Today I participated in the Arkansas District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. And thanks be to the Lord, I advanced to the regionals in Memphis, Tennessee to be held February 18, 2006. I was one of three selected to advance (of sixteen auditionees). This is a huge honor and I appreciate all of the prayers and support I’ve received from friends and family, especially Dr. Jon Secrest and my Mom and Dad. This will hopefully be a big step in a much longer process. Stay tuned…
SRay
Tonight we just had our first rehearsal for the band. I must say that I am really looking forward to working with these guys. Justin Sanders is an awesome percussionist and really easy to work with. Daniel, as you well know, is amazing at bass and has great ideas for improving our sound. Aaron Harp - phenomenal. Matt Morrison is a violinist - enough said. And Jon Cole plays trumpet like Michael Jordan played basketball. Let’s just say I’m excited! Furthermore, to watch how God is bringing this project to fruition - start to finish - is really helping me understand his character more. What God initiates, God orchestrates! I would never have thought that it were possible to have all these resources (from musicians to supporters) available to me. But God is faithful. And this project will most certainly glorify him. To him alone be the glory!
Stay tuned…
SRay
The transformation from sin to salvation can be likened to slavery. My ancestors were slaves for land owners in the southern half of the United States for more than a hundred years. Often slavery was brutal and terribly incompassionate, denying African-American men and women some of the most essential rights of life, like raising children and creating a living for one’s family. However, seldomly, slavery was tolerable, especially if one’s job was easy and the slave-owner was easy going. Heck, for some slaves, it was downright enjoyable. Yet the essence of slavery is the fact that one’s freedom was denied. Many, therefore, made the attempt to escape and make it north of the Mason-Dixon line in order to experience freedom. They braved horrendous conditions, constant fear, and various kinds of danger. Some were caught and severly punished. Some made it to freedom. But some, like the children of Israel after escaping Egypt, complained of the harsh journey to freedom and yearned for the old days of slavery, where at least they were fed and clothed and had their needs taken care of.
So it is with Christianity. God looks down at his children, burdened by a slavery perpetuated by a ruthless oppressor, Sin. A slavery that is sometimes brutal. Sometimes tolerable. And for some, enjoyable. But, still slavery. God then comes down in human form to release us from those strong bonds and start us on our journey to freedom. But, the journey is hard. It’s painful. It’s long. It’s tedious. Some get caught by Sin and return to the plantation, where it’s now even harder to escape. And some make it. And some others, like the children of Israel, yearn for the days of old; for even though they were slaves to Sin, at least their needs were met and at least they knew where they stood.
Some days I feel like the children of Israel, wondering if this harsh journey of transformation is any better than the slavery I just left. For I have been caught many times. The only difference is: I actually walked back. But only to escape again, hard as it may be. And all the while wondering if the destination will justify this sometimes awful journey. If I were to ask a slave who escaped to freedom, “Was it worth it?” No doubt he would exclaim, “Heck yes!” And likewise, when we reach salvation, perhaps someone will ask us, “Was it worth the struggle?” And in our unspeakable joy, we would reply, “What struggle?”
SRay
God is infected with that same vision disease that makes earthly parents see their kids as far more than they really are. Always talking about ‘em. Always seeing their accomplishments and strengths, never their failures and weaknesses. Yep. That’s God, too. The only thing is that we have to accept the vision along with God if we expect it to come to fruition.
SRay
John was a pretty weird cat. You know, that whole livng in the desert while wearing camel and eating locusts and wild honey thing. Lol. But, he really knew his purpose. In fact, that was all that ever came out of his mouth: what he was here for. And of course, that one statement he made that we should all live up to: He must increase. I must decrease. (John 4:30). Indeed, John. You got it.
SRay
