You Are a Blue Flower

A blue flower tends to represent peace, openness, and balance.At times, you are very delicate like a cornflower.And at other times, you are wise like an iris.And more than you wish, you're a little cold, like a blue hydrangea.

What Color Flower Are You?

Yesterday I signed up to volunteer at an Aquire the Fire event that is happening next weekend at Ball State--a nearby University. I'm really excited and have been thinking about it a lot. Here is the website explaining what it is about. It is basically like Creation Fest, with speakers and Christian bands...I think its just a whole bunch of youth groups joining together. Here are the bands that will be there. Me and two other friends decided to sign up to volunteer as "Ushers"--I think we will be helping to pass stuff out, and crowd control, etc...I think we will be praying with the kids too. I'm really excited, but kinda nervous too to have responsibilities at such a huge event. If you guys could pray for me and the whole event, that would be wonderful!!

I wrote this paper for an extra-credit assignment, but its just an interesting topic.

“Biblical Equality: The Role of Women in the Church” Speaking

This discussion was very mental stimulating and it gave me a lot to think about and consider in how the church is run today. Many things were helpful to hear about such as, how the word “helpmate” in Genesis referring to Eve is the word “etser” (not sure if that’s the right spelling)—which is the same word used for God in how He is a helpmate to us. It is not a demeaning position to be given, but an honorable one. He also mentioned how the words “to obey” have been added to the women’s vows and not to men’s vows. It wasn’t always like that.

After the discussion, I was able to talk with him one-on-one about a question I had concerning the passage of 1 Cor. 14:33-35. 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 states, "...As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church." I asked him what his interpretation of this passage was, and he was saying that in the context before that passage Paul is talking about prophesying, and clearly women are allowed to prophesy in church—so in that way they aren’t supposed to be silent. Eventually, we got into a discussion about the difference (if there is one) between teaching and prophesying. They are different words in the original language, and when listing the spiritual gifts, they are listed separately, but the speaker used them as interchangeably when referring to women. He said that there are very little differences between them in the Bible. He also encouraged me to look at his commentary of this passage, which I will do. I am not convinced yet that it is biblical to have a woman pastor. The speaker gave me the example of Priscilla as a godly woman who taught, the reference in Acts 18:26—“and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” I don’t think the word “explained” here is the same as teaching. Teaching has to do with doctrine. In this verse, it seems more likely that they were evangelizing, not interpreting scripture to develop a doctrine to teach. Also, in this instance it was Priscilla along with her husband Aquila doing this together, it wasn’t Priscilla doing this apart from her husband. I don’t understand why the Bible would speak so bluntly about these rules for woman, and then at the same time really mean something else through a different passage, while being more subtle. For example, this passage in 1 Timothy 2:12 "For a woman I permit not to teach or have authority over a man, but to be in stillness."

The entire night was very interesting, and I hope to learn more about this subject in the future. When I heard about it, it was called “Biblical Equality.” I wish the speaker would have at least opened his bible once during the night. I was expecting to hear more biblical references, but it was a short night and there wasn’t a lot of time. I’m still not sure about what my beliefs are on this subject, but I am very willing to discuss it and learn more. Maybe in time, I will know enough to define my own opinion and be convinced of it enough to defend it well.

it has been sooo sunny the past couple of days ~ absolutely pulchritudinous!

photography class stuff... here are some pictures i think are cool that i just found, and then some i took for class :)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

......

and here is my pitiful guitar :(

I went and saw "Amazing Grace" tonight...pretty good movie. ..Gives a whole new meaning to that song...

what hands can do!

one of my math questions :)...

A math professor points out to her class of 20 that the probability of two people in the class having the same birthday is about 0.4 . A student raises her hand and states that she is certain that there will be a birthday match. She knows no one's birthday except her own. Explain why she was able to make this statement with such certainty.

Well, it is the start of a new semester, here are the classes:

Critical Approaches to Literature

Biblical Psychology

Investigations in Mathematics (this class is awesome!! it's like hands on math, lol)

Biblical Literature II

Cos 104 (computer class)

Digital Photography

I am very thankful because I got a job yesterday, and it's been really hard to find jobs on-campus this time of year. I work in the Info. Tech. department as a secretary, but I think my title should be the "paper lady" or something less dignified because this job is so easy, lol! I do filing and any other odd job they tell me to, which isn't very much. My boss Kim said when they don't have anything for me to do I can just do homework and answer the phone if it rings, which she said it hardly ever rings. So I love my "job" and I'm very thankful for it.

For j-term break I got to go to Chicago with Heather and some girls on the wing opposite mine for a few days. I not a huge city person but it was so fun and I had never been to Chicago before. There are some pics on photobucket. It was bitter cold. I got to experience Chicago pizza, and the L-train. It's funny people in Indiana right now are going nuts over this Superbowl game. Taylor is kind of divided and unified at the same time...we're all excited for the game, but you're either for the Colts, or Bears. I think I will cheer for both. I found out recently that Taylor offers mission trips to India for january-term...I definately want to do that next year. i think people from India are so beautiful. just look at this boy

Here are some cool utube videos!! haha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2mQeiHTMIs funny way to make a biscuit (have patience)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIH1I1doUI4 smart kid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbzJYqj2xC4 Keith Green

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJFlAir0AV8 David Crowder, O Praise Him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM make sure you have the volume up so you can hear the horns, haha (driving in India)

Here's a cool site my brother showed me...it's got some evidence that the Earth isn't as old as evolutions are saying...

http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs/4005.asp

I have discovered something about myself. I LOVE learning. Maybe it's just since I've been to college, but everything has become so interesting. I love college because I can learn and I love learning because I feel like I can see TRUTH in all of its forms better, and better understand reality as a whole. Today I talked after class with my Astronomy teacher. Today was the first day that he taught (last week was a different teacher)...I could just tell he was one of those people that are REALLY smart. So smart, he doesn't have to make himself look smart. He was simply smart. Not just one of those people that knows just a whole bunch of facts...he actually knew concepts and was smart in a complete way. He showed us a picture of his family -- father of 9 kids! Anyway, he's smart. And he said something that blew my mind today! Time can be slowed down --for real. It's been proven: Take a pair of twins. Send one when he's 20 years old into space so he's going at light-speed. Meanwhile Twin "A" is down on earth, and it's been 15 years since his brother left. Twin "B" is in lightspeed, but time physically slows down...his heartbeat is even slower, but he doesn't feel anything...he feels everything is normal, and he talks at the same speed. He comes back two earth after only being at lightspeed for 2 or 3 years his time in space. His brother, twin "A" has aged and it now he's 35 years old, but twin "B" still looks young and he has only lived 3 years more, as opposed to the 15 that his brother has.
I don't really understand it completely, but it is real....time is not a constant. there are other dimensions. I didn't understand this at first, so I went up to Dr. Voss and this is what he explained to me! It makes so much more sense now to think that God is outside of time.

Well yesterday I had an awesome MLK day. We didn't have classes, but taylor provided a bunch of different sessions on the topics of racial issues that we could go to, and they were really cool! I went to one talking about Arab-American relations that was fascinating!! I could've listened to it all day I think. The guy speaking was an Arab-American...he had such a clear view of what America is really like --it was so cool listening to someone who can actually see the US, like it really is because he can see it from the outside. some things he said: He gets mad when an airport worker searches an old white lady with a cain, but doesn't search him. He wouldn't mind being searched because its a fact that people that look like him ARE the what the past-terrorists have looked like. It shouldn't be considered discrimination. He would say "I have nothing to hide, so I wouldn't mind being searched." Another topic he discussed was how the middle east views the US. 99% of them have never staying in an American home. All they know of Americans are from tv shows like "Desparate Housewives." The media and the stuff on tv...is all they see of America -- they think we are sick. Another point: the difference between moderate muslims and radical muslims is that radical muslims follow all of the Koran. The Koran commands violence.....so the terrorists are the most loyal to Islam. It's not a peaceful religion -- like the American media describes. Another point: the US is the only country where you can actually say what you want. Saddam got more than 99% of the vote....because everyone was so afraid of speaking what they truely wanted.

Went to another session by a guy that works for an organization called E.R.A.C.E. that D.C. talk started actually. Pretty cool...talked about how racism is still alive in America. very interesting

Hey guys check this out!!

http://www.wavelit.com/?ch=Wildlife&sh=africam

It's a live cam of an African water hole................you may see something super cool, like African animals, if you're lucky!! or...............

you could see just a water hole. :) Check it out!

Tip: I think it might be better to look at it at night....because then it's daytime in Africa, I believe.

Christmas Break! :)

Here are some FANTASTIC books that have/are changing my life!

Disney Princesses on Ice Show

buy a bible verse to be translated into a new language for the first time
$24 each

http://www.oneverse.org/

say thank you to a soldier, free

http://www.letssaythanks.com/

well, I made it back to Taylor safely last night at around 11:30pm...we were planning on getting back at around 7 to Taylor but my flight to Atlanta was an hour late and I ended up missing my next flight by only about 10 minutes! So I hung out in the Atlanta airport for my new next flight for the next 5 hours, lol! I finished two books and read 20 chapters of Psalms, had a chai, and 2 bread sticks and tried some free samples at Bath and Body works, and got way beyond my fill of people watching. It was so good to finally get out of there! I was running low on cell phone batteries so I couldn't call anyone and just talk for fun, or play games on my cell phone -- that was a bummer! Then when I got back I had to work with my partner on a presentation I had to give this morning in my literature class at 9am, so I was up 'til like 3am. And I heard it snowed 8 inches today! in Washington. I watched part of a football game today while I was working out because the Seahawks were playing! And I've never before cared about them until this day. I was actually emotional attachted to the game. It was snowing on the field too :)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

I saw this quote on a note on the wall in the prayer chapel the other day:
"Thank You for a love that loves me just the way I am and a love that loves me too much to leave me that way."

what do you think of looking at this picture? :)

Okay I'm going to make a list of words that have the potential of being poetic. I need to get in the "zone" because I feel like I'm not a lot of times and I want to be prepared for my writing classes in spring :) Here we go: (this list will be updated. hopefully. often.)
ps- don't judge me about what I think can be poetic LOL

-highlight(er)
-silver
-doll
-stubborn
-twist
-teeth
-as thin as a bible page
-bruise
-red (line)
-string cheese
-blush
-curtain
-slide
-spine
-cider
-ring pop
-those $.25 sticky hand things --what are those called??
-shy
-highheels
-towel
-post stamp

Okay so I'm taking all those classes plus
Biblical Literature II
Biblical Psychology

I'm really excited for next semester -- it's going to be fun!

Ivory, my cell phone hasn't had reception for like a week...I don't know why. I miss everyone. When will you be home Ivory?

Thanks for praying...because I'm going home in 2 weeks! yay!! I'm looking forward to it so much... we got tickets, I think it was like $560 round trip, so I think that's decent. I am looking forward to it so much. A new puppy, homemade food, parents, friends, snow hopefully, my own bed and room...ahhhhhh. I do miss leavenworth, lol. *Yes, my parents did come visit us (Dahlia lol), this is what happened, lol -- it was like the funnest days of my life practically. I just registered for classes here's what I'm going to be taking:
J-term
--Intro. to Astronomy, and the lab for it
Spring term
--Critical Approaches to Literature
--some computer class, and lab
--digital photography
--investigations in mathematics

and hopefully a spanish class, and some other class because the Poetry Writing class I wanted to take was full.

okay, well as Ivory already knows, I did in fact do it! lol. pics are on photobucket, in the Indiana album, and then in the haircut album. enjoy!

You guys..............................................................................i'm thinking about getting my hair cut short again. Like short short like Ivory. I'm thinking about doing it this weekend. and giving it to locks of love.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Hey, I'll be posting pics at this website http://photobucket.com/
if you want to see them, log in as: trillity and give the password: friends. I rarely take pictures, but if I do they'll be there.

amazing video of treadmill dancing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI

Well, what to say, I'm getting slightly homesick. :) We got almost everything moved into our dorm. I've been meeting LOTS of people. Too many "nice to meet you'"s. But so far it's been mighty fun and mighty confusing getting all oriented. I miss my friends though!! :( My roommate is pretty funny and we are opposite in a lot of ways, just like in the way we are but we get along and can talk to each other easily, it's really great. Classes start on Tuesday. I would post pictures but I forgot the cord that connect my camera to the computer :(. I really can't wait 'til I actually KNOW people, not just their names. Ivory, I miss you!!! I put pictures of you up and the one of us making faces, it's wonderful. I think I'll call you now, bye!

Bleeeeeeeeeyay!

okay, I fixed the link now! I thought it was .com, but it was .net....derrr sorry!

Okay, I am now a distributer of Layers Clothing! It is a modest clothing company, and today I got the starter kit in the mail which is 17 sample shirts, a swim suit, and catalogues. Everything is really really nice and good quality and not ugly. The website is http://www.layersclothing.net/marika/. I'm pyched! I like it so much...it's all really cute, but modest at the same time..and comfy..and not ridiculously expensive...Hopefully I will be able to make lots of $$ at college :)..

Okay here's more pictures that I couldn't get to load on the post before this :)

He looks all cute and fuzzy, but he's really just a fiesty litte bugger.

There were hundreds of butterflies up at the lake...

Well, today my dad and I went hiking at 8-mile lake:

I had fun bonding with the chipmunk:

I bribed him with wheat thins.

Hey guys, you should check out the webpage I made for my class! I just added the final project a couple days ago. You should check it out!!!!!

okay....I think people make too big a deal out of graduation..............bleh

Well. I want to write a post.


I'm so glad for our class......even though I hardly ever see them, it's been really good to see everyone and be with them again lately. *sigh*

^ / ^

~

(hey it kinda looks like a Mona Lisa face...is she happy or sad?)

For 10 million dollars would you run over a dog with your car?
1)Yes
2)No

I had a dream last night. I was sitting somewhere and a guy came up with this golden retriver. I started petting it and rubbing it and saying how cute it was and then the guy starts breaking out in a song from Mary Poppins. I think the song was "Chim-Chimeney Chim-Chimeney Chim Chim Sharoo" but I'm not sure...anyway he started making a parody of it, changing the words to stuff about his dog...and it sounded incrediblely good! It was like my dream became a musical right there. He was very musically talented, and he started tap dancing around and everything...I wondered, "who is this guy!" Then, next scene I was with Chelsea and Heather from work and the guy, and Chelsea was organizing for the four of us to go on tour singing these songs and dancing around. We had already ordered these little green masks for us to wear while we were performing and everything. She was trying to get Mr. Gledhill to sign our feildtrip forms, lol. But Mr. Gledhill was in a bad mood and just said, "You really need to stop doing everything so last minute, I can't sign this!" So we were really bummed, and Chelsea was furious...so we just sat around and thought to ourselves, "Dang, the audience is really gonna miss out.." ...and that was it :) It was a very fun dream!

(copied from someones myspace)

Unusual facts...

*The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as substitute for blood plasma.

*No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times.

*Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.

*The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache.

*Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

*Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

*The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.

*Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.

*The first owner of the Marlboro Company died of lung cancer.

*Pearls melt in vinegar.

*The three most valuable brand names on earth:Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.

*It is possible to lead a cow upstairs....but not downstairs.

*A duck's quack doesn't echo and no one knows why.

*Turtles can breathe through their butts.

*On average, 100 people choke to death on ball-point pens every year.

*Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.

*Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

*It's physically impossible for you to lick your elbow.

*The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building.

*A snail can sleep for three years.

*No word in the English language rhymes with "MONTH."

*Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

*All polar bears are left handed.

*A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

*A penny costs 2 cents to make

*Almost everyone who reads this bulletin will try to lick their elbow.

Ivory or someone you must translate this because I had no idea what I was doing...

Acaso piensas que tus amigos nunca se acuerdan de ti...
Que nadie te quiere...
Que estas sólo/a y sin amigos....
Y tienes un deseo que crees que nunca se va a cumplir...
Pues estas equivocado.... Hola
Marika , tu amigo/a
Marika the Extraordinary! te ha enviado los mejores deseos para ti y la mejor de las suertes, junto con un gran saludo!!!
Dice que como ya tienes
18 años, pues ya debes de sentar cabeza y dejar de ir tanto a fiestas.
Dice que te manda este saludo con mucho
Ivory y que nunca lo olvides.
Y que espera que tengas suerte con
Mystery man .
Ah y que dice tu madre que hoy te toca
vaccuming asi que no jueges mucho en Internet y espabila.
Ahora bien, dice que si en serio deseas ser bueno/a en
trains debes de esforzarte.
Espera que ya no te enojes tanto por que cuando te enojas pareces un/a
anteater .
Tu deseo ha sido: "
I wish I could write a book " y si quieres que se cumpla manda esta página a
7 personas. Y si no la mandas tendras granos en la cara y tu deseo no se cumplirá :( Es en serio!!!!... un tio que entró aquí pidió de deseo nunca mas ver a su suegra y nunca envió esta página a nadie... ahora su suegra vive con él.

Anteaters are definately the most feo animal though. Look at it:

Out in the Fields with God

by Anonymous

The little cares that fretted me

I lost them yesterday

Among the fields, above the sea,

Among the winds at play,

Among the lowing of the herds,

The rustling of the trees,

Among the singing of the birds,

The humming of the bees.

The foolish fears of what might happen,

I cast them all away,

Among the clover-scented grass,

Among the new-mown hay,

Among the husking of the corn,

Where drowsy poppies nod,

Where ill thoughts die and good are born--

Out in the fields with God.

this is kinda cool. It's a page of illusion things.
http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka/index-e.html

look at the turtles!

What would you be more willing to do: give the rest of your long life to a cause you believe in, or die tomorrow for a cause you believe in?
1)Give my entire lifetime
2)Die tomorrow