Wow, much like yesterday’s post, the craziness, that is my life, amazes me. Tonight, there were a couple of firsts and funnies so I’m going to write about them. Sorry if this is too hard for you to follow, give me a break, I’ve been awake for several days. Kidding. Geez. Do not get loud with me.

1.) EZCombs might be my favorite infomercial yet. I don’t watch TV very often so if there’s a better one, throw it out there but I would like to submit that it doesn’t get much more “As Seen On TV” than this.

2.) Chuck Norris writing a book is disgraceful. Worse yet is the fact that FOX spent part of Red Eye interviewing him. Worse than that, he had a Chuck Norris fan shirt.

3.) Death isn’t fun. Even if funeral is spelled F-U-N-eral.

4.) I”m getting so tired that I’m beginning to believe Obama’s deficit elimination plan!

5.) I read other people’s blogs late late at night… this is what I found on Kellen’s. Hilarious!

6.) You know those Snack Pudding things? The vanilla ones made with “real” milk are my favorite. Here’s the problem: once you break that seal, you have about 25 minutes to eat the whole thing or it turns to liquid. Sick.

7.) Obama: Nationalize our banks? Really? Left Behind books used to be a close portrayal of how the world would end…then we kinda laughed at them…now I’m kinda nervous laughing. GNN anyone?

in the chaos, in confusion I know You’re sovereign still…

Can I please just say outloud that I hate the way I love my life right now? Sleeplessness, meetings, events,  schoolwork, car repairs, financial stress and tough relationships all seem like indicators that life is getting too hard and too busy and too out of control. But for me, all of these things speak volumes of how life is only getting better. 

My intent is not to be the busiest person in the world, or even the most tired (as much as it may look like that). It is to be the most sustained. Sustained by Christ, by His word. To not trust in my own plans, abilities or strategies.

Thank God that in the chaos and confusion he’s still God. If he wasn’t, I would not be alive.

Thank you God for taking the reigns of my heart and making it submissive and obedient to you. Continue to knock down walls, take me back and be my Savior. You are my Ultimate Desire–my most needed Salvation.

In Focus Rocks.

Just sayin’. Our church is pretty much the coolest. Looking forward to more growth!

I know, I know, these things follow us everywhere…so for a bit of a filler…I won’t lie…I’m doing one of these. Feel free to track-back and comment on your faves. Holla.

1. The phone rings; who do you want it to be? Someone who has something encouraging or funny to say.. Always like talking to Lindsey, JoAnnta, Mom or Karla… As a side note, I don’t ignore calls unless I am somewhere I absolutely CAN’T talk like the fast food line or the bank… 
2. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? Yesh! Germany was helpful: they charge you a Euro for not returning your cart! YIKES!
3. In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener? Talker and not a good listener… typically. I’ve diagnosed myself though so I’m well on my way to recovery…   
4. Do you take compliments well? Depends on if they’re realistic or not… If I feel like I’m being lied to for the sake of my ego–I resist. Most of the time, for me, a written card complimenting me is better. 
5. Do you play Sudoku? Negative! No Rubik’s Cube, no Sudoku!
6. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive? Probably…and if they make one more show on “how-to,” my chances will increase even more!
7. Do you like to ride horses? I like doing pretty much anything outside. Except moose chasing. Not my favorite…  
8. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? Yeah, I used to think it was because it was fun. Now I know it was because it was fun for my parents… 
9. What was your favorite game as a kid? “Sorry!” “MouseTrap” “Phase10″ … We played LOTS of games when I was little. As I got older, BSing for fun was my fave – Balderdash and now, LastWord. 
10. Have you lied to get out of a date? There haven’t been enough opportunites to need to lie… Hahah. No, I don’t think I have. I have been prudent before though…just once.  
11. Could you date someone with different religious beliefs than you? Umm…maybe I’ve been prudish twice. I don’t think I could. Different theological approaches yes…but remember, I ALWAYS win. Haha.
12. Do you like to pursue or be pursued? Blatantly pursued. Please do NOT pursue me behind close doors or in your mind. It doesn’t work / count. 
13. Use three words to describe yourself? Involved. Aware. Fun.
14. Do any songs make you cry? Jesus Paid It All, Revelation Song, You Found Me, Our God Reigns
15. Are you continuing your education? fUNfortunately. 
16. Do you know how to shoot a gun? Yes. I once killed a deer with a SKS Chinese Fighting Rifle. Totally accidental. Glad it wasn’t a person. 
17. If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you grabbed? Jackson. (Granted, my roommates could take care of themselves.)  
18. How often do you read books? I read a LOT of books a LOT of the time. Normally have 3 or 4 going at once and I’ll read snippets and sections and reflect and switch and on and on. Best one: “Brokenness, Surrender, Holiness” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Life-changer.
19. Do you think more about- the past, present or future? Future. Indeed, I think my brain is permanently planted in the future. So futuristic, I‘ve already thought of what you’re thinking (I probably have, just sayin’).
20. What is your favorite children’s book? “Goodnight Moon” “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie…” and any Amelia Bedelia books…:) 
21. What color are your eyes? Bluer than the ocean. Ok…maybe not.
22. How tall are you? 5′ 9″
23. Where is your dream house located? Fiji, Texas, Ireland, Germany, SA… anywhere really. I can’t honestly think of a place in the world I wouldn’t like. Given the right man. Hahah.
24. Do you have a secret fetish? Trying to finish people’s sentences…refer to #3.
25. Have you tried sushi? Indeed. I hate fish but I like a California roll.
26. Have you ever taken pictures in a photo booth? Yes, to this day my grandmother’s favorite picture is one me and Meredith took in a photo-booth. Hahah. Hand-drawn Leonardo DaVinci style or something.
27. When was the last time you were at a library? Today. Library DVDs are FREE. 
28. When was the last time you were at church? Sunday. And so was the CHURCH LADY (at my church)! I’m SO excited about that!!
29. Where was the furthest place you traveled today? Down Washington Road to TGI Friday’s. Not too too far…about 15 miles round-trip. 

…these were the words spoken about Michael Phelps in the latest round of insults and condescension. Maybe he wasn’t a sports spectacular, or even a great athlete. People mistook him because of his fame and now he’s just barely a blip on the radar of the swimming world. 

There are SO many lessons to be learned from this situation. Fame only goes so far. The world isn’t with you when no one else is (and vice versa). Perfection is only 6ft deep. And maybe Michael Phelps is human. All very good lessons. But what about us? We’re not going to be catipulted to stardom anytime in our lives. Most of us probably won’t live in the world’s all-important lime-light… so what then? 

What happens when we’re just regular, boring and flawed? 

We shrivel, we die. Our threat level dims in the eyes of accusers, we rarely catch anyone’s attention–good or bad, and typically we intercept their judgment. All of these are ideal tools to be beaten and battered with, right? That’s what I want the rest of my life to look like. Inactive, unnoticed and downtrodden. Great. Lets start living today. 

Rather–and if you truly examine yourself, you too would see–that you were made for bigger and greater things. Not necessarily the Olympics, American Idol, or for you more ferocious breeds, WipeOut, but life in Christ–the most noticable, radical and consuming passion we could be called to.  I would like to bust tail for the next 80 years getting ready for eternity, just like Michael Phelps gets ready for the Olympics. 

Luckily when we fall, we don’t get a three month suspension and sponsorships dropped. We get unfailing love. No limited warranty. No restrictions apply.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ”  

-Romans 5:1-2