I have been playing guitar for ten years now… leading worship, giving lessons, performing, and even taking silver at a musical competition… *drumroll*… all without ever owning an acoustic guitar! (I have owned an electric Fender Strat all these years though; some of you will remember her name is Jasmine).
But that’s right: I’ve been borrowing guitars for years from anyone and everyone (Tim, Mike, Jackie, Steven, Adrienne, Lynnette, Uncle Warren, Melissa, Patricia, Ricky, Ed, James F., the Sums, Pastor Howard, Jon, Josh C. and Josh P., just to name a few). THANK YOU to all of you!
Well, in a recent post, I mentioned that one item I’ve been thinking of getting was indeed an acoustic guitar of my own. And God really opened the doors and put this baby into my lap:
I found her on Craigslist the same day I wrote that post. Not only that, but Henry lives just two blocks down from my church, and he was offering a phenomenal price for the model (Larrivee LV-03E)! Everything worked out smoothly, and now here she is! The way things worked out so perfectly and conveniently in terms of timing and location was just astounding. I can’t call it answered prayer, because I didn’t really pray for it before… but I’ll definitely call it a blessing, or even a gift, from God… I will have to put her to good spiritual use!
For a while I’ve been thinking about starting a new blog series called “Open Letters,” each addressed to an individual, but available for all to read. I already have a few in mind, and I’m hoping to write one every few weeks. I believe it’ll be a way to reveal my mind while also encouraging others.
This first letter was initially going to be a private e-mail, but I’ve decided to really generalize it and direct it to the entire class of incoming college freshmen, using it as my first “open letter” instead. (For those who do not know, I am a part of the college ministry at my church, so this is entirely appropriate.)
Dear college freshmen,
No doubt there are many thoughts on your mind and emotions in your heart as you prepare to leave for college, many of you this very weekend. For many, these will be the best four (or more) years of your life. They will also be the fastest; mark my words: college will be over before you know it. However, looking at it from this side, having not yet begun, it may seem very daunting, knowing that for the first time in your life you’ll be on your own. And imagine how much lies in store: at the end of this road, you might know how to cook! You may be moving somewhere you never thought you’d live. You might even be married (and don’t write this last one off as a joke)…
So, as someone who came out successfully on the other side, weeping and bloodied and bruised and beaten (just kidding… don’t be scared!), and only if you count not having a “real” job as “successful” (kidding again… maybe!), I’d like to share with you some things I learned along the way. Granted, I don’t know much about life after college, but I’ve gone through that part at least, so I feel very much like a newborn telling a fetus all about the birth canal. Heehee, oh, analogies!! Anyway…
4 Pairs Of Things To Keep In Mind As You Go To College
1a) Get out there…
Use your freedom to try new things and opportunities. The college experience is not solely an academic experience. There are many opportunities to learn new things outside of the classroom. I joined an acappella group. You might join crew. Or take up salsa dancing. Be a part of clubs and organizations. Try something you never thought you’d be interested in. Like so many American Idol stories, I auditioned for ScatterTones just because my friends were auditioning, so I tagged along. I got in and they didn’t… oops. But I ended up there, and my experience there really defined my whole freshman year!
There are also many opportunities to learn new things inside the classroom, but outside your major. You guys probably never heard of my “UCLA Project.” I’ll post my old blog posts and video clips here later, but I basically decided one day in my senior year to attend 10 hours of class, for 10 different majors, in 10 different classrooms (or something like that). That was an eye-opening day, especially the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) course I attended.
1b) …But filter everything
From a Christian standpoint, I always encourage people to test everything they hear preached. In college, this applies not only to the pulpit, but also to everything you hear from your professors and friends, and the random bums on campus who scream crazy things as you walk to class. You’ll be exposed to so many new viewpoints, world views, and religions. Ask questions. Challenge your faith. Don’t blindly accept things as truth just because it comes from a scholarly mind or studied individual. Find out what you believe in, why you believe in it, and then stand up for it. Would you be able to defend your position against your professor regarding creationism/evolution? Your classmates regarding drinking/sobriety? Your roommate regarding sex/abstinence? Be on your guard against everything you hear taught or suggested or condoned or permitted, filtering it against what you have been taught and the truth of God’s Word.
2a) Be yourself…
College is not high school. You don’t have to change your dress or behavior to be in the cool club anymore. For the most part, people will accept you for who you are. Even if they don’t, there are so many people on campus that there’s bound to be some others like you out there. In any case, it’s just easier to be true to yourself than to try to pretend to be someone you’re not.
2b) …But don’t be afraid to change
If you’re happy with who you are now, you’re in for a big surprise. You’ll change in college… a lot. Do you think you’re a different person now than when you started high school? Yeah, that’s going to happen again. And don’t be too proud of who you are and what you’ve done. You’re not going to be the best at anything in college. Think you’re good at piano? There will be better pianists. Basketball? You’ll get shown up on the court. Valedictorian, were you? So were many of your new friends and classmates. It’s okay.
And hey, you’ll make mistakes, too. That’s part of life. It’s for the better; thank God for those and for all the trials. And just suck it up and stick it through… you’ll be okay. God is faithful and will see to that. Know that if you’re walking with Him, any change that happens is change for the better.
3a) Have fun…
Basically, if college is boring, you’re doing it wrong.
3b) …But know when to focus
Okay, don’t have that much fun. Or the wrong types of “fun” (remember, good judgment–if what you’re doing may land you in jail or in the morgue… that’s the bad type of “fun”). Up top I said that college is not solely an academic experience, but primarily it still is. As I’m sure your parents will remind you, you’re here to study and get a degree and pave the way for your future career. That means you have to know how and when to buckle down and get serious. Learn how to say “no” to certain social events because you need to study or work on that project, even though you really want to go.
Even more important than academics, though, is your spiritual life. First things first. That includes regular time with God in the Word and prayer, commitment to a single church, and involvement in a Christian community. I could say so much more on this, because it’s the most important thing, but I won’t harp on it.
4a) Friends are everything…
Friends are your biggest influence (positively and negatively). They will also be your biggest supporters and your go-to guys when you need someone, now that your high school friends and family are slightly less accessible. Make sure you find a good group of friends. Guys AND girls, both! And please, not completely within the “Christian bubble” of your fellowship. Actually, for those of you going to Christian schools, part of me doesn’t sit well that you will be in that kind of “sheltered” environment (but that’s just a personal opinion). In any case, have friends who challenge you, friends who encourage you, friends who keep you grounded, and friends who are just plain fun to have around. There will never be another time in your life when you’re surrounded by everyone the same age and in the same walk of life (until you enter a retirement home, and that’s not nearly as happenin’, or so I hear).
4b) …But don’t forget about home
Your old friends, your family, and your “home” church are still around. Come back to visit, call them, keep in touch. These are the people who have been so influential to help you become who you are today; don’t leave them behind or forget about them. Actually, what I’m basically saying is: write me! Call me! Come home and visit me! Haha… seriously. But we here also know that after a while, nothing is more precious than snail mail coming to your dorm, and making your roommates jealous. We’ll keep that in mind, too!
There’s so much more that can be said about these and other pieces of advice, but this is getting quite long. As usual, sift through all of this, and take to heart what’s solid, and throw away what’s not (but don’t make me say “I told you so!”). Oh, and a final piece of advice: keep reading my blog; it will make me happy. :)
The first day of my paint-stripping project could have started out terribly. Since I was using highly toxic, industrial-strength chemicals, I had purchased some chemical gloves at Lowes. I used them last week for my trial run of paint stripping, then stored them away in the backyard.
Well, this morning I picked up the gloves and was about to put them on when I remebered something. Recently there have been quite a few black widow spiders around our house (which I’ve seen and killed), neighborhood (which I’d heard about), and city (I killed 2 at church already). So I decided to look inside the gloves first.
THANK GOD I DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dude, putting my hand in there would have angered that black widow like no other, and I would have been bitten for sure!
Drama aside, I made some serious progress today, in eight hours of work:
(what it looks like while stripping)
Pretty good progress! You can still see remnants of the last 2 layers of brown and green paints. I’ll have to buy more chemicals and return to this project on Friday… I still have to sand out the nooks and crannies, and strip the tops of the posts, and the board running along their base.
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So if you like Facebook, you can subscribe to my notes, but please visit my photoblog on occasion. I’m not posting my photos on Facebook because the fine print their EULA says that any Facebook photos are their property to use and reproduce without your permission (your posting is your consent)!
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And if that doesn’t sound right, let me clarify: I’m stripping paint off of wooden poles. As some of you may know, we’re in the middle of redecorating the interior of our house: repainting, reflooring, maybe adding track lighting to the hallway. Along our entryway, we have four turned posts that I think would look good in its original wood, stained rather than painted.
Last week, after a few hours at Lowes, my parents and I came back with the most powerful paint stripper we could find, and all the appropriate tools. But after testing an experimental patch, we realized there were actually SIX coats of paint on these poles (since the 1970’s)! So three hours of work actually only got me this far:
That’s when I decided I’d have to set aside at least an entire day to undertake this project. And that day is today!
So, there are a few recent developments that have added or rekindled my desire for some big-ticket items. I’m struggling to put them into a reasonable order of purchase without acting rashly or outside of my means, since I’ve already made a few big purchases in the last 5 months: Photoshop CS3 and two trips overseas (London and Malaysia).
1) Because of increased involvement in worship leading in this past year plus a desire to, after 10 years, own a quality one of my own… I’m looking for a nice acoustic (acoustic-electric) guitar. ($800-$1500, brand/model suggestions welcome). BUT I can continue to use the church’s vintage 1974 Guild, of which I pretty much am the exclusive user anyways. If I get one, I promise to post music online!
2) Because of increased photographic opportunities and the fact I’m still shooting an XT… I’m looking at a Canon 5d MkII. ($2500-$3000, rumored only). BUT I could otherwise get a Canon 5d (MkI) for under $2000 instead. I could also write this off as a photography business expense.
3) Because of Jen Ka and others being willing to learn electric guitar, which means we could actually layer multiple electrics on worship team… I’m looking at a Boss GT-10 or Line6 Pod X3 Live ($500, opinions welcome). BUT I don’t need it quite yet, until the others are trained, and this is also an item that can possibly be purchased and owned by the church.
(Other smaller items I’ve wanted for a while: a secondary 22″ monitor, a video card to support dual monitors, a Wacom tablet for photo editing ease, additional flash strobes and Pocket Wizards, a wide-angle lens.)
In what order should I make it my goal to get these things?
Hmm… this post makes me look like a greedy, materialistic man.
Californians all around the blogosphere are responding to the new hands-free law, now in effect, in the same way I did, but more humorously. Be entertained!
So, I was composing an e-mail this morning but had one of those tip-of-the-tongue (tip-of-the-fingers?) moments. I couldn’t figure out the correct word meaning “scope of differences” for the following context:
“There has been an increasing ______________ between the methodologies of the two systems…”
I thought “discrepancy?” No…
“Discongruency?” No, that’s not a word.
“Disp.. disparagement?” Haha, not the right meaning.
Alas, Jessica and Lynnette were both not online (and believe it or not, I actually signed on to AIM, Gmail, and Facebook to check… that’s how desperate I was) !
So I decided to Google the phrase with a wildcard. A search for “an increasing * between” quickly yielded the word I was looking for: DISPARITY!!!
Hope you guys find that tip handy. It’s especially useful for statistics, e.g. Mt. Everest is * feet tall. Happy Googling!
-Your friendly neighborhood geek-man
P.S. And yes, I write personal e-mails with sentences like “There has been an increasing disparity between the methodologies of the two systems”…
I’ve never read John Owen, but I never thought of redemptive history from this perspective before, in light of the Persons of the Trinity. John Piper speaks on the privilege that it is to be living in the age of the Spirit:
[John] Owen says [in Pneumatologia (knowledge of the Holy Spirit)], there are three periods of redemptive history which correspond roughly, though not exactly, to the three Persons of the Godhead–God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit–and that in each of those periods of redemptive history, a peculiar and unique responsibility lies upon the people who receive that revelation to respond uniquely to that Person of the Trinity.
For example:
Before the coming of Christ, the unique obligation and touchstone of orthodoxy was the unity of God’s nature and His monarchy over all, and our submission to Him as Father.
Then comes the Incarnation with the arrival of the Son of God in the Person of Jesus Christ, and for those some 30 years the new touchstone of orthodoxy for the people of Palestine was: would those who are orthodox on point #1 open their arms to and welcome God the Son?
Then the Son is crucified for our sins, raised from the dead, ascends to the Father’s right hand, and They pour out the Holy Spirit upon the church in unique and new prominence, and from that day forward until the second coming of Jesus Christ, we live in the age of the Spirit where the touchstone of orthodoxy is: will we honor, will we know, will we submit to, will we follow God the Holy Spirit?
First the prominence of God the Father, then the prominence of God the Son, then the prominence of God the Holy Spirit. It was possible for Israel to commit idolatry against God, it was possible for the Pharisees to reject the Son, and it is possible today for people to despise the Spirit. Owen wrote: “the sin of despising His Person and rejecting His Work, now is the same nature with idolatry of old, and with the Jews’ rejection of the Person of the Son.”
We are a favored people, do you know that? We are an extraordinarily favored people to live in the age of the Spirit… And you know why it’s such a privilege? Because of old, people could only look at God the Father and some very dim foreshadowings of the Son and the Spirit. And then they could look at the Son with a partial outpouring of the Spirit. But we live in the place where the whole of redemptive history with the revelation of God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–is spread before us preserved in Holy Scripture. We are rich. We are so rich to know the whole Godhead, and what a responsibility we have to love Him and respond to Him as we ought!
Effective July 1, 2008, a new law prohibits cell phone usage while driving unless a hands-free device is used. However, it fails to address ANY of the issues its purpose is to resolve!
1) You’re still allowed to talk. In the past I often argued in defense of cell phone usage, “in terms of distraction from the road, how is talking on a phone any different from talking to a passenger? The same intellectual and emotional involvement is involved in either case, right?” The usual counter-argument, which I now subscribe to, was “That is true, the distraction level is the same, but a live passenger can help you be aware of the road.” So if that is true, then allowing people to use headsets but still talk does not dispel the dangers of holding a conversation with someone who is not also an additional set of wary eyes in the vehicle.
2) You’re still allowed to dial. I’m too lazy to look up sources (so sue me for being a bad journalist), but I’m pretty sure there was some research that showed that most accidents occur during dialing, not conversation. That makes sense because you have to take your eyes off the road to dial. And if you’re going 65mph, if dialing takes you a cumulative total of 1 second, you’ve gone a cumulative total of 100 feet without looking. And EVEN WORSE…
3) You’re still allowed to text message! That makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. If dialing and texting is the dangerous part, why not pass a law against that? It’s like the time I got a shot at the doctor’s when I was 7 and then she put the bandaid on the wrong spot! You’re not solving the right part of the problem!
So what does this law do at all? The one thing it does is allow one more hand on the wheel during conversation. I don’t think that one hand is enough to make any difference, if the distraction still exists and the delayed reaction time remains the same. In fact, there’s no guarantee that extra hand won’t be doing something else, as more people continue to upgrade their vehicle with more hands-occupying technology (internet access on their phones, GPS systems, iPods and other music systems, entertainment systems, touch-screen dashboards, etc.)
Of course, I have no viable or humorous alternative solution to propose here, like I usually do. This time I’m just complaining.
(what it looks like while stripping)
