Woe, woe, woe

I have a secret.  I'm not very good at keeping secrets though. 

I'M GETTING ENGAGED NEST WEEK!!!

I met a wonderful girl at the beginning of this semester, and wev'e been dating for about two months now, and I know that she's the one, and I'm sure that she's going to say yes, and I'm sure that God has us together for a reason.  I'm so excited!

Woe, woe, woe you might be saying.  If its a secret then you should'nt be posting it on xanga.  Its okay though b/c she does'nt know about this site, and I'm not going to tell her until later.  And Craig Smith is a pretty common name, so its not like she's likely to find it by random surfing.  So don't  you go saying anything to her about it!

She's younger then me--she's seventeen.

Woe, woe woe you might be saying. That's way younger then you...which is kind of true, but she's really mature for her age.  She's a sophomore transfer to CIU cuz she had A.P. standing from doing homeschool and stuff.  Also, she's already down a short term missions trip to Niagra Falls Canada, so she knows what its like to be overseas and knows that's what God wants her to do.  I still have'nt decided if that's what God wants for my life but I know I'm willing to do it.

Anywho...back to when we met.  I met her at CIU.  I usually go back there once a week to eat...and maybe to meet the new students.  Boy did that ever pay off!  Shes actually the cashier/card swiper in the cafeteria.  I though she was really pretty, so one day I made my move.  I put my tray down next to her and asked, "Is this seat taken?"  and she said "no" and I said "lucky me" then she smiled at me and the rest is history! 

Her name is Jerusha yoder.  She's and Ohio Vally Mennonite (sp.?).  She's not like Amish though, that's what I used to think about Menonites, but I was wrong.  When I met her I didn't think that they used electricity or even drove in cars.  She was pretty mad about that, and me apologize before she would keep talking to me.  They use electricity and stuff, I was just wrong.  So I apologized and we got right back along.  She said it was good to be with a man who could admit when he was wrong. 

Our first date was at Barnes and Nobles.  I think that's where I'm gonna do the engagement.  It'll be a little hard to get a free table on a Friday night, but I think if I tell somebody why I need it then they'll probably give it up.  I know i would.  So my plan is to go and get her a drink from Starbucks (she LOVES coffee--its not forbidden but her family frowned on in at home--hello, have'nt they heard about liberty?) and then have the ring hiding in the bottom of the cup.  I've heard of people doing that at restrants and stuff and it seems pretty romantic.  And thats defiantly what I'm going for.  Don't worry, I'm gonna put the ring in a plastic bag so it does'nt get damaged. 

I am so pumped!!! I've been writing poems almost non-stop since I met her.  Here (or maybe "hear"  ) is one of the best ones...I'm thinking about using it for our vows.  It just works in so much stuff, how we met, dating, how she makes me feel, and the proposition.  We'll see.

Woe, Woe, Woe, or Ode to a yODEr

Sitting there, all alone,
making change, swiping cards,
purchasing Craig Smith's heart,
but your names still unknown.

Jerusha E. Yoder.
Beautiful name I hear,
sounding loud in my ear
like a front end loader.

Mennonite, what a fright!
No T.V.?  What's that like!?
Ride only horse and bike!?!?
I was wrong, you were right.

Coffee black, cream so white,
in the cup they mingle.
When your near I tingle,
opposites attract, right?

Woe, woe, woe, they all say
its to fast wait a bit
but love's fire is lit,
so I ask you today

don't say no, yes instead,
to this gift I give you.
Its no lie, its so true
with this ring, I thee wed.

c. Craig Jerome Smith (CJS) 2008.

Bye !!!

Currently Reading The Shack By William P. Young see related

Oh man.  Where to even begin?  I guess at the beginning. 

In the beginning....j/k hahaha   lol  Seriously thought, theres been some major stuff happening, and some of it has been kinda tough....I guess that would make it "stough?"

For starters, I moved.  I live in Denny Terrace now.  Now that I've moved on from CIU, I can see how restrictive (sp.?) they are about somethings.  No one should be able to tell me if I can smoke a whooka or not.  And if I want to drink, isn't that between me and God?  I walk by faith not sight.  The rules were just preventing me from grace.

There's a girl who lives at the house with me an my roomies.  I know jsut what everybody would say--but nothing's going on.  It just seems like Christians wanna judge other Christians?  What's up with that?  I thought the Bible said judge not.  Even one of my heroes, Charles Barkely, mentioned this.  He called people who oppose abortion and gay marriage, "fake Christians" because their judging people.  I don't support those things, and Im not a fake Christian but I know what he means.  Even Jessica Simpson gets judged.  She said that the people judging her obviously weren't real Christians because if they were they wouldn't be judging.  I hear her.

Anyway.  I got a pretty good job as a bartender at Bennigans.  Right now I only do the lunch rush, but its pretty good.  I've been bouncing around churchs lately.  It just seems like theres not much there for me.  I just want a church to come reach me where I am.  Thank goodness for books like the one Im reading now.  You can only reread Velvit Elvis like so many times, you know?  Its good to have solid spiritual guides--espeically while I try to find a new church home.

Well I don't know if anybodys still on xanga.  But thtats whats happening with me...

I
find
the rules 
for fools.
But freedoms
for me, dumb
people all say
do it my way.
They will never know
the joy of Grace road.
Onward I press
on to new grace.
If you'd see
liberty,
observe
its birth:
freed
me.

This poem really just kind of sums up exactly how I'm feeling right now. 
Plus I really like the meter. 

If anybodys still out there, this is the new, free me, signing of.

--C

Currently Reading Zig: The Autobiography of Zig Ziglar By Zig Ziglar see related

boy o boy....i guess i mean man o man but not mano y mano....thats spanish

i love having teh internet back.  working ups nights and school during the days and ocmmuting from Jenkinsville does'nt leave a hole lotta time for a social life

PTL for xanga! :) !

I saw that a few of our better members were going over to myspace but now their back  here.  I guess I jsut want to kick off my time back here with a big discussion:  who are we gonna vote for? 

Rudy G. is pro-abortion, Mitt Romney is Mormen, Obama is Muslemish, and Hillayr is a women.  Its such a terrible choice.  yOu know how nowadays everybodies into reality tv?  I thought we could do somehting like dancing with the stars for the candidates.  I mean its not like we'd have them dance.    Just something like that.  obvisouly we'd have to come with something different...but it just seems like scuh a good idea.  Since people already like to vote an dstuff for tv candidates anyway, we could save a lot of money.  Probably more people will get to know the candidates too.  Mayve they could have like a tribal counsel and vote each other off.  I mean, is there a better way to get a good politician then to have too do politics like you have to on realty shows???  The idea just kind of hit me in chaple one day so you know it has to be like a God thing.  What do you think we should do?  you could have an episode where each candidate has to take a lie detector test and than an episode where each candidate has to take a physical (sp?).  We could do fake war games, with them each acting as generals.  This show would be soo cool!!!

YOu guys should give me your feedback on this idea, an dhelp me come up with good events.  I really think we could sent it to a tv network and get it picked up.

I wrote another opem, kind of about this, kind of not but I thouhgt I'd throw it up here anyways.

I vote yay

when the choice is tought
and the chips are down
and theres to much stuff
for you to be found
I vote yay

when the choice is easy
and the chips are up
and I feel so breezy
from your breath's touch
I vote yay

I vote yay when the world says no
I vote yay when the world says stop
I vote yay and I'll always know
too vote yay until the world stops

when the choices are gone
and the chips are'nt there
and my feelings are none
about how life seems unfair
I'll vote yay.

They finally ran wireless out to Jenkinsville!    Its been a long time coming, if you ask me.  (not that nayone ever does.)

Its been almost two years to the day since i last posted, theres so much to talk about.  The girl I love got married and is pregnant--I guess the vision the Lord gave me about her was wrong? 

I am in seminary now.  I think I could really make a craeer out of being a student.  I was a little scared about taking harder classes, but their not to hard at all.  The class discussions are gr8!  I love hearing what other studnets think about issues...some professors are just trying to tell you what is right and what is worng, but its better to let the students figure that stuff out I think. 

I got a job as a package handler at UPS.  Bo grown!   I mean Go Brown!

The job I really wanted was to work in the gym at CIU, but the A.D. didb;t hold a spot for me. Though I'll probably see him, though, I'm gonna try for a spot, on the mens basketball team.  That or coach.   

Now taht your all caught up on the personnel stuff, i thought I'd share some seriouss tuff with you.

I think i want to start a missions agency.  Ive' been feeling really convicted about the lost people at bible college campuses.  Its so easy to overlook our neighbor, but doesnt the bible say "love they neighbor"?  All these people are preparing to go overseas at CIU, but their not even reaching there "Jeursalem."  So I think thats waht I want to do--start an missions agency that reaches out to bible college students who are'nt saved.  Hopefully, CIU will jsut wave my tuition fees, and then I'll have alot less money to raise for the agency.  Basicaly, I would be the organization's (sp.?) head, and I would send out teams of missionaries two by two to find and minister to the people here.  It will be a little expensive, but if we don't take care of ourselves firts, who can we be excepted to take care of others?  so please prayerfully consider supporting this idea.

I wrote this poem about it.  (i might trun it into a song.)  I guess its autobiographical (sp.?) because its about a mechanic that someone in my church knows.  But its also about CIU people who do'nt know God.

"Brite-Lite"

The brighter the light,
the darker teh shadow.
You act like your alright
but I know your sad to.

The brighter the star
the blacker the whole.
You can fix a car
who can fix your soul?

Evryones to busy for you
noone takes the time
You get worked up into a tizzy, would you
consider this calming rhyme?

When you are gloomy
don't run from the sun.
When you are gloomy
don't run from the son.
Its light is roomy
enough for more then just one.
His love is rommy
enough for more then just one.

copyright Craig Jerome Smith 2007.

thnks 4 reading!  I MISSED YOU GUYS (AND GIRLS)!!!