My New Not-So-Childish Ambition

As I was watching college football with my roommates last weekend, I have been inspired to become something new. USC was playing, and it was the beginning of the game, Tommy Trojan was riding around the stadium on his white stallion with his plume and cape streaming behind him. Fans were cheering, people were happy. Then the best part comes: Tommy the Trojan unsheathed his sword and stabs it into the ground in a tidal wave of symbolism.

That was the moment my fate was decided: If I were to be a part of a college and/or professional sport, i would want nothing more than to be the mascot. I'm pretty sure though being any mascot would be fun, I thing being SC's would be the best. Why, you ask? Duh. The sword!

So sorry to all you Bruins fans, the bear just doesn't do it for me. But since my dreams of being Tommy Trojan probably will not happen since I am not a male, maybe I'll show up for the Bruins Mascot Tryouts next year. I'll keep you posted.

Taking Courage

I'm currently going through the book of 2nd Chronicles during my devotion time each morning. I think sometimes we as believers can get caught up in the New Testament (not like its a bad thing) and forget how the LORD has paved the way and provided for His people before Christ's coming. So in light of that, I've been trying to journey through the OT as much as I can.
I came across an interesting verse the other day and haven't really stopped thinking about the concept. It is when the King of Judah, Asa, hears the words of a prophet telling the king that the LORD is with him. It says, "When Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin..." (2 Chronicles 15:8). Asa took courage. How interesting this statement is to me! Taking courage, as if it sits on a shelf or on the floor of my closet, easy to put on as a pair of socks.
What if it is really that easy? If we know that the LORD is all good, all loving, all-gracious and all-giving, why would taking courage be any harder than taking a breath? If we trust that the lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly from the LORD, we have no reason to fear anything in our paths. We can take courage, for we know intimately the love and care of the LORD.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage, be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9

The Soundtrack of My Life

I was walking from work on campus today to the place I have lunch almost every day (Charlie Brown's Cafe, CBC for the locals), and there was what is called a Nooner. Every Tuesday in one of the main quads there is a band or a musician who sets up shop and plays his or her music for an hour. As I was half listening to the solo and unplugged girl up there, it got me thinking about something absolutely dire: If my life had a soundtrack, what would be on it? So I put together one as soon as I got home today. I made a rule for myself that it had to be on my iTunes (but there is one exception) and there could only be one song from a band or artist. Here is what came up in no specific order:

Pocket Full of Sunshine-Natasha Benningfield (the exception)

Stillness-Aaron Shust

Blue Suede Shoes-Elvis Presley

Little Bitty Pretty One-Hootie and the Blowfish

I Want to Hold Your Hand-The Beatles

Ring of Fire-Johnny Cash

Please, Before I Go-Derek Webb

My Own Two Hands-Jack Johnson and Ben Harper

Down in the River to Pray-Allison Krauss

Far Away-Ingrid Michaelson

Compliante de la Butte-Rufus Wainwright

Hey-Jordan Yee

Where the Green Grass Grows-Tim McGraw

Suddenly I See-KT Tunstall

Girl From the North Country-Bob Dylan

Blue Eyes-Elton John

Table for Two-Caedmon's Call

No One's Gonna Love You-Band of Horses

Better Days-Goo Goo Dolls

The Blood-Shane and Shane

Beautiful Scandalous Night-Sixpence None the Richer

Weatherman-Damien Rice

Dancin' in the Moonlight-Toploader

Sing Hallelujah-Joe and Eddie

The Last Time He Saw Dorrie-Copeland

For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti-Sufjan Stevens

Gravity-Shawn McDonald

Swallowed in the Sea-Coldplay

Summertime-Mae

Elephant Love Medley-Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman

When in Rome-Nickel Creek

Resurrection-Paul Wright

Chasing Cars-Snow Patrol

Look After You-The Fray

Sinkin' Soon-Norah Jones

Collide-Jars of Clay

Hear You Me-Jimmy Eat World

Beautiful Day-U2

Slow Motion-David Gray

I Shall Not Walk Alone-Ben Harper

Into the Sun-Lifehouse

Prayers of the Saints-Dave Barnes

Martyrs and Thieves-Jennifer Knapp

Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen

Break Bread-Josh Garrels

My Love Hasn't Grown Cold-Bethany Dillon

Its All Coming Back to Me Now-Celine Dion

I Will Wait-The David Crowder Band

So as this is the official (but not necessarily permanent) soundtrack to my life, feel free to check any of these people out on iTunes. They are all fabulous. Go forward with music.

Home

I'm taking this great class with a focus on Jewish Literature, even more focused on the ideas of home and exile. Our professor had us do a free write today for about twenty minutes on the idea of home-where we feel at home, what it is like, etc. Then we were to write about a place that we have visited that had an impact or was special in our lives. Here is what I wrote:

The meaning of home is solid and yet fluid, can mean the place I grew up or the place I sleep at night. Generally it means a place where the people I love reside, where I can also love.
My dad always says that home is where the toothbrush is. In that case, I've got at least two, maybe up all the way to four. One in Rohnert Park, two in OrangeVale, and maybe one in Santa Clarita.
If this truly is the case, I've had many homes, the most recent being in McDermitt, Nevada. Six weeks in the desert on an Indian Reservation, the classroom where my coworkers and I slept certainly was home. We slept there, we escaped the noisy campers, we got some quiet and sanity there. It was not home forever, but certainly a good season.
I won't have a permanent home here on Earth. I was not meant to stay here, and I don't want to either. When I have the knowledge of a place where the streets are made of gold and a King reigns forevermore, why would I ever desire to stay on earth? No, my home is in heaven with Jesus. I've seen Jesus my Lord, and desire nothing more but to be with Him.