This blog has served me well since June of 2005--both as The Attack of the Killer Blog and The Ghost of Me. I started this blog as a place to tell all about my trip to Antalya, Turkey in 2005 and have continued using it ever since.
However, the time has come to say goodbye. I have officially created a new blog--The Austin Chronicles. Specifically, this blog is about me moving to Austin and all that goes along with that move. Of course, it will also serve as my place for typical musings, rants, music opinions, and what not.
Nonetheless, I invite you to my new blog The Austin Chronicles.
Showing posts with label goodbyes to yellow brick roads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goodbyes to yellow brick roads. Show all posts
02 August 2007
22 June 2007
I Just Paid for Wi-Fi, but At Least I've Had an Amazing Week
So, Adam is at his interview with the local Anderson rep here in the ATX. Me? I'm sitting at a Starbucks that's about a half a block away. Can you believe they didn't have free Wi-Fi? I had to pay to use their "T-Mobile Hot Spot." That's pure crap.
On a brighter note, it's good to be in Austin. I've been in Texas for a week now, and I think I can handle the muggy July heat. Pretty soon, I'll be a resident of this state. Crazy, huh?
Anyway, the last week in Waco was everything which I hoped it would be. I painted a house, cleaned a kitchen, sorted clothes, gave a devotional at a homeless shelter, went to a church that meets underneath an interstate overpass (Church Under the Bridge) during a rain storm, played with kids at a 3-day camp at a rec. center in a government housing complex, and witnessed my students at New Heights grow in so many ways. It was amazing.
It's hard to think about spending a week with those New Heights guys and gals then going straight to find an apartment in a new town. I'm really going to miss working at that church, and I'm really going to miss those kids. Leading those kids in worship has undoubtedly been the biggest privilege I have ever been given as a worship leader. If I had to choose 1,000 times between the ability I had to control lights and have bands at Fellowship for 5 years or worshiping with these New Heights kids for 6 months, I'd choose the NHSM kids 1,000 times. When those kids encounter Jesus in worship, it's amazing--whether in a Boys & Girls Club, a warehouse, or a small training center in Waco. I pray that God would continue to teach them to abandon themselves to His glory.
Quick story. We had an extended time of singing on Wednesday night. It was our last night. We wanted kids to have the ability to respond to Him and reflect on their week. Josh put out a bowl of water and a towel, so they could wash someone's feet if they wanted. In the midst of singing, I opened my eyes for a moment to see one of my guys (who never really sings on Sundays) just singing out to God, and I just about lost it. I looked over moments later to see his little sister washing his feet, and I couldn't hold it in. I just cried. I have prayed for these two kids and their brother (who I saw lying prostrate on the floor) for months. I honestly feel that they have more leadership potential than just about any of the kids in our ministry. To see him crying out to Jesus, to see her humbly washing her big brother's feet, and to see their brother lying facedown in worship touched my heart so deeply.
I cannot wait to move to Austin. I'm excited beyond all realization. However, I am daily realizing that there is a lot that must be left behind to get here. Right now, I'm sitting in a Starbucks in Austin. Pretty soon, this will become a regular occurrence (except, probably with a more local coffee house). Yet, I can't help but think about those kids, my job at New Heights, The Grove, the University of Arkansas, my favorite places on Dickson, the way Fayetteville looks at night when you first drive into the city, looking at the Christmas lights on Old Main, and mostly my friends and family. There's a lot to leave behind, but is there ever an adventure that doesn't start with leaving all you've known and loved behind?
On a brighter note, it's good to be in Austin. I've been in Texas for a week now, and I think I can handle the muggy July heat. Pretty soon, I'll be a resident of this state. Crazy, huh?
Anyway, the last week in Waco was everything which I hoped it would be. I painted a house, cleaned a kitchen, sorted clothes, gave a devotional at a homeless shelter, went to a church that meets underneath an interstate overpass (Church Under the Bridge) during a rain storm, played with kids at a 3-day camp at a rec. center in a government housing complex, and witnessed my students at New Heights grow in so many ways. It was amazing.
It's hard to think about spending a week with those New Heights guys and gals then going straight to find an apartment in a new town. I'm really going to miss working at that church, and I'm really going to miss those kids. Leading those kids in worship has undoubtedly been the biggest privilege I have ever been given as a worship leader. If I had to choose 1,000 times between the ability I had to control lights and have bands at Fellowship for 5 years or worshiping with these New Heights kids for 6 months, I'd choose the NHSM kids 1,000 times. When those kids encounter Jesus in worship, it's amazing--whether in a Boys & Girls Club, a warehouse, or a small training center in Waco. I pray that God would continue to teach them to abandon themselves to His glory.
Quick story. We had an extended time of singing on Wednesday night. It was our last night. We wanted kids to have the ability to respond to Him and reflect on their week. Josh put out a bowl of water and a towel, so they could wash someone's feet if they wanted. In the midst of singing, I opened my eyes for a moment to see one of my guys (who never really sings on Sundays) just singing out to God, and I just about lost it. I looked over moments later to see his little sister washing his feet, and I couldn't hold it in. I just cried. I have prayed for these two kids and their brother (who I saw lying prostrate on the floor) for months. I honestly feel that they have more leadership potential than just about any of the kids in our ministry. To see him crying out to Jesus, to see her humbly washing her big brother's feet, and to see their brother lying facedown in worship touched my heart so deeply.
I cannot wait to move to Austin. I'm excited beyond all realization. However, I am daily realizing that there is a lot that must be left behind to get here. Right now, I'm sitting in a Starbucks in Austin. Pretty soon, this will become a regular occurrence (except, probably with a more local coffee house). Yet, I can't help but think about those kids, my job at New Heights, The Grove, the University of Arkansas, my favorite places on Dickson, the way Fayetteville looks at night when you first drive into the city, looking at the Christmas lights on Old Main, and mostly my friends and family. There's a lot to leave behind, but is there ever an adventure that doesn't start with leaving all you've known and loved behind?
06 May 2007
Who Am I Now?
Well, for those of you that read my last post, it's over. All of it. I have no more classes left--only a couple of tests. Tomorrow night at 6:30, I won't go to community group. Thursday night, there won't be band practice. There'll be no show on Friday or Saturday. All of it is done.
I don't know how to feel or what to think. Who am I now? I'm not a student. I'm not in a band. I'm not in a community group. What am I? I'm an intern at a church...for a month and a half. I'm on a softball team for the summer. These are the only things I have to which I can belong, but they're oh so temporary.
I'm afraid that the only way left to identify myself is through Jesus. All I have left to say is that "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Do I have what it takes for that? Can I truly follow Christ and find my identity in him alone? I hope so.
There is nothing for me to hide behind any longer. There's nothing to give me purpose out there. This is proof to me that this world is temporary. All good things must come to an end...except Christ. He is eternal. I pray that I would find myself in things that are eternal.
I don't know how to feel or what to think. Who am I now? I'm not a student. I'm not in a band. I'm not in a community group. What am I? I'm an intern at a church...for a month and a half. I'm on a softball team for the summer. These are the only things I have to which I can belong, but they're oh so temporary.
I'm afraid that the only way left to identify myself is through Jesus. All I have left to say is that "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Do I have what it takes for that? Can I truly follow Christ and find my identity in him alone? I hope so.
There is nothing for me to hide behind any longer. There's nothing to give me purpose out there. This is proof to me that this world is temporary. All good things must come to an end...except Christ. He is eternal. I pray that I would find myself in things that are eternal.
04 May 2007
Finals Week
Next week is my actual "finals week." I will take all of my finals for all of my classes starting this Saturday and ending on Wednesday. However this last week has been a week of finals as well: the final community group meeting, the final band practice, the final time to hangout as a band, the final day of college classes, and soon enough the final concert.
These things have all been the constants in my life for three years. I've been able to say I'm a student at the U of A, I'm in the Mondays at 6:30/7:00 community group, and I'm the guitarist in Famous In May. All three of those things end (or have ended) this week.
So, join me in saying goodbye to the me I've been for the past three years. I feel like this week really has marked the end of a long chapter of my life. I'm excited to live the next one.
These things have all been the constants in my life for three years. I've been able to say I'm a student at the U of A, I'm in the Mondays at 6:30/7:00 community group, and I'm the guitarist in Famous In May. All three of those things end (or have ended) this week.
So, join me in saying goodbye to the me I've been for the past three years. I feel like this week really has marked the end of a long chapter of my life. I'm excited to live the next one.
30 April 2007
Every Beginning Has an End
Goodbye Famous In May, Hello Thailand!!
A Farewell to Famous In May
In Benefit to Mission Thailand
Fellowship Bible Church
Jr. High Auditorium
Saturday, May 5th
9:15-11:00
Free (Donations Accepted)
We're playing our final show EVER. This will be the last time that the five of us ever take the stage together. We'll be sad, we'll be happy, we'll be a ball of emotions. And, we want to share it with you.
The event is free, but we're asking for donations to Mission Thailand (for our friend Andrew Hartness and others). We'll also put all of our merchandise up for grab. CDs, shirts, all yours. However, if you're able, we're asking for a $5 donation for each item you take.
A Farewell to Famous In May
In Benefit to Mission Thailand
Fellowship Bible Church
Jr. High Auditorium
Saturday, May 5th
9:15-11:00
Free (Donations Accepted)
We're playing our final show EVER. This will be the last time that the five of us ever take the stage together. We'll be sad, we'll be happy, we'll be a ball of emotions. And, we want to share it with you.
The event is free, but we're asking for donations to Mission Thailand (for our friend Andrew Hartness and others). We'll also put all of our merchandise up for grab. CDs, shirts, all yours. However, if you're able, we're asking for a $5 donation for each item you take.
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