Ahh, the joys of sound in a church. Hangin’ with Dad Reynolds, Mike D., Guy B., & Don R. Always a blast.

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I just don’t know what to say…I don’t know…wow!

So there was not much that I felt like really. We had class but really the best part was the fellowship and the hang after class. Mexican food, liters of beer, and football followed by a late night game of Spades really was what this time was all about. It was a manifestation of the Kingdom to come. Brothers and sisters in Christ that had just met. Methodist, Baptist, Anglican, Presbyterian, Pentecostal did not matter we just hung and discussed our own traditions. The body was edified!

We had a late night of Cahds as our resident Bostonian calls them and relaxation. From left to right, Kellie, Tim and John. Never play spades with John but if you do know that he intends to take the first few tricks if at all possible. If you can take one he is ruined! Superman’s Kyrptonite if you will…

So today was a very interesting day. We discussed the contours of biblical thought, Hebrew worldview, structure in worship, symbolism in the Old Testament, Iconography, and Cultural Borrowing which I found most interesting in Job 29:18 as it references a Phoenix, depending on your translation. We defined Cultural Borrowing as the infusion a previously used cultural symbol with new theological meaning and symbolism. Verse 18 reads Then I thought, “I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.” In some translations the word for sand can be loosely changed to either “ashes” or “bird.” Whether or not this is the case really isn’t that important as I see it. What I see is a beautiful metaphor in which the phoenix represents our lives in Christ.

Here’s a picture from a walk we took the other day after 9 hours of sitting. It was a beautiful evening to watch the sun set and my friend David hopped up onto a stump for picture. David is from Alabama and is a worship leader and conductor in the SBC. We stayed up way to late watching the BCS championship last night. Though David is originally from Mississippi and loves Missippis State, he now has been called to Tuscaloosa AL, so he a good night! The most beautiful thing, thus far, about IWS is that despite our various theological differences, we are able to forge meaningful, resourceful relationships through an intense monastic community of study as we pursue our common passion for the renewal of worship in this Day and age.

The Second best part: CRAWDAD BOIL!!!

How man places do you know that serves Crawdads that have been boiled on the sidewalk out front of the cafeteria? We walked into the smell of seafood and Cajun spices. It was amazing. David walks up to me and says “looks like we’re having crayfish.” “Now I hadn’t expected that from an Alabamian, Crayfish? Someone else said something about it though, and he replied, “Oh no, I’m just conforming to the cultural norm.” I laugh just about every minute with that guy!

Yeah, that is Ice…In Florida. It was 26 yesterday morning. Please pray for the Farmers and migrant workers in the fields. The farmers are losing their citrus and strawberry crops this year and there are too many migrant workers and housing is scarce so some are sleeping out in the cold.

Blessings!

On my way to the opening convocation, I thought I just had to post these three quotes that embody my experience thus far.

1) Laura: Does anyone have any dietary needs?

Jeremy and Me: Copious amounts of Ale

2) “If you ask for seconds at the Eucharist Meal, you might be a redneck.”

3) David: I went back to get something at my host family’s house and set off their alarm!

Jeremy: What’d they say?

David: I don’t know, I just high-tailed it out of there!

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Finally, the new Sanctuary at Tampa Covenant Church is open and we are dedicating it today. Praise God!!!

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So recently I have just been hipped to what is going on at St. Pete College. In 2008, St. Pete College launched an AA program entitled the Music Industry Recording Arts program or M.I.R.A. The program offers top notch, hands-on training in industry standard music production and recording technology. Their mission statement reads, “The MIRA-AS program at St. Petersburg College is dedicated to the development of ‘real world’ skills needed by musicians to thrive in a diverse and competitive music industry. The program emphasizes creative processes, technical training, business practices and entrepreneurial skills in a collaborative environment.”

Basically it is a two year music recording/production program for the fraction of the cost, around $13,000, of the comparable Full Sail University Program which costs around $75,000 (Lim, St. Pete Times), though Full Sail’s program is a Bachelor’s degree program. The faculty in the program include Music Technology and Commercial Music Composition specialist Mark Matthews; Trombonist and Composer, David Manson; and Composer and Keyboard Specialist Jeff Donovick.

(PHOTO BY JAMES BORCHUCK | ST. PETE TIMES)

Yesterday, St. Pete Times Correspondent Sylvia Lim, wrote an article about the recent developments of the program including the fact that the program has grown from 12 majors to over 150 majors in less than a year and half. Check out her article as well as the program website via the links below!

LINKS

SPC Upgrades Studios for its Music Industry/Recording Arts Program - By Sylvia Lim, Times Correspondent
Sunday, December 27, 2009

M.I.R.A. Official Website

The Start of THE MARS TRIO gig has been pushed back to either the middle of December or to the Beginning of January. Bonefish Grill and The Mars Trio apologize for the inconvenience, but we will send out more details as soon as we know more. All the best and thanks for your continued support of live music!

Picture by Morten Traavik - Miss Landmine Project

Publicis Mojo has designed ketchup packets that everyone should see.

As one of the comments says below the article, “How effective is it to serve up important issues next to fries?” -AngelaR

This is beautiful and mind boggling!