Reflections and Shadows

Rachel’s Randomness
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“Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me, while I'm alone and blue as can be. Dream a little dream of me” - Dream a Little Dream

Out of the cool darkness, a gazebo that appears to be made up entirely of lights of every bulb size, magically twinkles. Two of the young couples glide gracefully, while a third couple seems to move a little slower and more awkwardly. Upon closer examination, the girl, wearing a leg cast, has been placed with gentle care, on the tops of her boyfriend’s feet. It is no longer an awkward dance they are doing, but a beautiful one as they dance together as one. The other two couples suddenly exit the dance floor in way too close succession, in my mind’s eye. I puzzle at this.

“He must have gotten his ‘scare’ on,” Michal concluded with a matter of fact voice, in response to the puzzlement that must have escaped my lips. I was so startled by the thought and as it struck both of us as funny, we started giggling. I’ve never thought of Edward Cullen – looking all dashing, dancing with Bella, getting his “scare” on.

Oh, the great girl’s nights full of relaxation and laughter. I have a feeling this week is going to especially long, weird, trying, fun and interesting all at once. After my friends Jeff’s graduation party last night, I leaned forward and hugged Michal from the backseat. I sighed woefully and said, “Michal, I think I’m homesick – I think I need to watch Twilight.” Haha – love my logic there.

This is one of those days where I feel I have nothing particularly clever to say, and one of those weeks, where plenty has happened in the way of life, but I somehow don’t feel it’s worth putting down on paper.

I have to share my dad’s response to one of my statuses on facebook this week. This was also a week of where we girls were talking about love, men, and relationships. Great, insightful, lively discussions that were backed up by Scripture and encouragement. So, I myself wasn’t merely listening this week, I too shared my sentiments. What we talked about was nothing new, but it helps to say these truths aloud. Basically some of the conclusions we vented about were: Men like to have their cake and eat it too – They enjoy having all the privileges without the status – Also they enjoy shirking away from the main point you’re making in order to make you look like a fool and to avoid anything being pinned on them – escaping directly answering anything you confront them with. Anyway, my status read: Men are like politicians; Oh wait, politicians ARE usually MEN. I thought the analogy fitting. My dad’s reply kept me in stitches, so I hope you find it funny: “Politicians are like diapers. They both need to be changed often and for the same reason." Great man, my dad; he’s spoiled all other men for me.

I think my parents have only grown more in love, and more adorable since my brother and I left home for college. My dad and mom will go out on dates with each other and my dad is so insightful and sensitive when it comes to my mom. Mom is so loving, and you can tell she thrives in doing thoughtful little things for my dad and taking care of him. They often love playing around and teasing each other – SO awesome! I thank God for their marriage of almost 28 years.

Speaking of my little family, I am beyond excited to see them for the first time in a month, this Wednesday!!! They are coming into D.C. and staying through next Monday!

Well, I shall hope my wit and good humor returns shortly; I so dislike being stuck in this rut. This week’s resolution, among many: Take more pictures!!! Tomorrow I have work – so I shall bid you all a good night and adieu. Let me know how I can pray for each of you or if there’s anything you want to share with me. I miss and love each of you – even if I’ve been awful at staying in touch. Have a great week!!!

Peace out,
Rachel Duke

Like a Medley

Rachel’s Randomness
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“Eighty-five percent, cocoa chocolate and organic peanut butter is like a really handsome man with a really great voice asking me to marry him.” – Michal

Today was a banner day for so many reasons!!! But, as Mr. Collins said in “Pride and Prejudice:” “Before I allow my emotions to run away with me….” I will work through the jumbled emotions and reactions in my head in order to work them out on paper for each of you to understand in a more organized fashion.

It all started out with groggily waking up to a head full of allergies – always a cheery way to start one’s morning. Then came the getting ready for work part and the quick grabbing of a granola bar for breakfast before rushing out into the cool, sunny morning on the way to the metro.

I sit down in my cubicle at The Washington Times and set my gym bag to one side and my J. Crew leather bag (which is always a big hit with all the ladies) to the other. Reaching down into my bag I grab my notes to begin writing the article on women and their struggle with pornography – heavy stuff. Michal’s voice floats softly across the mostly deserted newsroom floor: “Rachel, check out The Washington Times online home page.” “Okay,” I thought to myself. “Interesting request.” I hollered over, more loudly than a whisper, “One second!” Opening up to the homepage of the Times I saw the bold headline: “Military abortion issue returns.” It’s the story I had worked on for hours that had beaten the stuffing out of me, yesterday! Whoop, whoop!!!! I was so surprised that I simply sat staring blankly, with my jaw hanging open, at the computer screen. Then came the jumping up and down, and squealing like a high school girl with major hormonal issues. Thank goodness no one but Michal was around to hear me act in such an unprofessional way. I hurried towards the main lobby of the building and grabbed five newspapers. The article has been cut out of one of them in order to hang it on the wall above my bed.

The next couple of items that made this a banner day can most likely, although I’m not promising, be summed up in a few short paragraphs. Oh, the test of space. Wow, there are just so many little neat things about my days that bring me such joy and I wish I could share every one of them with you all – but this will have to suffice. So, tonight was the season finale of Glee!!! I can’t decide but I believe I’m mostly happy, but sad at the same time. What will I do without Glee for the next few months?! It didn’t end as I was expecting, which is both good and bad. Believe me, there was lots of tears and laughter. The moment I had been waiting for all season long had finally arrived about half way through the last episode – Finn told Rachel, “I love you.” Everybody on three – 1, 2, 3 – Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!! The songs equaled awesomeness. Josh Groban even made a guest appearance and Sue Sylvester surprised me most of all. I can’t wait to buy all the songs from tonight’s episode on iTunes!

The Eclipse movie soundtrack was released today!!!! So stoked – June is a great month! The new iPhone 4G is being released in Apple stores near you on the 24th, and I’m due for an upgrade!!! Eclipse comes out in theaters on the 30th – so going to the midnight showing – like I’m so there it’s insane. Oh, and I ran four miles today and felt nothing but greatness and a sense of accomplishment – knowing that I had worked up to that stamina. Thanks to "Coach" Michal – haha!

Well, tomorrow she and I will be covering different events in the afternoon – so neither of us will be going into work. I’m covering something to do with the tea party movement – just up my alley.

Peace out,
Rachel Duke

A Klutz's Tale

Rachel’s Randomness
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“I have never met anyone more prone to life threatening idiocy.” - Alice Cullen

Have you ever heard of the expression, “A Jonah day”? Yeah, well, that is a very apt description of my own day this past Friday. But the story must be told. Whether it will evoke empathy, or laughter, or both, is completely up to you. Personally, I feel like it should have been documented for America’s Funniest Videos.

It all started off with me groggily waking up, all cocooned in my down comforter, groaning as the soft strains of “I Dreamed a Dream,” from the television show Glee, came out of my alarm clock. With my eyes blurry and unfocused I reached to switch off the alarm. It is the one time in my day where I resent music. I feel like punching it in the face for trying to force its cheery, upbeat mood on me.

I quickly got ready and left earlier than usual so that I would have time to buy a few copies of The Washington Times. Today was the first day I have ever been published in a major newspaper! I wrote on the glamorous, exciting topic of the Gore’s recent marriage breakup. Yes, I was being facetious or sarcastic – whatever you’d prefer to call it. I interviewed David and Claudia Arp, authors of “Second Part of Marriage,” and founders of Marriage Alive. I also interviewed Jonathan Robinson who has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show.

Lost in thought, I got off the crowded metro and emerged into the semi-fresh air at Metro Center. Fridays are seminar days at the National Journalism Center. Walking towards the National Press Building, I looked down at my phone to check the time. I saw stairs to the left of me so I moved towards the right thinking that the two sidewalks met evenly. Of course they didn’t, of course I was wearing heels – my heel did a weird twisty thing as I fell, full force towards the hard concrete, my iPhone catapulting through the air. My hands and knees hit the ground, my knees taking a good bit of the impact as I twisted my body to land partly on my bottom, so as to not rip my nice, new, black dress slacks. Somewhere in the distance I heard people gasp in horror and concern. My kneecaps felt as if they were knocked out of their sockets, and the first thought I had was, “I’m not going to a hospital, so nothing better be broken.” I felt completely paralyzed and like a klutz. An older man hurried over to my side as I was gasping for the air that got knocked out of me and said, “Oh my gosh, you’re such a little thing. Are you all right?” He reached down to take my hand and I merely held onto his hand for what felt like an eternity trying to assess the damage, but the my first thought after he said that was, “He called me a ‘little thing.’”

A lady brought over my iPhone, which I had forgotten about until now, and said, “Can you move your ankles okay? You didn’t rip your clothes or anything so that’s good and your phone appears to be fine.” Slowly, they both assisted me to my feet and I thanked them both profusely. Getting up I realized my leather bag from J. Crew was leaking fast. With a groan I remembered several things at once: my poor bag, notes from my interview with Joshua Harris, Michal’s cell phone (which I thought she’d want during the day), and my NJC folder. I had brought a diet cherry Pepsi with me, along with my lunch – the can must have exploded when it hit the sidewalk. Quickly I popped a squat down on the sidewalk and dug everything out. I then dumped a good portion of the liquid in the trash, wishing for napkins to wipe off all my stuff. So yes, Michal’s phone had seen better days. But all that has been sorted and I can look back and laugh now.

Oh, and to even make things better, I fell going up the escalator at the Rosslyn Metro later that night – oh so fun. This time I skinned my knee and punctured the bottom of my left big toe, causing a bloody mess. So yes, a “Jonah day” indeed: Two hard falls and single-handedly destroying Michal’s cell phone. But the Pollyanna side of it is that at least these kind of days are few and far between.

Last night my roomie and I laughed over "A Knight's Tale." Prince Edward, despite appearing in a few scenes, is one of my favorite characters - he is so regal and a man of honor and integrity. I love when he says to William Thatcher (Heath Ledger), "What a pair we make. Both trying to hide who we are. Both unable to do so...You're men love you. If I didn't know anything else about you that would be enough." Of course Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany) is so hilarious. He cracks me up when he says, "Ah, trudging. You know, to trudge? To trudge: The slow, weary, depressing, yet determined walk of a man who has nothing left in his life except the impulse to soldier on."

And trudge through this week I shall. Thanks, Geoff - haha!

Peace out,
Rachel Duke

A Run to Remember

Rachel’s Randomness
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“Yeah, I had an adrenaline rush. It’s very common. You can Google it.” - Edward Cullen

I love how music helps to pump up adrenaline in my body. Music speaks to every fiber of my being and if you hang around me long enough, you’ll figure out that I can’t listen to music and not move in some way to it; that or sing along with it – it’s a natural urge.

“Safety Dance,” performed by Glee of course, drummed through my head and set a steady rhythm for my feet as they pounded against the concrete on my run with Michal. She, being the better runner of the two of us, took the lead. We ran towards the Iwo Jima monument (keep in mind that this is Memorial Day weekend). There is a bike trail that Michal found, weaving alongside the Arlington Cemetery for a bit leading us over the Potomac, which sparkled like a shiny, blue sapphire in the sunlight. I found myself grinning from ear to ear as the breeze soothed away some of the heat and humidity of the afternoon – I praised God several times for being young, healthy, and alive. We found ourselves at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and I eagerly dodged in and out of tourists to get to the top to see Honest Abe himself. There he was, sitting all majestic on his throne-like chair. I felt his marble cold, yet warm eyes on me, as if he were saying, “I expect great things out of you young lady. Don’t squander your gifts or lose sight of the eternal things for your own personal gratification.”

Seriously, though, who gets to go on such a historic and scenic run like that every day?!! Michal and I felt like locals, running alongside the Potomac as tourists on their buses and with their cameras passed us by. Cool feeling, despite that we are only three-month locals – ha ha! On our run back towards Iwo Jima, we spotted several men and women in uniform and lots of kids with matching t-shirts on. It was pretty crowded. Michal got ahead of me, as I was passing close to the monument, I saw this middle-aged guy yell, “Over here!” and cup his hands in the air in order to catch a ball that I assumed was coming at him from somewhere. Okay, so quick freeze frame here and side note: I’m usually the one with the target painted on my forehead. Can’t figure out why other than I’m tall or just seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s funny because I always know when it’s coming and just brace myself for it – yet it’s like I’m in the kind of dream where you’re running but can’t seem to get anywhere. Back to ball coming out of nowhere. So I literally cringe and squat as I run, hoping to avoid the football - *WHAM!* - right across my right temple – I had to laugh, although I was annoyed at the kid who threw it. Come on! In a crowded park around the Iwo Jima?! I was grateful to find it was a soft football and not a real one, which would have left a bruise. I didn’t need another bruise added to my already flourishing collection.

It was definitely a girl’s day and I enjoyed every bit of it. It was sweet. Michal and I showered and met up with Jeff in Old Town (Alexandria). We did a little window shopping, I snapped photos, and we stopped for dinner at a little European bakery. It was delish! I then treated Michal and myself to the first Starbucks we’ve had since we’ve been in D.C. It had been four months since Michal had had one. Jeff had left to hit up some nightlife before we headed to Starbucks – so we took our times strolling back to the Metro at Kings Street. The trees along the wide avenue were strung up with twinkling white lights.

Getting home after our rendition of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" on the Metro, which had people rolling their eyes at us, we got comfy and sat on my bed for a hot date with Mr. Darcy in “Pride and Prejudice.” Of course we sighed and had teary eyes when Mr. Darcy tells Elizabeth at the end, “If however, your affections have changed, I must tell you that you’ve bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. And never wish to be parted from you from this day on.”

It was a banner day. That is all. Goodnight my loved ones!

Note: For more pics of my adventures, refer to my facebook albums, which I update often.

Peace out,
Rachel Duke

Metro Madness

Rachel's Randomness

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"I want you to be swept away out there. I want you to levitate. I want you to sing with rapture and dance like a dervish." - Meet Joe Black

The news floor of The Washington Times is full of the sounds of computer keyboards gently clacking, the murmur of various reporter's voices and the occasional ring of phones. It reminds me of closing my eyes, holding my breath, and going underwater at the ocean -- listening to the sounds of people above you, the splashing, and the crashing of the waves. I randomly click on my Jabber chat video feature to check my appearance at 3 in the afternoon. I look tired, pinched, and deeply reflective - I've got to watch the frown lines between my eyebrows - the skin there was almost scrunched together.

I had just finished a great, although brief 10 minute interview with Dr. Douglas Weiss, the Executive Director of Heart to Heart Ministries. Nice man with a soothing voice - but not creepy soothing - he knows his stuff. I would go to him with marriage issues I think. Wait, that thought right there scares me. Scratch that - haha!

Okay, so I'm going to give you all a brief sum up of my week - the main things that stood out in each day - so that you're not tempted to "drop me like third period French." (for those of you who appreciate Ocean's 11)

Tuesday: Our bus driver, Alan, who drives us between Union Station and The Washington Times, thinks everything I say is hilarious and he loves giving me a hard time, but I give him a hard time back. He has dubbed me "Speedy" since apparently everyone here feels that I'm in need of multiple nicknames. Interesting Metro ride home Tuesday night. I stood up from my seat thinking the Metro conductor had completely stopped, only to find myself catapulting backwards grabbing nothing but air. Fortunately I half landed back in my seat, the other half of my bottom bone went *SMACK* into the armrest. Needless to say I will have a knot and bruise there for a long time - haha. Now THAT scene wasn't awkward at all. I had to laugh at myself and shrug it off to get people's eyes off of me. Finally put a collage of pictures I cut out of a Vogue magazine on my wall. This issue featured Matt Morrison from GLEE and Kristen Stewart from the Twilight series. Yay for our apartment looking more girly!

Thursday: Had another Metro adventure. I've figured out that the Metro only likes me every other day of the week. Got trapped on the Metro - the doors would not open on it. So we had to wait for 15 minutes and they still wouldn't open, then went up to the next station to turn back around to Metro Center. It was such a nuisance plus I started to feel claustrophobic and scared. Keep in mind that this all happened during rush hour when everyone is packed in like sardines. I kept muttering under my breath, "Dang it, dang it." When I learned that we would have to go to the next stop I groaned. There was a women in a wheelchair in front of me who looked back at me and said, "They have to go up to the next stop so the doors will open. Just chill - it's no big deal." Ha! Easy for you to say - I've never been trapped in a Metro car before and I don't think you struggle with tight places like I do. Decided not to say that out loud to her. Coming home from working out I noticed that it seemed like EVERY woman walking around or out of my apartment complex was pregnant! I wanted to say out loud, "What the heck?! What's with all the babies? Is there something in the water here?!" I even looked down to check my own stomach - whew - it's flat. Later that night the fire alarm in our building went off. It was so loud and obnoxious. I felt bad for all the firemen who had to come out for no reason. Yeah, Michal and I didn't even sweat about it and stayed in our room - we'd figure since we didn't smell smoke it was good. Took the firemen forever to figure out how to turn the alarm off.

Friday: I officially hate my feet. They look like I've been to battle and back again. I'm all bruises, blisters, pussy sores, and achy arches. Yes, I know I've shared this all before, but if I thought it was bad then, wow, it's nothing compared to now. I had my NJC session with Dr. Bird today. We mostly discussed our reading of this book titled, "The Law." Great but short read; it really broke down what the law should be and what socialism was. One of the main messages of the book talked about legal and illegal plunder and how socialists practice legal plunder and make the law their own weapon. We also concluded from the reading that consensus does not establish morality. I really enjoyed what I learned and what was reaffirmed in class today. Tonight I went to Georgetown for the first time since I've been here. It was so beautiful, cute and picturesque! I mentally kicked myself for not bringing my camera. Can't wait to go back and explore more. I was out with Natalia and Michaela - sweet girls. We grabbed some frozen yogurt which I had been craving since I got to D.C. It then started to rain. I thought of Margaret in Sense and Sensibility telling Marianne (after she said it wasn't going to rain), "You always say that and it always does!" It turned out to be a torrential downpour, which turned the crosswalks into the next best thing after Noah's flood. I've never got THAT accidentally wet before. I had to kick off my shoes and walk around barefoot, which of course felt superb on my open blisters. This whole scenario was so unbelievable that it became comical. Michaela nearly wiped out five times in front of me to which I died laughing each time. I had to admire her incredible balancing skills - I would have hit the concrete each time. She also, every time we'd encounter a puddle would lose a shoe and it would start floating off downstream - ha ha!!!

Tomorrow Michal and I are going to sleep in, (as I glance at the clock that reads 1:15 a.m.) and then workout and go walk around Old Town in Alexandria tomorrow in the afternoon. It'll be a nice girl's day. I shall write more tomorrow and shall be more witty and entertaining. I'm so burned out and can't think of clever movie quotes at the second. I've got a lot of work to do. Goodnight my friends and family!

Peace out,

Rachel Duke

Food for Thought

Rachel’s Randomness
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“Always resignation and acceptance. Always prudence and honour and duty. Elinor, where is your heart?” - Marianne Dashwood

Food. Isn’t that a beautiful word when you’re starving, as I was? For indeed that one simple word was in the forefront of my mind. I had had no food since this morning. My stomach growled hungrily as I stepped through the loud, pushy bevy of elderly French people, into the wonderful mixture of Italian aromas that greeted me in the Olive Garden. What annoyed me the most is when one of the French ladies loudly insist that she walk through the door first and looked at me as if I had intentionally cut her off. Good riddance – and they call Americans loud?! My despair grew as I heard that there would be a 40 minute wait. Forty minutes?! On a Sunday night?! Seriously people?! What foreign planet have I dropped onto? I think Dallas can spare some of their restaurants and send them this way because they seem short of them in Virginia. That is all.

Michal and I got the delicious soup and salad. I ordered minestrone soup. Their breadsticks at the “OG” as we now call it, are addicting – so I limited myself to two. After she and I had three small bowls of salad and two bowls of soup – which we scarfed down – we groaned at how full we were. We didn’t know how we were going to get up, so Michal said, “Maybe we should just roll out in these chairs.” It struck us both so funny and it just kept getting funnier. Between fits of giggles I said, “Yeah, can you just see us rolling in these Olive Garden chairs across the parking lot – race you to the car!” More peals of laughter and finally tears were pouring down both our cheeks, as Jeff’s group of puzzled and somewhat concerned friends looked on. Every time we tried to explain, it just wouldn’t come out and we’d laugh all the harder. Brian finally said jokingly, “What’s going on here? Did you all just start cutting onions on the table?” That didn’t help and I was gasping for relief and air. Again, Brian said, “Oh, do you need my asthma inhaler? Oh wait I didn’t bring it. I’m going to die but I hope you all don’t.” I was at the point where I wanted relief from my laughter so much that I was yelling my laughs to get more air. Good times.

Today we went back to The Washington Times. I did research on women and their struggle with pornography and called to schedule an in-person interview with Joshua Harris, writer of “I Kissed Dating Goodbye,” and “Sex Isn’t the Problem, Lust Is.” He also is the pastor of Covenant Life Church in Maryland. I’m hoping and praying it works out. I’m excited.

Although today was a good day in so many ways and got texts and IMs that made my heart smile and made my day, I was very keenly homesick at the same time and was tempted to hop on the next plane. On the Metro ride home, when I was alone with my thoughts tonight, I asked myself in doubt, “Why am I really here? What’s the point?” But then I had to remind myself of how God has guided my footsteps to this place, time, and moment and that He has a purpose for all this, which I cannot see. God has always been and always will be faithful. As my dad is fond of saying to me, “God has a good plan for your life because He is a good God.”

Michal and I worked out hard again today. Wow, I feel more in shape than I have in months. I’ll come home a thinner and more toned woman I’m thinking. Tonight was the series’ finale of 24 – can you say, emotionally raw and INTENSE?!!! It was a great ending and even I teared up at the end. I’m going to miss Jack Bauer – he is my hero – and it is one of the best TV shows ever.

Goodnight my friends and family!!! Continue to lift me up in prayer and let me know how I can do so for each of you.

Peace out,
Rachel Duke

Running Towards the Goal

Rachel’s Randomness
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"Endure. You can be the outcast. You can make the choice that no one else will face - the right choice." – Alfred Pennyworth

Well I’m happy to report that I made it through week one of D.C.! This has been a day of solace, reflection and relaxation. Michal and I did manage to get a lot of work done and run a little over two miles.

This afternoon I worked on editing a video clip and I began to hear the gentle, soothing notes of the Emma soundtrack. It almost surprised me but then I remembered how Michal was in love with the fictional Mr. Knightley. I prefer Mr. Darcy myself, so it’s good that we are in love with different men – haha! Turning my head and smiling at her I said, “A party is a party, but a party on a winter’s eve….I would rather fall short by two than exceed by two.” We both laughed, remembering the ridiculous Mr. Elton.

Michal and I are pretty much in sync when it comes to knowing the same music, appreciating the same authors, loving the same musicals, and quoting the same movies. We shock each other at how we can finish each other’s sentences or finish off a movie quote. While crossing the street one day, Michal said, “I’m too young to die!” (It is a quote from The Legend of Zorro). Laughing, I finished off the second part of the quote: “I have my whole life ahead of me!” I swear people around us, if they don’t already, are going to get sick of us or think us extremely strange creatures. We even randomly burst into chorus and sing, “Jessie’s Girl,” “Sobbin’ Women,” and “Going Courtin’.” The last two songs are from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Good times.

One of my goals while I’m here is to build up my cardio endurance. Michal is training for a half marathon and we both push each other to exercise, even though it feels like we walk around the entire city ten times. We run two miles this afternoon – we ran past Iwo Jima – wow, who gets to do that every day? It felt good to get my legs pumping in the cool evening air that promised rain. It is a whole new thing for me to go running across crosswalks and through traffic. You can’t help but feel you’re in your own version of Live Free, Die Hard, as your blood is pumping, your breathing is labored, the music is pounding against your ears, and you’re on high alert for cars as you cross the street.

I love how my roommate and I have such similar tastes – a match made in heaven – haha! Michal loves the story of Emma as I mentioned earlier. I told her about the newest Emma that BBC had recently released and she watched it and loved it – I was pleased.

A revelation (you could call it a conviction) occurred to me as I was showering tonight that blew me away. I just have to share it with you all and put it down on paper so I don’t forget. I promise I don’t mean it to offend and it’s for me to tell myself as well. Well, here it goes. People, I think I can safely assume, drink mostly to the point of getting drunk, to get some sort of relief, fulfillment, and happiness which is lacking in their life. Why then, as Christians, do we do the same? We shouldn’t! God and our relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ, should consume all of that emptiness, discontentment, the lack of happiness and fulfillment. We should be vibrant, filled with joy, so satisfied with who we are in Him that people around us should be asking for the reason for the hope that is within us.

Well that’s my sermon of the week and I’ll end on that I think; that, and how I don’t know how long I can survive in the world of journalism without translating everything around me in a spiritual light. It’s frustrating and shallow how we are so ready to make everything merely a matter of scientific fact. People shy away from the word: sin. I’ve done enough venting for one night. Tomorrow is going to be homework reading day and then church. Hope each of you has an awesome Sunday!

Peace out,
Rachel Duke