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. =)
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, November 1, 2010
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 =)
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 =)
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Currently listening to...
It is 11:59pm on a Thursday night and I have fake tanning lotion on. I went to a Sushi place with some of the guys and tried a Saki-tini. i'm a fool. now I am listening to.....
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Epic fail?
So, I had bible study with a bunch of my guy friends at my apartment tonight. After they left my friend Scott called and told me that he thought his car was stolen but really it was towed (thank you to ON50 for not having a lot of guest spots). So, we figured out where it was and how much it costs and the whole bit.
Scott gets a ride back to his house with my friend Josh and then I was gonna go pick him up. Before I went to pick him up I got really excited. I have no idea why. Lately, I have been asking God to just use me as a servant in every opportunity and this may be one! I have a track record for ministering to people in the ghetto (which is where this towing place was). I updated my facebook, grabbed my camera and my bible and then I was out the door to give Scott a ride. It is funny that this all happened this week and at this time.
1. I have a huge test tomorrow that I need to study for
2. But I usually stay up late, so being out in the ghetto isn't hindering my sleep too much
3. I am on a "TV diet" (not watching TV shows/movies for a whole week) and I was wondering what I was gonna do after the guys left....no TV - just go pick up my friends car that just got towed.
Sooo....needless to say that I was a little too excited and was ready for something spontaneous/be used by God. However, I felt bad for Scott who wasn't too excited because it cost a ton of money to get his car and we weren't sure if it was in the same condition.
I pick Scott up and we are on our way. He calls his girlfriend Whitney and she thought he was kidding about his car being towed. Nope. Then we talk about how we are just gonna witness these people to death when we get there. We stopped by the bank. Then we get to the most sketch place in the world...Automotive towing. All chained up and no one there to let us in. We call and figure out that the guy was gonna be there in like "10" minutes. So of course while we are waiting, we decide to look sketch ourselves and scope out the hood. It was pretty legit. Then we parked....and prayed with one eye open (while the doors were locked).
The guy finally gets there and lets us in the office. Our mission tonight was twofold: stay calm/have a positive attitude and witness to the tow people. So, before Scott pays we go check out his car. Looked alright from what we saw and then Scott asked me how we were gonna witness to them and I said that I wasn't sure and I was just praying about it.
We go in for Scott to pay and they just have death written on their faces. The cold shoulder. Not a pint of happiness. It was like give me your money and get out of here, when really we should have been the death face people because we had to come all the way here to get a car that YOU TOWED! So, it isn't looking good ministry wise. Scott talked to them a little about why he got towed ( to try and start a conversation) but nothing really sparked. After Scott pays I said "Have a blessed night" to the one girl. She said thanks. I thought it might help because it worked last night with the lady at taco bell and I got free cinammon twists. haha.
We walk to get Scott's car out of the place and we were both just kind of like....well we didn't witness. We failed. How do you witness to someone like that? They just were not interested at all. Then we left and called it a night. So....now what? We didn't witness...sorry God?
The reason that I titled this blogpost "Epic fail?" is because yes I "feel" like we failed to complete our mission but we really didn't. God provided us with an opportunity - to take baby steps, to learn, to try, to be positive, to bring glory to His name, and to overcome trials. Did we stay calm and have a positive attitude? Yes we did. That right there is being a servant of God. Doing His will. Did we lead someone to Christ? No, we didn't. Did we witness at all?.....maybe.....from what it looks like to us - we did not witness at all. But how do we really know? Do we know what was in that person's heart? or what they thought of us? No. We could have made a HUGE impact on them and not even known it by not cussing them out and trying to fight the bill that Scott had to pay.
Just because you necessarily didn't lead someone to Christ doesn't mean you failed. It is all in God's plan. It was a baby step...for us and for the people. It may not have been the right time in their lives to even hear the gospel. Their hearts may not have been ready. You can't change someone's heart, only God and the work of the Holy Spirit. These people may come to know Christ 20 years from now. Who knows. Just pray that God's will shall be done.
Fail? No. Things did get accomplished especially us being servant's for God to use us however he wants and to learn that it takes one step at a time for everything.
Scott gets a ride back to his house with my friend Josh and then I was gonna go pick him up. Before I went to pick him up I got really excited. I have no idea why. Lately, I have been asking God to just use me as a servant in every opportunity and this may be one! I have a track record for ministering to people in the ghetto (which is where this towing place was). I updated my facebook, grabbed my camera and my bible and then I was out the door to give Scott a ride. It is funny that this all happened this week and at this time.
1. I have a huge test tomorrow that I need to study for
2. But I usually stay up late, so being out in the ghetto isn't hindering my sleep too much
3. I am on a "TV diet" (not watching TV shows/movies for a whole week) and I was wondering what I was gonna do after the guys left....no TV - just go pick up my friends car that just got towed.
Sooo....needless to say that I was a little too excited and was ready for something spontaneous/be used by God. However, I felt bad for Scott who wasn't too excited because it cost a ton of money to get his car and we weren't sure if it was in the same condition.
I pick Scott up and we are on our way. He calls his girlfriend Whitney and she thought he was kidding about his car being towed. Nope. Then we talk about how we are just gonna witness these people to death when we get there. We stopped by the bank. Then we get to the most sketch place in the world...Automotive towing. All chained up and no one there to let us in. We call and figure out that the guy was gonna be there in like "10" minutes. So of course while we are waiting, we decide to look sketch ourselves and scope out the hood. It was pretty legit. Then we parked....and prayed with one eye open (while the doors were locked).
The guy finally gets there and lets us in the office. Our mission tonight was twofold: stay calm/have a positive attitude and witness to the tow people. So, before Scott pays we go check out his car. Looked alright from what we saw and then Scott asked me how we were gonna witness to them and I said that I wasn't sure and I was just praying about it.
We go in for Scott to pay and they just have death written on their faces. The cold shoulder. Not a pint of happiness. It was like give me your money and get out of here, when really we should have been the death face people because we had to come all the way here to get a car that YOU TOWED! So, it isn't looking good ministry wise. Scott talked to them a little about why he got towed ( to try and start a conversation) but nothing really sparked. After Scott pays I said "Have a blessed night" to the one girl. She said thanks. I thought it might help because it worked last night with the lady at taco bell and I got free cinammon twists. haha.
We walk to get Scott's car out of the place and we were both just kind of like....well we didn't witness. We failed. How do you witness to someone like that? They just were not interested at all. Then we left and called it a night. So....now what? We didn't witness...sorry God?
The reason that I titled this blogpost "Epic fail?" is because yes I "feel" like we failed to complete our mission but we really didn't. God provided us with an opportunity - to take baby steps, to learn, to try, to be positive, to bring glory to His name, and to overcome trials. Did we stay calm and have a positive attitude? Yes we did. That right there is being a servant of God. Doing His will. Did we lead someone to Christ? No, we didn't. Did we witness at all?.....maybe.....from what it looks like to us - we did not witness at all. But how do we really know? Do we know what was in that person's heart? or what they thought of us? No. We could have made a HUGE impact on them and not even known it by not cussing them out and trying to fight the bill that Scott had to pay.
Just because you necessarily didn't lead someone to Christ doesn't mean you failed. It is all in God's plan. It was a baby step...for us and for the people. It may not have been the right time in their lives to even hear the gospel. Their hearts may not have been ready. You can't change someone's heart, only God and the work of the Holy Spirit. These people may come to know Christ 20 years from now. Who knows. Just pray that God's will shall be done.
Fail? No. Things did get accomplished especially us being servant's for God to use us however he wants and to learn that it takes one step at a time for everything.
Friday, October 22, 2010
In love with my Creator
It is 12:38am as I write this blog. And I am listening to the acoustic version of "Up and Up" by one of my favorite bands, Relient K. Today, I just thought about how awesome God is and the He created this whole universe and all the abilities that I have, he gave me. The fact that I get to listen to my favorite band in my room is awesome. That fact that I am breathing is awesome. The fact that I have an amazing healthy body and nothing is wrong with me, is awesome. The fact that there is a redbox less than four minutes away from my house to rent a movie with my family, is awesome. The car I took to get there, is awesome.
Sometimes I think that I am this amazing person who has these "set of skills" that I have acquired. If you talk to me, I joke a lot about myself in an arrogent way but I realized that even though I joke about it, some of it is true. For example, I think about how I love to go on stage and perform. I am not the one who is the amazing talented person that can dance or act, God gave me those abilities and he can take them away. My passion for performing, I really need to start using for God's glory and that alone. Not for my own selfish praise and glory (which is what most performers are taught to acquire).
This whole blog post just kind of sprang up out of no where. But last night I was at Howl-O-Scream with some of my friends. We went in this one haunted house that was just like death. It was called "Taste of Blood" and it had dead bodies, blood and "evil spirits" everywhere. There was just darkness all over and in the middle of it you come to this guy who is the "ruler" of the house and he is on like this high pedestal kind of thing and he says "I have your souls for eternity...muahhahaha". All of this sounds cheesy but I am going to make a point, I promise. That haunted house reminded me of what it would be like to be in hell for eternity. It would be like 20 billion times worse. Just death and darkness all over and no way out. Just think about....no light, hope or love ever. Just satan and a eternal pit of darkness, forever. And people are going go there. The path to hell is broader than heaven. Which is sad but true. God has only called on His children. I am so grateful that I am one of His children. I really want to be a servant to God and obey His will for my life, because it is the only way. All other ways lead to death and destruction.
I think that some people think that living a life without Christ isn't so bad. And you may be right...for a temporary moment. You have to realize that one thing leads to another. Gossip turns into hate, which turns into fighting, which turns into murder, which turns into death. That is an extreme example. Don't think you can withstand death and destruction. Yes, we live in the civilized country of America but what happens when we are no longer free? When things start to get serious. When you start to realize what is important in life. When all of the superficial distractions and partying, and relying on yourself are gone. What do you have left? I would hate to rely on myself a mere human, to be in control of my life. My selfish desires and human nature will drive myself into destrution. I would rather rely on higher spiritual power, the creator of the universe, the prince of peace, our God who loves us so dear and is always there for us. Forever....he will never fade. He is the only thing that is eternal and he wants us to join Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. I need to stop keeping my faith a secret and start telling more people about Christ. I don't want anyone to experience that haunted house for eternity, that would break my heart.
Sometimes I think that I am this amazing person who has these "set of skills" that I have acquired. If you talk to me, I joke a lot about myself in an arrogent way but I realized that even though I joke about it, some of it is true. For example, I think about how I love to go on stage and perform. I am not the one who is the amazing talented person that can dance or act, God gave me those abilities and he can take them away. My passion for performing, I really need to start using for God's glory and that alone. Not for my own selfish praise and glory (which is what most performers are taught to acquire).
This whole blog post just kind of sprang up out of no where. But last night I was at Howl-O-Scream with some of my friends. We went in this one haunted house that was just like death. It was called "Taste of Blood" and it had dead bodies, blood and "evil spirits" everywhere. There was just darkness all over and in the middle of it you come to this guy who is the "ruler" of the house and he is on like this high pedestal kind of thing and he says "I have your souls for eternity...muahhahaha". All of this sounds cheesy but I am going to make a point, I promise. That haunted house reminded me of what it would be like to be in hell for eternity. It would be like 20 billion times worse. Just death and darkness all over and no way out. Just think about....no light, hope or love ever. Just satan and a eternal pit of darkness, forever. And people are going go there. The path to hell is broader than heaven. Which is sad but true. God has only called on His children. I am so grateful that I am one of His children. I really want to be a servant to God and obey His will for my life, because it is the only way. All other ways lead to death and destruction.
I think that some people think that living a life without Christ isn't so bad. And you may be right...for a temporary moment. You have to realize that one thing leads to another. Gossip turns into hate, which turns into fighting, which turns into murder, which turns into death. That is an extreme example. Don't think you can withstand death and destruction. Yes, we live in the civilized country of America but what happens when we are no longer free? When things start to get serious. When you start to realize what is important in life. When all of the superficial distractions and partying, and relying on yourself are gone. What do you have left? I would hate to rely on myself a mere human, to be in control of my life. My selfish desires and human nature will drive myself into destrution. I would rather rely on higher spiritual power, the creator of the universe, the prince of peace, our God who loves us so dear and is always there for us. Forever....he will never fade. He is the only thing that is eternal and he wants us to join Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. I need to stop keeping my faith a secret and start telling more people about Christ. I don't want anyone to experience that haunted house for eternity, that would break my heart.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Ask for opportunities
So, tonight in our Romans group bible study we talked about a lot of cool stuff. One thing that came up was asking God to have opportunities to be used as a servant for Him through out the day. I usually just say to God that I am here to be used for your Kingdom today and if you place an opportunity in front of me I will be used by the Holy Spirit. Well, I told my group of guys how I will say that to go God sometimes in the morning(which I did this morning). After bible study was over I got to be used by God in my own apartment at 1:00am. Even though it was just me encouraging my roommate, I still got to share a lot of wisdom with him that God can give us.
Kind of cool. Can't wait for tomorrow :)
Kind of cool. Can't wait for tomorrow :)
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