Weird Dream

I forgot to post this in the last one, so I'll go ahead and make another post.

I had a dream last night that I was marrying someone that I could tell that I really didn't love. That was never verbalized, but I knew that I didn't love her. It was really disheartening.

It's been a while.

It has been over a month since I've posted on this thing. This just proves that I usually start doing things with good intentions and am somewhat dedicated, then I really don't follow up. Alas, this is the progression of many things in life. This is okay though.

Much has happened in the past month. I've had lots of experiences through Bridgeway and many friendships have been made and strengthened. I've also continued to learn what it means to be a better worship leader, musician, disciple, leader, etc. This has definitely been a summer that has formed me in an incredible way and I cannot wait to take my experiences back home with me.

Speaking of home, I will be leaving OKC in exactly 2 weeks (August 6th). Between these times I will need to do a ridiculous amount of homework for my online class which I have not kept up on as much as I need to. I really really hope I make an A in that class. However, that is going to mean I need to spend an exhorbatant amount of time doing reading in psychology and taking tests online. Lame-sauce.

This Sunday I will also be co-leading worship with Joel and most of the band will consist of members of the College Group/Interns. Pretty stoked about that. We will actually be focusing and reflecting on Psalm 23 throughout the service.

Also, if all goes according to plan my roommate will be here the 2nd or 3rd of August and will drive home with me. That will be really awesome to unpack some of these experiences and share that time together.

I'm really excited about going back home, but also super sad about leaving here. This has been a huge time in my life, and I'm really sad to leave the relationships I have formed here. But, I'm really excited to see my family and friends and get plugged back in with my church community.

Dang. Lots, I think.

Driven

Around the time school ended, probably within the last 2 or 3 weeks, I became really driven again for music.  I've been actively involved in music since I was 3 or so and then I could say I've been a performer since around 8 and then a musician (of sorts) since middle school when I started playing guitar and being in bands.  

Since high school, I've not been in any bands, by my own personal choosing.  I've been asked a couple of times but have always opted not to because I felt that the calling of worship leader was what I needed to and should focus on.  This is still partially a feeling I have, but I wasn't really doing much to focus on worship leading.

So, since a couple of weeks ago, I've realized and felt driven to want to and to attempt to write songs and focus on music and really spend time involving myself with music. Not that I haven't done this in the past, but definitely not to the extent that I did in high school.  I've also wanted to start songwriting with a few different people (some who have never written before, some who are far better than me to a point where I know I will embarrass myself, but that is part of the learning and growing process.)  I also want to really focus on my project with Elizabeth (which is one of my main goals) and then also work on some solo stuff, worship stuff (another main goal), and maybe start another band or 2 along the way (stuff that is serious but is probably doesn't play out every week.)  

The other day I even picked up the guitar and played for an hour just enjoying the time playing.  I haven't done that in too long.  I just have found myself  in love with music and all that it is again.  Dang.  Yeah, I just want to really spend a ton of time doing that and loving it.

Music, where it is at.

I just got back from Kansas City, Missouri 2 hours ago.  My roommates and I, plus quite a few others, made the trek up there yesterday morning to go see Sigur Ros in concert.

I cannot explain, nor describe what the experience was like.  It was by far one of the most profound and beautiful experiences I have ever had the pleasure to be a part of.  Simply incredible.  The opening act plays trombone for Sigur Ros, his name was Helgi Jonsson.  His voice was absolutely gorgeous and music quite amazing.  I could hear that he is quite obviously influenced by Sigur Ros, but his music was different enough to qualify him for a good complement to the main act.

Sigur Ros came on stage with the 4 members, a string quartet, and later an additional brass quintet.  Insane.  Many new songs from the new album were played, all of which were phenomenal (obviously).  One of the main events, for me, was the closing number (before the encore) where they played their new single Gobbeledigook.  The new single is quite different than their formal material.  The song is acoustically based and very drum and percussion heavy.  It was amazing seeing them play it last night as probably 6 or 7 members played huge drums for the number while another 4 or 5 provided the handclaps and backing vocals.  Incredible.  

This week has been wonderful.  Have been working frequently at the AE.  It is okay right now.  My internship is amazing.  I cannot stop shouting the praises of Bridgeway and what they are about and who they are.  Beautiful.  I cannot believed how blessed I am to be here and part of this community for this amount of time.  Amazing.  How good is God that he allowed me this opportunity.  Wonderful.  

I miss my friends and I love them.  I miss my family and I love them.  But, I know what I am doing here will be forming and shaping and will be important for my future and who I will be.  Not that time with friends or family would not be, but I feel like this might be a different type of impact.  

I really need to work on homework.

Peace.

This weekend was a retreat for the interns.  We went to Dallas, TX and spent the night at a hotel and did some discussion on what we want this summer to look like.  Most of the discussion was very "big picture" things that we hope to get accomplished.  We started a little late so we didn't get to spend any time talking about practical ways of implementing what we have or resources we have to use.  

This morning we got up and headed to Six Flags where we rode a crazy amount of roller coasters.  It was incredible!  I love amusement parks.  It was awesome just having that time to have fun together and be goofy and just enjoy the experience with each other.

Tomorrow is the first day of actual internship stuff.  We are meeting at 9am and we are leaving at 5pm, kind of like a real job I guess.  I cannot wait to get this ball rolling and see what shakes loose.

Peace.

Things are moving forward...

So, right now I'm just hanging out with Joel (Limpic) in his office at the church.  This morning we met for coffee at CoffeeSlingers at 10am.

So, as of right now, it is probably my favorite coffee place in OKC.  We met there and talked for about an hour and a half then I sat there and read for about another hour and a half.  

I just finished the book The Road by Cormac McCarthy.  The book has moved me more than I have been moved in a long time.  The writing is incredible and the issues dealt with are phenomenal.  Reading it the other day I felt totally inspired by it and by some Biblical passages I have been focusing on Matthew 6:25-34

"There I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap now gather into barns, and yet our heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you now of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Exegetically, I understand that Christ here is talking about the necessities of life and how our God will provide those things to us; however, I believe (I hope that I'm not doing this isogetically or heretically) that God provides things that we need in whatever way we need them (necessary or "superfluous.")  To clarify, I do not necessarily think that I "needed" this internship.  I certainly wanted it and know that I'm going to grow from it and will benefit so much from it, but as far as the necessities of clothing/food/shelter go, it is not on the list.  But, I feel that God has been pushing me in the direction.  I had been so worried about a place to stay and a job and have just been constantly in prayer (well trying to be constantly in prayer) about these things.  I have also not been awesome at trusting God; however, for some reason or another by his goodness He has given me a great place to live for next to nothing, an internship that is actually paying me, and probably a job.  Our God is so good.  

Anyways, saying all of this, my original point was I started writing a song the other day based upon a response to The Road and to this passage in Matthew's gospel.  It deals with past and current struggles and how God is a redeeming God.  Yeah.  

Love you all.

I'm here

So, got into OKC Wednesday night around 6:30.  Met Micah and Kyle and from the get go they have been super hospitable and so welcoming.  Micah even invited me to go see Indiana Jones 4 with them that night, we went to dinner, and went to coffee Thursday morning.  It's just been a really good starting experience.  He also helped me move in stuff and cleaned some things out that way I could put my stuff in the house.  Super legit dude.

The past 2 days I've also been driving around picking up applications as well as turning in resumes to various retail outfits.  So far, I've applied to PacSun, American Eagle, Journey's, Shoe Gypsy, and will have to go back Monday to apply at a place called Blue7.  I'm really hoping that the Shoe Gypsy or Blue7 jobs will work out because they are a lot cooler places and seem to have a better vibe than any of the stores in the mall; however, the manager at American Eagle basically said she would hire me right away but she will have to wait for a week or two to train me.  So, that still gives me time to hopefully make an impact on the other stores by that time.  We'll see.  I know that sounds super snobby of me not to work at American Eagle, but I don't shop there, I really don't look like an American Eagle employ, and I'm not sure what the environments going to be like. 

Anyway, Micah left last night to go to Kansas and Kyle is leaving this evening to go back home to Missouri.  So, I have the house to myself this evening and tomorrow.  I'm not super sure what I'm going to do with my time.  I think I might read some more: The Road - Cormac McCarthy + Surprised By Hope - N.T. Wright.  And I think I may practice a little guitar and maybe try to write something.  Those sound like pretty good projects.  

So, that's a very small amount of what has gone on over the past couple of days.  

New Beginnings

So,

I'm creating this blog because I will be in Oklahoma City for the full summer.  Well, May 20th until August (?).  I wanted to have this deal in order that my friends would be able to keep up with me and see what I was doing.  That sentence was redundant .

Here is the church in which I will be serving:

Click Here

I will be working with a dude there named Joel Limpic.  Joel is the worship pastor at Bridgeway and is probably one of the most legit dudes I have met.  He's just super pastoral and totally real.  It's also nice to be working with him in that he is super talented and a great songwriter.  So, I'm sure I will learn a ton from him this summer.  Below are some things that he has been involved in MySpace music and something called Brand New Mountain Speeches which was an art gathering based upon the Sermon on the Mount.

Joel Limpic

Brand New Mountain Speeches

I think that is enough for now.  I know this is really short and most of what I said is shallow, but I'm tired.  So, that's it.

Much Love.