And on the Third Day...

Not being one who has been to many concerts, I truly believe that not many would top the one that Third Day gave in Terre Haute on Friday night. I think it is amazing that a band so hugely popular in their genre would even stop in this city in between shows and do one here. They even said it was the smallest crowd they had played for in a long while, but that did not make them seem any less enthused about performing for all of us. I thought the smaller sized crowd and venue was absolutely ideal. There was not a bad seat in the house and the whole experience was much more intimate.

The set list they played was almost perfect. While they negated to sing one of my favorites, all of the songs they sang were great. I almost never feel that way about concerts, or CD's, or set lists. There are always at least a couple songs that are just not what you like, but Third Day somehow evaded that. The only bad thing about the concert is that it ended. Also, Mac Powell has such a great voice live. Singing live has become somewhat of a lost art with all that can be done with altering voices now. It was refreshing to hear a band with true talent that almost mirrors their sound in the studio.

They also brought along their friend Trevor Morgan. Now usually opening acts can be a little lame and you just want them to finish so the main act can come on stage, but Trevor was different. All of his songs were also enjoyable, and his rendition of the Psalm 23 was absolutely amazing. I urge everyone to look into him. I had the chance to talk to him a little bit after the show and while he is not uber famous, it was still exciting to talk with someone who is sharing his great talents and love for God with the world.

Even if you are not a fan of Christian music, Third Day is definitely a band that can be liked by anyone. They have a wide variety of songs, powerful messages, great vocals, and what's better is that they all seem like really genuinely nice people. I want to thank them for coming to the Haute and putting on such a great show, I will definitely look to be seeing you again in concert.

Judgment Day

There is an old saying that almost every one has heard, "Don't judge a book by its cover." Meaning that you cannot tell what something is like based solely on appearances. We have heard this before, but do we take it seriously? I know I have judged people too quickly sometimes or judged them wrongly and have felt bad about it later. It is common nature to judge too quickly and to make assumptions about situations or people before one even knows them. What we are missing is tolerance. Some may say we are missing acceptance, but one need not accept something as long as they are able to aptly tolerate it. There is a story about Jesus meeting a woman at Jacob's well that fits well with this practice.

Jesus sat down by Jacob's well in Sychar where he encountered a Samaritan woman getting water from the well. Knowing full well of her sins and the woman's standing in her town, Jesus spoke to her anyway. Maybe even bigger than that was the fact that he was a Jew and she a Samaritan. In the process of speaking to her, Jesus reveals to her that he is the Messiah and if she drinks his water, she will never be thirsty again. Jesus accepted this woman for who she was, he did not reject for who he thought her to be, and in this case knew her to be before their encounter.

I believe that people pass judgment because it is easy. It can be hard to make an effort to try understand all points of view, all ways of life, and all decisions, but if more people did that, there may not be so much hate in this world. There are always going to be disagreements because all humans are different. I think we were all made different by God so that we could practice these habits in life. We don't always have to be right, or understand everything that happens, but making that effort is what makes the difference.

Another major part of my life is teaching social studies. The main focus in social studies is practicing good democratic values such as: tolerance, valid arguments, open mindedness, and others that go along those same lines. Looking at our democracy today, I do not see those values being emitted by the ones who it should be coming from. It is no wonder that this world still has not found the solution. There is no leader big enough and strong enough to preach these values... but wait, there is. Some people are just not listening.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:28

Why Would He Do That??

We live in a world that is occasionally marred by tragedies, both natural and not, that shift the way we life. The one that most would say comes to mind is 9/11 and also Hurricane Katrina. These events allow for people to reflect, count their blessings, and adapt to a new situation. After events as these, there are inevitably those who ask, "How could God let this happen?" I am reading a book currently called The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. He briefly brought up this situation in one of his chapters and I thought it was a good twist on the question.

I think what people should be asking instead is "Why did we let this happen?" Maybe God is showing us how messed up our world still is and we need to take further steps to improve it all the time. There are always warning signs before terrible tragedies and if we ignore them, and many times that is the case, then what else can He do? I'm reminded of the story about the many who was in his house and a great flood came.

Before the flood comes, a man in a truck stops by at the house of another and asks him if he needs a ride to safety, the man replies, "No thank you, I am a praying man, a Christian and I believe God will protect and save me." Eventually the water rises and a boat comes by and asks the man if he would like to float to safety with them. The man replies, "No thank you, I am a praying man, a Christian and I believe God will protect and save me." The water floods his entire house and the man is on his roof when a helicopter comes by and asks him if he would like to be saved and flown to safety. The man replies with the same sentence as he gave the previous two rescuers. The man drowns and when he gets to Heaven he asks God, "I pray every day, live life as best I can to praise and believe in you, why didn't you save me?" God replies, "I sent you a truck, a boat, and a helicopter, what the heck were you waiting for?"

God knows about the tragedies that are going to strike us, and not being cruel, I believe He does His best to try and warn us about them before they get here. Whether we take heed of what He is trying to tell us will determine how severe the damage is. There are many issues facing the world right now and people know they exist but what is being done? Are these issues even being taken seriously? Global Warming is often scoffed at, but whether or not it is true, shouldn't we be trying to make our planet a healthier and cleaner place to live anyway? Let us not put all blame on God for tragedies. If there is something amiss the first person to look at when determining how to change something is yourself. There may be things that are definitely out of our control and some things we have no knowledge of, but what happens when we do have that knowledge could determine what happens next.

Urb it Up

For the past three years I have been completing an education that will end with me being a licensed teacher. I have learned that most things that happen in the classroom are not things you can learn by reading or studying, but only by doing. Teaching is my passion, it's my calling and I cannot imagine spending my life doing anything else. I have always believed that all teachers can make a difference and I would like to think that most do. However, my thoughts on myself and where I should end up have changed.

There are moments in life that cannot be explained, but you know that something changes inside you that makes you want to a person you have always strived for. I had one of these moments not long ago. Teachers do make a difference, but some make much more of a difference than others. I don't want to teach where every one wants to, but rather, teach where no body wants to. These are where the biggest differences can be made.

I never wanted to be that teacher. I never wanted to walk into an environment in which I would feel uncomfortable or possibly not safe, but someone has to do it. Good teachers are needed everywhere, not just in schools with money or in middle-class suburbia, but everywhere. Instead of complaining or pointing out what's wrong with the world, I figure it would be best to actually try and help some of those in need. Will I be able to change the world? Absolutely not. But hopefully I can change some lives for the better.

Teaching is not an easy job no matter where you are, and I know what I am asking for could really end up being a disaster, but on the flip side it could be an amazing success. Without risk, there is no gain. Without failure, there is no learning. I truly believe this is where I am meant to go, and if that is the case, I know I cannot fail. I will not fail.

PYT 2010: Life Changing

This past week I ventured up to Purdue for a little get together call the Presbyterian Youth Triennium. Every three years, Presbyterians from across the country and world get together for a week. 5,000 Presbyterians in one auditorium is a pretty impressive sight. Being too old this year to be a participant, I was instead part of the roughly 50 member work crew. After spending a week with them, I feel I have made a group of life long friends. We all said our teary goodbyes yesterday, but it's not goodbye, it's see you later. I never imagined going into the week that I'd walk away with such a different mindset in so many areas of my life.

I am sad the week is over, but we're already discussing getting together for future mission trips and reunions. I have no doubt that this group can make in an impact in the world. The theme of the week was "For such a time as this." That quote comes from the story of Esther in which she is placed in the King's harem by God so that she could save the lives of many Jews, and had been placed there "for such a time as this." There's no better time than now, no better time to start living a life you were meant to be living.

I left this week with so much passion in my heart for God's word, and for understanding my calling in life. It's not an easy calling, but it's not supposed to be easy. Making a difference isn't easy. Loving and following God isn't always easy, but I have finally been awakened to do just that. I want to say thank you to all those who came into my life this past week, we were all placed here for such a time as this.

Oh BP....

Alright, it has been a while. I fail. My resolution did not pan out, but hey, life can get in the way sometimes. But now, I am currently unemployed, taking summer school, and reading the Pelican Brief so I think I have some more time to discuss what's on my mind.

So I've been trying to come up with something clever with the initials BP, because well, they are on my list. The biggest oil spill in history just keeps getting bigger. Seriously? Now I realize that it is probably pretty tough to stop a gushing leak of oil, but while you are continuously failing to stop the leak, wildlife and ecosystems are dying. Yesterday I read that it will take until August to completely stop the leak. August?! That's two months away! How many more animals are going to have to die before it is fixed? And what about water industries that are suffering? Get it together people.

I will forever boycott BP gas stations for as long as I live. Our environment is already being destroyed enough as it is, but this should have been prevented. I acknowledge that mistakes happen and oil is a dangerous thing sometimes, but plans should be made for these situations. And if they had plans to begin with, then better plans. BP should be utterly embarrassed and really shape up after this oil spill is resolved. But the damages from the spill will take years to recover from. This is all the more reason to start lessening the dependence on oil.

Too Many Cooks

Most days at work I do little to actually contribute to the food that is served to the patrons; usually I just serve the food. But on Thursday I got to do a little more which some people would hate, but I did not. And while it may seem weird, I loved chopping Kiwi and peeling hard boiled eggs. And while I was doing this, I could not believe the incompetence standing right next to me. The way he brutally peeled and sliced the kiwi would make any self-respecting cook cringe. I could hardly look as that excellent kiwi was destroyed. And it pained me even more when I had to mix my well sliced and placed kiwi in the same container as his mess. So then we started to peel eggs and I thought maybe, just maybe it will go better for him this time. I mean, it's peeling eggs. But no. Not at all. The eggs met their maker as well. I did not understand the cruelty that he handled them with. He had no touch at all. None. Every time I took even a little chunk off egg off of it, it really discouraged me. I mean maybe the people will not take that egg because it is ugly. The guy to my right obviously was cold to that opinion.

This just got me thinking about what I might have done if I was not going into teaching. I love cooking and I have always wanted to be a chef. But a good chef. Not one of those that makes things that make you think, "What in the world is that?" Those chefs are considered excellent and I just do not understand. It looks pretty, but small portions and food you have probably never heard of just don't cut it. For me, making dinner at home is much better than going out to any restaurant. Once in a while is nice, but I'd rather cook myself thanks. I'm also very picky about who cooks for me. I need that trust that what you make will actually be good. It's hard for me to give that trust because food is just that important to me. It sounds weird, but I am weird, so get over it. I am a perfectionist with a lot of things and food is one of those. Luckily the two women that I love the most in this world have excellent talent this side of the dinning room. Cooking relaxes me. It also gives me a sense of great pride when I successfully conquer a dish. So please, next time you are in the kitchen, show some love towards your food. That food sacrificed its life for you. Even if you don't eat meat, those plants were once living. Don't make their life a waste.