The Coonith Chronicles

NEW BLOG

2010-03-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

In an attempt to get more motivated about writing, I created a new Blog about a month ago. I wanted to see if I could consistently write in it and not get tangled up with my school/work schedule. It has worked well. Please check it out and follow it at http://beautifulimpermanence.blogspot.com

thanks!

-john

musings and memories (part 1)

2009-10-06T20:08:00.000-07:00

I keep a journal. My first entry was written on 5-16-06. It was the day our car got broken into. A computer was stolen, glass was broken. It was neither very courteous of the thieves of very festive for the Christmas season. It was a pretty a unpleasant experience. I don't know why it's my first journal entry. It must have seemed like an appropriate circumstance.

During most of that first year, I was fourteen years old. It documented the summer before my freshmen year of high school as well as the school year itself. My best friend at the time was named Shane. He was crazy. Seriously, he was. I miss that guy, though. Shane was the best friend I could have asked for during that season of my life. It seems forever ago.... So much has changed since that year. I remember it was my first year with HCYA basketball. I was horrible. Absolutely horrible. But, with that said, I had so much fun. Those were the days of riding around my neighborhood on my bike. Nothing to do, nothing to say, not a care in the world. I remember getting ICEEs at the neighborhood store, called JMH. That store was incredible. It literally defined what a small town store should be. It was small, but not so small that it was cramped. There was a grocery store section, and then a little side room. This side room was the real neighborhood haven. It was an "everything cafe." Selling everything from ice cream to hotdogs, to cotton candy to root beer, this place was a kid's heaven. I remember just riding my bike to this place, which was only about a 10 minute ride, and getting an ICCEE. I would mount my bike once again and cruise around the neighborhood, ICEE in hand, smile on face. The sun would set around 6:45, casting an incredibly peaceful and totally gorgeous shade of golden on the baseball fields. I would sit out there sometimes. Just watching and listening.

That is beauty of keeping a journal. You get to look back on your life, not just from memories but from your own hand writing and on the very day it happened to be on. I guess I miss those days...

Ah, the musings of a high school senior,

farewell,

-john

....and back again.

2009-10-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

We arrived from home from Waco, Texas, just half an hour ago. The weather is atrociously beautiful (rain, thunder, lightening, my three weather loves besides sunshine, white clouds, and wind). I love lots of different weather types. I think it is because I live in Houston, where every single change in the weather is a blessing. (I wish it snowed here). Random but true.

Last night my dad, my brother, our friend Walt, and I went to a Baylor football game. It poured cats, dogs, and Bears on us. By the time we walked from our car to the stadium, my shorts were soaked and my flimsy poncho was dripping like a wet dog (or bear). My socks squelched as I trod on the gravel road, and when we reached the stadium steps, I realized I was not the only one. Hundreds of people took refuge under the cover, behind where the entrance doors to the field were. There was still a spirit about them, though. I strong loyalty to the Baylor Bears seemed to warm their smiles and lighten their wet loads of rainy sogginess...

Everyone had a joy about them; a specific motivation and certain spring in their step. From the admissions office people to the students themselves, they were all just really friendly people. I liked that. I felt like they really wanted me there. It was a cool feeling.

When the rain subsided a bit, we joined the Baylor Bears at our soggy seats and watched them stomp Kent State 31 - 15. Sic 'em Bears. Oh yeah, I learned how to "sic 'em." You put your right hand up in the shape of a bear call, shake it, let out a rally cry, swipe down into the opponent's chest cavity, and then swipe back up batting your opponent's heart to heaven (because Baylor is a Christian school), yelling "sic 'em bears!"

Here's a quick video from our seats! You can see people doing the infamous "sic 'em bears!"

The guys! Matthew, my dad, Walt, and myself! I stand out for some reason in this pic...

Baylor University

2009-10-03T14:58:00.001-07:00

It would be nice if I was more consistent with my blogging. It would be nice if what was "nice" always happened. My trip to Baylor has been nice.

I am visiting two colleges this month. This trip to Baylor was my first, and later this month I will visit Texas Tech. Our very good family friends, who are both Waco residents and Baylor graduates organized an awesome tour and comprehensive look at what Baylor really is all about. When I arrived at the guest center, it began.

I went to a class on film production, took a tour of the entire communications building, and made a new friend in the process. Jared showed me around. He was awesome. The digital media section of the building was mind blowing. Hundreds of Macs, about ten very high quality, HD cameras, sound studios, radio studios, TV studios... you get the point. As soon as students apply to this film and digital media school, they get free access to all of this, even as freshman. This is very cool.

I stayed at a dorm that night with a sophomore guy named Cameron. He was awesome to let me stay with him and a really cool guy. Even homeschooled!

Please be praying for wisdom about this big decision. Thanks guys. I'm off to a Baylor vs Kent St. game!

-john

What is your problem??? A talkshow w/ Caleb & John

2009-09-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

So for the past year, my buddy Caleb and I have been creating goofy videos and posting them onto facebook. We call it "A talkshow with Caleb and John." These videos started because we were simply bored, and we did not think anything more would come of it. But, God had different plans. Sugar Creek Baptist Church approached us and asked to actually sponsor our show, make it professional and fancy. haha ;).

We ask that you check it out, tell us what you think, and spread the word like wild fire and butter!

Here is the link! Tell me what you think of it!

-John

Life verses?

2009-08-29T14:34:00.000-07:00

Hey friends! I'm just curious, what is a verse that you have personally grasped onto as you live your life? Yes, the whole Bible should shape the way we live. But I guess I'm talking about the verses that stick with you, the ones that convict you and shape the way you live.

So please post the verse you have chosen, and also post why it is shaping your life.

Thanks!

In Christ,

John

You Don't Mess with Sammy the Bull

2009-06-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody! This is a video of me and my close friend, Caleb Petticrew. We go to Sugar Creek Baptist Church and Brandon Riley, one of our media ministers, requested that we be in the youth camp promo video. Haha, it's pretty funny! Here it is:

You don't mess with Sammy the Bull from LYF on Vimeo.

Bono & Biblical Theology: "Has he found what he's looking for?"

2009-06-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

The year 1987 marked the release of what many critics call U2's masterpiece: The Joshua Tree. Bono, the lead singer and song writer, not only seemed to master the art of song writing, but also soared to new heights in his vocal efforts. This album is full of Biblical hints and parallels. Bono is a professed believer in the risen Christ, but many of Bono's "fellow Christians" doubted the validity and depth of his faith. Right at the point of this album's release, many Christian critics were just looking for some sort of theological flaw in Bono's song writing. The Christian community saw the name of the song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and did one of two things: rejoice in finding Bono's theological and fatal flaw, or weep at losing the support of a fellow Christian. These were the two initial reactions. The "theological detective force" concluded their case that anyone who has not "found what they are looking for" could not have possibly found Christ.

Bono is cleverer than that.

Not only is he cleverer, but he is RIGHT ON when it comes to biblical theology. "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" is an extremely profound, revealing, and vulnerable statement. Bono is admitting that he does not have all the answers, he's still searching for something, something is still lacking in his life. This absolutely does not contradict biblical teaching! In fact, it reinforces it. The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:12-14 -

"Not that I have obtained all of this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Jesus Christ took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."

Being one of my favorite verses, I was overjoyed when I realized it was a perfect parallel to this song. For all I know, Bono might have used it as inspiration in writing this masterful piece of art. Paul of the Bible has obviously not found what's he looking for. He is not perfect, he has not obtained the glory of God. But he is pushing, pressing on, literally straining towards the upward call of Christ.

Following Jesus is a journey, not an arrival. We should always be pushing forward towards the lifelong task of knowing and becoming like Christ.

Wow! Pretty deep song title! You'd better take another big breath though; the song's lyrics are even more powerful. We're in 'deep waters' now, readers! I'm going to go through this song verse by verse. But first, the chorus is simply: "But I still haven't found what I'm looking for, but I still haven't found what I'm looking for."

Verse #1: "I have climbed the highest mountains, I have run through the fields, only to be with You, only to be with You. I have run, I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls. these city walls. Only to be with You."

Bono is expressing a deep desire to be with God. This takes discipline, though. It's a race to be run, and it won't be run if he sits back and watches it play out. He sings that he needs to "RUN," he needs to "CLIMB," he is STRAINING towards the upward call.

Verse #2: "I have kissed honey lips, felt the healing in her fingertips. It burned like fire, this burning desire. I have spoke with the tongue of angels, I have held the hand of the devil. It was warm in the night, I was cold as a stone."

Bono is singing about his lover in this world. He has felt the healing in her fingertips, he has kissed her honey lips. He has a burning desire for this person (a quick Google search revealed her to be his wife). But even though he has found healing, even though he has a burning desire to be with his wife, he still hasn't found what he is looking for. What Bono sings next made me really think. "I have spoke with the tongue of angels" must mean that he has been very close to God at times, but "I have held the hand of the devil" strongly contrasts the former statement with the fact that he has had very dark times in his life. I truly believe this is what he is sayin

g, and I love his transparency and honesty. (Not to mention his voice). But through all of that, he still has not found what he's looking for.

Verse #3: I believe in the Kingdom come, when all the colors will bleed into one, bleed into one, but yes I'm still running. You broke the bonds, you loosed the chains, carried the cross of my shame, of my shame. You know I believe it!"

Jesus broke the bonds, Jesus loosed the chains, He carried the cross and all of our shame, and then Bono's confident refrain "You know I believe it!" always gives me good chills. It's such an eloquent and concise creed of the whole Christian faith! Bono believes that Christ paid for his penalty on the cross, he believes that Christ carries his his shame, and he believes in the Kingdom come. But he "still hasn't found what he's looking for!"

We should all be looking for the Kingdom come. THAT, my dear readers, is what Bono is looking for, THAT is what we should be straining for, running to, and climbing up towards.

Thanks for bearing with me! Please let me know what you think!

God bless!

-John

a new layout, a new Start

2009-06-12T09:19:00.000-07:00

As you can see, I just changed my layout! I like it. I just wanted something different, something fresh. Let me know what you think!

At the moment, I'm short on time for writing. But I want to leave you with this: You may notice that I have replaced the 'about me' section, with something called 'straining towards the Goal.' That section title is inspired by Philippians 3:13. The verse below it is one that I just recently discovered, and love. It's Jeremiah 6:16. Enjoy and chew on these two verses! God blesses His children when we seek to follow His will. Meditate on His Word! In John Piper's book, "When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight For Joy," he states "Meditation means reading the Bible and chewing on it to get the sweetness and the nourishment from it that God designs to give. It should involve memorizing the Word so that you can chew on it and be strengthened by it day and night."

God bless!

John

Writing's Summer Slumber

2009-06-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

You cannot force writing unless it's being forced upon you. Throughout my High School career, writing/literature assignments have been "forced" upon me, and I have completed them with as much enthusiasm and excellence as I could muster. But now, in the heat and sweetness of summer, my writing fades into a gray area, a place of stillness and quiet, a place that I only dream of. Despite the sometimes "sweet slumber of writing" in Summer, I wish it were different.
I want you to keep this in mind as you read the remainder of my summer writing in this Blog. I want you to know that I am going to attempt the impossible. I am going to awaken Writing's Summer Slumber.

2009-05-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

The two bubbas! (Myself and Seth) at Madelyn's graduation party :)

Long time no see!

2009-05-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

Ahh, life pulls in all directions, and my Blog has not been updated in way too long. So much has happened in the past couple of month... So much. So many good, amazing things. But also some harder things have occurred. One of the newest, greatest blessings in my life is Madelyn Hart :). But I won't expand on that subject, I could type for days and days about it :D

...

With that said, as of late, the world has seemed "extra fallen," if you get my meaning. Its times like these that the state of the world is truly revealed, any cover it once had is completely blown open, the curtain is pushed aside. Life hurts sometimes, but God is good. And I have NO doubt in my heart and mind that God uses ALL for the good of those who love him.

One of my favorite verses during the past month is Philippians 3:12-14 --Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Remember that, my friends.

Thanks for reading and God bless!
-John

Just As He Said

2009-04-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

Matthew 28:5-7

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

"Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."

Have a blessed Easter everyone!!

The time has come for more traffic... maybe?

2009-04-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally posted a note on Facebook letting my friends know about this blog. Soooo I'm hoping that I'll finally get some more traffic. Let me know what you think, my friends. And welcome to my Blog :)

Tired+School= Miserable. Tired+School+Music= Happy

2009-04-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

Music makes me happy, seriously does. I'm pretty tired, bummed about having do math, but I put together as quick playlist on my iPod and suddenly I'm jamming to the tunes in my room, happy as a clam. My playlist right now includes John Mayer, Snow Patrol, All-American Rejects, Dashboard Confessional, Anberlin, Jack Johnson, Damien Rice, Gavin Degraw, Keane, Matt Nathanson, Switchfoot, The Cranberries, Hellogoodbye, Guster, Incubus, and of course, Jason Mraz. I'm an insane music collector/obsessor. Good stuff, this music.

Well, off to math and music!

A Movie, a Panhandler, and The Message

2009-03-07T19:13:00.000-08:00

Hello my readers!

This is my second post, and I am just that much more experienced in Blogging. There are times in my life when I realize just how beautifully broken the world is. 'Beautiful,' because God created it, but 'broken' because of man's fallenness. Do I have an example? Yes. And even though I'm sure I could think of a "better" one, this occurred just last night, and along with conveying my point, it is somewhat entertaining.

Last night was amazing! I went to Chipolte with some good friends, saw "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (A huge chick-flick... But it's what the girls wanted to watch), and then went to Town Center. As I drove three of my friends into the Center, I saw a lone guitar player standing on one of the big fountain platforms. My fingers began to twitch. "I must play that guitar. I must play that guitar. I must play that guitar" my mind screamed. And according to my car-mates, they heard it.

We parked, got ice-cream at Ben & Jerry's, then sat outside and talked. I looked across the courtyard and noticed Mr. Guitar was still playing. I threw my spoon to the table, unable to control myself, and walked over to the lone guitar man. My friends just stared...

Mr. Guitar stood on the platform, singing with confidence, "Maggie's Farm" by the legend, Bob Dylan. There were a few fans standing around; clapping to the beat and singing along, they sounded good. The song ended, people clapped, and I decided it was time to make my move. I asked,

"Hey man, how long have you been playing?"
"Just one year," he replied with a smile."
"Well you're great. Do you think I could play I quick song?"
"I don't know man...""Just really fast, I'm not great"
"Alright, that's fine"
“Awesome! Thanks! What’s your name?”
“My name’s West”

YES, I thought with a smile.

I loved playing that night. He brought his harmonica out, My friend played his tambourine, people passed around a little pink shaky maraca thing, and I played the songs, "I'm Your's," "Iris," "Kryptonite"... All that good stuff, on the guitar. The crowds passed, the people lingered, and quite a few stayed to listen. The stars were bright that night.

That night was beautiful. The sky was clear, the air was cool, the stars shined, the moon was full, there was a joy in the air. Laughter, singing, and dancing were all things that stood out to me. But amidst it all, there was also a brokenness, a helplessness. I found it almost unbelievable that “happy” teenagers in comfy suburbia could seem so lost, so hopeless, so desperate and searching. West, the guitar man, seemed like someone who had it together. He sang, he played guitar, he was “cool.” But he took God’s name in vain so many times, I felt sick. He used crude and vulgar expressions like everyday adjectives. I could see it in his eyes. He was so searching. He was so longing for something more. He was so tired of being empty. Some people might think this is strange and weird, I don’t care. There are lost and dying people in this world, LOST AND DYING. That means that they are dying, and they are going to hell RIGHT NOW. I feel compassion for West, and I pray that God will move in the hearts of thousands of teens just like him.

“Wess, like countless others, are searching for something more. Something truer, some something purer, something more perfect than this dead-end world. Reveal Yourself to them, Father, open their heart to your eternal and perfect and good Truth: Jesus Christ.”

I apologize if you feel I was harsh or if you feel that I babbled on. But I hope and pray that God moves your heart, like He has moved mine, to reach out to the lost and dying world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thanks for reading!

God bless

Somewhere in Between

2009-03-05T11:34:00.000-08:00

Wow, I actually did it. I've started a Blog. It's a funny feeling, you know? That my words, my thoughts, my dreams, my views, and my passions might actually be seen by the world. Scary, but very exciting. I really want to get my writing out there... See what people think and what people do about it.

Life is busy for a junior in highschool, really crazy! But I'm hoping to update my blog pretty consistently! What will I be writing about? EVERYTHING. Music, books, movies, guitar, God, me, friends, family, the rain, the stars, the moon, the ocean waves.. All that good stuff.

Well, its another crazy day in the week. But for now, I'm somewhere in between. Somewhere in between the noise, the business, the rush. I'm somewhere in between it all - writing The Coonith Chronicles.

Thanks for reading my first post!

God bless