To TLU : Where has the time gone?

So its been a blur, first semester of my college career will be over in a few weeks. Its kinda sad but great too.  I can't say I survied yet until final exams are over, but for now I am proud to say that i'm holding on.  I may not miss the stress over Christmas break , but I will probably miss the campus a lot.  I've learned so much in such a short time - its great to know what a real education can provide. High school was limited, but here the sky is the limit, especially when you get to choose your classes with teachers that for the most part really want to be involved in your education if you let them. I love the fact that it makes this campus stand out.. It still surprises me when my friends tell me how cold and unhelpful most of their professors are.  Ive takn a few pictures, and I plan on taking  more if possible. I wanted to share them so here they are:

This picture made Hahn look really eerie with that glow at the top, but pretty cool

This is from when my family first dropped me off and of course my two clowns who are as thick as thieves ( my sister and cousin) had to play with my mirror (thanks guys)

This wasn't here at school  but this is the greatest man on the planet.  This was taken after  we moved my things in and went out to eat. He is my uncle, my pastor, but also the funniest person. As you can tell he loves cake.

The funny thing is ,this is still on my fridge. I cannot erase it because the two silly cousins above and another cousin who is a senior in high school wrote this for me.  My favorite comments are the two in red and one in black.  They say "Can I borrow some money"(written by daniel), "Aaron scares me"(written by sister debbie), and "NO DUDES"(written by Aaron)

This is from the day Kaitlen gave a lesson in class. Ithought our tower looked pretty awesome. (That is brandi's leg if your curious)

This is from the 16th of September , it made me homesick a bit, I never realized how much I would miss eating mexican food every day

This is my favorite building here and I have no idea why

 This is my favorite spot here, when classes are going on or when most people are done with classes I find this to be the most relaxing, calm place

 This is my sister and I during Family Week. I don't know why I am squinting so much, I don't think the sun was even in my eyes.

  This is my mom and grandma, and I



Theology Fascinates Me From Time to Time

Sorry about not posting last week, but I honestly had nothing to talk about. 

After listening to lectures in Intro to Theology all semester I think I've discovered its major message. I really hope that my ephiphany isnt wrong because that would feel horrible, but I will explain my theory anyway. I have been used to today's Christian message that God accepts every one no matter who they are are where they come from. Ive never really thought much about a time when that wan't necessarily the case. In the beginning God was the creator of all, Adam, Eve, and every other living thing in the world was under his care.  After  the first man and woman ate the forbidden fruit, it was just a  downward spiral until Noah and his family were actually the last humans who didn't tear themselves away from God. Some time after the flood - God created the Abrahamic Covenant with Abraham and his descendants who would later be known as the nation Israel. When Israel was delivered from Egypt, God created the Sinai Covenant to give them laws. It all started to get worse again as the people kept breaking the laws adn distancing themselves from God - especially when they asked for a king. King David and his son Solomon marked Israel and its peak and last days of glory. However, their actions led to Israel becoming almost beyond repair. It probably seemed to the world that the people who "claimed" to have a special relationship with the one true God was false. Until they recieved prophecies of what later they would come to think of as prophecies of the coming of the "Suffering Servant" or "Messiah" who would restore Israel to its rightful place. Which Christians believe was fufilled by Jesus - his birth, life, death, and resurrection.  I think the message is that the history of humanity has been to right the wrong of Adam and Eve. Israel was an example to humanity of the right and wrong ways you could act on earth.  Later the disciples and especially Paul the Apostole spread the news of the special relationship becoming universal but also including individual relationships. It has lead to the common messeage today - it doesnt matter who you are are where you come from; your entitled to a special relationship with God, but its up to you to accept it.

Food, Food, and More Food

This past week I haven't been able to escape food. After reading "In Defense of Food" , I started looking at what I ate a little diffrently. After listening to Paul Roberts on Wednesday and John Besh on Friday most of my thoughts throughout the weekend were about food, what is in it, and how it is made.  I think all the talk about proccessed food is what caused me to turn down McDonalds. I have neve really been a fan of the place but, i don't think i will ever eat that food again.  Everything I could remember I talked about with family as soon as I got home. They brought up similar questions or points adressed in the speeches and I gave them the answers I could remember .  On the way here my uncle and I were still talking about processed food. It's nice that classes give me topics to talk about with others. When conversations seem almost dead, I love that I have something to save myself and whoever I am talking with from many an uncomfortable silence.