They say it's my birthday

December 10, 1982 at 6:22a.m. I was born in St. Mary's Hospital, Richmond Virginia. I was born several weeks early so I was whisked away for a check over. When the doctors had cleared me I still wasn't allowed to meet my mother. She had pneumonia. For two weeks we stayed in the hospital while she recovered. My dad came to the hospital everyday to take care of me and feed me. After two weeks, Mom and I got to go home on Christmas Eve.


Today I turned 26 years old. I don't feel any different. I was surrounded by loving co-workers all day. I got to take an afternoon nap. I received my letter from the Associate Dean for Academics congratulating me for registering for my last semester of classes (what a present!). This evening I had a home cooked meal with two good friends. It was followed by several hours of good conversation.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow at work. It's tacky sweater day in honor of my birthday. I hope to post a few pictures later.

I am thankful for yet another year of life. I have one semester left of graduate school and from there who knows. All I do know is that God continues to bless my life with love, friends, family, and memories that I will never forget.

To Return or not?

Tonight my mother called, she needed my opinion. She informed me of how the business meeting at my home church went last week. Up for a vote were the proposed changes to the constitution, one of which was including females as deacons. The church had a talk-back session two weeks prior to the business meeting in order to allow for discussion.

The business meeting happened last Sunday. When it came time to vote for the constitution, a man stood up and said he wanted to talk. Technically, he wasn't supposed to because the dicussion had taken place earlier. He demanded that he be able to talk and wouldn't sit down. He said that he couldn't believe the subject of women as deacons or ministers had gotten this far. He stated that it was not biblical for women to be leaders and basically bullied everyone present for 10 minutes. He told the people that the subject of women as leaders, deacons, ministers, etc. should have never been brought up and since it had the leadership of the church was wrong, and doomed for hell.

To make it better, the FEMALE youth minister stood and talked about all the reasons that people should not vote for female deacons. How ironic?

Needless to say, the vote occurred and it wasn't passed. I believe that many people will leave the church.

Mom called to ask for my opinion. She feels like she and my father should leave the church. My father doesn't want to because he feels they have been members for 30 years and haven't been a part of the "business" of the church for some time. Mom feels torn. I told her I wasn't going back there and that on Christmas Eve, if they go I will stay home.

If you'd like to know why I haven't been going to church for some time, it's for reasons like this. Whose a man to tell me that women can't be spoken to by God? I just don't understand. You can use the Bible all you want as your reasoning, but if you study the Bible you would know that what you are using was not meant to exclude women for all these years afterward. Good grief.

I'm free because...

Today is Veteran's Day. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 12, 1918. The U.S. Congress passed a concurrent resolution 7 years later. Veteran's Day was officially made a federal and state holiday on May 13, 1938. The law stated that it would be on the 11th day of the 11th month. It was created to be a day dedicated to the cause of world peace.

As I think about Veteran's, I am quickly reminded of those whom I'm close to that have served in some branch of the military. My grandfather, whom I was very close to served in WWII. He wouldn't tell me much about it when I was young, only that he served, loved his men and was disturbed by many of the sights.

As I drove around freely today, worshiped in chapel, went to work, ate dinner out I remember those who have fought for my freedom.

Whether or not we agree with the war, we should all agree to support our troops.

So on this Veteran's Day, let us remember those who have fought for us. This is the day we can honor the 24.9 million military veterans.

Once I was a pumpkin...

This Friday will be October 31st. For most people that means: Halloween! I remember as a small child helping mom to pick out my costumes and getting all dressed up. I remember the costume that mom picked for me before I was old enough to help her out. I was a pumpkin. Cute as a button with the bleach blonde hair poking out from under my green hat which served as a stalk. During the early years of my trick or treating, we would go with good friends Brandon and Clay. I would go around with them in their grandmother's neighborhood and we would get as much candy as possible. We would gather back at their grandmother's for hot apple cider and we would dump our candy into piles to see who had the most or to trade for something we might like better. As my sister and I got older, we started going trick or treating with some other good friends, Brandon and Lucas. We would go all around their neighborhood and then come back and compare candy. Sometimes we would have a bonfire and make smores and other times we would just eat as much candy as we could.

However, it never failed. When we got home from trick or treating, Mom would take our candy and put it into two jars. Then it would be rationed out over time so that we didn't eat all of it at once. For the first few days it was exciting to be able to pick the candy I wanted. Then, it lost its zeal and often my jar of candy would sit for weeks or months.

I remember the simple fun we had back then. I don't remember bad things. Now, the news is full of stories about child molesters putting certain signs on their doors to keep children away. You also have to be very careful about the candy you get. Each piece must be checked to make sure that nothing has been tampered with. The other thing I hear now is that this holiday is from the devil. Most churches will not condone Halloween and will have a Fall Fest or an All Saint's Day Celebration. What's wrong with letter kids have a little Halloween fun? By the way, my second favorite holiday to decorate for is Halloween.

So, as Halloween fast approaches, let us remember the more simple times. Do you remember your favorite childhood costume? Do you remember all of the candy? What are some of your favorite memories? I sure remember the good things and not trying to stay away from child molesters or people who thought this holiday was from the devil. Whatever the case may be, I hope that whatever you do on Halloween you find joy. I'll probably be with one of my friends giving out candy to trick-or-treaters and I will love every minute of it!

It warms my heart...

Last month I read an article in the Biblical Recorder about the Women's Build for Habitat for Humanity. What caught my attention was the picture of the new homeowner on the front dressed in full hijab. She and her family are Muslim and were putting in sweat equity with North Carolina Baptist women to build a new home. I was interested in how this Christian organization was working with Muslims. I hadn't thought much more about it since then, other than the fact that it was neat. The other night as I was reading online news, I found an article on fox news about Muslims working with Habitat for Humanity to build homes. The article gave me great hope for Christians working with Muslims. It's a wonderful source of encouragement as there has been so much turmoil between Christians and Muslims and now we are finding new ways to work together. Take a look at both articles and think about how you can help. It's something we can all do. Let's learn to get along and love God.

The difference an email makes...

I've been pretty sad this week and had a lot going on in life. This weekend I took the time to hang out with friends and just take care of myself. On Friday evening I received an email that made me smile. It reminded me that I do have a purpose and I am following God's call.

Here's what it said:

Sara:

I know that you probably do not get thanked enough for the work that you do to help out the International students and so many others on campus. Thanks for your Christian example simply by living your life--you do make a difference and your impact extends far beyond what you may ever realize.

Have a great weekend & God Bless.


This brightened my world and reminded me that I do make a difference.

How are you making a difference?

subs...

So I was laying here tonight watching the "new" 90210. I was not particularly enthralled by it, so I began to surf the web reading news and blogs. I came across the following:

IOWA CITY, Iowa -Iowa City police said a man who was driving drunk tried to bribe a police officer — with a sandwich. Police said a 25-year-old man was charged with drunken driving early Sunday morning after an officer saw him driving with his headlights off and pulled him over.

Police said the man was riding with a police officer in a squad car when he offered the officer free sub sandwiches if he could go home.

The officer declined.


Seriously???? I wonder if he offered Subway or Quizno's? That would make a difference in my world.

It reminds me of a cop joke I heard.

An old man bought a brand new sports car. He finished all the paperwork and was handed the keys. He got in and pulled out of the parking lot. When he got on the interstate his foot continued to press the gas. He was going faster and faster. He realized that he was speeding and thought about stopping, but didn't. No sooner than he took his foot off the gas, he saw blue lights in the mirror. The cop approached the car. He said to the man, "Listen sir, you were speeding quite a bit there. It is almost the end of my shift before the weekend. If you can give me a really good reason, that I've never heard for why you were going so fast I will let you go."

The man thought a minute and he said, "My wife ran away with a cop years ago. I thought you were bringing her back." The cop looked at the man and said, "Have a nice day and walked away."

I don't guess the guy is offering bribes from jail, but if he is, I'd like Subway.

While an era comes to an end, life continues

Today marked my sister Margaret's 22nd birthday. I was 4 years old when she was born. She came one month early and was very sick. I remember having to go with Mom and Dad as we took her for blood transfusions and tests galore. When she finally came home, I had to get used to not being the only child anymore. After she finally arrived home, I asked if we could take her back to the hospital. I much preferred to be the only child. As we grew older, our love for each other grew. We became good friends and talked to each other about many things. Now that I live 4 hours away, I don't get to see her that often, but when I do it's like a wonderful reunion. I'm thankful for her and pray for her continued health and good life.

Today also marked the end of a 43 year era. Today was the last game of the Richmond Braves. They played the Norfolk Tides in the Richmond stadium. From what I hear, the place was packed and traffic was terrible. The score was 9-3 and the Braves played a good game. I remember going to the Diamond as a kid. Dad would take me to see games. We would also get to see fireworks. As I got older, I would go with my youth group or friends. Going to a Braves game or two was something I did every summer. As the Braves leave the area, I will always remember the good times I had at the Diamond watching the games.

No... not a flashlight

Our Campus Minister, and my good friend, Faithe joined Jonathan and I behind the wall today. She was telling us about a book that she is going to have the United Campus Ministry leadership read. It has to do with evangelism and what God has called us to do. She shared that recently at her church there was a speaker about evangelism. There were about 100 people in attendance and he asked them to stand if they had had a major conversion experience. Of the 100, only 4 stood. The point that the speaker made was that most people today aren't having major conversion experiences. It is more of a journey of coming to know Christ.

As Faithe was speaking of the book she shared that she would have enough copies so that I could read one. The book is supposed to be about how to minister as you go. It's supposed to be about relationships and not about calling people out for what they don't believe or sharing the Roman Road or 4 spiritual laws etc.

As our conversation continued, I was reminded of a recent article that I read about witnessing to people of other cultures and faiths. The author said that we are called to be "salt and light" not flashlights or fires. I have truly appreciated this analogy. It reminds me of the experiences that some of my international students had last year. Throughout each month, I would be contacted by various students with a concern. They were often crying because they had been told they were going to hell. What makes it worse is that they were told that their families were going to hell.

Here these students are, far away from home trying to fit in, go to class, make friends, adjust to living arrangements and food. The last thing they need to hear is that they are going to hell. The people that are telling them this are acting as "flashlights or fires." The author of the article I mentioned earlier said that being a flashlight or fire in witnessing is like shining on a person for a moment or a short time. It is like putting a person in the spotlight and showing them all their faults and scaring them into Christianity.

Is this the way that Christ showed us? No, in fact he was light. He remained a constant light. He was salt, a seasoning that helped humankind to be even better. As Christian witnesses we are called to be salt and light. We are called to create friendships and lead by example. We are called to help others. We are not called to shine the light on someones faults, tell them they are wrong, and then leave them.

Are you living as salt and light? Let's commit to not be flashlights or fire.

Undo Me

Tonight was United Campus Ministry night at Campbell. At 7p.m. students gathered in Turner Auditorium for Campus Wide Worship. This was a time to hear scripture, sing songs, pray, and reflect. Each of the seven campus ministry groups on campus participate by leading in the various aspects of the service.

I wanted to attend tonight because of the experience that I had last year at the service. I went into that service knowing that I had been questioning my beliefs and my faith. I had just returned from Egypt and it was in Egypt that I was ready to give up all of my faith in Christ. Yet God spoke to me through a friend. After returning back to the States I had a talk with my good friend Faithe Beam, the Campus Minister. She mentioned that there would be a Campus Wide Worship service and that I should consider attending. I went and kind of just went through the motions. I closed my eyes when someone prayed, I stood to sing, and I listened to the scripture, yet my heart wasn't right. During that service, a Nooma video featuring Rob Bell was shown. The video was entitled Rhythm. While I don't remember the words of the video, I do know that it changed my life. It was about how things go together and about finding faith. While viewing that video, I began to cry. When the service was over, I left there a changed person. I shared this experience with Faithe and we rejoiced together. Because of this experience, I wanted to attend tonight.

I arrived tonight with a heavy heart. I have been working for days on end and not focusing on what is important. Today was my day off and I slept until noon. I went and got a pedicure and bought a new watch. I had some "me" time. Although I felt refreshed from the day off, my heart was still heavy. As the service began, I looked around at the numerous students around me. I was surprised when they clapped after everything, from the singing of songs to the reading of scripture. As I listened to a few testimonies, I was reminded of the world travels that I have been on and the people that I have shared Christ with.

During one of the songs we were singing, I must admit that I stopped singing. I stood there wondering why I was there and figured that I wasn't going to have the same experience that I had last year. And then God spoke. The lyrics to the last hymn were put up on the screen. As I stood there I looked at them realizing that it was my favorite hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." I closed my eyes and began to sing the words by heart. This song was played at my ordination and has been a song that I have loved since about the age of 13. After we finished the song, Faithe got on stage and began to speak.

Faithe shared of her experience of turning 40 and Tom and Patrick giving her the chance to go skydiving. She equated the trust that she had to put into her skydiving guide to the trust that we need to have in fellow believers and in God. She gave the imagery of how the guide clipped himself to her to prepare for the jump out of a plane at 14,000 feet, God is clipped onto us. Just like jumping out of a plane and free falling, Faithe was attached to an experienced person that knew what to do. When we take a leap God is holding onto us. Sometimes we forget he is there, but he always is.

When I left the service, I began to think about the lyrics to my favorite hymn. "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" was written by Robert Robinson in the 18th century. Robert was just 22 when he penned the words to the hymn. Robert had a pretty interesting life. His father died when Robert was young and so he turned to recklessness and hooliganism. He had a conversion experience when he was listening to a sermon by George Whitefield. He began to repent for his sins and turned his life to following Christ. Robert became a Methodist minister following this.

As I thought of the words to this hymn, I wondered about what Robert must have been dealing with when he wrote the words. If you look up "fount" you will realize that it means"a source or origin." Basically the song says: Come thou source or origin of every blessing. When we sing this song, we are calling upon God to make his presence known, he is the source of our every blessing. In the second verse, Robinson wrote "Here I raise mine Ebenezer." If you look this up online, there are various definitions of it, usually seen as "standard." Ebenezer is also mentioned in the book of Samuel as a place of battle. Basically, the verse means, I'll raise my standard, and I will wait upon the Lord to help me through. The third verse is one that Faithe mentioned in her "talk". It says, "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love." We are all going to struggle, we are all going to wander. What's important is that we have faith in God and know that even though we wander, He won't leave us, he won't give up on us.

Reflecting on the words to this hymn made me think about one other song. One of my favorite songs in my early college years was Undo Me by Jennifer Knapp. The chorus of the song says, "And it's time to get down on my knees and pray, Lord undo me. Put away my flesh and bone til you own this spirit through me Lord. Undo me." Tonight I realized that I needed to pray for the Lord to undo me. It's time to be on my knees. It's time to be in prayer. This is no time to give up. This is the time to be undone so that the light shines through.

So I pray, Come thou source of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace.

People Amaze me....

Today was the annual Street Fair at Campbell University. Ashley Shanlever was in charge of this event, and I helped her to plan and carry it out. We work together wonderfully as a team. This year we decided to move the time to 4 to 8p.m. We had over 100 tables filled with vendors, businesses, clubs, and local groups. It was awesome. We mailed out letters in early June inviting people to participate giving them a deadline of July 11 to register. This was so that we could receive a permit from the Fire Marshall for our event. We have to map everything out by number of tables, chairs, and electrical outlets.

By July 11, we had received many forms for groups wanting to participate. However, they continued to come in after the date. We continued to take them until we ran out of tables. We then began to allow groups to sign up to participate if they brought their own table. This didn't seem to be a problem.

However, people amaze me. I was sitting at the registration table when a local youth minister approached the table. She said, "I don't think that I registered." Knowing who she is, I said, "no, you didn't." She said, "Well what do I do?" I replied kindly, "You may secure one of the extra tables here behind me and set it up at the end of the walkway." She made a face and began to grumble. She said, "I can't be under a tree?" I said, "no, you didn't submit a form to participate today." Then she said, "well can't I find an empty table and set up?" I said, "no. There are groups that reserved these tables by July 11 and they will be here soon. I cannot give you their tables." She continued to grumble and walked away. I watched her go and set up her table. About 1 hour later I was amazed to look down and see that she was not in her spot. As I began to walk down fellowship commons, I found her about half-way down. She had taken over a table that was reserved for someone else.

As a person who is seminary trained, one would think that she would reply on time to something she wants to participate in, as well as follow the rules. she did neither. I wanted to slap her... and ask her to move back, but I didn't. To top it all off, she left early. What a way to minister to students.

People continue to amaze me.

An Update

So, I haven't written in a while. I've had way too much on my mind and been way too busy to write. There have been several things that I have wanted to write about, so maybe I will get that that sooner or later.

I just thought I would update my readers. Today Welcome Week began. This means a week from you know where for me. Although I love my job, it means A LOT of hours of work. We have planned a lot of excellent events for the week, so I am excited about it. Freshmen moved in today and returning students come back tomorrow. I have about 68 new international students that I am excited to meet as well.

I begin classes at Div school on the 26th. This will begin my last year of Divinity School. I have 19 hours left to complete my degree. I'm looking forward to meeting new faces and making new friends. I'm also looking forward to graduating and moving on.

Joey has been gone for 2 weeks. I miss him a lot, but I'm holding together. I'll get to see him at Six Flags in Atlanta in just a few weeks so I am extremely happy and looking forward to that.

So, there's my update in case you've been wondering. I'll write more this week (I hope.)

$75,000...a little much I think

Today I was reading the news and came across an interesting story. As I was reading it, I was reminded of a similar experience that I had in high school. It turns out that a 14 year old is suing a teacher from her high school for $75,000. Back during Valentine's the student wanted to join the choir in singing valentine grams. When she went in to ask the teacher if she could participate, the teacher supposedly called the girl "ugly" and a "brat". Then she was literally kicked out of the classroom. The school district would not comment, but I wonder what in the world was that teacher thinking? Does she not realize how much damage those comments would make in the life of that child?

While I was never physically kicked out of a classroom, I did have an experience with a teacher in the 9th grade. I was taking Spanish 2 with Sra. Rodriquez. She was a short woman, in her mid 30's and was originally from Puerto Rico. I had heard many things about her and had met her a few times so I was trying to look forward to the class.

After the first test, I hadn't done as well as I would've liked. The day she returned the tests she asked us to take out a piece of paper and wrote a letter home to our parents that would share the grade we got on our first test. While I did not fail it, it certainly was not an "A". Sra. Rodriquez waited until we wrote our letters and then she went around the classroom to sign them. When she got to me, I handed her my note to sign. She shook her head and said, "You are stupid." I thought I heard her wrong so I said, "Excuse me?" She looked me straight in the eye and said, "You are stupid."

I was less than happy at this point. I gathered my things and walked out of the classroom. She followed me into the hallway yelling something about how I couldn't leave and she would write me up. I walked into the office and requested to speak to our principal. I was denied a meeting with him so I went and sat in the guidance counselors office until that block period was over. I went home that day and spoke to both of my parent's about it. The next day, all three of us were in the principals office sharing what had happened with my teacher.

The principal brought Sra. Rodriquez in and questioned her. She said that she told me I was stupid only to challenge me to do better. She claimed it had something to do with her culture and that is the way they worked in Puerto Rico. I kindly looked at her and said, "Well, this isn't Puerto Rico. We don't tell students they are stupid here." After that meeting with the principal she was never reprimanded. My parents couldn't believe it.

One would think after that experience I would have dropped the class or gotten a different teacher. Well, I didn't. I stayed in that class to prove Sra. Rodriquez wrong. I ended up getting an "A" and on the last day of class I walked up to her and said, "See, I'm not stupid" and I walked out.

Obviously, teachers are human and don't always think about what they say. I know this from experience. While I don't think the teacher should have called the teen ugly, a brat, or physically kicked her, I think the $75,000 law suit is a little ridiculous.

Reason to get your Burqa in a wad

This week as I was reading the news online, I found an article that shocked me. The article tells of a Muslim woman named Faiza who has been denied citizenship in France because she wears a burqa. A burqa is the dress of some Muslim women that covers them from head to toe, only leaving a small place for the eyes to look through. Faiza has lived in France with her husband, a French native, and their children since 2000. In 2005, Faiza applied for citizenship in France and was denied. She appealed and last month the French High Court upheld the decision and denied her citizenship. Their reason: her practice of "radical" Islam is not compatible with French values.

How does wearing a burqa make her radical? She's not out killing people. She just lives in her home, takes care of the children, and tries to be a good wife. The government in France doesn't think that she should be so submissive to her husband. The truth is, in Islam the women are supposed to be submissive to their father and husband. They are taught this through their religious beliefs. In their world, there is nothing wrong with wearing a hijab or burqa. It is about modesty.

After I read this article, I was interesting in finding out something about religious freedom in France. I did a little research and found that freedom of religion is guaranteed in France by constitutional rights set forth in 1789. There is to be separation of church and state. However, there is a law that states that students in public schools may not wear articles of religious symbolism. While this does include crosses and stars of David, etc. the people of France felt like it was against Muslim hijabs. I don't see how this law makes sense. How does that keep separation of church and state in tact?

The truth is, denying this woman citizenship over her wearing a burqa is absolutely ridiculous. It is her choice to wear that and no one else's. If the Muslims in France get their "burqa's in a wad" over this one... I think they have every right.

Freedom for a few...or for all?

Today we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence that occurred on July 4, 1776. As citizens of the United States we are thankful for the freedoms that we have in this country, although I think that we often take many of them for granted.

The 4th of July as it is often called is usually celebrated with parades, food, fairs, sports games, and fireworks. The fireworks are my favorite part of the holiday. I'll be going tonight to view a fireworks show and I hope it's good.

One of the freedoms that we often take for granted comes in the form of the First Amendment. It says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

As a small girl growing up in a Baptist church I remember that we often mentioned the freedom of religion that we have in the United States and prayed for people in other countries who don't have that same freedom. I remember discussing foreign countries that don't have this freedom and about the people who wished they lived in the USA for just that reason.

On this 4th of July, I am thankful for that freedom. This week I read an article that angered me. The article told of some Houston, Texas residents that were angered because they began finding Holy Korans on their doorsteps about two weeks ago. The Korans on the doorsteps did not anger me. The response of the recipients angered me.

The Korans have been distributed by The Book of Signs group. The group claims to have distributed 30,000 books to people. The foundation, which left the books on doormats or hanging from doorknobs, said in a note accompanying the Koran that "rather than judging Islam and Muslims by the actions of a few, we want our fellow citizens to judge us by the book that influences and guides the lives of over 1 billion Muslims.

The article reports that some people destroyed the book. One woman reports that she did not, but what she had to say is angering. "If we went into a Muslim country and left a Bible, we would be in prison and then decapitated a few years later," said Sue Ann Pieri.

Well, Ms. Pieri, this is not a Muslim country. We live in the United States of America. We are free to choose our own religion. Her statement shows her ignorance because distributing Bibles in a Muslim country has nothing to do with this Koran distribution. I wonder, what is the difference in the distribution of Korans than that of the Gideons leaving Bibles in hotel or hospital rooms or Jehovah's Witnesses going from door to door with pamphlets about their beliefs?

I really see no difference. We have freedom of religion here and I'm thankful.

Happy 4th of July!

This summer

Last year at this time I was packing my bags and getting ready to leave for Egypt. I packed two huge suitcases and a carry on and made my way to Virginia. I flew out of Washington Dulles International Airport to Frankfurt, Germany. After a layover for a couple hours, I flew on to Cairo, Egypt. I spent 3 weeks in Egypt before heading back to the States to start my new job at Campbell University.

I've included a picture of a sunrise in the Sinai desert. This is a place that I watched the sunrise from the side of a desert mountain. I cried at the beauty of it and experienced the presence of God.

This summer, I didn't get to travel anywhere out of the country. So far this summer I've completed one class for 3 credits and I begin another one tomorrow. After this class is over, I'll only have 19 hours left to finish my masters degree.

While I wish I had been able to travel at least a little, I'm happy to be able to complete these classes and being closer to graduating. What have you been up to?

Things change

I was sitting here tonight thinking about how things change. I moved to Buies Creek 2 1/2 years ago into the apartment I still live in today. One of my roommates was Ahunna. I've included one of the pictures we took together during my first weeks here. She'd probably kill me if she knew I was posting her picture.

We have lived together for the past 2 1/2 years. We have had our good times and our bad times. We've also had two other roommates (1 at a time) and each have had their own personality conflicts with us.

At any rate, Ahunna has been moving out over the past few weeks. Things are changing around my apartment. I am hanging new curtains, changing the furniture around and generally getting things the way I like them. Ahunna is getting married on Saturday. I'll go to her wedding to celebrate with her.

As much as I like the changes that I'm making, things won't be the same around here. Many memories have been made with Ahunna and I will always remember the times we spent together.


May we always treasure the friendships we have as the world continues to change.

The World is Full of Stupid People

Everybody knows: The world if full of stupid people, so meet me at the mission at midnight and we'll divvy up there.

This is a line from the song "Banditos" by the Refreshments. I am reminded often that the world is full of stupid people. Lately as I have been reading the news online I have been reminded of that more and more.

Take for example, the Louisiana store clerk that consumed five pints of vodka while at work, fell, hurt himself and then called cops to report a "fake" robbery.

Just yesterday, the story of the Alabama parents that are claiming the middle school classes are segregated was brought to my attention. "The parents of several black junior high school students have filed a discrimination lawsuit claiming their children are subject to racial slurs and punished more harshly than white students at Monroeville Junior High School." This action was originally filed last August, but has been turned down by several lawyers. Do these parents really think they have a case? The case has been investigated and has been found to be "baseless".

Authorities in Germany have arrested a couple for a listing they made on eBay. The couple listed a 7 month old baby for sale for 1 euro or about $1.60. The baby has been removed from the home and placed in the care of Youth Services. The mother told the police that the listing on eBay was just a joke, but the people viewing it didn't. No offers were made during the 2 hours and 30 minutes that the child was up for sale, and eBay has deleted the listing from the site.

Things are a little off in New Mexico. A group there is seeking a ban on Wi-Fi signals in public buildings because they say they are allergic to wireless signals. One man claims he gets chest pains that don't go away soon enough. The city councilor says its 2008 not 1692. He says the people of Santa Fe need to embrace technology. The most stupid part of the story, I thought, was found in the last line. "The Santa Fe city attorney is checking to see if the Wi-Fi signals could be considered a form of discrimination, KOB reports." Are you kidding me?

As I was going through the news from back home in Richmond, I found the most stupid story of the week. A Petersburg, Virginia parent is suing the city School Board for $5,000 because they changed the time of her son's graduation ceremony. See HERE for yourself. The School Board changed the time of the graduation for 277 high school students from 6p.m. to 10 a.m. as they were concerned about the comfort of the attendees having to sit on metal bleachers. The mother that is suing the school board states that she had ordered 25 invitations with the old time on them with a cost of a little over $300. She is suing for $5,000 because the change in time will cause her to have to be absent from work and the change in time will cause suffering to the family because they will be unable to get off in time from work to get to the graduation. I seriously don't know how she thinks this case is going to go anywhere. The School Board held public meetings to gather input from the public about the time of the graduation. The principal of the school also met with the senior class and sent a letter home to their parents when the decision had been made. This woman's 500 signatures shouldn't make much difference, but her ignorance shows through in every facet of the story.


So as you can see, these news stories just confirm the world is full of stupid people.

Going home

It's funny that my last post was about treasuring the time I spend with my parents. I woke up this morning after having an interesting night only to have a misunderstanding with my roommate. It ended with me slamming my door, showering, packing, and getting on the road. Where was I going? HOME.

After a 3 1/2 hour drive, I pulled into my driveway and this is what I saw:
While the picture turned out dark, I felt like I was in heaven being home. I hadn't seen this place in months. As I got out of the car and gathered my things, I noticed my mom on the side deck waving out to me. She was just as excited to see me as I was to be home.

This was not the house I grew up in. I grew up in the house two drives down. This is the house we moved to about 5 years ago. It is the house that my grandparents lived in for many years. I went in and looked out the back window. I looked out over the green fields and was reminded of just how much I love this place.

Tonight, I sat in the hot tub and watched the stars and the planes. When I was growing up I would sit in the yard with my dad and watch the planes go by. Some would fly north to Washington D.C. while others fly east to Richmond. Some are military planes, others are carrying hundreds of people. After counting the stars, I looked out towards the back yard. There's the barn I remember playing in as a little girl. It has been there for over 50 years. There's the jet ski, the boat, the golf cart, and random pieces of junk. As I looked at each thing in the back yard, I was reminded of stories from the past.

I rarely come home, so when I do it is like a retreat for me. I can come and go as I please. I get to talk to my parents and enjoy the conversations. However, after a few days I'm ready to leave. I'll be missing the freedom and the people I have in North Carolina. But for now, I'm happy to be home.


(Photos: first photo is of my house as I drove up this evening. second is of my mom waving at me.)

I get it...

When I first accepted my job at Campbell University working with international students I was told that I needed to find ways to get to know the students and really get on their level. As I began to meet students and hear their excitement about being back in school or for being in the United States for the first time, I kept hearing something of the same tune over and over again. These students missed their parents. Each of my students comes to Buies Creek leaving behind moms, dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and so on. While all students leave their families behind, international students have to leave them much further behind. As the students began to share about missing their parents I could only listen. I hadn't experienced the extreme sense of missing my family like the internationals.

Throughout the past year I have realized that I get it. I understand (to an extent) what it is like to be far away from family. While I only live 3 1/2 hours away from my family, I don't get to see them that often. It used to be that I traveled home about once a month. Now there are weeks on end between the time I see my parents and sister. The last time I went home to Virginia was in the middle of March. It's now the middle of May and I still haven't been home. However, tonight I got a special treat. My mom and dad happened to be driving through North Carolina so I got to meet them for dinner and share with them for Mother's Day and dads 53rd birthday. It was lots of fun seeing them and reconnecting.

I need to admit, I get it. I know what it's like to miss someone so much that you can't put it into words. I know what it is like to feel so far away. The talks on the phone are nice but that gets old. Sometimes you just need a hug from your mom. I guess that other than "getting it" (understanding what my students deal with) I am realizing how much I am growing up. I graduate with my master of divinity next year and after that who knows where I will end up.

Until the next time I get to see my family, I will treasure the few hours we spent together tonight.

Put a smile on your face. Laugh out Loud.

I have found that when I am feeling down a good hearty laugh out loud makes me feel better. I might feel better for that moment or it may last and help me to get over the situation all together. The thing about me is that I don't laugh out loud often enough. I laugh on the inside, holding things in. I'm told that you can really know when I think something is funny because I do in fact let out a good hearty laugh.

As I was thinking about laughing, I remembered that my church history professor at the beginning of the semester said something about the importance of laughter. She talked about how it was contagious and how good laughter is for your health. Out of nowhere she started to laugh. She had a glow on her face. She was right, it was contagious. The classroom started to fill with laughter as the various students sat there and laughed.

My professor was right. Laughter is good for our health. "The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. Humor and laughter can cause a domino effect of joy and amusement, as well as set off a number of positive physical effects. Humor and laughter strengthen our immune systems and help us recover from illness, as well as bring joy into our lives."
Helpguide.org provides much information on the benefits of laughter. Not only does laughter help our emotional health, it can also have numerous benefits on our physical health from lowering blood pressure to preventing heart disease.

I realized today that lately I have been surrounded by negative people. When I'm surrounded by negative people I become negative. Instead of having a positive outlook on life I am finding myself being negative about most things. Today I was called by a negative person. I listened to her and then when were finished I got off the phone and started to laugh. I realized that everything she was complaining about was out of my hands and I could do absolutely nothing about it. As I was laughing she called back. She called to complain again and get my advise. I told her that it was her issue and she needed to figure out how to handle it. When we hung up again, I smiled. Look what laughter can do. For a moment, I feel better (and healthier).

So tell a joke, watch a comedian, or just laugh for no other reason than to laugh. It will make you feel better.

Reality

So reality is beginning to set in. Please don't ask me how I am going to get through this summer...because only God knows.

On May 12 my best friend will graduate from Divinity School. She will be moving later that week to Forest City, North Carolina. That is approximately 4 hours away from me. I'm devistated. She is not only my best friend, she is my sister. Over the past 2 1/2 years she has become my family. I'm going to miss having her so close. It's gonna be tough.

During the months of June and July I will be taking two classes at the Divinity School. After this summer I have 19 hours left to finish my Master of Divinity. While that is exciting, something else is going to happen in July that I'd rather not think about. My boyfriend will be moving back to Alabama, 9 hours away.


So..reality has set in. Life is going to change right before my eyes. And only God knows how I'm gonna get through it.

Baptist’s Today and Beyond

“In 2009, Baptists will celebrate a huge 400th birthday party. Born in 1609, they began, as all infants, struggling to survive. Today, however, Baptists number 43 million people in over 200 countries in every continent of the world. Hassled, heckled, and persecuted both in England and America in the seventeenth century, Baptists of the twenty-first century have become the largest Protestant denominational family in North America. Baptists have come a very long way!”[1]

Many Baptist denominations still exist today. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is continuing to grow and thrive. The Fellowship is determining where the future is going to lead and how the Fellowship as Baptist leaders will lead into the future.

In 2008, Jimmy Carter sponsored the meeting of the New Baptist Covenant Celebration. With an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 participants, this meeting was historic. It was historic in the sense that it was the first time that African American and White Baptists had come together for worship and for planning for the future. While the details of what will come out of this meeting are still being determined, it was interesting to be a part of something so new and so fresh.

At a recent meeting with a CBF administrator, we asked what was the future of CBF? Her answer was, “What do you want it to be?” So as a challenge, let us think about what we want Baptists to be. Baptists will continue to grow and thrive and to follow the scripture and to live for religious freedoms. Baptists will always have unity and diversity because we have the freedom to choose and believe as we wish to. So the question remains, as a Baptist, what do you believe and where do you want Baptists to be in the next generation?

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[1] Baptist History and Heritage Society, Turning Points in Baptist History by Walter Shurden, 2001. Available from http://www.centerforbaptiststudies.org/pamphlets/style/turningpoints.htm Internet: Accessed 6 April 2008.

Baptist's in the 20th Century

Denominational development, controversy, reorganization and incredible growth characterized Baptist life in the United States during the nineteenth century. Despite much turmoil, the Baptist population grew rapidly. By 1900, nearly 4.2 million Americans identified themselves as Baptists, and that number would continue to grow.[1] As Everett C. Goodwin noted, the twentieth century would truly be a “Baptist century,” and by “century’s end, Baptists would imprint their style, their values, and even their quarrels on much of the nations consciousness.”[2]

In the early years of the twentieth century, Baptists in the United States sought ways to work together and to unite with other Baptist groups worldwide. The desire for unity among Baptists was most clearly evident in the formation of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) in 1905.

During the twentieth century, Southern Baptists experience significant numerical and institutional growth. They also increased their worldwide influence, and dealt with several denominational controversies. The growth can be seen in the number of Southern Baptist churches that were present. In 1900, there were only two Southern Baptist churches outside of the south. By 1972, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) had churches in all fifty states. The organization of SBC churches outside of the south led to renewed conflict between Northern and Southern Baptists. The two groups tried to meet on several occasions and iron out rules to deal with conventions in the States. Ultimately, each time the agreements failed because the Southern Baptists did not hold up to the agreements.

Baptists in the twentieth century have faced many trials. There have been many issues to deal with from what to believe to who should be in charge. Perhaps one of the most popular controversies that are discussed today is the Fundamentalist-Moderate controversy or the fundamentalist takeover. “Two factions, Fundamentalists and Moderates, polarized the SBC from 1979-1990. While the war at the national SBC level between the rival parties ended in 1990, the fallout still persists.”[3] With numerous antecedents, the conflict began on 12-14 June, 1979, at the annual meeting of the SBC in Houston, Texas. Three fundamentalist leaders emerged prominently at that meeting and skillfully guided the Fundamentalists to triumph over the Moderates for twelve years. Those three were Paige Patterson, Paul Pressler, and Adrian Rogers. Beginning in the spring of 1979, Pressler and Patterson designed and announced a ten-year plan whereby Fundamentalists could gain political control of the Southern Baptist Convention. They garnered a following by proclaiming that “liberalism” had invaded the entire denominational system and they discovered that they could use the appointive powers of the SBC presidency and thereby dominate the denomination.[4]

Following the 1979 election of Adrian Rogers as SBC president, all of the seven presidents through the election of 1990 were Fundamentalists who used their powers to achieve the fundamentalist agenda by stacking the boards of all trustee agencies, something never done in SBC history. By 1990, hardliners dominated nearly ever SBC agency. Throughout all of this the fundamentalist rallying cry was the inerrancy of the Bible. In all of this, the Fundamentalists want you to believe that they believed the Bible and the Moderates did not. That was wrong and is wrong all though there are evident differences in the way the two parties read the Bible. The two parties have contended over the inerrancy issue and how the Bible is to be interpreted.

Theologically, they wrangled over the role of women and pastoral authority. Fundamentalists insisted on the hierarchy of male-female relationships and denied a woman’s right for ordination to the ministry or the diaconate. Moderates, more egalitarian, advocated equality between women and men and affirmed ordination for women. Fundamentalists stated that with pastoral authority the pastor is to “rule” the church. Moderates believed that this was contrary to what the Bible teaches as well as what Baptists have believed since their beginning. Educationally, the two parties argued over almost every facet of theological education. Much of the heat focused on theological seminaries especially Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before the battle was over, both of these institutions were firmly in the grasp of fundamentalist control and undergoing radical transformation under fundamentalist presidents. As with other issues, the fundamentalists and moderates disagreed on everything from ethics, missiology, and politics.[5] These were the two sides and there was a nasty war in the middle.

Moderates did not want to give up. After a decade of losing they were exhausted. They quit the politics of the SBC. They continued, however, a process that had begun as early as 1983, creating their own structures. One of these structures was the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship which began in August of 1990. The birth (of the CBF) came about when a group of Baptists separated from the SBC following a decade of heated controversy. The moderates fought back. They worked to get the vote. In 1990, moderates mounted one last effort at the SBC meeting in New Orleans, nominating Daniel Vestal as president. Despite a six week campaign tour, Vestal gained only 42 percent of the vote and was defeated.[6]

Just two months after his defeat, Vestal called for a meeting of moderate Baptists in Atlanta, Georgia. Expecting several hundred to participate, leaders were surprised when over 3,000 participants showed up. This began the planning and implementation of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship that is a growing and thriving fellowship in today’s Baptist world.

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[1] Durso, Pamela R. and Keith Durso. The Story of Baptists in the United States. (Tennessee: Baptist History and Heritage Society: 2006)149.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Shurden, Walter B. Not a Silent People. (Georgia: Smyth and Helwys: 1995) 84.

[4] Ibid. 85.

[5] Ibid. 89.

[6] Durso, Pamela. A Short History of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Movement. (Tennessee: Baptist History and Heritage Society: 2006) 4.

What do Baptists Believe?

“What makes a Baptist a Baptist? The ultimate and final answer, of course, is simple: membership in a local Baptist church… But there are all kinds of Baptist groups and Baptist churches! So what are the spiritual and theological marks of a Baptist? What are the distinctive, convictions or ideals that Baptists rally around and that make a Baptist a Baptist?”[1] Winthrop Hudson, one of Baptist’s best historians and keenest twentieth century interpreters, noted correctly that pioneer Baptists of seventeenth century England did not set out to identify “Baptist distinctive.” Their concern was instead to be faithful and obedient Christians.

Dr. Walter Shurden’s book The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms outlines the four basic beliefs that Baptists have. He said that he arrived at these Baptist Freedoms by analyzing the sermons and addresses given from around the world and at the Baptist World Alliance from 1905 to 1980. He outlines the following four freedoms:

Bible Freedom is the historic Baptist affirmation that the Bible, under the Lordship of Christ, must be central in the life of the individual and church and that Christians, with the best and most scholarly tools of inquiry, are both free and obligated to study and obey the Scripture.

Soul Freedom is the historic affirmation of the inalienable right and responsibility of every person to deal with God without the imposition of creed, the interference of clergy, or the intervention of civil government.

Church Freedom is the historic Baptist affirmation that local churches are free, under the Lordship of Christ, to determine their membership and leadership, to order their worship and work, to ordain whom they perceive as gifted for ministry, male or female, and to participate in the larger body of Christ, of whose unity and mission Baptists are proudly a part.

Religious Freedom is the historic Baptist affirmation of freedom OF religion, freedom FOR religion, and freedom FROM religion insisting that Caesar is not Christ and Christ is not Caesar.[2]

Shurden also shared from a document issued by the Baptist Heritage Commission of the Baptist World Alliance in 1989 at Zagreb, Yugoslavia (now Croatia). Entitled “Towards a Baptist Identity,” the statement was deliberately descriptive rather than creedal. He used the five summary statements from this document in his book. They are as follows:

Baptists are:

i. -members of the whole Christian family who stress the experience of personal salvation
through faith in Jesus, symbolized both in baptism and the Lord’s Supper;

ii. -those who under the Lordship of Jesus Christ have bonded together in free local congregations, together seeking to obey Christ in faith and in life;

iii. -those who follow the authority of Scriptures in all matters of faith and practice;

iv. -those who have claimed religious liberty for themselves and all people;

v. -those who believe that the Great Commission to take the Gospel to the whole world is the responsibility of the whole membership.[3]

It is interesting to note that Shurden made a distinction by writing that this was more description than creedal. William Tuck wrote in his book a section on creeds and why Baptists are opposed to them. Tuck wrote, “As Baptists, we have never believed that creeds should be imposed on others.”[4] As Baptists, we sometimes have used affirmations or confessions of faith, but these are not to be viewed as creeds. According to Tuck, creeds have always had limitations and inadequacies. “As Baptists, we affirm that no theological statement is ever final or complete. No one person or group of persons can formulate our theology for us and say that this is what we have to believe. Our forefathers and mothers have fought and died for this free tradition.”[5]

“If Baptists experience a rebirth of commitment to Bible Freedom, Soul Freedom, Church Freedom, and Religious Freedom, they would not only rediscover their roots and their identity, they would become prophetically relevant to the world today.”[6] Baptists have the freedom to believe and to worship as they wish. Baptists are surrounded by freedoms but with those freedoms come responsibility. The responsibility is to have authentic faith. Speak what you know and let your actions match your words. Shurden closes The Baptist Identity with the following statement: “The historical Baptist identity, therefore, has been chiseled primarily from freedom rather than control, voluntaryism rather than coercion, individualism rather than a ‘pack mentality,’ personal religion rather than proxy religion, and diversity rather than uniformity.”[7]

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[1] Shurden, Walter B. The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms. (Georgia: Smyth and Helwys: 1993) 1.

[2] Ibid. 4-5.

[3] Ibid. 5-6.

[4] Tuck, William Powell. Our Baptist Tradition. (Georgia: Smyth & Helwys, 1993)22.

[5] Ibid. 19.

[6] Shurden, Walter B. The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms. (Georgia: Smyth and Helwys: 1993)55.

[7] Ibid. 59.

Coming to America

Only thirty years after John Smyth and Thomas Helwys organized the first Baptist church in Amsterdam, the first Baptist baptismal service in America took place.[1] Sometime in early 1639, a group of about twenty believers gathered for worship in Providence, Rhode Island. This group had studied the New Testament and had rejected infant baptism. They concluded that only believers who had professed their faith were to be baptized. They also decided that magistrates should not have control over religious convictions or practices.

Having committed themselves to these Baptist beliefs, the group and their leader decided that the time had come to hold a baptismal service. Their leader was Roger Williams. A fellow believer, Ezekiel Holliman, performed the baptism of Williams and then Williams baptized the other believers.[2] This group had ended up in Rhode Island because of the General Courts appeal to Williams to give up his Separatist and Anabaptist beliefs that were like those of John Smyth.[3] Instead of giving up his beliefs, Roger Williams moved to Providence, Rhode Island with the intent to live in a colony with religious freedom. This place became a haven for those seeking this freedom. The colony’s charter was granted in 1663 and it guaranteed that all citizens could exercise and enjoy “all their civil and religious rights.”[4] During the early years of this colony most of the settlers could be described as Separatists. However, in early 1639, Williams and his followers embraced the New Testament teachings that they had been studying. Williams did not remain a Baptist long. Despite his departure, the Baptist church in Providence survived.

A few years after the formation of this first church, a second Baptist church was formed in Newport, Rhode Island. The Newport church had as its leader, John Clarke. He was born in England and baptized as an infant. He was trained as a physician but was also knowledgeable in law and theology. His Separatist views led him to move his family to New England to escape the influence of the state church. Many historians view Clark as the Father of American Baptists. After the English government granted the charter for Rhode Island the dream of Williams and Clarke had come true. The Baptist Churches in American did begin to sprout up in other colonies, but slowly. Following Rhode Island, Baptists could be found in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine. Following were New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Many of the first Baptists in these colonies were women.[5]

The Middle Colonies did not suffer from the religious intolerance that the New England colonies did. Pennsylvania was the first to have Baptist churches. The first permanent Baptist Association was established in Philadelphia in 1707 when five small churches banded together. Churches in the south also formed. A Baptist church in South Carolina was formed in Charleston when a minister from Maine moved his congregation to get away from the Indian raids. The second Southern colony where a Baptist church was established was Virginia. Virginia Baptists ended up making a plea to the General Baptists in England for help asking them to send qualified clergy. Their request was made over and over. Finally two men were sent and one died in route. The other, Robert Norden formed the Prince George church and they were a General Six Principle Baptist church which was based on the six principles found in Hebrews 6:1-2.[6]

Baptists beliefs slowly spread throughout the colonies and Baptist churches gradually were formed. For about one hundred years Rhode Island served as a major center for Baptists, and until 1750 Baptists in that colony outnumbered Baptists in any other colony.[7] The theological differences among Baptists in early America were most clearly evidenced by the number of Baptist groups that formed from 1639 to 1750. At least eleven Baptist groups organized during that period. [8]

Baptists continued to grow and form congregations all over the colonies. As is evidenced in the number of Baptist groups that were organized, groups could form based on any kind of beliefs and principles, however the one key truth that all Baptist’s believe in is that of believer’s baptism. This is still the strongest belief that holds Baptists together today.

(Photo Credit: Roger Williams: http://www.stockton.edu/~gilmorew/0colhis/v1nwen2.htm)

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[1] Durso, Pamela R. and Keith Durso. The Story of Baptists in the United States. (Tennessee: Baptist History and

Heritage Society: 2006) 25.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid. 28.

[4]Ibid. 29.

[5] Ibid. 36.

[6] Ibid. 39.

[7] Ibid. 40.

[8] Ibid.