"Clams" the soul....?!?
Here's an inspiring story about the lack of purpose formal education has in the world. John Wesley, the famous evangelist and father of Methodism, was at a church where country preacher was reading out of the KJV and read "Lord, I feared thee because thou art an austere man." Not knowing the word "austere", the preacher proceeded to explain how an 'oyster'-man, or oyster-diver, dives into cold black water and swims to the bottom. He gropes blindly with his hands, cutting them on sharp rocks and shells, until he has found the oyster he is looking for. Then swimming to the surface, he clutches his prize joyfully in his bloodied hands. The preacher used the metaphor to show how Christ came down to the cold blackness of a sinful earth to save us. And His bloodied hands are the evidence of his sacrifice. Twelve people accepted Christ that night. Someone complained to Wesley later that ignorant people should not be allowed to interpret scripture for others. Wesley simply said, "Never mind. The Lord got a dozen oysters tonight."
Posted by A. Whipple at 2:33 PM
Ok, today was the best time ever that we've had. Elissa has said, and I agree, that it gets better every time. I am eating a freeze-dried ice cream sandwich right now, and I think that's just about the coolest thing ever. I am so content right now and I've got so much to do. Reluctantly I go to my room...
Posted by A. Whipple at 10:54 PM
Ok, my roommate has just come back to my room somewhat inebriated. As opposed to his having about half a cup of something, he had seven beers this time. This wouldn't be so completely bad if he weighed more than 130 lbs. He's not really all that drunk, just a bit too drunk for him. He's not nearly as drunk as the guy down the hall (who is walking up and down the hall naked [I've locked the door] ). Apparently my RA is also drunk. I don't really mind happy drunks, so long as I don't have to deal with them, so it's not really any big deal.
Posted by A. Whipple at 2:59 AM
I've got to finish this paper tonight. I'm determined to see Katrina tomorrow. I don't care what the circumstances are (for the most part). I miss her so much! Hazelwood if you're reading this, I love you!
Posted by A. Whipple at 3:32 AM
Thanks sis. I needed that too. That's one more person besides Kat and Landon to add to my list of mental moderators (that is, people who keep me from thinking too much). But I think you were already on that list anyways.
Posted by A. Whipple at 3:30 AM
Yeah I think us having church in that behemoth van while on the way to do a concert was awesome! That'll go down in some kind of history. Brenda is about to be on the site. Since, as far as I can tell, she's in the band now. God is building this thing fast! I can't wait until Sunday. I can't wait until the gigs during the summer. I've always wanted to be in a band, but I wasn't ready for it until I went to Washington DC on a mission trip over this past Spring Break. Now it's nothing like I thought, which is usually the way things work with God, but it's still everything I could have wanted, which is also the way things usually work with God.
Posted by A. Whipple at 6:34 PM
I'm so tired, absolutely wiped. Last night was great though. We all rode in Liz's huge van to the cafe. I was so glad to finally get to see Kenny. He said the reason he hadn't been there was because with Chris (my friend Cliff's brother) there, Kenny had more time to spend with his wife and kids. That's understandable and quite good that he's keeping that in mind. I finally got to see Kat today, we didn't really get to spend any time together though. It's been really hard being so close to each other and not getting to see each other. Everyone we know agrees that we need a break to spend some time together, I just don't know how we're going to get one. Kat's leaving for Florida right after finals, and I'll probably be starting work somewhere (hopefully). I don't know when these gig dates in the summer are going to work out, but I know God will deal with that. He'll deal with everything else too, I'm just really tired right now. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. I can barely think. And to think, I'm taking more hours next semester (if I make it to next semester). I don't know how this is going to work, and I don't want to become one of those husbands that never sees his wife. I feel like that now, except without the marriage license. I don't want to waste my life wishing I could see my wife and kids (when I have them). I hope that's not what I'm training for in this seemingly endless endeavor to get through school. Everyone today is so incredibly busy that they don't have time to enjoy life. People who don't do a whole lot are often looked down upon. But I don't care. I'm not lazy and I want to enjoy my time here on this earth doing things which matter. Building lasting and meaningful relationships with people. Loving people. Not pushing myself to accomplish what will not last anyway. If that makes me lazy in the eyes of the world, then I am reminded not to look through the eyes of the world. People from the baby boomer generation and back are hard workers because they had to be. You got what you worked for and that was all. Nowadays everybody is moving towards upper-middle-class standing. You don't have to work as hard to achieve success. Yet people work more now than ever! Why? The answer is greed. People store away riches for later. People build savings to retire and enjoy. That is the American dream now. Look to the future! Expend yourself now to lay around later! If you don't, your a bum and a slacker! People have looked to a future they can't even see at the expense of the present. Few people live in the here and now. They are either wishing for the past or planning for the future. No one is conscience enough to see the reality of now. People who don't worry about the future are viewed with condescention. People who don't long for the past are seen as ignorantly deceived and too liberal. I hope I'm not becoming either of those. But with all this work piling up and my stress to accomplish it, I feel like I am. I can hear God saying now "There's a time for everything under the sun." Yeah, I guess nows the time to work as hard as I can. It'll be over in a few days. Thank You Lord.
Sorry about the soapbox. I just needed to vent. I hope you got something out of it.
Posted by A. Whipple at 12:31 PM
I wanted Katrina to get to come tonight, but I'm sort of glad she didn't. We didn't get back to the school until 1:00. We were one of the last groups to go, and there were a LOT of groups and people. It was really clear that God was moving though. Phil couldn't make it, we missed him but I did OK singing the guys part by myself. Kenny said that he wanted us to come back sometime during the summer. I think that was probably a huge part of God's purpose for the entire evening. I definitely know He was there in a big way though.
Posted by A. Whipple at 2:32 AM
Pray for those who were close to Becca. A professor of mine said this "The dead do not experience death. Only the living must face its hardship."
Posted by A. Whipple at 4:44 PM
During my attempt at a quiet time today, God gave me a directive. I had decided before that Nothing Done would not play at the singer/songwriter contest at New City Cafe, because I didn't want to do something for the wrong reason, and money is definitely not a motive in ministry (or at least it shouldn't be). I really have no idea what the prize is (or if there's one), but with something like that, money usually has something to do with it. So I had told everyone else that we should play at a regular open mic night but not the contest. Then just today (the day of the contest), God told me we were going to be playing in it. So I prayed that He would keep my heart in the right place and I went and told Elissa, Brenda, and Phil. We're going down there tonight after a concert up here that I've got to sing in with a choir. Pray for us!
I don't want Elissa's friend Becca to become a statistic in your minds. Think about that. A lot of people around us whose lives seem perfect may have a whole lot going on that we don't know about. Jesus whole message about what God wants us to do is to get involved with people; love people. Not politics, not playing the 'game', not money, not ambition, not anything. Just love people. That doesn't mean that things like money are bad, they are just secondary. God looks at your motives, at your heart. He doesn't care what you do so long as you do what He tells you and you love Him and everyone else. Suicide is an irrevocable expression of need. But we can only look on and take heed that people need each other and definitely need God. We can't go back and give Becca the help she needed, we can't keep asking her what's wrong until she finally tells us. But we can do those things for everyone who is still alive. Life is short for all of us. We have as little time to reach people as they do to hear us. Always love!!! Always be a servant in a spirit of Christian love! This is your greatest witness, to go out of your way to do things for another's benefit when you gain nothing, and then to be silent about it. Just sit back and let people wonder, let them question in their minds about why you would do such a thing in a country where selfish ambition is the backstabbing road to the American dream. They will know us by our fruit and by our love.
Posted by A. Whipple at 4:42 PM
By the way, Katrina, I miss you so much. I figured it was OK to write stuff like that since the whole world seems to have it figured out anyway. I love you.
Posted by A. Whipple at 1:57 AM
God is really working, it seems that gigs are lining up on the horizon at an amazing rate! I wonder how all this is going to work out, but God's got it all in hand of course. I can't wait to get past having to deal with school and get onto whatever else is going to happen. You know, I can't wait to get married. I know that's a real change in subject, but I just feel like talking about that. I can't wait to get married to Kat. I can't wait to experience all that comes with it. I can't wait to have sex. I can't wait to wake up next to the woman I love. I can't wait to come home to her every day. Hey, that's honesty for you. I want to experience all that and enjoy the things that God has planned for me. That's not a crime in the spiritual or the legal world.
I am so tired of this school thing I could vomit my brain out. I went to see Josh Hawk's show this weekend. It's The Complete History of America (abridged). It was the most hilarious thing I've seen in a while. It was an incredibly off-color and honest look at America's history. The president of the college and his wife were there. They didn't smile much during the entire thing. That was probably one of the funniest things about the whole night. I've got to write on my paper. I'll talk to y'all later.
Posted by A. Whipple at 1:55 AM
It was so hilarious! We're not doing Simon Peter (That's What He Told Me) anymore. We're doing Impossible in place of that. The reason is because (as you probably read) Elissa and I were up till about 1:00 or 1:30 or so last night. We sat in the basement of Burnette dorm and jammed and sang until we were blue in the face and my fingers were nearly bleeding, because we wanted so desperately to write something, but nothing would work! Finally, it was like God said "OK, I'm tired of you both messing around..........HERE!" and He gives us a bridge to Impossible. It was probably the biggest lift I've had in a while (having so much to do and not enough time to sit down and write). So we're playing that song instead. Anyways, I'll write more later. I've got to go to a friend's show right now. Latte!
Posted by A. Whipple at 7:17 PM
Wow, looking at my post from last night, I seem to have found the other personality that I lost a while back (just kidding). I just got my friend Michael Strickland's phone number, so I'm going to try to go see him tonight before I get started on my paper (again). I'm so tired of Charles Wesley and hymns and all that stuff. I don't really hate hymns, I just hate studying about them. Actually, I've got too much to do to go see Michael tonight. Maybe this weekend or something. I've got so much time and so little to do......wait...strike that; reverse it. Keep praying that God will move in a mighty way this coming Sunday night. We're playing Blood & Water and That's What He Told Me. I talked to Annjanette's daughter Amanda for a while today, hanging out in AJ's office (wasting time, of course). I see so much potential in the youth of today. They're being systematically prepped to work in a high-stress, domineering, heartless world, and all that under the misunderstanding of out-of-touch Baby Boomers and the detachment and apathy of cynical Gen-Xers. So they have no trust in institutions or organizations. They are really searching, and I want to show them what God has shown me. I hope that they will not grow up to be heartless like most.
But then, of course, I have to remember that the way to destruction is broad and the gate is wide. It really breaks my heart to see that many people throw their lives away, but that is what God said would happen. I can't imagine how much it breaks His heart with His great and perfect love for all of humanity. God must cry a lot. He must laugh a lot too. I hope.........I know I'm one of those that makes Him laugh (what with all the stuff that happens to me just because it makes life inconvenient). I hope He smiles at my faith more than He cries at my failure. I suppose He does both equally, though.
Posted by A. Whipple at 6:00 PM
Good night, classes in the morning call me awake. But right now I've got to sleep off a dnL and beef jerky high. dnL is that upside-down 7up in case you don't know. I don't want y'all thinking I'm on some kind of drugs or something. I've been accused of being on drugs, but being crazy just comes to me naturally. I'm either hyper or semi-lethargic. There is little in between. There's probably some name for that if you're into that kind of psycho-babble. I tend to think that no one (especially psychologists) is normal. We all have our little nuances and quirks. I have a few more than other people as Katrina will testify (her and anyone who's met me for that matter). When God was giving out personalities, I stepped up to the bar and said 'fill 'er up' several times over; and I seem to have walked away quite inebriated with life. It's a roller-coaster ride being me (or being around me), but most people enjoy a bit of spontanaety (sp?). I've taught my parents to enjoy a lot of it. Katrina seems to get along quite well despite all of it, and I exude it from my pores. But enough about being impulsive and random. I've got to go to bed. I finished my composition (YEEEEEEEEEEE - HAAAAAAAAWWW!!!!), so I can cross something off my list (Kat made me create a list; I feel like an adult........eewww). So anyways, I guess adults would be off the internet by this time and would not have quaffed the vibrant destruction that is (nearly)pure caffeine. Hey, I'm not completely converted yet!!! There is still hope for the world in my head! They will not die of boredom in a dust-bowl of dreary order and correctness!
I think that's a signal that I need sleep. My brain is coming up with some pretty wacked stuff. We'll see ya.
Posted by A. Whipple at 1:51 AM
God is working..........I can't see it.......you can't see it.............God is working....................
Posted by A. Whipple at 1:34 AM
I constantly find myself moving from being a child to being a man in God; from being one who thinks foolishly to one who knows with certainty. This is good, in that I will never have anything to boast about, for the more I discover, or should I say, the more God reveals of Himself, the more I see that I do not comprehend. But by His nature, He shows me that I do not need to comprehend more than these two things: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. It is quite amazing to find depth in such simplicity when all around us theologeans (sp?) are making grandiose theses and speeches about doctrine and dogma. I must confess that I too often buy into all that Pharisaic nonsense. All I really need to know about God can be explained without much trouble to a small child. That's also good, since a small child is all I am in God's eyes. I've never thought as a man outside of God. I like George MacDonald's writing about the white stones in Revelation. In Revelation 2:17, John writes of God giving the persevering believer a white stone with a new name on it. George MacDonald talks about this being a sign of our completeness, the finishing touch, the glaze over the pot (if you will). The only thing is, every time God finishes one work in me, He starts another before I can turn around (which is really a good thing, seeing as turning around would lead me away from Him).
Another quote of his that really hits home with an extremist like me is this: "Our human life is often, at best, but an oscillation between extremes which together make the truth."
Posted by A. Whipple at 8:06 PM
The simplest and most complicated things on the planet are my walk with God and my walk with God, respectively. I analyze everything so much that I work myself into a rut of despair. Notice that analyze begins with the word 'anal', as in -retentive. I can't begin to describe to you the misery with which I am able to acquaint myself by just thinking too much. As with most things, moderation is a good idea. This is not so with certain things: truth, selflessness, kindness, faith, hope, and love. But a wise man knows when to stop thinking. I, of course, am NOT a wise man. My faith seems to go only as far as I can see, and that's not faith at all. No, there are things that I know, I just have a hard time convincing myself of them when they become hard to believe. But deep down I know them without a doubt. I just wish my heart would communicate with the rest of me. I'm glad to have a Father that loves more deeply than I'll ever know. We get to play at Magna View again on the 27th of April. I'll definitely be praying in advance for this one. God is going to move! No doubt can overcome my certainty of that. I talked to Phil (my pastor) about Nothing Done playing at Salem (my church) and he said we might get an evening service during the summer. Elissa also talked about some gigs at her parents' church or something like that. I know that God will lead us where He wants us to go. I hope that this will go further than just a few gigs though. I know that I'm ambitious, and I pray that doesn't get in the way of what God wants to do. Keep praying for us.
Posted by A. Whipple at 10:54 PM
You might wonder why I'm so honest on this thing. The reason is because I'm human, and that's what I want people to see. Musicians are often seen as these superhumans, and Christians are no exception. Nobody thinks of Steven Curtis Chapman hitting his thumb with a hammer and screaming curses at the top of his lungs. But he's a sinner like me. And he is subject to temptation like me. Honesty will root out the sheep and the goats really quick if you're bold with it. That's why you read about me dealing with all the aspects of my life as a Christian (or at least what I can get typed out in the time I've got), because I live it every day, and I fail every day. Only through the grace of our Father and the blood of our brother Jesus Christ am I saved. Not because I write things or play the guitar. There's no such thing as a super-Christian. Some people have more faith than others, but we all have faithless moments. We all wrestle with God at times. That's why I write honestly on here. Hopefully someone will get something out of it.
Posted by A. Whipple at 7:00 PM
I don't have time to write songs and it's killing me! (The question comes to mind of whether or not I have time to write a journal on the internet) I feel absolutely locked up with work and I need an escape for my brain. It's so ironic. I'm getting the greatest education of my life, yet it has nothing to do with any sort of curriculum. (Oh no! Did I say that out loud?!) So I'm working four years of my life to get a piece of paper that I can make myself?! No, I'm paying for the experience. And this is the downside. Every coin has a heads and a tails. Welcome to the backside of school! I'm going to pull my hair out. Hopefully hiking tomorrow will empty out this crick in my neck (and in my brain) from too much work pressing down on me.
Posted by A. Whipple at 6:53 PM
I'm caught in one of those place where I'm wanting to look for answers, but I know that I don't need to look anywhere but God. Sometimes I just wonder "Why am I so incredibly stubborn when it comes to these things? Why do I keep running away?" It makes no sense to have little or no faith in my Lord. I know His voice, yet I try to tell myself that He's speaking when it's only an echo of my own desires bouncing off the side of my empty heart and head.
At first I wanted to chase after musical aspects of the songs, but I realized that that's not the point. Then I wanted to struggle with it and argue about it, who knows why. Then I realized that none of it matters. We are given truth, and no matter where we are or what we're doing, our lives should reflect that from beneath the surface of our earthliness. We are not prophets, we are not teachers, we are not preachers or musicians or healers. We are Christians, and that makes us all of these things. God will work through us. All we need do is keep Him in our sights. I am a divorcee of greatest proportions in His sight, made so by my own blindness. I love you Lord! You are my everything, and nothing I have is mine of my own design.
Here at the end of the day, I am brought low and made new. After all the noise and all the bull and all my failure, I finally am made quiet enough to see what He has been saying all along.
Posted by A. Whipple at 11:27 PM
I talked to Brenda about being a more permanent part of Nothing Done, and the funny thing was, she has felt since she got to CN (I think that's what she said) that God wanted her to join a group like this, but the opportunity never presented itself. She strikes me as someone with an incredible amount of faith. Ever since her mom died, I've seen a complete change in how I remember her. She's so much more peaceful now. I think God used her mom's death to teach her to trust Him. She is one of the most faithful servants of the Lord I've met, and she has that quiet spirit that so marks those who truly trust in the Lord. I always wonder if people see me that way, because it's not something I can see for myself. I guess it's not something I want to see, humility would be a better alternative, and I have a hard time with that anyway.
We decided to keep praying on the issue and figure out what God wants us to do.
Do you ever have those dreams where you wake up feeling guilty? Ok, I'll come out and say it.... dreams about sex. Ahh, honesty is like a breath of fresh air in a world that's choking on political correctedness. I talk to Kat about these things, and I'm convinced that girls don't have those dreams. I know for a fact that guys have them though. Talking to other guys about that (guys who I trust to be honest and not perverted about such things), I know that guys have those dreams. I hate waking up and thinking "What have I done?!" You have to feel like crap for a few hours before you come to your senses that it was only a dream. But of course if the other person in it was someone you know, you can't look them in the face without thinking about it for around three days.
Guilt is useless.
Posted by A. Whipple at 11:37 AM
You know, I wonder how many people will condemn me for drinking wine. (I've been thinking that ever since posting the previous post [redundant?] ) I have the power to remove the post, but you know what.........it really doesn't matter. I didn't get drunk, I drank a tiny bit of wine. Jesus drank wine, no big deal. He just didn't get drunk (because losing your ability to judge between right and wrong is definitely bad). Now I've heard people say things like "Oh, well, wine wasn't alcoholic back then..." BULLCRAP!!! Have you even READ Proverbs?! How many verses are there in that book on not getting drunk on wine? Exactly! Yeah, wine was alcoholic back then! Duh!
I don't know why I'm making such a big deal out of this. Probably because I'm not 21. And I'm therefore trying to justify myself. Hey, there's an example of how not to be a Christian! Quit trying to justify yourself and ask forgiveness if God tells you something you did is wrong, Adam. Yeah, the only reason you should follow my example as a Christian is if you have one of those 'I think I'm perfect' problems. All you have to do is look at me and you'll quickly find out that Christians are far from perfect.
Guilt is vastly overrated, and it's also a complete lack of faith in God. If you ask God's forgiveness, you must know that He forgives completely, therefore it's not a problem belonging to you anymore. Don't take back what you have given to God.
Posted by A. Whipple at 8:49 AM
I went to see Bruce Davies in concert in an old Victorian mansion this evening. Bruce is a singer/songwriter from Fife, Scotland. He has this deep rich Scottish ballad voice and plays the guitar in the ballad-esque style of Doyle Dykes and Chet Atkins. I absolutely loved the half of the concert that I went to.
It was an evening of firsts. First time I met Bruce Davies, first time I got to see the Glenmore mansion, first time I tried wine (definitely an acquired taste!). It was like bitter cough syrup, and I'm sure there was something better that I could have eaten to go with it. It was a white wine, and I had about a third of a cup (a fourth of which I drank). It was certainly an interesting experience.
Nothing Done has a new chance to minister. Pray for us, we're praying about whether or not to take on a couple new people. We're also preparing spiritually for this new gig and trying to write new songs. I've felt another bit of songwriting coming on for a while now. I can't wait to find what God has for us.
Posted by A. Whipple at 11:00 PM
God put me up in front of my church to play the song "Impossible" this past Sunday morning. That's the one He wrote through me one night really late when I got back from Katrina's house (or somewhere like that). To be honest, I was scared to death. I don't know why. I wasn't scared at Magna View. I thought and thought about it and came up with all kinds of reasons why I might have been scared. Mainly I thought it was the fact that I had never opened my heart to these people before. Being in a baptist church and speaking truth which steps on people's toes is difficult when you've known for half your life what kind of people they can be. My dad has been the music minister there for nine or so years now. All through that time, he's gotten underhanded complaints of every kind from people trying to eat the ground out from under him. Just because somebody was doing something they didn't like so well! I know my dad will always do what he feels God telling him to do. If he runs from God, God will let him know it! Yet people try to undermine him because of their hard-heartedness! So I've seen a man of God trying to deal with such people from the middle of the fray. It's not pretty. Naturally, growing up with that would make me cynical.
So, needless to say, I did not have a good foundation upon which to build an open heart. But they are not the same people they were three years ago. Still, my entire body was shaking (I think Kat was the only one who noticed). I felt like I did horribly during the 8:15am service. For the 10:45am service, I felt like I did better, but still horrible.
All this to say, God still used my human imperfection to His glory. Through Katrina's wonderful guidance in my time of weakness, God showed me that He is all powerful, and in what seems like my failure, He can conquer the entire world if He wants to. Thank you Lord for making me a part of Your plan!
Posted by A. Whipple at 3:26 AM
Many people ask the question "If God is God, how can evil be allowed to exist?". My philosophy professor once placed three main statements of Christianity on the board: 1. God is good, 2. God is omnipotent, 3. Evil is real. He said these three statements cannot coexist. If God is good and omnipotent, He would do away with evil. If He is good and evil is real, He's not omnipotent because He can't do anything about it. If God is omnipotent and evil is real, then God is not good. If you look at things in a logical sense, then that's the way it works. But God does not and will not fit inside our box of logic. That's the nature of His love, His perfect love. He lets us do what we want: follow Him or follow the devil. How if He knows about our sin before hand can He let us go on sinning? If He has the power to stop us, isn't that the same thing as causing us to sin? Of course not! Take the crucifixion of Jesus for example. God knew that they would kill Jesus long before Jesus was born to Mary. He knew who would hold the hammer, who would use the whip. Yet he let them do it and used their sin, their fall to the devil, to offer salvation to the entire world. He used their destruction for good. Even good for them. That is the nature of love!
Posted by A. Whipple at 1:04 PM
I am the most faithless of servants. I do not even know the full extent of the blessings for which I wait and yet I desire them before their time. Who am I to think that I should know all of my days better than my God! My preconceptions are nothing compared to His plan and purpose. Lord forgive me for my failure to be faithful and patient!
Posted by A. Whipple at 12:43 AM
Sometimes I hate waiting. Sometimes I know exactly what's at the end of the road. But then again, it's usually half surprise when I get there. I still hate waiting sometimes.
Posted by A. Whipple at 11:27 PM
Isn't it strange, in a good way, that only once you've turned to God is when you see your complete dependence upon Him. Whenever I miss my quiet time - which isn't this structured thing, it's just my time alone with my Creator - whenever I miss that, this subtle feeling creeps over me the longer I go without Him. I suppose I could define it as a total boredom with everything I do. Nothing holds any meaning or fulfillment. I keep seeking something to do like eat, sleep, watch a movie, play music........nothing satisfies this desperate longing for joy. All the things I mentioned and more provide happiness, but not joy. That is how I define this feeling, but truly what I describe it as is a thirsty spirit. A soul yearning for righteousness, the only source of which is my Everlasting Jehovah. I cannot show you this feeling. You probably wouldn't even know something was wrong, except that I seem to be having a crappy day. But my soul longs for my Lord. Only through Him will I find all that I seek. To God be the Glory! I love you Lord!
Posted by A. Whipple at 8:28 PM
Funny thing. I had my quiet time in an elevator this evening. When I truly spend time with him, God always quiets my spirit. It's great what he can do with strange situations like that.
Posted by A. Whipple at 1:33 AM
I'm continuing to mess around with this template to make the blog look cooler (or something). I should probably be doing something like theory homework or hymnology or something, but that would make too much sense. Katrina will get onto me if I keep procrastinating, so I guess I'm done for now. Keep reading and praying. God bless you!
Posted by A. Whipple at 7:38 PM
I love my God so much! He rocks my face off! He has shown me, even in my haste to follow His will to its full, that I must wait and trust. He has freed me from worry and allowed me (and commanded me) to live life full of love and joy. Mind you, those go much deeper than happiness. Happiness is only an emotion and is temporary. Joy and love run deeper. They are stalks which grow from the root of faith, which is buried in the good soil of and open heart (remember the parable of the sower), which is tilled by the hand of God himself. I will wait on the Lord's command. Until then, I must do what He has told me to do.
We might be getting a couple more chances to play in front of some more people. I will continue to pray that we are not the ones seen. May the nails be seen, and our words be lost in the message that God wills to convey to His people.
I went over to Kat's tonight to work, since my roommate always watches movies, and I can't be next to a TV that's on without zoning into it. That's why I don't watch TV. So I went to Kat's to work. I was so happy that God let me be tempted with lust and then drew me to Himself to show me the truth. God has used this verse again and again in my life - Psalm 25:15. "I will keep my eyes on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare."
Posted by A. Whipple at 1:55 AM
Sometimes I hate being a guy. Being visually motivated makes dealing with lust suck real hard. Being male and Christian in this world.........ehh......He never said it'd be easy.
Posted by A. Whipple at 2:45 AM
I was so excited for people to hear the songs. God was absolutely in everything we did yesterday evening. Elissa and I barely remembered anything about it. I don't remember set lists or hardly any lyrics or anything like that. Katrina came to see us and so did my parents and my brother (he's 8). That was probably one of the things that excited me the most. My parents have never seen me do anything before, they've never stepped into my world until last night. My dad actually cried. It was an awesome moment of bonding. We really got a lot of recognition, and I hope that will help spread the truth in the songs. We deserve nothing, for we have done nothing (hence the name). Pray for us, there are chances on the horizon for more gigs and I know God will continue to use us. Pray that I would be humble.
I listened to Eugene (G-Wizz) and Travis (Seed Co.'s drummer) talking about recording. Travis said that Seed Co. hadn't recorded because most attempts had resulted in nothing worth keeping. He said they weren't interested in getting signed, but they wanted something for the people to take with them to be able to listen to the songs over and over again. Thinking on that later, I felt more pure about recording than I had before. Before it was about me and what I wanted. Now it's more about getting the truth about God's love and purpose out to the body of Christ. There are so many who call themselves Christians who don't understand what they're saying.
I was in my friend Landon's room one night and we were talking about the war and what I would truly do if I became involved. Landon's an awesome brother to me. He's always made me look truthfully at myself, even when I try to refuse to see what I really believe. He showed me indeed what I believed and that it was a righteous approach to a seemingly endless evil. I broke down and wept because through Landon, God showed me that Jesus was serious in what He said. The road is indeed narrow that leads to righteousness, and few walk it. It was so hard to see that so many were lying to their own faces about what they believed. Dear Lord make me more able to discern without placing judgment. Make me not so quick to despise, Father.
Posted by A. Whipple at 1:37 AM
Getting ready to go do sound checks at Magna View Baptist Church later. We have a 30 minute set in this thing a lady on campus set up called 'Jammin 4 Jesus'. We were just happy that God opened a door. I invited nearly everyone I came in contact with in the past two days. I'm sure people are tired of hearing about it by now, but I'm so excited that God's going to use Elissa and I. At one point we're going to get a couple of friends, Brenda and Phil up there singing with us. Pray that we will not give in to being selfish in any form. I love you my Father.
Posted by A. Whipple at 4:32 AM
Here is the beginning. That should be profound but is far from such. It is my customary writing time..........4 o'clock.......AM. I'm going to try and make this the journal place for Nothing Done. I suppose I should start with the introduction to the band. The name Nothing Done was given by God to show us that we have done absolutely nothing to create what is good and that we should do absolutely nothing to bring glory to ourselves. God is the author, we are the pen.
With that said, my name's Adam. Other people besides myself might post to this site (if I can figure out how to fix it that way). Here are a few explanations you'll need. The love of my life is Katrina. You will hear more about her than you think necessary. My sister is Elissa. I'm not sure who else you'll hear about or from for now, but that can be explained as it comes.
Posted by A. Whipple at 4:22 AM
// John 5:30 // we are the pen; God is the author
Miscellaneous apparitions
no concerts
Correspondence
Brenda -
tcshanx@yahoo.com
Elissa - elissakeck@hotmail.com
Adam - adamwhipple@hotmail.com
Accumulated paraphernalia
Caedmon's Call
Derek Webb
Bethany Nobles
Katrina's Website
New City Cafe
Joe Mayfield's Site
Andy Vandergriff's blog
Andrew Peterson
Many
moons
ago
