Summer Time

So I know its been almost two months since I last blogged...sorry about that. But to my defense, it is summer time- and summer time in Student Ministry is BUSY!


We kicked off the summer on a great start with out End of the Year Celebration. We had pizza and blow-up games (the essentials) and a good crowd of students. I got to joust for the first time ever and this is how I felt afterwards:

The next week our Middle Schoolers participated in ReConstruct- a local ministry that equips students for home repair for low-income residents. (http://www.reconstruct.org/) The students did an incredible job that week!



Two weeks after that we took 250 students and leaders down to Doublehead Resort in Town Creek, AL for Summer Camp. It was a great week! Worship was led by Ninth Hour (formerly Joey Everett Band) and our camp pastor was Chad Childress. Both were so great at leading our students to worship. It was an incredible week. Here is a picture of worship on the beach before the baptisms in the lake:

And finally, we just got back from Chicago where we took our High Schoolers on mission. For the past 4 years, our students have been partnering with Armitage Baptist Church in Garfield Park (I've only gone the past 2 summers.) The ministry that they do there is so wonderful and very much needed. I will blog about this later (it has made me consider moving there) but here is a picture to hold you over...

Love to you all!

Oh, My God

I am a repeat-music listener. I will play a new album until I hate it. However, the new Jars of Clay album that came out last year is amazing. I know I say this about a lot of albums but this time I really mean it! It has been playing over and over again in my car since I got it. There is one song in particular that is keeping it in there- "Oh, My God" (track 7). It is such a powerful song both lyrically and musically. I think a lot of times artists try to accomplish this but something falls short. Here are the lyrics...they read just as well as they are sung.

Oh my God, look around this place
Your fingers reach around the bone
you set the break and set the tone
For flights of grace, and future falls
In present pain all fools say, "Oh my God."

Oh my God, why are we so afraid?
We make it worse when we don't bleed
There is no cure for our disease
Turn a phrase and rise again
Or fake your death and only tell your closest friends
Oh My God

Oh my God, can I complain?
You take away my firm belief and graft my soul upon your grief
Weddings, boats, and alibis
All drift away, and a mother cries

Liars and fools, sons and failures, theives will always say
Lost and found, ailing wanderers, healers always say
Whores and angels, men with problems, leavers always say
Broken hearted, separated, orphans always say
War creators, racial haters, preachers always say
Distant fathers, fallen warriors, givers always say
Pilgrim saints, lonely widows, users always say
Fearful mothers, watchful doubters, Saviors always say

Sometimes I can not forgive
and these days mercy cuts so deep
If the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep
While I lay, I'd dream we're better, scales were gone and faces lighter
When we wake we hate our brother, we still move to hurt each other
Sometimes I can close my eyes and all the fear the keeps me silent
Falls below my heavy breathing, what makes me so badly bent?
We all have a chance to murder, we all have the need for wonder
We still want to be reminded that the pain is worth the thunder

Sometimes when I lose my grip, I wonder what to make of heaven
All the times I thought to reach up, all the times I had to give up
Babies underneath their beds, in hospitals that cannot treat them
All the wounds that money causes, all the comforts of cathedrals
All the cries of thirsty children, this is our inheritance
All the rage of watching mothers, this is our greatest offense
Oh my God Oh my God Oh my God

"I think I'll go to Boston"

I went to Boston this past weekend to visit my friend, Brittney. Boston is never a place I've thought about much but I really loved it! I got to see all kinds of neat things all over New England. We went to Cape Cod for a day to sit on the beach. We went to the Polar Caves in New Hampshire. And we saw Plymouth Rock in Rhode Island. Yes, there is an actual rock!

My favorite part of the trip was HARVARD by far! Ever since I saw the movie With Honors when I was a kid I have dreamed of going to this school. And I loved everything about it! The campus was nice but not too nice. It wasn't too big either. The best place on campus was the library- it is huge!! Maybe I only loved it so much because it was such an important part of the movie- which by the way if you've never seen it, go rent it now! Here is a pic of me sitting on the ledge of the library steps.

If you want to see more pics from the trip, here you go!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2496&l=9e61b&id=504364111

I'm going to be an aunt...for the eighth time.

In order by birth:

Dylan

Madalyn

Carley

Billy

Jacob

Nathan

Aiden

And then the new one...whew!

I've always considered myself a morning person. Not necessarily one that wakes up at the crack of dawn but I'm usually in really good moods in the morning and as the day goes on the mood becomes less good (but never becomes bad...yeah, never). But I realized last night as I was stirring in my bed that I think way more clearly and realistically at night. I often lay in bed for hours before I fall asleep because I think too much. Should I move to Africa? Should I go off to seminary or just do it here? Should I even go to seminary at all? Do I really like cats?

I wouldn't say that I am unrealistic in the mornings, just...optimisitic. On sunny mornings when the birds are chirping outside my window (much like this morning) I feel like I can conquer the world...like the Barenaked Ladies. This isn't a bad thing. Since I discovered these tendencies of mine last night, I have grown to like them. I just need to remember that I should only make important decisions late at night. But what happens when I wake up the morning after a decision and think differently because I am thinking with more optimism? What do I go with then? My clearer, more realistic decision from the night before? Or the optimistic, shiney-sun decision?

Oh boy...I make my brain hurt sometimes...

Another character trait that I've realized recently, err...I should say had pointed out to me recently...I am over-analytical. Sometimes I think so much that I forget to talk.

LOST

About 8 weeks ago I was thinking about giving up on Lost. It was stressing me out more than I was enjoying it. It was a pain to rush home on Wednesday nights after church to catch it...it left me saying, "WHAT?!?" after every episode...people were giving me headaches with all their theories...So about 8 weeks ago I stopped watching for 5 weeks.

Then I decided I just couldn't miss out anymore! Thanks to abc.com I was able to catch up on 4 of the 5 episodes I missed and now I am on track! None of the circumstances have changed- I still rush home on Wednesday night, I still scream at the end of each episode, and I still get headaches thinking through all the theories. But I do love it, I just can't resist.

Since I have been all caught up I have seen some strange things. I think LOST is haunting me.

The other day, I was driving up 65 and I saw Hurley sitting on the side of the interstate. His red junker must have stalled, because he was just sitting out in the grass. He looked like he was waiting for someone. Should I have stopped to help him?

Then, 2 days later, I saw Jack driving a Ford Explorer on Concord Rd...just carrying on with everyday business it seemed. I'm sure this spinal surgeon would have a nicer car than a Ford Explorer.

I do love this show.

For Aunt Peggy

My mom told me today that my aunt needs us to start updating our blogs more often. So here is whats been going on with me lately...

* Williamson County schools have been on Spring Break this past week. Several of the ministers took off to be with their families so I was one of the few in the office all week. This was hard because without the ministers there, there isn't a ton to do. I cleaned out files, organized things, and tried to appreciate the quiet...but I'm not a big fan of quiet. And along with that, my 2 best friends are teachers so they also had the week off.

* I went to see the movie Amazing Grace with some of the Coffeehouse Theology gang on Thursday. It is the story of William Wilberforce and his fight to abolish slavery in 18th century England. It was really good- go see it. It has inspired me to read the book Real Christianity by Wilberforce. Not enough people know about him. He was a pretty incredible person.

* Tomorrow, I am going to the casting call for some new reality show on ABC about bingo...yes, the game. My dear friend Lauren called me this morning to tell me about it. She said the ad on the radio said they were looking for crazy people who like games. That is definitely me and Lauren. My family can surely attest to the fact that I get crazy when I play games.

* After the casting call, we are joining some other friends for food and fun in the park. I am loving this 80 degree weather! There is nothing better than a cute skirt and some flip-flops!

* I think I need to go see my dad next weekend. Please pray for a miracle healing of his soul or at least a miracle healing of his body so we can have more time to work on the soul.

Aunt Peggy, I love you and miss you. I can't wait for you guys to be in North Carolina! I'm praying that the condo sells quickly! Hopefully this Easter will be the last holiday we will all have to be apart.

Soo excited...

I just ordered this book on Amazon and can't wait to read it! Its being featured right now at Starbucks, I think...go grab a copy! Or do it the cheap way like me. I got it for like $10!

Me so tired...

I just got back from a great trip to Florida. I got to see my wonderful family, ride my favorite disney rides, and go to the beach...my place. Now I am getting ready to move. I am so excited about living with my great friend Brittany but...I am totally stressed about the actual moving part. I wonder if I have time to trade my 'rolla in for a pick-up truck...and build a lot more muscles.

A little court, a little crime, and a little fruit.

On January 1st, I got a speeding ticket in Nolensville. I was going 46 in a 30. Thats considered wreckless driving. Yuck. Anyway, this morning I had to wake up early, get all dressed up (because everyone said I had to) and trudged out in the blizzard to go to Traffic Court. And what an experience that turned out to be...



I walked into the Nolensville Town Hall, which was in a small strip mall. I got there a few minutes early and was sent back to the "court room." From the second I walked in I knew I was in for a treat. This court room was smaller than a small classroom. There were folding chairs all lined up in a few short rows and a simple table up front. Sure enough, the room filled up pretty quickly (none of those people were dressed up) and then an officer stood up and actually said, "All rise for the honorable Judge so and so" and contintued with all that other court room stuff.



Someone had told me that they would just have all the folks stand up at once and plead guilty and that'd be it...So I was surprised when he called out a specific person. I can't remember this poor guy's name but he was hispanic and couldn't speak any english. The judge called out to all of us, "Do any of you speak Spanish? Oh you, will you translate?" The judge went on to say, "So and so, you are charged with going 50 in a 30, no license, and no insurance. How do you plead?" I felt a little relieved because this guy's offense was worse than mine. But I couldn't believe they were going to call everyone out individually like that! I was thankful that my last name started wit S- I assumed I would be called toward the end. BUT no, no. The very next name, "Jaclyn Joy Smith." Oh no...I walked up to the front. "Jaclyn, you have been charged with going 46 in a 30. How do you plead?" "Guilty." I went out and paid the court fees and was allowed to go.



As I was getting out my gloves and keys, these 3 scruffy guys came in. The lady asked if they were there for Traffic Court. One of them said, "No, but I'm hoping to put someone in court." Oh my...this was going to be good. I tried to stall but I couldn't hang out in there any longer without it being obvious. So who knows what that was about.



I now have to go to Traffic School. I am going to the one at The Factory in Franklin. The lady told me they give out door prizes at that one. What?! Door prizes at Traffic School?? Okay.



I spend the rest of the day being lazy. I read a lot, and sat on my butt a lot. Until I went to the grocery store and bought all this fruit...





So I'm turning over a new leaf. The old one is getting a little too pudgy.

A day with Maddie

Maddie and I got to spend a great day together today. I did have to work, but even just sitting around with her in the office was wonderful. But...all the real fun happened after that. We went to Borders and got her some really cool books and things to entertain herself while we are at work tomorrow. Then we went to the bowling alley to play in the arcade. We were thinking about bowling but it was league night. Someday I will be in a bowling league and that will be awesome. Anyway, I got her $10 worth of tokens thinking that maybe we could win about 100 or so tickets and walk away with a Chinese finger trap and a kazoo. I love both of those things. But boy was I surprised when she put her first token in and this is what happened...

...she won 50 tickets right away!! Oh but wait, like a true Las Vegas gambler, you don't leave when you're hot! So she put her second token in and JACKPOT! She actually hit the jackpot!! Who really does that?! It was the funniest thing. We were both going crazy until this group of silly boys showed up.

All the boys wanted to know her secret! They were so jealous! As if that boy right there really needed any more tickets. But he said that he had been trying to win the jackpot on that one all night! You know that that means...Maddie appeared to be the the lurker! You know, like the old ladies that practically live in the casinos and watch people win nothing on the slot machines until they finally give up. Then the lurkers swoop in there and win the jackpot! Just like my sweet girl! It was fantastic! I told Maddie that just because she has the magic touch does not mean she needs to go back to Vegas and become a gambler. She said, "Aunt Jackie, I know you gambled. I saw pictures." I said back to her, "But Mad, thats okay. I used Papa's money." I made her pinky promise. Anyway, we ended up with 400 tickets! She picked out a dough set, some dominoes, a jumbo pen that says "Best Brother" (she is going to color over that tomorrow), and 5 pieces of laffy taffy. Bummer, no Chinese finger-pull.

Then we came home and decided to make scrambled eggs for dinner. The ones I made for her were awesome. Mine were less than awesome. Sacrificial love.

Our night wrapped up with some good ol' America's Funniest Home Videos and dominoes. Yep, I love this girl.

God, what do you look like?

So, my friend David Morris stopped by the office today to chat for a few minutes. We started talking about what God looks like...somehow. I often forget how I end up in certain conversations but I was telling him how I pictured God when I was little. I pictured him like this...

Have you ever image googled God? Well, this is what you get...

The typical, old God...

The eye of God...

The kinda creepy God...

The pretty God...

And my personal favorite...

A Fun Friday

I have laughed a lot today. I love days like this...

I went to Kroger this morning to get sodas for Sunday night's Student Worship. The lady that was checking me out was really mean. I thought for sure that it was going to be an unpleasant trip to Kroger. That was until I met Mack. Let me tell you about Mack...he is an older, African American man with cowboy boots, a cowboy hat and a face mask (because its cold outside.) The only reason I know his name is Mack is because of the gold and silver belt buckle that he had on that was the size of Texas! Mack is a very friendly, loud man. He insisted on pushing the cart out to my car. The whole trip out there was wonderful. He asked me how my day was going and I asked him the same to which he responded with something like this: "My day is great! My days are always great! Ain't nobody ever gonna make me not have a great day!" When we got out to my car, I popped the trunk and started moving the sodas in when he hollared at me, "You ain't touchin them sodas! You leave them for me!" Then he saw the cat carriers I have in my trunk and the rest of the conversation went something like this:

MACK: Woh! You got a dog in them things?
ME: No, they are for my cat.
MACK: Ooh! You got a cat! I bet its just like Garfield. Garfield is never up to any good...he just sits arooounnnd, being laaazzzzyyy alllll day!"
ME: Haha, yeah that sounds about right.
MACK: Meow! Meow! Meow! Hissss!! Hisssss!! (insert other strange cat noises here for the next 3 minutes.)
ME: (practically rolling around on the ground) Hahahahha!! Thats exactly what my cat sounds like!
MACK: Yeah, I got a dog at home. I told him this morning, 'Dog, you better get out there and catch you some food.' If he don't, he don't eat! Well...have a great day! You better have a great day, cuz I'm gonna have a great day!"

I got back to the church and told Carol that I met the greatest guy at Kroger and his name was Mack. She immediately asked me if he was black and wore a cowboy hat. Apparently he has been on the news. So I guess you could finally say that I met a celebrity at Kroger.

Then...Carol and I got locked in the prayer room at church. We went in to snoop because we had never seen it. There is an outside entrance to this room and then an inside entrance that is through a storage room in the Parlor. As we were looking around, we saw someone coming up the sidewalk to pray...Janet. (Janet sends the staff prayer emails every week. This week, her prayer concluded like this, "I pray in the name of Jesus, MVP and Super Bowl Champion".) We wanted to get out of there quickly so we started scurrying around to find the exit. Carol went through a door only to end up in the prayer room bathroom. I said, "No, Carol! It's this door!" We got through that door just as Janet was beginning to enter through the outside door. Then...tragedy struck. We were in this dark storage room and the door out of the storage room into the Parlor was locked! I couldn't even speak I was laughing so hard (but it was that quiet kind of laugh because I didn't want Janet to hear us.) We looked around frantically for a minute to assess the situation. We couldn't go back through the prayer room now because Janet was in there and that would be weird. Praise the Lamb! A maintenance guy was in the Parlor and heard us trying to open the door! He came to the door and said "hello??" with much hesitation. He let us out. I can't even imagine what he was thinking. Probably something like, 'what are these 2 cucks doing in the prayer room storage closet?!'

Oh, I love my job.

Just venting...

I went to LifeWay today to pick up a study guide for one of our Student LifeGroups. I had a few minutes to kill before I was meeting a friend for lunch so I started to wander a bit. I found myself in...well, I don't even know what section I was in but I was surrounded by books about death. Books like Saying Goodbye- For Now, and Safe in the Arms of Jesus. Where are all the books that provide comfort to people whose loved one is not "safe in the arms of Jesus?" I've always had a pretty solid understanding of death and heaven. I took a whole class on it in college...oh, Ms Jan. But what about hell? What comfort can a believer find when a person they care for so much hasn't come to saving faith in Christ?

My father has about 3 months left...stupid cancer. Never in my life have I felt such an urgency to "save" someone. But how do you tell someone of Christ when they refuse to hear the name? My relationship with my dad has always been a bit estranged. I only spent a few weeks each summer with him and just a handful of holidays. And those occurances became fewer and fewer after I became a Christian. You would think that sharing Christ with my dad would have been a priority from the get-go but when someone is constantly criticizing the person you put all your faith in, thats a little hard. And now, I only have 3 months to fit it all in. Three months to tell him of God's goodness, forgiveness and grace. Three months to tell him of the peace he can find in Christ. Three months to convince him that it's not too late.

I know Jesus can save my dad. I'm just not sure if he is going to. Does that make me...faithless? I don't doubt Christ's power or desire to save my dad. I just doubt my dad's desire to be saved by Christ. Where are all of the books that provide comfort to a Christian dealing with a parent in hell? How do I find peace in that situation?

My Old 50 Things

I wrote this blog a long time ago on myspace. My friend Brittany just did one like it so I thought I would go back to see if mine was still accurate. Most of it is...

1. I love my dogs but only sometimes.
2. I hate when people quote Dumb and Dumber.
3. I have really bad road rage.
4. I'm addicted to text messaging.
5. I love going to baseball games. Especially when I can get a hot dog and there are fireworks afterwards.
6. I feel like I have to like Hot Pockets. But I don't think I do.
7. I get scared sometimes that I won't get married. Other times I'm okay with it.
8. I hate forced conversations.
9. I'm a terrible listener.
10. I pee sometimes while I talk on the phone.
11. I love to shop and eat out. I do it too much.
12. I miss college life.
13. I would rather be outside than inside.
14. I hate being cold. Its painful.
15. Laying on the beach or by the pool is the most relaxing thing to do.
16. I screen phone calls.
17. I love wearing shorts and tank tops.
18. Black children are WAY cuter than white children. Don't be offended.
19. I love playing sports but I stink at them.
20. My niece will always be my favorite person on this earth.
21. I get annoyed when people think they are good at something when they are not.
22. I hate bad smells.
23. My dog is Native American.
24. I'm scared of turning 30.
25. I'm lazy.
26. I hate healthy foods and boring exercize.
27. I avoid conflict.
28. I have a ridiculous number of flip flops.
29. I'm competative to the point that some people won't play games with me. They're just mad because I win.
30. I have better taste in music than anyone I know.
31. I love to clean on Saturday mornings with good music blaring really loudly.
32. I love going to the movies on Friday nights.
33. I cried at a Biltmore commercial one time.
34. I think the Wendy's "fpoon" commercial is the funniest commercial ever.
35. I love Karaoke. Para Bailar La Bamba.
36. Like most girls (the good ones at least), I can quote Steele Magnolias all day long.
37. I hate politics.
38. I am embarassed easily but I say I am not.
39. I can't think under pressure.
40. I love gold everything but jewelry.
41.I can compare any life situation to a Friends episode.
42. I am Pro-Life and against Capital Punishment.
43. I will never turn away a chocolate milkshake.
44. I'm not judgemental but I am critical.
45. I love celebrity gossip.
46. I don't think I will ever be able to cook or bake a good batch of brownies.
47. I had a crush on the Indian in the Cupboard.
48. I have high standards.
49. I still have Christmas wrapping paper in the corner of my living room.
50. I will watch Vh1's "I love the..." over and over and over and over and over again.

yay for heroes (the real ones, not the tv show)

New York Cheers Subway Rescuer
Commuter Saves Man From Oncoming Train

By Rick Hampson
USA Today

NEW YORK (Jan. 4) - A day after he jumped into the path of a subway train to save the life of a stranger, Wesley Autrey got a $5,000 reward, a day off and universal acclaim in a city where you supposedly don't speak to people you don't know, let alone rescue them. "I just tried to do the right thing," said the 50-year-old Harlem construction worker.

"It ain't about being a hero, it was just being there and helping the next person. That's all I did."

On Tuesday afternoon Autrey leaped down from a subway station platform after Cameron Hollopeter, 20, apparently suffered a seizure and fell between the tracks.

Autrey had to leave his two daughters, ages 4 and 6, on the platform. It was that, he said, or have the girls see a man run over by a subway train.

Down on the tracks, Autrey saw a train's headlights in the tunnel. He shoved the disoriented student into the only space where they had a chance to survive — the shallow, grimy drainage trough between the tracks.

The train passed over them, with about 2 inches' clearance. Autrey later showed reporters grease stains on his wool hat that he said came from the train's undercarriage.

On Wednesday Autrey got the day off from work at a Brooklyn construction site and visited the New York Film Academy, where Hollopeter is a student.

"We don't have a red carpet, but we gave him a red carpet reception," said Anita Tovich, one of Hollopeter's professors. Jerry Sherlock, director of the school, presented Autrey with a check for $5,000.

The school also promised Autrey's daughters scholarships to the school when they're older.

"Here and all over the world, people are struck by this unselfish, heroic act," Sherlock said. "With so much evil in the world, it gives everyone hope."

"You're one in a million," he told Autrey, "and this is your 15 minutes of fame."

The city's tabloids celebrated Autrey. "SUBWAY ANGEL'S DAREDEVIL LEAP" headlined the New York Post. The Daily News hailed the "SUBWAY SUPERMAN." Autrey is scheduled to be on network news programs this morning and CBS' Late Show with David Letterman tonight.

Autrey gave this account: He was in the station in upper Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon when Hollopeter, also waiting on the platform, seemed to collapse during a seizure. Autrey used a pen to get Hollopeter's tongue out of his throat. Hollopeter stood up, then staggered and fell between the tracks.

As the train neared, Autrey pinned Hollopeter in the trough by lying on top of him, face to face. But the student kept struggling. "Don't move!" Autrey said. "Or one of us is going to lose a leg."

Subway car brakes screeched. One car passed overhead, then a second. Then came silence, followed by the wailing from the platform of his daughters, who'd just seen their father run over.

"We're OK," Autrey yelled to bystanders on the platform. "I got two daughters up there. Let 'em know their father's OK!"

"Who are you?" asked Hollopeter.

"Someone who saved your life," replied Autrey.

They waited 20 minutes until technicians turned off power on the subway's high-voltage third rail and were helped out.

Hollopeter remained hospitalized Wednesday in stable condition, recovering from cuts and bruises.

A relative, Jeff Friedman, told reporters that although Hollopeter is quite talented, "even he couldn't write the screenplay any better."

Contributing: The Associated Press