before chinese food with my aunt playlist

Thank you Jesus

As I am updating my blog background and song I start to hear yelling and arguing going on outside of my neighborhood. It was kind of scary because it sounded like a bunch of guys about to get in a fight and maybe even start shooting (I don't live in a bad neighborhood so this is odd). So I turn the TV down and start to listen, then I go to look for my dad who cannot be found in the house ( I thought he was taking a dump). I find my dad and my brother next to the window listening to the whole thing in complete silence. Haha, so funny to see. But then I start listening and start thinking how blessed I am in life to have a family that loves me and doesn't have hate or anger in their lives. I could have been born into an under priveleged family that is full of hate and anger but God gave me a loving family that encourages opportunities. I also started thinking how one thing leads to another. Even though you may not be a drug addict whose life is going downhill, it could start to by just one sin. God has saved us from all that and given us hope. When you start to want all of the shiny things of this world think of all the crap that comes with it.

I also praise God for my dad not being like that as much anymore. My dad used to get beaten when he was a kid and I know that he has a lot of emotional damage from that, so he loses his anger very quickly. I got verbally abused by my dad when I was younger. I know that "verbally abused" is me trying to be technical about what happened, but that is it. It never got to the point of physical abuse (close but never happened). My dad has gotten a lot better (thanks to God) and I am really proud of the progress he has made.

Listen to Sing a joyful noise

I is nervous

This week is Thanksgiving break and....I am home for about 4-5 days. I am nervous that I am going to fall into my lazy comfort zone and not "live" for Christ everyday like I would at school. I really pray that I can stay consistent in the word and not fall to any temptation while I am home. (this will also be a preview/practice for Christmas break).

Lord, give me strength and let my eyes stay focused on you and all you have done for me.

the 6:53 playlist

Who's who in the cast:

Keith DiRienzo (Hercules)

All the praise and glory goes to my heavenly father. God has given me the gifts and abilities to be on stage and I just want to thank him so much for giving me my passion for the arts. Enjoy the show!

This is what my bio description will be for the next show I do. I have come to a point where I just want to give full honor and glory to God with everything that I do, first - theatre. I have heard of athletes who use their sport as a platform for their faith....that is what I want to do with acting!!

So now I just need to start praying for theatre opportunities and time to do shows. =)

Oh and I was a little ambitious by putting "Hercules" as my character. Yeah, I have a big dream that Hercules will become a Broadway show some day and that I get the lead, and....that all the songs are magically in my vocal range. lol

More cool vids and all that jazz

the reason for part of the title is because I just got done watching Chicago. :)

You make beautiful things and never fade

a little excerpt from my night at church :)



Psalm 37

1 Don't worry about the wicked
or envy those who do wrong.
2 For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

3 Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land
and prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart's
desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like
the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine
like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don't worry about evil people who
prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

8 Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper-
it only leads to harm.
9 For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord will
possess the land.

.
.
.

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of...

So, last night I was praying to God for some sort of opportunity to arise that deals with minsitry and hopefully kids/theatre. Well...this morning our bible class had a special speaker: R.C. Hagans. He works for "ChildCry" which is a ministry of Times Square Church. So I got to talking to him and he said that he moved from Alabama (i think) to NYC and he lives in Harlem/North Upper West Side area. Here is the real kicker - Time Square Church is in the biggest and on of the oldest broadway theatre in NYC. Holy crap on a stick. Keith, could you ask for a more cool thing in the world? Church in a broadway theatre?

It was just cool to here him talk about all this stuff (mission trip to India, his church). And I give all the praise and glory to God for putting me in that room today. I got his contact info and he said if we are ever in the city he would give us a little "tour" of the church when no one is in it. Yesssss. So stoked especially because I will be taking a trip to NYC after I graduate from college! and....eventually move there in a couple years!!

Oh and I got a zip hoodie today for free too.

My passion is to bring you glory

Okay, here's the deal: I love performing. God has blessed with the talent, ability and personality to perform on stage in front of a live audience. I have always known this and really kicked up a notch after high school. I did show after show, gig after gig. It was great and I really started to master my own level of performance level and being comfortable on stage. However, when I started USF I kind of had to stop because I don't have time for it anymore at a university level of education. Also, this whole "break" from performing did come at a good time because it kind of became an idol in my life, so it was good to put in on the back burner and focus on my relationship with God.

But now, I miss it. Everytime I go see a show, I think "oh jeez, here come the water works" because I wish I was up on stage with them singing and dancing. And....I am always usually working with kids all the time, once again ever since I started USF, I just kind of stopped. I miss that too. The kids kind of keep me in check. I miss teaching kids and encouraging them about the bible. I miss teaching kids with two left feet how to dance and act on stage. I miss it - my passion.

I wish that I could just combine all of these things into a big volunteer opportunity like: direct a dance show at a church in a christian based environment for children. This would be perfect! I get to work with kids. I get to come up with choreography. I get to encourage kids in their walk with Christ. That would be awesome. I really need to start praying for an opportunity like this in my life. I would bring all glory and honor to God. I know that now. Before, I will admit that performing was an idol in my life and I liked the praise from the audience after a performance. I thrived on the clapping to my star power. Well, screw that - I now realize that God could have made me deaf, dumb and blind - but no....he gave me this beautiful, artistic, creative talent and personality and I can use it to bring glory to His name. Let's do this. In the "who's who in the cast" section of the program, I am going to put a big thank you to my heavenly father instead of boasting about what shows I have done. =)

Party cause you're in college

This blog post will be about a subject that has been on my mind lately: partying.

Okay, here's the deal: I completely understand why people party so much in college. I know exactly how they feel. This thursday one of my roommates went home and then the other was out for the night. I hate being at the apartment home alone. Sometimes when I am there all by myself, I won't even go up stairs, I just stay in my room until I fall asleep. So I was home alone. I realize that having the apartment to myself is the perfect time to be quiet and spend some time in the word, but it was too quiet - creepy in fact. So what do I do - go out! I went to a car show with some friends for like a half hour and it was really lame. So, then I was like what now? Go out after that. I went out with some friends to the bull for the night. I really didn't even feel like going out but I had nothing else to do.

When you are in college and it is the weekend, what do you do? party. Seriously, sometimes it feels like there is nothing else to do. You are not going to to do your homework. All of your other friends are partying. You can't spend time with your family because you are off at college. You don't want to stay at your two-story apartment alone and watch a movie. So - you party.

oh and one more thing...it is the biggest distraction. I don't recommend it but if you want to put something in your life on the back burner that you are trying to avoid dealing with (your relationship with God, a break up with girlfriend/boyfriend, school, family, friends, being lonely, being single, your life in general) then....go out and party you will forget your troubles I promise. The only thing is you better keep on doing it because you will run into your problems sooner or later. Partying only provides temporary happiness, distraction and the "high" you get from going out.

This thursday I found myself in a pre-dicament (I don't know how you spell that word). But I found that I wasn't going out to have fun anymore, it was becoming a lifestyle. It was just something to do to distract me from boredom. That is when you run into a problem. When you go out with your friends every so often to have fun that is great. But when it starts becoming a weekly thing, that is when it starts. Then the next thing you know, you are going out every night = lifestyle. Which also gets you what you want - a big distraction in your life from something. You may not even know what you are trying to stay away from but when you don't go out for fun anymore and you just go out to "forget your troubles" you have entered the party lifestyle my friend. Congrats. I hope you get what you want.

It's a me, Mario!

So, everyone fall semester I throw a huge party at my house. In highschool, every year for my birthday all my friends would just come over and act a fool. Then when I got into college I had a huge party over the summer for freshman year.





Freshman year

Then I had a toga party at my house to welcome in the new freshman that just moved up from high school.



Sophomore year: "Freshman Toga"

Then last year I had a halloween party. My first time throwing a halloween party! :)



Junior year: "Monster Mash Mixer"

Then this year I had another halloween party! Probably one of my most favorite yet (besides the toga party) because it was a mario themed party! So much fun! and I got to be Luigi!



Senior year: "Super Mario Bros. Halloween Bash"


Every year, I try and throw a huge party towards the beginning of the school year just to kick things off and have everyone come together to bond. It is so much fun because we get to dress up and act a fool. Also, we all get to re-unite and see people that we haven't seen in forever. I just love doing this and one thing.....no alcohol! It is so cool to see everyone come ever year and have a great time with no alcohol. Mission accomplished. See.....Christians are fun! especially my crew =)