled: Jesus, Be in My Christmas (morning and evening meditations for every day of advent) by Sarah Hornsby. She told me how blessed she had been by it over the years, how the Lord had used it to minister to her specifically through its pages. And then she told me that she felt like the Lord had told her to give it to me. She didn't want me to feel burdened or as though I had to enjoy it.
But I was able to tell her this week how sweet and special it is to me already.
A few quotes for you to consider:
from pages 84-85: Jesus, Be in My Abounding
"Father God, You are the One who enables me to be faithful. Pour out on me the abundance of gifts needed to communicate Your healing presence in this hurting world. Grow in me the abundance of fruit needed to nourish and sustain life in the Spirit. Jesus, be in my abounding."
from pages 72-73: Jesus, Be in My Plans
Psalms 20:4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
"Mary and Joseph planned their engagement, but God had other plans. Mary and Joseph planned to dedicate their baby and then take him back to Nazareth by the normal route, but God had other plans.... God has a perfect plan for every one in his creation. Only God knows all the circumstances and relationships that touch and shape me and the flow of my history. In spite of all the pressures of the world to conform to its ways, in spite of my own weaknesses and sinful nature, in spite of the hate-filled strategies of Satan's furious forces, I can seek and find God's path. God is committed to me...."
wow.
And the reading for "today" - the third Friday in Advent:
from pages 90-91: Jesus, Be in My Wounds
"The blessing of God does not mean that everything will be easy and comfortable. After Simeon's blessing, he warned Mary that this Child would change the way things had always been done in Israel, in the world. There would be violent disagreements. Powers would clash, a sword would pierce their souls. The conflict over who Jesus says He is continues. Every person who hears of Him must decide if He is Lord. And if He is Lord, He is due total allegiance. That rubs against the grain of all other people and institutions that demand my time, resources, allegiance, homage. I will be involved with some of these, but as a representative of God's kind of government, I will be an advocate for the poor, homeless, hungry, blind, imprisoned, sick. Being involved with these people in the name of Jesus will hurt, but it is also where the blessing of His presence abounds."
I was thinking as I read this today about Mary and Jesus and then a friend of mine was considering Mary and this is what I said in response to her; thoughts which began, I suspect, with this devotion:
I can resonate with your questions about Mary. Sometimes its hard to remember she was a real person, that they aren't just literary characters created to teach us a lesson. I'm glad for the historical references to Jesus outside of the bible to know that he was real, and if HE was real, then he really had a mom. I think that our moms are probably more like Mary in a lot of ways than we realize. The things that potentially made Mary cry: her hopes for Jesus, his fears about his future, contemplating what all the different things said about him (i.e. by Simeon or Anna or the Magi, etc) really meant and how this little boy could do what was hoped of him...... all these things probably made our moms cry when we were growing up, too. You should ask your mom about it. Ask her what her hopes were for you when she first found out she was pregnant with you, what her expectations for you were at that 2nd birthday party.
So I was thinking about this and thinking that ultimately my life will be a thorn, because Jesus was a thorn. Its uncomfortable to think of. I may be a thorn to my family because I make different choices than they, to my friends, my community, the world. But as long as I'm following Jesus and doing what he says, then its what I have to do. Ouch.
So the mini-updates do not conclude here, except "for now". I'm re-reading Hinds Feet and have more of that to include soon, too!
Much love to you!
mini-updates (#2 - nee)
The Normal Christian Life (By Watchman Nee)
Karen told me about this book today. She has been slowly reading it, digesting it in little bits and today came upon chapter 3 which dealt with something she and I had been speaking about recently - living in freedom. We know that living in freedom means "believing you are free" in Christ and in doing so walking, living as though you really are free. Ultimately, our discussion ended by deciding (as many have done) that freedom this mysterious word that is oft discussed but not always understood is found in Christ alone and executed through him alone as well. And that we are simply as free as we want to be and believe we are.
So I looked up the book. WOWOWOWOWOWOW. Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 (which you can also read on amazon - link above). Enjoy!
Excerpts from Chapter 1 (p.12-14)
God makes it quite clear in his Word that he has only one answer to every human need – his Son, Jesus Christ. In all his dealings with us he works by way of taking us out of the way and substituting Christ in our place. The Son of God dies instead of us for our forgiveness: he lives instead of us for our deliverance. So we can speak of two substitutions – a Substitute on the Cross who secures our forgiveness and a Substitute within who secures our victory. It will help us greatly, and save us from much confusion, if we keep constantly before us this face, that God will answer all our questions in one way and one way only, namely, by showing us more of his Son............
(discussing Romans 1-8): No matter how many sins I commit, it is always the one sin-principle that leads to them. I need forgiveness for my sins, but I need also deliverance from the power of sin. The former touches my conscience, the latter my life. I may receive forgiveness for all my sins, but because of my sin I have, even then, no abiding peace of mind.
When God’s light first shines into my heart my one cry is for forgiveness, for I realize I have committed sins before him; but when once I have received forgiveness of sins I make a new discovery, namely, the discovery of sin, and I realize not only that I have committed sins before God but that there is something wrong within. I discover that I have the nature of a sinner. There is an inward inclination to sin, a power within that draws to sin. When that power breaks out I commit sins. I may seek and receive forgiveness, but then I sin once more. So life goes on in a vicious circle of sinning and being forgiven and then sinning again. I appreciate the blessed fact of God’s forgiveness, but I want something more than that: I want deliverance. I need forgiveness for what I have done, but I need also deliverance from what I am.
Karen told me about this book today. She has been slowly reading it, digesting it in little bits and today came upon chapter 3 which dealt with something she and I had been speaking about recently - living in freedom. We know that living in freedom means "believing you are free" in Christ and in doing so walking, living as though you really are free. Ultimately, our discussion ended by deciding (as many have done) that freedom this mysterious word that is oft discussed but not always understood is found in Christ alone and executed through him alone as well. And that we are simply as free as we want to be and believe we are.
So I looked up the book. WOWOWOWOWOWOW. Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 (which you can also read on amazon - link above). Enjoy!
Excerpts from Chapter 1 (p.12-14)
God makes it quite clear in his Word that he has only one answer to every human need – his Son, Jesus Christ. In all his dealings with us he works by way of taking us out of the way and substituting Christ in our place. The Son of God dies instead of us for our forgiveness: he lives instead of us for our deliverance. So we can speak of two substitutions – a Substitute on the Cross who secures our forgiveness and a Substitute within who secures our victory. It will help us greatly, and save us from much confusion, if we keep constantly before us this face, that God will answer all our questions in one way and one way only, namely, by showing us more of his Son............
(discussing Romans 1-8): No matter how many sins I commit, it is always the one sin-principle that leads to them. I need forgiveness for my sins, but I need also deliverance from the power of sin. The former touches my conscience, the latter my life. I may receive forgiveness for all my sins, but because of my sin I have, even then, no abiding peace of mind.
When God’s light first shines into my heart my one cry is for forgiveness, for I realize I have committed sins before him; but when once I have received forgiveness of sins I make a new discovery, namely, the discovery of sin, and I realize not only that I have committed sins before God but that there is something wrong within. I discover that I have the nature of a sinner. There is an inward inclination to sin, a power within that draws to sin. When that power breaks out I commit sins. I may seek and receive forgiveness, but then I sin once more. So life goes on in a vicious circle of sinning and being forgiven and then sinning again. I appreciate the blessed fact of God’s forgiveness, but I want something more than that: I want deliverance. I need forgiveness for what I have done, but I need also deliverance from what I am.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
mini-updates (#1)
http://relief.ist.greenville.edu/drupal/node/240
Above is a link to a specific page on our hurricane relief website which shows a video (8 min) of hte trip. The work, some of the "goers" and some who received aid. The song is called "Will You Go?" by Katie Kapteyn - a GC Student (music major) - she's fantastic! She actually performed the song on Sunday morning of our trip, at the services of our host church.( general website http://relief.ist.greenville.edu/drupal)
Tiff
Above is a link to a specific page on our hurricane relief website which shows a video (8 min) of hte trip. The work, some of the "goers" and some who received aid. The song is called "Will You Go?" by Katie Kapteyn - a GC Student (music major) - she's fantastic! She actually performed the song on Sunday morning of our trip, at the services of our host church.( general website http://relief.ist.greenville.edu/drupal)
Tiff
Friday, December 09, 2005
Winter Pics (first giant snow of the season last week!)
We had 2-6 inches of snow (depending on where you measured or lived). It was beautiful and for one day, was less cold than it had been all week (or was Friday). Sunday evening the rain started and now the snow is mostly melted - it looks more like Seattle now. :)
Enjoy the pics!
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Of Babies and Bling
Lori and Eric in Leavenworth, after he popped the question.
Newborn Ezra, doing the "cabbage patch" - he can't help it... he loves to dance.
So lately there have been a lot of events occuring in the lives of my friends. Ezra, above, is one of two babies born in the last 3 weeks to friends of mine - one of 5 born this year, with an additional two to come (at least) next year. And further above you'll see a picture of Lori and Eric, friends who recently were engaged; part of a slew of friends (3 couples in the last 3 months) who are newly planning weddings. This is not to mention the friends who recently have found "the one."
As all this was coming to pass, I was ruminating on the wonder of "seasons" in our lives. I remember going through the wedding/engagement season the first few years after college (in the 8-10yr ago range), and I remember when my friends were having babies. Julie and Ryan started the "wedding train" and it didn't let up for about 3 years. The busiest summer saw me attend 5 weddings (I think I was in maybe 2 of them). Julie and Ryan, Alyssa and Sean, Claire and her husband, Alyssa (formerly "Pinky") and Aaron, Anne and Shawn - just to name a few. After that the train slowed and I attended maybe one or two a year for a while. When people started to get pregnant it was a wondrous time - how could we be old enough to have kids?!?! I wasn't even DATING anyone and my friends were having babies - crazy. I remember the vigils (3 in all) with Alyssa and Sean at the hospital as she kept trying to go further into labor and kept getting sent home (Kayli is truly just like her mom - she is strong-willed and on her own timetable!) - I remember coming home from vigil 3 and finding out that Julie and Ryan had delivered Jeremiah while I was out - and holding him the next day. Wow, how many day old babies have I held at this point? I recall the day I had the courage to ask Karen if she was pregnant because I saw a picture in prayer about it - and she was. And I remember holding baby Jared when he was tiny.... and trying to keep up with him now that he's 3+!
And now I'm in another season like that. And as the situations are similar but the people have changed (somewhat), I am in a similar situation, though changed. I am still single, with no immediate thoughts of a husband nor even a man I like in that direction, really. I live a single person's life - feeling free to drop everything and move to another state, to fly to visit people, to go out every night if I want, or no nights. And yet, I'm changed - my commitment to Jesus, my commitment to women and helping them find their identity in Christ, my attitude and ethics; all changed from those days 10 years ago.
This May will mark the 10-year anniversary of my graduation from College. Wow. One of my student workers (none of them really know how old I am, I guess) asked what my major in college had been. I told him and he replied, "Huh, are you going to do anything with that?" I laughed as I told him that I did in fact do something with that - for 7 years....
So anyway as we end this year (shortly) and head into a new one, I thought you might want to rejoice with me and my friends in celebration of these new stages in their lives, and a new cycle in mine:
Engaged recently (last 3 months): Cindy and Sam, Lori and Eric, Leah and Chris
2005 babies: Jonas Brown, Elijah Walker, Tyson Ackerman, John Heater IV, Ezra Swendson
And for those I haven't mentioned, please know I rejoice with you as well and wish you even greater joy in these new stages.
With love from me, and ALL THINGS from Christ Jesus. Tiff
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Dirty Little Secrets
Well, there is a song out now called, "Dirty Little Secret" by the All-American Rejects. The video (which I see occasionally because of my roommate's affection for "MTV Hits" - channel 232 on Greene County Digital Cable) shows a number of people holding post card on which are written secrets - their "dirty little secret" that they haven't been able to tell anyone. Each post card is homemade and includes pictures. Some of them are funny, some are gross and some are heartbreaking. In most cases their face is covered - by a bag, mask, or by the card itself.
For example:
"I haven't spoken to my dad in 10 years..."
"When I eat I feel like a failure"
"I pee in the sink."
"I'm only dating her to get to her sister."
"I leave poetry in library books."
Just to highlight a few. You can watch the video at Yahoo! Music (http://launch.yahoo.com/).
Anyway, I heard on the Today show today that there is a book out of these postcards and as I looked for it online to see what it was about, I noted that there was also a blog which posts people's secrets - thats the basis for the book.
People send in their secret on anonymous homemade postcards and each Sunday the postcards are posted to http://Postsecret.blogspot.com . I've made it a link on the right side of this page as well. Its fascinating, and sad and hard to read - and hard to think what I could or would put on a postcard.
And it makes me wonder why its easier to send that card anonymously than to tell your friends. And it makes me wonder if the burden is relieved by that action, or are they still ashamed, afraid, hurt, bitter, etc?
Thanks for considering with me.
For example:
"I haven't spoken to my dad in 10 years..."
"When I eat I feel like a failure"
"I pee in the sink."
"I'm only dating her to get to her sister."
"I leave poetry in library books."
Just to highlight a few. You can watch the video at Yahoo! Music (http://launch.yahoo.com/).
Anyway, I heard on the Today show today that there is a book out of these postcards and as I looked for it online to see what it was about, I noted that there was also a blog which posts people's secrets - thats the basis for the book.
People send in their secret on anonymous homemade postcards and each Sunday the postcards are posted to http://Postsecret.blogspot.com . I've made it a link on the right side of this page as well. Its fascinating, and sad and hard to read - and hard to think what I could or would put on a postcard.
And it makes me wonder why its easier to send that card anonymously than to tell your friends. And it makes me wonder if the burden is relieved by that action, or are they still ashamed, afraid, hurt, bitter, etc?
Thanks for considering with me.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Funny wedding dress pics
Here are the pics I made to send to Chris of Leah in her dress. And she WAS in her dress when I took these pics - I just didn't let her dress stay in the picture.....
(p.s. techie people (i.e. B and Deloy) don't mock my rough photoshop work!)
fun hop - what I need!
I need one of these! If only the ones I bought at K-Mart had a handle, I could use them while I work.
argh - pictures on blogspot sometimes kick my rear!
Here is a body ball like the ones I bought for the fitness center. ABS ROCK!
wedding shopping, and other shopping.
I did a lot of shopping this weekend (to burn some of my "lot of eating" calories, I guess).
Wednesday I did some shopping on-line. I can't say what I bought because some people read this blog who may then have their surprise ruined, but I did discover a new website:
www.cb2.com Its a part of crate and barrel and has some really neat stuff.
Friday I got up early (why do I do this to myself) and headed to Fairview. There was no chance I was going to make it to the really early places - I would have had to LEAVE home at 4am to make it to my favorite (JCPenney) by 5am for the special deals, and I didn't do a super good job of "understanding" the fliers. I went to K-mart to get some DVD's for my brother that were regularly $10-15 for $4-4.50 each and to get some body balls for work. Turned out (after waiting in line) the videos weren't on sale until.... SATURDAY. So I said, "No thanks then, paid for my body balls and got the heck out of there." Next stop Target. Couple items on the agenda: videos for $5.88 and $8.88 (regular $15-20) and some cute stocking stuffers. What was I thinking?? By now it was 11:30 and Target was (to say it nicely) out of stock of every good video - but thankfully they had the Harry Potter videos still (and the Lord of the Rings) and so I got Heather's present and a little treat for me (LOTR) and got out of there almost as quickly as the others (oh, and a veggie tale adventure for some of my young favorite kids living in CA and TX).
At each stop I cut out one of the next stops. I was even going to cut out Wal-Mart, but there was no copy of a certain DVD that I am getting my dad at Target, so Wal-Mart was necessary. It wasn't actually too bad there - busy and fun but not chaos (except I had apparently just missed an altercation between a customer and a salesperson and the customer called the police.... seriously, they were standing on an aisle, talking when I was there!). I got a neat-o video for my bro, and looked for my dad's video - but they only had it in full screen - argh!!
After that I was beat. I went home. Heather and I put up our new artificial christmas tree and I decorated it while we watched Pride and Predjudice (the long, A & E version) - it was great.
Saturday Leah and I headed out early to look at wedding dresses (and ultimately both wedding and bridesmaid dresses were picked out. We had a great time looking and shopping and here are a couple pictures. (above) I can't put up the REAL dress, in case Chris stumbles upon it, but I thought this was funny. I made up these pics and then sent them to him so that he could see Leah in her dress..... :) But the bridesmaid dress is real.
Thats it for now. Lots of movies this weekend, not many calories burned. I'm going to have to get to it so that I can look nice at the wedding. At this rate, any small increase in activity will help. I've taken to using the body ball as a "fun hop" (see other pic above) figuring that any calories burned are good calories burned.
on that note.... god bless you today!
Love, Tiff
Monday, November 21, 2005
Recent Events (II)
Well, the visits and travels are over for a short time, and I'm back to "regular life" - well, sort of. Its Thanksgiving week, so I only have to work 3 days (!) but one of them starts at 5am - yikes.
Recently Brian and Kristen came to visit - LOVELY fun.
Afterward I went to Mississippi - GREAT trip.
THEN, Scotty Kessler came to visit for a week.
This weekend we went bowling at the St. Louis Mills mall in St. Louis. The bowling alley there is like nothing I've ever seen. You must click here and check it out. WOW. Leather couches, modern furniture, weird artwork and low lighting.... and the BEST music soundtrack covering it all - we're talking: Salt n Pepa, Beastie Boys, oldies, 80's, early 90's... so fun. When you click that link, you'll have to navigate some (click the bowling pin on the left, then click the dot on st. louis, then click images at the top) but I think you'll get the idea. Its like "bowling chic"....
The group was big (10 total) but that was the SMALLER group - not all could attend. We bowled 2 games of ladies vs. men and the men won both times.... but maybe it was better that way. Attending were: Liz and Eric Hehman, Danika and Ryan Giffen, Jenn Copp., Jeff Wardlaw, John Donnell, Kelcey Newton, B.J. Schneck and me. Fun group. After strikes we had to do a dance or strike a pose. By the bedlam that was occuring at our lane, you probably would not have assumed that ours was the only sober group!... in fact at one point Danika and I were dancing and fell down - FELL DOWN ON THE GROUND. hysterical. We both almost peed our pants (sorry).
A good friend of mine got engaged on Thursday and today I'm going with her and another friend of ours to look at bridal dresses (!!fun!!). Then tonight.... AMAZING RACE PART-EY at my hiz-ouse!!!! Check out the latest on the "family edition" - its been pretty fun (and funny) but for my money I'm looking forward to when its back to two person teams.
Thanksgiving is coming up on Thursday of this week and I'm hosting the party at my house - the Petersons, Penners, Peterson parents and younger sibs and maybe Heather will be in attendance. We're doing potluck and I'm making a second turkey just for fun (and because we got it free).
Thats all for now - I have to go to bible study in 10 minutes.
love, Tiff
Recently Brian and Kristen came to visit - LOVELY fun.
Afterward I went to Mississippi - GREAT trip.
THEN, Scotty Kessler came to visit for a week.
This weekend we went bowling at the St. Louis Mills mall in St. Louis. The bowling alley there is like nothing I've ever seen. You must click here and check it out. WOW. Leather couches, modern furniture, weird artwork and low lighting.... and the BEST music soundtrack covering it all - we're talking: Salt n Pepa, Beastie Boys, oldies, 80's, early 90's... so fun. When you click that link, you'll have to navigate some (click the bowling pin on the left, then click the dot on st. louis, then click images at the top) but I think you'll get the idea. Its like "bowling chic"....
The group was big (10 total) but that was the SMALLER group - not all could attend. We bowled 2 games of ladies vs. men and the men won both times.... but maybe it was better that way. Attending were: Liz and Eric Hehman, Danika and Ryan Giffen, Jenn Copp., Jeff Wardlaw, John Donnell, Kelcey Newton, B.J. Schneck and me. Fun group. After strikes we had to do a dance or strike a pose. By the bedlam that was occuring at our lane, you probably would not have assumed that ours was the only sober group!... in fact at one point Danika and I were dancing and fell down - FELL DOWN ON THE GROUND. hysterical. We both almost peed our pants (sorry).
A good friend of mine got engaged on Thursday and today I'm going with her and another friend of ours to look at bridal dresses (!!fun!!). Then tonight.... AMAZING RACE PART-EY at my hiz-ouse!!!! Check out the latest on the "family edition" - its been pretty fun (and funny) but for my money I'm looking forward to when its back to two person teams.
Thanksgiving is coming up on Thursday of this week and I'm hosting the party at my house - the Petersons, Penners, Peterson parents and younger sibs and maybe Heather will be in attendance. We're doing potluck and I'm making a second turkey just for fun (and because we got it free).
Thats all for now - I have to go to bible study in 10 minutes.
love, Tiff
Friday, November 18, 2005
Katrina Relief - more pics
Here is a collage of pics from our Katrina Trip. Top left, our tarp showers. Top right, demolition crew on our 1st day of moldy homes. Top middle, moldy and getting ready to tear down. Center, our initial demo crew outside the moldy house. center right - mold. bottom left, me and Heather Ryan being silly. upper bottom center, Erin and Lauren. Bottom center, girls and john at dinner. Bottom right, house before we demolished the walls. that stuff was still there after 2 months. yuk.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Endings, Beginnings and Awkward In-Betweens
So football season is over. Again. My year isn't over (again), though. And soon it will be softball season and soon softball will be over.
I know life is full of endings and beginnings. Its glorious and hard and joyful and sad all at the same time for me. I've never been good at the ending of things. I'm not an "ender" by nature. When I finish something all the way, its a good deal. I much prefer the planning, starting and during to the ending. I just am worn out emotionally by endings.
I'm an "activator" (for those of you who know about the strengths-quest) and that means I'm a "starter" - I love beginnings. I love the promise of them, the hope. I love that they are fresh and I love that part of change.
I don't love endings, but I am learning to be OK with them. Tonight was hard - to see some of my very favorite young men take their final moment with the team and fans; to see them cry and hear their own testimonies of their growth and maturity. I know these men. They have grown. They have matured. They have become men, where they used to be boys. I'm so proud of them.
Then I start thinking about if this is my last season, my last year at Greenville. I wish for it sometimes so badly, but other times I just want to live in the golden twilight that is NOW in Greenville, these men, who I have known for 3 years, the others who graduate next year who started their college careers when I did. The women who I love and admire who are becoming WOMEN of God.
And so I arrive home, in the uncomfortable in-between period. Again. Again I'm wondering if I will stay or go; feeling pulled both ways. Again I'm hoping I will have an opportunity to leave, or to meet the "man of my dreams" and ride into the sunset with him, or know what I'm supposed to do for a vocation next year. And again I am wishing I could stay here forever, working with students, loving athletes and working as an agent of change for the Lord, with friends and people who love me like my own family.
In-betweens. Awkward and Uncomfortable - and yet totally necessary in order to grow. Moses' 40 years in the wilderness, the Isrealites time in Egypt, Joseph's time in jail - etc. I know that this is a preparation time for me.
But that doesn't make the evening and saying "goodbye" to those men and their parents any easier or any less hard. And it doesn't make my future any more clear.
God bless you tonight. May you have wisdom in you in-between times.
love, Tiff
I know life is full of endings and beginnings. Its glorious and hard and joyful and sad all at the same time for me. I've never been good at the ending of things. I'm not an "ender" by nature. When I finish something all the way, its a good deal. I much prefer the planning, starting and during to the ending. I just am worn out emotionally by endings.
I'm an "activator" (for those of you who know about the strengths-quest) and that means I'm a "starter" - I love beginnings. I love the promise of them, the hope. I love that they are fresh and I love that part of change.
I don't love endings, but I am learning to be OK with them. Tonight was hard - to see some of my very favorite young men take their final moment with the team and fans; to see them cry and hear their own testimonies of their growth and maturity. I know these men. They have grown. They have matured. They have become men, where they used to be boys. I'm so proud of them.
Then I start thinking about if this is my last season, my last year at Greenville. I wish for it sometimes so badly, but other times I just want to live in the golden twilight that is NOW in Greenville, these men, who I have known for 3 years, the others who graduate next year who started their college careers when I did. The women who I love and admire who are becoming WOMEN of God.
And so I arrive home, in the uncomfortable in-between period. Again. Again I'm wondering if I will stay or go; feeling pulled both ways. Again I'm hoping I will have an opportunity to leave, or to meet the "man of my dreams" and ride into the sunset with him, or know what I'm supposed to do for a vocation next year. And again I am wishing I could stay here forever, working with students, loving athletes and working as an agent of change for the Lord, with friends and people who love me like my own family.
In-betweens. Awkward and Uncomfortable - and yet totally necessary in order to grow. Moses' 40 years in the wilderness, the Isrealites time in Egypt, Joseph's time in jail - etc. I know that this is a preparation time for me.
But that doesn't make the evening and saying "goodbye" to those men and their parents any easier or any less hard. And it doesn't make my future any more clear.
God bless you tonight. May you have wisdom in you in-between times.
love, Tiff
Friday, November 11, 2005
Reading Resources for Christians
Here is a link to a ministry I respect (New Song City Central) and a series of readings that they have prepared:
http://newsongministry.com/weeklyreadings1.htm
They are readings designed to equip followers of Christ in a number of areas.
Enjoy!
Love, TR
http://newsongministry.com/weeklyreadings1.htm
They are readings designed to equip followers of Christ in a number of areas.
Enjoy!
Love, TR
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
pictures
click this link to see some pictures that Amber East took of the trip.
I'll have a link to some others soon.
CLICK HERE
I'll have a link to some others soon.
CLICK HERE
Back from Mississippi / Louisiana
Here is a link to the places we went last week/weekend.
LA/MS map - on the left, click "5" and then click the "S" marker 1 time - this will orient you to where we were better (you'll see more).
We started on Wednesday afternoon, getting our bus assignments and getting on the road. I was in the "old school" bus called, "Possum Eight" and it was VERY fun. We organized three committees of students: entertainment (goal: to make us laugh), get acquainted (goal: to get to know each other better), game (goal: to involve everyone in one activity). The skit was killer and mocked all of us leaders mercilessly. When the person playing me spoke up, I immediately cringed - because it was just like me! (I recognized myself before they even said my name!)
We got to Picayune about 7:30 the next morning; having slept little bits, and then for one long stretch of 3 hours...... but ready for work. :)
We spent the nights in Picayune Mississippi, (middle of 'adjusted' map) working with Ressurection Life Worship Center.
On the first day the group I was in went to McNeill, MS (north of Picayune - the eye of the storm went directly though their town - sustained winds for 14 hours). We cleared debris from the yards of 3 houses. We worked until dusk and wow, the difference was really satisfying. On the third house they were still displaced and power had not been restored, I was thinking about how neat it would be for them to come home and their backyard is back! No more giant tree and about 1.8 million leaves and branches to be cleared! Its neat to be an answer to prayer that way.
The second day 1/2 of us went to Slidell, LA (south of Picayune, near the north side of Lake Ponchartrain. We had been subcontracted by Res.Life to work with a church in Slidell - called Harvest Ministries. They lost their ENTIRE church facility in the storm, and they had just finished remodeling their entire childrens areas. We worked all day doing demolition (tearing down drywall, pulling up carpet, removing fixtures) - the house I worked in was big, moldy and muddy. And like a bunch of other homes, almost beyond repair. The fridge and freezer had been sitting there, without power, for 2 months.... full. yuk. There were frogs everywhere and the mold was shocking to see (both inside and outside the drywall). We pulled out soaking wet insulation and the carpets and pads were soaked, too. We piled all of this debris outside the house on the street and ended with a pile of trash (that included ruined belongings, clothes, etc) that was 10 feet long, 6 feet wide and 6 feet tall.... the family was great and worked along side us. We had the chance to pray with them and talk to them about God. It was a good day. That night we got showers, provided by another church in the Picayune area. We went to bed for the second night, exhausted. But each night we went to bed later than the previous, as we had more and more evening activities. (10pm on night one.... 11:30 on night two... 12:40 on night three....)
Day 3, EVERYONE headed into Louisiana, and a small group of faculty/staff leaders went into St. Bernard Parish (nearer New Orleans) to demo the inside of a home - worse even than the one we had worked on on day 2. My group went to a house that had been started the day before and worked to complete it. It was neat to find out that it was the house of the granddaughter of the man whose how I had worked on the day before. I got to tell the daughter (mom of the homeowner, and a member of the church we were working with these two days.) that we had prayed with her mom and talked with her family and their friend Joe about Jesus. That was a pretty neat thing, very emotional for both of us.
After working on that house a couple hours we were finished and headed back to the house from Friday (above) to give it some final attention. We didn't get it completed, but did a lot more work in that final 90 minutes.
That evening we showered at a local church (quite an experience in itself - three tarped shower areas complete with gnats and mosquitos and a concrete pad on which to change!) and ate pizza. We worshipped that night with the Harvest Ministries crew at their temporary location (this church) and went back home joyful. We stayed up late, eating ice cream sandwiches, fellowshipping and playing a game of "Big Booty" (if you haven't ever played, you should - its really fun and the people I played with made it hysterical).
Day 4, we cleaned up our place and got our busses packed. We headed to Resurrection Life to worship with them - and one of our team members got to provide "special music" that day. Neat! (go Katie K!) We finished the big group portion of the trip with lunch at Ryan's which our leader (John) had gotten at a discount for us - what a blessing!! We ate well the entire trip, but this brunch was FANTASTIC - I will remember the steak and rolls forever, and will endeavor to return to one of the locations the next time I have a chance!
We loaded back up the busses (which we had set up partially for sleeping) and some of us took naps and read and others talked quietly. Later we set back up for talking and had some fun conversations and some game playing. Before bed the entertainment committee regaled us with a song summarizing everything that had happened this week in 4 verses. Very funny. Our ride home was not as comfortable sleep-wise - LOTS of bumps and things falling off bunks or the top shelf.... including my friend Amber. We arrived home on Monday morning at 5am, tired, and glad to be home, but also sad to have left.
I think all of us are going to go through some adjustment - though it was a short trip, it was an intense one and the things we learned will be a long time in coming potentially. I'm looking forward to it though.
Pictures to come (I only have a few) here.
Prayers for you and your walk with Jesus. I hope that this encourages you to figure out your calling and if its in missions somehow, and if you have questions about Jesus, please let me know.
Love, Tiffani
LA/MS map - on the left, click "5" and then click the "S" marker 1 time - this will orient you to where we were better (you'll see more).
We started on Wednesday afternoon, getting our bus assignments and getting on the road. I was in the "old school" bus called, "Possum Eight" and it was VERY fun. We organized three committees of students: entertainment (goal: to make us laugh), get acquainted (goal: to get to know each other better), game (goal: to involve everyone in one activity). The skit was killer and mocked all of us leaders mercilessly. When the person playing me spoke up, I immediately cringed - because it was just like me! (I recognized myself before they even said my name!)
We got to Picayune about 7:30 the next morning; having slept little bits, and then for one long stretch of 3 hours...... but ready for work. :)
We spent the nights in Picayune Mississippi, (middle of 'adjusted' map) working with Ressurection Life Worship Center.
On the first day the group I was in went to McNeill, MS (north of Picayune - the eye of the storm went directly though their town - sustained winds for 14 hours). We cleared debris from the yards of 3 houses. We worked until dusk and wow, the difference was really satisfying. On the third house they were still displaced and power had not been restored, I was thinking about how neat it would be for them to come home and their backyard is back! No more giant tree and about 1.8 million leaves and branches to be cleared! Its neat to be an answer to prayer that way.
The second day 1/2 of us went to Slidell, LA (south of Picayune, near the north side of Lake Ponchartrain. We had been subcontracted by Res.Life to work with a church in Slidell - called Harvest Ministries. They lost their ENTIRE church facility in the storm, and they had just finished remodeling their entire childrens areas. We worked all day doing demolition (tearing down drywall, pulling up carpet, removing fixtures) - the house I worked in was big, moldy and muddy. And like a bunch of other homes, almost beyond repair. The fridge and freezer had been sitting there, without power, for 2 months.... full. yuk. There were frogs everywhere and the mold was shocking to see (both inside and outside the drywall). We pulled out soaking wet insulation and the carpets and pads were soaked, too. We piled all of this debris outside the house on the street and ended with a pile of trash (that included ruined belongings, clothes, etc) that was 10 feet long, 6 feet wide and 6 feet tall.... the family was great and worked along side us. We had the chance to pray with them and talk to them about God. It was a good day. That night we got showers, provided by another church in the Picayune area. We went to bed for the second night, exhausted. But each night we went to bed later than the previous, as we had more and more evening activities. (10pm on night one.... 11:30 on night two... 12:40 on night three....)
Day 3, EVERYONE headed into Louisiana, and a small group of faculty/staff leaders went into St. Bernard Parish (nearer New Orleans) to demo the inside of a home - worse even than the one we had worked on on day 2. My group went to a house that had been started the day before and worked to complete it. It was neat to find out that it was the house of the granddaughter of the man whose how I had worked on the day before. I got to tell the daughter (mom of the homeowner, and a member of the church we were working with these two days.) that we had prayed with her mom and talked with her family and their friend Joe about Jesus. That was a pretty neat thing, very emotional for both of us.
After working on that house a couple hours we were finished and headed back to the house from Friday (above) to give it some final attention. We didn't get it completed, but did a lot more work in that final 90 minutes.
That evening we showered at a local church (quite an experience in itself - three tarped shower areas complete with gnats and mosquitos and a concrete pad on which to change!) and ate pizza. We worshipped that night with the Harvest Ministries crew at their temporary location (this church) and went back home joyful. We stayed up late, eating ice cream sandwiches, fellowshipping and playing a game of "Big Booty" (if you haven't ever played, you should - its really fun and the people I played with made it hysterical).
Day 4, we cleaned up our place and got our busses packed. We headed to Resurrection Life to worship with them - and one of our team members got to provide "special music" that day. Neat! (go Katie K!) We finished the big group portion of the trip with lunch at Ryan's which our leader (John) had gotten at a discount for us - what a blessing!! We ate well the entire trip, but this brunch was FANTASTIC - I will remember the steak and rolls forever, and will endeavor to return to one of the locations the next time I have a chance!
We loaded back up the busses (which we had set up partially for sleeping) and some of us took naps and read and others talked quietly. Later we set back up for talking and had some fun conversations and some game playing. Before bed the entertainment committee regaled us with a song summarizing everything that had happened this week in 4 verses. Very funny. Our ride home was not as comfortable sleep-wise - LOTS of bumps and things falling off bunks or the top shelf.... including my friend Amber. We arrived home on Monday morning at 5am, tired, and glad to be home, but also sad to have left.
I think all of us are going to go through some adjustment - though it was a short trip, it was an intense one and the things we learned will be a long time in coming potentially. I'm looking forward to it though.
Pictures to come (I only have a few) here.
Prayers for you and your walk with Jesus. I hope that this encourages you to figure out your calling and if its in missions somehow, and if you have questions about Jesus, please let me know.
Love, Tiffani
Monday, October 31, 2005
Friends. Visits. Happy times.
Above are some pictures from the recent visit of two of my friends from Seattle: Kristen Falkenberg and Brian Burdon. I feel really special that they came to visit me. More than that, I feel pretty special that they have visited me twice. In fact, they have been the most frequent visitors I've had (though I have had a few other one-timers - and I haven't forgotten those of you who were the one-timers). Anyway, Kristen and Brian are silly and deep and funny and fun and loving and spiritual and I love them both. Enjoy.
Love, Tiffani
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
BABYSITTING my friend Elijah!
Well, here's how it went down: He started in the exersaucer and we played (see pics). Then he played on my lap. Then he played on the mat (see pics) - he's getting really good at rolling from his back over to his belly. Then he went back into the exersaucer and played again. Then he came to my lap and we talked and then he fell asleep (see pic).Elijah is almost 6 months old and full of personality!
How cute is this little man? Definitely filled my baby quotient during the day. I was remembering the days when Andi was 6 mo old and I first met the Fergason's. She used to stare at Wayne because he had these heavy glasses. Hysterical. I remember sitting at the table after dinner and giving her her bottle. I remember when Jared was 6 mo old and he would play all the time if he could - laughing and cooing (just like Elijah).
Friday, October 21, 2005
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Been thinking about.... Death
This is an excerpt from the post of a professor here at the college:
But, in the end, each person had to face death alone and prepare to meet his or her Maker.... The ancients developed a process called the ars moriendi, the art of facing death, and spent a lifetime preparing for the inevitable. Because death was so prevalent in their society, they
learned to be prepared at any moment. We, on the other hand, go through life glibly denying its reality and so find ourselves always surprised by its inevitable knock at our door.(see full posting at: http://religionprofessor.blogspot.com/)
(OK, now it won't let me "un-indent"... so sorry if this is confusing)
I read his posting today. As I was thinking, I wondered how deeply do I really contemplate death. Frankly, I think about death a lot. I think about different ways I may die (in my sleep, t-boned at one of our infamous Greenville intersections, riding my bike to work, in a plane crash, etc); I think about what it would be like for other people if I died (how would they get all my stuff out of the house, who would shock the pool) and I think about being in heaven with Jesus.
Death doesn't scare me. I look forward to heaven and I'm glad that I can have confidence in my ultimate destination. But dying isn't an attractive principle. My fear about riding my bike to work is that I'll get hit or fall off and land in the ditch, slowly dying because no one can see me. And I do have moments where I often think I will actually be t-boned at the intersection (people don't always stop here).
But anyway, I thought I would throw out these thoughts to the cosmic void we call the internet and see what all y'all think (if anyone is reading this).
Blessings, TR
Monday, October 17, 2005
The Cost of Being Qualified
I started looking at graduate school information again today.
I'm not going to lie that when I start looking at this stuff its like I hear a buzz in my head and I can't process anything clearly. I'm not sure why that is.... is it because I don't know what I want to do for my life? Is it because of the exhorbitant cost of graduate school? Is it because I'm out of debt and would prefer to stay that way..... which would mean that I take approximately one class per year for the next 14 years (an unattractive option)?
I ask myself the following questions:
1) is it worth going to grad school full-time in order to finish in a shorter amount of time, thereby starting a new career path sooner?
2) is it worth taking on-line courses in order that I can work full-time and reduce the burden of debt I may accrue, though taking longer?
3) could I simply "start" a program and that would be enough for me to get a job that I love in ministry and I could "chip-away" as I had time/money/desire.
4) is it better to be "unqualified" in the world's eyes?
Now some of you know that my answer to #4 has historically been "yes". I say the less we can do to make our work look more like "us" the better. But there is an element of being responsible to be educated and prepared for the work you are going to do.
This weekend I spoke at a women's retreat. I think the Lord enabled me to be prepared and educated. And the things I said (i think...) were sound and not heretical, they were personal and yet biblical. Is experience (i.e. speaking engagements) enough to beget experience? Will this experience qualify me to speak at the next retreat? Will THAT experience qualify me for the next? Is this how it works? What IS my calling? What DO I want to do?
Well, thats the deal for the day. I am babysitting my pal Elijah this afternoon (hopefully some pics to come later this week of this experience!), and will print some grad school stuff and look through it at that point.
Step one: see if any catch my fancy.
Step two: apply (because "what the heck")
Step three: find out about $$
Step four: cry in my pillow (just kidding) - who knows at this point.
Wish me luck, pray that I would have wisdom.
Love, TR
I'm not going to lie that when I start looking at this stuff its like I hear a buzz in my head and I can't process anything clearly. I'm not sure why that is.... is it because I don't know what I want to do for my life? Is it because of the exhorbitant cost of graduate school? Is it because I'm out of debt and would prefer to stay that way..... which would mean that I take approximately one class per year for the next 14 years (an unattractive option)?
I ask myself the following questions:
1) is it worth going to grad school full-time in order to finish in a shorter amount of time, thereby starting a new career path sooner?
2) is it worth taking on-line courses in order that I can work full-time and reduce the burden of debt I may accrue, though taking longer?
3) could I simply "start" a program and that would be enough for me to get a job that I love in ministry and I could "chip-away" as I had time/money/desire.
4) is it better to be "unqualified" in the world's eyes?
Now some of you know that my answer to #4 has historically been "yes". I say the less we can do to make our work look more like "us" the better. But there is an element of being responsible to be educated and prepared for the work you are going to do.
This weekend I spoke at a women's retreat. I think the Lord enabled me to be prepared and educated. And the things I said (i think...) were sound and not heretical, they were personal and yet biblical. Is experience (i.e. speaking engagements) enough to beget experience? Will this experience qualify me to speak at the next retreat? Will THAT experience qualify me for the next? Is this how it works? What IS my calling? What DO I want to do?
Well, thats the deal for the day. I am babysitting my pal Elijah this afternoon (hopefully some pics to come later this week of this experience!), and will print some grad school stuff and look through it at that point.
Step one: see if any catch my fancy.
Step two: apply (because "what the heck")
Step three: find out about $$
Step four: cry in my pillow (just kidding) - who knows at this point.
Wish me luck, pray that I would have wisdom.
Love, TR
Monday, October 10, 2005
Katrina Relief
Well, its official (and has been I guess for a week or so, but I'm just now mentally getting there).
I'm going with the college to work in Mississippi for a few days. Our group of almost 60 people (appx 1/4 adults, 3/4 students) will go to Picayune, Mississippi on November 2nd to aid in a variety of ways. We return early on the 7th in order for students to attend class and for the rest of us to go to work... or at least "be" at work...
Here is the link to the webpage: http://relief.ist.greenville.edu/drupal/
You can see my picture by going to leader pictures. (though today it wasn't working) If you look at student pictures, you'll see two of my small group women: Amber and Ashley. I'm glad to be taking this trip with them and to have the extra fellowship and learning time with them. There are a number of other INCREDIBLE men and women going as well.
I'm praying for the Lord's glory to be shown through us to the people there who are hurting.
We are helping out in the following ways (I may miss some, so this list is limited):
1) Debris clean up - picking up trees, etc from yards and homes, landscaping as needed (cutting down 1/2 dead trees, etc)
2) Roofing - replacing roofs on houses as needed
3) Construction - various odd jobs
4) Warehouse - the church we are working with is using a shopping mall for a warehouse (I think) and has a TON of stuff there (water, clothes, supplies) to be organized and distributed.
5) Counseling - the primary group we will be working with here are teachers. They were asked to move in before anything was cleaned/repaired and even before the power was turned on. We will be listening to them and encouraging them, as well as praying with them. (this is the ministry that I will be involved with at this point)
6) Delivery - delivery of yard debris to a drop off location and delivery of goods from the warehouse
7) Food - preparation and service of food to our group (two of the leaders also work with Sodexho, our on-campus food service and have volunteered to head up this ministry so that the church we are supporting doesn't have to try to feed us)
Thankfully we have a large group and so we'll try to break up into about 8-person teams with one or two adults on each team in order to facilitate the effective working on those projects. But in reality we are all going to be prepared to do whatever they need.
This weekend (columbus day holiday/fall break) the Free Methodist Church youth group took about 20 adults/students to Kiln, Ms to work on restoration there. They were planning to "mud-out" a school there (literally shovel residual mud left from the storm surges and flooding), however it hadn't been cleared by the EPA yet, so they have been working on mudding-out people's houses. In some cases the water line is only 3-4 feet deep, but they have to demo the walls down to the studs, as the standing flood-water has caused mold and other problems in the structure of the houses. Kiln is on the shore, about 5 miles away from the Northeast side of Bay St. Louis. At one point they were working on cleaning up a house 10 houses from the shore. You can imagine what they are seeing/experiencing. Hannah Groves (our youth pastor's daughter) told her mom that there is clothing stuck in all the trees - there are just shirts hanging everywhere.
Thanks for your prayers for that team, and for ours as we prepare to go.
Love, Tiff
I'm going with the college to work in Mississippi for a few days. Our group of almost 60 people (appx 1/4 adults, 3/4 students) will go to Picayune, Mississippi on November 2nd to aid in a variety of ways. We return early on the 7th in order for students to attend class and for the rest of us to go to work... or at least "be" at work...
Here is the link to the webpage: http://relief.ist.greenville.edu/drupal/
You can see my picture by going to leader pictures. (though today it wasn't working) If you look at student pictures, you'll see two of my small group women: Amber and Ashley. I'm glad to be taking this trip with them and to have the extra fellowship and learning time with them. There are a number of other INCREDIBLE men and women going as well.
I'm praying for the Lord's glory to be shown through us to the people there who are hurting.
We are helping out in the following ways (I may miss some, so this list is limited):
1) Debris clean up - picking up trees, etc from yards and homes, landscaping as needed (cutting down 1/2 dead trees, etc)
2) Roofing - replacing roofs on houses as needed
3) Construction - various odd jobs
4) Warehouse - the church we are working with is using a shopping mall for a warehouse (I think) and has a TON of stuff there (water, clothes, supplies) to be organized and distributed.
5) Counseling - the primary group we will be working with here are teachers. They were asked to move in before anything was cleaned/repaired and even before the power was turned on. We will be listening to them and encouraging them, as well as praying with them. (this is the ministry that I will be involved with at this point)
6) Delivery - delivery of yard debris to a drop off location and delivery of goods from the warehouse
7) Food - preparation and service of food to our group (two of the leaders also work with Sodexho, our on-campus food service and have volunteered to head up this ministry so that the church we are supporting doesn't have to try to feed us)
Thankfully we have a large group and so we'll try to break up into about 8-person teams with one or two adults on each team in order to facilitate the effective working on those projects. But in reality we are all going to be prepared to do whatever they need.
This weekend (columbus day holiday/fall break) the Free Methodist Church youth group took about 20 adults/students to Kiln, Ms to work on restoration there. They were planning to "mud-out" a school there (literally shovel residual mud left from the storm surges and flooding), however it hadn't been cleared by the EPA yet, so they have been working on mudding-out people's houses. In some cases the water line is only 3-4 feet deep, but they have to demo the walls down to the studs, as the standing flood-water has caused mold and other problems in the structure of the houses. Kiln is on the shore, about 5 miles away from the Northeast side of Bay St. Louis. At one point they were working on cleaning up a house 10 houses from the shore. You can imagine what they are seeing/experiencing. Hannah Groves (our youth pastor's daughter) told her mom that there is clothing stuck in all the trees - there are just shirts hanging everywhere.
Thanks for your prayers for that team, and for ours as we prepare to go.
Love, Tiff
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Selfishness
I've been thinking a lot about selfishness. I know that I can be selfish in a lot of things - with my time, friends, home, stuff, money, etc. I know ways that I have been specifically selfish lately. So, as this blog continues, please don't think that I think only other people are selfish and I'm the self-less one; I don't think that.
But I have been thinking a lot about selfishness. I have a friend whom I love, but who has always been a little self-involved. Not enough to correct, but sometimes just cluelessly about "her" or in action doing things that hurt other people that she thinks is "cute". Don't get me wrong, she is a great friend, and we have spent some seriously deep time together walking through life. She has cared about me and spent time with me, and I have cared about her and spent time with her. However, some recent circumstances have magnified the "self-involvement" to a large degree - or seemingly.
And then there are blogs. I just realized (maybe I should have a long time ago) is that they are often selfish. Mine is all about me and my life experience. Granted, for my friends, who I don't speak with often I think they like that they can get an update. But I don't just use it for updates anymore. I often use it for thoughts/reflections/experiences. Which means its all about me. And I wonder how much of the rest of my life is all about me.
In my struggle with my friend whose selfishness is so evident and painful to me and others, I find that I become more selfish when I'm with her (and in my thought life regarding her). My chief complaint is, "she doesn't even ask how I am, or when she does and I start to answer she interrupts with her own stuff and doesn't listen to me." yikes- how pouty and selfish sounding. Its to the point (my depravity) where I'm tired of listening to her. When we're together all I hear about is her life and the various hard spots she finds herself in (mostly due to her own choices) and hard decisions (which are generally not life-threatening) - and here's where selfishness takes its prisoner......... I'm tired of lstening to her talk about herself because she isn't listening to me talk about myself.
D'oh.
Selfishness breeds selfishness.
Now granted, I've tried to just listen to her, I really have tried. But she goes in circles of self-pity and self-involvement and even when she's hurt someone (and I bring it up back-door) she laughs it off as something "she just does". Thats my excuse for not wanting to listen anymore.
But in my head the real reason is that relationship is built on reciprocity. And right now with my friend I don't have that. I have her speaking about her in my face.... and me speaking about me in my head.
In relationship: I care so much about YOU that I don't need to share about what's going on in my life - I just want to hear about YOU; and YOU care so much about ME that you don't need to share. And in the end BOTH people share equally. I care so much that I ask you about specific things you've mentioned. And YOU care so much that you ask me about specifics. And when one of use brings up something uncomfortable or says, "I think that you are making a mountain out of a molehill" or "both decisions are fine, just pick one" the reciever of those words doesn't think you are arguing or being mean, they see that that person cares about them and their life, but is also putting some perspective on the issue, or is simply saying in the least offensive way, "get OVER yourself - life is bigger than what you are talking about."
And then I consider blogs and that its all about me. And I think of my friend's blogs and they are all about them (but I like it because I love hearing about their life experiences, especially on "my own time" - since some of them live 2000 miles and 2 hours difference away).
And so I see my own selfishness, selfprotectiveness, selfinvolvement. And I'm grieved that I am supposed to represent the Lord and yet I operate in these ways which are so opposite of how Jesus walked.
Our model is Jesus', and Paul says that we should aim for peace and mutual edification.
So Lord, give me strength today to be a reconciler, and the grace to consider others better and more interesting than myself.
Love, Tiff
But I have been thinking a lot about selfishness. I have a friend whom I love, but who has always been a little self-involved. Not enough to correct, but sometimes just cluelessly about "her" or in action doing things that hurt other people that she thinks is "cute". Don't get me wrong, she is a great friend, and we have spent some seriously deep time together walking through life. She has cared about me and spent time with me, and I have cared about her and spent time with her. However, some recent circumstances have magnified the "self-involvement" to a large degree - or seemingly.
And then there are blogs. I just realized (maybe I should have a long time ago) is that they are often selfish. Mine is all about me and my life experience. Granted, for my friends, who I don't speak with often I think they like that they can get an update. But I don't just use it for updates anymore. I often use it for thoughts/reflections/experiences. Which means its all about me. And I wonder how much of the rest of my life is all about me.
In my struggle with my friend whose selfishness is so evident and painful to me and others, I find that I become more selfish when I'm with her (and in my thought life regarding her). My chief complaint is, "she doesn't even ask how I am, or when she does and I start to answer she interrupts with her own stuff and doesn't listen to me." yikes- how pouty and selfish sounding. Its to the point (my depravity) where I'm tired of listening to her. When we're together all I hear about is her life and the various hard spots she finds herself in (mostly due to her own choices) and hard decisions (which are generally not life-threatening) - and here's where selfishness takes its prisoner......... I'm tired of lstening to her talk about herself because she isn't listening to me talk about myself.
D'oh.
Selfishness breeds selfishness.
Now granted, I've tried to just listen to her, I really have tried. But she goes in circles of self-pity and self-involvement and even when she's hurt someone (and I bring it up back-door) she laughs it off as something "she just does". Thats my excuse for not wanting to listen anymore.
But in my head the real reason is that relationship is built on reciprocity. And right now with my friend I don't have that. I have her speaking about her in my face.... and me speaking about me in my head.
In relationship: I care so much about YOU that I don't need to share about what's going on in my life - I just want to hear about YOU; and YOU care so much about ME that you don't need to share. And in the end BOTH people share equally. I care so much that I ask you about specific things you've mentioned. And YOU care so much that you ask me about specifics. And when one of use brings up something uncomfortable or says, "I think that you are making a mountain out of a molehill" or "both decisions are fine, just pick one" the reciever of those words doesn't think you are arguing or being mean, they see that that person cares about them and their life, but is also putting some perspective on the issue, or is simply saying in the least offensive way, "get OVER yourself - life is bigger than what you are talking about."
And then I consider blogs and that its all about me. And I think of my friend's blogs and they are all about them (but I like it because I love hearing about their life experiences, especially on "my own time" - since some of them live 2000 miles and 2 hours difference away).
And so I see my own selfishness, selfprotectiveness, selfinvolvement. And I'm grieved that I am supposed to represent the Lord and yet I operate in these ways which are so opposite of how Jesus walked.
Our model is Jesus', and Paul says that we should aim for peace and mutual edification.
So Lord, give me strength today to be a reconciler, and the grace to consider others better and more interesting than myself.
Love, Tiff
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
READ THIS BLOG
Go to the right side of my page, and read Jenn's blog. Here is a woman who is COURAGEOUS and HONEST and I'm grateful she's in my life. WOW. If you have time, its a great picture of a woman who is on a search to be transformed by Jesus.
Keep it up, Little Stride - you'll get there.
Love, Tiffani
Keep it up, Little Stride - you'll get there.
Love, Tiffani
Back to Access and followed by Worship
So I meant to talk about how we have ACCESS to God. As the Tuesday morning group is studying Romans (we are through Ch.5 now) I am confronted with the truth of our access to God through Jesus Christ.
In Romans 5 in particular Paul speaks about the benefits of our justification (which our group would tell you is a legal term meaning, "declared innocent" - regardless of your actual innocence/guilt). One of the benefits Paul mentions is that, "through Jesus Christ we have gained access by faith into this grace {reconciliation/peace with God} in which we now stand."* and as I was thinking in "legal terms" I thought about how in court you have to say, "May I approach the bench" but that Jesus has said it for us and now we can go forward to the Judge with confidence to ask for his help and mercy. In fact, the author of Hebrews says, "we can approach the throne of grace with confidence to find help in our time of need."*
Wow - what an incredible thought. Through Jesus we have access to the very presence of God. We recieve God's glory, which one commentary I recently read said is "God himself". Oh, the precious mercy and love of the Lord who does not withhold one thing from his children.
And then I am convicted about how much I withhold from those I love. That in my humanness I hold back because of fear or hurt of pride or intimidation.... but if I were to really act in my "god-ness" (through the power of the Gospel, poured out through the Holy Spirit) I would withhold nothing. In fact, I would give to the point of death for those others. Ouch, and a good lesson for me today. I don't know how that works in practical application, but how I wish to know. May the Lord give me wisdom.
Next topic... WORSHIP. Here is a quote from our service bulletin on Sunday morning. We have been reading the "Purpose Driven Life" these last two weeks and week two was on worship being a relationship (more than music, more than emotion, etc).
By Marva Dawn in her book, "How Shall We Worship", p.168
"Worship dare not be glib or superficial, ought not to dispense false assurances or manipulate emotions. Instead, genuine worship always offers the true hope of the Gospel - neither entertainment nor escapism, neither diversion nor another sort of consumerism, but the terrible truth about sin and evil and the even greater truth (in all its glory) that on the cross and through the empty tomb Christ has been victorious over iniquity, injury and death. Worship will then enfold all of us who search for hope in God's present cosmic reign and challenge us to engage in God's sovereign purposes of ministry to the world.
"Finally, worship's celebration of God's governanace will equip us with patience and endurance to endure the hardships of this life as we await the culmination of God's kingdom. This is all, indeed, good news for us each and together to tell our neighbors. Our goal is to bring the world to worship our God with us."
I love this part: "genuine worship always offers the true hope of the Gospel... terrible truth about sin and the even greater truth that....Christ has been victorious over iniquity, injury and death" - that genuine worship confronts us with our guilt and relieves us with our freedom.
Rest in that dear friends.
Love, Tiffani
In Romans 5 in particular Paul speaks about the benefits of our justification (which our group would tell you is a legal term meaning, "declared innocent" - regardless of your actual innocence/guilt). One of the benefits Paul mentions is that, "through Jesus Christ we have gained access by faith into this grace {reconciliation/peace with God} in which we now stand."* and as I was thinking in "legal terms" I thought about how in court you have to say, "May I approach the bench" but that Jesus has said it for us and now we can go forward to the Judge with confidence to ask for his help and mercy. In fact, the author of Hebrews says, "we can approach the throne of grace with confidence to find help in our time of need."*
Wow - what an incredible thought. Through Jesus we have access to the very presence of God. We recieve God's glory, which one commentary I recently read said is "God himself". Oh, the precious mercy and love of the Lord who does not withhold one thing from his children.
And then I am convicted about how much I withhold from those I love. That in my humanness I hold back because of fear or hurt of pride or intimidation.... but if I were to really act in my "god-ness" (through the power of the Gospel, poured out through the Holy Spirit) I would withhold nothing. In fact, I would give to the point of death for those others. Ouch, and a good lesson for me today. I don't know how that works in practical application, but how I wish to know. May the Lord give me wisdom.
Next topic... WORSHIP. Here is a quote from our service bulletin on Sunday morning. We have been reading the "Purpose Driven Life" these last two weeks and week two was on worship being a relationship (more than music, more than emotion, etc).
By Marva Dawn in her book, "How Shall We Worship", p.168
"Worship dare not be glib or superficial, ought not to dispense false assurances or manipulate emotions. Instead, genuine worship always offers the true hope of the Gospel - neither entertainment nor escapism, neither diversion nor another sort of consumerism, but the terrible truth about sin and evil and the even greater truth (in all its glory) that on the cross and through the empty tomb Christ has been victorious over iniquity, injury and death. Worship will then enfold all of us who search for hope in God's present cosmic reign and challenge us to engage in God's sovereign purposes of ministry to the world.
"Finally, worship's celebration of God's governanace will equip us with patience and endurance to endure the hardships of this life as we await the culmination of God's kingdom. This is all, indeed, good news for us each and together to tell our neighbors. Our goal is to bring the world to worship our God with us."
I love this part: "genuine worship always offers the true hope of the Gospel... terrible truth about sin and the even greater truth that....Christ has been victorious over iniquity, injury and death" - that genuine worship confronts us with our guilt and relieves us with our freedom.
Rest in that dear friends.
Love, Tiffani
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Monday, September 26, 2005
Been Thinking about..... Access
I have gotten out of the habit of blogging regularly, out of the habit of updating y'all on my life, and instead posting occasional one-liners. I will try to do better. Today I will tell you that Life in Greenville is alright. I spent the weekend with a LOT of women. This is quite a change, considering my former vocation which put me in the position of spending a lot of time with men!
On Friday night I helped put together a Softball recruiting and community event. It was a success and we had 6 recruits attend. On Saturday I went to Chicago with Heather and 2 Softball players to watch the football game . On Sunday I hung out with one of my Tuesday Morning girls and we had lunch at Sue's house and then I had a small group for church.
We are reading the Purpose Driven Life this month. I know, my friends back in the city are saying, "you're reading that NOW?" because back home they all read it 3 years ago... well, the pace is different out here and though late, I do think its timely for the church I'm attending.
I've been selected along with 14 other adults and 45 students to participate in a Hurricane Katrina relief trip November 2-6 of this year. I'm looking forward to going down and doing whatever we can to provide assistance in the form of manpower and prayer. I'm also looking forward to the spiritual growth and impact opportunities with the students, and hoping to have a teaching experience for myself as well.
And I've been asked to be the main speaker at an upcoming women's retreat (E-cafe, October 14th-15th) Last spring I gave a workshop on giving up old sin habits and "cleaning out" the mold. This fall I will be speaking 2-3 times (I think) on the topic of "Intimate Interactions with Jesus". I'm looking forward to diving deeper with these women into the love that Jesus has for us - specifically through the portraits of the interactions of the resurrected Jesus with Mary, Thomas and Peter.
Well there are a lot of other things I could tell you right now, but I have to get to McD's so that I can get to Jo's so that I can meet with a gal on-time. :)
With Lots of Love and plenty of Jesus!
Tiffani
On Friday night I helped put together a Softball recruiting and community event. It was a success and we had 6 recruits attend. On Saturday I went to Chicago with Heather and 2 Softball players to watch the football game . On Sunday I hung out with one of my Tuesday Morning girls and we had lunch at Sue's house and then I had a small group for church.
We are reading the Purpose Driven Life this month. I know, my friends back in the city are saying, "you're reading that NOW?" because back home they all read it 3 years ago... well, the pace is different out here and though late, I do think its timely for the church I'm attending.
I've been selected along with 14 other adults and 45 students to participate in a Hurricane Katrina relief trip November 2-6 of this year. I'm looking forward to going down and doing whatever we can to provide assistance in the form of manpower and prayer. I'm also looking forward to the spiritual growth and impact opportunities with the students, and hoping to have a teaching experience for myself as well.
And I've been asked to be the main speaker at an upcoming women's retreat (E-cafe, October 14th-15th) Last spring I gave a workshop on giving up old sin habits and "cleaning out" the mold. This fall I will be speaking 2-3 times (I think) on the topic of "Intimate Interactions with Jesus". I'm looking forward to diving deeper with these women into the love that Jesus has for us - specifically through the portraits of the interactions of the resurrected Jesus with Mary, Thomas and Peter.
Well there are a lot of other things I could tell you right now, but I have to get to McD's so that I can get to Jo's so that I can meet with a gal on-time. :)
With Lots of Love and plenty of Jesus!
Tiffani
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
9/22 update (and don't even mention the flies)
This is just a little bit of what's been going on lately. I never seem to quite catch up with myself enough to force myself to sit down and pen a big update for the blog. But now that I'm in control of my time (as you will see below) maybe that will make the cut one afternoon. In the meantime, here is an update - God bless you!
Tiffani (see p.s. at the bottom, even if you've read the middle)
The Lord has been so active on the campus and I’m grateful for his attention to us. Last week my bible study group read through Romans 2. Following Romans 1 (re: the immoral man) Romans 2 was super convicting (re: the moral man and the religious man). The group really “got” the teaching that nothing we can do or say can bring us righteousness, nor into a saving relationship with God. We ended the study feeling kind of “icky” – which I think is what Paul wants the reader to feel, since at that point he hadn’t gotten to the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. And even knowing that we would soon encounter Romans 3:23-24 did not lessen the discomfort.
So on that note, as were many of the women in the group, I was convicted of a few issues; primarily unforgiveness, bitterness and anger toward a few people and situations, as well as some general lack of discipline (to put it lightly). What sad days were Tuesday and Wednesday as I struggled with this conviction. Thankfully Thursday came and I realized that I needed to pray specifically about unforgiveness (which meant praying through rejection and anger as well) and as I spoke with one of my friends and mentors in the morning and she called me onto the carpet for my lack of discipline. At that point I was truly ready with Paul to say, “What a wretched person I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” and then to proclaim with him, “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord.” as I encountered freedom through action and prayer.
All that being said, I am now in better control of my time (vs. not making good choices and so running out of time to do the necessary things) and am also in renewed spirits and standing with God. (The key here, I think, is that I’m not in renewed standing because of my repentance, but because of his forgiveness through Jesus!) I am making better choices with my time – I have had a devotional time almost every morning, am getting up close to the right time and making good bedtime choices. I’m also organizing my afternoon time (which I have a lot of to use) better than I had been. Today I begin to incorporate a regular workout back into my schedule and not allow myself to duck out – since I have it on my calendar and can see that I have plenty of time to do it. My fault has been in many ways that I was satisfying my flesh (hanging out with people, watching TV, etc) rather than doing what I need to do to be a balanced follower of God (reading the word, sleeping, exercising, etc).
p.s.
Here are things that I WANT to like because they are elements of God's creation, but which I struggle to enjoy: Flies and Mosquitos. For a few reasons. Flies are ALL OVER the fitness center (less now, but for two weeks we were swatting 15-30 a day...). The ones that are still alive here now are fat and slow. They practically swim in front of my face making loud buzzing noises as I try to work. I don't want to kill them, but at the same time, argh - they carry disease and are annoying. And so I do. Mosquitos.... the bane of my existence, and I'm not even exaggerating. They are killers in the sense that if I go outside without bug spray (again, a little less this week, but still a problem).... they find me. And they show no mercy. The other day I was bitten IN MY HOUSE - MY HOUSE I say, while I was eating dinner. The problem here is that I don't notice them when they are biting, and I don't see them when I'm outside so I don't even stand a chance. If I believed in Karma I would believe that the m-bites (which usually welt into a good 1/2 inch circle with radiating redness) are payback for the fly murders.
Thankfully I don't. :)
Love, TR
Tiffani (see p.s. at the bottom, even if you've read the middle)
The Lord has been so active on the campus and I’m grateful for his attention to us. Last week my bible study group read through Romans 2. Following Romans 1 (re: the immoral man) Romans 2 was super convicting (re: the moral man and the religious man). The group really “got” the teaching that nothing we can do or say can bring us righteousness, nor into a saving relationship with God. We ended the study feeling kind of “icky” – which I think is what Paul wants the reader to feel, since at that point he hadn’t gotten to the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. And even knowing that we would soon encounter Romans 3:23-24 did not lessen the discomfort.
So on that note, as were many of the women in the group, I was convicted of a few issues; primarily unforgiveness, bitterness and anger toward a few people and situations, as well as some general lack of discipline (to put it lightly). What sad days were Tuesday and Wednesday as I struggled with this conviction. Thankfully Thursday came and I realized that I needed to pray specifically about unforgiveness (which meant praying through rejection and anger as well) and as I spoke with one of my friends and mentors in the morning and she called me onto the carpet for my lack of discipline. At that point I was truly ready with Paul to say, “What a wretched person I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” and then to proclaim with him, “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord.” as I encountered freedom through action and prayer.
All that being said, I am now in better control of my time (vs. not making good choices and so running out of time to do the necessary things) and am also in renewed spirits and standing with God. (The key here, I think, is that I’m not in renewed standing because of my repentance, but because of his forgiveness through Jesus!) I am making better choices with my time – I have had a devotional time almost every morning, am getting up close to the right time and making good bedtime choices. I’m also organizing my afternoon time (which I have a lot of to use) better than I had been. Today I begin to incorporate a regular workout back into my schedule and not allow myself to duck out – since I have it on my calendar and can see that I have plenty of time to do it. My fault has been in many ways that I was satisfying my flesh (hanging out with people, watching TV, etc) rather than doing what I need to do to be a balanced follower of God (reading the word, sleeping, exercising, etc).
p.s.
Here are things that I WANT to like because they are elements of God's creation, but which I struggle to enjoy: Flies and Mosquitos. For a few reasons. Flies are ALL OVER the fitness center (less now, but for two weeks we were swatting 15-30 a day...). The ones that are still alive here now are fat and slow. They practically swim in front of my face making loud buzzing noises as I try to work. I don't want to kill them, but at the same time, argh - they carry disease and are annoying. And so I do. Mosquitos.... the bane of my existence, and I'm not even exaggerating. They are killers in the sense that if I go outside without bug spray (again, a little less this week, but still a problem).... they find me. And they show no mercy. The other day I was bitten IN MY HOUSE - MY HOUSE I say, while I was eating dinner. The problem here is that I don't notice them when they are biting, and I don't see them when I'm outside so I don't even stand a chance. If I believed in Karma I would believe that the m-bites (which usually welt into a good 1/2 inch circle with radiating redness) are payback for the fly murders.
Thankfully I don't. :)
Love, TR
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Blogger Spam
I'm sad because SPAM has found a place on the Blog's of my friends. And recently.... on mine.
For those of you who are blogger.com bloggers, I thought you would like to know that you can avoid this unwanted spam that goes into your blog as a "comment" and then also gets emailed to you (if you have your comments email to you that is).
Go to "Settings" at the top of your page on the daskboard and select "Comments" - then go down about 1/3 of the page and you'll see something like, "Show word verification...." and it has a "yes" and "no" select button.
Select "yes" and then update.
Your commenters now have to enter a word verification (like when you order tickets from ticketmaster, etc) before they can comment - to prove they are a real person and not a blanket spammer.
Hope this helps you!
Love, Tiffani
For those of you who are blogger.com bloggers, I thought you would like to know that you can avoid this unwanted spam that goes into your blog as a "comment" and then also gets emailed to you (if you have your comments email to you that is).
Go to "Settings" at the top of your page on the daskboard and select "Comments" - then go down about 1/3 of the page and you'll see something like, "Show word verification...." and it has a "yes" and "no" select button.
Select "yes" and then update.
Your commenters now have to enter a word verification (like when you order tickets from ticketmaster, etc) before they can comment - to prove they are a real person and not a blanket spammer.
Hope this helps you!
Love, Tiffani
Monday, September 12, 2005
Updated.
http://www.greenville.edu/staff/triggers/index.shtml
I updated my staff webpage today. I changed my title and my "duties", and I added a "fun facts" page as well as my philosophy of ministry.
Enjoy.
I'm done recruiting for the night (for softball) and am looking forward to going home and prepping for my bible study tomorrow on Romans 2. I love those girls.
I love you, too.
Tiffani
I updated my staff webpage today. I changed my title and my "duties", and I added a "fun facts" page as well as my philosophy of ministry.
Enjoy.
I'm done recruiting for the night (for softball) and am looking forward to going home and prepping for my bible study tomorrow on Romans 2. I love those girls.
I love you, too.
Tiffani
Monday, September 05, 2005
T-dot.
Here's TJ Gaylord (#87) giving us the "Villa Verde" sign..... I love his mohawk.
TJ lives with Jared and Derek Robinson (D-Rob) at the "Villa" - which happens to be across the street from Donna (who works with me here at the Fitness Center).
:) Tiffani
Friday, September 02, 2005
Elijah - "the ladies man" - Walker
Seriously, this kid loves blondes. For those of you who don't remember what I look like... I am not a blonde. And don't get me wrong, he and I like each other a lot. I can even get him to smile at me most days. But not yesterday. Yesterday we were taking media guide photos with the staff and Elijah was in one. He was not so happy to be in pictures for most of them. But in the end Beth said, "Let's get one of him in his cute sweater" and so we decided to give it a try. As I went to snap the shot, he was fussy and nothing I or Joel (also a brunette) could do would make him happy. So I said, "Laura, we need a blonde! Stat!" and Laura comes over and says - in her best lovely blonde voice (I'm not making this up here), "Hey, baby!" - and this is the face he makes.
This kid is going to be a lady-killer when he grows up.
Have a great day.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Googling myself
Have you ever done it? I bet you have.
Sometimes I go to www.google.com and type in my name and hit search. Just to see what's out there about me... Am I dating Brad Pitt? Do I have any children I don't know about? Did I run a marathon?
Well I know the answer to the first two questions is "no", and the third is "yes", but you never know what you'll find out there in the world wide web.
So when I did this for myself the top two results were for the college's website, and then there were a number of them that were various race results - golly, I used to do a lot of racing when I was in Seattle; Ski to Sea ("Lucky If We Finish" did in fact finish, though not due to great help on the part of their canoe team - of which I was one half), Renton River Days 5k Fun Run (where we beat our mile time by about 30 seconds/mile and I received shin splints as a reward...), the Seattle Half-Marathon (my first long run with Shannon nee Herlocker) but NOT sadly the Honolulu Marathon (which was a life-experience).
Life is fine in other regards. I googled myself just to take a minute of rest from work and craziness. The football team checked in yesterday and Monday and there were about 30 minutes in the late morning today of people and noise everywhere. It was great - but also great when they left for their retreat.
I think I will miss being with them, but I think I will like being a fan. We'll see I guess.
Love, Tiff
Sometimes I go to www.google.com and type in my name and hit search. Just to see what's out there about me... Am I dating Brad Pitt? Do I have any children I don't know about? Did I run a marathon?
Well I know the answer to the first two questions is "no", and the third is "yes", but you never know what you'll find out there in the world wide web.
So when I did this for myself the top two results were for the college's website, and then there were a number of them that were various race results - golly, I used to do a lot of racing when I was in Seattle; Ski to Sea ("Lucky If We Finish" did in fact finish, though not due to great help on the part of their canoe team - of which I was one half), Renton River Days 5k Fun Run (where we beat our mile time by about 30 seconds/mile and I received shin splints as a reward...), the Seattle Half-Marathon (my first long run with Shannon nee Herlocker) but NOT sadly the Honolulu Marathon (which was a life-experience).
Life is fine in other regards. I googled myself just to take a minute of rest from work and craziness. The football team checked in yesterday and Monday and there were about 30 minutes in the late morning today of people and noise everywhere. It was great - but also great when they left for their retreat.
I think I will miss being with them, but I think I will like being a fan. We'll see I guess.
Love, Tiff
Friday, August 12, 2005
Many items to discuss
1) A friend of mine just got married - she met her husband while serving the Lord in Peru; he's an american, who was also serving there. She sent a link with photographs and I have never been as impressed with a wedding photographer as with this guy: http://www.jeremyleffel.com/ (if you want to see my friend, select "Recent" and then "Natalie and Bruce"). I was so captivated by their shots, that I ended up looking at ALL the recent weddings and his portfolio. He's a Christian it seems, has a wife and two small children and also teaches high school.
I was talking with the Lord about my wedding (and that I wanted my grandparents to be able to be there - so to strengthen their health as we wait for Mr. Right), just this morning, and so its funny that then I would see this photographer. I have no idea if he's expensive or not relative to others.... but I'm prepared to say that I would want to fly him out, house him here and have him take my wedding pics. That's how much I like them - candid, fun, emotive - great shots. I don't know if I'll get to have him at my wedding, but wheeeew would I like it.
Maybe by then Bethany will be taking wedding shots and she will be on this caliber (she's on her way there right now - I saw the engagement shots she took) and that will be even FUNNER. :)
2) From Gold Cord last night: oops. I left the book at home this morning. Well, trust me it was good. Maybe I'll bring it in later. :)
3) For those of you who are bored at work: http://www.widro.com/throwpaper.html click "play" at the bottom right and be entertained for hours. :)
Love, Tiff
I was talking with the Lord about my wedding (and that I wanted my grandparents to be able to be there - so to strengthen their health as we wait for Mr. Right), just this morning, and so its funny that then I would see this photographer. I have no idea if he's expensive or not relative to others.... but I'm prepared to say that I would want to fly him out, house him here and have him take my wedding pics. That's how much I like them - candid, fun, emotive - great shots. I don't know if I'll get to have him at my wedding, but wheeeew would I like it.
Maybe by then Bethany will be taking wedding shots and she will be on this caliber (she's on her way there right now - I saw the engagement shots she took) and that will be even FUNNER. :)
2) From Gold Cord last night: oops. I left the book at home this morning. Well, trust me it was good. Maybe I'll bring it in later. :)
3) For those of you who are bored at work: http://www.widro.com/throwpaper.html click "play" at the bottom right and be entertained for hours. :)
Love, Tiff
Monday, August 08, 2005
What's Your Real Age?
I just took a quick online quiz that asks a bunch of questions and then calculates your "real age" (physiological vs. calendar) for you. The best part is that it gives you a 90 day plan to help lower your age as well as some great information for general health.
Check it out:
To take the free quiz, copy and paste the following URL into your browser:http://www.realage.com/ralong/entry.aspx?cbr=NEXS2_P
Is your lifestyle making you older or younger? Take the RealAge test today and find out your RealAge, and get personalized recommendations to make your body younger. What's Your RealAge?
Love, Tiff
Check it out:
To take the free quiz, copy and paste the following URL into your browser:http://www.realage.com/ralong/entry.aspx?cbr=NEXS2_P
Is your lifestyle making you older or younger? Take the RealAge test today and find out your RealAge, and get personalized recommendations to make your body younger. What's Your RealAge?
Love, Tiff
Friday, August 05, 2005
Refiner's Fire (Amy Carmichael again!)
P.86 of "Gold Cord" (in italics)
" And we learned more than we taught. One day we took the children to see a goldsmith refine gold after the ancient manner of the East. He was sitting beside his little charcoal-fire. ("He shall sit as a refiner": the gold- or silversmith never leaves his crucible once it is on the fire.) In the red glow lay a common curved roof-tile; another tile covered it like a lid. This was the crucible. In it was the medicine made of salt, tamarind fruit and burnt brickdust, and embedded in it was the gold. The medicine does its appointed work on the gold, "then the fire eats it," and the goldsmith lifts the gold out with a pair of tongs, lets it cool, rubs it between his fingers, and if not satisfied puts it back again in fresh medicine. This time he blows the fire hotter than it was before, and each time he puts the gold into the crucible the heat of the fire is increased: "It could not bear it so hot at first, but it can bear it now; what would have destroyed it then helps it now." "How do you know when the gold is purified?" we asked him, and he answered, "When I can see my face in it [the liquid gold in the crucible] then it is pure."
The fact is that in our logical, flawed human minds we think that pain is the equivalent of God's dissatisfaction, we think that pain is bad and that trial cannot possibly help us. But God's purposes are greater than our mental capacities; God plans to use each experience of our lives for the calling of people to him, and for His glory.
With all that in mind, isn't it comforting to know that He (the one who allows us to be purified in the crucible) never leaves his crucible once its been put on the fire?
Friends, let's endure this flame - painful though it is - and trust that his purposes are being made manifest in us.
Love, Tiff
" And we learned more than we taught. One day we took the children to see a goldsmith refine gold after the ancient manner of the East. He was sitting beside his little charcoal-fire. ("He shall sit as a refiner": the gold- or silversmith never leaves his crucible once it is on the fire.) In the red glow lay a common curved roof-tile; another tile covered it like a lid. This was the crucible. In it was the medicine made of salt, tamarind fruit and burnt brickdust, and embedded in it was the gold. The medicine does its appointed work on the gold, "then the fire eats it," and the goldsmith lifts the gold out with a pair of tongs, lets it cool, rubs it between his fingers, and if not satisfied puts it back again in fresh medicine. This time he blows the fire hotter than it was before, and each time he puts the gold into the crucible the heat of the fire is increased: "It could not bear it so hot at first, but it can bear it now; what would have destroyed it then helps it now." "How do you know when the gold is purified?" we asked him, and he answered, "When I can see my face in it [the liquid gold in the crucible] then it is pure."
The fact is that in our logical, flawed human minds we think that pain is the equivalent of God's dissatisfaction, we think that pain is bad and that trial cannot possibly help us. But God's purposes are greater than our mental capacities; God plans to use each experience of our lives for the calling of people to him, and for His glory.
With all that in mind, isn't it comforting to know that He (the one who allows us to be purified in the crucible) never leaves his crucible once its been put on the fire?
Friends, let's endure this flame - painful though it is - and trust that his purposes are being made manifest in us.
Love, Tiff
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Gold Cord by Amy Carmichael
I'm reading "Gold Cord" by Amy Carmichael. Its the autobiographical account of the Dohnavur Fellowship in Southern India. Here is something that stuck out from my reading last night.
p.96:
“For all such conditions [a variety of concerns and fears in the night that cause us not to sleep] we found just one sure antidote – the peace of God. Let the will close down the door on the old life with its allures, its pictured memories, let the last thoughts before falling asleep be set on Him, the Eternal Keeper who neither slumbers or sleeps, let some hymn or psalm or calming promise or assurance fill the last conscious moments, and the spell will be broken. An old prayer (Sir Thomas Browne’s) is as sure of an answer in an Indian room tonight as it was in an English home three hundred years ago:
While I do rest, my soul advance,
Make me to sleep a holy trance
That I may, my rest being wrought,
Awake into some holy thought.
“And now and here, as always everywhere, there is One whom the winds and waves obey, and He draws near to the frightened soul and says, “It is I; be not afraid.” And when He is as near as that, the weakest of His little children sleeps peacefully, and is almost sure to waken into some holy thought.”
p.97:
“Shall I,” said the bear’s cub to his mother, “move my right paw first or my left, or my two front paws together, or the two hind ones, or all four at once, or how?”
“Leave off thinking, and walk,” grunted the old bear.
My word to you today, dear one, is this, “Leave off thinking, “How?” and just live. Rest in His comfort, receive His grace. Leave off thinking and you’ll be able to do it.
Love, Tiff
p.96:
“For all such conditions [a variety of concerns and fears in the night that cause us not to sleep] we found just one sure antidote – the peace of God. Let the will close down the door on the old life with its allures, its pictured memories, let the last thoughts before falling asleep be set on Him, the Eternal Keeper who neither slumbers or sleeps, let some hymn or psalm or calming promise or assurance fill the last conscious moments, and the spell will be broken. An old prayer (Sir Thomas Browne’s) is as sure of an answer in an Indian room tonight as it was in an English home three hundred years ago:
While I do rest, my soul advance,
Make me to sleep a holy trance
That I may, my rest being wrought,
Awake into some holy thought.
“And now and here, as always everywhere, there is One whom the winds and waves obey, and He draws near to the frightened soul and says, “It is I; be not afraid.” And when He is as near as that, the weakest of His little children sleeps peacefully, and is almost sure to waken into some holy thought.”
p.97:
“Shall I,” said the bear’s cub to his mother, “move my right paw first or my left, or my two front paws together, or the two hind ones, or all four at once, or how?”
“Leave off thinking, and walk,” grunted the old bear.
My word to you today, dear one, is this, “Leave off thinking, “How?” and just live. Rest in His comfort, receive His grace. Leave off thinking and you’ll be able to do it.
Love, Tiff
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
The City of God and the City of Man
http://www.desiringgod.org/library/fresh_words/2005/072005.html
Check out this link for an article from John Piper's ministry: Desiring God. This article was written by a colleague of his (I think) and has references for all sorts of books on current issues within Christendom.
Some good recommendations for us to check out.
Its important for us to be informed about issues in culture, to know where we stand and what the bible says. We are called to be IN the world (though not of it), which I think means to be aware of what is going on, to participate in conversation and discussion but not to participate in those actions which set themselves up against Christ.
Enjoy!
Love, Tiff
Check out this link for an article from John Piper's ministry: Desiring God. This article was written by a colleague of his (I think) and has references for all sorts of books on current issues within Christendom.
Some good recommendations for us to check out.
Its important for us to be informed about issues in culture, to know where we stand and what the bible says. We are called to be IN the world (though not of it), which I think means to be aware of what is going on, to participate in conversation and discussion but not to participate in those actions which set themselves up against Christ.
Enjoy!
Love, Tiff
Monday, August 01, 2005
Updates (timely... or rather.... late)
Hi everyone!
Started my new job 3 weeks ago! (see pics below) I've been enjoying getting to know people and getting the hang of it all. Its actually kind of nice to get to work at 6am and get off at 2:30! Its like having 2 full days of time every day!! But I will admit that being back in the "cloud" (my bed) makes it hard to get up in the AM!
This weekend I went to the wedding of one of our football players. Doug and Ashlee Smith. Very fun time. I rode up and back with Jenn and enjoyed the time in the car together. On the way up I read aloud to us from "Gold Cord" by Amy Carmichael. I'm fascinated by her life and writing and it was nice to read it with someone.
Recently I picked up a book, "Then Sings my Soul" and am using it in the morning during my reading time. Its great. Check it out at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0785249397/qid=1122907311/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_sbs_1/102-5751600-0928926?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Thats it for now - there are probably more updates, but its hard to keep a stream of consciousness while I'm handing out locker keys and making conversation.
God bless you today!
Love, Tiffani
Started my new job 3 weeks ago! (see pics below) I've been enjoying getting to know people and getting the hang of it all. Its actually kind of nice to get to work at 6am and get off at 2:30! Its like having 2 full days of time every day!! But I will admit that being back in the "cloud" (my bed) makes it hard to get up in the AM!
This weekend I went to the wedding of one of our football players. Doug and Ashlee Smith. Very fun time. I rode up and back with Jenn and enjoyed the time in the car together. On the way up I read aloud to us from "Gold Cord" by Amy Carmichael. I'm fascinated by her life and writing and it was nice to read it with someone.
Recently I picked up a book, "Then Sings my Soul" and am using it in the morning during my reading time. Its great. Check it out at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0785249397/qid=1122907311/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_sbs_1/102-5751600-0928926?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Thats it for now - there are probably more updates, but its hard to keep a stream of consciousness while I'm handing out locker keys and making conversation.
God bless you today!
Love, Tiffani
The wedding of the Lamb and his Beloved.
Good morning friends - and please excuse my tardiness for not updating regularly.
So many thoughts today to think about.
Brief Sunday update before anything else!:
Yesterday at church we were blessed to hear from Jerry Coleman, Area Coordinator of Free Methodist Missions in Europe. (http://www.fmwm.org/missionary/index/coleman.php) He spoke on Revelation 21:1-3, about the new heaven and new earth and the wedding of Jesus to his bride, the church. WHAT A MESSAGE! As it began I thought, "oh, this is interesting." but as it ended I was in tears.
Jerry painted a picture of what a bride (me as a believer in Jesus, you also perhaps) does to prepare for a wedding. Think about it - brides (I have known many) are consumed with the groom and the upcoming wedding. Its all they talk about - heck, its all they think about. As a part of that they want to invite everyone "Come, share my special day!"
Well, for the lover of Christ (thats you, beloved) it should be the same. Jesus waits for us at the end of the aisle - and his eyes are glued to us, his love for us is so intense that our beauty is overwhelming to him. And as we walk forward, our eyes on him, we overflow in love for him, our groom, our lover. Not being consumed with the groom would be like (as you walk up the aisle) saying, "Hi Jim - how about we take the boat out and go fishing?" "Hi Dave, You're looking good today - wanna go get some coffee?" - that's the equivalent of our lackluster desire for him now.
Jerry talked about this and I was overwhelmed with two things:
1) Who am I inviting to be a part of my wedding? I was convicted that too many of my friends and family members would not be at the wedding if it occured today. And yet I want them there, to experience it all and I want to be at THEIR wedding, more importantly! :)
If you are reading this and you have not heard of the love that Jesus has for you. I want to tell you about it. Its not about being "good enough" or doing "good things" or not hurting other people - its about love. His love for you. Compelling, Consuming, Satisfying. Ask me.
2) Jesus loves me. As I pictured him standing at the front of the church and walking toward him on that day. As I pictured taking his hand and turning to face the Father, hearing him say, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in my sight to join you together in the wedding of the lamb." I cried.
Sometimes crying is from a pain inside that can only come out through tears. Other times joy and happiness overflow in that same way - unable to be expressed through laughter or smiles, the only way is through our heart via our eyes. For me this was the case. I couldn't talk about it afterward, to try to put words to it was futile.
But imagine, beloved. Every tribe, every tongue, every nation - together at the wedding, each walking up and taking Jesus' hand. United finally with the one who loved us enough to give his life.
wow.
The spirit and the bride say, "Come."
Amen.
So many thoughts today to think about.
Brief Sunday update before anything else!:
Yesterday at church we were blessed to hear from Jerry Coleman, Area Coordinator of Free Methodist Missions in Europe. (http://www.fmwm.org/missionary/index/coleman.php) He spoke on Revelation 21:1-3, about the new heaven and new earth and the wedding of Jesus to his bride, the church. WHAT A MESSAGE! As it began I thought, "oh, this is interesting." but as it ended I was in tears.
Jerry painted a picture of what a bride (me as a believer in Jesus, you also perhaps) does to prepare for a wedding. Think about it - brides (I have known many) are consumed with the groom and the upcoming wedding. Its all they talk about - heck, its all they think about. As a part of that they want to invite everyone "Come, share my special day!"
Well, for the lover of Christ (thats you, beloved) it should be the same. Jesus waits for us at the end of the aisle - and his eyes are glued to us, his love for us is so intense that our beauty is overwhelming to him. And as we walk forward, our eyes on him, we overflow in love for him, our groom, our lover. Not being consumed with the groom would be like (as you walk up the aisle) saying, "Hi Jim - how about we take the boat out and go fishing?" "Hi Dave, You're looking good today - wanna go get some coffee?" - that's the equivalent of our lackluster desire for him now.
Jerry talked about this and I was overwhelmed with two things:
1) Who am I inviting to be a part of my wedding? I was convicted that too many of my friends and family members would not be at the wedding if it occured today. And yet I want them there, to experience it all and I want to be at THEIR wedding, more importantly! :)
If you are reading this and you have not heard of the love that Jesus has for you. I want to tell you about it. Its not about being "good enough" or doing "good things" or not hurting other people - its about love. His love for you. Compelling, Consuming, Satisfying. Ask me.
2) Jesus loves me. As I pictured him standing at the front of the church and walking toward him on that day. As I pictured taking his hand and turning to face the Father, hearing him say, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in my sight to join you together in the wedding of the lamb." I cried.
Sometimes crying is from a pain inside that can only come out through tears. Other times joy and happiness overflow in that same way - unable to be expressed through laughter or smiles, the only way is through our heart via our eyes. For me this was the case. I couldn't talk about it afterward, to try to put words to it was futile.
But imagine, beloved. Every tribe, every tongue, every nation - together at the wedding, each walking up and taking Jesus' hand. United finally with the one who loved us enough to give his life.
wow.
The spirit and the bride say, "Come."
Amen.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
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