things teachers say...

[post hoc, ergo propter hoc: "it happened after, therefore it was caused by"]

this phrase was used in one of my classes today in reference to a type of logical fallacy. it's context was a discussion about how susceptible our nation is to different treatments. my teacher continued on to describe this concept is one that not only acts as an influencer to our medical choices, but also as a basis for general thought processing. his explanation triggered a realization that this way of thinking is such a deceiving, yet appealing, concept for so many people. we would be foolish and self centered to think that this fallacy has just emerged or that we have discovered some hidden reasoning that plagues the human mind. i think that this concept can definitely be used as a deception. but it also could be used in an incredibly powerful way for good. simply put, the application of this phrase is relative to the perception. but as this phrase rolled around in my head i remembered in ezekiel 36 when God said that he would replace isreal's heart of stone with a heart of flesh. the repercussions of such grace can yield nothing short of a life that echoes the glory of God. in this case, post hoc, egor prompter hoc is right on. if any good comes from my life, if any compassion, if any love, it is most certainly caused by the Almighty.

"phone a friend"

I really enjoy my Human Development and Family Studies classes. Really, I do. I know that there are people who think my major is a joke and they are entitled to their opinion. I have a heart to work with people and I feel like my major has adequately prepared me to do that in a lot of ways. I have studied long hours and contrary to popular belief I haven't skipped my way through semesters on my way to graduation. Stepping off my soapbox... Most of the people in the College of Human Sciences are girls. And sometimes we have courses that promote discussion. This term 'discussion' bothers me when it is abused. I love to hear people's stories and different opinions, but some HDFS classrooms turn into a time when people share personal details that somehow become a catalyst for the rest of the class to tell when their "Aunt's cat's daughter's uncle's mom's grandmother's dad's goldfish experienced the same thing." This thought started today by an answer given to this question posed by my instructor:

"How do you think text messaging or internet communication has changed the way we communicate with one another today?"

[answer] "Well in the past I have learned that text messaging helps boys to lie about where they are and who they are with. It's just better to call so you can hear the background."

It is in moments like these when I wish that our teacher could give them the "phone a friend" option. There is a lot of bitterness built up in that answer. I am sad that the word text message is directly correlated with lies in her mind. Hopefully someone has sent her a friendly text since then. In this particular class today, the teacher allowed story time to continue from 12:00 till 12:50. We didn't go over any of the notes he passed out. None. All that to say, I wish that teachers had the "phone a friend" option to give to students who divulge too much information in class.

awe. wonder. the rescue. encounter.

[this picture is provided compliments of bek] last night: december 8th: was the last encounter in america. i walked into the student center with mixed emotions. saddened, obviously by the thought of grace campus ending in auburn next fall. ecstatic, with the thought of how God has called grace campus to HK and the ways he is going to bless the obedience to that calling. but even in the ending of our weekly gathering on thursday, God has already stirred new beginnings. i don't think i can articulate how my heart felt sitting in the student center last night hearing the story of Jesus with a new wonder and awe; but i do know that i left feeling refreshed, feeling God pulling me into His heart and thankful for the great things that he has done. matt shared with us the story of Jesus from his son's storybook bible. matt read portions all the way through and as i listened i was humbled at the simple words telling the story of our rescue. i pray that the story of our God never becomes too familiar and i never cease to be amazed at how he has so perfectly orchestrated his story so that we would know him and have a relationship with him. He is running towards us with love and mercy and grace and freedom and redemption. may we respond with praise. may our lives reflect the love and grace that we have been shown. may we be overwhelmed by His goodness. may His name never been far from our lips. we are the children of His great rescue. we are the children He sent his humble son for. we are the children of grace, given unmerited favor and love because of our faith in Jesus. i am anxious to see all the ways God continues to begin beautiful new works in his children. thank you grace campus family for loving me out of the overflow of the Father. my life has been changed because of your presence here. last encounter in america: next encounter in HK

"bless her heart..."

I'm quite positive that's what about 15 people were thinking as I tried to walk through a door in Lowder today... It was windy & cold when I left my apartment this morning so I was bundled up with my green scarf (as high up as I could get it around my neck before it began to cover my face), my long winter jacket buttoned up, and my collar popped in an attempt to keep myself warm. I made my way to Big Blue for a guaranteed delicious breakfast. Finished my great bagel, filled up my coffee cup, got bundled up again and plugged my earphones in to finish a podcast I had started listening to during breakfast. You know those times when it is windy outside and you don't mind the wind because it's nice and calm? Well that's how I felt leaving Big Blue, I was enjoying the wind, I actually found myself being thankful for the wind and the way it helped to wake me up on my walk to Lowder. You know those times when it is windy outside and you don't even really want to be outside because you find yourself walking straight into the wind and you cant really take deep breaths because the wind steals them away with it's bitter chill? Well that's how I felt about 10 seconds after I started to be thankful for the wind. So my pace quickened and I pulled the door open, only to find myself pulled back and doubled over because the cord for my earphones had caught on the lock of the door. Well of course in my graceful fashion I let out a loud "hey-o" into the quiet hallway which was met with people turning to laugh and other people looking at me with the "bless her heart" look- you know the one. The story gets better no worries. There was a girl walking behind me towards the door and I'm choosing to believe that she didn't see me pulled back or doubled over because she would not have chosen to do what she did. I'm guessing that she thought I was not strong enough to open the door, so in her servant spirit, (let me remind you my earphone is still laced up between the locks on the door- halfway still plugged in my ear) she pulls the door all the way open which pulls me into her. Needless to say, at this point I am fully embarrassed. We both start laughing, joining in to the laughter and "bless her heart" looks already happening in the hallway. I finally get my earphone cord untangled and proceed to my first class. Welcome back from the break. Hope you had a great Monday.

run to her

i love to watch people as i walk across campus. confession: sometimes i plug in my earphones and turn my iPod on shuffle and walk as though the song playing was the soundtrack to a movie and just observe people in the context of that song. [i know i'm a dork, if you weren't already aware, here's your evidence] today however i didn't have my iPod plugged in and i was just watching people interact as i walked from lowder to the library. there was nothing out of the ordinary until i began to cross in front of mary martin hall. there was a boy walking in front of me with big headphones on, backpack filled to the brim, then out of no where he started running! my initial thought was that he was running to catch the tiger transit, but as my eyes searched the street for a nearing bus i couldn't find one. i've seen many people running across campus [not exercising] and i always get uncomfortable thinking about why they are so desperate to get to class. they usually run with their eyes towards the pavement and have no sense of anyone else around them. but today, this boy was different. his eyes were locked straight ahead, he was on a mission. i found myself smiling still trying to figure out what he was doing. was he in a race with himself? was he about to start a fight [highly unlikely but you never know, people are crazy]?, what the mess was he running towards?! then the answer came: he was running to her. i don't know who she is, but this boy loves her. my heart melted and i just watched this girl's face light up as this boy embraced her and kissed her cheek. he put his arm around her and led her towards samford hall- he looked so content. no wonder he was unaware that anyone was watching, he was running to his love. his eyes were locked on her. he was so excited to see her that his long legs couldn't walk fast enough so he ran. he RAN to her. i've been reading a book called Redeeming Love, if you haven't read this book i highly suggest that you do! it's long [400+ pages] but it's worth the read. the book is based off the old testament book of hosea. the running thread throughout the book is that this husband constantly, unconditionally, intentionally, lovingly pursues and loves his wife. my mind can't help but think of the man that i will hopefully marry one day and what his pursuit of me will look like; but more importantly that the Lord does this with me every single day. He loves me unconditionally. He runs towards me with mercy and peace and joy and clarity. He runs towards me with the truth that He is my identity, that I can not be separated from His love by anything. He is running towards the nations of this world with a banner of His love. Rest in that. He loves you. He runs towards you.