The Nativity Story

Someone reminded me moments ago that Gregg and I saw
The Nativity Story last Friday to celebrate our 2 month Engagement Anniversary. I was telling everyone I knew how good of a movie it was. I guess I forgot about it until today. I wish it was out on DVD already so I could watch it at home for Christmas. I don't have the money to see it again in theaters. But as soon as it is available to buy to own, I plan on getting my own copy and making it one of those traditional movies you watch every year around Christmas time.

The only preview I saw had to have been about 30 seconds on TV around Thanksgiving. We were watching something on TV at Gregg's mom's house in Texas. I knew instantly that Gregg would want to see it. I don't usually rave about biblical movies because either Hollywood inputs too much non-biblical drama or it's just plain cheesy. The only one I rave about is Esther. I don't know who did it, but it's biblically accurate and appealing enough to like. Well, I was surprised by The Nativity Story. Mary's character was presented as more human than saintly, which I liked because you felt she was a normal girl you could relate to. I really liked how they depicted what was going on historically at that time with the Roman rule imposing unaffordable taxes on the Jewish people. I had a greater understanding of why the Jews hoped Jesus would be their earthly king to deliver them from the oppressive Roman government. I felt the fear of the Jewish children being murdered by soldiers due to King Herod's fear of the prophesy of a coming Messiah through the lineage of David. There was even a bit of humor through the characters of the three wise men. One of the best pictures of the hope the Jews longed for was through a humble old shepherd Mary and Joseph met on the way to Bethlehem to register for the census. Being a Christian may have had an affect on how personally I took this movie. I felt the hope that the birth of Jesus brought to the Jews and all man kind beyond what was shown in the movie. Did that have an impact on anyone else? I don't know. But what I do know is that this movie touched my soul. It seemed to reach through this Western culture I'm immersed in and bring me out for a moment to evaluate what this life is all about. For a moment I considered what I didn't really need, like a car, and how simply I thought I could live. What inspiration I felt to live a life that was noticably led by God's will. And how soon after I was consumed once again just by life, this culture, forgetting what had inspired my heart that night.

Good Old Fashioned Communication

So it's official - I no longer have access to my MySpace profile at work. It was just a matter of time. But suprisingly my lil' online social life didn't come crashing down. In fact, I'm quite pleased by these circumstances. For some weeks now, upon evaluation of my social skills, I've realized that I need to go back to good old fashioned communication. What happened to actually calling someone up on the phone? As if when they don't log onto their MySpace account and see the message I left for them, or check their email, I can't get a hold of them. Hello! Cell phone! And not only that, but I had a close friend encourage me by her example. What happened to calling up my friends and meeting with them face to face?! [shaking head] Ridiculous! You know, on one hand today's technology has many undeniable benefits. But on the other hand it creates bad habits and character traits like impatience and failure to maintain real relationships and interact with others in person.

I've relied on the Internet for a few years now to connect me with people I wouldn't be otherwise. I've "met" several cool people from across this nation and internationally (including my fiance who was living in Texas when we "met" online) through websites like www.sermonindex.net and www.myspace.com/yolandichka. I've found friends and friends have found me from the past. It's also been a convenient way to communicate with my friends and family who I either do see in person or could if I wanted to. With restricted access to certain websites like my old blog on www.xanga.com/flame_of_fire and now my MySpace profile, I will now be disconnected from certain people. But I've decided, if these online friends aren't involved in my personal life offline, then maybe they're not supposed to be in my life on an almost daily basis. Unless circumstances bring us together in person, or one actually makes an effort to call on the phone, maybe we're all supposed to stay in our own worlds that make up the one we all live in. I'm okay with that. It could be the way it's supposed to be, and the way things are supposed to be could end up being better afterall.

[laughs] I just signed a form here in the office and it dawned on me that I'm going to have a different signature after I get married in June, Lord willing. So I sat down at my desk and started practicing my "future" signature. [laughs] I even had to go online to search how a capital F was written in cursive. I forgot. The only time I write in cursive is when I sign my name. How this impacts the world... I'm really not sure. But watch out world, I'm going to have a pretty darn cool name this summer! [laughs]

Well, okay, so let's stick to the Impact the World theme here. Praise report - my employer/pastor/premarital counselor is letting me take a road trip with Gregg, my fiance, to visit his family for Thanksgiving. I struggled back and forth with the hoping and planning to go. I gave in sometimes to the thought of just staying, but then felt that I should keep hoping if this is what God wanted. I faced the obstacle of having no more vacation days left for this year. Airfare was too expensive of an alternative to driving. Then there was my employer's concern for our safety and that as an engaged couple, we were really going to drive straight through to Texas and not be put in a compromising situation. I felt that if this is what God wanted, He wouldn't allow our example of purity and integrity to be questioned or compromised. The final alternative was requesting a TripTik road trip traveling package from AAA to help lead us on our venture. Gregg and I feel strongly after thought and prayer that God wants us to make an effort to spend Thanksgiving with his family. God's fingerprints seem to be in these plans so far, so I anticipate what He's going to do through our act of obedience. [smile]

The Process

The days have come and passed as I've wondered, to no avail, how I could put into words the summation of what I've recently been taught by God. On one hand I feel the victory of overcoming obstacles... and on the other hand I am almost overwhelmed by the list of improvements I would still like to see accomplished within myself and through my life.

Some of the victories have been contentment where God has me vocationally and obedience in the small sacrifices God has required of me so I would desire more of a life led by the Spirit rather than a life enticed by carnality. As He's been working these things in my life, I've seen the fruits of faithfulness to my responsibilities, and a boldness by the leading of the Holy Spirit to speak the hope, truth and life of the Bible with a caring heart to others.

My pride still needs to die. The past needs to be let go. My trust in God needs to be strengthened so circumstances don't toss me around emotionally and spiritually.

This is my evaluation so far. These are the things I praise God for and the things I still hope. May God continually lead me down the straight and narrow.

A New Start

I've found that trying to start a blog can be likened to the times I attempted to start journaling as a teen. I would dedicate my new journal to a particular subject, but when I ended up deviating from that subject, there went the journal in the trash and there went journaling period.

I started a blog in October, dedicating it to two different missions organizations I felt have had an impact in our world; organizations I've been personally involved with. I was informed of the plight of several street kids around the area of Kyiv, Ukraine by Kelsey Hoppe who came to visit around the fall of 2003. I was on my way to a summer camp with a small team from our church the summer of 2004 to meet these kids and love them with Christ's care and compassion. Boy did that experience impact my life, as I'm sure my visit impacted theirs! I returned for a second summer in 2005. I had hoped to return to help with the camp and see the kids who had found a special place in my heart this past summer, but plans fell through due to lack of support.

I had held on dearly to this ministry as my way of... I guess having an impact in this world. But not too long ago I was introduced to the ministry of Samaritan's Purse. I made a small financial contribution to a boy in our church, Thomas Sayler, who was raising funds to purchase basic neccessaties for families in Africa (I don't remember what particular country). Ever since then I've received newsletters and Prayer Points booklets from Samaritan's Purse. As I've been able to, I've sent financial support to different projects.

So this is what my previous blog was all about. That was until... well, my involvement in both these ministries seemed to be at a standstill. I hope to always have a world view and not get so comfortable and complacent in my own culture that I become disinterested in the millions of souls in this world there are to meet, share Christ's love with and learn from. I don't want to lose that sense of adventure; the exploration into the awesome plans of God. At the same time, a theme that has been written on my heart from the past has recently surfaced to the forefront of my mind; faithfulness in the small things (see Matthew 25:23). Having an impact on this world can be done in the simplest of ways. Whether it's the people I'll inspire through this blog, the friends I encourage through MySpace, being diligent at work, loving my family and friends... these things are not to be despised as ineffective. And so I'll remain faithful in this manner until God may give me bigger responsibilities.

My hope still remains from my previous blog; that you would inherit a heart for this world if you don't currently have one. Whether your world is your own personal circle of family and friends, maybe those you've met through the Internet, your neighbors, co-workers or fellow students, may you desire to make a positive impact in each and every one of those precious lives. And if you're ever given an opportunity to venture out into this world of ours in humble service to others, I hope you take it!