How Are You Though?

You hear that question so many times. 

You walk past someone on campus: "How you doing?"

You create conversation in awkward silences: "How you doing?"

You go through the drive-thru at Taco Bell: "Hi, how are you?"

I ask it all the time to other people as well. However, very few time is it actually a genuine question. Very seldom do I actually care enough to listen to how their life is going and what all is going on. 

I've been so fortunate to have been able to have some really special and rare people in my life that actually crave to hear about other peoples lives and how they can in anyway be praying for them. These people, I believe, are ones that make the world a better place. I don't know what it is, but lately I've been appreciating people more than usual. Any nice deed that is done, I just sit back and think "Wow. That was really nice. It's cool to see people be nice." Imma be straight up, about 97% of the time I ask people how they're doing, I don't care at all how they're doing, I'm just doing it so it's not a one sided conversation. Honestly, if someone where to comment on my quick "How's it going" with a long and honest response to how it was going, I would most likely continue to walk away. I'm not the best with feelings and words so that is, if we're being honest, what I would do. Sorry. 

Other people, however, the ones that ask how you are doing and then when you respond with a short "Good, good, what about you", they say again "No. How are you really doing". Those who genuinely care about what's going on and want to hear you tell them stuff, like wow. Those people just blow my mind. I mean, I'm writing an entire blog post about them because I think that they are such a cool type of people. Recently I had a pretty big argument with one of my closest friends and mentors. This girl has been in my life almost 2 years and has taught me so much about life, work and Jesus. Things were said on both ends that should not have been said and were not meant. I am so thankful to have her still here though and have a friend as forgiving as her because less than 24 hours later I was blessed with her forgiveness and love and I believe that our friendship is stronger than ever now because of this. People like that amaze me. People that show God's love and forgiveness in every aspect of their lives, no matter how hard it is.

That's just a little nugget of what I've learned this week. That friends are good. Genuineness is good. God is good.

~Link Life~

No pictures posted because my picture taking has been not a thing oops.

You can be mean, or nice, you choose.

“If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” 

- Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

I've learned so much while here at Link Year. I've learned about the history of the Bible. About other religions. Learned how to make a Christ Centered Life Plan. Even how to answer questions that seem to attack Christianity. 

Another one of the things I've learned while here, is something that I've really always known, but never wanted to admit was real. That being:

People are mean

No matter where you go, no matter who you are with, there's always going to be mean people.

Now, I'm not saying that Link Year is full of awful, mean, angry people. But I kind of am, because like Romans 3:10 says "As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;" (NIV). None of us are good people. However, just because we aren't good people, doesn't mean that we can't be nice people. That's something I think that this world as a whole needs to understand more, and me, I need to understand it more too.


Having a class of just 57 students, you can imagine that drama forms along with cliques and attitudes. People start being sassy (not the cute, fun, I'm-your-friend sassy.), they talk about people behind their backs, they make fun of other people, it's not fun. Lately, I've been seeing in my fellow classmates, but also in myself as well, Satan convincing us that people are only worth liking if they match what we want them to be. If they talk too much, they're annoying. If they talk too little, they're awkward. If you don't like what they say, you respond with anger and defensiveness. It's honestly creating such a divide between the students here, and I don't think some of them care. That's whats scares me. 


In my own opinion, I think we all need to stop thinking about what is wrong with other people and why we don't like them, and start thinking about why God loves them and how we can see it too. Again, I'm not saying that I'm nice to everyone, I have many times rolled my eyes at someones comments, talked badly about someone behind their back etc. Recently after I would say something or act rudely, I've started to realize just how unnecessary and stupid I'm being. Is me not liking how they act going to change them? I really hope not! God created them perfectly, no matter who it is. By saying we don't like someone or how they act or how they dress whatever it is, we are directly saying to God that He did a crappy job at making them and He needs to do better in the future. How awful does that sound?


I really wish that this wasn't a problem in our society. But sadly it is and there's really nothing we can do about it. Satan is the ruler of this world and he's having a blast turning people against each other and ruining relationships for stupid reasons. The worst thing that happens, is when people automatically assume something about someone they have exchanged 2 sentences with. Basically, judging a book by it's cover. I've learned that here. Someone is a completely different person when you get deep and understand them and what they have been through in their life. It's really fascinating. Finding out how they grew up and certain things that they have been through, makes you realize why they act certain ways. One of my favorite quotes about people comes from a guy named Dave Berry, he says:

“There's nothing wrong with enjoying looking at the surface of the ocean itself, except that when you finally see what goes on underwater,you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.” 

Did you get that? If not please re-read it. When I first read that, I felt so convicted. I had been staring at the surface of people, looking into the reflection of myself and seeing the difference between us and finding different reasons why I didn't like them. I've gotten underwater with some people here, and because of that, my entire first impression has changed because of that. Because I understood them. It's like I'm starting to get the whole point of them. 

Sadly, there's always going to be conflict here on earth. There's always going to be people we don't like. The cool thing about that, though, is that Jesus didn't have our attitude towards people when he died on the cross for us. He didn't just die for the people who he liked 24/7. I can bet that when Judas turned Jesus in, I bet Jesus wasn't the biggest fan of Judas, I doubt he liked him that much in that moment, BUT, He still loved him. As Christians, aren't we all trying to be more and more like Christ each day? Isn't that in most of yall's daily prayer or something? I know I've heard it countless times "I pray you make us more like you each day.".  I hear people say that all the time. Well, if you want to be more like Christ, try loving everyone, along with countless other things too, but this is what my blog is about so this is my main point. So love people like Christ loved us. Or really try to at least, start trying to catch yourself when you know you're being rude to someone, or you're talking bad about someone or making fun of them. ESPECIALLY if you don't know them. 

Also. If you live in Branson and didn't know that the Panda Express is open by Target, now you do. Go, eat, live. 

~Link Life~

[I surprised my brother at home for his 8th birthday. I want to take a nap right now so I don't want to figure out how to download a facebook video to get on this thing so here's the link if you really want to see it.]

 https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=944401358908183&set=vb.100000149845155&type=2&theater

I said goodbye to a great car this weekend.

And hello to another great car.

My small group is still so cute.

And so is my new tattoo sleeve. No, it's not real, but I wear it like it is.

Link Year Learning

 ~ I'm pretty tired of sweetening things up and making everything honky dory (is that a real phrase), so this blog is going to be raw. It's going to be real. It's what I'm actually learning and what is actually happening in my life and walk with Christ. ~

This past week and a half at Link has been filled with many emotions and thoughts and feelings. The good, the bad and the confusing. I mean, it's not like it really caught me by surprise too much. I knew that feelings would happen while being at Link and I knew that God would work on things in my heart. Link is a great place where we get deep into life and the Bible. So I knew coming into this program that I was going to have to face some stuff that I had hidden inside and didn't want to really face. Well, that happened. And it's been tough. I don't typically like to admit that I have feelings and that things are wrong. Recently I've had to admit it though, that stuff is happening that I'm not okay with and that is keeping me from having the relationship with God that I want. The good part about learning about feelings and what not, is that by confronting them and learning how to deal with them, I've been able to be honest with myself, God and others for the first time in a while.

So. I'm depressed. That's a thing. And it's a thing that has happened for a while, I'd say since sophomore year. Up until recently it's been minor and has just been hiding out inside me and didn't cause too much damage, but was almost always there. I don't know what has caused it to escalate, but it has. And it's annoying and weird and I don't like it. It's not Link Year. Link Year hasn't caused it to escalate what-so-ever. I've actually never been happier since being here. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to be apart of this program and learn the things that I am learning here. I've made awesome new friendships and I'm meeting the coolest people ever. I've honestly never been happier, but I've also never been sadder. So that's the confusing part. I don't understand how I can feel like this in a place that shows so much love and support. It's weird.

One of the biggest things I've learned is something that I finally realized and made my self listen to yesterday. It was a few things. One of them being our fantastic and fearless leader, Brian Wang, who is speaking to us this week about: The Act of Following Christ in a World That Pulls You Down. In all honesty, Brian has been my favorite speaker since the beginning of Link. I haven't been bored during his lessons, I've actually taken notes that I can look back on, and the stuff he is saying is true and coming from the heart. In the midst of him explaining self-denial and what it looks like to take up the cross daily like it says in Luke 9:23, he said something that really hit me. I mean, it's not a new idea, I've heard it a lot.

"You screw-ups, get over yourself. Christ is so much more than you can ever imagine. Nothing can push Christ away from you. He knew what he was buying when he sent his son on the cross. So get over yourself." -Bwang

Like, it's so true though. There are many factors as to why I have become depressed, but one of them is definitely me remembering my past/current mistakes and how stupid I was to make them. Constantly thinking of that not only makes me extremely selfish by only thinking of myself, but also says that I don't think the cross was enough. Ya know? Not only that, but after class yesterday I thought a lot about me and also just anyone who thinks that they're not good enough for Christ. I don't remember exactly what it was he said, but one of our past speakers, BJ Thompson touched on this a little. He talked about how people think that God doesn't really love them unconditionally, that we constantly try to do works to get Him to love us. He asked us what our reaction would be to our future children if we realized they thought that we would only love them if they continually worked for it. I would be heart-broken. To even think that my kids thought that I didn't love them? I would ask myself what I was doing wrong, was I not being a good enough parent? Like, immediately after coming to that conclusion, I shut-up. God has done so much for us, like, He came down from Heaven, where he was in a super tight throne, ruling over all, and chilled in a smelly, cold manger with animals. He was ridiculed, beaten, and crucified for a bunch of lousy, un-thankful brats, but  did it because He loved us. And like Brian said, He knew what he was dying for. He knew that I was going to get drunk. He knew that I was going to smoke weed. He knew that I was going to have unhealthy relationships with boys. And despite knowing all that I've done, all that I'm doing and all that I'm going to do, He said I love her and she's worth it. Then, after all that, I have the nerve to say that I'm not good enough, that He doesn't want me. Like, holy crap y'all. How could I think like that. How could I say that God doesn't love me? After everything that He did, is doing and that I know He is going to do? Like, how dare I?

I can't stop being a sinner. That part of me is not going to go away until I am with God in Heaven living the ultimate life (talk about a MTV Cribs episode). However, I can stop saying I'm not good enough for Him. Because saying that is saying His sacrifice wasn't good enough for me. I can continue building my relationship with Him. I can continually study His word. He can love me and I can love Him. I don't deserve it, yeah, none of us do. The only thing we actually, really, truly deserve is Hell.(Romans 6:23) Heaven is a gift that we don't deserve. Every day we live here on earth, every blessing and yes, even every trial, is a gift and better than we deserve. But that's the cool thing about God, He loves us so much, He's going to give us the coolest present ever. Eternal life with Him. 

So that's what I've been learning this week. I'm also learning how to better handle my money, which if you know anything about me, it is something that is very much needed. 

~Link Life~

 

This is Koda, Joe White's dog. If someone can explain this to me.....

We visited Kaite and work and Mack killed me 4 times in pool. So.

"It's okay to not be okay." -Donyes

We had a movie night with the squad. Chase wanted popcorn.

These are my best friends that I have made. We do fun things.

We matched one time.

Sin=Sin

I wrote a blog a while back concerning this very same topic. It’s the topic that is discussed the most worldwide. It’s the topic that almost every single person on each side does not understand. It’s the topic where most people are on a side simply to be on a side.

Homosexuality.

Stop. Before you even think the words “oh that’s a sin” I’m gonna need to you to stop.

You weren’t expecting that^ little sentence, huh? But lets be honest, that’s what first came to mind.

Now, I’m not saying that homosexuality isn’t a sin. Saying that would completely 100% contradict what scripture says. The bible clearly states that it is a sin. That’s not what this blog is about.

All Sins Are Equal

Say it with me this time. Out loud. I don’t care where you are; I don’t care who you’re with. Make sure you hear it.

ALL SINS ARE EQUAL

Gossip= adultery= gluttony=lying=murder=sexual-immorality=homosexuality=idolizing=sin

Currently I am attending a Gap Year program in Branson, Missouri called “Link Year”. While I’ve been here, as you can imagine, many conversations have started about the topic of homosexuality. I’ve heard many views from both sides, some views that made sense, others that did not. The biggest thing that still makes me think when it comes to Christians and homosexuality is this: Why do we (the majority of Christians) hate so harshly on homosexuality, yet praise other sins such as idolatry, gossip, gluttony?

Re-read that last part if you have to, but then really think about it.

Netflix. How many times do you tweet or talk about how much you love Netflix but also how you hate it because you spend all your time on it? Before you say, “well, I think that’s a little extreme to say that I’m idolizing it just because I love it.”

            i·dol·a·try - worship of idols, extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone.

Twitter. All the subtweets you see and take part in. What do you think that is?

            gos·sip - casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

Thanksgiving.  Now calm down, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. But lets get real.

            glut·ton·y -  habitual greed or excess in eating.

In 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 it says this:

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (ESV)

Alright. So, most of the time when people are being jerks and are bashing the heck out of homosexuals, they will put that verse out there. Yes, it does say in black and white ink that people who practice homosexuality will not inherit the kingdom of God. But neither will the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulters, ect. Like, read the rest of the verse guys. You know what it says? All sinners. So, sorry Westboro Baptist guys, looks like Gays aren’t the only ones going to Hell. We all are. Right?

No.

Yes we all deserve Hell, it is the only thing that we will ever deserve. However, Because of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for Him we have the overwhelmingly, fantastic, this-is-so-crazy-awesome, opportunity to believe in Him and spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

Most people when reading 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 will leave out the most important part. Verse 11.

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (ESV)

That doesn’t say just the greedy or sexually immoral are washed and sanctified. It talks of every single sin. No matter what sin you’re in right now, were in in the past, or will be in the future; You are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God, if you believe in Jesus as your one true Savior.

I’m going to cut this blog off here because I have to study for school and brush my teeth and be hygienic and what not. However, I hope that this made sense. I also hope that if you are gay and you are reading this, that you do realize that being gay doesn’t mean you are constantly sinning, but that you are constantly a sinner in need of a Savior, just like every single other person on this earth. I hope that people who are homophobic or just do not understand homosexuality at all gained a new perspective. I pray that the day will come when everyone will finally realize no one person is better than another, and in reality, we are all dirty, awful, sinners with one perfect, amazing God waiting for us to come home. 

~Link Life~

It was parents weekend and my favorite nugget came to be my friend

But aren't we just the cutest siblings?

We rode in Ali's trunk again

No, it hasn't started snowing yet. Yes, I bought a sled.

TGIF consisted of riding my Heely's down hills at Dogwood and taking artsy pics of reflections

 

Link rn

I don't know y'all. There's been a lot of emotions and feelings and thoughts that have never been there these past few weeks here at link. It's scary, but I know God's putting me through it for a reason. As hard as it seems to keep believing that, it's what I have to do.

 What I have learned from this past week though, is that friends are cool people. Sometimes they do stuff that really irritates you, sometimes you do stuff that really irritates them. Thankfully, the friends here, understand forgiveness and are able to give and accept it easier than most people I know. I'm able to be real with people face to face for the first time and able to listen to other peoples struggles and actually get to know them. It's not like kamp, we're not with each other for just a month. It's 9 months, so far it's been almost 2 months and relationships keep growing. Don't get me wrong, it's hard at times, real hard, but I think I'm slowly starting to open up with people and I think that's a good thing. I don't really do it that often, but this week it's something I've been forced to do multiple times, and it's actually not as bad as I thought it was. So, S/O to that and to cool people at Link who love Jesus and love talking about Jesus and S/O to krispey Kreme discounts. With out them, Link wouldn't be the same, and Monday morning accountability breakfast wouldn't be the same.

~Link Life~

I longboarded into a freshly painted parking lot

There's still some tar on my body.

I haven't moved my darts yet because I'm so proud of doing this

I snuck away from small groups monday and got inside a giant bass

Joe White gave me $60 on his birthday and wouldn't let me say no. So.....

This is my small group. we're cute

Courtney came. So ice cream was necessary

Being Nice is Nice

Do you ever notice how when people judge or make fun of people you know really well, you get offended? The people making fun of them don't know what they've been through, they don't know them at all so why the heck are they judging them? I personally get extremely irritated when people make fun of or talk behind my best friends back. They don't know her, they don't know what all has happened in her life to make her that way, and they haven't made any effort to get to know her, so why are they judging her? But then, I turn around and immediately judge someone else who I think has a bad attitude about everything, or is annoying.  As believers we're called to love one-another as ourselves and not to judge others for their ways.

While at Link Year, there have been multiple people who have been "annoying" or "dumb" and have just really gotten on my nerves for being themselves. It wasn't until recently I realized some things that have happened to a certain person who I thought was incredibly annoying. After finding out this information, my entire view changed on her and how I need to start viewing others. There's a reason that person acted "annoying" and it wasn't a happy reason. Some people don't know how to deal with things that have happened in their past and they act out in certain ways. That doesn't make them annoying, that doesn't make them dumb, that doesn't make them anything but God child that you are an equal to.

I've realized I need to stop judging people by the way they act and accept them as my brother or sister in Christ and love them. Because aside from spreading the gospel and growing in relationship with Christ, that is all I'm called to do.

~Link Life~

This looks dope. @K-1 dock

It was my birthday Saturday and I went to Panera and these goons were there

This is Katie. Katie is my friend.

I got a job at Landrys. I have to wear this. Help. This is my disgusted face.

My best friend sent me the best thing ever for my birthday. it has thumb holes

Riley and I got in the trunk of Ali Pavs car *vroom vroom *

Jesus Isn't The Opening Band

“Well, I know you don’t believe in God, but you don’t want to go to Hell, do you?”

When I hear people say that to non-believers, it really grinds my gears, ya know? Maybe you don’t know. But you’re about to find out why it does make me extremely frustrated.

I've heard countless people say it to others. I've said it a few times myself a few years ago. And I've even been told it a couple of times. And the fact that so many people make going to Heaven a reason for believing that Jesus is our Lord and savior and following His word, is really frightening. If the only reason you're following God's word and trusting in Him is so you get a ticket into Heaven, is like saying Heaven is above God, more important and more satisfying. 

When going to a concert, there is always a band or performer that typically opens up for the main band. The majority of the people in the venue are going to be there for the ending band, the one who is most likely on tour and who set the concert up to begin with. Everyone knows the band, everyone likes the band and everyone knows their songs. However, the opening band is typically one that not many people have heard of and one who people don't know their songs. In most cases, people going to the concert will look up the opening band, listen to some songs, get to know them a little, all so that they are comfortable and know what is happening leading up to the main band. 

When we say people need to believe in God so they can go to Heaven, is like saying you need to believe in God, and read up on Him a bit so you know what's happening when you get to Heaven, but only focusing on the Heaven part and not at all on Jesus and what he did for you to get into Heaven. You should believe and follow God's word because you know it's true and you want to personally know God more. Not so you can get into Heaven.

That's just a little tid bit that I've been thinking about this week. So, don't say that. Cause, no. 

~Link Life ~

This is the extended version of Riley and I's music video intro

Riley and I went to Springfield for Chick-fil-A and put 30x

butter on my sandwich instead of my preferred 4.

The gas is actually now $2.89. so....

I'm not sure how it happened

but yesterday

I ended up cooking Chick-fil-A for Link Dinner.

With help from my other chefs.

Reading The Lines

This week at Link has probably been my favorite week thus far. We had a pretty dope speaker, D.A. Horton, come in and talk to us and answer some questions that he answered with biblical support. I can honestly say that with each session we had, I was more and more interested. One thing that really stuck out and blew my mind, was when we got onto the topic of whether or not Jesus descended into Hell after being crucified, for 3 days. This is something that I had heard being said multiple times while growing up. Today, however, after really looking at the scripture, I realized it's not true at all, and it didn't take extreme studying to figure that out.

When mentioned that Joyce Myer mentioned of Jesus going to Hell for three days in one of her books, D.A. said that it was not true and that she never took it back and that she just let it sit. I was confused, and so were some of my other classmates. We had heard countless times that Jesus went to Hell after his crucifixion and then rose from the dead. I immediately went to scripture to find where I had heard that.  I remembered hearing something along the lines of "He descended into the lower parts of the earth" (I was wrong). What I was looking for was Ephesians 4:9 which states

"(In saying, 'He ascended,' what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?"

Ephesians 4:9 (ESV)

I  read that verse maybe 4 times. Then I read the study notes at the bottom that said " lower regions, the earth. In the incarnation, Christ descended from the highest heavens to the lowest regions (i.e., to the earth), where he suffered, died, and was buried, but where he also defeated death and rose again."

Now, I really hope that y'all are understanding this, because I didn't and I was frustrated. I didn't understand it, though, because I looked over it 4 times. I didn't stop and actually read it, I read it in a hurry because I thought that what I was taught was right and didn't want to be wrong. The way I read it was "....he had also descended into the lower regions of the earth?" and looked over the (i.e., to the earth) in the study portion. So I'm sure that when I asked D.A. to explain what the lower regions of the earth was and why Jesus suffered and how I was confused and thought that meant he went to hell, I'm sure he thought in his head: "She literally just read me the answer. What the heck."

Christ descended from Heaven where he was first at the right hand of God. He descended onto the earth, where he had his ministry and died for our sins which were his sufferings. Another verse proving that Jesus did NOT descend into hell include:

" he [David] foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption."

Acts 2:31 (ESV)

 I don't know. Maybe this wont blow your mind like it did mine. But it made me realize, I looked over that verse so many times, I looked over the study of the verse so many times, and still was blind to what it said. It made me sit for a second and think "what else have I mis-read? What else have I overlooked." ya know? I am very grateful for this learning experience though. I know, now, that when reading and studying God's word, I will start to pay more attention to the context and words that I am reading. Cause, I don't want to rearrange His words into my own. Cause my words aren't perfect, my words are crud. His words, however, His words are the real deal, y'all. 

~Link Life~

This is my small group. We're hot, single but not ready to mingle.

For our TGIF we went to "Passages" a biblical historical museum in Springfield. I made a friend.

Shay Shay, Vito and I went on a very important mission to find an Indian costume. We succeeded 

We got pizza and chicken too.

 

Is This Place Even Real?

As some of y'all know, I am currently attending a gap year program called Link Year.

"Link Year is a 9 month Post-High School program designed to build a solid foundation within each student". It is a bible study decipleship program that teaches us how to go onto our college campuses next year and influence the campus for Christ, instead of the campus influencing us poorly. We all go here (all 58 students) on September 6th. Since then, I continue to be amazed with everything this place has. Link Year's campus is actually located in one of Kanakuk Kamps' 7 camps, this one being K-1in good ole' Branson, MO. Last year K-1 built brand new cabins for the guys side of camp, and those cabins are Link Years dorms during the year. Let me just tell you, these are the nicest dorms any college will have to offer. My roommate and I were one of the lucky few who only had one person as a roommate instead of 2. Because of that, we have our own bathrooms and enough room to longboard and place a blow up swimming pool. 

This is a weird angled picture of my roomy dorm.

As if being the first Link Year class on the brand new campus isn't enough, Link Year decided they wanted to spoil us further by having us also be the first class to get brand new personalized iPads.

Along with these things, Link Year continues to give to us, not only gifts, but love, wisdom and advice. (another sidenote, we are getting chickfila on friday.) (another nother side note, the closest chickfila is 45 mintues away) (another nother nother side note, when they told us this, tears of pure joy came)

One main thing I wanted to share, was one thing that I learned here that has left the biggest impact thus far. That is what came out of an article that we read in small groups monday morning called "Cravings and Conflicts" by CJ. Mahaney. There article explains "Each and every conflict reveals an inordinately strong desire for something -- smoething we want so much that we're wiling to quarrel and fight, to sin against others and dishonor God in order to get it." This is saying: sinful cravings within our hearts are the root cause of quarrels and fights. 

I had never thought of conflict at all in that way. While reading this article I already new the question that would be asked after reading it: "Is there a current conflict that you had? And what was your craving?" I immediately knew what the conflict I had been dealing with was. It was a fight that happened between some co-workers of mine at home, those of whom I had gotten extremely close to. How the conflict ended was horrible and ended with us not speaking to each other for a while. Both of us handled it very poorly and immature. In that conflict, what I was craving was a, I guess you could say, "perfect friend". One who wouldn't let me down and would always be there. What I wanted from my friend is impossible from humans, however, exactly who God is. When what I wanted didn't happen, I gave up hope on the friend and them on me. 

After reading through this packet I talked to my old friend again about what happened that made us feel this way towards each other and a beautiful thing happened. We were both able to forgive each other and move past what happened and our relationship is now restored. 

More things I am learning to deal with is how to manage money and manage it well. I currently do not have a job yet, though I am trying to decided where I would like to work. Because of this, money is not a thing in my life or pocket, and I am having to cut back on my beloved fast-food and soda and candy. It's teaching me that most things that I craved and held dearly and depended on money to get are luxury things that I don't need in my life anyway. 

Link Year is a cool place, y'all. I'm excited for everything that is happening and everything that is going to happen. I'm excited to start new relationships with people and grow relationships with friends that are here. I'm excited for all that God is doing in this place and all that God will do. 

I'm just excited cause this place is cool and I have no doubt that it will grow in its coolness. 

~Link Life Gallery~

Joe White took us canoeing to the landing to get froyo. #froyowithJoe

This is my bed. I like my bed.

If you've never been to Branson. This is it.

Food with friends because both are great.

Surprise mom and dad. I got a nose piercing. so....

View from the house boat.

View from where I did homework one day.

No caption needed.

There are some cool people who used to be my counselors right next door at the Kanakuk Institute.

One Friday we played Hunger Games. This is our cornucopia of water balloons, guns, buckets etc.

This is a pool we have. We swim sometimes.