How Pretty!

Last night, we had our first snowfall of the season, and it is truly beautiful! It's kinda funny because autum was so warm for so long that the trees never really shed their summer plumage. The snow arrived much earlier than usual, thus falling on leaves that forgot to fall. The affect is breathtaking! As I walked through the parking lot and the tree-lined pathway (it's called a park, but it's really not a park), I could not help but enjoy the sight despite the fact that snow is supposed to be my sworn enemy (I am a beach bum at heart). The USS Barry was behind me, looking very festive, all decked out in colorful lights, the pre-dawn sky rflected off the whiteness all around me, and for a moment, I could imagine that I had stepped into a utopia and I was the only one there (that part was actually true... I'm always on the first to arrive at work). Maybe it's just the fact that Christmas is near and there is nothing like snow to put you in the mood to sit inside and write Christmas cards and listen to the traditional carols, while drinking hot chocolate. It's pretty funny that we have this image, instilled in us since childhood, that lights and snow = Christmas. I mean, it really depends on where you live. In any case, I am going to try to enjoy each coming snowfall as I have enjoyed last night's because I have a feeling there will be many more in the next several months and I might as well be happy rather than miserable =)

Messiah, Christ's Incarnation, and Other Related Topics

This past Friday, I attended Handel's Messiah for the first time in my life. It was at the National Cathedral, which made the setting awe-inspiring, but when the tenor hit the first note as he sang out "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people..." from Isaiah 40, I knew I was in love (with the music, of course =P). It was truly an amazing experience! The entire gospel, set to music and presented in less than 3 hours! I believe that music is the language of the soul. It is one of the many blessings God has bestowed on us to show us His love, both now and through eternity. As the second part began I could not help but wonder what the soloists and choir thought as they sang of Christ's suffering and sacrifice on our behalf (Isaiah 53). Do they know what they are singing? Do they believe it?

Yesterday, at church, we were discussing the two natures of Christ. This led my thoughts back to Messiah and the numerous scripture passages that speak of the reason for Christ's birth. If He did not have to redeem us, He would not have had to take on a human nature. He could have existed as pure diety. I once hear Ravi Zacharias explain Isaiah 9:6 this way: ""For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given... Notice the words. He didn’t say the son is born. The son never was born; the son eternally existed..."" He did not need to be born to exist. As humans, we prefer humanity to any other state of being, but that is only because we are finite and cannot truly comprehend the infinite. Christ, who is infinite, was willing to step into time and space to be "in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) Christ's becoming human was not only a point-in-time occurance, it was an eternity-changing event in every possible way. All who died in Christ (both OT and NT believers) are given eternal life through His one time sacrifice. But this is not the only change. Christ Himself will also be eternally God and man; a constant reminder of His great love for us.

Sometimes I Just Don't Know Why I Ask...

Guys not only do not know how to ask for advice, they also do NOT know how to give it... apparently. The following is an email conversation between me and a friend at work. I didn't think my question was all that difficult, but the answer was certainly not easy to get.

Me: Do you think it would be ridiculous to even try to go straight to NY from here? I REALLY don't want to drive in the rain/snow tomorrow morning =(


Him: You could try, but it's gonna be slow going I expect. But maybe not as slow as driving in the weather tomorrow. It's a crap shoot either way.


Me: That wasn't exactly helpful... I had actually figured that much out on my own }:-[ (that's my angry face)


Him: OH, you wanted help..................Ok, I cleared up the traffic for you. Good luck!!


Me: You are SUCH a BRAT!
I wanted your advice... I don't know why...?


Him: My advice was in the first reply I sent to you - I don't think, with the available information, that you can say which would be better. Hence, a "crap shoot." Tomorrow, the weather might not be as severe as predicted, and more people may go today trying to avoid it, but it could go the other way. Personally, I would leave at around 9 PM - probably miss most of the day's traffic and possibly beat the weather.


Me: Thank you. The last sentence was all that I was looking for =P


Him: It's still a crap shoot.

UGH!!!

This is a Test... it is ONLY a Test!

That's what I've been telling myself today =)

It was the kind of morning wher you get to work early just because it's better than stumbling around your apartment in the dark (with roommates in the bedrooms and roommate's friends in the livingroom, the only light that doesn't disturb anyone at 4:30 in the morning is the bathroom light). So, I arrived at work by 5:40 this morning. After looking over my ever-growing to do list and organizing a time schedule for my day to ensure that everthing gets done in a timely fashion, I hear the little Microsoft Outlook "ding." I waited a moment to check what it was because I wanted to finish what I was doing. Several minutes later I hear a second "ding." This time I decided to see what the new emails were about. The first one began with:

"Background for our new project!"

followed by a LONG email. The second email was the first email, forwarded, with one little addition...

"FYI -- Ms. K. B. has the lead for this project..."

With two overdue projects , along with some not-so-urgent tasks, on my hands, I assumed I was not up for any new projects (guess that'll teach me not to assume anything!).

I just have to keep reminding myself, this is all just a test. When I look back at the end of my life, I will not remember the stress, the deadlines, how many projects were finished on time, or even finished at all, but God, who sees the heart, knows what I've done with the opportunities given and He will remember whether or not I lived for Him during the difficult times.

So... I will try to keep smiling as I remember, this is only a test. =)

Another Ravi Zacharias Quote...

"We talk of manhood and we see a lot more hoods than we see men..."

Of course, his point was that without Christ there is no standard by which to understand what it means to be a man. Though the truth of statement is sad, I thought it was an amusing way to put it. =)

Dentyne-isms

Words of wisdom from a pack of gum... ok, so maybe the words aren't that wise - I will even explain why they are not wise =) but they still provide amusement.

Dentyne-ism # 85
If you're scared, just whistle. If that doesn't work, run.

Now I'm thinkin' that if you take the time to whistle and you are actually in trouble, by the time you start to run, it will be too late (just a thought).

Dentine-ism #82
You're only as old as people think you are.

That really doesn't help me because people always think I'm older than I am and I want to be younger than I am.

Dentine-ism # 117
A first date is not the place to mention you've done time.

True. I would definitely want to know before then.