And then I took Beeky to see Alexi Murdoch at the Crocodile for her first 21 and over show! The show was really good and we were really close!
2.25.2007
victory + live music = great day
Yesterday was Victory Weekend at church. It was POWERFUL. Ask me about it sometime, because I don't think I could concisely articulate it here, at least not now. But I feel incredibly free and empowered. It's really great.
And then I took Beeky to see Alexi Murdoch at the Crocodile for her first 21 and over show! The show was really good and we were really close!
And then I took Beeky to see Alexi Murdoch at the Crocodile for her first 21 and over show! The show was really good and we were really close!
2.21.2007
relationships.
Dr. Greg Mitchell from the Vancouver church gave the sermon this weekend. Talk about convicting! Here are some important points that especially hit home for me:
"Love has nothing to do with perfection." I forget this sometimes.
"It is a huge statement of love to do something imperfectly for someone else." This is SO hard!
"The opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is selfishness." Eeek.
"Your greatest enemy is your own selfishness." Well, shoot.
"When things get complicated, it is because you are hiding your selfishness." Damn.
I have been thinking about these things all week, especially the perfection stuff. I am realizing that I have ridiculous standards, both for myself and for others, that no one can live up to. I think that this must greatly hinder me from loving people for who they really are.
I felt most convicted when Dr. Greg was describing how we look for a potential spouse. He described how most of us have our checklists of characteristics and personality traits that we look for, expecting to find the person who is most perfect, assuming that the closer to "perfection" they are, the better our relationship will be.
My heart sunk a little after hearing that. That describes ME. Although I haven't thought about it in this explicit way, I think that the basic ideas underly my thought process. My thinking has been selfish and wrong. And I haven't been giving people the love they deserve, because they don't live up to my standards. And for that, I am very sorry.
Dr. Greg said that it is the sharing of forgiveness and acceptance that makes love sweet. Well, I think that sounds pretty good.
"Love has nothing to do with perfection." I forget this sometimes.
"It is a huge statement of love to do something imperfectly for someone else." This is SO hard!
"The opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is selfishness." Eeek.
"Your greatest enemy is your own selfishness." Well, shoot.
"When things get complicated, it is because you are hiding your selfishness." Damn.
I have been thinking about these things all week, especially the perfection stuff. I am realizing that I have ridiculous standards, both for myself and for others, that no one can live up to. I think that this must greatly hinder me from loving people for who they really are.
I felt most convicted when Dr. Greg was describing how we look for a potential spouse. He described how most of us have our checklists of characteristics and personality traits that we look for, expecting to find the person who is most perfect, assuming that the closer to "perfection" they are, the better our relationship will be.
My heart sunk a little after hearing that. That describes ME. Although I haven't thought about it in this explicit way, I think that the basic ideas underly my thought process. My thinking has been selfish and wrong. And I haven't been giving people the love they deserve, because they don't live up to my standards. And for that, I am very sorry.
Dr. Greg said that it is the sharing of forgiveness and acceptance that makes love sweet. Well, I think that sounds pretty good.
2.20.2007
favorite albums.
There are some albums that will never die. No matter how many times you listen to them, they remain alive. I am a fan of many artists and have a wide collection of CDs, but there are few albums that I can listen to over and over again, start to finish, and enjoy every second.
The melodies, the lyrics, the musicality... These albums contain musical genius. My appreciation of the artists and their work continues to grow the more I listen to them.
These albums will always be among my most favorite.
Ray LaMontagne, Trouble (2003)
Amos Lee, Amos Lee (2005)
Coldplay, Parachutes (2000)
Donavon Frankenreiter,
Move By Yourself (2006)
Death Cab for Cutie,
Transatlanticism (2003)
Jack Johnson,
Brushfire Fairytales (2000)
Iron & Wine, Our Endless
Numbered Days (2004)
Norah Jones,
Come Away With Me (2002)
Garden State Soundtrack (2004)
Some other top albums of mine are as follows:
The Bad Plus, These Are the Vistas (2003)
The Beatles, 1 (2000)
Beck, Guero (2005)
Ben Folds, Rockin' the Suburbs (2001)
Ben Harper, Diamonds on the Inside (2003)
Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
Damien Rice, O (2003)
David Gray, White Ladder (2000)
The Eagles, Hotel California (1976)
Elton John, Greatest Hits (1974)
Jack Johnson, On & On (2003)
Jamie Cullum, Twentysomething (2004)
Moulin Rouge Soundtrack (2001)
Norah Jones, Feels Like Home (2004)
Pink Floyd, The Wall (1979)
The Postal Service, Give Up (2003)
Radiohead, OK Computer (1997)
Give a listen. I hope you'll agree that these albums are great!
The melodies, the lyrics, the musicality... These albums contain musical genius. My appreciation of the artists and their work continues to grow the more I listen to them.
These albums will always be among my most favorite.
Ray LaMontagne, Trouble (2003)
Amos Lee, Amos Lee (2005)
Coldplay, Parachutes (2000)
Donavon Frankenreiter,
Move By Yourself (2006)
Death Cab for Cutie,
Transatlanticism (2003)
Jack Johnson,
Brushfire Fairytales (2000)
Iron & Wine, Our Endless
Numbered Days (2004)
Norah Jones,
Come Away With Me (2002)
Garden State Soundtrack (2004)
Some other top albums of mine are as follows:
The Bad Plus, These Are the Vistas (2003)
The Beatles, 1 (2000)
Beck, Guero (2005)
Ben Folds, Rockin' the Suburbs (2001)
Ben Harper, Diamonds on the Inside (2003)
Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
Damien Rice, O (2003)
David Gray, White Ladder (2000)
The Eagles, Hotel California (1976)
Elton John, Greatest Hits (1974)
Jack Johnson, On & On (2003)
Jamie Cullum, Twentysomething (2004)
Moulin Rouge Soundtrack (2001)
Norah Jones, Feels Like Home (2004)
Pink Floyd, The Wall (1979)
The Postal Service, Give Up (2003)
Radiohead, OK Computer (1997)
Give a listen. I hope you'll agree that these albums are great!
2.13.2007
musical influences.
If you know me at all, you know that music is a big part of my life. Whether it is singing, playing, listening, or concert-going, music is easily one of my biggest passions. I have always loved music. From an early age, music has resonated deep within my soul.
I grew up on classic rock, mostly. The Beach Boys, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Cheap Trick, the Eagles, ELO, Styx, and the Who were regularly heard through the speakers in my house as a kid.
Some of my earliest and most favorite memories include music. For example, playing the air guitar to Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me" in the living room with my dad, riding in my dad's truck while listening to Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell," or going for drives in my mom's car while listening to Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets."
My early exposure to such incredible musicians has influenced my love of music from a very early age. I still love all of thes musicians today, and my appreciation for them has continued to grow as I get older.
My musical tastes have largely expanded since I was younger to include most genres of music, such as alternative, folk, blues, jazz, R&B, soul, hip-hop, gospel, reggae, bluegrass, acoustic, classical, and beyond.
It's amazing how hearing a song can bring back long forgotten memories and emotions that I haven't felt in years. Many of my life memories are tied to music--particular artists or songs that I listened to at certain times of my life, on certain trips, in certain places.
Music is powerful like that. It reaches deep inside of me and tugs at my heart, stretching me to think and express myself. Music is beautiful and mysterious like that. It moves my soul like that.
I grew up on classic rock, mostly. The Beach Boys, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Cheap Trick, the Eagles, ELO, Styx, and the Who were regularly heard through the speakers in my house as a kid.
Some of my earliest and most favorite memories include music. For example, playing the air guitar to Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me" in the living room with my dad, riding in my dad's truck while listening to Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell," or going for drives in my mom's car while listening to Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets."
My early exposure to such incredible musicians has influenced my love of music from a very early age. I still love all of thes musicians today, and my appreciation for them has continued to grow as I get older.
My musical tastes have largely expanded since I was younger to include most genres of music, such as alternative, folk, blues, jazz, R&B, soul, hip-hop, gospel, reggae, bluegrass, acoustic, classical, and beyond.
It's amazing how hearing a song can bring back long forgotten memories and emotions that I haven't felt in years. Many of my life memories are tied to music--particular artists or songs that I listened to at certain times of my life, on certain trips, in certain places.
Music is powerful like that. It reaches deep inside of me and tugs at my heart, stretching me to think and express myself. Music is beautiful and mysterious like that. It moves my soul like that.
2.12.2007
2.11.2007
a half-hearted over-achiever.
that's the new term i have come up with for myself. actually, it just kinda fell on me just now. and i think it is completely accurate. whether that's good or bad, i'm not not sure!
the scotland update: still thinking. now i am realizing that ten months is a really long period of time. i don't know if i want to be away for so long. maybe it wouldn't be so bad. do i really want to be gone for ten whole months? i am confused. and my mind is arguing between imagination and practicality. hm. i need to up the prayer time.
yesterday, beeky, rob, dan, charlie and i went to the foreign land of canada. it was awesome. we spent the day in vancouver, shopping, eating, and playing at stanley park. much fun and laughter were had by all. we must go again.
happy [early] birthday beeky!
the scotland update: still thinking. now i am realizing that ten months is a really long period of time. i don't know if i want to be away for so long. maybe it wouldn't be so bad. do i really want to be gone for ten whole months? i am confused. and my mind is arguing between imagination and practicality. hm. i need to up the prayer time.
yesterday, beeky, rob, dan, charlie and i went to the foreign land of canada. it was awesome. we spent the day in vancouver, shopping, eating, and playing at stanley park. much fun and laughter were had by all. we must go again.
happy [early] birthday beeky!
2.06.2007
mid-quarter update.
you know, life is funny. i think i go through seasons of blog-writing. i haven't seemed to need it so much lately.
life is moving along rather quickly. i like it that way, at least for now. the sooner i can be done with school, the better! i can already feel the stress lifting. glorious.
i've been thinking a lot about "wholeness" this quarter and what it means for me. it seems that many parts of my life are coming together in a way i haven't experienced before. it feels pretty darn good.
we had a holy spirit party at church on saturday night. i received some victory for some things as well as an overwhelming sense of peace and joy. corrie prophesied over me that art and music are in my future and that my stage from which to speak would be bigger than i ever imagined. i'll take it.
i'm still thinking about scotland. just checking my motives now... actually, that might be a lie. i think i know what i need to do, but i am just worried. maybe i just need to suck it up and get some faith.
i love my house. it has been so great to get to know everyone better and grow together this quarter. there is so much joy and life in this house. being here has more than changed my life.
a random thought from this morning: i am a huge idealist at heart, but i try to make myself into a realist, thinking that it is somehow better. i am a big dreamer, but i am realizing that i tend to downplay a lot of my big dreams and ideas because i want to be "sensible" or something. i think i can hold myself back in that way. i don't want to do that anymore. i think it would be better to dream big, go after those dreams and fail miserably than to do nothing about them at all.
looking forward to these things this quarter: the shins and alexi mudoch concerts (among others), cafe night, writing my last college papers, taking my last finals, going to canada for beeky's birthday, campus harvest, and family vacay at the grand cayman islands!
you know you have great friends when you can spend two years apart, come back together and have the same bond. it was great to get reconnected with these fabulous people over break, most of whom i don't talk to regularly. it was good to realize how much they have enriched my life and how much i miss them!
life is moving along rather quickly. i like it that way, at least for now. the sooner i can be done with school, the better! i can already feel the stress lifting. glorious.
i've been thinking a lot about "wholeness" this quarter and what it means for me. it seems that many parts of my life are coming together in a way i haven't experienced before. it feels pretty darn good.
we had a holy spirit party at church on saturday night. i received some victory for some things as well as an overwhelming sense of peace and joy. corrie prophesied over me that art and music are in my future and that my stage from which to speak would be bigger than i ever imagined. i'll take it.
i'm still thinking about scotland. just checking my motives now... actually, that might be a lie. i think i know what i need to do, but i am just worried. maybe i just need to suck it up and get some faith.
i love my house. it has been so great to get to know everyone better and grow together this quarter. there is so much joy and life in this house. being here has more than changed my life.
a random thought from this morning: i am a huge idealist at heart, but i try to make myself into a realist, thinking that it is somehow better. i am a big dreamer, but i am realizing that i tend to downplay a lot of my big dreams and ideas because i want to be "sensible" or something. i think i can hold myself back in that way. i don't want to do that anymore. i think it would be better to dream big, go after those dreams and fail miserably than to do nothing about them at all.
looking forward to these things this quarter: the shins and alexi mudoch concerts (among others), cafe night, writing my last college papers, taking my last finals, going to canada for beeky's birthday, campus harvest, and family vacay at the grand cayman islands!
you know you have great friends when you can spend two years apart, come back together and have the same bond. it was great to get reconnected with these fabulous people over break, most of whom i don't talk to regularly. it was good to realize how much they have enriched my life and how much i miss them!
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