Quick...

This will be short and sweet, since I'm utterly exhausted.

-Found out that due to the timing and rules of the USF nursing program admissions, that's pretty much out of the question. Hm. Scratch that option.

-Also found out a seemingly perfect solution... in the realm of education.

-Well, almost perfect. I would have to spend 2 years in the Mississippi Delta. Which is, strangely, a place I feel somewhat drawn to... but the fact that I'd have to leave FL for 2 years... yikes. What a conundrum.

-First Bible study tomorrow (today)!! Alisa and I had a really good prep session, found a fantastic resource online, and had a successful cookie-baking/people-inviting afterwards.

-My bro chilled at my place tonight so I could help him with chem. Good times. He's pretty much my favorite person ever... in case you didn't already know that.

-Anyone who didn't already know that is living on a cloud.

-I estimate that I will be asleep in exactly 1.470 minutes.

Inspired... by a giant mushroom.

Church today was really great, and I'm glad I decided to go. We had a showcase of all the micro churches and sub-ministries that the Underground is comprised of. So first off, because all the groups were there to showcase, the place was PACKED. Worship was super powerful, and I actually ended up sitting on the floor because of the amount of people there. (I actually prefer the floor, to be honest.) Any time there is a large group of people passionately worshiping God, I can't help but be moved. And plus, I love Melyssa's voice. :)

Brian's message was fantastic as usual, so I won't go too far into that. The message about seeking God's call for your life, and not being sucked into the "mob mentality" of complacency was really good. It struck a chord with me, as I am trying to discover God's call on my life, and fight my always-persistent laziness that tries to take over and be happy with doing nothing.

But the showcase afterwards was so inspiring. Exciting. I had an idea of how many micro-churches there were in the network... but I seriously underestimated it. Just between the Tampa and St. Pete areas, there must have been 20. More than that if you count all the chapters of InterVarsity separately, since there are about 6 or 7 chapters in this area alone (USF, UT, HCC, SPC, USF St. Pete, and Eckerd). You can learn about some of them on our website, but it doesn't have anywhere near all of them listed right now.

I had heard it said before-- the Underground network is larger than you think-- but today, I saw it with my own eyes. Because the most amazing thing is that each of these 20 or so micro-churches/missions is reaching out to the people around them. Every single group. They all reach the poor and the vulnerable, and they all show love in the name of Jesus, and they all fight the evil that tries so hard to grip our cities. And the thing is... it works. Really well. People are having their lives transformed constantly. People are being freed to live the lives for which they were created. And these people then turn around to love the people around THEM. It's an awesome concept, and it works amazingly well, because every person involved draws from God's never-failing supply of love and compassion.

The Tampa Underground reminds me of a mushroom. On the surface of the ground, you have this visible mushroom, which I guess for us is our Sunday morning service. But connected to a mushroom is this network of branching roots, called the mycelium. The mycelium is the actual bulk of the organism, and it's never seen. It stretches out farther than you would believe, and thrives under the surface without anyone being aware of how massive it actually is. That's what our micro churches are. They are this interconnected network of people who you may not see from the surface-- but they're there, and they're growing, and they're changing the very landscape of the city I live in.

Knowing that this network is here makes me feel so secure. I know that no matter what I go through, I will never have to be stuck struggling on my own, and it makes me feel freer to pursue whatever call God places on my life. I am so, so excited for the amazing ways God will continue to use this network of people who serve in His name... including little me!!

Don't knock "community organizers..."

Lauren found this, and I just had to share it.

(Adapted from a blog posted by "BonnieSchlitz")

After watching the malicious speeches last night mocking Senator Obama, and by proxy, cynically attacking all of us who support our local communities, I thought it would be prudent to educate the Republican Party on the historical role of community organizers. For a quick reminder, let's recap Giuliani's snark:

He worked as a community organizer. (Laughter) What?...Barack Obama has never led anything, nothing, nada.

And Palin's vacuous follow-up:

This world of threats and dangers, it's not just a community and it doesn't just need an organizer. (Laughter.)

That these bastions of the GOP would denigrate the importance of community organizers on the same night their party nominates its first female vice presidential candidate shows an utter disrespect for the people of this country and a laughable ignorance of the power we wield. This is what community organizers do...

They change the world. Block by block, city by city, state by state, nation by nation...

So, GOP, meet community organizer Susan B. Anthony. She helped guarantee women's suffrage in the United States by giving public speeches and uniting with fellow advocates of change.

Meet community organizer Martin Luther King Jr. He helped end racial segregation and discrimination by inspiring a nation to come together and realize their dreams.

"Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love."

Meet community organizer Cesar Chavez. He helped farm workers secure labor rights and fair wages. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy called him "one of the heroic figures of our time."

Meet community organizer Dorothy Day. She helped found the Catholic Worker movement to help the poor and homeless, and promote social justice.

Meet community organizer Jane Jacobs. She helped rebuild and revitalize city neighborhoods and made people consider the wide-ranging benefits of supporting our urban cultures.

Meet community organizer Mohandas Gandhi. He peacefully led the people of India in efforts to acquire labor fairness, women's rights, and ethnic tolerance, and he helped secure the freedom of a nation.

Then there's this guy. Meet community organizer Jesus of Nazareth. He advocated for the poor, for the sick, for the socially excluded...and continues to help provide people solace during their "quiet storms." His community helped found the religion known as Christianity. He said "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

When you disparage community organizers, Republicans, you evince a complete ignorance of the fact that organizers do more with their words than just speak them. They remind people of their shared humanity, of their responsibilities, and of their power as a unified force to face injustice, and oppression, and inspire them to be the change they've been waiting for.

And now meet community organizer Senator Barack Obama. He worked with congregations and registered voters on the South side of Chicago to help them improve their neighborhoods and hold politicians accountable for their actions. Along with Senator Joe Biden, he currently leads the largest movement for change in the history of American politics.

If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.

So you see, Republicans, it's never really about the organizer, it's about the community...

Remember that on November 4th. Remember the power of the people.

WOW

Anyone who knows me knows that Thursdays are crazy busy (classes, leadership meetings and Common Ground!), especially this first Thursday of the semester. So I was, of course, not watching Obama's acceptance speech at the Dem Convention.

Me and Ryan watched it tonight online (we actually began watching the Rep Convention on TV, and couldn't stand it any longer... lol). All I can say is... WOW. What a speech. What a leader. The speech was close to an hour long, and we watched the whole thing.

Listening to him made me very excited to see where this country can go. I need to look into his platforms more carefully to see details of where he stands, but I could clearly tell from his speech that I agree with the majority of his values. He would be a fantastic leader for this nation. I can see it now... He made me really excited about the upcoming election. I can't believe it's only 2 months away!!

If you haven't seen his speech, and you've got some time on your hands, check it out.

Reminiscing...

Ever hear a song that just takes you back?
Brings you to a time and a place and a feeling you used to have?
Taking Back Sunday pretty much always does that for me.
I wish I could see them live...



Go on just say it,
You need me like a bad habit,
One that leaves you defenseless, dependent, and alone.
Go on just say it,
You need me like a bad habit,
One that leaves you defenseless, dependent, and alone.

I hold my tongue use it to assess,
The damage from way back when it mattered,
But nothing seems important anymore,
We’re just protecting ourselves from our self,
And I don’t think I’ll ever come back down...

Are you ashamed to say what you want to?
Tell me you want to.
Are you ashamed to say what you want to?
Tell me you want to...
Come on just say it, come on just say it
Come on just say it, come on just say it.

I’m making the difference,
It just seems pointless,
With all the obvious lines all out of focus.
Why can’t you just be happy,
Why can’t you just be happy?
And I don't think I'll ever come back down...

Just come back, just come back...
Go on just say it,
Come on just say it,
Well I’ll just say it,
I’ll just say it,
I need you defenseless, dependent and alone.

She says live up to your first impression,
Well my best side was your worst invention,
Can't you live without the attention?
Can't you live without the attention?
Why can't you live?
Why can't you live?
Why can't you live without
Live without...

Gustav.

Another major hurricane aimed at New Orleans??

...Why?

Ugh.

Well. Budget cuts are at it again. No science club this year. Ms. B. got back to me, and said she loved my idea and would be glad to help in any way. They just can't do the science club again this year. They will be working on projects in class, and will probably need assistance. That makes me happy to hear, but I don't know if that would be of use for me thesis-wise.

Hmmm... I don't know where to go from here. I guess I will bring this up when I meet my potential director on Tuesday. At least I have a concrete "no" to tell her regarding my original idea, and maybe she could point me in the right direction.

I'm gonna keep praying... if God really wants me doing something like this (which I'm pretty sure he does), he'll provide a way for it to happen, even if it's not exactly how I planned it out in the first place.