Realization about Service

I have been praying throughout this week about where/who/what I should do after school. Today I realized that many of the variables that I have been evaluating have to do with others opinions. They relate to how others will respond when I tell them I am going to do "x". If I tell folks I am going to travel around the country working on farms, they will respond with the impression that I am some really cool, earthy, adventuresome guy. If I tell them I am going to work from some Fortune 500 company that they know about, then they will be impressed at my skill, ability, ambition, etc. If I tell people that I do not really have a plan but I know everything will turn out just fine, then I come across as either lazy or super chill and carefree. I evaluate the options that I on the basis of how others will react.

Today I remembered how this is a choice that effects only a portion of my life and will help guide my future through good and bad experiences. This decision is about where I will be able to grow as an Engineer, grow as a servant of co-workers, grow as a leader, and most importantly Love and care for everyone that I interact with. Work is an act of service and not a competition of status! Therefore I feel 100% peace about returning to my Co-op company as a full time employee. I know the good and bad aspects about this company but moreover I I see it as a place that can utilize my skills.

Long Short: The purpose of work is to serve, right now Sto Corp is the place that the Lord has put on my heart to serve!

All is well in the embrace of my Father.
Paul Shackelford

Rise Again - Needtobreathe

I have been reading a book about the arts and Christians role in creating culture. Steve Turner, the author, asserts a major critique that modern Christian art does not speak about real life. The art created does not sound genuine or have any ties to real life that people outside the faith can connect with. While reading the book I listened through this album and I think that this song does a great job of breaking the mold. The members of Needtobreathe are all outspoken followers of Jesus but very little of the art that they produce mentions Jesus or Christianity at all. Instead they craft creative music, written from places of pain and joy. "Rise Again" steps through pain that occurs in life as we see relationships stretched and torn. The bitterness of broken hearts and friendships is then contrasted with the truth that we will get up from this pain and rise again. "I can see us moving on, I can feel that coming on strong", the joy that comes after the

Twenty-Four - Jess Ray

Lately I have been listening to lots of music and podcasts while working and biking to work. I was feeling a need for some new music so I turned to NoiseTrade to check out some new artists. My favorite thus far is Jess Ray because of the honest lyrics, tastefully simple musicality and overall enjoyable listening environment. While on my flight back to Atlanta I was struck by this song at first because of the drums that propel this song behind the walking guitar. If I were to add drums to a track like this it would have been done in a very similar manner. Once I got past the drums I was awe struck by the simple power of these lyrics, take a read below and follow the link to her blog to listen. To me it was not written for an outward expression of hope or encouragement but rather as a inward proclamation to the soul. As the psalmist often choose to sing, this song speaks inward in a call to stand up and be reminded of truth all to often forgotten. As I gear up for the star

Alleluia - Jesus Culture with Martin Smith

Once again worship last night was Glorious! Had a great day just chilling with my SDP folks from last summer, went up the river and just talked about the past season of life and where the Lord is leading us into. Exciting and scary stuff but it was great to be back with some awesome people who speak some potent truth. Last night during worship was one of many firsts... For the first time in a long time I actually stood while I sang, for the first time in a long time I was singing from a place of Joy, for the first time in a long time I did not care how I worshiped my Lord I just worshiped. Well its not like these things have not happened ever in my life, but I just felt so much peace during worship. So I decided to throw the song that we just repeated for a long while up here, mainly cause I did not know the name so I was looking it up and now I am pumped, gotta buy this album! All the angels cry out, Holy is the Lord God All the earth replies, Holy are You Thi

Letters from Lilongwe

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