Music that's new...to me.

I am always look for new music to listen to. I usually find something I love and listen to it until I get sick of it. I am not of fan of radio stations whatsoever, even though I listen to them in the car. The trouble is, they play the same thing all the time! However, this weekend my interest was peeked by hearing a song by Foster the People. So, what do I do? Make a station on Pandora of course. This is a good way to find more music of that genre and I've done just that. I was introduced to Daft Punk by Claudio and the station has played a few of their tunes among many other bands. Check out this one:

New Things Everyday

Wow, what an adventure it has been since moving up to NKY. I feel like each day contains a new experience and the need to be flexible. With my new job as a recruiter for a tutoring program, I have had to change plans or ideas at the drop of a dime. Since the program is new to the area, ways of recruiting have to be different than before. I have had to think quite creatively to succeed at my job when other methods don't work. I enjoy having somewhat of a freedom to use my own ideas and work on my own time.

I feel that I am constantly driving. Along with having to use a car, comes problems. In the past couple years I have come to realize there will always be something that will have to get fixed, but it's not fun when it happens all the same week! I had to have my whole wind shield replaced due to a random crack. Then, today my wind shield wiper broke while driving on the highway in the rain. The situation might seem comical in the future, but today it was just one more straw on the camel's back. The second time I pulled over to re-attach my wiper, a police officer finally noticed me (he was under the bridge as well, watching traffic speed due to the construction). The fact that he seemed preoccupied with getting his uniform dirty made me chuckle inside. Thus is life I suppose.

This past weekend Claudio and I visited 7 Hills Church. It was an interesting service involving the use of a recent movie to go along with the message about pride. We will continue to check out churches and see which fits the best. Not to mention, we both received Starbucks gift cards for filling out some new guest info!

I try not to think of all that I want to complete before the end of the year or I know I will get stressed. Studying for the GRE, trying to get art back in my life where it belongs, network with people, get involved in the community... the list goes on. Although it is good to know what I want to achieve, I have come to find that right now in this phase of my life, I need to take each day at a time. I think God is just trying to show me to completely trust in Him even though everything else tells me I should be stressing out to the max.

One. Day. At. A. Time.

"The Barbarian Way"

Another week, another book. Thanks goes to Ashley for leaving some of her books here in the apartment! I just recently finished reading The Barbarian Way by Erwin Raphael McManus. In this book, "McManus calls you to return to the ancient, primal, and dangerous faith of Jesus and His early disciples. Let go of a sanitized Christianity and get back to the powerful, raw, and ancient faith that chooses revolution over compromise, peril over safety, and passion over lukewarm and watered-down religion."

Ok, I understand this may sound a little scary. Believe me, it is definitely worth a read. McManus presents to the reader a different way of going about life as a Christian, a not so safe way. After reading some reviews, I can see many people mistook what he was trying to say with this book. I don't think the author is leading us to get ourselves killed by our faith, but rather to take more risks and ultimately have a conversation with God.

I agree with McManus in that somewhere along the way, Christianity became tamed. Many of us think it is supposed to be an easy life, one of certainty, routines, reaching others in a conventional way. Matthew 10:16 says "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." 


The author talks a lot about John the Baptist. This was a guy that wore animal skins and ate bugs and honey. Wouldn't you want to hang out with him? He was quite a character, but I think he realized God didn't mean for us to live a "safe" life. We have to live out our faith, in whatever way God asks us to. Sometimes this may mean moving to another country or just showing love to people in our community that get no care.


When the word "barbarian" comes to mind, we probably think of someone thrashing through, on a mission to do something with no care of the consequences. I don't think this is how we should interpret this book. McManus shows us a good analogy of how we should be barbarians: to be like a rhino. Apparently rhinos can only see ahead of them 30 miles. Does that stop them from running as fast as they can? No, because they are armed with a huge horn on their heads! Just like rhinos, we are uncertain of what may come, but we are armed with Jesus himself. 

"Sex God"

Unless you have heard of Rob Bell, you're probably thinking "Sex God? What is this book about?" Well, Rob Bell is a pastor and author of several books, including Sex God. This is the first book of his I have read, although I watched many of his videos while in youth group and campus ministry. This book focuses on sexuality and how it relates to God in many ways.

"Something deeper. Something behind it all. You can't talk about sexuality without talking about how we were made. And that will inevitably lead you to who made us. At some point you have to talk about God."

I know there are many people out there that feel like sex could not have possibly been created by God. It is a controversial issue among Christians and non-Christians alike. I think if we all just came back to the fundamental reason why God created sex and sexuality, we would be much better off.

Angels and animals. We are neither, says Bell. If we try to be either, we ruin ourselves. If we follow the animal instinct of using sex solely for our desires, we will soon realize it is nothing but harming ourselves. But, if we act as angels whom have no sexuality, and ignore it completely, we fail to acknowledge we are humans.

Bell also discusses how the Bible treated sex in Biblical times. Sex=marriage. Couples used a "chuppah" (pronounced huppah) during the wedding ceremony. This was a prayer shawl connected to poles and the couple would stand underneath. This was to resemble God hover over the couple and their intimate, private marriage. After the ceremony, the couple would consummate their marriage before the celebration. Although this seems very strange to our culture, it represents what sex really means: marriage to one another.

Don't get me wrong, this book is not focused on "saving oneself for marriage." I think Bell leaves that for one's own interpretation. But he does discuss much about sexuality and how it relates to our humanity and God. Whatever your stance on sexuality, I encourage you to take a look at this book. It brings up many ideas I was not aware of, and I see as very important in living a life in-tune with our Creator.

"But is it art?" -a short review

I finished up reading this book last week; it was a quick yet thought provoking read. I had read a couple things from Freeland in some of my art history classes and always enjoyed her. Freeland writes in a way that is very easy to understand but she brings up many points. In this book in particular, she focuses on different art theories.

Many of these theories come from well-known philosophers such as Kant, Plato, and Danto. Most of these philosophers have their own stance on aesthetics and what makes something beautiful. But what is it about certain art that uses blood, urine, and violent subject matter, to also be deemed beautiful? Two examples she used for this were Serrano's Piss Christ and Goya's Saturn. These works have been controversial for years, I encourage you to take a look without making any judgments before reading about the concepts.

Freeland also discusses how culture plays a part in what makes something beautiful and/or art. For instance, Andy Warhol's work would not make much sense to a culture unfamiliar with Campbell's soup.  She also brings up how gender plays a role in what makes a work art and how it is viewed. 

Freeland discusses the Guerrilla Girls, specifically this poster used to bring up how gender plays a role even in museums. The Guerrilla Girls are well-known for their feministic propaganda in the art world. A lot of it is quite humorous, but speaks of serious issues.

All in all, the book brought up many ideas I had not thought of, despite the many conversations in class about what art really is.  It seems people have many different views about what art is. All I ask is that if you are going to have a strong view, may it be an informed one. So, read this book!

Fall is in the Air

I spent most of my Saturday helping Claudio move in the sweltering hot weather. But, fortunately I live in the Bluegrass state where if you don't like the weather, just wait a day or two. After walking through the monsoon to get to the Cincinnati Labor Day fireworks Sunday night, it began cooling off. That was an experience in itself. I will definitely say that Thunder Over Louisville is much more impressive, however people watching is always entertaining at such events.

This morning I left for work around 4:30am and was surprised by the fact that I had to use the heat in my car! It wasn't terribly cold, but a big change from a few days ago. Fall is probably my favorite season. It reminds me of Georgetown; riding bikes, walking around on campus, hanging out on the benches outside of the Phi Mu house, taking a trip to the Orchard for some sweet apple cider... the list goes on.

I absolutely love the smell of crisp leaves falling to the dewy ground, the warmth on my hands from a mug of hot apple cider, the coziness of my sweatshirt on a brisk afternoon walk. This is the season!

It is also a new season of my life and so far the journey is an interesting one. I am glad to be surrounded by students, undergraduate and graduate. It encourages me to learn more even though I am not in school. Last week I took a trip to the library with Claudio on a search for some art books. Here's my pick I'm working on now:

So far, the book is quite thought provoking and I am enjoying getting back into some kind of "art flow." All I need now is my painting supplies...and oh yeah, an awesome studio similar to that of Willem de Kooning.