Back Alleys and Photo Friends

Photo compliments of Dustin Finkelstein (there is a link to his awesome blog to the right).

Top Albums of 2008 (In my opinion anyways)

I have been excitedly thinking of compiling this exclusive list of albums that I have purchased in 2008. Unfortunately some of the albums that I was anticipating being really exceptional were let downs, but this is not that list. These are my reviews of those albums that stirred my soul for all of 2008 and will continue to be my top plays for the coming '09. Merry listening!

So here is the first. I will finish it up later.

1. Time is Fiction
by Edison Glass

After falling head-over-heels for this band after their 2006 release of A Burn or A Shiver, I was insanly excited to receive Time is Fiction. Since day-one of receiving it, the album has literally been played non-stop on my itunes with it reaching my top plays, easily solidifying Edison Glass as one of my favorite bands after only a few months. The album starts off with the catchy-yet brilliantly written first track Let Go accompanied by an equally as entertaining and smart music video (shown below), continues on through some slower thoughtful pieces, a few that hit you in the chest; all laced with tricky guitar parts, brilliant meter changes, a clever play between dual vocalists, and lyrics of poet-laureate quality. The band so eloquently portrays the human condition, our experiences with life, and the intense hope that accompanies Ultimate Love with lyrics such as "Your eyes see farther then mine.. your hands are warmer then mine... I'll wait for your words..." from (The Jig Is Up). My heart rises and falls with this album; It really is a must-have. I promise you will love it.






2. You Are My Sunshine
by Copeland

I might be a bit biased when writing a review for this album seeing as though I have been madly in love with Copeland's music since the wee-high-school-years but I mean, can you blame me? To me, musically, Copeland can do little wrong and their most recent release is proof-positive that they are masters of their art. The album starts out with this amazing ballad called Should You Return, that paints the first warm colors for the epic beauty that is to follow throughout the whole album. The second track, The Grey Man, still bring chills to me. I recommend holding your breath and closing your eyes for the first 15 seconds. There is a familiarity to their music, not because the songs have been heard before, but because they do such a beautiful job of initiating the familiar emotions that are relatable to all people. Even if you are not necessarily a fan of their past albums, I would still give it a try. Aaron's voice is constant, and the brilliant orchestration portrays the mountains and valleys that only good songwriting can recreate. Give it a go, you won't regret it.


3. Lost In The Sound Of Separation
by Underoath

After being thoroughly let down by most of the post-hardcore albums that I received in 2007, I was anxiously awaiting the newest edition to Underoath's legacy with this newest. I have to admit that I was one of those creepsters who watched them tirelessly record this album with the various webcams that they had set up throughout the studio. A little weirded out by myself, I was hoping that this album would not be a disappointment. What a relief it was when I finally received this album and from the first five seconds, it's epic-ness practically oozed out of my speakers, into my ears filling up the hollow places in my brain with nonstop licks, intricate and intense drumming, and insanely insightful lyrics. The raw emotion that they portray (and for which they are revered), is so openly conveyed with this album; I think I have quoted it way too many times in my blog. This album assures us that we are not alone, that we don't have to live in a barren wasteland caused by our own selfishness, and that there is something Bigger guiding our steps. I was blessed to have seen them live this fall and it blew my head out of the water. I really honestly cannot portray how much this band's music has influenced my walk of faith (I sound like such a fan-girl) and to them I owe my thanks. Underoath, please continue to spread light.

This really wasn't as flattering of a review as I wanted it to be.

With all this talk of Underoath, it is only right to mention Aaron's other project, The Almost, which bring us to...

(I honestly couldn't find a better picture).

3. No Gift To Bring EP
by The Almost

So I will try my best to put my adoration for Aaron Gillespie aside and talk about the EP (that is my favorite picture of him of all time). It is a slightly bit different flavor to The Almost then what the full-length release Southern Weather, brings to the table, but its a good flavor. This EP also portrays the raw emotion that Aaron can convey so openly with a few original songs, a finished version of Amazing Becuase It Is from the full-length (I actually like the other version better), as well as a beautiful Aaron-twist on classic Christmas songs, a praise and worship song (!), and an electric version that Tim from Underoath mixed of Dirty and Left Out, which is excellent. How can someone not fall in love with a song that includes these lyrics?

I need you to make, to make, to make me weak.
I have made my world my own, I've made it my own,
And I have never been so alone.

I can't stop my brain from moving
In an awful direction Lord.
I can't stop my hands from doing
What I don't want to do anymore.
I've been wrong,
I've been right,
But tonight
I just wanna be yours.

(From Awful Direction)

Tangent: In my opinion, Aaron is and has been setting an amazing example as someone who is so on-fire for God and for spreading His message of healing to the brokenness of this world, and that he is willing and able to risk looking scene, or risk cred, to spread this message. In my heart, it is pre-curser to what I believe could be a major revolution of sorts in not only the secular music market, but in the Christian music market as well (where there is equally as much judgement, and lots more half-hearted song writing). I am legitimately excited that listening to Christian hardcore is what is big. It makes me positively giddy when I hear of Underoath going on tour with Slipknot, or Relient K going on tour with Simple Plan, Copeland going on tour with Cartel, The Rocket Summer going on tour with The Academy Is.., I could go on and on. These people are bringing Light into dismal dark places. They are risking to bring a message of hope to people who may not even know they are hearing it until further reflection. They are being God's hands to reach into the dark empy areas of people's hearts to fill them with the notes that He gave them to play. I am so excited to be a part of that plan. I am so excited to see how I may fit into this revolution. A new and brighter day is fast approaching on the music horizon and we are going to be the first generation to see it's rays.

Those were the albums that I really gave most of my attention. The following list are the albums that deserve a nod, are really awesome, but that I don't have enough info on to write about.
1. Avalon by Anthony Green
I honestly think that Green is one of the most talented musical minds of our generation. Its like an ocean of creativity can come pouring our of him and he makes everything sound good. Everything.

2. The Rennasance by Q-tip
I fell in love upon first listening. Good hip-hop everyone. Solid-gold hip-hop. Best track by far is Johnny is Dead.

3. Oracular Spectacular by MGMT
I mean, cmon. Who doesn't like the song Kids? It's addictive. It's not a hipster dance party without it.

4. Feed the Animals by Girl Talk
Such a talent. Check this out.


5. Limbs and Branches by Jon Foreman
This album is really a treat. Jon's voice is a lasting powerhouse and this album (compiled mostly of favorites from the four seasonal EP's that he released this year) shows an incredible delicate complexity. His creativity and the diversity of the songwriting and instrumentation is heartwarming and I highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys acoustic/folk/indi/awesomeness. I have a soft spot in my heart for the track House of God Forever (singing it at church with a friend was fun) but the whole thing is a treat, start to finish. He is another one added to the list of those such as Aaron Gillespie, bringing a hopeful and peaceful message to the more mainstream side of music. I am grateful for the earthly success that Jon is receiving for this and his work with Switchfoot because it means that more and more ears are tuned to this realness and wonder that can only come from the One who made us and eternally loves us.

I know that there are more, so this is probably going to be a running list for a while. So please keep checking back in.

Interesting~

"Ultimately, here’s what I don’t understand: Proponents of gay marriage say, “Accept our opinion … Or else!” Opponents of gay marriage, essentially, say the same thing, “Accept our opinion … Or else!” Each side attempts to intelligently argue their rationale for holding their respective position (i.e. “it’s not a choice to be gay, I was born like this” and “the Bible says marriage is between a man and a woman.”) But when push comes to shove, each end of the argument breaks down to a grown-up version of “I’m taking my ball and going home.” In a word: Whining.

God bless Barack Obama for reaching out to Rick Warren. God bless Rick Warren for reaching out to Obama. I like what openly gay columnist Bob Ostertag said in the Huffington Post, “I am delighted that there is a new generation of evangelicals that thinks the biggest issue isn’t homosexuality but global climate change, AIDS, and poverty [...] I am so ready to make common cause with them. I couldn’t care less about what they think of gay marriage.” Amen.

When did disagreeing with someone start to mean the same thing as hating them?"

-Justin Wise
BeDeviant

"Another Day"

I gave in a did one of these cheesy itunes things...

1. Put your iTunes on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

1) IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
"Get Low" - Ying Tang Twins

2) WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
"A Room, A Canvas" - The Depreciation Guild

3) WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
"Getting Into You" - Relient K

4) HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
"You Won't Know" - Brand New

5) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
"Trippin" - The Thrifters
(Hahaha.. yep, that perfectly describes my purpose! hahh, that's hilarious)

6) WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"Stuck In The Morning" -Motion City Soundtrack

7) WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"Indescribable" -Chris Tomlin
(Aww, thanks guys!)

8) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"Need No One" -Isaac Marion's Moon Colony
(Hmm, I don't know about that...)

9) WHAT IS 2+2?
"Samson" -Regina Spektor

10) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"Do The Whirlwind" -Architecture in Helsinki

11) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Take It On The Run" -REO Speedwagon

12) WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"Spanish Tongue" -Chase Pagan

13) WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"Winter Wonderland" -Radiohead

14) WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"You Were Meant For Me" -Jewel
(That's so true! ha)

15) WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"Deliver Me" -David Crowder Band
(Haha, get it, my mom delivered me... ha)

16) WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
"Never Ending Math Equation" -Modest Mouse

17) WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Glory" -Lupe Fiasco

18) WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"Running Out Of Time" -Hot Hot Heat

19) WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" -Panic! At The Disco

20) WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Be My Escape" -Relient K

21) HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"All We Know" -Paramore

22) WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"Silent Night" -Relient K

23) WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
"If We Never Go Inside" -Alkaline Trio

24) WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"Tira Me A Las Aranas" -The Mars Volta (Transalted: It throws me to the spiders)

25) WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
"Gold Dust vs. State of Illinois" -Spitalfield

26) WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
"Salka" -Sigur Ros

27) DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"There Could Be Nothing After This" -Underoath

28) IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"Edinboro" -The Audition

29) WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"Hopeless Love" -Daphne Loves Derby
(So emo...)

30) WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"Another Day" -Mest

Magic....

Make your own here...
http://www.flash-gear.com/stereo/
(It wouldn't let me link it.)

"Good God..."

Good God, if your song leaves our lips,
If your work leaves our hands,
Then we will be wanderers and vagabonds,
They will stare and say how empty we are;
How the freedon we had turned us up as dead men.

Let us be cold, make us weak.
Let us, becuase we all have ears.
Lee us beacuse we all have eyes.
Good God.

How they knew that this would happen, they knew that this would...
We're so run down. We're so run down.
Good God, can you still get us home?

How can we still get home?
I'm not dreaming.
We're forgetting our forgiveness.

~

You said there was nothing left down here,
Well I roamed around the wasteland
And I swear I found something.
I found hope.
I found God.
I found the dreams of the believers... the dreams of the believers.
Oh God, save us all.


They are both Underoath. The first from the track "Too Bright To See To Loud To Hear" and the second is from "Desolate Earth :: The End Is Here"

As I was running today, these words hit the deep of my chest like the thump of a bass.
There is nothing more that I want then always have His song on my lips and His work for my hands. I pray that me seeking after my own freedom does not turn me up as dead; that I only seek freedom through Him because that is where the hope is.
I pray that I never forget my forgiveness.

It's Christmas tomorrow.
Jesus was born so that we don't turn up as dead men.
It's so clear and here for us.
We don't want to live in the wasteland forever.
And we don't have to.

I miss..

... summer.






















The snow is pretty but I miss being outside.

Saving Grace

We reach up with trembling hands to the One who created us, the One who created the world with a hope that is not ours; the hope that was given to us the day the baby was born in a barn. A hope that was born the first moment the baby opened His shining eyes and looked on the dying world He had just entered.
We don't fully understand this gift of this hope, but He gently suggests that we follow Him so like sheep, we carry along behind knowing that even though we can't see what's in front of us, there will be safety. You assure us that even though the desert sun is harsh, the ultimate end to our journey is safe and warm; (It isn't even really an end is it?) and with that, we rejoice. Some with yelps, some with whispers, some with a quiet smile and a twinkle in their eyes becuase we know that we cannot make this distance on our own swollen feet.
For though we are week, we are the chosen ones; the ones who through our weekness, this baby, this son, has made whole again. Those of us on the journey are not exclusive; there is enough room in our Father's house for many. Will you please come join us on the journey? There is love here. There is acceptance and a peace that can soften hearts of those hardened to the desert wind.
Will you please come join us?

Being Missional

To Be Missional
Adapted from http://www.ubcwaco.org ©2002 University Baptist Church
From David Crowder Band website.
What does it mean to be missional?

It means that we understand ourselves to be missionaries in today's culture. Missionaries are those whose lives are constituted by a mission: to know Him and make Him known - this is our purpose, our goal, and our end in life. An ongoing relationship with God should result in a lifestyle that is God-centered and seeks to incarnate Christ.

What things do missionaries consider?

Missionaries always seek to understand 1.) the culture in which they live, and 2.) how to embody Christ amidst a kingdom that is not God's kingdom. E.g. If you were going to Russia to be a missionary there for several months, you'd spend much time in preparation learning Russian culture and the Russian language. You'd learn what aspects of Russian culture provide an open window into conveying the gospel, and what aspects of Russian culture run contrary to the gospel and need to be differentiated. You'd learn the Russian language and try to find certain words that seem to convey the gospel really well.

How does this relate to the early church in the first century?

The early church was a body of people who understood themselves to be members of a different kingdom than the Roman kingdom. Their allegiance existed first and foremost to the kingdom of God which often ran contrary to Roman rule. The kingdom of God exists wherever the lordship of God reigns…where men and women are obedient to God. Though they messed up often and were in constant battle against heresies forming within the church, they knew their entire lives had to be ordered around their mission or they would cease being Christians.

How is this mindset conveyed in Scripture?

Jesus came preaching "the kingdom of God" - Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, Matthew 6; and saying that "My kingdom is not of this world…" John 18. He was promoting a different kingdom than the one in which He lived - and a kingdom that got Himself killed because He challenged the existing powers - powers that ruled a different kingdom than the kingdom of God. He was on a mission that had to do with the kingdom of God, and after His resurrection, He commissioned the disciples to further this mission saying, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit..." His mission was embraced by the disciples and the early church in Acts. Paul gave evidence to the goal, purpose, and end in his life in Philippians 3 saying, "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Paul was so well acquainted with the culture in which he lived that often times in his letters to the Romans or Ephesians or Philippians, etc., he'd use certain words and phrases that were predominantly used by pagan mystery religions or contemporary poets/philosophers of his day in order to grab their attention yet redefine their understanding of life with God.

So, what's the problem?

For several hundred years now, America has always been considered a Christian nation in which Christianity has been the predominant religious influence. Since Christianity has been the predominant religious influence in America, many American Christians understood "missionaries" to be those people who take "our" gospel to non-christian people overseas…therefore, since American Christians ceased understanding themselves as missionaries, we no longer saw the need to discern the culture in which we've lived.
When we became Christians growing up, we were basically just handed a bible and told "start reading." We were never sat down and explained what our culture is all about, and what it will take to be a missionary in our culture today.

OK, you've said "culture" about 80 times now…can you give me a simple definition of culture?

{Def. - Culture is simply the place in which you live that shapes how you think and how you live.} Culture is like the water that all of us fish swim in day in and day out. It's what we breathe all day long yet never realize whether the way it is making us think is biblical or not. Culture gives us the lens by which we view life, God, scripture, each other, and ourselves. So, if American culture is highly individualistic and consumeristic, then I can only read Scripture as an individualistic, consumeristic Christian…even if Scripture is opposed to individualism and consumerism. So, often times the most difficult thing for an American Christian to do is to realize that the prescription on these glasses we are wearing is actually not good at all for Christians.

How does a Christian missionary in American culture differ from the prevailing American mindset and even from most American Christians?

Many American Christians have bought into several American (cultural - not biblical) mindsets. Here are a couple:

1. Capitalism - that our purpose, goal, and end in life is to be profitable in business or other avenues in the professional world; therefore, we understand that all of life is ordered to that end…that our involvement in school or work is primarily about capitalism, not primarily about mission. Does this mean we neglect excellence and diligence in school or work? Absolutely not. This mindset actually motivates us to "do all things as unto the Lord" with excellence and diligence, yet with a different mindset - that our ultimate goal here is not about financial profit but bringing others along in our faith journey.

2. Consumerism - that the reason things exist in this world is for me, the consumer, to consume; even though the local church is called to be a body of people sent on a mission into the world striving to establish the kingdom of God (definitely not a consumer mentality). Unfortunately, although the local church has been ordained by God to carry on the mission of Christ, most American Christians simply view the church as another venue that simply exists to meet our individual needs.

How can I be missional?

Accept the call of Christ to live out your life as a missionary amidst a culture that constantly tries to sell us a different purpose and a different vision in life. We are missional in that we desire to be the incarnate Christ immersed in the world without becoming a product of it. If we are going to be the incarnate Christ in today's world, then our purpose, goal, and end in life will revolve around knowing God and making Him known.

If we are going to be the incarnate Christ, then we will not try and sell people on a belief system made up of propositional truths…instead, we will convey Christianity as a way of life. Perhaps, we might just begin living life with people and see if they might also live life with us in hopes that they might find out in the living that this way of life is exactly what they need. Maybe this is why Jesus' evangelism strategy with the disciples did not consist of a slick brochure but just 2 words, "Follow Me." And, they did not follow Him initially because they knew Him to be the Messiah and Savior of the world. No, they found out in the living that this way of life, though incredibly difficult, was exactly what they needed.If we are going to be the incarnate Christ, then we will understand that the method and message of our mission are intertwined…in other words, the method in which we convey our message actually says a lot about our message.

Ahh, thank you. This is exactly what I think of how this message of love an hope should be conveyed and lived out to a dying world. I have always kind of agreed with these things throughout my walk with the Lord, but goodness knows that I have misconstrued how to convey it, and the message itself. In high school, I thought that swearing made me relatable. I thought that if I had the mouth of a sailor, the people who I went to school with would see this girl who says she's a Christian with one breath and a slew of curses with the next and maybe think that perhaps this Christianity-thing wasn't as unreachable and unattainable as they thought. A little misguided at the time yes. It was (is) a bad habit. I realized that it wasn't glorifying to God so I did my best to cut it out, and it worked for the most part. I soon realized that people we're treating me the same if I swore or not, so I figured, why do it anymore? Off topic..

In college, I have learned a few things about people and their views of Christians and the way the message is conveyed. I have a lot of Christian friends, but I also have a lot (perhaps more) friends who are not Christians. I have a lot of friends who have been so completely turned off from organized religion because the people who call themselves Christians made them feel judged, made them fee out of the clique, made them feel constricted and suffocated, because it had been shoved down their throats, etc, etc, I could go on and on.
And it absolutely breaks my heart.
I am not writing this because I feel like my approach to people is by any means better then any one else's. People come to know God through tons of different ways, but I have found that people in the college atmosphere react certain ways to different means.

There are a few of us Christians who chose to go to parties on the weekends, but a rare few. I go to them to hang out with people, get to know people, develop friendships, etc. I go to shows at bars because I love music and because my friends are there and because I enjoy the atmosphere of the communal music experience. I hang out with people who do drugs, people who drink, people who have made questionable choices with their lives, not because I am trying to rebel against the 'Christianity box' or because I am trying to be different on purpose, but because they are people and I enjoy their company. Understanding the culture of college perhaps involves being in those types of atmospheres, not being a product of them, no, but being there relating to people. I am guilty of judging people because of the decisions they make, but I am human and so are they. .

Anyways, I have met Christians who refuse to go into a bar, even if an amazing band is playing or something, because of the type of people in there. I understand that it might be uncomfortable to someone who is not used to that atmosphere but I have also met Christians who don't want to hang out with someone because they smoke weed on the weekends. Sure they will have a spiritual conversation in a safe public place, but when it comes to knowing them, there is a proverbial-arms-length between them because of they way they spend their time. How are we to be missional if we do not understand the culture that we are immersed in everyday? How are we to relate to the thousands of people around us who do not know God's love if we are afraid to talk to them and spend quality time with them because they have a big tattoo on their arm, because we have seen them drunk up-town one night, because they listen to music with screaming in it, because they do not come to church on sunday, because they are in a fraternity, etc. It confuses the heck out of me as to why we try so hard and spend so much time to learn the specific steps to introducing the gospel into conversations with a booklet, when we are so scared to just live with people. Like the article above says that 'we might just begin living life with people and see if they might also live life with us in hopes that they might find out in the living that this way of life is exactly what they need.' I just pray that we can try and live the principals this article. I pray that we all remember that people are loved by God no matter who they are and what decisions they make.

Your thoughts?

Random(thoughts)

I like coming to work and seeing notes like this, thanks uncle Dave!

There are a few different mixes that Yankee plays in the store, consisting (mostly) of Christmas carols and we become pretty familiar with them by the end of the season. There are a few songs though who's Christmas carol's status is questionable. The three songs are
1. My Favorite Things (from The Sound of Music)
2. Auld Lang Syne
3. Celebrate (the one that's always played at weddings)

Auld Lang Syne is a little more acceptable then the other two. I laugh whenever Celebrate comes on over the speakers.

At work, we always light a candle on the cash-wrap (cash-register), and as soon as the one on the counter was lit, I immediately stuck my fingers in the wax to play with it. It was the same this summer, whenever the candles at the bar at work were lit my brother and I would automatically start melting the little bar-skewer things or sticking our fingers in the wax, etc. Why are people drawn to fire? Is it because there is an air of danger; a small risk of being hurt? Does it root back to our prehistoric instincts of relying on fire for safety and food? Curious.

Also, I am realizing something that I forgot over the summer, and that is that people spend a lot of money on candles.

I watched an interesting movie the other night, The Happening directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Without giving too much away, the premiss is that there is a chemical released into the air that make people commit suicide. It was a little disturbing, some of the visuals that were shown, I dont know. It was a little disturbing. I've seen my share of crazy/messed-up movies, but something about that struck a weird chord with me.
Also, if you want to have an incredibly depressing night, then watch the movie The Mist written by Stephen King. I'm not trying to give anything away, Im just trying helping you all out. I'm sorry if that ruins anyone's weekend plans.

Also, congrats to the few more couples in my group of friends who are engaged, so much love!

Well my friends, I hope that the holidays are treating you all well.

Coming soon: My reviews on my favorite albums of the year. Woot.

Good Old War

The guy is in The Sound of Animals Fighting.
My brother showed me this, it's great.

Should I...

...get a Twitter?









There is a Lifetime movie on right now called "Flirting with Forty." It's pretty much what you would think of a Lifetime movie with that title.

Also, my beloved computer is broken; my MacBook Pro. I am a little bummed, yes. There is still a glimmer of hope so we'll see. This might put a dent on some pretty important school-type plans.
Hmm...
It's material.
It's material.
It's material.
It's material... (If I chant it, then maybe it will make me feel better about this; I'm being pretty dramatic. Apologies).

Sevenoseven

For some background information:
www.sevenoseven.com

Sevenoseven is a ministry through the Cuyahoga Valley Church. Its in the evening and its a contemporary atmosphere where the energy of the place is so uplifting and the sense of community strikes upon entry that you want to keep coming back. The talent of the crew, praise-band, and speaker is completely from God. It is easy to see that they are doing what they love to bring glory to Him and they do their best help the people who come learn and become closer to God.

It is an amazing service and I had gone a few times off and on in college, but the thought hit me last year that an internship with them would be such an awesome experience. I talked to the teaching pastor, Andy, and the creative arts pastor, Bryan, and they basically said that whatever I need, they will help me out with requirements and everything. The person who is teaching/adivisng me, Jeff, told me that anything I want to learn they will teach me, so basically, it's amazing. It has been such a blessing these first few weeks; I owe them thanks!

Actually Andy told me this Sunday that he has stopped by this here blog, so if he's reading, shout out to Andy! Please don't be a stranger!
There is a link to his blog on the side; check it out.

So God once again shows me how He provides and being there adds to my excitement for a few different reasons.
Thinking about it, I'm going to be working with sound as a career. I get to do that for a job in the future, and that is reason one for my excitement. The other is this renewed excitement for my generation of Christians. It comes off and on, but I am once again excited for what God is going to do with us and how we are going to show the world what loving God and being loved by God is all about. I'm psyched. He has something up his sleeve and I am so excited to see what it is going to be, and what the music industry's role in it all is going to be.

Hope everyone is having a good winter so far.
Please be careful on the roads.
Come back soon.

"Seeing is Believing"

Seeing is Believing by C.S. Lewis

In all my life I have met only one person who claims to have seen a ghost. And the interesting thing about the story is that that person disbelieved in the immortal soul before she saw the ghost and still disbelieves after seeing it. She says that what she saw much have been an illusion or a trick of the nerves. And obviously she may be right. Seeing is not believing.
For this reason, the question whether miracles occur can never be answered simply by experience. Every event which might claim to be a miracle is, in the last resort, something presented to our senses, something seen, heard, touched, smelled, or tasted. And our senses are not infallible. If anything extraordinary seems to have happened, we can always say that we have seen the victims of an illusion. If we hold a philosophy which excludes the supernatural, this is what we always shall say. What we learn from experience depends on the kind of philosophy we bring to experience. It is therefore useless to appeal to the experience before we have settled, as well as we can, the philosophical question. If immediate experience cannot prove or disprove the miraculous, still less can history do so. Many people think one can decide whether a miracle occurred in the past by examining the evidence “according to the ordinary rules of historical inquiry.” But the ordinary rules can not be worked until we have decided whether miracles are not possible, and if so, how probable they are. For if they are impossible, then no amount of the historical evidence will convince us. If they are possible but immensely improbably, the only mathematically demonstrative evidence will convince us: and since history never provides that degree of evidence for any event, history can never convince us that a miracle occurred. If, on the other hand, miracles are not intrinsically improbable, then the existing evidence will be sufficient to convince is that quite a number of miracles have occurred. The result of our historical inquiries thus depends on the philosophical views which we have been holding before we even began to look at the evidence. The philosophical question must therefore come first.

Your thoughts?

"Desperate Times, Desperate Measures"

It's pretty intense...

I've been crawling around
In the dark for a while.
Sprawled out across the floor.
Not collecting dust anymore.
Define me a parasite,
Define my host.
Trapped beneath the floor,
I slowly waste away.

Now I pull my frail body into the chair
And look me in the face.
Oh, the disappointments, so disappointing.

This may be my last one,
It's gonna be good and hard.
It might be a touch out of key,
A touch out of key.

When this thing breaks,
I will be you, you will be me.
I'm afraid that this is really happening.
When this thing breaks,
I will be you, you will be me.
Let's hope this is short lived
And riddled with disease.

Oh God, the noise is ringing in my ear.
It's so unclear, so unclear
I hear them talking,
But can't make out the words.
Speak up, speak clear.

I hear them talking,
But can't make out the words.
Speak up, speak clear.

God, where have I been?
I'm a terrible company,
With zero apologies.
My God, where have I been?
Where have I been?

While I sink to the bottom,
I'll sing out as it fills with water.
I hope I've done enough.

When this thing breaks,
I will be you, you will be me.
I'm afraid that this is really happening.

I'm worn out
I'm worn thin
I will never break through

Let me out
Let me out
Let me out.

I was talking with someone the other day about how when we say things that are not of God, it can sometimes feel like it's some other force that is making us say destructive words. Yes, I may be the one who chose to say them, but sometimes I can hear myself say things and think while I'm saying them.. "wow, this doesn't sound like me, but I can't stop saying them.." as more rubbish comes out...

"...but no man can tame the tongue."
James 3:8

Like the song says "My God, where have I been?"
That visual is so powerful, of pulling my frail body off the floor into the chair and looking myself in the face to see the disappointments....
But when it's all over.. "when this thing breaks..." we won't have anymore disappointments.

Holler(back)

'What's new Makella?' is most likely the question running through all your heads. I know it.


I should be going to bed soon, seeing as how I an working at eight tomorrow and did today ('black friday' as us in the retail biz call it)... but I figure, hey, why not update a little?

Anyways, the quarter ended out alright. I completely praise God because I am satisfied with my grades; everything turned out alright, as it usually does when He is involved. The cold is clearing up as well and I'm feeling back to myself.

I was reflecting to a friend the other day that when I am at school I really do not feel like myself... well, I do not feel like the normal version of Makella. It is like the stresses of school stuff work their way into my personality. The visual I have in my head is kind of like the normal guy who changes into the hulk.
Maybe not quite as dramatic.
Needless to say, I do not like the way that I am during the school year. I know that I should not worry because if God cares for and provides for the birds and the worms and the parasites and all of.. everything... then of course, He will provide for and care for me... words I need to heed.
It's good though. I am home, I am more of myself. I pray that this stays with me through the over 20 hours I am scheduled to be taking next quarter.
It has something to do with the shaking up of the water with dirt in it that our pastor Paul talked about a few weeks back, but I need to do more reflecting on that.

The Rob Bell quote a few entries down has been something I have been thinking about a bit. Some of it has to do with my insecurities (which I might have mentioned), but I had a really awesome talk with a good friend of mine the other day about some of what I have been thinking about in regards to all that. He said something pretty simple and straight forward, but it stayed in my head for a while.
He said that no mater what I do, I can't separate the fact that I was made by a perfect God.
I can't change the fact that I was perfectly knit together by a God who loves me.
I can't separate myself from the fact that I am loved.
It's pretty amazing, isn't it? It's a sobering thought (in a good way), to know that I am wholly and completely loved for exactly who I am. I do not have my copy of Velvet Elvis at the moment, but there is a quote from it that I will put in here when I get it back.

Even though I do find myself worrying about unnecessary things, or being irrational about other things, God still has this amazing transient way of being in that. Being inside the middle of all that to show His face and ease things a little, help bear the burden. I know that I would not be able to get through normal mortal life if it wasn't for that.

Prayer requests:
1. That I can look everything; the world, people, situations, through His eyes.
2. Safe travels for family and friends during the holidays.
3. That I can feel God's presence in the everyday.
4. Clarity and guidance on hazy situations.
5. People who are far from knowing Him with no interest in knowing Him at all. There are some of whom I love every much, and it's heart breaking.
6. The people who I work with.

Thank you God for your guidence, grace, and patience.
You are what wakes me and rejuvenates me.
I place my life in your hands.
Amen

So Much

If I'm unable when you are calling
If I'm unable...

If I'm unable when you are calling
If I'm unable...

When all we have is taken,
All we have is taken now

Take my affliction,
I'm cured with your comfort.
Take my affliction.

Take my depression,
I'm cured with your comfort.
Take my depression.

Will you learn fire burns?
When all we have is taken...

I'm falling to grace again
When all we have is taken...

Take it all, take it now, I surrender...
Hallelujah...

When All We Have Is Taken/Comfort
Edison Glass

Hittin' Home.

You can't be connected with God until you're at peace with who you are. If you're still upset that God gave you this body or this life or this family or these circumstances, you will never be able to connect with God in a healthy, thriving, sustainable sort of way. You'll be at odds with your maker. And if you can't come to terms with who you are and the life you've been given, you'll never be able to accept others and how they were made and the lives they've been given. And until you're at peace with God and those around you, you will continue to struggle with your role on the planet, your part to play in the ongoing creation of the universe. You will continue to struggle and resist and fail to connect.

-Rob Bell
from Sex God

I think I need to pay heed to this a little better. Some of my insecurities are showing their ugly heads and I don't like how I am when I focus on them too much. Please pray that I can just be thankful instead of uneasy.

This is what I do...

instead of study for exams.




I found this from when I had my last accounting exam... I think I get antsy...

Trailerpark

So, without typing too much about it tonight (seeing as it's almost 2:30 in the am)... I have a position on the audio team for the feature-length movie the School of Media Arts and Studies is making.

It includes guinea pigs. Lots of them.
Which will require folly and some other random guinea pig noises, so some of the team got together tonight to record some oinks.. this is what came from it...


(This was made my my friend Andy, by the way...)

UO

I have been using the word 'epic' to describe what the show was like October 30th, 2008 at Bogart's in Cincinnati, but I'm not sure that does it justice.

It's always been difficult for me to describe emotions, feelings, important events, and the like without tripping over my words... but you'll just have to trust me about this one.

The pictures don't really do it all justice either, but getting a good shot was kind of difficult whilst trying to stay standing amidst the crowd, pits, and what have you.

I had been looking forward to the show for the entire quarter... especially recently with accounting and all that 'tough stuff' that I have been working my way through at school; being there just made it all worth while. Seeing them play live was amazing, yes. Watching the crowd react was also awesome, but at one point during the set, Spencer (vocals) let the crowd know that the reason they were on that stage was because of Jesus. At one point he said "You can take this with you when you leave, or you can leave it at the door..." and someone behind me yelled "I'm gonna take it with me!" and everyone cheered. From that point on, I could feel the holy spirit in there with everyone, as cheesy as it sounds... and even though most people in there didn't realize it, but the musicians on that stage were completely glorifying the Lord by using the gifts they had been blessed with to point out that the One who created us has the ability to save us from our 'dead-end cycle." A bit after, they played their song Too Whom It May Concern.. there was something deeper there then the crowd might have realized..

So hold your head up high and know, it's not the end of the road.
Walk down this beaten path before you pack your things and head home.
At the end of the road, you'll fins what you've been longing for.

I know 'cause my feet have the scars to show
I was lost with vague direction and no place to call home.

It's time for you to press on
This is not your war
Set you sights to the North and press on
This is not your escape
Wash away what they thought of you
Because in this place, we're all as good as dead end cycle.

Behind the mask you'll find yourself alone
It's not the end of the road for you.

To me, those lyrics completely sum up the human condition. We constantly feel like we are walking this difficult path. Our feet do have scars, but it isn't the end of the road. We weren't made to walk this Earth, it's all temporary because the 'North' is where we are supposed to be, it's where we are striving to go, and when we do all the scars will be gone.

I knew what those lyrics meant before seeing the song performed live, but seeing how the people there reacted to this message of hope that these musicians were bringing to them just made everything fit again for me. If I can be a part of spreading this message of hope to people, to a scene where the outlook on life is so incredibly dismal, then all this stuff here at school, the accounting, the hoops that I am jumping through, will be completely and totally worth while, one-hundred-fold.
This is what my soul longs to do.

Lord, I can not event try to describe the feeling of peace I have knowing that you have a plan for me, for all of this. I can't begin to describe what I feel when there is music. I can't even begin to describe how thankful I am for all of this; this life, this love, everything. You know my thoughts. It is so good.

Without a vision,
the people perish.
Proverbs 29:18

Puppy Digression

My dogs bring so much joy into my life. I could not imagine it feeling like home if it weren't for them being here.

Jack is the white one. He is pure love.
Bear is the black one. He is so goofy, grumpy, and affectionate.
Jack will run in circles if he is excited.
Bear will sit next to you with his paw up so you can hold hands with him.
Jack is a therapy dog and smart as a whip.
Bear will lean against the piano bench when I'm playing.
Jack loves people and is willing to do what it takes to bring them joy.
Bear has big paws and the biggest teeth on a dog you've seen, and he's incredibly fast.
Jack tries to dig through the bottom of the bathtub during his baths.
Bear will push the bathroom door open with his paw so he can come hang out with you while you're in there.
When Jack visits my mom's classroom, he makes sure to visit each student's desk throughout the class time.
Bear is afraid of the dark, but he is so black that we have a glow-in-the-dark collar on him to see him outside at night.
They both love the water and will swim for hours.
They both love their kennel and go in it on their own time to chill with the door open.
They both go crazy after baths.
They both are incredibly smart and loving.

Am I completely nerdy for posting this entry?

Re-fuel

Just finished my accounting exam.
I really can't say how it went, but I think all will be well.




For those of you who don't know, I have test-anxiety... basically, I get extremely nervous before a test; hand shaking, nauseous nervous... and sometimes I can't help but think about how I got like this... I really don't know... maybe it's because I spent growing up in Montessori schools and tests were not really a part of the curriculum, and I kind of got slapped in the face with them when I transferred to high school.


Well, Im sitting here at the coffee shop listening to an old friend play some awesome music; Im going home tomorrow. Home is always a good place to re-fuel and get straight again. Good food, good family.



I hope everyone out there who reads this remembers that there is more to life then school, then 'drama,' then scheduling, then time management, then all of that fluff that magically becomes important when we get a little older. It's not worth getting shaky hands over.

Close Call of the Week

Dang.

So, I have been kind of overwhelmed by homework this week (and it's only Wednesday)... and I had this pretty long assignment due for my Marketing class today... actually about a half-hour ago. So I worked on it last night when I should have been studying for my two exams tomorrow, and it took longer then I was hoping it would, but I finished it up last night, printed it out this morning, and thought I was set when I turned it into the teacher at the beginning of class today at two... only to find out that I had done the wrong set of questions at the end of the chapter (I thought I had to do the set of sixteen at the end, but I had to only do this set of three pertaining to a specific section...). So off I sprint to the Library, belly full of omelet, wearing my slippery black boots, and completely not caring if the people who saw me though I was a looney-bird.

Thankfully the class is two hours long.
Thankfully I find out about the mix-up right at the beginning.
Thankfully the girl next to me had her book with her and kindly let me borrow it for a hot-second.
Thankfully my classroom was only a hop-skip-and-jump away from the library.
Thankfully there was an open computer as I bursted through the doors.
Thankfully there were no problems with the printers (which can happen sometimes in the library).
Thankfully the teacher was only halfway through his power-point.
Thankfully people also turn things in at the end of class so it was a swift and easy transfer to trade the mess-up homework with the proper assignment.

Oi Vey.
Problem solved though.

I have two really hard exams tomorrow; please pray for me.

I Think They Can Read My Mind

I really do.

"If there were no instruments, no verse or chorus sung
Our hearts still would resonate with flowing rhythms
Can you hear it? I can hear it now

Our bodies sing in silent melody
Our bodies sing in symphony

If sound wasn't in existence and nothing could be heard
Our bones they would still echo gracefully in turn
Can you feel it? I can feel it now

Our bodies sing in silent melody
Heartbeat, the tempo, love, the crescendo
In symphony
Oh, our bodies sing

Can you hear my heart beating?
I hear the sound you're making

In symphony ... "

-Our Bodies Sing by Edison Glass

89th

"Music is well said to be the speech of angels; in fact, nothing among the utterances allowed to man is felt to be so divine. It brings us near to the infinite."
-Thomas Carlyle


So according to blogspot, I have posted 88 times. Weird.




I have written numerous times about God being involved in creativity, how He is intertwined with the work of our hands, and when we create something, we are following in His image, since He is the Ultimate Creator. The sky, the earth, our bodies, everything points to a creative God who put love into what He made.

I forget about that sometimes, and I really haven't been doing much creativity-wise here this quarter and... I miss it.

There are these moments involving creativity, a specific piece of music, a split-second of a song, a photograph...when something just reaches into the deepest and darkest parts of my soul. Something that causes me to feel it with more then just my ears or eyes, but to really feel it; experience it as a whole, with my whole being and brain connected with it.
Those are the moments that I strive for.
That is the Joy that I believe God put me on this earth to help bring into the world.
That is the spirit that drives everyone who is creative, whether they believe in the Lord or not, that drives them and they are doing God's work, sometimes unknowingly.
That is truly the purpose for which God made them.
In Velvet Elvis, Rob Bell describes is as being what brings heaven down here to earth.
So that feeling that I get... that is a little minute sliver of what heaven is going to be, and it's going to be glorious.
Unimaginably glorious.

What a gift we have; the ability to create.
Lord please help me to use that to glorify you,
because it is the purpose of our hearts and hands.

I go to school here.

This is Athens.
(Cliche pictures, I know, I'm sorry)

Every day walking to class, there is so much beauty to see here. It kills me how when people think of Ohio University, the only words that come to mind are 'party-school,' 'halloween,' 'illegal music downloading,' etc.

When I look eventually back on my time here in Athens, I guarantee you, the warmth and the spirit of this place will come rushing back, and the hard times that happened will only help with those feelings because there is healing and realness in Athens too.

I was ready to throw in the towel a few weeks ago.
I was ready to be done with it here.
But God completely blessed me with Athens, and I could not see myself anywhere else for my education.

"In Our Cold Condition...

...We need You to visit us, we need warmth to come.."

The Warmth came... God is good.
What a relief.





So last week was One Of Those Weeks.
But it's over now, and I can breath.
I can release my tense shoulders and really smile, not forced, but fully smile and enjoy the day.
I can look at the sky and appreciate it without a time-limit; I can smell the leaves for longer then just passing.
This feels good.



Athens is absolutely the most beautiful place in the fall. If anyone want to refute it, I invite them come and look out my window at this moment.

To catch up:

My classes this quarter are

Accounting
Microeconomics
Marketing
Sign language

Total hours: 16 (They had said that there is no way to pass accounting with more then 16 hours)

We bought a pumpkin and named it Margot.
I am going to see Underoath at the end of the month (their new album is so epic).
I have made a lot of new friends this week.
I apologize for the terrible complaining I have been doing to everyone these last few weeks. Life is really good, there are just so many things my heart and brain can handle at once. You understand, yes?

Lord, thank you for bearing all this with me.
Thank you for blessing me with the beauty of this world, and with the people who help me see it.
Thank you for the opportunity to go to school and help me to not take it for granted.
Please be with me when it is cold, thank you for bringing your warmth.
Amen

Some September

Welp, Life threw some more at me.

But God is constant.

This is from my devotional reading the other day.

My Father is the gardener. John 15:1

It is a comforting thought that trouble, in whatever form it comes to us, is a heavenly messenger that brings us something from God. Outwardly it may appear painful or even destructive, but inwardly its spiritual work produces blessings. Many of the richest blessings we have inherited are the fruit of sorrow or pain. We should never forget that redemption, the world's greatest blessing, is the fruit of the world's greatest sorrow. And whenever a time of deep pruning comes and the knife cuts deeply and the pain is severe, what an inexpressible comfort it is to know: "My Father is the gardener."
John Vincent, a Methodist Episcopal bishop of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries and a leader of the Sunday school movement in America, once told of being in a large greenhouse where clusters of luscious grapes were hanging on each side. The owner of the greenhouse told him, "When the new gardener came here, he said he would not work with the vines unless he could cut them completely down to the stalk. I allowed him to do so, and we had no grapes for two years, but this is not the result."
There is rich symbolism in this account of the pruning process when applied to the Christian life. Prunning seems to be destroying the vine, and the gardener appears to be cutting everything away. Yet he sees the future and knows that the final result will be the enrichment of the life of the vine, and a greater abundance of fruit.
There are many blessings we will never receive until we are ready to pay the price of pain, for the path of suffering is the only way to reach them.
J.R. Miller
Streams in the Desert

School Has Sprung

So God is Good. If you all didn't know that, I'm telling you that right now.



This week has honestly been like nails on a chalkboard for me. For some reason, my everyday 'stuff' has been doing nothing but aggravating me, and little, minute things have been putting me on the verge of tears, and to top it off, classes are like a black cloud looming over my head...
Wow, do I sound dismal.

There are a few factors that have influenced my mood this week; the combination of my health being a little off, and that other people's opinions have affected my view of how my classes are going to be, so I've been expecting nothing but the worse.
I'm saying all this because throughout this week, there have been so many shining moments of God revealing himself to me through the patience of others, through my devotionals every night, through the beauty of Athens, and through Him constantly revealing the blessing in my life.

I came into this quarter after an amazing summer of growing in the boldness that God blessed me with; I was on such a high, excited to see what conversations he was going to bless me with, and I still am. I am still so excited and I pray for everyone's forgiveness for my outlook on things recently... I feel like all these little things that have been bothering me so easily have been used as a huge distraction to prevent me from spreading His love, and I hate to say that it worked this week.
But the good news is that I am aware of it now.
I can see what the bad-guy's plan is and I can foil it.
Please pray that I can withstand all the crap (for lack of a better word) that has been thrown at me so that I can complete the purpose that I was made for.

Lord, please help me to remember that my life is not my own, that your plan cannot be ruined by stupid little distractions, and that you are stronger then a stuffy nose and accounting homework.
Lord, please please keep me focused.
Please keep me content.
Please keep my eyes focused on your Love and your words.
Thank you that your Love is worth all this.
Thank you that your patience and mercy is beyond my comprehension and that you help to bear the burdens of us all living in this temporary place. Thank you that you are eternal and that this worry was not meant to happen.
Amen.

pack o' fannies

So I have decided that I am going to try to bring the fanny pack back into style.
I am going to need people to help me.
I am aware that I am going to look like a loony for a while.
I need to recruit people to help me with this fashion-resurrection.
Any takers?

Just to inspire you, I found some pictures.










When mentioning this to one of my friends he said that crust-punks, and bike-punks already wear them but they're kind of anti-fashion/counterculture. My goal is to bring them back into the mainstream; back to the everyday.
Your thoughts?

Long Time: No Post

I am so sorry about the lack of words coming from here. It won't happen again soon, especially since classes will be slow the first week so I will have time to write.

So to catch up real quick, I am back at home after a little over two months, had a nice pit-stop in Chicago to visit some friends, and now I am back home watching youtube and eating chocolate chips.

The tally for the day:
Cavities (according to the dentist today): 0
Ailments (according to my body): Allergies
Stories: Numerous. One new one involving an almost-nose-piercing that did not get finished this weekend. I am going back tomorrow to have the other side done.

I learned a few things on the ride back from WI:
1. When people buy crocs, they go all out. I was at a rest-stop and the person next to me had bright orange ones.
2. I felt like a real traveler when I was sitting in McDonalds and I was eating by myself.
3. Driving in cities is kind of frightening, but thank goodness for google maps, cell phones, patient parents, and friends.
4. My voice gets a little raspy after singing for six hours straight, two days in a row.
5. I am going to miss the amazingly fresh smell of pine that resonates in the air up in WI.
6. I am really going to miss all the amazing people, and the amazing conversations.
7. I am going to miss the sunsets.
8. Organic jelly beans are really good.

Side Note #1: I saw a Meat Loaf bumper sticker on the way.

Side Note #2: I got a new BIble today and I like it. I really don't know if I should transfer all my notes, or just start over and re-do all of it.

I feel as though I have undergone a revival including a new boldness of sorts when it comes to sharing my faith.
I pray that these words are not just words, but that it becomes real.
I pray that I can enter into fall quarter and last through the whole quarter with this because it is so good.
The Lord is so good for first preparing me, and then answering prayers.
It is so wonderful to feel a new boldness and I am so excited to see what He is going to do with this.
New beginnings.
New people.
New conversations with new words.

What's Goin' On In This Head Of Mine

A few things:

1. It is caterpillar season right now which means running is treacherous. Thankfully there have been no explosions yet, but it is bound to happen. I can't even describe how many are littering the road right now; I feel like I'm in a video game dodging them. I actually think Im going to keep one in a jar just to see what sort of madness these caterpillars will turn into when they metamorphosize. (Side not: Isn't it great when the one of your biggest issues is the caterpillars in the road? Life is good, lemme tell ya.)

2. My family is gone as of a week ago. I am here by myself, which is kind of nice actually. I miss them of course, and there are the occasional bumps (and skunks) in the night, but I am getting a taste for what next summer might bring... living alone, all that jazz. I'm getting practice at cooking for myself though.

3. I am officially 20 years old as of July 25th. I guess the only differences are that I'm a bit tanner and I have bangs. A friend was saying that I'm going to be a twenty-something till I'm thirty. Wow. Ha. I'm so excited for what these upcoming years are going to bring.

4. Eagle River has the smallest fair that I've ever been to. We went on the rides and were the only ones screaming and I could hear it echo through out the whole area where the fair was. People go to it every night because it something to do. It's funny. I won a giant inflatable American flag bat.

5. So, I have a question, well a few I guess. I know and completely understand that forgiveness is incredibly important. I know that there is an intense freedom that comes when I am forgiven and when I forgive. We are to do it. I guess my confusion is that, as a Christian, when is it alright to stand up for myself? When is it alright to confront someone about something that bothered me? Am I supposed to always and only brush things off my shoulders when then legitimately hurt me? What am I to do when another Christian is the one committing the deed? Of course, I will forgive them, but what if they keep doing it? When is it okay to speak my mind about a situation? You're opinions are greatly valued on this topic so if you read this, please reply!
I'm not referring to any specific moments here, I've just been thinking about this lately.

6. I attempted to go bridge-jumping today but the water in the river was only three feet deep, so that kind of bummed me out a bit. Perhaps next week.

7. Officially, I am kind of obsessed with Edison Glass. Their lyrics are something of poet laureate proportions. I really hope you all agree with me. Please get their two newest albums, A Burn Or A Shiver, and Let Go.
Here are some of my favorite lyrics from them.

Today has wings and we're welcoming change.
We're asking "sweet spirit, place your mark on us."

This is the release. We've burned out the eyes of restraint.
Don't hold back.
This is your release.
We're changed from within.
Jesus, you prove where real freedom is from.

We're shedding this thick, numb, and overly insensitive skin
And trading it for something we can live with,
To breath and move without restriction.

Today Has Wings
Edison Glass

Hope the summer is going well for you all.
M