The Eye of My Mind

http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=1cca5a9a67962018b3392c" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="350" height="328" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=1cca5a9a67962018b3392c&skin_id=0&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="

posted by Emily @ 8:00 PM 0 comments

A New Beginning

posted by Emily @ 7:55 PM 0 comments

For Such A Time As This...

Can I just say that I LOVE Taylor University? Seriously, it is amazing. I have grown more in the 2 months I have spent here then I have in a long time. A lot of it is just the element of being on my own, and the growth that come from that, but a lot of it is the overall atmosphere here. Everyone is so in love with God. It's awesome. I don't think I've ever had more heartfelt conversations on where I stand with the Lord and what I've been learning then I have here. I'll admit, I've had my share of doubts about it all. Sometimes I wonder what in the world I am doing here in an unfamiliar place, away from my friends and family. For awhile I felt like the disciples in Mark 8, when they are on the boat and there is a huge storm. During the storm, Jesus is at the bottom of the boat sleeping. So the disciples start freaking out, worrying about the storm and wondering why in the world Jesus is just sleeping at the bottom. They feel like He doesn't care about them. I can totally relate to how they are feeling in this story. I got on the boat with God, and followed Him here. But sometimes it seems like He is sleeping in the bottom of the boat. He is uninvolved in my life. I cry out to Him and ask Him why He isn't changing my circumstances and wonder where His presence is. And just as He told the disciples on the boat, He says to me, "You of little faith, why do you doubt?" And then He calmed the storm. What a slap in the face!! Here I am worrying, and wondering where He is...but He is fully aware of everything in my life and has complete control. I just have to trust Him. So that has been my theme passage this first semester here at Taylor. Not only is He on the boat, but He is fully aware, and He will handle things in His time. That is the hardest part for me. Waiting on His timing. But it's something I'm working on, and am striving to change. I was talking to my friend Mark last night about some of this, and he showed me a great verse. Isaiah 49:16 "I will not forget you! See I have engraved you on the palms of My hands." That verse has become so real to me. God knows my needs and desires, and He will provide for me.
I have so many strong friendships and we are able to discuss personal issues we are dealing with. God knew that He was going to bring all of us together, "for such a time as this."

posted by Emily @ 1:42 PM 2 comments

So this past week was one of the busiest weeks yet...but it was so much fun! I basically lived in three buildings: the library, the chapel, and the music building. I had so much work to get done, so the library and I are now good friends. And every night we had Airband rehearsal in the chapel. I am so glad I did it...it awesome! All of the groups were amazing. The show was supposed to be Thursday night at 8:00, but somehow they oversold, so we found out around 5:00 Thursday that we were going to do another show at 10:00. It was a long, fun night...and we got 2nd place! We were so pysched...because we didn't expect anything. The second show was a lot of fun because it was so laid back and we all had a good time out there. We didn't leave the chapel until midnight...but of course we had to go celebrate! So we went to Steak and Shake...and didn't get back until around 3. So it was a long day, but so worth it! I'm glad it's over, but it was a lot of fun!

Oh, and Friday night we went to a haunted corn maze. It was quite possibly the scariest thing I have ever seen in my life. It was Friday the 13th really late at night...and I was so freaked out! There were creepy children following us, telling us they wanted to suck our blood. And there was this demonic clown that was about 3 centimeters from my face that I couldn't get past. And it kept following me. Then these 2 other things pop out and I couldn't get by them. I think I was about to hypervenilate. The rest of the group was ahead of me and I couldn't get around them, so Will had to come and get me. It was really scary. Then this guy with a chain saw started coming after us. So yeah...I screamed a lot. Not fun.

posted by Emily @ 9:07 AM 1 comments

Airband and Majors

College is busy! My goodness...I don't have time for anything anymore! This week will be especially busy, because of Airband. Airband is pretty much the biggest event Taylor has. It's a dance/lipsinc competition. 16 groups auditioned, and only 10 got in. And our group made it! We auditioned last Tuesday night at 10, and were the last group to go. After we went the judges were deciding who gets, and we were supposed to know by 1 am. Of course, we had to know that night..so we all stayed up and waited for the news. It was so much fun...party on 2S! One of the girls on our wing, Jess, is one of the judges, so we were just going to wait for her to get back and tell us. It ended up taking them forever to decide...Finally around 2:15 in the morning Jess got back and told us the good news! We are all soooo excited! But that makes this week super crazy. We have practice tonight and tomorrow 9:30-11, and then Tuesday and Wednesday are the big rehearsals from 6:30 to who knows when! Thursday night at 8:00 is Airband! I'm kind of nervous...but it will be so much fun! On top of airband, I have a lot of other things going on. So basically I'll never be around...and I won't be sleeping too much. Oh well, such is life, I suppose. At least I'm having fun along the way...


And I thought I should let you all know- suprise, suprise...I changed my major. I think it's for real this time though. I went from El Ed to Christian Ed. No, it's not teaching in a Christian school. It's a major geared toward ministry. Youth pastor, missionary, or any type of ministry work. I'm super excited...because now I am in the Bible department, and the profs are amazing. Yes, this is my 3rd major in the first month...but that's ok. I'm all gen ed right now anyway, so I'm not behind. But I really think this one is for real. Or at least I hope...

posted by Emily @ 7:10 AM 3 comments

New Beginnings

So far my experience here at Taylor University has been amazing! I absolutely love it. It's only been 3 weeks, but it feels like it has been forever. I love my new friends, and am enjoying still meeting new people. And my wing is awesome- I love Dirrrty South! All the girls are so open and friendly. Our wing retreat to Caitlin's house was a blast, and since then I feel like our relationships have strengthened. I love being able to just sit around and talk with them and get to know them. My classes are all fairly easy...at least so far. We'll see how they go. One of my favorite parts about Taylor is chapel. In high school I never took advantage of chapel...I wish I would have. The worship is amazing. It's so heart felt and real. And the speakers are always really good too. Last week was spiritual renewal week, and the speaker was one of the best I've ever heard. Thursday night there was corporate worship out on the lawn. It was one of the coolest things I've done here. It was dark, you couldn't see anyone, and it was outside. For over an hour it was me and God. We sang the whole time, and I don't think I've ever been a part of a more sincere worship service. It was awesome! At one point the guy behind me was so broken that he started weeping. It takes a lot for a guy to cry, especially in public...and this wasn't just a few tears. He was crying out to God. That is true worship. What I love most about Taylor is that God truely is the number one focus. He is at the center of everything. The people here love God, and it is evident. I feel like I already have so many strong relationships, because they are all based on Christ. He really is the common bond that we all share. The other night Lindsay and I were out with about 6 guys that we didn't really know all that well, but we started talking about our beliefs and things like that...and we ended up talking until 3 am about the Bible, what we are learning, and different theological views. I hardly knew these guys, but because of that conversation we're all really good friends now. So many people try to build friendships off of talking about things like relationships, clothes, parties, and other things like that. While these aren't bad to talk about, we have a much stronger bond through Christ. It is amazing, really. I love it! I already have so many great memories here at Taylor. Since we are in the middle of a cornfield, and civilization is 30 minutes away in any direction, you learn to make your own fun. And it has been fun...Handy Andy runs, Ivanhoes, "borrowing" bikes, the playground, the dock, police run-ins, Walmart, Covered Bridge Fest, the prayer chapel, stealing tires...I could go on and on. I love it here, and I know without a doubt that this is where God wants me.

posted by Emily @ 1:44 PM 8 comments

You're Only the Best I Ever Had...

I have decided to reinstitute my blog, mostly to keep up with people now that I am going away. College has been the main thing on my mind, as of late. I leave Thursday afternoon! That night I will finally meet my roomie, Lindsay. I am so excited! We've never met in person, but we're practically best friends already. I have a feeling it's going to be a good year. While I am excited to start over, make new friends, and experience new things, it has been so hard to say goodbye. I love everyone here so much, it hurts to say goodbye. I understand that it's part of growing up...but I liked life the way it was. In my opinion, I have the best friends you could ask for, and part of me doesn't have any desire to make new ones. Everyone tells me that college relationships are stronger and closer then highschool ones. I think that's what is scaring me. I'm afraid my new friends will replace my friends now. But that's the joy of being a believer in Christ. I will never lose fellowship with my friends. My circle of friends will grow, but I will always have that common bond of Christ with everyone. And whether or not I stay close with my highschool friends, we will always be brothers and sisters in Christ. That is something that cannot be changed. I have countless memories from the past 18 years that I will never forget. I learned many lessons that have prepared me for the phase of life I am about to step into. So instead of being upset that I am leaving these people I love so dearly, I am trying to take it as an opportunity to be thankful that God has blessed me with such amazing friendships. I would certainly not be in the place I am in now if it weren't for everyone around me. I had the best childhood/highschool experience ever. I'll miss you all...I love you.

posted by Emily @ 7:45 PM 7 comments