And the award for most awesome blog goes to...

Darth Vader!!

Grown-up Checklist...

In the back of my mind, I've always had a grown-up checklist. It's just a list of things I think a grown-up should do or be able to do. Last night, I got to cross something off the list. I hung a wallpaper border in my bathroom all by myself! That may not seem like a huge thing to you, but to me, it was a great accomplishment. It was something I'd never done before, and something I was proud of. Hanging that border made me truly feel "grown-up." It was the same feeling I had when Paul and I bought our first major appliances (a washer and dryer, if you were wondering)!

So, what kinds of things are on your grown-up checklist?

Atmosphere of Worship...

Last night was the final chapel of this year. I sat on a row with two other staff members and four students. During praise and worship, a few of the students on my row were talking aloud. Because I was getting distracted, and because I'm close friends with these students, I pointed this out to them. I wasn't angry at all, I just wanted to make sure they know how loud they were being. After the service, I went to one in particular, because I wanted to make sure she wasn't upset with me for saying something. She said no, she wasn't upset, but that if she had been one of those "loud worshippers," no one would have said anything. I said, "True, but you weren't worshipping. You were just talking." She said, "Well, if we're Christians, everything we do is worship, so technically I was worshipping." I said, "Do you really feel like you were contributing to an atmosphere of worship?" She said, "Is that even Biblical?" I said yes, knowing it had to be, but not really having a reference at my disposal. So, I called my pastor today and got some notes on the atmosphere of worship.

First, I asked for any Scripture references he might know. He mentioned two. In Exodus 25, God gives Moses the instructions for the tabernacle. If you've ever read this, you know that the instructions were very specific. Everything that was used in the temple was there to create an atmosphere similar to Heaven. That was the only way God's presence could dwell there (remember, this is the Old Testament, so it's before Jesus and before the Holy Spirit). When the people obeyed, the glory of God fell so intensely that the priests couldn't even stand up in His presence. In other words, when the atmosphere was created properly, they could sense the presence of God and bask in it.

He didn't have the reference for the second example he gave, but said he believes it was in 1 or 2 Kings. It was when a king asked Elijah to prophesy for him and Elijah asked for a minstrel and minstrel player. Elijah was requesting some mood music. After Elijah worshipped, the spirit of God rested on him and he was able to prophesy.

There are two distinct atmospheres of worship - there is the corporate atmosphere, and the atmosphere set by the individual worshipper. The atmosphere you set in your own life is made up of how you live out your relationship with God. If you aren't hearing from Him, or feel like He's distant, perhaps you should check out your atmosphere. Are you incorporating regular praise and worship into your life? Are you reading His word? Are you praying? The corporate worship atmosphere can only be created when a group of individual worshippers are all worshipping at once. It's not a matter of who's leading the music or what songs are sung...it's whether or not you have in the group true, honest worshippers who are seeking God in one accord. That is not to say that if there are a few people in the audience who aren't worshipping that the atmosphere will not be created. It will just hinder what might have been done under different circumstances.

Here are a few practical examples: Think about the types of music that are out there that set a certain mood...different music can make you feel excited about a football team entering the field, feel romantic, heighten the suspense in a movie, or let you know when the bride is about to walk down the aisle. Music isn't everything, but it can be a great way to "set the mood" for worship. It keeps you focused on the task at hand, keeps you focused on God.

Another question when talking about an atmosphere of worship is what effect do "distractions" have on the atmosphere. Distractions can include someone talking loudly, getting up to use the restroom, flipping through their Bible, a baby crying, etc. Think about this...how frustrating is it to be watching a movie and it gets to the part where the twist is about to be revealed, a main character is going to say the line that changes everything. Right when he says it, a distraction occurs. Someone on your row gets a phone call, or wants a refill, or has to go to the restroom. You miss the whole thing. Now, you're kind of lost for the rest of the movie. You're trying to ask your friends what was said, but they don't know either because they were distracted just like you. That's how it can be in a service. Whether it's something God Himself is saying or something the speaker is saying, you don't want to miss it. And you don't want to be responsible for someone else missing it!

You can also think about a husband who spends all day planning a romantic evening for his wife. When she comes in, there are flowers everywhere, music playing, candles lit. They spend time building up to the main event, and right when it's about to happen...the telephone rings. A mood that took hours to plan and cultivate is ruined in a moment. You never know when the person beside you is just about to hear from God. You never know what they have gone through to get to this point, or how they are feeling. Do you want to be responsible for ruining that moment for them? For robbing them of hearing from God right then?

As for the "loud worshippers" the student above mentioned, we just have to accept that different people worship in different ways. If the worship is true, it will still contribute to the atmosphere. If you are distracted by them, just move to another part of the building. No service and no church is ever going to be perfect. You'll never find a place where you can't find something to be distracted about. In fact, I believe that's one of the main tools the Devil uses to keep Christians from focusing on God. "I can't believe she's wearing that; why would they pick green carpet and blue pews; I wonder what we'll have for lunch today; oooohhh, she's sitting by him this week, are they dating?; that's the second time he's gotten up to use the bathroom, I wonder if he's sick; man, I do not like that tie the preacher is wearing," and on, and on, and on. The question is, do you want to be what the Devil uses to distract someone else?

Jailbird Paul Concert This Saturday...

Just wanted to let you know that Jailbird Paul, along with The Oracle, Kamakazi Friday, and Matt Nolin, will be performing at the Ekklesia Center in downtown Royston this Saturday night (April 30). Doors open at 7:30 and the show starts at 8 pm. Cover is $5 to get in. Hope all you locals (and some of you out-of-towners!) can make it! Spread the word!!!!

God's Will...

I seem to be having a lot of conversations about God's will lately. It's something that, at this age, I find a lot of my peers questioning. What is God's will for my life? What is my destiny? Is it God's will for me to marry so-and-so? To have this job? To go to graduate school? To change majors? To eat at Wendy's?

I've always been bothered by "God's will," and I'm guessing a lot of you have too. It seems like a lot of pressure to put on a young person...map out your life, and hurry up before you make a bad decision and step out of God's will! I don't know how many times I've answered an altar call to come and pray that God would show me His will for my life. The problem is, I'm still not really clear on it. At least, not as far as what job I'll end up with, whether or not I'll have children, and things like that are concerned.

I'm starting to believe (understand?) that God's will for our lives is much bigger than the day to day decisions we have to make. After all, God gave us talents. He gave us strengths and weaknesses. And He gave us brains. For example, I don't have to wonder if it's God's will for me to be an astronaut...I'm not interested in space travel, I don't enjoy math, and I'm just a little claustrophobic.

I can say with certainty, though, that it's God's will for me to love, honor, and serve Him and the people around me. It's God's will for me to be in full-time ministry, whatever my job title might be. It's God's will for me to tell others about Him. Does it matter what I get paid to do if I'm doing all of the above? I don't think so.

The problem is, that's not enough for most people. The people I know who have wondered about God's will (including myself) want to know the specifics. What is that all about? Are we that scared that we're going to mess something up? And, if we are, what does that say about our belief in the sovereignty of God? Or our faith in our own maturity? I think a lot of people just want someone to tell them what to do. If their parents won't do it, and their friends won't do it, maybe God will. We have to understand that God has given us specifics for our life through His Word, the Bible. They just aren't the specifics we're always looking for.

Does God sometimes answer the question of "What job should I take?" Of course. But sometimes He just lets us choose, you know? Does that mean you should not consult God and be open to His answers when making decisions? NO! It just means that sometimes, God may open several doors and give you the opportunity to choose. Have you ever thought that the end result might be the same no matter which door you select?

Headline Update

A few days ago, I posted my Top 5 headline predictions for Britney Spears' pregnancy. I'm happy to report that Number One on the list has already come true! This week, Entertainment Weekly had this to say about Brit-Brit's big announcement:

Oops, he did it again...Britney Spears announced that she and husband Kevin Federline are expecting their first child together...That's baby No. 3 for Federline, who has two little ones from a previous relationship with actress Shar Jackson.

You may recall, my Number One headline prediction was "Oops, I Did It Again: An In-Depth Interview With Kevin Federline." Again, I ask...why am I not getting paid for this stuff?!?!

Cheerio!

Paul and I received some wonderful news today! We are going to London next month for a week and a half and have been looking around for an affordable place to stay. Today, someone offered to let us stay in their home for the entire time we're there! Their generosity amazes me. We are so grateful to have this opportunity! I know it will make our trip so much more enjoyable!!

Speaking of London, if you have ever been and would like to share some memories, tips, suggestions, etc., please post. Thanks!

Happy Birthday, Candice!!!

Sorry this is going up so late. Candice, I hope you had a wonderful birthday!!! I love you, girl!!

Top 5...

We've been having some pretty serious discussion on the praise and worship post (which has been awesome!), so I decided to do something a little lighter today. Most of you have probably seen the Friends episode where Ross picks his "Top 5." These are the five celebrities he could sleep with if he ever got the chance, and not get in trouble for it. Well, I'm not saying I'd sleep with these people, but here are my Top 5, in no particular order:

Sting
Jon Bon Jovi
Johnny Depp
Michael Vartan (from Alias)
Matthew McConaughey

I think I've finally settled on these five as THE Top 5. For a while, I had a "flavor of the month" position, but I think this is it. Honorable mention goes to Hugh Jackman (who, if he gets James Bond, may knock someone off the list!!).

Who are your Top 5?

Praise and worship...

As previously stated, Candice and I went to the Jennifer Nettles concert last night. If you've looked over the set list, you may have noticed that she started off with the Doxology. When she finished the "amen" at the end, she bowed her head and said, "Welcome to church." And everyone laughed and cheered. She then explained that she wasn't trying to offend or confuse anyone. She went to church as a child and still loves the old hymns. She said a lot of her music incorporates spiritual themes whether it's old-time religion or paganism. And she's right, a LOT of it does! So, for the rest of the night, she would introduce the songs, pointing out the spiritual references.

I don't know if it was all the talk about spirituality or just the fact that she really does have one of the most amazing voices ever bestowed upon a human, but there were times I felt like closing my eyes and raising my hands, as if I were in a praise and worship service! That got me thinking...okay, if I have this feeling now, when I'm at a bar listening to completely secular music, what does that say about the similar feeling I have during praise and worship? Is it just that the music is propelling me to an emotional high? Am I connecting on a purely human level, person to person, and just responding to whomever is performing at that time?

I love music. I love all kinds of music, and it has a tendency to affect me strongly. And I know that there are people out there who do praise and worship (as a type of music, not as a lifestyle) and choose specific melodies or chord progressions for their songs because they know they are more pleasing to the human ear. Is that being smart or manipulative? Are we too often just responding to the music we hear and that warm, fuzzy feeling we get around our heart, rather than the true presence of God? And then, that begs the question, when we "feel the presence of God" are we really just a group of people, responding to music, and creating a pleasant atmosphere?

I think maybe we do a little bit of both, honestly. I try really hard during the music section of a service (or at a Christian concert) to separate my praise of the musicians from my praise of God. Certainly, God's presence can be felt during a time of true praise, particularly in a corporate setting. But I think we need to be really careful that we're being true to that praise and that presence, and not just worshipping the music or the musicians.

Jennifer Nettles at Eddie's Attic

Jennifer Nettles was SO awesome last night at Eddie's Attic! I had never been there before, but liked it a lot. It's really small and you have a great view wherever you are in the room. That turned out to be important since Candice and I missed the call for those who were on the Guest List to go in. We ended up standing near the back of the room, but could see perfectly.

Jennifer played for almost an hour and a half. The set list is below. Her new song, Hold You Tonight, might be my favorite. It's definitely one of her best. She's thinking of shopping it around, but if she records it herself, it will go right up there with Story of Your Bones. Here's what she sang:

Doxology (yes, that one - she opened with it a capella)
Beautiful Song
On the Shoulders of Giants
Tried Hard Enough
Gather Children (not sure of the title there)
In the Air
*which led into a verse of "Walkin' on the Moon" by The Police
Listen
Cahnge
Hold You Tonight
Stay With Me Tonight
Story of Your Bones
Don't You Wanna Know (again, not sure of the title)
Stay
Smoke and Mirrors
Improv "Come on Home"
Round and Round
*with "Hollaback Girl" and "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" in the breakdown

This was probably the best I've ever seen her, and we had a great time! You could tell she was having a lot of fun, also! I haven't seen her in a while, and she looks a lot different! Very thin, with very long, curly, blonde hair. It's her Sugarland look. She looked gorgeous and sounded amazing!

If you're not familiar with her music, you can listen at her site. Be forewarned there may be some language you probably don't want your co-workers hearing, though.

It never hurts to ask...

So, Candice called me last night to see if I wanted to attend the Jennifer Nettles Band concert with her tomorrow night at Eddie's Attic in Atlanta. Of course, I said I would love to go. However, when I checked online today, the show was already sold out. I surfed on over to JNB's website and found a contact email address. Thinking "what have I got to lose," I sent an email saying a friend and I were huge fans and had been looking forward to the show, but were disappointed to see it sold out. I asked if they had any extra tickets and gushed about how much we would love JNB if we could get into the show. I made it clear we weren't looking for special passes or VIP treatment, just a way in. This afternoon, I received an email from someone with the band saying Candice and I would be put on the "Will Call" list and, while we would still have to pay for our tickets, would definitely get in!!!

Life lesson learned: It never hurts to ask!

Survivor Stephenie Rocks My Face Off...

Seriously. As I predicted, the merge happened last night, with Stephenie joining Koror. However, that was only after she had to spend the night alone at Ulong's camp, worrying about how she was going to get food and keep the fire going all by herself. When word finally came that she was leaving Ulong behind, she literally cried tears of joy and happily packed up all her stuff and left without looking back. She is awesome, and I hope she wins! Well, her or Ian!!

I'm heading to Charlotte today to spend the weekend with my family. Should be lots of fun! I'll post again Monday.

Any Alias fans out there?

If you watch Alias, let me know so we can talk about this week's episode which blew me away. If you don't watch Alias...what's wrong with you?!?! You can catch up with recaps of previous episodes and then jump in next week.

Quarter-life Crisis in Action

So, this past Saturday night, I attended the Emmanuel College formal, held at the Commerce Civic Center. I had a blast, but the quarterlife crisis thing was in full bloom. First of all, there were only 10 people present (including myself) from the faculty and staff. Five of us were from Student Life, two were professors, one was a department secretary, one was the President of the College, and one was his wife. Quite an illustrious group, eh? Well, shortly after dinner and the crowning of Miss Emmanuel (they don't do a pageant anymore...just interviews and student voting), all but one professor and four Student Lifers had gone home. That left just five of us to fill the requisite responsible adult roles for the event.

Many of you (all of you?) who read this blog attended EC and, at one time or another, probably went to a formal. Back then, there was dinner followed by a program of some sort...a comedian, a murder mystery, etc. If you wanted to dance in those days, you had to go to an after-party somewhere, namely the Joe Adams Building in Royston or a fellow student's house. Welcome to a new day! This formal actually featured dancing as one of the main events. There was a live band that played oldies music for a few hours and the dancing never stopped. Or, I should say, I never stopped dancing.

The four of us from Student Life (all females) got out on that dance floor and didn't leave until the band stopped playing! Here we are, all in our mid-twenties or early thirties, out there cuttin' a rug like we're at the senior prom. Often, I would look around and realize we were the only ones doing so. About every third song was a slow one, and at that point, the four of us would move to the sideline, keeping our eyes peeled for students who were dancing just a little too close. At one point, I almost hyperventilated when I realized what I had become. It hit me like a ton of bricks that I was one of the adults. I was there to be responsible. I was there to keep the peace. I was there to make sure no one danced "suggestively." I was what I had always dreaded...a chaperone.

How did this happen? When did I grow up? I know for a while there I was growing up, but when did that transition into being grown up?

I assume it happened right around the time I got married (when I was 20). Or maybe when I graduated college (when I was 22). Or maybe just this past August (when I turned 25). I don't know exactly when it happened, but it definitely has. I no longer have the option to be a kid. I am an adult.

After Saturday night, I finally understand the phrase "recapturing your youth." I suppose that's what I was doing out there on the dance floor with my partners in crisis. We were dancing, being funny, and having a great time. And now I fear that the students were laughing the whole time, thinking how old we were to be acting like that.

The problem is I still feel so young. And, relatively speaking, I know I still am. But, seriously, I don't feel a whole lot different than I did when I was 18. I have more knowledge, more experience, hopefully more wisdom. But inside, I feel the same. I still want to act like a complete idiot when I'm out with my friends. I still want to have sleepovers and eat junk food and stay up too late talking. Am I now too old for that?

One of my biggest fears is that I have, or soon will, cross the threshold from "being cool" to "trying to be cool." And that, my friends, is terrifying to me. Because we all know those people who are trying to be cool. We've all seen those adults who really are trying to recapture their youth and hang with the kids. How desperate is that? I don't want to be that person.

Perhaps the solution to all of this crisis stuff is learning how to be quarterly-aged. Where is the balance between being youthful and aging?

What to watch if you're feeling...

...like you miss high school and all the teen angst that went along with it:
Summerland (Monday, 9 pm, WB) or What I Like About You (Friday, 8 pm, WB)
What can I say, the WB really carries the torch for teen angst!!! Summerland is more dramatic, while What I Like About You is sitcom all the way.

...like your life is too complicated:
Lost (Wednesday, 8 pm, ABC), Alias (Wednesday, 9 pm, ABC), or Without A Trace (Thursday, 10 pm, CBS)
Believe me, after watching one of these, you'll feel much better about whatever you've got going on! Lost is about plane crash survivors stranded on a mysterious island (it's not as cheesy as it sounds!); Alias is about spies (it's my favorite!!); Without A Trace is about an FBI team finding missing persons.

...like you want a great story with a little comic relief thrown in:
NCIS (Tuesday, 8 pm, CBS) or Desperate Housewives (Sunday, 9 pm, ABC)
NCIS is about Naval Criminal Investigative Services. It's similar to CSI, but, in my opinion, much better because of the aforementioned comic relief. Desperate Housewives is a campy evening soap opera, but great for when you need a good laugh (watch out, though...it will hook you faster than you realize!).

...like you miss the good ol' days of reality TV:
Survivor (Thursday, 8 pm, CBS)
I'm not a die-hard Survivor fan, but this season has been fantastic! The merging of the two tribes should come tonight since one tribe is now down to one person. Yes, you read right...Ulong lost every single immunity challenge and has systematically voted off everyone except Stephenie. And now...she's my hero!

...like you want something funny, but quirky:
Scrubs (Tuesday, 9 pm, NBC) or The Office (Tuesday, 9:30 pm, NBC)
Some of the best writing on TV is on Scrubs. It's hilarious, but holds firmly to the rules of traditional sitcoms (with more voice over and no laugh track). The Office (the U.S. version) is a lot more "out there." It's very dry, and is heavily influenced by the British humor of the original.

Stick to your day job...

Here's the latest from the stunt coordinator of Without a Trace. Wow. Just....wow.

Your mom goes to college...

This resolution from the State of Idaho states the following as its purpose: "to recognize and commend Jared and Jerusha Hess for their cinematic talents by which they have increased the nation's awareness of Idaho." The Hess brothers are responsible for the film, Napoleon Dynamite. Included in the resolution is a list of reasons why the Hess boys should be commended. Examples: "the friendship between Napoleon and Pedro has furthered multiethnic relationships" and "the 'Happy Hands' club and the requirement that candidates for school president present a skit is an example of the importance of theater arts in K-12 education." The rest of the list is even funnier. Priceless!

If you haven't seen the movie, you may want to avoid reading the resolution. It gives away some minor details.

CelebBlog

Here's an article about the recent boom in celebrity blogging. I'm especially excited about people like David Duchovny and Zach Braff. Rosie O'Donnell and Pat Sajak? Not so much.

Congratulations Brit-Brit and Kev Dog!

So, Britney Spears finally announced (to no one's surprise) that she is, indeed, pregnant. I'll share all the details as soon as my Us Weekly comes in. :) In the mean time, here are my Top 5 headline predictions for the upcoming issues of that magazine along with Star, Life and Style, InTouch, and the National Enquirer:

Number 5..... "Britney Dumps Kevin: Says Raising Baby Alone is Her Prerogative"
Number 4..... "Justin Jealous: Says Baby Should Be His"
Number 3..... "Pop Princess Ready to Pop!!!"
Number 2..... "Britney Welcomes Daughter Crystal Madonna Spears Federline"

And my Number 1 headline prediction.....

"Oops, I Did It Again: An In-Depth Interview With Kevin Federline"

Special Thanks to Donna for helping me brain-storm and for Number 3!

Shout out...

This is a shout out to Bird who displayed considerable bravery when faced with a bleeding thumb. You go, girl, for not passing out, throwing up, and especially, for sharing the story with the rest of us. I love you and miss you!!!

The Incredibles...

So, I had to babysit this morning (I usually do on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and watched The Incredibles for the first time. Of course, I had heard a lot about it and how it's like an animated movie for adults, but wasn't expecting what I saw. It's not a kids' movie in any way, shape, or form. Other than the last 20 minutes or so, the story line would go way over a kid's head, and there's not even a whole lot of action. The animation factor is really the only reason this movie was marketed to kids. Otherwise, it's totally an adult film. Well, I mean, not an "adult" film...you know what I mean. It was a great movie, I was just really suprised!

In the beginning...

I'm so excited about my new blog and that I actually have comments! :) I'm still figuring things out, so if you are a fellow blogger (especially at blogspot) and have any tips or suggestions, please feel free to share. The main thing I'm trying to work out is how to have a section where I can link to my friends' blogs. Do I have to use a certain template? Is it somewhere in the settings?

I have been reading in Genesis for a little while now and some things have jumped out at me that I never really noticed before. Just thought I'd share...

Chapter 4 tells the story of Cain and Abel. After Cain has killed Abel, God asks him, "Where is your brother?" It reminded me of when Adam and Eve had sinned in the Garden and God asked Adam, "Where are you?" You know God knew the answer to those questions, but it's interesting that He asked anyway. It's almost like He was really saying, "Stop. Think. What's going on? What are you doing?" It should teach us to ask those questions of ourselves regularly so we don't have to face God asking us later.

Chapter11 recounts the Tower of Babel incident. Verse 4 says the people wanted to build a tower to their own greatness (New Living Translation), and God stepped in. I wonder if they had been building a tower to honor God, would things have turned out differently. Probably not, but it's interesting to think about. How many times do we build things up in our own lives that take our focus from God? How often do we puff ourselves up and take credit for things that are God's doing? We forget that all of our accomplishments are only by God's grace. He should be the one we build up and honor.

So...this is blogging...

Pardon me, if I seem new to this...it's because I am! I've always admired bloggers from afar...to be able to put your thoughts and feelings and actions out there for everyone to read...it seems brave. I don't necessarily consider myself brave, but I am open to new things and decided to give this a shot.

You might be wondering about the name of my blog. If you're anywhere from 23-30 years old, however, it might make more sense to you than others. I had, of course, heard of a mid-life crisis, but had never heard of one that came in the quarterlife. Then, all of a sudden, I was about to turn 25 and felt panicked and weird and...older. I felt like, wow, I'm a certifiable adult now. I didn't know if I was ready for that. I didn't know if I had done enough with my life to already be turning 25. I didn't feel the sense of accomplishment I always assumed I'd feel at this stage in my life. Should I have kids by now? Should I have already gotten my Master's? Am I the person I really want to be? And if not, am I at least on my way?

I know those are feelings that a lot of people experience in their 40's and 50's, and it almost seems ridiculous to feel them at such a young age. But, there I was, feeling them nonetheless. That's when I came up with the name "quarterlife crisis." Only, I just found out I'm not the first. Apparently, people have been noticing for a few years now that an increasing number of twenty-somethings are having these conflicted feelings in their first years out of college. It's an odd time in one's life...sort of an in-between time. Are you still a kid? Are you really grown up? It's just weird.

I haven't figured it all out yet, but I'm working on it. If you're going through the same thing, maybe you'll get something from my musings. If not, hopefully you can at least be amused at the ramblings of a 25 year old in crisis.

Check out these books for more info on quarterlife crises.