Pray for the Midwest: Home is such a sweet, sweet thing

I've been reading a lot recently on the flooding in the midwest that is a result of the rise of the Mississippi River. People are having to gather their belongings and move to dry land...a lot of these people are doing this for the second time in their lives. My grandparents and Aunt & Uncle used to live in Abilene, Kansas and in the 90's this same thing happened. I was little, but I do remember my parents calling them and talking about people moving and leaving their homes. We went out there that Christmas (like we do every year!), and I remember seeing what the earth looks like flooded for the first time. When I think about it now and all that it affects, it makes me want to do something, especially since I'm far from home and miss it. Home is such a sweet, sweet thing, and to think that families have to leave what they've invested their dreams, prayers, and love into is such a sad thing. Not only are these people going to having to rebuild their houses, their livelihood is ruined for the year and possibly the next. Farmers crops have been lost, washed away...I really hope that when all of us see the rise in prices in the grocery store that will come because of this, we'll be moved to serve. 

I was talking with a friend I met out here in L.A. from Louisiana about the flooding and Katrina and the differences. One thing he said that impressed me was the differences in how the people in the areas have responded differently. He brought up something I'd never heard; that a big reason it was so difficult for the National Guard to come in and work was because when they showed up armed, (to prevent looting, and enforce some kind of order in what was essentially a swamp) citizens fired at them. I put a link to a story that is one example of this that is just ridiculous...The midwest is coming together and people are helping each other, struggling together to get through this situation. It's funny that when people work together to fix something, that the media doesn't give that story as much light as the rest of the news. I had a professor last semester that said that the media is always negative, stay out of it. I guess he was right.

Pray for the midwest.

if you seen the leprechaun say, "yeah"

So I finished a song a I've been working on for 3 months. I've never taken that long on any piece of music, normally if it doesn't get done in 2 hours (max) or close to a finished state It never gets made. its done. yay.

The apple of my eye

   I've been meaning to write this out and found the time to do so just now.  I have a song called apple that I love for numerous reasons; but the main line ("you're the apple of my eye") of the chorus is based off a story my mom told me when I was going through something difficult.

   My mom was talking to me about spiritual gifts and brought up a surgeon my grandmother had when she was having her hip replaced. (quick stat: most people don't live too long after having one done if they're over 70, my grandmother fell in this category) The surgeon prayed with my mom and her family before the surgery and my mom just said that their was an extremely calming sense about him that she knew was a gift from God. Turns out he was one of the most well known and best surgeons in the area, and had a track record of having very successful surgeries and patient recoveries. The oddest part of the story was that my mom said that you could just tell that he was going to heal my grandmother through surgery because there was an overwhelming sense that God was going to guide his hands because he had obviously been blessed with the skills of a surgeon and a touch of the Holy Spirit. To make a long story short, his name was Dr. Applebee, which she said actually meant "the apple of God's eye".  She made reference to the Bible and how it says we are the apple of God's eye, and I found that interesting for some reason and made mental note of it. 

  It is actually brought up in a couple of places: Deut 32:10, Psalms 17:18, Proverbs 7:2, Zech 2:8. Deuteronomy 32:10 (NASB version) actually says it a little differently "...he guarded him as the pupil of his eye." Sight is seen as precious by all people; and by saying that something is the object of your sight...or the apple of your eye, you are saying that it is precious, it is something you adore and love. The phrase is used in the Bible as a way of pointing to God's unending love for his children. He has truly made us the apple of his eye through the mighty things he has done; from sending his own son to die for the sins that we have committed, to blessing us with this awesome thing called life. The song ended up being written from the point of view of a boy who sees a girl that is righteous, precious, and beautiful in his eyes, no matter the circumstances of his situation. But the whole thing is a result of the love God has poured down upon us. It's completely weird to think of where stuff comes from sometimes. 

The best things come after the most difficult times. 

Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. oh me, oh my.

So Los Angeles is a cool city once you get used to it, everyone should check it out at least once. I've been playing open mic nights around town (about 2 or 3 a week) and collaborating with two artists that I've met out here. If you've got time check out Gabby Wortman's stuff (www.myspace.com/gabriellewortman), she's an awesome, young, classically trained pianist, who has got loads of talent and a fantastic voice. Furthermore do some research on a guy you will definitely hear of in the future named Doc Allison. Doc raps to the cello and guitar, can sing, and well...I shouldn't have to say anymore than that; he's ridiculously good. I hope to put out some songs that we've done together in the near future. Also, I went to a place called Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C.