The Bittersweet Paradox

What would posess someone in the parking lot of a CHRISTIAN BOOK STORE to leave the below note under the windshield wipers of one just wanting to find a book on student ministry so they can SERVE GOD better?

"Have some courtesy and learn to park."

The note in question, printed in perfect penmanship and torn from a piece of paper in a perfectly straight line, flapped mockingly at me in the breeze as I entered my car, optimistic about the opportunity God had given me to serve students next year. My decent parking job (which, admittedly was a little close to the right hand line, while still being completely within the lines) was not perfect enough to let go without some form of correction. Apparently, the parking lot of a Christian book store is the fertile soil on which righteous indignation flourishes. Not just garden variety righteous indignation, mind you; but the kind of righteous indignation which compels one to leave condescending notes under people's windshield wipers. Way to be Spirit-filled. I wish I had been blessed with the ministry of criticism like you.

These pics are amazing...had to share. The man's name is Chuck Ritchey Sr. He toils to make these works of art only to have them washed away by the ocean.

Or, should I say, I love what God has to tell me through Beth Moore.

Read this. It's fabulous.

I've never gone to a church before that did this whole Maundy Thursday thing. Every time I hear someone say Maundy Thursday, it makes me think of Tom Hanks on You've Got Mail regaling Meg Ryan with his list of memorable Godfather quotes...I think it has something to do with the accent he imitates as he lists them...anyways...

All joking aside, I'm told this whole Maundy Thursday thing has to do with the institution of the Last Supper and Jesus washing the disciples' feet. I'm attending my church's service tonight, and I'm looking forward to it. I hope to gain a new understanding of the significance of communion as well as a renewed commitment to serve my brothers and sisters in Christ. It makes me sort of glad that I didn't observe this particular day growing up, because it won't just be old, stuffy tradition to me. I'm excited to see what the Lord reveals tonight.

From Diana, Becki, and Alex

30. When girls talk about other girls, it's not always to be caddy. It's to let you know how we honestly feel about them and to protect your hearts. We're girls, and we know how some girls can be.

29. Don't be a man whore (DON'T try to make out with us without dating us first, and also, DON'T keep on when we've said no and told you to stop).

28. If you haven't finished (and when we say finished, we also mean resolved all emtional issues left over...) one relationship, don't go around starting other ones.

27. The makeup issue? Most of the time, we wear makeup for ourselves, not necessarily to impress you.

26. When a girl trusts you enough to expose her heart, you need to treasure and protect it, even if she's not ultimately the "one".

25. We need consistency, and let's be honest, constant reassurance. A daily phone call is NOT too much to ask. Even if it's for 20 minutes checking in and telling us that you're thinking about us. Sorry guys, it's just the way we're made.

24. If you like us, just call. If you like her, put yourself out there. Granted sometimes it might suck to be rejected, but ultimately, the potential reward is worth the risk.

23. The reason why you might think our signals are subtle is because we don't want you and everyone else in the room to know how much we really do like you. Sometimes we feel like our so-called "subtle" clues actually scream that we're in love with you and we're scared of what your response might be.

22. It ticks us off when you go for the Cameron Diazs and not the Toni Collettes.

21. Flowers and candy are nice, but you can never hear enough that your guy loves and respects you.

20. Treat your girlfriend like a queen and not a trophy. Queens are respected and trophies are displayed to impress others.

19. A girl likes to feel like her guy respects her opinions and that they are valued. Don't make snap decisions without at least taking her opinions into consideration.

18. Those of us who enjoy sports like to jump in and play along. We want to play with you, not necessarily to be one of "the guys".

17. For those of us who don't like to play sports, don't make us. And especially, don't get all mad if you did make us play and it turns out that we suck. That's pretty much the whole reason we didn't want to play to begin with.

16. A guy is much more attractive when he doesn't know he's attractive.

15. Sometimes we just want you to listen to a problem we might have rather than solving it and moving on.

14. Not all girls (the Tonis, anyway) go for the bad guys. In the end, the good guys really do win out...you're the ones we want to marry.

13. We like a guy who is more interested in the color of our eyes rather than our dress size (darn size zeros...heck, darn size fours).

12. Although we can handle an occasional bawdy joke, why do you little sisters deserve more protection? If you wouldn't do it to your little sister, don't do it to us. We're somebody's sister too. If something some other guy did or said to your little sister would make you want to beat him up, don't do it to anyone else.

11. "Evaluate us by the week, not by the moment"...same applies to us.

10. Guys don't know how far personality can go. A Topher with a great personality can get a lot further than a Tad who can't carry on a conversation.

9. Ketchup is a great condiment, it's just not always on the table.

8. Don't compare us to your mother unless our cooking is better. We don't want to know how your mom used to do it. It freaks us out that you would idealize her that much. There's a difference between a Mama's boy and a guy who respects his mother and treats her well.

7. Unless we ask about an ex-girlfriend, don't tell us about her. Oh, and FYI, pictures of the ex should never EVER still be on display.

6. We don't talk about our times of the month to gross you out, instead, let's just call it a heads up.

5. If we allow you all video games, allow us our shopping trips and time to talk about our fabulous purchases (esp. shoes).

4. You really are always supposed to pay. Our arguing is merely a formality. Please, continue to insist that you pay.

3. Us talking to you about the little, seemingly mundane details of our life merely means that we want you to be involved in it. Just as you want us to leave you alone during your precious football game, humor us and feign interest when we have a story to tell you.

2. Don't get us wrong, small gifts are not unwelcome (see # 21).

1. The only thing we want you to love more than us is Jesus. The most attractive quality you can have is being completely sold out to God.