Spring Is Coming!

Updates updates updates.....

Let me think......

Spring is coming... I can feel it. I can see it. Ahhh.... how I am longing for warmer weather again. I don't dislike winter, but I REALLY like spring. :-)

A new semester has begun (three weeks ago). My new German class is hard. Seriously. Hard. I am blessed to have a handful of former classmates in the same class with me again. Being together provides us each with a touch more confidence. I really like all my new colleagues, too. We're already having a lot of fun together- everyone struggles and everyone laughs through the struggling. The class meets everyday and on Wednesday's we have a different teacher than the other days of the week. This guy is so funny. When he was learning our names, he had no guesses in pronouncing mine. Of course, I probably wouldn't have either for the first time when it is mixed within all the Slavic names. After clarifying my name, he smiled and stated in German, "That's really very American sounding!" What better reply could I have than, "Well, I'm really very American!" :-) He calls me "Cree-Amerikaner" or "Cree-Indianer". The other teacher is good, too. However, the teaching method is a struggle for me. I guess in a couple of weeks I'll adjust better.

We had another Advanced School a couple weekends ago and it was amazing. The topic was leadership. I've taken a number of leadership courses and even have helped design some leadership development programs, so I was looking forward to the topic. The presentation was beautiful. I know what you're thinking- "how can a school on leadership be beautiful?" First, you should know that BLAST Ministries is really a family. Franz and a brother, Randy, from Texas did most of the teaching and American Steve (now living in Slovenia) did a couple sessions. The opening session was the "Ghandi Session" as I like to call it. "You have to be the change you want to see in the world." was the true gist of the introduction. The remaining sessions, though, were incredible. Our teachers were vulnerable as they shared their hearts- their successes and their failures -with us. This school had me processing so much the entire duration. The spiritual aspects of leadership were so directly addressed as well as the character of a leader. I can't do justice in explaining the weekend to you. If you're interested in the teaching, I can send you an mp3 CD for $20. Actually, if you are at all interested in any of our topics, I can send you the CD's for $20. Recent topics include- Kingdom Relationships, Kingdom Finances, How to Find the Right Partner, Kingdom Marriage, and now Kingdom Leadership. There are also a variety of teachings on Spiritual Warfare, Spiritual Gifts, Discipling and Spiritual Fathering, The Church that Jesus Builds, Tent of David... and so on. Comment or email me if you have any questions or requests. Jason- I'm still working on getting a better list together for you but this should give you a groundwork.

Things to come-
April 1: Class trip to Vienna.
April 3-6: Worship rehearsals in Zagreb.
April 29-May 4: Women's conference in Sarajevo (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BE PRAYING FOR MY PROTECTION AS I GO INTO THIS CONFERENCE!).
May 5: My birthday.
May 13-June 3: Clearthur comes to visit.
July 22ish: Mandy comes to visit.

Movie Reviews

This week I went to see Yes Man with some friends.
Jim Carrey = great. As always, his performance is top notch. This isn't the typical "stupid humor" sort of JC movie... though it will keep you laughing. For those of us Nebraskans, it's especially a film for you. While the lead acting is grand, the writing is terrible. The movie itself was disappointing- the story line failed to succeed in my expectations. If you want a good, pointless laugh, then this movie is for you.

A movie I thought was all around well done-
Open Season 2. Thank you Jason and Denisha for sending me this movie. This is just downright entertaining. The story line is creative and the characterization is superb. The voice-actors were very well selected and had me convinced. A German speaking dachshund is the perfect flair (a special ounce of credit goes here for my current living situation) to accent a spastic deer and his colorable best friend grizzly coming against a prissy mini-poodle named Fifi. Kids or no kids, you will find this movie appropriate and simply, funny.

some entertainment

Tim Hawkins is a Christian comedian and... well.. he's great. Check out these testimonials and his website for more TH info. I've included two fun videos that I think you'll enjoy.

Since I know many of you are Chick-Fil-A fans, you'll enjoy this.

Happy Friday, everyone!

and on commercialization...

Rainy/Snowy Day Activity Poll

What's your favorite rainy day activity?  

I suppose, since many of you are having snowy days this week, I will practice my politically correctness and rephrase my question.....

What's your favorite inclement-weather-day activity?  This is assuming it is too terrible to be outside.

I love snuggling up with a salty snack and a hot mug of caramel-nut or mint coffee and watching a good movie.  

This poll reminds me of snow days at UNL.  When I lived in Abel, snow days were warmly embraced.  During my 3rd-5th years, I lived in what was known as the "freshmen party" dorm.  We had quite a few snow days in the winters of my 4th and 5th years.  We made the best out of these days.  I lived in this building with a number of friends.  Most of us "upper-levels" moved there on purpose for the ministry possibilities and we intentionally lived on the same floor.  I remember my 4th year was especially pressing academically.  My friend and floor mate, Jeff, and I enrolled together in some of the Universities most difficult biology classes.  With this being a major factor, Jeff and I spent nearly all of our free time studying together (we never would have made it without each other).  On these snow days, he and I really couldn't afford the luxury of having a lazy day.  So we would move our study materials into one of the lounges on the floor and we'd work while the others watched a movie. These days were the blessing we all hoped for.  These were the days with enough study time that Jeff and I could take a break from memorizing the skeletal system of the skull or the nervous system and work on assignments for our other classes.  Our group was really a little family, especially on these days.  We'd work together, take study breaks and play games, go eat together, and get back to work together.  

I am grateful for good friends with a good taste in coffee.  We never had bad coffee when we studied together in Abel Hall.  That's for sure.  Even when the faces changed in my 5th year, quality coffee and tea remained important priorities.  MMmmm......I miss good, fresh ground coffee.

So what do you do when you're stuck indoors?