Hey guys,
It's finally here. I have been counting down the days since I drove away from Agape Farm in Mt. Union, PA to the worship of Casting Crowns just last year. I can't believe I am going to Creation again. It seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity!
This year will be a little different. I have learned a lot about camping in the last few weeks. I have a stove, real food, a tent, many coolers, and other amenities to make the trip more liveable. I also have a friend going with me and I am so excited to share this week with her. I love the idea of worshipping God together and having a chance to share an incredible experience like Creation.
I am also part of the press this year. I will be among the people vying for a minute of time with some of the biggest artists in Christian music. It sounds so cheesy, but I spend every weekend in church worshipping through songs written by people who help me communicate with my Lord and now I might get to meet them. I might get to hear from some of them their thoughts on worship, music performance, and the like. It's amazing when you think about it. Sometimes I wonder why I write and then opportunities like this remind me!
I am excited to say the least. I will spend hot days at the gates working my butt off. I will be spending my small amount of free time trying to get interviews, photos, and videos of the shows. I might sleep (probably not) and get to spend time with the amazing friends I met last year! I can't wait. Make sure to say hi if you stop by. I hope to see you at the gates! Creation is less than 24 hours away!
6.27.2010
6.24.2010
Day 4: It's just uncomfortable
I hate this weather. Humidity. Severe Thunderstorms. People who can't drive and turn on their AC at the same time. It's just icky.
I am currently sitting in my mom's office where there are 4 fans and a portable air conditioner cooling the 85 degree room. It's hotter than a mother in here. Setting up the portable AC was a comedic event. If I could have I would have taped it for AFV, but that would have required more hands than I currently possess.
It's funny though because despite the fact that I am uncomfortable there are places that are much worse (my house for example) and places I would rather not be (work for example) so I sit here in discomfort and write, watch Hulu, play on facebook, etc. It's easier to be a little uncomfortable and more productive (or some twisted version of productive).
So get uncomfortable today. It might help you get something done you didn't expect.
I am currently sitting in my mom's office where there are 4 fans and a portable air conditioner cooling the 85 degree room. It's hotter than a mother in here. Setting up the portable AC was a comedic event. If I could have I would have taped it for AFV, but that would have required more hands than I currently possess.
It's funny though because despite the fact that I am uncomfortable there are places that are much worse (my house for example) and places I would rather not be (work for example) so I sit here in discomfort and write, watch Hulu, play on facebook, etc. It's easier to be a little uncomfortable and more productive (or some twisted version of productive).
So get uncomfortable today. It might help you get something done you didn't expect.
6.19.2010
Day 3: Friends till the end
I spent the evening with my two best friends last night. We ate. We laughed. We shopped. It was a great time. It got me thinking about the value of our friends. When do we put them first in our lives and when do we use them to get what we want? It's frustrating to think about because we all do it.
Friends are one of the most important things in our lives, but we all put ourselves first more often than not. Why is this? It's scary to think about the fact that one day we may have no friends if we keep doing this.
Do something good for your friends today.
Friends are one of the most important things in our lives, but we all put ourselves first more often than not. Why is this? It's scary to think about the fact that one day we may have no friends if we keep doing this.
Do something good for your friends today.
6.17.2010
Day 2: All you need is time?
So I skipped two days. You probably realize that doing something everyday no matter what is hard. But really why is it hard? Writing this blog takes me at most half an hour. I can find a half an hour. Yesterday, I spent a half an hour in Old Navy killing time. The day before that, I spent way more than a half an hour watching many NCIS episodes...one after another. It's amazing how we waste time when all we want is more time.
I was thinking about this a lot the other day. I am taking these tests to get out of taking math and science in college. I am spending my summer learning Calculus and Biology (again) so that I don't have take and retake these classes. It is giving me more time during the semester to focus on my major classes. It is giving me a lighter course load and less stress which allows me to be someone that people actually want to be around. It also allows me to give more of myself to others which is at the core of who I am.
But even then, it's tempting to give and give and give. I often try to get busy for God and at the end of the day I am spent, exhausted, and even sick sometimes because I don't take care of myself. I find myself behind in my school work. I am often frustrated by the fact that it takes so much time to get things done. And no matter what preparations I took to reduce my stress beforehand, I am always stressed. Why is this? I think we are addicted to using up all our time in ways that often bring glory to ourselves before they bring glory to God.
They might start out that way. I often will do something for the greater good because I want people to see my love for God and I want God to be given the glory, but if I get something out of it, there is a more likely chance I will do something for the greater good again. It's not a profound confession, but it is the truth. I love serving God. Don't get me wrong. Serving Him has led me to realize His call on my life, but even those feel-good feelings that I get when there's a victory for His kingdom leads me to want to be there in that position of service again and sometimes I wonder if those are the right motives.
But that's neither here nor there right now. When it comes to time, I think no matter what our motives are we need to say no sometimes. It doesn't make us heathens and certainly doesn't make us bad friends or family. It makes us sane!
There's this exercise that some of my friends do when they are hired for certain positions at school. They have to block their time for specific activities as to force time management. It allows them to understand what their priorities are and helps them to see what's important. I am going to do this starting Monday. I wonder if maybe you would do it to. If any of you are actually reading this.
Anyways...take care of your time because it's precious and it's limited.
I was thinking about this a lot the other day. I am taking these tests to get out of taking math and science in college. I am spending my summer learning Calculus and Biology (again) so that I don't have take and retake these classes. It is giving me more time during the semester to focus on my major classes. It is giving me a lighter course load and less stress which allows me to be someone that people actually want to be around. It also allows me to give more of myself to others which is at the core of who I am.
But even then, it's tempting to give and give and give. I often try to get busy for God and at the end of the day I am spent, exhausted, and even sick sometimes because I don't take care of myself. I find myself behind in my school work. I am often frustrated by the fact that it takes so much time to get things done. And no matter what preparations I took to reduce my stress beforehand, I am always stressed. Why is this? I think we are addicted to using up all our time in ways that often bring glory to ourselves before they bring glory to God.
They might start out that way. I often will do something for the greater good because I want people to see my love for God and I want God to be given the glory, but if I get something out of it, there is a more likely chance I will do something for the greater good again. It's not a profound confession, but it is the truth. I love serving God. Don't get me wrong. Serving Him has led me to realize His call on my life, but even those feel-good feelings that I get when there's a victory for His kingdom leads me to want to be there in that position of service again and sometimes I wonder if those are the right motives.
But that's neither here nor there right now. When it comes to time, I think no matter what our motives are we need to say no sometimes. It doesn't make us heathens and certainly doesn't make us bad friends or family. It makes us sane!
There's this exercise that some of my friends do when they are hired for certain positions at school. They have to block their time for specific activities as to force time management. It allows them to understand what their priorities are and helps them to see what's important. I am going to do this starting Monday. I wonder if maybe you would do it to. If any of you are actually reading this.
Anyways...take care of your time because it's precious and it's limited.
6.14.2010
Day 1: Watch out Giada...
Today I attempted to be a better cook than I am. It's funny because most of the time when I make something for the first time I have no idea if the end product is going to be good. But I never apologize and I never try to feel sorry for myself if I fail. There's something about cooking that always seems measurable beyond good and bad.
With the dessert I made today the crust rocked, but the filling severely lacked. While I don't know what I did or how I messed it up, I learned that the crust is a great recipe and that I can continue to work on my skills with that, but maybe a different filling would be better.
There were good and bad in the same product. It's not all measurable by one standard. Imagine that. I'm going to try it again this weekend. We'll see how it goes.
Until I figure it out feel free to take Italian pastry advice from Giada de Laurentis. One day I will be in her shoes. Sort of...
I have always wanted to open my own place. A cafe that serves people good food, pastries, coffee, and tea. Then I would invite the homeless to come and eat after closing. I'd stay open for them until I run out of food. It creates less waste and it impacts a small part of the world.
Cooking with a purpose...now that's better than Giada's fake smile for sure. :)
With the dessert I made today the crust rocked, but the filling severely lacked. While I don't know what I did or how I messed it up, I learned that the crust is a great recipe and that I can continue to work on my skills with that, but maybe a different filling would be better.
There were good and bad in the same product. It's not all measurable by one standard. Imagine that. I'm going to try it again this weekend. We'll see how it goes.
Until I figure it out feel free to take Italian pastry advice from Giada de Laurentis. One day I will be in her shoes. Sort of...
I have always wanted to open my own place. A cafe that serves people good food, pastries, coffee, and tea. Then I would invite the homeless to come and eat after closing. I'd stay open for them until I run out of food. It creates less waste and it impacts a small part of the world.
Cooking with a purpose...now that's better than Giada's fake smile for sure. :)
6.13.2010
365 Days
It's amazing how fast one year goes. It's amazing how fast we forget moments, thoughts, and words that at times can seem life-changing. So what are we to do?
Well have you heard of the 365 project? If not, here's how it works. One chooses a discipline that he or she practices (art, photography, writing, even cooking) and they do that discipline everyday for a year. At the end of the year they have a collection of whatever the fruit of their discipline is.
I am going to write everyday. Reflections, poetry, short stories, whatever inspiration brings. I want my writing to be a representation of my day. I want my days and weeks and months to be a collection of those memories, thoughts, and words that we so easily lose. At the end of this project, my writing should mean something, maybe only to me, but my prayer is that not be the case.
I will start this project tomorrow. 365 days to go. Who knows what the next year will bring.
Well have you heard of the 365 project? If not, here's how it works. One chooses a discipline that he or she practices (art, photography, writing, even cooking) and they do that discipline everyday for a year. At the end of the year they have a collection of whatever the fruit of their discipline is.
I am going to write everyday. Reflections, poetry, short stories, whatever inspiration brings. I want my writing to be a representation of my day. I want my days and weeks and months to be a collection of those memories, thoughts, and words that we so easily lose. At the end of this project, my writing should mean something, maybe only to me, but my prayer is that not be the case.
I will start this project tomorrow. 365 days to go. Who knows what the next year will bring.
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