Valentine's Day remarks

So yesterday was all-in-all a pretty good day. Not only did I receive two suckers, but I was able to give too. Yesterday as I was out and about town, I realized that being a single christian doesn't have to mean I don't give a present to a girl. Rather, I could use my money- money if I were in a relationship that would go towards dates and presents- to girls that I know who are single and in Christ. I have friends that are girls that clue me in to the fact that if you're a female and single on Valentine's Day, it can be very rough. So, I took an opportunity of being single to benefit my sisters in Christ. I gave girls presents that they would not have gotten and I hope by doing so, I will have encouraged them in their singleness... that they don't have to look towards boyfriends to supply happiness, but to know that the body of Christ supports them. I also wanted them to reassure them that by being their brother in Christ I wanted to just thank them for guarding their hearts and minds and my way of saying thanks was through the presents.

Act Like Men

This weekend I had the opportunity to hang out with 'da boys' from Crusade and Navs. This is an annual event we call Man Maker. Good times were had by all, but more importantly, many (including me) learned a lot about growing in our faith and becoming a man. Our key verse is from 1 Corinthians 16. Verse 13 in the ESV says "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." I memorized this verse at National Conference in 2002, but I memorized it because of the 'stand firm in the faith' part. Now, three years later, I have a completely different outlook on the verse. I really like how the ESV says "act like men". For me it carries more weight and digs right down to the core issue.

Praise and Worship

Why have I been so enthralled with learning more about the process of large format sound systems? Today in church as I was singing praise and worship songs along with the rest of the congregation, I think I stumbled onto something. But first I need to go back [roughly] two days from today.

Thursday night started the annual Navigator Start of Semester Prayer Launch. Twelve hours of one-hour shifts of pure prayer is the format that gets us through. It went from 7pm Thursday night to 7:30am Friday morning. (A brief aside ... I stayed awake all twelve hours fulfilling an agreement I made with Brian, and also to walk the ladies, who had braved the cold, back to their respective dorm/house.) But at 6am Friday morning, those who wanted to, came back and we closed the Prayer Launch out with an hour and a half of pure meditative worship to God.

Friday night (after getting a few hours of sleep), I showed up to Nav Nite and sat up the sound equipment. After successfully sound checking the band, it was time to start. I assumed my now normal position behind the soundboard and proceeded to enjoy the praise and worship, ever-so-often tweaking the knobs as I saw fit.

Finally, today in church, I sat amongst the congregation awaiting the start of church, when I noticed how many musically inclined people Grace Chapel truly has. Abel Sisco, who has been the church music director/lead guitarist, is in his own right a very talented musician. Case Maranville, who's apart of the band Casting Pearls, will soon be taking over for Abel. And two of the four Zach brothers of Remedy were in attendance today.

So what does all of this have to do with my fascination of sound? I finally realized that, for me personally, music that proclaims God as my creator, supplier of life, saviour, and lord over my life ... truly lets me worship and glorify Him. So for me, by learning how to do the sound, will ultimately bring others another form of worshipping and communicating with God. Psalm 69:30 says "I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving." And again Psalm 100:2 says "Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs." God wants us to give Him the glory at all times ... even in song.

More to ponder

I watched a special on FoxNews tonight about the separation of church and state. I was at first really happy they were doing it, cuz they actually took the christian stance for once, but then I realized that it wasn't accomplishing anything because they weren't getting to the root of the problem...God. It got me thinking again about apologetics and how I need to continue to sharpen my skills of not just arguing my thoughts, but bringing in God and His truth.

Down to business

So I think I'm gonna use this site as more of a personal journal rather than public hearsay. So my first true post in this format will be short. How will I turn to God over Christmas break? Will I continue to put off my quiet times, or will I be diligent in keeping a time set apart to dive into His word? I know in my heart, I want the second choice, but I am weakminded often times and do not live out of fear of my God. In reading "The Pursuit of Holiness", I am finding out that I do need to take charge in finding time to bask in His glory and not give into my fleshly desires.

Last Nav Night

So today marks the last Nav Night of the semester. Crazy how that works. I'm excited for the FC Christmas Party. Let's just say we have a few "pass on the tradition" gifts for this years freshmen.

I'm in...

I came to the realization that I spend time on the Internet, not only surfing, but reading other people's blogs. I find this extremely puzzling because I do not blog myself. Plus there's that whole thing of receiving and not giving. So in an attempt to right this situation, I have decided to start my own blog.