A journalist is born...-Final

As we come to the close of a semester and the end of 2008, it impossible to not look backwards at all that has taken place. So many amazing and insane things have taken place in my own life that it is hard to not see how God's hand was so evident every step of the way.

The other day, in order to keep from studying for my finals, I decided to start writing my families Christmas newsletter. I pulled up the 2007 letter and took a look. It was laid out in a classic newspaper fashion with columns, photos, info boxes and headlines. I chuckled in delight as I read what I had written. "As writer and editor for this year's letter, I have chosen to document our family's year in a journalistic style. I interviewed each member of the family by simply asking, "If you could describe this year in what word, what would it be?"" I went on to say that my college career path and future were relatively uncertain.

Looking at this letter and many other instances along the way, I realized that I have always had a journalism inclination all along. I have an inquisitive mind. I love to ask questions! "What do you think about? What do you mean by? What do you think about?" Questions like these have been elemental to my life and repertoire for years now.

When I decided to come to California Baptist, I was originally a communications major. However, in looking at the class schedules I decided that I would rather write than take many more speech classes. So, I became a journalism major. I love the written word. It is clear and concise. I can paint pictures or destroy hopes and dream. I can inform and persuade. I can question and I can answer. This semester I have learned what it means to be a journalist. I realized that God has given me a talent for writing and a joy to do it (although not all the time). I look forward to being able to probe and question the thoughts and lives of the people around me next semester as well as offer some of my own insights.

I guess I just needed to see myself for what I really was...a journalist all along.

Mocha Club- Extra

“I need Africa more than Africa needs me.” At the first mention of this saying I couldn't help but find myself relatively perplexed. It seems that often we are encouraged to think about the needs of others less fortunate than ourselves. And act and think in such a way as to charitably benefit them. We hear the stories of the starving children in Africa and of the poverty, see the commercials and yet we do nothing. We know of those who live in a state lowlier than ours; we become emotional but remain motionless.

Yet, from where I write in America, we are blessed beyond measure, however it seems a rare thing to find anything resembling real joy.

We live in constant comfort. We have everything and yet many have nothing constituting real substance. We rely on the abilities of the credit card to get us the things we want, when we want them. We have cars so we don't have to walk. We have caffeine to keep us awake and be more "productive" and yet we accomplish less. We rely on our dailies coffees for energy and comfort. Energy to sit at computer desks, to type reports, to talk on cell phones. Comfort from coffee that can come and should from real human fellowship, interaction, relationships, and...in my opinion...salvation in Jesus Christ.

Yet there are many others less fortunate than those of us here in America, and yet they live lives that are happy, simple, but happy. Lives based in the pursuit of dignity, honor and trust. They know how to work hard and provide for their families. Unfortunately, most people in Africa do not even have the necessity of clean fresh water, education or sometimes even food.

But what if we were to act? What if we were willing to give up a slice of our comfort? What if we gave up something we don’t need so that others could have something that they do? What difference would it make?

I think the first difference is rather obvious. If we were able to provide food, water and even education for the lives of those who need it most, we would be able to impact the quality of their lives. A meal to eat, water to drink and a chance at a better future. But what about the difference on the heart attitude of the giver? What is the point of a sacrifice? While others might have varying answers, I would say that one of the biggest effects of a sacrifice is in the heart of the one giving up something precious to them. It is a readjustment of priorities for the sake of something better. It is a matter of saying to one’s self, “There is more at stake here than my happiness.” I think that is exactly the change of mind and change of heart that America, especially the Christian’s in America need. By giving up a simple coffee (which is overpriced anyway), a person can begin to not only help but learn from others what is really important in life. A change of my heart towards the needs of others will last longer than any Venti mocha ever will. I need Africa more than Africa needs me.

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said it is more blessed to give than to receive.”- Acts 20:35

Made In HIS Image...

To me, there is nothing more innocent or blissful than a bride on her wedding day. Every girl knows that the bride has probably been planning this day since she was old enough to formulate thoughts and understand beauty and love. Everything has been planned for months. The cast is nervous and giddy. The curtain is about to rise and for two people a new voyage is about to begin. As a photographer, this is a moment unlike any other. It is sink or swim. A wedding is nerve wracking because it is an even that will never happen again. A bride will only walk down the aisle once. The first kiss will only happen once. That garter will only be tossed once. And the bride's mother will only gleam and be puffy and red like that for one day. If a moment is missed at a wedding, the photographer might as well plan on hearing from a lawyer...or at least an angry groom or tearful bride. The great photographers are the ones whose personality, joy for life and shear exuberance for the profession shine through in every photo.

This is one of the many joyous and beautiful things about being a wedding photographer. I have the priviledge of photographing people on the happiest day of their lives. For Jasmine Starr (http://www.jasminestarblog.com/), the joy is simply that...capturing a moment that will bring back that same smile for years to come. Jasmine has such a bubbly, joyous and personable spirit that makes her a joy to be around and it shows in her gorgeous photographs. Meeting her personally was a great priviledge for me. Her love for Christ and for other people makes her one of my favorite photographers!

Photographer David Jay is all about taking the techniques and beauty that he has learned and applied and spreading it to other photographers. In a digital age, his company creates many electronic resources for photographers to help them expand their companies. One such invention it ShowItFast Websites and Slideshows. David has been known for pioneering the way in the world of marketing for wedding photographers and the beauty of the showit fast websites now avilable to photographers truly is a mark of his creativity and innovation as well as his consideration and desire to help other. Open Source Photo is a blog to help photographers discuss and get answers to some of their technical problems as well as help with Showit Fast products.

There is a simple beauty in the human spirit. I think is part of being made in the image of a holy and perfect God. To photograph people, in my opinion, is the closest I can get to showing a fallen world what God looks like. The innocence of a child. The gleam of a groom. The pride of a mother or father. The tenderness of family. These are all qualities found in the Holy Trinity and yet so often we miss them in every day life and in each other. The Travel Photographer (http://thetravelphotographer.blogspot.com/) has done a wonderful job at capturing the beauties of the world and documenting the people they meet and see along the way.

A camera is a beautiful gift the art of using it is a blessing. A mirror into the supernatural.

Loss of a brother...loss of a nation

Ever have a close friend who suddenly backs off? It is a little awkward and sad. I just had that very thing happen to me. It's hard sometimes. A friend can even be doing the mostly godly thing and what even you know he (or she) is supposed to do, but when you lose a brother (or sister) it is still hard.

That point aside...

I would like to mention the spiritual state of our nation and the role of Christians in it. I recently began asking a few of my fellow students around campus about what the most important issue was to them in the upcoming election. I got many different responses. "The economy, the war, health care, abortion, etc." Interestingly enough my pastor recently spoke on the same topic.

My pastor stated that, "God is not interested in the state of our comfort." God is not interested in our financial state. He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who always provides. He is interested in children whose hearts are turned towards their heavenly Father. I think it is interesting how sometimes we (Christians) seem to forget about the sovereign power of God to accomplish his perfect will in our lives and in our nation. We become ultra absorbed with politicians and their issues that we forget that indeed "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."

All for now...

A not-so-awesome surprise

I came home today from my last class today tired, but good. It was a gorgeous and hot day here in sunny California today...and I looked cute (which is a rare plus). Although homework lay ahead of me, I found myself in good spirits. As I opened my apartment door, carrying a package from my mother (for which I was overjoyed), I noticed a foreign object on our kitchen table. I approached the object with curiosity and excitement. It was a single red rose with a note attached. Being the romantic that I am, this new find made me smile. I don't know why, but I instantaneously started hoping and wishing it was for me. The handwriting looked familiar so, why not. The note read this:

Distance can be a terrible thing, my love.
Missing you and thinking of you.
I love you.
Your Invisible Boy.

I immediately decided to search my apartment for my roommates to find out whose it was. They all had significant others that are over on a recent basis. None of them were at a distance so, I thought maybe...just maybe, it was from the man I love. He is at a distance. Our relationship is (somewhat) on hold. So I started hoping and praying it was from him. It wasn't. The rose was not for me and it certainly wasn't from him. My heart sunk.

Ever have that happen to you? Unexpected disappointment?

A little obsessive...

I have noticed that CBU has a case of slight OCD. This school has a few things that it just obsesses over. Some of it is entertaining and some of it is slightly annoying. For instance...lawn care! It is just kind of ridiculous. There is not a day that goes by that that I don't see someone cutting, spraying, watering, trimming, fertilizing...you name it! It is entertaining because it seems that they have done so much to the Stamps lawn that it has just shriveled up and died all together. I just want to laugh every time I see it.

And there is another thing that is obsessed over here at California Baptist and it is three little letters. U. C. O. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE the UCO! I have tons of friends in the University Choir, the orchestra or one of the other choirs and I love them all dearly. But, please people, come on! It gets a little insane over in that multi-million dollar building. Expensive laptops, suits, dresses, pantyhose, curled hair, sparkly earrings, the works! It's a little nuts.

Okay, I will admit it. There are a few things I have begun to obsess over since I came to Cal Baptist. First of which is my mailbox. I love to get mail! I think I checked my mail 4 times today. I am not kidding. Sad thing was it was empty every time!
Oh well...just one more day in this transplanted midwesterner!

First thoughts on Cali...

Well, here I am. A Missouri girl on the west coast. How did this happen? This is insane! Insane, but a welcome sort of insanity. I have been in California a grand total of 24 days and in those 24 days I have observed several things.

• California drivers drive fast...duh....and so do drivers from Mexico.
  
• Some OC girls really are like the show. Some are not. Know the difference.
• Once you find a parking spot in Newport Beach, STAY THERE! Don't try to find another.
• Make sure the above parking spot is not in a "red zone" before you parallel park between a Mercedes and a BMW.
• The Mercedes, BMW and other cars way too expensive to drive, own the road...or at least their drivers think they do.
• There are big bugs here. Beetles the size of a half dollar and that will fly at your ears and head. There are also black widows and your friends will try to scare you with them. Your friends will succeed.
• God has a sense of humor. Sometimes he lets us squirm a bit so he can come pull us out of it.
  
• Waves don't like swimsuits. Swimsuits don't like sand.
• You can not wash your car and have it stay clean. It is impossible.
• Noxema+sunburns=heaven
• When your guy friends get sunburned (and they will), someone has to rub aloe on them. If you are a girl, volunteer for the job.

That is all I have to say for now. More musings to come...