The value of a life.

Ok, first of all, I'm totally not trying to start off with a title that will make this sound like a deep and inspiring post, because I doubt it will be, and that's not my agenda. But I do hope it will at least be thought-provoking, because that is what the past few days have been to me, and I simply need to write.

I don't know if anyone has seen this on the news in the last few days but this happened Thursday. Here is a clipping from the local paper...

Deputies arrested six people who were with a 16-year-old boy believed to have shot and killed himself during a reported game of Russian roulette Wednesday at his home in Prairieville, Ascension sheriff’s Lt. Col. Paul Robert said. Robert said the victim, Jacob White, 15005 Meadow Drive, and six of his older friends were playing Russian roulette while they were smoking marijuana.

If you're like me and not quite clear on that definition, here goes...

Russian roulette is a deadly game of chance in which a participant spins a revolver cylinder loaded with one bullet, then aims the pistol at his head and pulls the trigger, attempting to tempt fate.

This has messed with me on so many levels this week. To think that a young life can be taken in a situation with such carelessness and immaturity is one thing, but to me it symbolizes something much worse; a growing lack of understanding of a human life in our culture. I mean, I know we hear about things like this every day, and I know this is impacting me more because this is a crowd that I, through certain musical ventures have been around and acquainted with some time ago. But think about it... A 16 year old kid, in more than one situation that he should never have been around, much less immersed in. He's in an altered state of mind, and he mistakes something of eternal relevance for something to be taken lightly. He was deceived into feeling that taking even a slight chance on his life was acceptable. I understand this was under the influence of drugs, but that is even more to my point; yet another situation that he was in that could or should have been avoided with a simple thought process. It kills me that a life can be devalued -- even if just for a moment -- to this level. I have always thought that for Satan to convince or persuade a human being to take their own life or convince them that it's ok to trash it is one of the highest of accomplishments for him, but this is mind blowing to me.

Now, contrast this with another story.

Greg and Lori Smith.. their daughter has spent a week in ICU at Ochsner in NOLA with a heart malady. Satan is again trying to steal the precious gift of a human life, but this time it's different... No, the value of this life isn't greater. In this situation, there is someone, many someones that understand the value of this human life. In the past week I have witnessed an overwhelming response in prayer and support for this couple as their daughter faces this health issue. I have see more people than ever before get on their face and call to God on behalf of this precious little girl, this highly valuable human life. See, the difference here doesn't lie in the value of a human life, no... this is an issue of perception. A missunderstanding of the worth of a human life.

It tears me apart that one group of people can find incredible unity in the fact that they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this little girl, a young life, is not only one of value, but one of purpose.. but at the same time, there is a culture that is missing this completely. They aren't oblivious to life and death, but they simply don't grasp the immense price tag on a life.

I understand that I'm also writing this with the belief in a Saviour who died for my sins, but I personally believe this to be true even if you strip the faith from it entirely.

I hate to see situations like this happening so close to home, and I hope you'll join me keep the families of both of these young people in your thoughts and prayers, but more than that, I hope all of this -- every situation around us -- begins to serve as a wake-up call to a generation that is on a fast track to loosing the understanding of the valuable thing that a life is. I know it's certainly woken me up to begin thinking about every aspect of how I live my every day life.

I know this is a heavy issue, and I would have normally just waited to post this until after the holidays etc. But I think this is a red flag for all of us to take a second look at what this whole season is about, and what it actually is that we have to be thankful for.

I hope this is finding you in an amazing and blessed holiday season.
Merry Christmas and God Bless!

Hannah Smith

Hey guys,

I'm asking for your prayers right now on behalf of a good friend of mine, Greg Smith, and his daughter. She is 5 months old and has been diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Basically, the left ventricle, which is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood through the heart, is hardly pumping at all.

We know that our God is the great physician, and we know that His hand is on this family. Please, please pray for them any time they come across your mind, and pass this on to anyone that will pray for them also.

For updates, pictures, or just to let Greg, Lori, and Hannah know that you're praying for them, check out www.PrayForHannah.org

Thanks so much.

Finals are over!

Alright, so I've made it thought my first full-time semester at LSU. More surprisingly, for me at least, is the fact that I made it through with a 4.0! And the hardest class I had, geography... I aced the final. Crazzzyyy.

Anyway, there isn't much more to say at the moment, just wanted to post that bit of info :)

Cheers

HPC band christmas practice!

So, i'm standing here between songs and a figured I'd snap a picture :) merry christmas!

Finals Pt. 2

Almost done, It's all over Saturday. Caannn't wait.

Oh, that dream. Alright, first of all I don't normally dream, probably because I have some sort of sleep problems (which will be determined at a later date, after a visit to the sleep study clinic). Anyway, I suck at sleeping, and I don't dream.

Ok, so a week ago, I get hit with this dream that is more of a Cliff note from God than anything.
Let me preface this with a side story... There is a guy at church that is quite the outdoors man. He's got the gun permits and everything, including a concealed weapon permit. When we were talking about it one Sunday morning he came out with a surprisingly profound statement. I asked him why he felt the need to have the gun on him all the time and he responded with this, "I'll will probably not fire this gun in my lifetime, but if I had one situation where I needed it, and didn't have it, I would most likely regret it for a lifetime".

That in itself really hit me at the time, especially since he wasn't really trying to be deep or profound. But of course, as usual of most important things, I didn't think of it anymore past that moment :-)

Ok, back to the dream.

So I'm sleeping when this all starts (wild, I know). Now this all happened in a matter of about 15 seconds, just to give you a little time frame...

Anyway, it starts with me walking out of a building on the LSU campus with a group of people, fairly late at night. We walk outside and hear some screams, and as soon as we look up we see a group of 10 or 12 people running, and a man with a gun, who as apparently just shot someone. (one of those "all knowing" things in dreams). Well my group was about 30 feet from the scene, so he spotted us as soon as we saw him. But before he could react, I looked inside my jacket, found a gun, pulled it out and shot him. Ok, super graphic, I know, but I'm not done. As soon as this happens I sit up in my bed, awake, in a cold sweat. Before I can even form the thought "What was that about?", I hear that phrase in my mind, "I may never need it in my lifetime, but if I did need it, and didn't have it, I'd regret it for a lifetime". And again, before I could say the words "What is this all about?", God says , clearer than ever, "This is how so many people live their lives. You may go through your whole life and feel as if you've done fine on your own, without My wisdom, love, and grace...but if one situation in your life comes along that you can't handle yourself, and don't have these things, you will remember it for a lifetime".

I guess there are about 30 different things that just really impacted me about this whole instance, but what stuck out the most was just the fact that we go through our lives like little children, not calling on our parents for help until we actually need help. I hope that I'm growing to the point where I can call on God to ask for guidance when I'm doing "fine", when everything is going smoothly and I feel like I've got in under control. I hope that I can realize that in these times when I think I'm fine, I still, maybe even moreso, need His guidance and leading, so I can be stronger and more set on my path when trouble does indeed come.

Also, the whole "Young men will dream dreams" thing is awesome to think about.

I love that He never fails to make Himself ever apparent in my life.

Alright, it's time for bed. I'm getting a little emo.

Finals

"I'm Safer On An Airplane"

It happened then, it happens now
They let you in, they let you down
And it feels like we can't get out
And it feels like hell

I think I'm safer in an airplane
I think I'm safer with my lungs filled up smoke
I think I'm safer on a jet-way
Than a world without hope

The day came in, the day went out
And not a bit of peace was spoken about
And it feels like a suicidal world
And it feels like hell

I think I'm safer in an airplane
I think I'm safer if I run through the streets
I think I'm safer on a jet-way
Than a world without peace

Oh, what arms will stretch out when they've had enough?
Oh, when they are tired, folding up on us...

I think I'm safer on an airplane
(I think I'm safer on an airplane)
I think I'm safer in the sky up above
I think I'm safer on the jet-way
Than a world without...

I think I'm safer on an airplane
(I think I'm safer on an airplane)
I think I'm safer in the sky up above
I think I'm safer on the jet-way
Than a world without love
********************************

Yeah, not super profound, just simple truth. I like that lately. God's been showing me that most truth isn't really something that's hard to wrap your head around anyway. More on this later, Calculus studying right now. Also, hopefully in the next week I'll find time to talk about the amazing dream I had last week. Actually, it was just God. Really crazy. More to come...

Coldness

I found this in the quad this morning... It was chillier than I thought :)

A baby blog

So, this is pretty much surfacing from the need to express what's in my head, meshed with desire to keep my thoughts organized, with a dash of of my personal despise for pen and paper journaling. Sounds tasty, eh?

This is most likely going to be a mix of me feeling philosophical and me alerting the world to things I feel are important, such as new developments at Quiznos, or my personal opinion on Cheetos.

I hope you enjoy your time here.

Cheers.