Web Help

So I am in need of someone to create a photography website for me :).... any ideas?!?

A Rare Opportunity

So this semester I needed one more elective for graduation. I chose creative writing. Sounded fun... not too hard and hey I don't hate writing, especially when I get to make it up. It has turned out to be my favorite class by far. This past week we had an assignment to write a poem or monologue from the view point of someone who was a side character in a main historical event. I chose to write about Mary. Now keep in mind that by this point I have been able to establish that none of my class mates ( except maybe one...not sure though) and clearly not my professor are believers. So I ran with the opportunity to throw the gospel in there somehow. So i decided to write about Mary and her perspective on the crucifixion. Now as I wrote this I was thinking man this is going to inevitably be cliche... but it was on my heart to write it so I knew it was what God wanted me to do and I left the cliche factor in His hands. So yesterday was our workshop day. They got to my poem ( you don't know who's poem is who's until the end of work shopping/ critiquing the poem). So a girl read mine out loud... then silence... I was like ohhhhhh no. They are going to destroy this. Oh and funny enough right before my poem was a poem that was about how jospeh really hated Jesus and didn't think He was the messiah and my teacher had just explained how there were many messiahs. So just imagine that as the back drop. Anways after about a minute of silence a girl spoke up and said, "wow.... this is so not cliche". Needless to say I let out a deep breath. Then my professor took off his glasses and looked up and said... "this is absolutely incredible, I would have never in my entire writing career have ever attempted to write about this topic... it's impossible not to be cliche... but this, wow, this pulled it off perfectly. This poem is deep, full of heavy sentences, beautiful portraying a heavy topic in history. This is so not cliche. I don't know how you did it, but this is amazing." I was like ohhhh praise you Lord. Other people spoke up and said how this was so refreshing because it was so not typical and not coy. No one could belive how non typical and non cliche it was. I seriously wanted to shout Praise God in class.... but obviuosly that would have not really been so appropriate at that moment. SO when everyone was done talking they found out I wrote it and I got to talk abotu it for a minute. So i just said that I am not a writer... like I don't consider this a hobby, so I had to pick something I was passionate about and just go with it. I also just restated the gospel again and explained a line in my poem abotu how Jesus took on all our sin and at that point since God is perfectly holy He could not have relationship at that point with Christ and He had to turn His face away. I just said this is very real to me so it came out real on paper. They were ver appreciative of my honesty.

I mean how often do you get to do that in a large secular school. present the gospel to your entire non believeing class... wow. God is so gracious to give us those opportunities. Needless to say I was so humbled. I am so thankful God lets us go along as He spreads truth. Now I realize that none of thos people may ever think about that poem and its truth again... but that is in God's hands. And He is Sovereign. I am just a servant He chose to use to present His story via a poem to a dark class. What a privledge.
Humbled Servant,
RJ

Oh here is a copy of them poem. A girl also asked me to bring her one to keep. Pretty cool.

Without being asked I was chosen for this
To see you betrayed by a friend with a kiss
And I bite my tongue as I look at the smirk
On the face of the guard as he does his work.
The hammer is swung and the nail goes in
As You bear the burden and sting of my sin
On Your perfect shoulders the weight of it all
The sorrow the shame the curse of the fall.
The breath has been taken the guilt has been borne
The veil and the gap I’ve created is torn.
A babe with a face that could bring such a smile
Is the face that I see when I look at my child
As the cross is brought down and the death tomb is sealed
At this point what is a mother to feel?
My Savior was once the child that I held
In a manger with cattle and horses we dwelled.
Now here I must watch as Your Father could not
As You open the way to the God I have sought.
Three days three days I kept telling myself
And this ache in my heart will no longer be felt
As the world will see the truth I have known
And the child I once carried now carries me home.

The Fair The Fair

So last night a group of us went to the fair. I have never been to a fair in the south before. I must say I was impressed. It was clean, fun, safe. Not bad Birmingham. Here are a few pic from the night:

An afternoon at starbucks

oh man the things you hear when you are in downtown Birmingham at your local starbucks.

" I aint no robbin n*****... btu you got 77 cents? Roll tide?"

" Yes I would like a cup of hot water please."

" Yes a medium sized no foam latte heated to 140 degrees please"

" this highlighter... it's just a self discipline tool....(what?)"

gotta love it.

Wordle

OH man this was fun... I just put a link to my blog in and it took all kinds of words from my blog and made this:

      title="Wordle: My Blog">    src="http://wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/214912/My_Blog"
    style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">

Awesome!

no way Jose'

You're not getting me!

The Thursday Thought

Well today was a slow day for me... I have the crud...boo.

But I thought I would throw this in there for the Thursday Thought.

Its time for me to get some more rest. I just hope I can sleep tonight... why is it that when your body feels so lifeless you cannot seem to go to sleep? Backwards.

Here is the Thursday thought from the Passion Blog. Enjoy!

If you’ve been anywhere around the Passion Movement in the last year you’ve come to know and love Ashley Akinns. Her huge heart for life, and her embrace of the grace we all so desperately cling to, has changed our lives forever and put a beautiful face on the mission we carry in our hearts . For those of you new to the journey, this was Ashley’s first e-mail to us last year:

January 22, 2007

Hi, I feel kinda weird writing this email. And i doubt if it ever gets to Mr LouieGiglio. I am a Senior at The University of Florida. I got a new roommate this semester and she is a Christian and I have never really been into the whole Christian thing because every pastor or speaker that I have ever listened to didn’t speak in a language I could understand. I have believed in God and Jesus, but never really understood it because the preachers at the church that I have always been forced to go to every Sunday of my life. They speak all high and mighty and I never really felt connected, and I felt like God was only for the perfect people.
Well my roommate went to this Passion Conference over winter break. And she came back and moved into my apt and she was real and genuine about all her Christian stuff, like I have never seen before in a person. She said that God changed her at this conference, so i was like what are you talking about. And she told me. She told me about how God was cool, and how God really wanted a deeper relationship with her, and she wanted to really love God the way he loved her, so of course I was like well huh? She then said you need to listen to Louie talk about God, so I asked who Louie was, and she put on the Indescribable talk, and then we watched the Passport talk. And in the Passport talk you said that Christians do not have to just hope for the best at the end, that they do not have to do enough good stuff. You explained how to get to heaven in a simple way, in a way that I have never heard before. I actually got it, I got it that it is not about being so good, cause I am not a good person. I have screwed up a lot. But then you said grace, and talked about how is was different than other religions. Because God is a loving and a kind God who wants to forgive me. My roommate then explained that he wants to forgive me.
Now for one of the reasons I am thanking you. One, I am now a Christian. And two, my roommate said that she had never really cared about telling others about how much God loved her before she went to this conference. So though I am not sure who will ever read this. Please tell Louie thanks from me, for talking about Christ in a way that a college kid can understand. I know that Jesus has changed my life and as I get ready to graduate college in May, I am gonna be a different person. I am sorry this is kinda rambling but I just had to tell you that I now know about the Grace of God, and I have life for the first time in my 22 years

Ashley

www.268generation.com

mmm...fall...my favorite... here is why: Scarves Pumpkin Spice Lattes The world become more colorful Crisp mornings Cool Breezes Open Windows Football The sun shines a little more golden Thanksgiving Pumpkins Sweet Potato Pie Dressing (like with Turkey) Orange...everywhere Whats your favorite thing about fall? Send it my way!

So my blog format is still freaking out..I'm hoping my new computer...whenever that happens... will fix it! Anyways... oh Tuesdays... they are long... No physical anthro today though bc of an anthro dept. open house... woop woop.. Ever have one of those moments when you know you know someone but just for the love can't remember from where??? That happened to me today... at the bathroom sink...I wish I was more bold... like Josh Cannon... and could've said, "Dude, I think I know you". Steep ambitions.

So in keeping with my thematical day blogs i decided on Tuesday Tune... but I got way to excited about this one to wait until Tuesday so happy early Tuesday Tune...my new favorite song. Your Love is Strong by Jon Foreman Heavenly Father You always amaze me Let Your kingdom come in my world And in my life Give me the food I need To live through today Forgive me as I forgive The people that wrong me Lead me far from temptation Deliver me from the evil one I look out the window The birds are composing Not a note is out of tune Or out of place I walk to the meadow And stare at the flowers Better dressed than any girl On her wedding day So why should I worry? Why do I freak out? God knows what I need You know what I need! Your love is Your love is Your love is strong The kingdom of the heavens Is now advancingInvade my heart Invade this broken town The kingdom of the heavens Is buried treasure Would you sell yourself To buy the one you've found Two things you told me That you are strong And you love me Yes, you love me Your love is Your love is Your love is strong Our God in Heaven Hallowed be Thy name Above all names Your kingdom come Your will be done On earth as it is in Heaven Give us, today, our daily bread Forgive us weary sinners Keep us far from our vices And deliver us from these prisons

an eye for an eye

So do you ever have one of those days where you just make awkward eye contact with a LOT of people? Well I am having one... I don't mind! We are watching a documentary on Stonehenge right now... I mean really... this is a very very big waste of my time. I mean who cares about a bunch of rocks that were created for sun worship... not I! I am a little stressed about this booki review I have coming up. I don't think I'm going to do very well on it.... and I don't care about the topic so boo on that! Newks was good today for lunch! I made a 61 on my history test... I studied too... what can you do. I have to write a short story for my final project for creative writing. I was thinking about doing a modern day fiction of Hosea? Any ideas? OH it IS my lucky day... the role got passed around early... I'm outta heya!

oooooooooooo

and I have no idea why there is this massive blank at the top of all my posts.. any ideas?

The Thursday Thought

Since many of my friends do these cute little rhyming word day things ( such as Tasty Tuesday or Wordless Wednesday) I thought I'd jump on the boat. My creativeness... The Thursday Thought... not very creative I know... but here we go. Today the thought is from our very own John Piper...love him. Enjoy! No Evil Shall Befall You By John Piper March 26, 1984 James Chalmers, a Scottish-born Presbyterian missionary, sailed for the South Pacific under the London Missionary Society in 1866. During his thirty-five years of service on the frontiers he lost two wives, but the grief only moved him to greater dedication. He vowed to bury his sorrow in work for Christ. In the spring of 1901, he and Oliver Tomkins were on an exploratory trip along the coast of New Guinea in the Fly River region. The two went ashore and when they did not return a search party went in and came out with the news. Chalmers and Tomkins had been clubbed to death, chopped into pieces, cooked and eaten before the search party even arrived. What then does Psalm 91:7-12 mean? A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you…Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your habitation, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. Could it be that James Chalmers and Oliver Tomkins lacked faith in this promise? No! Hebrews 11:33-35 tell of saints who through faith “escaped the sword,” but verses 36-38 tell of saints who through faith “were killed with the sword.” Could it be that this promise of safety only applied in Old Testament days but not any more? No! Psalm 44:22 shrieks, “Nay, for thy sake we are slain all day long, and counted as sheep for the slaughter.” Even in Old Testament days the promise seemed vain. Could it be that Psalm 91 is a prophecy of the Messiah and will only apply to him? Perhaps Messiah will escape the sword? No! Satan tried this on Jesus in the wilderness. He quoted this very Psalm, urging Jesus to claim this promise for himself. Jesus refused and joined the “ten thousand who fall” (v. 7). What then? I think Jesus is teaching us that promises like Psalm 91 mean this: No ill befalls the saints but what God’s love permits, and even this “ill” will not conquer them. Paul asks, “Shall peril or sword separate us from the love of Christ?” And answers, “No! In all these we are more than conquerors!” The Psalmists proclaimed absolute safety to the saints not because they were naïve, but because under the impulse of the Holy Spirit they felt an indomitable hope that God rules and cares for his people. Evil simply can’t befall them! If it seems to, there must be a glorious deliverance we can’t see. What else can we conclude when we put two Psalms together like this: Psalm 44:22 - "For thy sake we are slain all day long."Psalm 34:19 - "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." And didn’t Jesus talk to his disciples just like this? Luke 21:16 - “…some of you they will put to death.”Luke 21:18 - “But not a hair of your head will perish.” Is fear holding you back from a venture with God? Fear not! No final evil can befall you! James Chalmers and Oliver Tomkins are more than conquerors through him who loved them. With you in the shadow of the Almighty, Pastor John

Hallelujah... random thoughts

I am going to bed at 9 o'clock. Praise the Lord. Maybe my body will be able to fight off the sinus crud after all. I have a loooong class day tomorrow so expect a post. And new pics are going up for sale tomorrow too. Check them out. Redbubble.com/people/rdjones I work at a church... how crazy is it that we get paid to do ministry. God is so good. I really may be trading in my new SUV sooner than expected if gas doesn't make its climb back down the price ladder soon. I think I'll get a hybrid I am the official event photographer at church now. Lame I know, but I am excited! I get to take the Walls christmas card picture. excited once again. I don't think I will even take my nose ring out again unless its for good. OUCH! I really like to write. I plan to do it more often. I am done with homework for this week. I don't hate school as much anymore either. I love this weather... makes me want to smile all the time. I decided that if God doesn't open a job door for me come next summer, I'm going to travel the world. I found a missions trip that does that. Cool I know. I opened my window, which has no screen and now I have a moth or two, or three, on my wall. Excellent. Whither would you soar? Can I say what I mean and mean what I say? this could go on all night... I need to go to bed. Bueno Noche!

So this is love

Well creative writing strikes again... and this time in the form of a poem of an historical event from the point of someone that appears defeated or the loser.... here is the result... the best my brain could do at 11pm So this is love Without being asked I was chosen for this To see you betrayed by a friend with a kiss And I bite my tongue as I look at the smirk On the face of the guard as he does his work. The hammer is swung and the nail goes in As You bear the burden and sting of my sin On Your perfect shoulders the weight of it all The sorrow the shame the curse of the fall. The breath has been taken the guilt has been borne The veil and the gap I’ve created is torn. A babe with a face that could bring such a smile Is the face that I see when I look at my child As the cross is brought down and the death tomb is sealed At this point what is a mother to feel? My Savior was once the child that I held In a manger with cattle and horses we dwelled. Now here I must watch as Your Father could not As You open the way to the God I have sought. Three days three days I keep telling myself And this ache in my heart will no longer be felt As the world will see the truth I have known And the child I once carried now carries me home.

rain

Thank You for the rain. In more than one way. Heavy heart. More thoughts to come.

good

So i got to work a little early this morning cause I had to drop off Marli and Kaelyn by 7:50 for school. I am keeping them while Jason and Michelle are at staff retreat. It's been a blast! I'm going to love being a mom. But anyways this morning I spent the extra 30 minutes I had before work in the sanctuary. I love being in there when no one is there. I love it more when we are all prasing God on Sunday morning, but there is something special when you can escape for a minute and just sit in there early in the morning as the light peaks through the 10 foot windows. mmm. So I was sitting there talking to God, thinking about how much he has blessed me. I was looking around that church thinking about how much they have been a family to me over the past few years. I love it. I get to live with the best family ever. I get paid to work at a church. I have a car to drive. I have a back-up computer... as slow as it may be. I have had all of college paid for. and the list goes on and on. but then came the sweetes part of my morning. I realized I am loved by the King. If he were to take all of the above away... and then some. He chose me. There will never be a time in my life when I cannot say... I am so blessed by God. Now that is truly a blessing. God's blessing are good. But He is better. I love it.

Okay computer thief

Just give it back.... or tell me you have it... you can keep it. for real. I just want to know where it went.

RIP macbook pro.

Gone

My macbook pro.

Gone.

From my room.

In our house.

Gone.

Mystery... I know.

Who took it... I don't know.

So whoever stole it... have fun... because you don't know my password nor have I activated the Adobe C3 suit yet... so you may have it... but your not going to do much with it. Enjoy the internet... cause thats about all you got.

I am so very glad that it was just a computer though.

Could have been a lot worse.

And stuff is so very temporary...I am most thankful that my joy is not based on things or circumstances...but the One who will never leave, change, or get stolen... if that was even possible... you know what I mean.

Bummer of a day I guess.

Life goes on...PTL

God made you outta mud

So today I got stuck in the carpool line at church when I was leaving for class. I had my windows down because it it unusually cool here in Birmingham today and two little kids walked past me to get to their car.. the little boy told the sister that was annoying him... "Yeah well God made you outta mud... hey yeah well God made you outta muuud." I think it was his way of saying "your a stupid head"... they must have talked about the creation story today.
Loved it.
So simple.

For Sale

For those of you who don't have facebook I am selling my photography now! All proceeds will go to the Passion World Tour.

Here is the sight:

http://redbubble.com/people/rdjones

Check it out!

yummy goodness

so i found a really good new snack today.
Baked Lays BBQ chips dipped in the new chick-fil-a sauce.
Don't knock it.
Try it.

next

I'm home... ready to conquer the week. With a little grace.
Okay.
A lotta grace.
Lord... here it is.
Life.