"Passion & Purity" . . . one of the best books that I have ever read. It's author, the one and only . . . Elizabeth Elliot, has the deepest insight and wisdom on the subject of purity. I first thought the book was called "Passion for Purity" and thought I really needed to read it. My reason for wanting to read it was very simple and a little disappointing to me personally. I had started noticing I had lost my "passion'' for purity. Yes, I still led a life of being committed to purity, but wasn't passionate about it anymore. It seemed normal; all of my friends are committed to purity as well, so it's not like I am ever under peer pressure (it's kind of like having a nose-so does everyone else!). My thinking was "Yeah, I'm committed to purity . . ." and not "Yes! I'm committed to purity . . .".Anyway, I asked my Dad if he had ever heard of the book and if he thought he could get it for me and he said he thought it was called "Passion & Purity". I got it, read it, and was amazed. I love how God worked that whole book thing out! I thought if was about having a passion for purity, but it was about having passion in purity. I found that the passion for the purity stems from the passion within the purity, and not necessarily with a human, but with God also. You have to value the worth of the purity to gain a passion for it. You will have no passion for something, nor will you protect something that is not important to you. I wouldn't try as hard to protect a person I have never met as much as I would my parents or one of my brothers. I might want to protect that "stranger" and might even try, but I wouldn't do it as fiercely for them as I would for the people I love and value. I read a book that I thought didn't really pertain to my "issue", and was (and still am) exceedingly enlightened and inspired. If you get the chance, read the book. It is amazing insight, but as great as the insight is Elizabeth and Jim Elliot's love story will be one of the larger tools in birthing within you a passion for purity. "The greatest things come at the highest price . . ."

I have been listening to Yo Yo Ma for about 45 minutes, and I must say it does make you feel smarter. Oh, yes . . . there is the keyword "feel". Who knows . . . . I'm trying to broaden my "musical horizons", if that is even an acceptable term. I like classical very much, hence the broadening isn't that difficult. I don't know what my favorite genre is (besides Christian music). I think it just depends on where I am and what mood I'm in. Oh, the weather does have a lot to do with it as well . . .

Branching Out

Wow! I haven't been on here in a very long time! I normally just sit at home and do boring things (Some not so boring! Knitting can be fun! So can reading!) and wish I could do something that involved the world outside the walls of our house. Most of the time I take a walk down the lane or back to the woods and the feeling passes, but recently I have branched out a bit. I have begun working at a pastor's retreat lodge (not every retreat is for pastors) and am enjoying it much more than I thought I would. Last night was my first time serving dinner, and it went surprisingly well. I was very nervous because everything is very formal, like . . . . the "Lodge" is an old mansion that overlooks a river and sits on the most beautifully kept grounds, and everyone is rather dressed up. Last night I served for a Revive Our Hearts (Nancy DeMoss' ministry) retreat/conference/summit. It was a wonderful group of people to "practice" on. I knew most of them and also got to meet some of the others. At one point when Mrs. Garr and I were topping off tea and water, Miss Nancy asked if she could interrupt her table's conversation and introduced Mrs. Garr and I to everyone at her table. The were all so sweet and saying "thank you, etc.". Come on, how often do you get to interact with such amazing people while "working"?

Song Writing

Today was a pretty fun/productive/interesting day. We had company from last Wednesday to yesterday afternoon, hence we were pooped. In a good way. We didn't make it to church this morning so we virtually did nothing. We watched no TV, and that is not because we are legalistic or think it's wrong to watch TV on Sundays, it is simply because . . . my Dad turned our satellite off! I don't really care, but my brothers are in mourning. So . . . today I read quite a bit from one of Elizabeth Elliot's books Passion and Purity. I am in awe of her. I've known her story for years, but reading from her heart pushed me into my "awed" state. I'll tell you later what urged me to read the book in the first place. Another story, another post . . .
Anyway, I also productively spent my time writing a song. I wrote it between a piano and a guitar, but can't decide which I like it best on. Probably the guitar. When I'm sure that I'm finished I will post the lyrics. My new goal when writing a song is to make sure that is it conducive to congregational worship. You know how certain artists' ,Steven Curtis Chapman for example, writes songs, but only he could sing them. But others, Chris Tomlin for example, write songs that anyone could sing and worship in. That is my goal.

George Muller

I have been reading George Muller's auto bio these days and am more amazed than ever. The number one thing about him that sticks out the most to me is the way he mourns over his sin. Oh, how I want to be like that . . . Every time in the book he relays something wrong that he did he goes in to detail of his despair. I'm just enamored by him! I was before the book, but am even more so now. I have a blog named after him that is dedicated to orphans. Someday I would love to go and see his grave and the Ashley Down Orphanage . . . wouldn't that be so cool! My Dad and I talked about it being my senior trip, but I think we are looking more at Ireland. I didn't want to go on a George Muller "tour guide" because, quite honestly, that is not my vision. Can you you imagine standing near or next to his grave with ten other people? I would want to just stand there and dwell on his life, think, pray . . . you know, something peaceful. But who knows, I might just surrender. While we were talking about it and I said I didn't want to go on a tour guide, we soon came to the conclusion that that might not be the best idea because if we did something we thought was OK, but was illegal or something we could get thrown in jail and never get to come home! That would be an amazing experience to write a book about, but it could be kinda freaky during the process, and my Mom would never recuperate. The reason we were thinking Ireland is for a few reasons. One being that we both think Ireland is next to heaven on earth (that's where the Gettys are from for crying out loud!), and we have friend that are from there and could tell us the "do's and don'ts". Anyway . . . George Muller is a pretty cool dude and you should definitely read his book . . .

Merry Christmas Eve!!!!!! We just opened an early present from our friends Mr. Dick and Miss Patty, who live in Kentucky. It was a camcorder! It will be soooo much fun to record tomorrow morning. The problem is that we have to get to Wal-Mart before it closes at six to get a tape for it. I bet it will be a pretty crazy place! We went twice yesterday and the second time we went the whole parking lot was close to being full. And the lines . . . that was another story. My Dad has this issue with waiting in lines and will even go to a Wal-Mart he thinks will have the most open lanes. His other issue is not only waiting but choosing the right one. Most of the time we will start in one and then move to another because he thinks it will move faster. By the time we get in the other line the one we were just in will be moving faster than any lane in the store! We still love him though. Last night he made the line choice of a lifetime. A lady opened her lane and he FLEW in, hence we ended up being the first person in line . . .

I recently read a book by Zach Hunter (a 16 year old modern day slavery abolitionist. He's like the William Wilberforce of our day) called "Be The Change". Zach takes you through different stories of people's lives who have tried, or have succeeded, in freeing slaves around the world, and then encourages you to "be the change" and get involved in the abolition of modern day slavery or either something else you are passionate about. I have heard about Zach and his cause from a few different sources, but found that hearing from him and not just about him was a totally different experience. In reading, I found his passionate desire for the abolition of modern day slavery to be extremely inspiring. My #1 earthly passion, is the betterment or improvement of the lives of orphans around the world. Despite having that passion I have found, by reading the book, that my awareness of modern day slavery has definitely risen to a height it never was before. It's so easy for people to believe that slavery does not even exist anymore, but, on the contrary, it surely does. It didn't end in William Wilberforce's days. I have even come to the conclusion that I will not purchase, nor purposefully eat, chocolate from certain companies because of the forced labor (slavery) involved in the cocoa companies whom they buy from. It may sound kinda crazy and too indirect to make a difference, but it is a choice of denying something that is connected to destroyed lives.

All of that to say this: You should definitely read the book. I am discovering a new passion. And . . . I will be avoiding chocolate, which will be a difficult task, but it is for a higher cause than the satisfaction of my taste buds.

http://www.myspace.com/lc2lc This is the link to Zach Hunter's My Space page.

http://www.amazon.com/Be-Change-Freeing-Slaves-Changing/dp/0310277566/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230003867&sr=8-1 This is the link to buy the book.