"What God Has Made Clean, Do Not Call Common"

Recently I was trying to find a life verse I've had for a while but I recently started using the New English Standard Version and so nothing sounded farmiliar to me. I was looking for it because it defines me, my relationship with God and a few desires of mine quite well. I got frustrated while looking for it and I said, "Fine, God, who am I to you?" and I recalled the following:

⁹ The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour ^F32 to pray. ¹⁰ And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³ And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” (Acts 10)

NIV words the last part this way: "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

So that pretty much speaks for itself. Peter of course was being told that the gentiles that were going to come to his house were called "family" and to be treated accordingly. So that's really neat, I thought.... God calls us clean and I just thought it was nice of him to remind me

Currently Listening If Songs Could Be Held By Rosie Thomas see related

graduation?

So... apparently, I'm graduating this quarter. (!)

Thank God for Music.

So, finals are over and I can do things like, listen to music, again. Not just as back ground music but listen to it with all of my mind. Here are some new adventures in music.

1) MOGWAI

 - an old favorite... however, there is a new(ish) CD that I decided to actually buy (used, of course - amazon.com) The song on this causing inspiration to purchase was "Auto Rock." iTunes this or however it is you get your music these days. It's lovely. Listening to this sounds like a huge release of something.... like a good cry or running, um, through a field of tall grasses to your one true love. For me it's sitting on God's lap and telling him about how confusing life is as he nods knowingly. Good prayer music. Another good one is "Stop Coming to My House," or "Secret Pint". This being my most favorite type of music, it's weird that I just discovered the name of this... ahh, beloved genra is "post-rock." How assuming.

2) AS TALL AS LIONS

 Completely new discovery. (although friends at work suggested but I assumed it was weird and that I wouldn't like it for some reason... I don't know.) Here's what you do... go to www.pandora.com and type in a song or band that you really like. I MEAN, YOUR FAVORITE! and then the "genome project" will spit out songs you supposedly will love based on that band or song. And so.... based on liking Sigur Ros: I now have As Tall As Lions.

3) JOSE GONZALEZ

 No two ways about it people.... most romantic music ever. Sappy but rainy-day, realistic-love sappy. It's good. Fun fact: this guy is actually swedish but his folks are argentine. So don't get the wrong idea. No Spanish here... that I know of. Listen to "Heartbeats".

4) NOW IT'S OVERHEAD

  Also a product of Pandora listening... All of these bands have a kind of "ambient" quality. Perfect for driving, thinking, breathing... you know, stuff like that. Now It's Overhead is a Saddle Creek group. More commonly known as, "The lable of that Bright Eyes kid, Conor Oberst." I really like this band because their music is varient enough to be interesting but still has that indie rock flavor through out to appease people like me. I think they might be witty too, or at least clever. A couple great songs, "The Book of Love" and "Hi".

5) DEVOTCHKA

  mmm.... I really like DeVotchKa. I'm not doing anything funky with the caps. That's how it's supposed to be. His music is kind of western US desert music as proven by the film, Little Miss Sunshine since except for "Super Freak," and a couple Sufjan Stevens songs DeVotchKa did the entire soundtrack. My favorite is "No One Gets Left Behind."

ENJOY SPRING BREAK FRIENDS!!! - I hope you rest well......... happy listening

Currently Listening Speak for Yourself By Imogen Heap Hide and Seek see related

The theme is Change.

I like change. I also like to be incontrol of things. Sometimes. I like defaulting responsibility too especially when things are out of control. Like right now. I'm realizing just how helpless I am. I've made so many plans and a couple of them recently have just gotten taken out of the picture at least for a time. Basically God has said, "Wait." a couple of times lately and it's a weird thing because I've been fully convinced of how in control I was and I'm just not.

It's been a relief though because when you are not in control of things and you pretend that you are it's a lot to hold up. I must have been running around like mad trying to keep all the plates spinning in my own mind, the notion that I was in control of this or that. The plans I have in my heart. But this week some plates hit the ground and it was kind of a good feeling because I don't have to keep them spinning anymore. Ahh. I love metaphores. I know you have no idea what I'm talking about but that's the point sort of. In short, God is sovreign and I have no idea what's going on and I like that arrangement.

You're Loved,

Beth

Currently Listening Let It Die By Feist Mushaboom (a happy one) see related

"Oooooooold dirt road. Knnnnnneeee deep in snow."

You know. I'm going to be honest. There are some things I could complain about but, while often intersting (especially some of these stories) being the "debbie downer" is never a very fun or generally cool thing. I'm not always concerned about being fun and cool, but if you're reading this I have probably already proved myself as such. I don't want to push it. I can complain with the best of them, but not right now.

And anyway, I'm keeping with the general trend of the last several months that while, yes, I have a few things that I'm stressed/worried over, but joy is one of those things (like love, patience, etc.) that doesn't always come so naturally but is rather a choice. I'm having to make that choice lately but it's so worth it.

I do this thing where I listen to depressing music. I don't really think it's sad, nor is that the reason why I vie for Over The Rhine or Sun Kil Moon over say, .......... N'Sync. (Backsync Boys!!! KB!) I just like it. So, I'm trying this thing out where I mix it up a little. Feist has some annoyingly happy songs mixed with the melecholic type. So I recommend them/her. Whatever.

But yes, I'm acting very unnatural. My personality type is Phlegmatic/Melecholic which basically means I'm really laid back, tend to be negetive, organized, generally harder to motivate, peacemaker, art and beauty appreciator etc. Friends, I don't want to put you in a box. I will not generalize you if you respond to this but if you are farmiliar with the four personality types: Melencholic, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Choleric.... which are you? I know some of you but I just like thinking about this. Fire at will.

Love,

Beth