Vespers last night....Party Time Today

Vespers......
Last night THE Dan Hay spoke at Vespers. He did awesome. Here's a sound bite that I particularly liked from his talk, "Gentleness means listening rather than fixing, keeping silent rather than speaking, putting an arm on the shoulder rather than exhorting." Nice. You call all ask him about his “spiritual constipation" analogy though. : ) It makes me think of those commercials for prescription drugs: (voice-0ver) "Discipleship, if taken daily, can dramatically reduce your chances of spiritual constipation. Ask your campus minister if Discipleship is right for you. " ;) That analogy will stick with you.

Allen and Alice Stickney (missionaries to Kenya) were here too last night and shared about opportunities to go this summer with FOCUS to Kenya. I don't know them well, but I am in awe of this amazing couple. I've thought about going to Kenya twice in the past as options for my summer, and it just never worked out in God's plan. Maybe one day. They had people from the last two teams who went and served with them stand up last night, and, man, they are all all-stars. This couple loves each other, the ones they serve with and to, and Jesus. I would do well spiritually to follow their examples.

In other news....PARTY!
After a week of planning, tonight is the big costume party night. We're expecting a ton of people, so it should be fun. Our entryway and front living room has been transformed (mostly by Amy) into a spooky 2-minute dark otherworld of scariness. IF guests make it out alive (*evil laugh*), they can enjoy movies, music, food and a disco ball glittered "dance" floor.

Josiah Max

This is the cutest baby in the world. Josiah Max Kelsey. Thanks for all those who have been praying for Josiah's mom, Jen. We found out what it is and it is fixable!

Halloween, Hair, and Hero

Okay, thanks to Brandon who is the only one who truly voiced an opinion about Halloween. Because I am easily swayed, I agree. Halloween is okay! Yeah! Let's all eat candy and dress weird!

So we're having this costume party on Friday. (If you're reading this, you're invited). It is going to so fun! The roomies are going out tonight to get stuff to decorate the Compound with--it will be magically scary! : ) I am excited about my costume. I mean, it's not going to top the pink hair from spring break, but I like it. I think it will be funny. Everyone is getting creative! Oh, and while I am on the topic of the party, I will make a public apology to Tony Wu for harassing him about not wanting to come. Sorry, Tony, I'm a jerk.

On other topics, my hair looks really good today. I keep looking at it in the reflection of the window of my desk. Does that mean I'm vain? Hmm. I think it is the new shampoo and conditioner I'm using. It's Brilliant Brunette. Sarah Dudley is the reason my hair looks good. She tipped me off to the magical product line.

My friend Emily is cool. She is coming to Norman! : ) Yeah! And she killed a bee. She is my hero.

Bye!

Halloween: A Poll

You tell me:

(A) Halloween is the holiday of SATAN and Christians should ignore it exists. (Much like when ignoring Satan, he'll go away....if we ignore Halloween, it will go away). AND did we mention it's a sin to participate

or....

(B) Overrated--it's just a day to dress up your kids like complete idiots and teach them how to panhandle door-to-door. (As quoted in the Baptist Messenger).


Please give me your opinions. I just can’t decide!

More Than Politics

Sunday we had a guest speaker from The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform. He spoke on abortion and showed two videos. One was amazing--it was inside a womb at 6, 7, and 8 week and described what was happening in those early weeks.

The second video was of aborted babies. It was absolutely appalling. I cannot see how any person could watch this video and still think abortion was okay. Their website is http://abortionno.org/ and there are pictures. Until you see these, it is hard to feel real RAGE at what is going on. Make yourself go and look at these pictures. Did you know abortions are the ONLY thing you can't show on television? Once you see these pictures, you'll know why. I think most of you are anti-abortion. But we need to be educated and less apathetic about this topic.

One way you can make a difference is this November. I encourage you to (1) go to the website and see the pictures for yourself, and then (2) read these quotes from the two presidential candidates, and (3) share this information with as many people as you can.

Abortion and Politics:
"I believe that life is valuable, even when it is unwanted, even when it is physically imperfect. I believe our society has a responsibility to defend the vulnerable and the weak. And I believe our nation should set a goal: that unborn children should be welcomed in life and protected in law. This is the ideal: a generous society that values every life. I know there are many steps on this road. A democracy is ruled by consensus, not by edict. Laws are changed as minds are persuaded." --Pres. George W. Bush, "Parental Notification Law: June 7, 1999

"The right thing to do is to treat abortions as exactly what they are--a medical procedure that any doctor is free to provide and any pregnant woman free to obtain. Consequently, abortions should not have to be performed in tightly guarded clinics on the edge of town: they should be performed and obtained in the same locations as any other medical procedure...[A]abortions need to be moved out of the fringes of medicine and into the mainstream of medical practice. And by the same token, if our children are to be safe from the danger of fanaticism, tolerance needs to spread out of the mainstream churches, mosques, and synagogues, and into the religious fringes." --Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 1994

Let me add one last statistic for you to ponder: Between 1990 and 2004 pro-abortion groups gave nearly $14 million to political campaigns--75% were given to Democrats and 24% to Republicans. Ranked number one in receiving pro-choice donations for 2004 is Sen. John Kerry.