I was at the U2 concert in New York City a couple of weeks ago. It was amazing! At the bottom of this entry is a link to the article on MTV.com- that article explains it exactly as it happened- from the waiting 15, 30, 45 minutes (it actually ended up being an hour and a half from the time they were supposed to take the stage) to the band crossing the Manhattan bridge on a flatbed truck, to the fans smashing up against the metal barricade. I was one of them- literally being squished from all sides and the only force pushing me through the gate was the people pressing me from all sides...It was actually kinda scary, like one of those moments when survival anxiety sets in. The good part is that I got in, and watched one of greatest rock bands ever perform "Vertigo," "Miracle Drug," "City of Blinding Lights" and other new songs before their CD release the following day.
I was actually a little disappointed after all the hype. I was only, at most, 100 ft. away from the stage, but I ended up looking at the back of my friend Josh's head the entire time. Occasionally I caught a glimpse of Bono, but couldn't remain captivated as I imagined I would. Also, Bono was open about when they didn't sound like they were right on and made an excuse about "This is why I'm not much of a guitar player." I guess someday I'll just have to go to another concert and see them- full set, with the big stage and lights and everything. ;) Actually, though, having a more "intimate" concert with the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline in the background, as well as Bono's vulnerability and honesty as a musician and Christian, were more than I had ever expected. I found myself in worship with, to quote Bono on that night, "Blessings. All praises. Blessings."
Their music video (with live footage from the concert) airs on MTV Jammed, Friday at 9pm.
www.mtv.com/news/articles/1494079/20041122/u2.jhtml
12.09.2004
12.01.2004
I haven't written anything in months! I forgot I had this thing and then I was avoiding it b/c I couldn't figure out how to make it look good. So now I've changed some things and it looks much better. Hopefully someday I'll have my own website. Oh my...a lot has happened, but I'll pick up with the recent stuff.
I spent Thanksgiving with some friends in New Hampshire. We stayed at my friend Carrie's house, and it was so great to be with her family and to be a part of another family's traditions- Thanksgiving dinner, cutting down a live Christmas tree (something I've never done before!) and decorating it, drinking hot cider, and having a Xmas Movie Marathon! This might sound weird, but I felt like I was part of a family again. I loved everything-- Carrie's parents telling stories about her and her brothers, her aunt calling the wassail "wazzle" (like dazzle), her older brother picking on her (something I'm used to and actually miss), her Grammy wearing her red apron everyday...It was GOOD, like, "God made the earth and it was good" good.
Now, I have 2 1/2 weeks left at the CMC. It's been amazing as most of you have heard. It's going to be so hard to leave...
I spent Thanksgiving with some friends in New Hampshire. We stayed at my friend Carrie's house, and it was so great to be with her family and to be a part of another family's traditions- Thanksgiving dinner, cutting down a live Christmas tree (something I've never done before!) and decorating it, drinking hot cider, and having a Xmas Movie Marathon! This might sound weird, but I felt like I was part of a family again. I loved everything-- Carrie's parents telling stories about her and her brothers, her aunt calling the wassail "wazzle" (like dazzle), her older brother picking on her (something I'm used to and actually miss), her Grammy wearing her red apron everyday...It was GOOD, like, "God made the earth and it was good" good.
Now, I have 2 1/2 weeks left at the CMC. It's been amazing as most of you have heard. It's going to be so hard to leave...
4.21.2004
We have been made in the image of God.
In between classes today, I sat down at the gazebo by Buffalo Creek. I love the sound of the water spilling over the ledge. The weather is perfect. I paused to look out at the water as I crossed over the rickety bridge, and I'm glad I did. I looked down and saw the tail end of a snake slithering into the brush on my left. I carried on, walking in sandaled feet through the dew covered grass and into the gazebo. The sun beat down on my legs. I took my New Testament out of my bookbag and turned to Colossians 3, which I began to read..."Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above..." I looked up. An elder man in a brown suit walked by, nodded, and went on his way across the bridge from whence I came. I was curious as to where he came from and where he was headed. I wondered for a moment and then let the mystery be. I continued reading "...you have taken off your old self with it's practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." I looked up again to see a mallard swimming in the water. I moved, and he took off into flight.
Let there be light.
Let there be an expanse between the waters.
Let the water under the sky be gathered and let dry ground appear.
Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky.
Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth.
Let land produce living creatures according to their kinds...creatures that move along the ground...
Let us make man in our own image, in our likeness...
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them.
I believe the image of God in us to be so much more than physical. What it really means is our souls, our spirits, our very being reflects God in His own Creation. We are only a reflection. We were created with the ability to fall. And we did. And God has been pursuing us ever since, trying to bring us back to the place we once were. Love is perfection, and when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. He came. He was made in our likeness. We are being renewed and made into the image of our Creator once again.
My turning and wavering,
my self-made desires;
I steep myself in my fallible cares.
His image I cannot release
from my heart.
Impressed, despite my ruin
of His dreams.
The origin of my soul, the
perfection, the union of Us,
He hopes for still.
He waits.
He dreams a new dream.
He draws near to me
In places dark, places bright,
The dawn of the day and coming twilight.
His stamp is the seal and I cannot deny
that in Him my dreams become...
And now I return, I renew,
I am once again born of perfection,
made whole.
In His image and wonder,
in beauty and soul.~VLB
In between classes today, I sat down at the gazebo by Buffalo Creek. I love the sound of the water spilling over the ledge. The weather is perfect. I paused to look out at the water as I crossed over the rickety bridge, and I'm glad I did. I looked down and saw the tail end of a snake slithering into the brush on my left. I carried on, walking in sandaled feet through the dew covered grass and into the gazebo. The sun beat down on my legs. I took my New Testament out of my bookbag and turned to Colossians 3, which I began to read..."Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above..." I looked up. An elder man in a brown suit walked by, nodded, and went on his way across the bridge from whence I came. I was curious as to where he came from and where he was headed. I wondered for a moment and then let the mystery be. I continued reading "...you have taken off your old self with it's practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." I looked up again to see a mallard swimming in the water. I moved, and he took off into flight.
Let there be light.
Let there be an expanse between the waters.
Let the water under the sky be gathered and let dry ground appear.
Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky.
Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth.
Let land produce living creatures according to their kinds...creatures that move along the ground...
Let us make man in our own image, in our likeness...
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them.
I believe the image of God in us to be so much more than physical. What it really means is our souls, our spirits, our very being reflects God in His own Creation. We are only a reflection. We were created with the ability to fall. And we did. And God has been pursuing us ever since, trying to bring us back to the place we once were. Love is perfection, and when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. He came. He was made in our likeness. We are being renewed and made into the image of our Creator once again.
My turning and wavering,
my self-made desires;
I steep myself in my fallible cares.
His image I cannot release
from my heart.
Impressed, despite my ruin
of His dreams.
The origin of my soul, the
perfection, the union of Us,
He hopes for still.
He waits.
He dreams a new dream.
He draws near to me
In places dark, places bright,
The dawn of the day and coming twilight.
His stamp is the seal and I cannot deny
that in Him my dreams become...
And now I return, I renew,
I am once again born of perfection,
made whole.
In His image and wonder,
in beauty and soul.~VLB
2.18.2004
I want to just start with a poem:
The Watered Lilies
The Master stood in His garden,
Among the lilies fair,
Which His own right hand had planted,
And trained with tend'rest care.
He looked at their snowy blossoms,
And marked with observant eye
That the flowers were sadly drooping,
For their leaves were parched and dry.
"My lilies need to be watered,"
The Heavenly Master said;
"Wherein shall I draw it for them,
And raise each drooping head?"
Close to his feet on the pathway,
Empty, and frail, and small,
An earthen vessel was lying,
Which seemed no use at all;
But the Master saw and raised it
From the dust in which it lay,
And smiled as He gently whispered,
"This shall do My work today:
"It is but an earthen vessel,
But it lay so close to Me;
It is small, but it is empty-
That is all it needs to be."
So to the fountain He took it,
And filled it full to the brim;
How glad was the earthen vessel
To be of some use to Him!
He poured forth the living water
Over His lilies fair,
Until the vessel was empty,
And again He filled it there.
He watered the drooping lilies
Until they revived again;
And the Master saw with pleasure
That His labor had not been in vain.
His own hand had drawn the water
Which refreshed the thirsty flowers;
But He used the earthen vessel
To convey the living showers.
And to itself it whispered,
As He laid it aside once more,
"Still will I lie in His pathway,
Just where I did before.
"Close would I keep to the Master,
Empty would I remain,
And perhaps some day He would use me
To water His flowers again."
~unknown
* Is this an object lesson or a metaphor? I think can be seen as both. This poem tells us to stay close to God and ready for Him to use you. You never know what He can do in your weaknesses.
The Watered Lilies
The Master stood in His garden,
Among the lilies fair,
Which His own right hand had planted,
And trained with tend'rest care.
He looked at their snowy blossoms,
And marked with observant eye
That the flowers were sadly drooping,
For their leaves were parched and dry.
"My lilies need to be watered,"
The Heavenly Master said;
"Wherein shall I draw it for them,
And raise each drooping head?"
Close to his feet on the pathway,
Empty, and frail, and small,
An earthen vessel was lying,
Which seemed no use at all;
But the Master saw and raised it
From the dust in which it lay,
And smiled as He gently whispered,
"This shall do My work today:
"It is but an earthen vessel,
But it lay so close to Me;
It is small, but it is empty-
That is all it needs to be."
So to the fountain He took it,
And filled it full to the brim;
How glad was the earthen vessel
To be of some use to Him!
He poured forth the living water
Over His lilies fair,
Until the vessel was empty,
And again He filled it there.
He watered the drooping lilies
Until they revived again;
And the Master saw with pleasure
That His labor had not been in vain.
His own hand had drawn the water
Which refreshed the thirsty flowers;
But He used the earthen vessel
To convey the living showers.
And to itself it whispered,
As He laid it aside once more,
"Still will I lie in His pathway,
Just where I did before.
"Close would I keep to the Master,
Empty would I remain,
And perhaps some day He would use me
To water His flowers again."
~unknown
* Is this an object lesson or a metaphor? I think can be seen as both. This poem tells us to stay close to God and ready for Him to use you. You never know what He can do in your weaknesses.
