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April 26, 2007

This World is not our own...but it will be!

"This world will burn up in a big ball of fire anyway...who cares?" I have heard and felt this opinion from believers so many times that it just makes me want to burn up in a big ball of fire myself. Come on people...we need to live with rejoice of what the Lord has created.

I have been reading about the end of times from Anthony Hoekema. He talks about what the New World will be with Jesus. His final work will be one of judgement where we will all make accounts for our lives on Earth. Following that part of the second coming we will live in this very world where trees, bees, bears, clouds...all of it, will be renewed! It is with this reasoning that I ask everyone who believes this same thing to live accordingly. The interesting thing is that if you believe planet Earth will be annihilated in the end, then having dominion over it does not give you a license to live non-chelantly (if that is a word?) with regards to the world around you.

You may not think that there is no truth in the whole Global Warming debate, you may think Sheryl Crowe is crazy to encourage America to use only one square when we wipe, and you may be sick and tired of hearing other celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio giving us their 'Green' speech...but, believe it or not, what they are saying should resonate with those who believe in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Regardless of whether you are of the 'New Earth' camp or are on the annihilation side of things, we live in a world created by God...a good and beautiful world at that. Why not live in it with respect? It's time to recycle, to carpool if possible, to think of ways to help save the environment that may be destined for destruction.

Alright, I have to go...I've got some plastic bags that I'm making into a pair of pants.

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 1:06 PM | Comments (3)

April 24, 2007

Caring is Creepy

I'm so tired tonight from the continuous grind of trying to graduate and continue to work close to full time while preparing Sunday school lessons at the same time. I just want a night off, one that brings connection with others. I will be there soon, therefore, I don't despair too much. I don't know if it's because I'm listening to somber Patty Griffin songs or what, but I'm kind of low...guess I miss people.

This past weekend at church I led a discussion about independent music. I think it went pretty well...it's the first time that I've felt like I've actually informed people of something relevant. We are all creators, He created us to be that way. Regardless of whether one is a believer in the saving work of Jesus Christ or not, we all have an imprint of God. Yes, it looks different in each of us, but He is still there...even if you don't believe it's true.

The best example I can come up with is found in that song by The Shins...Caring is Creepy. You can hear the lead singer's frustration...it is a sign of a longing for connection with others that we all have. We desire to know and be known by others, on a deeper level, because God put it in us. This is an imprint of one of God's many truths.

James Mercer, the lead singer said in an interview, "When I came up with that idea for the title, I was talking about how in my circle of friends you drink and you hang out and you talk and you do all that stuff, but as soon as you start talking about anything real, something that actually moves you or something like that, it's awkward. There's a lot of ways to kill a party...politics, etc. But I'm talking about anything that's heartfelt. That used to grump me out so much-that's where it came from."

I ask the question...what keeps us from going there? My best assumption would be the self fulfillment of pride. We like being liked almost as much as we like being known. But what would it look like if we we're aware that we were known by the same people who like us? Fantastic. I can only hope and pray that God will continue to bless me with friends that choose to be my friend, not only because they like me, but because they know who I am and want to let me know them the same way.

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 12:04 AM | Comments (3)

April 17, 2007

LET'S GO CARDINALS!

LET'S GO CARDINALS...(a simulated fart noise will suffice instead of clapping).

3 and 12...welp folks, that's my record in attendance at Cards games. Since I've lived in St. Louis I have seen the Cardinals win only 3 times. I upped the anney to 12 losses tonight as Anthony Reyes could not throw anything positive from the mound. I kept thinking back to the first game in the World Series a mere 6 months ago when the same pitcher threw for an amazing 8 innings which led to our first win against the Detroit Tigers. I guess you don't have it everytime, but come on people!!!

Why do I continue to subject myself to this? I must agree with Ja Rule, the famed hip-hopper, "Love is pain." I love the Cardinals too much to give up. Maybe I'm saving up the glory for a huge victorious night of majic as I attend a final game in a near future World Series? Who knows? There has to be a reason that the Red Birds don't win when I get inside Busch Stadium, further more, there has to be a reason that I keep on going back for more...guess I'm just dedicated like that.

I had a thought tonight as I was hearing David Eikstein's at-bat song with all the tweedy birds mixed with Ludacris' hard rappin'...my song would be Justin Timberlake's Sexyback...I think the reason is obvious. Have a great tomorrow!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 12:06 AM | Comments (1)

April 15, 2007

The Decemberists Bring that Loving Feeling

I just got back from The Decemberists' show at the Pagent, and yes, it was incredible! But I've got to say...spending three hours with that many people is enough to make an extreme extravert of my stature spontaneiously explode like the 7th drummer of Spinal Tap. Not only did I receive happy energy from all the cool Indie people of St. Louis, but the music itself brought a slice of life to my current reality of endless responsibilities and things to get done before graduation!

What can I say? Colin Meloy and company have a way of bringing you into their stories about characters who are broken by death or war or love...or just unusual stories such as the one about the sailors who get eaten by a whale. The musicality of the band is beautiful and somehow historical...it's as if they spent a summer working at Busch Gardens in the Old-World European Circus and then decided to make a cd...which sounds really lame, but I digress...I don't know what it is, maybe it's the fact that I listen to a lot of bad pop music like Britney and the like, but their sound is so musical and interwoven together that you can't help but be mesmorized by what they are doing.

I have had this same experience of musical elation, if you will, several times as I have frequented the Pagent in the past year. I saw Patty Griffin, Sufjan Stevens, My Morning Jacket, and of course, The Decemberists...all of which gave powerful performances that displayed aspects of the human condition with grace and beauty. Not only did I connect with what each of them had to say, but I got the chance to enjoy them with others...thousands of others. It has been my experience that being a part of shows of the lesser-known artists brings with it a sense of unity, if only for a couple of hours...it's a nice feeling!

I love the fact that we will all be united together living lives with no seperation or baggage, no unspoken issues left to be addressed or racism or hate. I look forward to a day when our hearts will be filled with honest gratitude for how life is treating us...man, what will Chris Carraba do then?

I leave you with the final song on The Decemberists latest cd, The Crane Wife:

Sons & Daughters

When we arrive, sons and daughters
We'll make our homes on the water
We'll build our walls of aluminum
We'll fill or mouths with cinnamon

These currents pull us 'cross the border
Steady your boats arms to shoulder
'Til tides all pull our hull aground
Making this calm harbor now home

Take up your arms, sons and daughters
We will we arise from the bunkers
By land, by sea, by dirigible
We'll leave our tracks untraceable

Hear all the bombs, they fade away
Hear all the bombs, they fade away

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 1:02 AM | Comments (4)