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Rain, Futbol, & Friends

This is why I do art

What happened to the age when it was the Christians who led the pack in the arts; when the greatest painters, the best writers, and musicians followed the one true God? Now, this isn't a call for us to go "save" the best actors, writers, and artists in the world. I just want to see the Christians in the world to stop being so uncool/sub-par.

Now days all we have is Thomas Kinkade and Stephen Baldwin... ya, I know.


so...for all you out there, redeem the christian name.

Christmas With Mitch

Here is my Christmas Playlist.
I chose these songs not because they are my all-time favorite Christmas songs, but to share with you the bands that I love and the songs that they play. Plus they are all amazing songs. Enjoy.

1. Carol of the Bells - The Bird and the Bee Download
2. Put the Lights on the Tree - Sufjan Stevens Download
3. Let it Snow - Bit Shifter Download
4. That Was the Worst Christmas Ever - Sufjan Stevens Download
5. Baby Please Come Home - Death Cab for Cutie Download
6. O Holy Night - Sleeping At Last Download
7. Silent Night - Low Download
8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - David Bazan Download
9. My Favorite Christmas - Of Montreal Download
10. End Title - The Album Leaf Download

Every Day Has Its Song

There is something within each of us, a rare emotion, that can only be released by an old song. Maybe it reminds you of someone, a road trip, a place, or a time in life. Whatever it is about it, it just fills you with a joy and gratefulness that can't be explained or understood outside of that moment.
I hope you find that song for today

I will hopefully be posting a song a day on my other blog Every Day Has Its Song

Christmas Music

I usually try to keep my posts pretty personal, and I try to give them some meat not just blah. I apologize if this post falls outside of that criteria.
In my Mod (on campus housing with a 'mini house' feel) 4/5 of us are musicians and 5/5 of us love music, so naturally music is either playing or being played throughout the day. One of the bands that has been getting the most air time has been Sleeping At Last, an amazing band from Wheaton, IL. They sound a bit like Lovedrug - piano + a more melodic feel (really they can't be compared to anyone but that gives you an idea). Anyway, they have honestly been (this is going to sound really cheesy) a gift from God...seriously. It is so nice to have music that comforts you and brings you to a place of peace.

All that to say, I think you all should check them out, I think they are playing on my little playlist thing too.

here is a one of their new christmas songs...so good
A Cradle in Bethlehem
(right click and "save target as" or "save link as")

here is their verb to download the other christmas songs
Virb

Life and Its Stories

Freshman year, I was to write an Artist Statement, which states why we create art. Being the procrastinator that I am, I wrote it the night before it was due. Regardless of its poor composition, the content could be summed up in these few sentences. (one of these days I will put the full thing up)

I create to Worship.
I create because that is how I process life.
I create to help the world appreciate the ordinary, and see the beauty in everyday things that would be normally overlooked.

This Thanksgiving break I was able to spend time with my grandmother. I had realized that I really knew nothing about her apart from a few details here and there. I had known my grandma for my entire life and appreciated her presence in my life. I was intentional about talking to her about her life, joys, struggles, and goals. After talking for a few hours, questions were answered and a new level of relationship was reached. I have a new respect for her , know why she does certain things, and appreciate her that much more.

I encourage everyone to make an effort to learn more about the people that they are close to and love, I will deepen your relationship and help you be more transparent yourself.

Around my grandma's pool she has a small garden. One would normally look out and not even notice it, if anything they might notice the flowers. There are gems out there. The leaves, the less attractive part of the plant are, in my opinion, the most beautiful.

Air Guitar

I am often tempted to stay inside on a rainy day, to pass on dinner with my friends, or to not go to that court event. But I have been realizing lately that those things, though they may sound unappealing at first, are the most satisfying. Why not invest those few hours in encouraging friends, enjoying community, and growing with your close friends? It sounds cheesy, but that is what I realized at the Air Guitar competition last night. I really didn't want to go, but I was there to support my RA, my friends, and fellow Shire inhabitants. It was worth it.

Slow

Here at APU we have a spiritual formation weeks throughout the year. This last week's theme was "Slow".
God has been revealing Himself to me more and more through many parts of life that I wouldn't have expected him to. Even via the internet...
I have this thing called the "Stumble" button on my computer. You click on it and it takes you to a cool website or video or picture or anything really. I often click it when I am trying to avoid the large amount of homework I have managed to pile up. This particular time, I found something that spoke to me, not just my desire for new information or appreciation for beauty, but something more. I sent it to multiple friends, because I wanted them to experience the same thing I did.

So watch this and SLOW.

túrána hott kurdís by hasta la otra méxico!

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields ^[b] with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

I hope I am not wasting your time

You know those "friends" you used to have on myspace (I say used to, because no one uses myspace anymore) who used to post 12 bulletins a day. "Goodnight" or "Hey, I'm bored" would be their only contents. Well, I don't want to be that person.

There are days, where I am tempted to write short thoughts in my blog, but I refrain because I don't want my blogs to become that good song that the radio, everyone, and their mother plays to death. I want my writing to have a unique flavor, my words to posses a texture unlike another. Monotony is my greatest fear.

I also catch myself rambling a lot of the time. sorry.

On a completely unrelated note...
I have been revisiting many of my favorite bands that I haven't listened to in a while.

mewithoutYou...Genius

Messes of Men

I do not exist, but faithfully insist
Sailing in our separate ships
and from each tiny caravelle
Tiring and trying there's unnecessary dying
like the horseshoe crab in its proper seasons sheds its shell
Such distance from our friends
like a scratch across a lens,
made everything look wrong from anywhere we stood
and our paper blew away before we'd left the bay,
so half-blind we wrote these songs on sheets of salty wood

Caught me making eyes at the other boatman's wives,
and heard me laughing louder at the jokes told by their daughters
I'd set my course for land,
but you well understand
it takes a steady hand to navigate adulterous waters
The propeller's spinning blades held acquaintance with the waves
as there's mistakes I've made no rowing could outrun
The cloth blowing on the mast like to say I've got no past
but I'm nonetheless the librarian and secretary's son
with tarnish on my brass and mildew on my glass,
I'd never want someone so crass as to want someone like me
but a few leagues off the shore, I bit a flashing lure
and I assure you, it was not what I expected it to be!
I still taste its kiss, that dull hook in my lip
is a memory as useless as a rod without a reel
To an anchor ever-dropped, seasick yet still docked
Captain spotted napping with his first mate at the wheel,
floating forgetfully along, with no need to be strong
We keep our confessions long and when we pray we keep it short

I drank a thimble full of fire and I'm not ever coming back

Oh, my God!

I do not exist we faithfully insist
while watching sink the heavy ship of everything we knew
If ever you come near I'll hold up high a mirror
Lord, I could never show you anything as beautiful as You

Enjoy

Rest & Good Music

Stop what you are doing...or at least promise to come back tonight when you have time.

Please just listen to these following songs.

Umbrellas - Sleeping at Last
Needle and Thread - Sleeping at Last

okay... well, just listen to sleeping at last

I put some audio on my Blog.

Just Be Still.

Haiku Dose #2

Progress
the pain brings me back
to the place progress begins
it's good to be home

Too Thin
a sore throat morning
duties filled, back to work
don't burn out for us

Tree
great uninspired
stand bare, but i prune you still
hope for fruit one day

Beneath the Ice of Conspiracy
lips pressed to thin cracks
consumed by icy waters
my shadow above

Your Move
you have brought me here
you dare walk away from me
follow, you dead fool

Wednesday Night
this routine is all i know
i have tasted others
but i have not tried

Contagious
i heard someone cough
suddenly my throat tickles
chain mail coughing fit

Habit
kaleo again
prospective reintroduced
quickly forgotten

A Problem

Plank

I noticed what he said.
My critical mind,
I know how to fix
his flaws
are my flaws
How can I correct these?
Reading verses for others
I have gone around the circle
but have forgotten to count myself
Uneven teams cast unfair judgments

Lately I've been thinking

Now, normally with a title like "Lately I've been thinking," one would expect to read in the following sentences about what I was thinking. On the contrary. I am merely stating the fact that I have been thinking lately. Now, this may sound strange, but the reality is that I really haven't had time to sit and think. It has been all art, friends, papers, and food. I have committed to setting aside a part of time to spend in thought every day. I don't know what that is going to look like, but it will be anywhere from 15min to 1hr, but in one session.

That is all.

A Collection Of My Haikus

Here are some recent Haikus listed from oldest most recent.
I write most of them in bed, so some don't make much sense, but hey, it's poetry right.

Return
the two worlds converse
languages misunderstood
will i learn again

Old Habits Die Hard
mosquito larvae
pool party is over now
but they bite me still

Men Without Shirts
learning the hard way
a trial punch to the face
broken noses suck

Roommates
conflicting noises
compromise to keep the peace
good friends none the less

$35 Set
olive green velvet
collects wanderers and dust
floral therapy

Clock At The Hospital
here the hands, they race
overtaking the other
when will they find rest

Inspiration
to inspire me
wisdom's soft kiss on the cheek
children sung to sleep

Your Own Shoes
two years my junior
growing up to be your own
apart, brothers still

Off My Chest
to see you again
what i would do differently
to take back the hurt

To Ease My Mind
here we are again
problems simply recognized
i hope that i learn

Kate
just another face
in silenced awakened me
stop, breathe, this is life

In Waking And Sleeping
i engage you still
yet now with words unspoken
tired eyes rest in you

While They Play Games
red toy piano
eighteen keys to write a song
never to be heard

9/14/08
ran out of name tags
to go nameless for a day
sticker on my back

Decisions
laptop is dying
running out of batteries
homework or haiku

The Time Has Come
another late night
a grown bird long overdue
leave the nest, fall, fly

Proactive?
mediocrity
i cannot escape your grasp
have i really tried?

Why Just Now?
a day has gone by
that we never realize
in bed remember

What Have I Learned?
girl in 3d class
i am always judging you
i know it is wrong

Midnight Snack
i just fell asleep
mid-haiku, i held the pen
to finish and sleep

A Simple Truth

God is Love.

But for some reason I fail to recognize, daily, that God even exists.
I'm working on it.

When We Finally Do As We Are Told

God is at work. God is moving.

...

Wait. I know in society today, we spend very little time slowing down to dedicate some time to thinking, but I am going to ask you to break that trend. Think about those statements.
"God is at work. God is moving."
You mean in the present? Yes.
Now before you tune out as a result of my preachieness, hear this. God is alive and desires us to be one with Him and His plan.

"Is how we live connected to something that has been in place since the beginning of time? Maybe Jesus didn’t come to start a new religion, but to show us how to live in tune with the life God has always planned for us."- Rob Bell

I am guilty of dwelling on my mistakes and what I shouldn't do. It gets very difficult to get back up and do good. When I say "don't think of pink zebras" it is almost impossible not to. Same goes for our focus in life. I find myself thinking "don't do this" or "don't do that." I just end up doing that very thing. We were talking in my college small group about keeping our focus on doing God's will instead of focusing on not doing wrong. I apologize if I have made this concept confusing.
To put it simply: We should be so in tune and focused on God that the things that we desire and do would be those that God desires as well.
I hear God all the time, but it is only once in a while that I will do as He asks. There is so much reward in actually answering the call. Do it... trust me, but most of all trust God.

End of the World

Yesterday a few friends of mine (Chris Simons, Rob Steinkamp, Bryan Kotjan) and I spent the entire day at The End Of The World- which are cliffs near Keauhou. We ended up constructing a rope swing and zip line by using rope and a series of pulleys and knots. It was epic to say the least.
Growing up in Kona, the end of the world was definitely a familiar location, but I had never actually gone there. I knew about it and had heard stories, seen videos from friends, and even started talking of it as if I was a frequenter of the spot. I finally went; two days in a row actually. All that to say... That I have grown up with this just under my nose, but never got out and experienced it. Kinda funny how we can talk about something and feel like we know all about something without doing it ourselves.
I feel like that was what my life has been these past few years, being in every leadership position available at school. I could talk it up and even appear to be living it too, but in reality I was just as bad off as the rest of them. It wasn't a conscience decision, but it was consuming all that I was. So that is where the end of the world comes in. As I learn more and more about God and His character, I can now see through new eyes what it means to be "Loved by Jesus" or "Saved by Grace"- those phrases we grew up with, but never fully appreciated or understood.
I now see...
And I am still working on being a transparent person, letting God show through me.

I'm Back

After taking a long sabbatical from the blog, I am back. Back in Hawaii and ready to continue blogging.
These past few months have been filled with adventure, stress, and joy.
This is just a short post to get the ball rolling more than anything, but also to let everyone out there know that I still exist.

Belief

I want to first apologize for not blogging in over two months, and secondly, because it has been over two months since I last posted anything this blog will be packed full of two months worth of thoughts. If it becomes too difficult to follow, I am sorry.

Well, to save everyone the trouble, yes I am doing ok. I am caught between wanting to return back to school and to the friends I have made there, and wanting to stay here with family and friends, without the stress of school.
You know when you have two different friends that you know from different places who don't know each other, and you three try to hang out together... it is always awkward. You feel the need to be the mediator, hoping they like each other, while you are feeling pressured to give each of them equal attention. That is what I feel like right now, except that I am dealing with a little bit more than one friend, I am juggling two entire social networks, two lives (it feels like.)

Anyway, I was thinking back on everything I learned this semester, and a few things popped into my head.

They say that when you go to college what you believe will be challenged, sometimes beliefs will change, presumptions crumble, and what you thought to be true, redefined. For me it wasn't so much that everything I believed was destroyed, but I saw that I believed I didn't BELIEVE.

This may sound stupid, but I didn't truly BELIEVE what I believed. Mr. Sanford was My CLFM (Christian, Life, Faith, Ministries) professor. He was lecturing about convictional beliefs; those beliefs that we know and BELIEVE in our core. I realized that a lot of the things that I thought I believed, I truly didn't. I believe that the only true way to happiness is through God, but every time I catch myself trying to find fulfillment in other things, whether it be sports, music, art, friends, achievement, or image. I know it is not wrong to hang out with friends, play sports, or any of the others, but sometimes it gets to the point when that is what I look to primarily for fulfillment. I am still working on it. It doesn't happen overnight.

I have decided to continue this in another post. I am very tired. I don't want to wake up tomorrow and come back to this post and say, "what was I talking about." So I'm stopping before it becomes more confusing.

to be continued...