Monday, May 28, 2007

Sex, Screaming and STEM: The Screaming

Part Three: The Screaming
And by screaming, I don't only mean the banal, guttural noises proceeding out of the mouths of one singer at a time, and concurrently hundreds in the audience. I mean the screaming by of the days, the screaming feeling inside when you woke up (or when the attendees finally went to bed) (joke), the screaming of the Word in your hearts as it pinpointed one person in the spotlight (and that person was you), and, well, the screaming of Big Mike as seven of us threw him into the pool.

Big Mike is an appropriately named 300 pounds of pure muscle and brawn. He has a quick smile and a huge love for the teens... that and a lot of mischief.
Late one night he snuck up behind a poor, innocent-looking Steve (STEM, yes), and threw him into the pool with no compunction. Well, we weren't going to let something like that go so easily, were we? Plus, who wouldn't want to use this perfectly good excuse for a bit of playful vengeance, right?

Fortunately, there were no less than seven of us with the same idea. Fortunately, Kenji and Jer were amongst the crowd, not to mention Jason Wells (who had the idea). Fortunately, Big Mike was only a few feet away from the edge of the pool.

Unfortunately, however, I reached him first.

Foolish.

Also unfortunately, my hair got tangled up in his fingers.

We wrestled with everything inside of us, nudging him inch by inch closer to the dark water. Men went flying in every direction, but still we persisted. Finally with one final heave, the ground disappeared beneath us and a writhing, heaving ball of half-naked men plunged into the deep.

And it was all caught on camera. Stay tuned for the Wordstock 4 DVD!

That was fun. If only Mike hadn't been wearing his cell phone.

***

Anyway, screaming does also have to do with the actual voices. Not that many of us actually had voices by the second day. Truth is though, it wasn't the screaming that knocked our voices out this time. It was the dreaded Wordstock flu. I caught it the day before the event, and, thank You, Jesus, lost it halfway through. Others were not so lucky. I pray for them.

The band members fared well though. Many of them have actual healing miracles to testify to, and no performance was directy affected by the dreaded flu. In fact, they did splendidly. Screaming on stage WAS one of the highlights of this Wordstock. And I found their secret!

The Zen Of Screaming.

This is an instructional video by a certain Melissa Cross on how to perfect your scream, without losing your voice. Not to throw names around here, but most of the screaming bands at Wordstock have used this at one time or another, as well as the famed PaperClassFire from Mexico City. I haven't personally seen it, but it comes highly recommended as far as any non-Family reference material would. If YOU too are interested in screaming YOUR guts out, while leaving your throat intact, try it.

Love, Joe.

Labels:

Sunday, May 27, 2007

Fetching Fridays

Where All The Chics Are!



Here!

Oh for a taste of that salt-spangled, ocean breeze. Is it even possible to contain this many gorgeous, beaming people in one viewfinder? Apparently so.

So, all the chics are.... good gosh, where was this again?

Love, Joe.

Labels:

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Sex, Screaming and STEM: The Sex


Part Two: The Sex.

Wordstock 4.

In the daytime, I would be pointed out beautiful JTs that I should talk to, suggested that I choose their company over something else I really wanted to do, and as far as that went, He made it fun for me, and memorable, and so totally worth it. But let's not overlook a few other aspects of Wordstock 4.

After nightfall, that was when He went to work on His part of the deal. Goal Number Two, after doing everything in your power to help the JTs have fun, was this: have fun yourselves.

After the JTs went to bed every night, there were certain choices to make. There was usually a sports crowd and a dance crowd. Participation in either led to a completely different end, and the two didn't mix easily (at least not without a good shower).

Now, this may seem like an easy choice for any of you, and on the surface, yes. Any man in his right mind would choose skirts over sports any day... right? But there is just something about a well-lit indoor gym and a good team of worthy opponents that tugs at your ankles. After all, with some of the best basketball players in the Family finally within arms reach, one had to be able to hold his head up.

On the second night I said, no, forget it, I was going to stay in the non-sweaty section of the Wordstock property. Well, man proposes... and uh... even bigger men dispose of the plans of the littler ones. A giant weighing twice as much as me stormed through the doors, forgot the formality of cordially inviting me onto the court to play, picked me up, marched to the gym, and dumped me in a heap on the floor, no questions asked. I was going to play, and that was the end of it.

So I played. But I also found that by playing one or two games, then slipping out the back door to shower and change, you could satiate both groups of people, as well as both groups of inner cravings, and still have time for a snack or two before bed.

Fast dancing is inspiring. Either for musical interpretation (something which good songs heard by good listeners just seem to demand), or just to burn off some extra energy with a few well-placed twirls, there is simply nothing like it.

Slow dancing is a need. Human affection is something the body craves, and that's why slow dancing was invented. Without that factor, it will only puzzle you. For you who don't understand dancing (especially slow), this is the key factor you have missed. Touching other people and being touched in return is just as essential for your skin as a good cleaning, and even more essential to your mind than a good education. But then, music is what brings it all together. --You take away the beat and all you have is couples clinging to each other's backs, stepping on each other's toes, and wearing an endless, chanted, rutted circle into the floor.

But put all that together and you have the magic of dancing.

And that's what we had.

Some clever soul had come up with the brilliant idea to write each person's status on his/her bracelet, so that by the second night there were no questions and no worries. Still, I was grilled at least once: FD? Not on PS? Disease-free? Single, or with permission?

Only halfway serious, but really, these things are important, and I highly recommend making sure.

Of course, to most people, dancing has an end... and it isn't the dance floor. Let me take you there.

***

We leave the dance hall together. We have to pass through the gym first and it is dark and abandoned. We stumble over a chair but the exit is close enough and no bones are broken. My room is a short, hilly walk away, and we have plenty to talk about on the way there.
Providence had given me one roommate--a Team Leader. You see, Team Leaders are supposed to sleep in the cabins with their teams, so he never showed up.

I have put the two single beds together, and covered them with a large, billowy, white sheet, a soft blanket and plenty of pillows. The room is immaculate: it is always two people that mess up a room--one person by himself can keep it quite clean. I do have a stock of fruit on one of the shelves in case you get hungry. The rest is up to us.
I always forget the Do Not Disturb sign, but no one comes out here at 3:00 AM anyway. When our eyes close, we will sleep well. I hope I can say the same for our neighbours. I hope the walls are thick.

Love, Joe.

Labels:

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Fetching Fridays

Stay pasted for a few more juicy articles on Wordstock: The Sex, Screaming, and STEM, coming soon. But first, a little ode to the hometown! And Charlotte, I LOVE YOU!

***

Where All The Chics Are!



Guadalajara, Mexico! Paradise! Lucky me!
My birthday party, what a fine and glorious day. And as the North Star shines above us, between Kristy and Sherri, we bask in its smiling glow and, LET THE BALL BEGIN!

Guadalajara--that's where all the chics are.

Love, Joe.

Labels:

Friday, May 18, 2007

Sex, Screaming, and STEM

Admit it, that's really what you want to hear about.

I have to tell you that some of the hype is faked. Like when they say, "Okay, everyone in the crowd mosh for a few minutes with all the lights on (so we can get a few good camera shots)." Or when it's, "Is everyone excited to be here? I can't hear you! Scream louder for all the people back home!"

But that's only because capturing down a good dose of the spirit for the record, is hard to do.

But the spirit is real.

Imagine that electric spirit--300 barely known people with similar backgrounds/beliefs, gathered together with two goals: 1, to help the JETTs and teens have fun, and 2, to have fun themselves. Can you imagine the potency in those possibilities? Add love and genuine concern to those explosive ingredients, and you have something that will never die. You have Wordstock.

Love is such a major part of Wordstock. I ended up spending every meal with a different group of JTs, in a different exotic place of the dining room, and I tell you that THAT is where the fun in Wordstock is.

During daylight hours, every extra second (not spent in class or work period), I tried to do my best to grab ahold of a JETT or teen and get to know them. They are thrilling people! In a lot of cases they were even funner than the staff! I am happy to be able to now call many of them my new friends, to be able to add so many of them to my Yahoo contacts, and to have spent the majority of my time there with them. They are the true gold of Wordstock, and I can honestly say that--even though coincidence handed me a room all to myself with a double bed, the best kitchen access in the whole camp, and so many new musical goodies that it's going to be hard to release them all. The JTs--not the sex, screaming or STEM--were really the highlight of Wordstock to me, and what made the $250 worth it, and what I hold in my heart and smile to now, after the fact.

Just having an opportunity to get to know some of them, to try to pour out to them some of my enthusiasm for my Lover and for my Career, and to listen to them, pray with them, pose with them and hug them--that's what I wouldn't trade for anything else I experienced there. That's what I want to emphasize before anything else.

And you JETTs and teens, you know who you are--I salute you. You astounded me. I love you, you are wonderful, I miss you and I can't wait to chat with you and to see you again (I hope, eventually). Let's just get that straight before anything else.

And then...

...Well, there was still the sex, the screaming, and the STEM.

To be continued.

Love, Joe.

Labels: ,

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Praise Time: Songwriting! (How-To's). Part Three: Banda

I like putting these juicy little notes on here before the actual post, they're like appetizers. Well, I have a juicy one today.
As of 9:00 PM last night, I am now the VERY LAST PERSON IN THE WORLD who has been ACCEPTED TO WORDSTOCK IV!
You know I don't like news, but I am going to allow myself capital letters and even a few exclamation marks.
Let me just say that I decided to apply at the last minute as a representative of all you people who won't be able to go this year (isn't that cosmic?). Even all of you who have never gone at all! Me neither! So I am going this year as an official representative of each of you, and together we'll find out what all this hype is about. And with that I give you the last and best episode of our Praise Time: Songwriting Trilogy.

***

Praise time: Songwriting!
(DISCLAIMER: You don't have to be a musical Home to do this praise idea!)
* Put together a list of song titles. Kids' songs or very common praise songs are ideal. Below is a list of song ideas.
* Divide your Home into a few groups of 2-5 people, depending on the size of your Home. Cut out the song titles and place them in a hat or bowl.
* Have each group pick out a song title and give them 3-5 minutes to come up with praise words that fit the tune of the song they chose.
* Have each team take turns presenting their praise song to the Home.


Part Three: Banda.



Try it yourself at your next devotions!

Labels:

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Fetching Fridays

For the next few Fetching Fridays, we're going to start up a little series, since we like those so much.

Where All The Chics Are!


Here they are! --The Girls... and Shane! Lucky Shane.
You may recognize a few of these iconic ladies, or not, and you may even recognize Shane! Whether you do or don't though, sit back for a minute and imagine yourself there, surrounded by colours and beauty, and probably wild animals. Isn't it a cozy feeling?

Uganda--that's where all the chics are. (Thanks, Jaz!)

Love, Joe.

Labels:

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Praise Time: Songwriting! (How-To's). Part Two: Chubby


Here is the second video in that series you've all been waiting to comment on! I've got to mention first of all that Charlotte de Gaalon wrote this song below. Love you!

Praise time: Songwriting!
(DISCLAIMER: You don't have to be a musical Home to do this praise idea!)
* Put together a list of song titles. Kids' songs or very common praise songs are ideal. Below is a list of song ideas.
* Divide your Home into a few groups of 2-5 people, depending on the size of your Home. Cut out the song titles and place them in a hat or bowl.
* Have each group pick out a song title and give them 3-5 minutes to come up with praise words that fit the tune of the song they chose.
* Have each team take turns presenting their praise song to the Home.


Part Two: Chubby.



Second of a 3 part series. Stay tuned for the last (and best) part!

Labels: