Elephants

I've always admired elephants. It's a little complicated to explain to people (they always jump to "that's weird" before they hear the whole reason), but if I were able to choose an animal to be, it would be an elephant. I love that they remember things; that they commemorate them. I do that as much as I can, but I'm not as good as an elephant.

But there are moments when I curse my elephant memory. When a conversation overheard about taking time off for a funeral sends me immediately back to a snowy January morning when I called my manager and asked for more time off because Keren had died.

And I'm there. And I'm grieving all over again. And I'm reliving that morning through my elephant memory.

And then I'm thankful. Thankful that that phone call to my manager was made from Michigan, not from Pennsylvania. That I was there, with my sisters and brothers-in-law and friends and family. That I did not have to get those phone calls when I was alone or drive or fly there by myself.

Mercy. It's a memory of His Mercy.

Update on Poland Trip Preparations

Friends -

I wanted to post an update on what's happening regarding the trip to Poland this summer. This coming week is the airfare deadline, and there are still quite a few who are short the money. Please pray! We know that God is the great Provider, and we trust that He will provide the finances for each student He wants to go to Poland to be able to go. This evening the Chorale has a concert in New Jersey in which they will share about the trip. Pray for the Lord to move in the hearts of those attending to give.

This morning, I shared at Glenside Bible Church, my church here in Philadelphia, about what we plan to do and how to pray for us. As I did so, I realized that one thing I really need you to pray for me about is my role in mentoring and leading the young ladies on the trip. Pray that God would give me wisdom and a giving heart in my interactions with them both before we go and as we travel together. I've come to really enjoy the members of the Chorale, and I look forward into building into their lives more closely.

The response I received at church this morning was loving and encouraging. I know that we will be upheld throughout our travels by those who have invested in our journey. Currently, I'm a little short in my account for my plane ticket. If you feel the Lord leading you to give, please do so as soon as you are able. Thank you to the many who have already partnered with me financially and in prayer. I currently have about $1,000 in my account, and hope to have the entire amount, $2,525, raised by mid-April. Please use the response form below and return it to Nancy Musgreave in the School of Music and Performing Arts. Please place my name on the response form only; do not write it on the check.

I’d appreciate prayer for these needs right now:

1) Pray for me as I continue to build relationships with the students in the Chorale

2) Pray for the Chorale as they continue to train train to sing, and as they perform concerts throughout the region this spring

3) Pray for open hearts among the people of Poland

4) Pray that God will teach me all He wants me to know through this experience

Thanks for considering your part in what God is going to do through this trip to Poland this summer. You can follow the Chorale as we prepare and as we travel by visiting our blog:www.send.org/pbuchorale2011

Sincerely,

~Carrie Givens~

UNIVERSITY CHORALE

This trip and its ministry will not happen without your prayer and financial support. Would you join me in this ministry opportunity?

Name________________________________________________________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone number ______________________________________ Email address ___________________________

Team Member _______________________________________ Account number 20-4201-5161-303

O Prayer for me and the team as we prepare

O Financial Support: $50___ $100___$200___other____

Please send this Response Form with your financial contribution. All contributions are tax-deductible.

Please make checks payable to: Philadelphia Biblical University (PBU)

PBU is a non-profit organization and is registered with the state of Pennsylvania.

According to the I.R.S., gifts to PBU, even though designated for a particular ministry event or individual’s ministry support, are under the control of PBU and that while PBU will seek to apply the gift to the designation, PBU retains the right to redirect use of the gifts based upon the needs as determined by the Board of Trustees. According to the I.R.S., the tax-deductibility of your donation is dependent on it being “unconditional and without personal benefit to the donor,” and that it “is made to or for the use of a qualified charity. Further, Philadelphia Biblical University (PBU) must have “full control of the donated funds, and discretion as to their use, so as to insure that they will be used to carry out its functions and purposes.” Thus, we can only accept tax-deductible donations which are given in this way.

Paper

Of late, my "blog" posts have rarely made it off of the paper they often are started on. In the few moments when I actually sit still without a task in the week, I find myself thinking (which to me, means writing), and I'm rarely in front of the computer screen at those moments. That's the whole point of those moments - NOT being in front of the computer.

But then, to share with the world, I have to transfer. And in the transference, what was once timely may become out-dated, what was once living may become a dead thing.

Still, I don't want to let go of my paper. The rolling of the tip of pen over the blank space gives me a feeling of security that black characters on a white screen cannot replace. The ruled lines give me a structure that a bare document or post box cannot contain.

I love to look back at my handwritten words and see where the ideas really got flowing, and the letters lengthened and angled, and the periods became more pronounced. In re-reading a typed document I lose that. I have to rely on my memory to know if it was a great creative moment - and I forget too easily.

No, I do not hand-write everything. I am a product of my generation and have touch-typed at ever increasing speed since I was 15, but sometimes, when the thoughts really begin to flow, the speed of my fingers on the keyboard give me no help in getting them out of me. So I go to the pen.

And I write on paper.

"Every Creation Myth Needs a Devil."

I finally saw The Social Network yesterday. Yes, I know I'm well behind the times. But, you know, these things happen. There were many fascinating aspects to the film. I see why they have continually pointed out that this is an unauthorized version of events, and that these are characters based upon the real people, not representations of the people themselves. I see exactly why it has been winning awards left and right. There are great things I could mention about the writing, the directing, and the acting - but those are all well-discussed elsewhere. I don't need to.

Instead, I've been dwelling on one line that caught in my memory, which in the context of the story being told is directed at the main character, Mark Zuckerberg: "Every creation myth needs a devil." The phrase is stated to Zuckerberg at the end of the film, following the depositions which have been used as the framework device to communicate the tale of the origin of Facebook. The character speaking is saying that Zuckerberg himself will play the role of the devil in that particular creation story - that is, the version that arose from the depositions. But what fascinates me is the layering of this creation story throughout the film.

Aaron Sorkin, the screenwriter, and David Fincher, the director, have managed, in a single film, to tell at least two creation myths for the phenomenon which is Facebook. Atop the myth that reveals itself through the depositions in the film, casting Zuckerberg as the devil, is the myth revealed by the film overall, in which identifying the devil is more complicated.

In the film's version of the creation story, Zuckerberg certainly is one candidate for the role of devil. He begins the film by eviscerating an ex-girlfriend in a blog; he promises three other students that he will build a website for them, and instead builds Facebook for himself; he begins the company with his best friend, and then dissolves his friend's ownership share in it down to nearly nothing, while keeping his own share absolutely intact. There's plenty of evidence for the deposition version of the creation myth.

But there are enough nuances throughout the film which raise doubt about Zuckerberg's role. When he meets the girl he wrote about in the blog later in the film, he goes to speak to her. He does not apologize, per se, but the audience is not quite sure whether he would have had he been able to. His attitude is such that we think he might truly regret his actions. When he reneges on his promise to build the website, there's a certain amount of understanding we have for him. He was 19 years old. He talked with some guys who had a great idea for a website. He said he'd help them out. Then he started thinking more about it, and came up with a better idea - yes, inspired by the first, but bigger and broader - and got excited about it. Perhaps the fact that he didn't follow through on his promise was not, after all, deliberate perfidy, but rather the immaturity of a teenager who has a brilliant idea. The betrayal of his best friend is, perhaps, the hardest element of Zuckerberg's devil-role to poke holes through, but the film brings in other characters whose influence over him could be the reason for it.

It is one of these characters, Sean Parker, the founder of Napster, who is, in the end, the other best contender for the devil role in the film's version of the creation myth. I was reminded every time Parker came on screen with Zuckerberg of a snake fascinating its prey before it strikes, weaving to and fro before it, beautiful and dangerous. The character Zuckerberg is on the one hand, lured into a world he doesn't really care about.

But here's the thing about humankind: even when they are archetypes in a creation myth, they don't stop being human. Zuckerberg is not innocent. While the character is portrayed as not caring about the money his new company will bring him, he is consumed with a desire for prestige on his own terms. We see that he was not deeply involved in the dissolution of his friend's shares in the company, but we also see that he allowed them to be dissolved. While Parker fascinates him, he buys into the fascination, because he sees in Parker something of what he wants to be.

In the end, the film leaves us with a creation myth that needs a devil, and Zuckerberg is probably the best option for the role. But it also leaves us with questions about the nature of mankind, about brilliance without guidance, and about the idea of influence and power.

And, finally, we're left with a character who could be any one of us: a young man who had a great idea and was capable of accomplishing it. And we're left asking what the cost was for him to do so.

I'm getting on an airplane again!

Friends,

You know those times when you have something big happening in life, but you just haven't found the time to tell people about it yet? That would be the state of my past couple months. There have been many big things going on in life, and, while this email is about one in particular, I wanted to take a moment and share a few of them.

As many of you know, I've been working at Philadelphia Biblical University for the past 18 months. I started right after graduating with my master's from Arcadia University in Professional and Creative Writing. What do I do at PBU? I'm writing - among many other things. I work as a Communications Specialist in the Communications and Marketing Department at PBU, and I spend my time writing, editing, managing projects, helping build web content, coordinating the upkeep and expansion of our photo library, and generally having a good time. I work on a team of about 10 people who handle everything from making sure people have business cards, to overseeing the University's communications operations with prospective students, to launching a brand new website. The PBU website is one of the major things that's been keeping us all busy in recent months. We launched an entirely new site in January, and are still working on upgrading and working out the kinks. Another big part of my job is writing for and editing the University magazine, PBU Today. I've really enjoyed magazine writing and am looking into freelance opportunities in that field.

In addition to my work in Communications and Marketing, I've been an adjunct professor in the School of Arts and Sciences for the past three semesters, teaching freshman writing courses. I'm taking a break from that part of life this semester, which means that I don't have 10 papers to grade each week - and that's nice. Outside of work I'm involved at my church, Glenside Bible Church, teaching the college-age Sunday School class. I spend lots of time with college students in general, often having small groups over to my apartment to hang out or eat a meal. In the fall, my friend Christine began working full-time as a mobilizer with SEND International (I know, my mission!), and she moved down to be based out of the Philadelphia area as she covers the Northeast and Northwest regions of the US. She moved in with me and we've enjoyed sharing an apartment in Newtown, PA.

All this working with college students and living with Christine and continuing to have a finger (or two) in the world of SEND have converged to bring about a new opportunity. In May, 2011, the Chorale of Philadelphia Biblical University (PBU) will be presenting evangelistic concerts in Poland. Christine and I have been invited to go as co-leaders with the Chorale Director, Dr. David Shockey, to help oversee the group of about 45 students. Christine is also coordinating and leading the pre-trip training for the team and I have been able to help her with that some. In Poland, we’ll be serving with missionaries from SEND International.

Why are we going? SEND International, working with pastors and believers in Poland, is starting churches in strategic regional towns where there are no evangelical churches. Only 1/10 of 1% of Poles are true followers of Christ. Most of these new churches are very small, so the Chorale will perform in community centers. Our concert will give the church an opportunity for many people to hear the gospel and meet local Christians.

We will be going to Poland May 21 – 31, 2011. The cost for each team member is $2,525 which covers airfare, food, lodging, etc. In order to not be a burden to the students who are raising their own support, I am aiming to do the same.

I need ministry partners to join me in prayer and/or financial support for this ministry. Would you consider how the Lord could use you to be part of this team? If you feel led to assist in this trip, either with prayer or financial support, please use the response form below and return to PBU.

I’d appreciate prayer for these needs right now:

1) Pray for the missionaries in Poland as they set up concerts

2) Pray for the Chorale as we train to sing, and start our regular Chorale concerts in churches in the near future.

3) Pray for open hearts among the unreligious people of Poland

4) Pray that God will teach me all He wants me to know through this experience

Thanks for considering your part in what God is going to do through this trip to Poland this summer. You can follow the Chorale as we prepare and as we travel by visiting our blog: www.send.org/pbuchorale2011

Sincerely,

~Carrie Givens~

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PBU Chorale Poland Trip

This trip and its ministry will not happen without your prayer and financial support. Would you join me in this ministry opportunity?

Your Name:____________________________________________________________________________________________

Address/City/State/Zip:__________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: _________________ Email: ___________________Chorale member:___________________________ Acct #______

O Prayer for me and the chorale members as we prepare.

O Financial Support: $25 ____ $50 _____ $100 _____ Other _______

O Prayer support for the trip to Poland

Please mail this completed information with your financial contribution to Philadelphia Biblical University, 200 Manor Avenue, Langhorne, PA 19047, Attention: School of Music and Performing Arts. Please make checks payable to Philadelphia Biblical University. All contributions are tax-deductible.

**Gifts to Philadelphia Biblical University, even though designated for a particular ministry event or individual’s ministry support, are under the control of PBU and that while PBU will seek to apply the gift to the designation, PBU retains the right to redirect use of the gifts based upon the needs as determined by the Board of Trustees and the Administration of the University.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The 25 Days of December

The first 25 days of the month are over now, and the challenge to post a photo per day completed. I had a photo for each day, and only one was posted late.

So now it is done, and it accomplished my unspoken task. I caught the blogging itch again. I may not have a photo for each post, and I certainly won't get them up daily, but I will be more regular with them, working to share my thoughts in this space, out there for all the world to see.

Please continue to read and continue to comment. Your words back to me confirm that my words were not just spoken into the void. As God-like as that would be, I'm fairly sure that this creation wouldn't get the same result. No earth and sky, land and sea, plants and animals. So I look for your words, to know that I have created something.

Mystery

A child was born on Christmas Day
Born to save the world
But long before the world began
He knew His death was sure
The pain and strife secured

Mystery, how He came
To be a man
But greater still
How His death was in His plan
God predestined that His Son would die
And He still created man
Oh, what love is this
That His death was in His hands

The Christmas trees
They glow so bright
With presents all around
But Christmas brought
A tree of life
With blood that sacrificed
The greatest gift in life

Mystery, how He came
To be a man
But greater still
How His death was in His plan
God predestined that His Son would die
And He still created man
Oh, what love is this
That His death was in His hands

I am just a man and
Can?t begin to comprehend
When You look into this traitor?s eyes
What do You see that justifies the Lamb

God predestined that His
Son would die
And He still created man
Oh, what love is this
That His death was in His plan
Mystery, mystery

Music and Lyrics by Selah