A Picture Says a Thousand Words

For my Advanced Technologies in Journalism class, we are required to tell a short story through the art of photography. Through five different photos, we must create and set the scene for an exciting event that has happened in our life. After looking through several of my pictures, I stumbled upon the pictures from when Kailah Coates, Hannah Tison and I traveled to Birmingham to experience the "happiest 5K" in the world, also known as The Color Run. We had heard about how great this 5K was, and had seen pictures online of how cool it looked, and wanted to check it out! Unlike any other 5K, there are volunteers that literally throw colored corn starch at you, and by the end of the 3.1 miles, you look like a walking rainbow! We woke up at 5:00am that morning to be able to fight through traffic, get a good parking place, and get a good place in line behind the starting line. We looked at our iPhones and saw on the Weather Channel app, it called for 100% ALL DAY. We were very discouraged, but drove to the track anyway. Needless to say, the rain didn't hold off this party...over 10,000 people were in Birmingham, Alabama with white t-shirts and shorts, prepared to get color on them! We were soaking wet, but that only added to the fun of the color! I hope these pictures capture our experience of The Color Run. It was a memory I will always love, spending it with two of my best friends! 

                                                                        "Cover Shot"

                                                                        "Detail Shot"     

                                                               "Establishing Shot"

                                                                        "Filler Shot"

                                                                        "Closing Shot"

Opinion

One of the classes I am required to take at Troy University to fufill my major in Communications is called "Advanced Technologies in Journalism". It's a Monday/Wednesday/Friday class, and it only is 50 minutes long! The classroom is filled with Mac computers, and each student is assigned their own computer, and the main goal for the semester is to be able to know how to create and maintain a website, and effectively communicate with people through modern technology. You know you live in the 21st century when the only school supply you have to bring to class is a pair of headphones! Along with learning how to make a website, we are required to blog each week. This week's topic is "opinions". Each student must blog about their opinion of something...anything...and give back-up evidence to support that formed opinion.

After thinking about what I wanted to take a stance on (there is so much I could choose from), one thing came to mind: a topic we recently discussed in my Rhetorical Communication Theory class. Eccessive television watching can negatively impact your health and psychological well being. An article was written by Jon Hammermeister and Barbara Brock in 2005 entitled "Life Without TV?", where these researchers observed and studied the negative affects of eccessive TV watching. They did intense polling and surveying and came up with some fascinating results. One that stood out to me was the amount of TV an average American watches a day. By the time the average person reaches the age of 70, he or she will have spent the equivalent to 7 to 10 YEARS watching television. What?! While there are some educational shows and informative networks that benefit society, the majority of television is not so wholesome. Spending hours upon hours a day wasting away in front of a television is probably the leading cause of America's obesity issue. Given that violence, sexuality, and body image are pervasive messages that come from watching TV, it is not surprising that a variety of negative health effects have been associated with excessive TV viewing. After studying this scholarly journal "Life Without TV", my opinion is that TV is the biggest way we could ever choose to waste our time. Not only is God the ultimate giver, but He has given us a life and our life has one purpose: to know Him and make Him known. Now, I realize that not EVERY single detail of our life will match that purpose perfectly, but watching television for hours on end certainly does not seem to reflect His perfect plan for our lives. Statistics and studies have shown that those that watch two or more hours of TV a day are more likely one day going to be smokers, have weight problems or body issues, more likely to be lonely, depressed, anti-social, have low self esteem, and are more likely to feel hopeless.

I feel like I could continue for pages about the evidence revealed in this scholarly study, and continue to give reasons why I have formed my opinion about TV watching, but this assignment for school has a limit on each blog post. What is YOUR opinion?

Juggling Act

I have only been a senior in college for 30 days, and so far, I feel like all I have been doing is acting like I'm in a circus...and I'm the main attraction with the Juggling Act. From leaving a life changing summer I experienced in Ft. Walton, where I was constantly surrounded by uplifting brothers and sisters in Christ, to stepping on a campus full of all sorts of people has definitely been quite the transition for me. From taking five classes that keep me on my toes, to working at Chick-Fil-A, to being proactive with Campus Outreach, to kicking off leading a Bible Study with freshmen girls, to learning how to give tours as a Trojan Ambassador, to keeping up with friends and family...it's a challenge to stay organized and focused when so many plates are spinning. One thing I have learned through this initial craziness this semester is that in my weakness, Jesus has an even better opportunity to show His strength through me. I can boast in my weaknesses; whether my weakness is my stress from school, my exhaustion from a crazy weak, sin in my life that discourages me, or just me feeling physically and mentally weak, Jesus is able to fill me up with His strength and His power that is so unique and refreshing. I have experienced this strength that only comes from the Father, and I never want to stop experiencing it. I can't wait to see how He continues to move in my heart this semester and this last year that I have as a college student at Troy, and look forward to updating you all on how He gets the glory in many more situations! He is faithful. 

Group Date

Goofy Golf group date with some great guys!

Nerd Alert!

Our last social's theme was "High School Cliques". My room got assigned to dress up like nerds! So much fun! We went skating at the local skating rink! 

To Know Him and Make Him Known

This past week has been heavy. The talks and sessions were centered around learning about our sin, things we idolize, and how we refuse to repent and turn from our sin so many times, meaning we choose sin over Christ. One thing I love about Beach Project is how real it is. It differs from a camp setting where lots of emotion and teaching is crammed into one week, with lights and loud bands, and an incredible speaker. Many nights we simply open the Word, and reflect on how Jesus is King, and we are His children. Some nights we get dropped off at the pier, a crowded restaurant, a tourist amusement park, or the beach and evangelize to others. The word “evangelize” has always scared me. Talking to someone I don’t know about such a huge topic terrified me. I would be nervous just thinking about it. One thing that has recently liberated me from years of feeling nervous, anxious or uneasy about “evangelizing” is the verse found in 1 Peter 2:9 that I have been memorizing all summer.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light.”

All I simply have to do is declare the praises of the One who has changed my life. That’s it. I am not obligated to give some PowerPoint presentation and wait for a “yes” or “no” at the end of my conversation with someone. “Leading someone to Jesus” doesn’t have to mean a conversion to Christianity. Leading someone to Jesus is simply pointing their attention to Him, directing their thoughts to Him, or informing someone about His glory and majesty. This has dramatically changed how I view evangelism, and how I approach people. All evangelism entails is pointing others to Christ. When I see my heart change from fear to joy when it comes to telling others about the glory of our King, I can’t deny that Christ is real. I want to be a fisher of men and feed His sheep. That’s why I’m here this summer: to know Him and make Him known.

This past week, as we have learned about the specific sin that entangles us individually, my eyes have been open to many things. My heart is broken over my sin. Not just because it’s “bad” or wrong, but because it separates me from the One who has called me out of darkness and into His wonderful light. A few weeks ago we had a Hillbilly Hoedown Social and everyone dressed up as rednecks and country hicks. The costumes were hilarious! It was so funny to see people put pillows in their shirts, wear fake buckteeth, and have boots and cowboy hats on. As children of the King, when we choose sin, we choose to put on a costume. In reality, we are royal priesthoods, sons and daughters of the King. When we choose sin, we choose to dress up as something we are not, a lot like we did the night we wore flannel cut off shirts and bandanas for the social. It hurts to see my sin and it hurts to identify the specific idols in my life. Although it’s painful to recognize sin, it’s essential for growth and necessary in order to see our need for Christ. The enemy wants to deceive us and tell us that our sin will satisfy our desires, when really it satisfies us as long as an ice cube stays frozen on a hot pavement. One of the speakers this past week said something that has stuck with me. “Small sin requires a small Savior. Great sin requires a great Savior.” My need for a great Savior to cover my great sin has shown me that Christ is the only thing that can truly satisfy my heart.  

Pray that my heart will be open to truth and I would have a surrendered spirit.

Pray for Jesus’ strength to replace my weakness...I have a week full of early mornings and lots of hours at Starbucks, and I am exhausted! This week at work, Beach Project is challenging us to start an “Investigative Bible Study” with our co-workers. I am praying for God to help me, Emily and Erin to be lights to our co-workers at Starbucks and to lead us into spiritual conversations with them.  

Pray that I would love my roommates and serve them with joy.

Pray that I would continue to be broken over sin in my life, and desperate for God’s grace and character. 

Declared

As we finished our first full week at project, my D-Group and I reflected on our highs and lows last night, and what we learned from the past seven days. A verse I am meditating on and encouraged by is 1 Peter 2:9.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

My new job as a cashier, barista, drive-thru greeter, and dining room janitor at Starbucks has already taught me many things. There are times where I feel so incompetent when I mess up on the register, mess up yet ANOTHER latte or cappuccino, feel like I'm in the way of the experienced co-workers, or have another customer get frustrated with me. During these times it is easy to feel that I don't "belong", or I'm not even helping, but this verse tells me different. I have the privilege of being a part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation that completely and totally belongs to God. My job in light of eternity is not determined by if I made the best frappuccino or americano, but if I declared the praises of the One who has called me out of darkness.

This week at project, we wrote down our testimonies, and practiced talking about them with partners, and we tried to narrow our testimony down to one sentence. If I only had 30 seconds to talk to someone in passing, or bring up my testimony, what would I say? After practice and feedback, we were able to narrow our testimonies down into one sentence. Doing this reminded me of the darkness I was once in, and how I used to only live for myself. I was reminded of how now I am able to walk in the Light, not because of what I did to deserve that, or because I went to church enough times, or because of all the verses I memorized, but because of the One who so graciously took my punishment and allowed me to walk in His wonderful Light.

I am excited to start another week of a jam-packed schedule: work, one-on-ones, three different training sessions, and fun times at socials! Please pray for my co-workers at Starbucks. I am an employee at a place with many lost people. Pray that they see Christ through me! Also, pray that my focus stays on the Lord and that I don't let any sort of distractions hinder me from focusing solely on Him. Last night was a sweet time of worship, with reminders of the gospel through song!

"When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me."

Your prayers mean so much to me!