Summer 2010
My name is Michael. I will be a freshman at the University of Georgia this coming fall, and I will be playing trumpet in the Redcoat Marching Band. Go Dawgs!
I grew up in a musical Christian family, and that's how I have turned out. I am a huge band geek, no question about it. I have been a part of the band program since fifth grade. I moved around a lot and finally settled here in Georgia, and through all the schools I've attended, my love of music has only increased.
I love band in general, but I especially enjoy marching band. The greatest stories come from marching band. And aside from youth group, marching band is where the closest friends are made. I am proud to have been Brass Captain at my school for two years, trumpet section leader for three, and first chair trumpet for four (second only to a senior when the upper and lower bands were combined my freshman year). I can also say that I held the honor of being a rookie section leader, but only because I didn't march my freshman year (not my choice). And as I move on to be a Music Education major at UGA, I happily pass on those positions to some of the most capable leaders I know.
But my love of music is nothing compared to my love for God, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As I said, I grew up in a Christian family, but up until my freshman year, that was about all I could say. I've always stayed out of trouble, I don't swear, etc. etc. But I wasn't chasing after God. But that changed recently. I got baptized my freshman year, an event I had been putting off with the excuse that I was too shy to stand in front of the whole congregation to have water sprinkled on my head. But when I moved to Georgia, the atmosphere was very welcoming and casual, and I had no trouble being dunked in a tub of water. I went on a church retreat that winter, and I thought my life was changed.
But not long after I got home, I went back to being normal me, the same moderately studious, straight-A band geek. Then I went on another retreat with a different youth group in the winter of 2008-09. Again, I thought my life was changed, and it was, but not immediately. I made new friends that have kept me pressing on toward the goal of heaven, but I didn't start to take initiative in following Christ until this year. I went on the same retreat with the same youth group this past winter (2009-10), and I can honestly say that I have been changed. I have been filled with a longing for God's word that I have never had before in my life. I am much more outspoken about my faith, even when it costs me some insults. And now I am beginning to share more and more of my faith with others so that they can be strengthened in Christ.
So that's me. If you want to know any more, just ask. And please enjoy my blog!
God bless!
Michael
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Summer 2011
Well, it's been a year since I wrote my "About Me" page, so obviously some things have changed. I've finished my first year as a Georgia Bulldog and as a Redcoat, and it was incredible! I went on many amazing adventures, including but not limited to the Redcoat trip to Jacksonville, Florida, for the football game against the University of Florida; the Freshley fall retreat; the Freshley spring break mission trip to Jamaica; and a spur-of-the-moment road trip to Ohio.
To clarify, Freshley is my youth group at UGA. Well, it was. Freshley is the freshman ministry of the Wesley Foundation, a Methodist campus ministry (although people of all different denominations are involved). So really Wesley is my youth group. But I'm not finished with Freshley yet. Although it's no longer a ministry directed specifically at me because I'm not a freshman anymore, it is still going to be a ministry to me because I'm still a part of it: I'm going to be on the Freshley Prayer leadership team this fall! I can't wait! Freshley and Wesley have been a huge blessing to me this past year, and I'm very excited to be able to serve next year's freshmen in return for what last year's leaders did for me.
I'm also a part of Team United, which is a combination of the three Georgia athletic ministries: Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, and Georgia Athletes Outreach. The great thing about Team United at UGA is that it includes the Redcoat Marching Band. UGA is the only university that includes the marching band in its athletic ministry! God must have laughed when I learned that because I was worried that being at the #1 party school in America would cause me to slip in my faith, especially having only been passionate about my faith for a few months. But He provided me with Freshley/Wesley and TU (ironically, the private Christian college I was considering along with UGA is Taylor University: also TU), and my faith has actually grown stronger this year! And I'm so thankful to God for it!
Now it's summer. I'm on break right now, but I'm (kind of halfheartedly) looking for a job. And hopefully I'll be serving as a leader at my church's mission camp toward the end of June, as well as providing whatever help is needed at my high school's marching band camp in mid- to late-July. And then come fall, it's back to Freshley, this time as a leader, and back to Redcoats, this time as a member of the Derbies, a smaller selection from the band that goes to all the away games. Needless to say, this year is already looking awesome!
Well, that's my update for now. Until next year, God bless!
Michael
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"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to live is Christ and to die is gain." ~ Philippians 1:20-21
