Check out Alex's latest movie...

Sad Socks

So I just put on my Uncle Ray's socks. He died last Wednesday. My mom brought a bunch of his clothes home from her sister's house for my dad, two brother-in-laws and me to go through. I don't think he wore them, but the simple thought of my uncle putting on his socks was silly but really heavy. Seeing all his clothes in my mom's van just piled up in the back seat, I felt like we should hold a memorial for him before we moved them. I didn't know my Uncle Ray really well, but he and my dad were always really funny at family events. His wife (my mom's sister) is as amazing as my mom, and their two kids and their families are very wonderful, so I know he had to be wonderful, too. I had a lot of respect for Ray, and I think that is why I felt the way I did looking at his clothes. He used to wear them. He picked them out, or someone picked them out with him in mind. He wore them. He put his arms through the sleeves and buttoned the buttons. I had the same feeling when my Grandpa Jamesy died about 8 years ago... only it was his tighty whities, and after the memorial I held in my head I couldn't help but laugh. But looking at Uncle Ray's clothes in he back of the van made me feel the weight of my family member dying. It reminded me trial God tested my Uncle Ray with in his short-yet-long fight with cancer and also the trials my aunt and cousins still have to go through. So, I've decided that everytime I wear these socks I'm going to hold a memorial for my late Uncle Ray and ask for more grace for my family.

- Alex

Graduation

Praise the Lord! After three very long years of hard work and study, I finally graduated last Friday from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Although I have had times when I have seriously wondered why God brought me here, I can now look back and see the ways that he was preparing me to become who I am today. My first serious doubts came during my first semester. I felt inadequate and weird. I was somehow very different from everyone around me.

I was in the missions track of the Billy Graham School. I came here thinking God wanted me to be a full-time international missionary, but I sat in my missions classes knowing I was in the wrong place. I thought maybe I should leave. Why should I be here if I wasn't going to be a missionary? I had heard dozens of people say, "If you can do something else and be happy, do it." Well, I could list about 1,000 things I would love doing and would be perfectly happy doing. I would love to teach college literature. I would love to be a gallery director. I would love to work in magazine design and layout. I would love to work for an independent record label. I would love to go to culinary school. I would love to go to hair design school. I would love to own an independent bookstore. The logical thing then (based on what I had heard all these preachers say) seemed to be to leave.

However, God used several wonderful people and conversations to show me my niche - the arts and the church. That's my "thing," and I was fully prepared to persue this niche in academics and with my hands. I was going to get the Ph.D. I was going to move to New York City. I was going to write books. Then, one day I met Alex. He turned out to be another wonderful reason why it was very good for me to stay in seminary. If I had moved away from Louisville too quickly, we would have never crossed paths, and I cannot now imagine life without having Alex in it. Alex has simplified and complicated my life all at once. For one thing, he has eliminated the NYC option, and that's a good thing. He's allowed me to settle down and relax and figure out what I really want to do in the arts with the church. He has ushered me into Sojourn Community Church which has opened up many, many opportunities for involvement in the arts. He has given me the stability and love and encouragement that allows me to explore where God will have me go with this arts thing. He wants me to write books. He wouldn't mind me getting my Ph.D. - just not right now. He loves the way that God has chosen to use me in this uncoventional way. Honestly, I don't think I would have made it through seminary if Alex hadn't come along. He kept me going when others discouraged me. He identified with me when I felt like I was an outsider. He, along with the Lord's good grace, is why I walked across that stage on Friday to receive that diploma.

Together At Last

We have combined Blogs, ya'll!

How Evangelical Are You?

OR

OR



The folks at Lark News have put up a great little quiz to determine how evangelical you are.

I scored a 75, which indicates that I'm "Somewhat Evangelical," and only one point away from being "Backslidden." Uh-oh!

So, I Guess I'm Not Type A

You Have A Type B+ Personality

You're a pro at going with the flow. You love to kick back and take in everything life has to offer. A total joy to be around, people crave your stability. While you're totally laid back, you can have bouts of hyperactivity. Get into a project you love, and you won't stop until it's done. You're passionate - just selective about your passions.

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Answering Questions

I got this survey from Bobby's blog. Here it is with my answers.

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4. What does it say?
"...vailed. (EXCUSE ME, RABBI, BUT JUST WHAT WORD IS IT EX-"

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What can you touch?
air

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Local on the 8s

4. Without looking, guess what time it is:
11:35 a.m.

5. Now look at the clock. What time is it actually?
11:36 a.m.

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
someone rolling the mail cart down the hallway

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
8:00 a.m. walking from my car to my office

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
Bobby's blog

9. What are you wearing?
pink skirt, black shirt

10. Did you dream last night?
I don't remember.

11. When did you last laugh?
Sometime today, I'm sure. I'll laugh at anything.

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
a bulletin board, a wall-mounted bookshelf with office manuals

13. Seen anything weird lately?
24 - season one

14. What do you think of this quiz?
I'm a little annoyed with it.

15. What is the last film you saw?
Paper Moon

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
a house and another Subaru

17. Tell me something about you that I don't know?
I want a kitten.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
I would like to see more people entering into a relationship with Jesus, communicating with God, and finding the peace and comfort that can only come from him.

19. Do you like to dance?
Yes! Especially with my husband.

20. George Bush:
I have to steal Bobby's answer on this questions he said George Bush is, "Not as bad as his detractors claim or as good as his supporters claim."

21. What do you think God will say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
Welcome home.

22. What do you think you deserve?
nothing, really

I'm An Indie Rocker

You Are an Indie Rocker!

You are in it for the love of the music... And you couldn't care less about being signed by a big label. You're all about loving and supporting music - not commercial success. You may not have the fame and glory, but you have complete control of your career.

What Kind of Rocker Are You?