Challenge Accepted

I just got done with my first Linguistics paper and now it's time to blog! I have been meaning to for the last couple of nights but between running more and homework it has just not gotten done. Tonight was my first Christian Challenge experience at K-State and I can't tell you how moving it was. Between the music and the message it was just the thing I needed at this moment. It's funny how that always seems to happen, right? It was a much larger crowd than I had envisioned it would be which is a great thing in itself. This had almost a concert feel to it with everyone singing along to the music, swaying to and fro. I got a chill at one point just listening to everyone and knowing that, while I may not know more than six people there, I know exactly what most of them where feeling at that moment. There's just something special about being in a giant room and having a night of worship. Some days I question my spirituality and wonder about religion but I don't think that is a bad thing. But nights like tonight show me the path that I want to follow.

Brock and I approached Nate, one of the musical leaders, about playing with the group every now and then and it was a wonderful conversation. I am joining a LIFE group this semester and I can't be more excited. At first I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to join one for a couple of reasons. I am already worried about not having enough time this semester for school because of the grades I need to get. But I think that it will force me to spend my time more wisely and keep me away from frivolous things, unimportant things. Also it will hopefully lead to a chance to play at Challenge and that would be such an amazing experience. I've played at churches here in town and small settings for worship but I don't think any of those would compare to this. I really just feel like I have such a passion for music and I want to share it with others and help them experience the feeling that music gives me. I know Brock feels the same way and I hope he gets a chance, even more so that myself.

Another reason I was skeptical of joining a LIFE group was because I'm not the best at sharing my beliefs. I feel guilty being in the presence of true believers sometimes because I'm new to the party, so to speak. I'm still learning about what I believe and learning about Christ and I feel embarrassed. I know it's not something I should feel but I do. I haven't always lived a good life and I have always been afraid of not being accepted because of it (even though that is totally against the idea of being a Christian, it's just a hard thought to buck). I am excited to get the opportunity to share and have people share their testimonials with me.

The other day my teacher asked our class to discuss with a partner what we would be doing in ten years. One of my first thoughts was that I would love to be playing music at whatever church I will be attending at that point in my life. Of course sometimes saying things like that can make people uncomfortable, especially in such a small class. However, after listening to so many people share where they wanted to be, many of my classmates talked openly about their religion and wanting to help people. Again, I felt embarrassed that I would hide one of my true passions. I don't want to be someone who makes others uncomfortable because of my beliefs but I also shouldn't be ashamed to admit it either. I saw a couple of classmates at Challenge tonight so hopefully one day I can tell everyone how proud I am to be playing music for them and that I hope they enjoy hearing my playing.

I am so blessed to have good people in my life. I love you all.

Now Playing: Cannons by Phil Wickham

Monday Morning

Monday Morning by A Day At The Fair

Long before my stomping grounds got trampled on,
I sat and felt the greatest song,
That every painter, every poet, couldn't create,
And the words they open doors,
From what my parents had wished for,
When they had a child and raised a kid that came to this,

And how good does life feel in times like this?
And how good is my shot before I close my eyes and miss?
These feelings exist,

Let it rain on Monday morning,
Right before the world's awake,
I will lie there and just think about the weather,
Let my blood beat from my chest,
And put my veins up to it's test,
I will breathe in and know what it feels to feel alive,
I'm alive

The Vaccine

Brock and I were driving home from Wichita tonight after he bought his new guitar and it was a beautiful evening out. Just perfect. We played our upcoming setlist on the radio a couple times through and just sang. We put on other random stuff and eventually came to a song that I have been listening to a lot lately called "Fin Del Mundo" by Paper Mache. It is a song that I put on when I'm thinking about life. Brock wanted to hear a couple of their other songs and luckily he had them on his iPod because I had never heard them. The Vaccine was the first song he played for me because he knows about my love of acoustic music. The vocals are very rough and it doesn't flow like a smooth stream, more like rapids in the Rocky's but the message behind the song was very moving. I'll only give you a couple exerts from the song but check it out. It is a great song.

Many a kid might walk through your bar

Looking for God amongst the drunks and the whores

Give them the vaccine, girl

Help them believe, girl

And she said Love's the vaccine

Gives you a cold to kill your disease

And the hurt you feel is so temporary

Compared to Love, Love, Love

So just Love.

Bike Ride

I just got done with a bike ride. It was a relatively cool 89 degrees out and I had the afternoon off so I figured I would change things up and not go for a walk/run tonight. I took it pretty easy and went six and a half miles and it felt great. I haven't gotten out on my bike in a couple of months because of the heat and because we have been working hard outside and I missed it.

On another note, I would like to add two more items to my "Things That Make Me Happy" list. I would like to add American Eagle socks and American Eagle underwear. Both of these things are fantastic items to wear. I'm sure most of you would rather not hear about my underwear but seriously, they are so damn comfortable to wear. Spandex and cotton combo that you can't beat. Plus I just love all of the colors that there are. The same thing with the socks. I found a couple sets of them on clearance the other day and since I needed new socks and they were pretty cheap I bought them. Glad I did! They are very soft. And again, ver cool colors! If you find some on clearance, gather them up!