Atheist Central

I came across Ray Comfort's blog just this week and I wanted to make everyone aware of this neat little spot on the web!  If you know any atheists with lots of questions, consider pointing them in the direction of this website.  It is entertaining, informative, and lighthearted.

Atheist Central: Ray Comfort's Blog

At the top of the page you will find a short introduction to the Gospel.  Several posts are on the main page, accompanied by an archive list on the sidebar.  Near the bottom of the page is a list of links, to whet your friend's appetite for more.

It's a rare thing to find a Christian blog written for the purpose of sharing the gospel to such a narrow field of unbelievers. Rarer still is finding a blog of this kind that is grammatically correct! (If you don't believe me, look around at some... it's really embarrassing.) If you know of any other sites like this, please leave a comment!

The Fine Art of Waiting

Everyone I ask agrees: this semester has been a busy one.  The student teachers have material to study and classes to lecture; the staff is already stressed from the conferences we've hosted and the ones looming over the horizon; I'm taking more teaching classes than I've ever thought possible; and GloryBound has traveled almost every weekend!  Although life is continually busy, there are still those times when we feel like we're just sitting around waiting.


Last week Tim and the rest of GloryBound left Saturday at noon and didn't get back until Tuesday afternoon.  This weekend, he left yesterday around lunchtime, came back tonight, and is leaving again tomorrow morning!  Talk about busy.  Being on the other end of the deal, I have to keep myself occupied with activities to keep myself from missing him "too much."  Yes, there is such a thing!


Waiting is a fine art, and a lost one, if you ask me.  Nobody likes to wait, but it's gotten really bad with this "fast-food culture" generation.  Who enjoys waiting more than five minutes for lunch at McDonalds?  Who likes standing in line for two hours to ride the new tallest roller coaster?  Neither do we enjoy waiting long-term for graduation, marriage, or whatever else for which we dream.  There must be a way to wait without completely losing our minds!


Whenever Tim travels over the weekend, I occupy myself with something fun.  I've cut back on "retail therapy" (shopping!!) due to my status as "poor college student," but there are plenty of things to do that are cheaper than a new pair of shoes!  I go to my best friend's house and watch movies, I have lunch with a bunch of girls, or I do the unthinkable and finish some homework. =)  If you find yourself struggling to keep your sanity during your time of waiting, I recommend journaling, blogging, or cartooning your progress through this period of your life.  I've done all three, and they've benefited me beyond words!


I also recommend purposefully not thinking about it.  By choosing to not dwell upon your lot in life, you choose to reject discouragement.  Count your blessings.  Think about how good God has been to you, and you'll soon be on a mountain of blessings you forgot you had!  Most of the time we blow our circumstances way out of proportion, which can lead to a sin called complaining.  The children of Israelites got in trouble for this one on numerous occasions, so don't even go there!


Time flies when you're having fun, someone once said.  In the South, we make friends while waiting in line.  Soon we'll be talking about random things, laughing and carrying on, when all of a sudden it's our turn next and the quick friendship is sadly diminished.  I find that even the longest, loneliest weekends seem shorter when I'm enjoying myself.  When you're facing a long, boring wait in life, learn to enjoy the ride!  After all, getting there is half the fun!  You might not believe me -- but if life is what you make of it, a trial of your patience can transform into a party!  


Basically, the fine art of waiting boils down to these three things: 1) Document your progress -- you'll look back on it later and praise the Lord for everything He taught you.  2) Think happy thoughts and avoid complaining at all costs.  3) Find joy in the journey.  All of these are learned behaviors and do not come naturally, especially when we're so used to whining about every little thing (remember, we live in that fast food culture).  While the flesh tugs at us to murmur and despair, God has something better in mind for us.  Why not look back on this stage in life and think, "You know, at times that wasn't easy, but I really did enjoy it... in a weird kind of way!"  It does seem weird, because it's humanly impossible, but it's yours for the taking through God's goodness and wonderful plan for this part of your journey.

God Will Provide - sung by GloryBound

This song reminds me of God's providential care, even in the most hopeless of circumstances.  God Will Provide

Jim Elliot Quotes

Some of my favorite quotes in the whole world were spoken by Jim Elliot.  His resolve to not let anything get in the way of his passion for Christ is inspirational.  Here are eleven of his quotes that I found on ChristianQuotes.org.  If you know of any other Jim Elliot quotes that aren't listed on this website, please leave a comment!

Confessions of a GloryBound Girlfriend

The moment my boyfriend was offered a place in Heartland's traveling men's quartet, our lives changed forever.  What was once a summer to look forward to instantly became an object of dread and uncertainty; the man who was once all mine I suddenly had to share with everyone and their cousin; what was at one time a secure, predictable future transformed into one of unpredictable challenges.

Surely these feelings strike a chord?  Although GloryBound Girlfriends are limited to a handful, universal feelings like fear, discouragement, and insecurity haunt every person on the planet.  The Lord has taught me so much through this experience, and I want to share as many as I can remember, but in short form.  

Let go and let God.  It's so easy to take life into our own hands when something happens that we don't like.  Did you ever burn or cut yourself on something when you were little because you were sure you could do it just as well as mom?  Just keep your hands off of it -- you'll mess things up and end up hurting yourself.  God will take care of the little things (and BIG deals) that irk you, if you just let go and let Him handle them.

Circumstances don't make you miserable; discontent makes you miserable.  Why was Jonah so depressed, even after He finally went to Nineveh?  Because, even after he "obeyed," he was still kicking and screaming against God's will.  Taking into consideration that murmuring and complaining are an affront against God's care and leadership, it makes sense that fighting God's will makes us miserable.

Don't sweat the small stuff.  Most pet-peeves and annoyances just aren't worth getting upset over.  If it's not a life-or-death situation or close to it, leave it alone.  Tim and I have always struggled with jealousy, and though we're still working on it, we've learned to let petty things go.  Don't completely go loose or anything, but don't be so uptight that you can't enjoy life!

Somebody out there needs you.  One of the best things you can do in a time of discouragement is to be a friend to someone.  We have the tendency to lean on someone just because we need to be encouraged, but don't give into it!  Be an encouragement, and you'll find yourself feeling better.  

Be patient.  At the end of Tim's first year on GloryBound I had high hopes of him returning to normal life, but no.  After his second year on the group, I couldn't imagine the thought of him going a third year.  But when it's God's will, you just have to stay out of the way!  Try occupying your time with constructive hobbies (like writing a blog!); it might change your perspective.

Contentment is a learned behavior.  There's a reason Paul said, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."  You can only be happy when you learn to live with your circumstances.  Trust God -- He knows exactly what He's doing.  You might even start enjoying your lot in life.  As for me, I actually LOVE being a GloryBound Girlfriend now!  Two years ago I would've never thought I'd feel that way, but I've discovered the key to contentment.  

Your timing and God's timing: not the same.  So what if Tim and I have been dating for four years, with one more to go?  Life is a journey, not a destination!  Many people ask me, "Four years?!  Isn't that hard?!"  Um, yeah... we are human, after all!  But in order to find joy in the journey, we all must conclude that if God's not in a hurry, why should we be worried?  You might not know about tomorrow, but you know Who holds tomorrow.

God keeps His promises.  "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," is really real!  "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me," works for me!  Find a promise, cling to it, and don't let it go.  It'll carry you through some tough stuff.  Friends will fail you, but God's Word never fails.

God is always good, and God is always right.  I got that quote from Bro. John Bishop as he preached on the goodness of God.  I knew I'd need that quote eventually, and sure enough, I did.  This simple truth will bring us through many hurts, fears, and disappointments.  Have faith -- God makes no mistakes.

If your future is uncertain or you're not sure if you can trust God with your problem, let me assure you that He is completely trustworthy.  Through this challenging time in my life I have grown in the Lord more than I have in years, and I know it will be the same with you.  Only trust Him.

Thomas Jefferson Quotes

Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.


He who knows best knows how little he knows. 


I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another. 


I find that he is happiest of whom the world says least, good or bad. 


I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever. 


In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. 


It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness.

It takes time to persuade men to do even what is for their own good. 

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. 

The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money.

The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.

When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred. 

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on. 

Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching. 

I, Issac, Take Thee, Rebekah

I have a new favorite book!  No more eloquent words were ever spoken of the the sanctity and responsibilities of love than from Ravi Zacharias' I, Issac, Take Thee, Rebekah.  I've read almost the entire book in one day, and I'm no fast reader!  This book touches several important areas when considering marriage, including purity, dying to self, and parental involvement in a relationship.  It's one of the BEST books I've ever read on the subject, and I insist that anyone with marriage on their mind put this on their reading list.