Sunday, August 30, 2009

My Story

At first when I decided to write this blog I thought about doing a poetry response. But one day I was at church and I thought, Why not write my story?

So basically, I’ve been in church since I was born; just like many other people. I accepted Christ at an early age, and I don’t even remember how old I was. I was going to MJCA so I thought I was pretty secure in my decision to accept Christ. I would have no problems.

I left MJCA to go to West Wilson Middle for seventh and eighth grade. My mom wanted me to experience what it was like not to be in a Christian environment. In a Christian environment, there is always this barrier between the rest of the world and you. In a sense you don’t know the way people act and speak because they don’t know that it’s not right and you’d get in trouble for it in a Christian school. When I went to West Wilson, a lot of things changed in my life. People are definitely wrong when they say that their surroundings don’t affect them at all. The people around me definitely affected me. I started saying things I shouldn’t have said, and I acted very rude to many people. I did go to church, but that didn’t mean anything to me. Church was just like “whatever, if I have to go, I’ll go.” I’ll admit I was even a little embarrassed to talk about God and the Bible at school.

I came back to MJCA, and I was a little upset. Back at that time, I would have rather stayed at public school. Of course, I had no say in the matter, and I returned. I renewed my friendships with the ones I left back in sixth grade. I had a façade . . . even with my friends. I didn’t let on how I really felt. I just showed them this happy side when I was really angry inside.

Church to me got a little better. In January, we had a guest speaker, Junior Hill, and he was very profound and truthful when he spoke. You know when at the end of a service they’re calling people down to the front? And they say something along the lines of a rapidly beating heart and sweaty palms? Well, I had that same feeling. I thought my heart would explode because it was beating really hard, and I thought I would be sick with nervousness. I went up to the front, and they took me to some stairs, and I told them what was going on in my life. I told the woman that the only reason I had accepted Jesus earlier was because I wanted attention, and I wanted more friends- something I didn’t get. I dedicated my life to Christ that day. It was January 13, 2008.

In April, I started drifting away and not reading my Bible, and I conformed to what the world wanted. Church was still good; I enjoyed it, but I was sure not to say something I didn’t mean. Months and months passed again. Many things had been going on in my heart and mind. I was so confused, and I didn’t know what to do. One day, my youth pastor’s wife told all of us how she wasn’t a Christian, but she thought she had been over the years. I’m sitting there thinking, “Whoa! That’s amazing”; that following Wednesday, my youth pastor’s friend came and told us what he’d gone through with his relationship with God. I was thinking how this must be some sign from God saying, Listen up, Hannah. It’s time to get things right with Me. So I did. But once again life got in the way. The morning when I didn’t read my Bible I knew the cycle of my relationship with God would return back to how it was before.

A couple weeks ago I became friends with a girl in my Sunday school class; her name was Jasmine. We had never talked before and our Sunday school teacher told us we had to share our testimonies with a person. I was honestly dreading the following Sunday the moment she said that. So that following week Jasmine and I were paired, and we talked about our life experiences and what was going on with our relationship with God. I was really glad I told her. I felt so relieved for finally telling the truth to Jasmine and not having this feeling of secrecy and finally taking the Christian façade off.

Now, things hit closer to home whenever someone mentions God. For instance, when someone takes His name in vain, it hurts. His name is to be respected and honored. We shouldn’t use it in such an unholy manner. The adversary definitely wants you away from God. As you can see, I’ve experienced it many times. The farther away from God the better because he knows you won’t be a problem to him; the adversary knows what your weaknesses are and will use them against you. When I think about it sometimes I feel disappointed in myself for not wanting a relationship with the One who created me in His image. I feel like I’m more mature now than I was then. I know I’m going to mess up in life and people are going to judge my actions. But really, it doesn’t bother me because in the end, there’s only One person who’s going to judge my actions righteously- God.

-Hannah G.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

I Thank You God.

i thank you god by e e cummings

Every time I look outside, every time I take a breath, every time a step is taken, or every time I hear a dog barking, I take it for granted. I don’t even think about it when it happens, but I don’t thank God for what He does in my every day life. I would venture to say that most people don’t take time out of their busy lives to just stop and thank the One who created all of these beautiful things around us. I’m not saying this to justify myself or say that it’s right, just because everyone else is the same way.

When I look outside, I can see so many things that I could just stop and stare at all day long because of the amazement that I have when I see them. I should be thanking God for every single thing that I am able to do. I am able to run, talk, yell, eat, laugh, see, hear, and sleep, as well as multiple other things. I cannot believe that I manage to forget about these things every day. I take so much that I am given by Him for granted.

If we all took just a little bit of time every day, to thank and praise our Creator for all He has given us, I’m sure that He would appreciate it very much. I’m not sure what would really happen if we all did what we were created for as much as we are supposed to. No one is perfect, but we should all strive to be as much like Christ as we possibly can. That’s what we’re told every single day in school and at church at Sunday school.

I wish I could go back into the past and thank God for everything that He has given me. I’m just one person out of this whole universe. I’m just a single grain of sand amongst every other one on this beach. I can’t even fathom the many things that God has done just for me individually. He actually thinks of me. The One who created this world, has thoughts about me individually. Wow. When I really stop and think of all of it, it really seems even more amazing. All I can say is “wow.”
-Tyler

Monday, August 24, 2009

The Beauty of the Earth
I look around at my surroundings as I walk my dog or go get the mail, and think to myself, it is so hot out here. I will tell my dog to hurry up, or I will drag him back into the house because I just can’t stand the heat. I completely ignore the beauty of the world and how there is so much around me. Only when I take my time to slow down do I see just a glimpse of what God made. God made it all, and it is so amazing and beyond my mind.
I think about the ocean and how much life it really contains. The reefs have so much life and beauty which scream to me. Each thing has its own purpose and was created by God. I think how could he make something so beautiful? But it only takes me a second to remember God’s nature and that He is Beautiful. He gives us so much, yet we take it for granted.
You might watch a show on Animal Planet or Discovery that talks about the world. Not once do you here them say that God created it. All you here is falsehood about how it is millions of years old and everything came from some germ. I can not see how they are blinded to the complexity and don’t put it together with a creator. They say millions of years of trial and error or just by chance, our world came to be what it is today. I think to myself, how idiotic! Only God could create something as beautiful or complex as our world.
All around us are hints, not small but huge hints, that God is behind it all. The jungles, deserts, beaches, and so much more have God’s handiwork written all over them. Each so different and special make the world what it is. God gave us a wonderful place to live, and in return, we do not give him the credit he rightly deserves. But above all, we don’t even thank him.

-Emily

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Gratefulness

Defining the Grateful Gesture
By: Yvonne Sapia
“According to our mother,
when she was a child
what was placed before her
for dinner was not a feast,
but she would eat it
to gain back the strength
taken from her by long hot days
of working in her mother’s house
and helping her father make
candy in the family kitchen.
No idle passenger
traveling through life was she…”


When I first read “Defining the Grateful Gesture”, I thought about how ungrateful we can be. I think that we could all learn a couple of things about being grateful. The dictionary definition for gratefulness is “warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received”. I really thought about all of the small things that we take for granted every day, such as: cell phone, school, house, bed, family, television, ipod, food, teachers, computers, car, and a caring God. We are blessed with many things that we do not even think about for a second. It’s easy for us to appreciate the larger things that we are blessed with because they are more noticeable. When people do amazing things for us that are out of the ordinary, we realize it and are thankful. What about the everyday things? What about simple things that we expect but shouldn’t? If some of the simplest luxuries were removed from our lives, I imagine we would notice. The problem is that it does not go both ways. If we are upset when we lose these things, then why aren’t we equally as grateful when we have them. I know that I need to improve my gratitude in everyday life and I think this is something we all can improve on.

-Caleb

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Everyday

….Everyday, you save my life

“Sometimes I swear I don’t know if I’m coming or going

But you always say something without even knowing

That I’m hanging on to your words

With all my might and it’s alright

Yeah, I’m alright for one more night.”

-Rascal Flatts, Everyday

The first time I heard this song, I immediately fell in love with it. One day as I was sitting in the car, it came on. As I intently listened to the lyrics, I could not help but think that this song reminded me of God. There are times where I feel like no one knows what I am going through. I turn to the Bible for guidance and realize that I am not alone. God is always there for me.

His words are always uplifting and comforting. He loves every one of us and understands everything we are going through. Whether it be a break up or just fitting in, it is not easy. We have ups and downs in our life and sometimes hearing a story or a song can help you realize that God is with you always.

I am reading a book right now called, When God Winks at You. It is a book full of stories about when people are down and God surprised them by sending a “God-wink” their way. It served to remind them how lucky they really are. I absolutely love the stories and can’t help but watch and wait for my own Godwink.

We learn from the Bible that we are lost without him. As Christians, we need God and if we pray to him about our heavy burdens, they will be lifted from us. This song goes to show you God is everywhere, and everyday he saves our life.

- Mackenzie

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Happiness

I am one of those people that likes to be spontaneous and out of routine.
I like to try new things and experience stuff most would think is crazy.
I have a huge list of things I want to do before I die like skydiving, saving someone's life, and riding as many rollercoasters as possible.

I'm always going to say something stupid! That's just who I am as a person.
It's embarrassing at first, but I learn to look back and laugh at it, because I love to laugh and laughing is just a part of who I am.

Here are some fun facts for you that I thought was cool. I take fun very seriously.

-Laughing actually relieves stress and increases endorphines, which help prevent depression.
-Laughing is a great work out for your body.
-Laughing increases heart rates and allows you to breathe deeper.
-Laughter reduces pain.
-Laughter can help fight infections.
-Laughing 15 min a day can help you lose weight.
-Having a pleasant, enjoyable conversation while eating a meal helps with digestion.
-Singing out loud also relieves stress and adds years to your life.
-Your face has over 40 muscles. When you smile, it gives your muscles a work out and prevents wrinkles in later years.
-Smiling is an act we are naturally born knowing how to do.
-Women smile more than men.
-There are 18 different kinds of smiles.
-Newborns prefer to see people who smile rather than non-smiling people.
-Gelotologist is someone who studies smiles.
-People can tell a real smile from a fake smile by their eyes.
-Laughing for one hour can burn 500 calories.
-A good mood has a distinct smell.
-Denmark is the happiest nation in the world.
-Dancing helps increase happiness, followed by sports and music.
-Children cuddled more are typically happier.
-Smiling is a universal language.

I hope you enjoyed those fun facts and maybe you can apply them to your own life!

- Aalia
"In the cemetery
a mile away
from where we used to live
my aunts and mother,
my father and uncles lie
in two long rows,
almost the way
they used to sit around
the long planked table
at family dinners..."


Unveiling by Linda Pastan

The title "Unveiling" initially drew my thoughts to a wedding, particularly the unveiling of the bride just before she shares a heart warming, exciting first kiss as the wife of the man she loves. That moment signifies the bond of love that two people share in their lifelong journey together. This journey of life reminds me of a curvy road leading to the top of a mountain. It has its ups and downs, its twists and turns, but it's a beautiful and amazing ride; every moment takes you higher. But eventually, life reaches its climax, the highest part of the mountain. You've seen all there is to see and the only way to go from the top is down. Life begins to slowly fade away with old age and death. Time seems to move faster as you look back on cherished memories. Such was the case of the person in this poem, left alone to reflect upon special moments spent with her deceased loved ones. Death is sad from an earthly standpoint- a last gasp of air, the final beat of a heart, the end of new experiences and adrenaline-pumping adventures, the conclusion of living. The grief surrounding death is heightened by being the sole human left in a group of people, forced to encounter this not-so-grand finale by himself. Luckily, as Christians, we can celebrate death as the beginning of a new and perfect life with our Creator. The road to Heaven- now that's the one I'd choose to be on.

- Katy

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Welcome to Dual Credit Blogging!!

My name is Mrs. C, and I am a Dual Enrollment instructor. I have the responsibility of teaching high school juniors and seniors each year, and I also have the great privilege of reading their writing. That is what you will see in the posts to come . . . great writing. Their thoughts, hopes and dreams given shape with the written word. I also will include pictures of these students in action, and I hope you are as inspired as I am when you get a chance to see what is going on in their minds and hearts. Read on, enjoy and feel free to comment!!