The Life of the World to Come

Oh hey, I didn't see you there

I'm doing well, just so you know

You're good? Great! Grand

Oh the adjectives

Descriptive words without real substance

Telling me how you are

Without really telling me

That's something I wrote, just now actually! I hope it isn't deplorable. I call it "Standard Greeting" I might add it to my poetry page. http://joespoetryblog.blogspot.com/ It isn't shameless if I plug myself in my own blog, right?

Ok so, I have a job now! Hurrah! I am a proud employee of ASU Food Services. I do a little bit of everything, and I really enjoy it. I don't know what it is, but lately I have been really enjoying certain things, like work, or working out. I still need to work on enjoying homework, but that's a completely different story. I really like this change in myself. I don't know what it is a direct product of, but I know that Whitley has had a lot to do with it. She is one of the biggest influences in my life, and I love her. She has encouraged me to do more things, to try things, that I might like them. And she was right, new things are nice. Being comfortable is a weird thing.

You're comfortable and don't want to change, but change can be better for you.

So I worry a lot. I am not really a risk taker. I need to be one.

I don't need to worry. And neither do you.

Philippians 4:6

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God"

John 16:33

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

These two verses have really been popping up in my brain lately. I have realized that I don't pray enough. The reason I can't comply with the first part of Phil 4:6 is because I am not following the second part. Sometimes I forget to pray, and sometimes I just don't because I feel like my issue is too small for God to need to deal with. Which is dumb. I feel like the stereotype is for people to be like "my problems are too big" which is also silly. Nothing is too big for God, that I know with full confidence. But I forget that nothing is too small for God either. I need to be taking ALL of my problems to him. ALL OF THEM. It doesn't matter the size. Our God is a personal God. He cares about us, and loves us, all of us, completely. I cannot limit God by saying

that my problem is something he doesn't need to deal with. He wants to deal with it.

Isaiah 41:10

fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 72:12

For he delivers the needy when he calls,

the poor and him who has no helper.

God cares for us and loves us. One of my favorite passages:

1 John 4:18-20

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.

The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us.

So. Moral of the story. We need to pray. And to rely on God completely. God has overcome everything of this world, both things large and small. We have no reason to worry when we are walking with God. We are loved

completely and without condition. We have no reason to fear the things of this life. God's love overcomes all.

Per usual here is a lyrical selection from something I have been listening to:

The song is "The Medicine" from John Mark McMillan's album "The Medicine"

Driving by those trucker stops

The cheap motels made of concrete rocks

With a hole inside your chest

The size of a city block

And I remember the day

When you said you weren't afraid to die

I don't think you're brave for it

I just think you're more afraid of being alive

Left that place in ruin, drunk on the spirit and high on fumes.

Let my mouth be ever fresh with praise.

That shouldn't be so hard right?

Wrong

I wonder what life would be like if praise was always on my lips. Let me be clear, praise for God. The way and the truth and the life. That is really hard for me. Constantly keeping my eyes upward. They tend to move inward. I am selfish. I care too much about things that matter so little. My life should be about Christ, about living like him.

Prime example.
I am a musician. I am a performer. I have been given a gift. A gift that I take for granted. Recently, I have been feeling bad about myself, in the musical way. That may not make much sense. I'll try to clarify. I have felt like I am not good at what I do. I feel like I can't write well, or play well. I have been unsatisfied with what I produce. But then I realized something. That this thing that I do, this music, this passion I have, isn't mine. It isn't for me. It isn't for you. It is for God.

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men

Lately I had been feeling a supreme jealousy. I have been envious of one of my best friends. He writes music (good music), plays it places, has a band, has albums, and is a better musician than I am. Honestly I want him (as well as other like him) to think my music, the things I do with instruments, are good. I have been seeking the approval of men. Not once did I stop and ask what God thinks of my music. What God thinks about what I do with instruments.

So why didn't I?

I should see myself as steward of the gift of music. Because of the talent I have been blessed with, I get to experience God in a way others cannot. And for that I should be supremely grateful. I am blessed to be a musician.

1 Corinthians 4: 1-2
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

I have never really looked at it like this before. I have been trusted with this ability. This talent. At times with this talent comes the responsibility of leading others. I have been a worship leader for nearly three years. God trusts me to lead his people in musical worship. All of these things I am saying I had already known in the context of worship leading. Now I see how silly I have been, thinking that the same rules don't apply to the rest of my musical exploits.

My talent. No. God's talent, that I am borrowing. I should be using it to glorify God. I need to seek the approval of God, I need to ask him to guide my projects and I need to thank him when I succeed.

So. My job. Live like Christ. In every way. Especially when it comes to music how I use the gifts I have been given.

From Bon Iver's self titled album (Which is amazing by the way.) The song is Holocene.

...and at once i knew i was not magnificent.
high above the highway aisle
(jagged vacance, thick with ice)
i could see for miles, miles, miles

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

Hello all, it sure has been a while.

I know in the past my blog has had something super structured to talked about, but this time that isn't the case. I figured I might just talk a little about my life.
So, as Dylan once wrote, the times they are a-changin'. I am going into my fifth year of college, and will be graduating after a sixth, so the school part hasn't really changed. I will still be here for a while. Anyway, I like to think the music in my life is a reflection of my life as a whole, some might say it is a reflection of the company I keep, but whatever. All the metal is off of my ipod, though I still listen to it, just not in my car or around campus. I had wondered if the type of music I listen to can contribute to my mood. I have come to the conclusion that music does not create a mood, but it certainly can exacerbate one.
There has been a big change in my person musical exploits, I sold my electric guitar and amp, bought a new banjo and will be starting lessons this week. I can already sort of play the banjo, I just have a real desire to be good at it. I have begun to look at music differently, I used to like to show off (and to a point I still do, I am a musician, it isn't an ego free lifestyle) but being the center of attention isn't so crucial anymore. I really just want to make music. I feel like that has started to carry over to my life too:

John 3:30:
He must become greater; I must become less.

John the Bap had the right idea. Living not for ourselves but for the glory of God. It a hard thing to do. We are selfish. I feel like we have this idea that we are the way we are and that's the end of the discussion. That people just have to deal with us. I think that's wrong. Relationships are a continually changing thing. Human relationships are mutually changing, but the God to man relationship is one way, God doesn't need to change, he is perfect in all things. He will love us even if we don't change, for his love is unconditional, but a healthy relationship is not stagnant. It is our job to be like Christ, that is a full time job, a full life job.

Ha, a bit of a tangent. Anyway trying to be less selfish is hard. But necessary. Change is what relationships is all about, willingness to change for someone, and for ourselves.

I don't really know what to say. OH! It has now been more than a year since Africa. So that's crazy. I miss it. But I am really happy with where my life is currently. I miss my GP friends, I hope you all are doing well. Drop me a line on the phone, on here, or on the facebook. I would like to hear from you all! Those two months changed my life, and I am still unpacking things I learned a year ago. Crazy stuff.

That is all for now. Here is a selection for My Morning Jacket's album "Z"
The song is "Wordless Chorus"

Fissure is the thrill of the day
Forget about feeling
That's not what pays
But you know - all of this can change
Remember the promise as a kid you made

We are the innovators
They are the imitators
Come on - hey, don't you know how we started
We forget about love
But weren't brokenhearted