Vocabulary

There are many new words in "Out of the Dust." Find 15 of them. Write the page number and use it in a strong example sentence (one that shows you understand the word). You may not use the same words that another person has used OR the same sentence that is in the book.

Good Example:
(page 135) parched- After walking through the desert for two days without water, I was parched.

Bad Example:
(page 135) piano- I like pianos.
(page 135) chord- I like chords.

If you could...

If you could ask Billie Jo any question, what would you ask? What do you think she would say back?

Bad Example (don't do this!):
Me: Do you like apples?
Billie Jo: Yes.

Favorite Characters

Who is your favorite character in the book? Why?

Be specific! Use ideas and examples from the book!

The BIg Race

Greetings! This past week or so we had the annual track meet. Luckily, this year I was not stupid... I mean, brave enough, to sign up for the 1500 m. However, I did run in the 4 x 100 and managed to not embarrass myself. We took 3rd place for the second year in a row, which we were hoping to change this year, but injuries and sickness plagued the team once again. Maybe next year...

Anyways, in conjunction with the meet, the foreign teacher chapel team created a movie to explain the theme verse, Hebrews 12:1-3. I think it is pretty cool, and ended up doing the editting for the video. I am just happy that there are just a few "mistakes", which you may or may not find.

Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctpby95pIGg


"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
- Hebrews 12:1-3

KU!

I know that it has bee a few weeks since a post, and a lot has been happening, but right now, there is one thing on my mind...

KU football.

5-0! I know they played cupcake teams the first four weeks, but beating K-State in Manhatten makes my day. Many, I miss football. You never know how much you will miss the cool fall days bundled up in a sweatshirt until it is 90 and humid all "fall."

Oh, well. Still can't ruin the perfect start. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

Parable of the Talents

The Parable of the Talents

14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'


It is 12:46 A.M. Back in my college days, this would not be considered a very late bedtime. Now that I am an old woman of 24, this feels like I am pulling my sixth all-nighter in a row. And maybe it is because I am, in a sense. The bedtimes keep moving back later and later and the mornings keep getting closer and closer to the crack of dawn.

I'm exhausted.

But I feel like I have to write about the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25. It is because of this passage that I am re-evaluating what I am doing in Taiwan. Each of us has been given gifts and talents from our generous Creator. Yet, I feel like I am constantly trying to 'steal' other people's talents and claim them as my own. I am not necessarily the most musical person, yet I keep leading songs and playing guitar (which I LOVE for my personal praise, but does it need to be shared? I don't know!). I am also am finding myself leading and teaching things I dont know if I am gifted in.

I am asking God for guidance in determining what my gifts and talents are. And I am certainly asking Him for help in finding appropriate venues for using these to the best of my ability. Please pray for these things, too!

And now, back to work...

A Great Cloud of Witnesses

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Two weeks ago, I heard one of the best sermons I have ever heard in Taiwan. Maybe it was the timing, the translation, or the theology behind it, but something really struck me about the text. It was from Hebrews 12:1-2 (see text above), and sparked a plethora of thoughts and ideas in my mind. I would like to share one now.

As I think about the idea of a "Great Cloud of Witnesses" in verse 1, the initial thought that pops into my head is that of the Old Testament 'heroes.' You know, the Enochs, Noahs, Abrahams, Sarahs, Isaacs, Jacobs, etc. These are the people that I am sure the author of Hebrews is referring to, as this is the meat of chapter 11. All these amazing people who lived by faith in things that they cannot see, but wait with certainty and hope for it to come.

I agree that these people of the past are inspirational. They are a model of living by faith. But as I start to think about the witnesses in my life, I see the people around me as that "great cloud."

Specifically, I think of the fellow missionaries that are here. And this is something that didn't move me until coming back this year. Last year, I was able to appreciate the gifts and talents of all the missionaries in Taiwan. This year, I am in awe of the faith each of these people has. They have courage, wisdom, strength, and fortitude to be in a place that is mostly non-Christian, and yet they are willing to deal with anything to run the race set before them. Their eyes are truly fixed on Jesus, and their faith has encouraged mine in just the few weeks that we have been back.

Additionally, there are so many Taiwanese brothers and sisters that surround me and encourage my faith daily. Those friends who have gone against their parents to follow Christ, being disowned by the family. Those friends who are new Christians, but continue to reach out to their friends to share the Good News they recently learned. Those friends who have started Bible Studies and fellowship activities to tell others about Jesus.

Everywhere I look, there are more and more witnesses of Jesus. How inspiring!

This got me thinking about the great cloud where ever you may be. How often do we tell those who encourage us how important they are? Wouldn't that be an encouragement for them, to keep spreading to love of Christ?

Just a thought...