HAPPY LEMON DAY!!!
It's lemon day! It's lemon day! It is the day of lemon consumption and enjoyment! Yay!
sadly, however, I forgot until just a little while ago that this was lemon day. I'm sorry Ben.
I had remembered it all this week, and for the weeks prior. I promise. I even told other people about it. But come the day, and I forgot.
But I remember now. So let us put our hearts and our stomachs together and sing a joyous and sourly twisted song about the great fruit that God has given us to garnish our dishes of food and our drinks, and to consume with sourly twisted faces. Yay lemons!
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Ode To Old Friends
I just realized something about myself. I see myself as the kind of person who is very relationship oriented. I can do the hermit/loner thing to an extent, but I truly have a need for good and honest friends. Now when I say friends I don't mean it by the definition some people use (just cause I know your name does not mean you are my friend--that's called an acquaintance). I need people who I feel I can be around without being fake; people who I feel comfortable being myself around; people I can be open and honest with; people who speak into my life, and whose lives I can speak into. I focus a good chunk of my life on these relationships. This is a big part of how I live.
So, you'd think that with all the changes that have occurred in my life in the last few years--changes in relationships, locations of residence, and all that good stuff--that I would be thrown through a loop about all these relationships I've lost, or that have diminished, and with all these new ones I have started working on--knowing that they won't last long either in the big picture. You'd think that I would be really put off by it...At least I would. I'm looking at it right now, and I'm thinking 'why am I not more upset about all this? Why doesn't this bother me any more than it does?'. I could reason it with the stoickness of my personality . I don't get really emotional very often. But why is that? If relationships are such a huge part of my life, why don't I become more emotional about the whole thing. I care about these people and these relationships. I still think about relationships that I had when I was in grade school.
Now the relationships are deeper and more meaningful. So, why am I not bothered all that much by just uprooting myself from my home of half my life and moving the farthest away from that home I've ever lived for the next four years? Admittedly, it has bothered me a little, and I've spent a little time pouring out my heart to God over the matter. But then it's 'back to business', and working on those new relationships.
So maybe this is a better question: Why would I spend any more time than I already have wallowing over the fact that those old connections are gone--at least for a time, though most of them indefinitely (until heaven, that is)? I have spent my time in mourning over my displacement from my friends. But if I spend any more time I would miss all of the opportunities I have to meet new people, and to go beyond my small town acquaintances.
There was a time when God blessed me with a group of friends to be around, and to grow with. That was a blessing; a gift. He could just as easily allowed me to continue my life in solitude (though that's a hard concept for me to grasp, having grown up with five siblings). He could have said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you. You don't need other people; you have me, and that's all you need.' And he did do that for a short time. He was under no obligation to provide friends for me. But, He saw that it was a good thing for me to have others to talk with, and to grow with, and to learn from, and to teach. He saw that it was good...For a time.
That time has ended, He has seen fit for me to move on from those relationships. It is now no longer profitable for His kingdom that I should continue to be as actively connected with those people. And, so, He has repositioned me, and given me new friends to learn from, and to grow with, and to teach. He has placed me here for a reason, and he will do great things through this.
All this is not to say that I will completely avoid all contact with my friends back home. In fact, I still email and IM (Instant Messenger) all my closest friends so as to stay in touch. But to continually look back and say, 'Why, why have you taken all these good things from me, O Lord?' That would be foolish when the answer is right in front of me: 'Because I have found better things for you, just as I have found better things for them. They are not your concern; they are mine. You serve me, here, now. This is what is good.'
So, you'd think that with all the changes that have occurred in my life in the last few years--changes in relationships, locations of residence, and all that good stuff--that I would be thrown through a loop about all these relationships I've lost, or that have diminished, and with all these new ones I have started working on--knowing that they won't last long either in the big picture. You'd think that I would be really put off by it...At least I would. I'm looking at it right now, and I'm thinking 'why am I not more upset about all this? Why doesn't this bother me any more than it does?'. I could reason it with the stoickness of my personality . I don't get really emotional very often. But why is that? If relationships are such a huge part of my life, why don't I become more emotional about the whole thing. I care about these people and these relationships. I still think about relationships that I had when I was in grade school.
Now the relationships are deeper and more meaningful. So, why am I not bothered all that much by just uprooting myself from my home of half my life and moving the farthest away from that home I've ever lived for the next four years? Admittedly, it has bothered me a little, and I've spent a little time pouring out my heart to God over the matter. But then it's 'back to business', and working on those new relationships.
So maybe this is a better question: Why would I spend any more time than I already have wallowing over the fact that those old connections are gone--at least for a time, though most of them indefinitely (until heaven, that is)? I have spent my time in mourning over my displacement from my friends. But if I spend any more time I would miss all of the opportunities I have to meet new people, and to go beyond my small town acquaintances.
There was a time when God blessed me with a group of friends to be around, and to grow with. That was a blessing; a gift. He could just as easily allowed me to continue my life in solitude (though that's a hard concept for me to grasp, having grown up with five siblings). He could have said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you. You don't need other people; you have me, and that's all you need.' And he did do that for a short time. He was under no obligation to provide friends for me. But, He saw that it was a good thing for me to have others to talk with, and to grow with, and to learn from, and to teach. He saw that it was good...For a time.
That time has ended, He has seen fit for me to move on from those relationships. It is now no longer profitable for His kingdom that I should continue to be as actively connected with those people. And, so, He has repositioned me, and given me new friends to learn from, and to grow with, and to teach. He has placed me here for a reason, and he will do great things through this.
All this is not to say that I will completely avoid all contact with my friends back home. In fact, I still email and IM (Instant Messenger) all my closest friends so as to stay in touch. But to continually look back and say, 'Why, why have you taken all these good things from me, O Lord?' That would be foolish when the answer is right in front of me: 'Because I have found better things for you, just as I have found better things for them. They are not your concern; they are mine. You serve me, here, now. This is what is good.'
Friday, October 20, 2006
Weeeeeeeeeeee!
"How is the college life?" This seems to be the question of the last couple months--and I'm sure the next year as well.
I think I will attempt to answer this question by describing my life yesterday.
It all started with the normal classes. Thursdays I have freshman seminar which is basically a group designed to make sure that new students aren't falling behind and without any hope or help. On the school website it showed that we had an assignment due yesterday in this class. So I did the reading and answered the questions. No problem. Then we get to class and he says that he didn't actually physically assign it to us, so it wasn't due. Ugh! Good news, I now don't have to do the assignment for next week so long as I turn in the assignment that I already did.
After that I have intro to worship studies (I'm a worship arts major). We had to turn in the rough draft of our definitions of worship. Over all, not a bad day for that class.
Next comes voice class (cause voice is my primary instrument and the class is cheaper than paying for lessons). It was in this class that I was reminded of a paper we were assigned that I had forgotten about...And it was due right then. Well, actually it was just due that day. So the teacher told me that as long as I got it to her before she left the campus @5:15, it would be good. Well, that's great...Except that I have classes until 4:30 on Thursdays. Woo hoo!
After this I had lunch. Yay!
Then comes Aural skills. We talked about our song rating systems that we came up with. Mine is an ear diagram. I'm still not entirely sure that it was such a great idea. All I know is that I was told to be creative, so I was.
This is then followed by choir. We had our stage rehearsal because tonight we have a performance. So that was all fine and dandy.
After this I ran to the music house, wrote up my paper for voice class, and turned it in before 5:15. Huzzah!
Now comes the exciting part. While everyone else is going crazy (because yesterday was open dorms for the guys--in other words girls were allowed to come into the guy dorms. ugh.) I had to get all my reading--from 2 Chronicles through Esther--done so I could fill out the write up and turn it in for my class the next morning. Suffice it to say I was up until 3 in the morning--and not cause I slacked off either. I was on the ball...Just last minute.
Well, I need to go get ready for my concert. Laters.
I think I will attempt to answer this question by describing my life yesterday.
It all started with the normal classes. Thursdays I have freshman seminar which is basically a group designed to make sure that new students aren't falling behind and without any hope or help. On the school website it showed that we had an assignment due yesterday in this class. So I did the reading and answered the questions. No problem. Then we get to class and he says that he didn't actually physically assign it to us, so it wasn't due. Ugh! Good news, I now don't have to do the assignment for next week so long as I turn in the assignment that I already did.
After that I have intro to worship studies (I'm a worship arts major). We had to turn in the rough draft of our definitions of worship. Over all, not a bad day for that class.
Next comes voice class (cause voice is my primary instrument and the class is cheaper than paying for lessons). It was in this class that I was reminded of a paper we were assigned that I had forgotten about...And it was due right then. Well, actually it was just due that day. So the teacher told me that as long as I got it to her before she left the campus @5:15, it would be good. Well, that's great...Except that I have classes until 4:30 on Thursdays. Woo hoo!
After this I had lunch. Yay!
Then comes Aural skills. We talked about our song rating systems that we came up with. Mine is an ear diagram. I'm still not entirely sure that it was such a great idea. All I know is that I was told to be creative, so I was.
This is then followed by choir. We had our stage rehearsal because tonight we have a performance. So that was all fine and dandy.
After this I ran to the music house, wrote up my paper for voice class, and turned it in before 5:15. Huzzah!
Now comes the exciting part. While everyone else is going crazy (because yesterday was open dorms for the guys--in other words girls were allowed to come into the guy dorms. ugh.) I had to get all my reading--from 2 Chronicles through Esther--done so I could fill out the write up and turn it in for my class the next morning. Suffice it to say I was up until 3 in the morning--and not cause I slacked off either. I was on the ball...Just last minute.
Well, I need to go get ready for my concert. Laters.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Ahg, My Back, My Neck, My Legs...OUCH! MY BRAIN!
If I think I'm sore right now, I can't wait to see how I feel in the morning. Oh boy.
Tonight for our hall sectional (my dorm hall and the hall adjacent) we played ultimate Frisbee...in the dark. We had glow stick bracelets to help identify our team mates from our...not...team mates. It was orange vs. blue. My hall was orange, the other hall was blue. However, due to the lack of people who were willing to risk bodily harm (sports people...they probably have a scholarship riding on their ability to play well at the next game) some people from the other hall didn't play. The result was that a couple guys had to play for the other side. Eh, no one else was jumping at the opportunity, so I went over to blue.
It was really fun...honest. I mean, once you got over the sub zero temperatures, and the lack of lighting and depth perception, it was really great. Of course I took some hits for the team, made some dives (some successful, others not so much). And there were times when I just stayed on one end of the field while I caught my breath and either played offence or defense (depending on what end of the field I was on, and which end had my team's goal). It was really fun. I helped make some big touch downs, and I messed up a lot of plays. But hey, that's how everyone was playing. I mean, come on, it's ultimate Frisbee IN THE DARK.
On a completely unrelated note, my group is leading worship for chapel on Thursday. That's right, Thursday. Now, you might be saying to yourself, "But I thought that chapel was on Monday, Wednesday, Friday at your school." And to that I say, "How in the world do you know so much about my schedule and my school?" Anyway, I guess some special speaker is coming on Thursday, so we are throwing our whole schedule for the day through a loop just to put chapel on Thursday. And that is the day that my group is leading worship.
Which brings us to another point. It seems as though the 'special speaker' wants to take a little more time that usual. Thus my group--rather than running the usual 4-5 song set--is only doing two songs on Thursday. But hey, that's cool. That just means that I don't have to worry about practicing a million songs on the bass. Yeah, they are having me play bass this go'round. It's actually pretty fun. My bass sounds really nice now that I just put a new set of strings on it. It's been wearing the same set of strings for the last four years. FOUR YEARS! I'm surprised none of them snapped and killed anyone. Oh well, maybe next time.
Well, it's late and I have a sore day ahead of me. So, as 'Mac' would say, "Happy Tuesday".
Tonight for our hall sectional (my dorm hall and the hall adjacent) we played ultimate Frisbee...in the dark. We had glow stick bracelets to help identify our team mates from our...not...team mates. It was orange vs. blue. My hall was orange, the other hall was blue. However, due to the lack of people who were willing to risk bodily harm (sports people...they probably have a scholarship riding on their ability to play well at the next game) some people from the other hall didn't play. The result was that a couple guys had to play for the other side. Eh, no one else was jumping at the opportunity, so I went over to blue.
It was really fun...honest. I mean, once you got over the sub zero temperatures, and the lack of lighting and depth perception, it was really great. Of course I took some hits for the team, made some dives (some successful, others not so much). And there were times when I just stayed on one end of the field while I caught my breath and either played offence or defense (depending on what end of the field I was on, and which end had my team's goal). It was really fun. I helped make some big touch downs, and I messed up a lot of plays. But hey, that's how everyone was playing. I mean, come on, it's ultimate Frisbee IN THE DARK.
On a completely unrelated note, my group is leading worship for chapel on Thursday. That's right, Thursday. Now, you might be saying to yourself, "But I thought that chapel was on Monday, Wednesday, Friday at your school." And to that I say, "How in the world do you know so much about my schedule and my school?" Anyway, I guess some special speaker is coming on Thursday, so we are throwing our whole schedule for the day through a loop just to put chapel on Thursday. And that is the day that my group is leading worship.
Which brings us to another point. It seems as though the 'special speaker' wants to take a little more time that usual. Thus my group--rather than running the usual 4-5 song set--is only doing two songs on Thursday. But hey, that's cool. That just means that I don't have to worry about practicing a million songs on the bass. Yeah, they are having me play bass this go'round. It's actually pretty fun. My bass sounds really nice now that I just put a new set of strings on it. It's been wearing the same set of strings for the last four years. FOUR YEARS! I'm surprised none of them snapped and killed anyone. Oh well, maybe next time.
Well, it's late and I have a sore day ahead of me. So, as 'Mac' would say, "Happy Tuesday".
Friday, September 29, 2006
Brothers And Sisters In Christ
Today in chapel we had a group of orphans from Uganda (that's in Africa for those of you who didn't know) come, sing and dance. It was really cool. They did a couple praise songs in English, but most of their songs were in their native tongues. They also did a couple of their tribal dances.
Yesterday, however, was the really cool part. The kids(ten of them ranging from 9 to 13 years of age) were on campus for the sound check in the chapel, so they came to our choir class. That's when we got to see a whole bunch of their tribal dances and songs. We were able to sing for them as well, but that wasn't nearly as interesting. These Kids had so much energy and talent. Sure, they may not have the most classically trained voices, but they sure knew how to play those drums. And they danced and sang (at the same time) with such ease and energy. Not an ounce of fear or nervousness could be seen on their bright smiling faces. It was truly a site to behold.
Yesterday, however, was the really cool part. The kids(ten of them ranging from 9 to 13 years of age) were on campus for the sound check in the chapel, so they came to our choir class. That's when we got to see a whole bunch of their tribal dances and songs. We were able to sing for them as well, but that wasn't nearly as interesting. These Kids had so much energy and talent. Sure, they may not have the most classically trained voices, but they sure knew how to play those drums. And they danced and sang (at the same time) with such ease and energy. Not an ounce of fear or nervousness could be seen on their bright smiling faces. It was truly a site to behold.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Delta Kapachino Pi
This last weekend was crazy. It was the weekend of the Western Baptist (operating under the name of Corban) music department retreat. Everyone from the band, choir, jazz band, and orchestra was there at this church in Sisters. We went out on Friday night, practiced Saturday morning and evening, and performed on Sunday. We put on the entire service for the church. I think the coolest part was when the band and orchestra played with the guitar, piano, and vocalists while they lead the singing. It sounded so cool, even beautiful at times. And the band and orchestra parts were arranged by our own Mr. Barsch. He's probably the coolest music teacher I have ever met. He's an amazing pianist, a violist, and I've heard he has absolutly mad skills on the organ.
Last night I was up till 2:00 because I had to finish up some reading and write out my report for my Bible survey class. Then at around 5:15 I was woken up by the Eagles president. He said that it was time for phase two of the Eagles initiation. So I got up, and walked with the rest of them to go get everyone else in the group. Then we went to our meeting spot and we were given certificates that say we are now life long members of the Eagles. Then they said that we each had to take an energy drink/frapachino. But they did say that we didn't have to drink it. Well for any of you who know me, you'll know that I'm not into the energy drink/coffee racket. So I took my frapachino and headed back to bed.
Apearently it is Eagle tradition to get the new guys up in the middle of the night the night before their first American thought and culture exam. And then they supply them with what they need to keep them from going back to sleep before it was time for class. Some of the guys actually bought into it. They drank their energy drink and didn't go back to bed.
Not me, I had been up 'till two already, and I was going to get as much sleep as I could.
Good news, I got 100% on my reading report.
Time for me to head out to dinner. Laters.
Last night I was up till 2:00 because I had to finish up some reading and write out my report for my Bible survey class. Then at around 5:15 I was woken up by the Eagles president. He said that it was time for phase two of the Eagles initiation. So I got up, and walked with the rest of them to go get everyone else in the group. Then we went to our meeting spot and we were given certificates that say we are now life long members of the Eagles. Then they said that we each had to take an energy drink/frapachino. But they did say that we didn't have to drink it. Well for any of you who know me, you'll know that I'm not into the energy drink/coffee racket. So I took my frapachino and headed back to bed.
Apearently it is Eagle tradition to get the new guys up in the middle of the night the night before their first American thought and culture exam. And then they supply them with what they need to keep them from going back to sleep before it was time for class. Some of the guys actually bought into it. They drank their energy drink and didn't go back to bed.
Not me, I had been up 'till two already, and I was going to get as much sleep as I could.
Good news, I got 100% on my reading report.
Time for me to head out to dinner. Laters.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Run Forrest, Run!
Hey everyone! I just got back from the beach. We had a beach party and a thing they call 'Ocean Rush'. That's where a bunch of sucker college students line up on the beach and when a person says "GO!" all of them start running for the ocean. Everyone who goes in and gets completely wet gets a free T-shirt. Needless to say, I was one of said 'sucker college students'. Who couldn't use a free T-shirt?
There was also a sand castle building contest. My team built...well, actually we didn't built anything. Really what we did was we uncovered what God had already placed on the beach. That's right, we dug the biggest sand hole in school history. We guesstimated it to be about 15 feet deep. It was pretty sweet. Of course in order to justify it as a 'castle' we also dug around the outside of the rim of the hole to make a wall. then we took the buckets of sand that we hauled up out of the pit and made towers all along the wall. Sadly, we didn't win. The winners received a hundred dollar cash prize. Second got $50, third $25. But, we didn't get any of those. so what if it wasn't the best 'castle'. I am 100% positive we displaced the most sand.
Friday night we had a thing called 'Rush'. At this event we all sat in the bleachers of the gym as a bunch of different groups (called 'Fellowships') tolled us what they were about. Then at the end some one yelled out "RUSH!!!" and everyone in the bleachers 'rushed' down to the fellowship that they wanted to join. There are four brother/sister fellowships. The Panthers and Lambs, the Eagles and Doves, the Saints and Angles, and the Trojans and Pandas. The former in each of the groups listed is the guys part of the group, and the latter is the girls. They do some things together(guys & girls), and some things separate(just guys & just girls). For the most part all the groups are very much the same in that they do service projects, Bible studies, and events. What makes each group different is not only what kind of events and service projects they do, but mostly the overall character of the group. I joined the Eagles because it's more the arts group (musicians, thespians, artisans of varying types). Cool stuff.
Well, to quote Forrest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that."
There was also a sand castle building contest. My team built...well, actually we didn't built anything. Really what we did was we uncovered what God had already placed on the beach. That's right, we dug the biggest sand hole in school history. We guesstimated it to be about 15 feet deep. It was pretty sweet. Of course in order to justify it as a 'castle' we also dug around the outside of the rim of the hole to make a wall. then we took the buckets of sand that we hauled up out of the pit and made towers all along the wall. Sadly, we didn't win. The winners received a hundred dollar cash prize. Second got $50, third $25. But, we didn't get any of those. so what if it wasn't the best 'castle'. I am 100% positive we displaced the most sand.
Friday night we had a thing called 'Rush'. At this event we all sat in the bleachers of the gym as a bunch of different groups (called 'Fellowships') tolled us what they were about. Then at the end some one yelled out "RUSH!!!" and everyone in the bleachers 'rushed' down to the fellowship that they wanted to join. There are four brother/sister fellowships. The Panthers and Lambs, the Eagles and Doves, the Saints and Angles, and the Trojans and Pandas. The former in each of the groups listed is the guys part of the group, and the latter is the girls. They do some things together(guys & girls), and some things separate(just guys & just girls). For the most part all the groups are very much the same in that they do service projects, Bible studies, and events. What makes each group different is not only what kind of events and service projects they do, but mostly the overall character of the group. I joined the Eagles because it's more the arts group (musicians, thespians, artisans of varying types). Cool stuff.
Well, to quote Forrest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that."
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