Day 496: Chi O Bible Study

Monday night, the Chi O Bible study got into full swing. I am so excited Brittany asked me to help lead this group. What a fun collection of girls - ready to study, talk, and prayerfully purpose what god wants! I am so excited to see this grow!

My prayer for this group is that they challenge each other and that leading them is something that develops and challenges me. I pray it will be a place where they can be open and that God will use this group to develop lots of meaningful relationships and real conversations. Or and I pray that we laugh, a lot!

May we each recklessly pursue God - and nothing else!

But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. - Ruth 1:16

Day 409: An SEC Win

Tennessee 52, Ole Miss 14.

Amen.

A bowl game. It is in sight. Personally, I think my sites are set on the Music City bowl...

Source

386: The Cross

Last night I went with Brad to "The Cross". He has been hanging out with some college guys over the past few weeks and looking for ways to serve this ministry. The Cross is all about reaching out to the Greek community through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to establish a community of believers, and to equip them to impact the environment to which God calls.
It was free snacks, great worship, and sincere teaching. This week the guest speak stayed with the theme of "community" (I think that's the theme of the semester. Maybe?) Anyway, he spoke of "Matt" a.k.a. the guy at capernium whose friends dug through a roof and made their way around the huge crowd, just to get their cripped friend in front of Jesus. And getting in front of Jesus changed his life, because of their faith. It no doubt change his life in more ways than just the physical.
I want to be a friend like that. And I want to have friends like that. I want to be so insanely passionate about getting my friends in front of Christ. Whatever it takes. And I want to be the kind of friend that doesn't try to fix things myself, but rather I want to set up my friends to encounter Christ in such a way that He can work in their life. Not me. Not only do I want to have these kind of friends, I want my friends to have other friends who feel the same way and to be that type of friends to others.
Whether we realize it or not, we all need to be in front of Jesus.
And we all need friends to help get us there.

Day 176: Lady Vols March Madness

The only other thing as good as the buzz of March Madness in Men's College Basketball when you are in a college sports town...

Lady's College Basketball March Madness when you live in Knoxville, TN.

I love this town.

Photo Credit

Day 175: Vol's March Madness

There is only one thing as good as the buzz of March Madness in Men's College Basketball when you are in a college sports town...

Photo Credit

Day 141: McDougal's

Now in Knoxville. Coming soon to www.mcdougals.com.
The website isn't done, but the chicken is so, so good. This is my favorite place to head before UT basketball games. So, even though I skipped the game to see friends last night, Brad and I grabbed dinner before he headed over.
Here's what happened on another recent visit.

Setting - at McDougal's on the strip. I order. Brad orders. As the waitress is getting our drink she says....
Waitress: Are y'all going to the game tonight?
Brad: Yes
I look down at our clothing and realize that we are not wearing anything orange or UT oriented.
Waitress: Well y'all have fun down here.
Me: How can you tell we were going to the game?
Waitress: Hmm, I don't know you just look like you'd be going to the game.
I then look around the restaurant. I realize we are the only people over the age of 25.
Me: Yes, we probably just look like adults from West Knoxville who only come on campus for basketball games.
We all laugh.

It is not true. We don't just come on campus for basketball games...We love football too!

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Day 123: Vols Basketball

By chance today, I got to enjoy the sights, sounds, and spirit of UT Basketball with my whole family! Nothing beats a Sunday afternoon in the Thompson Boling Arena...except a Sunday afternoon in the Thompson Boling arena with your family, a half-time appearance with a bird from the zoo, and a last minute victory over Florida. Go Vols!

Also today, I realized my numbering has gotten totally off. So, I skipped a couple days. I think I have lived here 123 days, as of today.

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Day 64: OCI

I like this place.
I like mixed bings (aka fried cheese).
I like that every inch of the wall is covered in UT memorabilia.
I like seeing people I know.
Old College Inn->

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Day 31: Tennessee 31, South Carolina 13

Those numbers say it all.
This weekend, I was out of town for work. But thanks for ESPN, it was still full of tricks and treats!
GO VOLS!
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Day 19: WUOT

Nothing wakes me to the world Morning Edition. Nothing centers my day like All Things Considered. Nothing says weekend like coffee with Liane Hansen and Will Shortz. Nothing keeps me informed, at home, and on my toes like NPR. This week, I became a member of WUOT, Knoxville’s NPR station, broadcasting from the University of Tennessee. They even have tremendous local programming and they are celebrating 60 influential years.
Listen here for a taste of WUOT and a part of Knoxville's history that is coming back to life->

Day 3: Neyland at Night!

Go Vols! Tonight I am headed to my first UT night game. Maybe it's bad form to blog about something before it happens. But I just can't wait!
For those of you that are not Tennesseans or big time SEC fans, I'll take this opportunity to explain the name of this blog. Rocky Top is an anthem of this great state and it's the fight song of the University of Tennessee. It was famously recorded by the Osborne Brothers and played after every big play by UT's Pride of the Southland Marching Band.

Rocky Top
by Boudleax and Felice Bryant

Wish that I was on ol' Rocky Top
Down in the Tennessee hills
Aint' no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top
Ain't no telephone bills
Once I had a girl on Rocky Top
Half bear, other half cat
Wild as a mink,
but sweet as soda pop
I still dream about that.

Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good ol' Rocky Top
Rocky Top Tennessee,
Rocky Top Tennessee

Once two strangers climbed ol' Rocky Top
Lookin' for a moonshine still
Strangers ain't come down from Rocky Top
Reckon they never will

Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good ol' Rocky Top
Rocky Top Tennessee,
Rocky Top Tennessee

Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top
Dirt's too rocky by far
That's why all the folks on Rocky Top
Get their corn from a jar

Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good ol' Rocky Top
Rocky Top Tennessee,
Rocky Top Tennessee

I've had years of cramped-up city life
Trapped like a duck in a pen
All I know is it's a pity life
Can't be simple again

Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me
Good ol' Rocky Top
Rocky Top Tennessee,
Rocky Top Tennessee

(I learned all these lyrics, as well as the sign language, in 7th grade "enrichment" class.)
It's going to be a cool October evening so I am off to make sure I have something orange and warm to wear...