Seeing as it's been almost 4 months since my last post, I thought a new post was in order. It's finals week, it's 2:30 in the morning, and I'm writing a new post. I'm not sure why, but I do know that I need to get this all down while it's on my mind:

I was trying to think of a one-word explanation of my semester here at NU. The best I could come up with is CHAOS. My semester has been 4 months of CHAOS. I am pretty sure the only times I've stopped moving within the last 2 months of this semester were for sleep, and even that was short-lived. Life has been chaotic here at NU, but I have loved every minute of it.

My descriptive word of my semester here at NU doesn't end there though in its meaning. It also has hidden meanings, which each tell a different aspect of my life for the past 4 months. 5 meanings, to be exact:

CHAOS-
C: Character-building

• I am pretty sure at no other time in my life have I really been forced to step back from just living my life to see how I am living my life--how I'm acting, how I'm interacting, and how I'm overreacting. Most people say summer camps or winter camps were their best times to do some character-building. I never had the chance to experience either of those. Some say high school was that time. I was home school throughout all 4 years of high school. Being here at NU, I've been given the opportunity to examine my life and my character, and to make the necessary changes.
  

H: Head-bending

• Coming to a Christian university and being surrounded by biblical, theological, and ethical debates has really changed the way I look at a lot of things. It's given me the chance to "break free of the mold", to make my beliefs my own and not just those of my family. I've realized that just because my parents have a view about something, that doesn't mean I have to have the same exact view. I've also learned that Christians are not one-sided on beliefs and opinions. There are many views that make up the Christian community. I've become certain about one thing--all that really matters in the end, after all the debates in the world, all that really matters is that we believe in Jesus Christ dying for our sins to save us, and allowing Him (God) to govern over our lives.
  

A: Adventure-filling

• I've had my own fair share of adventures in the past 4 months. I've done things I'd never done before (none of them bad), and I've broken out of a shell in a way. It's quite a change coming from living in the middle of nowhere to living in a big city. In the past 4 months, I've discovered the joys of bubble tea, become involved in worship and youth ministries at Cedar Park Church, worked my way up in the Admissions office as a student worker, and discovered how atrocious REAL finals really are. It's been quite a ride, and I can't wait for it to start all over again next semester.
  

O: Obedience-maintaining

• I've been dealing a lot lately with doubting the calling God has for me and my life. I felt called a couple years ago at a youth conference to use my musical talents to bring others to His Kingdom, and to educate myself further in the skills of the trade. This is one of the main reasons I chose Northwest, for their music ministry BA. Lately, though, I've compared myself to other musicians around me and over-analyzed my own performances. It's been difficult to focus on God's calling when others around you seem so much more qualified than yourself. Every time I doubt Him, though, I have to remind myself that it's not what others do or say that determines what I do or say, it's God who rules in my life, and it's not up to others to decide my fate.
  

S: Self-examining

• I've gotten really good at examining other people and the way they live their lives--picking out every flaw and ultimately making myself feel better because "I'm not as bad as them". It is a part of human nature to do this, but it is not a good thing to do at all. I've had to tell myself lately to stop focusing on the speck in someone else's eye and focus on the plank in my own. With others' help, I've examined and altered such things in my life as Facebook usage, "big mouth" syndrome, and an over-bearing personality. It's been hard to break out of my own ways and to change those aspects, but it's been worth it to see the change it has brought my life.

Some say they wish they could go back in time to do life better. I say I'm glad I've been given these last 4 months to live, grow, and achieve something. I wouldn't change this semester for the world.

It seems I never have free time anymore--I have been meaning to write a blog entry for the past week or so. I'm now going to attempt to write this in the 10 minutes I have before my next class.

What a crazy past couple of weeks it has been! Choralons started up 2 weeks ago this coming Wednesday, and we hit the ground running. We are aiming to have a song done before the first Northwest Friday of the year, where prospective students would be sitting in on our class. We prepared "Crown You With Praise", by Natalie Grant. I love the awesome sound of our 110-person choir! It is a very awe-inspiring sound, and I love every moment we spend together.

I also started my private voice and piano lessons. In piano, I was given a sonatina by Clementi as well as some small pieces to work on my sight-reading and memorization skills. In voice lessons I was given a couple pieces of tenor solo from Handel's Messiah--"Comfort Ye" and "Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted". It has been incredible to work on these pieces! I haven't practiced this hard in quite a while.

I also got a job in the Admissions office calling prospective students--it is a "telecounseling" position and I love it! I also get to help out with Northwest Fridays, visiting with students and helping set up, as well as helping with tours when needed. It was a marathon to get all the papers signed and whatever else was needed to work for the school, but I made it just in time!

So many other things have happened that I just can't recall right now, plus it is almost time for class so I'd better stop. I can't stop talking about how awesome this school is!!

Orientation, New Friends, New Beginnings, Oh MY!!

Oh, my goodness, where to begin?? Today makes it exactly one week since I moved down here to Kirkland, WA. I guess I'd better start where I left off last time, though....

After my July Advising Day, nothing much happened until the 2nd week of August. This is when my housing information came. My roommate's name was Benjamin Ellis, and I was given his phone number as well as his email address. The number I was given had a 360 area code, which made me really curious, because 360 is my area code! I emailed him, and a couple days later received a reply. We began emailing back and forth, and came to find out we live 25 minutes away from each other, and his uncle is my dentist, Dr. Ellis in Deming. We began texting almost non-stop, and discovered we are very similar, from personality to political views to our heart for ministry. It was really a God-thing how we wound up together!

Anyway, we were able to meet at the NW WA Fair a week before our move-in day, and go to Boomer's that same Friday. It was nice to be able to get to know my roommate well before actually living with him, that did wonders on my nervous system!

Finally, what seemed like it was going to take forever was FINALLY here! Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 came and it was time to move in to my dorm room! I woke up super early, 5am is so early it could kill you! We drove to Northwest with all my stuff loaded in the back of our suburban--I never thought I had so much stuff! I moved in, along with my roommate, B.K. (for short). Then we had a 3-day orientation packed full of tons of stuff to do, including meeting faculty from the departments we would be studying in, having social events, and going to different sessions with our orientation groups. Saturday was probably my most favorite day of the before-school-starts days--we went on a small missions trip as an orientations group and my group helped organize clothes and such at YouthCare U District. Then was an awesome Summer Ministries Team Concert that I was recruited to run visual for (slides, video, etc.). The concert reminded me why I am here at Northwest--to learn and develop my musical skills to be able to praise God more fully and to be able to effectively lead others into worship.

Sunday morning, I went with B.K. and a new friend of both of us (Karl) to City Church Kirkland. It was a good service, I really liked the pastor, but I didn't feel like I walked out of there with something I could hold on to throughout the week, so hopefully this coming Sunday will be better. We plan to go to Cedar Park Church in Bothell Sunday morning, then Mars Hill Church's evening service.

Monday, August 31st--the first day of my college experience here at Northwest University. My first class was at 9am, a class I share with my roommate...we were both late! It was a sign we need to change our wake-up time. After my 9am class was 1st chapel, which is the one I am signed up to attend. I then ran visual for the 2nd chapel, then went to Christian Thought, had lunch and relaxed a little before Hymnody class. Monday night was the first Pursuit of the year--a late-night service with mostly worship, prayer and a small message or testimony. I think I love Pursuit the most out of all the "chapels" we do throughout the week. It was the most meaningful to me, and it was VERY worshipful.

Tuesday I only had one class in the morning--Beginning Theory. Then I practiced and tried out for the Northwest Choralons. I made it!! I was stoked. Then it was B.K.'s turn--I was his accompanist, I played piano for him while he rehearsed then tried out. He made it, too! It will be great to have a roommate in that group with me. We're praying finances are all worked out for him to be able to participate.

Now it is Wednesday, exactly a week after we moved into this dorm room. I have had the most exhiliarating, eye-opening, and fantastic week of my life! I really feel I am exactly where God wants me to be, and am thoroughly excited to see where He is going to lead me!

Advising Appointment

Today marked my 4th time setting foot on the Northwest University campus. My first time was 6 years ago when we stayed down the road at Dr. Steinkamp's house for Youth Conference, when we walked over and showered in the men's dorms. The 2nd time was when I toured the campus at a Northwest Friday. The 3rd when I auditioned for my music scholarship. But this was the first time I really felt like this was MY college. I actually felt like I was there to stay, not just a visitor passing through. And I loved it!

We woke up early this morning to journey down to Northwest for my advising appointment. I think the thing I love most about this campus is the people--everyone is kind, wears a smile on their face, and is so willing and eager to help. Not all colleges are like this.

Within 2 hours of arriving at the Health and Sciences Center, the newest building on the Northwest Campus, I had met with an advisor, we figured out which classes I should take this quarter, and I was directed how to sign up for these classes electronically in one of their computer labs. Going through that process made me feel so accomplished--and I hadn't even started classes yet! I am filled with a passion for the classes I am about to take at Northwest that I have never before experienced when taking a class, possibly because the classes I will be taking are the things I want to take.

At the bottom of this entry is my schedule, in case you're interested. It may look like a lot of classes to you, but keep in mind this is a semester schedule, and these classes are between 1 and 3 credits, totaling 12 at this time. Besides the classes I list, I will also be trying out for the Northwest Choralons (and possibly Vocal Jazz) during the 1st week of the semester. I will also be figuring out private lessons at that time--I plan to take 2-hour lessons on voice and 1-hour lessons on piano. I'm so stoked, you have no idea!

I realize some of these classes might not make any sense to you from their title, so here's how Northwest's website explains them:

New Testament (NT) History and Literature: This is a survey course of the New Testament. Beginning with a discussion of topics pertinent to the study of the New Testament (language, canon, text) and a review of its historical and social contexts, the course then examines in overview fashion the major literary units that form the New Testament: the Gospels and Acts; the Pauline and General Epistles; and the Revelation. All the New Testament books are studied with attention to matters of authorship, date, occasion for writing, structure and theological content.

Beginning Theory: Introduction to western music notation and music dictation

Hymnody: Study of the Protestant hymn tradition arising out of the Protestant Reformation and continuing through the present day.

Worship Team Methods: A course designed to provide a practical study of the various styles of worship. This course includes structuring worship services, working with instrumentalists and vocalists, and working with musicians in the church.

Christian Thought: A study of basic Christian Doctrines as found in the evangelical expression of the Church with which the Assemblies of God in broad perspective identifies itself. The course focuses on Christian Doctrine as derived from orthodox/evangelical stances, with special attention given to the statement of Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God.

Also at Northwest University, it is a requirement that you attend the chapel service, which is held 3 times a week at the Amundsen Chapel on campus. They give 2 options, either the "Alpha Chapel" or the "Omega Chapel", with 2 different time frames back-to-back. You register for the one you will be attending along with your other classes. I registered for the Alpha Chapel, in case you're interested. =)

I think that's about all I have to share for now, I'll be sure to post when Orientation starts up August 26th.


--Doug--