Thoughts on a change of life direction

A big announcement to all of my reader. You need to know this first.

Don't worry, I will continue to blog. But, life is taking me in a new direction, and, with the support of my wife (she doesn't even know this yet), I am going back to college: starting in January.

I am going to Appalachian State University. Here's the back story about this huge change:

While dinking around the "net" I came across something that changed my life forever: this video for ASU. I was sold immediately, and have already made my plans to attend next semester. I have quit my jobs, I have sold my possessions - I am jumping in. Why? Just watch:




I would appreciate your support in this venture. In fact - you're all invited. Even when it's cold, cold, cold - ASU is HOT HOT HOT!




And if you believed a word of this post, you are crazy.

Thoughts on Thursday

I am ready for Thursday.


I am also in a small group that meets Thursday nights. And I love them



I am ready for Friday.

Thoughts on Christian Music (and stuff)

Faithful blog reader: hello. Welcome to a new post. Welcome to the cynical side of Jeremy.

Life is steady right now - full, fun, hard. . .I don't really know where to start with life lately - so I'll not start with it. I have other thoughts tonight.

I have progressed from being a full-fledged "laborer" (awesome) to becoming a heavy equipment driver.

Yes, I am living the dream of most 6 year old boys: driving things that can move tons of dirt. . . .DIRT!!! The great part though is an easier workload (I sit and drive stuff now - nice), air conditioning, and. . . .AM/FM radios. Yesssss!!! I also have the respect of more construction workers - which we all aspire to have, right?

So I have been priviledged to spend a full day as a captive audience to car commercials, sports center updates and witty banter by highly skilled DJ's. I have the jingles for the Midwest Hemerroid treatment center, Toyota and Chevy and Ford

And at a point, sports radio and standard rock stations - even NPR itself - get a bit stale. And, sigh. . . .being a christian, I. . . yes. . . .go to Christian radio. Positive. . . .encouraging. . . .Christian. . . nauseating.

And so - I have listened. And I have been positively encouraged. . . not to listen to Christian music. Ok - to be fair - one out of ten songs is good. But, the DJ's witty banter and the rest of the songs - they drive me toward jerking the wheel of the bulldozer into a bridge embankment.

Hightlights of Christian music:

First - "Christian Rock" is most definitely not rock. . . .and I'm wondering if Jesus likes it. When I first heard a Christian DJ remark: Man, that Jeremy Camp. . .he rocks!!, I thought, are you kidding me? Positive. . .encouraging. . . .Much of the time, life isn't encouraging or positive - so most Christian music is brutally wrong, most Christian music sounds the same as everything else. Why I listen to it at times is a mystery to me.

Second - Any radio station that goes to a satellite location to broadcast and has prizes to give away like. . . keychains. . . . that's just not a good radio station. Keychains? Are you freaking kidding me?

Third - Lyrics of Christian songs are definitely good at Spiritual cliches:

Ooooh Lord, you save me in the pouring rain
Your loooooove is new agaiiiiiin
Ohooooooooooooh Lord you get me through the daaaaaark night
(cue the orchetra, then sing the chorus again)

Fourth - to be a Christian music artist, your qualifications for "making it" are:

1) be good looking. You MUST be good looking to be a Christian artist - have you ever seen one who isn't? They just LOOK blessed, wealthy, happy. And most every cover of a Christian music CD featrues the artist on the cover alone - casually looking into the distance "thoughtfully", or smiling "full of the joy of the Lord" right at the camera, "broken" in worship (that just happens to show off how ripped the artist is). . . .or like this - with no explanation needed:


2) make a worship album. . . .with the songs on it that everyone else has already played (and feature Mac Powell)
.

Sample song list:

-Enough (already)
-How Great is our God
-Holy is the Lord
-Here I am to worship
(my worship set-list tomorrow includes how great is our god. . .sigh)

Fifth - inspire generations with non-Christian lyrics like: "it doesn't matter who you know, it's how you live" (real lyrics) Retards.

I'm done writing - now I'm pissed. What do I do now? I need some encouragement. . . .

%$&*!!. . . .I'm heading for the radio.

Thoughts on handsome children

I couldn't be more proud.

Thoughts on Typical

It helps having connections. Case in point - my sister Becca is dating a dude who tours the country playing rock music on his guitar. I like it. I like him. www.myspace.com/daphnelovesderby. He's the skinny dude with blonde hair - and oh, he's really phenominally talented (you're welcome, Spencer).

All that to say: yes, I have connections. Spencer knows more about cool bands than anyone I've ever met. He listens to the music, knows about the music videos, knows about their labels, knows about their tours, and knows many of the musicians - at least indirectly.

He was good enough on Wednesday night to share with Ashley and I his "musical inspiration": Mute Math. They are up and coming, as far as I can tell (what do I know, I have heard of them for 24 hours now), and did the theme song for the Transformers movie that came out this summer. I haven't heard that song. Watch this video (all band members learned the entire song backwards: lyrics, strumming patterns on the guitar, drum beats - remarkable):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b13rc6DY74A

Here's the lyrics:

Come on, can I dream for one day?
There's nothing that can't be done
But how long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone

Cuz I know there's got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I'm feelin' like it's now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical?

Now I've lived through my share of misfortune
And I've worked in the blazing sun
But how long should it take somebody
Before they can be someone

Cuz I know there's got to be another level
Somewhere closer to the other side
And I'm feelin' like it's now or never
Can I break the spell of the typical?

I'm the typical
I'm the typical
Can I break the spell of the typical?

Because it's draggin' me down
Oh, I'd like to know about when
When does it all turn around?
__________________

Truly it's a song that speaks to my heart, especially as of late. Mostly it's depressing. If the guys from Mute Math sing about feeling "Typical" after playing the Late Show and garnering a load of critical acclaim, then what hope is there for us who spend all day working in the hot sun, or the cubicle, or the classroom, or the four corners of the earth?

And again, I have no answers, but simply a statment: Colossians 3:17 - Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

He will provide, He has promised. William Cowper writes: Tomorrow can bring us nothing, but He will bear us through: Who gives the lilies clothing will clothe His people, too. So it sure seems that the fight against the "typical" isn't at all about occupation or prestige.

Where does it come from? To be His is to be more than typical - and nothing else will do. Can I rest in that and live it out? That's the hard part. Just my thoughts.

Thoughts on More Random Hilarity

Watch this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=EJJL5dxgVaM

Now that you've watched the above, now partake of the following video. Answer this question for me: How much money would Buster put in the change jar?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEb2CB7VMe0

Cussing is hilarious. Just my thoughts.

Thoughts on Faith

Sometimes, a deeper blog post is needed - so here goes.

I love being a dad. Since 2003, I have had the privilege of knowing God's richest blessing of children. Even 3 poopy diapers from Tyler this afternoon can't dampen my spirits, although it does dirty my hands.....and my keyboard....ahem. . . .deeper blog post....

Often when I put my boys to bed - in fact, pretty much every night - they complain that their room is too dark. Mostly, this is driven by Micah, whose 3 (almost 4) year old imagination runs 100 miles per hour. I am guessing that every creak of our old wood floors, rustle of our Russian neighbors below us, or loud car that drives by outside moves his mind toward a tale filled full of monsters. And Tyler, being 2, emulates his brother in every way possible. When Micah doesn't want it to be dark - Tyler doesn't want it to be dark.

So, as the room is very dark when they're going to bed, sometimes I, on my way out of the room, surprisingly throw the light switch. Both brothers lying on their backs staring at the ceiling get a face-full of brilliant light, throwing them into confusion, laughter, and involuntary contortion of their little faces as their eyes quickly shut.

My favorite part is their laughter when I do it. I am not sadistic - doing this for fun to be mean; rather, I am in love with their laughter. If you are not a parent, I cannot adequately put it to words, but your child's laugh is probably the most wonderful thing to hear. Micah and Tyler react with pure honesty in each and every situation - their emotions are worn right on their sleeves. And so, when they laugh, I am told that, without a doubt, they are filled with joy - and that brings me more joy than I could ever tell.

And this just from a light switch going on. Who knew? The small things in life often bring my kids the most joy.

I think of this because I have spent recent weeks feeling as though a light has been thrown on in my life. I sometimes ride a tractor at work, mowing 90 acres and it gives me time to think and time to commune with God - whether in deep "theological" ways, or just to drink in warm sunshine and a stiff summer's breeze and know He's God. One of those days, a Caedmon's Call song got stuck in my head - ordinarily, a song that drives me a bit nuts (it's kind of catchy - but in the way that it sticks with you for a long time). It's called "Thankful" from their CD 40 Acres:
_________________
'Cause no, there is none righteous
Not one who understands
There is none who seek God
No not one, I said no not one

So I am thankful that I'm incapable
Of doing any good on my own

'Cause by grace I have been saved
Through faith that's not my own
It is a gift of God and not by works
Lest anyone should boast
_________________

And God threw the lightswitch on and probably had a lot of joy watching my soul squirm. By grace I have been saved, through faith that's not my own - it is a gift of God, and not by works.....Sure I know all this in my head, but when God (who is the only one that can do this) connects the head with the heart - it's a wonderful thing. Surely it brings Him joy to see His children have that "ah ha" moment. Faith is a gift? But wait? Isn't faith an action that I perform? Come on! Oprah tells her followers that they need to have faith - and more of it!! In what? Whatever you want! What a retard. (Maybe if I have enough faith, she'll invite Ashley to go to the "Oprah's Favorite Things" episode and she'll come home with a plasma TV and a new car....but I digress).

Modern American Christianity has bullied Christians into believing lies. "Be better". "Earn it." "Follow these steps." I've heard more lessons than I can count - from Sunday school through life into my 20's telling me strategies to bolster my beliefs - to strengthen my faith.

And it's all a lie. I don't have faith because I choose God through my pious Bible reading and reverent prayer times - as if I have ANYTHING to offer Him. He is not just another face in the myriad of immortal vendors, just hoping I'll choose Him. He is our Father, our Creator, the One and only God - the giver of all good things. And He gives faith, through Christ.

I don't get it. I cannot wrap my mind around this. How? Why? A gift? Why given to me? Why not to others?

And despite the questions in my mind, the gift of faith drives me to one thing - humility. So, wherever you, faithful blog reader of mine, are at - take a moment and ponder faith: a gift. Chances are, if you have no faith, that He wants to give it to you.

I have no answers - it's just my thoughts.....