I read two books this week, start to finish. I've been pretty busy, so that's a good pace for me. The first was Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horowitz, about the lasting legacy of the War Between the States in the South. It's an interesting read, lots of interesting stories from the war and lots of keen observation. Horowitz does a great job for a Yank. The second i read yesterday: Her Hand in Marriage: Biblical Courship in the Modern World by Doug Wilson. i enjoyed it and learned from it a lot more than i expected, and it's brief and to the point. i used to think courtship could never be for me, but this really helped me to get it. Well, the book and some discussion with friends. Wow, all these book plugs make me feel like LeVar Burton. Butterfly in the sky / i can go twice as high / take a look / it’s in a book / a reading rainbow...

posted by kristen stewart | 13:20 | thoughts? |

In my assessment about communication, i totally neglected real, honest-to-goodness mail. There is a real delight in that, the physical paper in hand, the personality of handwriting, etc. i need to employ the United States Postal Service much more than i currently do. If you'd like some real mail, email me your address and i'll write you a note :o) oh, and to whoever can tell me what's wrong with my archives, a thank you note.
posted by kristen stewart | 10:09 | thoughts? |

30.7.02

Which Peanuts Character Are You Quiz

Why do i get someonelikesyou.com emails all the time? If i ever found out someone liked me through someonelikesyou.com, i'd immediately lower my opinion of them since it's way more manly to actually tell me that you like me rather than sticking my email address into some website.
posted by kristen stewart | 01:45 | thoughts? |

29.7.02
Evangelical Christianity is always worth a laugh. On my campus as on many others, a cappella music is very prominent. So, Christians form their own a cappella groups. They do Christian songs and secular ones too, making slight variations. Today, surfing the radio, i heard "I'm a Believer" (the Shrek version) and recalled hearing a Duke group sing it, with a male lead, changing all "her" to "his" to imply God. Then i started thinking about it and wondered if you could make any song Christian if you wanted. So, i waited patiently for the next song to come on... it was "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias. i giggled all the way to work.
posted by kristen stewart | 22:56 | thoughts? |

28.7.02
Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.

If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.

I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the LORD;
For with the LORD there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.
-Psalm 130
posted by kristen stewart | 22:53 | thoughts? |

27.7.02
i probably should just email Daniel, but does anyone know why Anglicans say communion is fully received whether you take bread and wine or bread alone?
posted by kristen stewart | 11:19 | thoughts? |

i must be a hopeless romantic. i am dancing around singing songs from Moulin Rouge, i purchased several cool picnic baskets to give as wedding gifts instead of appliances off the registry, and i am wearing make-up for no reason at all. oh, and i bought this dress.
posted by kristen stewart | 11:04 | thoughts? |

25.7.02
I use three main forms of communication: the internet, the telephone and face-to-face interactions. Depending on the season, i use each one more or less. The problem is that these are three inherently different ways to connect with people and they all have their pros and cons.

[the internet]
pros: cheap, not geographically bound, on my own time
cons: easy to be misunderstood, spotty communication sometimes, inherently impersonal

[the telephone]
pros: not geographically bound, semi-personal, more intonation and human interaction
cons: expensive, tendency to say things without thinking to prevent silence, "phone tag"

[in person]
pros - personal, as clear as communication can be, more natural pauses and thinking time
cons - geograhically bound

It being summertime, i hardly ever hang out with friends in person, but when i do, i realize that it is so much better than anything else. i've noticed that i also have a tendency towards verbal spew on the phone. i need the visual cues for disinterest. School will start again soon. Then i'll have real live friends again.
posted by kristen stewart | 14:22 | thoughts? |

i really enjoy my little yellow paperback copy of the Westminster Standards. i'd love to find a paperback copy of the Three Forms of Unity. Any ideas where to look? Note to self: buy a copy of the Trinity Psalter and the CD. Learn to sing Psalms.
posted by kristen stewart | 14:11 | thoughts? |

24.7.02
Reflecting back on my trip to DC, my attitude towards our national monuments has changed completely since the last time i visited them. i remember back half a dozen years and recall how much i was moved by the sight of Lincoln, sitting in that chair, seeming so able to rule, so just and so majestic. This weekend the Lincoln Memorial made me feel a little queasy. i noticed how much it seemed like a temple and how the reverence people have for Lincoln seemed like worship. i know more now about Lincoln's "heroism" and how it isn't as cut-and-dry as those middle school history textbooks make it. i never liked war memorials before. Too sad. But this past weekend i let myself be moved by them and standing before the Korean War Veteran's Memorial i read this inscription and fought back tears: "Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met." It's easy to defend your home. It's hard to follow the federal government and defend another country's homes. i think i am experiencing a shift from glorifying heros and historical celebrities towards appreciating the common sacrifices of common men and women, people like me.
posted by kristen stewart | 14:52 | thoughts? |

I have updated my blog roll. The featured blogs of the week come straight off that list.
posted by kristen stewart | 12:06 | thoughts? |

For your enjoyment and good use I present: Sensus Plenior. The old comments will remain ever so briefly while i try to see if i can transfer them. Jamie requested i keep the Aimee Mann commenting theme so i'll comply for the time being.
posted by kristen stewart | 11:47 | thoughts? |

23.7.02
I've been going to solid churches so regularly that going to an evanjellyfish one this weekend was culture shock. I visited my friend's summer church, the National Community Church, meeting in the movie theatre at Union Station. The worship was me-centred, the sermon appealed more to my sense of patriotism than it did to scripture and the pastor talked non-stop during communion. He also said "if you have never made a profession of faith, taking communion with us today is a way of identifying yourself with us and with Christ." That weirded me out. In general, the whole experience was really scary. I held my tongue around my friend, but honestly, what does this say about the future of American evangelicalism? And how can i help my friends in Intervarsity understand the need for solid, biblical teaching and theology and not just the feel-good churches they're used to?
posted by kristen stewart | 14:41 | thoughts? |

22.7.02
My trip to DC was excellent. My friend and i stayed with another friend in Georgetown in the University's off-campus apartments. We saw many great sights: monuments at night [the Korean War Veteran's Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial] and by day [FDR and the Washington Monument]. We went to museums -- various Smithsonians and the National Gallery of Art. We ate very well all over Georgetown, on the waterfront at the Washington Harbor Restaurant and Lounge, on Wisconsin at Neyla and at a Cosi on Dupont Circle. Cosi is amazing. Find the nearest one. We also used many forms of transportation. We walked frequently. We took buses. We rode the Metro. We got a taxi. It was fun to live the city life ever so briefly.
posted by kristen stewart | 00:26 | thoughts? |

21.7.02
O day of rest and gladness, O day of joy and light,
O balm of care and sadness, most beautiful, most bright;
on thee the high and lowly, before the eternal throne,
sing, "Holy, holy, holy," to the great Three in One.

On thee, at the creation, the light first had its birth;
on thee for our salvation, Christ rose from depths of earth;
On thee our Lord victorious the Spirit sent from heaven,
and thus on thee most glorious, a triple light was given.

Thou art a port protected from storms that round us rise;
a garden intersected with streams of paradise;
thou art a cooling fountain in life's dry dreary sand;
from thee, like Pisgah's mountain, we view our promised land.

Today on weary nations the heavenly manna falls;
to holy convocations the silver trumpet calls,
where Gospel light is glowing with pure and radiant beams,
and living water flowing, with soul refreshing streams.

May we, new graces gaining from this our day of rest,
attain the rest remaining to spirits of the blessed.
And their our voices raising, to Father, Spirit, Son,
for evermore be praising the blessed Three in One.
posted by kristen stewart | 22:47 | thoughts? |

19.7.02
i had been at work since 5:45a with only a two hour break. It was 9:25p. i wanted to go home. If i could make a perfect grande cappucino in three and a half minutes or less, my boss was going to let me go. In my haste to get going, the espresso grinder was acting funny and instead of thinking, i stuck my finger in the chute to get the clumps out. i ground the very tip of my finger. i'm lucky it wasn't any worse. No doctor's visit necessary. i didn't cry for many minutes, proving that my pride was hurt a lot worse than my fingertip. i'm about to leave for DC and when i return Sunday, i may only have two jobs again.
posted by kristen stewart | 07:23 | thoughts? |

18.7.02
i forgot to mention... i got something published at Relevant... it was originally written for Chasing Hats.
posted by kristen stewart | 14:43 | thoughts? |

Speaking the truth in love is hard.
Hearing the truth in love is harder.
posted by kristen stewart | 14:36 | thoughts? |

17.7.02
Tonight i went to eat some Thai with two friends. One ordered a chicken dish. A Thai pepper was accidentally stir-fryed in. Tears streamed down his face for half an hour. And then he theorized that it would be good to eat one before proposing. "Girls like that crying stuff."
posted by kristen stewart | 23:43 | thoughts? |

16.7.02
At approximately 5:15 yesterday, i had a guitar, a sleeping bag, a pillow, a basket of clean clothes, a case of gatorade, a case of mike's hard lemonade and a case of guiness in my trunk. i wish i would have headed for the hills.
posted by kristen stewart | 21:13 | thoughts? |

15.7.02
Everyone has taken to giving me suggestions on what to be when i grow up...errr...graduate next May. Yesterday, it was librarian. Teacher is frequently mentioned. Coffee shop manager. Road manager for a band. Chef. Freelance writer. This amuses me very much.

"if you're looking at me to be an accountant then you will look but you will never see..." -belle and sebastian
posted by kristen stewart | 21:34 | thoughts? |

Up Before Sunrise
Today is my first early morning for job #3--barista/manager-in-training at a coffee shop. i woke up. That's a real accomplishment for me. "i am not a morning person" is a laughable understatement.
posted by kristen stewart | 04:17 | thoughts? |

14.7.02
Sabbath Reflection
O quickly come, dread Judge of all,
For, awful though Thine advent be;
All shadows from the truth will fall,
And falsehood die, in sight of Thee.
O quickly come, for doubt and fear
Like clouds dissolve when Thou art near.

O quickly come, great King of all;
Reign all around us, and within;
Let sin no more our souls enthrall,
let pain and sorrow die with sin.
O quickly come, for Thou alone
Canst make Thy scattered people one.

O quickly come, true Life of all;
For death is mighty all around;
On every home his shadows fall,
On every heart his mark is found.
O quickly come, for grief and pain
Can never cloud Thy glorious reign.

O quickly come, sure Light of all
For gloomy night broods o’er our way;
And weakly souls begin to fall
With weary watching for the day.
O quickly come, for round Thy throne
No eye is blind, no night is known.
words by Lawrence Tuttiett
posted by kristen stewart | 21:21 | thoughts? |

13.7.02
Working 6 to 9
Working two jobs is hard. Working three jobs is just plain insane.
posted by kristen stewart | 10:38 | thoughts? |

12.7.02
Music Makes the People Come Together
Music never ceases to amaze me. It's a cultural medium that brings people together in ways that visual art and the written word can only dream about. There are those key songs that everyone knows, no matter what their age, status, sex or race. Classic oldies, catchy eighties songs and today's top 40: you may not always like it, but you know it and you sing along. These songs break down barriers between people. They start singing along and for just that moment, no matter who they are, there is some sense of equality. i've been seeing this lately in the oddest places.
posted by kristen stewart | 23:22 | thoughts? |

11.7.02
A Tale of Two Jobs
i have two summer jobs. One is as a research assistant for a project in the Sociology department at UNC and the other is working at a country club doing all sorts of food service tasks: prepping, cooking, serving and cleaning. Much to my surprise, i greatly prefer the latter.
posted by kristen stewart | 17:38 | thoughts? |

The Trouble With Free Things
Of course, i come back to bloggin' in the middle of a Blogger server fiasco. Makes a girl long for Blogger Pro or Moveable Type. Maybe God is just trying to teach me patience. Eventually, the left bar will have a few more additions. And as long as i can edit my template, the blogs of the week will change Mondays, if you were wondering about that.
posted by kristen stewart | 09:46 | thoughts? |

10.7.02
Combating Writer's Block
Last night i crashed at a friend's apartment. After everyone had gone to bed, i all of the sudden got a pretty decent idea for an essay. Lacking any sort of paper in the kitchen, dining and living areas, i wrote down the idea and basic structure on a paper towel. i hope i don't forget and use it to mop up anything :o) i've been writing pretty steadily lately. Regularly for Chasing Hats and occasionally for other websites. i used to get paid to freelance, but this is more fun. i get to write about what i want. Don't ever hesitate to drop me a line and tell me how i can improve my writing. But let Josh handle the grammar. He's good at it.
posted by kristen stewart | 15:30 | thoughts? |

Freshman Reading Program at UNC
i love my university. It's acting a little controversial right now, according to some. i don't have a big problem with it. maybe the liberal education is getting to me...
posted by kristen stewart | 08:56 | thoughts? |

The ABCs of Me
I'll reintroduce myself via something i saw on Rick's blog today:

a - age: almost 21. that means i'm 20.
b - best quality: hard to say. perhaps my silver toenails.
c - choice of meat: pork barbeque
d - dream date: not a movie. something surprising.
e - exciting adventure: climbing a mountain or getting lost in a new city.
f - favorite food: ethnic food. italian and thai, right now.
g - greatest accomplishment: i really hope it hasn't happened yet.
h - happiest day of your life: hmmm... too many.
i - interests: music, reading, writing, knitting, and cooking
k - kool-aid: gives you a funky mustache.
l - love: my friends
m - most valued thing i own: my books and cds. i don't own much of value.
n - name: kristen marie knox
o - outfit you love: denim skirt and lavendar linen shirt with cute denim rhinestone flip-flops
p - pizza toppings: almost anything. especially chicken.
q - question asked to you the most: "Why are you so happy?"
r - reason for blogging: to communicate my in-progess thoughts
s - sport to watch: college basketball
t - television show: i don't watch TV
u - ur favorite song: too hard! today, "Again i Go Unnoticed" by Dashboard Confessional
w - winter: yay for all the seasons
y - year born: 1981
z - zodiac sign: virgo ("the virgin")
posted by kristen stewart | 00:37 | thoughts? |

9.7.02
New Beginnings
If at first you don't succeed, try try again.
posted by kristen stewart | 23:59 | thoughts? |

Aaron // Alex // Amy // Andrew // Annie // Barb // Ben // Berek // Brandon + Wendy // Chris // Christin // Daniel // Dave + Melissa // Dave H. // Dave K. (mostly) // Davey // Dawn G. // deadyetblogging // Deacon // Dustin // Ellen // Emeth // Francis // Dr. George // Gideon // Hester // Isaiah // J.T. // Jake // James B. // Jason G. // Jason K. // Jason W. // Jeff M. // Jeff N. // Jen // Jenn H. // Jenn N. // Jenny // Jessie // Joel // John Ba. // John Bu. // Jon A. // Jon B. // Jon S. // Jonathan W. // Jonvw // Josh M. // Josh S. // Josh W. // Kelly // Laurel // Lucy // Matt B. // Matt C. // Matt H. // Megan // Melissa // Mike // Nate // Nathanael // Nick // Nikkiana // Paul // Paulo // Phil // Rachel // Real Live Preacher // Remy // Richard B. // Richard O. // Rick // Rob // Russ Y. // Sarah G. // Sarah H. // Sarah J. // Seth // Shane // Shimmer // Sora // Summer // Tim E. // Tim G. // Tom // Valerie // Valerie S. //