Wanting to change the world...

Do you ever have something that compells you to dream?! Or that one thing that sparks a desire in you to have an impact on other people's lives? Last night as I wandered off to bed at the Sheltons' home (in their very comfy guest bed I might add) I read a chapter of the book Blue Like Jazz. About half way through the chapter I found myself with a tear streaming down my cheek. It was not that what I had just read was some sob story made to make it's readers cry. Rather it was the fact that what the author was writing about broke my heart in a way that made me want to change it.
In his story of attending a very secular college as a Christian, Donald Miller writes something that struck me to my very core; he wrote: "these people hated the very idea of God and yet they cared about people more than I did." Could it be that Christians today have gotten so caught up in the rules and rituals of our "religion" that we have forgotten the very reason that we believe what we believe? Could it be that our relationships with God and with other people have been completely pushed aside in order to "preserve" a "holy life?" This quote struck me so hard because I know the truth that is behind it. Christians are often the LAST people will come to for help. We never offer help just because we want to show Christ's love... instead we offer help in order to bring people to our programs, churches and events. We are extremely quick to judge someone for not wearing the right thing to church on Sunday morning or for having too many tattoos but we fail to reach out to them in Christ's love.

I am completely moved and challenged. I truly want to change the world. I don't want to be someone that "sells God." I want people to see that I have a loving relationship with Him and that they can have one too. I want to be less of a "Christian" and more like Christ!!

A good way to stay connected...

Hello Everyone!

I thought this would be a great way to stay connected to everyone. College is such an exciting but busy time of life. I really want you all to be a part of everything that is going on in my life. I really do feel like I am living in two completely different worlds... one at home surrounded by the people that know me best and surround me with their love constantly... they other 1000 miles away with very good friends and Disneyland just a hop, skip and a jump away.

Right now as most of you know I am home for the summer. I am finding fun and interesting ways to keep myself occupied. I just got done with a three week "job" in which I got paid to hang out with a fourteen year old... I'm not sure what could be better than that. I am working at ALCC, trying to take some things off Gareth's plate and loving every minute of it.

Sharae and I just got done planning and throwing my parents a party for their 25th wedding anniversary. They were so blessed and everyone had an amazing time!!! I have loved watching my parents and their love story. It has inspired me to never settle for less. Everything for the party turned out wonderful... aside from it being extremely hot!

I must say planning the party was one of my favorite things in the world to do. I could definitely plan parties as a hobby! SO FUN!

Now I am working on R.A. stuff for next year (I will have a floor of forty sophomore girls in my care...). I have a lot to do and not very much time to do it in. I would love all of the prayer I could get!

Aside from that I am working on Girls Institute for True Beauty which is the non-profit organization I am co-founding with Robyn. It is exciting to be a part of something so huge. Neither of us feel adequate enough for this amazing responsibility God has given us... Good thing we have Him on our side!!!

Well, I look forward to staying connected this way to all of you! (Thank you Rachael for the idea!) Have a wonderful and blessed week!