What's happening this summer?

In a previous post I mentioned that I was participating in a Summer Program through The Navigators and promised more information in the future. So here it is!

The theme verse for the program this summer is II Corinthians 2:18 which says, "as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."


The program lasts 8 weeks, plus a couple of orientation days. During the week (Monday through Friday) everyone in the program works during the day. Team leaders (that's me) work until noon and have prep time and training from noon until about 5 when everyone else gets done working. Then after dinner there is large group teaching and worship, small group Bible Study, a workshop or a social activity.

Each week we look at a different aspect of the life of a Christ Follower. Some of the different themes are intimacy with Christ, God's heart for the Nations, scripture, prayer, relationships,, and service.

The weekends are a mix of fellowship and outreach. On Friday nights there is always some organized social activity for the whole program. We spend most of Saturdays studying and practicing evangelism. In the mornings we have teaching from one of the staff members and in the afternoon we go to the beach in Jacksonville ad spend some time engaging in spiritual conversation with the people there. Also, during the summer, everyone has a home church that they attend and serve on Sundays.

I am so excited just talking about it all!

So I was thinking....

If I live to be old (I mean really old; old enough to not be able to do anything), I think I'll just sit on the couch and do nothing but listen to Starfield and Tenth Avenue North. The music is just that good.

My favorite song by Tenth Avenue North is called "Times." It's a song about who we are and God's promises to us.

Here are part of the lyrics:

I hear you say "my love is over,its underneath, its inside, its in between
the times you doubt me, when you can't feel
the times that you've questioned 'is this for real?'
the times you've broken, the times that you mend
the times you hate me and the times that you bend
well my love is over, its underneath
its inside, its in between,

these times you're healing
and when your heart breaks
the times that you feel like you've fallen from grace
the times you're hurtingthe times that you heal
the times you go hungry and are tempted to steal
in times of confusion and chaos and pain

I'm there in your sorrow under the weight of your shame
I'm there through your heartache
I'm there in the storm
my love I will keep you by my power alone
I dont care where you've fallen, where you have been
I'll never forsake you
my love never ends, it never ends.
***************


Other thoughts of the day:

Medieval scribes were studs. Seriously. I'm taking a calligraphy class this semester and I have a whole new appreciation for the printing press. Depending on the type of writing, it can take hours to complete a page of a manuscript.

Today I was working on Gothic Textura, more commonly known as "Blackletter." It takes painstakingly long to write because all the letters are straight up and down and each letter requires the writer to lift the pen in between the multiple strokes that it takes to make a single character. So even while I'm armed with my hot tea and itunes everytime I finish a line of text I feel like I need a nap. But those poor scribes. Not only did they not have an electric tea pot to make caffeinated beverages with, I'm pretty sure there was no peppy music to keep them going; and they just sat in a cold and cramped, 12th century equivalent of cubicles copying books all day long for years.

So if you're reading this blog, it's probably safe to say you are not a scribe and if you ever need things to be thankful for, consider that first of all, you aren't a scribe because it was a tough job. Also, all those old scribblers did a ton of manual labor to produce books and preserve manuscripts that we now have, and finally that Gutenberg was a crafty guy and saved a lot of people a lot of work.

spring break is here and it is good!

This is the first legitimate spring break I have had since junior high. During high school I had track practice or meets every day of break and last year I was in Texas doing two-a-days with the Rowing Team. So this year I am spending my break taking it easy! I've been playing with my brother's new puppy (he's a golden labrador retriever named Vladimir), watching movies with my family and doing some stuff with friends.

Also. I have a fantastic announcement to make to the world: I am going to The Navigators Jacksonville Summer Training Program (aka Jax STP). So I'm going to be a Team Leader which will be super intense, super fun, and super challenging. Please stay tuned for more updates and information!

It's March...

How did it get to be March so soon!?! I mean I'm as excited for spring as the next person but wow, time just goes by too fast.

This week's agenda
Finish reading Watt by Samuel Beckett
Clean room
Do analysis of Carolingian script before the weekend (as opposed to the day it's due)
Research and rough draft for Civil War Lit paper
Write letter for summer trip
Finish stuff for housing next year