For Your Consideration

One Year Birthday

2007-12-28T00:51:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to this blog!! December 26th, 2006 was the day. And to celebrate... I'm shutting it down. Well, that's the plan, at least. I'm trying my hands at iWeb and seeing where that takes me. I knew blogger was doomed from the start (glitchy and limited, are we?), but I just wanted to try the whole blog thing out. And tried it has. So now to what will hopefully be bigger and better... I introduce:

My New Blog

It is a part of my whole new site that I have launched. It's not done yet, but you can have a look for yourself and tell me what you think.

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. I got too busy and was without a computer for a month. By the time I decided to reorganize my life and make room for things such as blogging, I decided to relaunch altogether. Therefore, all my energies of late have been put into getting that site off the ground. Hope you understand?

You should start seeing regular updates at the new site soon... If you would be so kind, please change your links to: http://web.mac.com/tim.harms/My_Site/Blog/Blog.html

Blogger, it's been fun. See you at the other site :o)

Life of Late

2007-09-23T01:25:00.000-06:00

Sometimes taking life too seriously is a disease that eats away at your soul. Fortunately, only about a quarter my soul was gone this time before I decided to take antibiotics.

The Second September

2007-09-14T08:40:00.000-06:00

A September ago now I had a wonderful trip. There must be something magical about that little ex-church in the center of Nashville... it somehow pulls you and throws you into a place somewhere quite far away actually. Last September, it was away from the hell of a new life that I had found around me. From the groans of my soul and the constant lump that burrowed in my throat. And then he came out, dressed in those colorful wings, as if he knew exactly where he would take all of us and was merely toying with our sense of stability. "What the water wants is hurricanes," Sufjan humbly spouted to the crowds on his opening lines. "I have a red kite; I'll put you right in it. I'll show you the sky." And that's exactly what happened.

This September another escape occurred, though one of slightly different dynamics. My soul was not rotting; my times have not been hard. My times have just been nonexistent. I sit here and I honestly cannot remember the last time I had the ability to sit and think, not worrying about a meeting I had in five minutes or a paper that was waiting to be written. But yesterday, a Irish man once again used the Ryman as a portal to access another world. It was a world where time didn't really seem to flow at all, where my busyness was drunken away. And it was incredible. What an experience. Even without his beloved Lisa, his vocals that soared from one extreme to another made up for the difference. Clocking in at an hour and 45 minutes of straight playing time, unsupported, it was a gem of a night. The famed drunken "Cheers Darlin' " finale couldn't have been done better, and I don't think I've ever seen an exit from the stage as masterfully executed and as appropriate to the evening as the one that played out before my eyes there, bringing me back to the present world a new and freed person.

Two different Septembers and two different circumstances, yet the same effect. September at the Ryman has brought me into the year once again. I wonder what will greet me for the next one.

Bongo vs. Smile

2007-09-05T08:40:00.000-06:00

As much as it has felt like home, upon returning to Belmont a few weeks ago, that is, I have realized that I have been deceived. But as I finish up my first (of many) Bongo porch happenings of the year, I realized that I am now, truly, home. Belmont could not exist without this quaint porch, as so many of my friends have earlier stated, probably in ways much more eloquent than myself. But this Bongo trip was marked by a peculiar occasion. Smiles. Yes, I was quite taken back really. Not that I was never given smiles by the wonderful baristas and such, but the overwhelming "I don't give a (fill in expletive as according to your degree of hard core-ness)" attitude is a hallmark at this place. And now, I stand at the coffee prep table getting all the my precious toppings with which I am about froth my coffee, and smiles are invading my personal space from everywhere. From all the employees -- one of which are even humming and another even taking the time to ask my how my day was thus far. Just now one came up to me, offered to take my plate, and then had a conversation with the chap sitting next to me about how he loves his dog. To top it off -- wonderful friends that give some the best good morning hugs I've known just made their presence known as well. I really don't know what just happened. I am not sure to be happy at the sudden turn of happiness or not. Peculiar dilemma. humpf

Summer 07, A Playlist

2007-09-02T22:52:00.000-06:00

Uh-hum.. *clears throat*... My summer playlist is finally here. A little late, but hey, it's only Labor Day, right? I thought about pulling out a quote from each of the songs like I did last semester, but quite frankly, I'm too busy and tired to do that this time 'round. Let me know if you wanna hear the songs and I'll figure something out. Hope you enjoy. Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

Control Room

2007-08-28T22:39:00.001-06:00

Tonight in my Mass Media and Society class, I was hit over the head. For the second part of the class, we watched Control Room, a documentary of Al-Jazeera in the early days of the present Iraq War. It is one of those films that I believe every American should be required to see. It's a documentary, so naturally, there is a bias involved. I can't name a documentary where there isn't. But it does a great job of showing both sides of the spectrum while asking the question, "Does objectivity even exist?"

As J. Hoberman of the Village Voice puts it:

This absorbing, significant, and shamelessly entertaining movie not only goes through the looking glass but, no less significantly, turns the mirror back on us.

Personally, after seeing the film my heart is once again quite broken over the state of our world and the state of humanity. I am both revolted and devastated. Please do yourself a favor and, maybe for just a moment, lift the veil of Americanism up from over your eyes. Watch the documentary. See what some people's world is really like. See the suffering, see the various perspectives, see the people trying to find the white and black in a gray world. It will be worth it. Check out the documentary below:

A Reprieve and a Return

2007-08-24T22:49:00.000-06:00

Thank you for allowing me the break from this addiction/burden that I needed. Starting my second year at college and getting everything lined up that needs to be lined up has been more taxing on me than I thought it would, though I feel great about where I am. I took this Friday night, after some casual Wii playing with some friends, to spend with God and reflect on where I am and find guidance for where I am going. In my journal gazing, I ran across some timely words:

"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."
-- John Shedd

"Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn't really matter."
--unknown

Thoughts, Sunday, August 12th, 2007, 11:47pm

2007-08-12T22:53:00.000-06:00

Staring, hoping, into the dark chasm hanging up above, that some of those lights will flash before my eyes again, leaving its tail behind for a few seconds for dramatic effect. Mesmerized is a good word, I think. It's things like meteor showers that have opened me up again lately.

And it's things like gliding, flying even, above what almost seems like glass while that golden orb takes its final bow to complete its performance in yet another act of the story of the cosmos. Standing on the edge of that big boat, admiring the Caribbean water, which really is quite as transparent as your imagination would have dreamed of but never quite hoped for in fear that it could never live up to the expectation. On this day there are no waves, and even the subatomic particles only God is small enough for remain fixed and calm. You really are soaring above a sea of glass. And to make it that much more impalpable, untouchable, sacred, just as you thought it was already too much, a creature, a magical creature, a dolphin, makes her dramatic appearance. And then another. And another. And there's a family of them--all dancing as the sun sets gently over the waters.

Or how it turns into the great abyss. Completely dark in every directions. It's really no wonder they thought you could fall off the edge of the world. I almost believed it myself. The tiny lanterns hung up above are magnificent. There must be a million of them. Almost. You could try counting, but I'm pretty sure you'd never get to an end. New ones always seem to slide out from underneath their cover, only very dimly at first. And the longer you stare, the more you see. But never to be outdone by the Old Man himself, shining down quite pompously to his subject Earth. His rays getting wider and wider as they approach on the water. And however fast your vessel is moving, on the water, the rays never cease to follow, the moon with a sly grin at your futile attempt. Impressive he is, though. The guardian of the night sky, keeping all in order in stead of the now resting sun. What a portrait set before you. What a symphony of colors and emotions. The wind in your hair reminds you that you are alive. Not in a metaphorical, adolescent kind of way, but solemnly alive, taking a breath and then one after that. That you have blood running underneath that flesh of yours. That you exist in something bigger. That your life is connected, even to the wind in your hair that will inevitable continue and rush into another innocent admirer's hair on the next ship 25 miles behind. Connected in those rare occasions that lights are seen somewhere on the horizon. Connected to the life it mandates. Some lighthouse, some village, some fisherman in his boat... some soul that is breathing along with you.

All of these things I have experienced in the last week have been a growing signal to me. A wise high school English teacher once tried to teach me about life--and against my arrogantly futile internal attempts to stop her (my 17 year old mind was obviously much more aware of my world than she was)--apparently she succeeded. I'm not sure if she even tried to teach me about life, come to think of it. I think it just happened out of her passion for it. For the gritty, raw, aspects of it. But as Mr. Camus rightly screams from his pen, so she screamed from her living, the utter importance of action and reflection. The gravity of doing and then being what has been done. And strangely enough, it has made a lot of sense of life lately. The coming of April and Displace Me marked a new chapter in my life. I moved past the cage that had become reflection into the freedom of action. And that path took me out of my wallows, out of the rut, and into summer. Honestly, I haven't looked back.

Until the meteor shower. Until the sunset. Until the night at sea. It crept back into me. And the more and more as I clutch this pen, I know. It's here again. A new chapter, a new reflection. Even as my life is inevitably going to erupt into busyness, responsibilities, deadlines, and events, it won't stop my pen. It feels new, it feels fresh. I feel that this chapter is going to be positive--one of new realizations, of forming into the new man that I am becoming. And I am gladly welcoming this positive spirit that has seemed to have invaded me. You are welcome any time.

The kiddos (said in presumptuous nose-in-the-air because I'm a cool college kid tone) are sleeping now--waking up in only a few hours to find the first day of school staring them down. A chance for new beginnings, new somethings, new anythings. And I would be lying to myself in some small sense if I did not say that at least part of me were jealous. I mean not really--but the excitement of seeing those familiar faces again, of the opportunities the year would bring, of figuring out how I would define the new year: the semester's play, model UN, a new girlfriend, my AP classmates as we battled for that coveted 5, the campus ministry; of the prospect of another season of friday night football, of before school/after school hangouts, of youth group times, of merely growing up, experiencing life, and understanding more of my world. Oh, the innocence of it all. I had life too well.

It is hard to look ahead when such fond memories are all around, though I feel as if it is my time now. Different, that is for sure, but this stage will be one I look fondly back upon as well. Here's to a good one.

Attention all School-Goers (and Non-School-Goers too)

2007-08-12T22:45:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow's the big day...

Make sure you lay out your clothes, make a sack lunch, get your books together, set your alarm....

...and prepare to shoot your friends to end a war.

We're talking laser tag for Invisible Children. You may have your first day of school tomorrow, but what could be better than Laser Chase for a cause in the afternoon?

Just come into the LC anytime between 1 and 9 pm to play one, two, three, or why not even ten games of laser tag?

Remember, 50% of all profits made tomorrow will go straight to Invisible Children. We will also be showing the newest media out of IC at the event. Can you think of anything better? I can't.

Check out laserchase.net for directions. See you there...

Lasers > Guns

Shoot Your Friends To End A War

2007-08-11T00:15:00.000-06:00

So blogosphere,

I am organizing an Invisible Children benefit on Monday, and I would really appreciate your help. Here's the deal:

Come in to Laser Chase in Cool Springs, TN anytime between 1pm and 9pm on Monday, August 13th. Play a normal game (or games) of laser tag, and at the end of the day, Laser Chase has agreed to give 50% of their profits to the nonprofit Invisible Children. It's that simple. We will also be showing some new Invisible Children media at the event as well. The media alone is worth stopping by the event.

It's a nice, family environment, so it's safe and fun for the whole family. In fact, working at Laser Chase, I see that it's usually the adults that have more fun than the kids they bring! For those of you who unfortunately have your first day of school on the 13th, cheer up! It's only a half day, and the second half you can spend with you friends having fun and playing laser tag, all while helping to end the war in Uganda. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?

You can get directions and information about Laser Chase through their website, or you can visit the benefit's facebook event page here.

So please make every attempt possible to bring all of your friends and families to this event this Monday. You won't regret it. And if you are feeling especially nice, I would love for you to repost this on your blog and try to help me spread the word. I would love to see hundreds and hundreds of people all playing laser tag for a cause on Monday!

Just remember, shoot lasers, not guns!

Return

2007-08-10T23:25:00.000-06:00

I have returned from my great saga and am quite pissed that an ocean isn't outside of my window anymore :o). There has been much contemplation and consideration of life and cruise-endom in my little brain in the last few days, and in time hopefully I will share all of these thoughts and various perspectives that I had on this relatively new phenomena. But for now, I must sleep, as I have 12 hours of hungry customers to please tomorrow at my wonderful job that is a server at The Franklin Chop House. Maybe I'll see you there?

An Absence

2007-08-03T20:29:00.000-06:00

I am currently in Montgomery, AL, sitting in the dark while the rest of my family is counting sheep, staring into this bright light to inform the world that I will be unavailable for the next week. I will be on quite a large boat, stuffing myself with as much food as I can fit into my body, and soaking in the warm sun. It's my first cruise, and I am quite excited. I'll be sure to update everyone when I get back!

40 Day Fast: Get a (few) Goat(s)

2007-07-31T08:49:00.000-06:00

The mastermind behind the 40 Day Fast, Kat, has another brilliant idea to wrap up the 40 Days: Get a Goat.

The idea is that everyone donate 5 minutes and 1 dollar and we come together to purchase a goat through World Vision to help a family in need. A goat can help to provide cheese, yogurt, milk, and a source of income for a family, and it only costs $75. Learn more from her post.

The response has been so great that she's already been able to purchase one, and she's over halfway to a second one. She's taking donations until 11:59 tonight.

I hope you have enjoyed the 40 Day Fast as much as I have. And not only enjoyed it, but have been heartbroken as well. And hopefully you've discovered some incredible blogs and writers out there as well. I know it has been something I feel honored to be a part of. It's exciting to see this new age of connectivity being used to make a difference.

Church Mafia in Action

2007-07-29T14:03:00.000-06:00

Shaun posts:

Lately I’ve been talking about what the Church could be in a different way. We could be like the mafia, I’ve been thinking. If anyone in the “family” needs something - just imagine - someone else in the “family” pipes up with, “I Gotta Guy...”

I gotta a guy that can fix your back, put in a hot water heater, mow your yard while you’re out of town, help you cover your kid’s college tuition...do what you need done.

Well, I need a guy and I’m hoping you are one or you know one. We’re family afterall.

A friend of ours, Judy, has been told she has only a few months to live. She wants to try to extend her life with chemotherapy to six months. Before the chemicals make it impossible for her to travel, she’d like to take a trip with her kids and husband, to Disneywhatever in Florida. Our church and friends have already taken care of Disney tickets and hotel accomodations but they need our help with airline tickets.

Brian and I fly a lot and are donating the American Airline miles we’ve accumulated to them. They’ll need a total of 125K American Airlines advantage miles to cover the five airfares. We need to make this happen quickly. If you have some miles or would like to donate some money toward a ticket, please email my friend Brian at bseay@us.ci.org

I need a guy. Can you help?

Can any reader help??

End of Year Shenanigans

2007-07-28T22:43:00.000-06:00

And yes, that is the proper spelling of "shenanigans."

The time required for amnesty, as well as my personal safety, has finally elapsed, and I can now with ease of mind post these scandalous pictures. That's right, this is what happens when you are an RA at Belmont and have loving friends.

The full slideshow has been posted on my facebook. Befriend me if you have yet to already!

Wes Anderson's Newest

2007-07-24T21:15:00.000-06:00

The Darjeeling Limited:

Oh man.... September 29th can't come soon enough...

In addition to Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Adrien Brody, Bill Murray and Natalie Portman will also grace the cast list.

And a little trivia information for you as well: Wes Anderson, the director, and Owen Wilson were actually roommates together at the University of Austin, TX. This will be their 4th movie together. Small world, eh?

40 Day Fast

2007-07-24T16:11:00.001-06:00

Today's post for the 40 Day Fast takes a look at North Korea. Very interesting and dire situation. Take a look.

CNN YouTube Debates

2007-07-24T10:35:00.000-06:00

I watched the CNN YouTube Democratic Debates last night, and was thoroughly impressed by the process, if not the candidates.

The entire debate is posted by question on YouTube here, and I would really encourage you to check it out. It makes a big difference when people get to ask personal questions directly to the candidates like this (check out the first question. Strike one, Obama). Plus, it simply adds some humanity to the whole thing. Whatever your opinions, it certainly can't be denied that technology isn't constantly changing the way we do things. It's exciting to see all the opportunities this brings...

Words

2007-07-22T23:52:00.001-06:00

It's been far too long since the words of Frederick Buechner graced this blog. This one's from Now and Then: A Memoir of Vocation, page 93.

Words--especially religious words, words that have to do with the depth of things--get tired and stale the way people do. Find new words or put old words together in combinations that make them heard as new, make you yourself new, and make you understand in new ways. "Blessed are the meek" are the words of the English translators--words of great beauty and power--but over the years they have become almost too familiar to hear any more. "Heureux sont les debonnaires" are the French words--blessed are the debonair--and suddenly new beauty, new power, flood in like light. Blessed is Fred Astaire in white tie and tails. Blessed is Oliver Hardy in rusty black suit and derby hat as he picks his dapper way toward the unseen banana peel on the sidewalk. Blessed is my old friend as she tries to let me win at Aggravation, rattling her dice in the cup which the pills that keep her alive come in. Arrange the alphabet into words that are true in the sense that they are true to what you experience to be true. If you have to choose between words that mean more than what you have experienced and words that mean less, choose the ones that mean less because that way you leave room for your hearers to move around in and for yourself to move around in too.

Mr. Rice, Meet Tim... Tim, Damien.

2007-07-21T22:21:00.000-06:00

September 13th, this man will be in front of my eyes:

(warning... profanity alert)

Ah yes...

September and the Rhyman have treated me well thus far. Sufjan, now Damien.

And yes, that is Glen Hansard, star of Once, playing guitar behind him in the video. If only...

TOMS Revisited.

2007-07-17T23:37:00.000-06:00

When it rains, it pours, so they say.

I never really got that phrase. Partly because I like rain so much. So if its pouring, all the better, I say!

All that arbitrary introduction to tell you that since I posted about TOMS on Sunday, I've been seeing the company pop up everywhere, including on the good ol' blogosphere.

Seth Godin, the marketing guru, has a post about it here. Which raises some interesting conversation, I think.

I personally don't think Blake has set up his business model this way to be able to create a market buzz. I believe he genuinely cares about the cause, partly because I have a friend in NYC that knows him personally.

But I do think it's interesting how attractive it does look to the world when Kingdom ideals are put on display. It's so revolutionary it's something that people WANT to talk about. And THAT makes great marketing, even if it wasn't completely on purpose.

I wonder at the potential of the kind of buzz that would result in this world if we all put Kindom ideals on display.

Just a thought.

Some GOOOOOOD posts have been put up in the last few days from the 40 Day Fast. See the links on the sidebar to the right!

40 Day Fast: The Trendy Poverty

2007-07-15T11:30:00.001-06:00

First of all, it would be a bit presumptuous of me to assume that most readers of this post today have visited this blog before. In that case, I must begin with proper etiquette: Greetings, and welcome to my small corner of the internet. It is a modest corner, I am aware, but I like it, and I hope you enjoy your stay as well.

Today is my turn in the 40 Day Fast. For those that know me, I am sure they are expecting some post about Invisible Children and the ways to get involved. And while I do love the spirit of that organization and must admit they are up to some pretty neat stuff lately, I decided to spread my wings a wee bit and learn about something else, something that I think fewer people know about but that more people should.

But to get there, I will start with a friend I have who works at Invisible Children. He was staying at my house in Franklin, TN, one day because he was in town doing some promoting for one of their events, the Global Night Commute, in 2006. When he came downstairs for breakfast, I was a little taken back by the words that were written across the shirt he was wearing:

"Africa is the new pink."

It really made me stop and think. Poverty and suffering are not new phenomena. They have been around for thousands of years. One only needs elementary sunday school and a few Old Testament stories to know this. I saw this poverty and suffering first hand when I visited Kosovo a few years ago and saw the devastation left behind from the Balkan genocidal conflict in 1999. I worked with Invisible Children and understood the barbarity of children much younger than I was (at the time 17) being forced into the violence of terrorist rebel groups. And perhaps what had the most profound and sobering effect on me was a course at Belmont I took in the fall called "Confronting Genocide." What an introduction to the real world. Despite my previous experiences with the issue of genocide and suffering, I think I am still just recovering from the shattering effect that had on my perspective of the world.

But if poverty and suffering are so ancient themes, then why is it now, just now, that they are getting so much attention? Why has the picture of Africa become so... so trendy lately?

As I sat at that kitchen table, I had to quickly examine my heart. Why was I focusing my energy on this activist cause in Africa? Was it because I genuinely cared? Was it because I wanted to take care of the least of these? Or was it because an Irish rock star told me to and I wanted to look cool, hip, and "trendy"?

There are a lot of debates right now about this whole topic, but my opinion is, even if the Africa and poverty are the cool wave right now, let's ride that wave and get as much as we can out of it while we can. If "Africa is the new pink," let's take advantage of it! We can argue that the RED campaign is misguided because it is using consumerism to fight the nasty effects of... consumerism, but the fact is that in its very first year, it contributed five times more money to the Global Fund as the private sector had in the previous four years. And that will make a difference to poverty. And perhaps, after some initial "trendy" exposure, the whole Africa theme might just transform hearts as well, as I believe it did for me.

As a business student in college, that gives me hope. I believe it is the redemption of capitalism. I can be a business owner and make a difference in the world in which I live. That is why the organization I wish to highlight today is TOMS Shoes. It's a business founded by Blake Mycoskie with a simple, yet revolutionary idea. For every pair of shoes purchased, Blake will personally donate a pair to a child in need. It's that simple. Buy one pair, another gets donated. The shoes are stylish, the website is glossy, and the cause is legit. For only $40, you can be incredibly cool AND provide a kid in need with a new pair of shoes (not to mention you are already cool for helping out a kid in need). I bought the olive pair, why don't you consider buying your own? If you don't feel like you need another pair of shoes, if nothing else, they are a great conversation starter and a way to spread the word to others about this great company.

Here's a clip that showcases what they call "Shoe Drop '06." It is definitely worth a watch:

Click on the banner below to bring up the designer's/Chief Shoe Giver's blog. It's got a lot more info on TOMS Shoes that I left out, as well as some of his really interesting thoughts.

I pray today for those in need, yet I also pray for those who are able to empower. I pray that we will be courageous enough to make a difference, even when it may seem foolish, and have the perseverance to keep with it. I thank God for people like Blake, who creatively find a way to bring the Kingdom to earth in the context of the world they find themselves in. I pray that we all may find a way to do this with our lives.

On Rain and DJs

2007-07-10T13:08:00.000-06:00

Rainy days are keen to me. Especially when spent in a local coffee shop by a window. And in this particular one, the rain on the outside is being matched on the inside by the rain of some hip-hop beat of sorts falling from above. And listening to it reminds me of the newly discovered yearning in my heart to become a DJ. Yes, I said it. Or typed it, rather. It's a bit odd for me, I know, but it's true. I've had two very fateful encounters with DJs this summer, both of which left a lasting imprint on my heart. Followed by the stunning admission by one of my best, equally un-DJ-esque, friends, who knew nothing of my hidden desire, that he, in fact, too would love to be a DJ. And so, I ponder at these quickly evaporating puddles how long I will actually entertain such silly ideas, and when I will actually grow up and become boring and stale. Because that's what you're supposed to do, right? Hah.. how bitter I can choose to be. I'm really not like that. Or at least, I hope I'm becoming a person not like that. Because that's what is important, right? Not the person you are, but the person you are becoming. And that's why I will someday be a DJ and not boring and stale.

Confession

2007-07-09T00:10:00.000-06:00

I did it.

And I feel the need to come clean. And to provide some sort of proof of a logical thought process over mindless ho-hum hype.

And so, ladies and gents, I did, in fact, purchase an iPhone.

No, it is not like me to buy the newest and slickest, but in this case I crumbled. It was the perfect storm, if you will. I had been holding out on buying an iPod for about a year in order to get the next generation. I already had AT&T/Cingular, and my current phone had put in its 2 years and was due for a replacement. And his Highness King Steve announced the phone 6 months ago, allowing for ample saving time. And thus, the wee gadget became mine. And I walk around, listening to cool new tunes, browsing the internet, and talking on the phone with by nose in the air, sneering at the "inferiors" that aren't as cool, hip, savvy, etc. as I am. Because I have arrived. iArrived.

For what it's worth, I have had it for a few days now, and the complaints are null. It does live up to the hype, and I am still incredulous at what I am able to do with these metal pieces I hold in an orderly contraption in my hand. The battery won't die and the screen won't scratch. I still don't really believe that I really own it. But BAH, it's just a machine. Treat it like more, and that's when ye get in trouble.

So I guess that makes me cooler than you now? Something like that right? Or just a glutton for consumerism... you pick...

40 Days Wages On

2007-07-04T23:35:00.000-06:00

I survived my first camp counselor experience, and I actually loved it! Such an incredible time of fellowship with other leaders and a chance to pour myself out into some younger guys. I had no idea what was about to hit me..

But now, I got some catchin up to do.

The 40 Day Fast still wages on, and here is what I've missed:

June 29 -- Stephen writes about Blood:Water Mission
June 30 -- Jeanine writes about The International Justice Mission, War Child, and Christian Children's Fund
July 1 -- Truevyne writes about Compassion International
July 2 -- Ryan writes about Living Water International
July 3 -- Jeremy writes about the local church
July 4 -- Steven writes about inner city ministries

And today it's Susanne's turn. There's been some incredible posts. I encourage all of you to read em!

Once

2007-07-04T09:58:00.001-06:00

I finally saw it. Once. And it fulfilled most of my expectations. It's quite a paradoxical movie. Heartbreaking yet soothing. Simple but not simplified. All the magic of a musical with all the elements of realism cinematography. Rough around the edges yet incredibly innocent. Complex characters yet we don't even know their names. The best of Irish culture yet transcending nationalistic boundaries. The perception that the movie could be made by any amateur with a camera yet the subtle knowledge that such a perception is only a testament to the complex detail and tactfulness the director must have employed. The fact that this low budget film shines in its brilliance as the big bucks flicks of Evan, Pirates, and Spidey leave much to be hoped for. The ability to connect with the characters yet have no idea where the next turn will be or how it will end.

And through the paradoxes, about three quarters through the movie, I decided that I liked it. It took me that long, but I can say now that it will not soon fade away from my list favorites. You should see it.

My Immediate Past and Future

2007-06-29T02:16:00.000-06:00

My time in the mountains and Maryville (pronounced Murvul :o) ) was fantastic, and I'm sad to leave those people behind. These last three days of work have been tiring, and here I am typing this post at 2 in the morning when I have to be ready to greet hundreds of kids anxious for camp at 6:30 in the morning tomorrow. It's gonna be another long day tomorrow, but worth it. For the next 5 days, I will be a camp counselor, and thus, there will be no life on this blog. Feel free to leave your gamut of comments for me to sort through when I return, as I've left enough posts tonight for you to have some options :o). I will be back in full swing by the 4th of July, and I can't wait to see all that happens until then.

As for the 40 Day fast, Stephanie has today's post. I'll be sure to link to all the posts that I will miss by being at camp when I return.

Be good without me, blogosphere. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.

iDay: coming soon

2007-06-29T02:08:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is it. The day we've been waiting for. The day history has been waiting for. It's iDay. At 6pm across the country, the iPhone will be released. People have been lining up since Monday morning for the release. Thousands are lining up now. The iPhones are being delivered under armored guard. Apple has posted several videos on how it works, etc. They have announced the rate plans. They are even giving every single one of their employees a free one. Now we can only wait. Unless Apple decided to pull a last second announcement to put icing on the cake. As if the icing isn't already there. But I wouldn't put it past Apple.

CNN puts it best here, referring to the Apple store in NY: "Genius sits in a glass house," the Swiss artist Paul Klee wrote. It's on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, and anyone can wander in.

I can't wait to see what happens.

Also of special note, tomorrow is the release date for the movie Once in Nashville. If you read this blog, you know how excited I am for this moment. What a day~

Displace Me: The Aftermath

2007-06-29T00:49:00.000-06:00

Check out the new video for Displace Me. It brings back so many memories and reminds me of the fire that is burning in me.

I love it! Some Belmonters are shown as well, but only if you look hard for em. A new website is up as well, and it's pretty well done. Worth a look, if nothing more.

And Add One More

2007-06-29T00:41:00.002-06:00

St. Vincent, how could I forget you? Another one that has collaborated with Sufjan of late. Her first solo effert, Marry Me is wonderful. Her soothingly jazzy voice and eccentric/eclectic style blend wonderfully together in this refreshing masterpiece!

Summer Won't Stop Giving

2007-06-27T23:34:00.000-06:00

And by the title, I mean gooood music. So much, in fact, I've decided to dedicate a blog post to it.

Spoon's newest, unfortunately named Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, is incredible. Think ancy younger brother that won't stop making you smile...and just feel good. And there you have Spoon.

The New Pornographers, featuring AC Newman and the gang, have some summer music, Challengers, that is sure to turn heads. Odd, quirky, eccentric, brilliant. All words that apply.

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova nearly have a monopoly over my ears these days. They are the stars of the indie-Irish film Once, which has only been getting better than superb reviews. Their music is raw, original, and quite seamless. Hansard has previously toured with fellow countryman Damien Rice, and it's easy to make a connection in their music. Check out the movie's site to hear the soundtrack.

Tegan And Sara are soon to release The Con, and it can be said to be the close, female, slightly more The Killers-esque relative to The New Pornographers.

Ryan Adams has new biz this summer as well, taking the form of Easy Tiger. It's a bit more bluegrass than some of his other works of late, but I am overwhelmingly a fan. Definitely could end up playing at every Starbucks across the nation.

The Polyphonic Spree JUST released their newest effort, The Fragile Army, and it is quite in line with some of their other stuff. I.E. You need to check it out. Too bad the white robes are gone though...

Wilco certainly carried me into the summer, so Sky Blue Sky had to make it onto the list. New guitarist means a slightly new sound, but it's a good mix of energy and chill. But in the end, it's still Wilco. I don't think I need say more...

Rosie Thomas brings us These Friends of Mine, featuring Sufjan Stevens and Denison Witmer, and even though it was released last spring, I just discovered it and it's too good to leave from this post. Thus, I cheat. But after you hear it, you probably won't blame me.

YouTube Goodness

2007-06-27T23:27:00.000-06:00

...straight from Zach Lind.

Some serious, but inspiring:

Some more light hearted, via the incredibly artistic Fiest:

The 40 Days Continue...

2007-06-27T00:51:00.000-06:00

My travels have prohibited me from keeping up to date with the 40 Day Fast. Sorry all, but I promise to back track and link to them anyway. Shaun Groves posted about his cause on Monday, and as always, his thought-provoking words pushed to status quo. He is never one to just do something like everyone else does, is he? Tuesday's post by Kristin continued the Compassion International streak to five days in a row. What an incredible testament to how the organization is actually saving lives. Today's participant is The Chaotic Hammer, so make sure you give him some lovin.

Soon enough, my friends, I will get around to posting pictures and stories and such from this weekend. Soon enough.

Day 3

2007-06-24T21:29:00.000-06:00

Day 3 of the 40 Day Fast is today, and Sam has the goods. Fortunately, I find myself typing this message from a town called Maryville, TN, 30 minutes outside of Knoxville. A wonderful time with some friends from Belmont, but not the best condition for blogging. Therefore, today's message will be short, and more will come tomorrow. Make sure you read the post today!

40 Day Fast: Day 2

2007-06-23T18:18:00.000-06:00

Day 2 of the 40 Day Fast. Today's post can be found on Brant Hansen's Blog. It is an incredible post, I must admit.

Here's a little bit of what he had to say:

The wall is very, very thin. The wall divides a bloody temple from Mother Teresa's home for the sick and dying, and it's a very thin wall. For the children I've met in central America, Africa, Asia -- the wall between hope and hopelessness, between smiling young engineer and disfigured beggar, is a very thin wall.

And, borrowing from Solzhenitsyn, that wall runs through me, and my checkbook, separating life and death, mercy and darkness.

The Challenge of Jesus

2007-06-23T00:22:00.000-06:00

Today one could find my body at both of my jobs depending on which hour you looked, but my mind was elsewhere. After my first shift ended, I headed straight to the park to be able to devour a few pages. After my second shift, downtown Franklin was my destination, enjoying the tunes from a street band outside of McCreary's while I focused on the task at hand. And I did it. I finally finished N.T. Wright's The Challenge of Jesus, and all I can say is wow! Anyone unfamiliar with N.T. Wright's should become familiar very fast. He has certainly given me a new picture of Jesus and his mission in relation to the first century. And consequently, my reading of Jesus in the bible has come alive lately. I'm so intrigued by this Jesus. I want to know him. And he is radically more complex than the Jesus I grew up knowing. But the best thing about the book is not the history lesson that Wright gives, but the last two chapters where he applies the first six chapters to today's postmodern world. You really need to read it for yourself, but I will leave you with a poem that Wright leaves his readers with. It was penned after visiting the Louvre and being incredibly disappointed at the Mona Lisa being behind thick glass due to recent security concerns. He was unable to view the intricate eyes of the portrait without seeing the eyes of all the other onlookers -- including his own -- in the glass's reflection. He thought that the scenario could be seen as a great metaphor for postmodernity: "What seems like knowledge is really the reflection of your own ideas, your own predispositions or inner world. You can't trust anything; you have to be suspicious of everything." To this idea, though, he offers a challenge:

A Paris newcomer, I'd never been
Followed by those dark eyes, bewitched by that
Half-smile. Meaning, like beauty, teases, dancing
In the soft spaces between portrait, artist,
And the beholder's eye. But now, twice shy,
She hides behind a veil of wood and glass;
And we who peer and pry into her world
See cameras, schoolchildren, other eyes,
Other disturbing smiles. So, now, we view
The world, each other, God, through prison glass:
Suspicion, fear, mistrust--projections of
Our own anxieties. Is all our knowing
Only reflection? Let me trust, and see,
And let love's eyes pursue, and set me free.

In the headlines...

2007-06-22T23:48:00.000-06:00

This really makes me want to vomit.

Fortunately, we're at least making progress. Albeit slowly. As in 2020. But progress, nonetheless.

And how bout them apples:

2007-06-22T22:57:00.000-06:00


June 2007
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
					22 Kat	23 Brant Hansen
24 SAM	25 Shaun Groves	26 Kristen	27 Chaotic Hammer	28 Stephanie	29 Stephen	30 Jeanine
July 2007
1 Truevyne	2 Ryan G.	3 Jeremy Thiessen	4 Steven	5 Susanne	6 Valerie	7 William Guice
8 Todd	9 Scott	10 Transition Pete	11 Marianne	12 Mark Jaffrey	13 Michelle	14 Lucas Parry
15 Tim Harm	16 Andrew Osenga	17 Shawn	18 Lorijo	19 Euphrony	20 Brody Harper	21 Amy
22 Erin Mount	23 Dray	24 Jessica	25 Los	26 Mom	27 Ted	28 Charla
29 Rick	30 Tressa	31 Toby

Isaiah 58:6-7
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

The first post is up.

Why don't you join us by placing a logo or schedule on your blog, or even starting your own. I'll do it!

The Good/The Bad

2007-06-22T00:23:00.000-06:00

The Good:
Rob Bell has new tour dates. This one's called The Gods Aren't Angry Tour.
The Bad:
I must wait till November 29th and drive 3 hours. Don't think I won't be there, though.

The Bad:
Shane Claiborne's The Simple Way, as well as the houses and belongings of many in his community, tragically burned down on Thursday.
The Good:
People are generous.

The Good:
The U.N. reached a reasonable peacekeeping deal for Darfur that was actually accepted by Khartoum.
The Bad:
The U.S. might jeopardize the whole thing by failing to pay our pledged money.

The 40 Day Fast

2007-06-21T23:54:00.000-06:00

A few days ago, I read about an incredible idea. It was thought of and implemented by Kat. And I get to be a part of it.

It's the 40 Day Fast:

Who:
40 bloggers who will each fast for 1 day.

What:
They will blog about the experience as well as an area of need in the world (either a cause or a country) and an organization that strives to meet that need.

They will also link to the blogger who is fasting on each day of the fast and encourage their readers to join the fast on the 40th day.

Why:
The purpose behind it is to give people an opportunity to:
1. Experience a bit of need
2. Learn about the need in the world
3. Do something about it

When:
The fast starts on June 22, 2007 and ends on July 31, 2007

Where:
The blogosphere.

So, as you can tell, it starts today. For the next 40 days, I will be linking to the blogger that is fasting so you can read up on their organization or cause and their experience. What a tremendous thing this will be!

Spinal Tap Together Again

2007-06-20T00:20:00.000-06:00

Legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner has just brought a little more of heaven to earth... again. The director of This Is Spinal Tap has just released a new 15 minute short simply entitled Spinal Tap. And best of all, you can view the comedic genius here for free.

All this in preparation for an event that has even more monumental implications: the reunification of Spinal Tap for a live performance at Live Earth. They even are releasing a new song -- Warmer Than Hell -- specifically for the occasion.

Live Earth a great cause to bring attention to the problem of global climate change, and it will feature 24 straight hours of music from over 100 artists in concerts on all 7 continents. It's all happening on 7/7/07. 1 million people are expected to be in attendance at the concerts, with another 2 billion people having access on TV, radio, or internet. It should be good.

I may just have to turn my TV volume to 11.

Thoughts, June 17, 10:45PM

2007-06-17T22:45:00.000-06:00

This summer feels like no summer I've summed before. It's good, albeit confusing in its unidentifiability. My body was dragged home after work by my soul, not because it didn't belong there, but because it was simply too exhausted to move. I plead guilty to not having the energy I should have during a wonderful dinner with my dad to properly celebrate the hero he has been to me, and promptly afterwards I moved myself to the hammock for a warm nap. Waking up 20 minutes letter, I decided the Spirit told me to move inside, and two more hours of dinosaurs, flying, and interesting mashups of friends visited me in my dreams. And when I woke, there was much rejoicing. And thus I've been sitting on my bed, catching up on blogs I've let pile up in that digital cloud. I'm ingesting some incredible chocolate cake that my mom made for my dad today alongside a trusty glass of my skim milk, and come to think of it, metaphorically speaking the cake is actually icing ON the cake of the horrid diet I have graced myself with today: 2 slices of cold pizza for breakfast, an ice cream oreo pie from The Chop House for lunch, and a feast from the good ol' Famous Dave's for dinner. Perhaps it will help as tomorrow I yet again will lift a little bar over and over again in hopes of making my wee arm a little less wee-like. I had no idea how hard it was to gain weight. Jeez... But no worries now, I am indulging in the gift of new music that summer has bestowed -- Ryan Adams, The New Pornographers, Immaculate Machine -- letting the notes gracefully flood my ears. And I am wondering if I have enough of that creative juice, energy, force, whatever you would like to call it, etc. to actually start AND finish one of the creative endeavors that are spinning around between those neurons and synapses. I have a nagging tendency to get halfway through before that aforementioned "stuff" runs out. Hmm... Perhaps we'll see. Looking at my list of "Summer To Do's" I made the last week of school is depressing. I'd rather blog instead. Or watch another masterpiece of this man:

Wes Anderson, release your next one already!

The Trusslah

2007-06-14T00:38:00.000-06:00

This is Mark.

Mark also goes by T.Russ.

Mark is one of my good friends at Belmont.

I posted some of his music here on my Semester 1 Playlist. He really does make good "normal" music too.

Well, Mark is at it again. Him and a friend have been working on a project they call Whitehouse Productions. Being home at Memphis must have done something to him, because he now thinks he is a rap artist. Check out their myspace for some amazing work. I doubt you will regret it. And I'm sure he would love it if you left a comment of appreciation as well. Do it for Mark...he's a pretty swell guy :o).

Andrew Osenga's Newest

2007-06-12T23:47:00.000-06:00

Andrew Osenga has a new EP out, "Letter to the Editors, Vol. 1," and it's up for a free download here on his blog (though a paypal donation is strongly encouraged). I'm listening to it right now and it's some good stuff. I love the guy and all of his projects (The Normals, Squarepeg Alliance, Caedmon's Call), and I can honestly say I never fail to thoroughly enjoy what he has to say on his ol' blog. So if you're looking for some great music or reading...look no further.

The Day Before...

2007-06-10T23:40:00.000-06:00

WWDC07, one half of the two conferences that make a Mac-nerd's heart beat a little faster every year, is almost here. Tomorrow, during the Stevenote, as it has come to be called among his cult followers, there is much that is to be expected: news on the new iPhone, all the details on Leopard (the OS X update), new iMacs, new thin notebooks, Google and .Mac integration, and possibly even movie rentals from iTunes. There's a lot to hope for...

But make sure you check out the keynote bingo tradition that has started. First one to shout "Bingo" loud enough for the audience at home to hear wins...

For more links and info about how to keep up to date with the updates coming from the conference tomorrow, check here.

Enjoy!

What Are You Eating?

2007-06-09T23:01:00.000-06:00

Normal Rockstar has an incredible post. Lend me your thoughts on it, if you don't mind :o).

Colbert On Candidates' Faith

2007-06-09T22:41:00.000-06:00

Dissension Between Pro-Life Groups

2007-06-06T22:46:00.000-06:00

As pro-life groups gear up to take on the new Supreme Court and try to change the Roe v. Wade decision, it seems there seems to be some dissention among their tactics and money. It's an interesting argument: should they take the incremental, saving more lives by slowly making it harder to have abortions route, or should they take the all out ban on abortion route. Before you pick your camp, I suggest you read this article, it may just make you take some things into consideration that hadn't crossed your mind.

Either way, I, for one, think it's pretty apalling that 1 in 5 pregnancies in this country end in an abortion, which translates to an estimated 1.3 million abortions a year.

AIDS Pandemic...Still a Pandemic

2007-06-06T22:35:00.000-06:00

"For each sub-Saharan African who was placed on anti-AIDS drugs last year, experts say, five more were newly infected. The region’s rate of new infections has not budged since the late 1990s, experts say."

Full NY Times Article here

Worth a Gander (possibly two?)

2007-06-05T00:49:00.000-06:00

hometown lovin.

gracias amigo tyler

Here's to the Crazy Ones!

2007-06-04T13:06:00.000-06:00

A reworking of Apple's "Think Different" Ad:

Here's the original:

Bah!

2007-06-03T22:41:00.000-06:00

Things that are utterly unfortunate, as experienced by Tim:

1) Uncertainty.
2) Adults acting more immature than their kids.
3) Yellow stuff pouring from a limitless (and quite efficient) factory somewhere in your nose.

Well, thats all I got.

Sleep well, blogosphere.

Invisible Children Screening at Rcktwn

2007-06-01T22:10:00.000-06:00

Saturday, June 2nd, I will be on hand at Rocketown during the Southern Hospitality Jam to screen the documentary Invisible Children: Rough Cut. I know most of you have most likely already seen the moving documentary that without exaggeration changed my life, but if you haven't, I urge you to make it a priority to be at this event if you are able. It's an all day thing, but we are screening the movie at 5:30 pm. All details can be found at the myspace page I linked above. Or, if you merely want to lend a brother some support, it would be much appreciated! Seeing as the festival features graffiti artists, freestyle rap-offs, and pro skateboarders, I think I may be a little out of my league... I may need all the familiar faces I can get!

What's a boy to do?

2007-05-31T21:06:00.000-06:00

Being at "home" makes a college boy appreciate so much.

...like dishwashers, for instance.

...or showering without the insistent tunes of Radiohead pouring in from my suitemate (no offense Andrew)

...or not having to share the hall with black widow spiders.

But alas, when this happens:

there is no soul staring into the same screen in our modest room to empathize with the nerd that lives in my heart.

How will life go on?

Too Good To Pass Up

2007-05-30T00:35:00.000-06:00

I had to repost this. Just watch, you'll understand.

Thanks Shaun for this.

Save the Preds!

2007-05-29T13:48:00.000-06:00

Normal Rockstar alerted us to the real threat that the Nashville Preds might be leaving. The team has an offer to be sold to a man from Canada, who has recently just backed out of a deal to buy the Pittsburg because the NHL was making it very difficult for him to move the team to Canada. I don't know about you, but I think hockey is one of the best things about Nashville. I absolutely love it! Please join us as we try to rally to save the Predators. Here's several links for you to help out.

Normal Rockstar's Preds Post

Save the Predators Facebook Group (2,700+ members)

Save the Predators MySpace Group

Official Online Petition (1,700+ signatures)

Preds Forum (including info on a Rally to Save the Preds on June 16)

Email the League Commissioner: gbettman@nhl.com

Call the NHL: 212-789-2000

Thanks, and help spread the word!

Brian McLaren on Worship

2007-05-28T02:00:00.000-06:00

Several people have posted this, and my blog felt left out. From the progressive himself, McLaren has some interesting thoughts. Let me know what you think...

LeaderShaped

2007-05-26T23:23:00.000-06:00

Some pictures from my week at LeaderShape Tennessee. Our group was called "The Dance Party," which may help you understand some of the pictures :o).

Jim Wallis at Georgetown University

2007-05-24T22:41:00.000-06:00

The following is an adaptation of Jim Wallis' commencement speech at Georgetown University on May 20. It is here courtesy of God's Politics, where a full version of the speech and an audio recording are also available. This is really worth taking the time to read, and I am so grateful for Jim Wallis' words. Read and comment away.

Each new generation has a chance to alter two very basic definitions of reality in our world - what is acceptable and what is possible.

First, what is acceptable?

There are always great inhumanities that we inflict upon one another in this world, great injustices that cry out to God for redress, and great gaps in our moral recognition of them. When the really big offenses are finally corrected, finally changed, it is always and only because something has happened to change our perception of the moral issues at stake. The moral contradiction we have long lived with is no longer acceptable to us. What we accepted, or ignored, or denied, finally gets our attention and we decide that we just cannot, and will not, live with it any longer. But until that happens, the injustice and misery continue.

It often takes a new generation to make that decision - that something that people have long tolerated just won't be tolerated any more.

So the question to you as graduates, as ambassadors for a new generation, is this: what are you going to no longer accept in our world, what will you refuse to tolerate now that you will be making the decisions that matter?

Will it be acceptable to you that 3 billion people in our world today - half of God's children - live on less that $2 per day, that more than 1 billion live on less than $1 per day, that the gap between the life expectancy in the rich places and the poor places in the world is now 40 years, and that 30,000 children globally will die today - on the day of your graduation - from needless, senseless, and utterly preventable poverty and disease? It's what Bono calls "stupid poverty."

Many people don't really know that, or sort of do but have never really focused on the reality or given it a second thought. And that's the way it usually is. We don't know, or we have the easy explanations about why poverty or some other calamity exists and why it can't really be changed - all of which makes us feel better about ourselves - or we are just more concerned with lots of other things. We really don't have to care. So we tolerate it and keep looking the other way.

But then something changes. Something gets our attention, something goes deeper than it has before and hooks us in the places we call the heart, the soul, the spirit. And once we've crossed over into really seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting the injustice we can never really look back again. It is now unacceptable to us.

What we see now offends us, offends our understanding of the sanctity and dignity of life, offends our notions of fairness and justice, offends our most basic values; violates our idea of the common good, and starts to tug at our deepest places. We cross the line of unacceptability. We become intolerant of the injustice.

But just changing our notion of what is unacceptable isn't enough, however. We must also change our perception of what is possible.

In that regard, I would encourage each of you to think about your vocation more than just your career. And there is a difference. From the outside, those two tracks may look very much alike, but asking the vocational question rather than just considering the career options will take you much deeper. The key is to ask why you might take one path instead of another - the real reasons you would do something, more than just because you can. The key is to ask who you really are and what you want to become. It is to ask what you believe you are supposed to do.

You do have great potential, but that potential will be most fulfilled if you follow the leanings of conscience and the language of the heart more than just the dictates of the market, whether economic or political. They want smart people like you to just manage the systems of the world. But rather than managing or merely fitting into systems, ask how you can change them. You're both smart enough and talented enough to do that. That's your greatest potential.

Ask where your gifts intersect with the groaning needs of the world - there is your vocation.

The antidote to cynicism is not optimism but action. And action is finally born out of hope. Try to remember that. At college, you often believe you can think your way into a new way of living, but that's actually not the way it works. Out in the world, it's more likely that you will live your way into a new way of thinking.

The key is to believe that the world can be changed, because it is only that belief that ever changes the world. And if not us, who will believe? If not you, who?

Taxes Shmaxes

2007-05-24T10:34:00.000-06:00

How many days you work just to pay off your taxes:

courtesy of The Tax Foundation

Man Man at the Mercy Lounge

2007-05-23T22:41:00.000-06:00

I opened up Safari yesterday to my nice Google homepage only to see on my Nashville concert ticker that Man Man was playing a show that night. It didn't really matter what happened the rest of the day, with a surprise like that, there could be no wrong. I've been a fan for a few months now, and with a picture of their live show like this:

there was no stopping me from seeing Man Man for myself. I got to the Mercy Lounge slightly early and heard their sound check, which only served to top my anticipation. Their lead singer came and let us in, talking to us and thanking us for coming. He even went back stage and got the six of us plastic bowls and spoons, cereal, and soy milk for us to enjoy before the show. What else could go wrong? When the show finally started, the energy was close to euphoric. Unmatched by any I've ever seen. Not even close. They came out in war paint only to play 50 minutes of continuous music...no breaks. For instruments they used everything from bike horns to spoons in a metal bowl. And the crazy thing was for all the stage antics, facial expressions, and audience christenings (yes, i was man man christened), they actually sounded great! They were so good I have made a promise to myself that I will travel up to 3 hours to see them again, so if you have a chance, by all means GO TO THEIR SHOW! I will leave you with a wonderful sample of my night last night. I hope you enjoy!

Man Man -- Hot Bat
Man Man -- Engwish Bwudd

Thanks to http://lostinyourinbox.blog-city.com/ for the mp3s.

In light of my night, my list of favorite shows has undergone a dramatic shift. Sufjan is still secure, but Man Man has made its mark:

1) Sufjan Stevens at the Rhyman
2) Man Man at The Mercy Lounge
3) Coldplay at Starwood

Close behind: Lovedrug at Exit/In, Augustana at City Hall, and perhaps even Family Force 5 at Rcktwn.

LOST Season 3 Finale

2007-05-23T09:27:00.000-06:00

The LOST finale is here tonight, and I myself am elated. My prediction: Locke will survive (he was shot in the kidney he no longer has), join up with half of the others that don't trust Ben any longer, and go to the 815er's camp to try to warn them about Ben. Sayid and the gang will think it is Ben's group and fight them instead. As for Charlie...who knows, but he won't die. I think that Desmond's the one that really is supposed to die. And I'm going out there, but somebody's going to pull a serious con on the 815ers tonight, and my call is Jack. I think that's how we will be left for the next nine months: trying to figure out why Jack betrayed to group.

Any other predictions?

Dang It Feels Good To Be A Tech-Nerd

2007-05-22T00:07:00.001-06:00

Normal Rockstar points us to this incredible article featuring the mastermind behind facebook. This 22-year-old was offered 1 billion dollars for his Web 2.0 baby, but he turned it down! Crazy or what?

LeaderShape

2007-05-21T21:05:00.000-06:00

I appologize for my absense from this ol' blog machine in the last bit. Life has happened, in the form of a leadership camp called LeaderShape in nowhere, Tennessee. It featured student leaders from colleges all across Tennessee, and I won't soon forget the people I was fortunate enough to meet. They made the week what it became :o).

Fortunately for the faces that read these words on the other side of this screen I am staring into, I am back and see summer in front of me. That means an unoccupied mind that desperately needs occupation, of which it hopefully will find in the form of my typing fingers and an audience who is willing to spare a few moments. Thanks for reading, and I hope to start blogging at level 11 soon... stay tuned.

My Second Semester as a Playlist

2007-05-14T22:43:00.000-06:00

I know it's long, but it's been a meaningful semester. Full of change and growth. I've highlighted a few lines for you, so I hope you enjoy. Despite how it may appear, it's really been a positive, optimistic semester. Oh summer, what songs will you bear?

1. The Freshmen -- The Verve Pipe
"For the life of me I cannot remember, what made us think we were wise and we'd never compromise...We were merely freshmen."

2. Hero (Bonus Track) -- Regina Spektor
"I'm the hero of this story, don't need to be saved."

3. The Movers and the Shakers -- Herbert
"Don't wanna fight for a feeling."

4. Existence -- Kevin Max
"What is this, this mess of my existence?"

5. Am I Wry? No -- Mew
"Can you tell me exactly how I should have done?"

6. Dog Problems -- The Format
"And blame postmodern things I can't relate."

7. Pistol -- Dustin Kensrue
"Honey, you lay me bare."

8. Many Lives for 49 MP -- Final Fantasy
"He keeps a book of photographs of his younger self."

9. Uh-Merica (Bonus Version) -- Regina Spektor

10. Thin Blue Flame -- Josh Ritter
"If what's loosed on earth will be loosed upon high, it's a hell of a heaven we must go to when we die"

11. Wake Up - Arcade Fire
"We're just a million little gods causing rainstorms."

12. The Zookeeper's Boy -- Mew
"Answer me truthfully, do the clouds kiss you?"

13. Heart Made of Sound -- SoftLightes
"They could want you, but they don't need to want you."

14. Engwish Bwudd -- Man Man
"All I want to be is a shubbly bubbly gobbly goo.."

15. Alright (Ratatat remix) -- Memphis Bleek

16. Nothin' No -- David Vandervelde
"I remember every word that you said"

17. Stop This Train -- John Mayer
"I know I can't, but honestly, won't someone stop this train?"
(but pretty much the entire song is golden...)

18. Everything Starts Where It Ends -- Lovedrug
"When nobody wants you in their life..."

19. The Wrong Guy -- Julie Doiron
"No one should see this."

20. Sad, Sad Song -- M. Ward
"The hardest thing in the world to do, is to find somebody believes in you."

21. Borderline -- Sufjan Stevens
"Don't put up your borderline."

22. Perhaps She'll Wait -- Bebo Norman
"But I will dream of tomorrow, where perhaps she'll wait for me."

23. His Guiding Hand (Album) -- Medicine Head

24. Thieving -- Lovedrug
"We're all in love with stolen hearts."

25. Me, Violin and Dancing Bear -- Page France
"They want a crooked-er you and a crooked-er me."

26. Click Click Click Click -- Bishop Allen
"You've ended up in someone else's frame."

27. Damnit Anna -- The Morning Benders
"Can't you look me in the eyes?"

28. Waking Up Before Her -- Groom
"Replacing your face will be only half the battle."

29. I'll Believe in Anything -- Wolf Parade
"Oh look at the trees and look at my face and look at a place far away from here."

30. You're Supposed To Be My Friend -- 1990s
"We're supposed to get along."

31. These Are the Eyes -- Bodies of Water
"You forgave but I cannot forget."

32. Billy Brown -- Mika
"Gonna shake the water out of every nook."

33. Big Boat -- M. Ward
"Says he's got a big boat but it's just a fairy boat and that makes for a short, short ride."

34. Coffee and Cigarettes -- Augustana
"Till Spring, when the sun can finally be free."

35. Mr. Disgrace -- Luke Temple
"He'd never written a poem."
"If only they knew where everything starts in a world made of too many parts."

36. Yolanda Hayes -- Fountains of Wayne
"Who can you trust with your love these days?"

37. A Savior On Capital Hill -- Derek Webb
"There's never been a savior on Capital Hill."

38. Step Forward -- Cloud Cult
"When you finally know you can't know, step forward."

39. Springfield, Or Bobby Got a Shadfly Caught in His Hair -- Sufjan Stevens
"I don't care to say what I failed to recognize."
"The morning papers made the most of nothing at all."
"I took off my clothes and she took it for a holiday."

40. Middleman -- Bright Eyes
"The dead can hide beneath the ground and the birds can always fly. The rest of us do what we must in constant compromise."

41. Stay Sound -- Steve Moakler
"All I can ask of you is that you not forget about me."
"You be the gun I'll be the trigger finger. We'll start a war..."

42. Colorshow -- The Avett Brothers
"Be loud let your colors show."

43. Fiend Over Your Knees -- Thee, Stranded Hourse

44. Marion Barfs -- Clint Mansell

45. Going To A Town -- Rufus Wainwright
"Tell me, do you really think you go to hell for having love?"
"I'm so tired of you, America."

46. Racing Like A Pro -- The National
"Oh my God it doesn't mean a lot to you."

47. Selling Advertising -- David Bazan
"I know it's hard to be original. In fact, nothing scares me more, because Jesus only lets me do what's already been done before."

48. Brotherhood of Man -- The Innocence Mission
"This is the brotherhood of man."

49. This Too Shall Be Made Right -- Derek Webb
"And this too shall be made right."

50. Walken -- Wilco
"I was talking to myself, about you."

51. Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah -- Jeremy Casella
"Land me safe on Canaan's side. Bid my anxious fears, goodbye."

Forget Spidey and Sparrow

2007-05-14T12:47:00.001-06:00

The one movie you need to see this summer is not Spiderman, Shrek, or Priates. It comes out this Thursday, and I can't wait to see it. It's Once.

It's featuring the lead from the Irish band The Frames, Glen Hansard, and his music is incredible. Check it:

Falling Slowly (live)-- Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

Bazan and Gibbard at City Hall

2007-05-13T22:49:00.001-06:00

I had high expectations, and they were easily fulfilled. I had never heard of Jonathan Rice, but he's a pretty goodun. Not much of an uplifting message, but good nonetheless. With David Bazan having his own solo record and several recordings as the former frontman of Pedro the Lion and Ben Gibbard being the mastermind behind Death Cab for Cutie, The Postal Service, and All-Time Quarterback, each had several songs in their arsenal, and I had no clue what to expect. The audience got a little bit of everything, including several covers.
I think the only thing that could have made it better was if it were at a better venue for accoustic acts. The Rhyman would have been incredible! If you didn't know any of the artists' work, it could have been a long show, but for me I couldn't get enough.

On Second Thought...

2007-05-13T00:01:00.000-06:00

"Can't wait..." I ended my last post on. Interesting words.

Well, maybe I can. Time is a limited commodity these days. Or all days, I guess. But to me more wanted than ever before. Which I can only assume is a healthy new oddity in my life. I'd rather the days be longer than shorter. Maybe that could be the measure of my existence. The speed at which I desire my second hand to turn. It is currently traveling at least twice too fast. If you could graciously tell it to abandon its hurried pace, it would be much appreciated.

D.A.N.C.E. -- Justice

2007-05-12T23:17:00.000-06:00

I've seen this video too many times from too many people/blogs to not post it:

Best video since MuteMath's "Typical." The song is called "D.A.N.C.E." and its from a new French band that is releasing their first album in June. Can't wait...

Summa Muzak

2007-05-12T00:32:00.000-06:00

I just got home from another amazing concert featuring the absolutely stunning and unique Biscuits and Gravy at Cafe Coco. Tonight was their one year anniversary show, and they have definately accomplished a lot. They've played at Coco, 12th and Porter, 3rd and Lindsley, Rocketown, and even the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center. You can't really catagorize their music, but if you were forced to it might just have to be a fusion of Jazz, R&B, Hip-Hop, and even some Funk. There's a live recording of a few of their songs on their website, so be sure to check them out.
Know, though, that they don't do the band justice in the least. They have an uncanny ability to bring a crowd to life and have everybody rocking out before the second verse of any given song. And with the band's average age of 15, that's saying something. The 13 year old drummer will blow your mind. Harold, the band's frontman, lived across the hall from me this last year at Belmont, and it is obvious that the stage is where he belongs. He is in his element, and I don't think anyone could stop him. They are playing several more shows this summer, including a few at Coco (which are free...). Don't let yourself miss this!

Also, I've been digging some movie scores, as well as classical music, of late. Clint Mansell might just be one of my budding favorite composers. His work for Requiem for A Dream and The Fountain is absolutely brilliant. You would probably recoginze his Lux Aeterna, as it was first featured on The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers trailor and has since been the backdrop to any semi-epic movie made. Here's a sample from the The Fountain, though. Do yourself a favor and listen till the end.

Clint Mansell -- Death is the Road to Awe.

Music Friday -- May 4, 2007

2007-05-04T01:33:00.000-06:00

Maroon 5 is at it again, and have just released their newest single, Makes Me Wonder. And while the wait has been long, it hasn't been long enough. During their break, they definately acquired some language, and if this song is any indication, failed to produce something worthy of the hype they surely will get. Listen for yourself if you must, but it's really probably not worth it.

Makes Me Wonder -- Maroon 5 (thanks to mblog.com for this)

But it's Friday and nobody likes a pessimistic post on Friday. So here are some tracks that I have enjoyed lately. First off, we have a song by The Avett Brothers. A friend from Vanderbilt introduced me to this eccentric trio that lives somewhere between Sufjan Stevens and Ryan Adams. With a lot of weird thrown in. I hope you enjoy. They have a new album coming out May 15 and a free download on their myspace. You should check it.

Colorshow -- The Avett Brothers

Secondly, I give you something a little less energetic but definately as gut-wrenching. One of my new favorite bands of all time has an album releasing May 22, and you would be making a dramatic mistake by not picking it up. I'm talking about The National, of course. The album hasn't stopped playing on my little hard drive since I got it, and I don't anticipate it stopping anytime soon. Here's a taste of it for you. It's definately not my favorite track on the record, but is still a solid peice of brilliance.

Fake Empire -- The National

That'll do. Let me know what you think.

New Feature Added

2007-05-03T23:22:00.000-06:00

I have recently discovered Last.fm thanks to the prompting of my roommate, and I'm starting to catch on. Anyway, you might notice this nice addition to my sidebar:

I just thought I would share with you what I'm listening to every week. It may stay, or I may decide to make it go away. But here it is for now. Enjoy.

Displace Me 2007

2007-04-29T09:48:00.000-06:00

Exhausted, burnt, and more sleep deprived in the last 72 hours than I've ever been in my life.

But I have fought the fight.

More to come...

Displace Me Promotion at Belmont

2007-04-27T10:11:00.000-06:00

T-Shirt Design:

Cardboard Hut in the Quad:

Carboard Hut After Belmont Lawn Patrol:

Posters and Flags Around Campus:

Why You Should Be DISPLACED

2007-04-27T00:46:00.000-06:00

1) Above all else, click here and check out the newest media on the front page. The video is shocking and heartbreaking.

"If the U.S. Government desires that this conflict is ended and they desire it at breakfast, by dinner time it wouldn't be there."

2) The solution to the conflict is a REALITY! The ceasefire with the LRA was just reinstated less than two weeks ago. Peace talks began this Wednesday, April 25th. How powerful of a message would it be for the people making decisions in Uganda to wake up on the 29th and read in their newspapers that 100,000 Americans rallied all for the cause of peace in Uganda?

3) A year ago, I witnessed the power of our generation for the first time. People were moved to action upon seeing this video. I saw so many people I never would have thought get so passionate about this movement nearly explode with excitement and energy. I saw the look in people's eyes as they prepared for the Global Night Commute. I stood among the 3,000 in Franklin who marched for 3 miles as one, a single unit in solidarity to bring awareness and peace to this atrocity. I ask you to experience this for yourself. I dare you. It will be life changing. It will give you hope for the future of our world.

4) Because it will be fun. Africa doesn't have to be about triggering emotional responses by showing manipulative pictures and putting somber music behind it. There is an adventure to it.

5) Pete Wence tells you that you should...

6) We need to be reminded that America is not the standard. Not by a long shot. God is with the poor. He hears their cries. Maybe it's time we start as well.

LEAVE YOUR HOME TO BRING THEM HOME
www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceme

Going To A Town

2007-04-25T10:38:00.000-06:00

I recently had an opportunity to listen to the soon-to-be new Rufus Wainwright album, Release the Stars, and I was immediately captivated, captured, and terrorized by the second track.

Going To A Town

I’m going to a town that has already been burnt down,
I’m going to a place that has already been disgraced,
I’m gonna see some folks who have already been let down,
I’m so tired of America

I’m gonna make it up for all of the Sunday times,
I’m gonna make it up for all of the nursery rhymes,
They never really seem to want to tell the truth,
I’m so tired of you, America

Making my own way home, ain’t gonna be alone,
I’ve got a life to lead, America
I’ve got a life to lead

Tell me, do you really think you go to hell for having love,
Tell me, enough of thinking everything that you’ve done is good,
I really need to know, after soaking the body of Jesus Christ in blood,
I’m so tired of America

I really need to know,
I may just never see you again, or might as well,
You took advantage of a world that loved you well,
I’m going to a town that has already been burnt down,
I’m so tired of you, America

Making my own way home, ain’t gonna be alone,
I’ve got a life to lead, America
I’ve got a life to lead,
I got a soul to feed,
I got a dream to heed,

And that’s all I need,
Making my own way home, ain’t gonna be alone,
I’m going to a town,
That has already been burnt down

I'm not saying I agree with all of this, but it just moved me. It was very real and very compelling. It drew me in and shocked me all at once. It addressed my passions, my questions, and my frustrations. And thus has stimulated a conversation in my head that has since been conveyed to God on numerous times in the last few days. Though I try not to let this attitude dominate my life, I would be lying if the thoughts never entered my mind. Sometimes it feels really good to have somebody say something that resonates with a part of you in the rawest form. No masks, no walls, no shame. So here's to you, Rufus.

What do you think?

GREETINGS OFFICIAL WAR STOPPERS

2007-04-23T23:05:00.000-06:00

First of all, if you have not yet done so yet, sign up for DISPLACE ME at www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceme. Invite your mom. Invite your dog. This event will change your life.

Second, it is up to us to PROMOTE (the mom and dog part):

At Belmont, we are all teaming together to wear our WHITE SHIRTS WITH RED X'S on campus WEDNESDAY. Basically, the entire campus should be blanketed with these shirts, and anyone not wearing them will be too overwhelmed that they will have to ask. And then they will come. You need to make the shirt anyway to take a picture with you wearing it for the event, so why not use it as a sign of solidarity on campus?

Also, you might have noticed a nice new decoration on the quad. As long as weather and BePo permits, a cardboard tent will be present as a constant advertisement for DISPLACE ME. It was constructed earlier tonight, and it has already received a lot of attention and caused a lot of attention. Make sure to stop by it and hang out at it when you can this week. We will be there with flyers. Anything we can do to create an enormous buzz is very beneficial.

Get excited, and get involved! The numbers for Nashville have gone up 1,000 in under a week! Let's add another 1,000 by Saturday!!!!

Check out www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceme for all the updated information on the Nashville location.

Remember, no one else is doing anything at all like this to raise attention to the situation in Uganda. NO ONE ELSE IS RALLYING TO END THIS WAR. IF WE DON'T DO IT, NO ONE ELSE WILL!

Thanks

This is Why I'm Hot -- MUST READ!

2007-04-22T09:13:00.000-06:00

Basically, you should read this. That is all.

ELP

2007-04-18T22:03:00.000-06:00

Tis a tid bit late, though apropos in my highly trained professional opinion. And if you don't like it, well...it's my blog and I can do what I want :o). So at Belmont I'm a part of a group called ELP, Executive Leadership Council. We just finished our last event, a campus-wide event we put on ourselves. It was a giant easter egg hunt on the quad along with a wonderful concert by Mark Trussell, Josh Johnson, and the great Andy Davis.

Fun, fun! I just wish I had a picture of Ryan in the bunny costume... And for the sake of nostalgia, here's our first group photo:

Definately a fun first year experience. Glad to have done it. Peace. And Love.

CMT's at Belmont

2007-04-18T01:06:00.000-06:00

The CMT Music Awards were hosted for the second straight year at Belmont. Despite the ridiculous frustrations of having the media/set-up crews taking over our campus, it was quite fun to be able to be on the floor for the screening of the show. I'm not a big country fan, but seeing such artists as Carrie Underwood, Bon Jovi, Hank Williams Jr., Chris Kristopherson, and yes, even the freakin' STANLEY CUP was pretty exciting.

The Red Carpet
Bon Jovi
Rascal FlattsCarrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood -- Video of the Year
Kenney Chesney
An Excited Tim

DISPLACE ME

2007-04-16T01:28:00.000-06:00

You may have heard about Invisible Children and Displace Me, but please don't do yourselvs the disservice of not really considering what it means. Last year, a group of my friends and I helped to organize a rally for Invisible Children in Franklin called the Global Night Commute. Of the 130 cities across the world participating, Franklin was the third largest location by the number of people who participated. It was incredible. And as incredible as that was, Displace Me (April 28-29) is going to be even better. It will allow the participants to put themselves in the shoes of the people in Uganda that have been living in the terrible conditions of the displacement camps for the last ten years. Everything will be experiential. If you thought the GNC was good, wait till you get to Displace Me. In Nashville alone, we are expecting over 10,000 to gather together to support this cause. It will be absolutely unreal. I promise you, you will not regret participating in this event.

The reality is, no one else in the world is lobbying for the people of Northern Uganda like Invisible Children is. No one else is organizing rallies of over 80,000 people in cities across the globe. No one else is lifting up the voices of the oppressed in this country in Africa. WE ARE UGANDA'S ONLY SHOT AT JUSTICE. WE ARE UGANDA'S ONLY SHOT AT FREEDOM. If we don't stand up and bring awareness to this issue, NO ONE ELSE WILL. Please stand with me. Join me in Nashville (or in any other city) and let your voice be heard for the Invisible Children.

Please go to www.invisiblechildren.com/displaceme to SIGN UP and to receive more information!

I'm helping coordinate Belmont's efforts for Invisible Children, so if you have any questions, please let me know. This blog will probably be IC heavy for the next couple of weeks, but it'll definately be worth it!

Me in Belmont's Greek Sing

2007-04-14T23:59:00.000-06:00

This is me in our campus' greek sing this year. Yes, I am in a fraternity. Don't think any differently about me :o) ...ask me about it sometime and I'll tell you why I love it. This performance took home the gold for the event, so I hope you enjoy! Go Phi Tau!!

Because I Have the Coolest Nephew...

2007-04-11T11:46:00.000-06:00

Blake's First Month Birthday
Grandparent Lovin'
Thug Life
Shake what yo mama gave ya!

Mandy and Aaron, Sittin' in a Tree...

2007-04-10T23:44:00.000-06:00

Congrats Guys!!! That's right, these two lovebirds are engaged. Frye, I never thought the day would come. What a difference a year makes, huh? I'm so happy for you two!!! Can't wait for the big day :o). I'm incredibly excited and honored to be able to be a part of it!!

A Morning At The Lakehouse

2007-04-07T22:06:00.000-06:00

-Written March 11, 2007-

I remember at Sarah’s lakehouse waking up to her sitting beside me on my bed, her hand on my neck. It was amazing, the best way to start the day. That’s a little of what I felt like this morning getting up early and reading God’s word. It’s harder to grasp, and you have to fight for it, but I think that’s the idea behind it. God wanting us every morning to feel so overwhelmingly loved and wanted. There’s no other desires that live in that instant. You’d rather have nothing else, and there’s no other place on earth that would offer you more. You are perfectly content, complete, whole, and beautifully captured by that mystical moment. You are connected to the creator. And for that time, the world is how it should be. It is put back together. And nothing can prevail against it. Except maybe her mom calling that breakfast is ready. Those pesky little reminders that the real world is waiting just outside that door. And the only hope you or the world has is if you bring that holy moment out to them. As if it depends on it. As if that jump in your step, that sparkle in your eye, that foolish grin that steals your face is the only thing holding everything together, and that maybe if you don’t smile, no one else will. But that the light in your heart is stronger than the darkness that surrounds. And after that moment in time that seemed like it just froze, after that’s over, that the darkness is just waiting to be pierced. And you live to live, because you know tomorrow morning you’ll wake up to the most wonderful moment once again. The moment you open your eyes and beauty is staring you in the face. The moment that you begin to see. The moment the world is put back together.

Music (good) Friday

2007-04-06T23:43:00.000-06:00

In light of my last post, I have decided to post a song of happy, a song of sad, and one of semi-crazy. May you listen to them while living life. As opposed to living death. or dying life. eh...you know what I mean.

Happy: Three Little Birds -- Elizabeth Mitchell
Sad: Vincent O'Brien -- M. Ward
Semi-Crazy: Waking Up Before Her -- Groom.

got the post in with 17 minutes to go...phew

A Perusal and a Discovery

2007-04-06T01:12:00.000-06:00

It is funny how past words can light a present fire. And so as I ventured into my journal of words that come from a now dead world, I find the world not as dead as I would have been led to believe. The words are still alive, somehow conjuring up neuron firings and synapses that result in an image of me being much more alive in that dead world than I am in the one that is playing before me. And so, these arrangements of spaces and letters have some mystic element to them. They have the ability to inspire, and to thrust old meaning and new meaning together upon the beholder. Somehow they are able to speak more truth into the time that is completely foreign to them than to even the era in which they were originally composed. And so in honor of their sacred power, I will repost them exactly as they were over a year ago. Perhaps they can affect you as they affected me...again?

Wednesday, September 14, 2005:
life is beautiful. life is a gift. life is the ups and downs. sometimes it's crappy and boring and stressful. sometimes it's fun and exotic and contagious. the rhythm of it. the beat of it. it's everything woven together so intricately. it's everything how it's supposed to be. not only that, it's everybodies crappys and borings and stressfulls and funs and exotics and contagiouses all intertwined. it's a beautiful collage of God's inventions and wirings. life is not a b****. life is not a grade. life is not a happy. life is not a smile. life is being fully alive. heaven is here. now. grab it. life is a holy discontent. life is a battle. life is a tension. life is a choice. to live is to love. to live is to be dirt on the underside of a shoe. life happens when there's nowhere lower to fall. when you're the servant of all. isn't it funny how the way life has been programmed to work? what we think we want the most, just doesn't help. and getting it in red or a size bigger or 21 points and two letters higher won't help either. He's written in the very way life functions and exists. life is our common assumptions inverted. blessed are the nothings. life is gravity. gravity is grace. and grace is a beautiful thing. life is beautiful.

my life right now is a tension between:

the memories i just want to relive, driven by the reluctance and doubt that im actually here at this point.... and ....the lonely feeling that i just don't belong here anymore and need to start a new phase of my life. in my head my identity is trapped in the past or future. where's the present? i have many times in the last 5 years thought of this time in my existence and determined what it would be like. i've turned out to be a very bad fortune teller...

i can be dragged through the day or drag the day around where i want it. :o)

Global Warming a Reality according to UN

2007-04-05T23:32:00.000-06:00

Since I just posted about this and got some minor feedback, I thought this would be an interesting post....

Warming 'already changing world'
From the BBC

Climate change is already having major impacts on the natural world, a UN report is set to announce.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) believes there is also a discernible, though less marked, impact on human societies.

The IPCC is to release a summary of its report on Friday but talks on wording have continued late into the night.

Officials said there were differences between various countries on the strength of the language.

China and Russia had also raised concerns over some passages of the 21-page summary, the official said.

The last-minute wrangling is likely to affect the degree of certainty in the final version, the BBC's Richard Black reports, but not the overall direction.

Water shortages

Draft versions seen by BBC News warn it will be hard for societies to adapt to all the likely climate impacts.

The report is set to say that a temperature rise above 1.5C from 1990 levels would put about one-third of species at risk of extinction.

More than one billion people would be at greater risk of water shortages, primarily because of the melting of mountain glaciers and ice fields which act as natural reservoirs.

The scientific work reviewed by IPCC scientists includes more than 29,000 pieces of data on observed changes in physical and biological aspects of the natural world.

Eighty-five percent of these, it believes, are consistent with a warming world.

Read more here...

Hospital Bound

2007-04-05T08:35:00.000-06:00

I am currently sitting in a hospital in Jackson Mississippi. It looks like it will be my home until today is called tomorrow. My sister is just about to have surgery, so your prayers would be appreciated! It shouldn't be anything serious, but they won't know for sure until they are into the operation. I'll keep you all updated, but thank you so much for thinking of my family!

--UPDATE--

She is out of the hospital and is resting with us at her house. The surgery went well, and it was apparently a good thing they did it because the situation was worse than they had thought. But all things considered, it was a mild operation, and Erica should be up and running in about a week. She's still in a TON of pain, so prayers for a speedy recovery would be appreciated. Much love.

An Inconvenient Truth

2007-04-02T02:40:00.000-06:00

This week is "Belmont Goes Green" week at Belmont, and thus there have been several events to supplement that title. On Tuesday night, I was able to view a screening of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, his documentary to raise awareness about global warming. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone that, well...lives on this earth. I think it was very well done (though definately not worthy of it's Oscar bid... just a political statement), though definately overly corny during Gore's back stories that interrupted his lecture. But this is a moral issue, not a political issue. It's a shame and an outrage to me that evangelical Christians are the primary force that are arguing against global warming. Of all groups, we should be the most concerned with this issue. God has given us this planet and made us responsible for it. It's our job and duty to God to take care of this place. I even believe there's a direct connection between the land and our spirituality. The Hebrews believed that everything is spiritual and that somehow there was a connection between the physical and the metaphysical. I happen to believe in our forefathers of our faith as well. Why wouldn't we be concerned about global warming? If it's real, which is pretty much the concensus, then we got some work to do. Even if it's not, isn't it better to be prepared than left with massive death and destructions on our hands? A cleaner earth shouldn't be the cause of debate. It's kind of obvious. But wait, that's gonna cost me something? As I quote directly from a U.S. delegate: "The American lifestyle is not up for negotiation." Wow. I don't understand, even if for some reason you have a logical base against global warming, people (mostly Christians) continually mock and ridicule Al Gore, though. He's attempting to do, what he considers, at least, some good in this world. We have enough people doing terrible things these days, but when someone believes in something so much and is so passionate about an issue that they believe will make the world a better place, as Al Gore is, we should commend them! Or bash them in bible studies. That's the Jesus Way.

One shocking thing I learned: Up until the time Gore was born, all the people on the earth only reached up to 2 billion people. It took from the beginning of the world until recently for the world to see 2 billion people. By the time he dies, the world is estimated to have 9 billion people on it. That's crazy to think about! Where are the resources to cover this increase coming from?

One thing I wished Gore covered more: economics and global warming. He glossed over it with sort of a joke and then later with just blowing it off: "Other countries are doing it." This is a real issue in the global warming debate, and I wasn't really satisfied with how he handled the issue. Give some real life solutions to how U.S. businesses won't have to go bankrupt by having environmentally friendly policies.

Today's Featured Video on GodTube

2007-03-31T12:16:00.000-06:00

Finally, someone who gets it!! Now THIS is what Jesus meant. Amen!

As my roommate pointed out, it's like some gameshow. "Next week on SAVED!, will he be able to save kiss? Or is he one car accident away from the firey pit of hell? Tune in to find out!"

So, may I ask you, my talk show host friend: Have you kept the ten commandments?

Thanks to GodTube for this. GOD TUBE??? GOD FREAKIN TUBE? Are you kidding me??? And I thought iGod was bad...

In Case You Were Wondering has more...

Music Friday: Cloud Cult Edition

2007-03-30T22:05:00.000-06:00

Of late I have fallen in love with this band. And by this band I clearly mean Cloud Cult. I can't get enough of them, so it seems. Consequently, deciding on a solitary song was a feat not even worth attempting. Ease trumps mind cramps two to one anyday (except on Fridays...three to one), and this happens to be music Friday. So alas I say, let there be music.

May Your Lives Be Long
Step Forward
Fairy Tale
Take Your Medicine

But if you persist on mind cramps, wallow yourself away in the pirty of this crooked world we find ourselves in. I bid thee well.

CALLING ALL BLOGGERS!!! HELP!!!

2007-03-29T23:30:00.000-06:00

Please watch this video!! Please act!!! This is a terrible situation about a step-son of a former associate dean here at Belmont. He has since stepped down to deal with the situation, and Eric needs our help!!! This story has been featured all over the news, including the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

Now I know that I don't have a lot of visitors to my blog, but I also know that I have a few that do have a lot of readers! Please repost this and spread this story to the world. This is important!

Augustana at Cityhall

2007-03-29T08:58:00.000-06:00

A friend graciously gave me two tickets to the Augustana and Vega4 show last night in Nashville at Cityhall, and I was willing to go. To be all that honest, I wasn't overly excited about it with their recent success with the song "Boston." I have been a fan of the band for a couple of years now since I heard their EP before All the Stars and Boulevards was released, but it's been a while. I had the irksome worry that I was about to see a pretty, glossy band that doubled for the album cover of the next Grey's Anatomy soundtrack. Not so. And it was incredible.

Vega4 is a multinational band, featuring a frontman and a bass player from ireland (think bono meets snow patrol to get a picture of the vocals), a drummer from Canada, and a guitar player from New Zealand. They were very good for an opening act, though, and their stage presence, albeit crude, was quite enjoyable. They ended their set with the lead singer taking the mic and walking through the crowd a good 20 feet out from the stage. The hit song is "Life is Beautiful," and if you're a fan of any snow patrol (somewhere in between Final Straw and Eyes Open), then you should fine the tune and listen to it yourself!

Augustana definately was different than I expected. Their frontman honestly reminded me mostly of Kid Rock in his appearance and mannerisms, sporting red boots, tight jeans, a simple white v-neck undershirt, a slight mustache, and a black cowboy hat covering his long, unmanaged curly black hair. He had an extremely low voice and had sometimes awkward interactions between him and the audience. Definately not a diva playing the crowd, he was in his own world of his own music. Which was perfectly fine when you have the voice that he does. Un-frickin-believable! He, along with the band, got lost in their songs, and you wish they'd never find their way to the end. Half the set was probably new songs the audience has never heard before, but it didn't matter. I wish I could see him again getting to the climax of a song letting his raspy voice take off and soar to crazy heights and his body being thrown into every word he sang. It was great. Halfway during the set, he brought up a steel-guitar player that he had apparently met earlier that day. They played a few of the most beautiful folk songs I have heard, and I wouldn't complain (probably the opposite) if they released a folk album next. Unfortunately, I don't think that'll be the case...but it should be! Anyway, if you get a chance to catch the tour before it ends, I would suggest it!

Last picture credited to Not on the Guest List.

Are You Serious??

2007-03-28T10:32:00.001-06:00

Congratulations Bao! We were all routing for you...

Can you imagine how awkward THAT prom dance was??

But are you serious?? This is one of the main stories for today?? Wow, American news for you... Another peice of evidence that convinces me that American news is really not in the news industry, but rather in the entertainment industry.

From CNN.com:

BEIJING, China (AP) -- After searching high and low, the world's tallest man has married a woman two-thirds his height, a Chinese newspaper reported Wednesday.

Bao Xishun, a 7-foot-9-inch (2.36-meter) herdsman from Inner Mongolia, married saleswoman Xia Shujian, who was 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 meters) tall, several days ago, the Beijing New reported.

Bao's 28-year-old bride is half his age and hailed from his hometown of Chifeng, even though marriage advertisements were sent around the world, it said.

"After a long and careful selection, the effort has been finally paid off," the newspaper said.

Bao was confirmed last year by the Guinness World Records as the world's tallest person.

Bao was in the news in December after he used his long arms to save two dolphins by pulling out plastic from their stomachs.

The dolphins got sick after nibbling on plastic from the edge of their pool at an aquarium in Liaoning province.

Attempts to use surgical instruments to remove the plastic failed because the dolphins' stomachs contracted in response to the instruments, Chinese media reported.

More Words I Wish I Wrote...

2007-03-25T23:36:00.000-06:00

They say you cannot walk before you crawl
I wonder why, I wonder why
Because everybody dreams before they fall
A wonder world and then we lose it all

But I will dream of tomorrow
Where the past will not be in my way
Passion lives another day
And I will dream of tomorrow
Where perhaps she'll wait for me

And every single heart that I have held
In my hands, in my clumsy hands
I fumbled them around until they fell
It's much safer ground just keeping to myself

But I still dream of tomorrow
Where the past will not be in my way
Passion lives another day
And I still dream of tomorrow
Where perhaps she'll wait for me
And perhaps she'll wait for me

--Bebo Norman

Sex God

2007-03-24T23:22:00.000-06:00

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I am obsessed with anything Rob Bell. I was of course then the first to pick up his newest book Sex God when it came out at the beginning of March. It was a quick read, and I easily finished it that week over Spring Break, but it is definately worth the high $20 charged for it. The book's title is interesting enough and certainly had me wondering, and its subtitle, "Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Sprituality," made me even more curious. Nevertheless, Rob Bell crafts a wonderful commentary on a new (or he would probably say really old) view on sex, love, and lust. Following on the heels of his first release, Velvet Elvis, this book has the same cordial and conversational style and feel but is a little more focused. It has something for everybody: for the single, the dating, the married, the never to be married, the married for 20 years. It's really fantastic and I can't wait to read it again to catch all the things that I missed (it's loaded with new info and insights in every sentance). Perhaps my favorite part was...hm... you know what, it's kind of hard to find a favorite part. It's all good!!!

Here's what Publishers Weekly had to say about it: "Bell raises the bar with this evocative follow-up to last year's bestseller Velvet Elvis. "Is sex a picture of heaven?" he wonders. It's all about God and sex and heaven, he says: "...they're connected. And they can't be separated. Where the one is you will always find the other." Bell's book isn't a sex manual, an exploration of the differences between men and women or a marriage how-to, though all of that is here. Instead, it's the story of God becoming human, of humans mirroring God and love made manifest in the chaos of our humanity. Sex God is about relationships revealed in a way that elevates the human condition and offers hope to those whose relationships are wounded. In Bell's spare, somewhat oblique style, he addresses lust, respect, denial, risk, acceptance and more. His love for God and the Bible is clear, as is his ability to ask probing questions and offer answers that make readers think deeply about their own lives. He does a fine job using the Bible and real life to show that our physical relationships are really about spiritual relationships. This book joyfully ties, and then tightens, the knot between God and humankind. "

So go out and buy it, read it, and pass it on! It'll be worth it.

Music Friday: Episode 3

2007-03-23T21:15:00.000-06:00

There's a bonus for you guys today. Not one, but two tracks!

Page France -- Here's a Telephone

Bright Eyes -- Four Winds

Hope you enjoy!

Belmont in the Wall Street Journal

2007-03-22T23:14:00.000-06:00

Belmont University's business school, of which I happen to be a student, has been featured in print and on video in the Wall Street Journal. This time it's for our entreprenuership program. Check it out here!

THIS IS WHY I'M HOT!

2007-03-22T22:17:00.000-06:00

I got my copy of Belmont's student newspaper, The Vision, yesterday, and I instantly looked for the article that my friend, Melanie Bingtson, had written. I have fallen in love with her writing of late, and I thought I should share her article. I don't think she'll mind. She deserves the publicity, anyway :o). So please read on, it is worth it! And I promise you will understand my title.

A World Without Spring

Springtime at Belmont is a beautiful thing. The trees around the quad bloom in vivid green, flowers explode into brilliant colors all across campus, and musicians of every sort crowd the lawns and play their songs until the sun sets.

It’s almost spring here and I can’t help but smile as I step outside my door every morning and feel the warm sunshine. For the last week or so, though, there is a sadness that I can’t seem to get out of my head.

We joke about the “Belmont bubble” but it frightens me how transcendent that idea is. I fall into its trap daily, pretending that this is actually the real world and that the middle-school drama that consumes our lives will have an impact six months from now. I’ve been convicted by this false reality recently.

Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi penned “Mambasa,” a song that asks wrenching questions:

“Tears run dry/We mourn quietly/Death has now lost its meaning/Funerals no longer have the necessary dignity/ Everyone around us is dying/ Who will sympathize with whom/ Since each of us has death in our homesteads daily?/ Who will mourn whom?/Who will bury whom?”

This is the song that plays on the radio in Zimbabwe – not “This is Why I’m Hot” (Mims) or “Beer in Mexico” (Kenny Chesney). Talk about a reality check.

The inflation rate in Zimbabwe is 1,700 percent. The average life expectancy of a woman is 35. Almost 25 percent of the population has AIDS.

Before you think that this is another spoiled American clamoring for help for Africa, finish this column. In all honesty, you can’t do anything to help the people in Zimbabwe. The government – and the country’s destiny – is controlled by Robert Mugabe, a ruthless and selfish dictator who has his opposition brutally beaten and has sworn off the rest of the world. Governments have tried to oust Mugabe through economic sanctions, which have starved the people of Zimbabwe. Economic sanctions are a traditional method to force rogue leaders to change, but they don’t work.

In the last week or so, Zimbabwe has finally broken into the news cycle. Mugabe has cracked down on his opposition, mercilessly beating leaders who have attempted to speak out against him. According to Mugabe, if Westerners dare to interfere with the situation, they will be removed from the country. (He did not specify whether they would leave alive or dead.)

Zimbabwe makes me sad. But there’s nothing I can do about it but tell you what is happening. I’m not asking you to do anything – Zimbabweans don’t need protests or pity or fundraisers or media blitzes. They need dignity. Hope. Prayer. Remembrance.

Robert Mugabe is 83 years old. He can’t last much longer.

Washington Post journalist Neely Tucker wrote a book called Hope in the Driest Season about his time in Zimbabwe covering all of Africa.Let me close with a passage from that book, which I want you to read.

“More than 1,100 people had flocked into the village’s Catholic church for sanctuary … We stepped on bare spots of the floor that were not strewn with debris. The pews had been ripped out, but the slats that had supported them were still there … I shifted my weight and a foot slipped off one plank, but I continued to write notes, racing to keep up with his account. I rocked my foot back and forth. It began bumping against something. At first, I thought it was a chicken’s rotted bones that had somehow not yet collapsed. Then I leaned down and peered closer. I blinked. It was the splintered remains of what appeared to be an infant’s rib cage. My toe was resting just inside, and I had been twitching my foot against the bowed ribs.”

Enjoy this season at Belmont. Walk outside, feel the sunshine and the breeze. But as you laugh and live and enjoy the blessings that God has given you freely, pray for springtime to come to Zimbabwe.