Russia, Decisions, Star Trek and Altars

Well, A couple things come to mind.

1) Last Night Church was A-mazing! Beyond all reason. Seriously. All during the message I was fighting off the most obsurd desire to close my eyes, I was not really tired and as soon as service was over, this ceased to be a problem. Other than being really irritated, and slightly afraid of falling asleep, I was kind of excited, because usually when you have to fight to pay attention, it means that something amazing is going to happen. Well, I was right... At the end she opened up the altars for prayer, and I didn't even really know why but I knew I was supposed to go up and pray. She hadn't done one of those "If you need prayer for ______________, come up and pray" things. She was like "I think we need to open up the altars for prayer." And then I went up and was like "okay God, I am here but don't really know why." Well, three different people prayed for me and they each prayed over me, things that I needed. Things that I hadn't shared with anyone, and in one case, something I didn't even realize, until it was prayed over me. So...yeah... God is amazing! The Holy Spirit was there is a hardcore way, and I thoroughly recommend altar time...

2) I leave on my trip in a month. It says so on the little countdown thingy I have on my blog. As the trip gets closer and closer, my feeling that this is going to be a life-changing trip grows, as does my apprehension that I may not be comfortable with the changes that this trip brings. I am still really excited. I don't think it is going to be life changing in a bad way at all, I don't fear for my safety, I just "know" that post-Russia Stacey is going to be different from the person who is sitting here and typing this blog. I love how this is my trip to Russia, although I am also going to five other countries. I know that I am most excited about Russia...

3) I have a request... Can you guys remember to lift me up in prayer? I need prayer for direction and guidance, as I am going to be making some MAJOR decisions later this summer, and I could use all the prayers I can get.

4) Star Trek again last night. It was the last of the films featuring the original cast... I was kind of sad while watching it, not because it is the last movie, but because it represented so many "lasts" that make me sad. With life changing so much over the summer, I just know that life will be different come September. Not a bad different but different. I know that God can and will move in these strange circumstances of different-ness, and that in many cases he will move in light of the different circumstances... but as much as I want to see a mighty move of God, I am selfish and would like my basically pretty happy life to stay the same. I am afraid of change and all of its implications. But I don't want to be so afraid of change that I sabotage the whole thing...much like what happened in the Star Trek we watched last night...

God, Star Trek, Sexual Harassment, and Historians

It always amazes me that the right people are there at the right time.

After a few of the rougher weeks of my life, I am overwhelmingly joyful that I can report on having had, basically a really good week.

Today I went to a pre-employment workshop where we were told not to sexually harrass people, don't do drugs, and don't try to fraud the worker's comp system. And I had totally forgotten to take my social security card with me...But I did have my passport with me and was able to use that instead.

I really liked the Star Trek movie we watched last night at Sarah's house. The others didn't like it because it was "new agey" and yes it was, but it showed how easily people can be decieved by a false God and then end up on a path that does not lead them to God (like they believe) but instead leads them to destruction. It also showed that people traveling the wrong path believe truly that they are on the right one. But then Captain Kirk questions the unknown god pretending entity, and finds that the entity is not divine "What does God need with a starship?" and it is a really good question. God doesn't need a starship. And while I think that deciding that God exists within the human heart is a little too humanistic, it also goes with all of the cardiac residential allegories that we as Christians tend to use. (Did you invite Jesus into your heart?)

I just got my first issue of The Historian which is the academic journal published by the Phi Alpha Theta honor society. It made me feel like a grown up historian! As an undergraduate student, I often feel like a child (or more often toddler) in my field. It is very strange to realize that I am getting to at the very least late childhood in my historical aging process. I will have to become more and more independent in my research from here on out.

I have gotten a bunch of responses from my comment on the fact that I believe just taking off and traveling the world is an unwise decision. I totally believe that it is an unwise decision FOR ME at THIS TIME. I want to do other things too. I want to finish school and start my career, I have my ministries that I am involved in. I have friends and family whom I would miss if I just took off. Yes, I know that amazing things happen when you travel, that is one of the reasons why I love to do it. But I believe that I will have more time to travel in the future. So for now, I'll stick to my 6 countries I am visiting this summer and maybe plan for another trip next year.

I am going to be gone for 4th of July. Denise and I are going up to my aunt's house for a short visit. I promised I would visit and with the 4th being a 3 day weekend it seems like a good time. We are taking the train. I have never taken a train before so it should be pretty fun. The trip still takes about the same time, but since I hate driving and get especially sleepy around Bakersfield (it is like the poppy fields in WIzard of Oz...)I am glad to be taking the train.

Saturday Night/Sunday Morning Prayer was AMAZING! Just in case there was any doubt in anyone's mind!

Well, other than the fact that I am craving froyo and chinese food, I really have nothing else to report...

More details as events warrant....