My Life: What God Did in My Life This Summer

In spring i was really, really looking forward to, and sort of banking on my summer job being in one of two places.  I was planing on working at either my uncle’s photography studio this summer or at a Christian video production company that i found out about last christmas break.  i never got a reply from the second one so i then planned to work for my uncle, which i had done the previous summer and really enjoyed.  Working for my Uncle also payed really well, and that was a bonus because the whole reason I came home this summer was to work myself out of debt so i could be free with my finances and be able to do ministry unhindered.

Well, after being home for about three days my uncle told me that he wouldn’t be able to use me this summer.  Disapointed, i began job hunting 5+ hours a day.  A week later and i still hadn’t found a job and i was getting kind of discouraged.  I got kinda mad about my situation and had a crappy attitude about it all.  The next day i went into the Subway i worked at in high school and asked if they had any openings… they said no.  Here’s where it gets interesting; The next day i get a call from my old manager asking if i can work (at subway); someone quit the day i came in and so I started the next day.  Subway started me at $8.00 (more than i used to get paid) and because of the $5 footlong thing i was able to work 30+ hours a week starting out; i never worked that much when i worked there in high school.  In spite of all this, my crappy attitude persisted.  i did not think of Subway as a blessing, i didn’t really enjoy working there and was still mad that i wasn’t working at my uncle’s.

Then a few weeks go by… i consistantly work night shift (ugh, another thing i do not consider a blessing) and i work almost every night with the same girl.  Let’s call her Sarah. We spent at least two hours a night alone at Subway… I, still not realizing my attitude was not the greatest, decide to try and be forward about my faith… i answer all the questions like “do you drink?” “are you a virgin?” truthfully and sight my faith in Jesus Christ as my reason (at least i did something right, lol).  So after Sarah started seeing that i take my faith seriously, the questions started coming.  She shares with me the fact that she has been around Christians her whole life and that she believes in God.  she said she’d even tried to read the Bible before but never understood it…  i asked her where she started and she said genesis and i related to her… i asked if she got bogged down in the genealogies and stuff and she said yeah; she always stopped reading at that point.  i told her she should start in Matthew with the life of Jesus.

That night I went home and grabbed the Bible i had failed to give away when we were evangelizing during STP and gave it to her the next day with some pages marked; it had the romans road written in the front cover and i told her what it was and that she should read it if she wanted.

That night when i got home I realized what a crappy attitude i had had.  Here i was unhappy with the job i had when God had placed me there all along to impact this person.  I repented and prayed about it committed that now i would purposely use the rest of my time there to help Sarah.

Soon after that sarah’s boyfriend got arrested.  He was practically her husband (the father of her two children) but they were not technically married.  He was struggling with heroin addiction so going to jail was actually a good thing… anyway…  There was a lot of turbulent things going on in Sarah’s life this summer and i was able to share things with her all summer… every once in awhile i would ask her if she was reading her Bible and keep her accountable and i am still doing it to this day.

Soon before i left we had i discussion about baptism and what it means to be born again.  I am now confident to say that Sarah is a member of the kingdom of God!   i also gave her a Bible story book for her kids and she said she would read it to them!  I  am still in contact with her and am still trying to keep her accountable and encourage her…

Moral of the story… God can use us, in any situation… whether we are looking for it or not… and that every situation we are in is from God and has a purpose in his plan so we should not get a crappy attitude when things aren’t going our way because things are going God’s way and that is what’s important!

I was too wrapped up in myself… I’m just glad i realized it before i wasted my whole summer.  I didn’t do much it was all God… i’m really happy for Sarah too… i hope she continues to grow… i just sent her a text message asking her if she is still reading her bible

Help Me Promote!

Hey,

If you read my blog on a regular basis and you want to help me promote, slap this html header on your website or myspace site.  If you want, I can link to your site as well.  Help my Blog get read, Link to me today!

P.S. Please let me know if you linked to me so i can check out your site!

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Ep. 34 – Christianbook.com – Aug 26th, 2008

About a week ago I somehow stumbled across a christian media website called ChristianBook.  While i was on their i noticed that some of the CD’s they had for sale were ridiculously cheap.  I found a few on the list and snapped them up right away.  They came in the mail two days ago!

“Contact” – The Benjamin Gate

This is the first album i had ever hear by the Benjamin Gate.  I downloaded it during my senoir year of high school along with some other albums and it sat on my computer for awhile.  Sometime during my freshman year of college i got bored with the music i had and found this album on my computer.  From the first time i listened to it I loved it!  This album is a perfect album.  There is not one song that i do not like.  I really love the singing; this is one of two rock bands i really follow that have female vocalists.  The sound of the album is a mix of Rock, Pop, and a little bit of Dance.  I recommend giving this album a spin and deciding for yourself if it is your style.  

Track-listing:

	1. Lift Me Up (Far Away)
	2. This Is Not
	3. Calling, The
	4. Do What You Say
	5. Overkill
	6. Need
	7. Light
	8. Your Kisses Blind Me
	9. Tonight
	10. Gratitude
	11. Way You Are, The
	12. Violently
	13. Fall Away

Price Paid: $2.99 (plus shipping for all 3 CDs <3.99>)

“Brace Yourself for the Mediocre” – Roper

From the ashes of Five Iron Frenzy, The O.C. Supertones and some other bands, the pop-punk band Roper arose.  Brainchild of Reese Roper, X-FIF Singer, the band released one album before disbanding.  Some don’t like it, but i think that is because they compare it to the supergroups that came before.  This album still features Reese’s zainy lyrical style and his great singing voice.  It is a solid pop-punk album.  Do not expect Five Iron and you won’t be disapointed. 

Track-listing:

1. “Hello Lamewads” – 3:16
2. “You’re With Stupid” – 2:27
3. “Amplify” – 3:59
4. “Vendetta” – 3:47
5. “Red Eye to Miami” – 2:56
6. “Quicksilver” – 3:21
7. “1985″ – 3:20
8. “Say Sayonara” – 3:32
9. “How Your Halo Fell” – 3:30
10. “Day of Pigs” – 2:37
11. “Fireflies” – 3:28
12. “You’re Still The One” (Shania Twain cover) – 2:57
13. “In Excelsis Deo” – 3:42

Price Paid: $1.99

“Until My Heart Caves In” – Audio Adrenaline

This was Audio Adrenaline’s last full-length before they callled it quits.  They were one of the first bands i ever got into and have been with me since.  For awhile i didn’t really like that style of music, so i kind of forgot about them for awhile.  I downloaded this album when it came out and it reignighted my liking of them.  I saw it for really cheap on that site and decided since i didn’t have to pay any additional shipping that i might as well take advantage of that.  Plus the website gave me an additional 5% off if i added this item to my order.

Track-listing:

1. “Clap Your Hands” – 3:28
2. “Until My Heart Caves In” – 3:41
3. “King” – 5:01
4. “Melody (Lost Inside the Wonder)” – 4:16
5. “Starting Over” – 4:04
6. “Are You Ready for Love” – 3:31
7. “Undefeated” – 3:36
8. “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher” – 3:36
9. “Light of the Sun” – 3:46
10. “All Around Me” – 3:30
11. “Losing Control” – 4:47

Price Paid: $2.84

Well, that’s all the new albums i have for now.  Might be awhile before my next post, but then again you never know.  I’ll try and post anything intersting that i come across.  Be sure and check out my new Links section up there ^^^^.  Thanks for reading!

Ep. 33 – Alchemy and Judaism – Aug 23rd, 2008

A couple days ago i was in meijer picking up a few things and i stopped over in the music section (i need to stop doing that!) I wasn’t surprised that their selection wasn’t very big but i did find something worthwhile!

“The Alchemy Index Vol. 3+4: Air + Earth” – Thrice

Ever since i got the first part of this concept album project a month or two ago i have been keeping my eyes open for this set (the second half). This 2 disc “album” is very good, a total of 12 songs split between two discs – each is dedicated to it’s respective element and each has a different sound. Air is pretty cool. Floaty, ethereal Post-Hardcore is what this disc, but they don’t depart to far from the classic Thrice sound. I haven’t listened to this disc that much thought really because i have been all about the other disc: earth. I do have to mention two songs though. “A Song for Milly Michaelson,” the third track on this disc is one of my favorites on the album. Simple acoustic guitar and vocals. In the background one can hear a haunting wind sound and faint wind-chimes. Minimal percussion adds to the depth and feel of the song. It’s a beautifully crafted crystalline song full of deep emotion. “Daedalus,” the very next track shows that Dustin Kensrue likes the story of Icarus. This song is once again uses the story of Icarus from Greek mythology as an allegory. Daedalus is Icarus’ father and the song is written as a warning from father to son. It is very moving and i think it can also be related to the relationship between us and Father God, and I believe that is what Dustin intended to convey. By far my favorite disc of the two was Earth though. Earth is more of a departure from the Thrice we know. It is sort of a Thrice “unplugged,” where most if not all of the instruments used are acoustic. The theme seems to revolve around death, dying or returning to the dust… Every song on this disc is beautiful and i was surprised that Thrice could be so versatile as to write songs so different from the style they are known for, yet so good… Earth also features a cover of the Frodus song “The Earth isn’t Humming.” I was surprised when i heard this because Frodus is a very underground punk band that disbanded a few years ago. They were a band with christian members much like Thrice and i can’t help but think this cover was fitting. It’s nice to hear their take on a Frodus song i have been enjoying for years. The first track on the disc, “Moving Mountains” is great, very bluesy… I don’t really know how to describe just how different this whole Alchemy Index series is from Thrice’s earlier work but i encourage you to check them out because Thrice hit it out of the park with each style they tried!!

Track-listing:

Vol. III – Air:

1. “Broken Lungs” – 4:14
2. “The Sky Is Falling” – 4:21
3. “A Song for Milly Michaelson” – 5:07
4. “Daedalus” – 6:00
5. “As the Crow Flies” – 2:22
6. “Silver Wings” – 2:10

Vol. IV – Earth

1. “Moving Mountains” – 2:55
2. “Digging My Own Grave” – 3:04
3. “The Earth Isn’t Humming” (Frodus cover) – 4:58
4. “The Lion and the Wolf” – 2:42
5. “Come All You Weary” – 4:08
6. “Child of Dust” – 3:09

Price Paid: $14.99 (well, considering i paid $0.94 for the other half of this 4-disc set, i did ok…)

Today I went to Meijer again and got another album, which will hopefully be the last one from there for a little while (they didn’t have much anyway.)

“Youth” – Matisyahu

I got into Matisyahu during Christmas break of my freshman year of college. I downloaded all his stuff on Christmas day and his albums are among some of the last i downloaded. Matisyahu is a Jewish Reggae artist. I really like his music and the lyrics are really good too! He is singing about the same God anyway! This album is very catchy and is worth checking out if you like Reggae or if you are curious.

Track-listing:

1. “Fire of Heaven/Altar of Earth” – 3:59
2. “Youth” – 4:18
3. “Time of Your Song” – 4:27
4. “Dispatch the Troops” – 4:05
5. “Indestructible” – 4:09
6. “What I’m Fighting For” – 2:11
7. “Jerusalem” – 4:00
8. “WP” – 3:58
9. “Shalom/Saalam” – 1:06
10. “Late Night in Zion” – 3:13
11. “Unique is My Dove” – 3:24
12. “Ancient Lullaby” – 4:18
13. “King without a Crown” – 3:42

Price Paid: $13.99

Got a few more albums coming in the mail, but i got a good deal on those so i won’t be going broke, lol. Hope you are enjoying the little more in-depth reviews and such, since I’m getting fewer albums right now I’m trying to write a bit more and trying to keep this blog interesting… Remember feedback is always appreciated! Check back soon!

Ep. 32 – “Loud and Clear” O.C. Supertones Review – Aug 22, 2008

Two days ago i went to lunch with a friend.  We walked down the street to one of my favorite little sandwich places.  Lunch was great and we had a really good time talking and thinking about the approaching school year and what God was going to do on our campus this year.  On the way home we passed by a christian bookstore and she asked if we could go in because she was looking for a book there.  I casually strolled over to there music section to browse.  I wasn’t really expecting to find anything there, I had been there before and had ever only found one really good CD (although that one CD was a really good find, Buck Enterprises “Live Worship” – Christian Ska band from Detroit playing worship songs… it’s great and it was only like 5$ )  Anyway, i wasn’t expecting to find anything but all of a sudden i look down and see a great CD staring me in the face.

“Loud and Clear” – The O.C. Supertones

To tell you the truth when i first heard the Supertones I wasn’t really impressed…  The reason, i believe, is because I wanted them to be another Five Iron Frenzy.  I got really into Five Iron Frenzy sophomore year of high school, downloaded all there albums and loved them all.  I started to wish there were more FIF albums but sadly by then FIF had already called it quits.  So I decided to check out other Christian Ska bands.  I checked out the Supertones and didn’t quite like them…  They weren’t FIF (which now seems like a silly reason not to like a band…)  Another thing i didn’t like about them at the time was their lyrics… i thought they were too preachy…  Now I  know that’s because the music convicted me, i wasn’t really living my life for Christ in those days, I was rather luke-warm and I had little interest in Christian music that talked about God all the time (but i only listened to Christian music – figure that one out… lol)  Now the lyrics are one of the great things about the Supertones and one of the reasons I love them so much!  This album, their fourth release, is one of their best and it included my all time favorite Supertones song; “Jury Duty”.  This song is about how we should praise and thank God even during or crappy days and our bad times.  It is such a great song!  The entire song is great but i’ll share only the first verse with you here:

5 am on tuesday
Why am I up so early
Drive out to santa ana ’cause I’ve got jury duty
No breakfast short tempered
And I cut my head shaving
Ten miles out I hit traffic
Some days just aren’t worth saving

You know I haven’t had the best of days
But I want to stop and thank you anyway

You really should check that song out!  Other great songs on the album include “Pandora’s Box,” “Wilderness,” and “Forward to the Future.”  Really the whole album is great though.  If you love Ska, or just love music that glorifies God and really has something to say, I recommend checking this CD out… it’s a few years old but shouldn’t be too hard to find if you look in the right place.  I probably could have found it for cheaper but it was an impulse buy   Price Paid: $13.99

Yesterday I found yet another great album and i am in the process of soaking it in, so a review for that one is immenant.  Check back soon!

Ep. 31 – Dance Or Die Review – Aug 20th, 2008

Yesterday Family Force 5 released their second full-length album to delight of many.  I rushed to Walmart and was delighted to find that it was actually in stock…  I had to hunt around for it a little bit but i did find a few copies tucked away on one of the shelves.  I have given myself a day to soak it in an am now prepared for a full review, here goes:

“Dance or Die” – Family Force 5

I have been waiting for FF5 to release a new album since their first album came out!  I absolutely fell in love with Soul Glow Activator and his crazy bandmates from the first time i heard the song “Kountry Gentelman.”  Now two years and one re-release later they finally boast new material on a large scale (the re-release featured 3 new tracks).  This album starts off strong with the title track, “Dance or Die”; a groovy 80’s sounding tune that really rocks.  Next, “Get Your Back Off the Wall” comes wailing in with Fuzz-drenched guitars and catchy lyrics, it got stuck in my head several times since yesterday…  It’s one of their “heavier” tracks and one that i really enjoy.  Following that is “Rip it Up” which maintains the fuzzy guitars and heavy synth buts moves the album in a little bit of a funkier direction with some nice drum-work (especially the high-hat-heavy dance rythmn.)  The song also has some great singing on the chorus.  Then the album totally shifts directions for a second; “How in the World” brings the album into a more ethereal vibe.  Waves of digital synth-sounds and electronic beats crash against your eardrums with a surprising pleasantness and pull you out into a deep ocean of sound.  A very full sounding song with very nice singing and lyrics, again it boasts a very 80’s pop sound.  “Fever” re-energizes the listener and shakes all that digital water of ya’ with it bumpin’ beat.  Nice club/dance number, reminiscent of “erfquake” from the first album but with it’s own distinct sound.  Then comes “Party Foul” one my other favorites on this disc.  It’s classic FF5 at it’s best; nice effects on most of the vocals.  This song manages to crack me up and make me feel like rockin’ out at the same time!  Then comes my favorite track on the disc and maybe my favorite FF5 song of all time; “D-I-E 4 Y-O-U.”  By far the “heaviest” track on the album and in my opinion the one with the most energy.  Rocks out through the entirty of the song and even has a metal-esque breakdown.  Then with “Share it With You” the album chills out again.  Kind of goes into a classic hip-hop sounding song and the grooves on through like a low-rida.  “The First Time” keeps it in the same type of musical area except it sounds more punk-rockish… like a punk rock power ballad…  “Wake the Dead” breaks back into a more recognizable sound as FF5 lights up the dance-floor of your mind.  Nice funky guitars and just a groovy all-around feel.  The album closes out with another one of my favorites, “Radiator.”  This song is in the same vein as the previous track but with a little more Rock.  It also boasts a good message in the lyrics… i think…  I interpreted the song as talking about shinning for Christ… but even if that isn’t what it’s about, it’s really good.  In conclusion, “Dance or Die” is a fun-filled romp from dance-floors to mosh-pits and everything inbetween.  I am excited to see what FF5 brings to the table next time.  Remember kids, keep it C-R-U-N-K in the U-S-A!  Price Paid: $9.87

I’ve got some other new CDs that i’m listening to and i should review the shortly… stay tuned.

A Switchfoot Fansite Linked to My Blog!

I was presently surprised by a ton of views over the past few days thanks to the switchfoot fansite http://landofbrokenhearts.org/

Thanks a lot for linking to me, and to all of you who have found your way here from that site i hope you stick around and read some more of my posts.  Especially check out the tab up top that say “My Mission” to find out why i started this Blog.

Also to my regular readers:

Since the rate at which i can obtain music has slowed I am going to try and write more about each album i post about.  It will probably start to resemble more in-depth reviews of the albums plus whatever else i have to say about them such as what in my life they remind me of, etc.  Look forward to some more in-depth stuff up here soon…  I got a new album today but I’m going to thoroughly listen to it before i review it.  Get ready, it’s coming soon!  Thanks all you readers!

Ep. 30 – The Classic Crime – Aug 18th, 2008

Two days ago I went to visit my parents at our families cabin.  Well, apparently they were out when i got there so i couldn’t get in.  I had some time to kill so i decided to go to Walmart.  I was in there looking for a specific CD that they have for download on walmart.com.  They didn’t have it but they had another one i’d been meaning to try out.

“The Silver Cord” – The Classic Crime

I have heard of the Classic Crime for a couple years now.  For some reason i never checked them out.  Just recently i found out that they are actually a part of Warped Tour this year and that a single from their last album has gotten considerable secular radio play.  I’ve really been meaning to check them out so when i saw their newest album at walmart i decided to pick it up.  After listening to it a few times i have to say it’s pretty good, not amazing but good.  I actually think they sound like a christian version of Panic At the Disco, or Fallout Boy (which is probably why they are so popular).  Pretty decent CD.  Price Paid: $8.87

This weekend was Open Grave Records “Free Download Weekend” and they had three christian metal albums for download absolutely free (and legal! ).  I downloaded them all but only one was really my taste.

“The Habit of Fire” – Kekal

This is a pretty cool album.  Experimental, Avant-Garde/Doom Metal with mostly clean vocals.  It’s a really cool album.  The lead singer’s voice is annoiying on a few tracks but other than that it’s pretty solid.  At one point he even sounds like Getty Lee from Rush which is kind of crazy.  The music is a nice blend of metal and other stuff… they use horns and synths and all kinds of crazy stuff at different points on the album.  This was a free download but i will probably look for the actual CD.  Price Paid: $0 (Thanks Open Grave Records!)

Stay tuned for more updates!  Thanks for reading!

More Additons to the Hunt-list…

Update 8/23/08:

I am going to make this into a new page,  a secondary list of albums i am looking for but did not originally download illegally.

Original Post:

I am going to add some more things to the hunt-list…  i will edit this post a few times because i can’t think of them all now.  A few i know for sure are:

“An Ocean Between Us” – As i Lay Dying

“Gold” – Starflyer 59

“Americana” – Starflyer 59

Updated 8/18/08:

“The Blueprint Dives” – Extol

“The Habit of Fire” – Kekal

“The Azreal Tales” – Mirador

Updated 8/19/08:

“The Unknown Clarity” – Crash Rickshaw

Updated 8/21/08:

“With Vision” – Place of Skulls

“Nailed” – Place of Skulls

Anything by Balance of Power

Updated 8/22/08:

“eager seas” – Watashi Wa (people like people – eager seas)

“The Boy vs. The Cynic” – John Rueben

“Word of Mouth” – John Rueben

Ep. 29 – First New Album Post Move – Aug 15th, 2008

Well, over the last day or so i moved.  I packed all my earthly possessions (well, most of them) into my good ol’ Jeep and drove three hours up to school.  I am now living in our Ministry House for His House Christian Fellowship and I am taking a major role in the ministry this year!    I am crazy excited!

Anyways, after some unpacking last night i needed to take a trip to Walmart and while i was there i found one of the albums on the list.

“Flyleaf (Re-release/Special Edition)” – Flyleaf

Back when this album originally came out i downloaded it.  I really like their sound.  I was not into very many bands with female vocalists at the time and this album was actually refreshing and still pretty heavy.  The lead singer can scream as well as any guy, and she has a really strong, pretty singing voice.  They have some really great songs on this album and they are pretty up front about their faith in God.  Surprisingly, i’ve watched this band get pretty popular in the secular world, which is a great opportunity for them (plus it makes it possible to find their album at Walmart )  This re-release comes with a couple acoustic tracks and a DVD of those acoustic tracks being performed along with all Flyleaf’s music videos.  Definately worth it for the price.  Price Paid: $10

I will be busy getting settled in for the rest of the week.  While i am doing all this unpacking i’m using Ruckus to check out some new bands so i may have some new albums to add to the hunt list pretty soon.  Until then, Peace out y’all!