But who you know. Sounds kind of cynical, and goes against the American dream of working hard to get wherever you want to, but based on my experiences the past few years...it's true.
The past few summers, I haven't been able to find any summer work aside from McDonald's, and of course the standard Political Science-free labor-internships (worked for a campaign last year going door to door). No matter how much education I gain, no matter how much leadership experience I accumulated in AIV and Good News, I haven't even been able to get retail jobs at places where they have openings.
This summer, even having graduated from the University of Michigan with a 4-year degree, McDonald's experience, dining hall experience, ample leadership experience, and good references, still nothing....until two days ago. My brother's friend told him to go to this lunch/dinner theater about 5-10 minutes from our house, and to use him as a reference. So happens that my friend Mandy's mom also works there, so I used Mandy as a reference, and we both got hired on the spot! All those hours of filling out job applications and yielding...nothing. And now I have a job just like that. Since I start on Tuesday, and I don't really have much info yet (it was really chill and informal), I don't really know what the hours are going to be like, but yeah, hopefully I will earn some decent money this summer. I'm pretty excited about being employed again.
Anyways, as I've heard in some of my classes, networking is becoming more and more important in the real world today. It's no longer about having the best credentials and working hard to snag the jobs, it's about having connections and getting jobs that way. Like it or not, that seems to be how it's like these days. Obviously, there are exceptions, but it's definitely harder in today's age to get jobs the old-fashioned way. And so, it's important for all of us to build up relationships with others and make connections, we can help each other out in the future.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Idol vs. The Voice
I have a new favorite singing show - The Voice. Maybe it's too soon to say, but already, it brings something fresh, while Idol continues to grow stale and boring.
Fact: American Idol is a joke now. Look at the past 3 idols...pretty much invisible in the present day - David Cook, Kris Allen, and Lee DeWyze. I bet that most people have no idea who they are...the most recent Idol who is still at least partially successful now is Jordin Sparks (who, by the way, I predicted to win from the time she auditioned, no joke!) Also, the judges' comments have been really inconsistent the past few seasons, even when Simon was still here (though I must say, it's definitely worse now that he's gone...)
The judges basically say that everyone is awesome, and they give standing ovations when they're not even warranted. In the past, there was maybe one standing o the whole season, if that. The sad part is that J-Lo and Steven Tyler are easier/less competent than Paula Abdul - and at least she was entertaining. These two newbies make Randy Jackson look tough (and indeed, they give him Simon's old seat), but he's pretty much the same...throwing in the same old random phrases like "It was hot!" "She is in it to win it!" "It was a little pitchy" etc.
And because the judges pretty much say everyone is amazing, people listen to these judges, and so no contestants stand out. Also, apparently the voting is dominated by tween girls, so actually amazing contestants like Pia get voted off:
Pia singing Celine Dion's All By Myself
I said I was done with Idol like 2 years ago, and for some reason, I keep watching. But seriously, with The Voice out now, and The X Factor coming out in the Fall (another Simon Cowell singing competition), there's a good chance I'm finally done with Idol for good.
The Voice is a completely different format, and a breath of fresh air. There are 4 judges: Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine (Maroon 5), Cee Lo Green ("Forget You"), and Blake Shelton (country music star). The premise of this show is that these judges each build their own superteam of singers. They act as mentors to the contestants they choose, and if one of their contestants wins in the end, the judge is credited as finding "the voice".
First round of filtering is a blind audition: The judges are turned around while each contestant sings his/her heart out. If at any point during the song, any of the judges like what they hear, they press a button that turns their chair around and flashes a light saying "I Want You". If more than one judge presses it, the contestant gets to choose whose team to go on.
Second round: There are 8 people on each judge's team. 2 people from each team are paired up, and those people battle against each other in a duet....judge picks the winner, and loser goes home!
Third round: There will be 4 people on each judge's team, and then the show goes live and America votes.
This is definitely a lot more intense than Idol (and I feel like the talent is a lot better), so I look forward to watching each week. They're still on the 2nd round of filtering right now, so hopefully the show stays interesting and awesome.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Blunt Self-Reflection
The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thrityfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold. - Mark 4:14-20
I think members of the Church today have a growing problem - the lack of blunt and honest self-reflection. How many of us whole-life-churchgoers (myself included) read the Parable of the Sowers, assume we are the good soil, and move on?
Yes, it is very true that I have grown tremendously throughout my 4 years in college. It is because of that growth, however, that I realize that my soil definitely has thorns in it. As Francis Chan says in his book, Crazy Love, "When we want God and a bunch of other stuff, then that means we have thorns in our soil...[A]re you choking [God's kingdom in your life] out slowly by spending too much time, energy, money, and thought on the things of this world?"
How often do I let other things take priority and get in the way of my relationship with God? Whether it be this new thing that I really really want to buy, or tv shows that I'm obsessed with and spend hours watching, singing and recording songs for hours (Christian songs, as a matter of fact), or even building relationships with other people, there are countless things that are good on their own, but can become big idols in my life.
Something I've had to realize is that Christian things do not equal God. Let's take Christian music, for example. Let's say, hypothetically, that I owned every Avalon song in existence, memorized all the lyrics, listened to each song at least 200 times through, and have gone to every concert within a 100 mile radius (not as much of an exaggeration as I would like). Avalon's music is great. They have inspired me with their songs and I would not be able to harmonize or sing like I do now if it weren't for them. And the lyrics have definitely encouraged me over the years and have drawn me closer to the Lord. Yet, it's possible to live and breathe Avalon rather than living and breathing God. In other words, Christian music is an invaluable supplement to my relationship with God, but it better not be the center of it.
The same can be said of fellowship. We can completely fill our daily schedules with fellowship activities, serving and having good community with the Body. But even this can be an idol (which is defined as anything that replaces God), if we're not careful.
The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is made up only of rules taught by men." - Isaiah 29:13
In our service to the Lord and in enjoying community, we must remember the reason and purpose behind all of it - to bring Him all the glory and honor and praise.
So, the struggle with idolatry in my life has shown me that I'm dealing with thorny soil. Closely related to that is being lukewarm. As Francis Chan says, in our comfortable American lifestyles, often getting whatever we want, our concern in our relationship with God is more about going to heaven than loving the King. I've had to examine myself...am I really in this because I love Jesus and want to follow Him? Or am I just looking for a ticket out of hell?
Crazy Love argues that thorny soil is not legit - i.e., people who are characterized as thorny soil will not enter heaven. It makes sense...there is no gray area in Christianity. You are all in or you are out. Well, that doesn't sound very good for us, does it? Considering how most Christians (especially in America) deal with thorny soil? Our hope, of course, lies with the cross of Christ. It was there that he fulfilled the law and conquered our sin. We are now free from the chains of legalism and sin. What differentiates phony and real Christians, I believe, is that the real Christians are fighting the good fight. They are constantly striving to put to death the idols in their lives and to remove the thorns that plague their relationship with God. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, real Christians experience victory over the world and are more than conquerors.
I've had doubts about my salvation before. So I read this book called How Can I Be Sure I'm a Christian? I'm really thankful to God for that book, because now, I am 100% sure that I'm a Christian, and I don't think I will ever again be plagued by the lies of the enemy that say otherwise. That being said, though, I still feel compelled to constantly examine myself. Remember, it's about loving the King and giving every part of our lives to Him, and not just about doing enough to get to heaven.
I really feel like kids in church should stop singing songs like "I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N" and "Father Abraham" ("Father Abraham had many sons...I am one of them, and so are you..."). As fun as they may be, they perpetuate the notion that going to church and playing along with whatever they're telling you = being a Christian. They do more harm to the kids than good. With this mindset, that as churchgoers and "good kids" they are Christians, they grow up without feeling any burden to examine themselves. I believe that's a big part of what kept me from self-examination for the longest time.
It's time that we stop examining ourselves with self-portraits - pre-conceived ideas of what we are like - and start examining ourselves with mirrors.
I think members of the Church today have a growing problem - the lack of blunt and honest self-reflection. How many of us whole-life-churchgoers (myself included) read the Parable of the Sowers, assume we are the good soil, and move on?
Yes, it is very true that I have grown tremendously throughout my 4 years in college. It is because of that growth, however, that I realize that my soil definitely has thorns in it. As Francis Chan says in his book, Crazy Love, "When we want God and a bunch of other stuff, then that means we have thorns in our soil...[A]re you choking [God's kingdom in your life] out slowly by spending too much time, energy, money, and thought on the things of this world?"
How often do I let other things take priority and get in the way of my relationship with God? Whether it be this new thing that I really really want to buy, or tv shows that I'm obsessed with and spend hours watching, singing and recording songs for hours (Christian songs, as a matter of fact), or even building relationships with other people, there are countless things that are good on their own, but can become big idols in my life.
Something I've had to realize is that Christian things do not equal God. Let's take Christian music, for example. Let's say, hypothetically, that I owned every Avalon song in existence, memorized all the lyrics, listened to each song at least 200 times through, and have gone to every concert within a 100 mile radius (not as much of an exaggeration as I would like). Avalon's music is great. They have inspired me with their songs and I would not be able to harmonize or sing like I do now if it weren't for them. And the lyrics have definitely encouraged me over the years and have drawn me closer to the Lord. Yet, it's possible to live and breathe Avalon rather than living and breathing God. In other words, Christian music is an invaluable supplement to my relationship with God, but it better not be the center of it.
The same can be said of fellowship. We can completely fill our daily schedules with fellowship activities, serving and having good community with the Body. But even this can be an idol (which is defined as anything that replaces God), if we're not careful.
The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is made up only of rules taught by men." - Isaiah 29:13
In our service to the Lord and in enjoying community, we must remember the reason and purpose behind all of it - to bring Him all the glory and honor and praise.
So, the struggle with idolatry in my life has shown me that I'm dealing with thorny soil. Closely related to that is being lukewarm. As Francis Chan says, in our comfortable American lifestyles, often getting whatever we want, our concern in our relationship with God is more about going to heaven than loving the King. I've had to examine myself...am I really in this because I love Jesus and want to follow Him? Or am I just looking for a ticket out of hell?
Crazy Love argues that thorny soil is not legit - i.e., people who are characterized as thorny soil will not enter heaven. It makes sense...there is no gray area in Christianity. You are all in or you are out. Well, that doesn't sound very good for us, does it? Considering how most Christians (especially in America) deal with thorny soil? Our hope, of course, lies with the cross of Christ. It was there that he fulfilled the law and conquered our sin. We are now free from the chains of legalism and sin. What differentiates phony and real Christians, I believe, is that the real Christians are fighting the good fight. They are constantly striving to put to death the idols in their lives and to remove the thorns that plague their relationship with God. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, real Christians experience victory over the world and are more than conquerors.
I've had doubts about my salvation before. So I read this book called How Can I Be Sure I'm a Christian? I'm really thankful to God for that book, because now, I am 100% sure that I'm a Christian, and I don't think I will ever again be plagued by the lies of the enemy that say otherwise. That being said, though, I still feel compelled to constantly examine myself. Remember, it's about loving the King and giving every part of our lives to Him, and not just about doing enough to get to heaven.
I really feel like kids in church should stop singing songs like "I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N" and "Father Abraham" ("Father Abraham had many sons...I am one of them, and so are you..."). As fun as they may be, they perpetuate the notion that going to church and playing along with whatever they're telling you = being a Christian. They do more harm to the kids than good. With this mindset, that as churchgoers and "good kids" they are Christians, they grow up without feeling any burden to examine themselves. I believe that's a big part of what kept me from self-examination for the longest time.
It's time that we stop examining ourselves with self-portraits - pre-conceived ideas of what we are like - and start examining ourselves with mirrors.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Journey
Here I am, the summer after graduating from undergrad at the University of Michigan. It's been a very long and interesting journey - God has been so good and I can honestly say that in these past four years, I have grown more than I have in the first 18 years of my life, combined. Something that my staff worker Laura said to me my freshman year (regarding the Christian life) still sticks out to me - "One of the biggest things I've learned over the years is that I still have a lot to learn."
How true that statement is. At the time, I didn't buy it. There I was, a cocky freshman who just came to UM from a church that gave its kids a strong foundation in biblical knowledge and principles. In addition, out of the kids in CBC, I'm pretty sure I read the Bible more than most of them, and knew more biblical knowledge than most. Parents liked me and saw me as a good and mature kid (haha I'm sounding like Paul - Philippians 3:5-6). And while I definitely appreciate the foundation that CBC has helped build in me, I can't deny that it led to loads of inner pride. What does the Bible have to say about pride?
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. - Proverbs 11:2
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. - Proverbs 16:18
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. - Matthew 23:12
How foolish and naive I was as a freshman! My thought process: Okay, sure, I have more to learn - I could use more extensive Bible knowledge, and knowledge of apologetic arguments. Other than that, I'm pretty much set.
God is more gracious and merciful than I even know. It would already be loving and gracious of Him to discipline me by breaking me down and setting me straight from there - as the Heavenly Father who loves us, "He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). While I've had my fair share of unpleasant, humbling experiences, God was never too harsh on me. Gradually and subtly, He has shown me that yes, indeed, I still have a lot to learn. And there is endless room for growth.
I have seen so many different life experiences from people. So many differing perspectives and world views. So many cultural differences that completely change how people view the world. So many different ways that the Lord speaks to me through the same Bible passages, during different seasons of life. So many ways to worship our God. So many ways to show His love to others.
I am very happy that I've broken out of that heavily sheltered bubble that I lived in the first 18 years of my life. How freeing it is to learn that this is not the end of the road, that I can never know God well enough, and that I will be growing in His grace and truth for the rest of my life. How joyous it is to realize that this relationship with Jesus Christ is not one that is static and monotonous, but one that is dynamic and alive!
Throughout my college experience, I can confidently say that I have encountered the living God. I have come to know Him better than I ever have in my life. And I am finally on the path to genuinely loving Him and not just loving His gifts and blessings. Yet, as I learned my freshman year, the journey is not over. Entering into the next season of my life - law school - I know this time that I have much to learn in this walk with the Lord. Though I am uncertain of the future, and scared because the future is uncertain, I trust that He has great things in store for me.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6
How true that statement is. At the time, I didn't buy it. There I was, a cocky freshman who just came to UM from a church that gave its kids a strong foundation in biblical knowledge and principles. In addition, out of the kids in CBC, I'm pretty sure I read the Bible more than most of them, and knew more biblical knowledge than most. Parents liked me and saw me as a good and mature kid (haha I'm sounding like Paul - Philippians 3:5-6). And while I definitely appreciate the foundation that CBC has helped build in me, I can't deny that it led to loads of inner pride. What does the Bible have to say about pride?
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. - Proverbs 11:2
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. - Proverbs 16:18
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. - Matthew 23:12
How foolish and naive I was as a freshman! My thought process: Okay, sure, I have more to learn - I could use more extensive Bible knowledge, and knowledge of apologetic arguments. Other than that, I'm pretty much set.
God is more gracious and merciful than I even know. It would already be loving and gracious of Him to discipline me by breaking me down and setting me straight from there - as the Heavenly Father who loves us, "He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). While I've had my fair share of unpleasant, humbling experiences, God was never too harsh on me. Gradually and subtly, He has shown me that yes, indeed, I still have a lot to learn. And there is endless room for growth.
I have seen so many different life experiences from people. So many differing perspectives and world views. So many cultural differences that completely change how people view the world. So many different ways that the Lord speaks to me through the same Bible passages, during different seasons of life. So many ways to worship our God. So many ways to show His love to others.
I am very happy that I've broken out of that heavily sheltered bubble that I lived in the first 18 years of my life. How freeing it is to learn that this is not the end of the road, that I can never know God well enough, and that I will be growing in His grace and truth for the rest of my life. How joyous it is to realize that this relationship with Jesus Christ is not one that is static and monotonous, but one that is dynamic and alive!
Throughout my college experience, I can confidently say that I have encountered the living God. I have come to know Him better than I ever have in my life. And I am finally on the path to genuinely loving Him and not just loving His gifts and blessings. Yet, as I learned my freshman year, the journey is not over. Entering into the next season of my life - law school - I know this time that I have much to learn in this walk with the Lord. Though I am uncertain of the future, and scared because the future is uncertain, I trust that He has great things in store for me.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6
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