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❣ Chile in a Photography ❣
occasionally subtle
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Kiana Khansmith
NASA
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
Not today Justin
i don't do bad sauce passes
almost home
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izzy's playlists!
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I'd rather be in outer space 🛸

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@raylow
Click the title to read my story! <3
Why Christian radio stations need revamping.
I have three different Christian stations that I switch between. Two of them have always branded themselves using repetitive catchphrases that involve words like "positive" and "encouraging." The last one recently decided to follow this trend, calling itself the "NEW Shine.fm."
Um...what was wrong with the OLD Shine.fm? The one that tried to reach a broader audience by playing mainstream songs like Lifehouse's "You and Me" and The Fray's "You Found Me"? Was it because they talked about touchy subjects like unrequited love and death? I think the answer lies in the word "positive". I feel like Christian stations have always tried to rely on incredibly positive and uplifting songs.
The problem? We're surrounded by "positivity" everywhere, especially in America. Most mainstream stations play positive and encouraging music too. Their songs talk about how to have a more "positive" sense of self-absorption, and they "encourage" consumerism and instant gratification. The principle is the same, even though the subject is self destructive.
Christian stations recognize this, but the way they try to combat it isn't great. Rather than recognizing the negativity that is inherent in the world, they mostly play songs that try to cover it up. "My life was horrible before, but it's okay now because God saved me, and that's the end of it." The songs don't talk about what comes next. They don't talk about focusing outward and reaching out to the rest of the brokenness in the world. Instead, as long as your life has been "uplifted," you're good to go.
Ironically, this encourages self-absorption all the same. We care about issues only as much as they affect our own lives. But throw in controversy over Chick-fil-A or divorce, and we either keep our mouths shut or speak with polarized beliefs, having never been prepared to respond to these issues in loving and respectful ways because we were too busy focusing on ourselves.
The main issue is that the word "positive" doesn't equate with the word "hope." Being positive is something you can do even if you don't acknowledge all the negative, which is frankly pretty naive. Hope is something that you can only have when you understand just how broken this world is, something that is easily realized upon learning news of war, poverty, and oppression.
Christian stations need to start talking more about how much pain still exists in this world, even if it doesn't exist in your life anymore. They need to start playing songs like Relient K's "Failure to Excommunicate" and Tim Be Told's "Lament." Only then will American Christians be inspired by these stations to actually make a difference in this world.
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Oh.
When people tell you something for so long, you start to believe it. Ray, you're great. Ray, you're amazing. Ray, you're awesome.
I used to think that I could reach a point at which I could say that God transformed me, I eventually got my life in order, and I went out and lived the rest of my days in complete service to God. And I guess I felt that it was what God intended for everyone to eventually do.
But lately I've learned that it's not that easy. Everyone needs time to grow in their faith. Everyone needs time to discover for themselves what they believe. I need time too; there are still days when I have to stop myself and think, "Is this really what I'm doing?" But I suppose it's good that we try. It's good that we admit we don't have it together, that we still need to learn more in order to understand fully who God is and who God is calling us to be.
I'm not any better than anyone else. I'm just a little kid, trying to find out what I want to do. Sure, I guess I'm serving God along the way. But maybe life won't completely settle itself down until the very day we meet God face to face.
I need encouragement just as much as anyone else. It's funny how the people who encourage me the most are the ones who literally gave their lives up for God. Oh, Tico. Where are you right now? Are you up there watching over me? Are you rooting for me? I hope I'm doing this right. I hope you're smiling down on me. I won't let you down. Or at least, I'll try not to.
nyuaacf:
Tomorrow’s speaker, Rocky Chan, speaking giving a message about ‘Joy Giving in Painful Times’
Steve Jobs
So I was just standing in line with a bunch of fellow chicken and rice goers. One said into his phone, "Steve Jobs died?" Naturally we all reacted, but it turned out to be a joke. One of the women said, "Well, he's the prime example of the fact that you can't take it all with you. You can be a billionaire, but in the end, everyone ends up the same." It's true. All the things we gain, the money, the friendships, the careers - we can't take any of it with us into death. Is it all meaningless, then? Are we just prolonging the inevitable?
I guess this is why I want to believe that something else is waiting for me on the other side, something better. But although ideally heaven is waiting for everyone, we then have to reconcile the idea of Hitler or Bin Laden going there as well. If there is a reward after death, it comes at a price. It demands something of us.
Tico's Song Analysis
Hi guys. If you haven't seen it yet, check out my latest song, "Tico's Song" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cLnaX95-RY The lyrics are very personal, and yet relatable at the same time. A paragraph explanation of the friendship between Josh (Tico) Kim and me isn't really necessary, though, because a simple analysis of the lyrics will do.
The page unfolds the younger days When you and I were trying to find our way (Josh and I would frequently talk about how unsure we were of our futures, given that we didn't really have any solid interests or passions) We dug much deeper than humans would Admitting that the best of us never could (While trying to figure out ourselves, we had to come into the understanding that not everyone in this world has and will) Then we realized when we joined this race That someone else would help us reach that place (This is where God comes into the picture, a God who gives us a purpose and a plan for our lives) A grief observed (loose reference to a C.S. Lewis book) the shattered cry Might the world turn back its time? If you came down, fell from the sky Through the tears we shed we’d listen as you tell us What home looks like, what home looks like (No, the concept of a person coming back from heaven is not meant to be taken as an literal desire or expectation; however, the value in the chorus is found in the sense that we spend our time looking heavenward, and to even catch a glimpse of the end goal, the prize awaiting us is enough to motivate us to continue on.) We read those tales of life when wars are won (This goes along with the idea of looking forward to heaven) Of mice and men (One major theme of the book "Of Mice and Men" is loneliness, which Josh and I would talk about extensively) and prodigals on the run (A reference to the story of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15) And though the compass pointed freedom from chains The bearings showed the heartache still remained (Even though Christianity offers freedom from spiritual death, as long as we're here on this earth we'll still experience pain because of the effects of sin) And because this pain was our world’s to own (We are responsible for the pain brought to this earth) We vowed to pay the price to bring them home (The beauty of what God has called us to do in spreading the gospel is that we can relate to the pain of others through compassion) Watch the plans and dreams unravel themselves We knew they could end, but there was no way to tell (Life is so fleeting; Josh was set to go to Boston for college, but he never did) If not the chance to see the crowns prepared We’ll finish our work and meet you there (Even if we are unable to see a glimpse of heaven as described in the chorus, we still have work to do as long as we're still alive)
Josh
I don't know where you are in Ecuador right now, but I hope they find you soon. You need to come back so that you can tell me stories of your time there. You need to come back so that you can come to Berklee and we can hang out on the East Coast. You need to come back so that I can hug you one more time.
This Summer
Many know of all the crazy things that have happened to me this summer. I've been left torn, bruised, broken, but alive.
I could write an entire book on my thoughts. All I know now is this:
The only life worth living for me right now is one in full surrender to God and to others. But it's not even that it's worth it, it's the only thing I have left.
overthestreet:
GLEE LIVE 2011 VIP PACKAGE BINDER GIVEAWAY!!!
here are the rules:
you need to REBLOG this post, if you just like it your entry will not be counted.
you don’t need to follow me to be entered in the contest, i mean you can if you want to but i won’t be checking (mostly because i’m really lazy).
only ONE entry per person, don’t waste your time by reblogging it twice, your name won’t be put into the contest twice. I want it to be just and this is why you can only reblog once.
you can enter from everywhere in the world, if you win, i will contact you by ask box (and say so on tumblr) and you can just send me your address and i will ship it to you.
the contest will be completely random, i will write the names on tiny papers, put them in a hat/box/bowl/whatever and pick out one.
GOOD LUCK :)
You have until Thursday June 16th at 8 pm EST to enter the contest!!!
Poetry! Bike
So I used to write poetry before I wrote songs. I eventually stopped, but I was thinking back on my old poems today and decided to share some! This is a poem that got onto the first page of a poetry book that my friend currently has right now and needs to give back to me.
Bike
Once So long ago Father bought me The bike of Jesus Christ Everyone misused it And broke it to pieces But three days later Father fixed it Now Father teaches me How to ride that bike He runs alongside To prevent a fall And when I fell I reached out my hand Father lifted me up And I would soar.
Cry and Believe - Part 1, Cry
Okay, so I kind of cheated you guys on the last post. There are definitely a lot of things I've been reflecting on, and most of it goes into a journal I keep, which is why I guess I get lazy and need to be better about putting my thoughts together.
I read somewhere that the only instances where Jesus cried was over sin. There are two times we know of: at Lazarus' death and when He saw Jerusalem. It makes sense; Jesus was crying because people were telling Him that if only He had been there, Lazarus wouldn't have died! How can you accuse Jesus of that? And unsurprisingly, when Jesus saw the city of Jerusalem He immediately knew that it would fall from its unfaithfulness.
So I've tried to sort of think about the times in my life which warrant tears. Are they just selfish moments, when I would want something and not get it? Were they in times of uncertainty, when I trusted in my own feelings over a God who knows every aspect of my life, from big to small, past to future?
Or do I cry because I realize the gravity of what sin has done to us? Do I cry because kids in third world countries are exploited for someone else's profit? Do I cry because oil spills and nuclear radiation are harming everything from our people to the environment? Do I cry because I feel something evil moving in me, that I can't do the things God would want me to? Do I cry because the Holy Spirit is living inside of me, and the emotions He feels are the same emotions I feel?
The next time you reflect over sin, see if you can feel a spirit working within you. Hurt, anger, rage...they're all emotions that God feels. What will be your reaction to sin?
Whoa.
I haven't blogged in a while. Maybe it's because up to this very moment, I've been storing up all my thoughts and crafting them into something profound, groundbreaking, and life-changing. Well, it all finally paid off.
I have a midterm today. Nuts.
AACF Worship
This is the AACF Worship Blog, where I'll post about the songs we sing each week and talk a little about why I chose them.
2-2-11: Introduction
O PRAISE HIM - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cGricHpf84 HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coPD8amHKO4 HOSANNA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kw-oJw5Q20 FOREVER REIGN - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTU4u30w2tQ
This week introduced our series for the semester, "Realationships." We'll be looking through various relationships that we have, such as between us and God, us and each other, us and authority, etc. So for an opening set list, I chose songs that simply focused on praising God. "O Praise Him" was a fun upbeat song that I'm happy to have gotten people cheering for =). "How Great is Our God" is a nice song that, although played a bit excessively on the radio back then, holds a lot of biblical truth in the verses. "Hosanna" was a great song to welcome in Christ, coming down to touch and to heal our lives. Finally, the new song "Forever Reign" was about submitting everything to God, including our lives and the world. The verses are great in that they directly contrast God with us, with qualities about God that we simply don't have.
After Rapture
Chyea! Second song up on YouTube! Go check it out if you haven't yet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVqe8kFFhYo
So because I didn't write any words to it (yet?), I thought it would be fitting to write a little about it. I first came up with the chorus riff for this song...hmm, come to think of it, I don't exactly remember when. But it was sometimes last year, and I really liked it. After getting down the chorus, the bridge and verses came somewhat naturally.
When I listen to this song, only one word comes to mind: hope. And the form that my hope takes is the hope that is coming at the end of the earth, when all things come together and are made right again. The tears will be wiped away, and death will be relinquished. There will be a battle and there will be a lot of pain to get to that point (the bridge of the song is probably the moodiest and darkest part), but it's worth it in the end.
As a visual, just try to imagine yourself standing among the remains of the aftermath of a war, with everything around you destroyed, and then seeing a single ray of like peeking through from the cloudy sky. I think if that ever happened in a movie, I'd like this song to play =)
Enjoy!
Headphones
My iPod sits in my backpack catching dust these days. This is why.
Music has always been soothing to me. I would love having a soundtrack in the background as I walked across the streets of the city, braving speeding taxis and catching the subway doors before they closed. Most of all, I could have that constant small voice continually reminding me of God's love. It encouraged me.
One day earlier in the semester while I was engaged in the same routine of listening to my iPod while walking, I passed by a Caucasian woman outside my apartment (an uncommon sight in Chinatown, New York, but that's beside the point). She had her turtleneck pulled up all the way to her nose, and she was trying to hide the tears that was streaming down her face. I looked up too late, and she passed me by. When I looked back, I saw her sit down to catch a breath, but as I stood there battling with myself over what to do, whether to ask her if she was okay or not, she got up and walked away.
It was then that I realized I was so absorbed in the music that I didn't even realize what was going on around me. I think music can at times hurt our awareness of the people in this city. Maybe God doesn't want to speak to us through upbeat and sugarcoated songs. Maybe He wants to speak to us through His children, through the people He's calling us to reach out to.
I've never listened to my iPod on the way to a destination after that day.