4:00am Is Too Early To Be Famous

Once upon a time Alena took her cluster to a workshop entitled "Dress for Success."  The presenters for the workshop were some of the directors of Texoma Goodwill industries. During the course of the their talk, they mentioned that they were going to be having a wedding dress fashion show for one of the local TV stations and were in need of models. Alena, being the kind and generous and slightly narcissistic person she is, thought "Sure! Why not?" It was only after I had agreed to be in the little televised fashion show that they mentioned the show would be taking place at 5:30AM ...as in the morning, you know, early. And so the adventure began.   

Now, I'm a morning person, but I have to admit that getting up at 4:00am  in order to do my hair and makeup for this thing was a struggle. It felt a little ridiculous to be prancing around in a wedding dress in what might as well have been the middle of the night. Even more ridiculous was the sight of four girls, drowning in a sea of white crinoline, climbing in and out of a mini van. 

The ridiculousness didn't stop there. TV stations themselves are kind of silly looking places. When we watch the news, we don't realize that it's really just one giant room. It's funny how a very specific camera angle can make one little section of a warehouse look like an entire room. And don't get me started on weathermen... Of course I knew that meteorologists don't actually have a giant map of the country behind them when they give their reports. ---I mean come on you learn that in like fourth grade. However, this knowledge does not make the fact that they are pointing to invisible things in front of a giant green screen any less funny.  

And then there was the little mishap with the camera robot. When it was finally time for our 4 minutes of stardom, the camera freaked out. I honestly had no idea it was even possible, but it shorted or something and just started spinning, recording just about everything in the studio but us. But hey it's cool, I mean it's not like we'd gotten up at 4:00am for this or anything. 

Once the camera issues had been resolved, we started over and modeled the dresses for all to see (the 12 people who were awake at the time anyway ;) ). Moments later we piled back into the van and stopped off at IHOP before attending our 8:00am classes. Thus the adventure was brought to a close. 

To watch our four minutes of stardom click HERE 

{The Studio}

{The "Brides"} 

{The earliest I've been up in a LONG time}

http://www.kten.com/story/21085016/fashion-friday-planning-a-weddingprom-on-a-budget

Urbana 12

           If you’re friends with me on facebook, you’re probably aware that I was in St. Louis over Christmas break

{Quality Brother/Sister Bonding Time}

{When I first met these girls, I was 11. For the past nine years I have been blessed by their friendship, love, and encouragement} 

{Don't let the smiles deceive you. Snow is cold and miserable} 

{The Group}

                 I think it’s pretty clear from the pictures that my friends and I had a blast exploring the city, but what might be lost in all those snap shots of our shenanigans is the very reason why we were in St. Louis in the first place. Since 1946, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship has hosted a global missions conference for college aged students known as Urbana. (In case you didn’t know the conference received its name from where it was originally held on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.)

                As the queen of all church kids I thought I knew what to expect from a fancy conference like this. I knew there’d probably be some cool speakers, a little rockin’ and emotionally charged worship, and lots of warm fuzzy feelings to keep me warm on the plane ride home. What I did not expect was how genuinely I would be challenged and just how much I would learn about God’s character, the way He’s working in the world, and myself.

                Now I’ve been on short term missions trips before and when I’m packing for those types of trips I’m also mentally preparing to be taken out of my comfort zone. Being uncomfortable is to be expected when you know you’re going to a Costa Rican jungle for ten days, but St. Louis is a nice modern city, I should feel right at home there right? WRONG. I was surprised just how uncomfortable St. Louis made me. I’m not used to trotting around cities and it was cold. (I REALLY don’t like being cold…) Even simple things like going to dinner proved to be character building experiences, but that’s a story for another day.

                And yet these trivial discomforts were nothing compared to spiritual and emotional discomfort that were in store for me. Throughout the week we were blessed to hear the testimonies of people who said "Yes" to God’s call and followed Him into dark, dangerous, and uncomfortable places. As I listened to their stories, I began to hear God whisper “Would you go?” I tried ignoring that whisper, but as these things have the tendency to do, the whisper soon turned into a shout. It seemed everywhere I turned I was being forced to answer the question.  “Alena, would you go?”  The question terrified me.  Part of me was attracted to the idea of living with such reckless abandon, but the idea of leaving all my family and friends to risk my personal safety and comfort was just too scary.

                As the week continued, God continued to move and work in my heart.  I found it horribly ironic that as the weather in St. Louis got colder and colder, my numbed heart began to thaw. One skit in particular really grabbed by heart. I found out later that it was entitled The Deep, and it depicts the story of when Jesus tells Simon Peter to go fishing in the deep water even though he and his buddies had been fishing unsuccessfully all night. Peter obeys and ends up with the largest catch of his life. In fact there were so many fish that the nets began to break and their boats began to sink.



               

                Back on shore, Peter falls at Jesus' feet and says "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" —I always thought this a weird response for someone to make after they just made the biggest career move of their life, but during the Bible study of this passage, my brother pointed something important out. The disciples’ boats were sinking. Their livelihood was about to be laid to rest at the bottom of the Lake and they were going down too. They could have died. This was the catch of a lifetime, but the whole experience was nothing short of terrifying. This Jesus guy messed with the normal way of doing things. Fishing during the day? In the deep water? People don't DO that! But Jesus came to turn the world upside down and inside out. He tells Peter, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”

               As I read those words, and watched this skit, I heard God saying, “Trust me. I got this. Of course it’s going to be scary, but it’s also going to be the adventure of a lifetime.  Alena, don’t miss out. Will you go? ”  And I said “Yes.” 

                And God said, “Good. Now that your heart’s in the right place, go back to school.”

                WHAT!?

                Lord, I just agreed to go WHEREEVER you want to send me and you’re sending me back to Sherman? Really? What the heck?!

                In the moment I was super disappointed. (Definitely one of those “Awh man” moments) But then I realized that the question I’d be struggling with all along wasn’t so much, “Will you go?” but “Will you follow Me?”  As Christians we are called to be faithful followers wherever God leads us, whether that be rural Uganda, a corporate office, or a classroom in Sherman, TX.

                For me, Urbana 12 wasn’t a call to "go", but an affirmation that I was exactly where God wanted me to be.  

 

 

Please....No more!

So it’s the eve before Christmas Eve. Decorations are hung, the presents are all wrapped and stacked neatly under the tree (except for the ones that aren’t... and the ones that have yet to be purchased. Commence panic mode in 3,2,1…), and the Christmas songs play on loud and clear. The endless supply of atrocious holiday tunes never fails to amaze me. Every year, from November until December 25^th, they bombard the ear and invade our homes and businesses like some sort of unpleasant and entirely unwelcome parasite . And just when I think it couldn't possibly get any worse, it does as Target begins to play the worst version of Winter Wonderland I have ever had the misfortune to hear.

The reason this whole business of terrible Christmas songs upsets me so is because there are SO many good ones to choose from! So if tonight, the eve of Christmas Eve, you too are ready to tear down the tree and throw away the presents upon hearing one more bad version of Silent Night (J Biebs, I’m talking to you), I would encourage you to try one of these alternatives:  

His Favorite Christmas Story, Capitol Lights NOT  The Christmas Shoes  

All those warm fuzzies minus the mournful Children’s chorus and the cheese

 

Christmas Cookies, George Straight NOT  Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer 

 

There’s a New Kid in Town  NOT Santa Claus is Coming to Town

 

Child of Love, Sara Groves NOT Happy Xmas (War is Over)

 

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Jack Johnson and NOT any other version...ever.

Seriously, his version is the best

Mary Did you Know, Kathy Mattea NOT Last Christmas

 

Christmas Waltz, She and Him NOT Santa Baby

Seducing Santa? That's weird and creepy. Please, let's keep it classy. 

 

Christmas Tonight, Dave Barns with Hilary Scott NOT Baby It’s Cold Outside

 Is it just me or does EVERY SINGLE musican ever have a duet of this with someone? Why???Seduced on Christmas?  Um, no thanks.  

 

Silent Night, YOU! wtih your family and friends  NOT All I want for Christmas (SuperFestive!) editition by Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber

 {Because, apparently, the original just wasn’t enough...}

But seriously, stop the madness. Sing Silent Night.  Silence is beautiful my friends.

 

 

Words

 "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. " James 3:9-10

 

As part of the worship service at the church I attend when I’m in Sherman, the pastor gives a children's sermon. A couple weeks ago, as the children gathered around Pastor Neil on the front steps of the sanctuary, he asked them if they had ever heard the saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." Immediately, one of the kids replied, "That's a lie!" I will never forget the look on that little boy's face. His expression was one mixed of incredulous disdain, amazed that anyone could be stupid enough to believe such a thing, and deep pain, revealing that even at his young age this little boy had been hurt by another person's words.

I am convinced that the very same expression could have been found on James' face as he wrote the words in James chapter 3. You see, James, like the little boy at church, was well aware of the power of words. Throughout my life I have been taught and reminded how my words have the power to heal and build others up, or to tear down and destroy. I know that, yet I am constantly finding myself speaking words that are hurtful and destructive. "My brothers and sisters, this should not be."

I like words. ...a lot. I love to talk and to write. I see instrumental music as a break before the words come back. Things with numbers frustrate me. Math is pure torture (which is ironic since I'm a business major). As a many of you know, I had to take calculus this semester and I can honestly say it was one the most unpleasant thing I've ever had to do in my life. I have never studied so hard or spent so much time complaining about something before. But, while taking basic calculus was certainly character building, I've learned more about my love of words through silence this past semester.

You see for as much as I loathe math, you can be certain that I dislike silence even more. Silence: The thought alone makes me squirm. I don't like it. I never have and I never will. To say that silence makes me uncomfortable would be a gross understatement. For me, silence is pure torture. (I mean come on it's the complete absence of words, or any sound at all!) And yet, it is through silence that God has been teaching me about the actual power behind the words I love so much.   

You know what they say about not truly appreciating something until you lose it?  Well friends that is 100% true. Earlier this semester I lost my voice completely. Now when I say "lost it completely", I mean COMPLETELY—as in all the way, absolutely, wholly, entirely and totally gone. 

I couldn't sing.

I couldn't talk.

For a while, I literally was not able to phonate and therefore could not make ANY sound whatsoever. It was a traumatic experience.  I never really understood how much of my identity and self-worth I placed in my voice until that awful week, but the really eye-opening thing about the experience was the way it forced me to think about how and what I choose to say.

You see, when you physically can’t make a sound, or when it’s hurts to talk, you become keenly aware of what you choose, and choose not, to say.  Normally, I don’t take the time to really think before I speak; I just say whatever pops into my head. So it was incredibly frustrating not being able to give my opinions, top that story, or fire off that witty comeback.  But because of all the extra effort speaking required, the things I did say, were carefully thought out to be 1) efficient, clear and concise 2) relevant and necessary 3) kind and beneficial. When forced to review every single thing I said in this way, I began to realize just how many mean, hurtful, or simply unnecessary things I say in a given day. I realized that many of the sassy comments (ya, you know the Alena-isms I’m talking about), the playful putdowns, and sarcastic remarks that make up most of what I say every day, really just weren’t worth it. 

And I began to wonder, how would my life—and the lives of the people around me be changed if I ALWAYS chose my words that carefully? If I made sure that every little single thing I said was used to bless, heal, and build others up, and not to curse, hurt, or tear them down? Can you imagine the impact those words could have our broken hurting world? It's certainly something I'd like to see, and so I've been making an effort to really think before I speak. It hasn't been easy and I can't say that I've been overly successful, but I am going to keep trying because, as I've mentioned before, words are powerful and how we use them really can make all the difference in the world.