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Name: Jamie
Birthday: 4/4/1981


Interests: The church,Theology, Philosophy,the church, Missions, missional living, Reformation era, Biking, movies, helping others know Jesus, thunderstorms, porch swings, your mom jokes, funny & Interesting people, making a fool of myself- if you know me long enough I'll do this willingly and often.
Expertise: picking out melons


Message: message me
Website: visit my website


Member Since: 6/20/2006

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Thursday, April 24, 2008

i can't believe I'm saying this...

I've been living at home with my dad over the past few months since I got back from Australia. The thought of living in the suburbs made me kind of want to hurl, as I've grown attached to city living over the last eight years.

But you know what? As I was watching TV in my room in the cool of the evening with a golden sunset melting into the horizon, I heard children laughing in the common yard between the townhouses. A smile stole my casually pursed lips as I remembered my own childhood. Growing up in a suburban cul-de-sac had many advantages: the pavement up to the dead end served as a great place to play softball with the neighbors, no one ever drove down our street unless they lived there (only five houses), and all the safety for your children in the 21st century one could expect. My five friends and I would run around the neighborhood and laugh and play, dream up huge clubhouses that we would build if we had the money and dig holes in the ground we'd lace with treasure to find for a scavenger hunt we'd make for the other team. We'd tell made up stories of the man in the woods and climb trees higher than our houses (oh to be flexible again!).

As I muted the TV to listen to the kids playing I heard my own mom faintly, "Jamie, come in for dinner." And there was dad parking the riding lawn mower to come wash up. All of us kids would scatter into our houses and try to eat our dinner as fast as possible so we could run to the front windows and peer out the drapes seeing if anyone else had finished his pork chop and escaped prison.

Don't get me wrong. I L-O-V-E the city. And I may not give my own children the luxury of playing outside in the street until 10 or 11pm but it's nice to know that some kids have that today.


Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Currently Listening
On the Strength of All Convinced
By Daphne Loves Derby
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so, this is me...in 11 paragraphs

Portrait of an ENFJ - Extraverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
(Extraverted Feeling with Introverted Intuition)


The Giver

As an ENFJ, you're primary mode of living is focused externally, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit into your personal value system. Your secondary mode is internal, where you take things in primarily via your intuition. ENFJs are people-focused individuals. They live in the world of people possibilities. More so than any other type, they have excellent people skills. They understand and care about people, and have a special talent for bringing out the best in others. ENFJ's main interest in life is giving love, support, and a good time to other people. They are focused on understanding, supporting, and encouraging others. They make things happen for people, and get their best personal satisfaction from this.

 

Because ENFJ's people skills are so extraordinary, they have the ability to make people do exactly what they want them to do. They get under people's skins and get the reactions that they are seeking. ENFJ's motives are usually unselfish, but ENFJs who have developed less than ideally have been known to use their power over people to manipulate them. ENFJ's are so externally focused that it's especially important for them to spend time alone. This can be difficult for some ENFJs, because they have the tendency to be hard on themselves and turn to dark thoughts when alone. Consequently, ENFJs might avoid being alone, and fill their lives with activities involving other people. ENFJs tend to define their life's direction and priorities according to other people's needs, and may not be aware of their own needs. It's natural to their personality type that they will tend to place other people's needs above their own, but they need to stay aware of their own needs so that they don't sacrifice themselves in their drive to help others.

 

ENFJ's tend to be more reserved about exposing themselves than other extraverted types. Although they may have strongly-felt beliefs, they're likely to refrain from expressing them if doing so would interfere with bringing out the best in others. Because their strongest interest lies in being a catalyst of change in other people, they're likely to interact with others on their own level, in a chameleon-like manner, rather than as individuals.

 

Which is not to say that the ENFJ does not have opinions. ENFJs have definite values and opinions which they're able to express clearly and succinctly. These beliefs will be expressed as long as they're not too personal. ENFJ is in many ways expressive and open, but is more focused on being responsive and supportive of others. When faced with a conflict between a strongly-held value and serving another person's need, they are highly likely to value the other person's needs.

 

The ENFJ may feel quite lonely even when surrounded by people. This feeling of aloneness may be exacerbated by the tendency to not reveal their true selves.

People love ENFJs. They are fun to be with, and truly understand and love people. They are typically very straight-forward and honest. Usually ENFJs exude a lot of self-confidence, and have a great amount of ability to do many different things. They are generally bright, full of potential, energetic and fast-paced. They are usually good at anything which captures their interest.

 

ENFJs like for things to be well-organized, and will work hard at maintaining structure and resolving ambiguity. They have a tendency to be fussy, especially with their home environments.

 

In the work place, ENFJs do well in positions where they deal with people. They are naturals for the social committee. Their uncanny ability to understand people and say just what needs to be said to make them happy makes them naturals for counseling. They enjoy being the center of attention, and do very well in situations where they can inspire and lead others, such as teaching.

 

ENFJs do not like dealing with impersonal reasoning. They don't understand or appreciate its merit, and will be unhappy in situations where they're forced to deal with logic and facts without any connection to a human element. Living in the world of people possibilities, they enjoy their plans more than their achievements. They get excited about possibilities for the future, but may become easily bored and restless with the present.

ENFJs have a special gift with people, and are basically happy people when they can use that gift to help others. They get their best satisfaction from serving others. Their genuine interest in Humankind and their exceptional intuitive awareness of people makes them able to draw out even the most reserved individuals.

 

ENFJs have a strong need for close, intimate relationships, and will put forth a lot of effort in creating and maintaining these relationships. They're very loyal and trustworthy once involved in a relationship.

 

An ENFJ who has not developed their Feeling side may have difficulty making good decisions, and may rely heavily on other people in decision-making processes. If they have not developed their Intuition, they may not be able to see possibilities, and will judge things too quickly based on established value systems or social rules, without really understanding the current situation. An ENFJ who has not found their place in the world is likely to be extremely sensitive to criticism, and to have the tendency to worry excessively and feel guilty. They are also likely to be very manipulative and controlling with others.

 

In general, ENFJs are charming, warm, gracious, creative and diverse individuals with richly developed insights into what makes other people tick. This special ability to see growth potential in others combined with a genuine drive to help people makes the ENFJ a truly valued individual. As giving and caring as the ENFJ is, they need to remember to value their own needs as well as the needs of others.

 


Monday, March 10, 2008

Currently Watching
Lost - The Complete First Season
By Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O'Quinn, Josh Holloway, Dominic Monaghan
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help me please

Okay this is creepy.

Two weeks ago I started to recall some stuff I had for lunch. On Monday I was really craving something I couldn't quite put my finger on so I let it subside and had pizza with some friends from work. Tuesday I had chipotle (loving veggie fajita burrito bowls!) and Wednesday we went to this nice little asian place where I ordered veggie stir fry. Thursday I wanted something in the red meat arena so I went for a burger. Friday I brought my lunch.

Last Monday that 'couldn't quite put my finger on it' moment came back this Monday. I figured it out. I wanted a hot dog, so I went to Portillos today and thats all i had was water and hotdog. Then i started to think about my diet...

Does anyone from Moody get this? I'm brainwashed!!!

Hotdog monday (or pizza buffet if hot dog gets old)

Taco Tuesday

Asian buffet Wednesday

Big burger Thursday

Chefs choice Friday.

You can lock me up now. 

PS- I almost had cereal every night last week for dinner. WEIRD.


Thursday, March 06, 2008

Currently Reading
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. And the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree. (The Wingfeather Saga)
By Andrew Peterson
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music to my ears

About a year ago I was only buying music from about four or five bands/musicians and through a blind date discovered a world of music I knew nothing about. I don't know how this music had been hiding from me for so long.

I mean, what is on the radio? Top 40- okay for a few minutes, country- never good, R& B-I can't dance so that's hard to listen to, light- I'd rather not feel like I'm in an elevator while I'm driving in the car, and of course, Christian top 40- the concept of that is rather disgusting. So what is a girl to do. And usually google solves all my life's problems, but not for music. You can't type in "good music" in the search engine because everyone has their own opinion of what that is. Plus there are over 56,400,000 hits for "good music" alone. I'd be scrolling for decades to find good stuff. Plus I like indy, and if they are really indy you are gonna hear about them through word of mouth- the way indy travels.

But when I unearthed this good stuff, it's like I stumbled into my own musical narnia. It's a magical place in here- I can't believe this stuff has been hiding from me all this time. So even though blind date boy didn't work out, at least I have good music to show for it. Just yesterday I unearthed another little corner of narnia and am very excited.


Monday, March 03, 2008

Currently Listening
Divine Discontent
By Sixpence None the Richer
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I'm not a very good disciple. Thankfully I have a couple of friends and great pastors who really know how to preach the gospel to me. On Saturday I spent the day with a friend who does just that. He's not intimidated by sin and he doesn't shy away from talking about it. It's easy for him to ask me how I'm doing, "you know, spiritually." He reminds me of Jesus- not because of piety- but because he is real, he's honest and compassionate. And he knows how gently remind me of the gospel of grace. "Lord can I have 20 of these friends?"

We are going through James at church and while I'll never understand the book- it's sometimes more confusing than revelation to me- but I need to hear what is being taught. My pastors are very focused on the gospel, so I knew messages that I heard at conferences or in my former church on James would not sound like what my pastors would be saying at my gospel-driven church.

I use the term gospel somewhat loosely- I think most reformed people do. But yet, it is a simple truth. And the gospel means BIG (and has not so simple ramifications) things. If I really trust the gospel, my life will be radically different. And James I think is saying just that. How will I treat orphans and widows if I trust the gospel? How will I spend my money if I trust the gospel? The gospel is hard. Its not easy. The gospel ravishes lives. The more you understand the gospel, the more you are changed not by being more moral, but by being more godly. But what does that mean, and what does that look like?

My friend agreed. It's tough. And as odd as it sounds, it's hard to take the gospel at face value because it's free to us and it frees us. It's like, in our sinful nature, we like being in bondage. We like feeling like we owe God something or can do something to earn his favor(even as saved individuals) because it appeases our desire to "feel good" about ourselves. But that good feeling is very human- not Christ-centered. A wise man once said, "You can't let go of self-love until you see God's love is there to catch you."  What an amazing God to love us in spite of ourselves. I believe Lord, help my unbelief.



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