How He Loves

I am a David Crowder Band fan...and I am really excited for their new album, Church Music. I've been listening to "How He Loves", and it has been a great blessing so I though I'd share it with you all.

This is probably my last blog of the summer. Looking forward to welcoming you to Calvin. Blessings!!!

change lives...

"If anyone is poor among your people in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need." Deuteronomy 15:8

What if you could make a difference in someone's life by lending them as little as $25? Who would you lend to? How would you find this person? Would you want to know what they did for a living? And what they would do with the money?

Kiva "lets you loan to the working poor, connecting people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty."

Become a lender and change lives...it may just change you...

I am a lender, will you join me today in changing lives?

Firsthand Faith

"The way to life - to God - is vigorous and requires total attention." (Matthew 7:14 MSG)

Often I have settled for someone else's description of God...looked for shortcuts to God...and my deficient view of God has often left me stranded, especially in times of crisis.

Glenn Packiam's book, Secondhand Jesus, has spoken to me this summer and challenged me in "trading rumors of God for a firsthand faith."

"God wants you to know Him, deeply and personally. But there are no shortcuts to God.

So often we too easily settle for someone else’s descriptions, the CliffsNotes from another’s spiritual journey. We are content to let “God experts” do the heavy lifting and then give us the bottom line. And after enough times through the grapevine, the truth about God deteriorates until crumbs and rumors are all that remain.

But when life derails, when things don’t go as we planned, our thinview of God is challenged. In those critical moments, we can choose to walkaway from God … or let our questions lead us home. When you decide to wrestle with God, to engage Him for yourself, you—like Jacob and Job and David and Glenn—will see rumors die and revelation come alive.

It’s time to hear the magnificent divine invitation. It’s time to take God up on His offer and embrace the mystery and majesty of knowing Him for yourself." - http://www.glennpackiam.com/books.jsp

As you begin your journey at Calvin, I hope that you will yearn for a firsthand faith. Add Secondhand Jesus to your reading list this fall and engage God for yourself.

Paddles, Portages, and Pals

Tater, the seagull, may be gone, but he will live in my memory forever--as will the 10 students who ventured to Algonquin Canada for Wilderness Orientation. Between carrying canoes on our heads, peeling off leeches, fishing for clams, murdering mosquitoes, cheering on Savannah (the amateur cliff jumper) and laughing over sticks of sausage and melted cheese, we bonded to create a meaningful experience (and stronger biceps).

I wish I could spend everyday in the wilderness, sleeping under the stars, chatting around campfires, and perpetually smelling like camp smoke and sweat. (Although I would avoid the bugs and waves if possible!) What a great time in the backcountry-Eh!

Just try not to take yourself too seriously

Have you ever checked out the website "My Life is Average"? Well, If you haven't you should. Let me just highlight some of the gems bound to be found on this awes - I mean, AVERAGE website:

"Today my friend said something a little funny on AIM and I typed "HAHA". I did not mean for it to be in all caps and was worried she would think she was funnier than she really is. MLIA"

"Today, I made a seemingly hilarious comment on my friend's Facebook page. I spent half the day refreshing my page, eagerly awaiting an appropriate response. I never got one. I was disappointed. MLIA."

"Today, I was in the car with my dad and I had the radio on. I knew an inappropriate part was coming soon so I changed the station until I was sure the part past. It saved me the awkward moment. MLIA."

"Today, while I was driving, someone decided to speed past me. He ended up being stuck at the same red light as me. I laughed to myself. I could feel his shame. MLIA"


OH, MLIA...HAHA...OH, I HOPE THat you don't think that I am laughing harder than I really am. It was stuck on CAPSLOCK.

Harry Potter.

Harry Potter. Half-Blood Prince. Enough said.

Empowering People - Its What We Do.

Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYVjfs6NlIg

Alice in Wonderland

There will be a movie. A movie with Helena Bonham Carter. With Johnny Depp. With Anne Hathaway. With Alan Rickman. It will be amazing. It will be "Alice in Wonderland."

The only thing that could possibly be better than an awesome story adapted to the screen by Tim Burton with this all star (British) cast, would be if Colin Firth was in it. But he's not.

Red Queen - Helena Bonham Carter

I really love Alice in Wonderland. When I heard that this movie would be made, I was giggly and jittery for about an hour. (Kevin, who shares an office with me, was a little freaked out.)

Mad Hatter - Johnny Depp

If you would like to talk books or movies with me, that one'd sure spark a conversation. But I would love to talk with you about anything, from querky to popular, from sporty to nerdy, from Calvin - abroad. These are some of the subjects I am familiar with and love. Just ask!

White Queen - Anne Hathaway

MJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL6qk9dCcxU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MThEoxSWURA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI9OYMRwN1Q&feature=channel_page

Yes, it's true. I've always loved Michael Jackson. He's a legend that changed music forever. Anyway, here are a few of my most favorite MJ videos lately.

Is it worth it? Let me work it...

PASSPORT I, that is. This past week was an absolute blast! We had a ton of fun meeting all the new students and parents at the first session. Everyone was so inviting and eager to chat. We had every intention of making PASSPORT I enjoyable for the new students and parents, but somewhere along the way, we might have enjoyed this even more than they did. Thanks to their excitement, interest, and general good nature, 5 hours of sleep was more than enough to provide the energy and enthusiasm to "orient" the new students and parents.

So, to answer your question, Missy Elliot, it was worth it.

D-7

7 days away from PASSPORT I.
For those who are attending it might be somewhat like the picture below.
Don't worry about it.
The O Board will make it GOLD!

See you soon.

Pump You Up

We are all bulking up this next week so that Orientation is an explosion of power and success. We are getting psyched to pump you up! Can't wait to see you all soon!

Calvin and the Chipmunks

Hey all! I am just about to leave the beloved office for the day. It's been a somewhat sunny and halfway cloudy day here in Grand Rapids, with a giant can of raspberry Arizona iced tea to top it all off. It's been a great 8 hours, full of Passport planning, scheduling, affirmation, and passion. We are eating Orientation day and night. We just can't get enough, kind of like this chipmunk. By the way, you will surely get to know the Calvin chipmunks and squirrels well... quite well. They are fearless to mankind. But no worries, they're also a free and consistent source of entertainment as you walk down the path!