Obedience is costly...

"An Afghan man threatened with execution because he converted from Islam to Christianity is expected 'to be released in the coming days,' an official says." - CNN Breaking News email

We've been going through Experiencing God at work these past 7 1/2 weeks and it has been nothing short of incredible. This week has been about adjusting your life to God after He has called you to do something. Amazing. My junior and senior years in high school I was working toward applying to the United States Naval Academy. There was nothing that I wanted more than to be a Navy pilot and to one day pilot the space shuttle. In my mind, God put that desire in my heart so I thought that He wanted me at the Naval Academy. Unfortunately, in my early days as a Christian, I had to learn the hard way that we don't make plans and then invite God in. That's not how He works.

However, God IS working. As we spend time with Him in prayer and Bible study, He guides us to follow Him and work with Him. The thing that got me with today's lesson though were the many challenges he faced with the Jews and the Gentiles and showing them that Jesus was the Christ... his life was lived at many costs. He was put in prison, he was flogged, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, he went hungry, etc (II Corinthians 11:22-33) all for the name of Jesus. What have I done that has put myself out there in proclaiming that same name? Nothing.

Then, this afternoon I get the CNN Breaking News about this man, Abdul Rahman, who is going to be put to death because he has rejected Islam. I have lived in another country in a Muslim neighborhood and I know that it is a serious thing when a Muslim becomes a believer. Families will disown their family members if they become followers of Christ. From CNN: "Rejecting Islam is insulting God. We will not allow God to be humiliated. This man must die," said cleric Abdul Raoulf, who is considered a moderate and was jailed three times for opposing the Taliban before the hard-line regime was ousted in 2001.

Why should I be able to turn around in my chair at my desk and talk to my coworkers all day about Jesus but this man can't even say that he is a Christian?? Granted, I work in a Christian ministry, but even when I worked at Delta in Atlanta, I could talk to whomever about Christ and not be threatened with my life! However, God is still glorified through this man whose life is at risk because Abdul is putting the living God above his own life.

Give me S'more!

I was hoping to meet Tiffany's new "man friend" but she thinks she was lucky because when we met up she couldn't get in touch with him. Oh well, maybe next time. So, she and I went to Cosi where we ordered some s'mores and coffee. YUM!

I then went to see one of my uncles and his family. Their youngest is just over a year old and is all over the place! She is fun though and the other kids are growing up so fast. I got to see my aunt and Alejandro one last time this morning. He is so cute! I could eat him up... but since he doesn't know me very well he wouldn't have much to do with me. Oh well, I'll get him next time.

It was a fun trip up but it's time to head back to G'vegas. I'll do my best to keep posting, but without my own computer, it makes it a little more difficult. One of these days that problem will be solved...!! Ciao!

Last Week

Oops... I forgot to put a couple of KEY events up here. Jill and Michael had their baby girl last Monday!! ANDREA ELIZABETH came into the world just over 7lbs and 20 inches long. Unfortunately I won't get to see her until this summer. But I get to keep her while Jill's sister is getting married so we'll have our bonding time :)

And then of course, we celebrated Kelly's birthday on Wednesday at the delicious Japanese restaurant, Irashai. We hung out for a solid 2 hours. I think they were ready to kick us out by the time we left. But it was fun. And I finally have Kelly's "real" present to give her! I got it while in D.C. and hopefully she will like it. But, if I know Kel, she'll love it and be excited. hehe! Happy (late) Birthday, Kel!!

From laying out to St. Patrick's Day in D.C

Last weekend I was chilling on the sand, getting some sun on the Isle of Palms in South Carolina and this weekend I'm up in (cold) Washington, DC and hanging out with Colin Powell at the Washington Wizards vs. Dallas Mavericks game! WHAT?! (Can you see him next to the guy in the bright blue shirt??) So, it has been an exciting week just from those two events. Melody and I went down to Charleston for the day because... because... well, because we could! It made for a long day, but my face is darker and I don't look quite as pale as I once did. Sara Shaw Nicholas came to lay out with us for a little while too, although she just found out that she's going to St. Louis this summer to begin her residency! CONGRATS, SARA!!

This weekend is packed with family and friends and shopping! And I'm sure we'll hit up a movie or two while I'm up here. I spoke to one of mom's French classes when I got here about living in Brussels. I'm definitely not a teacher, but the kids were fun and I think they enjoyed the break from learning passé composé. I'll see Tiffany on Sunday (and hopefully meet Mr. Ed!) so we'll see how that goes. I'll try and post again later next week or before the end of the weekend. I'll probably have some more pictures of my cousins before the weekend is out! I love having this digital camera now. Woohoo!

J'adore Paris!

I admit, I've been a fanatic about watching The Batchelor: Paris. But I'll also admit that this is the first Batchelor I've ever watched... the reason? Well, I don't know why I haven't watched it up until this point. Maybe it's partly because I've been convicted of watching too much tv (yes, I actually gave up television for Lent!) and so I didn't really want to watch yet one more show. However, I love Paris, so I couldn't resist. Had I known this season of The Batchelor was going to be in Paris I so would have applied to be one of the girls! But, that's a whole other post for a later date.

In 2004 alone I went to Paris 4 different times. So, by the time I had just barely turned 26 I had ventured to Paris about 6 times in my life (I don't say this to be a snob, circumstances just allowed me to go this many times!). My mom is a French teacher and so I grew up hearing about France and especially Paris. So, by the time I got to go at the tender age of 16 I was beyond excited. People warned me about it... "It's dirty," they said. "Parisians are rude to Americans," they said. So I guess I was a little apprehensive, but once I got there, the ambiance, the lights, the romance, the food and the sites all got me. Granted, there was no romance for me as a 16 year old on a high school orchestra trip, but you could feel it all the same.

There's just something about knowing your way around a foreign city, knowing how to use the public transportation, knowing where to shop, knowing which bridge is your favorite and knowing where that petite café is that you adore. I guess some of it too has to do with the fact that I have the posibility to blend it a little. I can speak some French and I have dark hair and a petite frame so I guess I can blend in, which always helps. I LOVE THAT CITY! I guess I've been going through withdrawls since last fall. Maybe because it had been a year since I had been there, who knows.

Anyway, I don't know when I'll be able to go again. But, if you're ever in Barnes&Noble check by the map section because I seem to keep drifting over there and admiring the maps of Paris trying to decide where my apartment should be located...