Scrambled Musings

Scrambled Eggs

2010-05-25T20:38:00.000-04:00

"...Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get."

Thank you to Mr. Forrest Gump (and his momma) for the above quote. When he compared the randomness of life to a box of chocolates, he certainly hit the nail on the head. Well, in my efforts to keep this blog original, I will compare the randomness of life to scrambled eggs. I chose scrambled eggs, because when you cook them, they rarely ever turn out the same. For example, sometimes they are the perfect, fluffy eggs we all love to eat. However, other times, they may be a little runny, or perhaps a little dry. It's really just a chance you take.

Life is a lot like that. It is filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, and everything in between. We are presented with decisions, that in the end, could affect our overall state of life. Sometimes, we are presented with a clear picture of what could happen, other times we are completely clueless. Most of the time, when we have that pretty picture of the future, it's easy to decide whether or not to pursue certain risks or desires. But, what about when we are in the dark? Typically, that is a huge hurdle to cross. I wouldn't think that anyone would want to knowingly screw up their life.

Life for me these past few months have really been like scrambled eggs. I have experiences the highs, lows, good, bad, and ugly. But, I decided to go out on a limb, and I applied for a position at Disney. I had no clue of how things would work out, if I even got the position, where would I live? I took a risk. Well, I am happy to report, I did get the position. I move into my apartment June 17, and I start training on June 22. By some stretch of the imagination, things that needed to happen, did. Everything has fallen into place, without too much aggravation.

So, as of June 22, I will once again be a Disney Cast Member!! My role (job title) is MKCSC Specialist ( that's Magic Kingdom Cast Service Center for all of you who don't speak Disney). My next goal, after getting settled into this position, is to start applying to graduate school again. But, I will post more about that later.

Lost and Found.

2010-04-19T22:24:00.000-04:00

Isn't being lost one of the WORST feelings ever? Sure, there are others, but being lost can be a very hair raising experience. We've all probably experienced some sort of negative feeling associated with being lost.

Unfortunately, I've gotten lost, and I am not sure how to find my way back. No, I don't mean physically, or even mentally. I am talking about being lost spiritually. A feeling that is unerving to those who hold their faith as an important tenet of life. Please understand that I am NOT one of those bible thumping, hard-nosed, judgemental Christians that the media does such a wonderful job of portraying. I do have my beliefs, and personal opinions associated with them, but I don't allow my beliefs to cast out anyone. Christ didn't ostracize people, and why those are said to be followers of Christ do, I will never understand.

I've allowed influences to enter my life, to cloud my judgement, and numb me. I haven't felt God in quite sometime, so long that it honestly scares me. I've been in that place before, but it is not a place I care to revisit. It has been so easy to allow past mistakes, current situations, and future uncertainties drag me through the dirt. Had I maintained my spiritual relationship, these things would have been nothing more than things.

In any sense, there are some things that must change. Life isn't what I want it to be, therefore it is time to make things happen. Stay tuned for those changes.

Ch-Ch Changes.

2010-02-27T21:14:00.000-05:00

Change is coming. Decisions are to be made. A plan will be in place. Motivation will be needed. Curious? Good, stay tuned for a few important announcements coming over the next few days!

Thoughts on Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T15:35:00.000-05:00

I must admit that I haver never been a huge fan of Valentine's Day. Despite my 'romantic' tendencies, I just don't see the point of this 'holiday'. Is it necessary to have one specific day out of the entire year to show love to significant others, friends, family, or whomever you decide to love? It runs along the same line as being in the giving spirit only during the Christmas season. Shouldn't we (especially those of us who are Christians) have the servant's heart all year? Why must everything be so commercialized? I mean we have cards and gifts for literally every occassions: births, deaths, weddings, the major holidays, and the 501100 little holidays. Even in a struggling economy, making a financial investment in the greeting card/gift bag/gift wrap industry, would probably yield a substantial profit. The point(s) of this soapbox about V-Day are this:

If you love someone, you shouldn't need a specific day to show that love to them.
There is no such thing as unconditional love. (Aside from God's love.)
A 'Valentine' isn't limited to people in a romantic relationship.
Be creative. Stop relying on the greeting card industry to show her/him/them how much you love her/him/them.
Make sure your relationship is a healthy one.
When she/he is with their friends or whatever, DON'T call or text the entire time. It shows that you don't trust that person. A relationship not built on trust is nothing.
Last but not least, make sure your realtionship is honoring God.

Happy Valentines Day to all of my readers. As long as you have God, you will never be alone! May the epitome of love bless you and your families.

Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.

2010-02-02T00:06:00.000-05:00

As one of my favorite taglines, the United Methodist Church gets a thumbs up for creating such a catchy, yet accurate tagline. Of course the purpose of this entry goes beyond the advertisement for the United Methodist Church. It came up during a casual conversation with a friend tonight. This particular friend seems a little down about the next step in life. Naturally, being a pro at that sort of feeling, I felt I could give said friend a bit of advice.

I feel that the most important thing that we can do in any situation is remain open. This is especially true when examining life and trying to figure out what's next in God's plan. Often times we back ourselves so far into a corner, it doesn't seem that we'll ever find our way. Luckily we serve a God that can light even the darkest of paths. But, with that being said, why do we back ourselves into these dark alleys? Why is it that we intentionally seperate ourselves from "others"? For example, church politics, they're big, ugly, and everywhere. But seriously, what sort of purpose do they serve aside from isolating people? Are they REALLY necessary to maintain order in the church? What happened to people just coming together to worship God?

Open hearts:
We should open our hearts to God. This can mean various things, but a few things are general enough to apply to every situation. Opening your heart to God means allowing God to enter in, do some spring cleaning, and make a residence inside of you. After all, that is sort of the point. In order for that to happen, one must be willing to allow such events to happen.

Open minds:
Once we've allowed God to make a dwelling insde of us, we must keep our minds open. According to the Bible, we as God's children have plans designed for us by God, our Heavenly father. However, unless we remain receptive to following the plan, the rest is pointless. Yes, God's plan isn't always our plan. But, remember from the tv show (and Jeremiah 29:11); father knows best. Speaking from experience, one can fight and run from the plan. But, eventually one gets tired of running. It is much easier to be open in the beginning, rather than facing trials and tribulations that may have been prevented in the beginning.

Open doors:
This last part, provided the first two have fallen into place, is fairly simple. Part of following God's plan is to allow God to close certain doors, only to open new ones. In order for the purpose of these new open doors to be of any use, one must walk through them. With the above rules in mind, cross over anything in your way, so that you may enter into greatness with God.

With the end of this entry, I leave you yet one more thing to ponder. A quote in the form of a question that my anam cara presented to me: "I just want to minister to people. Is that too much to ask?"

Life Unexpected

2010-01-31T12:38:00.000-05:00

Life these past few weeks has been a little full. From starting my seasonal job to preparing to start school in February; time for blogging has been rather scarce. As I sit here looking out my window with my cup of java beside me, I see the most beautiful scenery that I have ever seen. I see a blanket of white that has left no object untouched.

Enough of the mooshy stuff, lets get down to business. As we close out the first 31 days of 2010, I figured a recap was in order. I have nothing of real substance at the moment, so a list will have to do.

I start graduate school tomorrow...well if I am able to get out. The white stuff has a way of holding one hostage.
Never trust Mapquest directions...ever!
I never thought I would say this, but I miss Mount Olive College.
I am BEYOND ready for spring.
It is a strong possibility that I will be returning to Florida for the summer!
Parmesian cheese is good on things other than spaghetti and pizza.
I am looking to re-vamp the blog, but am clueless as to where to start.
Gardner-Webb is quite possibly one of the prettiest college campuses that I have ever seen. Elon is still at the top, but I think G-Dub gives Virginia Tech and Duke a run for their money.
Sledding can be quite dangerous...especially on a giant hill with trees!
I promise to post something a little more substantial soon!
Ideas for posts are also appreciated.

Goodbye 2009.

2009-12-31T19:56:00.000-05:00

With only a few hours remaining in 2009, I can't say that I am sad to see it go. This year has been filled with many different things, some of them that couldn't possibly be explained with words. However, during this reflective moment, I will try to examine life in 2009.

Like that of a rollercoaster, 2009 has brought hills, dips, loops, highs and lows. Parts of life have new meaning, while other parts have yet to be discovered. One such area of new meaning is my relationship with God. During 2009 I have been able to reach certain milestones in my faith, some of which I would never imagine taking place. Through faith, people, servitude, and an open mind; I've realized several things: (in no particular order)

*I am a college graduate. I finally finished my undergraduate degree, earning a BA in English-Communications. That in itself is a huge accomplishment for me. I am the first (and only so far) person in my family to attend college, much less graduate.

*Being a Christian is more than a label or a lifestyle. It is a relationship. While the lifestyle is important too, it is impossible and pointless to live the life style unless you have a relationship with God. I probably learned that the hard way.

*God has a calling on my life, a calling that I've known for a while, but refused to listen. God has called me into full-time ministry. As of right now, I don't believe it is the traditional preaching role, although I am sure that area of ministry is not off limits. I believe that I am to use my passion for education, love of the future generations, and my gift of music to students. While "students" seem pretty general, God will place me in front of open doors.

*Most importantly (relating to the above), I surrendered to God's calling in 2009. I will be starting graduate school, earning a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in English Education. It will not be a cake walk, but I have not been placed into a situation that I can't possibly succeed.

While the first part of 2009 was great, the last part is certainly been tough for me to swallow at times. Certain things such as difficulty finding a job, moving back home, leaving the only church I ever really felt comfortable in, and lack of success in the relationship department; have made me realize that there are still areas of life that have yet to be discovered. I realize the old saying, "Good things come to those who wait." Being very impatient, waiting is not something that I typically handle very well. I get that life involves waiting (which is especially true when serving the Lord), but I can honestly say I am beyond tired of waiting. Impatient flew out the window several months ago. Now, I battle a sea of emotions ranging from anxiety (yes-anxiety) to confusion on to worthlessness and even anger. So, with that said, I will say so long 2009. I am ready to hit 2010 head on. I want to build new relationships, strengthen existing ones, serve God, and be an example for the whole world to see.

Welcome 2010. May you bring peace, love, and happiness. May you fill the cups of those who are empty. May you reveal things yet to be discovered about life.

Eargasmic: An orgasm for your ears.

2009-12-28T20:16:00.002-05:00

Being that I'm a huge music nerd, I always have various listening sources that I prowl in hopes of finding that next great tune. Here are a few, some widely known, others not so much, that have been rolling around in my head lately.

*Viva la Vida meets Lovestory-John Schmidt
A piano/cello duet, Schmidt uses his own arrangement of the two songs, drawing portions from each title. It is a nice classical meets jazzy-easy listening sort of work.

*Defying Gravity-Glee Cast-Lea Michell (Rachel) & Chris Colfer (Kurt)
An ear soothing duet of the popular broadway tune; Lea & Kurt take this song to a whole new level. This powerful duet of singers allow even the crudest Broadway snobs to enjoy it.

*Vanilla Twilight-Owl City (courtesy of Kelli Kosuda's blog playlist)
Probably not as widely known as some; this bluesy ballad seems to reach out to a former time in the singer's life. Perhaps time spent with a girlfriend or lover; maybe even a friend.

*Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen
A random plethora of subjects, just like the randomness of the group. The tight harmonies have made this one a favorite amongst acapella groups.

*Africa-Toto (courtesy of Kelli Kosuda's blog playlist)
An older tune, the great harmonies paired with use of ethnic instruments, give listeners a multi-cultural listening experience.

I hope that you check some of these tunes out. If you are interested in finding similar material, I would recommend using Pandora and iTunes. Both of these music sites use your listening habits to recommend additional listening material. Hopefully this will be a regular part of my blog, as it allows me to write and listen to music.

Spiritual Journey: A Transparent View

2009-12-26T16:03:00.001-05:00

"Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Contemporary English Version)

Like that of a winding mountain road, my journey to serving Christ has been filled with many twists, turns, ups, and downs. My life before fully surrendering to Christ was anything but great. Although I grew up in church, my family never truly lived the Christian example. In fact, there were many times that I was forced to go to church, while my parents stayed home. So, while I learned all the songs, stories, verses, and "rules" to being Christ-like; I never had anyone to model that behavior. I knew that my parents believed in God, and claimed to be Christians, but people at home seemed very different from people at church. I too would eventually fall into the trap of Satan, living a double life inside versus outside church.

The double life peaked during high school. I would go to parties, get drunk, and do anything that "felt good"; then, I would get up on Sunday morning and go to church. I had to make sure that I kept the "good Christian boy" reputation in check. After all, I wasn't out stealing cars or murdering anyone. I was still a good kid, I just wanted to have a little fun. The double life ended about half way into my first year of college. God was calling me to serve vocationally, and I wanted no part of that. I was too wrapped up in doing what Richard wanted to do. So, I decided that if I stopped going to church, partied more, and ignored God; the voice would go away.

After a few years of trying to mute the voice of God, I realized that no matter how hard I tried, God's voice was not going away. The more I resisted, the louder God's voice seemed to be. One night, in the living room of my apartment, I redidcated my life to Christ. Life minus God was far worse than life with God. In November of 2008, while attending a mid-week youth service with a friend; I fully surrendered to God's calling. Like a ton of bricks, I fell to my knees and surrendered my life to be fully used by God. Since that night, I have been a new creation. A creation that has fully surrendered himself to the one who created him.

Part of fully surrendering is the importance of dicipleship and growing within my faith. I am hungry for information, constantly seeking out new books, materials, verses, and other materials to allow me to grow spiritually. It is my desire to use my gifts/talents of music, ability to encourage others, and passion for education, discipleship, and learning to uplift and grow God's Kingdom. I hope to use the education I obtain from Gardner-Webb to enter into the ministry; hopefully involving education, youth, music, and discipleship. I know that God has a plan for my life, and through Christ, I will do great things in Christ's name.

Random Thought List

2009-12-18T19:47:00.000-05:00

I have not been a very good blogger this past month. I have no excuse for not writing, aside from my own back seat approach to writing. Since it has been so long. I figured a list of random thoughts (in a manner producing a catch up result), would be appropriate.

We have about 8 inches on snow on the ground.
It was still snowing the last time I checked.
The snow is a nice change from rain.
I'm going to graduate school in January!
I will be completing a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in English Education.
JESUS has been rocking my world!
I love Crosslink Church, and I am thankful for such wonderful people.
I have too much free time on my hands.
I have a job interview on Dec. 22--I hope it works out!
I am looking for a summer ministry internship. If you know of anything, give me a shout!
I miss my Mount Olive peeps--even sort of miss Mount Olive College.
Christmas is in a week.
I am submitting two of my works for publication in the "Main Street Rag".
I am out of random thoughts.

The positive alternative to FML...hello MLIA

2009-11-21T13:49:00.000-05:00

I am sure you all have heard of FML, which stands for F(Yeah, that one) My Life. If you still haven't figured out the "F" get, google FML. However, thanks to a few MOC peeps, I have found a positive, yet funny alternative to FML. Introducing MLIA, My Life Is Average. While some don't make sense, others are gut busting funny. There are even some that are make you smile kind of events. I figured I would post a few on here, just to give you a little sunshine in your day.

Today, I saw a freakishly large bug sitting on the ground right in front of where I was about to walk. I froze and stood there staring at it for at least a minute, because I had never seen a bug that huge before and was freaked out. I then tried to make it fly away by waving my foot at it. This continued for about 2 more minutes until I realized it was a leaf. I felt stupid until I saw my dad walk by it and do the same exact thing. MLIA.

Today on the bus a very scary looking thuggish guy sat down opposite me. I shrunk down in my seat a bit, until I heard "Good Morning Baltimore" from Hairspray playing through his headphones. Never again will I judge a book by it's cover. MLIA

Today I was in orientation at the local Fred Meyer in my podunk college town. The store security was telling us what a problem shop lifting was during the first week back to school for the college kids. Someone asked what the most popular item to shoplift was. He answered "Condoms...and about a month later, home pregnancy tests." MILA

Today, I left my jacket in a classroom and went back to get it later that day. When I started walking with it, it started making crinkly noises. Turns out someone filled all the pockets in my jacket to the brim with snickers and 2 musketeers bars. I need to leave my jackets lying around more often. MLIA.

You get the point. If you visit mylifeisaverage.com you can read through pages and pages of things just like these. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Pre-mature Christmas-A Response

2009-11-09T09:58:00.000-05:00

This post is in response to the "Good Tidings" update posted by Kelli. For some reason it would not allow me to comment on the post, so I figured posting a response in my own blog would be the next appropriate step.

I am one of those who are continiously grumbling about how early we begin to celebrate Christmas. It seems that this year especially, the celebration of Christmas is very pre-mature. Barely past Halloween, it seems the Christmas celebrations are in full swing. The sad part is, Thanksgiving is still several weeks away. But, already the stores are covered with Christmas decor, the roadside Christmas tree farms are popping up, and even Christmas type food is taking a spot on grocery shelves.

What happened to celebrating Thanksgiving? Rarely does one see signs of Thanksgiving in their favorite retail therapy location. Instead, we move from ghosts and goblins, to christmas lights and ornaments. In some stores, as the Halloween collections dwindle, they replace those empty spots with Christmas items. What happened to giving thanks? Maybe this is why our culture has become so greedy. We focus so much on getting the latest "toy", we have lost sight of being thankful.

As we all know, Christmas is rarely celebrated for the original meaning. Instead of celebrating the birth of a Saviour, it is a celebration of who gives the best presents. Don't get me wrong, like anyone else, I love receiving gifts. But, even if I didn't get anything, I know that I am still blessed with so much. When almost half the world lives on about $2 a day, I've got no place complaining about not getting the latest iPod or other electronic gadget.

Remember to stop and give thanks and count your blessings. We should stop running over Thanksgiving as if it is just another day to cross off in order to get to Christmas. Let us remember that Jesus is the REAL reason for the season.

It's just a game...or is it?

2009-10-18T16:05:00.000-04:00

Baseball and racing seasons are coming to a close, football season is well underway, and basketball season is just on the horizon. For those avid sports fans, this is the sign of transitioning from spring/summer into the chilly fall/winter seasons. While I do not consider myself a big sports fan, I do enjoy taking in the occassional baseball, football, or basketball game. I'm not one for watching sports on television, as I enjoy attending the games in person.

Being one that prefers being in the middle of the action, this means navigating through large crowds, being surrounded by strangers, and fighting pre-game and post-game traffic. I'm not neccessarily a fan of all of the aforementioned situations. However, I feel like it is all part of the total experience. I can pay the price of tolerance in order to experience a great game.

It seems that poor sportsmanship is quickly becoming another part of the total live sporting event experience. We've all experienced a little frustration over a bad call. It is normal to become annoyed when our favorite team isn't doing well. While these emotions are fairly common, does it mean we have to scream, yell, curse, pick a fight, or make a huge scene? It is just a game, right? You aren't out there running the bases, blocking the other players, or trying to make a basket. As a fan sitting in the stands, your view of the game is completely different from an official in the middle of all the chaos.

This type of conduct may seem to be more common at professional and semi-pro games, since these events typically have heftier costs associated with them. Alarmingly, one probably could witness poor sportsmanship by paying a few dollars and driving to the local recreation center or YMCA. You probably won't find the children acting in this manner. Sadly, this unacceptable behavior is more common among those who call themselves adults. As adults, we are supposed to be role models for children. If you're a parent, the role model responsibility is intensely magnified.

Little Johnny saw and heard daddy shout and curse at the officials when they went to the Charlotte Bobcats game last week. Little Johnny decides that since he didn't like the fact that the referee called a foul on him, he would shout and curse just like his daddy. While this is a made up incident, it is a prime example of how poor sportsmanship can trickle down to children. When did it become more than just a game? What ever happened to the days of just having fun? Are the days of playing a sport because you liked it gone?

Sports are a good way of teaching life lessons. Life isn't necessarily about winning or losing. In the end, the only thing that matters is HOW you lived your life. The same thing is true about sports. As long as you are having fun and learning, does it matter if you win or lose? We all like the euphoria of winning, but we need to be able to accept the heartache of defeat. As adults, it is our job to educate future generations about this. But, if we continue to act like an idiot, we will never be able to effectively educate the future about the importance of being a good sport. Next time you want to scream, shout, or curse because of a game; be careful of the little eyes that may be watching. It is after all, just a game!

It's Been A While

2009-10-16T12:03:00.002-04:00

Also the title of a great song by Staind, it seemed an appropriate title to my latest blog post. Life post college is different, not necessarily great, but not bad either. Different is really the best word that comes to mind. Life is full of changes, a few of which I have experienced since the last time I blogged.

I spend a lot of time looking for various jobs. This includes searching the media (internet, newpaper, magazines, etc.), and scoping out places that might advertise with signs or other creative forms of advertising positions. I've had a few leads, but none that have worked themselves out in my favor. As for now, I will stick with Food Lion, in hopes of moving quickly up the ladder. As long as I find something that doesn't interfere with church, I am happy.

Church has been different for me these past few months. I spent most of the summer visiting various churches in the area. I knew that God was leading me in another direction, I just wasn't sure where it was. After being so unsettled, indecisive, and a little discouraged, I visited a church that was recommended by a friend. It was a good first visit, and I was sure that was where God wanted me, but I decided to continue to visit a few more places. I didn't want to rush into anything. Well, it is now October, and I have been attending Crosslink Church regularly for several months. I recently became a member. That decision was a little rough for me, I wrestled between what God was telling me (join the church) and what others told me (give it more time).

It is such a blessing to be in the company of people who want to do God's work. (It reminds me a lot of Whitley Church, the church I attended my last year of college) It is also nice to know that I have people that hold me accountable for my actions, without judging me, all while challenging me to reach new peaks in my walk with the Lord. That in itself is enough to know that this is where I belong.

I think change is an essential part of life. I believe that even the bad things can shape us in positive ways. If we continue to dwell in the bad, we just might miss the good. Look for the rainbow in every storm.

The Climb

2009-06-27T14:00:00.002-04:00

Despite her lacking in the areas of vocals and morals, Miley Cyrus actually did something right when she debuted "The Climb". Be sure to read the lyrics posted below carefully, and continue reading my thoughts about what the song means to me.

"The Climb" by Miley Cyrus

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other sideIt's the climb
The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking
I may not know it

But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
And I, I got to be strong

Just keep pushing on
'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!
There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody's gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!
Keep on moving, keep climbing

Keep the faith, baby
It's all about, it's all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa

Recently, life hasn't really going in a direction that I had necessarily planned for it to go in. For example, despite my best efforts to prevent it, I am currently residing in my parents house. Granted, I am able to save a little money this way, it just wasn't what I wanted. But, I have realized that I should be focusing less on what I want and more on what God wants. I realize that God has placed me here for a reason, despite my unwillingness to cooperate at times. During my recent struggles with keeping my committment to fully surrender to Him, I've realized a few things.

1. No matter how hard I try, I can't run from God.
2. God has something big in his "bag of tricks" for me.
3. I don't need to know what it is, just be aware of when it comes.

There are always going to be obstacles that stand (or try to stand) between us and God. We normally call him Satan. However, Satan isn't the little red faced man with horns and a pitchfork. Instead, Satan comes in many forms that include finances, peer pressure, and even our family and friends. However, despite that voice that says, "you'll never reach it", failure isn't an option for those following God. The trick is to remember that God equips us with many tools to serve in the fight against good and evil. Remember, just like Miley Cyrus, "Just keep pushing on, 'cause there's always gonna be another mountain."

My God is mighty to save.

2009-04-13T16:26:00.002-04:00

I was watching youtube videos earlier and just happened to watch the one from Hillsong called "Mighty to Save". I had heard the song before, as we have sang it during worship at Whitley Church. It is a great song, with awesome lyrics. Those lyrics really spoke to me in an amazing way on this Monday after Easter

God gave the life of Jesus to pay for my sins (and yours). How amazing is that. God loves me despite my past filled with stupidity and ignorance. What's even better is the fact that my sins have been tossed into a sea of forgetfulness...never to be remembered. Even though I am not worthy of such forgiveness, when I asked, I was forgiven. The song states, "Take me as you find me, all my fears and failures, fill my life again..." That is the beauty of becoming a child of God. We don't have to put on a front, He loves us just the way we are. We don't have to wait to get our life straight or better our situation, in fact that doesn't matter at all. Even when we feel we are at our lowest point, unworthy of being loved, God still reaches down to us to pick us up when we have fallen. All we have to do is ask!

"I give my life to follow, everything that I believe in; now I surrender!"
"Shine your light and let the whole world see. We're singing, for the glory of the risen king, Jesus. Shine your light and let the whole world see. We're singing for the glory of the risen king, Jesus.

Live, Laugh, and Love.

2009-03-28T16:26:00.002-04:00

Life these past few days has been a tad bit crazy. The pressures of school and life after school are starting to get to me. How many more days till graduation? In the midst of craziness, God has been opening doors for me right and left. This past Sunday at church was amazing. God really showed his presence in our service. It was so amazing that words wouldn't to give it the justice it deserves. Wednesday night was also amazing. Instead of having choir practice, we had a Bible Study. During the study, God really spoke to me and reassured me that I was handling a certain situation in my life the right way. He used the Bible Study to show me that everything will be okay. God is good all the time.

The job search has actually been pretty good. I had two interviews Friday. The first one, a phone interview with Barton College, really went well. It was for an Admissions Counselor position. I should know by next week if I will proceed into a 2nd interview, that one being on campus. The second interview, an on campus interview with Greensboro College, went VERY WELL. I have a really good feeling about this one. If it's God's will, then it will all work out! This interview felt different than all the others. I was really nervous during the time leading up to my on campus interview. However, once I arrived on campus, I was consumed with a sense of calmness and ease. Who knows, maybe things will work out.

The love department of my life seems to be opening up. I had a date Friday with a really nice girl. I met her in Fayetteville and we went to Olive Garden and then went to see Race to Witch Mountain. It was a lot of fun and I think there is some potential there. She is going to church with me Sunday and I hope to connect with her again next weekend when I am at the Cumberland County Schools job fair. I am pretty open to whatever happens with this.

Lots of wait and see with life right now...only time will tell which direction life takes.

Choice or Life?

2009-03-23T18:58:00.005-04:00

Recently I read about a campaign about handing out red envelopes to mail to President Obama. The envelopes are supposed represent your stance against abortion and the eternal Pro-Life versus Pro-Choice debate. What irritates me is the extreme people who assume you couldn't possibly be a Christian or serving God if you are Pro-Choice.

Let me say for the record, I am indeed Pro-Choice. However, I don't necessarily support abortion. My take on the matter comes from the steadfast belief that it is not my right to tell someone else what to do with their body. I don't think abortion should be the answer for someone who was irresponsible. However, it gets a little fuzzy when someone's life is in danger. You can constantly state that you would never have an abortion. But, can you really say for sure that you wouldn't if your life was in danger? What about if you were raped and that resulted in pregnancy? Until you are put in that situation, it is impossible to say what you would do. It is easy to have an answer or solution to someone else's problem. But, what about if that problem was yours. Would you think the same way?

I am not bashing those who are Pro-Life. That is your stance on the issue and your right to take that viewpoint. However, don't look down on those of us who might be Pro-Choice. How dare you question someone else's religion based on one issue. Not only is it judgemental, it's just plain rude. Next time you take a stance on an issue, please consider someone else's viewpoint. Remember, it could be that neither side is right.

Rainy day blues.

2009-03-16T18:33:00.002-04:00

I'm sitting in the computer lab with Ashley, just wasting time. I have rainy day blues. It has rained all weekend and is STILL raining. I know that we need the rain, but I am ready for the warm weather. It was really nice to have the warm weather last week. I am ready for graduation. The crap at this place is getting deeper and deeper by the moment. But, I know that God has something great in store for me. Only time will tell. Spring Break has come and gone and the weeks are becoming busier but seeming shorter. Only 49 day until graduation!

It's been a while.

2009-03-13T19:14:00.002-04:00

Too much time has passed since I have blogged. I figured a quick update might be nice. Life is pretty hectic right now as I am on the downward slope with graduation in my sights. Severeryal things have taken place since my last post. I just finished my first week back at school after Spring Break. My time at home was great, although I didn't do anything special. Time off and change of location is always a good way to rejuvenate.

While I was home I went to a Small School Systems Job Fair that consisted of several school systems looking for teachers and prospective candidates for any vacancies that may occur. It went well and I was able to get all of my ducks in a row in order to hopefully pursue any vacancies that might occur. Soon after leaving the job fair, I got a phone call from Greensboro College. I did an impromptu phone interview, which went very well. I have an on campus interview on March 27. I hope it goes well as the location and the job seem to be perfect. If it is God's will for my life at the moment, then doors that need to be opened will be opened.

That's all for now. Hopefully something of substance soon.

Someday I'll be part of your world...Life after Disney

2009-02-25T19:21:00.002-05:00

The inspiration for this blog comes from a good friend of mine. I met her while participating in the Disney College Program in the Spring of 2007. We quickly hit it off and found out we shared a lot of interests. We're both English majors..enough said!

It has been two years since that warm January morning I arrived for check-in. I arrive to find a never ending sea of students like myself. It was overwhelming to say the least. During the first few weeks of my program, I hated it and wanted to badly to come home. However, I started slowly getting to know people and decided it wouldn't be such a bad thing to finish the program.

At the present time, two years and some change later, life seems to not have that same feeling of greatness. It is because Disney is really a magical place. Sure, it's great when you go to visit. However, working there is a completely different experience. A experience only understood by a fellow cast member. Those who have never worked at Disney could not possibly understand. As cliche as it sounds, it really is a place where dreams come true. I find myself longing for those same experiences I had while I was in Florida.

You might find yourself thinking, "Why can't he just go back?" Well, it isn't that simple. First of all I am currently in school and while I graduate in May, I can't just go back down there. My ultimate fear is that when i go back it won't be the same. Only time will tell what happens.

This too shall pass.

2009-02-24T10:45:00.003-05:00

This too shall pass. It is one of my favorite quotes/stories from the Bible. Last week was full of ups and downs. The first part of the week went really well. Tuesday I had to go to court over the whole deer incident. Aside from it being a complete waste of time, it turned out well. Everything was dropped without any penalty or fines on my part. What an answer to prayer. Wednesday I attended a Career Fair sponsored by my school and several other small private institutions in eastern NC. It was very informative and I was able to hand out a few resumes. I definitely felt more confident about the career aspect of my life. At least I have a general idea (or several general ideas). I was also able to spend some quality time with a couple friends that day which included lunch and shopping. Good times are always had when it involves food and shopping!

Upon arrival back on campus Wednesday evening, things started to go sour. Apparently, since I missed choir on Wednesday afternoon (for a school sponsored event that he knew about well in advance) and missed an OPTIONAL 30 minute rehearsal that evening, my solo in "Daniel, Daniel Servant of the Lord" was taken away. I have worked very hard on this solo and was glad that I had the opportunity to perform. The really crappy part about the whole thing was that my director didn't even have the guts to tell me about his decision. He wanted A STUDENT to do his dirty work. How unprofessional! He (the director) finally told me right before we performed for a high school choral festival on Thursday morning. I was not even given a chance to defend myself. His reply was, "That's the way it's going to be." As the choir started processing into the auditorium, I excused myself from the line before I entered. I had made the decision to drop choir. As hard is it was for me to come to that, I feel it was the best choice for me. Contrary to popular belief, I joined choir because I love to sing. A $500 scholarship each semester is just an added benefit.

Friday began ok but that was short lived. I was blown out by my Spanish professor because I didn't understand what he was going over in class. Apparently when I say my answers are wrong, he takes that as an attack on his credentials. He then ignored me the entire class as if I was not even there. I might as well not been there. Again, I feel its unprofessional but I know that nothing will be done. Unfortunately, this kind of behavior is accepted at Mount Olive College. It is just another step in the ladder leading to graduation in May.

Sunday was amazing. I love Whitley Church and the people that attend. God is doing amazing things for that place. I feel so fulfilled and empowered when I leave. Worship is typically awesome, but it was amazing Sunday. God was pouring his presence into the church Sunday. What an amazing feeling. In an instant, the awful ending to my week was gone. I was filled with Him. He let me know, "This too shall pass."

Mistakes, Burdens, and Answered Prayers

2009-02-14T10:55:00.004-05:00

God is amazing. The more that I learn about him, the more he amazes me! I just recently finished a 21 day fast from meat, sweets, and caffiene (along with the support of two friends who fasted with me). We each verbally and written expressed reasons for the fast and what we hoped to get out of the whole thing. My orignial purpose was for God to reveal to me the next step I am to take upon graduation in May. I also asked God to place is guiding hand on a friend of mine, Courtney. Over Christmas, while on vacation from school, I got to spend a lot of time with a couple youth from church. Courtney and I became really close friends and shared a bond like none other. She is really like the little sister that I never had. Courtney unfortunately had begin to travel down a path that I was very familiar with. A path that leads far away from the hands of God and straight into the arms of Satan. I knew this because I had been down that same path and was myself, slowly finding my way back into the light.

Seeing Courtney make some of the same mistakes I made really bothered me. I later realized that God was placing a special burden on my heart for her. I also realized that special burden was His way of telling me that I needed to fully surrender to Him. The fast was just one example of me giving it all to God. I have also decided that rather than worrying about what I want to do after graduation, I will concentrate on what GOD WANTS me to do after graduation.

After a lot of worrying and praying, I got a random strange text message from Courtney last night. The message said, "I broke up with Derek." and that was it. The message came in the last part of intermission for the Mr. and Ms. Mount Olive College pageant that I volunteer at every year. I was dumbfounded and wanted to call her but knew I wouldn't have time to chat as the second half of the pageant was about to begin. All throughout the second part of the pageant I kept thinking about it and I couldn't wait to call her. Finally, the pageant was over and I was able to call her. Sure enough she realized that he was a complete loser and that she had changed so much because of him. She admitted to basically renouncing God and church because of her boyfriend Derek, who claimed to be the "spawn of Satan". However, she told me that she prayed for the first time in a while and that she felt God touch her and tell her it would all be ok. It was music to my ears. My prayers have been answered! She realized that she made mistakes and that she has a road to travel for healing and re-growth in the Lord. Please continue to pray for her healing heart and for her re-growth as she is back in the Father's flock!

Fireproof

2009-02-11T15:16:00.004-05:00

I want to start by aplogizing because I have been slack on blogging lately. Some of the slack is due to the internet being so unreliable, while the rest is just pure laziness on my part.

The buzz around the religious world is this movie, Fireproof. Several churches in the area, including Whitley are holding events/studies for couples to "fireproof" their marriages. Also, it has been playing on the movie channel we have here on campus. After hearing such rave reviews from several of my friends, I decided I really wanted to check it out. However, I had this mindset that the movie couldn't possibly relate to me as a single young adult. I couldn't fathom how a movie about marriage could possibly have any sort of relevance in my current place in life. I watched the movie last night for the first time...WOW!

I was wrong to assume this movie would not relate to single folks like myself. Although the primary focus of the movie is the struggle of a semi-young (not knowing an exact age but I would say late 20's to early 30's) married couple, the method used to save this marriage needs to be considered by EVERYONE. Caleb & Catherine Holt are a young couple who have been married around seven years. Caleb is the typical masculine male who works a dangerous job (Firefighter) who tends to throw massive temper tantrums when things don't go the way he expects them to unfold. Catherine, like most wives now, is the glue holding everything together. She holds a demanding job (Public Relations at a local Hospital) and tries her best to take care of her sick mother; all while trying to manage a home as well. She may come off as a little demanding when she asks her husband to help with chores and such, but hey we all know that things are easier when the work is shared. To make a long story somewhat shorter, Caleb's dad gives him a book called The Love Dare in hopes of it helping his son's marriage.

The first few days of the 40 day approach, Caleb treats it more like a chore. Halfway through the 40 days, Caleb experiences a revelation when he becomes a Child of God. Things start to look up but his wife is still holding a grudge due to all of the abuse (mentally/emotionally-not physically) she endured from him. Eventually, at the end of the movie, they reconcile and things start looking up.

Again, this is a really great movie and a must see for anyone getting, currently, or have been married. We all need these skills because one day we all will face fire in our marriages. My two favorite quotes from the movie sum it all up. "Fireproof doesn't mean that a fire will never come, but that when it comes, you'll be able to withstand it." and "I have learned that you never leave your partner--especially in a fire."

Lacking Wisdom

2009-01-28T16:12:00.002-05:00

James 1:5 (CEV) states, "If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking."

After a few years of running from God, I have realized that I lack the wisdom to make my own decisions about my future plans. God has a plan for my life and no matter how fast I run, I can't run from God. I am currently participating in a fast in order that I may open myself fully to God's plan, as well as hoping God will begin to reveal exactly what his plan for my life will be. However, "unknown" is a pretty scary word in relating to someone's life plan. Especially a college senior who is graduating in less than four months.

It is my desire to open myself fully to God so that the unknown can be removed. The world makes many things seem glamorous, sometimes so glamorous that we are blinded by the fact that it has Satan all over it. It is very hard to resist these temptations, especially the really glamorous ones. Matthew 6:33 (CEV) states, "But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well." I feel like a five-thousand piece puzzle that lacks the very last piece. But, in my heart, I know that God will complete His puzzle when the time is right.

As of now, I am open, ready, and willing to tackle whatever task the completed puzzle will reveal. I am not perfect by any means, your prayers mean a lot.

Making History

2009-01-22T01:03:00.003-05:00

It doesn't seem that long ago that the campaigning started and each candidate reached far and wide to gain the almighty vote. Fast forward to the present day. Our first ever bi-racial President just completed his first official day of work. This was after a long day of Innaguration events such as speaking engagements, swearing in, parades, and balls. All of which the media swarmed in order to get that perfect story.

Enough of the pretty stuff. It is time to move on to my soapbox. Let me begin by saying that I did vote for Obama. I feel like that he was the candidate that best represented my views and where I stand on a lot of issues. However, unlike some, I realize that Mr. Obama is human. I feel like that too many people have placed our new President on a pedestal. Many seem to think he is the answer to everything and will make everything better. It is impossible for him to make everything better. I do feel like that he will make some changes that will lead things such as the economy back in the right direction. However, it is impossible for him to fix everything. Being human, he will make mistakes. It is not possible for him to fix everything, and even the things he will fix are going to take time before real results are seen. While I think it is important to support our new President, (he needs our prayers more now than ever before) it'ts imperative to remember that he is not the answer to the world's problems. There is only One that can fix it all and he is not of this world.

Scrambled Musings?

2009-01-19T12:45:00.000-05:00

The onset of a New Year (even though we're almost a month into it) has produced a desire to blog. This isn't my first attempt at blogging, but I hope this time will produce something blogworthy and sustainable. The purpose of the new blog is to provide insight to those who read it about the struggles we face as young adults in the areas such as faith, life, career, financial, and the many other obstacles we face as young adults. It will also be an outlet for expression for myself and hopefully a few guest bloggers who decide to share some of their struggles as well. It is my desire that stories of struggles paired with stories of success will allow others to share the same successes with their life as I have been fortunate to have.