Bloom!

Summertime. Long days at the beach, hot sun, cool drinks – and summer jobs. Most of us are probably working this summer, whether it’s a part-time or full-time job (or several), an internship, or helping out friends and family. Right now, I’m transitioning into working a full-time, salaried, actual job. I was so incredibly lucky to be given a job and to start right after graduation, but it’s definitely a transition. Even though I’ve worked full-time in past summers. Parts of the transition are great: I love being at the same place every day, instead of switching between two part-time jobs. I love being on my own public relations client accounts, being a part of the strategy and planning – even knowing that I won’t be leaving in two weeks but can actually see these things through. But other parts of the transition are bumpier. Like the fact that, no matter how much I may like the work or the people, I’m still giving up my entire day to something else. I’m investing my b

Title:  October Baby Rating (1=lowest, 5=highest):  4.5 Produced by:  Dan Atchison, Justin Tolley, Jon Erwin, and Andy Erwin Synopsis:   October Baby is a coming of age story about 19-year-old college freshman, Hannah, who suffers from epilepsy, asthma, and even depression. After collapsing on stage in the middle of her first college play, Hannah begins to question why she has had so many health problems. Not wanting to hurt her, Hannah's parents never told her that she was adopted. Not only was she adopted, but her birth mother tried to abort her. Upon learning of her traumatic birth, she sets out on a road trip with a group of friends to find her birth mother, against her parents' wishes. Language:  None! The Good:  October Baby is a wonderful story of forgiveness. It is one of the very few modern movies to take a Biblical stand being 100% pro-life. You will both laugh out loud and want to cry your eyes out all in one great movie! The Bad:  I would have lik

Dear sisters, Many times during  my time teaching  here in Taiwan, I come across children who many would label as "hopeless".  Such was the case with Jenny... Her expression scared and unsure, she glanced around the classroom. I stood off to the side, watching her for a minute. We were told that Jenny has a severe phobia of people and we would need to make sure she was doing okay. During the week, I made it my special goal to pray for her and encourage her however I could. On break times I would go talk to Jenny and try to get her to open up - but to no avail. One day I handed her a jump rope and encouraged her to use it – only to have her stand there expressionless for minutes and then put it away. But I kept at it. I gave her high fives, smiled big, said her name, made eye contact, encouraged her, patted her shoulder, and prayed. As each day passed, I saw no outward signs that anything I was doing or saying was having an impact at all. She would not

As a Christ-follower, God brings us to different places and allows us to meet different people from all walks of life. One of the things I have appreciated the most is how God allows mission and ministry to be two-fold: one aspect of it being the bringing of the gospel to different unreached people groups; the other aspect is the constant molding of the hearts of those who participate in this calling, which He has giving to each and everyone one of us. Not every one of us will use our international visas and passports to share the gospel overseas, but do not worry: God calls us to be faithful disciples and preach the gospel wherever we may be. Local missions and even every day disciple-making are great ways to glorify our Lord and Savior. In 2008 I was in my last semester of my senior year in the Philippines, and was well on my way to receiving a degree in Economics. One of my senior projects was to volunteer at a homeless shelter that removed children and families from the str

Well, let’s see…it’s 4 PM  on a nice Friday afternoon the day after my personal favorite holiday (the 4 th of July). I’m drinking a Capri Sun and munching on chocolate chips, and if I’m honest I may still be in my pjs.   I promise I don’t spend every day like this, but I will say I have a deep love for some comfy pjs! So what’s my excuse for today? Well, I was up really late with fireworks and all. Plus, I got up early to babysit, started cleaning up around the house, and the next thing I knew it was 4 o’clock ! Oh, wait you will want to hear where I’m at in my life and walk with Jesus… Okay! Gotcha now! Well, here goes… For starters, the end of this month is my 18 th birthday! While I know nothing really changes, at least not instantly, it’s a milestone birthday that I can’t believe is here. I used to think 13 was almost grown and 16 was so “old”. Now, I have a 13-year-old little brother who I still think of as a little kid even though he’s about to pas

                                                                       Happy Independence Day! In honor of the holiday, here is part of a great patriotic song. The words were written by Katherine Lee Bates in 1893. The first verse of America the Beautiful is well known, but one does not often hear the rest of the piece. There are eight verses in all of this wonderful work. Here are verses 3 and 4:   America the Beautiful O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife. Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine! O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!