My Mountie Life: Living With The Lights Off?

- Time to update blog more frequently? Check.
- Downloading new music like a fat kid eats cake? Check.
- Living as unreservedly with my faith as I used to? Uh... could I get a raincheck on that?

Lights Out.

I'm nearing my second month here, and I've learned quite a bit about myself and the people that I spend time with. But with most new things, it takes me a while to warm up to them. I feel sad to say, but until very recently (past couple days or so), I had been very apprehensive about what type of music I played, and what I practiced in my room. You probably wouldn't believe it, but Hillsong just recently started playing regularly on my speakers. Why did it suddenly change, you ask? There are a few main reasons.

A week and a half ago, I was talking to my friend Ashley, who is in second year and also goes to MACF. We were just talking about our favorite music groups (apparently we like the same kind of stuff), and then it started to get slightly more in depth. I told her about my reservations toward playing my music with everyone around, and she told me that when she was in first year, she was also like that. But then God worked on her heart, and asked her "why are you ashamed to worship me in the same way here as you did back home?" This struck me hard. I had never thought of that before. Just because it was easier to worship Him back home doesn't mean that I should stop when the going gets tough. It was a reality check that I desperately needed.

And MACF... I didn't know just how powerful the lessons and fellowship could be from that group. Recently, we had a chapel service that culminated to one of the most powerful evenings I've experienced here. I'll always remember when we filled that chapel with one acoustic and our voices. The group has helped me to focus not only musically, but spiritually. And I never would have thought of MTA as being my Narnia if it wasn't for them too... Now that's given me a lot to think about!

Hmm, back to question 3... I think I still need to keep that raincheck on it. But things are getting better, little by little. God is still everywhere, and I'm grateful that he hasn't given up on me.

The new band

Well the other week, we played as a "full band" for the first time. The new members being Kj and Jorian. I must say it was a little different just because of the new dynamics and the switch up of some instruments but I also found it pretty exciting. For one thing, it is awesome that Jorian, who being in grade 6 can get up on stage with 4 other guys + palmer who are all at least 6 years older than him and be composed and actually play well! He shows a ton of potential as well as talent and I can see him being a huge asset to the band. As for Kj... haha he just took off and fits in like a glove and is showing off all the skills some genius taught him.... Although we only played 3 songs... each one sincerly felt "heartfelt." I could really feel the praise in the songs and was happy that even in our first night, we did what we were ment to do, sincerly worship. As the year progresses, I look forward to learning new things and adapting to the new band dynamics. It should be a blast :P

My Mountie Life: A Home... With Moving Pains

Ah... I love Sackville. That could be counted as a fact now. The weather's getting colder, but the people are getting warmer, and I am thankful for that. What a difference a few weeks can make. I know many of the people on my floor :P, it's easier to be a friend but also be myself around them, and most important to me, my friendship has grown with Kevin quite a bit, from the awkwardness that it once was. I make it my mission to pray every night for him and the rest of Chateau Bennett, that they would be able to see the God that they try so hard to leave tucked away. But enough of this for now, I need to make a new paragraph lol!

My new home.

A few weeks ago now, I found the MACF (Mount Allison Christian Fellowship) group here on campus, and I am so glad that I did. I don't get to go to church on Sundays anymore, which really kills me, but to be able to meet with other Christians is a blessing. I'd finally found a place where I felt at home. But no home is without growing pains, and this one has growing pains a plenty, musically speaking. Perhaps I've been spoiled, or overestimated how easy it would be to find musical and spiritual talent here, but God felt my disappointment when I joined in with the worship band here. We have so many willing people that play a variety of instruments, but I have struggled to keep my composure to be rejoice for their hearts when there is much work to be done. I'm dealing with this on a day by day basis, and I've quickly come to realize that just because things can't be the same, it doesn't mean that it has to be worse. It will grow to be good in its own way, and from there my growing pains will come from. However, I would rather grow than stay at the same place, even if developing means moving back a couple notches.

I'm thankful for the time that I have gotten to spend here. Yes, all of it. There are things that I've had to see for myself in order to grow, and good or bad, I've seen them here. Life as a Mountie is finally showing its benefits to me, and I will try within my beliefs and morals to take, to learn all that I can.

Soon.

I will have a post up soon...

cheers.

just a note.

Song Of The Week - October 23

Hey guys, I hope that everything is going well for you. Before I continue with the post, I must stress, if you guys are still looking at this blog from time to time, post! Make a blog about what's going on at Connect, what's going on in your lives and in your ministry. Remember, it's not just a place where Odum posts, it's for everyone, and every piece of truth, advice or perspective counts. That said, it's been a bit since I updated, but I've had some free time this afternoon, so continuing on...


Show Me - Ohio Avenue, The Sound

"Are my hopes/Are my dreams/More than photographs in magazines?"

Ohio Avenue is a recent acquisition of mine, and while I haven't had the chance to listen their album in its entirety, I'm very glad that I was able to find them. Since the decease of CDL (:O/qq), it's been hard to find music that I can really get into. Kevin here has helped a bit with that, but there's no substitute for music that fills me spiritually. Fortunately I have an alternate site for a time, so we're all good for the moment :).

What struck me the most about this song is how it relates to everyone, especially people that are around our age. It's at this point that we have to make important decisions that will shape the rest of our lives, and then make them again, and again... there won't be a lot of things we do that won't matter anymore. But are we always sure that what we're doing, and what we want to do, the right thing? It's exciting to do things for ourselves, but extremely unnerving at the same time. What if we're running towards something that we shouldn't? What if we're chasing after things that are unattainable? Ever since I came here, I've felt that. I'm afraid that I won't measure up. But I have to trust that in time that God will show me His plans, and I have to believe that he wouldn't have brought me here if not to show me something, or to show someone something through me, so I will hold on to that. In time, he will show me, and I hope to be ready for it.

Show Me - http://www.mediafire.com/?ht1zi5xjgnz

Midterm Time - Post Drought

Just leaving a note to explain the lack of posts :P. These past couple weeks have been midterm season, so I haven't really had a lot of time to get through to doing SOTWs and Mountie Life, which really disappoint me. But after stuff clears up, I'll try and make up for it ;). See you guys in a few.

Song Of The Week - October 2

Bonjour, comment ça va? I'm sorry for not having this up as early as I should have, but I'm still committed to restarting this thing, so yeah. One week till Thanksgiving! I have found out some pretty conflicting news, but I will try my absolute best to get back to Fredericton, I assure you! This week (last week :P), I've got what you could call a guilty pleasure of mine... Matt, if you read this, I apologize in advance.

Turn It Off - Paramore, Brand New Eyes

"I scraped my knees while I was praying/And found a demon in my safest haven..."

Yes. I'm sorry for the disappointment, but over the past few years, Paramore has become one of my favorite bands, not only because they rock, or make songs that are undeniably catchy that you have to listen to in secret. They also make songs that have a great Christian message in it, and something that people can listen to. As well, it's always inspiring to see young musicians make a name for themselves. The five piece band was not much younger than us all when they released their first album, and now, love em or hate em, they're huge. And I have to respect them for that, regardless of what kind of music style they represent.

Turn It Off to me is a song that speaks about our insecurities, or more specifically, our false sense of security, and our prideful selves. What I take from the symbolism is that our lives are complete with both joys and disappointments, and some of those disappointments and hardships may come from places we don't expect at all. The lyric I highlighted in the beginning is an example of this. Taking it literally, you don't expect to hurt yourself when you pray to God, nor do you expect to be in danger in the place you feel safest. For me, I found them to be very well worded. Turn It Off's message about pride comes when the singer talks about "turning off the light", looking at own understanding (you realize where this is going). I think through everything that happens, it's important not to lean on our understanding, or to use only ourselves as support. We have family, we have friends, and most importantly, we have Him. Again, you may or may not like Paramore, but I think that they deserved a mention this week at least for this song. Sometimes when we are falling, we're better off when we hit the bottom.

Turn It Off - http://www.mediafire.com/?fk2mmujyvzz