AD 336 - The earliest historical mention of Christmas being celebrated in Rome on this day is found in a book written by Furius Dionysius Philocalus in AD 354
800 - The Holy Roman Empire begins as Charlemagne is proclaimed emperor by Pope Leo III
1223 - St. Francis of Assisi creates what may be the first "Christmas crib" (the forerunner of the nativity scene) in the town of Greccio, Italy, to allow the community to better picture the miracle of Christ's birth in Bethlehem
1651 - The General Court of Boston, Massachusetts, makes it a crime to observe Christmas and levies a five-shilling fine on anyone caught doing so
1799 - French empreror Napoleon Bonaparte's new constitution goes into effect, giving him powers to create laws, nominate officials, control finances, and conduct foreign affairs.
1830 - French composer Louis-Hector Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique premieres in Paris
1896 - American composer John Philip Sousa completes "Stars & Stripes Forever"
1923 - The US White House has its first Christmas tree lit exclusively by electric lights
Christmas Day, 1776
During the American Revolution, Patriot General George Washington crosses the Delaware River with 5,400 troops, hoping to surprise a Hessian force celebrating Christmas at their winter quarters in Trenton, New Jersey. The unconventional attack came after several months of substantial defeats for Washington's army that had resulted in the loss of New York City and other strategic points in the region.
At about 11 p.m. on Christmas, Washington's army commenced its crossing of the half-frozen river at three locations. The 2,400 soldiers led by Washington successfully braved the icy and freezing river and reached the New Jersey side of the Delaware just before dawn. The other two divisions, made up of some 3,000 men and crucial artillery, failed to reach the meeting point at the appointed time.
At approximately 8 a.m. on the morning of December 26, Washington's remaining force, separated into two columns, reached the outskirts of Trenton and descended on the unsuspecting Hessians. Trenton's 1,400 Hessian defenders were groggy from the previous evening's festivities and underestimated the Patriot threat after months of decisive British victories throughout New York. Washington's men quickly overwhelmed the Germans' defenses, and by 9:30 a.m. the town was surrounded. Although several hundred Hessians escaped, nearly 1,000 were captured at the cost of only four American lives. However, because most of Washington's army had failed to cross the Delaware, he was without adequate artillery or men and was forced to withdraw from the town.
The victory was not particularly significant from a strategic point of view, but news of Washington's initiative raised the spirits of the American colonists, who previously feared that the Continental Army was incapable of victory.
Christmas Day, 1914
Just after midnight on Christmas morning, the majority of German troops engaged in World War I cease firing their guns and artillery and commence to sing Christmas carols. It started with the song "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" (Silent Night, Holy Night). At certain points along the eastern and western fronts, the soldiers of Russia, France, and Britain even heard brass bands joining the Germans in their joyous singing.
At the first light of dawn, many of the German soldiers emerged from their trenches and approached the Allied lines across no-man's-land, calling out "Merry Christmas" in their enemies' native tongues. At first, the Allied soldiers feared it was a trick, but seeing the Germans unarmed they climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with the enemy soldiers. The men exchanged presents of cigarettes and plum puddings and sang carols and songs. There was even a documented case of soldiers from opposing sides playing a good-natured game of soccer.
The so-called Christmas Truce of 1914 came only five months after the outbreak of war in Europe and was one of the last examples of the outdated notion of chivalry between enemies in warfare.
Isaiah 9: 2-7
2 The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Micah 5:2
2 “ But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Which means, God with us.
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Getting Lost in the Race
Okay, I'll admit it.
I have difficulty with directions.
Mind you, as a female, I'm inherently better than a guy at directions. Mainly because I'm willing to ask for them, and when I receive them, I do try to follow them to the best of my ability. The level of ability is something else to be questioned entirely.
The other night I was driving Hannah, Autumn and myself back to campus after a nice little Sunday road trip. I had driven it before, and I had directions. Clarification: I had the "to" directions. I hadn't written out the "from" directions. But come on - all you have to do is reverse them, right? How hard can it possibly be?
Rather difficult, in fact.
I ended up having to turn around several times, getting more upset with myself each time. Finally, I gave up. I turned around one more time to get back to the intersections of a couple of routes. I pulled over and gave my dad a call. We both took out maps, and he pointed out to me how to get back. I double checked on my map to make sure I knew where to go, and discovered it was incredibly easy. I had thought I was off in some unknown part of the state and I thought it was going to take a complicated route to get back. Nope! Just hope on 63 North up to 19, then take 19 South all the way back. Wow. Even though I might have stumbled across that eventually, he found it so quickly. Probably because he had done construction work for so long, and knows half the atlas like the back of his hand. I knew that if I gave him a call, he'd find a solution and tell it to me.
When I got back to campus I gave my parents a call to let them know how I was doing. Then I was talking to my mom about some of the struggles I've been facing. My mind keeps coming under attack, the clouds of anger and self-doubt keep taking over, and I feel like so often I come to the end of the day bruised and bloodied. And my mom, in all her great wisdom said:
"Well maybe it's time you pull over and ask your Dad for some directions."
You know, when mothers really want to bring it, they bring it. I wouldn't say it was exactly an "ouch" statement, but all the same, it was so simplistic and obvious, it was rather humbling.
I often wonder if we get caught up in the complexity of the Christian life, something that while it is complex, doesn't need to be. Too often we set up for ourselves quasi-idols, those great "heroes of faith" that we are supposed to follow. Abraham, Moses, Joseph, the Disciples, Paul and of course, Jesus himself. We think that our life needs to be like theirs, that we need to follow in their steps and run the race just as they did. And we do. But they didn't start out are heroes. They started out as ordinary people - many of them outcasts from society. When God called, they answered. They took each step as it came. Just look at the disciples - they couldn't even figure out Jesus' death until AFTER He rose from the grave. But listen to what it says in Hebrews:
"These were all commended for their faith, yet non of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:39-40)
Wow. That's pretty powerful. The author has just gone through a rather extensive list of the "heroes of faith" (a side note: I highly doubt ANY of them would like to be categorized as such, but that's just my inference), then points out that they aren't made perfect without us. I don't fully understand what that means, and I won't pretend to say this is the "correct" way to interpret this scripture, but in a way, it makes me feel pretty cool. We're not at a place below these people in the Body. They can't make it up themselves - only together in Christ are we "made perfect".
What does this mean?
We can't give up. We're surrounded by that "great cloud of witnesses". They're not there to judge us, but to encourage us along the way. God did not give us their stories to say "Hah! Look at how amazing the people were that I used in the past. Betcha you can't live up to that!". NO! He says to us "Look at the people I used. All they had was faith. You also have faith. You can make it through this race".
The suffering is temporary. The blood will eventually clot. There will come a day when we will be free from all of this. It's so hard to see it now. There are times when all I can see are the times when I've failed Him. But He's always there, ready to help me get back on the right track. But though He is ever-ready, I have to be willing to turn to Him. So often we are continuously hurt and continuously fall simply because we won't turn back to Him.
"We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive." - C.S. Lewis
"I take hope in Jesus' scars....Scars never go completely away, but neither do they hurt any longer" - Philip Yancey
"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies whose who have faith in Jesus" Romans 3:21-26
I have difficulty with directions.
Mind you, as a female, I'm inherently better than a guy at directions. Mainly because I'm willing to ask for them, and when I receive them, I do try to follow them to the best of my ability. The level of ability is something else to be questioned entirely.
The other night I was driving Hannah, Autumn and myself back to campus after a nice little Sunday road trip. I had driven it before, and I had directions. Clarification: I had the "to" directions. I hadn't written out the "from" directions. But come on - all you have to do is reverse them, right? How hard can it possibly be?
Rather difficult, in fact.
I ended up having to turn around several times, getting more upset with myself each time. Finally, I gave up. I turned around one more time to get back to the intersections of a couple of routes. I pulled over and gave my dad a call. We both took out maps, and he pointed out to me how to get back. I double checked on my map to make sure I knew where to go, and discovered it was incredibly easy. I had thought I was off in some unknown part of the state and I thought it was going to take a complicated route to get back. Nope! Just hope on 63 North up to 19, then take 19 South all the way back. Wow. Even though I might have stumbled across that eventually, he found it so quickly. Probably because he had done construction work for so long, and knows half the atlas like the back of his hand. I knew that if I gave him a call, he'd find a solution and tell it to me.
When I got back to campus I gave my parents a call to let them know how I was doing. Then I was talking to my mom about some of the struggles I've been facing. My mind keeps coming under attack, the clouds of anger and self-doubt keep taking over, and I feel like so often I come to the end of the day bruised and bloodied. And my mom, in all her great wisdom said:
"Well maybe it's time you pull over and ask your Dad for some directions."
You know, when mothers really want to bring it, they bring it. I wouldn't say it was exactly an "ouch" statement, but all the same, it was so simplistic and obvious, it was rather humbling.
I often wonder if we get caught up in the complexity of the Christian life, something that while it is complex, doesn't need to be. Too often we set up for ourselves quasi-idols, those great "heroes of faith" that we are supposed to follow. Abraham, Moses, Joseph, the Disciples, Paul and of course, Jesus himself. We think that our life needs to be like theirs, that we need to follow in their steps and run the race just as they did. And we do. But they didn't start out are heroes. They started out as ordinary people - many of them outcasts from society. When God called, they answered. They took each step as it came. Just look at the disciples - they couldn't even figure out Jesus' death until AFTER He rose from the grave. But listen to what it says in Hebrews:
"These were all commended for their faith, yet non of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:39-40)
Wow. That's pretty powerful. The author has just gone through a rather extensive list of the "heroes of faith" (a side note: I highly doubt ANY of them would like to be categorized as such, but that's just my inference), then points out that they aren't made perfect without us. I don't fully understand what that means, and I won't pretend to say this is the "correct" way to interpret this scripture, but in a way, it makes me feel pretty cool. We're not at a place below these people in the Body. They can't make it up themselves - only together in Christ are we "made perfect".
What does this mean?
We can't give up. We're surrounded by that "great cloud of witnesses". They're not there to judge us, but to encourage us along the way. God did not give us their stories to say "Hah! Look at how amazing the people were that I used in the past. Betcha you can't live up to that!". NO! He says to us "Look at the people I used. All they had was faith. You also have faith. You can make it through this race".
The suffering is temporary. The blood will eventually clot. There will come a day when we will be free from all of this. It's so hard to see it now. There are times when all I can see are the times when I've failed Him. But He's always there, ready to help me get back on the right track. But though He is ever-ready, I have to be willing to turn to Him. So often we are continuously hurt and continuously fall simply because we won't turn back to Him.
"We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive." - C.S. Lewis
"I take hope in Jesus' scars....Scars never go completely away, but neither do they hurt any longer" - Philip Yancey
"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies whose who have faith in Jesus" Romans 3:21-26
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Variety of Thoughts And Feelings: God, Friends, Music, Fun
I can't really collect my thoughts to write an entry, but these little bits summarize my life
"Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers in heavenly places. But you wouldn't know that from the way we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ"
“If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we begin with doubts, and are patient in them, we shall end in certainties.” -Francis Bacon
“Their manners, speech, dress, friendships, -- the freshness and candor of their physiognomy -- the picturesque looseness of their carriage -- their deathless attachment to freedom -- their aversion to anything indecorous or soft or mean -- the practical acknowledgment of the citizens of one state by the citizens of all other states -- the fierceness of their roused resentment -- their curiosity and welcome of novelty -- their self-esteem and wonderful sympathy -- their susceptibility to a slight -- the air they have of persons who never knew how it felt to stand in the presence of superiors -- the fluency of their speech -- their delight in music, a sure symptom of manly tenderness and native elegance of soul -- their good temper and open-handedness -- the terrible significance of their elections, the President's taking off his hat to them, not they to him -- these too are unrhymed poetry. It awaits the gigantic and generous treatment worthy of it.” -Walt Whitman
“Those of us we have been true readers all our life fully realize the enormous extension of our being which we owe to authors” - C.S. Lewis
NYC Weather Report - Five for Fighting
Got to get away from here...
Got to get away from all these thinkers... drinking up my thoughts again
Got to get away from here...
Got to get away from all these choosers, losers... all my best of friends
Sit back New York City
You're not cute but you're oh so pretty
When the rain comes you fall up again...
SUNNY... You are a part of me
SUNNY... You are the heart of me
Got to get away from here...
No Rain - Blind Melon
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
I like watchin the puddles gather rain
And all I can do is just pour some tea for two
And speak my point of view but its not sane, its not sane
I just want someone to say to me
I'll always be there when you wake
Ya know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today
So stay with me and I'll have it made
And I don't understand why I sleep all day
And I start to complain that theres no rain
And all I can do is read a book to stay awake
It rips my life away but its a great escape...escape...escape
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
You don't like my point of view
Ya think that I'm insane
Its not sane... its not sane
I just want someone to say to me
I'll always be there when you wake
Ya know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today
So stay with me and I'll have it made
“We may live without poetry, music and art; We may live without conscience and live without heart; We may live without friends; we may live without books; But civilized man can not live without cooks”
"I take hope in Jesus' scars....Scars never go completely away, but neither do they hurt any longer" - Philip Yancey
"Reality is like fine wine. It will not appeal to children"
"Are modern forms of Christian spirituality producing better Christians than days long ago, when people didn't use formulas, and understood, intrinsically, that God is a Being with a personality and a will of His own? Martin Luther didn't believe in formulas, and neither did John Calvin. Were they missing something, or are we?" - Donald Miller
"Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and powers in heavenly places. But you wouldn't know that from the way we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ"
“And Something's odd - within -That person that I was - And this One - do not feel the same - Could it be Madness - this?"” -Emily Dickinson
“If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; but if we begin with doubts, and are patient in them, we shall end in certainties.” -Francis Bacon
“Their manners, speech, dress, friendships, -- the freshness and candor of their physiognomy -- the picturesque looseness of their carriage -- their deathless attachment to freedom -- their aversion to anything indecorous or soft or mean -- the practical acknowledgment of the citizens of one state by the citizens of all other states -- the fierceness of their roused resentment -- their curiosity and welcome of novelty -- their self-esteem and wonderful sympathy -- their susceptibility to a slight -- the air they have of persons who never knew how it felt to stand in the presence of superiors -- the fluency of their speech -- their delight in music, a sure symptom of manly tenderness and native elegance of soul -- their good temper and open-handedness -- the terrible significance of their elections, the President's taking off his hat to them, not they to him -- these too are unrhymed poetry. It awaits the gigantic and generous treatment worthy of it.” -Walt Whitman
“Those of us we have been true readers all our life fully realize the enormous extension of our being which we owe to authors” - C.S. Lewis
NYC Weather Report - Five for Fighting
Got to get away from here...
Got to get away from all these thinkers... drinking up my thoughts again
Got to get away from here...
Got to get away from all these choosers, losers... all my best of friends
Sit back New York City
You're not cute but you're oh so pretty
When the rain comes you fall up again...
SUNNY... You are a part of me
SUNNY... You are the heart of me
Got to get away from here...
Got to get away from all these people who need people... You know it really makes me sick
Got to get away from here...
Got to get away from expectations, recreations, just for the sake of it
Sit back New York City
You're not cute but you're oh so pretty
When the rain comes you fall up again...
SUNNY... You are a part of me
SUNNY... You are the heart of me
Sit back New York City You're not cute but you're oh so pretty
When the rain falls you come up again
Sit back New York City friend...
Got to get away from here...
Got to get away from what I'm thinking...I'm thinking...it's too much for anyone...
Got to get away from here... Got get away from what you're drinking... you're drinking...so I'll take another one...
Got to get away from here...
Got to get away from expectations, recreations, just for the sake of it
Sit back New York City
You're not cute but you're oh so pretty
When the rain comes you fall up again...
SUNNY... You are a part of me
SUNNY... You are the heart of me
Sit back New York City You're not cute but you're oh so pretty
When the rain falls you come up again
Sit back New York City friend...
Got to get away from here...
Got to get away from what I'm thinking...I'm thinking...it's too much for anyone...
Got to get away from here... Got get away from what you're drinking... you're drinking...so I'll take another one...
No Rain - Blind Melon
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
I like watchin the puddles gather rain
And all I can do is just pour some tea for two
And speak my point of view but its not sane, its not sane
I just want someone to say to me
I'll always be there when you wake
Ya know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today
So stay with me and I'll have it made
And I don't understand why I sleep all day
And I start to complain that theres no rain
And all I can do is read a book to stay awake
It rips my life away but its a great escape...escape...escape
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
You don't like my point of view
Ya think that I'm insane
Its not sane... its not sane
I just want someone to say to me
I'll always be there when you wake
Ya know I'd like to keep my cheeks dry today
So stay with me and I'll have it made
“We may live without poetry, music and art; We may live without conscience and live without heart; We may live without friends; we may live without books; But civilized man can not live without cooks”
"I take hope in Jesus' scars....Scars never go completely away, but neither do they hurt any longer" - Philip Yancey
"Reality is like fine wine. It will not appeal to children"
"Are modern forms of Christian spirituality producing better Christians than days long ago, when people didn't use formulas, and understood, intrinsically, that God is a Being with a personality and a will of His own? Martin Luther didn't believe in formulas, and neither did John Calvin. Were they missing something, or are we?" - Donald Miller
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Psalms and Thanksgiving Thoughts
Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures
forever;
his faithfulness continues through all
generations.
Psalm 92:1-8
It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
to proclaim your love in t he morning
and your faithfulness at night,
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp
For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord;
I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
How great are your works, O Lord,
how profound your thoughts!
The senseless man does not know,
fools do not understand,
that though the wicked spring up like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be forever destroyed.
But you, O Lord, are exalted forever.
For What I'm Thankful:
(This is NOT a complete listing...)
I’m thankful for my mom’s amazing cooking
But I’m also thankful for the food that I’m given at college
I’m thankful for my own bed and room – both at home and school
I’m thankful for the warmth of my house – and my dorm room
I’m thankful for the peace and quiet at my own house
I’m thankful for the wonderful family of girls on my floor (and my incredible RA!)
I’m thankful for the love that my mom and dad give me
For the 9 months my mom spent carrying me
For the 18 years they spent raising me
For the 4 years of stress they endured as marching band parents
For the multiple years before that they were band parents and PTA parents
For daring to teach me to drive
For taking me out blueberry picking, hiking, camping in the rain, and riding four-wheelers
For letting me have a dog
For forcing me to do something whenever I didn’t want to do it
For making me try a tablespoon of everything
For being understanding that despite my intelligence and what my teachers say, I’ll always be slow to learn life lessons
For driving me to lessons, every week, taking up 3-4 hours of their time
For supporting my musical endeavors, even when they didn’t understand them
For always letting me know that no matter where I went or what I achieved, they would still love me
I’m thankful for the teaching and support I receive from the family of North Baptist
I’m thankful for the spontaneity that comes when Mr. Austin doesn’t know whether he wants the congregation to sit or stand during the service
I’m thankful for the wealth of literature that has been written and that I have the ability to partake of it
I’m thankful for the immense quantity of music that has been composed and that I have the opportunity to enjoy it
I’m thankful for the opportunities to enjoy the diversion that we have in this country
I’m thankful for all the teachers I’ve had in the past who have taught me more than textbooks alone could teach
I’m thankful for days of work and time of rest
I'm thankful for the 3 years I spent doing musical pits
I’m thankful for caffeine that helps when sleep is not accessible
I’m thankful for chocolate, which needs no explanation
I’m thankful for the amazing friends who have helped me through the hard times
Who have laughed at my jokes – good and bad
Who have planned out a variety of pranks when I was bored and needed a rush
Who know my faults but choose to be associated with me anyway
Who don’t leave me, even when I’m a grouch
Who are willing to confront me when I need it
Who take time to keep me humble
Who call me up, even when we’re miles apart
Who smile and beam when they see me
Who challenge the common standards and push the lines of reality in hope of a better world
Who dare to survive my driving
Who "argue" with me, merely for the sake of arguing
Who stay up late with me cramming for tests
Who stay up late with me, laughing away the pain and stress
Who come to me, asking nothing of me
I’m thankful for my past – the good parts and the bad—for it has made me who I am
I’m thankful for the community of believers at Houghton
I’m thankful for the wealth of knowledge I’ve obtained through the years of schooling
I'm thankful for the wonderful years I spent in field band
I’m thankful for everything I’ve learned around the lunch table
I’m thankful for the musical ability I’ve been given by God
I’m thankful for baking talent that my Grandma passed down to me
I’m thankful for the ability to care for the needs of others
I’m thankful for the gift of singleness
I’m thankful for my God
Who is sovereign above all
Who is the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End
Who is Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresence
Who is the Creator of the universe
Who is the Judge of all
Who sent His Son, to bridge the gap that we created
Who bore my sins and inequities
Who took my place on the cross
Who was raised on the third day to take away the sting of death
Who knows me, yet loves me, when I don't even understand what that means
Who is my perfect heavenly Father
Who knows every step I take, even before I take
Who has a good and perfect plan for me
Who picks me up each time I fall
Who has a sense of humor and extreme amount of patience to put up with me
Who keeps revealing Himself to me at times and places I least expect
Who keeps chasing me, even when I want to run away
Who will never leave me nor forsake me
Who is my strength when I have none
Who is the great mystery – the Most Sovereign, choosing the lowest to be His children
Martin Rinkart was called to be the pastor of the Lutheran church in his hometown of Eilenberg, Germany. He arrived there just as the terrible bloodshed of the Thirty Years War was beginning. The city of Eilenberg was a walled city and it became the refuge for political and military fugitives. This, however, caused serious overcrowding, and deadly pestilence and famine swept through the city. Armies overran it three times, leaving death and destruction in their wake. The population of Germany went from 16 million to 6 million during this time.
The Rinkart home was a refuge for the victims, even though he was often hard-pressed to provide for his own family. In the year 1637 the plague was particularly severe. At its peak, Rinkart was the only pastor remaining in Eilenberg, conducting as many as 50 funerals in a day. He performed more than 4000 funerals in that year alone, including that of his beloved wife. It is in this setting that he wrote the famous hymn "Now Thank We All Our God", as a table hymn for his children. Circumstances do not determine our praise - no matter what happens, God is unchanging and still worthy of our adoration.
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
Remember to ponder this, each day of the year : for what are you thankful?
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures
forever;
his faithfulness continues through all
generations.
Psalm 92:1-8
It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
to proclaim your love in t he morning
and your faithfulness at night,
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp
For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord;
I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
How great are your works, O Lord,
how profound your thoughts!
The senseless man does not know,
fools do not understand,
that though the wicked spring up like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be forever destroyed.
But you, O Lord, are exalted forever.
For What I'm Thankful:
(This is NOT a complete listing...)
I’m thankful for my mom’s amazing cooking
But I’m also thankful for the food that I’m given at college
I’m thankful for my own bed and room – both at home and school
I’m thankful for the warmth of my house – and my dorm room
I’m thankful for the peace and quiet at my own house
I’m thankful for the wonderful family of girls on my floor (and my incredible RA!)
I’m thankful for the love that my mom and dad give me
For the 9 months my mom spent carrying me
For the 18 years they spent raising me
For the 4 years of stress they endured as marching band parents
For the multiple years before that they were band parents and PTA parents
For daring to teach me to drive
For taking me out blueberry picking, hiking, camping in the rain, and riding four-wheelers
For letting me have a dog
For forcing me to do something whenever I didn’t want to do it
For making me try a tablespoon of everything
For being understanding that despite my intelligence and what my teachers say, I’ll always be slow to learn life lessons
For driving me to lessons, every week, taking up 3-4 hours of their time
For supporting my musical endeavors, even when they didn’t understand them
For always letting me know that no matter where I went or what I achieved, they would still love me
I’m thankful for the teaching and support I receive from the family of North Baptist
I’m thankful for the spontaneity that comes when Mr. Austin doesn’t know whether he wants the congregation to sit or stand during the service
I’m thankful for the wealth of literature that has been written and that I have the ability to partake of it
I’m thankful for the immense quantity of music that has been composed and that I have the opportunity to enjoy it
I’m thankful for the opportunities to enjoy the diversion that we have in this country
I’m thankful for all the teachers I’ve had in the past who have taught me more than textbooks alone could teach
I’m thankful for days of work and time of rest
I'm thankful for the 3 years I spent doing musical pits
I’m thankful for caffeine that helps when sleep is not accessible
I’m thankful for chocolate, which needs no explanation
I’m thankful for the amazing friends who have helped me through the hard times
Who have laughed at my jokes – good and bad
Who have planned out a variety of pranks when I was bored and needed a rush
Who know my faults but choose to be associated with me anyway
Who don’t leave me, even when I’m a grouch
Who are willing to confront me when I need it
Who take time to keep me humble
Who call me up, even when we’re miles apart
Who smile and beam when they see me
Who challenge the common standards and push the lines of reality in hope of a better world
Who dare to survive my driving
Who "argue" with me, merely for the sake of arguing
Who stay up late with me cramming for tests
Who stay up late with me, laughing away the pain and stress
Who come to me, asking nothing of me
I’m thankful for my past – the good parts and the bad—for it has made me who I am
I’m thankful for the community of believers at Houghton
I’m thankful for the wealth of knowledge I’ve obtained through the years of schooling
I'm thankful for the wonderful years I spent in field band
I’m thankful for everything I’ve learned around the lunch table
I’m thankful for the musical ability I’ve been given by God
I’m thankful for baking talent that my Grandma passed down to me
I’m thankful for the ability to care for the needs of others
I’m thankful for the gift of singleness
I’m thankful for my God
Who is sovereign above all
Who is the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End
Who is Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresence
Who is the Creator of the universe
Who is the Judge of all
Who sent His Son, to bridge the gap that we created
Who bore my sins and inequities
Who took my place on the cross
Who was raised on the third day to take away the sting of death
Who knows me, yet loves me, when I don't even understand what that means
Who is my perfect heavenly Father
Who knows every step I take, even before I take
Who has a good and perfect plan for me
Who picks me up each time I fall
Who has a sense of humor and extreme amount of patience to put up with me
Who keeps revealing Himself to me at times and places I least expect
Who keeps chasing me, even when I want to run away
Who will never leave me nor forsake me
Who is my strength when I have none
Who is the great mystery – the Most Sovereign, choosing the lowest to be His children
Martin Rinkart was called to be the pastor of the Lutheran church in his hometown of Eilenberg, Germany. He arrived there just as the terrible bloodshed of the Thirty Years War was beginning. The city of Eilenberg was a walled city and it became the refuge for political and military fugitives. This, however, caused serious overcrowding, and deadly pestilence and famine swept through the city. Armies overran it three times, leaving death and destruction in their wake. The population of Germany went from 16 million to 6 million during this time.
The Rinkart home was a refuge for the victims, even though he was often hard-pressed to provide for his own family. In the year 1637 the plague was particularly severe. At its peak, Rinkart was the only pastor remaining in Eilenberg, conducting as many as 50 funerals in a day. He performed more than 4000 funerals in that year alone, including that of his beloved wife. It is in this setting that he wrote the famous hymn "Now Thank We All Our God", as a table hymn for his children. Circumstances do not determine our praise - no matter what happens, God is unchanging and still worthy of our adoration.
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
Remember to ponder this, each day of the year : for what are you thankful?
Monday, November 24, 2008
40 Days
I was sitting here, trying to figure out how to write an update on what my life has been like since the last post. What I discovered, it that it's pretty much impossible to write down anything and have it actually be something coherent. This is when I turn to song lyrics. So to borrow from Third Day:
Here I am at what feels like the end
And so I come to You, my Lord, again
With this burden buried deep within
This heart that You have made
In this trial that I'm going through
I don't question 'cause I know it's true
That the sorrow brings me back to You
And You have made me stronger
It's been forty days and forty nights
Down the road of many trials
And I pray it's only for a season
'Cause in the wilderness and in the flood
You're the one I'm thinking of
And I know You've brought me for a reason
I have one more thing I've got to say
Before they try to take my life away
Let it be known that I am not afraid
Let You will be done, Lord
It's been forty days and forty nights
Down the road of many trials
And I pray it's only for a season
'Cause in the wilderness and in the flood
You're the one I'm thinking of
And I know You've brought me for a reason
Yep. That sums things up pretty nicely.
Here I am at what feels like the end
And so I come to You, my Lord, again
With this burden buried deep within
This heart that You have made
In this trial that I'm going through
I don't question 'cause I know it's true
That the sorrow brings me back to You
And You have made me stronger
It's been forty days and forty nights
Down the road of many trials
And I pray it's only for a season
'Cause in the wilderness and in the flood
You're the one I'm thinking of
And I know You've brought me for a reason
I have one more thing I've got to say
Before they try to take my life away
Let it be known that I am not afraid
Let You will be done, Lord
It's been forty days and forty nights
Down the road of many trials
And I pray it's only for a season
'Cause in the wilderness and in the flood
You're the one I'm thinking of
And I know You've brought me for a reason
Yep. That sums things up pretty nicely.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Where by Lisbeth Scott
From 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe' Soundtrack
Where
Lisbeth Scott
On this half lit day
With your crown beneath your wing
Every word just echoes
And the empty world sings
Where have you gone my feather light heart?
I never imagined I could leave.
In the glistening
Of the lost and open sky
Tiny piece of you sits
Simple wish waits for reply
Where have you gone my feather light heart?
You mustn't forget what love can see.
Where
Lisbeth Scott
On this half lit day
With your crown beneath your wing
Every word just echoes
And the empty world sings
Where have you gone my feather light heart?
I never imagined I could leave.
In the glistening
Of the lost and open sky
Tiny piece of you sits
Simple wish waits for reply
Where have you gone my feather light heart?
You mustn't forget what love can see.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Death of Passion
I have always hated boxes. Defining people and sticking them in a box that you've constructed in your mind serves no great purpose. Of all the champions against boxes, I am one of them.
At least, I was.
I didn't want people to put me in a box. I hated the stigma that came when I told people "I'm a music major" when I first came to campus. Unconsciously, I decided to avoid being boxed in. I thought that was what I wanted, and what I needed. To take time to discover myself and explore things before settling down into my character. That was why I was going to college.
I miss those boxes.
All of the sudden, I'm free from the boxes of my past. I can define myself. But I no longer have that desire. There was security that came with the labels I was given. I knew exactly what people thought of me, and I knew what sort of actions they would expect from me because of that label. So I would act accordingly, following my own passions, which then became the labels, and everything was in line and made sense. There was flexibility within those boxes - I never felt trapped.
I feel trapped now that I'm free.
I have come to a Christian liberal arts college to pursue a degree in music. All of my passions have been laid at my feet. Anything I ever loved, liked, or even had pleasant attitudes towards are there. I was never told I had to choose. I foolishly believed that I could continue to love all that I had before arriving.
It is lies.
Though I have a variety of classes, activities and friends, it is not the same. They all demand a part of me. But I cannot give myself away. I stand, looking at my past loves, and realize with horror.
There is no passion.
I feel no passion towards any of them anymore. Even the greatest loves are now cold to me. Where once I had been an intellectual, almost a Renaissance woman, I cannot bring any warm feelings for anything. There are still moments when there is nearly unbridled passion, and I can do anything. But they only spur me on for moments. Then I encounter that great sorrow, when I realize the mediocrity that has taken over my life. What good is it to have interest in a variety of areas if you cannot bring yourself to love any of them?
There was not a single decision that brought me to this place.
It has been those smaller, seemingly insignificant choices that have lead me here. It is the constraint brought on by having a mere 24 hours in a day that guided me to this place. Many can testify that I haven't overloaded myself with a overwhelming course and activity load. In comparison, my schedule is not bad at all. Yet the clock continues to tick, and I continue to fall farther behind, watching the colors turn to gray, fading.
Where do I go from here?
Do I dare ask the question I am longing to know : what do you think of me? What box have you put me in?
I am witnessing the death of passion.
At least, I was.
I didn't want people to put me in a box. I hated the stigma that came when I told people "I'm a music major" when I first came to campus. Unconsciously, I decided to avoid being boxed in. I thought that was what I wanted, and what I needed. To take time to discover myself and explore things before settling down into my character. That was why I was going to college.
I miss those boxes.
All of the sudden, I'm free from the boxes of my past. I can define myself. But I no longer have that desire. There was security that came with the labels I was given. I knew exactly what people thought of me, and I knew what sort of actions they would expect from me because of that label. So I would act accordingly, following my own passions, which then became the labels, and everything was in line and made sense. There was flexibility within those boxes - I never felt trapped.
I feel trapped now that I'm free.
I have come to a Christian liberal arts college to pursue a degree in music. All of my passions have been laid at my feet. Anything I ever loved, liked, or even had pleasant attitudes towards are there. I was never told I had to choose. I foolishly believed that I could continue to love all that I had before arriving.
It is lies.
Though I have a variety of classes, activities and friends, it is not the same. They all demand a part of me. But I cannot give myself away. I stand, looking at my past loves, and realize with horror.
There is no passion.
I feel no passion towards any of them anymore. Even the greatest loves are now cold to me. Where once I had been an intellectual, almost a Renaissance woman, I cannot bring any warm feelings for anything. There are still moments when there is nearly unbridled passion, and I can do anything. But they only spur me on for moments. Then I encounter that great sorrow, when I realize the mediocrity that has taken over my life. What good is it to have interest in a variety of areas if you cannot bring yourself to love any of them?
There was not a single decision that brought me to this place.
It has been those smaller, seemingly insignificant choices that have lead me here. It is the constraint brought on by having a mere 24 hours in a day that guided me to this place. Many can testify that I haven't overloaded myself with a overwhelming course and activity load. In comparison, my schedule is not bad at all. Yet the clock continues to tick, and I continue to fall farther behind, watching the colors turn to gray, fading.
Where do I go from here?
Do I dare ask the question I am longing to know : what do you think of me? What box have you put me in?
I am witnessing the death of passion.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Food for Thought...
To a Commencement of Scoundrels - Samuel Hazo
My boys, they lied to you.
The world by defintion stinks
of Cain, no matter what
your teachers told you. Heroes
and the fools of God may rise
like accidental green
on gray saharas, but the sand
stay smotheringly near.
Deny me if you can. Already
you are turning into personnel,
manpower, figures on a list
of earners, voters, prayers,
soldiers, payers, sums
of population tamed with forms:
last name, middle name, first name-
telephone-date of birth-
home address-age-hobbie-
experience. Tell them the truth.
Your name is Legion. You
are aged a million. Tell
them that. Say you breathe
between appoointments: first day,
last day. The rest is no
one's business. Boys, the time
is prime for prophecy.
Books break down their bookends.
Paintings burst their frames.
The world is more than reason's
peanut. Homer sang it real.
Goya painted it, and Shakespeare
staged it for the pelting rinds
of every groundling of the Globe.
Wake up! Tonight the lions
hunt in Kenya. They
can eat a man. Rockets
are spearing through the sky.
They can blast a mant to nothing.
Rumors prowl like rebellions.
They can knife a man. No one
survives for long, my boys.
Flesh is always in season,
lusted after, gunned, grenaded,
tabulated through machines,
incinerated, beaten to applause,
anesthetized, autopsied, mourned.
The blood of Troy beats on
in Goya's paintings and the truce
of Lear. Reason yourselves
to that, my buckaroos,
before you rage for God,
country and siss-boom-bah!
You won't, of course. Your schooling
left you trained to serve
like cocksure Paul before
God's lightning smashed
him from his saddle. So-
I wish you what I wish
myself: hard questions
and the nights to answer them,
the grace of disappointment
and the right to seem the fool
for justice. That's enough.
Cowards might ask for more.
Heroes have died for less.
My boys, they lied to you.
The world by defintion stinks
of Cain, no matter what
your teachers told you. Heroes
and the fools of God may rise
like accidental green
on gray saharas, but the sand
stay smotheringly near.
Deny me if you can. Already
you are turning into personnel,
manpower, figures on a list
of earners, voters, prayers,
soldiers, payers, sums
of population tamed with forms:
last name, middle name, first name-
telephone-date of birth-
home address-age-hobbie-
experience. Tell them the truth.
Your name is Legion. You
are aged a million. Tell
them that. Say you breathe
between appoointments: first day,
last day. The rest is no
one's business. Boys, the time
is prime for prophecy.
Books break down their bookends.
Paintings burst their frames.
The world is more than reason's
peanut. Homer sang it real.
Goya painted it, and Shakespeare
staged it for the pelting rinds
of every groundling of the Globe.
Wake up! Tonight the lions
hunt in Kenya. They
can eat a man. Rockets
are spearing through the sky.
They can blast a mant to nothing.
Rumors prowl like rebellions.
They can knife a man. No one
survives for long, my boys.
Flesh is always in season,
lusted after, gunned, grenaded,
tabulated through machines,
incinerated, beaten to applause,
anesthetized, autopsied, mourned.
The blood of Troy beats on
in Goya's paintings and the truce
of Lear. Reason yourselves
to that, my buckaroos,
before you rage for God,
country and siss-boom-bah!
You won't, of course. Your schooling
left you trained to serve
like cocksure Paul before
God's lightning smashed
him from his saddle. So-
I wish you what I wish
myself: hard questions
and the nights to answer them,
the grace of disappointment
and the right to seem the fool
for justice. That's enough.
Cowards might ask for more.
Heroes have died for less.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Thoughts from a Prodigal
Until this past week, I never fully understand what it meant to be a prodigal. I always thought that the story of the prodigal son was meant for those believers who had really walked away from God, completely strayed from the faith. That was never me. Even in the worst moments of my life, I never totally left God. Sure, I would get angry, discontent and refuse to obey, but that didn't make me a prodigal. Or so I thought. I've decided that since I've come to college, God has had enough of all my foolish thoughts, and He's systematically destroying them. But being the stubborn person I am, He's been forced to hit me over the head with a 2x4....more than once. That's the story of my life, especially my spiritual walk. The worst part is when you realize that He's showing you something, you think you've got it all figured out, then you realize that He was actually teaching you something else entirely.
A few weeks ago, I thought God was teaching me to simply trust Him and to just be still and know.
Then I decided that, while that's a valuable lesson, God actually wanted me to learn to trust Him with my future and to just do what He wants me to do right now.
Once again, a lesson that needed to be learned, but most recently, I "discovered" it was actually that I just needed to have the faith of a child and not let everything get so complicated.
I think God's finally had enough.
First, I'm an idiot. Especially when it comes to God. I yell and scream at Him, try to figure Him out, and in the end, all that happens is that I realize that I'm an idiot. When you try too hard to look for the lessons of your life when you're in the middle of the storm, you just complicate things. It's the moment when you actually stop fighting Him that you realize where you went wrong.
Which brings me back to being a prodigal.
Being a prodigal doesn't mean that you've utterly left God. It doesn't mean that you've disowned Him. We become a prodigal child anytime we don't follow Him. Just like there aren't degrees of sin, there aren't degrees of leaving God. When we don't obey Him, are we really doing any better than a person who has lost faith? In our own way, we've lost faith. We've refused to trust Him and His commands.
If we continue on that path, He'll find a way to get through. That's the lesson He was teaching me. That I needed to stop fighting. All those other lessons were mere subsets of the larger picture. If we try to learn those lessons on our own without His help, or we simply refuse to be taught, He'll find a way to get through. He'll utterly crush us if that's what it takes.
There's a surprising peace after you've been crushed.
It's a peace that cannot be ignored. It rushed over you, drowning you within itself. It calms the trembling, it eases the hurt. It lifts you up. Once again, you are in your Father's arms. From there, who would want to run?
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. C. S. Lewis
A few weeks ago, I thought God was teaching me to simply trust Him and to just be still and know.
Then I decided that, while that's a valuable lesson, God actually wanted me to learn to trust Him with my future and to just do what He wants me to do right now.
Once again, a lesson that needed to be learned, but most recently, I "discovered" it was actually that I just needed to have the faith of a child and not let everything get so complicated.
I think God's finally had enough.
First, I'm an idiot. Especially when it comes to God. I yell and scream at Him, try to figure Him out, and in the end, all that happens is that I realize that I'm an idiot. When you try too hard to look for the lessons of your life when you're in the middle of the storm, you just complicate things. It's the moment when you actually stop fighting Him that you realize where you went wrong.
Which brings me back to being a prodigal.
Being a prodigal doesn't mean that you've utterly left God. It doesn't mean that you've disowned Him. We become a prodigal child anytime we don't follow Him. Just like there aren't degrees of sin, there aren't degrees of leaving God. When we don't obey Him, are we really doing any better than a person who has lost faith? In our own way, we've lost faith. We've refused to trust Him and His commands.
If we continue on that path, He'll find a way to get through. That's the lesson He was teaching me. That I needed to stop fighting. All those other lessons were mere subsets of the larger picture. If we try to learn those lessons on our own without His help, or we simply refuse to be taught, He'll find a way to get through. He'll utterly crush us if that's what it takes.
There's a surprising peace after you've been crushed.
It's a peace that cannot be ignored. It rushed over you, drowning you within itself. It calms the trembling, it eases the hurt. It lifts you up. Once again, you are in your Father's arms. From there, who would want to run?
God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. C. S. Lewis
Monday, October 20, 2008
Taking a Break from Bib Lit Studying.....
I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got what it takes
The drive and the determination
And the lucky breaks
I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got the face
I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got what it takes
Seeing my face up on the TV
Hearing my songs on the radio
People waiting all day in line to see me
Doing my pose for Rolling Stone
Well, it's alright, yeah it's alright
Living lifestyles of the rich and famous
Turning all heads in the music scene
Flying in my own jet plane to Vegas
Riding in a big black limousine
Well, it's alright, yeah it's alright
No, I ain't got nothing
But, to you I'm something
Something so much more
**Rock Star by Third Day**
Well, it's back into the grind we call college. At the moment I'm taking a break from studying for my Biblical Literature midterm on Friday to write this (before my brain gets completely fried)
I was great to see all those wacky people I call my friends when we got back on campus yesterday. I actually went and hung out with some of the guys at Roth, and basically Gareth has the most amazing way of folding laundry. It seriously cuts laundry folding time by at least a third! But I guess those Canadians have to learn to be efficient in order to keep up with the rest of the world ( just kidding!!). Once again, I'm amazed at the response that you receive at Roth when you bring cookies. Not only do these guys never see girls, apparently they never see cookies either (I could be wrong, feel free to correct me). Then Hannah got back, so we chatted for a little bit.
This morning I was sick to my stomach. I went to breakfast, but didn't eat anything. I did manage to get some encouragement on one of my many moments of crisis (to be explained below), and it was fun to have random convos with these guys again. I ended up trying to clean my room before Bib Lit, but I just couldn't do it. Autumn was very nice and gave me some of her Pepto-Bismol tablets. It wasn't until Chapel that I realized I hadn't eaten anything for close to 20 hours. Yes, I am that stupid. That probably contributed to my sickness, sleepiness and lightheaded-ness. So I managed to eat some lunch, and that was great. Besides that fact we were completely loony and anything I said got completely twisted, and I ended up laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. Yeah, I love my friends.
Later I managed to finish cleaning my room, change the sheets on my bed (since I keep forgetting to do that) AND mend a hole in my jeans. It turns out that my domestic skills do extent beyond the kitchen. Which is probably a good thing. And it has me really excited, for some strange reason. I also used Febreeze, so the room smells wonderful now.
We don't have Aural Skills on Wednesday which gives me so much more time to study for the midterms!!! Or take a nap. Or practice. Possibly all of the above.
Okay, so the crisis that I mentioned above. I tend to snowball things in my mind (not that anyone could ever see me doing a thing like that). For various reasons I was questioning my status as a musician, which for me is never a good thing. From there it turned into a "did I make the wrong choice - should I have gone to Roberts?". My friends gave a loud, resounding "NO!!!" in response to that, making me feel loved and slightly better. I've just spent a lot of time thinking about who I was and who I'm becoming, and even though I hadn't thought about my music, it eventually had to go into that category. I haven't come to any major conclusions yet, but I've got plenty of time. Then as I was studying, the song by Third Day came on. Now, I'm not trying to become a rock star, just a high school band director. But that last part really stuck out. In the end, all that matters is what Christ thinks of me. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, or even what I think. And He was willing to die for me. That really says something then. If the Lord of the universe decided to become part of His creation, just so that He could get to know me now and for all eternity, then who am I to be criticizing myself? It's like I'm ignoring everything He went through. Such a simple thing, but it's so easy to ignore. Just one of those facts that's slowly moving from my head to my heart. Seems to be a lot of that lately.
But, I ain't got what it takes
The drive and the determination
And the lucky breaks
I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got the face
I wanna be a rock star
But, I ain't got what it takes
Seeing my face up on the TV
Hearing my songs on the radio
People waiting all day in line to see me
Doing my pose for Rolling Stone
Well, it's alright, yeah it's alright
Living lifestyles of the rich and famous
Turning all heads in the music scene
Flying in my own jet plane to Vegas
Riding in a big black limousine
Well, it's alright, yeah it's alright
No, I ain't got nothing
But, to you I'm something
Something so much more
**Rock Star by Third Day**
Well, it's back into the grind we call college. At the moment I'm taking a break from studying for my Biblical Literature midterm on Friday to write this (before my brain gets completely fried)
I was great to see all those wacky people I call my friends when we got back on campus yesterday. I actually went and hung out with some of the guys at Roth, and basically Gareth has the most amazing way of folding laundry. It seriously cuts laundry folding time by at least a third! But I guess those Canadians have to learn to be efficient in order to keep up with the rest of the world ( just kidding!!). Once again, I'm amazed at the response that you receive at Roth when you bring cookies. Not only do these guys never see girls, apparently they never see cookies either (I could be wrong, feel free to correct me). Then Hannah got back, so we chatted for a little bit.
This morning I was sick to my stomach. I went to breakfast, but didn't eat anything. I did manage to get some encouragement on one of my many moments of crisis (to be explained below), and it was fun to have random convos with these guys again. I ended up trying to clean my room before Bib Lit, but I just couldn't do it. Autumn was very nice and gave me some of her Pepto-Bismol tablets. It wasn't until Chapel that I realized I hadn't eaten anything for close to 20 hours. Yes, I am that stupid. That probably contributed to my sickness, sleepiness and lightheaded-ness. So I managed to eat some lunch, and that was great. Besides that fact we were completely loony and anything I said got completely twisted, and I ended up laughing so hard I couldn't breathe. Yeah, I love my friends.
Later I managed to finish cleaning my room, change the sheets on my bed (since I keep forgetting to do that) AND mend a hole in my jeans. It turns out that my domestic skills do extent beyond the kitchen. Which is probably a good thing. And it has me really excited, for some strange reason. I also used Febreeze, so the room smells wonderful now.
We don't have Aural Skills on Wednesday which gives me so much more time to study for the midterms!!! Or take a nap. Or practice. Possibly all of the above.
Okay, so the crisis that I mentioned above. I tend to snowball things in my mind (not that anyone could ever see me doing a thing like that). For various reasons I was questioning my status as a musician, which for me is never a good thing. From there it turned into a "did I make the wrong choice - should I have gone to Roberts?". My friends gave a loud, resounding "NO!!!" in response to that, making me feel loved and slightly better. I've just spent a lot of time thinking about who I was and who I'm becoming, and even though I hadn't thought about my music, it eventually had to go into that category. I haven't come to any major conclusions yet, but I've got plenty of time. Then as I was studying, the song by Third Day came on. Now, I'm not trying to become a rock star, just a high school band director. But that last part really stuck out. In the end, all that matters is what Christ thinks of me. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, or even what I think. And He was willing to die for me. That really says something then. If the Lord of the universe decided to become part of His creation, just so that He could get to know me now and for all eternity, then who am I to be criticizing myself? It's like I'm ignoring everything He went through. Such a simple thing, but it's so easy to ignore. Just one of those facts that's slowly moving from my head to my heart. Seems to be a lot of that lately.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Re: Rediscovering
My heart beats, standing on the edge
But my feet have finally left the ledge
Like an acrobat
There's no turning back
(Chorus)
I'm letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
Losing control
Of my destiny
Feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe
So I'm letting go
This is a giant leap of faith
Trusting and trying to embrace
The fear of the unknown
Beyond my comfort zone
(Chorus)
Giving in to your gravity
Knowing You are holding me
I'm not afraid
Feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe
Feels like I'm falling and this is the life for me
**I'm Letting Go by Francesca Battistelli***
I'm on October break right now, and it's great being at home. It's really a nice change of pace compared to college. But I know I'll be excited when I get back to campus and see everyone. Not that you would be able to tell that from the fact I've been facebooking and texting my college friends. Except Rachel, because she came home with me. And she's in the room right next to this one, so it really wouldn't make much sense to write on her wall, now would it?
I've been having a blast visiting. I went to EHS both days (even though I didn't plan to do so), and I got to see most of my teachers, but not all of them. Today I hung out in the bandroom for the most of the day, so it basically how Smock spent his senior year. It was fun getting to see everyone and who was in the office when. And Tom-tom is still the coolest. Hands down. We had fun talking about college stuff and whatnot. Rachel and I went out to Subway for lunch with Carole, and that was cool. I've also been taking pictures with Gershwin Abraham Least around C-town. In case you're wondering who GAL is, he's my gnome. Yes, I have a gnome. Yes, I've been taking pictures of a gnome around C-town. It's weird, but fun at the same time. You really should try it.
Yesterday I also got a chance to talk with Pastor Gary for close to 2 hours, and honestly, we could have probably continued talking for a couple more hours. I'll be honest, I was unsure if I would ever become really comfortable and close when he came because, well, he was new to the church, and I'd be leaving for college. Well, all doubts have gone. This is the probably the 2nd time we've had a long discussion, but you would have thought he was the pastor I've had since I started attending church. He's simply a great guy, and he doesn't try to dumb anything down. He treats me as an intellectual Christian college student. And that's really great. We discussed the definition of "being an evangelical", which helped cleared up some major confusion. We also went into the definition and beliefs of Calvinism, something I really wasn't sure about, and since I've been away at school, I've been confronted with those beliefs. He also gave me our church's statement of faith, for my reading pleasure : P Then we spent quite a while talking about what I've been learning at college, the college experience, and what he learned when he was in school. It was fascinating, and it was nice to talk to someone who understands what it feels like to have those spiritual "oh - DUH!" moments when everything finally connects. I've had a couple of those so far, and I'm sure I'll continue to have more. One of the experiences we discussed was - community (those of you who have been attending chapel, feel free to groan at this point). But it's something that became very evident to me when I left campus. We really do have something special. We eat, work, sleep and play together. 24/7. There's really no point in getting mad at someone, since you'll have to see them again. And again. I also feel like we've become a family. We take care of each other, physically, emotionally and spiritually. You can't find that everywhere. I can't help but think that we're getting glimpses of heaven. Which just makes it all so exciting! Pastor Gary and I also talked about my developing picture of God. Did you know that whatever you decide you believe in college, about God, your faith, your moral values, that forms about 80% of what you will believe as an adult? I knew college was important, but I didn't realize it was that important : P Right now I'm starting to change my image of God, and I'm starting to view him more in picture that we get between Hosea and the Prodigal Son. If you combine those 2 images, that's more where I'm going. But I'm obviously not there yet, and who knows where I'll end up. As I continue to learn more, I realize that the hymn was right - He is ever changing. But not because He changes - we are the ones who change. I guess this is all to say that I'm embracing the questions, the uncertainty, the doubts. I'm at college to think about those things, to talk with others and really get figured out what I believe instead of simply embracing what I was taught at home and at church. That's not to say that I'm walking away from the faith - I'm deepening my understanding of it and making it my own. But I'm also learning more about myself, not just God. What aspects of my personality still hold true? There have been things I've done (and haven't done) since I've come back home. It does make one think - who am I really? Am I who I was, and if I'm not, who am I becoming? I take comfort in the fact that I'm not being fake either way - I've being true to myself, even if only certain aspects are showing more in certain environments. It's all very fascinating. (Yes, I am taking Adolescent Psychology, which probably contributes to this).
In reference to the lyrics, I really can't add on too much to those words. This time in my faith is exciting and terrifying all at the same time. But it just takes simple trust and faith - like that of a child.
Since I lack the great skill of a Christian theologian and author, I will have CS Lewis end this entry:
"An open mind, in questions that are not ultimate, is useful. But an open mind about the ultimate foundations either of Theoretical or of Practical Reason is idiocy."
--The Abolition of Man
"The more lucidly we think, the more we are cut off: the more deeply we enter into reality, the less we can think."
--Myth Became Fact, World Dominion
But my feet have finally left the ledge
Like an acrobat
There's no turning back
(Chorus)
I'm letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
Losing control
Of my destiny
Feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe
So I'm letting go
This is a giant leap of faith
Trusting and trying to embrace
The fear of the unknown
Beyond my comfort zone
(Chorus)
Giving in to your gravity
Knowing You are holding me
I'm not afraid
Feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe
Feels like I'm falling and this is the life for me
**I'm Letting Go by Francesca Battistelli***
I'm on October break right now, and it's great being at home. It's really a nice change of pace compared to college. But I know I'll be excited when I get back to campus and see everyone. Not that you would be able to tell that from the fact I've been facebooking and texting my college friends. Except Rachel, because she came home with me. And she's in the room right next to this one, so it really wouldn't make much sense to write on her wall, now would it?
I've been having a blast visiting. I went to EHS both days (even though I didn't plan to do so), and I got to see most of my teachers, but not all of them. Today I hung out in the bandroom for the most of the day, so it basically how Smock spent his senior year. It was fun getting to see everyone and who was in the office when. And Tom-tom is still the coolest. Hands down. We had fun talking about college stuff and whatnot. Rachel and I went out to Subway for lunch with Carole, and that was cool. I've also been taking pictures with Gershwin Abraham Least around C-town. In case you're wondering who GAL is, he's my gnome. Yes, I have a gnome. Yes, I've been taking pictures of a gnome around C-town. It's weird, but fun at the same time. You really should try it.
Yesterday I also got a chance to talk with Pastor Gary for close to 2 hours, and honestly, we could have probably continued talking for a couple more hours. I'll be honest, I was unsure if I would ever become really comfortable and close when he came because, well, he was new to the church, and I'd be leaving for college. Well, all doubts have gone. This is the probably the 2nd time we've had a long discussion, but you would have thought he was the pastor I've had since I started attending church. He's simply a great guy, and he doesn't try to dumb anything down. He treats me as an intellectual Christian college student. And that's really great. We discussed the definition of "being an evangelical", which helped cleared up some major confusion. We also went into the definition and beliefs of Calvinism, something I really wasn't sure about, and since I've been away at school, I've been confronted with those beliefs. He also gave me our church's statement of faith, for my reading pleasure : P Then we spent quite a while talking about what I've been learning at college, the college experience, and what he learned when he was in school. It was fascinating, and it was nice to talk to someone who understands what it feels like to have those spiritual "oh - DUH!" moments when everything finally connects. I've had a couple of those so far, and I'm sure I'll continue to have more. One of the experiences we discussed was - community (those of you who have been attending chapel, feel free to groan at this point). But it's something that became very evident to me when I left campus. We really do have something special. We eat, work, sleep and play together. 24/7. There's really no point in getting mad at someone, since you'll have to see them again. And again. I also feel like we've become a family. We take care of each other, physically, emotionally and spiritually. You can't find that everywhere. I can't help but think that we're getting glimpses of heaven. Which just makes it all so exciting! Pastor Gary and I also talked about my developing picture of God. Did you know that whatever you decide you believe in college, about God, your faith, your moral values, that forms about 80% of what you will believe as an adult? I knew college was important, but I didn't realize it was that important : P Right now I'm starting to change my image of God, and I'm starting to view him more in picture that we get between Hosea and the Prodigal Son. If you combine those 2 images, that's more where I'm going. But I'm obviously not there yet, and who knows where I'll end up. As I continue to learn more, I realize that the hymn was right - He is ever changing. But not because He changes - we are the ones who change. I guess this is all to say that I'm embracing the questions, the uncertainty, the doubts. I'm at college to think about those things, to talk with others and really get figured out what I believe instead of simply embracing what I was taught at home and at church. That's not to say that I'm walking away from the faith - I'm deepening my understanding of it and making it my own. But I'm also learning more about myself, not just God. What aspects of my personality still hold true? There have been things I've done (and haven't done) since I've come back home. It does make one think - who am I really? Am I who I was, and if I'm not, who am I becoming? I take comfort in the fact that I'm not being fake either way - I've being true to myself, even if only certain aspects are showing more in certain environments. It's all very fascinating. (Yes, I am taking Adolescent Psychology, which probably contributes to this).
In reference to the lyrics, I really can't add on too much to those words. This time in my faith is exciting and terrifying all at the same time. But it just takes simple trust and faith - like that of a child.
Since I lack the great skill of a Christian theologian and author, I will have CS Lewis end this entry:
"An open mind, in questions that are not ultimate, is useful. But an open mind about the ultimate foundations either of Theoretical or of Practical Reason is idiocy."
--The Abolition of Man
"The more lucidly we think, the more we are cut off: the more deeply we enter into reality, the less we can think."
--Myth Became Fact, World Dominion
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
My Monday Night
Funny things happen when you've got 3 days left before break. And mid-terms are starting. Combine those and well, funny things happen.
It all started when I discovered my brain completely shut-off during "Tempered Steel" in Sym Winds. My fingers were moving, but I wasn't even thinking about what I was playing. This was the first signal that it was going to be a long night of studying MCP.
This was followed up by several "what's what she said jokes" around the dinner table. I swear those things slowly kill your intelligence. Then someone starts saying "that's what she said".....after his own jokes. Then you know that your college education has really gone down the tubes. The worst part - you actually laugh at him.
Following a dress fitting, I took a 30 min nap, to wake up to the cruel reality of the course called Music in the Christian Perspective.
First I started off with studying the essay topics with 2 other girls. Grouped up on the floor of my dorm room, we confessed our inability to understand any of the topics completely. It was then that I needed my caffeine kick. At this point, I'm tired, but still relatively sane.
At 9 I headed over to the music building for a study session with some other people. Luke led us on a discovery of the secrets of identifying the music example correctly. While we were trying to find connections, I ended up relating Bach back to the tax code at one point. Obviously, this isn't a good sign. But I'm starting to feel a little less tired (looking back, another very bad sign). I ran back to the dorm to grab my power cable and wheat thins (as discussed with Mitch....music majors live on moutain dew and wheat thins)
Close to 11 Luke and I decided to switch our papers. Mine provided great entertainment - apparently my writing abilities decrease if I write the first half, eat dinner and then finish. And send it to someone without having glanced at it. If you ever want an example of how to NOT write a paper, just ask for that rough draft. Continuing to review and work on notes, various discussions came up regarding confusing parts of each of the books.
At this point, I'm wondering why on earth I'm in the music building past midnight and pondering how lame I am. Physically I feel completely awake, which just doesn't make sense. My brain is slowly shutting down and refusing to work. I've decided that the carpet in the music theory room is really comfortable compared to the carpet in the dorm room. We've got the listening music playing in the background and taking time to identify it. Luke correctly identified the first movement of Beethoven's 5th. Then about 2 min later, he said that the song playing was the 4th movement of the Mozart Symphony. I gave him a really confused look, and explained that it was the epic Beethoven finale, and he had just correctly identified the overall work, and earlier in the evening said something along the lines of there not being any way to miss the "epic 4th". Right after that, I tried dotting my "u"s in my notes. At that point, it was time to give up. So as we're packing stuff up, we start discussing socialism, because that's what every music major does at about 12:30 in the morning after studying for several hours.
I get back to Gillette, and of course I can't find my ID. I call Hannah to come let me in. We go crash in her lounge as I go through my backpack, then spend the next 15 min or so tyring to retrace my steps to find my ID. The sad part - it's about a one minute walk from my dorm to the music building. Finally, we wlak over there one more time, and see Luke. The conversation:
"Are you sleepwalking?"
"What?"
"I said, are you sleep walking?"
"Yes. Back over to the music building. With another person. I'm looking for my ID. Are you sleep walking?"
"What?"
"I said, are you sleep walking?"
I found my ID in my music mailbox. I go back to Hannah's lounge and we discuss life's great mysteries. Including a conversation from lunch:
"I'm thinking about voting socialist in the election"
"Well, that does make sense. I mean, we're going socialist either way"
"But I can't see you doing that"
"Hey, I could be a closet socialist and you wouldn't know"
*lady ahead of us in the line whips her head around*
I'm pretty sure I solved most of the world's problems last night. But I couldn't remember anything. And people (in general) become really blunt jerks that late at night, but usually we preface this with "I become a jerk at about such and such a time, so sorry if this seems mean...." You also have a really good ability to view yourself as a complete idiot (at least I do) when it gets that late. I managed to survive the exam, but I've pretty much been going through my day with my brain half functioning. Again, I don't really feel tired, but I'm just not fully here. It's an interesting feeling. Another interesting observation: even if people they believe they're being jerks, overall my perception of my friends is dramatically improved when my brain shuts itself off (aka they're really super nice people and are completely hilarious.....we can argue later how much that applies when I'm not tired) Surprisingly, I never went through that with IB (just plain old confusion). I'm looking forward to going to bed tonight (I'm not even taking a nap today), but it seems so far away.
I'm also in the stage of thought where I could draw some great theological concepts out of this. But they would end up making no sense whatsoever, so I won't even go there. This is more of a record for my own sanity, so perhaps I'll budget my time a bit better. Or learn to drink coffee. Perhaps a combination of both.
It all started when I discovered my brain completely shut-off during "Tempered Steel" in Sym Winds. My fingers were moving, but I wasn't even thinking about what I was playing. This was the first signal that it was going to be a long night of studying MCP.
This was followed up by several "what's what she said jokes" around the dinner table. I swear those things slowly kill your intelligence. Then someone starts saying "that's what she said".....after his own jokes. Then you know that your college education has really gone down the tubes. The worst part - you actually laugh at him.
Following a dress fitting, I took a 30 min nap, to wake up to the cruel reality of the course called Music in the Christian Perspective.
First I started off with studying the essay topics with 2 other girls. Grouped up on the floor of my dorm room, we confessed our inability to understand any of the topics completely. It was then that I needed my caffeine kick. At this point, I'm tired, but still relatively sane.
At 9 I headed over to the music building for a study session with some other people. Luke led us on a discovery of the secrets of identifying the music example correctly. While we were trying to find connections, I ended up relating Bach back to the tax code at one point. Obviously, this isn't a good sign. But I'm starting to feel a little less tired (looking back, another very bad sign). I ran back to the dorm to grab my power cable and wheat thins (as discussed with Mitch....music majors live on moutain dew and wheat thins)
Close to 11 Luke and I decided to switch our papers. Mine provided great entertainment - apparently my writing abilities decrease if I write the first half, eat dinner and then finish. And send it to someone without having glanced at it. If you ever want an example of how to NOT write a paper, just ask for that rough draft. Continuing to review and work on notes, various discussions came up regarding confusing parts of each of the books.
At this point, I'm wondering why on earth I'm in the music building past midnight and pondering how lame I am. Physically I feel completely awake, which just doesn't make sense. My brain is slowly shutting down and refusing to work. I've decided that the carpet in the music theory room is really comfortable compared to the carpet in the dorm room. We've got the listening music playing in the background and taking time to identify it. Luke correctly identified the first movement of Beethoven's 5th. Then about 2 min later, he said that the song playing was the 4th movement of the Mozart Symphony. I gave him a really confused look, and explained that it was the epic Beethoven finale, and he had just correctly identified the overall work, and earlier in the evening said something along the lines of there not being any way to miss the "epic 4th". Right after that, I tried dotting my "u"s in my notes. At that point, it was time to give up. So as we're packing stuff up, we start discussing socialism, because that's what every music major does at about 12:30 in the morning after studying for several hours.
I get back to Gillette, and of course I can't find my ID. I call Hannah to come let me in. We go crash in her lounge as I go through my backpack, then spend the next 15 min or so tyring to retrace my steps to find my ID. The sad part - it's about a one minute walk from my dorm to the music building. Finally, we wlak over there one more time, and see Luke. The conversation:
"Are you sleepwalking?"
"What?"
"I said, are you sleep walking?"
"Yes. Back over to the music building. With another person. I'm looking for my ID. Are you sleep walking?"
"What?"
"I said, are you sleep walking?"
I found my ID in my music mailbox. I go back to Hannah's lounge and we discuss life's great mysteries. Including a conversation from lunch:
"I'm thinking about voting socialist in the election"
"Well, that does make sense. I mean, we're going socialist either way"
"But I can't see you doing that"
"Hey, I could be a closet socialist and you wouldn't know"
*lady ahead of us in the line whips her head around*
I'm pretty sure I solved most of the world's problems last night. But I couldn't remember anything. And people (in general) become really blunt jerks that late at night, but usually we preface this with "I become a jerk at about such and such a time, so sorry if this seems mean...." You also have a really good ability to view yourself as a complete idiot (at least I do) when it gets that late. I managed to survive the exam, but I've pretty much been going through my day with my brain half functioning. Again, I don't really feel tired, but I'm just not fully here. It's an interesting feeling. Another interesting observation: even if people they believe they're being jerks, overall my perception of my friends is dramatically improved when my brain shuts itself off (aka they're really super nice people and are completely hilarious.....we can argue later how much that applies when I'm not tired) Surprisingly, I never went through that with IB (just plain old confusion). I'm looking forward to going to bed tonight (I'm not even taking a nap today), but it seems so far away.
I'm also in the stage of thought where I could draw some great theological concepts out of this. But they would end up making no sense whatsoever, so I won't even go there. This is more of a record for my own sanity, so perhaps I'll budget my time a bit better. Or learn to drink coffee. Perhaps a combination of both.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Emptiest Day
They say You live in hospitals and trenches
And towers in the sky
And I'm not dying or fighting any wars
Except on the inside
The only thing I need is a void that You can fill
And I jump ship and run even further in Your will
And I am looking for the well that won't run dry
The rest that weary thoughts cannot deny
When You wrap Your arms around me
I can walk away or face the emptiest day
The words I find impossible to mention
Are written on a star
They say that I can find You in a flower
But I need You in the car
The optimism of my youth is dead and gone
But I'll save these speculations for another time and song
And I am looking for the well that won't run dry
The rest that weary thoughts cannot deny
When You wrap Your arms around me
I can walk away or face the emptiest day
And life is only perceived through chemicals and emotion
But love, love is the island that overgrows the ocean
**The Emptiest Day - Caedmon's Call**
This entire weekend has been such a time of renewal for me. Between the woods, the Scripture I've been reading, and the Koinonia service tonight, it has simply been incredible. I have truly felt the movement of God in my life this weekend. It's like I've been standing in the shallow end of the pool, slowly moving in, and He decided to pick me up and throw me in. He's given me the answer to one of the questions I've been pondering recently. I'm not going to pretend that it's the answer I wanted to hear, but it's the one that I needed to hear. And now it's time to leave the mountain. Aslan is on the move.
"It is as hard to explain how this sunlit land was different from the old Narnia, as it would be to tell you how the fruits of that country taste. Perhaps you will get some idea of it, if you think like this. You may have been in a room in which there was a window that looked out on a lovely bay of the sea or a green valley that wound away among mountains. And in the wall of that room opposite to the window there may have been a looking glass. And as you turned away from the window you suddenly caught sight of that sea or that valley, all over again, in the looking glass. And the sea in the mirror, or the valley in the mirror, were in one sense just the same as the real ones: yet at the same time they were somehow different--deeper, more wonderful, more like places in a story: in a story you have never heard but very much want to know. The difference between the old Narnia and the new Narnia was like that. The new one was a deeper country: every rock and flower and blade of grass looked as if it meant more. I can't describe it any better than that: if you ever get there you will know what I mean." C.S. Lewis 'The Last Battle'
And towers in the sky
And I'm not dying or fighting any wars
Except on the inside
The only thing I need is a void that You can fill
And I jump ship and run even further in Your will
And I am looking for the well that won't run dry
The rest that weary thoughts cannot deny
When You wrap Your arms around me
I can walk away or face the emptiest day
The words I find impossible to mention
Are written on a star
They say that I can find You in a flower
But I need You in the car
The optimism of my youth is dead and gone
But I'll save these speculations for another time and song
And I am looking for the well that won't run dry
The rest that weary thoughts cannot deny
When You wrap Your arms around me
I can walk away or face the emptiest day
And life is only perceived through chemicals and emotion
But love, love is the island that overgrows the ocean
**The Emptiest Day - Caedmon's Call**
This entire weekend has been such a time of renewal for me. Between the woods, the Scripture I've been reading, and the Koinonia service tonight, it has simply been incredible. I have truly felt the movement of God in my life this weekend. It's like I've been standing in the shallow end of the pool, slowly moving in, and He decided to pick me up and throw me in. He's given me the answer to one of the questions I've been pondering recently. I'm not going to pretend that it's the answer I wanted to hear, but it's the one that I needed to hear. And now it's time to leave the mountain. Aslan is on the move.
"It is as hard to explain how this sunlit land was different from the old Narnia, as it would be to tell you how the fruits of that country taste. Perhaps you will get some idea of it, if you think like this. You may have been in a room in which there was a window that looked out on a lovely bay of the sea or a green valley that wound away among mountains. And in the wall of that room opposite to the window there may have been a looking glass. And as you turned away from the window you suddenly caught sight of that sea or that valley, all over again, in the looking glass. And the sea in the mirror, or the valley in the mirror, were in one sense just the same as the real ones: yet at the same time they were somehow different--deeper, more wonderful, more like places in a story: in a story you have never heard but very much want to know. The difference between the old Narnia and the new Narnia was like that. The new one was a deeper country: every rock and flower and blade of grass looked as if it meant more. I can't describe it any better than that: if you ever get there you will know what I mean." C.S. Lewis 'The Last Battle'
Friday, October 10, 2008
Escaping to the Woods
It has been such a beautiful day, I felt called to take a walk to the woods. I just wanted to be out there, away from here. Not that here is a bad place, but I had to go. The walk to get there always seems so long. My pace quickened as I got closer, knowing what would await me. When I made it to the main trail, I paused. The sound of my feet on the leaves. I was breaking the beautiful silence. I felt that I was an intruder in this world of beauty. The colors. Green. Yellow. Orange. Black. Gray. I continued on. I felt the woods slowly envelope me. I was surrounded by nothing, but wrapped in everything. In my head, I began to go back. The smell of fall, playing outside of my Grandma's house. The sounds of the leaves beneath my feet, back to the time when I would meander back from school because I had no other obligations. The trail and woods before me, when my family would go camping and my dad and I would explore old and new trails on the four-wheeler. I was filled with such a longing. Ignorance is bliss, they say, and that enlightenment is the goal of life. Is it? Is it really better to have your heart broken each day? The solitude called me on. I was away, away from everything. There was no one shouting at me, no obligations calling to me, no thoughts invading me. I could feel. I simply felt. Listening to my heart. It poured out. There are no words to describe what it was. Longing. Melancholy. Happiness. Confusion. Joy. Everything. I did not want to leave. If I could only stay there. I was simply myself. No pressures. No expectations. I was not responsible for another person. I wanted to simply stay and collapse. I started listening to the second half of the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe soundtrack. If you are a fan of CS Lewis, or a fan of the soundtrack, just imagine. The solitude. The music. The healing. I knew I had to return. My inner struggles could not simply stay in the woods. I was called back. The music. CS Lewis. I am not a theologian. I am not a spiritual leader. My struggles are not the great glorious ones of the faith. I am battling myself each day. Why? The past was so much easier. My enemies were clear. The solutions were easily seen. "It is hard for you, little one. But things never happen the same way twice". Oh Aslan. "And I was so pleased at finding you again. And I thought you'd let me stay. And I thought you'd come roaring in and frighten all the enemies away – like last time. And now everything is going to be horrid". But I am a lioness.
I descended back to campus. The first sight that hit me was a Kuhl campaign sign. The Paine Science Center. The Luckey Building. People playing ultimate Frisbee. Little children, running and playing. Laughing. Shouting. I was back. I was renewed.
I descended back to campus. The first sight that hit me was a Kuhl campaign sign. The Paine Science Center. The Luckey Building. People playing ultimate Frisbee. Little children, running and playing. Laughing. Shouting. I was back. I was renewed.
For a deeper understanding of Nehemiah...
There's a Christian parody band called ApologetiX. They're amazing/hilarious. If you haven't heard their music, check them out. I was thinking of one of their songs today in Bib Lit:
It's Tough [Song About Nehemiah]
Parody of "This Love" by Maroon 5
Our wall's so high you would not recognize
But fire burned and minimized the way it sat for all my life
Kissed Persia goodbye, you see I brought a plan
To get Jerusalem strong again
The wall was where I'd start
Oh!
It's a tough task making this wall complete
We said goodbye to dinnertime and sports
There are kids making some fun of me
And I hope those boys, Sanballat and Tobias, get bored
They tried their best to keep us occupied
Said they'd come in with their knives
It's hard but we work side by side
Oh, kept saying stuff 'bout me that's just insane
Pretending I built this thing
To turn around and be the king
Whatever
This wall has taken us seven weeks
Three days till I can finish up the doors
Wal-Mart did make a good wall for cheap
But I had no choice 'cause I don't live nearby any stores
I fixed this broken thing, repaired these openings
I ain't your average Pink Floyd guy (Nehemiah, me oh my)
I can't sing all their hits, but I know 'Another Brick'
Let me sing for you 'cause I'm Nehemiah, how do you do?
Ezra has taken the scroll to read
We said goodbye to sins we tried before
Four hundred and forty-four B.C. and I have no Floyd
And I can't play guitar like Gilmore
It's rough just making this song funny
We had to try and then we tried some more
And I'd like to break the monotony
We say Maroon 5 should end it at the chorus
Guess what I'm making this all up here
Read Nehemiah and Ezra right before
Work hard and pray with a fervency
But I have no voice so I will fade this right here for sure
It's Tough [Song About Nehemiah]
Parody of "This Love" by Maroon 5
Our wall's so high you would not recognize
But fire burned and minimized the way it sat for all my life
Kissed Persia goodbye, you see I brought a plan
To get Jerusalem strong again
The wall was where I'd start
Oh!
It's a tough task making this wall complete
We said goodbye to dinnertime and sports
There are kids making some fun of me
And I hope those boys, Sanballat and Tobias, get bored
They tried their best to keep us occupied
Said they'd come in with their knives
It's hard but we work side by side
Oh, kept saying stuff 'bout me that's just insane
Pretending I built this thing
To turn around and be the king
Whatever
This wall has taken us seven weeks
Three days till I can finish up the doors
Wal-Mart did make a good wall for cheap
But I had no choice 'cause I don't live nearby any stores
I fixed this broken thing, repaired these openings
I ain't your average Pink Floyd guy (Nehemiah, me oh my)
I can't sing all their hits, but I know 'Another Brick'
Let me sing for you 'cause I'm Nehemiah, how do you do?
Ezra has taken the scroll to read
We said goodbye to sins we tried before
Four hundred and forty-four B.C. and I have no Floyd
And I can't play guitar like Gilmore
It's rough just making this song funny
We had to try and then we tried some more
And I'd like to break the monotony
We say Maroon 5 should end it at the chorus
Guess what I'm making this all up here
Read Nehemiah and Ezra right before
Work hard and pray with a fervency
But I have no voice so I will fade this right here for sure
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Streets of Gold
I want you to know
I’m leaving to let you go
One day we’ll walk upon
Streets of gold
I don’t remember seeing fear in your eyes
When you were fading
The day we said our goodbyes
It’s easy to say that there’s a reason for this
Much harder to know
That what we say is true
Everything we hold could someday slip away
I want you to know
I’m leaving to let you go
And someday we’ll walk upon
The streets of gold
Running through your veins was a slow-ticking clock
Counting down the days
And no one could make it stop
All of the time that it takes to figure it out
Could be the moments
That you can’t live without
Everything we hold could someday slip away
I want you to know
I’m leaving to let you go
And someday we’ll walk upon
The streets of gold
The trouble with love is that it comes to an end
I’ve got a feeling I’m gonna find you again
Just in a place where love can’t die
Streets of Gold - Needtobreathe
I’m leaving to let you go
One day we’ll walk upon
Streets of gold
I don’t remember seeing fear in your eyes
When you were fading
The day we said our goodbyes
It’s easy to say that there’s a reason for this
Much harder to know
That what we say is true
Everything we hold could someday slip away
I want you to know
I’m leaving to let you go
And someday we’ll walk upon
The streets of gold
Running through your veins was a slow-ticking clock
Counting down the days
And no one could make it stop
All of the time that it takes to figure it out
Could be the moments
That you can’t live without
Everything we hold could someday slip away
I want you to know
I’m leaving to let you go
And someday we’ll walk upon
The streets of gold
The trouble with love is that it comes to an end
I’ve got a feeling I’m gonna find you again
Just in a place where love can’t die
Streets of Gold - Needtobreathe
Friday, October 3, 2008
Why Music?
This is a question that all musicians are confronted with at some point in our lives. Why music? Why make this our life? That's one of the questions we've been forced to consider in our MCP class (Music in the Christian Perspective). I used to believe that I knew why I wanted to do music. I thought I had it all figured out, and everything was put together in such a nice plan. But after spending a month here, I've begun to question the "ideal plan" that I had laid out in my mind. One of the biggest elements was my music. Why did I want to do this? There are a variety of reasons to do music:
-"I just love music so much!" A true reason, yet very immature in some respects. Music requires so much more out of you, that if there's only the feeling of love, then it's never going to survive.
-"I seem to have a real talent and I want to become a famous musician!" Becoming famous has never been a real motivating factor for me. Sure, that would be great, but the amount of time and the massive obsession over one's instrument has never appealed to me. Plus, the amount of people that actually become professional musicians is so slim.
-"I want to share my passion with others!" One of the reasons that I used to give. Why else would you want to become a teacher? But once again, if that's the main reason, you're going to get sick and tired of all the practicing because you merely want to teach.
These are just some of the stereotypical reasons, and there are many other reasons why someone would choose music. And if one of them works for you, and it's enough motivation, then that's great. But it just wasn't cutting it for me. There had to be another reason, something that would continue to drive me on, even when I didn't feel like it was worth it. This morning, I think I finally figured out that reason. I've always loved music, but when you get to this point, where rubber meets the road, the real work sets in, that love is hard to remember. And the end goal of becoming a teacher seems so far away. And none of it seems like it is something that is going to last in the end. But today in chapel, I had one of those "Oh Duh!" moments. Music isn't about my life. It's all about God. But not in that really weird religious connotation sense. I believe in the Creator God and that we are all made in His Image. Since we are made in His Image, we are all "mini-creators", though we cannot make anything that hasn't already existed in some form before (unlike God, who speaks and creates). But music is different. We can put together these notes in different combinations that have never been done before. Each time we practice, music happens for just that period of time, and then is lost to us. But it's swept up into all of history. Something as simple as a hymn-song made tears come to my eyes today during Chapel. It had been a hymn that I learned back in elementary school, and I don't remember why at this point, but I do remember the time my Grandma spent helping me learn it, and also teaching me about memorization itself. I hadn't thought about that in a long time, but one simple song brought back a flood of memories. In addition, they used various different songs during the presentation of Houghton's history, including Requiem from Band of Brothers. I, being the geek that I am, recognized these song immediately and became lost in the moment. It's those moments for which music was created. It helps us reach a little closer to heaven. Though we may never reach a place with our music where we become the next Beethoven, Bernstein or Billy Joel, we created something for a moment. And if we create for God, that music is never truly lost.
I'm not going to try to say that I completely understand it, but it does help me. But now when I get too tired and just want to give up because I'm sure I'll never get the etude right, I'll never remember those accidentals, or I can't get the right emotion in the slow movement of a solo, I can take comfort in the fact that it's not really about me, my playing abilities (or lack thereof), but it's about something much bigger, of which I am a part.
-"I just love music so much!" A true reason, yet very immature in some respects. Music requires so much more out of you, that if there's only the feeling of love, then it's never going to survive.
-"I seem to have a real talent and I want to become a famous musician!" Becoming famous has never been a real motivating factor for me. Sure, that would be great, but the amount of time and the massive obsession over one's instrument has never appealed to me. Plus, the amount of people that actually become professional musicians is so slim.
-"I want to share my passion with others!" One of the reasons that I used to give. Why else would you want to become a teacher? But once again, if that's the main reason, you're going to get sick and tired of all the practicing because you merely want to teach.
These are just some of the stereotypical reasons, and there are many other reasons why someone would choose music. And if one of them works for you, and it's enough motivation, then that's great. But it just wasn't cutting it for me. There had to be another reason, something that would continue to drive me on, even when I didn't feel like it was worth it. This morning, I think I finally figured out that reason. I've always loved music, but when you get to this point, where rubber meets the road, the real work sets in, that love is hard to remember. And the end goal of becoming a teacher seems so far away. And none of it seems like it is something that is going to last in the end. But today in chapel, I had one of those "Oh Duh!" moments. Music isn't about my life. It's all about God. But not in that really weird religious connotation sense. I believe in the Creator God and that we are all made in His Image. Since we are made in His Image, we are all "mini-creators", though we cannot make anything that hasn't already existed in some form before (unlike God, who speaks and creates). But music is different. We can put together these notes in different combinations that have never been done before. Each time we practice, music happens for just that period of time, and then is lost to us. But it's swept up into all of history. Something as simple as a hymn-song made tears come to my eyes today during Chapel. It had been a hymn that I learned back in elementary school, and I don't remember why at this point, but I do remember the time my Grandma spent helping me learn it, and also teaching me about memorization itself. I hadn't thought about that in a long time, but one simple song brought back a flood of memories. In addition, they used various different songs during the presentation of Houghton's history, including Requiem from Band of Brothers. I, being the geek that I am, recognized these song immediately and became lost in the moment. It's those moments for which music was created. It helps us reach a little closer to heaven. Though we may never reach a place with our music where we become the next Beethoven, Bernstein or Billy Joel, we created something for a moment. And if we create for God, that music is never truly lost.
I'm not going to try to say that I completely understand it, but it does help me. But now when I get too tired and just want to give up because I'm sure I'll never get the etude right, I'll never remember those accidentals, or I can't get the right emotion in the slow movement of a solo, I can take comfort in the fact that it's not really about me, my playing abilities (or lack thereof), but it's about something much bigger, of which I am a part.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Interesting part of MCP homework
I just read this, and it really struck me:
Patient S has hypermnesia, the opposite of amnesia-instead of forgeeting everything, he remembered everything. S was unsble to recognize that different views of the same person were related to a single individual. If he saw a person smiling, that was one face; if the person later was frowning, that was another face. S found it difficult to integrate the many different expression and viewing angle of a person into a single, coherent representation of that person. He complained to Dr. Luria:
"Everyone has so many faces!"
It's so true, isn't it? I could write my own thoughts about it, but take from it what you will. And comment on it what you will.
Patient S has hypermnesia, the opposite of amnesia-instead of forgeeting everything, he remembered everything. S was unsble to recognize that different views of the same person were related to a single individual. If he saw a person smiling, that was one face; if the person later was frowning, that was another face. S found it difficult to integrate the many different expression and viewing angle of a person into a single, coherent representation of that person. He complained to Dr. Luria:
"Everyone has so many faces!"
It's so true, isn't it? I could write my own thoughts about it, but take from it what you will. And comment on it what you will.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Just About a Month
Well, tomorrow it will have been a month since I came to Houghton. There's really no easy way to condense a month into a blog entry. At least, there's no way to do it without taking about 3.5 hours. So here's what I'll say
Let's start with classes:
-Bib Lit: It's a great class. A lot of reading, but still a great class. I feel bad because occasionally I ALMOST fall asleep in class. But not quite. And I'm really learning a lot by looking at the Bible from a different cultural perspective
-Chapel: Always different, most of the time interesting, and often controversial
-Aural Skills 1: Dr. Casey is probably one of the most amazing professors when it comes to Aural Skills. He really takes the pressure off, and makes the class so much fun
-Music in the Christian Perspective: Once again, a lot of reading. A LOT. But overall a pretty interesting class, and Dr. King has a really unique teaching style that always keeps your attention
-Percussion Instruments: I'm really struggling with rolls right now, and that's frustrating. But Prof. Stith is giving us a lot of good tips as to how to properly teach percussion
-FYI: There's nothing really to say about FYI
-Adolescent Psych: It's a fairly interesting course. I think it's going to end up being really helpful if I get to teach at the high school level (which is my goal)
-Practical Keyboard 2: I've only had 2 classes, and Prof Johnson wasn't at the last one....so it's hard to judge right now. The hardest thing would be re-learning my scales and remembering how to transpose. But the actual music we play isn't too hard compared to what I'm used to playing
-Symphonic Winds: I'm third chair, first part. It's a real task trying to get my high notes in tune, but overall I like most of the music we're playing. And we're getting ready for a pops concert this Saturday (I'm looking forward to it) for homecoming (125th anniversary), and I feel like I'm learning a lot about ensemble playing.
-Philharmonia: Currently I'm playing 2nd part on the Shubert piece that we're playing. I get to play my A clarinet, which I always love doing, and it's a nice piece to play
-Clarinet Choir: A mix of various pieces, and the biggest thing right now is intonation. But it's so much to play with a bunch of clarinetists
-Clarinet Quartet: We just had our first "rehearsal" and I'm looking forward to learning how to develop a really good chamber music sound
-Applied Clarinet (aka my lessons): Prof Lascell is a fantastic teacher, and I'm already learning a lot from him.....and realizing I have a LONG way to go
And the other stuff:
-I love my dorm
-I love my floor
-I love my friends (see more below)
-Hannah: the crazier, creepier side of me. It's a good thing we're not on the same floor, or else we'd never get anything done. As it is, we usually run back and forth, borrowing each other's stuff, and doing pretty much whatever we want in each other's rooms because we're that comfortable with each other. Let's just say there's a lot of trust....and if anything happens, I cut off access to the hot pot!
-Autumn: Well, I think she got about half of us sick, but other than that she's a cool girl. Always there to listen, and usually make you laugh. Laugh at her, of course. But she usually doesn't mean it that way. She has a thing for bald guys, pumpkins, her sweet baboo, and burning popcorn.
-Alissa: She's insane. She's a piano performance major. So we help support each other in the quest for surviving the music building. And she pretty much lives in there (although she allegedly is Autumn's roommate...but I'm in their room more than she is0
-Bethany: The poor soul who has to room with Hannah. That's all that really needs to be said. She needs everyone's sympathy. And she's always ready to listen if you need to talk
-Kyle: He's from Tennessee. He can draw about 20 connections between "The Dark Knight" and "Plato's Republic". He's basically the political analyst in the group, but he can also analyze anything else. In a good way. Then there's his alter ego, Spencer. Spencer is completely insane and seeks to freak everyone out. And occasionally offends people. He also has a third personality who currently doesn't have a name, but speaks like a stereotypical "hick". 30 min of that at one dinner is more than enough
-Garrett: Kyle's roommate. Please, feel bad for him as well as Bethany. He's the creative genius in the group, at both writing words and composing music. And he's very passionate about a variety of things, such as Gareth's stir-fry.
-There are also others, but I can't take the time to list/describe everyone (I'm so sorry!!!!!!)
I just went home yesterday and go to see several friends at the EHS Band Competition. Then I went to Aneillos with Carole, Peter and Pat. Let's such say the dinner conversation was quite different from the ones I experience here at HC. Still a lot of fun. I miss C-town, but I also missed HC, so I guess I'm glad to be back here. I wish I had time to write about some of the exploits that have happened, but such is the life of a college student. What I will say is that when you put all of those different people into one giant eclectic mix, there have been some amazingly fun, crazy, insane times, and other very serious ones. I wouldn't trade them for anything.
Your world is made of your memories, and your memories are given to you by your world. The whispering voice of happenstance is always in our ears. 'This is the world. This is the way things are. Look. Pay attention. Remember.'
Random Song Lyrics: The Stranger by Billy Joel
Well we all have a face
That we hide away forever
And we take them out and
Show ourselves
When everyone has gone
Some are satin some are steel
Some are silk and some are leather
They're the faces of the stranger
But we love to try them on
Well we all fall in love
But we disregard the danger
Though we share so many secrets
There are some we never tell
Why were you so surprised
That you never saw the stranger
Did you ever let your lover see
The stranger in yourself?
Don't be afraid to try again
Everyone goes south
Every now and then
You've done it, why can't
Someone else?
You should know by now
You've been there yourself
Once I used to believe
I was such a great romancer
Then I came home to a woman
That I could not recognize
When I pressed her for a reason
She refused to even answer
It was then I felt the stranger
Kick me right between the eyes
Well we all fall in love
But we disregard the danger
Though we share so many secrets
There are some we never tell
Why were you so surprised
That you never saw the stranger
Did you ever let your lover see
The stranger in yourself?
Don't be afraid to try again
Everyone goes south
Every now and then
You've done it why can't
Someone else?
You should know by now
You've been there yourself
You may never understand
How the stranger is inspired
But he isn't always evil
And he is not always wrong
Though you drown in good intentions
You will never quench the fire
You'll give in to your desire
When the stranger comes along.
Let's start with classes:
-Bib Lit: It's a great class. A lot of reading, but still a great class. I feel bad because occasionally I ALMOST fall asleep in class. But not quite. And I'm really learning a lot by looking at the Bible from a different cultural perspective
-Chapel: Always different, most of the time interesting, and often controversial
-Aural Skills 1: Dr. Casey is probably one of the most amazing professors when it comes to Aural Skills. He really takes the pressure off, and makes the class so much fun
-Music in the Christian Perspective: Once again, a lot of reading. A LOT. But overall a pretty interesting class, and Dr. King has a really unique teaching style that always keeps your attention
-Percussion Instruments: I'm really struggling with rolls right now, and that's frustrating. But Prof. Stith is giving us a lot of good tips as to how to properly teach percussion
-FYI: There's nothing really to say about FYI
-Adolescent Psych: It's a fairly interesting course. I think it's going to end up being really helpful if I get to teach at the high school level (which is my goal)
-Practical Keyboard 2: I've only had 2 classes, and Prof Johnson wasn't at the last one....so it's hard to judge right now. The hardest thing would be re-learning my scales and remembering how to transpose. But the actual music we play isn't too hard compared to what I'm used to playing
-Symphonic Winds: I'm third chair, first part. It's a real task trying to get my high notes in tune, but overall I like most of the music we're playing. And we're getting ready for a pops concert this Saturday (I'm looking forward to it) for homecoming (125th anniversary), and I feel like I'm learning a lot about ensemble playing.
-Philharmonia: Currently I'm playing 2nd part on the Shubert piece that we're playing. I get to play my A clarinet, which I always love doing, and it's a nice piece to play
-Clarinet Choir: A mix of various pieces, and the biggest thing right now is intonation. But it's so much to play with a bunch of clarinetists
-Clarinet Quartet: We just had our first "rehearsal" and I'm looking forward to learning how to develop a really good chamber music sound
-Applied Clarinet (aka my lessons): Prof Lascell is a fantastic teacher, and I'm already learning a lot from him.....and realizing I have a LONG way to go
And the other stuff:
-I love my dorm
-I love my floor
-I love my friends (see more below)
-Hannah: the crazier, creepier side of me. It's a good thing we're not on the same floor, or else we'd never get anything done. As it is, we usually run back and forth, borrowing each other's stuff, and doing pretty much whatever we want in each other's rooms because we're that comfortable with each other. Let's just say there's a lot of trust....and if anything happens, I cut off access to the hot pot!
-Autumn: Well, I think she got about half of us sick, but other than that she's a cool girl. Always there to listen, and usually make you laugh. Laugh at her, of course. But she usually doesn't mean it that way. She has a thing for bald guys, pumpkins, her sweet baboo, and burning popcorn.
-Alissa: She's insane. She's a piano performance major. So we help support each other in the quest for surviving the music building. And she pretty much lives in there (although she allegedly is Autumn's roommate...but I'm in their room more than she is0
-Bethany: The poor soul who has to room with Hannah. That's all that really needs to be said. She needs everyone's sympathy. And she's always ready to listen if you need to talk
-Kyle: He's from Tennessee. He can draw about 20 connections between "The Dark Knight" and "Plato's Republic". He's basically the political analyst in the group, but he can also analyze anything else. In a good way. Then there's his alter ego, Spencer. Spencer is completely insane and seeks to freak everyone out. And occasionally offends people. He also has a third personality who currently doesn't have a name, but speaks like a stereotypical "hick". 30 min of that at one dinner is more than enough
-Garrett: Kyle's roommate. Please, feel bad for him as well as Bethany. He's the creative genius in the group, at both writing words and composing music. And he's very passionate about a variety of things, such as Gareth's stir-fry.
-There are also others, but I can't take the time to list/describe everyone (I'm so sorry!!!!!!)
I just went home yesterday and go to see several friends at the EHS Band Competition. Then I went to Aneillos with Carole, Peter and Pat. Let's such say the dinner conversation was quite different from the ones I experience here at HC. Still a lot of fun. I miss C-town, but I also missed HC, so I guess I'm glad to be back here. I wish I had time to write about some of the exploits that have happened, but such is the life of a college student. What I will say is that when you put all of those different people into one giant eclectic mix, there have been some amazingly fun, crazy, insane times, and other very serious ones. I wouldn't trade them for anything.
Your world is made of your memories, and your memories are given to you by your world. The whispering voice of happenstance is always in our ears. 'This is the world. This is the way things are. Look. Pay attention. Remember.'
Random Song Lyrics: The Stranger by Billy Joel
Well we all have a face
That we hide away forever
And we take them out and
Show ourselves
When everyone has gone
Some are satin some are steel
Some are silk and some are leather
They're the faces of the stranger
But we love to try them on
Well we all fall in love
But we disregard the danger
Though we share so many secrets
There are some we never tell
Why were you so surprised
That you never saw the stranger
Did you ever let your lover see
The stranger in yourself?
Don't be afraid to try again
Everyone goes south
Every now and then
You've done it, why can't
Someone else?
You should know by now
You've been there yourself
Once I used to believe
I was such a great romancer
Then I came home to a woman
That I could not recognize
When I pressed her for a reason
She refused to even answer
It was then I felt the stranger
Kick me right between the eyes
Well we all fall in love
But we disregard the danger
Though we share so many secrets
There are some we never tell
Why were you so surprised
That you never saw the stranger
Did you ever let your lover see
The stranger in yourself?
Don't be afraid to try again
Everyone goes south
Every now and then
You've done it why can't
Someone else?
You should know by now
You've been there yourself
You may never understand
How the stranger is inspired
But he isn't always evil
And he is not always wrong
Though you drown in good intentions
You will never quench the fire
You'll give in to your desire
When the stranger comes along.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Orientation Weekend
Well, I've come to the end of my orientation weekend, and I'm pretty excited to get classes started. Here's a blow-by-blow of what happened:
We packed up my mom's car Thursday night and then headed out Friday morning. I drove my car with my mom and my dad followed in my mom's car. We got there around 8am. Katrina, my roommate, had already moved in about 2 weeks before that to do a hiking/nature trip. They had gotten back Thursday night, so she had been up for like 10 min when I showed up : P I'm on the 3rd floor (3rd New), and a bunch of the sports guys were there to help the girls move in, which was really great, because they got everything up to the room in no time at all. So for a while I had to figure out where all of my stuff was going to go. Thankfully Katrina already had the desks and beds all configured, so I didn't have to deal with figuring that out. After I got stuff situated, it was time to run around the campus dropping stuff off and picking other stuff up. Then it was lunchtime. At that point, I had run into Luke and his family, so we ate with them and my roomie. And Connie stop by too. Luke proceeded to scare Katrina, mainly by being himself. The next major thing was the New Stuent Dedication Service. It was really cool and then we marched around the Quad, following a single bagpiper, mimicing the walk that seniors do for graduation. Following that there was an Ice Cream Social and then it was time to say goodbye to my parents. There were no tears, so that was good. We ate dinner with the people on our floors, where I met Alissa (fellow Music major, except that she is a piano performance major) and Autumn (her very cool roomie). After the Student life Office Town Meeting, we got put into family groups based on floors, which meant I got to hang out with Hannah even more! It was pretty crazy. We did some activities on the Quad, including having to form the shape of a lawnmower. When they needed someone small to sit on top of some guys hands (we did a riding mower), Luke and Connie were very quick to volunteer me. Love them. They ended up dropping me. After that we went to the Campus Center Lounge to watch some You Tube videos.
The next morning we had some meetings in the chapell and then spent most of the morning with our First Year Intro group, which also happens to be my honors program group (East Meets West). So we played some games to get to know each other, then we had a picnic on the Quad. Afterwards I happened to bump into a transfer student named Jessica and we talked for an hour or so. We have so many similiar views on Christianity and its role in today's society, it was very cool. We took a bus trip to Letchworth for the afternoon and then later in the evening there was a Karaoke party. I did not go up and sing, but I did participate in the singing/dancing that was occuring out in the audience : P Mainly because Hannah left me no other choice.
Today was much more laid back. We had a New Student Worship Service at the Chapel, followed by the President's Reception where we got to meet and talk to President Mullen. I went and walked to the local gas station/video rental/grocery store/laundry mat/car wash. No joke. I'm thinking Bath might even be bigger than that : P I spent most of my time hanging out with Alissa, Autumn, Bethany and Hannah. We even took time to play a small/quick game of Apples to Apples. I finished getting stuff organized in my room, and finally took some pictures. At dinner, Kyle and Garrett from my FYI group joined the silly girls from dinner. One word : Crazy. OUSTA!!! (inside reference). Our FYI group had dessert together at the Flats, so I got to hang out with Kyle and Garrett and went with them to the Koinonia service. It was really Contemporary, which was slightly different from what I'm used to, but still pretty good.
Tomorrow classes start (MWF):
9Am Theory 1. The books: Kostka-Payne: Tonal Harmony, 5th Edition (text and workbook)
Benjamin/Horvit/Nelson: Music for Analysis, 6th Edition
10Am: Biblical Literature. The books: New Revised Standard Version Bible.
Varughese, Alex, ed. Discovering the Bible: Story and Faith of the Biblical Communities. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 2005.
11Am: Chapel
2Pm I have my (literally) 5 min chair placement audition for Symph Winds
4pm Symphonic Winds
And my Tuesday/Thursday classes:
9Am: Music in the Christian Perspective. The books:
DeMol, Karen. Sound Stewardship: How Shall Christians Think About Music?. Dort, IA: Dordt College Press, 1999. ISBN 0-932-914-44-6.
Green, Barry. The Inner Game of Music. NY: Anchor, 1986. ISBN 0-385-23126-1.
Levitin, Daniel. This Is Your Brain on Music. NY: Dutton, 2006. ISBN 0-525-94969-0.
10Am: Percussion Instruments. The books: Percussion Manual, Second Edition F. Michael Combs. Alfred's Drum Method Books 1 and 2. Beginning Solos For The Complete Percussionist Contributing Editor Gary Stith
11Am: First Year Introduction (Lecture/Discussion). The book: Serve God, Save The Planet
2Pm: Aural Skills 1. The book (and software!): Benjamin, Horvit, and Nelson: Music for Sight Singing. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Schirmer, 2005.
Blombach, Ann: MacGamut 6 (ear training software)
And here's a link to some pictures from the first few days! http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7213&l=fba2d&id=1018706386
I'll hopefully get a chance to write by Wed. how everything goes!
We packed up my mom's car Thursday night and then headed out Friday morning. I drove my car with my mom and my dad followed in my mom's car. We got there around 8am. Katrina, my roommate, had already moved in about 2 weeks before that to do a hiking/nature trip. They had gotten back Thursday night, so she had been up for like 10 min when I showed up : P I'm on the 3rd floor (3rd New), and a bunch of the sports guys were there to help the girls move in, which was really great, because they got everything up to the room in no time at all. So for a while I had to figure out where all of my stuff was going to go. Thankfully Katrina already had the desks and beds all configured, so I didn't have to deal with figuring that out. After I got stuff situated, it was time to run around the campus dropping stuff off and picking other stuff up. Then it was lunchtime. At that point, I had run into Luke and his family, so we ate with them and my roomie. And Connie stop by too. Luke proceeded to scare Katrina, mainly by being himself. The next major thing was the New Stuent Dedication Service. It was really cool and then we marched around the Quad, following a single bagpiper, mimicing the walk that seniors do for graduation. Following that there was an Ice Cream Social and then it was time to say goodbye to my parents. There were no tears, so that was good. We ate dinner with the people on our floors, where I met Alissa (fellow Music major, except that she is a piano performance major) and Autumn (her very cool roomie). After the Student life Office Town Meeting, we got put into family groups based on floors, which meant I got to hang out with Hannah even more! It was pretty crazy. We did some activities on the Quad, including having to form the shape of a lawnmower. When they needed someone small to sit on top of some guys hands (we did a riding mower), Luke and Connie were very quick to volunteer me. Love them. They ended up dropping me. After that we went to the Campus Center Lounge to watch some You Tube videos.
The next morning we had some meetings in the chapell and then spent most of the morning with our First Year Intro group, which also happens to be my honors program group (East Meets West). So we played some games to get to know each other, then we had a picnic on the Quad. Afterwards I happened to bump into a transfer student named Jessica and we talked for an hour or so. We have so many similiar views on Christianity and its role in today's society, it was very cool. We took a bus trip to Letchworth for the afternoon and then later in the evening there was a Karaoke party. I did not go up and sing, but I did participate in the singing/dancing that was occuring out in the audience : P Mainly because Hannah left me no other choice.
Today was much more laid back. We had a New Student Worship Service at the Chapel, followed by the President's Reception where we got to meet and talk to President Mullen. I went and walked to the local gas station/video rental/grocery store/laundry mat/car wash. No joke. I'm thinking Bath might even be bigger than that : P I spent most of my time hanging out with Alissa, Autumn, Bethany and Hannah. We even took time to play a small/quick game of Apples to Apples. I finished getting stuff organized in my room, and finally took some pictures. At dinner, Kyle and Garrett from my FYI group joined the silly girls from dinner. One word : Crazy. OUSTA!!! (inside reference). Our FYI group had dessert together at the Flats, so I got to hang out with Kyle and Garrett and went with them to the Koinonia service. It was really Contemporary, which was slightly different from what I'm used to, but still pretty good.
Tomorrow classes start (MWF):
9Am Theory 1. The books: Kostka-Payne: Tonal Harmony, 5th Edition (text and workbook)
Benjamin/Horvit/Nelson: Music for Analysis, 6th Edition
10Am: Biblical Literature. The books: New Revised Standard Version Bible.
Varughese, Alex, ed. Discovering the Bible: Story and Faith of the Biblical Communities. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 2005.
11Am: Chapel
2Pm I have my (literally) 5 min chair placement audition for Symph Winds
4pm Symphonic Winds
And my Tuesday/Thursday classes:
9Am: Music in the Christian Perspective. The books:
DeMol, Karen. Sound Stewardship: How Shall Christians Think About Music?. Dort, IA: Dordt College Press, 1999. ISBN 0-932-914-44-6.
Green, Barry. The Inner Game of Music. NY: Anchor, 1986. ISBN 0-385-23126-1.
Levitin, Daniel. This Is Your Brain on Music. NY: Dutton, 2006. ISBN 0-525-94969-0.
10Am: Percussion Instruments. The books: Percussion Manual, Second Edition F. Michael Combs. Alfred's Drum Method Books 1 and 2. Beginning Solos For The Complete Percussionist Contributing Editor Gary Stith
11Am: First Year Introduction (Lecture/Discussion). The book: Serve God, Save The Planet
2Pm: Aural Skills 1. The book (and software!): Benjamin, Horvit, and Nelson: Music for Sight Singing. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Schirmer, 2005.
Blombach, Ann: MacGamut 6 (ear training software)
And here's a link to some pictures from the first few days! http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7213&l=fba2d&id=1018706386
I'll hopefully get a chance to write by Wed. how everything goes!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
How to Survive HoA
I really wish I had realized/remembered this before I started cramming for the IB History of the Americas HL exam this past May.
Everything you need to know can be found in the lyrics to:
(suspense)
We Didn't Start The Fire by Billy Joel
Okay, so maybe you should do some actual studying and occasionally read/take notes on the pile of books you have to read, but the song really is a good summary of all the important parts of that era. When I was listening, I realized that I recognized most of those nouns alll because of the second year of that class. And here's a link to a great video (which I think Hurd showed some time or another)
http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.html
Seriously, check it out!
And here are the lyrics inc ase you're too lazy to look them up:
"We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel
Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio
Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television
North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe
Rosenbergs, H-Bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom
Brando, "The King and I", and "The Catcher in the Rye"
Eisenhower, vaccine, England's got a new queen
Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbye
CHORUS
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it
Josef Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev
Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist Bloc
Roy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, dacron
Dien Bien Phu and "Rock Around the Clock"
Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn's got a winning team
Davy Crockett, "Peter Pan", Elvis Presley, Disneyland
Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Khrushchev
Princess Grace, "Peyton Place", trouble in the Suez
CHORUS
Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac
Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, "Bridge on the River Kwai"
Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California baseball
Starkweather, homicide, children of thalidomide
Buddy Holly, "Ben-Hur", space monkey, Mafia
hula hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no goU2,
Syngman Rhee, payola and Kennedy
Chubby Checker, "Psycho", Belgians in the Congo
CHORUS
Hemingway, Eichmann, "Stranger in a Strange Land"
Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs Invasion
"Lawrence of Arabia", British Beatlemania
Ole Miss, John Glenn, Liston beats Patterson
Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British politician sex
JFK, blown away, what else do I have to say
CHORUS
Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon, back again
Moonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, punk rock
Begin, Reagan, Palestine, terror on the airline
Ayatollolah's in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan
"Wheel of Fortune" , Sally Ride, heavy metal, suicide
Foreign debts, homeless vets, AIDS, Crack,
Bernie Goetz Hypodermics on the shore, China's under martial law
Rock and Roller Cola Wars, I can't take it anymore
CHORUS
We didn't start the fire
But when we are gone
Will it still burn on, and on, and on, and on...
Everything you need to know can be found in the lyrics to:
(suspense)
We Didn't Start The Fire by Billy Joel
Okay, so maybe you should do some actual studying and occasionally read/take notes on the pile of books you have to read, but the song really is a good summary of all the important parts of that era. When I was listening, I realized that I recognized most of those nouns alll because of the second year of that class. And here's a link to a great video (which I think Hurd showed some time or another)
http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.html
Seriously, check it out!
And here are the lyrics inc ase you're too lazy to look them up:
"We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel
Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio
Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television
North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe
Rosenbergs, H-Bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom
Brando, "The King and I", and "The Catcher in the Rye"
Eisenhower, vaccine, England's got a new queen
Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbye
CHORUS
We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it
Josef Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev
Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist Bloc
Roy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, dacron
Dien Bien Phu and "Rock Around the Clock"
Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn's got a winning team
Davy Crockett, "Peter Pan", Elvis Presley, Disneyland
Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Khrushchev
Princess Grace, "Peyton Place", trouble in the Suez
CHORUS
Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac
Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, "Bridge on the River Kwai"
Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California baseball
Starkweather, homicide, children of thalidomide
Buddy Holly, "Ben-Hur", space monkey, Mafia
hula hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no goU2,
Syngman Rhee, payola and Kennedy
Chubby Checker, "Psycho", Belgians in the Congo
CHORUS
Hemingway, Eichmann, "Stranger in a Strange Land"
Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs Invasion
"Lawrence of Arabia", British Beatlemania
Ole Miss, John Glenn, Liston beats Patterson
Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British politician sex
JFK, blown away, what else do I have to say
CHORUS
Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon, back again
Moonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, punk rock
Begin, Reagan, Palestine, terror on the airline
Ayatollolah's in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan
"Wheel of Fortune" , Sally Ride, heavy metal, suicide
Foreign debts, homeless vets, AIDS, Crack,
Bernie Goetz Hypodermics on the shore, China's under martial law
Rock and Roller Cola Wars, I can't take it anymore
CHORUS
We didn't start the fire
But when we are gone
Will it still burn on, and on, and on, and on...
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Hangers
What is it with hangers? They are very simple objects. They don't have a complex shape. So how is it that they become so tangled together? When I went on the cleaning frenzy in my closet, I simply threw the hangers over to one side to save time. It just took me about 25 min to get them untangled. I don't understand it.
Book Numero Seis!
I've finished by 6th book of the summer. It's called "Serve God Save the Planet" by j. Matthew Sleeth. It's the book that everyone is going to read and discuss at Houghton this year. That's why I'm not going to write much on this one - I want to wait until I get a chance to discuss it with others who have read. I will say this - it's motivated me to clean out my closet (I now have two huge piles in my room - one of clothes that will be donated to the Salvation Army and another of empty hangers) and to stop turning on lights in my room during the day and just use natural light as long as I can. And today when I did my laundry, I hung it out to dry on the clotheslines. We'll see what other changes I end up making.
In other news, my life has been divided between good-byes, college prep, band camp, and activities around my house. At the band camp, I've been working with the woodwinds with both drill and music (not exclusively). It's been a lot of fun, but it does get a little stressful when I go there on little sleep. But in general, it's been a good time, and I always love having the teaching practice.
Most of my close high school friends are heading off this week, so everyone has been scrambling to see each other one last time. And they all agree that my future Houghton friends (or ones that I've already met) need an instruction manual on how to handle my craziness : P
And then there's college prep. Which is consisting of sorting and packing. And more sorting. Followed by packing. It's a long process, mainly because I get bored/distracted.
My clarinet teacher said this about college: "The first few days you're going to cry every night because you'll be completely overwhelmed. After that, you'll say to yourself 'This is great! I should have done this years ago!'"
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Mas Musica
Thanks to Katy for this!!!!
Rules:
1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Put this on your journal. It's great fun just for the interesting answers!!! If you have time, do this!
1.If someone says, "Is this okay?" You say:
Get Down (Denver and the Mile High Orchestra)
2.How would you describe yourself?
Hook: Main Themes (City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra)
3.What do you like in a guy/girl?
The Call (Regina Spektor) [The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Soundtrack]
4.How do you feel today?
The Song That Goes Like This (Monty Python's Flying Circus) [Spamalot Cast Album]
5.What is your life's purpose?
Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley)
6.What is your motto?
In My Life [Les Miserables OBC]
7.What do your friends think of you?
The Night [Les Miserables School Edition]
8.What do you think of your parents?
This Love (Maroon 5)
9.What do you think about very often?
Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield)
10.What is 2 + 2?
Come Together (Third Day)
11.What do you think of your best friend?
Drumrun (Martin ODonnell) [From Halo: Combat Evolved....given to me by a friend]
12.What do you think of the person you like?
Feelin' Alright (Joe Cocker) [House MD Soundtrack]
13.What do you want to be when you grow up?
Goodnight My Love (Harry Connick, Jr.)
14.What do you think of when you see the person you like?
Thank You For The Music (Amanda Seyfried) [Mamma Mia! Movie Soundtrack]
15.What will you dance to at your wedding?
The Medallion Calls (Klaus Badelt) [Pirates of The Caribbean Soundtrack]
16.What will they play at your funeral?
Think (Areatha Franklin) [The Blues Brothers Soundtrack]
17.What is your hobby/interest?
Betrayal And Desolation (London Symphony Orchestra) [Braveheart Soundtrack]
18.What is your biggest fear?
Clever Girl (Tower of Power)
19. What is your biggest secret?
Over The Rainbow (Chet Baker) [The Majestic Soundtrack]
20.What do you think of your friends?
Rose Garden [Becoming Jane Soundtrack]
21.What will you post this as?
SOS (Pierce Brosnan) [Mamma Mia! Movie Soundtrack]
22. When's your birthday?
Spier's Sppech (Michael Kamen) [Band of Brothers]
23. What emotion are you feeling right now?
The Basingstoke Assembly [Becoming Jane Soundtrack]
24. Where are you going tomorrow?
Alien Corridors (Martin ODonnell) [Halo: Combat Evolved]
25. What are your taste buds craving right now?
Beautiful (Elvis Costello) [House MD Soundtrack]
Rules:
1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Put this on your journal. It's great fun just for the interesting answers!!! If you have time, do this!
1.If someone says, "Is this okay?" You say:
Get Down (Denver and the Mile High Orchestra)
2.How would you describe yourself?
Hook: Main Themes (City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra)
3.What do you like in a guy/girl?
The Call (Regina Spektor) [The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Soundtrack]
4.How do you feel today?
The Song That Goes Like This (Monty Python's Flying Circus) [Spamalot Cast Album]
5.What is your life's purpose?
Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley)
6.What is your motto?
In My Life [Les Miserables OBC]
7.What do your friends think of you?
The Night [Les Miserables School Edition]
8.What do you think of your parents?
This Love (Maroon 5)
9.What do you think about very often?
Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield)
10.What is 2 + 2?
Come Together (Third Day)
11.What do you think of your best friend?
Drumrun (Martin ODonnell) [From Halo: Combat Evolved....given to me by a friend]
12.What do you think of the person you like?
Feelin' Alright (Joe Cocker) [House MD Soundtrack]
13.What do you want to be when you grow up?
Goodnight My Love (Harry Connick, Jr.)
14.What do you think of when you see the person you like?
Thank You For The Music (Amanda Seyfried) [Mamma Mia! Movie Soundtrack]
15.What will you dance to at your wedding?
The Medallion Calls (Klaus Badelt) [Pirates of The Caribbean Soundtrack]
16.What will they play at your funeral?
Think (Areatha Franklin) [The Blues Brothers Soundtrack]
17.What is your hobby/interest?
Betrayal And Desolation (London Symphony Orchestra) [Braveheart Soundtrack]
18.What is your biggest fear?
Clever Girl (Tower of Power)
19. What is your biggest secret?
Over The Rainbow (Chet Baker) [The Majestic Soundtrack]
20.What do you think of your friends?
Rose Garden [Becoming Jane Soundtrack]
21.What will you post this as?
SOS (Pierce Brosnan) [Mamma Mia! Movie Soundtrack]
22. When's your birthday?
Spier's Sppech (Michael Kamen) [Band of Brothers]
23. What emotion are you feeling right now?
The Basingstoke Assembly [Becoming Jane Soundtrack]
24. Where are you going tomorrow?
Alien Corridors (Martin ODonnell) [Halo: Combat Evolved]
25. What are your taste buds craving right now?
Beautiful (Elvis Costello) [House MD Soundtrack]
I have 878 songs on my mp3 player. And 18 of the 25 songs are from musicals or soundtracks :P
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