Texas Bar-B-Q

Ok, Dad... are you reading this?  The answer to your question you've asked so many times... YES, i've finally had some BBQ.   Here's how it happened:

My roommate arrived on Monday night (finally!  YAY!) and her parents stayed in town to help her get settled.  Well, they're from Georgia, and everyone knows when you're in Texas you have to try Tex-Mex food and authentic BBQ, right?  So, the other night we went to a great Mexican restaurant (yes, they were nice enough to ask me to go!) called Chuy's (Chewie's).  Huge, colorful restaurant that you can tell has been there for years and years.  No parking.  Great food.  Great company.  Lucky me! 

Then, tonight, they invited me to dinner again (because they're wonderful like that) and we planned to go get BBQ.  So, we left the apartment around 6:45, relying on Dora-the-Explorer (my GPS) we punched in the address, followed the directions and ended up at Sonny's BBQ... The original building that I guess launched several others.  Only, what we saw was a parking lot, with a "vintage" (aka dive) shack building that had signs in the window that NO KIDDING read:  Closed.  Gave the operating hours and then the sign said:  We Close When the Food Runs Out!  

I guess we should have gone for lunch! 

So, we ask Dora-the-Explorer to find us another BBQ place.  She gives us a big list.  But, we tried another Sonny's.  Got there... and oops!  It's just like a catering center... no restaurant.   So, we ask Dora again... she gives us a big list... and we tried the final Sonny's BBQ option.  It was only a couple of miles away and we'd come this far... 

Third time's a charm!  

What a treat!  Walked in, were served like cafeteria style had great food and it was totally worth it and so fun!  

So, yay for great Mexican food and BBQ... gotta love Texas!  

A Purple Envelope that Made My Day!

Went to the campus post office this afternoon, and to my delight, saw a little purple envelope waiting for me.  I could hardly wait to see what was written inside!  

It was a sweet note of encouragement and to let me know she's been following my blog. I was so touched by her thoughtfulness...and surprised that she knew I am blogging!  

So, my dear Aunt, thanks for your note and for thinking of me! 

Always a treasured reminder that God has a plan for me... even though I know it to the depths of my soul because He's proven it time and again and because His word tells me He does (Jeremiah 29:11), it's good to be reminded again and to hear it as a fresh blessing today.  

Despite the incredible amount of work that lies ahead...  God did this for me.  He mapped my journey, showed me when it was time to move, blessed the move and now, is totally and completely in control of this new season of life... He alone knows the end from the beginning. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,  plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Fall Reading List...Wish me Luck!

So, classes start in just over a week (Aug. 25) and I thought you might like to know what I'm taking and what books I'll be reading this semester.  Seriously.  24 books (plus the B-i-b-l-e) 

I can hardly believe it myself!  

Oh, and stay turned for Blog Party Scripture Memory... I'll let you know as I'm working on passages I have to memorize...you might even learn some Greek along the way... and you KNOW I'll be the first to inform you of Theological words I have never heard of and share the sheer delight when I find out what they mean... remember "prolegomena", anyone?  

It's WAY scarier to see it all on a big list!
Lots of books, found most on Amazon and at a local store called Half Price Books for really good deals. And a few that I have to get at the campus bookstore.  

Bible Study Methods (Howard Hendricks is my professor!):
--How to Read the Bible as Literature (Ryken)
--Methodical Bible Study (Traina)
--Joy of Discovery in Bible Study (Ward)
--Basic Bible Interpretation (Zuck)
--NASB Bible

Intro to Greek:
--Greek New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul)
--Elements of New Testament Greek (Duff--not Hillary)
--Fundamental Greek Grammar (Voelz)

Spiritual Life:
--He That is Spiritual (Chafer)
--Grace Awakening (Swindoll)
--The Pursuit of God (Tozer)
--Spirit of the Disciplines (Willard)

Evangelism:
--7 Principles of an Evangelistic (Cecil)
--True Evangelism (Chafer)

Spritual Formation:
(a weekly small group required, not for credit)
--Foundations of Spiritual Formation (Pettitt)

Introduction to Theology:
--Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Elwell)
--From the Ground Up (Horrell)
--Dispensationalism (Ryrie)
--The Universe Next Door (Sire)
--Reinventing Jesus (Wallace, Komoszewski)
--Last Word (Wright)
--The Missing Gospels (Bock)
--Progressive Dispensationalism (Bock/Blaising)
--Baker Pocket Guide to World Religions (McDermott)
--Christian Theology (McGrath)

Blog-happy...

You like how I post nothing for a week and then have like 10 different topics I can't help but post all at once?  I have issues.  Sorry... 

I just thought of another topic to tell you to show you how God has again revealed Himself to me in this crazy move...

I was the Missionary of the Month project for July at ODBC.  Despite a low-offering trend lately, I was generously blessed and so I wanted to thank you all so much for giving and supporting me this semester.  I joyfully received the check on Thursday of this week...

The same day the service center at the local Ford dealership called to tell me that the rack & pinion had to be replaced on my handy-dandy 2005 Ford Focus...  now, let me tell you... i had other plans for the funds I'd been given (books, tuition, rent, etc), but God "Who called me is FAITHFUL...He will do it"  1 Thessalonians 5:24

So, I'll pick up my car maybe tomorrow afternoon, maybe Monday afternoon and it will have a beautiful, brand new rack & pinion that I will never see with my own eyes and I surely don't want to throw $1200 into something I'll never lay eyes on... but, even in this, my God is faithful.

A month ago, this would have been a nightmare.  Today, it's a blessing.    

My First Care Package

Just so you know, I almost forgot what it feels like to get an unexpected package in the mail!  But today, I got a bubble envelope filled with post-its, hi-liters, pens, a planner, antibacterial wipes, and a sweet card from my precious friend of almost 8 years to the day (and i can still remember that she was wearing khaki capri overalls and a burgundy and white striped top the day that i met her in dorm 20-3)...  

Erin Chucoski--you are amazing!   LOVE YOU!  

If anyone wants to jump on Erin's bandwagon at any time during the school year...you'd be amazing (& blog-worthy) too!  

My mailing address is:

Katherine Eachus

3909 Swiss Ave, #534

Dallas, TX  75204

 

The Patti's are in Texas!!!

Did you hear?  

The Patti's are in Texas! 

Pastor Paul and Karen flew into DALLAS yesterday afternoon to meet up with their oldest son, Tim, who is graduating this weekend from his year long internship at The Honor Academy with Teen Mania Ministries.  

So, lucky me... I met them at the airport and got them all to myself for like 4 1/2 hours...we went to the Blue Goose Cantina, a local authentic Mexican restaurant (was a ton of fun!) then, they came back to see the seminary and my apartment for just a few minutes and then we drove half way to Garden Valley, TX --where Teen Mania is--to meet up with Tim (who had been at graduation rehearsal).  

AND, Pastor Paul is leaving tomorrow to start driving Timmy's car back to VA, so I won't see him again, but I'll get to hang with Karen & Tim...at the Cornell's tomorrow night.  Aaahh, a sweet ODBC reunion of sorts!  

(Like Dorothy)  There's no place like home, there's no place like home... 

Beijing Olympics

So... I'm watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics... remembering back like...goodness, 16 years ago when my brother won 2 goldfish at the Boyertown sidewalk sale and named them Dan and Dave because I guess they were some track star people.  I was 12, I don't know for sure.  

So I'm watching all forms of fireworks, pyrotechnics (good word, eh?), hundreds of dancer people and a ginormous globe thing with people harnessed to it running and dancing around the world.

And all I can think about is persecution.  

Last fall, ODBC highlighted the Persecuted Church during our annual missions week and I was assigned the task of researching examples of persecuted Christians around the world.  Most of the articles were about Chinese Christians...beaten, imprisoned, locked inside their own homes, abducted, violently abused during police questioning...many tortured and even secretly murdered for their faith in the SAME Savior who died for me.  

Do we even have a clue how privileged we are to own 7 Bibles in 4 versions by every publisher available, endorsed by Christian inspirational authors and yet despite our privilege it is a chore and too rare an occurance for us to be found treasuring the wonder we hold in our hands, gathering dust on our bookshelves, packed away in boxes...  when millions of people in a land where Jesus is forbidden would (and do) give any earthly good to own a copy of the inspired word of God?  

I also recall very clearly during my research coming across articles Americans weren't supposed to end up reading that stated the Chinese government had a plan in place to aggressively investigate and punish leaders of the underground Church before the 2008 Olympic Games.  

So, for me, while I am interested to watch the gymnastics, diving, swimming and a few other life long highlights of the summer Olympics... it's all just a little overcast with sorrow for me.  

For more information on the Persecuted Church, visit The Voice of the Martyrs website at:  www.persecution.com 

But be warned...  the truth about what is going on around the world to our Christian brothers and sisters is shocking...  

We think we have it so rough when we can't drag ourselves out of bed on a Sunday morning to attend church.