Harmony...

Harmony [hahr-muh-nee]- 1. agreement, accord 2. a constant, orderly, or pleasing arangement of parts.

When you look at the word harmony what is the first thing that comes to your mind? To me it is music. So when Peter says "live together in harmony" I really didn't know how to relate what I know about harmony in music to harmony in life, until this morning.

In music there is no such thing as a bad note, there are only good note that are played at the wrong time. When right notes are played at the right time, it creates what we call harmony. Harmonies make a piece of music sound amazing. But one thing about harmony is that sometimes, not all the intruments are playing to create these harmonies. Sometimes it is the instrument that usually sit in the background that gets to stand out for one shining moment and take the lead. Sometime, all the instruments are playing and that just makes the harmony that much more.

In some music, there is what we call disonence. Disonence is when you tak a normal chord and you raise or drop one of the pitched of that chord to create a not so pleasant sound. Sometimes disonence is on purpose, and the main reason for disonence is to make the harmony after to sound that much better, and relieving.

Why the lesson you might ask? Well christianity is almost the same way. We are to life in harmony with one another. Sometimes this calls those who normaly take the lead, to stand back and let a background player come to the fore front every once in a while. Sometimes, the normal leaders are to take the lead with what they are given. Sometimes harmony calls us all to be silent. Disonence (disagreements) will happen, but it makes the resolution that much better.

We need to "live together in harmony."

04-16-07: A Tribute

Silence

Tragedy

Calm

Fear

Community

Horror

Heroism

So many feelings, not enough words to describe them all.

To the families of the 32 victims, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

To the many students and falculty who are going to return to campus on Monday, you too are in my prayers. I can't begin to imagine what its going to be like, but stay strong and take it a day at a time.

To everyone who has been glued to the television watching it unfold, keep Virginia Tech in your prayers. And if and when someone talks to you about it, don't be afraid to talk back.

GO HOAKIES!!!

I've Been Hiding

So I have been fasting from bloging for the first two weeks of April and I am back. If you will notice on the right hand side of this blog, there is a new link called Greece. This is my blog for my trip this summer to (where else) Greece. I am going to use this new blog to talk about preparations for the trip, and hopefully I will be able to update every once and a while this summer while I am there.

I want to use my Greece blog to give my prayer supporters here at home some prayer fuel for me in my preparation and for me while on the field.

Now my Greece blog will in no way take place of this blog, but while gone this summer, the Greece blog will be my primary blog.

Making a Game out of Worship

When I go to baseball games I go crazy. I have my favorite players, my favorite teams, and I act like I have something to do with the outcome (no matter if it is a win or a loss). The bast games are those one in a million where you get to see one of your favorite players (or any player for that matter) break a record or reach a career milestone. You join in the player's emotions of happyness and completion, and you feel (as a fan) that you played a major role in theie success.

How is it that we can get so serious about a game and can't get serious about worship? I can't remember all the times that I went into a worship time half heartedly, and I hate saying that (but I'm coming clean). I don't want to be that way anymore. I want to worship God with everything that I have and with all that I am. I hate the feeling that I get when I know that I could have done better. It is time to stop playing around with worship and take it seriously for a change.

The picture above is of Rafiel Palmeiro getting his 3000 hit at Safeco Field. I was there and it was awesome.

What I've Learned in My 21 Years

I am now officially 21 and I have got to say, I never thought I would make it this far. If anyone would have told me that I would be sitting in my dorm room posting on your blog on your 21st birthday, I would have told them:

"What's a blog?"

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot this week about what i have learned over the past 21 years and I have come up with a list:

1. Be Happy! Nothing is worth getting worked up over.

2. God only gave us one mouth, but he gave us two ears.

3. When someone says duck, they usually aren't talking about the thing with feathers.

4. The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little extra.

5. Sleep is a gift, do it as often as possible.

6. "No" is not a bad word, use it when needed.

7. There is no reason to worry, your parents do it enough for you.

8. If you can't stand the heat, stay off the field.

9. That there is a $550 fine for not having proof of insurance when you get pulled over in the state of Washington.

10. Your real friends stick with you when you are at your worst (and it is not always a pretty picture.

11. No matter what happens, God is always with me.

12. If you fall asleep chewing gum, you better be ready for a hair cut.

13. Orange fights are the best way to get loose before a game.

14. Water boils at 212, don't stand at 211.

21 years of life, and I am still learning. I am blessed to have had people come into my life to teach me how to live. So thanks to all who have contributed to my life lessons. And I promise that there are many many more, I just couldn't write them all down.

I'M 21 TODAY!!!

I'm Going To Greece

Yes, you read it right, I am going to Greece this summer on a mission trip. This has kind of been a decision that I have come to in the last month. I wasn't really sure what I was going to do this summer (whether to take classes or to go on a mission trip has been my debate lately). Finally I desided to just let the Lord handle it and as soon as I did that, he came in fast. I got a call yesterday from the Edge (the group I am going with). Jessica gave me my interview over the phone and by the end of the conversation, I was placed on the Greece Team.

I will be based in Athens (right outside Athens) and an encampment. I will be on the Camp staff and help with lifeguarding, music, drama and other everyday camp tasks. My team will meet on June 10 in Chicago for our oreintation. After about four days we will fly out together to Athens. We will be overseas for about nine weeks. We will fly back together for a debriefing time in Orlando. Then I will Fly into Little Rock on August 16. (after that I am not quite sure, I will either come straight to Monticello for Summer band, or I will go home to Texarkana for a day or two and then come to Monticello.)

I am really excited about this. I really feel that this is where God is calling me and I know that he will provide for it. Right now, my grandparents are not 100% for me going. I ask that ya'll (my faithful readers) pray for me and my family for patience and for wisdom in this time.

I'M GOING TO GREECE!!!

Commission is Blind...

I have come to the realization that people who work on commission will say anything to sell you something.

Case in point:

I went shopping with a couple of friends for my birthday (my birthday really isn't until Friday). I was wearing my camo capris and a UAM Intramurals Champion shirt (this will come into play later).

My friens and i had been walking around the mall and descided to go into Dillards to see what they had. I found the cutest top and thought that i should try it on. To the dressing room I went, followed in tow by Jamie and Nancy. I tried on the top and came to show the girls (remember that I am wearing my camo pants)

"How does it look guys?"

"Not really sure," came their reply,"turn around."

That was when I saw the sales person kinda evesdropping into our converation. So I thought that I would play with her mind a little.

"The best thing about it Jamie, is that the top goes great with these pants."

The sales person tried to hide her shock and then stated that she never would have thought to put the two together, but that it looked "alright". To which I then told her that I wore those pants into the store and that I was only kidding.

THE BIGGEST LOOK OF RELIEF CAME TO HER FACE. I wish I would have taken a picture because it was hilarious.

But it got me to thinking. She would have sold me that outfit, even though she thought it looked hidious. I guess commission is blind.