What with my new job and all, I've found it difficult to make time for blogging. Not only that, but my particular school system has made it very clear just how much trouble I can get into by misrepresenting them on this particular blog. Or Facebook. Or pretty much anything you do that might be seen by a student and taken in the wrong context. I've found this to be very true over the past two months. However, it seems so boring to discuss work here. It is what it is. It's a good job that pays decently for work that involves some type of music. All in all, I really can't complain. A lot has happened since I last posted, though. I thought I might update (due to some encouragement from an avid reader).
One week ago, I asked my best friend in the world if she would marry me. She (amazingly enough) said yes. Now, I consider myself to pretty much be the most fortunate guy ever. God has been more gracious than I could ever imagine Him to be. And He will continue to bestow His mercies everyday. It's just amazing to think back to the times in my life when I thought I knew what I wanted, and God told me to be patient. I was not very patient, and, in some instances, found myself more foolish and more hurt by following my own impulses. I had no idea that He had a woman like Debbie in store for me. I suppose I find it hard to trust sometimes. Perhaps I can take a lesson from this. Debbie is a true woman of God, a Proverbs 31 woman, a woman who will build me up, hold me accountable, love me unconditionally, and provide a glimpse into the glory of Christ. It will be my honor and duty to love her like Christ loves the Church. Now, I realize that those are some big shoes to fill, but by the grace of God, I will do my best.
Just wanted to share that tidbit of information on a rainy Saturday. Perhaps if I find myself with some downtime in the future, I'll share a bit more. Right now, we plan on having the wedding late June in Ohio (with possible receptions in Tennessee and North Carolina). We plan on moving back to Tennessee (at least for a little while), and our lives will continue, except we will now share one path. I look forward to it. I sure do miss her (Her being in North Carolina and I in Tennessee). Pray for us. We'd appreciate it.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Making Music and Traveling to Tennessee
I just feel like writing some music. There are times in life when things have settled: we public school kids know this as summer. There is no homework to be done, there are no songs to be memorized, and you can pretty much sleep in everyday knowing that the only thing you've really missed is the sunrise. Very soon one begins to get a better idea of the self through some summertime reflection. What would you do if you had no responsibility and a relatively unlimited amount of time? Life can be puzzlingly difficult when you are not on a schedule. This is a big problem with public schools: I never learned time management. It's difficult for me if someone is not telling me where to be at certain times and what to do when I get there. Well, here I sit, blogging away on a Tuesday afternoon just reading a good book and thinking about what I would/should be doing with this time that I have. I want to write some music.
I was offered an elementary music teaching job (grades 1-8!) in Tennessee just a week or two ago. I accepted that job after some prayer and counsel (some counsel to the contrary). After six years of living in North Carolina making my home here, making connections, networking, and so on, I am moving back into my parent's house. It seems kind of silly, yeah? My parents only had to live one year with an empty nest, and now here I am back again in tiny Seymour, Tennessee. I'll be saving money, certainly, and I am hoping by the end of the next school year to have enough money to buy a house. According to Clark Howard, I've got about another year to enjoy this favorable time in the real estate market (at least for us buyers). I'm actually not very sure of what will be happening in a year, but I suppose I should just take it one step at a time right now. And right now, I want to write some music.
I can hardly imagine a more agonizing job than teaching 1st through 8th graders a combination of mediocre choral and general music. Why would I take the job then? I think it's probably the same reason I really enjoy writing women's choral music: not many people can do it well. And so, maybe, with God's blessing and determination, I can take this job and do it well, do it better than people have in the past. I mean, I'll write my own music for my own children's choir. We always put the responsibility on the conductor for the choir, right? I mean, singers, by and large, are pretty much the same wherever you go. Some places have richer histories than others, but God gave us all the ability to make music, and if you have the right leader, He can make it work. Boy, I really want to write some music.
It's amazing to see how God will work and really how much we have to depend on Him. It's also really amazing to see that while I am utterly and hopelessly dependent, He gives me a little shove and says, "Ready, set, go! Live life! Write music!" And how do you respond to that? Okay, I'll go, I'll live, I'll write some music.
I was offered an elementary music teaching job (grades 1-8!) in Tennessee just a week or two ago. I accepted that job after some prayer and counsel (some counsel to the contrary). After six years of living in North Carolina making my home here, making connections, networking, and so on, I am moving back into my parent's house. It seems kind of silly, yeah? My parents only had to live one year with an empty nest, and now here I am back again in tiny Seymour, Tennessee. I'll be saving money, certainly, and I am hoping by the end of the next school year to have enough money to buy a house. According to Clark Howard, I've got about another year to enjoy this favorable time in the real estate market (at least for us buyers). I'm actually not very sure of what will be happening in a year, but I suppose I should just take it one step at a time right now. And right now, I want to write some music.
I can hardly imagine a more agonizing job than teaching 1st through 8th graders a combination of mediocre choral and general music. Why would I take the job then? I think it's probably the same reason I really enjoy writing women's choral music: not many people can do it well. And so, maybe, with God's blessing and determination, I can take this job and do it well, do it better than people have in the past. I mean, I'll write my own music for my own children's choir. We always put the responsibility on the conductor for the choir, right? I mean, singers, by and large, are pretty much the same wherever you go. Some places have richer histories than others, but God gave us all the ability to make music, and if you have the right leader, He can make it work. Boy, I really want to write some music.
It's amazing to see how God will work and really how much we have to depend on Him. It's also really amazing to see that while I am utterly and hopelessly dependent, He gives me a little shove and says, "Ready, set, go! Live life! Write music!" And how do you respond to that? Okay, I'll go, I'll live, I'll write some music.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
A New Hope
The children that live upstairs are playing Lego StarWars and it's more than possible that I could be living in Tennessee in a few weeks.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Starting from the Ground Up
It actually got cold in my room last night. I was actually cold. The temperature dropped and it seems as if it just won't stop raining, which is kind of nice. We found a leaky pipe in my closet a few days ago (it's been leaking for some time), so my entire apartment has been a pleasant atmosphere of mold as of late. So, it's nice to have an excuse to keep the windows open. The only drawback, it's hard to go for a walk, or a bike ride, or anything else in the rain. So instead, I sit at my computer, in my moldy apartment, and type away.
I recently picked up a book by Anne Lamott, called "Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith." She's a decent writer, I'll admit, but I can't get through the second chapter without her trashing either a)George Bush (not just trash, but spew utter hatred at) or b)the Church. And I'm tired of it. So I put the book down, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. Maybe I should just get some cool square black glasses and start drinking coffee and Guiness and start writing my blog in some west coast coffee shop in a passive-aggressive tolerance that will blow your mind and make you want to be just like me. Maybe not.
It seems to me that you can have an agenda, search the Bible over, and come up with your own ground-breaking explanantion of why God really wrote Scripture in the first place. I don't think that's a good way to read the Bible. I'm guilty of it myself. I don't claim that conservative Republican values line up with Scripture. There's a good bit of Scripture that doesn't support their ideas. The liberal Democrat will have a fun time stringing together passages that make it seem like the greatest commandment is tolerance toward one another in acceptance and without accountability. Because the bottom line is personal freedom, right? I've been reading another book, and I've not finished it just yet, but it's pretty good, so far. A little watered down, sure, but overall pretty solid. "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan is a pretty good alternative to the situation in the American church. The Emergent/emerging church really bashes the church and bashes Christians. Ephesians 4:1-4 tells us to be tolerant of one another in love. I think Paul is talking to the church in Ephesus here. Often when we're talking about "one another" we're talking about the Church. "Love your enemy" certainly applies to non-Christians, but we are told over and over again to love the Church. Instead of blaming and shaming our brothers and sisters, maybe we should just do what Scripture tells us. Chan is not perfect by any means, but I think he's got some ideas that go in the right direction. And it's not really new ideas, either. It's simply starting from the ground up, except that ground is going to be Scripture. It's not coming to Scripture with ideas of trying to bash homosexuals or social justice or free capitalism or socialism or whatever. It's reading the Scripture for what it says, and then going from there. The farther we get away from Scripture, the more our own agendas and opinions are going to get in the way of what's really best for us. We have a vast population of different people, and if we try to approach things from opinions and topics and biases, it might make a fun coffee shop discussion. But to move forward and to grow, I think we are going to need to bring it back to Scripture. It's not enough to get caught up in the culture and to try to discern God speaking through that, because He will speak through situations and people and even culture. It's hard to tell though, sometimes, which voice is God and which voice is not. The Bible helps us to hear, helps us to discern. You'd think God's voice would be the big booming one, glaring at us from every aspect of society. But sometimes, as the Bible, tells us, God comes in a whisper, and it can be so hard to hear. Because God is not shoving us into society (at least, I don't think that's what Jesus was praying for His disciples), He's calling us to Him. It seems to me that He whispers so we have to listen really hard and that we have to draw closer so we can hear Him better. Those are just my thoughts, though. It's back to Scripture I go. And since I've been rambling and nay-saying about people giving their opinions without Scripture, I probably should quote something:
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. " (Eph. 4:1-6, NIV)
I recently picked up a book by Anne Lamott, called "Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith." She's a decent writer, I'll admit, but I can't get through the second chapter without her trashing either a)George Bush (not just trash, but spew utter hatred at) or b)the Church. And I'm tired of it. So I put the book down, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. Maybe I should just get some cool square black glasses and start drinking coffee and Guiness and start writing my blog in some west coast coffee shop in a passive-aggressive tolerance that will blow your mind and make you want to be just like me. Maybe not.
It seems to me that you can have an agenda, search the Bible over, and come up with your own ground-breaking explanantion of why God really wrote Scripture in the first place. I don't think that's a good way to read the Bible. I'm guilty of it myself. I don't claim that conservative Republican values line up with Scripture. There's a good bit of Scripture that doesn't support their ideas. The liberal Democrat will have a fun time stringing together passages that make it seem like the greatest commandment is tolerance toward one another in acceptance and without accountability. Because the bottom line is personal freedom, right? I've been reading another book, and I've not finished it just yet, but it's pretty good, so far. A little watered down, sure, but overall pretty solid. "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan is a pretty good alternative to the situation in the American church. The Emergent/emerging church really bashes the church and bashes Christians. Ephesians 4:1-4 tells us to be tolerant of one another in love. I think Paul is talking to the church in Ephesus here. Often when we're talking about "one another" we're talking about the Church. "Love your enemy" certainly applies to non-Christians, but we are told over and over again to love the Church. Instead of blaming and shaming our brothers and sisters, maybe we should just do what Scripture tells us. Chan is not perfect by any means, but I think he's got some ideas that go in the right direction. And it's not really new ideas, either. It's simply starting from the ground up, except that ground is going to be Scripture. It's not coming to Scripture with ideas of trying to bash homosexuals or social justice or free capitalism or socialism or whatever. It's reading the Scripture for what it says, and then going from there. The farther we get away from Scripture, the more our own agendas and opinions are going to get in the way of what's really best for us. We have a vast population of different people, and if we try to approach things from opinions and topics and biases, it might make a fun coffee shop discussion. But to move forward and to grow, I think we are going to need to bring it back to Scripture. It's not enough to get caught up in the culture and to try to discern God speaking through that, because He will speak through situations and people and even culture. It's hard to tell though, sometimes, which voice is God and which voice is not. The Bible helps us to hear, helps us to discern. You'd think God's voice would be the big booming one, glaring at us from every aspect of society. But sometimes, as the Bible, tells us, God comes in a whisper, and it can be so hard to hear. Because God is not shoving us into society (at least, I don't think that's what Jesus was praying for His disciples), He's calling us to Him. It seems to me that He whispers so we have to listen really hard and that we have to draw closer so we can hear Him better. Those are just my thoughts, though. It's back to Scripture I go. And since I've been rambling and nay-saying about people giving their opinions without Scripture, I probably should quote something:
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. " (Eph. 4:1-6, NIV)
Monday, May 25, 2009
Two Updates
So I've been back in North Carolina for a little while, and I have two updates. Well, three really. 1 Timothy is a pretty tough book to tackle, first of all. I mean, it sets those guidelines for a Godly overseer, bishop, or pastor in chapter 3, which is something for which all men should strive. The second chapter has that controversial bit about women being saved through childbirth, and then I'm on the fourth chapter, which starts off with the part about apostasy. I feel very much like I'm in the later times, fighting off false prophets and those falling away from the faith. The last part of the chapter, though, is what particularly hit me this morning:
"12Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
"12Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
13Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
14Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through AH)">prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
15Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
16Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you."
We used to talk about the twelfth verse quite a bit back when I was in the youth group at my old church. We'd always get pumped up and come screaming into the sanctuary about five minutes before "big church" (the service of corporate worship and preaching, usually following Sunday School), demanding to be heard by our elders, pointing to this very verse. But I am reading this with very different eyes today. I've been thinking about evangelism lately, and what the church's and my individual roles are in the American culture at present. Verse fifteen is particularly striking. Go ahead and read it again. I'm not so sure that I always am careful to "take pains" in Paul's instructions. I am more apt to serve my leftovers to God than to take pains to see that I am progressing in example, so others salvation will be ensured. That's a pretty weighty task overall. I'm still pondering these things, but I have other updates to which we must attend.
Bessie is still in the shop. They've got her completely taken apart, and it seems that the solution to the problem will be a bit cheaper than we originally thought. I still don't know exactly what happened to ol' Bess', but she still won't be ready for awhile. Poor Bessie, she just can't catch a break. Hopefully by the time mid-June rolls around, I'll be able to drive her back to her home here in North Carolina. She's just been aching to lie out beneath those Carolina blue skies.
Then came the third update. I visited the Woodhams. Yes, tis true, and I bring good news: I am still alive, and I had a good time. Shocking to some, perhaps, but much expected by those who know these Ohioans to be gracious hosts. We certainly had some adventures. As is necessary for most of my adventures, we got lost at one point. Now, don't let anyone tell you otherwise--we wandered off the trail, were separated from the rest of our party, and could not tell you exactly where we were in the metro park. My friends, if that is not the definition of lost, well, then I would question your language skills.
The evenings were always filled with the comforts and nutrition of home-cooked meals as we ate together around the table (which, by the way, is not entirely foreign to me; I have experienced this phenomenal gathering of humans, myself included, at our annual festivals celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas). I wasn't exactly sure what to do; we weren't going around the table talking turkey or opening presents, so I just kind of winged it. I think I did okay overall. Nobody stared at me (at least, for more than 30 seconds or so), so I assume that I didn't go too much against tradition.
I've always wondered what it would be like to have sisters. I don't really wonder what it would be like anymore.
I've also wondered what it would be like to have another brother, and what it would be like to take these familial friends to kick back a couple of pops (cokes) while blistering our tongues with hot wings (traditional or boneless, your choice), followed by renting violent, er, rather, action-packed! movies that still contained the security device which we, being men (of course), had to destroy with our hands and weapons in an all-out, car magazine-reading, smooth jazz-listening hour of masculinity. I no longer wonder what this would be like, too.
All in all, what a wonderful time I had. In fact, I really can't wait to go back. First, however, I have to make a trip to Dollywood with a friend. :-) Then we can go back. That's a lot of information, and I am tired of typing. Happy Memorial Day!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Like little pigs running around in the forest...
I flew to Ohio. I am there (here) now. I am spending time with the Woodhams, and we are having adventures at every opportunity. I am leaving Thursday. At that point, I will actually be able to sit down and blog. Right now I have to make a salad with my helper, Diana. Actually, I think I'm her helper. Either way, I have to go!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Down, but not Out
Well, Bessie is in Tennessee now enjoying the fresh mountain air and taking a much-needed respite from the daily grind here in Greensboro. I hope, when they're not working on her, that they'll let her play with the other cars in the shop. My parents came in for a visit this weekend, and they left this morning in a rented car, leaving the Volvo behind for me. It's nice, but certainly no Bessie. My parents will have to share a car until I come in next weekend for a wedding. Hopefully, Bessie will be up and running by then. I'd like to take her to Ohio, but we'll have to play it by ear to see if she's ready for that kind of travel. You may be asking, why would you want to take Bessie to Ohio? Well, if you're not a Facebook stalker like myself, then I'll speak to the matter.
I have been pursuing (as in a romantic way, not like chasing her around the building, although there has been some of that, too) a young lady at UNCG for the past couple of months. I'm not sure if you ever really catch the girl, but we have come to a mutual conclusion that we're going to pursue God (and the lesser mysteries of life) together. That's probably all I'll say about that, not because I have no more to say, but because I'd rather you see the joy and sincerity on my face as I talk about Debbie. Blogs just don't do it.
In other news, I'm currently looking for jobs. I had an interview this past week, and hopefully I'll receive a call soon so I can go through the next part of the hiring process. I've applied to be a voice teacher at the Music Academy of NC. I'm also looking into some private schools around the area. I know of at least one that is definitely hiring and one that might be. We will see. I'm also looking forward to reading! I am going to read this afternoon! Isn't that so exciting! I'm going to finish up "Jo's Boys" today and then hopefully start either 1)Emma (Austen) 2)The Two Towers (Tolkien) or 3)Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery). I'll probably also read the Twilight series at some point, but only because Debbie liked it. Probably not for any other reason than that. Yeah.
Off now to read and eat lunch! "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord." (Proverbs 21:31) Random? Yes, but I like it.
I have been pursuing (as in a romantic way, not like chasing her around the building, although there has been some of that, too) a young lady at UNCG for the past couple of months. I'm not sure if you ever really catch the girl, but we have come to a mutual conclusion that we're going to pursue God (and the lesser mysteries of life) together. That's probably all I'll say about that, not because I have no more to say, but because I'd rather you see the joy and sincerity on my face as I talk about Debbie. Blogs just don't do it.
In other news, I'm currently looking for jobs. I had an interview this past week, and hopefully I'll receive a call soon so I can go through the next part of the hiring process. I've applied to be a voice teacher at the Music Academy of NC. I'm also looking into some private schools around the area. I know of at least one that is definitely hiring and one that might be. We will see. I'm also looking forward to reading! I am going to read this afternoon! Isn't that so exciting! I'm going to finish up "Jo's Boys" today and then hopefully start either 1)Emma (Austen) 2)The Two Towers (Tolkien) or 3)Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery). I'll probably also read the Twilight series at some point, but only because Debbie liked it. Probably not for any other reason than that. Yeah.
Off now to read and eat lunch! "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord." (Proverbs 21:31) Random? Yes, but I like it.
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