The reason why I was the Newsboys for a few days...

As many of you know, I wake up as different people everyday. Not literally (no mental illnesses here...that I know of...) But if I have a song stuck in my head or a lyric really strikes me, I'll be that band for a day (or two depending on how awesome they are). I woke up Monday as the Newsboys- not the 'new' Newsboys with Michael Tait but the real ones- the old ones. The reason I was them was because of a song off of the Love, Liberty, Disco album. The best song in my opinion from the album, and the one that led me to be them, was Beautiful Sound. I feel like it is my story. That may sound lame or cheesy but it is true. Here are the lyrics. Enjoy!

Beautiful Sound - The Newsboys

Turn the page.
Can't turn the light out.
Every word, every line
Carries to my soul.
Dark letters on a page
Singing so loud.
Where did I go wrong
Not to hear You?

Eighteen years,
I guess it was all right.
I let You do the thinking,
I'd just bide my time.
Father to son
Sunday hand-me-down.
Where did I go wrong
Not to hear Your song?

It's a beautiful sound
Moving through the crowd.
Voices lifted up
On high for You.

It's a beautiful song.
We've only just begun to understand.
Rediscovering You.

To have found You, and still be looking for You,
It's "the soul's paradox of love."
You fill my cup, I lift it up for more.
I won't stop now that I'm free.
I'll be chasing You
Like You chase me.

It's a beautiful sound
Moving through the crowd.
Voices lifted up
On high for You.

It's a beautiful song.
We've only just begun to understand.
Rediscovering You.

Oh, something so beautiful.

It's a beautiful sound
Moving through the crowd.
Voices lifted up
On high for You.

It's a beautiful song.
We've only just begun to understand.
Rediscovering You.

It's a beautiful sound
Moving through the crowd.
Voices lifted up
On high for You.

It's a beautiful song.
We've only just begun to understand.
Rediscovering You.

It's a beautiful sound
Moving through the crowd.
Voices lifted up
On high for You.

It's a beautiful song.
We've only just begun to understand.
Rediscovering You.

Something tells me it's all right.
You know it's gonna be all right.

101 in 1001 Change

I’ve been considering this change for a while now and I’ve decided to make it official! I am moving #63 (visit Auschwitz) to my bucket list from my 101. I think this is one of the most logical and realistic one change. I’ll be replacing it with honoring a solider in some way. I know this sounds strange and very non-descript but I recently saw a movie- ‘Taking Chance’- that has made me realize that I under appreciate everything they do for us. I’m thinking it could be something like a care package or donating to some organization (still need to do some research on that one). Anyway, just wanted you to be aware of the change. Have a great day!

My Saturday Adventure with Joy!

Joy and I went to the Flea Market and it was AWESOME! It was a beautiful day to be wondering around outside! We were looking for the awesome record guy (who was no where to be found- sad day!) and the guy who sells all these amazing glass bottles...



...at least we found him! Here are some other amazing things we found and just some other random shots...Enjoy!

Social Policy makes me think...

My mom has always been somewhat concerned/creeped out with my fascination with the Holocaust. Actually it's not just her, several people have told me that. It is not that I have a fascination with death. I really don't. But I do believe that we have to learn from the mistakes of the past in order to avoid them in the future.

I am also amazed by the strength and courage of those who fought back. Those who decided to cheat the system, those who did not have concern for their own safety but were concerned with what the future held for Jews across Europe under the Third Reich.

Some fought back by simply surviving. Others gave out passports to Jews so they could leave (read blog about this here). Others found ways of smuggling food into the ghetto. And others found ways of smuggling children out of the ghetto.

I recently learned about Irena Sendler. She fought back. She volunteered to work in the Warsaw ghetto as a plumbing specialist, not exactly a luxurious job. But she wasn't there just to work on plumbing and sewers, she had other plans.

She smuggled infants out of the ghetto in the bottom of the tool box she carried and had a burlap bag in the back of her truck in order to smuggle out larger children. She also had a dog that she trained to bark at the Nazis. They were afraid of the dog and would stay away from it, and therefore would stay away from her. The dog's barking would also cover up any noises that the baby would be making. During her time of smuggling out children- she saved 2500 lives. She kept a jar of the names of the children she had smuggled out and buried it in her backyard.

She was eventually caught and was severally beaten by the Nazis.

She was recognized as being Righteous Among the Nations- an award given by the state of Israel to non-Jews who saved Jews from the Holocaust.



She passed away at the age of 98 in Warsaw in 2008.

I know that sometimes the question gets brought up of "Would you do the same in that situation?". My answer is usually "I would hope so." But I'm beginning to think that maybe a better answer would be that I pray that we are not faced with that situation. But the situation is already there. There are genocides and injustices all around the world. What are we doing? What can we do?

It doesn't have to be something as radical as what Irena did.

We just need to do something.

I need to do something.

My social policy class has got me thinking about what we can do. It is true that it is nearly impossible to change things instantly, or even somewhat quickly. But we can do little things. Volunteer around town. Participate in Operation Beautiful. Donate money or things. It can be something as simple as being kind to someone who you don't feel deserves that. Maybe even just being aware of what is going on around the globe and praying.

This 'sermon' is not directed at anyone more than it is at me. I'm embarrassed by how little I've done. But as Robert Allen Zimmerman (Bob Dylan) once said "The times they are a changin'" and with God's help, so am I.

I will do something.

Another blog about the Holy Spirit

While Joy and I were talking and taking a drive around town last night, we started to discuss the Holy Spirit. I personally think it would be awesome if He had this tiny little apartment right beside my heart, where He just chills and maybe watches movies. Maybe He has a subscription to Netflix. Who knows?!

I think my reasoning comes from the fact that when I was younger, my father told me that inside of EVERYTHING was a tiny little man, sometimes a tiny little family or community, and they had their own little word inside of every object, especially tables. I've attempted to draw a picture of what I see in my mind, here it is. (Don't be jealous of my artistic skillz! (used the 'z' on purpose))



Here is a view from above...



I know it's not true but it could be awesome if it was! For some reason the most vivid picture in my mind from Table-World is one that seems to be inside a tiny little Table-World pub...



Anyway, Happy Friday Everyone!

=0)

Hello Dears!

I've missed you! So here's what has been going on with me...
-school started back!
-I've got one SERIOUSLY INSANE PROFESSOR!
-The rest of my professors seem okay.
-work has been CRAZY BUSY! finally starting to settle down again!
-I'm beginning to embrace that I'm not as good at things as other people...like blogging consistently...still working on it...
-Walked the MOST MOVING AND AMAZING MOVIE. It's based on a true story- "Taking Chance" (read the article here)

...well that is about it for right now. I'm sorry that I'm ridiculously inconsistent with my blogging. Have a great weekend!

=0p