Single Ladies! Let the man sleep already!

My beautiful and SINGLE Christian girls, young women and women! I came across this little thing and I wanted to share it. I hope it encourages you as much as it did for me. The poetry is fragmented as if written at different times, while discovering new knowledge. At some points I almost envision myself thinking and doing exactly what is written. It's quite vunerable, but it has a warrior spirit about it. Enjoy :)

A Sleeping Man

No lips, no touch
I'll search you with my spirit
and I'll call you with my heart
Patience, for you
waiting in the quiet
holding on to the Truth.

Slumber for the moment
let your eyes grow heavy
rest your broken bones
and your beaten body.
Pay no mind to time
or each passing season.
Remain in deep sleep
let your alarm be of godly reason

Make no haste to awaken
there is no rush
I will be here always
You will find me in His trust

I've fought many battles
and braved many storms
preparing for you my heart
knowing that the day I would see you
would not be long.

My emotions are hidden away in grace.
Unmoved by encounters of superficial embrace.
Locked away like treasure
that only your hands will gather.
Though my days grow older
I will not succumb to what this world may offer.
Predestined to be one
Though, if you never come
My first love compares to none.

And when twilight prepares for the dark
and starry blanket of a night sky
I imagine you piece by piece
broken and built with intricacy for great glory.
I wonder if you have dreamt of me.
I wonder what you see.
Though I am careful not to entertain a fantasy.

May my love wait till time is perfect and beautiful.
And may time never show on my beating heart.
I will not waste it with worry.
For like the way shadows flee
at light's command
you will be made plain to me & I to you.

So hush now curious mind and roaring heart.
Do not awaken love before its time.
Sleep soundly brave man.
His voice will wake you in due time.
"Until then", HE says, "his heart remains mine."

Old People got Killer swaaag.

I watched this one time and was in complete amazement. This video is an incredibly accurate version of how it went down when my brother and I went to watch P.O.D. I'm watching the video, getting excitied because of the nostalgic feelings that start to tingle in my bones. All up until THAT OLD GUY is crowd surfing, THEN pulled up on stage by Sonny to sing "Alive". Is this real!? Haha. Whaaat a dream come true! Next thing you know P.O.D has a new front man old enough to be all of their dads. And it's not like hes standing there contemplating whether it's worth possibily stretching a muscle, he goes ape! Even doing a mini circuit around the stage to cheer on the other band members. He gave me a good chuckle, as well as a good reminder that age really is nothing but a number.

 

NZ Music Month

May is NZ music month and since the start of this month I have been meaning to dedicate a post to NZ music. But such is life and since May is almost over I decided this cannot wait any longer. If there was ever one thing that I love and really appreciate about the land of Hobbits and Elves, its their local music and the pretty amazing support that it's shown on home turf. These videos are new NZ music that I feel need some props and a good shout out. 

The Black Seeds - Pippy Pip

This is a definite favourite of mine right now. It's so light and airy. I feel like I could almost float off and sleep among the clouds when I listen to it. I have to say I love when those horns kick in, makes you wanna jive.

Six60 - Forever

Okay, so this song isn't exactly "new" anymore, but it's never ending play on local radios is keeping that "new single" dream alive lol. PLUS, I had to include this. Dare I say this will be one of those classic timeless kiwi songs that will always bring you back to that uplifting, heart pumping, chest thumping feeling that you had the very first time you heard it. And the video will never let you forget it.

Ladyhawke - Black White & Blue

Shout out to Ladyhawke who has a new album out called Anxiety! This isn't her newest single, but it is the first single off her new album. Firstly the video, it's quite nice to see Ladyhawke looking very clean, cut and a little bit the fashionista lol. The song is no doubt reminiscent of her previous album with that very subtle electro feel and that's  what I really like that about this song. She also always seems to have killer bridges.

Shapeshifter - Monarch

New Album, New single. Howzz abbouutt thaatt aayyy!! I hear this and it brings me back to when I saw these guys live. It was probably the single most amazing live performance by a band that I have ever seen. You really can't appreciate drum & bass untill you've seen/heard it live. So when I heard this new single, I had to find out when they were going to be touring BECAUSE seriously, I can just imagine how nuts I'd be going to this at a live show.

Janine and The Mixtape - Bullets

I wanted to include this because I feel like you don't see a whole lot of R'n'B ballads come out of kiwi female artists. Janine has some serious pipes and I like the Pop/R'n'B feel of this song. What's kinda ticking at me a little bit, the kind of ticking where you see someone's shirt tag out and you feel the need to tuck it in, is what Janine is doing with her hands in this video. It reminds me of Will Ferrell on Taladaega Nights where he didn't know what to do with his hands. I wish they didn't do so many full body shots?

 

Treasures of the Week: 3rd Edition

This post has taken a million years and a day for me to post, just because I haven't come across any noteworthy internet finds! Annoying. But I am going ahead with it, to which you will find a fairly decent list of this and that.  Expect a few silly laughs, encouragement, strange but curious sounds and some "nooo waay" footage.

1. Kobe Mims
Everyone loves to hate on his notorious and highly debated "no pass, shoot" attitude and I think it's hilarious. I also think the Kobe vs. Lebron debate is just as hilarious because whether you like it or not, 5 rings trump any talent in this business.

2. P.O.D - In the Studio with Howard Benson

Just announced!! P.O.D's new album will be out June 19th!! They hooked with up renowned producer Howard Benson, who they worked with on their previous old school albums, WHICH MEANS this new album will have that old sound that fans have been yearning for.

3. Listener - Wooden Heart

My favorite band right now. This song has been on replay for weeks. They call it "talk music". It is so beautiful how they express words in a way I've never heard. This song reminds me of how imperfect and flawed I am. How my inadequacies is what connects me to God and His people. That even in my insecurities and grief as a complete wreck Christ remains my anchor and belief in victory over my failures.

4. Family - Short Film

I didn't expect what I saw in this video. It's almost identical to my own life. Isn't it always a nice surprise when you're not the only one who has crazies in their family.

5. Marriage

I came across this on another blog. This couple wanted to pray before the marriage ceremony, but they didn't want to see each other. Giving every moment to God right to the end, trusting each other and trusting Him.

6. PNC - Half Kast

The identity dillemas or rather, the hard explained identity structure of a Half Kast. PNC does an amazing job at making sense of it all. Great Hip Hop.

7. How to hug a baby

I LOVE dogs, and because of long childhood years of pet deprivation, my love for dogs has been mounting and mounting. So I decided that the only cure is to one day raise 10 dogs on a farm, one for every year of going without one as a child. So, when I came across this, I almost died, I wish I was that baby.

8. Love & Death - Chemicals

This is Brian "Head" Welch's new band and this is their second single, WHICH has been on repeat for the past few weeks. Dare I say this song is in my top 10 of 2012 music I will be killing till the year is over. The video will give you shivers, but try look past the crazy eyes for a second and find what is being portrayed. Little fun fact? The drummer is like this 17yr old musical prodigy.

9. Brian "Head" Welch and Korn

So in case you didn't know who in the WHAT I was talking about when I said "This is Brian Head Welch's new band..." He use to be the guitarist for Korn. His life took a whirlwind turn when he gave his life to Christ. In 2005 he left Korn. Now, he's this amazing speaker, father and frontman to Love and Death. A couple days ago at the Carolina Rebellion Festival, Head joined Korn on stage to sing "Blind", which was the first time in 7 years! Korn Frontman Jonathan Davis, introduced him by saying “I want to bring out one of my dearest, oldest and most beloved old friends to come out and have some fun with us,”. God is so faithful, so good and so beautiful. That is everything that is conveyed in this picture. It had me watery-eyed. I included Head's testimony below the picture, I remember watching it at a time when God was breaking and disciplining me.

10. Dubstep Violin

Let's end on an insane note shall we? This guy makes me wish I spent my entire childhood indoors practicing the violin. What. A. Freak.

Crucial Words that Begin Crucial Questions.

What. Where. How. When. Who. Why.

If you've never asked yourself a question beginning with these words then you're either Super human or not human at all. These words constantly bombard us from the moment we wake up. It's quite the norm to the say the least. We wonder "what will we have for breakfast?", "where are my keys?", "how am I always running out of sugar?", "when should I get groceries?", "who keeps parking in my spot?" or "why did it have to rain today?". The usual everyday questions that wrap our lives into a bearable chaos.

But, what about the specific, deep rooted versions of these questions that we fear to say out loud or even admit that we think them? "What's going to happen if I leave or if I stay?", "Where am I truly meant to be?", "How am I going to get through this heartbreak?", "When will I meet my Husband/Wife?", "Why did you take him/her away?".

There are a million specific and crucial questions we dare ask God. Let me challenge you, If God never told you the answer to some of your most painstaking questions, would you still trust Him?

Sonny on a cold night.

It's not everyday that God brings people who have a relentless fire and passion for Him across the seas and right to your doorstep. The day after the P.O.D concert, my brother and I had the wonderful opportunity to hear and meet these extraordinary human beings, who essentially were just like us, a bunch of nobodys who only by God's grace and perfect love know of a better way, a way to experience and know a merciful and loving God.

On April 12th 2012, I met Sonny Sondoval of P.O.D and co-founder of the Whosoevers. One of the greatest and life-changing moments of my life. I want to be clear here, it was not because I got to meet the singer of my all time favourite band. Far from it, it was life-changing because he expressed and put into words a heart that God had been creating in me for the past 3 months. And I was reminded of what God told me years ago, to serve Him fearlessly no matter the cost.

Praise God for allowing me to share with Sonny things that have been on my heart, things that have changed in me because of how God has used this movement in my own life. Sonny is such a chill, sweet and humble person. My heart burned with fire as he spoke to me about his own heart for this generation and young people. 

He's also the easiest person to talk to, straight off the bat we joking about the concert last night and how I had so many chances to take his hat but I didn't want to be rude haha! Really tash...rude? You know what was crazy though? As soon as he saw me he goes "oh you were in the pitt right?" I'm standing there like a deer caught in headlights like "What! You remember me!?". He then said "Yeah of course! You were right there going crazy and I saw your T-shirt." I was both embarassed and honored haha. We spoke about his family, the upcoming conference, P.O.D, prayer and a whole bunch of other things. My brother and I walked away feeling so refreshed and ready to take on the world. It was surreal and I still can't believe I had those conversations. Wherever you are now with God, don't be afraid to do more and be more. If you've walked away or never even known Him, let me tell you...He is waiting for you and ready to make you new. All you need to do is come exactly as you are. 

P.O.D Concert, how I survived.

Let me start off the story with this picture of the aftermath. This is my brother and I... a complete mess, drenched in sweat and water with our brother Ryan from the Whosoevers.

Sonny the Lead singer

Its a cold and raining Wednesday afternoon. We have 3hrs till the concert and I'm contemplating whether to go for a run or not. This is how my mind processes situations like this: "it's only rain, it's not like it's acid, plus I had pizza...though I should save some energy for tonight, but this could be like warm-up, I don't wanna be stretching anything in the middle of a mosh." Conclusion? I ran, not too far, but enough to get absolutely drenched.

Now, I'm staring into my wardrobe thinking, "what does one wear to a rock concert?...black tee, black pants...ALL BLACK EVERYTHING?" And indeed this was my attire of choice, wore my Whosoevers tee, which got me looking like I knew what I was doing.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect as I entered the floor. There were a surprisingly large assortment of individuals among the crowd - parents, grandparents, little kids, young adults, adults, teens, tweens. Anyone who was there to supervise were congregated towards the back safe from flying sweat, loud speakers and spontaneous limb explosions. My brother and I crucially strategized before we entered the building, this strategy was altered as we got closer and closer to the stage.

Phase 1: Find a clear and safe spot to scope out the crowd and find a possible path to the front.

Phase 2: Take that path to the outskirts of the mosh pit.

Phase 3: Cross through the mosh while in full motion, this avoids having to push through people who are just standing.

Phase 4: By this point, we would've been in the very front center of the stage. Mission complete. Or so I thought, ahhh I'm such an amateur.

After the opening acts had finished and the stage was finally set up for P.O.D. It was game time, literally. There was only one girl between me and the railing, I was comfortable and there was a decent amount of arm room. As soon as lead guitarist Marcus walks out, it was like ripples of waves slowly crashing toward me. By the time the entire band was on stage my face was flat on the back of this girl. My brother and I got separated by his intent to remain close to the mosh and mine to get the best view of the band. As soon as those sticks hit the drums, the crowd turned into an orchestrated pool of caged animals, it was insane and I became one of them. The crowd was so uncontrollably heavy and compact that lifting your arm turned into a 10kg bicep curl. I was squared by two skinny 6'3 guys on my right, a huge 6'0 guy on my left and hundreds of screaming, jumping, pushing people behind me. In that moment I could only pray that God keep me from being accidently elbowed in the face or that one of my shoes don't go missing. I quickly got use to the non-violent passionate violence, the harmonious screams, the prompt water sprays by security and the inescapable thumping, grabbing and jumping that every beat exerted out of every person. Once lead singer Sonny belted out that first note I remembered exactly why I love this band and that tonight was all about release.

I screamed every word I knew like a mad woman. I jumped and pushed as much as I could signifying my love for the song, for the band. But it was rough, the crazier the song, the crazier the crowd, the crazier the mosh. On the very first song Sonny jumped onto the crowd, right on top of the two guys on my right. We all pushed him up and around, I was soo ecstatic, I couldn't believe I was helping Sonny crowd surf haha! The crowd pushed him back on stage and he stood on a platform right next to the railing overlooking the crowd screaming and singing directly into our eyes and hearts. I couldn't believe how close he was. Waves of people pushed toward the front even more, as they tried to get a hand on Sonny. Hands reaching out towards him for a touch. One of the greatest moments in my life happened as I stared him square in the face screaming back to him the same words he screamed to me and seeing all that passion explode like a furnace in his eyes and on his face. He pointed directly at me as I furiously mouthed his song as if saying, "yeah you got it". Life was almost complete. UNTIL he passes me the mic, this happened 3 times, this is why being in front is amazing! Myself and whoever was next to me start screaming the chorus into it. Out of the corner of my eye I catch my brother. I pass it back to him avoiding the snatching hands. Him and whoever was next to him start going nuts, screaming the chorus into the mic. I turn to the stage and see Sonny jiving, smiling and laughing. After the mic makes it's way back to Sonny, I turn back to my brother and we exchange agreeing looks as if we were rock stars. Absolutely epic.

Sonny

Because I was so pressed to the front where the crowd resembled swirling, crashing waves it was important to stand my ground. If I didn't I would've easily have lost this amazing spot. So the best thing to do especially if you're not as physcially apt as the bigger, taller guys around you is to find a couple of anchors. These are guys preferably in front of you who are strong and have sturdy position despite how crazy the crowd gets. Thank you Lord for giving me the best anchors a girl could ask for haha. These two guys had moved in front of me to protect the girls getting squashed at the railings, it was perfect. There was never enough space to turn around to see how the mosh was getting on in the middle, but THE ONE TIME I do turn around, who's facilitating the mosh!!?? - clearing the area, forming the circle and getting everyone hyped...MY BROTHER. Hahahha I was cracking up thinking, "thiiiiiss guy".

Their set list was too good. Of course they dished out "ALIVE" ,but my favourites was when they ripped "Southtown" out of nowhere, Oh man I swear I turned into a crazy, territz pokemon hahha. "Satellite" was their encore, to which everyone went 5 times harder to. Another big favourite was "Boom", this was one of the song where he passed me the mic, I'm still trippin. Sonny got the meenest swag on stage, he goes N.U.T.S and then off stage he's sweet and gentle. I loved that he shared about God and that he was all about everyone having fun and just letting go for the one night. When it was all over, my brother and I were so drenched, deaf and voiceless. As if the night couldn't get any better, my bro spotted Ryan the co-founder of the Whosoevers and we went over and had an amazing conversation about the movement, God, Fiji, who we were. He was so stoked to see I was reppin The Whosoevers with my tee, he was so keen to introduce us to Sonny who is the other co-founder of The Whosoevers. I swear I was going to cry, but lame event staff was kicking us out. So, we told Ryan we'd meet him tomorrow and he could introduce us to Sonny then. I need to make sure I don't start balling in Sonny's face hahha. ANYWAY...that easily makes top 4 amazing moments of my life, up there with giving my life to Jesus. And yes...my entire body is a little sore.

Forgive me for my lack of high quality and quantity pictures. It was actually impossible to take any kind of photos in the position I was in. The photos I did take I risked the safety of my arms for lol.

Sonny... again

Pictures: My own