A lot of time has been spent in my head lately to determine what I'm passionate about. It's been hard to determine ever since a pretty bad start to a new year. Ever since I was young, I've been focused completely on music. I've thirsted and strove towards becoming a professional musician. Hours of training and dedication led me to some pretty awesome experiences in my life. I've literally played music since I was 5 or 6. I started out with the Piano lessons that a lot of kids go through and ended up adopting the clarinet and eventually dropping everything for the guitar. Then I started to sing and that is where my passion really found it's depth in my life.
Being able to sing and play the guitar was not something that came to me overnight. It took a lot of getting comfortable with my instrument before I was able to meld them together. Ever since that I've been in a ton of different music groups (bands) and that is where I've always found myself the happiest. I can truly say that my favorite parts in life are back in the days of playing with my brother and Tanner in our band The 9th Hour. We played at the Big Fish Pub, The Clubhouse and Nita's Hideaway to name a few. The best part was that we got to play what we wrote and didn't have to conform to anything that someone else said we had to play. It was amazing.
Through those opportunities I have had the chance to meet some amazing musicians and people and learn from them. I have also had the amazing opportunity of leading worship at a ton of different events and churches. It's a great feeling when you get called by a worship pastor at an awesome church and asked if you would come lead for a Sunday. It's also a great feeling to have my friends tell me that I'm good at what I do and ask me to play for them.
So what am I most passionate about at the moment?
The opportunity to be the worship leader for Stir at Chandler Christian Church.
For the third year in a row I get the wonderful chance at leading worship for UCYC this summer.
God has given me talents and I get to use them for His glory on this temporary and troubled Earth.
Writing music.
Growing with the amazing friends that I have surrounding me.
Furthering my understanding of spreading Christ's love that knows no bounds.
I will leave you with these lyrics that absolutely blow me away. They are by John Mark McMillan.
The song is called Skeleton Bones.
Peel back our ribs again
and stand inside of our chest.
We just wanna love you
We just wanna love you
Peel back the veil of time
And let us see You with our naked eyes
We just wanna love you
We just wanna love you
We want your blood to flow inside our body
We want your wind inside our lungs
We just wanna love you
We just wanna love you
Skeleton bones stand at the sound of eternity
On the lips of the found
And gravestones roll
To the rhythm of the sound of you
Skeleton bones stand at the sound of eternity
On the lips of the found
So separate those doors
And let the son of resurrection in.
Oh let us adore the
Son of Glory dressed in love
Open up your gates before him
Crown Him, stand Him up
Monday, March 21, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Identity Crisis
No one can say they know their own identity.
They could have some aspects of it solidified, but who is to say that those may change over time? I have been trying to define myself as of late and all I come up with are questions. These questions are not easy to ask and they usually do not have a one word answer. Talking to good friends such as Kaitlin Smith and Elizabeth Hardin, I have come to find out that there are a few awesome people in the world that think like me. Since defining myself is such an impossible task, I will state some things that I stand for right now.
As of recent, I have come to the conclusion that the entire idea of politics is a joke. I find it appalling that there are 'Christian' politicians. That is like saying there is such thing as 'Christian' music. There can be people that use their faith to influence how they vote or how they write music, but I just don't believe that either of those things exist. That being said, as a Christian, are we not called to be a part of the Kingdom of Christ first? If so, then why do so many people worry about what is going on in the White House or what Republican had sex with which Democrat's niece? It is ridiculous to me to get so riled up about something that is so fleeting. It's as if they think that when they get to heaven God will ask them, 'Who did you vote for?' or 'Did you make sure to not let homosexuals get married?' NONE OF THESE THINGS MATTER!!! What does matter is that we are kind to people. We need to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort those that are suffering and love those that are full of hate.
I'm going to say something that will offend a lot of people but at this point I just don't care.
GOD LOVES HOMOSEXUALS.
This has been something that is burning through my conscience recently more than anything. We live in a country that is founded upon the ideals of freedom, yet we try to restrict certain freedoms because they may offend someone. Do you think that the apostle Paul didn't witness gay couples in Rome? Do you think that Jesus didn't? If you do, you are gravely mistaken. The point is that I have no problem with a man marrying another man and vice versa. If they are in love, then who are we as citizens of a free nation to stop it?
Since we are, however, citizens of Christ's eternal kingdom, then why care what our screwed up, twisted, dirty nation does? The world is always going to have problems and always be on the verge of self destruction. Does a Christian standing up protesting homosexuality really help bring others to Christ in the end? No. Does screaming about how awesome America is really help the starving AIDS orphans in Africa? No.
I propose this.
Let's focus our minds and energy away from the he says she says garbage that is politics and focus on showing Christ's grace and love to the world. We can't do that by sitting in our living rooms listening to the constant gossip that CNN, FOX etc... puts out daily. All that will do is distract us from our true purpose on this planet.
So I said I can't define my identity but I can give a few descriptions of myself:
I am not permanent, meaning I will die someday.
Because I know this, I know the world is exactly the same way.
I try to meet people where they are without judging.
I try to love everyone. Even the crazy drunk people that want to fight me at my job.
I have red hair and I'm a ginger. haha
I know that there is a great message to be shared with those that are suffering.
Because I know this, I strive to make a difference in everyone's life that I come across.
I am only human, therefore I am sinful.
I am saved by a grace that I could never explain.
I kind of wanted to write I AM LEGEND, but I didn't
Love,
Nick Alvers
They could have some aspects of it solidified, but who is to say that those may change over time? I have been trying to define myself as of late and all I come up with are questions. These questions are not easy to ask and they usually do not have a one word answer. Talking to good friends such as Kaitlin Smith and Elizabeth Hardin, I have come to find out that there are a few awesome people in the world that think like me. Since defining myself is such an impossible task, I will state some things that I stand for right now.
As of recent, I have come to the conclusion that the entire idea of politics is a joke. I find it appalling that there are 'Christian' politicians. That is like saying there is such thing as 'Christian' music. There can be people that use their faith to influence how they vote or how they write music, but I just don't believe that either of those things exist. That being said, as a Christian, are we not called to be a part of the Kingdom of Christ first? If so, then why do so many people worry about what is going on in the White House or what Republican had sex with which Democrat's niece? It is ridiculous to me to get so riled up about something that is so fleeting. It's as if they think that when they get to heaven God will ask them, 'Who did you vote for?' or 'Did you make sure to not let homosexuals get married?' NONE OF THESE THINGS MATTER!!! What does matter is that we are kind to people. We need to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort those that are suffering and love those that are full of hate.
I'm going to say something that will offend a lot of people but at this point I just don't care.
GOD LOVES HOMOSEXUALS.
This has been something that is burning through my conscience recently more than anything. We live in a country that is founded upon the ideals of freedom, yet we try to restrict certain freedoms because they may offend someone. Do you think that the apostle Paul didn't witness gay couples in Rome? Do you think that Jesus didn't? If you do, you are gravely mistaken. The point is that I have no problem with a man marrying another man and vice versa. If they are in love, then who are we as citizens of a free nation to stop it?
Since we are, however, citizens of Christ's eternal kingdom, then why care what our screwed up, twisted, dirty nation does? The world is always going to have problems and always be on the verge of self destruction. Does a Christian standing up protesting homosexuality really help bring others to Christ in the end? No. Does screaming about how awesome America is really help the starving AIDS orphans in Africa? No.
I propose this.
Let's focus our minds and energy away from the he says she says garbage that is politics and focus on showing Christ's grace and love to the world. We can't do that by sitting in our living rooms listening to the constant gossip that CNN, FOX etc... puts out daily. All that will do is distract us from our true purpose on this planet.
So I said I can't define my identity but I can give a few descriptions of myself:
I am not permanent, meaning I will die someday.
Because I know this, I know the world is exactly the same way.
I try to meet people where they are without judging.
I try to love everyone. Even the crazy drunk people that want to fight me at my job.
I have red hair and I'm a ginger. haha
I know that there is a great message to be shared with those that are suffering.
Because I know this, I strive to make a difference in everyone's life that I come across.
I am only human, therefore I am sinful.
I am saved by a grace that I could never explain.
I kind of wanted to write I AM LEGEND, but I didn't
Love,
Nick Alvers
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