Here is day two of our Oklahoma Trip!
Here is day two of our Oklahoma Trip!
I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted an update on school but you know things have been very busy since I returned from Oklahoma. (Day Two Video Coming Soon!) At any rate there are exactly two weeks of the regular semester left and then it is finals week. It’s pretty scary because there is still a lot that has to get done in a very short amount of time.
On top of all that I was crazy enough to volunteer to help out with Come Christmas Sing this year. Every year TMC has a huge Christmas Concert blow out featuring each and every musical group that calls TMC home. The performances are all this week and tickets are going fast for the shows that haven’t sold out yet! I went to the concert last year and had a great time, but I have a feeling I won’t have much time to enjoy the show much as paying attention to what’ s in my viewfinder. One of my favorite performing groups, the Women’s Chamber Choir, will be singing “O Holy Night” this year. It may just be the highlight of the evening for me!
On another note, I’ve already registered for the classes I’m gonna be taking next semester. It’s going to be a pretty fun semester but I also anticipate it being busy one as well. One exciting development is that I will be the official announcer for all the home baseball games next semester! Last year my good friend Marcus was doing the announcing, but this year was just going to be too hectic for him so he put my name in as a recommendation. First of all, I love baseball as a sport (which may shock some of you knowing that I make fun of sports every chance I get). Second, I think they guys that are on our Baseball team are not your typical jocks. I’ve had classes with these guys and they are the real deal. On and off the field they are great guys to hang out with and do not think of themselves as something special.
This will probably be my last TMC Journal for this semester before I do the wrap up when I get all my grade back. This semester has been filled with many challenges both on and off campus so it won’t be any surprise to me that this semester’s GPA is going to suffer quite a bit. At least this semester none of these classes were impossible to do well in, unlike two classes I had last semester.
Happy Thanksgiving To All!
There is something very interesting about Thanksgiving for me. On my mother’s side I have a Cherokee Indian heritage. On my father’s side I am a direct descendant of Fisher Ames, the famous author and statesman of the late 1700’s. Here in America, Thanksgiving was celebrated between the Pilgrims and Indians* in the 1600’s. One particular celebration occurred in 1621 the year after my father’s ancestors came over on the Mayflower in Plymouth where they had settled. It is amazing for me to think that 386 years ago my father’s ancestors sat at the table with Indians and shared a meal when a short time later they would be persecuting these misunderstood inhabitants of the land.
My mother’s ancestors and my father’s ancestors warred with each other hundreds of years ago an yet I sit here today with their blood flowing through my veins. I’ve never quite been able to grasp all the ramifications of this seeming endless line of cause and effect except to know that God’s plans are amazing. For the blood of two people groups to coexsist peacfully indside of me is a work that only God can do. Our God is a God of Peace and yet He will wage war against the devil. Our God is a God of love and yet He hates sin. Our God is a God of mercy yet He is just. Two opposites, coexisting with one another in perfect harmony.
I know most homes go around the table and share with their loved ones something they are thankful for… I think this year there are many things I am thankful for, most of which don’t need to be named here… but one thing that I will be thankful to God for is that He is a balanced and perfect God and has given me the heritage of two great people groups.
I’ve recently dived into the world of Egypt around 1450 B.C. when the Hebrews were led out of Egypt by God through His servant Moses. The book of Exodus records a pivotal time in history for God’s chosen people. As a result of my study in this book I have decided to share with you what I am learning as a means of encouragement, edification as well as education about God’s deliverance from bondage. Keep in mind that I am constantly learning how to study the the Bible better so if you have any suggestions or you read something that doesn’t make sense to you, feel free to leave a comment.
I hope you enjoy this journey through Exodus.
I had the opportunity to visit a cool church this weekend. It’s called Church At Rocky Peak. Rocky Peak has been around since the late 70’s and has about 3000 people that call it their church home. One of the things I first noticed was that the first time guest parking was clearly marked and gave easy access to their large worship center.
The musical worship was spot-on covers of the worship tunes as you would hear them from the records. These guys have the art of imitation down pat! Most churches these days put their own spin or twist on the songs that you find on the worship albums. They change lyrics, change keys, some speed them up and some slow them down. It was good to know that their Musical Worship leader took the time to get the band sounding like the real deal. People in the congregation were also encouraging. They felt free to raise their hands, move their feet a little but all of it was done in a way that was orderly and proper.
The sermon for the day was pretty good. He preached for about 50 minutes and given his topic he defiantly could have gone longer. I was fotunate enough to visit on the day that they launched a new series called “The War: The Story Behind The Story.”
Mike Yearley (Lead Pastor) has started a series about the unseen spiritual battle that is raging all around us. Yesterday, he gave a broad overview of the Back Story, giving a background for the topics he was going to cover over the next few weeks.
One final element that was most reassuring was the manner in which they did communion. They allowed for a extended time of reflection and then when it felt appropriate people got out of their seats and gathered around tables to partake in communion while the band played a few songs. It was good to see a church take communion seriously and not just as “snack time” during the service.
Next week I plan on checking out their College Group. I’ll give y’all the low down when that happens.
It’s been 6 months to the day since my dear friend Alese Coco passed away from Cancer. There are still times when I reach for my phone to send her a text message but realize there’s no point. Perhaps hardest of all is when I interact with her family and realize they are hurting much more than me. God used her in a mighty and spectacular way when she was here on this earth. What is most astonishing is that in some ways God is still using her story to touch other people’s lives. I miss her, but I look forward to the day that we meet again in heaven.
Yes it’s finally time for the first of the Oklahoma Videos! It’s been a while because I’ve been waiting for the right kind of software to come out on WordPress. Well it’s here and now I can start posting the videos!
So here is Day 1!
I’ve recently rediscovered my love for Middle Earth and all things Tolkien. I’ve made it a habit to watch the Lord Of The Rings films once a year and to read the book at least once every other year. I’ve been watching the films lately, as well as all the Appendices and have enjoyed going back in time with Peter Jackson and his crew. I think there are some things in the book and in the films that have impacted me significantly over the years so I’ve decided to add a feature to the blog where I share with you some things I’ve enjoyed from various stories in Middle Earth.
Today’s moment comes from the film version of The Two Towers. Toward the end Sam yanks Frodo out of the clutches of the Nazgul just before Frodo is attacked. Frodo, having been seduced by the ring more and more, attacks Sam. When Frodo realizes what he’s done he drops his weapon and tells Sam, “I can’t do this anymore…” Sam’s reply is amazing.
SAM: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something.
FRODO: What are we holding on to, Sam?
SAM: That there is some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.
Apt words for times like these…
Tags: Firestorm
