A Renewal of Faith...Remember that God really is all-powerful

Chris Tomlin wrote a song titled "Our God"

...You should listen to it on youtube.com

Water you turned into wine, opened the eyes of the blind there's no one like you none like You!
Into the darkness you shine out of the ashes we rise there's no one like you none like You!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

Into the darkness you shine out of the ashes we rise there's no one like you none like You!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
What could stand against. 

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
Then what could stand against.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!

Guidelines for Party Etiquette

The last "party" I attended was oddly non-active. They--I did not partake in the second--watched 2 movies and we all tried to play a game. The air of the party was 'uuuuuhhhhhhh.' I had never attended a party where almost everyone was in 'uh' mode, so, needless to say, I was unsure how to respond.

All in all, I did enjoy myself. I left around 3am in order to rest before my Saturday driving expedition.

There were a few things I learned though, just like the beach.


When pulling a prank, such as toilet papering, make sure that the target does NOT know you have planned a TPing event or that you have yellow and green paper mache. Part 2...Make sure that the person who hosted the party does not tell the TP target who was involved. (This is highly suggestive of not allowing people under the age of 16 to attend.)

When you are preparing to attend any party, make plans to rest before you arrive. Sleeping and lolling about on the couch does nothing for the morale of the other people attending. We all want to be jovial and party, play games and be loud, but with your attitude and lack of energy people follow you into the world of Ho-hum. Get an understanding about life, you do need sleep, but not at nor after the party. Rest before.

When playing a game such as Imagine If... being accurate is rather mundane for all other players. The object of the game is to be ridiculous and tease the other players. The same is true for the game Curses--you are supposed to make fun of and laugh at each other. The point of both games is to laugh at each other and make fun of each other. (general rule for playing games)

Perhaps most importantly, keep track of your car keys, underwear, and cell phones. Car key and cell phones are easily taken and tampered with--swapping the names of contacts in someone else's phone is a great starter. Underwear, while not all that common to be lost or not-on during parties, they can be very nasty after placed in the freezer for any length of time.

Pranks that are acceptable at any party
...shaving cream in the hand of anyone who falls asleep. Gently blow on their face, or use a piece of paper to tickle their face. You should be able to guess what happens next.
...setting the alarms in the place to varying times. Setting the alarm on the phone is also a great way to annoy those closest to you.
...place marshmallow cream in the mayonnaise squeeze bottle. This is great as long as you do not forget the whole thing.
...text someone to come pick you up while you stand outside the door of the party. When the exit the door, scream and jump in front of them making sure to cover your face and groin. The reaction is fantastic, especially if you wait for multiple people to exit and jump out at the last person.

Party with fun and energy!

ADDITIONAL NOTE: The greatest prank, for myself, to pull is the "I drooled" or "I peed" prank. Needed materials: sleeping friend, ice cubes
Action: take ice cubes and place gently so that as the ice cubes melt they form a puddle that makes the sleeper look like they drooled or peed their pants.
Then sit back, take pictures, and wait for the hilarity to ensue.

Vacation

A couple of weeks ago I spent a week at the beach, on an island to be more precise. It was great. I began missing the water and sand two days after I returned to Ohio.

I learned a few things during vacation.

1.      According to my mother, being a “morning person” entails (1) getting up early, no matter what time you retired the previous evening, (2) be willing to carry on a conversation moments after you climb out of the top bunk bed, and (3) having great tolerance to children being loud and obnoxious before, during, and for 43 minutes after you awake.

2.      I am not a morning person.

3.      Our neighbors believe that whining “don’t do that” will naturally give us the logical resistance to not turn them in for (a) catching the dune on fire, (b) putting it out by jumping on the fire (illegal because they had to stand on the dune to do so), and (c) setting off fireworks (which is also illegal).

4.      Stupid people can do anything if they have grand amounts of money.

5.      6am on the beach is NEVER too early for a walk, if you have a camera and are taking pictures.

6.      You must the take a nap beginning before 10am if you arise before 6am and you are living beachside.

7.      Children who leave the room without first turning the TV off should have their hands—plural—chopped off. At all times!

8.      Shoes are ridiculous, unless you are going out to eat. They should not be worn unless you will not be admitted into the establishment without them. The only other exception is when you are working.