Some of my siblings call me "Vulcan"* because I don't express my emotions a lot, but recently, it's been hard for me. Why has it been so hard?
* A Vulcan is a humanoid alien from Star Trek, and they are known for suppressing their emotions. Yes, I'm somewhat a Trekkie.
A few weeks ago, the senior pastor at my church announced after the service that our associate pastor / youth leader and his family are leaving and moving away. This past Sunday was their last service together here, so we had a big goodbye fellowship after the evening service. They were only here for two and half years, but it felt like so much longer than that.
As a surprise, a few of us put our heads together and made a surprise gift for them: a photo book of the youth group and most of the members that have been in the group since he was here. Then, at the fellowship, we gave it to them, along with a Hallmark card. Most of us signed both items, and they really loved it all.
Last night was the youth group's first night with a new (temporary) youth leader. His short message was on Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. It encouraged me so much, and I look forward to what God will do through this situation.
Thursday
Sunday
Universalism
Perhaps some of you have heard that all people are going to Heaven, even if they don't get saved. A few days ago, I came across 1 Timothy 4:10 - "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."
Some people seem to believe that this verse supports the belief of "universalism." Well, in the side note of my study Bible, the Greek word that is translated "specially" expressed the sense of "particularly." Jesus Christ is the Saviour for all - all who believe on Him.
The phrase "all men" pictures the trans-national scope of the Gospel. Thus, Christ is Saviour of people who believe on Him, no matter their skin color or nationality.
Some people seem to believe that this verse supports the belief of "universalism." Well, in the side note of my study Bible, the Greek word that is translated "specially" expressed the sense of "particularly." Jesus Christ is the Saviour for all - all who believe on Him.
The phrase "all men" pictures the trans-national scope of the Gospel. Thus, Christ is Saviour of people who believe on Him, no matter their skin color or nationality.
Saturday
In which I answer questions about you
So, Brittney at Daughter of the King "stole" this from Storyteller, and I'm "stealing" it from her. I told her that I'd do this for her, and she did it for me. And if you'd like me to do this for you, just comment below!
1. The first word to come to mind when I think about you:
Sweet
2. What Disney princess I think you are most like:
Pocahontas
3. What I love most about you:
the fact that you're a Christian
4. What I think best describes your personality:
spontaneous and humorous
5. If you were in a book of mine, what I would make that book about:
a missionary family that is taken captive by the Japanese in the jungles of New Guinea during World War II
6. What movie character you remind me of:
Michelle Thomas from Matlock
7. What my favorite thing about your blog is:
your Christian perspective
8. What I think you will be when you grow up:
possibly a graphic designer
Thanks for doing this for me, Britt! Hope you enjoyed my answers.
Meanwhile, a few days ago, my younger sister let me wear one of her costumes so I could make a new cover for my novella Hafling Diaries. And the most difficult think about it was I needed to somehow get my ears pointed. I thought about pasting a picture of pointed ears, but that didn't work out. So, I decided to use a tool I never thought about using: Liquify. And it worked out beautifully! My ears were pointed, and it looked natural. If you look at the picture, you can see it for yourself.
1. The first word to come to mind when I think about you:
Sweet
2. What Disney princess I think you are most like:
Pocahontas
3. What I love most about you:
the fact that you're a Christian
4. What I think best describes your personality:
spontaneous and humorous
5. If you were in a book of mine, what I would make that book about:
a missionary family that is taken captive by the Japanese in the jungles of New Guinea during World War II
6. What movie character you remind me of:
Michelle Thomas from Matlock
7. What my favorite thing about your blog is:
your Christian perspective
8. What I think you will be when you grow up:
possibly a graphic designer
Thanks for doing this for me, Britt! Hope you enjoyed my answers.
Meanwhile, a few days ago, my younger sister let me wear one of her costumes so I could make a new cover for my novella Hafling Diaries. And the most difficult think about it was I needed to somehow get my ears pointed. I thought about pasting a picture of pointed ears, but that didn't work out. So, I decided to use a tool I never thought about using: Liquify. And it worked out beautifully! My ears were pointed, and it looked natural. If you look at the picture, you can see it for yourself.
Thursday
Without further ado . . .
Several months ago, I hosted a writing contest here. Well, I've finally come around to picking a winner and posting my thoughts. So, without further ado, I announce that the winner of my writing contest is . . .
(click on the link to read her entry)
Her story, entitled "The Rescue", intrigued me from the beginning. I've always been interested in fantasy, so that may have to do with it a little.
I was totally engaged by this story. I was engaged in the plot and the character's situation was compelling. The tension in the story was driven by the characters and their decisions and actions. The plot has a definite climax and I felt satisfied as the story ended. Thought the story has some issues that need to be addressed - such as switching verb tenses at the beginning and some incorrect punctuation - I liked how it "worked" for me as a reader.
The other entries for this writing contest were well-written, though they didn't appeal to me as much as lightwarriorkay's story.
Congratulations, Kay!
Tuesday
The Orthodontist
About a month ago, I posted about how the dentist told me that I needed braces for my overbite. Well, last Monday afternoon, my mom and I went to the orthodontist for a consultation. The ortho-hygienist (or whatever you would call her) took some pictures and x-rays. Then she developed the pictures and the orthodontist came in.
We went through what was wrong with my teeth / jaw, and he showed us the x-ray photo. As I've known for a long time, my top two canines (or cuspids, if you prefer) are still babies. The orthodontist then explained why they haven't come out yet: one of the adult teeth is impacted (aka: it's completely overlapping the roots of another adult tooth) and the other is 50-50 overlapping. So, once I get my braces on, I have to get - *gulp* - oral surgery.
Yeah, you saw it right. Oral surgery. Sometime after June 13 (because that's when I'm getting my braces and we haven't set a date yet) will be the procedure that will pull out my last two baby teeth - even though I still have four more babies that I won't lose for a long while because I'm missing those adults genetically.
We went through what was wrong with my teeth / jaw, and he showed us the x-ray photo. As I've known for a long time, my top two canines (or cuspids, if you prefer) are still babies. The orthodontist then explained why they haven't come out yet: one of the adult teeth is impacted (aka: it's completely overlapping the roots of another adult tooth) and the other is 50-50 overlapping. So, once I get my braces on, I have to get - *gulp* - oral surgery.
Yeah, you saw it right. Oral surgery. Sometime after June 13 (because that's when I'm getting my braces and we haven't set a date yet) will be the procedure that will pull out my last two baby teeth - even though I still have four more babies that I won't lose for a long while because I'm missing those adults genetically.