I started a second blog. I may still update on this one from time to time, but my other blog is actually a weekly assignment for one of my classes. Feel free to check it out!
hullyeah.blogspot.com
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
I give up
Thursday morning, we had Worship and Accountability. What that looks like is a message, worship, and (for my major) going through and critiquing the worship set.
During worship, the current worship leader asked us to pray for each other in small groups. His timing was uncanny. I was having one of those mornings where I could feel God moving and felt heavy in the best way possible. Honestly, it was a really distracted time. Some people got on the mic to share some thoughts, the music was too loud, other people had to talk louder to be heard over the music. Finally, when most people stood up to participate in the songs, I went and sat off to the side to hang out with God.
Here's the conversation we had:
"Give up"
"Why?"
"Just do it!"
"Fine!"
Then I cried. That was the lesson I learned for the day. I unclenched my fists and just for a little while let my walls crumble. It was a wonderful moment between God and me...in the middle of a mass of people. Woah!
I look forward to and anticipate more intimate moments like that with God this week.
During worship, the current worship leader asked us to pray for each other in small groups. His timing was uncanny. I was having one of those mornings where I could feel God moving and felt heavy in the best way possible. Honestly, it was a really distracted time. Some people got on the mic to share some thoughts, the music was too loud, other people had to talk louder to be heard over the music. Finally, when most people stood up to participate in the songs, I went and sat off to the side to hang out with God.
Here's the conversation we had:
"Give up"
"Why?"
"Just do it!"
"Fine!"
Then I cried. That was the lesson I learned for the day. I unclenched my fists and just for a little while let my walls crumble. It was a wonderful moment between God and me...in the middle of a mass of people. Woah!
I look forward to and anticipate more intimate moments like that with God this week.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Only because it's been a while
I have been fairly good about updating this blog thingy at least once a month....February escaped me.
So lot of stuffs have been happening and are coming up over the next few weeks for me. Here they are:
1. I got a job at Apple and am loving it. I get to do what I do best- hang out with people and get to know them and what makes them tick. Seriously, that's what I do- selling is a by-product....or should I say "buy product?" eh eh.
2. My guitar performance is coming up this Thursday. I'm playing Neon by John Mayer- a song that has been kicking my butt since December.
3. My vocal performance is in a few weeks. I'm singing a Sarah Mclachlan song to work on my head voice...which is still, primarily, non-existent.
4. I am only going to be home in Eau Claire for 2 weeks this summer. Most of my time is going to be spent here in Memphis due to work. That's mostly alright with me- Memphis is starting to feel like home.
5. I applied for an RA position for the next school year. I am waiting to hear back on that- hoping for the best!
That's most of what has happened and what will be happening. There have been a lot of little things in between and many great conversations with friends I am getting to know better. I am so happy and blessed to be at this school. My grades are higher here than they ever were in all of K-12 because I love what I'm doing. I am being stretched as a musician and as a person. Though it often feels overwhelming, I'm never stretched beyond what I can handle...and I'm finding out I can handle a lot more than I have given myself credit for in the past.
Ok bye.
So lot of stuffs have been happening and are coming up over the next few weeks for me. Here they are:
1. I got a job at Apple and am loving it. I get to do what I do best- hang out with people and get to know them and what makes them tick. Seriously, that's what I do- selling is a by-product....or should I say "buy product?" eh eh.
2. My guitar performance is coming up this Thursday. I'm playing Neon by John Mayer- a song that has been kicking my butt since December.
3. My vocal performance is in a few weeks. I'm singing a Sarah Mclachlan song to work on my head voice...which is still, primarily, non-existent.
4. I am only going to be home in Eau Claire for 2 weeks this summer. Most of my time is going to be spent here in Memphis due to work. That's mostly alright with me- Memphis is starting to feel like home.
5. I applied for an RA position for the next school year. I am waiting to hear back on that- hoping for the best!
That's most of what has happened and what will be happening. There have been a lot of little things in between and many great conversations with friends I am getting to know better. I am so happy and blessed to be at this school. My grades are higher here than they ever were in all of K-12 because I love what I'm doing. I am being stretched as a musician and as a person. Though it often feels overwhelming, I'm never stretched beyond what I can handle...and I'm finding out I can handle a lot more than I have given myself credit for in the past.
Ok bye.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Jesus and Adele
I had the most random thought pop into my head and I'm about to hash it out on here-
Adele (the current artist I'm really digging. I know, I'm a little late to the game) is like a modern day Jesus. Now, before I get slammed for the comparison, know the side-by-side views are purely superficial.
Adele is that artist everybody knows about. Some people are obsessed with her and will swear by her music and talent. Others will see her as the flavor of the week. Others still will hate her music and think she is overrated.
It doesn't matter what you think about her, but see how Jesus has been treated the same way?
Some will swear by him. Some will think he is just the flavor of the week. Some will hate him.
Know why I love Adele? Her voice is amazing- it doesn't sound like all the other pretty girls on the radio. She's gritty, raw, and full of soul. I would kill (well, not literally) to have a voice like that. She's making a comeback at the Grammy's and I have every intention of watching her in all her singing glory.
I desire to have the same passion for Jesus as I do for Adele. Jesus was a gritty, raw, soulful man. He made His comeback through the Resurrection and showed the world His power. I want in.
Ok, that's all.
Adele (the current artist I'm really digging. I know, I'm a little late to the game) is like a modern day Jesus. Now, before I get slammed for the comparison, know the side-by-side views are purely superficial.
Adele is that artist everybody knows about. Some people are obsessed with her and will swear by her music and talent. Others will see her as the flavor of the week. Others still will hate her music and think she is overrated.
It doesn't matter what you think about her, but see how Jesus has been treated the same way?
Some will swear by him. Some will think he is just the flavor of the week. Some will hate him.
Know why I love Adele? Her voice is amazing- it doesn't sound like all the other pretty girls on the radio. She's gritty, raw, and full of soul. I would kill (well, not literally) to have a voice like that. She's making a comeback at the Grammy's and I have every intention of watching her in all her singing glory.
I desire to have the same passion for Jesus as I do for Adele. Jesus was a gritty, raw, soulful man. He made His comeback through the Resurrection and showed the world His power. I want in.
Ok, that's all.
Friday, January 13, 2012
All over the place
Okay, here are some scattered thoughts about this video that's gone viral on Youtube and Facebook-
So, I like his ideas. They sound good and a small part of me resonates with his disdain for the reputation religion has gotten.
But... I wonder how much of his accusations come from personal experience or from somebody else's experience... or if they just made a good rhyme.
One example in particular is his line "Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor?" What church has he been attending? Who is he actually talking about? Was he at one time homeless and a church slammed the door in his face? Is this just a convenient rhyme to fit his prior line, "I mean, if religion is so great, why is it starting so many wars?" I need my questions answered because I'm going nuts!
Like I said, these are scattered thoughts.
I feel like this is one of those SAT or ACT tests. Bad religion is religion, but not all religion is bad. Make sense? Sort of? Okay, just pretend it does.
Another line that really gets me...actually, it's half of a line- "now I ain't judging..."
Aside from my slight twitch by the use of "ain't" when "isn't" would've sufficed, yes you are sir. This is judgement. Who are you to tell me I'm putting on a fake look when you don't know the heart, hurts, and joys behind what "look" I have?
Jesus did not hate religion. Jesus was religious. He wanted to sweep away the man made rules that burdened rather that freed his people.
Tangent
Bad religion/ hypocritical religion left no room to heal a man on the Sabbath.
But Jesus did it anyway. Why? Because if you go back to the rules and commandments God gave, He said nothing of the sort. The Sabbath was meant for rest and community with God. Community with God also meant community with one another. After all, God created us as social beings- we are meant to do life together. Doing life together means seeing each other through the wide array of emotions and circumstance.
At the end of the video, the man does a comparison between religion and God/Jesus/Christianity (which by the way is a religion)
Religion says do, Jesus says done
Yes, Jesus paid for my sins and said "it is finished" up on the cross. But does that mean I stop there? Didn't Jesus give the Great Commission before ascending into Heaven? "Go forth and make disciples of all men..." Doesn't that mean I need to act? To do?
Religion says slave, Jesus says son
&
Religion puts you in bondage while Jesus sets you free.
No, they go hand in hand. Religion, or the rules if you must, show just how imperfect we are and our desperate need for a Savior. God sent His son to fulfill the law because he was perfect. He bridged the gap to prove we really are and always have been children of God.
Religion makes you blind, while Jesus makes you see
I really don't get it. I have no coherent thoughts about this line other than something just doesn't sit right with me. Does that mean I'm blind or I'm seeing something?
Another eye twitch- "I literally resent it" I literally want to punch somebody in the jugular for misuse and abuse of the word literally.
That's all. Whenever I'm blogging on here, it's way past my bedtime and I'm scatterbrained. This is in true raw form what's rattling around in my head and I'll probably look at this tomorrow and think "what the heck?"
So, I like his ideas. They sound good and a small part of me resonates with his disdain for the reputation religion has gotten.
But... I wonder how much of his accusations come from personal experience or from somebody else's experience... or if they just made a good rhyme.
One example in particular is his line "Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor?" What church has he been attending? Who is he actually talking about? Was he at one time homeless and a church slammed the door in his face? Is this just a convenient rhyme to fit his prior line, "I mean, if religion is so great, why is it starting so many wars?" I need my questions answered because I'm going nuts!
Like I said, these are scattered thoughts.
I feel like this is one of those SAT or ACT tests. Bad religion is religion, but not all religion is bad. Make sense? Sort of? Okay, just pretend it does.
Another line that really gets me...actually, it's half of a line- "now I ain't judging..."
Aside from my slight twitch by the use of "ain't" when "isn't" would've sufficed, yes you are sir. This is judgement. Who are you to tell me I'm putting on a fake look when you don't know the heart, hurts, and joys behind what "look" I have?
Jesus did not hate religion. Jesus was religious. He wanted to sweep away the man made rules that burdened rather that freed his people.
Tangent
Bad religion/ hypocritical religion left no room to heal a man on the Sabbath.
But Jesus did it anyway. Why? Because if you go back to the rules and commandments God gave, He said nothing of the sort. The Sabbath was meant for rest and community with God. Community with God also meant community with one another. After all, God created us as social beings- we are meant to do life together. Doing life together means seeing each other through the wide array of emotions and circumstance.
At the end of the video, the man does a comparison between religion and God/Jesus/Christianity (which by the way is a religion)
Religion says do, Jesus says done
Yes, Jesus paid for my sins and said "it is finished" up on the cross. But does that mean I stop there? Didn't Jesus give the Great Commission before ascending into Heaven? "Go forth and make disciples of all men..." Doesn't that mean I need to act? To do?
Religion says slave, Jesus says son
&
Religion puts you in bondage while Jesus sets you free.
No, they go hand in hand. Religion, or the rules if you must, show just how imperfect we are and our desperate need for a Savior. God sent His son to fulfill the law because he was perfect. He bridged the gap to prove we really are and always have been children of God.
Religion makes you blind, while Jesus makes you see
I really don't get it. I have no coherent thoughts about this line other than something just doesn't sit right with me. Does that mean I'm blind or I'm seeing something?
Another eye twitch- "I literally resent it" I literally want to punch somebody in the jugular for misuse and abuse of the word literally.
That's all. Whenever I'm blogging on here, it's way past my bedtime and I'm scatterbrained. This is in true raw form what's rattling around in my head and I'll probably look at this tomorrow and think "what the heck?"
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Being Told No
This school year has been really interesting for me. Musically, I can't catch a break. If I'm not being challenged in my ensemble trying to string together chords that I've never played before, I'm getting my butt kicked by trying to learn the finger picking style of Tommy Emmanuel.
E, A, B, C#m doesn't cut it anymore. It looks more like this:
G6, F9, Em7, C#m7, C7
Bm7, A#9, Am7, G#9, G6
Or this
My ensemble worked really hard on our Christmas song so we could audition to be in the showcase. We figured out 3 part harmony a capella for the beginning and slowly building into a freakishly, awesomely epic ending. I spent a lifetime and a half trying to figure out how to string the chords together.
Out of 10 ensembles, only 5 made it. Both my roommates ensembles made it...mine didn't.
Two weeks ago, the school held auditions for some summer tour bands. I auditioned for the worship band for lead vocals, backup, and/or guitar. I felt very confident in my audition and thought I had a pretty decent shot at making the band...I didn't.
I'm not bitter or angry. I don't feel like I've been overlooked. I have no hard feelings towards my roommates nor the others who made the band. In fact, I'm super excited for them! But I feel like I'm watching myself react from outside my body...does that even make any sense?
See, I'm not used to being told no when it comes to music. I'm used to being a top tier musician...a big fish in a small pond if you will. At school, the caliber of musicianship is so high, I have to work really hard to keep up. So these past few weeks when I've been told no, it's definitely taken a shot at my pride and self-created identity.
I'm still in processing mode...
But I'm still standing. God is still God. He is my foundation-not music. It's comforting to know that. I'm not trying to just wrap this up in a neat little bow, but I know where I started in this process and I know where I'm going to end. I just have a few puzzle pieces to fit in between.
E, A, B, C#m doesn't cut it anymore. It looks more like this:
G6, F9, Em7, C#m7, C7
Bm7, A#9, Am7, G#9, G6
Or this
My ensemble worked really hard on our Christmas song so we could audition to be in the showcase. We figured out 3 part harmony a capella for the beginning and slowly building into a freakishly, awesomely epic ending. I spent a lifetime and a half trying to figure out how to string the chords together.
Out of 10 ensembles, only 5 made it. Both my roommates ensembles made it...mine didn't.
Two weeks ago, the school held auditions for some summer tour bands. I auditioned for the worship band for lead vocals, backup, and/or guitar. I felt very confident in my audition and thought I had a pretty decent shot at making the band...I didn't.
I'm not bitter or angry. I don't feel like I've been overlooked. I have no hard feelings towards my roommates nor the others who made the band. In fact, I'm super excited for them! But I feel like I'm watching myself react from outside my body...does that even make any sense?
See, I'm not used to being told no when it comes to music. I'm used to being a top tier musician...a big fish in a small pond if you will. At school, the caliber of musicianship is so high, I have to work really hard to keep up. So these past few weeks when I've been told no, it's definitely taken a shot at my pride and self-created identity.
I'm still in processing mode...
But I'm still standing. God is still God. He is my foundation-not music. It's comforting to know that. I'm not trying to just wrap this up in a neat little bow, but I know where I started in this process and I know where I'm going to end. I just have a few puzzle pieces to fit in between.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Lately
I don't have much to say. I just know I haven't put up a post in a while.
Umm... my Turkey break starts Friday. I'm driving home with some buddies. Yay road trip!
For the first time since elementary school, I currently have straight A's. It's a nice feeling!
I told my guitar teacher that I wanted to throw my guitar against the wall because of the song I'm currently learning. He said, "That's music to my ears."
A while back, I got a job and a car...then my car broke down and I quit my job after less than a week.
I got a new phone case. It looks like an old-school cassette tape.
That's all!
Umm... my Turkey break starts Friday. I'm driving home with some buddies. Yay road trip!
For the first time since elementary school, I currently have straight A's. It's a nice feeling!
I told my guitar teacher that I wanted to throw my guitar against the wall because of the song I'm currently learning. He said, "That's music to my ears."
A while back, I got a job and a car...then my car broke down and I quit my job after less than a week.
I got a new phone case. It looks like an old-school cassette tape.
That's all!
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