Christmas is Special

My sister Kelsey said something in her most recent blog post about doing everythign special on Christmas.
I was thinking somethign similar. I think it is great that Christmas is so special, but maybe we should take away some of the "specialness" and make it a simple day of focusing on Jesus.
Either way, I think we should also work to make other days special. Why wait for one day to do the things we enjoy, to love the people we love, to eat the food we crave.
Well, "all things in moderation."
but the loving people part is definitely something I think everybody should do more of, and I certainly know that's true for me.
that kind of relates to my thoughts about gift giving. I think gift giving should be done throughout the year based upon actually realizing a need somebody has and giving to fulfill that need rather than at the end of every year buying random things because we feel like we should.
For example, I got socks for Christmas from my parents, and they're great. I need socks. I seem to wear through socks pretty quickly even though I dont wear them often. I enjoy the gifts I got. I didn't get a bunch of nonsense, but I got a few things that are meaningful to me.
If we really pay attention to the people in our lives, we would know what they want and need. If they aren't important enough for us to pay attention to, why would we spend money on something that they probably want to take back? If it truly is the thought that counts, maybe we should be more thoughtful.
All of this stuff definitely goes for me too and most of it is just whatever comes to mind as I am writing, but I think I need to pay more attention to the people I care about in my life. The hard part of this is deciding who to care about and reminding myself of those people, because there are so many people and i can't do something for everybody. anyway, maybe I need to come up with some kind of care system, but something that doesn't make in an obligation.
well, I guess I need to think more about this but right now I need to sleep.
Praise God and goodnight.

Changes

Just so you all know, I made some changes to my blog. You probably noticed. If not, think about it.
God loves you either way.

Structure?

I generally tend to have a negative view of structure. I don't like to have thigns i have to do. However, at other times I realize structure makes some things easier. For example, I decided to kind of chill this break rather than go on some kind of service trip.

I find alot of joy in doing service trips though, traveling with people, serving people, learning and growing in that way.
I know there are many things I could do to serve here and things I need to get done and other stuff, but without the structure it is sometimes difficult to motivate myself to do things. So, maybe i need to be more motivated so I can avoid structure or I need to learn to embrace structure.

Or maybe I need to be able to thrive in either situation. Well, God is helping me with self-discipline and motivation, but I think it will be a long process.
I'm not too worried. I don't really know where my life is headed, but as long as God's in charge it will be pretty good.

Speaking of God, I am reading through the Bible, doing one of the year plans. I started it in October, so it's not as if I am almost done. I am actually in Joshua. good name. but what I was going to talk about is from Dueteronomy.

I dont know if I spelled that right.

Anyway, I was reading about the blessings God would pour out on Israel if they obeyed him and the curses if they didn't and it was pretty intense, a couple of the curses causing good men to eat their babies, and being infected with every single disease.

It really made me think about the fear of the Lord. I think I forget about that often. It was a good reminder.

But then I watched a movie called Joshua which is about Jesus (with the name Joshua which comes from the same name as Jesus) coming back to earth in human form and showing how he would be. It is an interesting movie, but one thing I didn't like about it was at one point the Jesus figure seemed to say we shouldn't fear God because God loves us all.

I guess as long as i can remember I have thought we should recognize God's love but also fear him. I don't know if I have ever completely comprehended the fear part. well, actually, I don't think I ever could fully comprehend any part of God.

Then I was talking to Kassie about it, and just how God can do what he wants and she brought up a story of the earth opening up and swallowing a family, which I don't really remember so I can't give details but it reminded me of Ananias and Saphirra (sp) who were each smited by God in the New Testament.

anyway, those are just some recent thoughts. God is powerful. I am glad he is good.

International Students, Missions, and Multiculturalism

The title of this blog comes from a conversation I am currently having with my sister Kelsey. She asked me about my internship with His House next semester, and I think those are some of the things I will be involved in. I am not sure exactly what I will be doing....

Commerical Break...Hey have you heard of Christmas? Do you like to buy lots of presents for people? Well, maybe Jesus has a different idea. Checkout http://adventconspiracy.org/ for more information.

I mainly did that because I was talking about the title which had to do with my life but wasn't really how I originally planned on starting the post and it reminded me of a TV show when they do a little intro thing and then go into commercials before starting the actual show. Anyway, it turned out good because that Christmas thing has been on my mind and I think it is good to think about.

I haven't written in a while. That's the way I was going to start this post, and thinking about it now, I realize it is better I didn't because that is just really boring and I have probably started posts like that before.

I would say it is because I have been busy with finals and everything but it is probably more because I have been spending time with Kassie. Speaking of finals, though. I am done with the semester!. I just have one more semester to go, and it should be interesting: internship with His House, two family studies classes, hi-lo aerobics class, singing class, finishing up senior research project.

This weekend I am going home to see my brother Joe and sister Kirstin and parents and possibly other family such as Jason Gaffke, Willie Campanelli, etc. And to do laundry which I haven't done in about 2 months, my record so far.

Well, I can write more later but that's enough for now.