It's not a great feeling to know that there are people in your life that are beyond important, and yet they don't understand what it is you do and why you do it. The simple fact should be that if it is important enough to me to do it, you should just support me and allow me to make my own decisions. The issue therein lies however, in the fact that I am still on my parents dime. I make no money of my own during the year (though I'm trying to get a hook up for next year now) so I am at the will of their, specifically my mom's, checkbook. What she decides goes. And it sucks. I can't do anything, go anywhere without her knowing. I literally have to siphon money out of the account she has for my card so that I can manage to spend any money on what I want to spend it on. I'm supposed to have a summer job this year so that'll help to a certain extent but that money will run out fast. and I really want to go on a labor day vacation with my ministry but I don't know if I'll even be allowed to. I would like to go on the Atlanta and Myrtle Beach trips, but I won't have the money nor would my mom be okay with it. I love my family more than anything, I really do. But I am 95% positive I'm moving back to Huntsville after college is over; that being the case, I feel like I should go and do as much as I possibly can while I'm still here in college. But it's hard to experience everything when I'm just expected to come home every weekend. And it's going to get harder next year when my girlfriend gets to the same university as me; she doesn't really get it either and I have a feeling my lack of free time is going to be a big issue for here to handle. But it's one she's either going to have to learn to deal with, or it'll break us up because I'm not giving up any part of the ministry. Period. So we'll see how that goes. I just pray I can pull a 3.0 this semester again, I need to keep my scholarship or things are going to get way harder on me. Speaking of pulling that 3.0, it's going to be hard to do well on my exam tomorrow if I can't wake up to get there... I think that realization is my cue for the night's end haha
- signing out
Monday, April 30, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Back to Basics
Is it just me, or is this little phrase not popping up everywhere lately? I mean honestly, it is everywhere. But, it literally the best advice, and is applicable in almost any and every facet of life. You're not doing so hot in school? Go back to the basics. Not performing well at your job? Go back to the basics. Straying too far off course? Go back to the basics. I mean you can really fit it to anything. I know I have been for some time, I've had to remind myself sometimes on a daily basis to just take a moment and settle down, settle into what's going on in my life. I am probably one of the busiest people you will ever know - from the time I wake up in the morning to the time I lay my head down at night, I am just constantly going. Sometimes there's just not enough hours in a day. (This habit of being constantly on the move is probably the reason I can't sleep, still revved up from the day.) Almost always though, I go to bed feeling accomplished. Like I made things happen. But, during the day, more often than not, I have to make myself stop to smell the roses. I remind myself almost daily to go back to the basics. To just remember where I came from. Remember why I'm here. Remember why all I do is important to me. Remember who is number one in my life, and that He has it all under control. Simple as that, moving back to the basics.
But how do we make ourselves think about the little things? How do we use what we have to make things better for our futures? Where do we start? All valid questions, and all legitimate - the short answer in my experience is that we just have to trust our instincts. When you actively think about the world we live in and your part within it, it's impossible to not realize all the little things I believe. We have to offer all we have to the world, and more importantly to the Big Man; when we offer everything, wee reap all the benefits from it. By offering all we have, we empty ourselves of obligations, allowing us to fully take in all that the world around us, as well as our spirituality, has to offer. As for where we start, I believe the starting point is different for every individual. Some people decide early on to be fully available all e time. Others blossom into it, others jump in head firsts later on in life. Irregardless of which you are, or want to be, each is equally as important as the others.
It's become a big part of my life to be in and around ministry. It's crazy to me how important it's become - until this year (and I mean school year) I had barely even attended church once a year, much less weekly. But, I have been blessed beyond all belief and encountered the college ministry, Unashamed. Now called the largest college movement in America, Unashamed is a radical way to approach the Word and God, and is unlike anything I'd ever seen previously. Loud, exciting music, interesting and poignant dramas, and some of the best speakers I've ever heard in my life - and the best prt is we're all college aged. No one has a degree in ministry, or any certifications - it's just the product of five years of hardworking, dedicated guys who wanted to bring our broken generation to the Lord - bring them back to the basics (see what I did there?) and allow them, in a time when statistics say the majority of people who come to college leave the church, to actually come back to faith and the Word and the Lord. It's one of the greatest things I've ever even dreamed of being a part of, and those guys and girls are some of the absolutely best people I've ever met. They are genuine, kind, funny, compassionate, loving, loyal, and everything else that goes along with it. It's a great feeling to know that they have my back and that they are my family in the interim of being away from my own. When I'm gone for days at a time, I miss all of them, greatly. It's a beautiful thing, and I strongly recommend anyone and everyone check us out - we broadcast live every Thursday night at 8pm central time from Tuscaloosa, AL - the dirty south baby, roll tide!! Seriously though, go to www.unashamedua.com and check it out, you won't be disappointed.
- signing out
But how do we make ourselves think about the little things? How do we use what we have to make things better for our futures? Where do we start? All valid questions, and all legitimate - the short answer in my experience is that we just have to trust our instincts. When you actively think about the world we live in and your part within it, it's impossible to not realize all the little things I believe. We have to offer all we have to the world, and more importantly to the Big Man; when we offer everything, wee reap all the benefits from it. By offering all we have, we empty ourselves of obligations, allowing us to fully take in all that the world around us, as well as our spirituality, has to offer. As for where we start, I believe the starting point is different for every individual. Some people decide early on to be fully available all e time. Others blossom into it, others jump in head firsts later on in life. Irregardless of which you are, or want to be, each is equally as important as the others.
It's become a big part of my life to be in and around ministry. It's crazy to me how important it's become - until this year (and I mean school year) I had barely even attended church once a year, much less weekly. But, I have been blessed beyond all belief and encountered the college ministry, Unashamed. Now called the largest college movement in America, Unashamed is a radical way to approach the Word and God, and is unlike anything I'd ever seen previously. Loud, exciting music, interesting and poignant dramas, and some of the best speakers I've ever heard in my life - and the best prt is we're all college aged. No one has a degree in ministry, or any certifications - it's just the product of five years of hardworking, dedicated guys who wanted to bring our broken generation to the Lord - bring them back to the basics (see what I did there?) and allow them, in a time when statistics say the majority of people who come to college leave the church, to actually come back to faith and the Word and the Lord. It's one of the greatest things I've ever even dreamed of being a part of, and those guys and girls are some of the absolutely best people I've ever met. They are genuine, kind, funny, compassionate, loving, loyal, and everything else that goes along with it. It's a great feeling to know that they have my back and that they are my family in the interim of being away from my own. When I'm gone for days at a time, I miss all of them, greatly. It's a beautiful thing, and I strongly recommend anyone and everyone check us out - we broadcast live every Thursday night at 8pm central time from Tuscaloosa, AL - the dirty south baby, roll tide!! Seriously though, go to www.unashamedua.com and check it out, you won't be disappointed.
- signing out
Location:9th Ct,Tuscaloosa,United States
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Path of Destruction
Yesterday, April 27th, 2011, a massive storm cell swept across the Southeast, producing numerous tornadoes per state and racking up death tolls now reported above 250. 184 of these deaths come from my home state and current place of residence, Alabama. Currently, I'm still in the city of Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide - and quite possibly the hardest hit place in the state. Do not let this idea fool you however, as many places within the state and Southeast were totally devastated. Cullman Alabama was also torn apart by the day's storms, as well as Huntsville and parts of Birmingham.
Standing inside of a neighboring apartment on the ground level, I personally watched as a mile wide tornado tore through my own apartment complex and the neighborhood beside and behind us on it's way towards the University itself. All I could do was sit and watch helplessly as mother nature redesigned the face of our city and so many others. Once the storm had passed for the greatest part, we went outside and started actually seeing the damages. Sights I would have never thought to have seen appeared right before my eyes. Views of destruction, death and decay all abounded, as parties of men went to find either survivors or bodies to get out of the debris. Walking around in my shorts and tee shirt and boots - something I always vowed to never do - I realized that it could be so much worse. A tragedy such as this really makes you open your eyes and realize that every single moment you spend on this green earth, every item you posses, every person in your life you care for - needs to be cherished and held dear. You truly don't know what you've got until it's gone, and I thank the lord above so much that I haven't lost anything important to me, and yet my heart is breaking for all those not so lucky.
I'm still working to process all that has happened with everyone else, every time I go outside I see more that I can't even imagine. For now, this is all I have to say. This might be my last post for a while as I will have no power, so I will try and let everyone know what's going on. Everyone stay safe and be ready for anything; you never know what tomorrow is going to bring.
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