Ain't No Sunshine...

An amazing song. I've been listening to the Kris Allen version of it over...and over...and over...and, you get the point huh?

Any ways? What's up my "blog readers"?! Life has been pretty crazy for me but I'm getting by and by. I'm really loving how if I put my faith and assurance of God than I will be fine. Lately I've been stressing about the finish of my stuff at Tech before I transfer but I realize that I just have to pray for God to help me get through all of this. I have a good feeling about everything and that I'll be fine. I have very little wiggle room with my grades but hey, it's all good. I'll be able to pass everything and keep my GPA high enough.

I'm just ready to go to a major college and live out on my own. I think it'll be the best thing that could happen for me. Being able to live away from my parents and make my own way will be a big breather for me. I love my parents but it's time for me to start making my own way and not worry so much with "house rules". I'll still be near them and hang out with them every now and then but to be able to have my own space and not all up "in their grill" all the time? Priceless!

Song of the day: Ain't No Sunshine-Kris Allen

Thoughts on Amazing Race and what not..

So, this weekend has been pretty fun. I've learned the meaning of patience and also the fact that I seem to have very little to none of such a thing. But I digress...

Today was a great worship set. Now, I'm not saying it was great by that the sound was good, or that the instruments were all in tune, or the performers did well (which all happened). I'm alluding to how the entire set was aimed around pleasing God and making Him more than anything that we can do. We're smaller, and are not as big as we think. God, on the other hand, is HUGE compared to us. So, in turn, we need to lay ourselves down and give our rights, pride, and ambitions to God and say "take control, use me as you will"....this is not something most Americans dig...AT ALL

The fact that Jesus who could have gotten off the cross but didn't astounding to me. The fact is something that I cannot truly grasp....and ya know what? I could care less because that same God that gave His Son for us is the same God that loves us more and more everyday. Kind of blows your mind huh? Or "kinda blows your mind eh?" if you're from our neighbors up north!

So, tonight I realized that people can be mean. I understand that the Amazing Race is a reality show and it's sad to see how some people act. The worst thing I've ever seen in that show was how one team treated another tonight. The team I am thinking of when I mention this is a team of two people from the University of Louisville. It was inhumane how they stinkin' laughed at one of the contestants who was deaf when he tried to sign out his frustrations about them. They never once said, "hey, I'm sorry, this isn't a good thing for us to do" but instead said "hey, we laugh during tense situations and that's what we do...we laugh and smile". Well, you laugh and smile while someone who is DEAF is trying to talk and that's not just rude, it's despicable. I hate it that this team tries to piggy back off another team then beats them to the finish since both of them are atheletes, and then does this?! I'll be the first to admit, the other team has been manipulative during the game but guess what? IT'S A GAME! The guy on the other team being deaf? THAT'S NOT A GAME! It makes me sick to see this and how the guy in charge of the whole race (Phil) can look at this and not try to make them stop but he lets them go on. I personally think that this is just sick but hey, they belive in "karma" and such so we'll see what happens...

Song of the Day: "Liar"-Taking Back Sunday

LIfe...

First and foremost, Sobe Strawberry Daquiri flavored drink is NAS-TY! I cannot belive this thing would be so nasty but I was shocked when I found out it was. I thought it wouldn't taste half that bad but it was nasty...waste of a couple of dollars

But, other than that, has been a pretty good past few days. Let me use my infamous "bullets" to describe the days

• Friday: Spent the night with my Dad just hanging out and not doing much of anything
• Saturday: Hung out with Dad's side of the family...GOT ACCEPTED TO USC...helped out with Easter Egg Hunt at church, and then spent rest of night chilling with family
• Sunday: Easter Ensemble, kayaking on the river, and then just chilling with family and neighbors

Did I mention I GOT INTO USC PEOPLE?! I'm so excited. My parents are excited to get both my sister and I out of the house. I'm anxious to see how it all plays out but I think I'll be staying in either East or West quad. I'm hoping for East since West would make me have to do the "Green Community" thing. I'm hoping for East since they have a "Bridge Community" which is ideal for transfer students. It's something that would help me out a LOT. So, please pray for me and the next few months as I get ready to move out and do college on my own

Song of the day: "Hear Me Now"-Framing Hanley

My Thoughts on Easter Weekend

So, I usually like to think that I know all the answers on things and if I don't then try to garner as much information. Well, I can say now that I have spent all 20 years (and some change) in my life trying to figure out why Christ came to this Earth, lived 30 something years, and then died on a cross. A lot of people I know look at it and go, "ya ya ya, a guy died for sins and that's it, big deal!" Well, it is a BIG DEAL!

To put it into a nice mental picture what Jesus did for us, think about this. Christ came down to Earth and laid the world's sins on Himself and felt the full wrath of God so we did not have to. I really don't think people realize what God's wrath does or how powerful it is. A lot of people try to "lowball" God and think that his wrath is not that bad. Well, let me put it in clear words: God who breathed out life and light for the world and everything around us has so much power we cannot BEGIN to understand it all.

Now, to make another mental picture for what Christ did, check this out...say you have the chance to become a maggot. You'd be a maggot and live with them, eat with them, and then eventually die for them. Now, would you want to become a maggot for all the other maggots, and then die for them? Well, Christ was perfect and without blame, but He chose to come this world and become a maggot and die for us. So, starting to be a little clearer?

I'm not one who knows all the answers, and will tell you in a heart beat I don't. I do know that the only way we can get the answers is to pray and let God tell us. I know it's something that is mind blowing but I can tell you from personal experience, God takes care of you. It's something that the world may not suggest but let God pour into your heart and begin to see how much He gave to this world when He gave His only son to die for us. I hope we can all let that sink in this Easter weekend. This is something that I think we should all look at and let it wash over us

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

Oh the fun photoshop can bring..

FAIR WARNING: I did not create the picture being spoke of, that was the work of Jim. Jim is one of the guitar players in The Love Handles. This photo was based on two different events during the Palm Sunday service for Columbia Crossroads Church. One guy brought a pinecone to Mark Mills during the earlier part of the set and after a rocking solo on "25 or 6 to 4" Mark proceeded to hand the pinecone off to Jim. Well, during another song the guy pictured was dancing along to the song. Well, let's just say that Jim had fun with this shot...

In other random "Love Handles" news: the gig was a-mazing! Well, it wasn't quite a "gig" but it was great. The band had a lot of fun with the worship set and when they got to play their songs they were able to really let loose and have a good time. I'm excited for the band and the chance I get to run their Facebook and Myspace pages. Plus, I get to take pictures for them! Check the pages out (links in earlier blog)

A truly random thing that ties into all of this is that I am considering saving up for a Nikon. I know it will be really expensive but after using Jim's...man, I think I am actually in love with an inanimate object. So, anyone think I should do it? Leave comments and let me know what you think

Blogging in Psych

So, I'm bloggin in my psychology class! We're on a break right now so I'm good to go. But I've decided that I will blog twice a week. Doing it everyday became way too stressful and I don't have the time right now. I may go to a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule but that would be this summer. So, for now, I'll blog twice a week and let that be it for now. I won't do all the stuff I've been doing but I will share what God's been doing in my life and what else is happening in my crazy world. I want to say THANKS to the people that have been following this blog even though I've been slack in blogging. You'll get more of me, trust me!

So, I think I've rambled enough! Hope all of you have a great weekend and enjoy the weather. Oh, before I forget! Sunday, April 5th is the first "gig" for The Love Handles! I'm stoked since I'm a part of the crew and get to watch them play. I've been keeping up with them with practices and running their Facebook and Myspace pages but I'm stoked for them to play live. Also, they will be playing in the Summer Concert Series out at Finlay Park this summer. One of the important things that landed them a spot was the Facebook and Myspace pages run by yours truly! I'm glad the little things I do can help them out

Song of the day: "Please Don't Stop The Rain"-James Morrison