What's blue and springy? a blue spring!

Just like my favorite joke. (What's brown and sticky? ....a stick!!!)

Jamie, Vanessa and I missed out on half-price Universal tickets shahaha...i know i know - so funny. But that's where we went today! Very beautiful and sooo refreshing! So we drove 1/2 hour to Blue Spring State Park. Basically, it's a spring that sends 104 million gallons of 72 degree water per day from a deep hole in the ground. you can actually see the hole in the picture to the left...where the dark water is. The water is perfectly clear - because it's been distilled for a year going through the ground.

And yes - there was even the potential for alligators. Vanessa and I were a little nervous about that - although we knew they were supposed to be caged off. Unfortunately we didn't get to see any once we were at a safe distance.











It's basically like the "lazy river" in the theme parks - but it's all natural!

We have one week left of classes - i only have two hours of class a day - but besides that there's a ton of reading.

Jamie and i took the opportunity to jump in one last time. ->

At church this morning we sang a song which goes well with the weekend for me. I believe that it's something God is teaching me - that there's more to it all. It says "Stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the Giver of all good things." Even the beautiful spring or the lovable people or even the bible are all FROM God. I'm loving the bible - but they are so good to remind me here not to become a "bibliolator" (lover of the Bible) but a lover of God.

There's more that rises in the morning than the sun
And more that shines in the night than just the moon
There's more than just this fire here that keeps me warm
In a shelter that is larger than this room

And there's a loyalty that's deeper than mere sentiments
And a music higher than the songs that I can sing
Stuff of Earth competes for the allegiance
I owe only to the Giver of all good things

So if I stand let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you
So if I sing let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs
And if I weep let it be as a man who is longing for his home

The value of a word

The case for the Bible is definitely stronger than what i ever used to think! If I had any doubts about whether the Bible is true, they'd be gone by now! But even if I trust it - I have been challenged with how much i value it.

Ps. 19: 10 says "More to be desired than gold - even much fine gold" There are definitely things that I would rather God left me stranded on a desert island with than my Bible, if I'm honest! Mostly, it's people - I'd rather have people around than God and His word. I read it a bit and then I'm on to new things. It's good - it's just not the key to my life.

1 Tim 3:16 says "All Scripture is...useful for teaching, rebuking, correction, and training...that the man of God may be equipped for every good work." So if i believe it then it would be my first and last place to look for my own self training. I would spend lots of time - looking through it. I don't think I really believe it.

These next two weeks will be a chance for me to dig in and enjoy whatever God has to offer in His word and in Himself. Looking forward to it! 

check it out. :)

It's a really nice campus...way nicer than canadian ones. Maybe because it's always warm here? There's a beach volleyball court and outdoor pool. It's right on a lake and has lots of outdoor tables to study at! It's great.

Also...Panera...so good - It's this bread place with classical music playing. It's got sandwiches like "turkey artichoke on basil pestor foccaccia" or "Pepperblue Steak on tasted Ciabatta". It's really really good and has wireless - that's how i'm online now.

check out the website http://www.panerabread.com/
I want them to come to Canada. Too bad i wasn't in business...

ok - two classes down, two more to go! I'm excited to have a later class schedule! (starting at 1 pm instead of 8 am!!!!) I can be really out of it in the morning....as you can see on the left. (just so you know...this was a fake!) :)


alright...back to the studying...right now i'm reading about "why is there so much pain in the world?" should be good!

A good promise.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:19

So...God will supply all my physical, emotional, spiritual, relational needs according to his glorious riches (which is a lot because He owns everything - 'cause He made everything!) in Christ Jesus.

I hope I'm interpreting this correctly - feel free to leave an opinion! But I have been greatly encouraged by this verse lately. And I have also been challenged because I don't act as if this is true!

I was feeling stressed and worried about changes happening in my life - trying to think of how to provide for all the things that are changing. Like, friends - many of my London friends are leaving (not all!) but I'm starting to wonder who will fill in those spaces in my life? And what about spiritually - will there be people around and available who can build into me spiritually? I really feel like I need to find a female role model in my life - someone much older than me (not related) who can really challenge me by their life. I'm meeting people like this in my travels and it's inspiring me to get to know one well and to become more like them. I'm praying to find one in London.

On another note - today I went to the International Headquarters of Campus Crusade for Christ and it was pretty cool! We found them to be generous and welcoming hosts and the place, although it looked good and well-kept, was actually not over-the-top. It was classy though! I held Steve Douglas's mouse and sat in Bill Bright's former couch in his former office. Good stuff!

I found out about a new website too - full of people's (students mostly) stories. It's called www.storyspot.com . So check it out...i met the girl who was overseeing it. I feel so "in the know". ;)

I'm in Florida...

Florida in the summer - never thought i'd be here but it's been great! I'm taking a course in the different parts of christianity (ex. about the bible, who God is, who Jesus is,...) and another one in how to study the bible. I've learned so much...one neat thing we did was in looking at different attributes of God. I looked at God's providence...so interesting - i learned how God's providence includes His preservation of us, His government of us, and His cooperation with us.
There is definitely too much air conditioning in Florida - so i always need a jacket! But it's still good :) We went to the beach yesterday to see the space shuttle launch - unfortunately it was cancelled. Don't worry - we still got a tan! :P
I signed up for this so that i could leave a message on Melissa manahan's blog - she's going to Tanzania. someday i'll figure out how to link to her site. :)
see ya!