Rev Run + Twitter

I now use my twitter to only really check out what Rev. Run has to say. He's awesome, follow him on revrunwisdom:

"There was a man who was complaining about having no shoes until he saw a man with no feet (keep a thankful mindset)" Rev Run and, of course I've heard this before.

It reminds me of the time I was in church and our pastor said we have to be the hands and feet. The man in front of me didn't have half his arm. I get the figurative, but when you see something else that unequally matches the statement, it defers you from the point. No arm? That's not fair for him. But he seemed wonderfully happy, with his wife and family. And here I am, single and moody.

Rev Run also twittered this: "Count your blessings, not your problems"

Every day I'm reminded of how blessed I am, even when I'm struggling, which has lately been every day for the last three or four months for sure. 


So then, this twitter thing:                      

"You don't drown becuz u fall in water,, u drown becuz u refuse 2 SWIM! #dont you dare give up!!!!! "

and

"When ur goin thru sum stuff hopefully that's exactly what ur doin, GOIN THRU IT! Not standin in it -Tyrese"

(why is a social networking site being a really good cheerleader?) 


I could go on making a bunch of excuses for things, complaining about things, defending bad behavior, feeling confused, and like so many people are mad at me, jealous, whatever, but I need to remember to stay focused, inspired, flexible, willing to change, and with my heart in God's hands.


"I repeat:: DO NOT let life drive u nuts! 1 min its the B.S & the next second its the B--EST! #lifesgood!"

Well said :)

Clams

This is probably the last poem I'll share that isn't of my own, for now. And no, I'm probably not going to share my own poems. These are some of the poems that I just can't get out of my head.

"What does this have to do with clams?
A feeling"

 

Clam Ode 

by Dean Young

One attempts to be significant on a grand scale
in the knockdown battle of life
but settles.
It is clammy today, meaning wet and gray,
not having a hard, calciferous shell.
I love the expression "happy as a clam,"
how it imparts buoyant emotion
to a rather, when you get down to it,
nonexpressive creature. In piles of ice
it awaits its doom pretty much the same
as on the ocean floor it awaits
life's bouquet and banquet and sexual joys.
Some barnacles we know are eggs dropped from outer space
but clams, who has a clue how they reproduce?
By trading clouds?
The Chinese thought them capable of prolonging life
while clams doubtlessly considered
the Chinese the opposite.
I remember the jawbreakers my dad would buy me
on the wharf at Stone Harbor, New Jersey;
every thirty seconds you'd take out
the one in your mouth
to check what color it turned.
What does this have to do with clams?
A feeling.
States of feeling, unlike the states of the upper midwest,
are difficult to name.
That is why music was invented
which caused a whole new slew of feelings
and is why since,
people have had more feelings than they know what to do with
so you can see it sorta backfired
like a fire extinguisher that turns out to be a flamethrower.
They look alike, don't they?
So if you're buying one be sure
you don't get the other,
the boys in the stockroom are stoners
who wear their pants falling down
and deserve their own Gulliver's Travels island.
The clam however remains calm.
Green is the color of the kelp it rests on
having a helluva wingding calm.
I am going to kill you in butter and white wine
so forgive me, great clam spirit,
join yourself to me through the emissary
of this al dente fettuccine
so I may be as qualmless and happy as you.

My major was creative writing, emphasis in poetry. One of my instructors introduced this poem to me and I thought I'd share it with you while I'm blogging a little on the subject.

The Shrinking, Lonesome Sestina

by Miller Williams 

Somewhere in everyone's head something points toward home,
 a dashboard's floating compass, turning all the time
 to keep from turning. It doesn't matter how we come
 to be wherever we are, someplace where nothing goes
 the way it went once, where nothing holds fast
 to where it belongs, or what you've risen or fallen to.

 What the bubble always points to,
 whether we notice it or not, is home.
 It may be true that if you move fast
 everything fades away, that given time
 and noise enough, every memory goes
 into the blackness, and if new ones come-

 small, mole-like memories that come
 to live in the furry dark-they, too,
 curl up and die. But Carol goes
 to high school now. John works at home
 what days he can to spend some time
 with Sue and the kids. He drives too fast.

 Ellen won't eat her breakfast.
 Your sister was going to come
 but didn't have the time.
 Some mornings at one or two
 or three I want you home
 a lot, but then it goes.

 It all goes.
 Hold on fast
 to thoughts of home
 when they come.
 They're going to
 less with time.

 Time
 goes
 too
 fast.
 Come
 home.

 Forgive me that. One time it wasn't fast.
 A myth goes that when the years come
 then you will, too. Me, I'll still be home.

    

Encyclopedia Definition: 

Sestina: an elaborate verse form employed by medieval Provençal and Italian,
and occasional modern, poets. It consist s, in its pure medieval form, of six
stanzas of blank verse, each of six lines -- hence the name. The final words
of the first stanza appear in varied order in the other five, the order used
by the Provençals being: abcdef, faebdc, cfdabe, ecbfad, deacfb, bdfeca.
Following these was a stanza of three lines, in which the six key words were
repeated in the middle and at the end of the lines, summarizing the poem or
dedicating it to some person.

Isaiah 43

But now, this is what the LORD says—
       he who created you, O Jacob,
       he who formed you, O Israel:
       "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
       I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

(How great is our God? How we fail in our lives constantly- in our time with Him, within our relationships- family, friends, coworkers, etc, and God is still guiding us for His purpose, protecting us, watching over us, and renewing us every single day.)

 ² When you pass through the waters,
       I will be with you;
       and when you pass through the rivers,
       they will not sweep over you.
       When you walk through the fire,
       you will not be burned;
       the flames will not set you ablaze.

 ³ For I am the LORD, your God,
       the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
       I give Egypt for your ransom,
       Cush and Seba in your stead.

 ⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
       and because I love you,
       I will give men in exchange for you,
       and people in exchange for your life.

 ⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
       I will bring your children from the east
       and gather you from the west.

 ⁶ I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
       and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
       Bring my sons from afar
       and my daughters from the ends of the earth-

 ⁷ everyone who is called by my name,
       whom I created for my glory,
       whom I formed and made."

 ⁸ Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
       who have ears but are deaf.

 ⁹ All the nations gather together
       and the peoples assemble.
       Which of them foretold this
       and proclaimed to us the former things?
       Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
       so that others may hear and say, "It is true."

 ¹⁰ "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD,
       "and my servant whom I have chosen,
       so that you may know and believe me
       and understand that I am he.
       Before me no god was formed,
       nor will there be one after me.

 ¹¹ I, even I, am the LORD,
       and apart from me there is no savior.

 ¹² I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
       I, and not some foreign god among you.
       You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God.

 ¹³ Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
       No one can deliver out of my hand.
       When I act, who can reverse it?"

I spend so much time in Isaiah's poetry. It reminds me that I am valuable to God. We are valuable to Him....

so unworthy, but He is worthy.

foodie friend adventures, west coast to east coast

I got to catch up with some cool friends over the past week who weren't where I left them last time! (Not to mention, family, too). This whirlwind trip has been very cool and I am definitely gaining weight. Don't let any of my pictures deceive you- my friends and fam are making me fat, and it's all good because I still work out and I'm going back to Micronesia ;)

 

L-R  Haley, Liz, me. Haley is my friend from rock climbing and foodie adventures in so. Cal. All around great girlfriend. Liz is my sister up near Seattle, and then there's me. Haley and Liz live in the same area now so I got to visit them in Washington. Woo hoo!

 

Alex and Angela...in NYC with my cousin Julia and me. Alex is my friend from So. Cal who I saw last week there and will see next week when I get back. Angela is his girlfriend, living in Maryland. We all converged in NYC for rice pudding.

 

Julia eating some amazing lunch leftovers on the train, on our way back to Fairfield, CT to hang with our family.

 

Then my mom and I got some NY style pizza on our way back to Jersey at Country Pizza, a little place that my dad's dad used to take me to when he was alive. I didn't know that last summer was the last time I'd get to see him, so eating there without him was a little emotional for me (and my mom) but we really enjoyed our time together. I loved being able to do something in memory of him, and I'm not gonna lie- the food's amazing.

(thin crust+meatballs+broccoli+black olives=mmmm)

I have a few more food adventures planned along the way too- I think mixing friends, family, and good eats is priceless time together.If you had to catch up with a bunch of great people, is there any other way to do it then breaking bread together?

"We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God." — John Stott

I stumbled upon some awesome quotes tonight while looking for encouragement... and you can find more here!

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light" — John Keith Falconer

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." — C.T. Studd

"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God" — William Carey, who is called the father of modern missions

"To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map." — William Carey, pioneer missionary to India

"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?" — David Livingstone

"Sympathy is no substitute for action." — David Livingstone, missionary to Africa

"The Bible is not the basis of missions; missions is the basis of the Bible" — Ralph Winter, missiologist

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." — C.T. S

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." — C.T. Studd

"Christ wants not nibblers of the possible, but grabbers of the impossible." — C.T. Studd

"Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist." — Oswald J. Smith

"The mission of the church is missions" — Oswald J. Smith

"In our lifetime, wouldn't it be sad if we spent more time washing dishes or swatting flies or mowing the yard or watching television than praying for world missions?" — Dave Davidson

"Let my heart be broken with the things that break God's heart" — Bob Pierce, World Vision founder

"No reserves. No retreats. No regrets" — William Borden

"Our God of Grace often gives us a second chance, but there is no second chance to harvest a ripe crop." — Kurt von Schleicher

"Missions is the overflow of our delight in God because missions is the overflow of God's delight in being God." --John Piper

"Go, send, or disobey." — John Piper

"You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving." — Amy Carmichael, missionary to India

"Only as the church fulfills her missionary obligation does she justify her existence." — Unknown

"The command has been to 'go,' but we have stayed — in body, gifts, prayer and influence. He has asked us to be witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth ... but 99% of Christians have kept puttering around in the homeland." — Robert Savage, Latin American Mission

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our

lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." — Nate Saint, missionary martyr 

The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity." — Mike Stachura

"If God's love is for anybody anywhere, it's for everybody everywhere." — Edward Lawlor, Nazarene General Superintendent

"Never pity missionaries; envy them. They are where the real action is — where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge." — Robert C. Shannon

"What's your dream and to what corner of the missions world will it take you?" — Eleanor Roat, missions mobilizer

"We can reach our world, if we will. The greatest lack today is not people or funds. The greatest need is prayer." — Wesley Duewel, head of OMS International

"Love is the root of missions; sacrifice is the fruit of missions" — Roderick Davis

"If you take missions out of the Bible, you won't have anything left but the covers" — Nina Gunter

"The average pastor views his church as a local church with a missions program; while he ought to realize that if he is in fact pastoring a church, it is to be a global church with a missions purpose." — Unknown

"Prayer is the mighty engine that is to move the missionary work." — A.B. Simpson

"If the Great Commission is true, our plans are not too big; they are too small." — Pat Morley

"To stay here and disobey God — I can't afford to take the consequence. I would rather go and obey God than to stay here and know that I disobeyed." — Amanda Berry Smith

"I believe that in each generation God has called enough men and women to evangelize all the yet unreached tribes of the earth. It is not God who does not call. It is man who will not respond!" — Isobel Kuhn, missionary to China and Thailand

"God is a God of missions. He wills missions. He commands missions. He demands missions. He made missions possible through His Son. He made missions actual in sending the Holy Spirit."

And what about this one:

 Matthew 28:18-20

 "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."- Jesus

airport

So I think this is how my trip is panning out- I'm currently sitting in Oakland, CA waiting for my flight to Seattle. Then I head to the East Coast (CT, NY, NJ) but mostly Jersey, and from there back to Nor Cal- then to So. Cal for a few days. Confusing? It's confusing explaining this over and over again. In fact, I'm pretty much done talking about myself. I don't even know what to say anymore when people ask me about stuff, but I want to talk to people and tell stories and catch up- it's hard! I want to though, but I feel like I've spent my words even if they're from my heart. Right now, I'm culture shocked and I'm homesick for So. Cal. I can't have enough time back here to do all of the things I want to do and I'm just trying to figure out how to deal with it. I know it's all a blessing but it's just kind of hard. I'm hoping and praying everyone is patient with me and that I have room to grow. For now, my heart and head are like this: woeirhujbfkj93458@ytgfkjnvlw02$24r956&*(^tyhgjojkgbrug

Does that make sense? It doesn't to me either. It will in hindsight so that's good enough for me. For now, yay Seattle! I'll have some time to really start updating this baby pretty soon. If I'm going to be somewhere near where you are, email me jen.rydzik@gmail.com and we'll connect. Hasta adai.

Dear Southern California,

       My time here with you is coming to an end, at least for this leg...and I have been having an incredible time. So incredible that I can't even really explain all of the amazing things I've been able to participate in, in so short of a time. My blogging will resume when I make it back east in a few days.

                                                                                           Love,    Jen