For Good

This is a song from the musical "Wicked." This is a duet between Glinda the good witch and Elphaba who we know as the Wicked Witch of the West. The composer Stephen Schwarz asked his daughter what she would say to her best friend if she knew she wouldn't see her again. I absolutely love this song. And the lyrics are so true. I left many friends in Norman, OK who changed me for good and I have made many more friends here who have changed me too. I love the line that we are led to those who help us most to grow...if we let them.

To all those who have helped me to grow and who have left their handprint on my heart. I love ya!

I'VE HEARD IT SAID
THAT PEOPLE COME INTO OUR LIVES FOR A REASON
BRINGING SOMETHING WE MUST LEARN
AND WE ARE LED
TO THOSE WHO HELP US MOST TO GROW
IF WE LET THEM
AND WE HELP THEM IN RETURN
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE
BUT I KNOW I'M WHO I AM TODAY
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...

LIKE A COMET PULLED FROM ORBIT
AS IT PASSES A SUN

LIKE A STREAM THAT MEETS A BOULDER
HALFWAY THROUGH THE WOOD
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD …

IT WELL MAY BE
THAT WE WILL NEVER MEET AGAIN
IN THIS LIFETIME
SO LET ME SAY BEFORE WE PART
SO MUCH OF ME
IS MADE OF WHAT I LEARNED FROM YOU
YOU'LL BE WITH ME
LIKE A HANDPRINT ON MY HEART
AND NOW WHATEVER WAY OUR STORIES END
I KNOW YOU HAVE RE-WRITTEN MINE
BY BEING MY FRIEND...

LIKE A SHIP BLOWN FROM ITS MOORING
BY A WIND OFF THE SEA
LIKE A SEED DROPPED BY A SKYBIRD
IN A DISTANT WOOD
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...

BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD...

AND JUST TO CLEAR THE AIR
I ASK FORGIVENESS
FOR THE THINGS I'VE DONE YOU BLAME ME FOR
BUT THEN, I GUESS WE KNOW
THERE'S BLAME TO SHARE

AND NONE OF IT SEEMS TO MATTER ANYMORE

WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
I DO BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER

AND BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD.

The Race Begins...

Well, I am now officially a candidate for Student Body President along with 4 others. Each of us brings something a little different to the table, but I truly believe that any one of us would be wonderful in the office. I am glad that my felllow students have to tough choice to make. In the end I decided that the worst thing that could happen is that I don't win and I run to be on the Worship Committee again (which I have truly enjoyed).

There are 6 weeks left of school. Due dates begin to loom ever larger so I am trying to get started on a few projects now. This is always a busy time of year and it is about to get more so. So I guess it is back to reading for now.

OUCH!

After playing softball and a round of gold, I am a bit, okay more than a bit, sore. It has been a while since I was this sore. Have to work on that one.

An incredible Song

Thanks to Paul Burns for introducing me to this song. What a concept. Broken and spilled out. Isn't that how we should be? Isn't that exactly what Jesus did for us? I need to meditate on this song more. Here are the lyrics. More later.

One day a plain village woman
Driven by love for her Lord
Recklessly poured out a valuable essence
Disregarding the scorn
And once it was broken and spilled out
A fragrance filled all the room
Like a prisoner released from his shackles
Like a spirit set free from the tomb

Broken and spilled out
Just for love of you, Jesus
My most precious treasure
Lavished on thee
Broken and spilled out
And poured at your feet
In sweet abandon
Let me be spilled out
And used up for Thee

Lord you were God's precious treasure
His loved and his own perfect Son
Sent here to show me the love of the Father
Just for love it was done
And though you were perfect and holy
You gave up yourself willingly
You spared no expense for my pardon
You were used up and wasted for me

Broken and spilled out
Just for love of me Jesus
God's most precious treasure
Lavished on me
Broken and spilled out
And poured at my feet
In sweet abandon
Lord you were spilled out
And used up for me

More Blog Things

Thank Ryan!!!! More sillyness!

You Are The Empress

You represent the ideal female figure: beauty and nurturing. You bring security and harmony to many. At times, you are also a very sensual person. You are characterized by love, pleasure, and desire. Your fortune: You need to take some time to think about the role of commitment in your life. It's possible you need to commit more to others, or deal with how others have treated you. It is very important for you to support your friends and family right now, difficult as it may be. You may need to look at your relationship with your mother, or your relationships as a mother.

What Tarot Card Are You?

What do you know....this is my favorite drink

You Are a Margarita

You aren't just the life of the party, you are the party! You mix a good drink, bust out some great music, and know how to get down.

What Mixed Drink Are You?

A tribute to my favorite TV show

You Are Ned Flanders

A good neighbor and a devout Christian, you are a community leader. And you are called to make the world a better place, especially for left handed people. You will be remembered for: your goofy expressions - "hi-dilly, ho-dilly!" Your life philosophy: "I've done everything the Bible says - even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff!"

The Simpsons Personality Test

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know. You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems. Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green. Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

The Muppet Personality Test

Last one....

Your IQ Is 135

Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius Your General Knowledge is Genius

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

Running for President and other miscellany

Today, I accepted the nomination for Student Body President. I am running against Chris and Michael, 2 very intelligent, caring, positive, great guys who are my fellow classmates and who I look forward to being colleagues in ministry with in the near future. Nominations close next Wednesday and then everyone votes. Several friends had asked me about running, and I am sure each of them had their own reasons for asking me about running. I have spent time in prayer over it, but I don't know as I can put a finger on exactly why I am running for this office. It just feels like the right thing to do.

This week has been the "Women of the Cloth" conference on campus to celebrate 50 years of women in ministry. It has been nice to see women from my presbytery, including my committee chair and another committee member. I have also been able to reconnect with a couple pastors who I spent time with in OKC in October for ords grading, as well as meeting many new female clergy. I have once again had a role on the periphery with technology.

Having been around the women of my presbytery and women I have spent time with during the ords grading, I have been extremely affirmed not only in my call, but in gifts that I bring to ministry. The women of my presbytery want me to come back there when I graduate, but another wants me in her presbytery when I graduate. It is nice to be wanted, especially when it has nothing to do with where I stand on any political issues within the church. It is all about who they have come to know me to be.
Very cool!!!!

So in the upcoming weeks...will it be Hail to the Chief? Have to wait and see.

The 36% Evil Curler

Was reading blogs this morning and was redirected to Blogthings http://www.blogthings.com and took a couple of quizes this morning.

What Winter Sport are you? Curling...no wonder I like it so much :)

You Are Curling

What you lack in athleticism, you make up for in concentration. And while curling isn't much more of a sport than bowling, you *can* win a gold medal for it!

What Winter Sport Are You?

How Evil are You? Took this in honor of my favorite "333 I'm only half evil" shirt.

You Are 36% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well. In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.

How Evil Are You?

Road Trippin for Spring Break

Just got back from Norman. Went home to visit the family and get out of Austin for a bit. Most of the time was spent playing with my nephews (Josh -8 and Jayson 2), including going bowling and going to the zoo. I also got to see some good friends. It was very affirming to see friends and to have them tell me what gifts they see in me.

It was great to get away from studying for a few days, but now it is time to get started and try to work ahead. This semester is gonna get nutty!!!

Later

I am a Candidate now

Well as of last Friday afternoon I have been moved to the next phase in the ecclesiastical process, to candidacy. It involved standing in front of Presbytery telling my call story and answering questions related to it. It was a very affirming process and I am one notch further along.

I was reading a draft proposal from the New Wineskins Initiative about pastors. They are not going to require pastors to have an MDiv, which I think is a huge mistake. They are looking for practical training, an apprentice sort of role and some basic classes (that you can probably take at most major universities through the religious studies departments), but I think that is a bad idea!!!

Presbyterians have valued educated clergy. There is reason to learn the original language, the text becomes much richer and more intriguing in the original language. Our English interpretations often cannot do the original language justice in meaning. I see this as an attempt to stifle the Word. It reminds me of those who truly believe the words printed in red are precisely what Jesus said.

That being said, off to translate Greek!

Nothing like a little golf

In light of my struggles, I declared a Sabbath today. Went and hit a bucket of golf balls on the range for an hour. Came up with the "theology" of golf. Had a chance to think through some things and take out a lot of stress on little white round things. Then played at the local pitch and putt with my friend Steve. Low key day, time to sort things out.

I need to play golf more often I think.

Presbytery is Friday. Standing to become a candidate.