A long, needed update

Ok, so as you have all observed (if there are any of you left out there), I have not updated in such a long time, and my consistancy has been TERRIBLE. Hopefully I still have those of you out there who at least check to see if I've updated...well, here you go!

Things have been going really well here. I have been thinking about this semester lately, and this is kind of humorous. I have never wanted a semester to start more than this one, and I have never wanted a semester to end more than this one. I wanted it to start so badly because I missed it so much when I was out this past spring. I was ready to get back in the swing of things, get back on track to *eventually* graduate, see my friends, become more educated...I was longing for that. It's so weird what one semester away can do. I missed so much last semester. When people talk about things that happen, the inside jokes, all that--they assume I know about them, then they slowly realize that I wasn't here. Then I make some joke about how I couldn't be here because I had cancer...GOSH!! Obviously, I had no choice in the matter of being at school, but there's so much I missed, and sometimes I feel segregated because of the times, experiences, laughs...that I missed. With all that, I was ready to get back, to see my friends..and I'm so glad that I did.

NOW....I am ready for this semester to be OVER!!! Don't get me wrong-I love being here, living amongst college students, having that FREEDOM of coming and going whenever, not having to check in, knowing that the choices that I make will be good even though I may be out late...It's nice. But, this is the HARDEST semester that I have ever had. My workload is much. I live in the library, the Christian studies department, and the music department. I have enjoyed getting into my Christian studies courses, because I have learned so many valuable and applicable things in them. I need rest though. I need time away, to get on track. I started the semester trying to stay ahead, and now I cannot get caught up, it seems. When I came back after Thanksgiving break, I felt very rested. I walked into a voice lesson without warming up (which is bad...I usually need AT LEAST a 15 minute warm-up, especially since my surgeries) and my voice responded instantly. I didn't sing at all while I was home. I gave my voice a break, and it was very worthwhile. Sometimes when we step away from things and come back into them later, we do better than if we were to constantly be at it, practicing, reviewing...what have you. Plus, I have to sing a lot in the next two weeks, so any rest I can give my voice is good.

I cannot believe that next week is the last week of classes. Although I have been wanting this semester to be over, it has flown by. Where in the world did November go? I often say that I love school, except for classes get in the way of enjoying it. That is why the first couple weeks of the semester are my favorite, because there is not much going on, and I can enjoy the company of my friends without being stressed. I love it.

Well..hopefully there's more to come. I will update amid the madness.

Meet the guy in my life...

For those of you who don't know...this is my boyfriend, Mark. This picture was actually taken 2 years ago. We were both in the wedding party, so he was my escort as we walked down the isle for Shane and Jessica's wedding. I know this isn't the best picture...our faces look pretty funny, but it's all I have for now. He is in Michigan while I'm below the mason-dixon line. He is simply amazing. It's so cool for me to think that I've known him for 8 years, and we have been friends all this time, and NOW, we are dating. I am so happy that he is in my life in this new way.

What in the world...

I have seen a lot of the Darwin icthus' lately, and frankly, it makes me sick. Not only are those who display this their cars making fun of those that are Christians, but they are also taking a symbol that is sacred and making a mockery of it.

The icthus happened back in early Christianity when it was dangerous to display faith. People drew the outline of this fish to symbolize that they were Christians, so they could quitely display their faith, and see those who also wore their faith.

I understand that people are going to believe what they want. Why do they have to make fun of what we believe? What I don't understand, is why they believe something that is so hard to believe. They think that our faith has questions...they have so many more questions in what they believe, and the more they research, the more they have to back up and change what they originally thought.

Aquinas wrote in his Summa Theologiae about "The Five Proofs of God". His first proof states that since some things move, there must be a cause to which they move other than itself. This could be one of two things: Either there is a chain that infinitely regresses, or there is an unmoved mover, one that moves everything. Since an infinite chain that goes back and back is impossible, it must be there is an original mover, and that is God.

His second proof is almost the same, except that he talks about cause. Everything is caused and there must be something uncaused that is causing them, therefore, God.

The third proof states that there are things that are contingent; they come into being and then they pass away. These things are logically contingent and not necessary. There must be something that is logically necessary and that is God.

His fourth proof talks about the different degrees of perfection found in the world. If things are thought of as more or less good, there must be a source that is the definition of perfect goodness, and this is God. How can we say some things have more good than another, if there isn't an ultimate good?

The fifth and final proof is the argument from design, often called the teological argument (from the greek telos, meaning end or goal). The universe is designed with us in mind (anthropic principle). If the earth were a little farther, we'd freeze. If the earth were a little closer, we'd die of heat. Everything is in the perfect place suitable for us to live in. This argument also goes on to say that everything works together for an ending or goal. How can things act in such awareness if they aren't drected by an intelligent being, this being God?

I love to talk about the different proofs for the existence of God. It just makes sense to me...there is a God, who created us, who still exists, who offers eternal life to us, and those who do not take this path...well, you know the answer to that.
I love getting off on tangents...