Monday 8/19/02

Morning
Matthew 18:1-9
-Little children are the greatest in the kingdom of heaven
-Woe to him causes others to sin
-Cut off your hand if it causes you to sin
This passage seems to echo what the sermon was about yesterday. "Better for you to enter life maimed or crippled (or ashamed) than to have two hands or two feet (and your secret safe) than to be thrown into eternal fir." I think the Lord is trying to tell me something. The past few days, as I've tried to become friends w/ my suitemates, I've just gone along w/ their joking and swearing. I don't want to become a self-righteous nut, but neither should I allow myself to be pulled into their lifestyle. Lord, help me to be a light to these people, because it's obvious they need you. Lord, help me to stay strong even when I desperately want to fit in. Finally, Lord, I ask you to send me a strong Christian friend who shares my belief in you. I'm feeling in desperate need of encouragement here!!

Evening
Thank you, Lord!! Today was awesome! I survived the M-Climb an managed to get most of the paint off me (the M doesn't look that much better, all the whitewash was on the students!!). I then had some time to go figure out my computer account, get my meningitis shot, figure out my calc credit & meet G. & G. Barr, who brought over some stuff I had left at their house, namely my glasses!! I sure missed those last night! I still don't have my schedule all figured out. By the time I got my Calc III credit figured out, the registrar had closed, but I figure I had better pick up a class, since I only have 13.5 credits now!! Consequently, I haven't bought my books yet. We also had freshman convocation, which is our formal induction ceremony into the school. I must admit I slept through most of it!! For dinner, all of us suitemates went over to Sigma Alpha Epsilon for dinner and I felt so uncomfortable. But here's the great part. After we ate dinner, we all left pretty quickly because most of the girls had to get to volleyball practice. I walked over to the FCA ice cream social, sure I was late, since it was 6:30 and everything I saw said that it started at 6:00. Well, when I got over there, there were only a few people standing around. I probably would have left, being too embarrassed to ask them if the knew anything, when I recognized a guy I had worked w/ up at a Young Life camp and who I knew was involved in FCA here at CSM. It turned out that the event didn't start until 7:00. So, I helped them set up and in the process met a bunch of cool people. It's amazing how much more comfortable I felt around the FCA people vs. those at the frat house. It is quite true that you can feel that common bond when you meet a Christian!! I don't know if I've met my "kindred spirit" quite yet, but I do know that the Lord has provided plenty of people for me to choose from. Thank you, Lord, you are so awesome. It is completely awe-inspiring how you brought all the circumstances together (me being early, knowing the one guy, etc.) so that could be encourage and meet other committed believers. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord!! No words can describe my love and respect for you!!