this should not have happened!!!!

I am 26 years old and I shouldn't have known anyone there. In fact as far as I knew today at 3:30 PM, I didn't. Then they released the names of the murdered at VT. Among them was the name Jeremy Herbstritt. At first I thought it was just a coincidence that he would be from PA (they had the wrong town listed) and have gone to Penn State. I called my mum and best friend from high school Shrig to have them check on this. Then I got on facebook and checked him out. Just before my friend called I found him and realized that it was indeed the guy that I had gone to high school with. Shrig confirmed it and then my mom confirmed it shortly after.

This is ridiculous, I shouldn't have known anyone there. I should be looking on this and praying for all the families of the victims, not crying my eyes out over the memories of a funny and quirky young man that I had known personally. Jeremy's family shouldn't have to be writing an obituary, they shouldn't be buying a casket, they shouldn't be mourning a young man, who had so much to live more, so much to offer the world. He was smart, he was funny, he was quirky, he was a runner. He was a young man who loved his family and his friends. He cared about people and wanted to make a difference in the world and he would have.

Jeremy Herbstritt and the many other victims, their families and the injured will be in my thoughts and prayers alway. God bless!

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ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT..........



GODSPELL OPENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One week from tonight all the hard work that the whole entire group of us have been doing will finally reach its climax. All the pure talent and desire that God has given us will be given its chance to share His story, His love, His joy and His sacrifice for the Greater DC area to view and behold.

Please pray:

For our health
For our safety
For our sanity as this last week will affectionately be known as "hell" week.
For our Director
For our Producer
For our Band
For our Tech folks

The cast by name:

Nathan Spiwak-Jesus
Dan Cummins-John the Baptist/Judas
Chris Girardi
Ryan Zemple
Robin Landauer
Lisa Overman
Jessica Johson
Jen Watts
Bekah Kitterman
JoyAnna Neiner

Director: Kacey McGowan
Producer: Heather Zemple
Band:
Keyboard: Sarah Chilcolte
Guitar: John Purcell
Drums: I am so sorry, I can't remember his name

Please be in prayer that God's will will be done throughout the run of this performance and that His name will be Glorified!!

realizations

Have you ever had one of those weekends where something goes dreadfully wrong and it makes you rethink your life and choices you've made?

I did! I realized I made a dreadful mistake about someone and am hoping and praying that they'll give me a second chance. I also realized that someone that I had hoped to reconcile with, well it just won't ever happen. I also realized that as hard as I try and as much as I want to be the perfect person who is trying to do the right thing for God, it just won't happen. All I can do is admit it and try harder.

It's a couple of frustrating realizations because as you can see by a human perspective there is no hope to be found in a single one of these situations. But from a God perspective there is always hope to be found. For the mistake there is the possibily of a second chance, for the no reconciliation, its for the best and as for trying to be the best I can be for God, well that's good news to His ears when I say I'll just try harder to be what He wants me to be. It means to Him that I am truly His and He can work His glory through me. WOW

Okay not that I would wish another weekend like this on anyone but I don't know maybe we all need one of these realization weekends every once in a while. At least I know I do.

Thank you Father for reminding me how worthless I am when I try to do things without You. Thanks for letting me see my mistakes and please give me a second chance. Please take control of my life and make it more than just a useless lump of clay.

Bio for the program of Godspell and pic.

When not being dramatic JoyAnna can be found trying to maintain sanity in the craziness that is Gov't and DoD in the Pentagon. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my FATHER for His unending love, faith and use of a lump of clay. Thank you also to Kacey and Heather for the awesome opportunity to be a part of Godspell. Thank you to the rest of the Gang for the "good times and great memories", they'll be cherished forever. Thanks to my Family who have never doubted I could act and for supporting me in this journey. Thanks to my best friends Sarah, Beth and Shrig for their patience and support. Thanks to my roomie Hyla, for her patience with my long hours and mess during the past few months. I love you guys!!

National Community Church Production of Godspell

Tickets are $10 each and they will go on sale to NCCers this weekend before and after services. If your not from NCC and I know you and your planning to come, let me know by tonight if possible but at the latest this weekend. I will pick up the tickets in advance for the performance of your choice. Be sure to let me know! I would love to see you all there!!

Performance Dates are as follows:

Friday, March 30 at 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 1 at 2:00 pm
Sunday, April 1 at 6:00 pm
Thursday, April 5 at 8:00 pm
Friday, April 6 at 8:00 pm
Saturday, April 7 at 10:00pm **Special Easter Vigil Performance
Sunday, April 8 at 2:00 pm
Sunday, April 8 at 6:00 pm

Godspell, a musical based on the Gospel of Matthew, tells the story of Jesus and his disciples and the history-changing community they formed. All performances will occur at Ebenezers Coffeehouse. We have set our version of Godspell in modern times against the backdrop of the DC metro. To enhance your experience, take metrobus or metrorail to Union Station and walk one block to Ebenezers Coffeehouse.

Metro-operated lots are free on weekends and most federal holidays. At times when fees are charged, SmarTrip® cards with full parking fees are the only accepted form of payment for parking (except metered parking). Visit the Trip Planner at MetroOpensDoors.com or call 202-637-7000 (TTY 202-638-3780).”

(taken from the Zonegathering.com excpet for a little embellishment.)

I am officially registered

One of my goals for this years was to run a marathon or some kind of run.

I have just officially registered for the Iron Girl. It is mini triathlon, we swim for 1K/.62 mi, bike for 30K/17 mi, and run for 5K/3.3 mi. I am really excited and somewhat nervous. I have plenty of time to train and build the endurance for it but I am still nervous about the fact that I officially have to do it. I mean I paid money to enter this thing so there is no backing out. The countdown to August 19th, 2007 is set at 172 days.

In April I will be registering to run the Army Ten-Miler in October as well. Again excited and nervous.

It has begun...

Today I started my 40 days of fasting coffee and chocolate for Lent. I am a little worried as those who know me must realize I am both a chocoholic and coffeeholic. I started weening myself off over the long weekend but am still slightly worried as to whether I will be able to make through 40 days! We'll see, lets just say that this should hopefully make my prayer life much stronger. (I hope)

Psalm 95 and 96

Psalm 95
1. O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
2. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
3. For the LORD is a great God and a great King above all gods,
4. In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also.
5. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land.
6. Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
7. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand Today, if you would hear His voice,
8. Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
9. "When your fathers tested Me, They tried Me, though they had seen My work.
10. "For forty years I loathed that generation, And said they are a people who err in their heart, And they do not know My ways.
11"Therefore I swore in My anger, Truly they shall not enter into My rest."

Psalm 96
1. Sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
3. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
4. For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
5. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.
6. Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
7. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8. Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name; Bring an offering and come into His courts.
9. Worship the LORD in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth.
10. Say among the nations, " The LORD reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity."
11. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
12. Let the field exult, and all that is in it then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy
13. Before the LORD, for He is coming, For He is coming to judge the earth He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.

Hope, Be Undismayed: Conversations in bed

Thanks to Sara, who may or may not know me from BBC. What she posted here was a much needed slap in the face. As well as the comment from Elizabeth. It doesn't mean that things will be any easier and that I still won't struggle with being depressed and bitter but at least I have a strong reminder of the ONE who cares enough to always be a way out of that depression and an antidote for the bitterness. Hope, Be Undismayed: Conversations in bed

My heart is clinging tightly...

Psalm 77

1 I yell out to my God, I yell with all my might, I yell at the top of my lungs. He listens.

2-6 I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord; my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal. When friends said, "Everything will turn out all right," I didn't/don't believe a word they said/say. I remember God—and shake my head. I bow my head—then wring my hands. I'm awake all night—not a wink of sleep; I can't even say what's bothering me. I go over the days one by one, I ponder the years gone by. I strum my lute all through the night, wondering how to get my life together.

7-10 Will the Lord walk off and leave us for good? Will he never smile again? Is his love worn threadbare? Has his salvation promise burned out? Has God forgotten his manners? Has he angrily stalked off and left us? "Just my luck," I said. "The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him."

11-12 Once again I'll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts.

13-15 O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God! You're the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do—You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble, rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph.

16-19 Ocean saw you in action, God, saw you and trembled with fear; Deep Ocean was scared to death. Clouds belched buckets of rain, Sky exploded with thunder, your arrows flashing this way and that. From Whirlwind came your thundering voice, Lightning exposed the world, Earth reeled and rocked. You strode right through Ocean, walked straight through roaring Ocean, but nobody saw you come or go.

20 Hidden in the hands of Moses and Aaron, You led your people like a flock of sheep.

I LOVE BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

All I have to say is whoever thought of Biblegateway.com was a lifesaver.

I needed this passage today to remind me that living for "fame" on earth and a name for "legend" is pointless. I don't want to be known on earth by everyone as someone who did something or made money. I want to be known as having loved God and served Him and done whatever He asked of me. I want to leave this earth with my name being synonymous with being a servant. I don't mean in a prideful way, I want people to recoginze that I wasn't doing anything for my own Glory, I want all I do and did to be known as for His glory.

Psalm 49
10For he sees that even wise men die; The stupid and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.

11Their inner thought is that their houses are forever and their dwelling places to all generations; They have called their lands after their own names.

12But man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish.

13This is the way of those who are foolish, and of those after them who approve their words. Selah.

The Sermon on the Mount

I love how The Message translates this passage of scripture. It finally makes sense when it is written in layman's terms.


1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

when will it be MY turn?!

I don't want to wait anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

State of my attempt to follow God

You know for as much as I struggle in my relationship with God it is always encouraging for me to read about how others are battling forward as well. I love how my Pastor puts it "let's storm the gates of Hell! We aren't commanded to sit on the sidelines but to get up and play the offense." Okay so its a little more loosely taken from what he said but that is the gist of it.

I am encouraged everyday by my Pastor and his openness with not only his church but with any and all who come upon his blog. It is such an encouragement to me when he relates his struggles and frustrations. It helps remind me that he needs prayer just as much as the next person and that just because he's a Pastor doesn't mean he won't face the same temptations as you or me.

This past weekend Pastor Mark's message was "The State of the Church." Basically an NCC version of the "State of the Union" address. Only better cause it's about NCC. :-) Although Pastor Mark talked about all the good that has been happening this past year at NCC, what with the opening of Ebenezers (which was by the way voted the #2 Coffeehouse in DC on the AOL city guide), and the starting of two more services at the Ebs location, he ended the service on this note after showing our Baptism video (go to Baptism by the Bay). And I again quote loosely because I am not sure exactly how he said it. This video is what its all about, its about the lives that are changed and the people who come to Christ as their own.

FRIGID Temps

Okay so it is the coldest it has been in a decade in DC right now. The temp. this morning when I left for work...20 but felt like -1. Now its 20 but feels like 2. I thought I had it bad until I checked the temp. in Iowa, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Respectively they were 7 in IA, 17 but felt like 0 in NJ and in Pennsylvania it was 12 but felt like -5. OY!!! Our only hope lies in the fact that Punxsatawny Phil said Spring will be here soon!! I sure hope so because I don't like this cold.

Oh yeah now this fits~

now this template fits me and my blog title :-) Beth what do you think!?

Psalm 8

1. O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
2. From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
3. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
4. What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
5. Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6. You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
7. All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field,
8. The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
9. O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

You Know My Name - Detour 180

Help me remember the reason I’m alive
And that I was on your mind the day you died
Help me imagine, this is not my home
And some day I’ll be resting by your side

Help me remember the day you won my heart
And you paid my way to freedom with your love
Help me imagine the beauty of this gift
A grace that I am so unworthy of

But you’ll never let me fall away from you

You know my name
You know my story
Still you’ve taken on the world
Just for me

I am amazed that you hear me speaking
You listen close to every word I say
Who am I to be loved this way?

You know my name
If I rise, if I fall
My only hope is this
That you’d be with me everyday
Who am I to be loved this way?

We Beseech Thee (Godspell)

Father, hear thy children's call
Humbly at thy feet we fall
Prodigals confessing all
We beseech thee, hear us!

We thy call have disobeyed
Into paths of sin have strayed
And repentence have delayed
We beseech thee, hear us!

Come sing about Love!
That made us first to be
Come sing about Love!
That made the stone and tree
Come sing about Love!
That draws us lovingly
We beseech thee, hear us!

Sick! We come come to thee for cure
Guilty! We seek thy mercy sure
Evil! We long to be made pure
We beseech thee, hear us!

Blind! We pray that we may see
Bound! We pray to be made free
Stained! We pray for sanctity
We beseech thee, hear us!

By the gracious saving call
Spoken tenderly to all
Who have shared man's guilt and fall
We beseech thee, hear us!

By the love that longs to bless
Pitying our sore distress
Leading us to holiness
We beseech thee, hear us!

Grant us all from earth to rise
And to strain with eager eyes
Towards the promised Heavenly prize
We beseech thee, hear us!

Come sing about Love! Love!
That made us first to be
Come sing about Love! Love!
That made the stone and tree
Come sing about Love! Love! Love! Love! Love!
That draws us lovingly
We beseech thee, hear us!

Finally a real relaxing weekend

For the first time in a long while I actually had a weekend that was meant to be relaxing turn out to be relaxing. After work on Friday I picked up a rental car at the airport and a friend at the café. I ran home packed a few small things and we headed back to the café to help set-up for and watch another friend’s performance in God on Broadway. First and foremost props to all who performed in this. Every single one of them had fabulous voices, but especially Dennis and Genevieve knocked my socks off. Talk about pipes, they both had a magnificent set of them.

After God on Broadway, Dennis, my friend Joe and I headed out to Western VA to meet up with the rest of the gang at a lodge we rented in Luray. It took us about two hours not counting a couple of stops. One getting my first every ticket/summons to court. OY! Slightly frustrated about that but am planning to write and see what kind of a deal we can work out as I was in a rental car, in a state I don’t live in with a PA driver’s license. Hopefully as it is my first offense they will be lenient with me.

Anyway we got there around 11ish and the rest of the gang was all there. We chilled for a bit chatting and listening to the guitar and singing along at times. Then we all gathered round the TV and watch “The Italian Job” (I was thinking of you BETH!). I hit the sack about halfway through because I was exhausted.

The next day I was up at 9:30 AM and ate and showered. Then a group of us decided to hike down the hill and find the river. It was great, the weather had gone from bitter cold the day before to warm with a slight chill the next day. When we got back from our hike we ate lunch and decided to hit the Luray Caverns (pics later). Not so sure that was a good idea as I am slightly claustrophobic. There was a garden maze there as well that we raced through. Out of the group of six of us that went in, I got out first. (I am way to competitive and not really sure how to change that)

After the maze, Adrienne, Bryan, Stacey and I headed for our “guided” tour of the caverns. It was pretty fascinating as well as scary, for me at least. All the different types of stalactites and stalagmites were amazing. I couldn’t help but look at them and stand in awe of Gods creativity and power. There was even this one portion of the cavern that had been turned into a natural organ. We were blessed with a live performance where “A Mighty Fortress is our God” was played. How utterly fitting!!!!

There was even a wishing well! Though I don’t believe in them I threw in a good dollars worth of change in high hopes ;-). Actually they dredge the pool at the end of each year and donate the money to a charity. It is pretty cool and if I’d had more change I would have thrown it all in. Towards the end of our tour the guide asked if everyone wanted to see how dark it was in the cave. Since I seemed to be the only person who didn’t, I grabbed a friends arm and held on so everyone else could “enjoy” the feeling of total and complete blackness. I felt like I was in hell, except there was no torture or heat.

When we were done here we headed back to the lodge and ate dinner. Celebrated Dani’s birthday with cake, ice cream and some salsa dancing. Well at least most of us did. Dani attempted to teach me but I just really am not that good. Then we all chilled and sang worship songs and talked. It was a really fabulous weekend and I would do it again any time. I really got a wonderful chance to get to know better some folks that I had met or known previously but had never hung out with. What a great group of friends. Thanks to Stacey, Rob, and Adrienne for pulling this together. Your hard work was much appreciated.