Blog post for Tech Class

Welcome parents to the wonderful world of blogging! This is a new era, and we want you to be a part of it. The Faculty Technology Program and PTA are joining together to raise funds for improved technology opportunities for our children. The school's desire is to make great strides in order to incorporate the vast world of technology and give our students a jump start toward the future. We need your help to make our venture successful.

I know that many parents are concerned that technology in the classroom will not be a useful tool but will only cause distraction. It is true, technology can offer many distractions and be used for many inappropriate and harmful ways, but there are also so many ways that, if harnessed, technology can be used for the success of your child. The world is changing and in order to help your student prepare for the future, we must start now in giving them the skills to:

• organize spreadsheets
  
• create word processing documents
  
• create presentations
  
• and to equip the students with the knowledge to succeed in the world.

There are 4 different perspectives that are helping to define Educational Technology which are laying the framework for what we hope you will help us to accomplish.

#1 Media delivers more concrete and more effective ways of learning than books and lectures

#2 Human and non-human resources can be used to create an efficient system for addressing instructional need.

#3 Educational technology is used as vocational training

#4 Computers have the ability to aid instructional teaching

(Roblyer, 7)

Some of the amazing things we can do with technology these days are simply...amazing. For instance check out this link:

Smart Board 600i

These whiteboards can connect directly to the computer. Lectures and any kind of writing done on the board can be downloaded to the computer and posted online where your students can upload the content! The whiteboard can also connect directly to the internet, which can be incorporated into a faster, more successful, interactive lecture. For example, there are many places online where you can find games that help learn anatomy and the body systems. This could be incredibly useful when it comes to helping to learn anatomy and how the body works.

Since this is a PE class, I want to teach the students the different heart rate zones and how those can be used for fitness. With heart rate moniters, all the students will be able to practice staying in zones and moving into others, thus creating an opportunity for a lifetime of fitness.

BodyTronics

We, as teachers, know that there are many of you with questions and concerns about technology. This blog is open to your opinion and your comments. We welcome any feedback you give. All we ask is that you keep and open mind and consider getting involved in the future we are working to create for your child. Talk to you soon!

Reference

Roblyer, M. D., and Aaron H. Doering. Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching. 5th ed. 8-9 Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2010. Print.

DISCLAIMER: This blog is an assignment for an educational technology course at National University. It is not a real fundraising blog.

Providence through Pain

If every semester was to be given a title, as of now, this semester would be Loss. My grandma passed away at the beginning of the semester, one of my friends lost her little baby and I lost the man I thought I was going to marry in the middle, and now my aunt is on the verge of death. Every heartbreak reminds me of the last.
I was talking to a dear friend this afternoon, a man that I consider to be a second father to me. He brought up James 1, which is usually brought up in times like this: Consider it pure joy my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. So, as I do, I looked up the Greek. The word "perseverance" [hypomone] means a steadfast endurance.
I'm guilty; last night, I laid on my bed asking God to deliver me. And yet, it is here, under the fire where we are refined. This word, [hypomone] may be one of the most important words in the New Testament. Through the [hypomone] of Christ, we are offered salvation. Through the [hypomone] of the apostles, the Word was spread throughout the world. What will God do with my [hypomone] if I change my attitude to allow Him?

God's Sovereignty

I know I haven't written in awhile...but what's new when it comes to me?
There are many thoughts rushing through my head, too many feelings to be able to decipher them all: loss, love, empathy, doubted hope, stress, relief, exhaustion...my heart is a paradox, and I'm stuck in the middle of it.
So maybe it's not strange that it's at this moment, I wrestle with the Sovereignty of God. Don't get me wrong: I whole heartedly believe that God is utterly Sovereign. Let me define: God's Sovereignty is everything that it means to be God. He has absolute power over all things. There is nothing that opposes or restrains His power but God Himself. Only God can restrain God. He is the Master Creator that needs nothing outside of Himself to fulfill Him. God is also the Ultimate Good. To say that He is the standard of goodness is not good enough in itself. God transcends creation. We are in error when we suppose that He is simply greater man, when we project ourselves on the frame of God. He is completely other than His creation. There is nothing that compares and no metaphor that can be used...God is simply God, and there is no Other. God cannot be corrupted, He cannot be thwarted.
But sin, O wretched sin, which tears us from the face of the Almighty. How I long to be unrestrained by this corruption that threatens to swallow me whole. Every fiber of my being has been corrupted by sin since birth. "All creation groans under the weight of sin...and longs for the day when the sons of righteousness will be revealed," for on that day, "He will wipe away every tear and there will be no more night."
So how do we find the Sovereignty of God in the midst of sin? I know the arguments: Lewis, Anselm, Augustine; and yet, I struggle. I understand how God can still be Sovereign in the midst of sin but I don't always understand how he uses sin. I can understand Romans 1: Because of the lack of the knowledge of God, He has given man over to his degrading passions and they have received the due penalty of his error, but what about in Deuteronomy? In a way, God telling the Israelites that when they turn away they will be plagued and go through famine is another "due penalty of their error." But is this how it works?: Colossians tells us that in Christ, all things hold together and have their being. If God were to remove His hand, all things would simply cease to be. He spoke the world ex nihilo and with one word, He could return it thus. So is the famine, the sickness and disease God allowing "atoms" to slip through His fingers? As with Job, God allowed Satan to cause sickness, death etc., but still retained His Sovereignty.
Here's my consensus: When the knowledge of God fails, so does the heart. God allows bad things to happen to good people through the Divinity of His will, but when all is said and done, the heart of one who truly seeks the knowledge of Truth will find God, and He that finds God truly, though the world falls into corruption and despair, will soar on the wings of faith in obediance to He who has dominion over all things.
Praise be to God

Tozer

So if you know me, you know that over the past year, I have become an avid A.W. Tozer fan. He's basically my favorite. Over the summer, my Bible study was on Romans 9-11. To start out, we studied that attributes of God. What was only supposed to take a week took me three...and let me tell you...it was incredible. God rocked my world with who He is and who I am in Him. As I studied each attribute of God I read the corresponding chapter in Tozer's Knowledge of the Holy. Here are some of the most amazing things I learned:

"When we try to imagine what God is like we must of necessity use that which is not God as the raw material for our minds to work on, hence whatever we visualize God to be, He is not, for we have constructed our image out of that which He has made and what He has made is not God. If we insist upon trying to imagine Him, we end with an idol, made not with hands but with thoughts; and an idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand" (p. 8)

"Sin has many manifestations but its essence is one. A moral being, created to worship before the throne of God, sits on the throne of his own selfhood and from that elevated position declares, 'I AM.' The essence of sin is to will one thing, for to set our will against the will of God is to dethrone God and make ourselves supreme in the little kingdom of Mansoul. This is sin at it's evil root...Man's best religious works God rejects as He rejected the offering of Cain. Only when he has restored his stolen throne to God are his works acceptable." (p. 30)

"God has charged Himself with full responsibility for our eternal happiness and stands ready to take over the management of our lives the moment we turn in faith to Him." (p. 63)

"When men no longer fear God, they transgress His laws without hesistation. The fear of consequences is no deterrant when the fear of God is gone. In olden days men of faith were said to "walk in the fear of God" and to "serve the Lord with fear." However intimate their communion with God, however bold their prayers, at the base of their religious life was the conception of God as awesome and terrible." (p. 71)

Those among many others, rocked my vision of God. We do God injustice when we think of Him as begging, fawning over his creation. Our opinion of God is so often based in our own self-worth. We "do God more honor by believing what He has said about Himself and having the courage to come boldly to the throne of grace than by hiding in self-conscious humility among the trees of the garden." (p 100) And because I see God in a way I never did before, now that I realize how often I think less of Him because I think that I should be able to understand Him...when really...I will be learning about God for ETERNITY...and even then, I will still never know God the way He knows Himself. There will be attributes of God in which I will never know anything!

How often I rob myself because of my image of God...and how much more effective could I be if I saw God truly.

Junior Year

So, apparently, I'm am most likely the worst blogger ever.
Well, let's see...
Junior year has come. Upper division classes are...hard...obviously. I don't really know why I expected anything different :)
I am having a blast though. Due to living circumstances beyond our control, two of our roommates couldn't come back, which meant we got a random transfer...but, it also means that we only have 4 living in our apartment, which is spectacular. I absolutely love my roommmate. She's basically the best, and my best friend. I've never had someone that I can truly trust...and I absolutely love her. We get each other. We serve each other. We love each other, and it's amazing.
This was on our day date to Oak Glen. It's this really cute apple farm place...kinda like the SoCal version of NorCal's Apple Valley, which obviously isn't as good, because nothing in SoCal compares to NorCal. It's the truth.

Last night was Fortuna Bowl, which is our championship intramural football games. I know it sounds lame, but it's a big deal. It's a $20,000 event the school puts on. The winners of Fortuna then go on to play the other schools around here at a tournament at Biola. My team, the Bus Drivers went...we won! Whoo!
Actually, I'm not that happy. I played like crap. I'm realizing more and more that I don't like winning when I know I'm not playing well. Two passes thrown to me I tipped and they were then intercepted...which pissed me off. But we won 7-6. And people said it was a good game. Redemption will come at Biola.
God is so good. He is teaching me and leading me in ways I could have never imagined. I'm going through Hosea again...more in depth this time. I love how Scripture interprets itself...and how it shows for the Faithfulness of God to an unfaithful and obstinate people. Which I am one of the greatest candidates. I find the closer I grow to Him, the more I need him. If I don't spend time with Him...I'm completely off the rest of the day. He's also teaching me how to love to those that are unloveable, how to accept people and their pasts, their futures, their struggles...all i need is to love them for who God is and not for who they are.

So of course it's been too long again...I suck at this.
I'm sitting in a Florida airport right now after a week in Fort Lauderdale with the family plus my new brother. Now we're waiting for the flight that will take us north to Virginia where I'll get to stay with Kendra and Greg for another week. Vacation was fun...remind me never to live in Florida: hot, humid, Miamii is like morally oppressive...but a week at the beach was very nice.

At the Kennedy Space Center
My last semester of college was rough; there was so much to do and so much happening to me I felt like Job at times, losing people I cared for, viral infections, car accidents, ect...but throughout, God was good, taking the things I had put my security in and reminding me that it is He who desires to be my all, and I, like Gomer, learned for a season, and then again forgot, pursuing my other lovers. So, God continues to take from me...and then give back...continues to break me...and then heal again.

Now, the lesson is patience and truly loving. Patience in what God has in store for me, patience in the people around me, working to exhibit the love that Christ has for me to everyone. I'm stretching to learn what it means to love when the other seems to despise you, to want good for others when they want no good for you.

I'm learning who God is, His attributes never cease to amaze and unsettle me. What am I worthy of this love? But that is the point. I am not worthy, and will never be...for God does not love me according to my merit but according to who He claims to be. His promises are structures already formed. And my future, He has already lived out. What a love, what a Savior, what a God!

Spring 2009...weird

HIIIII!!!
Well, it's now two days before the start of my second semester as a sophomore. This last semester was busy, intense, and more sometimes than I thought I would be able to handle. RAing has been an interesting experience. It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, and I haven't done as well as I would have hoped. Let me break down what I did last semester:
~18 units
~Choir
~RAing
~Intramural football
~Intramural volleyball
~Boyfriend/Friend time
My Tuesdays last semester went from 8am to 10pm straight...and this semester they'll go from 9:30am-11pm almost straight...it's pretty intense. I also was helping as much as possible with Kendra's wedding stuff...
It's been busy, but the Lord is still teaching me.
I think some of the biggest ways I've grown has been by the things the Lord is using Michael to teach me. I'm learning to become less dependent on people and more dependent on the Lord. I'm learning to let things go and not hold grudges, I'm learning to really love the way Christ loves me, I'm learning how to communicate and not always win. I've learned so much in 5 months.
I want to be my best for him, but I know that he just wants me to be myself...in doing so, who I am is made better instead of the mask I wear becoming more decorated. His character pushes me to be more like Christ in my own. I am so blessed to have had him by my side all these past months. I'm not sure yet what the Lord has in store, and I'm learning not to put hope in that. Mans steps are established by the Lord and He delights in his way.

School has started

So, I'm officially done with my third day of classes in my sophomore year of college...so weird.

My first day of classes, 3 of the 5 were cancelled! GOOD DAY! :)

My classes are good. I'm taking Intro to Sociology, Applied Movement Anatomy, Self Defense, Photojournalism, Voice Lessons, Choral Union, University Choir and Orchestra, Apologetics, Global Studies and Chapel. Full but awesome schedule.
I'm stoked about apologetics. We're going to read The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins and Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis...and some others. I'm stoked!

<--These are my roommates and I on the first day of school :) Lauren is to the left and Rissa is to the right. So fun. Rissa and me -->

At Cal Bap, we have this thing called TWIRP week. It stands for: The Woman is Required to Pay. Lauren and I TWIRPed Michael and his best friend Jon to go to Magic Mountain with us. Unfortunately, we didn't take pictures of them but here's one of Lauren and I before the fact :)
<--


-->
And here's one of Michael and I after

Seas

6-6-08

Seas

Drowning in a sea of emotion
With these waves crashing overhead
Twenty feet under the surface
My heart has been left for dead
Clinging to a raft
A notion of a dream
Instead of letting go
And believing you rule the seas

I’m letting go of all my support
And holding on to love larger than life
Sinking into your depths
I find shelter from the strife
I long to hold on
To those things unseen
Fall captive to your grace
Must I walk on water to believe?

Call me up from this watery grave
Call me into the waves
Bid me to walk to you
You are the One who saves
I want nothing
But to lose it all to you
Find in your eyes
Strength to take me through

What's been going on...

So, I know that since I got this thing I haven't been very good about keeping you all very well informed so...where to begin.

SUMMER:

I began summer with choir tour. 3 weeks with a bunch of choir kids and not a lot of down time was definitely a stretching experience for me. I learned a lot about myself. God revealed new things to me every day, which was pretty amazing and kept me going. By the end of tour my voice was gone and my spirits were soaring as the plane took off for home. Finally I would have some down time...finally I could relax

Or could I?

I was accepted as the "Summer Servant" at the LIFEhouse Church. At first my job was to get ready for the new youth pastor. I spent the weeks doing whatever needed to be done for anyone who needed it done :)

Then came Hume Lake. One of the most stretching times of my life. The Lord forced me to rely on Him in everything that I did. I got amazing time with my girls and really began to understand the turmoil of this generation, which was hard for me to grasp, but also necessary if I want to teach high school in the future. I also got time to spend with our new youth pastor Brian Neuenschwander. I'll say this: everything I would have wanted in a youth pastor and everything that I could have every prayed for, he is and more...basically...I LOVE him and am so excited to see what he's going to do.

Also at Hume, I met people from my church down in SoCal. I go to the most amazing church, Kindred Community. It "just so happens" that one of the groups of guys from Kindred was on my team, led by a man named Michael Simons. More about him will come later :)

The rest of the summer was spent getting to know Brian and helping him get adjusted to Rocklin. I was truly blessed to be able to work under him and learn from him. I was drastically pushed to continue to make the Lord my Stay (my favorite name of God from Psalms).

SCHOOL:

I got back early for RA training. My parents helped me move in and went to church with me.

RA training was a lot. There wasn't a whole lot of time for down time. I love my group of girls though, and I got to know a lot of new people. I'm excited to see what God will do and I know He has been preparing me for this year.

MICHAEL:

Michael, from Hume had kept in touch with me and he came and helped me move in. He asked me on a date and then the next night...and the next night.

About a week later, he asked me to be his first girlfriend.

Now, men, before you get your shotguns ready, let me tell you about him :) He's basically amazing. We'll just make a list.
~He's 21
~Loves the LORD more than he could ever love anyone else
~Athletic
~Plays guitar, piano and sings
~Business major at Cal State Fullerton
~He's a man defined by his character
~His decisions aren't based or effected by emotion...like mine :)
~Patient
~Kind
~Self sacrificing
~Puts others before himself

And anything I didn't say...you can find out when we come home in September for my sister's birthday :)

Looking back

I set down my test. I've gone over it about 10 times already and now the time comes to turn it it.

I walk down the empty hall. Leaving the classroom for the last time in 4 months.

Why don't I feel different? School is done, accomplished, at least for now. I have nothing to do for 5 days before leaving for choir tour. I can sit, relax, enjoy friendships. So why don't I feel different? Why is there something still to be done when their is no work to be accomplished. No papers to write. No tests to study for. Why is there not a feeling of euphoria? What is there still weighing down my heart?

It's time to look back, to reflect on what I did wrong this year so I don't do it next year. Time to remember the good times and the funny pictures. Maybe then, I'll see everything that's accomplished. Everything that God has done. And then, maybe then, I'll be free.

Holly and I met. After a week of choir camp, we walked to Target in the burning hot, humidity, accidentally stole a shopping cart from Target ...and had a blast.
We started meeting people throughout the freshman orientation week. There were so many new faces, so many people we thought we were going to be best friends with. Some, we are best friends with still, and some we don't talk to much at all. But God brought so many people into our lives.



Then there was UCO. We struggled to learn all the music and got lovely dresses. But we had fun. Every night before a concert we had a curler tradition where we would do each other's hair in curlers while the other one read out of the Bible (Holly had a OT class, so we always read out of there). The most memorable one, Levi was helping us, more like sitting there laughing at us, but we got to the part in Judges where the Levite's concubine is raped and murdered and cut into pieces...

Speaking of Levi...
This is how I remember him first. He was the crazy, funny, sarcastic boy from across the lawn who forgot my name but remembered that I lived in Newcastle. As time went on though...he became the man that I couldn't get enough of. God taught me a lot through him and still is teaching me, lessons that I don't necessarily want to learn anymore.
My Opa's death came suddenly and without warning. God taught me so much through that time and I believe He was beginning to teach me dependence on Him. I've found I have a problem with placing my dependence in people instead of God...not really a good idea. I miss my Opa dearly, but I know I'll see him again.
Friendship bread was a good time. My cottage has been great. It's weird sitting here without anyone else around.

I know this is random. I know it doesn't really make sense. But that's how my mind is working now. Without the pressure of school I don't really know what to think about...but though I still have a pressure in my chest, I know God will use me for his glory. I'm ready to be used. I'm ready to be dependent on Christ alone.

God is so Faithful!

I'm overwhelmed right now. Let me tell you why
~The man that I love I can't be with for now, but God is faithful and my trust is in His name
~I was in so much pain and just prayed over and over "God take away my emotion, take away my emotion..." until I realized...God isn't glorified in my emotionlessness. He's glorified when the world sees me rejoicing and joyful through the pain :) And I am
~I'm falling even more in love with my Savior every passing day
~I can laugh and cry at the same time
~The girls that I'm living with next year are gifts from God.
We realized that we all compliment each other perfectly. Rissa and I are emotional and touchy. Holly and Lauren aren't very touchy. Holly and Rissa will both tell you how it is, Lauren and I don't like to hurt other people's feelings. Holly and I just both love people and we absolutely love the Word and we're athletic...and we've been roommates for the last year. :)
~We are all going through boy stuff right now. Rissa and I basically have the exact same problem and have been able to point each other back to God continually.
~We all have our own bits of wisdom that combined show each other the love of Christ in everything.
~Last night, Holly was having difficulties and so the Future Roommate Friendship (or FRF) were all praying for Holls...then Lauren left to deal with another boy issue...so the two remaining FRF, me and Rissa prayed for her and then hugged, holding each other for at least a minute while we laugh/cried...absolutely overwhelmed that God has placed us all together.
~God has been bringing random people back into my life.
1. A man that tore my heart out of my chest that I pray for daily but never thought I would talk to ever again emailed me out of the blue and since then has been talking to me at least once a day.
2. I've been able to reconnect to a dear friend from highschool that's athiest who sent me a bumper sticker on Facebook that said "In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength my song." I told her that she was worth the world and never to let a guy treat her like she wasn't and told her about Christ and how much hope I have found in Him. She wrote me that when I told her that, she felt power that she'd never felt before and that it meant so much more to her when I said it than her best friends!!! THAT'S CHRIST WORKING!!!
3. My intern who I dearly love and who brought me though so much is also back in my life. And I'm so glad God has given him to me for this time
4. Another high school friend that I haven't talked to for years is talking constantly to me
5. Another ex-boyfriend is also now my friend and he talks to me all the time

Seriously God. You are showing me so much joy through my pain. So much peace through my trails and I am so thankful that you are so faithful.

I'm falling apart
I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart
That's still beating
In the pain
There is healing
In your name
I find meaning
So I'm holding on
I'm barely holding on to you

~Lifehouse

I'm so excited to see You work Lord God. Use me for your glory. I want nothing but you're name to be glorified over all the earth

His Pursuit

The pursuit of your heart
The redemption that you chose for me
Your love has set my soul free
You buy me back time and time again
When I prostitute myself to the world
You hedge me with the thorns that encircled your brow
Hiding me from those who would steal me away
You speak in a whisper that shakes the earth
Caressing me with your love
You win my heart back with words of grace
You touch me and my scars are healed
You hold me and I'm made clean
You touch my lips with burning truth
And cover my head with a veil of purity
In joy we dance among the stars
With a renewed heart I find myself at peace in you
You rise up against my enemies and protect me with arms of strength
Your eyes search mine
Searching my heart as well
You know every dark thought and deed
But long to redeem me with your love
You provide for my every need
You long for me with your life
The scars of my sin cover your body
But you love me all the more
When I grow weary your arms lift me over the threshold
You lay me among meadows
You shelter me from the storms
You are my shade in the heat
I'm overwhelmed by the love you show
I cannot fight your pursuit of me
You wait eagerly, patiently
Desiring to show me the secrets of your heart forever

Are you ready for battle?

Let me tell you a story.

A man decides early one morning to take his lawn chair out and watch the sunrise on the beach. He sits and watches...6:30 rolls around and he continues to sit on the beach, enjoying the morning...oblivious to the war raging around him.

The date: June 6, 1944
The place: Omaha Beach
The event: The Battle of Normandy.

So, is this story far fetched? Tell me dear Friend, did you realize that there is a battle raging all around you?

A battle for your time.
A battle for your attention.
A battle for your soul.

It's a battle that's classified with the UFOs and alien abductions, but this battle rages on.

The battle stems from one moment in time when one thought he was greater than God.
That one deceived many, and those many followed him to the depths.
That one continues to deceive many who follow him to the depths, but they don't work for him, they live an eternal death because of him.

This battle is masked. At times, the realm between physical and spiritual is crossed. At times, a glimpse of the spirit is seen...but for the most part, it remains anonymous. Just another reason to disclaim God and claim Christians as nut jobs.

The Bible calls us to be suited with the full armor of God, and there's a reason for that. We must be shielded since we aren't ready to see a spiritual realm. We aren't ready for the darkness, the terror...And that's why God doesn't let it happen. Some walk into it. Some taunt it. Some are pulled to it, but God protects us. He may remove His hand for a moment, but when we faint in fear, he's there to scoop us back up.

The Bible says, "The Eternal God is our refuge and under are His everlasting arms."
So I'll ask again...are you ready for battle? Because it's all around you.

Demons are fighting for your soul.
Will you let them win?

What to be...?

The world has a way of framing who a person should be. Holly, my roommate introduced me to the saying, "You're unique, just like everyone else," and it's true. Some people go to the extreme to try and be different, and yet others are always following their pursuit.

I'll give you a little example...

I decided in high school that I wanted to be different than everyone else. (This was before plaid was technically "back in style," aka the Dark Ages Two) I went thrift store shopping and found this amazing pair of plaid pants for $6...terrific...I know. So, knowing that no one else has plaid, I wear then with pride...Three months later, I start to spy plaid walking around my school...not on me...and I start to wonder what's going on. Before I know it, Mom's are pulling out the plaid they wore in high school and their daughters are wearing it because it's now "fashionable..." What?! That was MY plaid...

Now, I'm sure the fashion industry didn't see me walking around in my plaid pants and say, "Hey, plaid is rad" or "Don't get mad, get plaid" or "plaid ain't no fad," (I had a shirt my friend made for me that said "don't get mad get plaid, and he had to others that said the other two...) but for some reason, being different doesn't always work.

But the difference lies with the person. Or should I say, inside of the person. As a Christian to be unique is to be in Christ. To be unique is to be everything the world isn't. To be the same is to live with the world's standards. It's not what we do that makes us unique but who you have inside of you. And with Christ as the focal point, you have already been made different. The Bible says that you were wonderfully made and crafted by the God who also entered the womb to save you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made and there is nothing in the world that will make you more unique than Christ.

To be unique is to be courteous.
To be unique is to be a virgin when you're married.
To be unique is to not come from a broken home.
To be unique is to give nothing out of selfish ambition.
To be unique is to be kind.
To be unique is to love your enemies.
To be unique is to have joy.
To be unique is to live selflessly.
To be unique is to live a holy life.

I want to be unique, just like everyone else.

Isaiah 6

My Opa died last week. It was fast. He was there and then he was gone, like a fleeting shadow swallowed by the Son.

The whole week before we were studying Isaiah 6. Isaiah stands before the throne of God.

The train of the LORD's robe fills the temple with smoke because of His glory.

The seraphim's voices cause the earth to shake because of their praise to God.

The unclean are made holy in the eyes of Him who is Holiness Itself.

My Opa is now standing in the throne room of God. He's now seeing the glory and majesty of God for the first time. His voice is joining that of the seraphim in praise to his Maker. He has heard, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

He's finally home, and knowing that, makes all the difference.