you like to dance?

I just wanted to let people have an idea of what kind of stuff I like writing. Yes, I did write this. No, it's not finished.

I am excited

Nathan, you make it sound like the studio is going to be amazing. If it is as amazing as you make it sound - all for under $100 - then it will be a work of God. I'm just hoping that there is enough room in the basement... 'cause it is definitely the wish of my family and I to have some living room down there. =P However, since the basement is over 1000 sq feet and the studio will only have to be 100 - 150 sq ft, I don't think there will be much of a problem. =) I just have to figure out where to put all the boards and stuff. Haha.

Ah, God is good. Thankfully, there is a lot we can do for a small amount of money. =) Thank you, Lord, for generous friends and Yamaha.

Tax return

I now know what it is going to be spent on. =)

Nathan and I are going to build a little studio for A.M.P. in the basement of my house. Fun stuffs. =)

Our light

Ephesians 5:4 "Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving."

This is one thing that I feel that we as Christians should pay more attention to. I know that the society as a whole has so accepted crude joking, that we are almost numb to it. I, as one, am almost completely numb, except in obvious situations, to foolish conversations.

Crude joking does not honor God. Voice, in the song Laugh Out Loud, says, "Humor has a way of making things acceptable." We should not joke about things that are sinful. There's a lot of crude humor that really is funny, but just because something is funny doesn't mean we should laugh at it. Again, Voice said, "Don't laugh at sin, man, because it put Christ on the Cross..." Do you think that Jesus would laugh at a joke about gays? I don't think so. Sin is serious, not humorous.

Foolish talk is almost as serious a sin as crude joking although most of us participate in it all the time. When we crack jokes or make fun of each other, we are, in reality, telling God that we don't appreciate the precious life that He has given us. I'm not saying that we can't joke at all. I just mean that we should not spend the majority of our conversations trying to entertain each other. Let God and those around you know that you do appreciate the time on the earth that God has given you.

That's about all I have to say on the subject. I have been wanting to make this post for a while, but kept forgetting. I didn't really have a strong conviction in this area until I started writing this note. When you laugh at something, ask yourself, "Is God laughing along with me?"

The reason why I titled this post "Our Light," is because I feel that this is one area in the American Christian life that is dimming our light. We must live against the grain or that one area we are failing in will turn to blackness just like our surroundings.

I hope that this will apply to someone besides myself.

Wesley

Living Sacrifice

For a Christian metal band from the early 90's, Living Sacrifice is a pretty creepy band... for serious.

Totally random, I know.

I love totally random.

I conversely don't love chocolate covered caramel.

We are on fire

Does anyone feel like God has been blessing us all spiritually lately? Like a lot? I do. Pretty much all my friends seem to be really on fire for God right now. God is doing something. Something big. And I don't want this to stop.
Our light will shine out into the darkness as long as the fire is burning. Let us pray that the sparks of our fire will fall on the dead and dying people that surround us.

This is /definitely/ not an original title. Really. And I'm serious.

=P

I can't think of much to post...

Um... I was in Children's ministry this morning... MP314, to be exact. The skit was hilarious.

And I hung with Nathan and Ying and Zach and Stephen and Sammy and Carter after church... and Mr. Dowdy, Nathan, and I wrote a pretty cool Irish song. Haha, yes, an Irish song. I hope everyone can get to hear it sometime.

Here's a funny picture from today...

click ^

So that was pretty much the sum of my day. I hope everyone else had a good one, too!!!

You get a whole post.

This one is for you, Person. =)

So... yesterday, I got invited (along with Emily) by none other than the amazing Steph to go to a Bobcats game. So, of course, having nothing else to do but waste away my life, I decided to go. So... yeah. The pictures shall tell the tale. =)

An amazing sunset.

the team warming up

An absolutely hilarious end-of-quarter show thingie... a bunch of people racing on tiny bikes... priceless.

And he missed this shot...

They were supposed to look creepy... and I was supposed to look scared. It didn't turn out that way. Haha.

So, yeah! I had an amazing time. It was really good to see the Shumates again... it was too bad Mandy wasn't there, though...

Oh, and we won the game... by like 30 points. Which is why I became a fan of the Bobcats on fb, Nathan. =P

You're amazing. =)

---

And besides last night...

I found out recently that the people who I thought I was at odds with, I wasn't actually at odds with. I was, as I had hoped, misunderstanding them.

I can't wait to see [most of you] tomorrow!

So, yeah! God is good! =)

The respected and loved

Last night at around 11:20...

John 13:34-35 (ESV):

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

This, friends, is out guard against quarrels and grudges amongst each other. What message do we send to the World if we fight amongst ourselves just as they do? Not a good one, I'm sure. And what message do we send to the World if we do not forgive wrongs? Again, not a good one. If we are to be a light in the darkness, we mus, must, must be quick to resolve differences, and we must be quick to forgive. By this will all people "know that we are His disciples."
As you have heard many times, God has forgiven us so much more than any sin man has done against us. Even when we sin again and again, He is willing to hear your prayers of repentance. Isn't our god great?
Remember, Jesus commanded us to love as he did. And what did Jesus do? He gave up His life for those who did not want His love, for those who hated Him.
This, also, is a way we can turn away wrath. If we lay down /our lives/ for one another, we are less likely to quarrel. Serving builds respect, and respect a wall against fighting.
Let us be the respected among men and the loved among ourselves.

And now it is 11:40 and I have CPCC tomorrow... maybe I should try to get some sleep...

---

Today:

Well, I found out that I can get away with only 7 hours of sleep!!! I feel great! =D

I think I need to post something humorous because all I ever post is serious... so...

Life had better give you water and sugar, too, or else your lemonade is going to suck.

Haha. Okay, peace, y'all!

Am I understood?

No, I'm not going to post the Relient K song "I am understood?"

It's just that I often say things that I mean as a complement or encouragement, and end up hurting someone's feelings, or embarrassing myself. And unfortunately, the persons who I tend to do this with are good friends. And then I tend to misunderstand what the problem is, and try to fix it the wrong way... Does anyone else have this kind of problem?

I just want everyone to know... I don't try to insult or hurt people. I just don't.

I had a pretty good day other than that. CP went well... we're almost done with introductions, now. =)

I'm still trying to decide whether I want to get a new amp, a MIDI controller, or a Zoom portable microphone...

Peace! Love y'all!

Viva La Bush

He wasn't a terrible president, really. He did a lot of good stuff.

Now let's just pray that Obama won't do to much damage in four years.

I do care that I shall die

This is a song that I wrote the music and lyrics for. This obviously doesn't apply to me, now, because I don't fear God's final wrath. It is more of an evangelical song.

|I do care|

I am a murderer
My hands are drenched in blood
My lips, now, drip with lies
My feet run to disaster

And I do care
That I shall die
That I shall burn
In the lake of fire

I am a prisoner
My hands are chained by sin
My lips, now, cry with pain
My feet tremble with fear

And I do care
That I shall die
That I shall burn
In the lake of fire

I want to escape
To be rid of my sin
But God can't accept me
I'm too far gone

[long instrumental lament]

Thus says God,

I LOVE YOU!

No matter what you've done
I will forgive you
No matter what you've done
I will accept you

I don't care
If I should die
(I can't) be consumed
(Though the) end draws nigh [repeat]

---

I know that it is a rampant idea in today's society that "God can't love me." This is far, far, far from the truth however. I don't remember where this saying comes from, "I may not be perfect, but Jesus thought I was to die for." He loved us so much, that he died for us. Is that not proof enough of His love for us?

I haven't finished recording the song yet, so if you want to hear it, you will have to wait. =)

Peace.

I was a wicked one

This song really illustrates the glory of the gospel.

Empire by As Cities Burn

And I was a middle son,
between two wayward ones.
I was more deserving of my parents love.

I had an angels smile,
hiding a vultures bite.
I had no use for your redeeming blood.

Aren't I glory, glorious?

Glory, glorious.
Aren't we glory, glorious?
Aren't we worthy, worthy of hearts at our feet?

Cause I was a pharisee,
I never saw my need for grace;
Then your love came to me
stood next to mine, and I saw that I was poor.

Show me I was poor.
Show us we are,
show us we are.

Glory, glorious.
We are glory, glorious.
Not from what good we have done
but from being the least. [x2]

Glory, glorious.
Oh, I don't know how I was made.

My heaven tower sways atop their fleeting praise.
God, I don't know how I was made.

Glory, glorious.
Are we glory, glorious?
Are we worthy, worthy of hearts at our feet?
Glory, glorious.
We are glory, glorious
not from what we've done,
but being the least.

I was a wicked one.

---

This song makes me want to cry every time I hear it or read the lyrics, for this is really the mindset of all of us before we are saved.

It's not the best song musically, but the excellent lyrics definitely outweigh the poor music.

I thought of this because of the preach-o-rama, which was tonight, and was excellent.

I still haven't /really/ started class at CP... we haven't even finished introductions in my English class yet. =)

We will survive

I know this might seem silly to some people, but I've struggled over the past year or two with the thought that Christians might become extinct. The way the US is now, that's certainly what it looks like. I know that I shouldn't fear, but the thought keeps coming back to haunt me.

The Bible explicitly states that Christians will survive until Jesus comes back (I can't remember any references right now...). It's just an irrational fear that I have that the gospel is dying in places like our country.

I know what the truth is, but I can't exactly explain it to myself. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Just $5.00 at Amazon today.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Not much going on today... I've got class again tomorrow... did a little bit of my Intro to Computer today... that's about it. =)

I'm a college student

Scary, isn't it?

So I'm now attending college part-time at CPCC. My English 111 class is 10:30-11:20, and then I wait for Anna to get done at 2:30. That's plenty of time to get all my school done plus some extra reading. So, yeah. Fun new stuff there. And then I've got an online Intro to Computers class, which I hear is very easy.

That's about the only update for now. I'll take some pictures of me on campus someday, maybe... then I can prove it to y'all. =P

Thought provoking...

This song by As I Lay Dying is pretty thought provoking. This is "The Sound of Truth." (c)

We have all heard what we wanted to hear
"Truth" that sounds right to our ears

But what wisdom is there within us
To live based on the feeling of our hearts
How many times has instinct let us down
Never to be thought through
Never to be questioned
Say what you really mean
When your ambition calls you
For what use is there in praying
If you will only hear what you want to hear?

We speak of fighting to resist this world
But what about the battle within us?
If we have chosen to live against the grain
Then why are we all facing the same way?
There is no difference between us and them
If we all blindly seek truth from sentiments

---

And I also thought that this song by some random band called "Laudamus" was interesting. It's called Free.

Some might think my hair is too long
Some might fear the beat of this song
So much religion, so many rules
But this is us and we are tools

He calls us to be free
Enjoy that freedom, friends
In time, we all shall see
Where man-made rules end

I might offend you by how I look
But God will not, according to His book
It's by our fruit that we will be judged
To show the world Jesus love

So keep the sheep together
No matter if one's shaved
Cause the wool means nothing
For all Christ came to save

I respect old-fashioned ways
Let's come together in His grace
Lord help us all to understand
How you can use a hard rock band

---

That's how I feel about Metal/Screamo.

And for those interested, I did not actually do the cow for six hours on Thursday... I was scheduled to do so, but I did other stuff instead.

Savior

Savior by Disciple

Laughter, that's so part of her
Is something that we haven't heard
In such a long long time
Replaced with crying long sleepless nights
She needs your power Lord
Pour it all over
In her darkest hour Lord
Pour it all over

'Cause I know You love her more than I could love her
You've already given more than I could offer
So I put my hope in You.
'cause I know You can save her
Jesus, Savior

The problem hidden inside
Is screaming something's not right
And I would lay down my world
To reach out and fix what's broken in her

Deep within every stripe is the hope that I find within You

---

I really love this song. I just felt like posting it...

I get to do 6 hours of cow-duty today. Pray I don't faint. =P

Friends...

I get rather distressed when I don't see my friends for a whole week... it wears me out. At least I'm gonna see everyone on Saturday!

Happy birthday, Nathan!

Just 'cause I feel like it, I'm going to do this Brit' style.

For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow,
For he's a jolly good fellow!!!!! And so said all of us
And so said all of us, and so said all of us,
For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow,
For he's a jolly good fellow!!!!! And so said all of us!

You deserve it, Nathan. =) Gosh, I have learned so much from you, and most all of it good. I enjoy discussing theology and music and technology and life in general with you. You've had so much experience in life already, I learn a lot just from listening to your stories.

From the late nights when I'm acting high to the groggy Sunday mornings, it seems like we're rarely apart.

Now for photos...

This was when you were sick... and tired from lack of Diet Coke... at Drama Camp.

You were no longer sick... just pretending to look so... haha.

Late-night theological discussions...

One reason why I love Highland Creek.

Your signature photo!!! =P

I'm glad to call you my friend, Nathan. Peace!

Today is January 6th

And it is also Marissa's birthday. Happy birthday!!!

Tomorrow is Nathan's birthday. I shall dedicate a whole post, to be sure.

Tomorrow is also CPCC registration day. I just hope that my life doesn't become so full that I don't have any free time.

Today, at work, I worked for my longest weekday shift... 6 hours. *le gaspeth!* Haha, I know, it's kinda sad, actually, that that's my longest shift. I'm exhausted, though, mostly because I helped unload a several-hour-late truck delivery...

So that's about the full explanation of my day. Can't wait to see everyone soon!

Nothing to post #3

I'm alive. I have a psychedelic rock song stuck in my head... and it's not very well-written (a.k.a. cheesy). I'm trying to write music, but it all sounds like what I've already written, and what I've already heard. I want a piano or keyboard... and I think I will buy one before too long. I wish I could write music like Coldplay... it's so simple, but so good!

Here's a random thought... I don't understand how people can go through life without God. It just doesn't make any sense. Even when I go through several hours without thinking about God, I feel terrible. There is no purpose in life... when you don't have God. Everything is meaningless. I want, in my music, to, quoting Disciple, give purpose to melody. I want to sing a new song to the Lord.

Is it just me, or was today rather depressing. I just don't like cloudy days, I guess...

I think that we have enough material to start recording for Awake. We (Nathan, Eric, JP, me, whoever else...) should actually record something, just to get people pumped about Awake. I've written five or six songs, now, that are pretty good, so we can get going soon.

That's all for January 5, 2009. =)

Oh, and I get to register at CPCC on Wednesday... =D

Light

What a wretch am I?
I have no beauty... I am nothing
It was nothing in me...
He loved me so...
So, so much,
That He came to die, to die
So I could live
Nothing have I to give
but my life, all of it
That His light may shine
in one more heart

Happy New Year!

OMGOSH! I can't believe it's 2009 already... Well, I shall, in honor of the new year, post some new years resolutions, post about friends, and all that stuff that we all do once a year... =P So, here it goes.

Resolutions (there's a lot of them):

1. To love God more. I want to love Him, love His love, love His awesomeness, love everything about Him... more.

2. To pray more. I want to pray every night... for as long as I can stay awake.

3. To be pure in everything.

4. To do all my work with gladness.

5. To look people in the eye. I'd say this is the biggest downside of homeschooling... I got hardly any practice when I was little of looking people in the eye. When I'm not comfortable, I don't look people in the eye, and I know that this makes the people that I'm talking to not be comfortable. Everyone probably knows what I'm talking about.

6. To get really good at bass. I think that I'm gonna start practicing drums on the side... it's not where I'm gifted, really.

7. To get closer to my friends... I need to start having more fruitful conversation... to ask what's going on.

And that's it for my resolutions! Y'all can help me out with those... and I do know that I can't possibly keep all of them, but that's what I aspire to.

Friends:

Nathan: I thank God for you, Nathan. Your trials and how you get through them have been examples and lessons for me. I love how you try to keep God at the center of your life. For you: love God, no matter what... He is all that really matters.

Nathaniel: Thanks for being a moderator and middle man. Middle man in a good way, of course... You really do keep me from doing foolish stuff. =P I love how God is working in your life... For you: love people for who they are.

Jordan: I've known you since you were tiny... haha. It's been great to see how God has been working in your life. I remember your many struggles from 11-16... although it's been a rough climb, you're always headed upward. For you: keep your mind on things above.

Brandon: You're one of my oldest friends (age-wise). Besides being older than me age-wise, you're older wise-wise. The wisdom of God is evident in your life. You're a great mentor and "older brother." For you: be an example of godliness for all.

Bethany: I wish I knew you better. Even though I don't know you that well, I can truly see your love for God and people in everything you do. For you: seek first the kingdom of God.

Emily E.: I wish I knew you better, too. You constantly challenge me to read and study my Bible more. I love how you think of everything in terms of godliness... you are becoming more like Jesus. For you: run the race hard to hear His voice at the end.

G: Bass buddy!!! You are such a loveable guy. =P I don't know you as well as I want to... I think your best talent is your friendliness. You make time to talk to everyone, and you have a love for people. Awesome. For you: no love is greater than His.

Josiah: Your laugh is contagious. You are so fun to be around. I love your gregariousness. Yes, that's right... gregariousness. I just wish I knew you better... for you: worship God in all that you do.

Eric: You are such a positive influence in my life. You insist on godliness. That in itself is amazing for a guy at your age. God has given you many talents. Don't let them go to waste! For you: see the gifts that your friends are.

Melly: You are so optimistic. Your smile and the way you talk shine with God's light. It's great that you find time to talk to everyone. For you: let your life shine with the light of God's love... forever.

Jesus: My best friend. God, you are amazing. You're love is indescribable. The wonder of your works is too great for me to imagine. Words cannot express how much I love you, my God. I can't even start to understand the depths of your love, but I am brought to tears. How awesome are your works. How awesome is your might. How awesome is your love. My God, your love is too great to imagine. For you: let your kingdom come.

---

So, I tried to pray for every single one of my friends last night. It was a rich time. I thank God for every single one of you. I prayed in particular for one friend who I don't know very well, but one who I love so much. They are having a very rough time right now, and I don't think that they are feeling God's love as they should. They certainly aren't feeling their friends' love. Oh, God show them your love!

This was a very, very, very long post... congratulations on reading the whole thing. I love all of you!

Brown's New Year's Eve Party

There were a lot of people there.... it was pretty amazing.



This picture turned out hilarious.



Worship was pretty good...



Thank you, BJ... *bows* Nathan, you need to learn how to get your whole head into a picture... =P



Cheers! Oh, and that is non-alcoholic, btw... haha.



Sterling is amazing.



And Stephen is amazing.



And Hunter and Mark and Stu are amazing.



Rock band drums...







Look at Sammy's face. Haha. He was playing pretty hard.