Just some random thoughts…

Friday we had our second Greek test for the semester.  I have really struggled in Greek this semester and I wished I was a better student.  It takes a lot of time to devote to studying, and for me it takes a lot longer than other people to grasp something.  For someone else it may take only an hour to memorize the vocab and know the forms and endings and such, but for me it takes several hours.  I really studied hard for the test.  We have a quiz every week, but only a few tests throughout the semester.  I studied hard, but I still was so nervous going into it.  Going into that room makes me nervous or something.  I’m not sure what it is.  But I tend to confuse myself and question myself and get nervous.  I really psych myself out in that class.  Anyway, I tried my hardest on the test.  I did so much better than the last test.  But we’ll see how it went.  I don’t like disappointing myself, especially when it comes to school and academics, and I really don’t like disappointing my professors. 

Anyway, these last few weeks of school are going to be CRAZY!  There is so much to do for every class.  I really am going to try hard to end well.  It’s going to be hard, and it will take so much time to get it all done.  But Cory and I keep encouraging each other that we can do it!  Tomorrow we have a disputatio (debate) for Christian Doctrine over the atonement.  It will be interesting.  I’m nervous about it, but as long as all the teams clearly establish their appointed viewpoints, it will be good.  The disputatios are a really neat way to learn about different ways of thinkings and different ideas the church has had to deal with. 

My heart was truly blessed at church this morning.  Pastor Ben talked about Nehemiah and his heart as a great leader.  We went over Nehemiah 1, and dove into his prayer.  It was a convicting and encouraging and humbling message.  It was a really wonderful message. 

Oh, and since the house in Florida closed last week, my parents were able to close on the house in Tennessee on Friday!  Yay!  It’s so wonderful how the Lord provides!  It’s been quite a journey, having to move again in February after moving to Tennessee in August, but it all works out in the end, doesn’t it?  And it’s all good!

Well, I’ll be off to the library soon, just working on stuff in my dorm now.  It’s going to be a great week, because, as Cory likes to say and remind us,  :)  He is risen! 

~Sarah

Darlene Deobler Rose’s Testimony

Cory and I are in a class this semester called Contemporary Christian Life and Practice.  It has been a wonderful course, full of practical, Biblical ways of living the Christian life and all that that entails.  When we were on the topic of suffering we were supposed to listen to this mp3 of Darlene Rose’s testimony.  This is about an hour and 17 minutes long, but I urge everyone to find time to listen to it.  Her powerful testimony will help see how much we have to be grateful for and how spoiled we are.  We have no right to complain about anything we go through or any situation we are in.  I doubt any of us have ever been in a situation like Darlene was in, and yet she had such a better attitude and Christlike spirit than anyone I’ve ever known, or in this case listened to.  I hope you find the time to listen to this or buy her book called “Evidence Not Seen.”  Please take the time to listen to her story.  I hope to have such an intimate relationship with my Lord as she did, where I can hear His voice and know His gentle voice, be so grateful for everything and hide the Word in my heart.  You cannot listen to her testimony and not be changed, unless your heart is so hardened by your pride and selfishness.  Anyway, I’m so grateful to have been told of this incredible woman of the Lord and will continue to share her with others.  Our God is amazing.  We are never alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9k5WuqIuSQ

~Sarah

Registering for classes

Well registration for classes for the fall starts on Monday, so Cory and I have spent hours and hours trying to figure everything out.  I don’t think people realize how hard it is transferring.  And it is not likely that in transferring you will finish in two years.  We’ve figured out that we are going to have a completely full schedule for our senior year.  And its not just full, but overloaded.  But we are pretty sure we will be able to graduate in May of 2010, which is awesome.  We will just have to persevere through the rest of this semester and then next year.  It’s going to be hard, that’s for sure.  16 credits is the recommended max and anything over that you have to fill out special paperwork and go to the registrar to get approved.  I had to do that for this semester, and it’s been very hard.  So we’ll just have to see how next year goes. 

~Sarah

another break

Tomorrow we have off of school because of Good Friday.  I think it is very appropriate to have tomorrow off as we celebrate the Easter weekend.  And I am looking forward to another break.  Even though we just had spring break a couple weeks ago, it is good to have another break.  I guess that shows how crazy this semester has been if I’m ready for another break already.  This has been a very hard semester.  And even though it is technically a break this weekend, Cory and I have so much schoolwork and studying to be doing, we will definitely be busy.  But about six more weeks of school.  We sign up for fall classes next week.  And that is another thing we have to work on this weekend, is our class schedules.  So anyway, we both want to finish well and push through the end of this semester.  It’s been hard and challenging.

~Sarah

It’s Been Awhile

Well the last time I signed on and wrote an update on here was during Jan. term.  So that alone should tell you how busy life has been recently.  It would take a long time to write about everything that has gone on since January, so I’ll just say, things have been really crazy, but overall good.  This spring semester has been very overwhelming at times and very hard, but I have enjoyed the classes and all that we are learning.  I am taking 19 credit hours this semester so taking so much has taken a toll on me.  Spring break provided a much needed break from school.  Cory and I went down to Florida and spent some great time with his family and we got to see some friends as well.  We had a wonderful time out at Bay Hill one day.  It was just a wonderful break.  Now we are back in the swing of things at school.  We get out May 22nd, which is later than most schools, but that is because we have a term in January, like a summer term, that we can come to, so spring semester doesn’t start till February.  This has been a really hard and challenging semester.  It has taken a lot out of me.  Classes are really demanding.  But I applied to be an R.A. next year, my senior year, and I found out on Friday that I got one of the open spots!  I’m so excited!  I know it’s going to be a challenge, but I’m really so thrilled to have this opportunity.  There were so many amazing girls that applied, and so few spots, I’m not sure why I was chosen over others, but I know God has a purpose and plan.  It will be quite a wonderful year next year!  Also, in these next few days I am going to make a final decision about summer plans.  I have two options, both things I would love to do, so it’s hard having to decide between them.  My heart is torn, but a decision will be made in the next couple of days.  Wherever the Lord wants me, I know I will be.  I want to be faithful to His calling.  And I’m excited about this summer, no matter what path I choose.  So about six more weeks of this semester.  And this week is a short week, it will be nice to celebrate Easter with my family, we all wish Chip could be out here though.  Cory and I both want to finish out this semester strong.  Oh yeah…the closing on our house in Florida is a week from today, the 13th.  Please pray for that to all go through!  Once that house closes, my parents will close on the house they are in up here.  So these next couples days and weeks are full of decisions and such.  It should interesting.  The past weekend Cory and I helped out with a disciple now at a local church.  It was such a blessing.  It was really different than what we have been a part of in the past, but that was definitely a refreshing and good thing.  Both of our hearts were refreshed and blessed from this weekend.  A few more weeks of this spring semester and then Cory and I will be seniors!  Crazy! 

I’m going to try to update more often…

~Sarah

“Anselm: Faith Seeking Understanding”

Alright, so after I finished writing a few blogs earlier, I went back to reading for my History of Christianity class, and read a very interesting document in my textbook.  It’s so interesting in fact that I felt the need to sign back on and write another blog, giving anyone who reads this the chance to read it.  Anselm lived from 1033-1109 and this writing was pleasingly humorous and amusing at the same time it was confusing and interesting.  Yes, I definitely got confused while reading this, but all in all it was amusing and interesting.  Wish I could argue like him.

This is from “A Summary of Christian History” by Robert A. Baker and John M. Landers, 3rd edition, published by B&H Publishing Group in Nashville, Tennessee in 2005, on pages 130-131.

(the first paragraph is commentary about the writing from the book’s author’s and then the next paragraph starts Anselm’s actual writing)

“Anselm of Canterbury was one of the earliest scholastics and one of the most original thinkers of the Middle Ages.  He tried to interrelate faith and reason, but he argued that we must believe in God if we are to understand him.  In the following passage Anselm argues that God is the Being of which we cannot imagine a greater.  This has sometimes been called the ontological argument for the existence of God.

O Lord, who grantest to faith understanding, grant unto me that, so far as Thou knowest it to be expedient for me, I may understand that Thou art, as we believe; and also that Thou art what we believe Thee to be.  And of a truth we believe that Thou art somewhat than which no greater can be conceived.  Is there than nothing real that can be thus described?  For the fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.  Yet surely even that fool himself when he hears me speak of somewhat than which nothing greater can be conceived understands what he hears, and what he understands is in his understanding, even if he does not understand that it really exists.  It is one thing for a thing to be in the understanding, and another to understand that the thing really exists.  For when a painter considers the work which he is to make, he has it indeed in his understanding; but he doth not yet understand that really to exist which as yet he has not made.  But when he has painted his picture, then he both has the picture in his understanding, and also understands it really to exist.  Thus even the fool is certain that something exists, at least in his understanding, than which nothing greater can be conceived; because, when he hears this mentioned, he understands it, and whatsoever is understood, exists in the understanding.  And surely that than which no greater can be conceived cannot exist only in the understanding.  For if it exists indeed in the understanding only, it can be thought to exist also in reality; and real existence is more than existence in the understanding only.  If then that than which no greater can be conceived exists in the understanding only, then that than which no greater can be conceived is something a greater than which can be conceived; this is is impossible.  Therefore it is certain that something than which no greater can be conceived exists both in the understanding and also in reality.

Not only does this something than which nothing greater conceived exist, but it exists in such a true sense that it cannot even be conceived not to exist.  For it is possible to form the conception of an object whose nonexistance shall be inconceivable; and such an object is of necessity greater than any object whose existance is conceivable.  So if that than which no greater can be conceived can be conceived not to exist, it follows that that than which no greater can be conceived is thing but that which no greater can be conceived [for there can be thought a greater than it, namely, an object whose nonexistance shall be inconceivable]; and this brings us to a contradiction.  And thus it is proved that that thing than which no greater can be conceived exists in so true a sense that it cannot even be conceived not to exist:  and this thing art Thou, O Lord my God, existest in so true a sense that Thou canst not even be conceived not to exist.  And this thing is fitting.  For if any mind could conceive something better than Thee, then the creature would be ascending above the Creator, and judging the Creator; which is a supposition very absurd.  Thou therefore does exist in a truer sense than all else beside Thee, and art more real than all else beside Thee; because whatever else existeth, existeth in a less true sense than Thou, and therfore is less real than Thou.  Why then said the fool in his heart, There is no God, when it is so plain to rational mind that Thou art more real than anything else?  Why, except that he is a fool indeed?”

I found this to be pretty interesting.  He kind of lost me at points with all the then that than which’s and all the other highly used phrases, but I thought it was really neat and a strong argument.  Just wanted to pass it along, and I thought me typing it out might have helped me understand it a little more….

~Sarah

J-Term

It has been interesting for Cory and I to go to school for this J-term (January term/Winter term).  Basically we are both getting 6 credits, taking 2 classes, in 4 weeks.  Instead of the every other day 50 min. classes, we have class everyday and it is for an hour and 50 minutes.  So this semester has been quite a journey, even as we are just a week and a half into it.  It is nice to not have a crowded campus and its nice being able to achieve these credits in such a short amount of time.  But on the other hand you don’t realize what a challenge it really is.  Before this term started I was thinking it wasn’t going to be hard at all and would be quite relaxing.  But I was definitely wrong.  I am just as busy with classes and schoolwork as in a normal semester.  Cory is taking both World Civ. I and II, and I am taking World Lit. I and History of Christianity.  We don’t see each other very often but it has been a growing experience for us trying to encourage each other through the craziness of this semester, and preparing for the extreme craziness of the spring semester.  I really didn’t expect J-term to be this demanding, but it surely is.  Both of my classes require a lot of reading and both have papers due in it, and it basically takes up every hour that I am awake.  (Although I did fit the season premier of 24 in, of course )  So all in all, it has been nice to be back at school, and transition, somewhat, into the spring semester, but it is a definite struggle keeping up with such a fast pace.  We’ll see how the rest of this semester goes.

~Sarah

Back to School…

Well Cory and I drove back to school today, after the I went to lunch with one of my dearest best friends (Meredith)  and after the Dolphins game (maybe they will get farther next year, but it was a huge leap from last season).  It’s a weird feeling being back, and getting ready to go to new classes in the morning.  We’ll have to adjust to having the longer classes as well as having them every day.  But thats the joy of Jan. term…knocking out six credits in just a few weeks.  It’ll be interesting to see how this goes.  I’m taking World Lit. I and History of Christianity and Cory is taking World Civ. I and II.  It will be good to have this winter semester to ease back into school, as the spring semester is going to be quite intense.  Hopefully I’ll be better at blogging and keeping everyone more up to date.  But for now, we’re just getting through tomorrow as we get reacquainted with school.

~Sarah

End of First Semester at Union

Well we haven’t written anything in awhile, and a lot has happened, so I’ll try to get up to date in a couple of notes.  The end of the semester kept us quite busy.  We had another exegetical paper to write, a couple quizzes, and then finals.  It was interesting as we prepared for our first finals week at Union.  Studying took a lot out of me and really wore me out, but it all ended pretty well.  At Valencia, I really didn’t have to study that much, so I kind of had to learn how to study.  Studying has a lot to do with time management and being able to organize your time well.  I learned a lot through this semester and am so grateful to be at Union.  This semester taught me so much and it ended well.  Cory and I did pretty good on our finals.  It was weird leaving certain classes for the last time and knowing that course is over.  It was also weird getting the dorm ready to leave for awhile.  You get used being there and going home only on some weekends or on holidays and then just coming back to school, but this time we left for weeks.  I’m definitely so glad to have this break, but I also look forward to next semester.  Spring semester starts in February, but Cory and I will both be back for January term, so we go back on the 4th.  It’s been a wonderful experience so far at Union, I’m so happy to be there and blessed to have the opportunity to go there, I can’t wait to learn more and experience more there.

~Sarah

Break Me of My Pride…

Well it has been a busy and overwhelming past couple of weeks.  We had registration for winter and spring courses, and with that comes many hours of trying to organize what classes to take when and so much more.  I met with my advisor for the first time a couple weeks ago to introduce myself and go over the classes I transferred and what all I need to take here.  And well if I do want to continue to major in English, in order to teach high school, I found out that I would also have to have a minor in Education and apply to be in the Teacher Education Program, while also minoring in Christian Studies.  At first, I saw no problem on graduating “on time” in just four years, May 2010.  But, I forgot the fact that if I do want to pursue education, the last semester of my senior year I have to student teach and not take any courses that semester.  I had tech prep credits from West Orange, about 8, that did not transfer over; and on top of that Valencia did not require sciences with labs, and Union does so, so both Cory and I have to retake sciences and do them with a lab.  I also have to do some physical education courses.  So all in all, I have a lot of courses to take, and I’m not exactly sure when I will graduate, maybe a semester later in the fall of 2010 or a year later in the spring of 2011.  And as I initially thought about this, I couldn’t even conceive it.  I did not, and still do not, want to graduate “later” than I should.  I never even considered graduating anytime after May of 2010.

And then I realized something.  I completely love school.  I love Union, the professors here, the faculty and stuff, and all that I am learning.  To study under such amazing men and women of God who are so wise and have so much knowledge, as well as humility, is such an awesome thing that I do not take for granted and its something that I truly enjoy.  So why would I not desire to spend more time here (other than of course finances).  And I’ve come to see that it’s my pride.  I don’t want to graduate past 2010 because of what other people will say or what others will assume.  I don’t want people to look down on me or see themselves as better than me.  I don’t people to see me as weak or dumb or as someone who doesn’t try or doesn’t work hard.  I don’t want people to look down on me, to make fun of me, to belittle or discredit or undervalue me.  And it all comes down to pride.  I don’t mind here at Union longer than I anticipated, if anything that is a blessing, but I care too much about what people think.  My pride tells me that I can’t stay here, that I can’t be here any longer than next May.  My pride stands tall and I tell myself that I don’t want to be here any longer than 2 years, that I can’t be here any longer than 2 years.

I’m so glad that I have a God that loves me enough to break me of my pride.  I’m so glad God gives believers the Holy Spirit, who convicts our hearts when we stray from the ways of the Lord.  As my pride in this area has led my heart to not align with the heart of our Almighty God, my prayer has been that God would break me of my pride.  And He is and will continue to.  Please pray for me as this will be a daily struggle and battle.

~Sarah