Summer Update

My summer is nearly over and I feel like I've finally settled in. The majority of my summer has been a lot of ups and downs. I'd be lying if I said this summer was perfect, but it has been full of a lot of new experiences, both good and bad, resulting in a summer I'll never forget. My summer began with heading to a state I'd never planned on living in, but yet had a faint dream of spending the rest of my life in. That dream has changed. As much as I have learned to like Florida, I don't think I could ever live here. Again, I don't hate it, but I guess my Midwestern roots can't grab hold of anything I'm used to and leaves me scrambling for something familiar. I have learned to appreciate the monotony of it all, so many cultures in one place has taken on a culture within itself. But I sure do miss some changes in elevation, bluegrass, and evenings that are cool enough to hang out on your back porch.
Regardless of my opinion of south Florida, my internship has been an incredible experience. A job that combines the opportunity to interact with junior golfers and PGA professionals while traveling all over south Florida has been an incredibly positive experience. It's reestablished my love for developing the game for the next generation of golf. Being able to meet and build relationships with PGA professionals that work in the golf capital of the US has been an incredible experience within the experience. Just a few of the many lessons I've learned  from my interactions with PGA pros this summer include:
- Keep track of those that offer to be a reference, you never know who/when you might be able to utilize their opinion of you in your future.
- Treat every interaction as a job interview. You never know.
- Tied in with the last point, the golf world is so small, everyone knows everyone, so be smart.
- When you try to make youth sports fair you eliminate the element of fun for the participants.
- Build a brand for yourself. Invest in various ways to make yourself stand apart, even if that means deviating from the prescribed PGA path towards success.
I wish I could record everything that I experience beacuse there have been some priceless pieces of advice given to me by coaches and parents alike. Also there has been a non-stop flow of hilarious moments, because let's face it when you work with 6-14 year olds five days of the week you're going to have plenty of stories to tell. Just a few of my favorite moments include:
- A kid deciding to lay face down in the middle of the fairway while his playing partner is watching me with a smirk on his face just waiting to see my reaction. (Did I mention this group already had two other groups waiting for them on the tee?)
- A player told another participant that he did not deserve a medal because beating the course is not possible. This player was 4 years old and was bent on getting a medal.
- Another players pants falling down on multiple occasions and despite the belt's efforts his hands served as suspenders for the majority of his round.
Ultimately kids are hilarious. I've also learned a lot of patience... with parents. Forget dance moms, golf moms/dads/grandparents are a whole other world. For all of those times I prayed for patience, thank you Lord, I'm getting plenty of practice. I've learned how to graciously tell a parent that blames all the other players for the three hour round they're complaining about is due to the fact their child is slower than molasses. I've also been able to frequently remind parents TEAM GOLF IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN. I'd like to believe that whenever my children begin playing golf, no matter how big of a golf rockstar they are, I solemnly swear that I will not be overbearing and will only let my children play when and what they want to. Also I will read every email and piece of paper containing information regarding the event they are participating in. Because Lord knows, the answers are out
there, but why read it when you bug the snot out of the facilitator? That's what they're there for right?
I digress. But truthfully, it's been a treat to work with those I've been blessed to call coworkers. Working under this section's executive director and director of operations has been one of the greatest positives of this experience. I hope someday I get to work with or lead like them in the same setting.
But this summer hasn't come without its struggles. At the beginning of the summer I found out my mom has stage 0 breast cancer. Praise the Lord it is only precancerous, but not being able to be there for her procedure or radiation has been tough. But it's a true testament of my mom's testimony, seeing her strength, peace, and seeing all of those that love her pray for her during this trial. I'm so thankful for her example and the wisdom of the doctors that have taken such good care of her. I've also faced some of firsts of adulthood, including: dealing with a car accident, renting my own place back in Richmond, and considering my future occupation. All of these things have not been nearly as difficult as they could be and what a blessing to realize that. It's been such a sweet experience to find a church like the one I have. To sum up my experience there would be to say I have never experienced Christian hospitality in such a genuine and sweet way. From being involved in the college and career group I have true friendships resulting in my SoFlo being more difficult than originally planned. I could go on-and-on on just how great finding this body has been to my summer, but to sum it up, I do feel #blessed. Tacky I know, but seriously it's true.
My summer has been full of fun experiences at work, with my roommate, and discovering new places and things all over SoFlo. I only have three more weeks, but I hope to make the most of them. Don't worry pictures are soon to follow.

Adventure 2.0

Who's up for round two?! Last summer I got to head out to the east coast and serve my second internship for my major. This summer I get to serve my third internship in Atlantis, Florida! Last summer the best way I could keep people caught up with my crazy life happening all over the US was by my posting in this blog and posting it to Facebook. I plan to do the same this summer.
I'll be working for the South Florida PGA Section as a junior golf intern. I get to work team golf which is for the little nuggets playing scramble golf at various courses throughout the section. But part of the adventure is just getting there, which involved 18 hours in the car with my father. That in itself involved various quotes including:
"Grab your cha-chas" -referring to my chacos
"Oh look out for that! Tip it over! It's gonna explode." -referring to a megabus
As soon as we enter Florida: "All I see are gators, old farts, swamp land, and lots of golf courses!"
Can't ever go wrong with a road trip with David! Well I'm here and now I get to spend it sweating and learning more and more about section golf and how to run tournaments. I'll keep you posted on how it goes from here.

Liep,
Goda

James White- "Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done."

 I just wanted to type up all of my notes from Encounter and just read over them again to regain the truth that was poured over me within four short days. It's just need to see the truth you can pull from it and apply to your life once you've left the conference.

Our first speaker was James White from Christ's King Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was exuberant and full of life and so exciting. He kicked it off joking about "grace of God couples." You know the one's where you see the girl and you say Wow! you see the guy and you go Whoa! Only by the grace of God could those two end up together.
He was opening up what he would cover for the next few days. He began covering how his father used to have him pray every night. "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by they name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Isn't that an outrageous concept? Where the least become the greatest with Jesus as King. Isn't it crazy that things on earth would occur just the same as they do in heaver when Christ in charge?
He focused on 3 scenes where Christ is King throughout his 3 different talks.
This night he focused two scenes where he heals with the power of God. Looking at Mark 5:21-43 (written with a sense of urgency) he looked to where Jesus heals the Jewish leader's daughter and the woman with the condition.
Jarius was a synagogue official, was in charge of the order of worship and possessed power and prominence. Jarius comes to Jesus giving him directions. Have you ever prayed giving God directions? Have your every prayed, "Hey God, I need you to give me patience so I can love this person." "Hey God I need you to give me clarity so I can know how to decide where to go for grad school." Jesus was in control in this moment and that was alright.
Isn't it funny how we aren't happy with the way the God of surprises us? The God of surprises doesn't answer our prayers the way we expect him to because HIS PLAN IS BETTER.
Now the woman who had been continuously bleeding for 12 years/hemorrhaging for this long time. Because of this bloody condition she was considered unclean and was not able to worship in the synagogue. She was even lower than she was originally as a woman. This woman was even prophesized in Malachi 4:2 idea of healing in the wings of the coming one when translated from Hebrew can be understood as the wings of his clothing or his tassels bringing healing.

#faithintassels

"A faith that has not been tested cannot be trusted."

Isn't it crazy when bad things happen, people tell you what to do with Jesus?Too often we don't assume God can do the impossible. What have you stopped praying for?

I love it when Jesus interrupts our disbelief.

He says, "Hello, I am still in charge." When Jarius stops believing Jesus can save his daughter because she is already dead, Jesus foretells how he will surprise everyone and serve us in a way we don't believe he can by raising again from the dead.

I learned that Jesus spoke in Hebrew when saying, "Talitha Kum." Little girl arise. rise up in Christ.

He closes the talk with these questions:

• What will it take for our to listen?
• Will you listen and stop telling Him what to do?
• Will you trust in His timing?

It's interesting how I am so much like Jarius. I expect God to do awesome things, but when he doesn't answer my requests the way I want him to I stop asking. I hate the surprise and think that's not what I need. When I expect him to heal my daughter and see him starting to work the way I have asked him to. Yet when I hear my daughter has died, I think God has failed me or he's trying to teach me something. Maybe he is trying to teach me something, but is that really the point? Why can't I just be elated that God's timing is perfect. Instead of just healing my daughter instead he can bring my daughter back to life. I can see God's omnipotent power in a greater scale in a simple prayer request. Wow. When I ask the God of all creation to do something limited to my mind power, why shouldn't I be surprised when he does something greater? Why should I direct God's plan, timing, or power? Instead to have #faithintassels and believe that even the littlest things can happen with small faith in the greatest one.

Video from James' first talk

Encounter 2015

Whoo hoo! The day finally came! I finally made it down to the land of the pine in North Carolin(a). Greensboro was the meeting place of over 2000 students and the rest was staff. Encounter was upon the Sheraton Conference Center this last week. It was incredible to once again get together and worship and grow in an awesome God. I was thankful for the time I got to spend with two friends and reconnect with many of my other friends. Despite my selfishness and busy-ness I've still been able to return to some of my best friends for encouragement and wisdom. Freshman self verses junior self has faced an entire revelation. It's crazy when we come to conferences like Encounter with our broken edges and we expect to have a beam come down from heaven and give us a new sight in Christ (like a Saul to Paul revelation). However it's so much more... it's more of coming and realizing that there is a necessity for confidence in Christ because we have nothing less to fear. We are seated at the right hand of God in heaven. Our position is literally above everyone else on this world. We have a call and after we leave we are to indeed answer. To sum up all that I learned would take an entire essay. But I am surprised to say that I didn't have a huge revelation that drew me back to Christ like I was becoming a whole new believer all over again. Instead it was through the speakers I found a healthy conviction that  it is our duty to remember the awesomeness of the simplicity of the gospel. It's great to just remember that we are to be contagious with the gospel. It's not enough to just appear to be consumed with it but instead to tell others how you have been. Just cool to think, if God works in your life every day, why not bring it up everyday. I'm also excited to begin investing in younger women to increase the spiritual multiplication effect on our campus. Just so many cool things that happened. I hope to be able to sum it up over the next few days.

Liep, Goda

Broke(n)

Isn't it funny how many college students struggle with being broke. I mean this is the stage where we have to drop the most bucks to enter the real world. If we don't spend this much money we won't be able to be accepted into this work place with that crowd and overall we are automatically discharged to unacceptable. Yet we are so focused on being broke, not having money for food, clothes, or books. Yet we should be focused on how we're broken. We are broken. We are broken, lacking fellowship, wrought with trying to out do our peers on how miserable we are and are set on being the most accomplished in driving ourselves to tears in trying to become accomplished to alleviate our broke-ness. We are so set on achieving material things we can't admit how we are broken in emotional things. We are broken and offended, depressed, sexually frustrated, and lacking empathy. We can't fathom just how desperate one can be to become accomplished. We are able to stay up all night to study for a test that will determine our future [which I highly doubt will]. We will stay up until 2 am spilling our guts to someone we just met at a party hoping that this could be the one [which I highly doubt will]. We watch movies and television shows  to all hours of the night of hyper reality in spite of our priorities in pursuit of an escape of reality because no one can be satisfied with their own story and how tough their own life has become might be the end of them [which I highly doubt will]. If only we could give everyone a dose of empathy. We could then zoom out of the google maps of our life and see the connecting routes between our story, plan, and lives coordinating with others. If we were able to see how our job might be able to affect someone in a positive way in the future then someone might be more motivated to study late at night and not wrought themselves with depression and exhaustion for the sake of a good grade. If we all stopped trying to one-up each other with how impossible our lives have become then we might be able to encourage each other and not desperately plea for attention in dark desperation for a free pass to feel miserable for themselves. If only we could help everyone do something for someone else every day. To lay down burdens and rejoice in hope. To live with the mentality that everything could be so much worse. If only positivity was infectious in the way it used to be. Then again not everyone has Christ in their heart. Sure even believers suffer from this misery disorder. But discovering joy in Christ is so much more important than simply pasting a smile on your face day in and day out. Understanding that I will never be satisfied on this earth, so why bother? Why bother stressing myself out each night with studying until I become exhausted and irritable each day? Why bother trying to flaunt what I've got to every guy that fits my type? Why bother worrying about just how desperate I am for acceptance. My satisfaction will only be fulfilled when I stand before my God and as the bridegroom of an almighty God will be deemed one of his precious daughters worthy of spending eternity praising Him. So why not start now? I live to praise God and glorify Him with my actions and I strive to live differently. I can admit that I am broken. Not because I'm broke. But I am broken because I allow myself to feel depressed, desperate for attention, and underachieving in every aspect of life. I am broken because until I am in God's presence I will continue to try to serve two masters. This impossible feat will forever consume me. But everyday I will strive to live selflessly, empathetically, and with the ultimate passion and drive to live to glorify God. That is His will for me, and it is good. I hope to live in way that the best servant serves. Doulos- I hope to live as a bondservant would live, serving their master without any excuses. God you are my God and I will live to serve you.

Don't Act Crazy, Michelle

I have to admit that taking Women & Gender Studies made me very leary at first. I was afraid that there were going to be too many awkward conversations about the rising LBGT movements. Which I do not necessarily agree with on a spiritual level but I have nothing wrong with them gaining legal rights because they express a personal belief that could be qualified under freedom of religion. But anyway, this class has proven that yes I am a feminist. No I'm not a butch, lesbian that believes that she will be single because men are horrible and don't ever give us respect. No I believe that women should receive equal pay, honorable portrayal in media and advertising. I believe that women should be respected and not expected to raised up to a sexualized pedestal. I personal believe that men are to be leaders in the home and the church, but in the business place women should receive respect when deserved. I don't think that reverse sexism is necessary. But when women have deserved the right to lead they deserve the position and not the suspicion that they slept their way to the top. It's not true. And if it is it's probably because she assumed that that was what was needed of her in order to get there because of all of the powerful women that were portrayed on her favorite tv show. Isn't sad that nowadays we see women in the strong leader positions in the media because it attracts women to watch the show and young men to fall in love with her sexuality. And you better believe that this young woman is the woman that is rising through the ranks, and not the 45 year old congress woman that is actually running for your representative and the only reason you voted for her is because she was prettier than the old fart she was running against and appeared to be in a position of politics yet still motherly. I was so disappointed after watch THE DUFF movie last night. They had so many crucial opportunities to conquer stereotypes and all they did was heighten each one. They also had the ideal opportunity to raise awareness for cyberbullying and present logical solutions for conquering the horrible attacks that happen every day. All they did was present the option to just let it happen and the guy will still fall in love with you. He won't stand up for you. But he'll still kiss you when the credits start to roll. UGH! You could've done so much better. You also could've not presented the option of sex in high school to the millions of high schoolers that went to watch the movie.
Any way I read this article today called "Don't Act Crazy, Mindy" by Heather Havrilesky. It covered how women in television shows are portrayed as epically flawed. While all throughout history men have been portrayed as epic heroes. Even though they had epic flaws they were still considered gods and those flaws led them to greatness. When women have flaws we're considered crazy. In fact, we're always considered crazy. All the time. If we show ambition we're considered crazy for being to loud or overbearing while we're exhibiting the characteristics that men can only show if they're drunk. When we're quite and passive we're considered crazy, because we might be a silent killer. While men are cute and shy when they're quite. And they're allowed small moments of brilliant quips of knowledge when they're quite like this. But too often women's flaws make us undesirable and not the marrying kind. While men's flaws are always conquered or just simply a quip that makes them more brilliant or bold. It was surprising to me though that I knew and recognized every television character she mentioned. In fact many of these characters were from television shows I idolized and still do. From the Mindy Project, Smash, and Homeland I recognized all of these characters and the stereotypes they satisfied. I don't know if it is good or awful that I knew each of these characters and even coveted the shows they were a part of. I just had to get these thoughts down. Who knows maybe someday I will be some kind of expert on women in media. Because I definitely want to know more on the subject and better educate people on these issues. Especially the way everyday women are portrayed in television shows. I also really want to highlight the way media is a whole other party women have to run against when trying to advance politically. It's as simple as changing the verb that follows the women's misplaced title. It's "Secretary of State Clinton declared to Congress that we were failing women in third world countries." NOT "Mrs. Clinton cried that women were being walked all over in her favorite hijab covered countries." Let's play editor and censor of the media. I'm over this passive submissive attitude of our society. Especially when we're this attached to our personal mobile devices. Do you ever wonder what the world would be like if we didn't have the internet? I wonder if women would be more modest? I wonder if Carrie Bradshaw would need as many shoes as she did? I wonder if Ivy Lee would find the need for pills to belt like the incredible star she was meant to be? I wonder if I would be a government student, or doing exactly what I am doing? Regardless, I know the wide webbing world could be so much better for women if we simply saw women as brilliant instead of crazy, and pulled down the hemline, and pushed our women to pursue education and not a man. I hope my husband knows what he's getting himself into. Because he needs to understand that if he respects me, he will respect all other women also.

Leadership

Today's chapter covered the past experiences of leaders, what they did and what they would do differently to share Christ to their chapter. I really loved all of the suggestions they made. Except for the fact that they hope that you start out with freshman then work your way up. A lot of our girls are not saved. So my entire chapter needs work. Now granted next fall I plan on focusing on the freshman and building them up, but for now it's gonna be tough just getting everyone's attention. Another thing they offer is co-ed bible studies. Which is BRILLIANT! Get the guys and girls to come for the first 5 weeks then you split up. Or host a four-house (2 sororities 2 fraternities) and you have a speaker about relationships then you break up and host a hot topic panel. Which is a great idea, it will be tough getting people there. But when we do, I think great things can happen. I also think that I might ask my friend Marcus that is an ATO for doing a coed bible study with them. Honestly because he's the only Greek guy I know that is saved. The only one. How sad is that? But I would love to get something started. But this chapter had some really great ideas but they also suggest that you have multiple actives talk to the new members about their faith. It would have to be just me and/or Brooke doing this because I don't know anyone else that is saved or would be willing to share the Gospel with these girls. So here I am again worried about having to do this on my own. But who cares. The end of this chapter ends with this statement:

"There are only three things that are going to last: God, His Word, and the souls of men. These three things should influence all that we do."

So this is my prayer, that I would have the courage of Christ in me when I begin these initiatives of Bible studies and sharing the Gospel personally. Also that I would follow up on all these things. Lastly to find an advisor or leader of some sort to help me get these things going.

Liep,
Goda