Physical/Emotional
It's starting to warm up around here so I'm starting to get desires to do stuff outside. I'm just wanting the weather to make up its mind. We've had some very bizarre weather recently and I've not been very well with coping because I've been getting ill a lot. So I guess the moral of the story is I cant wait till it gets nicer out, because I'll feel better and our campus will come alive.
Academic
The days are winding down, things are starting to come to a close, and I am going crazy! Even though there are only a short few weeks left here, there are so many projects that require my attention. Generally I'd like to be able to start reviewing for finals but there just doesn't seem to be time yet. I tell the last few weeks are always so bitter sweet, because it means that a break is coming but we can be sure that there's a ton of work to get past before break starts. I guess that college for ya.
Social
Well Spring Break '09 was a success! I had so much fun in the sun and just an overall good time with my family and a few new found friends. If you haven't noticed from my blogs I really enjoy singing. In California there is a HUGE karaoke scene and unlike here in Illinois people are pretty serious when you attend one of these social events. Many are looking to be "discovered" in Cali and so going to karaoke is always something that I enjoy taking part in. So I made my rounds maybe around four times while I was there over break. On my third visit to a local karaoke spot I struck gold, ok more like $50 that I was given by the karaoke host. So California was good for me to just relax and also served as a bit of a confidence builder. :-D Now since being back I've been planning like crazy for the spring concert for Proclamation Gospel Choir. The concert is this Saturday, and just like everything else there are many loose ends. I'm just really excited about the end result. I really feel that God will reign in the place and that lives will be changed because of our worship. I hope to be able to bring some picture's back for you to see and look forward to telling you more about it.
Spiritual
How can I make God real to the world? That is a question I look to ask myself everyday. I want to be one who is not simply bearing the title of Christian but I want to bear fruit accordingly. My heart has been burdened more than any time before for the lost, those who have yet to be given the opportunity to follow Christ. I feel so passionately that those who profess to be believers need to be living life in the way that God through His Word has instructed of us. What does it benefit the church to live our lives day to day in the same way that the world does? People are looking for an example to follow but it seems to me that that world are following believers that lifestyles look the same as unbelievers. I for one see a problem with that. So if you will, pray with me that God will raise up leaders who are committed to living and leading Godly lifestyles in the church and outside of the church.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
When Life Gets Busy...
Physical/Emotional
Well I guess my fitness routine has become obsolete as time has become my enemy in that I have little to no time to do anything but what I have to do. To make myself feel better I do some stretching to stay flexible and I think I've gained a couple inches in height. I haven't been getting much sleep and that has definitely caught up with me. I've been rather sickly for the last couple of weeks. I just wish there was time to just rest and be required to do nothing, but with school and work on the weekdays and traveling with choirs on the weekend sleep has become a luxury. But hay Spring Break '09 begins verrrrry soon.
Academic
I think I share the same thought when I say that right now school is getting pretty serious. In the last couple of weeks my coursework to say the least, has been challenging. I am really having to get serious about time management, I can't afford to spend very much time being idol. In this week alone I have three tests, two quizzes, and a HUGE project. I don't have many other things now that require my attention at this point, so I am capable of giving what it will take to get through this week and be able to enjoy my break!
Social
Sheeeeeeeeew!!! I just came out of one of the most stressful months of my life. I had so much fun, but it was one of those things where you have to plan like crazy(causing stress) to really enjoy the result of the planning. The Gospel Choir had been traveling every weekend in February within the Olivet four-state-region of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, so thank God it was a short month. In the middle of all of that, I was planning a worship service that the worship band I started here(Adoration) was to perform at. That is always a massive undertaking in that a song-list must be compiled, songs must be taught to vocalist and musicians, and then the two must mesh. So that service called "Party w/Jesus" was a great success. The week later I had a coffee shop show that I needed to prepare for. This was maybe the most demanding event I had to prepare for. I had a group of 8+ musicians and it seemed that none of there schedules ever worked out to have them all together at the same time to practice. They are all great musicians and I trusted their abilities but my comfort factor could have been raised had I had all of them together before the day of the show. But once again things just have there way of working themselves out. I decided that I would put a bit of audience participation ans have the audience pick at random from the list that we as a group had put together. This was great fun and it seemed that the people in attendance really enjoyed themselves as well. But now all I can thing about is SPRING BREAK!!! I'm heading to Palmdale, California on Saturday, I can't wait to fill you in on that.
Spiritual
A season of focused relationship. For some time I've been so consumed in "playing church" and going with the routine and being all about religion. God is challenging me to stop, take a look, and see what it is that I've been doing wrong that has taken my attention from Him and take steps to return to my first love. It will be an interesting process, but one I am willing to endure...
Well I guess my fitness routine has become obsolete as time has become my enemy in that I have little to no time to do anything but what I have to do. To make myself feel better I do some stretching to stay flexible and I think I've gained a couple inches in height. I haven't been getting much sleep and that has definitely caught up with me. I've been rather sickly for the last couple of weeks. I just wish there was time to just rest and be required to do nothing, but with school and work on the weekdays and traveling with choirs on the weekend sleep has become a luxury. But hay Spring Break '09 begins verrrrry soon.
Academic
I think I share the same thought when I say that right now school is getting pretty serious. In the last couple of weeks my coursework to say the least, has been challenging. I am really having to get serious about time management, I can't afford to spend very much time being idol. In this week alone I have three tests, two quizzes, and a HUGE project. I don't have many other things now that require my attention at this point, so I am capable of giving what it will take to get through this week and be able to enjoy my break!
Social
Sheeeeeeeeew!!! I just came out of one of the most stressful months of my life. I had so much fun, but it was one of those things where you have to plan like crazy(causing stress) to really enjoy the result of the planning. The Gospel Choir had been traveling every weekend in February within the Olivet four-state-region of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, so thank God it was a short month. In the middle of all of that, I was planning a worship service that the worship band I started here(Adoration) was to perform at. That is always a massive undertaking in that a song-list must be compiled, songs must be taught to vocalist and musicians, and then the two must mesh. So that service called "Party w/Jesus" was a great success. The week later I had a coffee shop show that I needed to prepare for. This was maybe the most demanding event I had to prepare for. I had a group of 8+ musicians and it seemed that none of there schedules ever worked out to have them all together at the same time to practice. They are all great musicians and I trusted their abilities but my comfort factor could have been raised had I had all of them together before the day of the show. But once again things just have there way of working themselves out. I decided that I would put a bit of audience participation ans have the audience pick at random from the list that we as a group had put together. This was great fun and it seemed that the people in attendance really enjoyed themselves as well. But now all I can thing about is SPRING BREAK!!! I'm heading to Palmdale, California on Saturday, I can't wait to fill you in on that.
Spiritual
A season of focused relationship. For some time I've been so consumed in "playing church" and going with the routine and being all about religion. God is challenging me to stop, take a look, and see what it is that I've been doing wrong that has taken my attention from Him and take steps to return to my first love. It will be an interesting process, but one I am willing to endure...
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Physical/Emotional
So here I am at yet another uneventful week as far as fitness is concerned. I think that I'm going to start stretching more. I felt super tense this last weekend, so maybe some stretching would be beneficial to me. I gave myself a little health scare a couple days ago, as I was in the library I was passing my hand over my chin and felt a small lump under my jaw. I asked one of my nursing friends what it was and she said that my gland was swollen. My mom is a nurse so I wasted no time in calling her to find out what could possibly be going on that my gland would be unusually larger. She told me that my gland is where the blood is filtered and that if it's swollen then it is infected. That definitely was not the news that I was looking to hear. But I thought I'd sleep it off and pray it got better all on its own, and it seems to be working as it is decreasing in size. I've recently been feeling very burdened, I am not sure why or what is causing this but as soon as I find out, hopefully I'll be able to share what I've found with you.
Academic
I've done it!!! I've taken my first quiz of the semester today. It was for my Principles of Marketing class and I feel really good about it. This morning around 8am I discovered that there was a online quiz I could take to prepare for class. Can I just say how helpful that was? Many of the questions on my in class quiz where worded very similarly to that of the online quiz. So I'm just waiting now to see my score, and I'm pretty confident I did well. But there's no time to dwell on that to long as I have to start studying for my Principles of Finance test which is Friday. My course load doesn't seem too bad just yet. I've rarely had any homework besides a couple of weekly practice logs to turn in for my piano and voice lesson, but hey can't complain about having to write a log, as there are worst things.
Social
I feel like this week has been a week of firsts for the semester. I just came off of tour with "Testament" the universities men's choir. We went five hours away to some place in Indiana, I'm not sure of our exact location which may or may not be a good thing. When we travel, we generally rent a coach bus for the weekend but do to a smaller choir this year we opted to use ONU Tiger buses. This would usually not be a completely bad thing since we could occupy our time by watching some movies that a few of the guys bring to watch on the DVD player on the bus. This particular bus did not however have a DVD player but instead had a VHS player!!! Craziness indeed! I surely wasn't thrilled with that reality. So I decided to hurry the trip a bit I'd go to sleep. After making two rest stops we had finally made it to our destination. Once unpacked and inside the church we had a very brief sound check. After that we where sent with our host family's. I roomed with my fellow Testi and friend Jerry. We had an awesome family! We stayed at their in-laws home as they where house sitting and because of the proximity to the church. We watched Rambo II and played a game of Mad Gab which was great fun. Jerry and I won but the family where great sports. We stayed up till about 2am just talking and snacking. We had a service at 8:30am & 11am Indiana time which is 7:30am & 10am central time, so it was rough getting up at that time of the morning and then to have to sing, that all equals bad news. So our first service was a bit rough vocally, but we definitely recovered at the second service. The congregation received us well and seemed to have been blessed by our being there to worship with them. I returned to school at about 7:30pm Sunday evening and I was put back into action quickly as I had to host my first over-night guest of the semester. He came in around 8-ish and what a bad time to come. I had just arrived from tour and I was so tired and it was a Sunday evening after all, so most people are either in their rooms or in the library doing homework. I did have homework to do so I thought I would let him see a little bit of the campus before his formal tour, so we went to the library. I felt kinda bad that he had to sit in the library while I studied, so I let him have my key to head back to my room for the night. I probably gave a poor presentation of ONU that night but you know you live and learn, and hopefully I'll never have such a crazy day like that again. This weekend I'll be traveling with "Proclamation" the gospel choir here at ONU. We're going to Anderson, IN. I look forward to telling about that experience soon.
Spiritual
To worship God with reckless abandon is my desire, to lead others into worship is my passion. I find there is no greater way to capture the heart of God than to surrender your all to Him in pure and sincere worship. What else can we offer to such an amazing God who sent His son to die so that we can live, but our sincere worship? It is my greatest desire that it can be said of me that I lived my life in constant worship to The Father in complete brokenness and submissiveness. Baruch ha ba b’shem Adonai...
So here I am at yet another uneventful week as far as fitness is concerned. I think that I'm going to start stretching more. I felt super tense this last weekend, so maybe some stretching would be beneficial to me. I gave myself a little health scare a couple days ago, as I was in the library I was passing my hand over my chin and felt a small lump under my jaw. I asked one of my nursing friends what it was and she said that my gland was swollen. My mom is a nurse so I wasted no time in calling her to find out what could possibly be going on that my gland would be unusually larger. She told me that my gland is where the blood is filtered and that if it's swollen then it is infected. That definitely was not the news that I was looking to hear. But I thought I'd sleep it off and pray it got better all on its own, and it seems to be working as it is decreasing in size. I've recently been feeling very burdened, I am not sure why or what is causing this but as soon as I find out, hopefully I'll be able to share what I've found with you.
Academic
I've done it!!! I've taken my first quiz of the semester today. It was for my Principles of Marketing class and I feel really good about it. This morning around 8am I discovered that there was a online quiz I could take to prepare for class. Can I just say how helpful that was? Many of the questions on my in class quiz where worded very similarly to that of the online quiz. So I'm just waiting now to see my score, and I'm pretty confident I did well. But there's no time to dwell on that to long as I have to start studying for my Principles of Finance test which is Friday. My course load doesn't seem too bad just yet. I've rarely had any homework besides a couple of weekly practice logs to turn in for my piano and voice lesson, but hey can't complain about having to write a log, as there are worst things.
Social
I feel like this week has been a week of firsts for the semester. I just came off of tour with "Testament" the universities men's choir. We went five hours away to some place in Indiana, I'm not sure of our exact location which may or may not be a good thing. When we travel, we generally rent a coach bus for the weekend but do to a smaller choir this year we opted to use ONU Tiger buses. This would usually not be a completely bad thing since we could occupy our time by watching some movies that a few of the guys bring to watch on the DVD player on the bus. This particular bus did not however have a DVD player but instead had a VHS player!!! Craziness indeed! I surely wasn't thrilled with that reality. So I decided to hurry the trip a bit I'd go to sleep. After making two rest stops we had finally made it to our destination. Once unpacked and inside the church we had a very brief sound check. After that we where sent with our host family's. I roomed with my fellow Testi and friend Jerry. We had an awesome family! We stayed at their in-laws home as they where house sitting and because of the proximity to the church. We watched Rambo II and played a game of Mad Gab which was great fun. Jerry and I won but the family where great sports. We stayed up till about 2am just talking and snacking. We had a service at 8:30am & 11am Indiana time which is 7:30am & 10am central time, so it was rough getting up at that time of the morning and then to have to sing, that all equals bad news. So our first service was a bit rough vocally, but we definitely recovered at the second service. The congregation received us well and seemed to have been blessed by our being there to worship with them. I returned to school at about 7:30pm Sunday evening and I was put back into action quickly as I had to host my first over-night guest of the semester. He came in around 8-ish and what a bad time to come. I had just arrived from tour and I was so tired and it was a Sunday evening after all, so most people are either in their rooms or in the library doing homework. I did have homework to do so I thought I would let him see a little bit of the campus before his formal tour, so we went to the library. I felt kinda bad that he had to sit in the library while I studied, so I let him have my key to head back to my room for the night. I probably gave a poor presentation of ONU that night but you know you live and learn, and hopefully I'll never have such a crazy day like that again. This weekend I'll be traveling with "Proclamation" the gospel choir here at ONU. We're going to Anderson, IN. I look forward to telling about that experience soon.
Spiritual
To worship God with reckless abandon is my desire, to lead others into worship is my passion. I find there is no greater way to capture the heart of God than to surrender your all to Him in pure and sincere worship. What else can we offer to such an amazing God who sent His son to die so that we can live, but our sincere worship? It is my greatest desire that it can be said of me that I lived my life in constant worship to The Father in complete brokenness and submissiveness. Baruch ha ba b’shem Adonai...
Monday, January 19, 2009
'09
So a new year has come and it's an opportunity to improve some things and an overall fresh start. Unfortunately fitness has yet to make its way to the top of my "get it done" list. I guess the cold weather isn't much of a motivator for me to get to the gym and work on my fitness. I would so much rather be in my room eating some cookies or something ahaha.
Academic
life. Last semester wasn't horrible by any means I just know that for myself I could have done so much better. I've done this inner search to find what I did last semester and purpose to do it totally different this semester, because to get results you've never had you must do something you've never done. I'm very hopeful that this will be a great semester for me. ThiIf there is an area thats in need of a fresh start it would definitely be the academic part of mys semester I'm enrolled for 18 credit hours which consist of Principles of Finance, Principles of Marketing, Western Civilization, Musicianship I, Class Piano, Private Voice, Men's Ensemble, and Field Placement. I'm thinking that this all will keep me fairly busy. I'm also working 15hrs a week along with the other activities that I engage in here at school. May God help me...
Well coming off of a Christmas break there has been much happening socially. It was just really good to hang out and catch up with my cousins and friends from home. Christmas was awesome as usual being that I got to spend it with so many family members ranging from my grandmother and her siblings to their children and their children and even their children(ya wrap your mind around that). My last week of break was pretty uneventful in that all my family and friends started to head back to school and then to make everything sooo much better my family went to an indoor water park my last weekend home and because I couldn't go I was stuck home ALONE!!! So I was definitely ready to be back at school after experiencing complete boredom. So upon my return to school some ridiculous weather hit us, and I'm talking -32 with wind chill. This weather was very bitter sweet in that we as a campus where given two consecutive snow days due to the frigid weather, which is unheard of at Olivet. During our nice snow day break I was able to go sledding which I haven't been able to do in a while. But life is good and God is good.
Spiritual
The faithfulness of God never ceases to amaze me. This can become very cliché, but the longer I live the more I find this to be true. It has been my prayer that God would give me a complete spirit of brokenness and humbleness before Him. I have went into covenant with God vowing that in this year more than any time before I would press into worship and to truly let my life be a witness to those who have yet to find Him. I understand that any victory is not won overnight but there will be pain and sacrifice before the battle is won. Of one thing I am confident, I shall be the victor! May God help me as I continue in the quest to fulfill the Great Commission.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Craziness
Physical/Emotional
Well my fitness class is coming to a close and I'm not gonna lie I am quite ready for it to be over. It's not that I don't like to work on my fitness, it's just that I don't really like the format of the class which is circuit training. I am however pretty impressed with myself in that I increased my reps. and weight this week. I hope that I can continue in my drive to work out once my class is over, but I guess we'll see. Emotionally I've just really been in focus mode. With my days becoming more and more busy I really need to ensure that I properly delegate my tasks and leave little room for non-productivity. It may sound like I have no fun, but there is defiantly a time for play which is still a task in itself.
Academic
These last few days have been some of the busiest and exhausting days academically for me. I feel like all of my professors had a meeting and said "let's all give Christopher homework at the same time". I have had project overload. You know I wouldn't mind it I have a lot of small things due for each class but noooo these are like life or death assignments. There's more to come of course but hopefully the worst is behind me.
Social
You know I've really had tons of fun since the last time I've written. I have been traveling a lot the past couple weekends with the universities Gospel Choir. Last weekend we went to Reed City,MI which took a whopping six hours to get to but hey who's counting!?!?! I got the privilege of staying in this sweet house with great people and we were able to share some great times with them. The service went well and the people really seemed to enjoy us and our ministry and they even welcomed us back. So that was a couple weeks ago, this past weekend the Gospel Choir had our Fall Concert. This was truly an event that the hand of God was on. We faced many road blocks as a choir and they all seemed to fall into place on the day of the concert. We planned to have at least 750 people show up and we actually exceeded that goal by hundreds. In this the officers of the choir including myself were elated.
Spiritual
Through my prayer time I have really felt what I believe to be the nudging of the Holy Spirit to really just live a life of brokenness before God. Being a singer or any performer it can become very easy to let egos and pride get in the way of what God wants to do in, through, and around you. There is a song that I heard recently and it talks about simply being invisible before men so that it won't be an individual that anyone sees, but they would rather see the God within. So it is my prayer that I will decrease that God may increase, for it is no longer I who live but Christ that lives in me.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Balance
Physical/Emotional
There isn't much to share this time around concerning my physical state. I've been in the gym every Mon. & Wed. for cardio and lifting and I do my best to go for a run on Friday's. I haven't seen very much visible improvement as far as muscle but yaaa whatever lol. I do bring good news concerning my cardio. A few weeks ago I was just walking from work to class and I was singing and noticed that I was lacking a bit in the Oxygen department. That my friends is not so much what I want to lack as its more not what I want. (ya try to wrap you mind around that one ;-D) So I've begun to pay a little more attention to my cardio workout regiment. I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress.
Academic
Since that last time I wrote to you I've taken a quiz, two tests, and a mid-term. So it is clear that the course load is beginning to reach its peak, or at least I hope so lol. Tomorrow officially starts mid-semester class here at Olivet. I have the privilege of having two of those classes. One being "Sharing Your Faith" and the other "Technology Today". I'll be letting you know what my thoughts are on those classes soon. A couple weeks ago I joined the Olivet Marketing Association which I am pretty excited about. In this Assoc. we will make contacts in the local area and find those business who perhaps have no marketing team or maybe no marketing plan at all. Our hope is to become exactly what that company may be lacking. So I believe so great things will come out of my time with the club. I'll be sure to keep informed on our progress.
Social
I have really been having a lot of fun these past few weeks. I am beginning to invest more of my time into friends that were more like an acquaintance before. I've never been one to want tons of friends but I would rather have solid friends who are deserving of the title. I feel like I am starting to find out who those people are in my life. A prayer that I've asked of God often is that He would give me God ordained relationships and that any relationship that is not pleasing to Him be severed from my life. I've seen it happen time and time again where people I thought to be the greatest friend turned out to be the Judas in my life. But I trust the plan and the promises of God so I am able to keep the spirit of joy through the rougher stages of life. As far as activity goes in my life I am being forced to find that balance I am in need of. Juggling the plates of work, school, relationships, and my spiritual needs it becomes a bit much. I'm finding that dwelling on any of my "needs" to much causes a disturbance in the process or the growth of others.
Coming up at the end of this week we here at Olivet will begin our homecoming festivities. Some of the activities include a homecoming chapel service where both current students and alumni will come together for a time of spiritual growth, a powder puff football, men's & women's basketball, and the "Taste of Olivet" all on Friday alone. Saturday holds a 5k run, ONU varsity football game, men's & women's soccer, a homecoming pops concert, and a contemporary Christian comedy and concert show. There will also be this year a Men's choir reunion which as a current member I have the privilege of being a part of. I hopefully will be able to upload some pictures from this event so you can share in these moments with me.
Spiritual
It has been on my heart recently to live a life that is completely yielded and broken before God. I was discussing this exact topic with some guys a couple days ago. I feel that Christians myself included only take time to fellowship and talk to God when we feel the circumstances of life require them. That is not at all how a Christian should behave. We must realize that God created His people to bring Him praise. It seems to me that those who call themselves believers spend more time at God's hands always asking for something and not nearly enough time at His feet thanking Him for what it is He's already done. So I think what I really desire of God is that He would bring me back to humble beginnings. May God help me to maintain a humble spirit in the high places He desires for me to be.
There isn't much to share this time around concerning my physical state. I've been in the gym every Mon. & Wed. for cardio and lifting and I do my best to go for a run on Friday's. I haven't seen very much visible improvement as far as muscle but yaaa whatever lol. I do bring good news concerning my cardio. A few weeks ago I was just walking from work to class and I was singing and noticed that I was lacking a bit in the Oxygen department. That my friends is not so much what I want to lack as its more not what I want. (ya try to wrap you mind around that one ;-D) So I've begun to pay a little more attention to my cardio workout regiment. I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress.
Academic
Since that last time I wrote to you I've taken a quiz, two tests, and a mid-term. So it is clear that the course load is beginning to reach its peak, or at least I hope so lol. Tomorrow officially starts mid-semester class here at Olivet. I have the privilege of having two of those classes. One being "Sharing Your Faith" and the other "Technology Today". I'll be letting you know what my thoughts are on those classes soon. A couple weeks ago I joined the Olivet Marketing Association which I am pretty excited about. In this Assoc. we will make contacts in the local area and find those business who perhaps have no marketing team or maybe no marketing plan at all. Our hope is to become exactly what that company may be lacking. So I believe so great things will come out of my time with the club. I'll be sure to keep informed on our progress.
Social
I have really been having a lot of fun these past few weeks. I am beginning to invest more of my time into friends that were more like an acquaintance before. I've never been one to want tons of friends but I would rather have solid friends who are deserving of the title. I feel like I am starting to find out who those people are in my life. A prayer that I've asked of God often is that He would give me God ordained relationships and that any relationship that is not pleasing to Him be severed from my life. I've seen it happen time and time again where people I thought to be the greatest friend turned out to be the Judas in my life. But I trust the plan and the promises of God so I am able to keep the spirit of joy through the rougher stages of life. As far as activity goes in my life I am being forced to find that balance I am in need of. Juggling the plates of work, school, relationships, and my spiritual needs it becomes a bit much. I'm finding that dwelling on any of my "needs" to much causes a disturbance in the process or the growth of others.
Coming up at the end of this week we here at Olivet will begin our homecoming festivities. Some of the activities include a homecoming chapel service where both current students and alumni will come together for a time of spiritual growth, a powder puff football, men's & women's basketball, and the "Taste of Olivet" all on Friday alone. Saturday holds a 5k run, ONU varsity football game, men's & women's soccer, a homecoming pops concert, and a contemporary Christian comedy and concert show. There will also be this year a Men's choir reunion which as a current member I have the privilege of being a part of. I hopefully will be able to upload some pictures from this event so you can share in these moments with me.
Spiritual
It has been on my heart recently to live a life that is completely yielded and broken before God. I was discussing this exact topic with some guys a couple days ago. I feel that Christians myself included only take time to fellowship and talk to God when we feel the circumstances of life require them. That is not at all how a Christian should behave. We must realize that God created His people to bring Him praise. It seems to me that those who call themselves believers spend more time at God's hands always asking for something and not nearly enough time at His feet thanking Him for what it is He's already done. So I think what I really desire of God is that He would bring me back to humble beginnings. May God help me to maintain a humble spirit in the high places He desires for me to be.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Back To The Basics
So for a while here I want to try and put my blogs into categories for easier reading and navigation of the page. The list will be: Physical/Emotional, Academic, Social, and Spiritual.
Physical/Emotional
In these last couple of weeks I have felt every feeling I think God allows any human to experience. I've found what it is to be ridiculously excited about something spanning all the way to feeling probably pretty close to the worst I felt in a while physically.
Academic
I am finally getting into my rhythm as I eluded to in my previous blog. I am beginning to see what each course will require of me outside of class as far as time and yes even patience. Things are really going well for me academically this year there are a few things that need to be tweaked as I keep moving through this semester, but I'm confident that they will all soon be worked out.
There is one class that I am thoroughly enjoying this semester. The class is an upper division course in the Business Major called Organizational Behavior. This class attempts to look into how and why each individual business has its very own culture, pattern, or way of doing things. We also look to see why it is that some behaviors work in only certain locations while in others they are pretty much voided out. This class, because of how the prof. chooses to run it, challenges each student to really think as though each of us are already business owners. It has a very open discussion format and it causes one to feel that you are in a room of young business professionals discussing some topics of great importance, and for me that is the kind of environment I feel that I can thrive in.
Social
The past couple weeks have had some moments that were great fun. ONU hosted a back to school block party where they rented huge inflatables, had carnival like games, smoothies all night, elephant ears and just all around good times. I really enjoyed it so much because there was such a common goal of our campus that weekend and that was to enjoy being back together after the summer and really just to enjoy a time of fellowship together. Later on in that weekend I got the chance to go to one of my favorite Japanese grills with a great group of people for one of our friends birthday. The next day being Saturday I went up to Chicago for the Red Bull contest and hit up a few stores while there. I will put up pictures from both of the above moments very soon.
The following weekend I had retreat for Olivet's men's ensemble Testament. We had a great grill out on Friday night and then we had breakfast together and we of course did a little practicing. We later met the other music ensembles for lunch where we were encouraged and briefed on the events for the year.
Now this brings us to this weekend where I'll be on retreat for the Gospel Choir here at Olivet. Being the chaplain for the choir I'm very excited to have this time of fellowship with the choir as we begin to unite as a choral group but even more as a ministry. Are traveling schedule will be picking up soon here so it is my desire that we be on one accord spiritually first before we go out into the mission field.
Spiritual
God has been working on my heart with many issues lately. Last year I went through a overhaul of every relationship in my life searching to find those that were dead weight or those that weren't willing to go with me to the places God has been calling me. It also helped me to re-evaluate my level of sowing and reaping from each. Now I feel that God is really calling my attention back to the basics. I am brought to the point where I am beginning to ensure that my motives are pure in everything I do and ultimately wanting to bring my heart back to my first love which is God. As I grow older I am finding more and more that truly on my own I am nothing but with the help of God and God alone he is helping me to reach for greatness. May it be said of me that I lived a life sold out for God and I was committed to doing His work. Because truthfully in the end all I want to hear are these simple words, "Well done my good and faithful servant".
Physical/Emotional
In these last couple of weeks I have felt every feeling I think God allows any human to experience. I've found what it is to be ridiculously excited about something spanning all the way to feeling probably pretty close to the worst I felt in a while physically.
Academic
I am finally getting into my rhythm as I eluded to in my previous blog. I am beginning to see what each course will require of me outside of class as far as time and yes even patience. Things are really going well for me academically this year there are a few things that need to be tweaked as I keep moving through this semester, but I'm confident that they will all soon be worked out.
There is one class that I am thoroughly enjoying this semester. The class is an upper division course in the Business Major called Organizational Behavior. This class attempts to look into how and why each individual business has its very own culture, pattern, or way of doing things. We also look to see why it is that some behaviors work in only certain locations while in others they are pretty much voided out. This class, because of how the prof. chooses to run it, challenges each student to really think as though each of us are already business owners. It has a very open discussion format and it causes one to feel that you are in a room of young business professionals discussing some topics of great importance, and for me that is the kind of environment I feel that I can thrive in.
Social
The past couple weeks have had some moments that were great fun. ONU hosted a back to school block party where they rented huge inflatables, had carnival like games, smoothies all night, elephant ears and just all around good times. I really enjoyed it so much because there was such a common goal of our campus that weekend and that was to enjoy being back together after the summer and really just to enjoy a time of fellowship together. Later on in that weekend I got the chance to go to one of my favorite Japanese grills with a great group of people for one of our friends birthday. The next day being Saturday I went up to Chicago for the Red Bull contest and hit up a few stores while there. I will put up pictures from both of the above moments very soon.
The following weekend I had retreat for Olivet's men's ensemble Testament. We had a great grill out on Friday night and then we had breakfast together and we of course did a little practicing. We later met the other music ensembles for lunch where we were encouraged and briefed on the events for the year.
Now this brings us to this weekend where I'll be on retreat for the Gospel Choir here at Olivet. Being the chaplain for the choir I'm very excited to have this time of fellowship with the choir as we begin to unite as a choral group but even more as a ministry. Are traveling schedule will be picking up soon here so it is my desire that we be on one accord spiritually first before we go out into the mission field.
Spiritual
God has been working on my heart with many issues lately. Last year I went through a overhaul of every relationship in my life searching to find those that were dead weight or those that weren't willing to go with me to the places God has been calling me. It also helped me to re-evaluate my level of sowing and reaping from each. Now I feel that God is really calling my attention back to the basics. I am brought to the point where I am beginning to ensure that my motives are pure in everything I do and ultimately wanting to bring my heart back to my first love which is God. As I grow older I am finding more and more that truly on my own I am nothing but with the help of God and God alone he is helping me to reach for greatness. May it be said of me that I lived a life sold out for God and I was committed to doing His work. Because truthfully in the end all I want to hear are these simple words, "Well done my good and faithful servant".
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