Get Rich Quick

I saw something a bit disheartening the other night. A friend of mine asked me if I'd be interested in earning some extra money by doing some social networking stuff. Since I am in the need of some currency I decided well...I can at least check it out, so I did.

The meeting was at Ramada Inn and I wore jeans. I was a bit under dressed, but she said it was okay. We went into the meeting room where the guest speaker introduced himself and began to explain the whole thing. First impression was: "This is scam. No way anyone can make as much money as he's saying he did." It cost $175 to get going and you had to attend a conference about it in Nashville or Minneapolis, and they don't pay for those, but the business will in a couple months, sure. However, as he continued talking some of it did actually did make sense.

He first talked about how we have been "brain washed" in that we need to go to school to get a good job and do that for the rest of our lives when we can actually survive using this networking thing and earn a lot more extra cash by doing it. He worked at IBM for 20 years and apparently hated every minute of it. Since he got into this business he quit his job, doesn't wake up until 11, and takes vacations every 2 weeks.

He could tell I wasn't impressed by what he was doing with his money and as he was going through all the "glorious" things you can do with money, stopped by me and said "Or you could even give your pastor or church $20,000. Wouldn't he love that?!" I nodded, just to get him away from me because he had a creepy smile.

Basically this guy said, "Quit school or your job, do this, you'll make tons of money and barely have to do anything for it." Sounds easy right? Too easy, I'd feel so lazy if I did that. Imagine getting up at 11:00 AM every day and taking vacations every 2 weeks; what could you possibly get done? He also told he gets done every day around 3:00 PM.

I'm not trying to bash on the people that are interested in this and have gotten started with it. I can't say that everyone that has gone through that has not used their money very wisely, but I can say that I don't think I'd really want all that money. I'd have no idea what to do with it. I'd march drum corps and buy some gaming systems. That'd probably be the extent of it.

I left the meeting with a CD to give me more info about it. I threw it away. I got a call from someone about getting everything set up. I told him I wasn't interested, at all. Easy as that. I'd rather spend my hard earned money something worthwhile, not snowmobiles and fancy resorts.

Be Still

Everyone loves music, but some appreciate more than others. I, being a music major, would say that I do and I truly realized it this past weekend. My mom's birthday was this weekend so I decided I should probably go home. College and home is a pretty good distance away, about 2 and a half hours, so I listened to a bunch of music on the way home and I took another 45 minute trip to see a certain someone. I went there and back so all together I had 6 and a half hours of intense music listening. It was good time.

Anyways, I've noticed that certain songs extract different emotions. This sounds really cheesy, I know. But for instance, All the Memories by The Classic Crime makes me a bit sad because it reminds me of my high school show choir and how much I loved it. A couple songs by Tool also do the same but with drumline, it reminds me of the winter shows in the past.

However, the most emotional ones I have found are songs I sang with Esprit de Corps. Every time I listen to Make Some Noyz I get chills, because I can remember exactly what it felt like to just praise with everyone together. It was one of the most awesome feelings I've ever had. But the best one out of that group was Still by Hillsong. It's easily one of my favorite songs of all time. I had heard it a few times before Esprit but never realized how awesome of a song it truly is.

We sang it at youth group tonight and I just listened to it again. I almost cried. There are so many things going on in my life right now that I lose sleep over. I don't have a job and need one badly. I know what's right, but don't necessarily do it all the time. My classes are stressing me out already. I'm worried about a developing relationship for no real reason. I'm scared that transferring won't go smoothly. I'm even worried about not getting into the School of Music at UNL. Everything just seems to be chipping away at me.

Yet, in spite of that, this song reminds me not to worry, to relax, to be still, and know that God is God. He is King over the flood. I know His power in quietness and trust. I will find rest in Christ alone. My favorite lyrics of the song: "I will soar with You above the storm."

*sigh* thanks God.