Natural sounds tour of UT

In one of my journalism classes this semester, we are training to be "backpack journalists." Backpack journalist is a newer term for "one-man band." And that pretty much sums up what BPJs do. They report the story, shoot the video, and edit the package--the whole deal.

This is my first "practice" assignment. We had to make a 60-second video tour of UT with only natural sound as audio. I worked with my friend and classmate Brittany Hodge on the project. We had fun working on it even though it took a lot longer than we anticipated to shoot all the video (but hey, we have plenty of campus b-roll that we can use for future assignments). We went out as a team to help each other with finding shots, using the camera, etc., but shot our own video and edited our own assignments. And as I discovered when I was shooting another assignment on my own yesterday, it helps to have an extra set of arms to carry equipment across campus. ;)

Thankfully this assignment was ungraded. The purpose was to give us some experience in shooting video and editing with Final Cut Pro before our graded assignments (working on my first one of those right now). And the video isn't perfect. Somehow we managed to change the setting from full-screen to widescreen, thus the last few frames in my video are in widescreen when the rest of it is not (we're supposed to record in full-screen). And I lost some good video shots because our audio either wasn't plugged in properly or wasn't turned up enough.

But anyway, if you're curious to see some of what I'm learning, here's a sample of my work as an amateur videographer.

We the people...

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
- Preamble of the U.S. Constitution

On this day, 221 years ago, our forefathers adopted the Constitution. It was later unanimously ratified by the individual states in the union through separate conventions. The Bill of Rights was added four years later in 1791.

Today is known as Constitution Day in honor of this historic event. To be honest, I didn't even know Constitution Day existed until my sophomore year in college. I found the day particularly interesting this year because I am currently studying the Constitution in my political science class.

It is truly nothing short of remarkable that our Constitution has withstood the test of time and remained the framework of our government since 1787. I believe that even our forefathers would be amazed that it is still alive and well. From the readings I have been studying in class, it is evident that many of them viewed the endeavor to write a constitution as a grand experiment. No one had built a government like ours before, so all they could do was build a framework to the best of their abilities and hope it would work. They no reassurance that it would.

Writing a constitution really wasn't even the original agenda. The delegates met to try to repair the flawed Articles of Confederation established after the Revolutionary War and determined that the Articles were beyond repair. (And yes, they wrote the Constitution with utmost secrecy and entirely behind closed doors--this was pre-Sunshine laws. But I would argue that considering the volatility of the times, they did what they had to do and it worked.)

Some of the greatest minds our country has ever produced, including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Adams, were all involved with the process. The mixed government (a cross between a republic and a democracy with a part federal-part national unifying foundation) they created is truly nothing short of ingenious. Sure, our government isn't perfect and never has been, but the Constitution has done an excellent job serving as the foundation of America.

So, on this Constitution Day, I would encourage you to pause for a moment and be thankful for all the many blessings this country has to offer, including a constitution that guarantees us many freedoms that many people around the world can only dream of having.

Also, with this being an election year, I would encourage you not to throw away your right to play a role in the government, which our forefathers fought so hard to earn and protect. Go out and vote. And most of all, pray for these elections. Pray that the eyes of the American people will not be blinded to the truth in the midst of all the lies and the mudslinging, and that the people God wants in office would be elected.

Happy Birthday, Hannah!

Today is my sister's 15th birthday.

I wanted to take a moment to wish her a happy birthday and let her know how blessed I am to have her as a sister.

Hannah, I know that we have very different personalities and don't always see eye-to-eye on everything--especially as it relates to sharing a room ;)--but even though we occasionally have our "moments," please know that I will always love you and always be thankful that you are my sister.

I hope you have a truly awesome day. Enjoy being allowed to wear makeup now! :) Love you!

Please pray for Cambodia

Four of my friends from church are currently on a mission trip in Cambodia. They left on the 9th and will return on the 23rd. I meant to post a blog about this a week ago, but I wasn't able to get it up until today.

Please be praying for the entire team (there are people from other churches on the team as well) as they serve as the hands and feet of Christ in Cambodia. They will be working hard to help move a children's home from one city to another. In addition to assisting in moving the children, they will be doing a good deal of cleaning and making repairs to the old home and the new one. The team will also be doing several prayer walks in the area.

To follow the team's progress, check out To The Ends of the Earth to read a firsthand account from the field.

Here are some specific prayer requests for the trip from members of the team:

Heritage House (the home for children the team went to help move)

• All of these children will be moved to a new city, a new school, a new everything. Please pray for a smooth transition.


• Please pray for favor in leaving the old building. The landlord is trying to cheat Heritage House out of a lot of money.


• The staff need prayer for a continued compassion for the children and each other.


• Please pray for the salvation of the children through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Church

• The area where this church will be does not know of our Savior, please pray that the Holy Spirit will move in that place.


• Lewis (the team leader) and a few others have been training a young man to lead this church, please pray that he allows God to work through him for the salvation of Kampot.


• Please pray that hidden believers will rise up and join in the fellowship and family that is the Church.


• Please pray protection against anything that would hinder the growth of God's kingdom.

Kampot and Cambodia
Please pray...

• That the church will grow strong and fearless


• That the government will grow soft to the Word of God


• That families will seek to grow stronger


• That love would fill the streets, driving out fear


• That the monks and following Buddhists will hear the word of truth and turn to God

Missions Team

• UNITY


• Spirit of love and obedience


• Focus


• Productivity


• Increased faith and strength for spiritual warfare


• Health and safety


• Glorious times of worship and praise


• PROVISION


• New revelations of God and His Kingdom


• WISDOM


• Open ears and eyes to hear and see with clarity whatever God may wish to speak to them


• Hearts totally in tune to what the Father is doing and saying

Thank you for joining me in praying for the team! I can't wait to hear all the accounts of what God has done when they return!

Meeting with God at Panera Bread

Every time we read the Word, pray, worship or converse with God, we meet with Him. However, there are those times every once in a while, where I can walk away from time spent in God's presence and say, "Wow, I really met with God today." Really, it's no different from any other relationship. There are times when I hang out with my friends and it's fun, but not extraordinary. And then there are those times when I spend time with my friends and I walk away thinking, "Wow, I made some memories today that I'll treasure the rest of my life."

Friday was one of those days.

Thursday, while I was thinking ahead to the plans I had for Friday, I felt prompted to skip my workout and go straight to Panera Bread after class. Usually, on Fridays, since I get out of class pretty early in the day, I go to class, go workout at T-RECS, and then head to Panera to study before going to work. I usually only make it to the gym on Wednesdays and Fridays, so I try to protect that time and stick with my commitment to exercise at least a couple of times a week. I've never been much on an exerciser, so since last fall, when I finally started exercising on a regular basis, no matter how busy I am, I at least try to exercise some. I don't want revert back to my no-exercise habits.

But Thursday, I felt like God told me to scratch my exercising plans, head straight over to Panera from class, and use the time I would have spent exercising to extend my quiet time with God. I felt like God told me if I would do that, he would meet me there. It was like God was saying, "Hey! I miss you. Come spend some time with me."

The past week or so have been pretty busy for me, so I haven't spent nearly as much time as I would have liked to in the Word, in prayer, and in God's presence. So I've found myself desiring more time with the Lord over the past couple of days. Thus, it didn't take much convincing to get me to change my plans for today so I would have a little more quiet time with the Lord.

And God did meet me at Panera Bread, just as he said he would.

I started by praying for the team from my church that is currently on a mission trip in Cambodia, and then I started into Friday's My Utmost for His Highest devotional. Nothing different there, that's my normal routine. I typically start my quiet time with Chambers' devotional for the day. And I immediately saw that God was going to have a lot to say to me through Friday's devotional. Here's what it said:

September 12
"Ye know not what ye ask."
Matthew 20:22

There are times in spiritual life when there is confusion, and it is no way out to say that there ought not to be confusion. It is not a question of right and wrong, but a question of God taking you by a way which in the meantime you do not understand, and it is only by going through the confusion that you will get at what God wants.

The Shrouding of His Friendship. Luke 11:5-8. Jesus gave the illustration of the man who looked as if he did not care for his friend, and He said that that is how the Heavenly Father will appear to you at times. You will think He is an unkind friend, but remember He is not; the time will come when everything will be explained. There is a cloud on the friendship of the heart, and often even love itself has to wait in pain and tears for the blessing of fuller communion. When God looks completely shrouded, will you hang on in confidence in Him?

The Shadow of His Fatherhood. Luke 11:11-13. Jesus says there are times when your Father will appear as if He were an unnatural father, as if He were callous and indifferent, but remember He is not; I have told you--"Everyone that asketh receiveth." If there is a shadow on the face of the Father just now, hang onto it that He will ultimately give His clear revealing and justify himself in all that He permitted.

The Strangeness of His Faithfulness. Luke 18:1-8. "When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" Will He find the faith which banks on Him in spite of the confusion? Stand off in faith believing that what Jesus said is true, though in the meantime you do not understand what God is doing. He has bigger issues at stake than the particular things you ask.

Wow. That grabbed my immediate and full attention.

And God wasn't finished yet.

I opened up The Power of a Praying Woman, which I sometimes use as a guideline to get me started in my prayer time, and here is some of what the next prayer said:

Lord, I put my future in Your hands and ask that You would give me total peace about it. I don't want to be trying to secure my future with my own plans. I want to be in the center of Your plans, knowing that You have given me everything I need for what is ahead. I pray You would give me strength to endure without giving up."

Then, through time in His Word and some entries from Come Away My Beloved, God reminded me that he hasn't forgotten me and left me to handle some issues alone. I'm still very much on his radar, so to speak. He is very aware of every detail in my life and every promise he has made, and he won't forget about me. As crazy as it may seem sometimes to trust Him, he's far more trustworthy than anything I could ever have faith in here on this earth!

So I would encourage you, if you're like me and slipped a little bit in spending quality time with the Lord each day, get back on track. It really isn't as hard to do as it sometimes seems. Make the sacrifice. Take some time to be alone with the Lord and spend time in His presence. Go meet with Him. He'll meet you there. I promise.

Welcome, Hannah Grace!

Hannah Grace
Born Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 6:33 p.m.
7 lb. 14 oz., 21 ½ in. long
Proud parents: Matt & Kelly
Excited siblings: Lydia and David




Miss Hannah Grace made her long-awaited appearance yesterday! She is absolutely precious! So adorable!



"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

- Psalm 139:13-16

As the rain comes down from heaven

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

- Isaiah 55:10-11



"Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants."

- Deuteronomy 32:2



"He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills."

- Psalm 147:8



"How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and heat,
In the broad and fiery street,
In the narrow lane,
How beautiful is the rain!"

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Rain in Summer"

I'm glad that God is God...

...and I'm not!


I realize that the simple truth that I'm not God should be an indubitable fact of life, but...sometimes I act like I am.

I try to tell God what he needs to do in my life and when, how he needs to work in different situations, and essentially try to put God into a box and force him to work in my life on my terms.

Heaven help me. Thank the Lord that when I slip into that mindset, God, being the sovereign being that he is, gently or firmly (whatever the situation calls for) reminds me that he's God and I'm not.

It certainly doesn't help that I've always been a bit of a control freak. I like to know what's going on and have a grip on what's going on in my life. And as those who have known me for a decent amount of time can testify, whenever I'm put in situations that are entirely beyond my control, I don't like it at all. So often times, living a life of faith, especially when I have no idea what's around the next bend, is incredibly difficult for me. When it seems like God isn't doing anything, or isn't working fast enough to satisfy me, I have this tendency to try to take over.

I'm also a planner. I'm constantly thinking ahead to the next thing in my life, trying to prepare for it. That's actually rather amusing, because nothing ever really happens like I think it should (God, through his grace and mercy, does things so much better!). You'd think I would learn...

I could try to blame my doubt and lack of total surrender on being a control freak and say, "Well that's just the way you made me God." But that's no excuse. Following God requires total surrender--not partial surrender whenever it's most convenient for me. God calls me to trust him to work in my life. Who am I to doubt that the omnipotent, omniscient God, Creator of all things, knows exactly what I need and when I need it?

I'm also thankful for God's patience. Yesterday, I had another of several conversations with God lately that have consisted of *guilty look* a good bit of whining mixed in with other bits of conversation. And with each cry of my heart, God has gently reminded me to simply trust Him. That's much better than I would have done at this point. I think that by now, if I was God and I was having to deal with someone like me, I would have hit him or her over the head with something hard and yelled, "Would you just shut up and trust me!"

Now that's not to say that I don't need to be put in my place from time to time--and God has done that when I've needed it. Usually a Job-style "where were you when I created the earth?" type of reminder works quite well. ;)

But yesterday I was glad that instead of a firm reminder that God is sovereign and I'm nothing, God chose to speak to me with gentle, comforting reminders to simply trust Him--even when having faith in Him seems totally irrational. He knew that's what I needed.

I needed to hear his whispered reassurances of love and promises of faithfulness as I rested in his embrace.

I'm glad that God is God and that he knows far better than I how to write the story of my life.

Food for thought

I've been re-reading this Oswald Chambers devotional over the past few days and it still hits me hard. Especially the last sentence. I'm going to need to chew on this one for a while.

August 29

Every time you venture out in the life of faith, you will find something in your common-sense circumstances that flatly contradicts your faith. Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual. Can you trust Jesus Christ where your common sense cannot trust Him? Can you venture heroically on Jesus Christ's statements when the facts of your common-sense life shout--"It's a lie"? On the mount it is easy to say--"Oh, yes, I believe God can do it"; but you have to come down into the demon-possessed valley and meet with facts that laugh ironically at the whole of your mount-of-transfiguration belief. Every time my programme of belief is clear to my own mind, I come across something that contradicts it. Let me say I believe God will supply all my need, and then let me run dry, with no outlook, and see whether I will go through the trial of faith, or whether I will sink back to something lower.

Faith must be tested, because it can be turned into a personal possession only through conflict. What is your faith up against just now? The test will either prove that your faith is right, or it will kill it. "Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me." The final thing is confidence in Jesus. Believe steadfastly on Him and all you come up against will develop your faith. There is continual testing in the life of fatih, and the last great test is death. May God keep us in fighting trim! Faith is unutterable trust in God, trust which never dreams that He will not stand by us."

- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest