{Day 22}

art in worship

Woke up. Went to school. Worship with Brian & Ramey (husband and wife; daughter of Ray Hughes) Whalen. Really, really good worship. Different style, but still epic. And some spontaneous stuff, also, as if 'good worship' wasn't enough.


Then another talk from Jerry Aaronson. This one on sound.

Oh. My. Gosh.

I'd heard rumors of this from Dad, so I have the feeling it wasn't as jaw-dropping for me as it was for others. But. It was pretty darn close. If I were to sum up the topic, it was on how everything has a frequency, everything is making noise. Everything. Leaves. Rocks. The planet Saturn. Swans {not, like the noise you hear. they're being eminates a sound that we don't hear}. Light. Human beings. You are a sound. A unique sound, that has never been played and will never be played again. Part of a great symphony that's constantly, constantly praising.

This is one of those really cool things that I feel weird sharing here. Because some people will find it life-changing. Some people simply interesting. Some people will shrug and say it's cool, and never think any more about it. A few may think it borders too close to the New Age. All that to say, I'll post the highlights below, as usual, but I'm not going to post my video of his {previously recorded} experiment on sound frequencies, and I'm not going to post any of the videos on YouTube that will add. I'm not against posting them, I'm just tired right now, and I'm not sure if sound interests anyone besides me. By request only. But if you request - I'll post. :)

Highlights {abridged; I have 3+ typed pages of bullet-point notes}:

•  You only sense {feel, hear, see} about 8% of all sound.
• Genesis 1:2 can be translated to God "vibrating" over the waters.
• The reality you see here is not the greater reality. The reality you see here is caused by the greater reality. And the greater reality is sound. Music has taken on physical form. - a scientific journal
• Observation can collapse a wave function and convert possibility to reality.
• "We're busy sacrificing relationship with them [scientists] with the need to be right" - Jerry Aaronson
• We think the New Age-rs are weird because they think crystals vibrate and give off energy.
• {insert detailed explanation of old radios here}
• Crystals vibrate and give off energy.
• Stimulated electronically, they give a pulse.
• Stimulated mechanically, they give electricity.
• Everybody has a different frequency. Ask the guy who gives you an MRI.
• "Could it be that you are the physical manifestation of a song that was in God's heart?" - Jerry Aaronson {I know, I know, you're wondering how we got from Point A to Point B. Basically, sound can create things. Basically. Long story too short.}
• "If you only believe God talks through paper, that's the only way you're going to hear Him." - Jerry Aaronson
• "If you have all authority, and he {Satan} has no authority, the only thing he can do is get you to point your authority in the wrong direction and pull the trigger." - Jerry Aaronson.

As I said, I have so many more notes than that. And some videos to accompany. Ask me.

After lunch, I went to Jeremy Riddle's class on Set Preparation. Strange class to pick, I know, but there were no others I had to go to, and I hadn't been to any of his workshops. I'm glad I did.

...

Um...there won't be any highlights here for that class. I took those notes in my binder, and I just realized I left my binder at school. So. Um. Yeah. First time I've done that.

CeCe & Lloyd

After that wonderful class, we had Creative Expressions, hosted by the amazing CeCe and Lloyd. Great time was had by all.

My roommate, Jasmine, did her spoken word. {You know those prayers? Totally worked. This morning she couldn't even open her mouth all the way...and by the time CE rolled around, she could. Facebook post tonight says she hasn't had Vicodin since this morning, and no pain at all! Yay God!} {And, I totally have a video of it, too, but Facebook's being weird. Not the best quality vid, anyway. Sorry. It was epically awesome.}

Aslan

the back of my journal

 I hung out for a while afterward and talked with Diana. Then I went and chilled by Aslan at the Alabaster House. Then I went back and sat in on a Band Session while I completed my journal {I added a back design}. Then we went back to the Alabaster House and took some pics of Aslan and talked.

Aslan

Then we came home. Ate supper. Am so tired. It was a very emotionally draining day for me. The sort of day where you come home, and you are beat up and bruised from the battle. You won. But you're worn out. That's me tonight.

{Day 2}

I'm tired...and nothing's stopping any time soon. It's all so good, so good! Okay.

the stage, pre-day

pre-worship, the two easels; the smaller was painted by a girl of about ten

MorningStar worship, as seen from the back

Worship by the MorningStar worship team. Not sure where that church is, but they were pretty legit. Here's what it sounded like:

Then we got to hear from Jeremy Riddle. He pretty much gave his testimony and talked about how we as Christians need to live out what we say/sing we believe. Highlights:

• "How much of what we claim to believe about God is manifested in our services?" - Jeremy Riddle
• “Nations won't be bowing down before the people of God start bowing down. And if they do, it's a sad, sad day for the church. It means they saw something before we did.”
• “What we experienced yesterday morning and this morning {worship-wise} - U2's got nothing on that!”
• When Daddy comes home from work, or a trip, the kids don't hang back at the door, watching their siblings, trying to make sure they're neutral and not over-emotional or noticeable. No.
• “As a spiritual leader, you are an example of what a true worshiper looks like to the rest of the church. And if you look like something less than the 24 elders around the throne, you have some work to do.”

Avenue of the Nations

I've got more, but I'll stop there. Because after Jeremy talked, we went into 'ministry time.' We waited on the Lord. And then we started singing. And praying. And shouting. Spontaneous, without music.

It lasted for 40 minutes. It was epic. And I accidentally have a 16 minute audio recording of it. Not sure yet about quality, or what's even on it. Haven't had time to look. But I'm pretty sure it's cool.

Then lunch, then we made journals! I haven't finished mine yet, so you do not get a picture tonight, but I'll work on it further tomorrow. I've got it all planned out, just need to glue. I love it. :)

Then for dance class. It was exactly what I wanted it to be. It was taught by Christina Chadney, and it focused more on the spiritual aspect of dance than the practical, which was perfect. I loved it. We learned/practiced prophesying over each other through dance. So good. And I'm going to be sore tomorrow. And Christina is awesome.

epic

I got home expecting a pretty chill night, but Jenna, the host that picked me up, was going to the Love Lounge, which had been well-advertised at BSW. It's an open mic hosted by some Bethel people. I wasn't going to go, but I went because Jenna was going. It was fun, and the musicians were great, but my favorite part was getting to watch the Culture of Honor in action. Like, in real life. A lot of the people there were Bethel, and then to watch Jenna. In a totally non-creepy way. :)

I made spaghetti for dinner. Carbs, finally! I've been healthy for like two days, and it was time for pasta. It was good, though I skipped a step and somehow ended up with my sauce cold. But it was good anyway.

Just as long of a day tomorrow (and Saturday, and Sunday...and next week). Teaching, then a keyboard class from Ian, and then barbecue at the Vallotton's. That's right, the Vallotton's. So, there will be more tomorrow!

{Also, I added a video of me entering the sanctuary yesterday to yesterday's post, if you didn't see it on Facebook.}

{Day 1}

the trek

that's Bethel, on the hill

Where do I begin?

This morning we woke up (after dealing with 2 hours of jet lag and the fact that the sun rises at 5:30AM here) and began our 15 minute trek to Bethel Church. Dry, dry weather here.

We stood in line for a long time, and I registered. I'm official! So happy!

i'm official!

the line

my binder: even more official

More waiting inside the sanctuary, and then, finally, it was time for worship. Jeremy Riddle and Steffany Frizzell led. ("Furious," "For Your Glory," "I Will Exalt") It was delicious. I went to the back and danceddanceddanced. So wonderful, although I realized that my dancing stamina is a CCC stamina...not a Bethel stamina (longer worship). So we're gonna work on that.

my entry

And then a guy started singing, and it wasn't Jeremy. I looked around and finally realized that it was Brian, somewhere offstage. He and Steffany began this back-and-forth, back-and-forth. About opening up heaven and calling down freedom and Jacob's ladder and angels. It's worth mentioning Jeremy's reaction to Brian's interruption of the worship: worship. Worship was his reaction. He stepped away from the mic and just enjoyedenjoyedenjoyed. That was cool to watch, though my mind was on other things.

Things like the grand something that the music did. Things like the three guys - not BSW students, and I'm pretty sure they're with Bethel - jumping up onto the stage dancing. Any other place, it would have been weird. But it was so...right.

And the room exploded. I had already been dancing, but now it was just like it just turned on. Dancing without caring, just like dancing. I don't really know how to explain this explosion. Jeremy Riddle started dancing. Everyone was dancing. It was just free. I can't explain it any better than that. It was awesome.

Then Brian Johnson spoke. His topic was on fame and waiting for God to promote you.

• "Worship isn't a song that's sung. It's a heart that sings." - Brian Johnson

We had lunch. We did announcements and were introduced to all the instructors. And then Dan McCollam spoke on not being intimidated by the other talent in the room...and also about being yourself and not trying to be someone else. Tears. So good. Highlights:

• A song does not gets value by how many people like it. A song gets its value by God's influence in your life through it. - Dan McCollam
• "You not only have an original song, you are an original song." - Dan McCollam
• When you use someone else's sound, something {your sound} is missing in heaven. - Dan McCollam
• "Stop cultural genocide. Be yourself." - Dan McCollam
• Supernatural worship is
• a priority on the presence of God
• creating a heaven atmosphere
• as relevant to heaven as you are on earth
• "Give me the music of a generation, and I will change the mind of a generation." - Plato
• And, to top it all off, brain studies show that the mind is 8 times more activated by music than a sermon.

on the way home; see mountain with snow

me and my Alabama and France roomies

 And now I'm home, or, my home for these few weeks. I've finally met all my roommates. One is from France, one is from Alabama, and one is from Dallas. The ones from France and Alabama and I have taken to hanging out, and I enjoy their company.

my house! it's purple!

in the backyard

the exquisite back porch

also in the backyard; i think this is what smells so good

Day 4

[Paraphrased by Melody]

Worship with Jeremy Riddle was this morning. It was incredible. It’s awesome when they say, “Sing out in the Spirit,” or, “Sing it out in your own words.” People begin to sing, and to harmonize. Just to listen is insane. With all the worship leaders there, it sounds like legitimate music, when the instruments fade away and it’s just singing. Harmonies are everywhere.

And when they pray, they don’t talk right away. They just…wait. On the Holy Spirit, they wait. And then, over on the right, someone will begin to sing. Several people. It moves throughout the room. It gets thick. Someone else will begin to shout. People are speaking in tongues, singing out. And it swirls around you, almost a tangible movement.

The “barbecue at Kathy’s house” was this afternoon. Everyone was there. Including, the one, the only, Chris Quilala.

He wasn’t expecting to get much time with Chris Quilala, just about thirty seconds. So when he walked up, he stumbled around for what to say. Thirty seconds isn’t a very long time.

“What’s it like?” Chris looked at him strangely, and he went on. “What’s it like to have all this popularity? Do you know…what you mean to people?”

“Well,” said Chris, “we started out as a youth band. And in my mind, that’s kind of all we are. We’re just the youth band. It keeps us grounded.”

Raymond went on to tell him just what Jesus Culture has meant to our family. How it was the instrument used by God to bring us to the Holy Spirit. How without it, we would never be where we are today. We never would have listened to that preacher or this one, or read this book or that one. Jesus Culture changed us.

Tears welled up in Raymond’s eyes as he talked. He didn’t mean to cry or get emotional. But his voice cracked as he spoke, and, to tell the truth, he felt rather dorky.

He had only expected thirty seconds. He got a long time. So long that people began to gather around them, just hovering and drinking in Chris’ words. Raymond said it almost felt as if he and Chris had a connection. As if they could talk for hours. “I almost asked him if I could be his friend, for his phone number or something,” said Raymond. “And I still might if I get the chance to talk to him later on.”