http://www.cnn.com/video/#/politics

Look at the video that says: "mccain wants america to fight" (nov 1, virginia) they sat me rt behind him!!

So, it's a little embarrassing but the rally was SO fun!

"One God, one Law, one element and one far off divine event to which the whole creation moves."

"The heavens declare the glory of  God and the firmament showeth his handiwork."

I was reading in the Library of Congress a few weeks ago and I looked up and on the ceiling of the main reading room, were quotes above several pillars symbolizing the pillars of science, history, philosophy and religion that constitute academia.

The first quote was right above the pillar of history and rang so true to me that all of history is moving in one magnificent stroke towards eternity and the return of the One for whom it was all made. The second quote was above the pillar marked as science showing that science is the study of God's handiwork, physical laws and design. The right  perspective must under-gird the pursuit of these studies in the search for knowledge.

A little tangential, but now for the update:

I still don't think it's hit me yet that I'm living in DC. Not visiting, not interning, but actually and permanently living in DC. The transition was fairly smooth. I've settled into my temporary living space at an all-girl dorm, which I affectionately call the convent.

Two weeks ago I went to pick up some things I had in storage in Boston and while there I was able to visit and say goodbye to friends and teachers. I enjoyed walking around the cobble-stoned streets of Cambridge again and it was a good time of saying good-bye, and moving forward. Part of the reason why I found it so hard to leave was because I had grown to really love the church there and was anxious and concerned about finding a new one. I didn't want to start all over again and was tired of being unsettled, new, and once again in transition.

But then last weekend I was intensely reminded of what it means to be a member of a church. Last weekend was all about CHBC (capitol hill Baptist church). Friday and Saturday morning was membership class, followed by hanging out with some church people, then some more church people. Sunday of course was church and then making pizza with some church people, and then evening service, and then hanging out with some more church people. The membership classes were all about commitment. Membership means being committed to covenanting with other members of the body; serving others and being willing to be inconvenienced when there is a need, not only for the sake of building relationships but for the ultimate sake of the Name of Christ. All that we do must be for the sake of the Name of the Lord. That is a high standard. Serving others as unto the Lord, in a manner worthy of the Lord. I was so convicted by the classes and the sermon and evening service. I am not "going all the way" with my pursuit of serving the Lord and living my life in obedience. I am selfish with my time and I am protective of myself. I was reminded of so many simple but significant ways that I can serve the church. I have been so challenged here and I think it has served me well to feel uncomfortable.

Then there's work. I started work this past Tuesday. And I am tired. It's not that the work itself is hard, but I am just tired. Maybe I need to take some vitamins, I don't know. I enjoy the work and I feel like I am back in one of my political theory courses and am re-learning a lot of things about the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Right by my desk is a bookshelf with all the old books and new ones that we're considering to be placed on the "We the People" bookshelf for children and high schoolers. These books can be borrowed and reviewed. I am currently reading a book on Abraham Lincoln's speeches. It’s awesome. Looking at the bookshelf just makes me smile. Then there are my co-workers. Most of the people there are older, I think I am the youngest by 10 years. But they are all so sweet and cute! I work mostly with older women who have children my age. I'm still figuring out what exactly I am doing and also figuring out people there. If you want to know more about my work, you can just ask me personally because I think I will be fairly limited in what I describe here.

Thank you all for your emails, prayers, and friendship. :)

Two weeks ago, my Chinese history class had dinner at a Euro-Chinese restaurant. After dinner a few of us walked back to campus and to the library. One of the visiting scholars in our class was talking to my friend Evelyn about church, I joined their conversation and he gave the impression that he wanted to go and check out churches and so I asked if he'd like to come to church with me. I didn’t think much of it because I wasn’t sure how serious he was. But then on Thursday, I was walking out of the library when I ran into him and he asked again if I was going to go to church and I said yes and he seemed like he really wanted to go. And so he came to church on Sunday heard a sermon that gave an overview of Matthew and the Kingship of Christ. When I asked him what he thought of church, he said, “It’s different from the other churches that I have been to. They really focus on the Bible.” He talked about how a lot of the churches he had been to focused on application and so as a result produced a lot of rules that were more church-related than Christ-centered. He said that he thought focusing on application was limiting. When we got into the car we talked about why and how he became interested in medieval European history (which is what he teaches in China). This is a bit of a side-note but I was so encouraged to see people at church trying to talk to him and was encouraged by  their passion for the gospel.

I found out that he had written his dissertation on John Calvin. He then asked what I thought of predestination. We went through Ephesians 1 and the sinful condition of man. My Chinese is so rusty and the only terms I remembered were sin (jiu) and grace (un dian). I was thankful that he could understand English pretty well. He said that he believes that man is sinful. That when he looks at what he does everyday and how often he is motivated by selfishness, he knows that he and everyone is sinful and because of that could never choose God on his own and so there is a need for a Savior. He said that it would be self-contradicting if God did not have the ability to choose because it would undermine his power and omniscience. He then asked about double-predestination. After a few more questions, I shared my testimony and asked him why he wasn’t a Christian if he agreed with the gospel and what the Bible said. He said he hadn’t had a conversion experience yet but then added that he thinks that one day he would believe.

Different in so many ways and yet united in soberly seeing their spiritual condition. They both clearly see that there is  a distinction between the saved and the unsaved,  the profane and the sacred, and by acknowledging this difference, they recognize that salvation is solely of the Lord. That no amount of understanding in intellectual ascent, or emotional experience can salvation be achieved.

When I was a freshman, I remember walking back from the last day of class in my political theory course taught by one of my favorite profs at LA, Professor Walker. My contemplative sentiment was that of gratitude. Professor Walker was ambidextrous, and comprehensive in his understanding of the entire spectrum of political philosophies. Throughout the course he would make references to the Bible that showed that he knew a substantial amount and knew what I knew and even more and perhaps even better, but that spiritual insight and illumination had not been given to him, and that made all the difference. It's humbling to think about because it reminds me that salvation really and truly is all a work of grace.