Hey you! Yes you, sitting there, staring at me. Or staring at my words I guess. I have something really great to tell you. Jesus loves you, hecka loves you. I mean, like super lots. He did the greatest thing anyone could ever do for you, he took all that bad stuff you did today, and FORGOT about it! Just wiped it out of his memory! He's awesome like that.
Anyways, how are you guys? Nice to see you dropped in. Now that you have, you can't escape until you read what I have to say. And once you read what I have to say, I'm hoping you will get so excited that you will want to participate!
That's right, I'm talking about the 1st annual Sckpanhead awards! The Dove Awards this year disappointed me so thoroughly, that I decided to do it all over again with my very own beloved readers. I know there's only like, two of you, but I have faith in you that you will do me a favor and get other people to come and nominate, and later vote.
The Dove Awards is mostly contemporary Christian artists, with some Country thrown in for an unknown reason. They have the best album awards for each genre, but that's all the love they give to the non-contemporary people. I want to include them in my award ceremony, so be prepared.
The way this is going to work is that for the next two weeks, I want you to read over the categories I've put here, and think of nominees you would like to see in each category. Comment them, e-mail them, or send them to me in some way once you think of some. If you want to see a whole separate category, you are welcome to suggest that as well. Please tell your friends, re-blog this, let people know this is going on! I have enough faith in you readers to attempt this. It's going to be big too, but only if you can help me make it big.
OK, enough banter. The categories are as follows:
Male Vocalist of the year
Female Vocalist of the year
Artist of the year
Song of the year
Album of the year (released in 2010/2011)
Music video of the year
That's all I have so far. I'm not going to announce my personal nominees at this point, because I want YOU to be creative. Here are the rules (yes, there are rules). As you can see, I did not break my categories up into genres. I want all genres competing together. You can nominate absolutely anyone you like for any category, as long as they are a Christian band.
I'm looking for the real artists here. Not the "best". I want people in my awards who are real with their music, really creative, really worshiping, really honest. Feel free to do with this as you want, but keep that in mind.
NOMINATIONS WILL BE OPEN FROM NOW UNTIL MAY THIRTEENTH AT 12:00am. PLEASE SPECIFY THE CATEGORY AND THE NAME OF THE ARTIST OR PERSON YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE. MUSIC VIDEO NOMINATIONS WILL ALSO NEED TO COME WITH A LINK TO THAT MUSIC VIDEO.
Ready.........GO!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Good Music, Good Friday
I was a little indecisive about this Friday's blog. I knew I wanted to do something big in a meaningful sort of way, something that people could get something out of. I also wanted something personal, as this is my personal blog, and I think the best way to express yourself is to tell what's really down there in the dark depths of your heart.
Meaningful + Selena + lunch break = MUSIC VIDEO!
I do a lot of music video reviews on my Tumblr account, but most of those are short, and since it's a daily blog, I don't have much time to write them. I have one review that's scheduled for tomorrow that I felt needed more said about it than I did. Thinking about it a little more, I felt it was the perfect way to reflect on what was done for us thousands of years ago on this day.
I want to do most of the review before you watch the video, which is a little odd I know. But this video is sort of, shall we say, graphic? This way if you can't make it through the video you will still get the message.
Imagine if you will, two people; both with a strong faith in God, both on fire for him, both going in a good direction. They have the knowledge of the cross and what God did for them there. They rely on him day after day to get them through anything, and He guides their motions, almost like a puppeteer guides his puppets. They have learned how to give God that kind of control, and they are totally trusting in what he has for them. They weren't forced, they did this on their own free will.
The thing is, they still mess up. They love God so much, that they try their hardest to do what he wants them to, but sometimes, they still want to do things on their own. So they break free from their strings in attempts to follow their own path. Say for example, like I feel is portrayed in this video, that these two people want to take their relationship beyond the safe boundaries God has set for us. Or maybe they feel like they should be able to make the moves once in a while when it comes to their lives. So they cut the strings off, one by one.
The only problem is they have forgotten their stitches. Before they experienced the love of God, and before he saved them from themselves, they were nothing more than incomplete pieces of a whole, and they weren't even aware of it. When they realized how much they needed God, He stitched them together into a functional member he could use for His purposes. He controlled them with His strings and held them together with His stitches. It was hard to have to walk around with those scars, and sometimes the stitches came undone, but they served as a painful reminder of what they had once been. But despite all this, still they cut the strings.
At the end of the video they are in pieces once again, separated from that which made them whole. But if you watch closely at the end of the video, you can see a hand closing around a needle. This needle to me is representative of God's grace, his amazing grace that no matter how many times we do our own thing (cut the strings), he will always be willing to stitch us back together again.
The song is called Falls Apart, and now that I have inserted into your minds my own thoughts on the video and the song as a whole, please enjoy the video.
[Chorus]It falls apart - from the very start - It falls apart - seems like everything I touch - falls apart - everything around me falls apart - when I walk away from you.
I wish I could but I don’t always keep the promises I’ve kept - I wish I could but I can’t always give whatever I have left - And now its all so clear, doesn’t anyone see whats happening here?
[Chorus]
I know I should but I don’t always say, what you want me to say - I know I could but I don’t always act like everything’s ok - And now its all so clear, doesn’t anyone see whats happening here?
[Chorus]
Everything I have ever been made of hates who I am - I’m so glad you waited - Can’t get my mind off how you could love me - I’m so behind, you’re so far above me - And you’ll always be the wind under my wings above me
I will not let it go to waste - I’m taking all I got, and leavin’ this place - And I will not, be taking up space - I’ll take my best shot, I’m picking up the pace and…
[Chorus]
Yes, I got all that out of this. What I'm hoping to leave you with this Good Friday is hope, the thing that is so often talked about this time of year. Why do you have hope? I have it because I know I have a savior, I see my scars daily, I need His grace every hour or so. I know that he will be there to stitch me back up again, and I'm going to try to live my life giving glory to Him. He's my puppeteer, and I'm trying my hardest not to be afraid of or reject the strings.
Meaningful + Selena + lunch break = MUSIC VIDEO!
I do a lot of music video reviews on my Tumblr account, but most of those are short, and since it's a daily blog, I don't have much time to write them. I have one review that's scheduled for tomorrow that I felt needed more said about it than I did. Thinking about it a little more, I felt it was the perfect way to reflect on what was done for us thousands of years ago on this day.
I want to do most of the review before you watch the video, which is a little odd I know. But this video is sort of, shall we say, graphic? This way if you can't make it through the video you will still get the message.
Imagine if you will, two people; both with a strong faith in God, both on fire for him, both going in a good direction. They have the knowledge of the cross and what God did for them there. They rely on him day after day to get them through anything, and He guides their motions, almost like a puppeteer guides his puppets. They have learned how to give God that kind of control, and they are totally trusting in what he has for them. They weren't forced, they did this on their own free will.
The thing is, they still mess up. They love God so much, that they try their hardest to do what he wants them to, but sometimes, they still want to do things on their own. So they break free from their strings in attempts to follow their own path. Say for example, like I feel is portrayed in this video, that these two people want to take their relationship beyond the safe boundaries God has set for us. Or maybe they feel like they should be able to make the moves once in a while when it comes to their lives. So they cut the strings off, one by one.
The only problem is they have forgotten their stitches. Before they experienced the love of God, and before he saved them from themselves, they were nothing more than incomplete pieces of a whole, and they weren't even aware of it. When they realized how much they needed God, He stitched them together into a functional member he could use for His purposes. He controlled them with His strings and held them together with His stitches. It was hard to have to walk around with those scars, and sometimes the stitches came undone, but they served as a painful reminder of what they had once been. But despite all this, still they cut the strings.
At the end of the video they are in pieces once again, separated from that which made them whole. But if you watch closely at the end of the video, you can see a hand closing around a needle. This needle to me is representative of God's grace, his amazing grace that no matter how many times we do our own thing (cut the strings), he will always be willing to stitch us back together again.
The song is called Falls Apart, and now that I have inserted into your minds my own thoughts on the video and the song as a whole, please enjoy the video.
[Chorus]It falls apart - from the very start - It falls apart - seems like everything I touch - falls apart - everything around me falls apart - when I walk away from you.
I wish I could but I don’t always keep the promises I’ve kept - I wish I could but I can’t always give whatever I have left - And now its all so clear, doesn’t anyone see whats happening here?
[Chorus]
I know I should but I don’t always say, what you want me to say - I know I could but I don’t always act like everything’s ok - And now its all so clear, doesn’t anyone see whats happening here?
[Chorus]
Everything I have ever been made of hates who I am - I’m so glad you waited - Can’t get my mind off how you could love me - I’m so behind, you’re so far above me - And you’ll always be the wind under my wings above me
I will not let it go to waste - I’m taking all I got, and leavin’ this place - And I will not, be taking up space - I’ll take my best shot, I’m picking up the pace and…
[Chorus]
Yes, I got all that out of this. What I'm hoping to leave you with this Good Friday is hope, the thing that is so often talked about this time of year. Why do you have hope? I have it because I know I have a savior, I see my scars daily, I need His grace every hour or so. I know that he will be there to stitch me back up again, and I'm going to try to live my life giving glory to Him. He's my puppeteer, and I'm trying my hardest not to be afraid of or reject the strings.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Fire Music
I've been listening to some new bands lately, which is something that only happens like once every ten years maybe (add it up, I've only been alive for seventeen years......yeah, this has never happened to me before). It's interesting, that's the only way I can describe it. Before I was into Skillet so much that I didn't allow for new bands to take root in my heart. Now that I'm over my obsessive Skillet phase (it lasted for four years at least), I can allow other songs by other artists to have some meaning to me. If you're really that interested, my new musical diet consists of Fm Static, Stellar Kart, The Letter Black, Lecrae, and Matt Maher mostly. My mom's going to roll her eyes, but we will be focusing on Matt Maher for the remainder of this blog.
Another thing that has been changing along with my musical intake is my relationship with God. I have really been desiring God's word like I never have before. It's crazy, I'll be in church and something will become so clear, like someone had their hands over my eyes and now the hands are gone, and I'll want to shout or something. Every time I open the Word, it's like another piece of the puzzle is slowly being crafted, fitted, painted, and finally placed in the proper place. Then I can see God's plan or his love as a whole, how he was indeed faithful again, and I fall a little deeper in love with him.
Why did all this awesomeness start happening after I stopped obsessing over Skillet?
So anyway, I've been listening to Matt Maher after I saw him in concert. I had no idea who he was, and honestly, with Thousand Foot Krutch yet to hit the stage, I didn't want to know. But I was drawn in by the sincere worship coming out of this guy, and how can I not want to worship my God! Check it:
Yes, I'm just showing off my pictures, thank you for asking. Long story short, I decided to pick up his album sometime in the near future. Well, I just did that very thing this past Saturday, and it was worth my money.
His worship is different than most contemporary Christin artists. Most of the time, I find myself listening to K-Love or some other Christian radio station, and I agree with everything the lyrics say, but it's....shallow. If I'm going to listen to something slower, it needs to have some, some, what's the word, *makes squeezing motion with hands*, muchness. Ugh, why did I say that? I hate that movie.
What I'm trying to say is Matt Maher challenges me. It sounds to me like most artists on K-Love are speaking to the unbeliever, or perhaps the believer who is feeling like giving up. Matt Maher (can he make his name easier to type?) seems to be talking more to me, as someone who is on a God high right now, wondering how I can get more of him. "We lift high, the banner of the cross! There is no greater love than this, no love but this. Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, there is no greater love than this, no love but his!" Yes! I want to shout that to some guy on the street or something, you know? It's a matter of getting even more excited, even more in love, even more on fire. Because I am doing pretty good right now, but I know I can be better. I know there is more love and fire in me, waiting to get out.
"Sing, sing for faith. Sing for hope. Sing for what great love has done. What was lost, he has found. Shout it out!" HAA! There it is, the shouting! I knew I wasn't the only one.
For me, right now, being on fire is a matter of attitudes toward my family, getting my chores done, doing the best I can in school, and giving all my effort in the worship team. Do I always enjoy doing it? No, but it's becoming easier, like I'm building some muscles. Sometimes I'm sore, and I don't feel like using those muscles, but God reminds me how good I feel when I tell my mom I love her, when my school's completely finished, when I put that last load of laundry away, when I see someone with their hands raised to the Lord, and suddenly, it's not so hard.
Another thing that has been changing along with my musical intake is my relationship with God. I have really been desiring God's word like I never have before. It's crazy, I'll be in church and something will become so clear, like someone had their hands over my eyes and now the hands are gone, and I'll want to shout or something. Every time I open the Word, it's like another piece of the puzzle is slowly being crafted, fitted, painted, and finally placed in the proper place. Then I can see God's plan or his love as a whole, how he was indeed faithful again, and I fall a little deeper in love with him.
Why did all this awesomeness start happening after I stopped obsessing over Skillet?
So anyway, I've been listening to Matt Maher after I saw him in concert. I had no idea who he was, and honestly, with Thousand Foot Krutch yet to hit the stage, I didn't want to know. But I was drawn in by the sincere worship coming out of this guy, and how can I not want to worship my God! Check it:
Yes, I'm just showing off my pictures, thank you for asking. Long story short, I decided to pick up his album sometime in the near future. Well, I just did that very thing this past Saturday, and it was worth my money.
His worship is different than most contemporary Christin artists. Most of the time, I find myself listening to K-Love or some other Christian radio station, and I agree with everything the lyrics say, but it's....shallow. If I'm going to listen to something slower, it needs to have some, some, what's the word, *makes squeezing motion with hands*, muchness. Ugh, why did I say that? I hate that movie.
What I'm trying to say is Matt Maher challenges me. It sounds to me like most artists on K-Love are speaking to the unbeliever, or perhaps the believer who is feeling like giving up. Matt Maher (can he make his name easier to type?) seems to be talking more to me, as someone who is on a God high right now, wondering how I can get more of him. "We lift high, the banner of the cross! There is no greater love than this, no love but this. Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, there is no greater love than this, no love but his!" Yes! I want to shout that to some guy on the street or something, you know? It's a matter of getting even more excited, even more in love, even more on fire. Because I am doing pretty good right now, but I know I can be better. I know there is more love and fire in me, waiting to get out.
"Sing, sing for faith. Sing for hope. Sing for what great love has done. What was lost, he has found. Shout it out!" HAA! There it is, the shouting! I knew I wasn't the only one.
For me, right now, being on fire is a matter of attitudes toward my family, getting my chores done, doing the best I can in school, and giving all my effort in the worship team. Do I always enjoy doing it? No, but it's becoming easier, like I'm building some muscles. Sometimes I'm sore, and I don't feel like using those muscles, but God reminds me how good I feel when I tell my mom I love her, when my school's completely finished, when I put that last load of laundry away, when I see someone with their hands raised to the Lord, and suddenly, it's not so hard.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Christ Dependent: The Road To Life Productions
Here it is, the official launch of The Road To Life videos on the Sckpanhead blog.
Friday, April 8, 2011
?????????
For the first time in a long time, I had no idea what to write for this week's blog. It may have something to do with this being the first time I've had a release date, and of course I am totally without a topic. That's just the way it goes. But it's at times like these that I come up with my best stuff, when there's nothing hindering me from speaking what's already there. When I write a blog, or a paper, or a short story, there's always a topic, something that gives direction to the article of speech. There's a problem or a thought that is discussed, talked about, or simply dwelled apon. But this week, there was no such topic.
I waited, looked, and even prayed for a topic that would make the kind of impact I'm trying to acheive through my blog. I toyed with the idea of doing another blog about boys, but I didn't feel like this was the right time for me to be focusing on that. I considered a music video review, but I wanted something a little more serious than that. Basiclly, I have no topic. I'm just writing whatever comes out.
I know the exact reason why I'm finding it so hard to do something I would normally do with ease. I've gone from not being able to wait until Friday, to hoping I can write something decent and move on. I'm too distracted right now, too filled up with things I don't care to let out. And that's how I always wrote before; I let out what was inside. Sometimes what was inside was funny, so I wrote blogs on hair dryers and blowing stuff up. Sometimes what was inside was technical and needed to be worked out, so I wrote blogs on my new favorite band and why I'm OK with being single.
But right now, what's inside is......confusing. I don't know if I should be happy and sing along to FM Static, if I should be at peace and listen to some Brandon Heath, or if I should be sad and tune into the old Skillet. Reguardless, I think it's clear that I turn to music to try to understand things. It takes my mind off the compexity of my thoughts and turns it to what other people think or feel. I've gone from crying out to God to help me work through this, to thanking him for where I'm at right now. I don't even try to sleep, because I know there's no way my mind will be quiet long enough.
Mostly I'm desiring peace (looks like you win Brandon). I want so much right now to know that everything is going to turn out OK. I want to know that every choice I make will be the right one. I want so badly for every little detail to be perfect, that I'll do anything it takes to get there. But the thing is, I can never be perfect. It isn't my design to do everything right. I am messed up with sin and the desires of my flesh, that every single little thing I do is wrong. The only way it can be right is if I allow God to take control. The only way things will work out is if I wait on HIS perfect timing. He knows exactly how my life will work out, from beginning to end. He knows all the things I'm feeling right now, he knows where it will take me, he knows EVERYTHING. The hard part is letting him have all of my life.
I sat outside on my porch tonight, praying, offering up all my life to God. I want him to have it, because I'm at the point where I know it's useless to try and do it by my own power. All the things I tried to do were fails. I've given up on me, and I'm turning it over to God.
Now, this is not to say that everything will be good from now on. I still get in the way regardless of how much I try to let God handle things. That's just the way I am. But I've been making a regular habit of gathering up the parts of my life I've taken repossession of and giving them back to the One who deserves them, the only One who won't misuse them. It's so hard. It's one of the hardest things to do. But it needs to be done, or else I could get hurt again, just like before.
Father, this life is yours. It's not my place to make the decisions around here. I need you to take all of it. Help me to give you all of it. There's some things I've been trying to hold on to, and it's like an infection, slowly killing me from the inside. Get rid of it Lord. I want no part of it.
I have a new thing in my life right now that needs more than anything to be handed over to God. I don't want my emotions or my thoughts to get the better of me, and eventually take over my actions. Lord, don't let me act rashly. Let me wait, and keep a beautiful friendship thriving. I have so much life ahead of me that I want you to own and use father. I have big dreams that I don't want messed up by a silly little thing.
Thank you father.
Huh, I already feel so much better.
I waited, looked, and even prayed for a topic that would make the kind of impact I'm trying to acheive through my blog. I toyed with the idea of doing another blog about boys, but I didn't feel like this was the right time for me to be focusing on that. I considered a music video review, but I wanted something a little more serious than that. Basiclly, I have no topic. I'm just writing whatever comes out.
I know the exact reason why I'm finding it so hard to do something I would normally do with ease. I've gone from not being able to wait until Friday, to hoping I can write something decent and move on. I'm too distracted right now, too filled up with things I don't care to let out. And that's how I always wrote before; I let out what was inside. Sometimes what was inside was funny, so I wrote blogs on hair dryers and blowing stuff up. Sometimes what was inside was technical and needed to be worked out, so I wrote blogs on my new favorite band and why I'm OK with being single.
But right now, what's inside is......confusing. I don't know if I should be happy and sing along to FM Static, if I should be at peace and listen to some Brandon Heath, or if I should be sad and tune into the old Skillet. Reguardless, I think it's clear that I turn to music to try to understand things. It takes my mind off the compexity of my thoughts and turns it to what other people think or feel. I've gone from crying out to God to help me work through this, to thanking him for where I'm at right now. I don't even try to sleep, because I know there's no way my mind will be quiet long enough.
Mostly I'm desiring peace (looks like you win Brandon). I want so much right now to know that everything is going to turn out OK. I want to know that every choice I make will be the right one. I want so badly for every little detail to be perfect, that I'll do anything it takes to get there. But the thing is, I can never be perfect. It isn't my design to do everything right. I am messed up with sin and the desires of my flesh, that every single little thing I do is wrong. The only way it can be right is if I allow God to take control. The only way things will work out is if I wait on HIS perfect timing. He knows exactly how my life will work out, from beginning to end. He knows all the things I'm feeling right now, he knows where it will take me, he knows EVERYTHING. The hard part is letting him have all of my life.
I sat outside on my porch tonight, praying, offering up all my life to God. I want him to have it, because I'm at the point where I know it's useless to try and do it by my own power. All the things I tried to do were fails. I've given up on me, and I'm turning it over to God.
Now, this is not to say that everything will be good from now on. I still get in the way regardless of how much I try to let God handle things. That's just the way I am. But I've been making a regular habit of gathering up the parts of my life I've taken repossession of and giving them back to the One who deserves them, the only One who won't misuse them. It's so hard. It's one of the hardest things to do. But it needs to be done, or else I could get hurt again, just like before.
Father, this life is yours. It's not my place to make the decisions around here. I need you to take all of it. Help me to give you all of it. There's some things I've been trying to hold on to, and it's like an infection, slowly killing me from the inside. Get rid of it Lord. I want no part of it.
I have a new thing in my life right now that needs more than anything to be handed over to God. I don't want my emotions or my thoughts to get the better of me, and eventually take over my actions. Lord, don't let me act rashly. Let me wait, and keep a beautiful friendship thriving. I have so much life ahead of me that I want you to own and use father. I have big dreams that I don't want messed up by a silly little thing.
Thank you father.
Huh, I already feel so much better.
Monday, April 4, 2011
My Own Crazy Mary
I decided today that I don't care what they say about you.
I like you, and that's all that matters.
I pray for you, I think of you, I know that you're there, and I want to like you, I really do.
But I hesitated for so long.
I didn't want to have anything to do with you, and it was all because I listened.
I listened to the stuff they said about you, and some of it might be true.
I know some of it is true.
But there's a God who loves you with all his heart, reguardless of what you've done.
I want to care for you like he does, not taking into account your actions.
Today, I promise to stop being judgemental.
I promise to pray for you more, I promise to be the person God wants me to be towards you.
I won't look away this time.
Crazy Mary, by FM Static
"Crazy Mary is a slogan who looks up to no one
Would do anything for a cold one
Wishes she could find her way home
Got the look on her face and the stare of a ray gun
We walked by everyday
And I wish there was something I could do for her
Maybe if, I took a little time to talk
Then she’d heal a little if she wants to
She can run, but let’s teach her how to walk away now
I’ll, shake a little if she wants to
She’ll, laugh a little if she needs to
There’s a key to the door that she’s hiding behind
She watches the world pass her by like a freight train
And they all call her the same names
Laughing as they point and stare at her
So she cries, out to God up in heaven
Been praying since she was eleven
For Him to send someone to meet her there
And who knows of her thoughts and her dreams
And ideas she’s got And contains inside,
She’s so broken apart
And her heart is still looking for some way to feel alright, alright, feel alright"
Alright.....
I like you, and that's all that matters.
I pray for you, I think of you, I know that you're there, and I want to like you, I really do.
But I hesitated for so long.
I didn't want to have anything to do with you, and it was all because I listened.
I listened to the stuff they said about you, and some of it might be true.
I know some of it is true.
But there's a God who loves you with all his heart, reguardless of what you've done.
I want to care for you like he does, not taking into account your actions.
Today, I promise to stop being judgemental.
I promise to pray for you more, I promise to be the person God wants me to be towards you.
I won't look away this time.
Crazy Mary, by FM Static
"Crazy Mary is a slogan who looks up to no one
Would do anything for a cold one
Wishes she could find her way home
Got the look on her face and the stare of a ray gun
We walked by everyday
And I wish there was something I could do for her
Maybe if, I took a little time to talk
Then she’d heal a little if she wants to
She can run, but let’s teach her how to walk away now
I’ll, shake a little if she wants to
She’ll, laugh a little if she needs to
There’s a key to the door that she’s hiding behind
She watches the world pass her by like a freight train
And they all call her the same names
Laughing as they point and stare at her
So she cries, out to God up in heaven
Been praying since she was eleven
For Him to send someone to meet her there
And who knows of her thoughts and her dreams
And ideas she’s got And contains inside,
She’s so broken apart
And her heart is still looking for some way to feel alright, alright, feel alright"
Alright.....
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