For all you creative class aficionados

http://www.city-journal.org/html/14_1_the_curse.html

Just a little update

I just wanted to let you guys know that I have a verbal offer on my house! Now I'm just doing the counter-offer thing, praying that everything works out on my house. I am so glad to hear how God has blessed both k-young and gg -- such great testimonies to how God can show up and show out RIGHT ON TIME!!! I'll update when I get an offer on the house in writing. This has truly been a test of patience and faith.

All Praises, All Glory

As y'all know, when I decided to go back to school, I planned on taking on tens of thousands of dollars in debt in financial aid to pay my way through graduate school. I had some money saved up, but as school approached, the enormity of the expenses involved with school was becoming ever more evident. It seemed like a daunting task and honestly was kind of stressful just knowing how much debt was looming. I also needed to find a job to have some sort of income to pay for non-educational expenses, like food and rent.
Well, God has provided for me in more ways than I could ever have hoped or imagined. In a completely last-minute move, on the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, I was awarded an assistantship that not only waives tuition and pays a portion of my health care, but also pays me a pretty decent income!!!! I feel so blessed. I can't believe it. I can't express how thankful I am.
My per-hourly wage actually amounts to more money than I was making as a reporter! HA!
God's truly awesome. I just hope I can fulfill my obligations to the assitantship, which is totally different experience for me.
My assistantship isn't with the journalism school. It's actually funded by a federal grant through a project called PRISM, which stands for something like Project to Reform Instruction in Science and Mathematics.
I'm working with a biology professor and an educational psychology professor to develop case studies to supplement curriculum for a biology course for non-science majors. I have to write articles/case studies that use the concepts in this biology for nonmajors class (which I have to sit in on as part of the assistantship) and ties into careers for non-science majors. It's really never been done before so it's challenging but also exciting.
I'll also get author and/or co-author credit for this curriculum aid that will be used by 700 students at UGa each semester!
So that's what's new with me. :) Hallelujah and Go DAWGS!

-GG

Just gettin started

Y'all better come visit me in N.O. Right now I'm playing house guest, and to get online on my own time I have to come to Panera Bread. (I've been here for "lunch" every night this week.) Only one more week to go at the Gazette and counting. Slowly turning over the reins of the training team and may have found a newby to continue Gazetteen. In the meantime, I've been trying to figure out how to make the little money I'm making from the sale of all my things grow. I'll keep you posted. Big decisions ahead. K-young

Strange Drama

So this was the first weekend I was in Athens after getting settled into my new apartment. I decided to check out the baptist church up the road five minutes from my place. I went to the "contemporary" service because I like that type of music better than traditional services.
I really enjoyed the experience. The music was awesome. They opened with the "God is Good" (and his mercy endureth forever!) song that's from that gospel movie we watched. They played lots of other songs I knew/recognized/enjoyed. Then, the pastor gave an interesting, informative, educational sermon.
So I filled out the visitor card and was seriously considering joining this church (I still may; haven't decided yet, will check out some others and go back in a few weeks) and then....
The strange stuff happened. So, at the end of the service, the senior associate pastor announced his resignation. He spoke in generalities about staying in Athens and opening a new ministry here. Ok, nothing odd with that.
THEN- the main pastor came to the stage and read a resignation note for the musical praise director. AND THEN, the pastor himself announced his resignation!
I couldn't believe it. I have no idea the circumstances, but I couldn't believe all the drama!
Basically, the entire leadership staff at this church is leaving to start their own church in Athens!
It was interesting to say the least.
Now, all the main parts that appealed to me about the church (chiefly, the music and the pastor) are gone. Hmmm. Oh well. I'll let y'all know other Athens church updates as I continue my tour. MoJo, you find a church home in "the other G-town" yet? How's your house sale going?
K, congrats on selling the house. Can MoJo and I come visit you in Nawlins'!>?!

-GG