What Changed

VBS song I learned today:


hello, *clap clap*
again! *clap clap*
were here with all our friends *clap clap*
its good, *clap clap*
so good *clap clap*
to praise the lord and sing together
hallelujah *clap*
hallelujah to our king

its so good to be together,
and say hello again

(repeat and speed up each time)



In bible class this morning we talked about the stoning of Stephen. In chapter 6, it tells how he became one of the 7 selected to help the widows that were being overlooked cared for. later on it tells how (verse 8 and following) that members of the Sanhedrin rose up and argued with him, but were unable to cope with his wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking, but later in verse 13 it tells how they brought forth false witnesses against him after he was brought before the council. then in chapter 7 he gives his famous and very well put story, beginning with Abraham and then working to Jesus and then putting on them. but the main thing this morning was in verse 57, 58, and 8:1 it says in verse 57 and 58 that "they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears, and rushes upon him with one impulse. And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul." then in 8:1 "And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death."

and I started to think about how things are in chronological order. now Idk exactly how long its been. but it hasnt been more than a year or two for sure I would say since christ's death. and what I found interesting or made me think was about how different stephen's death and Jesus's deaths were and yet were very similar. they both were brought before the sanhedrin with very much the same with basically the same charges, and false witnesses. But Jesus said very little in his defense, and Stephen spoke a lot (not that it's really that important or even still the main point that made me think)

The thing that made me think was how they died and when. Jesus was brought to the Roman authorities because in John 18:31 it says that the Jews said they were not permitted to put anyone to death.

So what changed? these are the same men mostly I'm assuming, same charges for the most part, same circumstances and same basic things at stake. So why did they go ahead and kill this man, in a somewhat impulse move?

I don't really know the answer... or even really had a clue... it just made me wonder what had changed and how much pressure the Christians had put on them by just doing things differently...

and if anyone has any information or idea or anything I'd love to hear them.. but I just found it interesting and hope you did as well.



this is first song that played randomly when I turned on my computer and I haven't hear it in years, and it really just made me happy after a mood of seeing kids smile and learn about God. Hope the words can do the same for you.

Everyone's Happy by GH

(chorus)
everyone's happy. (cause) Everyone's free
to do what you like
and to do as you please
you sit in your homes
and you watch your tvs
but you're always to busy
to think about me

I stood along beneath a lonely sky
with nothing to eat
as the tables passed me by
they say I'm crazy
and they tell me that I lie
but no one can listen
if no one can hear
You'd rather smile
than to show any fear

(Chorus)

Some of my friends
were prostitutes and thieves
Yeah sin is sin, you see different degrees
but ti my father
your just killing me
at least they would listen
to what they'd hear
but you'd rather smile
than to show any fear

(chorus)

oh I was beaten
and blood ran down besides
whipped and chained
to take my pride
and when it was over
I allowed myself to die
so maybe you'd listen
and maybe you'd hear
but you'd rather smile
then to show any fear

(chorus 2xs)

Late Night Wish

I was cleaning up my computer and ran across an old poem/art project that I did last fall. So sit back and I hope you enjoy my "Late Night Wish"



Night One

The long day is over
You have one wish
To be under covers
That you’re going to miss

Your roommate is sleeping
But you’re at the desk

You type and you type
Going without rest

You moan and you study
Going nowhere
You push and you pull
Your mind every which way

The moonlight is shrinking
And the sun warms the sky

And you remember your homework
Sitting nearby

You grab it once more
And read it out loud
Hoping you might
Do your best once more

A test is next week
But that’s far away

But don't think about it now
You’ve got to get this
All in your head

Be productive
And write your memoir

You've got to finish studying

To make the final score
And save that late night wish
To help you soar
Behind your eyes
To see no more

On that fateful night you’ve
Been waiting for



Afternoon

It’s just a bit later
On that fateful day
The long night is over
But the day just began

With a few heavy sighs
And the wink of an eye
My mind starts to wander
Of the days gone by

I remember the castles
And stories once told

Of dragons
And wizards
In a fairytale world

It once captivated
My young little brain
But now it’s just a dream
Where I wander there and back again

With my teacher talking
And my friend sitting nearby
Or that fellow up font with the purple necktie
You would think I could keep
My mind from unwinding

But the past
And the stories
That once were told
Seem much better than
The actual real world

So despite, my lifeless state
I’m still captivated
And ready to create

For my mind keeps reeling
In this dreaming state
But I still wish I had gotten
A few more hours
Away in my bed

Night Two

The sun begins to set
On this continuing day
My eyes begin to fall
And my thoughts begin to sway

The lights begin to dim
And the stars blink away
But it’s but twice another day

My hands won’t get to stop
Because the teachers keep assigning
And the day is hard to keep fighting

It’s going to be another long night
Without a flight of imagination
And sleep out of sight

A test is next week
But that’s far away

But don't think about it now
I’ve got far more
Floating in my head

Here is a paper
And a reading to do
O look it’s supposed to pour
If only I wanted it too

It’s the college life
Where I paid to be

I’ve got a full plate
And a long night it would seem

So perhaps I’m crazy
But this ain’t easy
And the distant future’s hard to see

But if you just keep focus
And don’t find this a sham

You can see through
My late night command

And make it to
Your own fairytale land

It's Only a Step, but Stretches a Great Span

40 years ago today we touched the moon. 40 years ago the impossible became possible as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. From that moment on Neil's name went down in history along with his famous phrase: "One small step for man, One giant leap for mankind" but what made this moment possible? Was it not the numerous calculations, work, and everything going correctly. Just the same, we live we work and we strive to achieve a leap for mankind. It is not because we can, but because we want to, we have too. We always seek to know, to learn, to understand, to explore. We all eat, breathe, drink, and are human. We are all human and part of humankind, but more importantly part of this world, and yet we are separate. What makes the human different from the animal? Could it be our connection to God? Are we the only species that believes in the afterlife. What makes us different? or are we truly as different as we think?

We as a country reached the moon, we as a country unite under one flag, we as Christians unite under a loving and just God. We as Christians took a step, and made our commitment to God. We as Christians took one giant leap of faith and gave our lives. We died to this world we call home for the eternal one. We entered into an embrace with the father, just as the world embraced these heroes we remember on this day. Just as these men's loving families wepted with joy and embraced their loved ones when they reached the earth, So Christ and the Father will do when we reach Heaven.

So remember this day. Remember it as a day when man achieved the once impossible. But it is a day in the past, one of great importance that shows how far we have come. But look forward to the future, to the heavenly mansion, to a day of far more importance and celebration.

Refresh

It's been a long time since High school. It feels just like yesterday I was traveling the halls among my friends and life was much different. The world was smaller, everything seemed so far away, and everything we seemed not to matter in the long run. But these days life is different. The world is larger, with so many possibilities and choices to be made, and every choice has a bearing on where you decide to end up. Choices is the truth of life. You can choose anything, but its with what you can live with, what you want, or what can happen. Life is now quickly changing from the comfortable surreal world of the comfortable home we've grown in, to that of a large expanse with roads leading everywhere and a plethora of questions.

"I'm no longer in Kansas"
In two years schools over, the real world begins, and it will more than likely completely disconnect me from most if not all of my high school connections. In two years The surreal world ends and another one begins to be created. We are creatures of habit, we love routine, and more than likely many of you I'll never see again. I challenge all of you to not always stay in routine your entire life, for what is a life with no adventure or without following your dreams. To all of you if I see you again please take the opportunity to say hi, don't forget to introduce yourself. I will miss many of you in the years to come, and I hope many of you I can stay in contact with. But this is a post about where I am in life. I'm on the verge of transformation. I'm on the verge of the real world. I'm on the verge of leaving the surreal. Life moves fast I realize that now, but I've been lucky enough to enjoy it. I've been lucky enough to be able to slow down and enjoy it with friends and I am thankful for the friends I have made. But I'm looking to the future and I know things will change and I know new memories and friends will be made and I can't wait to embrace the future, but I want to take it slowly one step at a time to enjoy all I can.

Connections

The mind is a marvelous thing. It allows the person, if allowed, to imagine, create and connect things from the past and present. One idea from years ago can come running back and be lifted into a new idea in a matter of seconds, only to be lost in half the time.

I have spoken of reaching for goals, and letting the mind wonder, and thinking outside the box. This blog is merely and outlet of thoughts with connections I can scarcely describe or begin to understand. It is an outlet and free flow of consciousness the begins with an unknown ending that causes me to wonder where it may go and end.

With time I think I'm learning much to the secrets of life. What per say can these secrets be? well I feel they are not truly secrets, but really the overlooked and the opposite of what we might think. It seems the common expression today is I don't understand, I don't know, or what if? What if we dug deeper, by digging less. In our information-ally enriched society we long to dig, to read between the lines, or find the hidden understanding. I feel however we miss the point many times or skip past to the ending.

We don't need many words, like solomon a simple saying can be more insightful and challenging than a dictionary or terms. We have learned to react. We have learned to do as much by doing as little as possible. We have learned not to take some things at face value before we peal back the layers.

Many people have asked me what I want to do in the next few years, what job I want to get, or what my goals are. And without a doubt I can say I will go, where I end up; because I am, who I am. I have many possibilities, options, and goals I want to accomplish, but only one truly matters. And that is becoming who I truly am. My actions, my goals, and possibilities will be formed around who I am and value. But you only become who you are by letting yourself believe in your true values and desires.

The true secrets to life are right in front of our faces and we scarcely recognize the existence of such a simple answer or are willing to accept what it entails.

We are what we are; we will be who we want to be; and we will chase what we truly want to chase, if we let ourselves.

For me, life is the rest, the pause, and the enjoyment of the moment not the activities and the day to day chores.

What is it to you?

Living MY Life

Life is distracting. Life for many is all about what is going on around them; who is wearing what, what the next scandal is, or what is the best way to wear my hair. Life lived in such a way leads to never becoming one's self. Without living your life you never have a life, and without having a life how does one expect to feel satisfied?

These past few months I have been caught up in the game of Life. I've lived focusing on school, or the next event, or that one girl that keeps sitting beside me. It has been an exciting adventure and I have learned and accomplished much, but at what cost? I seem to have put many things on hold and have bypassed many things.

I have learned a lot this past year one of which is to look back on the past and learn, and not give in to the same things that you had before. One great example is the bible. It is a text of repeated blunders. From the beginning it is a story or overcoming and learning. As the story progresses it continues to reflect upon itself. It even points out continued faults of God's people repeated generation after generation for thousands of years.

Just like god's people thousands of years ago we continue to fall into these same mistakes just as we ourselves fall into the same things over and over. Whether they are temptations or sins, or just putting things off until another time. We are human, we make mistakes; but our goal is to learn, to adapt, and to put into practice what we have learned.

I have learned a lot this past year, but the most important thing is to live my life; to chase YOUR goals; and to learn from your mistakes. Without taking a chance on yourself and giving yourself a shot, you will never be completely satisfied. You will always wonder and wish, but you will only be able to act for so long; so stop, think, and reach for your goals.

Come Back After the Paint Dries

This semester in school has been a time sucker. I have little time to do anything, but what is assigned, but it has become a great learning experience. I have grown and expanded and come to know who I am and what I understand much more clearly than ever before. much has happened is these past few months. we've elected a new president, for better or worse, it's who we've gained and now after a splitting of the country we must come together under one flag, under one symbol and under one man. and while he holds not the whole country in his hands, but is a symbol of who and what we represented. He is someone that we have chosen to be our leader for these upcoming years.
Our economy has suffered greatly and has fluctuated up and down and has scared many citizen and other countries around the world, yet it is hanging on still. and numerous other incidents around the global and right down to your own backyard or living room.

But the one thing that has become more and more evident in these past few months is that you have to wait for the paint to dry. When you want to put a second coat of paint on a wall or canvas you need to wait until the first is completely dry. This can be the hardest thing for any designer, artist, homeowner, or politician, but it is a necessity. but what I've discovered its more than just waiting, it also gives you the chance to step back, get your mind off of it, and come back with fresh eyes. These fresh eyes help to find mistakes, problem areas, or rework something to make it more pleasing or stable. These periods or breaks can be more productive than the actual painting or planning.

But this concept applies to more than just painting, it applies to politics, natural human growth, school, religion, etc... Taking a min. to step back get away and come back with fresh eyes can help you clean up the plan, the picture, the mistakes and redirect everything in a more clear, planned and elegant direction. so take a second, stop and smell the flowers, read a chapter of your bible that you've been wanting to read, or maybe wait for the layer of paint to dry before laying another layer on. Take a break in your busy schedule an reflect and remember where you came from, how you got to where you are, and where you want to go.