really?

mystery and marriage

for a long time i have thought of my faith in god as a marriage. that analogy has always meant a lot to me. it brings my faith to life. i have no problem seeing myself as the bride of christ.

as i’ve grown older, and more seasoned by life, so has my perspective on this idea of faith as marriage. in the past i always focused on the courtship, wooing, wedding, love, intimacy and such. i liked that aspect. i still do. if you don’t know god in this way, you’re missing out on something.

now i see a different side of the relationship. many would think it was darker, less passionate, certainly less attractive. i disagree.

i now see that marriage is a commitment. a decision that you make again and again. it’s work. a nine-to-five gig. and some days you don’t feel any love. the passion can run dry. but this is no less beautiful than the first days. this kind of love is much deeper, much more meaningful. it’s love tested by fire or, worse, life.

i’m reminded of a lyric from a pedro the lion song where david bazan sings to god “i still have never seen you, and some days i don’t love you at all.” this rings true with me.

but my commitment is unwavering. i choose god and faith every day, whether i’m overwhelmed by passion or gut-punched with disbelief.

many would tell me i’m no longer “on fire” (whatever the heck that means) or that i’ve lost my zeal. i would tell them i’ve gained character, and experienced a deeper, truer love than they.

cafe istanbul

i finally did something interesting.

twelve of us went to cafe istanbul tonight. we sat on pillows, at turkish food and drank turkish coffee. it feels very exotic there. there are belly dancers and people smoking hookas. it felt like the mos eisley cantina.

a huge damper was put on the night when ashley’s car was broken into. they stole a ton of her cd’s. it sucked. sorry, smashley!

tomorrow i’m gonna work on some new songs. hope they arent terrible!

thursday nights are fun

Poll Finds That Evangelicals Are Addicted to Porn

i’d be willing to bet that these numbers are actually higher. either way, this is alarming. 

 ”The poll results indicate that 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addicted to pornography,” said Clay Jones, founder and President of Second Glance Ministries whose ministry objectives include providing people with information which will enable them to fully understand the impact of today’s societal issues.”

read more | digg story

we just saw a rat. seriously, you guys…i’m not making this up.

crank up your speakers…we had to whisper, but trust me, this one’s worth the effort.

Jennifer Ewing

a few days have passed, and it doesnt feel distasteful to post this. my thoughts and prayers are with margaret and her family.

Ewing, Jennifer*
Family-Placed Death NoticeJENNIFER SLOCUMB EWING June 23, 1952 – July 25, 2006 Jennifer Slocumb Ewing of Atlanta died tragically, Tuesday, July 25, 2006, while cycling on the Silver Comet Trail. She was 54. She is survived by husband, James G. Ewing; sons James Guyton Ewing, Jr., George McNeill Ewing and daughter Margaret Paige Ewing, all of Atlanta. Jenny was preceded in death by her father, Burke Lowe Slocumb, Jr. She is survived by her mother, Margaret Crimmins Slocumb of Macon, Georgia, and siblings Burke Lowe Slocumb, III, Robert Edward Slocumb, John Thomas Slocumb, MD, William Ashley Slocumb and Liesl Paige Slocumb; all of Macon, Georgia. She leaves behind many relatives, in-laws and close friends who miss her dearly. Jenny grew up in Macon, Georgia, where she attended Stratford Academy. She was an honor graduate of the University of Georgia in 1974, where she majored in the French language. She obtained her Masters degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology in 1976. In college she was active in the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and various other student organizations. Upon earning her masters, she married her college sweetheart, Jim. She worked as a speech therapist in the Atlanta area public school systems from 1978 to 1980. Jenny used her passion for teaching and her love of the arts to home school her three children who all excelled academically and who all developed a love of reading, the arts and appreciation of nature. She enjoyed playing the piano, violin and hammered dulcimer. Jenny regularly took her children, as well as other children, on field trips and other adventures. She included her family in working vacations to various places including France, Switzerland, the Hudson River Valley, New York and Philadelphia where they gained an understanding and appreciation of all forms of art. Each of her children received merit scholarships to the colleges of their choice. Jenny devoted her life to Christ and served in many capacities in the church during her lifetime. She was committed to physical fitness and was an enthusiastic cyclist. She loved the beauty and serenity of the Silver Comet Trail and consistently rode a fifty mile circuit in less than three hours. A memorial service will be held Monday, July 31, 2006 at 11:00AM at Buckhead Church, 4967 Roswell Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30342. See www.Buckheadchurch.org for directions. For those who have not had an opportunity to visit with the family, there will be a visitation at the church from 9:45AM to 10:45AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Sandy Springs Mission, Inc., 4577 Roswell Road, Atlanta, Georgia, 30342 or your favorite charity. Arrangements by H.M. Patterson & Son, Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road, NE Sandy Springs, GA 30328 (404) 851-9900.
Published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 7/29/2006 – 7/30/2006.

roomate gossip

my new place!

josh is a dirty bas…..ketball player.