Apt. 1125

Nothing too deep, today, or everyday, for that matter. I just wanted to tell you how much I was in love with my apartment. I can't wait to get home to the thump music outside my apartment, and the two foot-prints still on my door, were someone tried to kick it in. How 911 has become my favorite telephone number. I am sorry for the mess, but I am cleaning it up this weekend. I just wanted to write, and let you tell me how deep this blog was, and how it made you cry. I never forget you, 1125, you are the love my life. You are more beautiful, today, than you were when we first met.

Tiger Rags

Sorry it has taken me a while to blog. I did not realize how many people look forward to my blogs. Well, I guess only two people actual look forward to it (Jamin and Candace). I just returned from a mission trip to Miami, and I had a great time, and we got a lot accomplished. It was a great trip, and I glad I got the opportunity to go. I have not had to blog because I have been trying to catch-up on my school work. I had three papers due in two days, and I did not find the time to get to blog.

I had a great birthday. Thanks to Lauren and Cameron for throwing me a surprise birthday party. That was really fun, and I know how much this group cares about me, and it shows by your actions towards me. Thanks for Jamin and Ashley for getting me that Auburn shirt. I have turned into a Auburn fan, since I have been down here, but I will always remain a big fan of Fat Phil and the UT Vols. So, I guess you can be a fan of two schools. Go Blue Raiders!

Yesterday, I forgot to say what I had for lunch, and I paid for it, this morning. Well, I had Mellow Mushroom, and I had a hoogie sandwich with ham, cheese, bacon, lettuce, and mayo. Last night, I felt so sick that, I hardly could do the paper I was working on. My lands, that was an awful feeling.






Great news! I just found out the yesterday that if everything goes according to plans, I will be a Blue Raider graduate, by the end of Decemeber. After this semester, I have 14 hours left till I graduate, and I have to pass everything from here on out. I am so ready to graduate after being in school for over 5 years. I know my family is ready for me to graduate. So when December rolls around, let the celebration begin.

Understanding

Lucky Charms is my favorite ceral! It's my birthday, so happy, happy birthday to me. So, yeah I am pretty excited. I am also excited about the mission trip. I am going to be pretty busy with the trip and school. See, my Spring Break was last week, and I did not have much going on with school. Now school is back on, and I pray that my schooling does not get in the way of the service that I am going to be doing down there, in Miami.

I am not to thrilled about doing school work on top of mission work because I am afraid that I will not accomplish much because I am going to have two things on my plate. I just can't let that happen. There are somethings in life that we have got to take and go on. It does not matter what it is. I want to finish school, but I am not going to allow my schooling to get in the way of God. My professors do not agree with this, or is it lack of understanding on their part?

There are sometimes we are going to have to stop being selfish, and understand that God is out there watching over us, and seeing how selfish we are. There is also a loving God out there loving us. This has been on my mind for the past couple days, and I do not mean to preach, but when we focus on what we want, what does that tell you about yourself? I struggle with this, as well, but I also know that God is the one, and I am one of his. My own selfish desires get in the way of me seeing what God is doing. So, fix your eyes on things above, not own things here on Earth. There are verses in the Bible, in I Corinthians 7: 19-20, it is talking about your body is a temple. It says that,"don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God brought you with a price. So you must honor God with your body." This has more to do than what you are wearing, it has do with how we let ourselves get in the way of God. I want God to be in control of my life, but I do I need to let go of everything that gets in the way of that.

Usually, I get on here, and make pointless blogs, but has been on my heart for the past couple of days, and I just wanted to say something about it.

Let it Be

Join with me, and say "Death to that little cart Jamin rides around on, called Sasha." It is a great day at Vaughn Park. I want to thank all of my supporters who help bring down this idol that Jamin was worshipping. I want to thank those who stood behind me through thick and thin.

Most of you know what today is. It is now Tuesday, but it is fixing to Wednesday, and I wanted to let you know what I had for lunch, today. I had chicken fingers, sandwiches, chips, and chocloate covered cookies. We also had one of my favorite drinks...sweet tea.

I hope that you are have a great week! So long, Sasha. May we see each other, again, someday.

Mad About You

I have had professors try to teach leadership, and the key word is try. I had one professor tell me that I had to be up-front and out-spoken to be a leader. I disagree with this. Most leaders you will find leading a country, and doing all these wonderful things that puts them in front people. A lot of people try to show leadership because they want power and recognition. I always joke with Jamin that when he gives me the credit card, I have the power and recognition, even if it is for a day or two.

A lot you know what my leadership style is. I am not going to be the who impresses you by being up-front. I have ran across a lot interns who believe that being a leader you have to be up-front and out-spoken. I had people tell me that for me to be a better intern, I had change my attitude, and how I approached the internship. I have learned leadership by putting myself into a position were I can impact teenagers. Leadership is not being the showy type, it is about impacting someone's life. But how do you impact someone's life? It is about doing the ordinary things that turn into exraordinary. Just being there for someone is a great way to show leadership.

Having Jamin here is great, and I have learned a lot from him, but I like it when he goes out of town, and allows me to lead things. I get that opportunity when he is here, but if I am going to do ministry, I have got to learn by giving him a break. That is what I am here for. I am here to help him out when I need to, and want to. Leaders have the desire to help people out, and that is were they get their motivation. I am very blessed to have the opportunity to do that. I have learned from him what I need to do to make activities run smoothly. I do make mistakes, and learn from them, and that is the only way that I am going to learn is just having this not afraid attitude. If there are people out there telling you that you need to have a out-going approach to leadership, do not listen to them because you can be a leader, just by being who you are, and people will respect you more because of it.

Image

I know that it is sad to have a picture of Richard Simmons on my blog. Now, can I use this guy as an example. He has the same last name as me, and he is not my cousin, thank God. Let's disspell that rumor, right now. I remember seeing this thing on TV, and I thought he was stupid. I can remember when Oprah did a interview with him. You may think that I am fanactic of him, but do not think that. I just think it is funny because he does have the same last name as me. There is only one thing that I agree with him on. He helped people who were over-weight, be happy again. Other than that, I disagree with about everything he did, or tried to do.

How many of you are not happy with who you are? A few years ago, this was not the case because I thought that I had to have a certain type of girl, or this body type. Yes, even guys struggle with that. I was listening to other people, than to God. I was not happy with myself, and I thought that other things could fill this happiness. I have changed since then. I changed my attitude on life when I went to college because I knew that people would accept me for who I am, and it did not matter what I did.

There is nothing better than God putting people in your life to make a difference. I pray that you are not allowing other people or things control your life. You will never find happiness in that. I have known a lot of people that try to find happiness in a beer bottle, and they are looking for something other than finding delight in God. Pray that God can fill the void in your life because it can make the biggest difference. You will even notice that are you are happier with your life.

Lunch at 12:30

This is my usually blog for Tuesday. For lunch today, the staff celebrated Leston's, Merv's, and my birthday. Are we celebrating the fact that I am getting older, and still single. I have yet to figue this one out.

For lunch, today, we had fried fish, grilled chicken, fries, hush puppies, steamed vegetables, and birthday cake. It was great! Next week I will be able to put a resturant picture on my posting. I am sure you are looking forward to that.

Four

March is an exciting time for me. It is the month of my birth, which brings excitment for everyone involved. In this post, I am going to give my top six things for this month. Not to copy Jamin, but to give you somethings that I am looking forward to.

6. March 31st...It is the end month. I do not know why I like this day, but it will be fun.

5. Spring Break...March 6-10. I have yet to understand why college students get spring break because you still have to study. What is the point?

4. March 11-12. Hopefully my family will be coming into town. I haven't seen them since the first of January. My sister is bringing here new boyfriend. I guess I better make a good impression. Also, I am getting a UT football picture that I am either going to hang in the office, or my apartment. I am excited about this because I have had this picture for two years, and I have just know gotten it framed. I am pretty pumped!

3. March Madness. I do not watch much college basketball because it is really slow, but when tournment season rolls around, I am watching every weekend.

2. Spring Break Mission...March 18-24. I love mission trips. I think that it is one the best things a group can do. They are fun, but they do build unity within the group. I have a lot of memories with mission trips. Please be praying for some of my friends from MTSU on a mission trip to Washington, D.C.

1. March 17...My birthday. I will be 24, and the oldest intern in the history of Vaughn Park. Quite an accomplishment, don't you think?

Gladiator

It has been a week since guy's retreat, and I haven't told you what I thought about it. This was probably one of the best retreats that I have been on. I learned a lot about myself, and that I am in battle. I am so proud that you guys are ready to go to battle. I have heard stories how you some of you have been acting out what we learned at the retreat.

Have a great weekend. May God bless in that you do, this weekend!

Thief

Yesterday, when I got home from the church, there was attempt to break into my apartment. I have had to deal with this all day. I have purchased insurance to take care if anything happens to my stuff. I am probably going to purchase a security system , just to protect my stuff when I am at work, and when I go on trips.

Just today, I have realized that I depend on my stuff, way too much. It is just material things, and it can be replaced. A lot of times those material things get in the way of my walk with God. I am buying all this insurance and security equipment to protect it, and it makes me realize that those things do get in the way. I spent my own money buying these things, and now I having to protect it. It just proves to me how far we will go to protect it. Is this the way we view our ministry. Do we try to protect it, and keep it inside. Our ministry should be shown to all. Jesus was the light of the world, shouldn't we all be?

I had Cracker Barrel for lunch, today.

Miracle

The olympics closing ceremonies over with, and with the U.S. Hockey team getting beat, there has not been a miracle on ice since Herb Brooks took a bunch of college students to up against a powerful Soviet Union team, and won the gold medal, in 1980. They have made a movie about this team, and it truly is a miracle that this team won.

The other day someone asked me to define a miracle, and I gave him a sarcastic answer, and said the 1980 U.S. hockey team winning gold at those games. After thinking about, I thought about how God creates miracles, when babies are borned. There is no better way than to see God working in a family, and how God uses a miracle to create love in a family. The things that Jamin and Ashley are having to go through with Aiden, and I know that God is going use this miracle to fulfill his will.

People like to call babies that are near death, miracle babies. I have been classified as a miracle baby, but I do not agree with that. Every baby is miracle because God is created each and everyone of us to do His will. There is a purpose for everyone and everything. Read Ess. 3: 1-15. From what my family has told me about my birth, was that I had a blood disorder, and I was not suppose to survive, but God had a different plan. God had a greater purpose for me, and I am now realizing what that purpose is. I still have a lot to learn, but God is using me to minister to others. My mom and dad spent countless hours praying for my life, and those prayers paid off. They prayed that I would live to do great things in this world were great things are few and far between.

Just like this hockey team, it was miracle that they won the 1980 gold medal, I am now asking you what is your miracle? Think about it.

You

This one will be short. Last night in class, I discussed, and they prayed about their ministry here in this youth group. You may say that you do not have a ministry because of your age. Do you realize how many people are looking at you? Even your other peers look at you. A lot of you may ask what your ministry is. It is more than showing up on Sunday and Wednesday, which is very important. Your ministry maybe just encourage someone who is having a rough day. A lot of you have heard the saying, "you are the future of the church." I disagree with that, you can make a difference in the ministry, now. I pray that God is using you to fulfill his ministry.

What Personality

I am taking a class on personality, and it is pretty tough. I having to take test that involves a lot of material, and sometimes what I see as pointless concepts. Right now were are going through theories, and who came up with these theories. I guess that is the reason my test are that great because of these theories. Some people say that you have the same personality as your parents. Is that true for you? I think that I have the same personality as my dad and mom. I am very care-free, meaning stuff doesn't bother me, but I do care about what I am doing. My sister on the other hand, well we do not know were her personality comes from. Many of you may know that I roll with the punches. I learn and go on.

Have you every thought about what type of personality Jesus had. Jesus wepted, got angry, laughed, but most of all he loved. Does this fit your personality profile. How hard is it to love someone that has done something wrong against you. Jesus did that very thing all the time. Do you love the people that mistreat you? This is so hard to do. There have been times when I wanted to give people a piece of my mind when they have done me wrong, but I always thinking that would not be reflective of who I am.

I challenge you the rest of this week to find you are. What is your personality, and does that reflect who you are at home, school, and whatever you are doing?

My Olympic Dream

I hope to be a part of the USA Dream Team.

Passion

As you know, the olympics have been going on for the past week. The theme for these olympics, is "Passion Lives Here." You have seen the falls, and disappointment of the athletes. I have noticed how much energy and devotion that they have for their sport. I have noticed how much passion that they have devoted to their sport. They find their passion in doing good, and excelling to be the greatest athlete of the world. But I have a question for you, where does your passion live? Are you passionate about your ministry?

Passion is defined as a pervading spirit, ruling passion, master passion, fullness of heart, and flow of soul. In others words, it is how you show your love for something. These olympians show passion for their sport, just as Jesus showed passion for his people. Just as the athletes are radical for doing the twists, flips, and going high in the air, Jesus was a radical in the truest sense of the word.

He did not fit into the prefabricated mold of Messiah that the Jewish culure had prepared. He did not offer his backing to the established religious community. He showed no interest in influencing the politics of the day. Jesus was a radical from the time he was 12 and dared to go about his Father's business by questioning and instructing the rabbis in the temple (Luke 2:46-49).

In his revoluntionary style, Jesus spoke of a kingdom where God ruled as king. Jesus broke into history at a real point in time, died on a real cross, and left behind a real tomb. This was no last-ditch effort on God's part to save the world from its woes. This was his plan from the bringing his kingdom to earth. The cross and resurrection changed history; now we are pointed toward heaven.

Now here is the amazing part: we can live in this kingdom right now! The kingdom of God is not some far-off, distant, future realm. It is not a state of mind. It is not something we dream about or long for. We are in it! God's kingdom is a real place where we can walk and work and have relationships.

Here is yet another amazing thing about Jesus' announcement of this kingdom. The King wants to live with us!

Do you see how passionate God cares about you? He wants to live with you, and be your ministry. So, I have a few questions that I want you to ask your parents. Ask them what their ministry is, and how passionate are they about their ministry. Let me know what they say because to be honest with you, you need to know what your parents ministry is because that reflects who you are, and what your ministry is.