When I was a freshman in college, our fellowship did a study on Daniel. I don't really remember much about it because, well I was a freshman. But yesterday one of dorm bible studies I help supervise did their bible study on Daniel and I was blown away. I had forgotten how amazing Daniel was.
We studied how Daniel had humbled himself before the chief official and asked permission not to eat the king's food. And when he had done so he was healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. It later says that God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and reams of all kinds.
As a group we had decided that because Daniel was so humble and obedient to the Lord, there was room for God to fill him with more. This struck me because I often ask God to fill me with more - more wisdom, more understanding, more vision, more love, etc. But I wonder if the reason I don't feel I have more is because there isn't much room left for God to fill. That I have filled my life with junk that there is no room for God to pour out what he could.
The other men ate the choice food and they weren't seen as unhealthy but they were not nearly the nourished that Daniel and his four compadres were. Because they had emptied themselves, God was able to fill them with himself. I wonder if our pride keeps us from being filled with what God has because there literally is no room left for God. We become so full of ourselves and full of other stuff, that there becomes little room for God to do work in our own lives.
Just a short reflection today. But I did manage to find our video we made when I was a freshman in college of a modern day take on Daniel. Please - enjoy.
I have not disappeared I promise. I know it's been a while so here are a few highlights:
I am in full time InterVarsity staff fundraising mode. It's part of what's been consuming most of time lately.
I've also stepped off campus and away from a lot of ministry structures to devote to fundraising. That is really difficult.
I recently traveled to San Diego to see Pentatonix in concert. It was AMAZING! Their music has been on repeat ever since.
I watched a lot of the Olympics during February. I learned a lot about Ice Dancing this year. They have these things called "twizzles" - which is like synchronized spinning.
I am working on some of fundraising reflections to share as that has been consuming most of my time as of late. But in the meantime - take part in my weekly obsession of Pentatonix and watch their new video.
Thanks Kid President for sharing the things we should all say more. I whole heartedly agree with number 18.
20. Thank you
19. Excuse me
18. Here's a surprise corn dog I bought you because you're my friend
17. I'm sorry
16. I forgive you
15. You can do it!
14. I have barbecue sauce on my shirt too
13. Please
12. Everything is going to be ok
11. Aww.. you got me a corn dog too! You shouldn't have buddy
10. I don't know
9. You're so awesome...
8. Hello person I've never met before. Here's a hi-five!
7. My sports team is not always the best sports team
6. *nothing*
5. .... (hehe I will let you watch this one)
4. I disagree with you but, I still like you as a person who is a human being and I will treat you like that because if I didn't it would make everything bad and that's what lots of people do and it is lame.
So this has been the question of October - what does the fox say? I leave it to you to figure out but I warn you this song gets stuck in my head too easily and you just may suffer the same fate.
Ylvis - a new sensation hitting American youtube channels. I'm a personal fan of What's the Meaning of Stonehedge.
Most of my new favorite songs of the recent weeks have come because they were on So You Think You Can Dance. One of the artists that has had two songs appear on the show is Birdy. For being a fan of singer/songwriter music I can't believe I had never heard of her until now. I like her music because it focuses on simplicity which makes the few instruments used stand out (including her voice, which has an ethereal quality to it) as well as the lyrics.
No to mention both performances were profoundly moving:
As you may already know, Pentatonix is one of my all time favorite singing groups. Recently they did a collaboration with Todderick Hall as a spin off of the Wizard of Oz. It is brilliant, genius, and highlights Kristi Maldono, the only female in the group. I've always thought they under play her talent in their arrangements and this one she plays every female role so it really showcases her ability.
You should also check out Todderick Hall's twist on Beauty and the Beast called Beauty and the Beat: Also fantastic.
My new recent song I've fallen in love with is Old Skin by Ólafur Arnalds and Arnor Dan. It begins with a soft piano and builds throughout the song to send a wave of feeling through your chest. One of the best uses to this song was from So You Think You Can Dance. I highly recommend you check it out.
Sara Barielles is one of my all time favorite artists. She has an amazing voice, range, and talent. Many artists can either sing well or have amazing lyrics. Sara B has both, and extremely high on both to begin with.
I'm so inspired by her talent and passion. Her newest video - Brave - is an amazing concept. It looks like a normal, sing in public places video, but at the end it reveals so much more than that. One of my students also things the library scene was filmed at the CSUN library. We haven't verified it, but it could be true since it was filmed around LA.
Pentatonix is one of my favorite bands and they sing all their music acapella. They are probably some of the most talented musicians I've ever seen. I first found them on NBC's The Sing Off where week after week they continually impressed everyone with their unique arrangements and their powerful sound for using only five people. Avi (their bass) and Kevin (their beat boxer are unbelievably skilled at their craft. Kevin is a Christian and I would love to see him perform at Urbana15 with his beatboxing and cello skills.
Speaking of Kevin playing the cello, this is from one of their new singles, Radioactive, a cover of the Imagine Dragons song. They invited violinist, Lindsey Sterling to play with them, and I believe it rivals the original (which is also an amazing song). Take a look and forever be impressed. I warn you - you may spend the next few hours on YouTube, looking up more Pentatonix greatness.
And for a bonus video of Pentatonix's greatness: A History of Music
Every since probably 2000 or so I have been a fan of JJ Heller. She is a really good friend of one my old small group leaders, Sarah, so she actually came to one of our small group meetings. Later she performed at my church and I've been a fan ever since.
While she isn't a new artist I follow, her newest album, Loved, came out this March. I think it ranks in my top favorites - keeping her traditional acoustic style and depth of lyrics, I've always valued JJ for not trying to be "too Christian" or "too mainstream" when it comes to music. She speaks from her soul, and it shows. She loves her daughters, loves her husband, and love God, and writes all of this into her music. She impresses me as a woman of faith and and as a musician.
Here is the official music video for one of her songs, Who You Are, from the new album. As a side note - I want a dinner party like this.
I never thought I would actually say that. I hated running all my life before this year. I had to run a cross country race in both 7th and 8th grade as a part of being on the basketball team and each time I wanted to just fall over and die. Apparently I've moved beyond that and maybe I just miss playing sports, being active. But I've been really grateful for the chance to run in my neighbor and on campus (although I feel like I get the weird looks of why I'm not at the SRC running and I want to have a giant sign that says I'm not a student, ask me more about when I don't run past you and when I'm not out of breath - but that's another story).
I am really thankful that I am actually having motivation to run because it is healthy, obviously, but it helps me feel like I'm doing something. I'm in a season of extreme processing - that means a lot of journaling, thinking, talking, and writing - what it doesn't mean (just yet) is a lot of action. Running helps me feel like I'm going somewhere and that I am doing something. I feel focused and energized and it gives me new spirit and vision when I could easily be bogged down by everything that could be going wrong.
And then I think I should run like Phoebe. "Did you ever run so fast you though your legs were going to fall off, like when you are running to the swings, or running away from Satan... the neighbor's dog."
I am thankful for musicals. Today has been at home day, which meant a lot of listening to music on my computer. Recently, I've been listening to a lot of musicals. I love them - I love how the writers find a way to express a range of emotions through songs and stories. It puts two of my favorite things together - music and stories into a seamless portal of a particular aspect of life.
My love for musicals may seem silly unless you are one of those people, and I count myself among them, who find musicals as a great way to express emotions and life. I love the variety that I have come to know - Sound of Music to Spring Awakening to Les Miserables to The Scarlet Pimpernel. I am grateful for an empty house and an empty car to sing along loudly without bothering anyone and I grateful that I have really nice headphones to listen to them as well.
It makes me miss the old Cake and Frank days where my sister, Emily, Jane, and I would make delicious desserts and watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers or Kiss Me Kate.
So I am thankful that in a musical anything seems possible. There is singing, for dancing, and for being able to do it an alleyway - even if it seems weird.
This has been the summer of traveling for sure. After going to SLO and back, up to Portland and Seattle and back home, to Santa Barbara and Riverside (and many more stops along the way), I will continue to head up North for a friends wedding.
In preparing for the road trip with my mom to Tahoe and then San Fran, I remembered that in How I Met Your Mother they drank Tantrum before every road trip.
Maybe not so much a good idea.... I will stick to the coffee.
Three things that appear in the Blue Like Jazz movie along with a writer's ability to tell a story, a producer's faith in the project, and thousands of willing fans that want to make history.
When I first read the Blue Like Jazz book I was intrigued. Donald Miller spoke about faith and spirituality in a fresh way that I coming from a more conservative background had been only recently encountering since I had attended college the three years previous (to reading the book). I was hooked from the start because I felt like I was speaking with Donald Miller at a coffee shop about his views on faith, Jesus, religion, and fathers.
When I heard the movie was coming, it took a while for me to be on board. I was one of the first to be dedicated, and then I saw how important it was that this story came into being.
The story follows a young (and moderately fictionalized) Don Miller as he enters in freshman year at Reed College in Portland Oregon. Trying to escape infidelity and hypocrisy of his Texas Baptist roots, he seeks acceptance in all forms: getting drunk, making fun of God, drinking more beer, riding tall bikes, civil disobedience, and drinking more beer. Don faces the reality that most college freshman do - they feel like a astronaut in a robot invasion, just slightly out of place and trying desperately to belong. In addition, many Christian students, as they transition into new phases like college test God - to prove them that putting their faith in Him has not been a waste.
And Don feels his 19 years as Texas Baptist have been a waste, so he tries to escape. But Don realizes that no matter how much he tries to escape God, he has failed. He realizes there is brokenness in the world - youth pastors mess up, parents let you down, people have affairs, cooperations screw over the little guy but in spite of that there is a lot of good in the world. When the movie is over, many of the character's questions of "where is meaning in life" and "Why would God let this happen to my life" and "Where is God in the broken crap of our lives" remain to be fully answered. The real Donald Miller and Producer Steve Tyler want us to question that for ourselves and come to our own answers.
I appreciate that this movie doesn't wrap up nicely. Many "Christian" movies or many sentimental (they are not always one in the same, but many are) try to have a perfect little ending to their movie - with the answer to the deep questions of life easily spelled out. But you can't answer these deep questions in a two hour movie and I think Blue Like Jazz really does a great job at this. This isn't your typical Christian movie. In fact I used the term "Christian" with hesitance. Does it have a nice ending? No. Does it have a lot of sentimentality? No. But does it talk about Jesus - absolutely. Does it wrestle with hard, deep Christian themes - of course. But beware - if you don't like beer, tall bikes, or bear costumes this movie may not be for you.
You may have heard me talk about Blue Like Jazz or my love of Donald Miller. Some of you have seen my Facebook change appearance with BLJ posters and profile pictures, but that is not to seem to hip or cool but to get the word out there about this amazing movie.
I have seen two advanced movie screenings of this movie and I was deeply moved both times. This movie tells the profound story of forgiveness, acceptance, fitting in, and finding yourself in God's universe. This is a unique tale that deals with Christian themes without being cheesy, over-emotional, or overly sentimental. It appeals to an intellectual audience of Christians and non-Christians alike. It allows to question and ponder our place in the universe.
But this weekend is make or break for this movie. This is not the Hunger Games that has probably a billion dollar advertising campaign. If this movie doesn't do well at the box office opening weekend, then it may be pulled from Theaters. Blue Like Jazz's ad campaign is largely told through people - people who are passionate about God's plan for this movie to reach more people than ever.
How can I help? Yes, great question. Start by telling your friends. Buy tickets for opening weekend. Take friends with you. Bring your non-Christian friends and start discussions with them afterwards. Whatever it takes, gets the word out to se this movie. I will be seeing it on Sunday in Burbank, if you want to join me. And if you can't afford a ticket - I will buy one for you, that's how much I want to see this movie go beyond just one great weekend. Will you be a part of this story?
And here is a copy of the email the producer, Steve, sent to the Blue Like Jazz Street Team for more info
I love our distributor, Roadside Attractions. They've released Oscar nominated films like Winter's Bone, Margin Call and Biutiful. They were the first distributor we screened for, they've got a reputation for both honesty and good taste, and they're genuine fans of Blue Like Jazz.
But at our L.A. screening last week at the Pasadena Arclight, the co-president of our distributor made a telling comment afterwards—something to the effect of, "Wow, Steve. I have to admit I was a bit surprised at the crowd. This was a youthful-looking, hip audience with intelligent questions during the Q&A. This is a lot like the audience for our other movies."
While I appreciated his candor, it underscored both the joy and frustration of bringing "Blue Like Jazz" to the screen.
We've been trying to tell people for six years that you exist. That there's an audience for an intelligent, well-crafted movie made by Christians that takes issues of faith seriously. No, we are by no means the first. But neither is it overstating the case to say that this weekend, April 13th, is a defining moment, as the success or failure of Blue LIke Jazz at the box office can determine for years to come whether or not like-minded projects get funded.
I have friends in Hollywood who love the movie. But they're trying to prep me for disappointment.
Our PR team has done a superb job. But they can't get coverage from key press outlets, because the national press simply doesn't believe Blue Like Jazz will register more than a blip at the box office.
And then, of course, there's the Christian Movie Establsihment, who may well be literally praying that you don't exist.
Do you exist?
We know we've got a record-breaking 4500 Kickstarter backers. We know we've got a record-breaking 1500 Civil Disobedience Street Teamers. We know we've had full houses at sneak previews from coast to coast.
But can we sell tickets this weekend - the weekend of April 13th?
We've had an historic series of events leading up to this moment.
But there's only one way to finish this story.
This is the week we need all our friends to join us in a nationwide "get out the vote" campaign. The theater list will be finalized today. (We'll be expanding to other cities the following weekend.) Fandango will be selling advance tickets on either Tuesday or Wednesday (depending on the theater chain). And we need you to use all your communication tools to help Blue Like Jazz have an historic opening weekend at the box office.
These are exciting days as we count down to Friday. More to come...
Unless you've been living underneath a rock, you've heard of Suzanne Collins's book, The Hunger Games. Currently my Jr. High small group girls are obsessed with it. I have to say, to start out with, that I really love these books since I first read The Hunger Games almost a year ago. I am excited to see it come to a movie but more than that, I look forward to the discussions that can come from this book. Questions about oppression, injustice, and survival in our own world.
While I am excited to see my small group girls so engaged in a book rather than some reality TV show MTV has put out (not that I haven't watched a few of those myself) I am not sure they totally understand the depth of the book. Many of them are much more invested in the romance, making camps of Team Gale or Team Peeta. But honestly, those books are not about the romance. According to Collins's herself the books themes are much deeper than romance. The book "tackles issues such as severe poverty, starvation, oppression, and the affects of war among others." The books itself are not about a girl choosing between two guys (as you may see in Twilight) and isn't the battle of good vs. evil (for example as in, say, Harry Potter) but about how do we wrestle with injustice in our own world? Do we sit back and pretend it doesn't happen like they do in the capital? Do we just try to survive on our wits and knowledge like Katniss and Gale in the first book or do we step out and fight against oppression?
Collins hopes that readers walk away from the books asking how "elements of the book might be relevant in their own lives. And, if they're disturbing, what they might do about them." I appreciate The Hunger Games books, not because they are full of action, violence, or romance but because they allow us to see injustice and oppression in an imaginary world and that should lead us to reflect where do we see those things in society. I think as Christians we should take advantage of this extremely popular book as a transition into asking our churches and fellowships where do we see injustice and what can be done about it?
Volunteering with Jr. High Ministries has provided many a crazy opportunitiy. But none compare to staying up all night, with a ton of kids, bouncing on trampolines, falling at roller skating rinks, nerf wars, hip-hop rappers, 80's outfits, and delusions.
I think I am going to die. Not literally, but close to it. My body aches from all the jumping and falling. My head hurts from no sleep. I'm too old for this stuff.
I kind of feel like the tv show, Up All Night, staring Christina Applegate and Will Arnet. Except minus the baby part.
And that is also why I do not want babies any time soon. I need my sleep!
I had to have a post on leap day. It would be a shame not to blog on the one day every four years where the date will say February 29th. I don't actually see what is so special about Leap Day (other than it occurs every four years). But the summer olympics occur every four years and they have gymnastics and I think that is that is far superior. So in honor of Leap Day and the future olympics to occur this summer I have included a clip from Stick It and a limerick about a frog.
There once was a froggy named Ted
Who desperately wanted to a girl, wed
So it was on Leap Day
He got on his knee to say,
But a large croak was all to be said.
And the Stick It trailer. Watch this movie. It is highly amusing.
I am really excited for the Blue Like Jazz movie to come out. I think it is going to be a fantastic work from the creative mind of Don Miller (on a side note - Don Miller is on my list of famous people I want to become best friends with).
Anyway, here is the trailer for the movie. Take a look and be impressed:
