I am discouraged and I don't get myself and I don't get other people.

Love, Part 2

Going into the summer, my expectations were, essentially :
Loneliness
Job-I-Hate Misery
Song Writing
Song Recording
Justin & Laura time
Letter Writing
Reading
Car Buying
Tolerating existence until I could return to Norman, which I would try to make happen at the earliest possible moment

Basically, summer is over. I'm leaving Tulsa in the morning, and this is not what my summer looked like.

There are some people here who I love more than I thought I would let myself this summer. Kali and Rachel Knorr, my sister Anna, the Crews family, the entire entity that is Redeemer Pres. And leaving them sucks.

I didn't cry when I left Tulsa last summer. Or the summer before. I've cried twice today.

I don't understand myself right now. I really want to get to know you again, get to figuring out who I am..., to know you and be known by you. I have thoughts to wrestle with and I need your help.

The Love of Christ is Rich and Free. This is beautiful. The Body of Christ can love one another only because of this love that started it all. And it's the love that makes leaving have to suck.

transition, part 1

A week ago today I got on a train and left L'viv. Three days later (!) I got to Russia where I am now with my family. I'll be here for another five days or so, then I make the long trip back to Norman.

This summer has been really good. I have learned a lot and grown and changed. I have made new friends and done different things and thought in different ways. I have been away from and not in contact with my usual support structure of family or friends.

Then I came here to Russia. Next week I come to Norman. Whoa. Big changes. I am processing everything from the summer and simultaneously am getting back into contact with the world I left. And it is as I left it, but I am not as I was when I left.

So I am looking forward to seeing you, friends, but it is a lot to be happening to me. I am not good at transitions.
Still, I can't wait to see you and hear your summer stories! I can't believe it's next week.

!

Why, Hello There!

I haven't posted on here in a while, so I thought I would.  

How's everybody doing?  

I'm with my family in Tulsa this week.  It's nice to see them and talk/spent time with them, but 'home' is feeling less like home now.  I can't wait to be back in Norman with you all.  I'm excited for our reunion and interested to see how much each of you have changed over these past months.  

I spent the past week in Gaithersburg, MA at the Worship God Conference with my father and some other people from Grace Bible Church.  I was challenged a lot last week.  God is so much bigger and more worthy of my praise than I understand.  Thankfully I was not just challenged, but also refreshed in the Gospel last week.  I heard it preached by men like Dr. John Piper, who understand it better than I do and who are able to share to me their understanding in a way that causes me to be more amazed at the wonders of God's plan and in a way that spurs me to praise my Creator.  I would recommend listening to the main sessions if you get a chance: http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Events/WorshipConference.aspx.  The sermons by Piper were my favourite, but the one by Thabiti Anyabwile on the importance of the local church is very applicable to us as college aged people who struggle with being involved in a local body.  

My dad is about to come home from work, so I'm going to go fix him some dinner.  Everyone else here just left.  It's just me, Doodle, and my guitar.  

Come to Tulsa on Saturday to listen to Katie! That's a command.  

Love

3 Things

1) Financial Aid made an error in processing, but I now have Work Study and will be employed. This is a huge Praise the Lord moment, and such a weight off my shoulders. Your prayers are so appreciated.

2) Today was my last day at ChickfilA for the summer. This is a PTL moment. I'm taking this next week off to deal with whatever needs to be done in Tulsa before I move. This is exciting.

3) I'm moving next weekend. When are you back?


Looking forward,

TK

Last from Wabanna

Camp is over.
I'm leaving tomorrow at 8 to return home to OK.
I will be in shell shock.

See you soon.

The Gospel is for Sinners

Dearest Friends,

I've reached the two week mark for move-in. This is exciting. Many of you have similar amounts of time remaining. I really simply cannot wait to be reunited with you.

This week, and today especially, I've seen the power of the Gospel in the brokenness of people's lives. Today I had coffee with John Knorr, who was the campus minister at the University of Tulsa until about a year ago. He has been one of the most influential people in my life, and this was the first time I had spent with him since some rather heartbreaking events unfolded at the beginning of this year. John has been affected by his sin in a way I haven't seen firsthand in many people. His sin has, unfortunately, had incredible power to affect others as well. But the GOSPEL is TRUE for HIM. If I don't believe this, then I don't believe the Gospel. And in His brokenness, I have been shown the power of the Cross to redeem and to bring to repentance those who have been called to Christ, and those who have been absolutely lost to their sin. The Gospel is BEAUTIFUL, and the Gospel is for sinners. John Knorr is a sinner. But I am the chief of sinners. Praise God that the Gospel is true for us.

Christine is a friend I've written to you about before. She's a 30yr old mother of 4 who works as one of my managers at ChickfilA. She is one of the reasons I have felt that my calling to Tulsa has not been in vain this summer. She is affected by sin. Divorced, an absolute workaholic, and a fairly absent mother from her children, she is affected by her sin. She has been affected by the sin of her parents, and her childrens lives are being affected by her sin as well. And while I don't think she is aware of it yet, she is DESPERATE for the love of Christ---absolutely longing to have a lover who is faithful, and who seeks to KNOW her and BE KNOWN by her. Tonight she and her kids came over to my house. I invited them so her kids could ride our horses and hang out and just be away from normality. The Gospel's promises are TRUE for them. The Gospel can save Christine from her love affair with her job, and from her love affair with the world and the lie that a man will bring her happiness. Christine's life has been affected by her sin, but the Gospel is for sinners. Christine is a sinner. I am a sinner. The Gospel is true for us, and the ONLY thing that can save us.

The Gospel is true for my students at the church. The Gospel is true for the crazy people I work with. The Gospel is true for my sister. The Gospel is true for you, my dearest friends. The Gospel is not for the righteous. The righteous don't need it. The Gospel is for sinners, of whom I am the chief.

When the Pharrisees saw Jesus eating the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples why he would do such a thing. Jesus overheard and replied, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

We're together soon. Let's make the Gospel true in our lives. Let's love every sinner we see.

Katie