Sacrificial Love

It has been some time since my last blog post, and I apologize, but I have been very busy. This week I have been out in the forests making benches and handrails, as well as clearing off trails in the Cherokee National Forest. The Lord has blessed me with some creative and talented groups to work with and I have been fortunate to pass on some wisdom to the kids who have been under my supervision. Just today I was able to share with some kids today about the fruits of their labors and how even when they are tired and hot, they can still have fun and enjoy being in
God's creation, working with their hands and enjoy the finished product. Even though the groups are here for only a week, we are given the oppurtunity to have fellowship with believers from all over the country and work and serve others together. I try to remind the kids that they are here to serve and demonstrate the love of Christ to others whether it be painting a house or cleaning someone's yard. Through my interactions with youth leaders and youth, God is teaching me patience, love, and kindness.

He is teaching me humble leadership and servanthood, whether it be with a group or with fellow coworkers. When I have projects with another coworker, my first inclination this week was to take co-command or to take charge myself, but the Lord humbled me, and made the opposite happen. My sinful nature doesn't want to take the back seat; it wants to be first, but I am reminded, that even if the other leader wants things done differently than how I want them done, I must be a peacemaker, and deal with my jealousy and pride, and die to myself.

I am truly thankful for the community of believers here at Eagle Ranch. We have recently finished the book of James in our staff devotional, and our goal each week is to hold each other accountable to the things we are learning each week in our study. Also, we take prayer requests and pray for each other throughout the week. One of the raft guides, Justin Boldt, worked with me this week in the forests and has also been my accountabilty partner. He is always there to confront me in sin, and to encourage me in my walk with the Lord. God has greatly used him to point out sin in my life. Justin has been a great example to me of one who sacrifices himself for others. This is the greatest thing that I have learned over the last three weeks. Every day, I learn just how selfish my heart can be, but everyday I learn how gto be selfless and to love others, even those "difficult" people around me.

The Blessing of Community

This is my first post in over a year! I think I finally found a purpose or direction to go in with my blog, so I am going to keep it updated every week or every other week from now on. Well, I have gotten a job working in Tennessee at a rafting company called Eagle Adventures for the summer, and I have been here for about two weeks. I spent this last week training, doing activities such as our climbing wall, indoor games, spending time with elderly, and interacting with mentally and physically challenged adults.
It has been a challenging week both mentally and emotionally. Being away from the things that I am accustomed to has been hard, but phone calls help alot! Also, working with mentally and physically handicapped people at a place called Industrial Opportunities Incorporated was heart breaking. We saw some adults with severe handicaps some of whom are told by their families that they cannot do anything, yet here they are being useful making medical supplies, bags, belts, and even car parts for the military.
So on Tuesday, we took a youth group from Pearl, Mississippi to work with the people at IOI and interacted with them, ate lunch with them, and we trainees supervised the youth as they interacted. Then the next day, IOI brought people to Eagle Ranch and they tried the climbing wall, ate lunch, and they kids put on a puppet show, which everyone from IOI loved. it was such a blessing to see the smiles on their faces.
On Thursday, we went to the community center nearby and danced to Bluegrass music with the elderly who come there every Thursday. That was fun and the kids really got into it! Then we ate lunch and interacted with them. One man I spoke with named Doug, was a WWII verteran and told me that he had been captured by the Germans who then burned his arms sdo that he could not use his weapon. He continued gto talk to me and I learned much aboiut his life.

Then on Friday and Saturday I had a chance to go whitewater rafting for the first time and it was awesome! I ended up going two more times on Saturday when the river was very high. Even though I'm not training to be a river guide, I am able gto spend alot of time with coworkers who are, and so far it has been a great experience getting to know people from all over the country. In fact, the guy that I room with is from Savannah and he know four people that I am friends with! Talk about small world... His name is Matt Holland, and we have had many good conversations not only about our Christian lives, but also about music we like, people we both know, etc.
The other guides that Iam becoming friends with are Joe Carroll, Sam Hovan, and Justin Boldt, all three of whom go to school in Texas, Virginia Brown from Arkansas(we call her Pepper, but that's another story), Steven from California, and Elizabeth Heck from Massachusetts. All of us but Steven are Christians and live on the ranch, but Steven is hoping to move onto the ranch this week and bunk with me and Matt. He is open to Christianity, but doesn't attend church or spend time around Christians, so it is our hope that we can get him involved in a bible study that us guides are starting on Wednesday. Please be in prayer for that!
It is through these simple interactions that our group is able to share the love of Christ to those we come in contact with and learn more about what it means to love others in a fallen, and broken world. It is a remendous blessing that there is a small Christian community with us guides here and we have already become friends. What a great start to the summer!

Etudes: Notes of a Musician Movement 1.

Recently, while being assigned my final project in Photojournalism, I really had to put my head in gear. Our assignment was to tell a story through pictures. My first pessimistic thought was that there would be nothing of interest to photograph in Statesboro. Boy was I wrong...

One day, after attending a concert with a friend at the Foy Fine Arts Building on campus, it dawned on me. See, I had a rather unique opportunity after the concert that night. My friend, Gabriel is a piano performance major at Georgia Southern, and we received special permission to use the stage and play on the piano there. all the elements that came together that night became my inspiration. The moment Gabriel began playing Fantasie Impromtu by Chopin on that stage, with the amazing sound and lighting, the idea hit me that I should tell the story of a musician's life. The following Monday, I began telling my story. I think I shot 75 pictures within the first 15 minutes!


Part of doing this story means covering any aspect of a musician's life. There are countless hours of practice and then there are times where rest must be taken.

A few days later, I was roaming about the second floor of Foy, where the practice rooms are located, and I happened to see another friend of mine, Josh Crowe, a violinist. I had never been able to hear him play before, so I thought that I should take the opportunity. As he began playing, I asked if I could take pictures for my project, and explained what I was trying to do. Josh enthusiastic about the idea began playing a somewhat mournful but beautiful piece by Tchaikovsky.

That afternoon, I took 150 more pictures that I hoped would contribute to my story. Then I received another surprise! I got a rare oppportunity to go with Josh to his lesson and record what a violin lesson looks like. I was so nervous, but excited!

Watching a violinist "in action" up close is a completely different experience from either listening to a violinist on a recording or from watching one on a stage. The violin commands attention even in somber pieces like the one Josh played for me. There is detail that goes into the music that one would never see unless you were there watching very closely. You would never know that an ostinato is played with more complicated fingering and more intense bow work than a sonata might be played. It can be mezmerizing to watch the talent it takes to be able to play such an instrument. The greatest part which brings me such joy is the ability to listen to two good Christian brothers playing music to God's glory, and me being blesed to be a part of their musical lives.

Wake Thy Slumbering Children

So I have not posted in quite a while, but I finally felt inspired by some very encouraging music by Indelible Grace. The new album Wake Thy Slumbering Children is the fifth Indelible Grace cd and has songs that deal with the theme of the Tempter's power that is Satan's power and the risen Lord Jesus Christ. The title refers to our cries to our Savior to revive the slumbering church. It is encouraging to know that when our souls are bereaved and lonely, we can take comfort in what the song "O Heart, Bereaved and Lonely" says: "O, watch and wait with patience, and question all you will; His arms of love and mercy are ‘round about thee still.” Even when we feel alone or feel like the church is sleeping and drifting, that the arms of our loving Savior are still wrapped around us and will never let us go.
Wake Thy Slumbering Children has songs like "Go to Dark Gethsamene" that reminds us of that saving work of Christ on our behalf and calls us to "Learn of Jesus Christ to die" as he did. In living as we are called, we may die to ourselves and our own selfishness for others and love them as Christ so loved us. My favorite stanza from this song is the third that reads:
"Calvary's mournful mountain climb;
there, adoring at His feet
Mark that miracle of time,
God's own sacrifice complete
"It is finished!" hear Him cry;
Learn of Jesus Christ to die
Learn of Jesus Christ to die
May we all remember that mournful day and yet rejoice in our risen Lord, trusting that He hears and knows all our fears and desires. When we feel the Tempter's power, we ought to dwell on the miracle of Christ's sacrifice and praise the one who can help us overcome the temptations we face every passing hour. Pray that the church will not falter in doing this, but will be alert to fight the Tempter's power. Wake Thy Slumbering Children!

Role Model

So within the last couple of days I've been thinking about the role models I've had in my life, but particularly those who influenced me in High School. The people I remember most are those who really invested time with me to talk with me and live by example. Now I have been given the chance to influence the youth each week simply by spending time with them and getting to know them on a deeper level. Doing so has made me realize just how fun it is , but also how challenging to let youth see me at my best.
I've also learned that you have to act alittle different with certain age groups than with others. For example, with the junior high kids, I tend to act silly and joke around more with them while maintaining the image of "the adult". With the older kids, I still joke around and such, but it tends to be less so and we talk more about what the high school youth are interested in and takling about more serious topics like where they want to go to college or how school is etc. Not that I couldn't or haven't talked to the younger ones about serious things, but usually their minds seem to be on other things. It's definitely still a learning process for me about how to relate to the different age groups and interest levels, but I personally find that one on one conversations are the best way to really talk to someone and know them in a deeper way.
The question that comes into my mind is "How do I relate as an adult to kids that I essentially grew up with in the church, who know me and see me as a friend?" I just hope that in some way God can use me to influence the youth in a good way, and be a role model to these kids and that Christ will shine through me and reflect his glory, not mine to today's youth.

Russian Poem

This is a poem that was dedicated and given to the Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana Nicholaevna by a friend when they were imprisoned inside the Impatiev House in Siberia. I found it moving in light of the family' situation.
Give patience, Lord, to us Thy children
In these dark, stormy days to bear
The persecution of our people,
The tortures falling to our share.

Give strength, Just God, to us who need it,
The persecutors to forgive,
Our heavy, painful cross to carry
And Thy meekness to achieve.

When we are plundered and insulted
In days of mutinous unrest
We turn for help to Thee, Christ-Savior,
That we may stand the bitter test.

Lord of the world, God of Creation,
Give us Thy blessing through our prayer
Give peace of heart to us, O Master,
This hour of utmost dread to bear.

And on the threshold of the grave
Breathe power divine into our clay
That we, Thy children, may find strength
In meekness for our foes to pray.

This was found by the Whites after the family had been shot. It was found in one of Olga's books. The Whites arrived too late to save the Tsar and his family from the Red executioners...

Reflections on Europe:France Day Two

On the second day we were in Paris, we really hit the pavement seeing the sites and cramming as much as we could into our day. Our day got off to a bad start in terms of meeting locals because the hotel manager at the front desk was very rude. He had a short temper and I guess he did not like the fact that there were so many of us together hanging around in the lobby waiting on some of the parents to make it down from their rooms. The man was short with us when we asked him questions and his tone of voice left something to be desired. Maybe the rude Frenchmen stereotype blinded me in the moment, but I totally believed it right then. Needless to say, I was glad to get out of the hotel and onto the streets of Paris.
We must have walked everywhere possible that day. I do not really remember the order in which we saw the sites, but I do remember that the one thing I wanted to see most we did not see until sunset. The group spent two hours in the Louvre where the four of us juniors became desperately lost. We found all the ancient artifacts such as the Babylonian lion statues, but wanted to see the crown jewels and that's when we got lost. For the greater part of an hour, we explored the Louvre to find the crown jewels, but instead found French furniture from the time of Louis XIV, the Chinese relics, and other statues from around the world. At the end of our time there, we found the rest of the group in front of the Winged Victory Statue, which was spectacular to see as one walks up the steps to it. As you make your way up to it, it it almost like you are climbing a stairway to heaven with an angel waiting to greet you. Romantic, but not realistic...