Bethany Dillon = Good Music

If your in the mood for some cool acoustic guitar, thoughtful lyrics, and smooth, smoky vocals, start listening to Bethany Dillon. Her songwriting is very honest and soul searching, and she really has a heart for the Lord, which shows through in her writings and music. Bethany’s latest album, So Far: The Acoustic Sessions, highlights her songwriting and earthy sound. My Personal favorites from this album are the simple and profound ballad “beautiful” and the Beetles’ tune “We Can Work It Out”, but my all time favorite songs of hers are “Let Your Light Shine” “Beautiful” and “Be Near Me”.

www. bethanydillon.com is a great website If you want to learn more about Bethany and listen to some of her songs.

Happy Listening!

Marie

The Hippies search for meaning

What is a Hippie? Isn’t it just a person from the late ’60s, wearing jeans and a tie-died t-shirt, who likes listening to Joan Baez and Bob Dylan? I always thought I was sort of a Hippie myself because I love folk music, nature, and organic food.  But after I did a little research, I found out that Hippies stood for quite a bit more. There’s much that we can learn from this group of societal dropouts; where they went right and where they went wrong. Here’s a little background on Hippies:

In the world of consumerism and racial intolerance of the 1950’s, Americans were busy purchasing televisions and second cars while racial segregation dominated our culture to the point that most African Americans and other people of color were shut out from living the American Dream. The demand for material goods and an increasing need for comfort manifested itself in suburban households loaded with “modern” conveniences. This rise in consumerism sparked a cultural revolution by young people who rebelled against their parents seemingly materialistic world view. These reactionaries labeled themselves Hippies – young people that dropped out of established society and rebelled against racial intolerance, materialism, and war.

Hippie philosophy emphasized freedom,love, and peace. The musicians of the day sang out their ideas.

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”- Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was among the many musical artists of his time that epitomized the Hippie lifestyle, performing at folk festivals like Woodstock and The Monterey Pop Festival. Although Hippies rightly revolted against the evils of the time in search of something more, they turned to sex, alcohol, and drugs as a way to be counter culture. This drug-induced lifestyle resulted in many deaths including Jimi Hendrix’s. He died at age 27 after a long night of partying.

Hippies struggled to find meaning in their lifestyle. Drugs were used as a way of enlightenment, recreation, and transcendence from the boredom of  everyday life. Hippies believed that sexual desires were natural and should not be suppressed, so, “make love, not war” was the motto. Some Hippies embraced Eastern philosophy but tended to ignore the personal morality codes of these religions.

This was a generation that nearly found the “pearl of great price” (Matt 13:45,46) but missed it because they were biased against Christianity (their parents’ religion). Mom and Dad were church-going Christians, so they needed to be something else.

Like many who have over emphasized the social aspects of the gospel, Hippies easily recognized that Jesus was against materialism, war, and racial intolerance

Anti materialism:
“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven;” – Mark 10:21

Anti war:
“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” – Matt 5:44

Against racial intolerance:
“Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” – John 4:9-10.

They had a much more difficult time understanding that He (and not their hedonistic lifestyle) was the source of REAL love, peace, and freedom and in their confusion they chose sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll instead of the real deal.

I believe that Jesus gives all us free spirits an opportunity to live a life of love and peace! So wear blue jeans, live simply, cherish nature, hate violence, oppression and bigotry, but first and foremost, experience true love and freedom in Jesus Christ.

Peace,

Marie

Peer pressure can be a good thing!

Do you ever feel discouraged when you hear adults say things like, “infants, toddlers, pre-teens, they’re easy; just wait until they become teenagers, then you’ll really have your hands full!” I will be the first to back us teens up. Being a teenager is tough! It’s the part of your life when peer pressure plays a dominant role and your vision of reality gets distorted by little things like your latest crush, a huge unexpected pimple, and what you’re going to wear to school tomorrow. Peer pressure is so demanding that sometimes it feels like it’s the guiding force of your life. Fortunately for people like me, not all peer pressure is bad. There’s positive peer pressure too. Here’s an example:

About three years ago, my youth group was taking a trip to Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio to attend one of Franciscan’s annual youth conferences. After I heard that a bunch of my friends were going, I suddenly wanted to go too (there’s that peer pressure I was talking about). I was simply seeking a little social getaway but God had bigger plans. The conference was a real spiritual awakening for me and I discovered how to preach the gospel through my life as a teen. I also learned how to retain my faith while living out my vocation as a high school student. At the conference I was able to experience the power of being a Christian with thousands of other kids my age. It was also a great opportunity to spend time with friends from youth group.

So if you’re like me and peer pressure can sometimes be a real factor in your decision making, be sure to surround yourself with the right kind of friends; the ones who will influence you in a POSITIVE way. This summer I attended my third Steubenville conference and it was awesome again!

Check out this video and get a glimpse of a weekend where thousands of teens come together to grow in their faith and have lots of fun at the same time! Hope you enjoy it and hope to see you at the 2009 conference! -Tess

Cold – Radio mix

Here’s the radio version of Marie’s song Cold. This is different than the CD version. We added extra guitar parts to make it rock a little more for the radio listeners!

Enjoy – Tess

Remembering Kelsey (May 6, 1991 – August 29, 2008)

“We look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory , but what is unseen is eternal.”

These words of Saint Paul have been a constant comfort to me these past two weeks because my former teammate, Kelsey Orndorff, was killed in a car accident on Friday August 29th.

I played with Kelsey last year on Fresta Valley Christian school’s soccer team. Kelsey was extremely athletic and was immediately assigned the position of goalie on account of her hand eye coordination, strength, and agility. She was an amazing goalie, and it was such a joy to watch her save so many goals! Kelsey was good at soccer, but she was even better at her favorite sport, basketball. She was a passionate die-hard Blue Devils (Duke) fan.

Kelsey was so kind! During the season I admired her sweet disposition , but it wasn’t until our team went to central Virginia for our state tournament that I had a real opportunity to see her inner beauty. The way to the tournament Kelsey and I rode with our coach. Kelsey sat in the front and did all the talking; which was so amazing because I’m shy myself and prefer to listen rather than talk. So Kelsey did all the talking for me, and I relaxed in the back seat. Throughout the drive I couldn’t help but marvel at Kelsey’s attentive and generous way of conversing.

During the trip we had some bonding time where coach paired us up and told us to go off and learn about each other. I was so happy when coach called out Kelsey as my partner. Kelsey and I sought out a quiet place, and ended up sitting on the top floor steps of our hotel. We spent at least twenty minutes pouring our hearts out to one another. It was quite a memorable experience!

The news of Kelsey’s death hit me really hard and I mourned for her family and friends. Still, God never fails to show us that He is in control of our destinies and the possessor of our hearts. On Wednesday I attended Kelsey’s funeral, and I was amazed to see that amidst all the suffering and tears there was still joy and hope. God gave Kelsey’s family and friends the strength ,”…to look not to what is seen but to what unseen.” , and to trust Jesus even in the dark moments, knowing that He is the Way, Truth, and Life. Kelsey took advantage of her short stay on earth to spread His light and to show us that life without loving Jesus is no life at all. For ,“God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, and whosoever believes in him will not perish but have ever lasting life.(John 3:16)”

Here’s the lyrics to an unfinished song by Kelsey called “Living For You”:

The sun is shining
The day is fine and
I’m looking to You
With every step I take
You walk beside me
And through everything
I finally see
You love me still

I’m living for You
I’m giving to You
All that I am!
You are making me new
Change my life into
Your glorious plan.
I love You
I love You.

When I am fighting
To give You all I can
I’m looking to You
You reach out to grab my hand
By faith I see
You have the perfect plan for me
Guide my every move

Every day I find
Your creation is a sign
Everything you do
Is perfect and on time.

Trig Palin – Unlikely civil rights leader

Here’s an eye-opening editorial from the Washington Post supporting my theory that God has lifted up Sarah Palin for more than just politics. -Marie

Palin’s heroic choice held up as a bad example – Michael Gerson | September 12, 2008; 3:15 PM ET

Earlier this week, I did a column describing Trig Palin, Sarah Palin’s four-month-old son with Down syndrome, as an unlikely civil rights leader. The trend of genetic testing and eugenic abortions has made such children a small, almost unprotected minority in America (and elsewhere). I also argued that a Social Darwinian attitude toward children with Down syndrome — the belief that the “imperfect” are somehow unworthy of life — has broader implications for the treatment of the disabled in our country. People who escape the screen of genetic testing are often viewed as burdens and mistakes — making our society less welcoming and hospitable.

Most of the reaction I have received has been from the parents of children with disabilities, who are grateful for Gov. Palin’s example of love and compassion. But Los Angeles Times blogger Andrew Malcolm recently reported an entirely different reaction to Trig Palin’s breakthrough. Dr. Andre Lalonde, the executive vice president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, is “expressing concerns” that a “prominent public role model as the governor of Alaska and potential vice president of the United States completing a Down syndrome pregnancy may prompt other women to make the same decision against abortion because of that genetic abnormality. And thereby reduce the number of abortions.” This, Lalonde feels, would be problematic, because of women who aren’t “prepared to deal with the consequences” of a Down syndrome child.

Many parents, of course, are not “prepared to deal with the consequences” of having a child, healthy or disabled — though this has nothing to do with the worth of such children once they are conceived. Down syndrome children are slow to learn and have physical challenges. They are also, in my experience, often loving and compassionate — which is an advantage they have on Dr. Lalonde.

A claim like this one tears away the pretense of “choice” among some in the medical community. When the medical establishment encourages doctors to encourage broad genetic testing for genetic abnormalities, then emphasizes the hardship of raising a disabled child, eugenic abortion is not merely an “option” but a recommendation. And people such as Sarah Palin, who resist the consensus against the elimination of “genetic abnormality,” become a bad example, instead of a heroic one.

This difference clarifies the most basic question of medical ethics: How do we improve humanity? By eliminating the “imperfect” from among us? Or by showing our humanity, especially toward the “imperfect”?

Tom Vander Woude – Heroic father in life and death

Here’s a reprint of a story from the Washington Post about Tom Vander Woude, the Grandfather of my friend Mary Kate Vander Woude and a well known and respected father figure in our community. Today I attended his funeral. What a blessing to be in the packed church with approximately 80 priests and a bishop to celebrate the life of this truly remarkable man. Mr. Vander Woude (as I knew him) was sort of a strong and quiet St. Joseph figure that exemplified manliness. Today as his son, Father Tom Vander Woude, preached the homily and others talked about Mr. Vander Woude at the end of mass, I learned some new things about him. It seems that he was a man of many talents. EVERYONE knew that he was a great Dad to Josie, his 20 year old son with Down Syndrome. (Because of Megan, I feel a special connection to other families with a Down’s child.)

I’ll let the following article tell the rest of the story.

-Marie

Father Who Died Saving Son Known For Sacrifice

by Jonathan Mummolo
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 10, 2008; Page A01

If you ever ran into Nokesville dad Thomas S. Vander Woude, chances are you would also see his son Joseph. Whether Vander Woude was volunteering at church, coaching basketball or working on his farm, Joseph was often right there with him, pitching in with a smile, friends and neighbors said yesterday.
When Joseph, 20, who has Down syndrome, fell into a septic tank Monday in his back yard, Vander Woude jumped in after him. He saved him. And he died where he spent so much time living: at his son’s side.
“That’s how he lived,” Vander Woude’s daughter-in-law and neighbor, Maryan Vander Woude, said yesterday. “He lived sacrificing his life, everything, for his family.”

Vander Woude, 66, had gone to Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville on Monday, just as he did every day, and then worked in the yard with Joseph, the youngest of his seven sons, affectionately known as Josie. Joseph apparently fell through a piece of metal that covered a 2-by-2-foot opening in the septic tank, according to Prince William County police and family members. Vander Woude rushed to the tank; a workman at the house saw what was happening and told Vander Woude’s wife, Mary Ellen, police said. They called 911 about 12 p.m. and tried to help the father and son in the meantime. At some point, Vander Woude jumped in the tank, submerging himself in sewage so he could push his son up from below and keep his head above the muck, while Joseph’s mom and the workman pulled from above. When rescue workers arrived, they pulled the two out, police said. Vander Woude, who had been in the tank for 15 to 20 minutes, was unconscious. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Joseph remains in Prince William Hospital with double pneumonia, and doctors are monitoring him for infection, said Erin Vander Woude, Thomas Vander Woude’s daughter-in-law. Joseph is in critical condition and on a ventilator, she said. “He doesn’t know that his dad died,” she said.

For those who knew him, Vander Woude’s sacrifice was in keeping with a lifetime of giving.

“He’s the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back,” said neighbor Lee DeBrish. “And if he didn’t have one, he’d buy one for you.”

Vander Woude was a pilot in Vietnam, a daughter-in-law said. After the war, he worked as a commercial airline pilot and in the early 1980s moved his family to Prince William from Georgia. In the years to come, he would wear many hats: farmer, athletic director, volunteer coach, parishioner, handy neighbor, grandfather of 24, husband for 43 years.

He divided his Nokesville farm into multiple plots, offering land to all his sons so they could stay close to home if they wanted, the daughter-in-law said. His eldest, Tom, became a priest. Five others — Steve, Dan, Bob, Chris and Pat — all married. And there was Joseph, who loved helping with all the odd jobs that filled the retired days of his father. “He was retired,” DeBrish said, “but that was a misnomer, because he was always out crankin’ with the backhoe or the tractor.”

All of Vander Woude’s sons except Joseph attended Seton School in Manassas, where Vander Woude volunteered as coach of the boys’ soccer and basketball teams for about 10 years, said the school’s director, Anne Carroll. “He never took a cent for it,” she said. Carroll said that Vander Woude was a successful coach, winning multiple championships, but that his greatest strength was his ability to guide kids through challenges off the field. “He was a mentor,” she said. “He wanted them to be good young men, not just good players.”

Vander Woude also served as athletic director at Christendom College in Front Royal for about five years, the school’s president, Timothy T. O’Donnell, said.

But loved ones said his favorite job was the one he did last: being a good dad. “They always considered Joseph a wonderful blessing to the family,” said Francis Peffley, pastor at Holy Trinity, where Vander Woude served as a sacristan and also trained altar servers. “His whole life was spent serving people and sacrificing himself. . . . He gave the ultimate sacrifice. . . . Giving his life to save his son.”

Barbara

“Friendship is unnecessary. Like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value. Rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival.”
- C. S. Lewis

Almost exactly one year ago today, I entered Christendom College as a freshman. Christendom is a small liberal arts college (about 400 students) located about fifteen minutes from my house.

I must admit that orientation weekend was pretty much a bummer. I was nervous all weekend but sensed that I wasn’t the only one feeling uncomfortable. The social gatherings felt particularly awkward and forced. There was a barn dance one night, and I wore one of my artsy graphic Ts and my neon-green, hoop earrings. It was a pretty funky outfit, maybe a little too funky for first impressions. Anyway, this was the night that I met Barbara. She was a freshmen at Christendom too.

When we met she gave me a big smile and came across as very sweet with her soft Georgia accent, but I was too distracted to enjoy our short conversation. A few weeks went by and I didn’t talk to Barbara again until one day at lunch when a bunch of girls were discussing their favorite colors. I’m really into favorite colors and am convinced that a favorite color reveals something about a person. When I heard Barbara say that her favorite was green, I knew that we were going to be really good friends because, well… green is the best color.

We ended up playing on the powder puff football team together and for a change the freshman/junior girls beat the sophomore/senior girls. Barbara is very athletic and we played lots of soccer and ultimate frisbee during the semester. Sometimes we just hung out in her dorm room, enjoying a cup of tea and some good conversation. These conversations allowed me to see her great love for Christ and her love for others.

I often forget to think and act like I am destined for eternal life. Why is it so hard to remember to do things with that end in mind? Barbara seems to have no problem with this. Whether she is playing sports, going to mass, or working on a paper, her love for Jesus is obvious. This is what amazes me most about her. Jesus really is the center of her life.

Another great thing about Barbara is her appreciation for the simple gifts in life. A beautiful day, a good book, or a cup of tea, are all treasures to her.

Our friendship grew over the course of the year and I will always remember my experience at Christendom as one of the best in my life. Nevertheless, by the middle of the spring semester both of us had concluded that God was calling us to do different things and that neither of us was coming back to school in the fall. She went home to Georgia and I went back to music. We keep in touch, but it’s not the same as hanging out together. The good news is that Barbara is coming to Virginia for a visit soon and I am so looking forward to seeing her. I really miss that girl!!

Marie

Young and strong

A couple days ago I ran across this passage in Timothy,

“Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity”

This passage excites and scares me at the same time. Youth is typically more about following examples than setting them. This passage from Timothy rejects the idea that, because we are kids, we don’t have to worry about being examples.  In essence, St. Paul is saying that we don’t get a free pass on virtue just because we are young. He is calling for leaders and he is not talking about our parents and teachers. He is talking about us. I don’t know about you, but that makes me feel a little uncomfortable.

It makes me feel uncomfortable, because it leaves no room for laziness or low standards.  I also feel eager to meet his challenge.  If God is calling us to do great things, it must mean we have the ability to be great. This thought is a bit more uplifting than the opposite idea (i.e.,  because we are young, we can’t do anything of any importance).  We are called into battle – young, brave, and full of energy, perfectly capable to fight with our hearts fully engaged in the cause.

Here’s some reinforcement from John Paul II, who saw amazing strength and potential in young people.

“Be demanding of the world around you; be demanding first of all with yourselves. Be children of God; take pride in it!”  -1991: Czestochowa, Poland

“…I pray that young people from East and West will walk together along the path of freedom, working to overcome all conflicts between races and peoples, so as to build a world of authentic brotherhood and carry the liberating message of the Gospel everywhere.” -August 12, 1993, World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado

A Tale of Two Minstrels

After a particularly non-traveling summer, I was longing for an adventure. I wanted to go somewhere that I had never been before, and I wanted to get in the car and feel that good “open road” feeling. Luckily, my good friend Clare shares my longing for exploration, so Clare and I began plans for a trip to Canada. Both being musicians and not flowing with extra cash, we decided to bring our instruments along and try our luck with busking, which wikipedia defines as – the practice of performing in public places for tips and gratuities. I brought my guitar and Clare brought her harp. Now, most people might not find the harp the most fitting of instrument to haul around major cities, but we were certain this would work to our advantage. The plans began to form for each stop, which included New York City, Boston, Burlington, Montreal, and Ottawa.

Our first stop was New York City. Clare and I were both nervous when we arrived in Central Park, but I took out my guitar case, and we began to play. Small crowds of curious listeners formed, and in a hour we had enough money for a tank of gas!

Not all of our stops went as smoothly as New York, but every stop was an adventure nonetheless.

Our stay in Burlington, Vermont was particularly interesting, mostly because we had never planned to visit this particular city. The drive to Burlington was beautiful, nothing but rich tall trees and a wide blue sky. We arrived at around five o’clock, walked down to the pier, and soaked in the view of the water. Sail boats and lighthouses enriched the picturesque scene. Clare and I walked around and found a street full of small shops, cafes, and restaurants. We browsed around a used book store. We then found a store that sold funky kitchen stuff, where I got my mom some big flowered salad spoons and my sister Carol Lynn a brown and blue coffee mug.

Clare and I grabbed a burrito, then ventured over to a placed called Dobra Tea and enjoyed a hot cup of tea. It was rather cold in the evening, and so hot tea was just what we needed. The relaxing, candle lit atmosphere was so nice that we decided to stay and read our books for awhile. The next day we entered Canada and arrived in Montreal around noon.

Montreal was amazing, but Ottawa (where we went the following day) was my favorite city of the whole trip. We stayed with a recently married friend of ours. She showed us all around the city, and the busking was great.

The whole trip was spontaneous from beginning to end, and only possible because of the kind folks we visited, a large map, four bags of Trader Joe’s trail mix, Coldplay’s new c.d Viva La Vida, our parents, who understand and share our adventurous spirit, and our loving Heavenly Father who answered our prayers when we were in desperate need for gas and/or directions.

Yours,

Marie

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