Lord, slow me down

There are just not enough hours in the day.
Twenty-four?  C’mon… raise the ante.

There is just so much I wish to accomplish, but I only have four years to do it all.  Lessons for composition, flute, piano, voice… and after watching Rachel tonight at her senior recital, I’m itching to even get bass lessons.  I wouldn’t call it over achieving… merely a yearn to improve on the instruments I have already.  I’ve always been told that you have “potential,” but I’ve never been able to reach it without instruction.  Now I have this opportunity… but dang, does it come with a cost.  Heck, I’m hoping to get lessons when I haven’t even tried out for the scholarship yet.
Then there are music application and history classes that will increase my comprehension and imbetter me as a musician.  The sooner I take those classes, the better I can actually apply it to my own works.  And then there are the general eds… meh.

I’m not complaining to the fact that I have so many classes… I actually like everything that I am learning.  I do not see any class that I am taking—or will take—as a waste of time.  But… there’s just not enough time.  I’m limited to only twenty-four hours in each day (preferably eight of them occupied by sleep of a sort).

I would take five years of college.  That would definitely ease the tension.  Problem:  money.  Freakin money.  That’s probably the reason why we see a bunch of socialists rising from colleges.  It isn’t that colleges are left-wing… it’s the loans!
As much as I hate what money does to people, I definitely see its benefits.  Most definitely.  From education, to helping others, to getting small gifts for others, to daily food.  Gosh.  Oh yeah, add “job” to my list of what to-do each day.

I’m running out of room… and I want to do so much.

But what about relationships?
My social life has definitely died because I’m taking nine classes this semester.  I think Jeff not being on the hall also has an affect on how social I am on the hall.  I’m usually in the music building, in my room studying, or in my room praciticing.  Rarely do I see the sunlight.
It’s hard to enjoy God’s creation when one’s eyes are fixed on other needs.  Maybe my priorities are not organized.  But what am I to do?  There is only twenty-four hours in the day.  Classes, eat, practice, compose, excersize, talk… not much room to even poop.  And I wonder why my heart is confused lately… not much room to put love in that daily to-do list.

This isn’t healthy, but it’s my situation.

Lord.  Slow me down.  Please.

good company, good night

I think it’s fair to say that Fiction Family knows how to make my problems mere fantasies.

Last night, Josh, Jarel, and I headed downtown to watch Fiction Family play at Anthology downtown.  Before the concert, I was feeling a bit perlexed and down due to certain situations.  It seems lately I’ve been down often.  It could be because of the given situations at hand.  It could be situations plus the fact that I such a small social life—even with my friends at my dorm—due to my coursework schedule.  Rather… right now it’s just one situation.  I guess we’ll see how that goes.  ANYWAYS… (wow… this paragraph has underwent through an unnecessary tangent), I had such an amazing time at the concert.

Before the concert, all of us had dinner at the venue—everyone is required to buy at least $15 worth of food/drinks when you go to Anthology.  While eating, we noticed how many PLNU kids there were there.  And, of course, we ran into Hanna and Jevin.  House of friends—no better way to have it.  Jarel, Josh, and I had some great conversations, concerning a range of things:  music (of course), what it means to have ettiquite, the affects on different foods, how it’s always better to have friends when dining, etc.

For those who do not know who Fiction Family is, Jon Foreman (from Switchfoot) and Sean Watkins (from Nickel Creek) collaborated together to form this acoustic/contemporary/bluegrass/folk/chop-sui group.  On tour, Sara Watkins decided to join in, plus Keith Tutt II—who plays cello when Jon Foreman tours solo.

The concert started at 7:30, with San Diego native Molly Jenson opening.  Besides her having a nice voice and style, she has a good use of interesting chords.  Seeing how Jarel loves unique chords, it was always a pleasure to watch him whenever she hit a good one   She also mentioned that she was working on a CD with San Diego native Greg Laswell, which I found funny, seeing how he was interviewed at the PLNU Writers Symposium this week.

Molly only played about five songs within her 30 minute opening, which worried me a little.  The ticket said that they let people in for the next show at 9:15 and it was already 8.  Also, seeing how it was taking forever to complete the break in between Molly Jenson and Fiction Family, I was a bit worried that the main group would not play too many songs due to time constraint.  I’m so glad I was wrong.

Fiction Family opened up with a roar, starting with “War in My Blood.”  I’ve seen so many renditions of this song, with different styles on youtube.  But to finally hear it live was such a treat.

Here was the playlist of the night:

1.  War in My Blood
2.  Closer Than You Think
3.  Betrayal
4.  Ressurect Me
5.  Learning How to Die (Jon Foreman)
6.  Idioteque (Radiohead cover)
7.  Mostly Prove Me Wrong
8.  Not Sure
9.  Bella and Ivan (Sean Watkins and Sara Watkins fiddlin’ it out)
10. Rob Me
11. Someone Like You (Nickel Creek cover)
12. Your Love is Strong
13. We Ride
14. Please Don’t Call it Love (dedicated to Ernest Hemmingway)
15. Keep the Car Running (cover)
16. When She’s near
–ENCORE–
17. Hey Jude (induced by crowd)
18. On a Long Hot Summer Day (Sara Watkins covers John Hartford)
19. Throw it Away
20. Look For Baby

oh yes.

If I had the timespan, I’d talk about every song.  Sadly, I don’t, and seeing how it’s right now 11:26, and the caf opens soon, I can only discuss highlights.  All the songs were amazing.  However, because Im Jon Seligman, seeing how my parents were to pick us up at 9 and it was 9:30, I began to worry about them, seeing how parking isnt fun to find at downtown, which kind of made me sidetracked from few songs.  But besides that, each song was amazing in itself.

Songs that stood out?  Well, I knew that there was going to be a jam session for the song “Ressurect Me,” but I had no clue that the bassist was going to do one of the leads.  Using a slide and having a bright tone, the bassist did such a pleasureful solo that matched well with the tune.  Ahh…
Sean went off the stage, allowing himself to fix his guitar and allowing Jon Foreman to do one of his solo works.  The crowd was the deciding factor to which song Foreman performed, thus “Learning How to Die” won.  I kind of wish Jon would play one of his lesser known pieces, but maybe it’s hard to do those songs live.  Despite my shortlived disappointment, Foreman’s voice was so honest in this song.  Maybe it’s because it’s the first time hearing it live, but it was quite enjoyable.
After “Learning How to Die,” the bassist, Sean Watkins, and Jon Foreman circled around Foreman’s mic and began too sing a song in three-part harmony that sounded so familiar.  I heard all of the Fiction Family songs off clips, but I knew the melody of this song that extended much further than 30 seconds.  Then it clicked when they hit the higher notes.  It’s the song that David Berg plays all the time!  Idioteque!  Their rendition of the song was different than the original song, keeping to the feel, but having such a nice mood.  I think the fact that they circled around the main mic has something to do with it—as opposed to each of them singing in their own mic.

It’s hard to judge (that word sounds so negative, but it’s appropriate) most of the Fiction Family songs, seeing how I haven’t heard all of them to their entirety.  Despite that, I loved the feel.  Laid back, emotional, acoustic harmonies.  
Another positive aspect of the concert was the variety.  The last concert I went to was the Greg Laswell/Richie Furay gig after their symposium.  I respect Richie and his music, but there was not much variety to their style—personally.  Maybe there were other factors, but I didn’t find too much of a difference, musically, in between each song.  With Fiction Family, the group arranged the list well that there were downbeat songs in the middle of all the upbeat goodness.  Also, having Sean and Sara playing their originals and bluegrass music definitely spiced things up.  Heck.  The fact that four out of the five performers sung helped the variety. 

And of course, Jon Foreman is known for his transitions/anecdotes/light antics.  For the song “Please Don’t Call it Love,” Jon Foreman dedicated the song to Ernest Hemingway, and said he that he is here tonight (a light jeer at what Molly, when she said that one of her songs was for a friend that was in the crowd).  Jon Foreman saw all the dining tables laid out and just felt compelled to sing on them.  “I think this breaks some sanitary code.” Hahah no really?  I bet Hanna and Jevin got some nice pictures of him, seeing how Jon was on a table that was very close to where they were situated.

Another song that stood out was “We Rise.”  I’ve only heard the clip, but I had a feeling it was going to be a good one, and their live performance indeed proved my theory.  Jon Foreman’s “Your Love is Strong,” was great as well.  I thought the night was going to end off with that song, seeing how its upbeat and lyrically moving.  I liked how they arranged the song.  The bassist was playing either the keyboard or his bass to sound like a reversed track.  Each singer came in too add to the sonorous sound at each verse, ending the song with one powerful prayer.

It was intersting how Foreman induced the encore.  He asked not that we clap or shout encore, but rather that we sing “Hey Jude”.  “It’s only fair!  We’ve been singing all night, so this will give us a chance to rest and for you to sing.”  Of course, it was a bit awkward how we’d start such an encore, but of course the loud ones were able to start it up.

“Throw it Away” is one of their more progressive songs.  A good second to last song.  I had a feeling that “Look For Me Baby” would be last.  While it is a good one to end a concert on an upbeat note, the lyrics aren’t that filling.  That’s one mans opinion.

Despite that, I loved the concert.  Was so glad to see Hanna and Jevin and take our final pics with them.  I kinda wish I brought one more person along… I just felt during certain songs that it would’ve been cool if they were here with me.  But it’s okay.  Three-way intimate conversations made the night amazing.
Who can complain?

dim lights

Yesterday made me question the integrity of the coming generation of Christians.

As you all know—or hopefully know—I go to a Christian campus.  There are atheists and people of different faith, but it is primarily a Christian focused school.  Before arriving on this campus, I thought everyone was going to be stiff hardcore Christians of different varieties—stiff, fervent, or whatever. 

After arrival, my viewpoint immediately changed.  I realized that the Christians were quite down-to-earth.  There was an eclectic group of people.  Maybe not as much as SCPA—I think the tuition kind of affects that kind of spread from happening.  But this view of people being squeaky clean faded.  There are a good amount of down-to-earth Christians with great personalities.

However, There is another side of the story.  I’ve picked it up, but yesterday, I was seriously annoyed by the people I was around.  We were watching an interview of holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl in our Psychology class.  Upon first view, Frankl is not a handsome looking man, but that’s no reason for a people to giggle and comment how he looks. 
I remember the person next to me said “that guy needs to invest in a toothbrush.”  Yeah, his teeth did not look too healthy, but one has to expect that after what he went through.  The fact that Frankl is living to talk to us via recording is a miracle in itself. 
And this one loud girl started mocking the way he spoke.  OKAY.  Frankl has a freakin accent.  Never heard of one before?

Later at dinner, Vocal Jazz had just ended so I decided to eat with one of my fellow singers.  He was sitting with another guy and two other girls.  I know everyone can be picky about certain foods, but this guy wouldnt shut up.  He threw away two good plates because it “looked funny.”  “Is pasta supposed to look that way?”  (Note: the thing that disgusted him was the seasoning on the pasta).  “It’s too slippery.”  The girls apparently had the same viewpoint. 
BALLS.  I swear.  Are you willing to throw away two good dishes just because of how food looks?  There are so many people would desire so dearly to eat that food, and you casually throw it away?  How about you take out that silver spoon that’s shoved in your brain.

I know I shouldn’t judge these people.  I bet these people have goodness in them.  However, how are Christians to be taken seriously if we have representatives on the front lines similar to those I cited?  How can we be the light of the world if we have these people who claim to bear the cross, yet they swear allegiance to frivolty?

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”

It goes back to my experience up in UCSD, watching that concert at the Ché.  I felt like Peter probably felt in Jeruselem during Jesus’s prosecution.  I was the only Christian in a crowd of people that despised Christianity.  I can only stop and wonder why.

Don’t get me wrong.  I know that there is a vast number of strong Christians at my campus, but I think many of them are too much buried into the frivolty of what life.  Even one person I care about—or want to care about—seems to be pulled into the frivolties of society.  Or maybe it’s her friend that’s making her change her personality… but that’s a completely different story that I’d rather not get into.

Maybe I’m too judgemental.  I feel like I am.  All I know is that all of us have a potential to become so much more.  I am not limiting this to Christians.  We all have gifts.  But as Christians, we should have an even larger moral obligation to not bury our talents and follow the ways of the world, but rather pursue them.  This will in the end keep our lamps burning brighter for the world to see.