Why Aren't you Getting to Know Me?

This is the first post in a series exploring the idea of Pursuing others and building relationships.  Check back each Thursday for more.  


I recently read a compelling article from one of our Forge speakers.  Check it out, then come back here.  


His premise was about loving people, despite their reactions to our love.  


"You see, somewhere along the line we got it in our heads that the call to love the world was simultaneously a call to make the world love us."


"But it’s important for us to remember that love does not have to be reciprocated in order to be authentic. When we define love as a transaction or exchange, it rapidly turns into something self-serving and conditional. Loving you so you’ll love me is not the same thing as loving you."


"Their response must have no bearing on our love.  We are called to love, not necessarily to be loved." 

His thoughts reminded me of a similar lesson I learned last year.  But it wasn't about love; it was about pursuing and relationships - a lesson I had forgotten.  Through this short series, I hope to remember and explore why we should pursue relationships, reciprocated or not.

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Our group had just survived a pretty tough week.  I can't really go into details as I'm sworn to secrecy.  But, during a meeting to work out some of our tensions, someone brought out the idea that people were 'slipping through the cracks.'  Many in our group felt overlooked, un-loved and forgotten.  When this was voiced, I felt like part of that 'forgotten' group - I felt like there we were, a couple months of living together, and no one had really pursued a real, deep relationship with me.  


Luckily, during a talk with one of my closest Forge friends, I was hit with how selfish I had been.    I had put zero effort into building relationships with others, and then there I was feeling sorry for no one coming to build one with me.  I just wanted to take and take, and not give anything.  


Still, I think I would have been upset if I had tried to build relationships and still nothing was reciprocated.  Then, I would have felt like I had some grounds to condemn the other Forge members, right?  


Later in the year, we got "Lantzed."  I don't remember the exact discussion, but it had something to do with people feeling like their 'needs' weren't being met; basically, the part two of our previous talk.  Matt reminded us that Jesus lived, ate, and built into his disciples all day, every day, for three years.  Did He ever feel like some of His needs weren't being met?  Without getting all theological, I would say a resounding "Yes!"  Still, He pursued them fully, teaching them, leading them, giving all He had to make them into leaders; however, their behavior did not limit his efforts.

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I understand we are called to love all, despite reciprocation.  But, I've already forgotten this lesson.  I find myself still waiting for others to build into me.  So, I want to focus on pursuing, and post my thoughts as I struggle and learn here.  On this blog, what I want to explore is:


-What is pursuing? What is the difference between love and pursuing? 


-How did God pursue us? 


-How did Christ pursue us? 


-Why pursue others, and how can we pursue others?  


I'm hoping to have a post on these topics each Thursday so be sure to check back next week.  

BowerBirds | Efterklang 9.25.10

This spring, I made a blog for future photography projects.  I just put up the pictures from last weekend's concert:

blazon photography

Before Xbox's 'Kinect'... there was the Powerglove

So, I'm sure you've heard of Microsoft's latest money-baby - Kinect.

But, 22 years ago, Nintendo had a very similar idea: the Power Glove.  Prepare to be wowed less by technology and more by 1980's marketing:

The Power Glove.  It's so BAD!

You may now return to something productive.

Running: It's All About the Music

So, I am not the leading authority on running, but I have found one thing very helpful: music.  We worked out each week at the Forge, and it was really the first time I had a regular running schedule.  However, I never listened to music while running.

Fast forward to July, when I was finally settled into Dallas, I started running again.   And, my friends, music makes all the difference.  So, here is some advice on what to listen to while you burn away those Ho-Ho's.

1.  Pick upbeat songs.  This is key.  I can't run to slower, chiller bands such as Explosions in the Sky or Moby.  No, no.  What you need are songs with a fast tempo, cause your feet will want to match it.  Pick a faster song, and you can improve your times.


2. Pick songs you actually like.  So, with this being said, don't just go and get all the techno and rave songs you can.  Once, I was surprised by Journey's "Separate Ways", which I had put on my playlist as a semi-joke.  But, it came on one time, and I was able to push ahead, focusing on my love of classic rock instead of my deflated lungs and lead legs.

3. Skip songs as you run.  If a song comes on you don't like / want.  Skip it.  It's your life, take some control!

4. Breathe.  This is another great thing about music.  During that silence between songs, I've realized that I breathe pretty loudly about 1/4 of my way into a run.  But, when that music is playing, I don't care who hears.  So, I'm able to suck in that air and not care who's listening.

5. Turn up the Volume.  This one took some experimenting, but I've found turning up the volume helps me run faster.  You can really get into those songs, you know?  I'd say I usually listen to my iPod around the halfway mark.  But, when running, it's closer to 3/4.  Just one more thing to push you.

6. Pick songs that yell at you.  So, you like your song, it's upbeat, and the volume is up.  The last things that helps me run faster are songs a little outside my usual listening - throw in some Coheed and Cambria, mewithoutYou, Family Force Five... it's almost like a mini-Brooks Beless yelling at you to keep going.




Bryce's Top Ten Music to Listen to While Running:  


- Stretching - 
10. Arcade Fire - Ready to Start - This song gets me pumped up.  Starts off slow, builds in some layers...  But, I'm a little obsessed with this album right now, so it may be biased.


- Starting off -
9. mewithoutYou - Nice and Blue - I've found this hard drum beat to be the perfect tempo for me to start running.  Plus, they start yelling, and man!- it just gets me going!
8. Arcade Fire - Wake Up - Again, starts off slow (maybe a little too slow).  But, I usually just start listening to the song and forget I'm running.  (I want to actually start waking up to this song.)


- Running - 
7. mewithoutYou - Bullet to Binary - One of my favorites.  Early mewithoutYou is screamo mewithoutYou.  At one point, they're yelling in French.  What's not to love?   
6. Lecrae - Go Hard - This one always gets me.  With Lecrae shouting 'Go Hard or Go Home,' I start thinking, "You're right Lecrae, I'm gonna go hard, cause I don't wanna go home!!  ARRRRGH!!"


- Pushing Through the Pain -
5. Switchfoot - Bullet Soul - About the 3/4 mark, I need music I like to listen to and forget my pain.  So, this catchy tune usually takes me away from my pain.
4. Journey - Separate Ways - Once, I was running in some really hot weather, and felt like quitting.  Then, I heard the guitars at the beginning, and had a complete out-of-body-experience. Also, it makes me think of this scene in 'Yes Man' (especially the end).  Works like a charm...
3. Rush - The Spirit of Radio - Again, if this comes on at the end, it's such a surprise.  I end up getting lost in Neil Peart's drumming prowess.


- Finishing - 
2. Coldplay - Viva la Vida - For me, I like a really good song at the end which, I don't know, just lifts your spirits.  I imagine this song to be playing as I run into the olympic stadium or something.
1. Edison Glass - The Jig is Up - Not only my top running song, but one of my faves anytime.  The message behind this amazing song inspires me to finish strong as much as the music.

Alright, now get off the computer, grab the iPod, and get fit! 

Battlestar Galactica: A Beginner’s Guide

STOP.  Don’t skip over this post; don’t just mark as ‘read’ 

Yes, the title of the show (and now this blog post) is SEVERLY nerdy.  Please, just read over some facts about why I think the show is accessible to all.

1. You don’t have to be a Sci-Fi fan to enjoy this show.

            This is not Star Wars, nor Star Trek.  After watching five minutes of the show, you will see it as a demi-LOST, only in space. (but not Lost in Space) 

2. The show is about characters, not Sci-Fi gizmos.

            The producers say in an extra features – “We don’t really care how people will make coffee on spaceships or use light-speed.  We wanted to focus on making characters and a story people will enjoy, not fancy machines.” 

3. “Thou shalt be real.”

            This is one of the first rules the producers decided on when making the show.  They didn’t want a clean, Star-Trekkish ship.  They wanted one that actually looked like people lived (and died) there. 

4. You do not have to know anything about the original show.

            And, from what I gather, they’ve changed a lot of things anyways (which makes the hardcore fans upset.)

5. Dr. Baltar is an antagonist.

            If you do actually check out the show, this is very helpful.  I watched the whole first season and was so pissed at this guy.  But, apparently we’re supposed to hate him.  He slipped by my radar as a narcissistic good guy; don’t be fooled, he’s technically an antagonist.  This will help you enjoy the show so you don’t have to try to like him when you are screaming at the TV.

SUMMING UP

            So, give this show a chance.  I enjoyed the first season (all I’ve seen).  On my (limited) TV show judging scale, I would place BG third – LOST, Arrested Development, Battlestar Galactica, Burn Notice, The Office.  (And if you know me, you know I love Burn Notice… )

Overall, the show has intriguing characters and a stellar storyline.  Also, when the whole human race is being destroyed, some tough ethical decisions come up.  When you throw all of this in the oven, out comes a very intelligent, emotional TV drama.

Check it out, the cool people at IMDB didn’t give it 9/10 for nothing. 

B R Y C E

PS Also, note that the ‘first’ episode was a three-part, three-hour miniseries.  Keep that in mind for viewing time.  Split it up.  Or don’t?

CUBE INVASION!!!11!!!

Got some time to waste?  Want to end up with a nerdy desktop?  Then check out CubeeCraft!

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You’re welcome.

Bryce

3 6 5

So, I joined a cult on flickr last spring called 365 days.  It's basically a bunch of crazy photographers with a simple idea.  You take a self-portrait.  Every day.  For a year.  I began the journey last year, but only made it halfway-ish.  I decided to give it up when the Forge started.  

Not this time.  8/1/2010 = Day 1.  Actually, I’m pretty excited to start again.  I haven’t touched my camera since the end of the Forge in May.  I already have a few new ideas. 

The best thing about the project was it always kept my mind going in photography mode.  After handling the camera, every day, for 148 or so days, things really started to click. 

Now, the only hurdle is – what do I call it?  Last year, it was simply 365days.  But, what about this time?  365 v.2?  threesixfive?  365-2010? 

I’m sure I’ll figure it out soon…

Also, all photo posts will go here: clickmeclickmeclickme

B R YC E

[[originally written 7-30-10]]