Called by God

It was a hot day, about 85 degrees F in the middle of November. No, it wasn´t an Indian Summer (to be politically incorrect), but just a normal day in Brazil. I was sweating on my way to work. As I approached the building I work in, I looked across the street to see a man and a woman sitting on a mattress on the sidewalk. It was obvious that this is where they had slept the night before; their clothes were dirty, their hair was matted and all their belongings were piled next to them. I glanced o… Continue

I arrived in the airport in Brazil, touching ground for the first time in South America. It was a scary yet thrilling experience. With two suitcases, a carry-on and a year ahead of me, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. And my limited vocabulary of “Hello,” “goodbye,” “thank you” and “you’re welcome” in Portuguese didn’t ease any of the nervousness. But, following the crowds, I somehow managed to make it from the plane to the luggage pick-up and, eventually, to my hotel.

My first month in Braz… Continue

Things were getting out of control. I have to plan my year out of the country that is quickly approaching. I need to figure out what classes I’m taking next year. I am required to work all of my assigned shifts and my work schedule is packed with 30 to 40 hours of work a week. Various extracurricular and global concerns groups are expecting I attend outside meetings to plan events and prepare for competitions.

Why do I continue to fill my schedule? To prepare myself for the future of course! To… Continue

As a liberal political junkie, I could not restrain myself from watching tonight’s debate between John McCain and Barack Obama. Before the debate began, miscellaneous news casters and political analysts gave their opinions of what was to come. Would McCain blow Obama out of the water with fierce attacks? Would Obama blast McCain with smart remarks? The results of the debate is anyone’s guess. However, behind the heads of the loud-talking, opinionated people who were trying to convince viewers th… Continue

So, I just had an “Ah-ha!” moment and I figured I should share it with someone. I’ve always known God has loved me since I was a child. To me, God has always been all-knowing, all-powerful, and somehow all-forgiving. God’s grace is such an amazing thing that, at times, I almost feel as though it is too much, as though God’s grace isn’t right for me, as though I don’t need it.

But I was reading the book Blue Like Jazz and a few lines in it struck me. The author Donald Miller says, “I love to giv… Continue