7 quick takes {special edition} {also vol. 8}

Normally, and because of the genius of Jen Fulwiler, I devote these quick takes to my takes on the week, any happenings in my life and/or pop culture. This week I'm going to shake things up a bit. I'm going to try to tell a story in 7 points. If it's horrible, I beg your forgiveness. If it's boring, just skip to point 7. Here we go.

(1)
About a year ago, around this time, I graduated from college, was totally lost in the world, and had no idea what to do next.

(2)
A few months before that, and through the summer, God, like a good cook over his crock-pot, was randomly (or so I thought) stirring in me a deep interest in the Dakotas, particularly South Dakota. Maybe it was because I'd never been to the plains, maybe it was because of the Native American culture, I don't know. But there it was.



(3)
Because of this I was interested in watching a Frontline documentary (which I NEVER do) about a struggling Native American reservation in South Dakota. And it broke my heart.

(4)

It came at a time when I was distant from God, away from Mass and the sacraments. But I had such a strong reaction to this, all I could think was - these poor people, who have been so neglected by the rest of America, need hope. Not that I thought I could give to them - hope was in short supply for me at that time. 

(5)

But I contacted some people who were doing really beautiful work, planting seeds of hope in a (seriously) dry and weary land. I never thought anything would come of it. But, somehow, God, in drawing me back to Himself, made it so clear to me this was exactly where He wanted me to be next year.

(6)

I fought God for MONTHS over this. Did I really want to move 2,000 miles away from everything, and everyone I loved?? NO! No Starbucks, no Barnes and Nobles, no TV, no more driving my car. Did I say no Starbucks? Obviously, Jesus won that epic arm wrestle.

(7)

As a result of all this madness, I will be leaving for South Dakota in just a week! To get in the mood, so to speak, I've been reading a lot of the wild frontier books. Okay, so they mostly have been historical romance novels. Same thing. The point is, they inspired me to try to look at this new step in my life as one big, 'Wild West' adventure. Like I'm heading out west searching for gold or something. I'll be chronicling my journey on a special page on the blog every week or so. It's not totally set up yet, so stay tuned!

God bless you all! <3 

7 quick takes {v. 7}

1. 

Is it just me or did this week feel reeeeaaaalllly llloooonnngggg? I think it's because of the Fourth of July. Speaking of which, did you all see that video from San Diego where, due to a computer issue, an 18 minute fireworks show (all 7,000 fireworks) went off at once, in 15 seconds? Yeah.

2.
This week my family and I went to see the new Spider Man movie. At first I didn't want to see it because I thought it was kind of silly that they were rebooting the series. But I LOVED it!! It was absolutely nothing like the Tobey Maguire movies. I highly recommend it (although it might be too long for little ones!)

3.
Besides Spider Man, this has been kind of a weird couple of weeks in pop culture, yeah? "Magic Mike" was released (blech) and Fifty Shades
of Grey has somehow become THE book for American women. Now that someone has finally told me what the book is about I'm stupefied, horrified, and mystified.

Remember the good old days? *jk*

4.

I'm thinking of doing a post on these happenings, especially in terms of a single girl trying to live a chaste life. It doesn't exactly help keep impure thoughts away when I've got Channing Tatum's abs thrown in my face! World, give a girl a break! If any of you have any thoughts on this, let me know by tweet or here or whatever so I can incorporate it! 

5.

Now if you're looking for a good book to read, I've been going through Papa Benedicto's latest Jesus of Nazareth book. I promise you, you'll be blown away. His writing style is so personal and like a teacher who gently guides you through the Scriptures until you see what he sees, which will change the way you see Jesus. Here are a couple of excerpts to show you what I mean:

"When all is said and done, the future will not place us in any other situation than the one to which our encounter with Jesus has already brought us." (p. 50)

"'Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will not pass away' (Mk 13:31). The word--which seems almost nothing in comparison to the mighty power of the immeasurable material cosmos, like a fleeting breath against the silent grandeur of the universe--the word is more real and more lasting than the entire material world...[It] is the solid ground on which we can stand, which holds firm even when the sun goes dark and the firmament disintegrates." (p. 51)

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Fifty Shades of lame, guy!

6. 

When I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago that on my maternal grandmother's side (which is German) I have a great-aunt or something who used to be a barmaid in Bavaria! I saw this picture of her when she literally looked like one of those Viking women with the outfit and an armful of giant beer mugs. This wouldn't be so cool, except for the fact that she was barmaid to THE POPE!! 

Ja!

Apparently, he was one of the regulars and my dear old great-aunt would plop a cold one in front of him whenever he came in. What's more, the whole family from Bavaria even went to the church where he was pastor! Ahh! I'm pushing for them to see they can wrangle a personal visit with the Pope (does he even do that?) but it's a work in progress. Still, how cool is that??

7. 

If you've made it this far, I want to personally thank you for putting up with my little rants and raves! Stay tuned, because I have some neat plans in the near future for this place! God bless!

lord, have your way

I've been thinking a lot lately about surrender. About Jesus, the Good Shepherd. About following wherever He leads.

Like St. Augustine, I have long tired of running from Him. It's the scariest thing to ask Him to change you, transform you, reshape you and remake you. And the walls around my heart are made of stone.

But no matter how far you run, there's always that still small voice, calling you home, "Come. Come.."

And, He tells us, He calls us by name, and we, His lost sheep, will always recognize His voice. No matter how far we wander.

It's been a long, hard tug-of-war, and I have fought Him over every little thing He asks of me. But how can I deny Him? Him who poured out every inch of Himself for me?

Today, give Him your praise, your worship. I don't know if you're aware of my epic love for Hillsong United, but their new CD, "Cornerstone", is just as incredible as all their other ones. Watching this video, I couldn't help but cry out to Jesus. Make these words your words, let Him heal your broken heart and bind up all your wounds.

Lord, have your way in me...