Inspiration is the Coffee of the Soul

No wonder so many Christians are addicted to coffee and so many Christian coffee shops are so successful in their business.

But besides that, and in the free time I have this comparably warm morning, I decided to once again come out of me hole and say “hello.”

I’m tired of politics-injected media, it’s like cocaine, except stronger. “So-and-so has eight children and her sperm donor wants some of the fame.” “This-and-that wore the sexiest dress at the Oscars.” “Look at me! I’m doing something that requires public attention. News company XXX, don’t you want some extra revenue, then report on me!”

Who. Gives? Where has individuality gone? I catch myself having the television turned on for four hours watch South Park and Family Guy. I go one hour into news to realize I’ve done nothing for myself. After all, television doesn’t do my homework, why should I be so nice to it? It’s kind of hard to resist when it has such a big screen and is calling out to me every day “watch me!”

But in all honesty, sometimes I wish I could just be left alone to myself without the media trying to re-educate me about what fashion is in and what is out, who’s kissing whom and who’s angry, etc. I’d like to buy a Gap brand blazer with a nice button-up shirt to go with my jeans, and lips is just another part of life so why make it such a big deal?

I’m making an escape soon. maybe a media fast. I need to be on a mountain where I can see waterfalls and endless trees while drinking my inspiration… my coffee for my soul. No more popularity contests, no more competitions and all this silliness.

I just want to be still for God’s sake, and I mean it!

Surprising Music Revelation

I miss my string bass.

I walked through Grossmont College’s music practice rooms when I heard a familiar sound. a string bass was playing in the far corner of the hallway. I approached and saw a man playing the deep splendid notes. I got to play the string bass today, and I met a new friend, Tylor, also a UCSD transfer hopeful.

It’s little events like these that remind me of where I’m headed and my destiny, not to infer that I have it all together, but I know that everything’s going to be all right in the end. I still grasp onto my dreams, and know that with faith, hope, and love, anything is possible.

There comes a point when I wonder who I am. Looking at photos of myself on Facebook reminds me. Almost every other picture of me is that which makes others laugh. Goofy, mischievious, young, silly… there’s nothing else that describes Andrew Chang as well as the faces he makes. I hope to never give that up, and in the future I hope those faces will never bring me shame, but pride of the life I’ve been privileged to live.

And Natalie Soria says “you get an ‘A’ for the day.”

Just Another Day

Nothing philosophical, nothing especially pressing, just checking in on the whole world after six months of absolute silence.

So please forgive me, things have been, after all, quite busy.

I would wish to write witty and wacky words that would entertain, but frankly, sometimes writing words that are in my brain may be just as interesting, if not entertaining. And so, here I am in front of a computer among computers in a community college I have come to cherish, sitting next to a girl classmate who’s scrambling to get some homework done before class starts in thirty-five minutes. Here I am, just wondering if everything could just end.

Taiwan, oh Taiwan, hear my heartfelt cries from the other side of the ocean… indeed I miss you and your food, and oddly enough, no Top Ramen sold in boxes at Costco can ever match your kimchi pao mien. Your sushi is excellent, and your night market food has me salivating even when I eat lunch. When can I return to eat your meat ball served in a soup?

Alas, four long months shall continue on and such incredible resurrection shall ensue as a sixteen hour airplane ride brings me back to what I thought was life. Then this crazy, craving nonsense will finally end.

Just another day in the college, in a town of people, unfamiliar and uninterested in the food I crave… Just another week, after one which obliterated my confidence, drove me mad and had me wondering where I could scream at the hills for just some more strength.

Just another day, where I rode my bike through the valley for the first time, panting and gasping as I reached the end of a long trail… all uphill and dry. It’s days like these that I feel like everything should probably be generally okay. And there is a probable statistical chance that it most likely is.

No, no philosophy (though I grow fonder and fonder of it each day), no politics (though listening to conservative talk radio does make me feel a little better about my attitudes towards the government), no dilly dallying around wondering if what I’m doing is the right thing (I really haven’t, I’ve been so busy), just another day looking for purpose, for life, for love that won’t slip away like a wet bar of soap. Yes, for God.

I lift my eyes up unto the mountains… where does my help come from?

Vote!

Whenever I come across JibJab cartoons, I can’t bear but laugh in wonder at how these guys think of these things… although, it doesn’t necessarily help with my decisions as to which presidential candidate will more accurately portray what I believe in. On the other hand, it seems like it equally pokes fun on both parties and the theme seems pretty accurate, perhaps that’s all that matters.

But honestly, who should be president? I’m told Obama’s shady, and McCain is Bush’s third term. Obama wants change, and McCain, well, I don’t know what he wants because I only saw the clip where Paris Hilton poked fun at one of the campaigning advertisements that called Obama a celebrity wannabe. It looks like either way we’re all screwed, and yet either way, U.S.A. is going to be perfectly okay.

Found this somewhat entertaining

Never Honk at Old People

You know not what they are capable of.

Band after band after band

some of you may know me as a musician, somberly playing expecting no one to really stop and watch.

Well, as I’ve come this far, there is one thing that I’ve always wanted to do: put my talents online for my friends to see and appreciate. but the problem remains… the project usually dies within a month of it being set up on the world wide web. I tried Bandspace, which I didn’t like the set up and didn’t have a mic to record. I tried purevolume, which I added two songs, and still only have two songs. I even tried virb, which ended up with one loosely slapped together techno sequence I managed to create with Fruity Loops studio in two hours.

So I’m wondering, will adding a facebook page featuring all my exciting and emo-esque music really become a reality? Here’s the plan for me: I will record, edit, and re-edit my songs to perfection before even THINKING about taking more of the WWW’s space by adding a lousy page with nothing on it but scratch tracks and summer projects.

The next time Andrew Chang is coming back online as a musician, it’s gonna be for real.

yay facebook

Christians should be the happiest people in the world

Yet why are we always so serious?

Conservative people, charismatic people, people who believe in baby baptism, and those who have issues with the distribution of wine when doing communion. I can’t say that God didn’t create everyone differently, but I need to pause for a moment and ask myself why God allowed such awkwardness between Christian groups. We ignore the idea that denominations have severed relationships with other Christians, and that the body of Christ is easily categorized to Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherens, Calvary Chaplains, you name it.

I just wonder if people are happy with what they’ve got as a body of Christ. Are we really enjoying each other? And are we really seeking out the lost, or are we judging? When people see us do they observe that our demeanor speaks out the message of the love of Christ?

I’ve made a mistake once. I have a shirt with a picture of a donkey on it. Above the picture are two discreet yet visible words “kiss my.” Oops, wrong shirt, wrong message. Stepped into walmart and decided not to give much of a care, and I doubt any one really did. But did God? I don’t know, he could just be laughing himself, since he is a very humorous person. But is what i’m wearing displaying love? The words (and picture) on the shirt display a message of disrespect… It’s not necessarily dishonoring to God’s name, but… if I flash this shirt in front of my teacher and make a face, what would that teacher think… “such a nice little boy.” give me a break.

Back on the subject… just think about it, fellow brothers and sisters, are we happy being Christians, and do other people see that we are happy?

Happy Trails

I hiked Mission Trails with a new friend of mine. Gosh I should have taken pictures but now I’ll have to explain EVERYTHING with words. Well, what can I say? Lots of sand, very little water, and the climate almost made my contacts fall out because of how dry it was. But besides all that, the trail was very nice and I got to see a lot of nature that I was hoping to see when I landed in the USA. Pretty Awesome. Our trail lead to a little canyon which was bridged by a major highway, so we would hear occational motor noises when we were in the midst of calming nature. The grasses would make cool sounds and a bird would pop here and there, but most wouldn’t come out because of the heat. I think it was the first time I actually sweated in the dry climate in California, no joke, I hardly ever sweat in this weather.

But overall, it was an awesome experience. When with a brother who doesn’t like hiking, the chances of being in nature are usually a bit sparse.