Twenty-one.

Finally. A new blog.

I have now realized the true meaning of: "I don't really have that much time for blogs" and definitely agree with whosoever chooses to say it.

So my weekly blog went to "oops, I forgot this week" to "whenever I can, which isn't very often" when I started working at the church this past summer.

It has been quite an awesome experience to work at a church. It went from God's house that I only visit twice a week or so, to a place I can consider a home where people love me and allow me a chance to grow as a leader and to grow closer to God.

The First Assembly pastors and staff are great! They have accepted me as a part of their team and it is so overwhelming.

Trust me, its so strange for me to say "my desk" in "my office" at my "job" or my "work". I can hardly grasp that whole concept.

I remember being the nerdy 6th grader that wanted, literally, to be Pastor Steve, wearing his suit jacket in Sunday School and his name tags after Reality, just joining the Reality Worship Team and eventually understanding the true meaning of worship the next few years of Junior High. Now...I'm not so obsessed with P.Steve, but am still so grateful that I can work in an office outside of his and learn from him from a different stand-point than ever before. I've taken on a challenge proposed by he and Pastor Rod, and thank God everyday for even being asked to join the First Assembly team and to become an intern learning leadership lessons that no one else will ever have the opportunity to learn the way I have and still am learning. After being there everyday since June, I couldn't imaging doing anything else.

I really understand the phrase "everything is better in teams". Not to say I didn't understand it before, but to say that after witnessing it in the everyday lives of the pastors and staff around me it has become a true reality in my life.

God has blessed me with people like P.Rod and P.Steve and Mike Winslow that are constantly pushing me forward towards excellence in everything.

Thank God for a church who cares about a 16-year-old student who isn't perfect and isn't even mature in most areas of life. Thank God. Thank you, First Assembly!

Twenty.

Hello.

Worship...

...was passionate tonight at Reality. God's presence was BIG! As I looked about the room from the stage, I noticed hands and voices raised to God like I haven't seen in Reality in a while. It was cool. And it is cool....

Do you ever just know that God is near. Or that He's moving around, stirring things up that have been settled for far too long? God is taking over my peers and making them into His worshippers. How awesome--to be called God's, to belong to God.

I belong to God because He made me.

I belong to God because He bought me with His own blood.

I belong to God because He has a home for me in the future.

I belong to God because He has made me His worshipper. I make God smile. He sees me and Reality with our hands raised and our hearts open, and He smiles.

You know, smiles are great. When someone smiles at me, no matter what my day has looked like or what sort of mood I'm in, I get happy and I feel loved.

That's only if another person smiles at me. Think about God! When He smiles at us, how loved and how joyous we should be.

So just think--when we worship and acknowledge God's glory and His power, He smiles. And smiles, for some reason, make people happier.

Thus, us worshipping = God smiling = us happier people. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Nineteen.

Wow. It's been forever since I've last commented.

So, I just got back last Friday from the Deepening.

Wow! It was amazing! I got a lot closer to God and really developed a great hunger for Him. I also feel that I am going through an awesome growth spurt in leadership and spiritually, partially, I think, as a result of such an impacting trip. I'm ready to worship this week in Reality and to see the other students engage in worship as well. I think after this past week in Grapevine, Reality worship is only going to get more and more passionate and that we will only grow closer and closer to God. I saw some really intimate worshippers develop last week; even people I never would have imagined raising there hands were on their knees, hands raised, pouring their life out to God. I can't wait to see where He leads our youth group. It's going to be great!

Eighteen.

Don't you want to be an good and wise person? Doesn't everyone?

After spending time in the Bible today at the church, I've decided to make that one of my ambitions--to be a good and wise person. Sounds exciting, right? Haha.

So I read in James 3, that wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings. So I thought, that's accomplishable! I can get along with people and be reasonable, and
can have an abundance of mercy and blessings, right? Of course it may take a lot of effort to get along with everyone and be totally forgiving and generous, but still its doable.

Then I read Psalms 112. It said this of a good person: giving; solid and lasting reputation; unfazed by rumor or gossip; heart ready, trusting in God; firm spirit, relaxed among enemies; ceaseless generosity; an honored life, and a beautiful life. This time I though to myself, I've got to work on the giving thing a little, I'm pretty sure my reputation is okay, I might need some help on being unfazed by rumor/gossip, I know my heart is ready and trusting in God, I don't have many enemies but I know that they don't affect me unbearably, and that I usually like to share. And of course, I would love to have an honored and beautiful life. Again, this is all doable. I can work on these things.

That's when I got a little excited about being a good, wise person some day. I want an honored life, and a beautiful one as well. Now I know what wisdom looks like and I want to go for it. I want to be gentle and reasonable, getting along with people, unfazed by rumor and gossip, absolutely generous and giving, and overflowing with blessings.

That's what God wants all of us to be right? My goal for now is to work on becoming a good and wise person, not that I will completely accomplish it anytime soon, but that I'll be striving for it.

I challenge you, too, to share the same ambition that I have. To be good in God's eyes and to have wisdom, like God's wisdom.

Seventeen.

Blessed.

Have you ever just felt really blessed? Well, for me, these last two weeks have really been a blessing.

A job...at the most amazing place on earth, 1st Assembly, and my own car to get me there. Maybe for you that's not just the most exciting thing--work and a car that only takes you to work--but for me this is the beginning of a great adventure! ...Like a new chapter in my spiritual journey. I am so excited about the things I will learn and the things I will do in the next two years at the church.

Again, I say: Thank God for a church and pastors that truly care about me and my walk with Christ and my leadership experience. Praise God for parents that are constantly pushing me forward and encouraging me all the way. God is good. He is really, really good!

Also, pray that I pass these semester test coming up this week and next. They are going to be VERY hard, I know.

Sixteen.

What an eventful week....

I like to be busy, constantly on the go, but at a certain point I become tired and ready to just sit still or actually be home for a day.

May has been full and often double-stacked with occasions. Here's what my month looks like:

Monday, April 30 - Barbershop Festival at Cabot High after school
Tuesday, May 1 - Took pics for Prom Promise at school, rescheduled piano lesson at 5:30
Monday, May 7 - Stayed home sick
Tuesday, May 8 - rescheduled piano lesson at 6, theHouse Phone bank (which I forgot about)
Thursday, May 10 - Checked out to secretly take family pics for mom on Mother's Day, Arkansas Symphony practice for choir after school at Robinson Center, Youth Alive Praise Night (couldn't attend)
Friday, May 11 - ASO performance at Robinson (couldn't attend), Young Warriors (4th/5th Grade) Weekend
Saturday, May 12 - Still with church for YWW until 2, ASO performance at Robinson
Monday, May 14 - my piano gets tuned (by the person that tunes the church's piano, so I found out), pre-recital piano practice with other students at 4:30, sing National Anthem with "Fantastic 5" sophomore barbershop (Tenor 1...WOO WOO!) at school awards ceremony
Tuesday, May 15 - Piano Recital in Little Rock, P.J.'s "going away party" that I was invited to via Facebook by Madison
Wednesday, May 16 - Reality's Got Talent (my last human video to perform with the Reality Drama Team...after 5 years)
Thursday, May 16 - Choir Concert
Monday, May 21 - Senior Choir Banquet

Yeah...I know, "WOW!" I'm a student! I'm not supposed to do this much stuff am I? Anyway, I'm basically ready for a break! Summer is going to be so nice.... This is my schedule for the summer:

Monday, June 2 - The Deepening!
One day each week - work with Pastor Steve at the church (Which, don't forget, we need to talk about in the next 3 weeks, P.Steve....)
Every other day - listen to the quiet and watch the stillness at my house
Some week - Family Vacation

Isn't that beautiful? So peaceful! Can't wait!

Now that I see how this has very little to do with my "Spiritual Journey," I'll ask you to pray that my voice will recover from being sick last Monday and from the additional damage done on Wednesday night during worship, Thursday night at ASO rehearsal, Friday night at the YWW, and Saturday at the YWW and ASO performance. LOL! Thanks for reading my useless nonsense. It wasn't very spiritual, I know.

Have a great week! Hope yours isn't so busy!

Fifteen.

Have you ever just had that gut feeling that something big is about to happen? Like you can sense that good change or growth is near?

I'm so ready for the summer! The summer is always a great time for spiritual growth, considering that all school stress is out of the picture. There is 31 days until school's out, but I don't want to wait! I want to start getting deeper in God now!

This weekend I've been really desiring to be in God's presence. I have this great longing to get close to Him tomorrow at church, in the "corporate" worship setting. I sort of hear God whispering, "Come, now is the time for worship. You are welcome. Here I am. I'm waiting, Timothy. Give it a go! Now's the right time. I'll show you what My presence is! It's going to be great! I love you! Now, you love me."

It's times like that when I want to respond in worship. When I want to get deep in singing and rejoicing in the great things He has brought to my life. I say to God, "Here am I, all of me. I wanna go deeper. Pour out your spirit, oh God! I come to You for comfort and peace, Abba Father! Your grace is enough. In fact, it's overwhelming! Praise God! Hallelujah! You are good! I am not, but thank God, I know I AM! Rejoice in the Lord always because He cares enough to die for such a dirty sinner like me. Though You are big, You love me, no matter how small I am. I love you! I do love you, with all that is within me!"

Needless to say, I'm ready to redefine myself in God's presence, to find who I really am and where I'm really going and how I need to get there. Thank God that He's with me every step I take, guiding me and molding me into the passionate worshipper that He has called me to be.



The more I seek You,
The more I find You.
The more I find You,
The more I love You.

I wanna sit at Your feet,
Drink from the cup in Your hand,
Lay back against You and breathe,
Feel Your heart beat.

This love is so deep;
It's more than I can stand
I melt in Your peace,
It's overwhelming.

Fourteen.

Frustration.

I hate it. I like to know what is going on ahead of time and to be absolutely sure about it happening the way it should.

Currently, I'm dealing with frustration. May 10th is a Thursday, the day I have piano lessons each week. This one happens to be the last one before my piano recital. Well, my choir teacher at school, Mrs. Harris, is apparently having some sort of after-school rehearsal that day for two performances which happen to be another one of my problems. These performances are Friday and Saturday, May 11th and 12th. Our choirs are singing with the Arkansas Symphony. ...Big deal and I'm excited about it, but as you may know, the Young Warriors Weekend is on that Friday, too. During the service I am in a human video and will be singing with the worship team. Well, these two events obviously conflict with each other, which brings frustration into my life. [Sigh....] I asked my choir teacher if it would be excused if I just missed the Friday night performance without losing a ton of points, on account of another event that is very important to me and that I'm already committed to being apart of. She said that it wouldn't be excused and that the only religious excuse for missing one of the performances is for this Jewish girl that isn't supposed to be out after sundown for some holiday or something on Friday. Then she told me to "see if I could get it worked out." [Another sigh....]

So I got home and told my mom that she said it wouldn't be excused and reminded her that for the past 5 years I've had straight A's in Vocal Music and that one B or C isn't going to make me cry or anything. She said she'd right a note explaining that to the teacher, so I was fine with that.... Until I told her about maybe not being able to go the Thursday after-school rehearsal because of piano lessons, which is the day before the Symphony thing.

Right now, I'm waiting for tomorrow to see what time the rehearsal will be over on the Thursday, so that if we're done by at least 5:30, I can switch lessons with Jonathan (we have the same teacher...I go at 5:30 to 6 on Thursdays and he goes from 6 to 7).

I hate not knowing things! Its like a kid waiting ever-so impatiently for his mom to get home so he can ask about spending the night with his best friend. The poor kid is just tired of not knowing; he's just ready to be able to call his friend and say, "YES! I can come over!"

{God, help me have peace and a calm spirit about all of this. I don't want to be a worry-wart (After all, who wants to be a wart? HA! [That was my comic relief portion of the post, in case you didn't notice.]). Let me find out what I need to find out and make the best decisions this week. Thank You for being with me in the fire, even if it is only a little-bitty fire.}

Pray that everything works out and that I can make it to the Thursday rehearsal, piano lessons, the Young Warriors Weekend, and the Arkansas Symphony performance on Saturday, which is a lot, I know.

Thirteen.

Over the past few months, I have really began to develop some meaningful relationships with certain people in my life. When I say that, friends like Brian Harte, Jonathan Pillow, Stephanie Ott, Jill Jacobs, Chris France, and John Rennard come to mind. I cherish these relationships.

I wonder, have you ever really thought about relationships? Have you taken the time to realize how important they are in the development of your character?

Just think about it.... God made a lot of people. And we have the opportunity to find the right people to share and combine strengths and build one another up and to walk together towards Christ everyday. Thank God for friends because without them I would be a helpless individual, stranded in the middle of loneliness, wondering how I'll ever give God what He deserves by myself.

Even Jesus had close friends. In fact, I bet if He was writing this blog he would've listed names like John, Matthew, Luke, Mark, Judah, Peter, and Paul. They stuck together and stood up for each other, gave each other a hand when needed, laughed together, prayed together, and ate together. That's friendship, isn't it? People who love each other enough to sit down and talk over a meal, or share a few laughs, or pray for each other.

That's what I love about hanging out with those friends. They spend time with me and make an effort to show me that they care about me. And all the way, they help me grow. These friends are the kind of people that don't talk behind my back or lie to me. You wonder how I know? Its because we share a thing called trust. And trust is great! To know that around these people I can be comfortable.

Thank you friends for investing your time and energy into my life! You make me feel safe when I'm around you. You make me feel loved and you grow me closer to Christ. Thanks! I cherish your friendships!

Twelve.

I've been thinking all day about a good topic for this week's blog, but couldn't think of anything. I thought about talking about music, but couldn't decide what to say, so I finally decided to put one of my songs (and Jonathan's) on here. Jonathan and I wrote this song last summer and made a few adjustments recently. I'll probably put more of my songs on here as time passes. Tell me what you think and maybe I will show you how it goes sometime.

[I couldn't get the chords to show up right, but so you know and if you even care, it's in the key of G.]

Here's Our Song

Words and music by

Jonathan Pillow & Timothy Hill

Verse 1:
When the righteous see our God in action; they’ll laugh, they’ll sing!
They’ll know God’s Spirit’s alive in every generation.
They’ll laugh and sing for joy!

Verse 2:
All the nations bless God with a passion; they love to praise!
‘Cause God gives power and strength to all who worship.
We live to praise You, Lord!

Pre-Chorus:
Listen, Father, to the sound of all Your people’s praises!

Chorus:
Here’s our song, O God!
We lift You up with

All our hearts and souls!
We live to praise You, Lord

Verse 3: (2x)
Let all God’s children prepare their hearts for worship; they live to praise!
They’ll spend their lives in constant acclamation.
We live to praise You, Lord!

Bridge:
Ha – llelu – jah! (4x) (We live to praise You!)
(drums only)
Ha – llelu – jah! (2x)

Tag:
We live to praise You, Lord! (3x)
We live to praise You, Lord!

Eleven.

To type "Eleven." for the title seems so cool because I have started a weekly tradition that could last me a lifetime for all I know. Someday, when I'm at "Five-hundred and fifty-two." I'll look back and see what was going on in my teenage life and laugh a little I'm sure. By then I'll be a worship leader and maybe have written a book or two. I'll probably have a wife and kids, as well. Isn't that cool? Now seems like it's as good as it will ever be and that now IS my life, but it's not. There's a later and an in the future. But it's up to me now, how I make the later and in the future happen.

[long pause in the reading of this post]

I'm reading a book by Louie Giglio called "i am not but i know I AM". It's great. I really love his writing after reading "The Air I Breathe", so I bought it this week and started reading. He says that the real story of life is God--I AM--the main character and true star of time and eternity. He is at center stage in all of Creation, and He wants you to know Him by name. Knowing I AM means celebrating your smallness in light of His greatness.

That's awesome. To know the huge and powerful Creator of the universe by His name. It's not just that He knows my name, but that I actually know His, too. So, we're friends with the Maker of all things. It's the realization that I am small and that God is big, yet I can be up-front and personal with Him that amazes me. And also that since we are little and He is big, we don't need to waste our time making a big deal out of ourselves. We need to constantly put the light on God, which we know commonly as worship.

I encourage you to read this book, if you haven't already. It has definitely changed my way of thinking about life and mine and Christ's relationship. Thanks for reading this week!

Ten.

Do you know what that means? You're ONE DECADE!

Have you ever been just satisfied? Even though things around you may be a mess. That's how I feel right now. My family has gone through a lot this year, as a few of you may know, but even yet, I am content with where I am in life. Last Sunday, C.T. read us a verse about being content, even with unusual circumstances. I think I've made it to that point. Sure there are things that bother me in life, but I'm still satisfied. Things like really accomplishing a consistent quiet time and practicing piano daily, getting things done like fixing my door lock, buying bulbs for my lamps and frames for two of my pictures, and a couple of other things. I'm fine with where I am and who I've become.

My sister, Arin, and her husband, Seth, are great examples of contentment. Arin is a "haircut lady" and Seth cleans parking lots with a street sweeper truck. They teach Sunday School at Christian A/G in Sherwood. They also live in a partially complete home. They have sheets for doors and are living in basically two rooms. They have two cars, one of which isn't very nice at all, that they drive thirty minutes to work and church and thirty minutes back everyday. Despite their circumstances, they are happy people. They really enjoy life as it is. Sure they would like to hurry and finish their house and eventually buy Seth a truck, but for now, they are content with unusual circumstances.

I wish the world was content. What if everyone was happy with where they are in life?

Tell me what you think.

Nine.

Fresh. Renewed. Sure. Alive.

I am these.

Life has been quite a mess these last few days. Thursday I thought I was going to explode, I had so many things to do. For Friday, I had two projects due (simple, but important) and two tests (Algebra 2 PAP, and World History PAP), as well as piano lessons from 5:30-6. That night I worked and worked and got my projects done. Friday came and I didn't even finish my math test. I had about seven questions left. Then I took my history test and who knows how I did on that. 80% of the class usually gets D's and F's on every test, after studying. After that the day was great. I went to Fine Arts and worked sound with P.J. in the Reality Room. And Saturday was great, too, except that I was very tired. By Sunday morning, I wasn't ready for church and I really didn't feel like worshipping. I was ready to nap in Sunday School, SLAM, and Drama practice.

But tonight during worship, I thought back to what Pastor Rod said this morning and knew that God was with me the whole time and that He is taking care of me. After I realized that, I felt like worshipping and suddenly became excited and awake in His presence.

At a certain point of the service, I stopped singing. Not because I was tired, but because I noticed something that I don't guess I've ever really listened to. I heard an entire congregation singing to God with passion. I heard a church that loves God and loves each other. I heard keenagers and young adults and students and little kids singing in unison to the same God for different reasons.

I began to thank God for a worship leader that puts his heart and time and energy into planning and leading services that initiate intimate connection with the Creator. I thanked Him for a senior pastor that has a passion for reaching the lost and for truly caring about every soul. I thanked Him for youth pastors that care about their students and their students' friends and campuses; who have devoted their lives to growing students into rock-solid Christ-followers.

Our church made me proud. Congratulations, First Assembly! You're doing it right. You're doing exactly what God desires from us.

The moral of the story: God is with us in the fire. We just have to look for Him. I found Him tonight, waiting to wrap His arms around me and give me blessed assurance.

Eight.

[I'm not sure, but I think "aspiration" is the "-ation" word of "aspire". I'm going to use the term anyway.]

An incredible aspiration it is, the life-journey towards leading souls in worship....

I'm ready to graduate college and get started in my career as a worship leader. Not to blow off my youth, but to finally become what I have been aspiring to become for quite some time.

This journey has been very neat to me....

I'll tell you the story:

It basically all started about 4 years ago, in January of 2003 (6th grade) when I decided to join the Reality Worship Team. So I did; I tried out with the song "My Glorious". From that point until May 18, 2005 I learned so much about leading worship behind a worship leader and even more about the musical aspect of the worship part of services. You wonder what happened on May 18, `05? I lead worship in Reality for the very first time! I lead "King of Majesty" and since it was the Tribute to the Eighth Grade night (my last night in J.H. and the last night I was to sing on the worship team under P.Steve's leadership as it was) I asked that the other song we sang be "My Glorious", the song I tried out with. That May 18th was the beginning of my great aspiration. The next Sunday night Reality sang in the sanctuary and guess what? I lead "King of Majesty"! That night before I walked up to sing, Pastor Steve told the congregation something that I will never forget. He quoted I Timothy 4:12 (at the top of my page under "My 4th Blog"). "Don't let anyone put you down because you're young." I like that. That brought a lot of self-confidence and desire to do more as a student and as a developing leader.

Since then I've co-lead worship with Mike and lead by myself a few times Reality. The coolest thing is that two times recently I have lead worship without Mike. I picked songs, conducted practice, and lead both services. It is the most awesome thing in the world, to have such a head-start in the thing you plan to do for the rest of your life, and to do something so important and necessary to do correctly, as a student (the people in the world who are considered immature and unreliable in most things).

Also, in between 8th and 9th grade I came up to the church every Tuesday and worked with Pastor Steve. He taught me so many things when we were at lunch or in the car or just sitting in his office discussing "The Air I Breath" by Louie Giglio. Between 9th and 10th grade I came to the church on Mondays, went to the staff meetings, and spent the day with P.Steve. I really enjoy spending that time with such an awesome mentor and role model.

Someday I want a Timothy to come hang out with me in my office and ride in my car so that I can teach him what an awesome thing worship and leading it is.

I can't wait to do it full time! Its going to be great!

Seven.

I like the number 7.

I also like rain. And it rained today.

It was sort of uncomfortable wearing a backpack and holding a tux, bag, and umbrella at the bus stop this morning, but that didn't bother me too much. As a matter of fact, I overcame my circumstances well enough to listen to the peaceful drumming of the rain on my umbrella. I decided once I was on the bus that my favorite sound was rain, specifically rain that beats on an umbrella.

The whole rain thought led me on to remember Jason Dorsey's (AR Youth Alive missionary) illustration when he spoke at G5 Effect, Feb. 23rd, about the journey just one water molecule takes and has taken and will take during the existence of Earth. He made me come to a realization that there are just as many water molecules as their always has been and always will be. And they are the exact same molecules as they have been and will be. This is simply because of the nature of the water cycle.

I'm thinking...wow! This rain that I'm listening to on my umbrella while I have a handful of tuxes and bags and things quite possibly could be the same water that was evaporated out of Adam and Eve's bath, so to say, or better yet from the water Jesus was baptized in, or the water Pastor John spit out when he brushed his teeth with a few weeks ago (thank God for the water purification people at Central Arkansas Water). Who knows where my umbrella water has been!

That's what is neat. God knows where it has been. He remembers making that water molecule. Of all the droplets in the world, he remember that umbrella droplet specifically. He knows where it's been and where it is headed.

Same with us! He knows where we've been and exactly where we're going. He cares about us and wouldn't let us go down some other "water molecule's" path.

Don't worry. God is on your side. He'll never let you go. You are His. He knows exactly who you are and He cares enough to send you the right direction, just like he knows about the rain I like to listen to.

I hope you like my analogy. It's quite a bit different, but I kind of like it.

Have a great week!

Six.

Okay, P.Rod this post is for you! Haha.

Since we're getting ready to have our 3rd Connect With God Night this Sunday, I've decided to talk about worship.

Now, obviously, I love to worship and to express my worship with music. But, what is my music compared to my entire life? Why do we find ourselves so often leaving out the key part of why we were created?

If you made a world with living beings, wouldn't you want those beings that you put so much effort into and care so much about to give you credit for making them and to recognize your superiority? I know I would. Think about how God feels when we, His living beings, don't give Him credit for our lives and recognize how big and mighty He is. I'd be frustrated if I were Him. I'd want at least a little bit of love from my people.

That's what God wants: love, worship.

That's worship! It's love and recognition for God's existance. He made us to love Him and give Him the glory. And not just some of the glory, but all of the glory we can give. He expects us to live our everyday lives for His glory. Not just during our 10 minute quiet time; or only when we sing in the car; or just when we go to church--but all the time! He takes care of us all the time, so why can't we worship Him all the time?

I want to make God a bigger part of who I am. I want Him to be my style; the way I look and act. I want God as deep in my heart as I can get Him. I want to worship. And not just sing songs and read the Bible and pray, but to live and breathe Godliness, holiness.

Five.

Procrastination....

I'm actually, believe it or not, a procrastinator. I basically only do what I feel like doing or what seems fun to me.

That's bad, I know. I always say to myself, 'Oh, I'll do that right after I...' or 'I need to get that done' or write down in my school planner "work on ____ project," but almost every single time, I don't do it right after anything or get it done early or work on projects. Basically, I wait until the night before something is due and then do it real quick, praying all the while that I finish and that I'll get a good grade.

That stinks. I don't like being a procrastinator. So don't think I was boasting about my incredible skills of putting things off just then. I wasn't.

Pretty much, I'm expecting some good advice or encouragement to stop putting things off.

Anything to say...?

Four.

I'll start off with this...

I hate school.

There. I said it. I actually feel a little better now that I've just vented that. Actually, since saying it was so relieving, I think I'll elaborate a little on the subject.

I am personally not a big fan of homework. I think that's the whole problem with school. I think students would love going to school if they didn't have to worry about turning in incomplete homework or just not turning in any homework at all. I mean, let's face it: we don't like sitting for 8 hours everyday listening to and doing pointless paperwork for bogus teachers who care less about how we're going to die when our parents see the D we have on our PAP Algebra 2 exam, only to find out that in half of our classes the man/lady decided that it was necessary for us to do more work at home during our remaining 5 or 6 hours of the day.

Seriously, though, the average adult doesn't bring home their actual job to finish during their free time everyday. Sure maybe they talk about it or bring something home every now and then, but not every stinkin' day. That would be stupid. Right? Right.

So, I think school is dumb because we have homework. That's why. Not because of bullies or mean teachers or gross food at lunch or too many rules or something, but pretty much just because we have to do 15 algebra problems in math, write about 20 dead people in history, answer 50 questions about Julius Caesar in English, do a confusing packet in science, and copy 25 Spanish vocabulary terms from the text book to a spiral notebook, it seems like, every time you turn around. And what really bothers me is that some teachers have the nerve to give me that much on a Wednesday night. Just in case you haven't noticed, I'm a little busy on Wednesday nights. I got some praisin' to take care of that night of the week.

Pretty much my current homework status is that I have 16 really extensive problems in PAP ALgebra 2 (because Mr. Dare thought we needed some math to hold us over incase it snowed), 18 questions in PAP World History (because Ms. Manees thought we needed some busy work to hold us over incase it snowed), All-State choir music that needs to be learned for the postponed tryouts since it snowed Friday, and some Science Fair work to do for PAP Biology. (I haven't started on any of it yet....)

Lord, help me not fail math. Mr. Dare says in order to do well in his class we need to study 30 minutes everyday. I don't like that. That is boring and truly a waste of my time, considering that I don't even remember what we talked about a week ago in his class. But whatever....

I can't wait for 2009, and then for 2013. NO MORE HOMEWORK! WOO HOO!

Ummm.... I guess I've ran out of words to complain. Sorry for my negativity. Have a great week!? Uhhh....

Okay, bye.

Three.

Last night, I had the opportunity to hang out with Coy and Jay Paul, some deaf members of our church. I didn't realize how fun sign language really is until last night. The group consisted of me, John Rennard, a friend of his (that I don't know), Julie Derden, Stephanie Ott, Coy, and Jay Paul. I had such an awesome time getting to know Coy and Jay Paul and learning more and more sign language as the night progressed. I'm actually surprised that I know as much as I know now, just from one night and a few other times hanging out with John and Stephanie.

Coy and Jay Paul are such great people. I'd met them before and signed the few words I knew then, but I'd never really gotten to know them until last night.

Friendship makes me very happy. I really like relationships. Its so much fun to spend time in fellowship with other people. That's why I love our church. Everyone loves each other and really cares about each other's well being. Thanks First A/G!

Two.

Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to lead worship in Reality by myself. It was my second time to do it, and let me tell ya--it was GREAT! I love leading worship. In fact, I plan to be a worship leader when I "grow up." This is what I live for. God made me to do this and I really enjoy it. I thank Him for the leaders like Mike Winslow, Pastor Steve, Pastor Rod, and Chris France that are apart of my journey and who have helped mold me into the person I am now. (One of them, particularly, has made the most incredible impact on my life since I was a wee little 6th grader).

In case you haven't noticed or don't remember me as a 6th grader, Pastor Steve is my role model. I like who he is and what he does. He is the perfect example of leadership. I don't "follow" him because he's perfect and I want to be exactly like him and copy his every move. I "follow" him because he is heading towards God full-speed and is way ahead of me on the same path that I have chosen to take, worship leading. All the way I go on the journey of worship leading and leadership itself, P.Steve is guiding me.

I love that. Imagine what last Wednesday would have been like if someone like Pastor Steve hadn't been apart of my life for the past 5 years. I'm sure it would have been a disaster.

[Thanks, Pastor Steve for teaching me and for caring about me. That means a lot. P.Steve, you have made my 2nd Blogger topic because you are one of the biggest parts of my journey as a Christ-follower, a leader, and a worshipper. Thanks! I love you!]

For the rest of you 2 or 3 that read this thing (which is pitiful, by the way, that only three people commented on the last one...and I really hope more people start commenting on my posts), thanks for reading this even though it has nothing to do with anything that really concerns you. I just really thought it necessary to sort of dedicate a post to the guy that has inspired me the most during my Christian walk.

[Chris, I hope you read this one fast, too, because I wrote a lot again. LOL!]

One.

I've decided to just number each of my titles, so if you don't understand the Arabic number system, I'm sorry.

This is my 4th blog, as I'm sure you know by reading the top of the page. I have an account on Xanga (which I don't really use anymore), Myspace, and a Facebook. This one I have chosen to be my more serious blog, I guess you could say. Here I will display my input on my spiritual growth. So, I might as well get started now....

I am a musician, right? So I like music. Well, mostly just worship music. I figure if I love God and I love music, I might as well just put the two together. So, I like God music--music that I can worship God with and use as a bridge from life and its tragedies to God's saving grace. [At this point, I am amazed at my sweet sentence-structuring skills.] And get this...I not only like to listen to, sing, and play (on the piano) worship music, but I also like to write my own songs. I've written or started writing, so far, about 15 songs. I really enjoy it. While you like playing video games or playing basketball, I like sitting at my Yamaha and brainstorming, doodling with notes, and writing down the things that pop up in my mind and flow out through my fingers and my mouth.

My songs usually show my mood at the time of writing. So they are practically my thoughts attached with rhythm, tune, and sometimes rhyme. I hope someday soon I will be able to debut one of my songs that Pastor Steve helped me write two summers ago. That, to me, just seems so exciting to be able to hear a band play a song that I actually came up with. Wow. I can't wait!

Anyway, I think I've talked long enough. I tend to get caught up in my rambling sometimes. LOL! So please forgive me for using up the last hour of your time reading this.