this post is in response to several of the previous assertions found in this blog. my hope is to expand, clarify and bring new insights to topics that have already been expressed.
1. live your life (in response to "life-what is this phenomenon?" posted 2/6/09)
I have decided that life is indeed made up of three main aspects.
a) how we react to the multitude of various stimuli presented daily
b) the friendships we create and how we maintain them
c) how we treat others
Obviously, there are many variations and details within these three criteria but I believe that these are the main points.
2. birthday revelations (in response to "what's my age again?" posted 2/5/08)
I still feel as if I am stuck in the middle. My 21st birthday is in 8 days and though I will soon be past the final legal age-barrier, I don't feel any older. For instance, I am currently watching the Disney channel (yes that's right). Is there any point in life where you actually feel your age? Or is life spent in this constant state of flux between crib and grave? This topic is still under construction.
3. a beatles-esque revolution (in response to "revival" posted 1/13/08)
I still hold to my original thoughts on this topic. However, I do have some ideas to add. We are so jaded about revival. We have sat through too many services where speakers have pleaded, shouted and cried just to return to the same church, same schedule, same life. It is not the speaker's or worship leader's job to revive us. It is not the topics or emotionally-charged music that bring us back to life. In order to experience revival we must submit our hearts to God and be open to His restoration. I have enjoyed the revival services this week because the music has been good, the speakers real and because of the emphasis on REVOLUTION. The following was taken from the Revival posters that have been put up around our campus.
"Is brokenness cliché? Is religion redundant?
Why do we even need a revival?
Perhaps these are the questions
you find yourself wondering.
Could our own hardened hearts
be keeping us from living the life God intended?
Perhaps we don't need a revival at all...
We need a revolution."
And just in case you missed it: the opening rendition of the Beatles' "Revolution" was in reference to the fact that this week is Spring REVOLUTION not Spring Revival.
and now for a new topic...music soothes my soul, cheers my heart and brightens my day. i absolutely love it and (though this is far from original) i would die without it. ok, so perhaps this topic isn't new. but i have recently become addicted to music and wanted to share it with the world. also i have discovered that i love arranging music. orchestration and choral arranging is one of the most exciting classes i have had on this campus. it's not so much the class that i love, but the fact that i really enjoy arranging music. it's a creative way to express music without all the stress of part-writing. basically it is perfect. and perfection is refreshing in such a broken world.