27.2.01

I bought a t-shirt today, do you think it is inappropriate? It is carolina blue w/navy letters and says

Front - Doherty's Disciples.
Back - Welcome to...
THE CHAPEL.
The Christening of the Risers.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
A.D. 2000-2001

26.2.01

i am sort of amazed by the weblog phenomenon. i guess we like reality enough as a society to desire to hear about the mundane, everyday existence of individuals. a pretty steady stream of folks come here. i have had visitors this week from ucla.edu, rice.edu, wisc.edu, wfu.edu, obu.edu, lawrence.ks.us, compaq.com, apple.com, uncg.edu, boone.nc.da.uu.net, and chicago-n.navipath.net among other locations. I know who some of these folks are, but others i know i don't know anyone in that location. It is amazing to think that people who don't know me read the random stuff i post.

25.2.01

i meant to post this way earlier but blogger was having issues!

The Church's one foundation,
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation,
through water and the word.
From heaven He came and sought her,
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.

Elect from ev'ry nation,
Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With ev'ry grace endued.

'Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace for evermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great church victorious
Shall be the church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won:
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee.

THE CHURCH'S ONE FOUNDATION by Samuel Stone. We didn't sing it in church this morning, I just like it!

22.2.01

oh yeah, Carolina 95 - FSU 67.
Joseph Forte scored 36 points.
All the white boys got to play -- we ended the night with a "caucascian invasion" of 5 skinny white boys.
rah-rah-carolina-lina!

I GOT TO STAND IN THE RISERS! This year they added standing-only risers behind the basket on the UNC-bench side of the Dean. E. Smith Center. The risers are neat because you are SO close to the court and the players. My legs hurt and i can't talk but i can't wait until Wednesday when we play NC State because i have riser "seats" then too. i will try to scan in a picture since the game is nationally televised. Ya'll can watch for me :o)

Make new friends but keep the old,
One is silver, the other is gold"

I have been really appreciating my old friends lately... for instance, my friend Matt stopped by last night and brought me an old Book of Common Prayer (from the early 20th century, but the 1789 edition) as well as a pocket sized Episcopal Hymnal from 1940 and a full sized one. Just 'cause! It was so neat to know he thought of me when he knew his church was getting rid of them. And my friend Jonathan... a really neat guy whose friendship i so cherish because of its steadfastness. i love to go and visit or bump into him on campus and see him crack a smile... but new friends are so neat as well. New inside jokes, new discoveries... i am also experiencing that with someone. The girl scout who penned those words was very wise.

21.2.01

ok ok ok... i am really giddy and stressed and scared and excited and tired at once...
human emotions!

Despite the fact that i was wearing a pin and even gave out a few platforms, Eric Johnson lost the student body president election by a mere 30 votes. Joseph Forte endorsed him! What were students thinking? It's ok... at least the election doesn't actually matter all that much. That's the thing about campus elections. Eric would have been good though.

19.2.01

Retreats are great, but for me, never restful. The retreat i went on was with UNC's InterVarsity and it is a multi-track weekend so you get to pick your focus. i did "Becoming a Contagious Christian" which was great. Lots of new inside jokes to be teased about and a good reminder of how to share the gospel with someone. The methods i learned weren't new to me, for the most part, but in the midst of all the practical training i realized that i must have God's passion for my lost friends so that it would mean something. Whoa! The retreat also brought me face to face with some of the major issues in my life as i discovered more about my character in this haphazard, piecemeal way where God combined a lot of individual forces to teach me one, overarching thing. To love and to be loved is both what i fear the most and what i want the most, both in my relationship with God and in relationships with people. The duality is what kills me. Thank God that "We love because he first loved us." [i john 4:19]

18.2.01

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God should die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!


He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race!
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke – the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, thru Christ my own

16.2.01

I'm going on a retreat and will return Sunday afternoon. :o)

15.2.01

i was so rude in my recitation today with my favorite religious studies graduate student. doh! i was caffeinated and hyper and totally started laughing hysterically at the "mash fortune" i was making for my friend. BAD KRISTEN!

Ok, i like valentine's day.

13.2.01

i decided to employ blogvoices yet again to start some discussion around these parts. feel free to discuss anything that comes to your mind remotely related to the posts. Last time i set up blogvoices it collapsed within 36 hours, so maybe this time it will stick around so you all can get used to it. Any thoughts on the impending holiday?

12.2.01

Yesterday i volunteered with the AWANA cubbies at Cresset Baptist next door to Good Shepherd. Though i may disagree with the theology of the AWANA organization, or Cresset Baptist, i love the nuts and bolts of the program and its focus on scripture memorization. The cubbies are 3-5 years old and this week learned part of I John 4:11 "We ought to love one another." It was unbelievably cute. They also made valentines for the birds [bread, cut into heart shapes and covered with peanut butter and birdseed] and sang songs and ate dinner. i taught them the box song, a personal favorite and one most kids like because it has motions. here it goes--

if i had a little white box to put my Jesus in,
i'd take him out and hug him close and share him with a friend.
but if i had a little black box to put the devil in,
i'd take him out and STOMP HIS FACE and put him back again.

So i've been singing the cubbie theme song and acting like a 4 year old for 24 hours now. yippee! Hanging out with kids makes me long to have them someday. i always liked kids, but now i have a maternal thing. It's weird.

11.2.01

Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, and Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole.

O, how great Thy loving kindness, vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness, lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved, know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise, and have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings, meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings: Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me as I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory, sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting, fill me with Thy grace.

Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.

JESUS I AM RESTING, RESTING by Jean S. Piogott, 19th Century

10.2.01

Tonight i experienced something completely Carolina, a clefs concert. The clef hangers are UNC's oldest a capella group, and as they were introduced today "the only guys on campus that look hot in vests with buttons." UNC's newest a capella group, Psalm 100, opened first. Yay for Jason, who is in my small group, and Lorraine and the others, who all did a fabulous job. Next came the Tuft's Bubs who tore it up. They sang fun songs, had really expressive body language, and made the concert a little more lighthearted. "Bills, Bills, Bills" was a favorite! Then the UNC co-ed a capella group, THV and finally the Clefs. i must admit, they sing really well. That's not the reason i have protested them thus far. It is the aura that surrounds them. The audience tonight was 85-90% female and most girls were completely decked out, e.g. tight tops and boots that come up at least mid-calf. They are all a little giddy and expend this nervous-girl energy. You just have to see it. Then, the concert had it's "final song" which was followed by not one, but two encores. A little excessive for my tastes. The concert itself was really good and i will go to see them again, but only with a boy, i think, to avoid appearing like the vast majority of clef-worshippers present.

8.2.01

i have been thinking about cool things i could do for independent study in the religious studies department [maybe a thesis, but i doubt i have the time for that] and i came up with a good idea today-- examining the historical Jesus through films about him in contrast to the gospels. i'm going to ask Ehrman about it.

sun's up, mmm mmm, looks okay
the world survives into another day
and i'm thinking bout eternity
some kinda ectasy's got a hold of me.

WONDERING WHERE THE LIONS ARE by Bruce Cockburn

i meant to post this at 6:38 a.m. but my ethernet card wasn't working in the 10th floor study lounge where i was writing my paper. it is really fickle.

7.2.01

headache. paper. other paper. exam. stress.

6.2.01

For clarifications sake, The Journey of Desire is not a book which instructs its readers to give up their desires. In fact, quite the opposite, it stresses how God is the source of our desire and how desire drives and enhances our lives. However, desiring THINGS is what i was condemning myself for. It is perfectly okay for me to desire [in due time of course] a husband, several kids, a little old house just a few blocks from the college campus where i teach students about Early Christianity and serve as a mentor and a friend, even having classes over to watch movies and holding office hours at home, making visitors brave enough to come a cup of tea or hot chocolate while we chat. i believe [and John Eldredge would stress] that supressing desire is bad. we need desire. desire fuels hope, hope fuels faith. we must long for something more, or else what's heaven for?

i often find myself in a state of envy. i take my God-given needs and desires and pervert them, longing after not just the bare necessities, but the comforts of life. Take for instance, a computer. I need one, but do i need this one? Yesterday, i went and played the guitar with a friend and found myself so jealous of he and his roommate, who have really really nice guitars. i fell in love with this guitar as soon as i strummed it. i need to figure out how to wrangle in these wandering desires and conform them to God's desires for my life. i may have to re-read The Journey of Desire by John Eldredge so that i can again say that i want for nothing, save the Kingdom of God.

5.2.01

i'd forgotten how easy it was to stay up all night doing work. However, i will never forget how i feel during the day after the sleepless night. i long to either (a) stop procrastinating or (b) finish my schooling. Neither option seems to be in the near future.

WE'RE NUMBER ONE! WE'RE NUMBER ONE! Check out the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Yay! i need to start my paper on the Odyssey, but before i do, i want to note how gosh darn awesome my roommate is. g is a goddess among women, beautiful and smart and witty... i aspire to be half as cool as her someday. Her white plains friends seem really cool, especially Debbie. i am sure they could take my high school friends any day of the week, but that's a different story.

4.2.01

i greet Thee who my sure Redeemer art,
My only Trust and Savior of my heart,
Who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;
i pray Thee from our hearts all cares to take.

Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,
Reigning omnipotent in every place:
So come, O King, and our whole being sway;
Shine on us with the light of Thy pure day.

Thou art the life by which alone we live,
And all our substance and our strength receive;
Sustain us by Thy faith and by Thy pow'r,
And give us strength in every trying hour.

Our hope is in no other save in Thee;
Our faith is built upon Thy promise free;
Lord, give us peace and make us calm and sure,
That in Thy strength we evermore endure.

I GREET THEE WHO MY SURE REDEEMER ART from the Genevan Psalter, written by John Calvin in 1545 and translated by Elizabeth L. Smith, 1868

3.2.01

As my number of hits here increases, i wonder who exactly is reading this blog. If you aren't someone i know, it would be cool if you sent me an email or something just to let me know what you think of this weblog. Feedback is also encouraged for those who do know me. And yes, i did succumb to the pressure and change my colors after several of you pointed out that they reminded you of dook. Now i am a loyal tarheel, even in the color choice of my blog.

2.2.01

WE BEAT DOOK! Yes, that is right, the #4 Tarheels upset the #2 blue DEVILS in their house, just this evening. Yay! Yay! Yay! The game was really close, it came down to Brendan Haywood at the free throw line. If you aren't that into basketball, Haywood (#00) is one of the nations leading blockers, a great inside man. He is our second-to-worst free throw shooter. But in the clutch, Brendan went 2 for 2 :o) :o) :o) i watched the game with a bunch of friends and we went crazy. we were pretty nuts the whole way through. i thought i was going to throw up, i was so nervous. so the game ended and we followed suit with tradition and hightailed it to Franklin St, where town meets gown, so to speak. There were the usual bonfires, chanting and destruction of property that occurs when several thousand college students gather in the street, but it was so much fun. i was having a hard time seeing and some random guy taps me on my shoulder and says, "want me to lift you up to get a better view?" and he and his friend held me high above their heads for awhile so i could get a good view of the whole thing! Another cool thing about Franklin St. chaos is that you see people and you can scream and shout and hug each other 'cause Carolina won! Woo-hoo! i really love college basketball. it is one of my favorite things about UNC. i think i will remain in this euphoric state for a few days, at least. We beat dook!

1.2.01

i am a hardened criminal. Perhaps that is an overstatement, but at the least i am a repetitive honor code violator. Let me back up a step, this story revolves around Murphey Hall, home of the Classics department, from which i am leasing my soul back this semester since i am taking a hiatus from greek. Sorry, that was a little tangental. So, the Classics department spends its meager budget on manuscripts and trips to sites and Murphey is one of the more ghetto class buildings on campus. The paint has long since peeled off the walls and the plaster falls off in chunks. In fact, Murphey was a poster case for the university improvement bonds passed by the citizens of the great state of North Carolina. So, because it is so ghetto they don't really worry about security and often leave the windows open when it is warm. Last semester i developed a habit of climbing in the window and hanging out in the classrooms and such. One Sunday afternoon i got my whole Reli 027 study group to break in and prepare for an exam in the Classics Library :o) That was the last time i had done it, since the weather got cold and the windows were closed. i missed the adventure. But this week has been really warm, high 70, low 50. i even got to bust out the birks sans socks! And i noticed this afternoon that the windows of Murphey were open. Walking across campus about 22:00, i tried to convince my suitemate to come in with me. She was appalled at the suggestion, so i walked her to her play practice and set up to go it alone. Then, out of the corner of my eye i saw one of the guys in my small group. Yes, that's right, i corrupted my small group kid and convinced him to break and enter with me. i actually see it as merely entering since no breaking is going on, but that's a completely different story. i guess i just like to foster my rebelllious side...