My Lord, OneDay was amazing, transforming, refreshing and fun.  I finally learned what it means to be free.  Free from the bondage of sin, and the joy that comes from that.  I met new friends and got to know several others better.  The worship was beyond words... ... ... and I've never heard 30,000 people be so quiet... just imagine listening to birds chirping and the trees swaying in the wind while kneeling among masses of people... and very rarely have mine eyes seen so much beauty... 

sweep me away... ... ... sweep me away... ... ...

(more to come including my own pics)

A few months ago I received a gift in the mail - a special coupon from one of my favorite clothing stores. There was a silver "scratchoff" square in the middle of the coupon. The instructions said that it could be scratched off at the time of purchase to reveal a certain percentage that would be deducted from the sale. The savings could be anywhere from thirty to fifty percent off the original price. I was really excited about the gift because I needed a new pair of slacks. Eagerly I scratched off the square to see how much I was going to save. Fifty percent! I was elated. I could save fifty percent on whatever I purchased. I was going to be able to get a really nice pair of slacks. Then I reread the instructions. Uh‑oh. I had goofed up big‑time. The instructions clearly stated that the square was to be scratched off "at the time of purchase." I had previously read this restriction, but somehow in my excitement I had ignored it. I quickly read the tiny print trying to figure out if there was any way to revalidate my coupon. But to no avail. I was angry at myself for being so foolish, but I also found myself becoming very upset with the store for being so narrow‑minded. What difference did it make if I scratched their silly coupon off at home or in the store? A 50‑percent discount should be a 50‑percent discount regardless of where it's discovered! Sex is a lot like that coupon. God designed and distributed it as a special gift. He intended for it to be one of the most delightful, fulfilling elements that a human relationship could ever contain. Because God loves us so much, he wants us to enjoy our sexuality completely. He doesn't want us to miss out on any of its beauty or benefits, or have to settle for a cheaper version. And, just as my 50‑percent‑off coupon came with rules and regulations I had to follow if I wanted to enjoy the benefits it had to offer, God has given us instructions that we must follow if we are going to experience the full magnificence of our fabulous gift. To use it outside these parameters (boundaries) invalidates the tremendous joy that it can bring. What was designed to bring me pleasure instead brought me great frustration. But the worst part was that it was my fault. I had disregarded the rules and invalidated my wonderful gift by using it before I was supposed to. I did buy a pair of slacks that day, but they were worth a lot less than the ones I could have bought if I had not used my coupon incorrectly.

antithesis

here is a direct link to the story

Listening to: Beloved - The Running EP

Ok, since some of you *cough*Justin*cough* want to know how the date went and now what we did, well here ya go.  It went really well, and we both had a lot of fun.  For me it was really nice just to go out and have a good time because it never seems that I can do that often enough.  In a nutshell it was really just two old friends going out for some fun.  I don't think it will lead to anything serious, which is perfectly ok.  I kept having a "been-there-done-that" type of feeling the whole night and it lacked the excitement that comes along with being with someone you recently met and really like, or someone you've been with and care deeply about, understand?  Good.  It was fun but, not quite what I was looking for.  So that's how it went. 

In other news, I started preparing a little for the OneDay trip today.  I went to Oshman's and got me a sweet little tent because I forgot my parent's don't have any tents anymore.  They travel in style now with a Winnebago...lol  Oh yeah, I got two of those fold up nylon (?) chairs for only $6.50 too.  Can't beat that.  Aywho, that's all I got.  I'm outtie.