And I am flight...

Today was a Monday.

Monday's are the start of a new week, and a day that most people dread. Not so much for me. In addition to loving school (what?!?), Monday's are usually the day that Jason Landis, Jonathan Gray, and myself (a.k.a. The Quickening) get together and create/record music.

We're in the recording process now, and are working hard with what little time we have together during the week to lay down a demo. As of this writing, we have six original songs with a seventh on the way. It amazes me how God can take three individuals, each with different tastes and talents, and blend them into something unique. We each bring something different and fresh to the table each week, and as the weeks go on, I get more and more excited at the potential of this band.

Music has always been an intricate part of my life. I grew up with parents who exposed me to it in different forms at an early age, and was blessed that those parents shared a genuine interest in the music I listened to as my tastes varied as I grew. I only seriously started playing guitar at the age of 13, and have yet to put the instrument down. God gave me a gift in playing the guitar, and it's a gift that I've been aware of for awhile.

But it wasn't until recently that I grasped the reality that God gave me a voice as well. I've always been a closet singer. I love(d) to sing, but only ever in the company of myself (usually enclosed in a car). It was only 2 years ago that I started slowly emerging from my shell and displaying the full force of my vocals to Jason, Jonathan, and on occasion Elizabeth (Jason's wife). I was always expecting a disapproving reaction, but received acceptance instead. Fast forward to a few months ago when our band played our first show. The nerves were there, as I would be singing in front of 30+ people I had never met, but I was actually ready.

It wound up being one of the most freeing moments of my life.

I loved it, and now can't get enough of it. There's nothing quite like belting out the lyrics to songs you helped write into a microphone as you're laying down you're track of you're song. It's a dream that's slowly, but finally coming true.

2010's resolution was to perform publicly. I did it twice.

I'm pulling for a bigger venue, and a little more publicity this year.

I want to be heard. I want The Quickening to be more than just a interesting idea that only my family and close friends know about. I want God to take our band, turn it into a firework, and set it off with the spark of extreme ambition.

4 Years Ago...

Happy 4 years to my beautiful wife and best friend

I love you Sara.

Connecting...

In our continuing search for a new church home, Sara, Isaac, and I went to Connect this morning. The part of the service we stayed for (Isaac lost it by 11:15), was really something awesome, and reminded me of what church should be about.

This is a church that is roughly 30 members strong and meets on the third floor above the Prince St. Cafe in Lancaster city. It's not a big church by any means, and certainly doesn't sport the bells and whistles in the building where it meets - but this experience reminded me that a church is not a building. Church is a group of believers who gather together in fellowship to worship our Creator. Where they meet is irrelevant.

I just find it interesting that I can gain more from a service that meets in a room above a popular cafe, than I can inside a "church". It seems when you tear down the walls of a material structure and strip away the distractions of what churches these days seem to think we need, is when God gets put in the spotlight.

Keep it simple. I don't need the noise.

connectlancaster.com


-joelEo out.

Outlet

I've cut Facebook out of the roster (for the time being). Xanga is so 2006. Twitter is too hip for me.

I have discovered recently just how words can affect things. This is not specific to any certain circumstance, but just a general realization. As a result, I've temporarily cut my ties with a certain major social networking site. It's unreal the amount of time one can find themselves entranced by this alternate reality. Sure you're in touch with your friends, but how real are you being with them when all you're doing is posting spur-of-the-moment thoughts and musings.

This is my break and my retreat. This is my place to vent. This is my platform.

This is my opportunity to speak without hundreds of eyes on my text.

Take it for what you will, love it or hate it, this is where true thoughts will be put to words.

Boom, here we go again.

-joelEo out.