Life

This week has been influential in my life for many reasons.

1. One of my best friends is inching ever closer to Athens and I need to be happy for him, but I'm sad. I'm selfish.
   
2. I just got back from the BCM at UGA and it was so much cooler than ours. People were simpler and more open... and I mean that in the most awesomest way possible. Tech people are sometimes hard to relate to...
3. School isn't fun. I can do the work, but I don't like it at all. Engineering seems to be focused on clawing your way to the top. that's not me. I don't think I could make a living out of this. Would God call me to something I hate?
4. The BCM as a ministry is at a crossroads. The most influential person is leaving and there will be a power grab, and after the dust settles, things will be different. People will have to step up, Staff will have to step up... it makes me scared
5. One cool thing is that several people at the BCM have run with my idea of a cookout/chill-time with other freshmen christians (aka CCF) but we're a long ways from getting this off the ground.
   

Currently Listening... 02/22/09

My Top 5:

1. Newsboys - Something Beautiful
2. Kutless - We Fall Down
3. Creed - Higher
4. Rascal Flatts - Stand
5. Hillsong United - Lead Me to the Cross
   

Advance 2009

This weekend was the Georgia Tech BCM's annual retreat. The theme was leadership, the object: a slingshot. 9 freshmen (including me) led the small groups. It was a great experience being with great leaders in the BCM. Hopefully great things will happen because of this.

There were several things God revealed to me spiritually during my experiences at Advance:

1. Friday night I used my free time to lay down by the lake and stare at the stars. I started thinking about how intricate and unique every star was. This led me to wondering about God's infinite glory and how humans (and Satan) fit into the picture. The glory of God is something huge that we cannot fully comprehend, but we want it. We as humans desire our own glory, our own importance. When we grab glory, we yank it away from God and build ourselves up. Instead of reveling in His perfect glory, we fabricate an imperfect, broken substitute to empower us. This flawed, dim view of what glory is keeps us from growing closer to God because we are enticed by the idea that we can be self sufficient with our own glory... (I'm still working on this thought and its definitely got some holes...)
2. Waterfalls are amazing things to watch. The way the water pours out and swirls in endless circles at the bottom is mesmerizing. If I run out of little things that amuse/amaze me, it will truly be a sad day

What I learned about the BCM and where it needs to go:

1. We're on the verge of something: we can talk about it and let the opportunity pass, or we can buckle down and hit the trenches.
2. Christ is bigger than the BCM will ever be. It's merely one out of many ministries at Tech... we must see this bigger picture and how we fit
3. The BCM is divided, there are different people groups (even at Advance) where people are comfortable. One group has substantially more leaders than the others... This is bad, they should branch out and empower others. (i still don't know how to deal with the people who participate but show not interest in stepping out of their comfort zones and into leadership)
4. Leadership is a scary thought.
5. Listen to everyone. People bring new perspectives and much more wisdom.

Currently Listening... 02/15/09

My Top 5:

1. Switchfoot - Only Hope
   
2. Lifehouse - Blind
3. U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name
4. Chris Tomlin - Indescribable
5. Newsboys - He Reigns
   

Passion City Church

Today (Sunday) I had the incredible experience of going to Passion City Church at the Tabernacle. We walked there from Tech and got there at about 6, even though it didnt start until 7. We waited in line for about an hour in the cold, but it was worth it. We ended up getting great seats in the balcony and you could feel the excitement in the air. Chris Tomlin & Co. came out and led worship (it was all tomlin songs, of course). Then Louie Giglio spoke about the history of the tabernacle and why they were creating a new church. I loved the idea, but had several questions:

1. If its the "Church of the city," how are they going to reach unsaved college students?
2. Will they be located in the city (aka inside the perimeter)
3. Where will the community/fellowship come from?
4. Will people come for God or Tomlin?
5. Will it be a rich/trendy church? or will there be homeless people there?
   

Mark Driscoll is amazing...

Check out this video of Mark Driscoll talking about sex and valentines day (aka singles awareness day):

Mark Driscoll Interview

the awesomest guitar pedalboard ever

So, in my "free" time I designed my "ultimate" pedalboard for guitar that I will slowly start to build:

Compressor:

1. Barber Tone Press
   

Overdrives:

1. Hermida Zendrive Overdrive
2. Fulltone Fulldrive 2 MOSFET Overdrive
3. Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive (Keeley Modified)
4. Ibanez Tubescreamer TS9 (Keeley Modified)
   

Delay:

1. Eventide TimeFactor
2. T.C. Electronics Nova Delay
3. Boss RE-20

Modulation/Reverb:

1. Eventide ModFactor
2. Line6 ToneCore Verbzilla
   
3. Boss RV-5
   

Misc Pedals:

1. Electro-Harmonix POG (Polyphonic Octave Generator)
2. Eventide PitchFactor
3. BBE Sonic Stomp
   

Expression Pedals (not sure about brand, but definitely 2, one for volume, one for exp control):

1. Boss FV-500H
2. Boss FV-500H
   

Tuner:

1. Boss TU-2

These are based on looking at Nigel Hendroff's pedalboard (Hillsong), Daniel Carson's pedalboard (Chris Tomlin) and Matt Adkin's pedalboard (Steve Fee).