Artist of the Week

This week I have selected a very talented young artist to be Artist of the Week. In a day and age where rock, rap, and techno (Yes! Techno...I live in Hong Kong here!) are the big dogs it is refreshing to hear a true artist. Ladies and Gentlemen, this week's AOTW is (drum roll please)

Jamie Cullum!

Check him out for a pleasant surprise! If you are listening in on i-tunes check out his rendition of Singing in the Rain; it is sure to make you smile.

Jazz

Clothes Watch 2007

For those of you who would like to be kept up to date on the clothes issue, here is the latest.

After typing my blog last night I returned to the laundry room only to find my clothes still damp! With frustration, I went back to my room to instituted my quick dry program (AKA. I have my stuff hanging up around the room) which has turned out to be a massive failure. My crap is still slightly wet! It probably doesn't help that there is more moisture in the air then there was in the washer in which they were cleaned!!!! I'm telling you, my designer special addition* gap jeans will probably not get dry until they are safe and sound back in the mother land!

*Designer=outlet
Special Addition=On Sale

Today was a good day! Besides the fact I was marinating in my own sweat for most of it. Had a couple of classes, ate some food, lifted some weights, went out with a friend from mainland China, attempted to go shopping for shorts and tank-tops, failed at purchasing any shorts and tank-tops, typing this blog.....you know, all around good day!

Side Note Time!!!!
Have any of you ever read the book Love You Forever? That is probably the stink'n saddest book ever! I digress....

More to come tomorrow on Clothes Watch 2007!

Dry! Dangit!

The Overloaded Dryer

I have just returned from a journey.
6 Lands spanned, one battle fought.
The Result? Failure

Don't you hate it when you put your wet clothes in the dryer expecting them to be dry when you come back to pick them up....and they aren't! I hate it. Yes, I said "Hate", the word your mother always told you not to say when you were a child. The word that means "I want you dead". You know what I am talking about! To clear this up. Yes, I do want putting-my-clothes-in-the-"DRYER"-with-the-anticipation-of-them-coming out dry only-to-have-them-be-wet-upon-my-return DEAD! I mean dead as a door nail! Never to revive again. Never to inflict its partially damp wounds again!

Evereything seems to be wet around here as of late. I'm serious. It is so stink'n humid. If someone having asthma were to go running they might as well drown! So Mom about that Inhaler!

I am going to Thailand in a little over a week. Pretty excited about that! Nothing like spending Easter in Bangkok or on one of the world's most beautiful beaches!

Before I go, I just wanted to thank everyone who has purchased things to ship to me and Joel. I have been really blessed by your efforts. I have an idea though....if you are planning on spending a ridiculous amount of money to ship those goods, how about this? You hang on to those bad boys until around June 1st, you bring them to my house (or I can pick them up), and then you can give me the money that you would have spent on shipping (which I will use as my Chipotle Burrito Fund for the summer)! Huh? Great idea, I know!

Thank you all for your support and reading!

Grace and Peace
Brandon

Just the Way You Are

The bar is set so high!
No one set it for me.
I am sure people have played a part in constructing the frame on which the bar sets but...

It is all me. In my mind. In my heart. It's all me.

It is so hard to accept Grace and Mercy. Why is that?

Last night at church I didn't sit and marinate in the most clear and organized sermon. I didn't see the lame walk or the blind see. I didn't buckle under the annointing of God, although it was strong. I didn't fall asleep and have a dream. I didn't even get the "Holy Ghost shivers"....I don't think at least. Last night something greater happened. Something lasting took place. Something eternal.

I think I might have been able to accept the Grace of God.

For me, accepting the Grace of God is so hard because I always think I should "be better", or something along that thought process, and that I am not living up to how God wants me to be or how I want me to be. In the midst of a semi-confusing sermon these words struck me.

"Jesus wants you to come to Him not as who you should be or as you think you could be. Jesus wants you to come to Him as you are! Jesus loves you just the way you are." [not a direct quote...I'll put the quote up when the podcast comes out]

The above statement was addressed to Christians. That word was so life changing for me. It seems for so long that I have been coming before the Lord seeing myself as who I should be or who I want to be. There has been no freedom in that! We say that [the above quote] to unbelievers all the time but when it comes to believers it seems as if the grace has run dry. I will not allow this lie to live any more in my life! For the first time in a long time, maybe ever, I am able to come before the Lord saying

"This is me! Not who I want to be or who I think I should be. Just me."

and you can almost hear God reply with

"That is who I want. Just you. Just the way you are right now!"..."About time! haha"

I love it when God laughs!

Freedom

Song of the Week

I recently (*cough* last night *cough*) purchased Hillsong United's "More Than Life" album. Although I don't like some (or one..haven't decided yet) of the songs on the CD, there is a set of three songs that have just been rocking my face off. Two weeks ago at church two of these songs, one of which I have been personally craving, were sung during a time of music lead worship....unbelievable. The three songs that compose such a killer set are:
1. Consuming Fire
2. More Than Life
3. Jesus' Blood

From this set I have chosen Consuming Fire as this week's SONG OF THE WEEK. Go to I-tunes right now and buy these three songs...if you have always wanted to be the crazy, singing, driver person that everyone points and laughs at, buy these songs! You cannot help but cry out to God! Esp. during the "Stir it up in our hearts Lord..." part of Consuming Fire and during the 1:00-end time frame of Jesus' Blood.

Consuming Fire

There must be more than this,
O breath of God come breathe within,
There must be more than this,
Spirit of God we wait for You.
Fill us anew we pray,
Fill us anew we pray.

(Chorus)
Consuming fire fan into flame,
A passion for Your Name,
Spirit of God fall in this place,
Lord have Your way,
Lord have Your way with us,

Come like a rushing wind,
Clothe us with power from on high,
Now set the captives free,
Leave us abandoned to Your praise.
Lord let Your glory fall,
Lord let Your glory fall.

Stir it up in our hearts Lord,
Stir it up in our hearts Lord,
Stir it up in our hearts Lord,
A passion for Your Name.

Stir it up in our hearts Lord...A passion for your name

Don't Cry!

There will be no blog today (except for this here).

I have a Mandarin Mid-term tomorrow at 4:30 in the PM. I would ask for prayer...I'm talking stay up until 6 AM (Eastern Standard Time) to interceed on my behalf! This is some serious business! haha

I really hope I do good...well see. Alright, got to go study. I included a pic of me to hold you over until tomorrow (it is the most recent one).

zaijian

The Update

As of today (21 March 2007) here is what we have.

1. One confirmed worker on Joel's trampoline picture.
2. American Girls being shoved in boxes and shipped for Joel.
3. Two mix CDs (maybe more! woohoo!)
4. Note cards
5. Batteries
6. All the candy (which isn't possible because I want a ton of Reese's Eggs...but I double dog dare you to try!)
7. Letters
8. An American Doll (for Joel)
9. Surprises! (I love surprises!...GOOD surprises!)

Now that we are able to see what I (and Joel) are still needing or desiring (aka My Inhaler...*cough* Mom) let me move right along.

Funny things that Chinese people say that they don't realize they are saying (or funny names). Here are two said things and one name for your enjoyment.

The English word is in blue while the way to pronounce it is in red.

Fluctuate (Make the L silent-just take it right out, no hint of it ever being there-and really emphasis the other first three letters...yeah, Int'l Business teacher today)

Sheet (EE in the English language makes the I sound...as in "IT"-perhaps with a SH in the front and a little accent for good measure)

DO NOT READ OUT LOUD!
Name of the Day- But Fuk Yu (I am not making this up!...luckily the U in Fuk has an eww (kind of like Food) sound...haha)

I hope you enjoyed the "lighty"-ness of today's blog. After a couple of serious ones (including the Wish List, because I am absolutely serious!) I'll hit you with some humor! I'm straight awesome...I know!

Thanks for reading everybody!

Little House on the Prairie
AKA. The show my mom made me watch growing up...that I hated!

My (and Joel's) Wish List

As of this afternoon there have been 126 views on this here blog. Although I would definately like this to become a blog for the masses (at least a billion) I must confess, 126 is a good number. That in mind, I have some things I want....and I think you (Yes, YOU! The person reading this sentence right now) would love to be a blessing to me...and Joel.

Here is how this here thing is going to run. Have you ever used a gift registry at Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc.? Let me introduce you to the Comment button (it is located on the bottom of every blog)...this will be serving as our registry! And this blog post will serve as the "list of desirable endulgance". Those things written in Blue are specific requests of Joel and in no way communicate the desire of mine, or God's, heart. haha

THE LIST
1. AA Batteries
2. Jumbo Lined Notecards
3. Reese's Eggs (A lot of them!!!! They only have them at Easter so I have to stock up!)
4. American Girl ("Doesn't have to be pretty, just has to be American!" -Joel Brunk)
5. Recent pics of my Family...including pic of my dad.
6. Skittles
7. Mix CDs (Be creative....but no crappy music please!)
8. Sour Patch Kids
9. Polar Ice and Big Red Gum
10. Orange and Spearment Tic-Tacs
11. Pictures of yourself jumping on a yellow trampoline with a black lab and a man named Marvin that is wearing a Steak & Shake Uniform (on a rainy day).
12. Letters on what God is teaching you and comments on what the church should be.
13. Old Spice (Pure sport) anti-perspirant/Deodorant (Like the anti-perspirant even does anything!).
14. Inhaler! Yeah Mom, I kind of forgot that one...gonna be needing that real soon!

See, that wasn't so bad! I didn't even ask for money.
In case you are wondering...this list is courtesy of today's Mandarin class.

You can send the goods to me at (the longest address ever!)

Brandon T. Kightlinger
Room 609L, North Tower,
The Hongkong Bank Foundation Bldg.,
Student Resident Halls,
Hong Kong Baptist University,
5 Baptist University Road,
Kowloon Tong, Kowloon

Share the Love!

Sexual Tears

Warning: This blog contains some sexual content.

Last night.
I was sitting at my computer when it began. At first it sounded as if a high school football player was narrating, to the naked masses, the encounter he had the night before...the one that never happened. I thought it would quickly end with the sound of pre-puberty giggles filling the air. It didn't. Graphic. Loud. The tear making factory, conveniently located within my eye, began to fire up its machines. Not tonight. Please not tonight.

Not on a night when you are screaming for purity. Not on a night when your ears are connected to your minds eye. Not this night. Please stop. It didn't. If demons could "make love" it would be a more pleasant soundtrack than this.

I'm an open person. Let me open up. It was open. I looked. I was 14. And I still fight the battle to this very day. I am a man. Sometimes I feel like a boy. Controlling my thoughts is the hardest of battles. Battles aren't supposed to be easy...that is why they compose the war!

You author a story, I illustrate in mind. You talk out a picture...I'm faster than any one hour photo. Not this night, please. The sounds continued. I closed the windows and looked out to see a group on the ground, clothed. Have you ever seen a rap video? High School dance? Bump-n-Grind? Clothes work better than condoms I guess. I began to quiver.

There are times when God lets you see the vilest of things in order to fully set free. There is often that pull from the flesh to indulge in the sin-the pull that gets you contemplating. I am thankful for last night. I am thankful that God allowed me to hear and see Satan at work. I am thankful that death was shown to me. It gives me some armor, and even a weapon, for the next battle. The devil often attacks in the midst of pure wonder...the picture was painted and I saw his destruction. So I will continue to wait and pray for the prize-my lover, my friend, my helper, my bride.

It hurts so bad.
A painfully accepted reminder.
Shall I take a swim?
I think I'll dive right in.
The night is interrupted by the sounds of "lovers"
Doing something with the sounds of sin.
Moans and fast talking
Cries of indulgence
Death moves in to take a closer look.
My tears paint the picture on my inner eye canvas.
Every motion, every cry, the soul tries to hide.
"Eye don't bring that false fulfillment in here tonight!"
You think you'd swim in pools of gratification
but then you are reminded in the nic of time
There is no pure blood flowing this night.
It is the blood of the slaughtered
The blood on which death came.
What a painful reminder of the blood that flows over me.
The blood of Grace not free.

(response to overwhelming sadness I experienced when students were outside making sexual dialogue & acting sexual intercourse out)

Thank you Jesus for your blood. Thank you for your payment.

Prayer Call

Oh, Please No!
Don't say that...not those words!
Wasn't I enough? Must you slay the souls of more innocent!

Your beautiful garment flows free with the wind of "the Spirit"
For whom the Son hath set free is free indeed...right?
"WRONG!"
Who you set free....well, it isn't me!
The oil of anointing on your fingers still provides a slick spread for the indulgences you are trying to sell.
What a beautiful mix!
The healing of bodies with the killing of souls!
The Bible couldn't have told it any better...so you do!
The reformation has taught you nothing except how to make a point?
The only problem is that your points are always pointing to me!

You liar, you white-washed tomb! Those are my favorites, those are the truths.
You dig through the book to pick out your bullets.
"Bang" goes the dynamite! The pistol breaths out its hot fuel.
God just dropped dead.
Oh wait...never mind. "God" is you?
I am the one who just kissed death.
But wait! How can this be?
You killed me a long time ago
But who's counting?

You Are!
The bodies rack up as mercy disappears. The souls lay shaking as grace runs in fear.
The chains lead the prisoners into the abyss.
Satan in all of his splendor could not have imagined this!

You man of God?
You man of man!
You man of yourself!
You man up, now!

I've tasted the truth, I've seen what is sweet.
The love of my maker, the freedom He brings.

Russian roulette you were playing quite well...when the gun was to my head!
The barrel revolves around an axis of blood drenched wounds.
The least of which are mine.
Pull the trigger. Watch me bleed.
My dear teacher, my dear friend you fail to see the picture.

Go ahead, it's OK.
That's it.
Take your nose, and your eyes, and your judgemental glances out of the blood.
The wound you carved on my tender flesh has begun to close.
Hurry Up!
Let me remove them for you!
Get your filthy self out of my heart! Your approval is no longer needed!

Open your eyes! You bitter viper, open them!
Your weapon of choice is oiled and prime.
A great weapon of choice to kill another mind.
"Bang" goes the dynamite!
You killed God!
Wait! He has already been killed.
His blood drenched wounds oiled the axis of the bitter assault.
You, my friend, are shooting blanks!

Your voice is silent among the explosions of Grace.
Your calls of abandonment are void in this place.
You preach from a box close to crystal mansions
but I reside in a tower next to hell.
A tower of grace.
A tower of mercy.
A tower that beckons all to run in.

The chains are falling off.
The devil cries in panic!
It has been so long since he has had to do anything...the church has done it for him!

The words you spoke that bonded me have been removed.
You have stolen my love, you have stolen my heart.
Hide and Seek has never dealt so many tears!

You hid.
I found.

He healed.
I speak.

You placed on bondage O "man of God".
He, my Love, set free.

What a delightful dance of beauty defined.
Being relocated to the gates of hell to my...my true life!

The prayer call beckons.

"GRAAAAAAACE"

"ACCEEEEPTAAAANCE"

"LOOOOOOVVVVVE"

Oh, wounder of many...it calls for you too!

What a Beautiful Love

This is a "poem" (kind of) that flowed freely (most of it) as I typed. It is just thoughts on some of the screwed up images of God and of my "duties, responsibilities, etc" that I have acquired over the years from church and Christian teaching. The images and ideas I have gotten from these personally embraced teachings have led me down some pretty crappy roads and have honestly distorted God. This is stuff I am now starting to deal with. I have come to the conclusion that these teachings (the ones that inspired this outburst) and ideas have placed me in bondage and have actually taken me away from freedom in Christ.

Love Jesus. Love people. Seek God
He loves you. He seeks you. He knows you are the greatest!

You do that, and you know that...the rest will take care of itself. Most life changing 10 second sermon you'll ever get. haha

Public Service Announcement:
Christians, stop picking your bullets!
Love Jesus, love people, listen, speak love, speak acceptance, speak life, and keep bull crap opinions to yourself! What you think is right might not be! Sampson married a Philistine woman based on the fact she was hot. His parents didn't think that was right. "His parents did not know that this was from the Lord..." (Judges 14:4). What appears to be right might not be. What appears to be wrong might not be. Love Jesus. Love other people. Seek His face.

What a lovely day for a controversial blog!

Defining Moments

The past couple of weeks I have become extremely bored in class. I'm not talking about the kind of bored that makes you a little agitated. I'm talking about the bored, if it can even be called that, that takes you to the verge of death and brings you back again with a greater appreciation for life...and stupid people. In an attempt to fight off the death angel and get through my 2-3 hour classes (two 3 hour classes on Wednesday-back to back! uggggh) I have been thinking up questions to ask one of my friends so that I can get to know them better. I'm pretty close to a million! Not really. During this "free-time" I have also come up ideas for things I can do for/with my family this summer and have continued working on Inhale International stuff.

Today I had a revelation!

As I was thinking up more questions and writing down ideas (during Mandarin Class) for this summer that will all but guarantee me the title of greatest son/brother ever, it hit me. I'm fairly certain that "it" was God. I discovered one of my defining moments.

A few years back I destroyed a church. To be more precise I...
1. Toppled over a computer
2. Threw some stuff through a window (from the inside)
3. Kicked the cross off of the pulpit
4. Proceeded to "pick up" the pulpit and "place" it at another location in the sanctuary

So I didn't really "destroy" the church...I rearranged it! Some remodelling. You know, that kind of stuff.

Now, the events leading up to this display of masculine, mani-ness, magnificent (enough of the alliteration) power are not for you to know. What you do need to know is that for the first time ever the Lord is showing me that this act was a defining moment in my life...In a good way.

Before you start to preach to me about destroying the "House of God" and start to come against me, let me give you some of my thoughts...

1. I'm not really sorry for what I did
2. People place too much emphasis on the church building
3. I've already been criticized and preached to by someone concerning the incident...worst sermon I've ever heard! Not really. That was my cocky-ness speaking.
4. I think what I did was, in a weird way, exactly what I was supposed to do.

So, I just wanted you all to know that I, Brandon T. Kightlinger, have beaten up a church, that I am not really sorry for it, and that the Lord is about to show me some pretty sweet stuff that "snapped" inside of me and changed me forever, during this act.

The process of self discovery and revelation is pretty awesome!

*note: My next tattoo (sometime next year) is going to be on my upper back and is going to say Revelation (in Aramaic).

Karate Kid

What a Mess!

Reading the Bible has been really "interesting" lately, to say the least. In all honesty, after this week I am thoroughly convinced that the Bible is the most dysfunctional book ever! Coming to this realization has really made me question one thing. Have Christians actually read the Bible!?

I don't think they have....and here is why.

1. The "cool" people in the church would be the messed-up ones.
2. The most revered people would be bastards (literally!)...in fact, they would lead the church!
3. Pastors would be married to prostitutes...or at least have a kid with one (it wasn't just Hosea).
4. All the depictions of Jesus wouldn't be some white guy!
5. Modelling your life after Christ would take you to the hood, not just to church.
6. We wouldn't be so easily offended.
7. The "guests of honor" would have aids, or some other deadly disease.
8. We would be carrying the paralyzed into our churches.
9. We would care more about the lost than we do about our possessions.
10. We would stop comparing ourselves to people and start comparing ourselves to God!
11. The greatest ministers would be Schizophrenic (check out Jesus in John 7...I know He isn't, but people thought He was demon possessed! He was all over the place) or at least, wouldn't preach "people friendly" messages.
etc....

I am firmly convinced that if you aren't messed up in some way....well, to be blunt, you're lame!

So that was a little harsh. Let me put it this way. Almost every great man or woman of God in scripture had some crap! Heck, even the "non great" ones did! They had some skeletons in the closet. They were screwed up. They weren't perfect. They were rejected. People didn't like them and often complained about them. They were persecuted. They were spoken against.....

And as a result, they changed the world.

This said, stop looking at the "problems" of people as problems. Stop exiling the broken and screwed up. Stop expecting people to be perfect. And please stop being uptight Bible bashers! Because you need to realize...the people you are effecting and speaking against will someday be ruling over you and they are the ones who are greatest in the Kingdom. Their "problems" are preparation. Their exile leads to vision and dreams. Their imperfection drives them closer to Christ. And their passion is their Love, Jesus, not your hypocritical bashing.

Can I get an "Amen!"? haha

So curious minds want to know. When did it become the cool thing to have it all together?

I guess when people started reading the Bible for agenda rather than for truth.

Let us, the Body of Christ, return to truth!

The Least of these...More like, The Greatest.

Urine on the Seat

I could stop at that...but I'm not going to.

Urine on the seat. Those four words have imprinted an image on the minds of every person who has read them. An image of disease, pestilence, and world war, all of which take place on your bottom. Luckily, for many, you do not have to live in this harsh reality of having to deal with this problem on a daily basis- for you, it stays just an image. For the rest of us, the not so lucky, we deal.

Seriously though! The toilet bowl is about 500-1,000 times the size (depending on whether it is one of the super elongated ones) of the average stream of pee. With this in mind, how does a guy completely miss the water and coat the seat in his own urine!? While the seat is up mind you! Now, I am not coming to you as someone who is batting 1000 here. I have had my share of seat-assaults.

When I was 5!

In all honesty I still occasionally miss the mark and the ricochet effect often comes into play... BUT! in the case of an all out seat assault (one in a million) it is cleaned up...well it used to be cleaned up.

After a couple of days of having to wipe the seat down with wet toilet paper and then having to line it with its brother, dry toilet paper, I have become fed-up. Kind of like my mom when I would continually get on her nerves (man, I can back-talk with the best of 'em). I don't care any more.

"What is the moral of the story?" you may be asking.

The moral is this.
Quit peeing on the toilet seat, because if you don't I will purposely miss and you will get my pee on your back side!...to the point that your butt will be wet for the rest of your life! And everyone will call you "raisin butt" (kind of like your fingers after being in the bath tub too long). And you will need thousands of dollars worth of counselling from their insults. And while you are being insulted your butt will fall off, because everyone knows that if your skin stays wet for that long there has to be some serious damage.

"Ewwwwww" I can hear it now. That is what people will say!

I told you I was fed-up!

There is good news though. All of this can be avoided if you would just concentrate, quit watching the fan, or whatever else needs to be done while relieving yourself. Or sit down like a girl! (in America, because in China girls don't sit down...nobody does, unless you fall...squatty potty!). Just do whatever it takes, please!

Potty Etiquette

A. Dancer B.Singer C.Thespian D.

All of the above.

And the answer is...D!

That's right ladies and gentlemen, I, Brandon T. Kightlinger, am now a legit Dancer, Singer, and Actor! This past week I began my social dance classes (which will soon be joined with Hip-Hop on Thursday night), tonight I was persuaded to join an acting group and may have acquired the lead in an upcoming short, french comedy, and then during a fire drill I was asked if I was still interested in joining a group for a singing contest (I may get to rap! Straight Gangsta!). Oh, what a week!

So I cussed more tonight than I have in my whole life up 'til this point. Well, that is not really true....but as part of my role I do have to drop a few (close your eyes if you don't want to be corrupted!) Damns, Hells, ass (1), and piss. Hey! It's the french! Just Kidding. It was really funny for me actually. I don't regularly use curse (or words deemed as "cuss") in my everyday language, so when I had to cuss during readings I was like, "Whoa, that sounded really stupid!". I guess I'm just not a well practiced "cusser". Don't worry though Mom, I'll get better! haha

For those of you who are thinking, I really want to see Brandon and his newly acquired talents, no need to worry. I will be home on May 29th and I would be more than happy to share any of the three with you...for a slight fee! Seriously.

Romeo, Oh Romeo!

Beautiful Rivers From Inner Clouds

Under Construction.....Poem will occupy area

Coming Tomorrow!

Dance Class

I took my first dance class today. I think I had a little too much "hip" action for my partner...all those squats for football! I'm just kidding. I'm so funny!

I really enjoyed myself! The dances that we started tonight were Waltz, Cha-Cha, and some other Spanish dance. When I say "dance" by the way I'm not talking about straight armed, you-stay-put, you may still have cooties type stuff! We are talking the down and dirty real deal!

Although I knew all the girls would love to dance with me (insecurity talking there) I still was so nervous! You had to get close, real close! I'm talking body on body here! I told you it was the real deal. Now it was already pretty stink'n hot in there, seeing we opted to not use the air conditioning, but when you have to dance really close with someone you hardly know...Let's just say I was sweating like Brandon when he talks to a girl (seemed like the best example!). Now, I sucked up my nervousness and danced with confidence. The result? A performance that would have won So You Think You Can Dance? Until...

There is always that person. You know who I'm talking about. The person who in normal, everyday life would not make you blink let alone get nervous. That's everyday life. There is always that moment though, "The Moment of Fire." I call it the moment of fire because it is at this moment that you begin to sweat like you have never sweated in your life. You are more wet at this moment than you were when you emerged from your mother's womb! You are sweating, you are wet! This moment can come at any time but it will come. You can count on this fact. Average Jane, the above mentioned person, they are better than you at something. And someday you are going to have to do that something with them. And you will be embarrassed. And you would rather be going through a meat grinder than doing that one thing at that one moment, with that one person. And you can't get away because they were next in line. And you will try to make eye contact like your supposed to but in your mind you'll think, "Brandon quit smiling, you look like an idiot, you're a stud...act like it. Quit smiling darn it!". And then you'll wonder what they are thinking because of course you are turning beat red. And then you will continue to beat the crap out of yourself (mentally of course) until you realize the music has stopped. And then you let her go from your firm embrace and you realize...

That wasn't that bad. She was pretty cute! I kind of like dancing with the instructor.

Oh! Dance lessons. How I love thee.

So I have a wedding that I have to attend this summer. I will be ready for that wedding's after party. And I will be ready for that after party's dance floor. And for the rest of my life I will be known as Brandon "the dancing machine" Kightlinger. It makes a tear come to your eye, doesn't it?

Cha-Cha Slide

Just plain Laziness

That's the verdict.

After long days sometimes you just don't want to write. Call it writer's block. Call it perfection marinating for another day. Call it laziness. Don't call it whatever you want (bad things happen!).

Enough of the past! I'm back. Don't worry you don't have to welcome me back like Mase.

Mid-terms were this week. Brandon was uptight this week...at times. Cause and Effect? Perhaps.

The official results of the tests are not yet in but there is an overwhelming feeling from the "test-taker". I either kicked the snot out of those tests or they owned me!

You may be asking, "How can this be?" How can someone be so torn? Let me enlighten you.

The first test I took fused my brain waves with a case study. The result...genius answers. Unfortunately, I don't know if my professor is as genius as I.

I studied for my second test...just not enough! As I was reading through the test booklet I was like "I have studied this...but I'm not 100% sure...crap!" With this beautiful thought assaulting my precious mind I proceeded to take "educated guesses" (more like "wishful attempts") on pretty much every question. I have no idea how I did.

Well, the weekend approaches. Saturday night is rapidly approaching and joy is circling me like stars around the dome of a KOd punk. For the first time in years I am so excited to go to church! Warning: Good Weekend Rapidly Approaching!

p.s. Chante', I love you!

Beautifully Brisk Black Nights (KRW, how's that for alliteration!)

Two Springfields!!!!

Worst Revelation Ever!

There are two Springfields in Ohio...and they chose the other one! Do you know what this means! Do you really know what this means!? It means my generation (those of us in Akron) still have no uplifting, good music to listen to! Man, I really don't like "seafood"!

Sandi Patty Here I come...

Alert!!!!!

98.7!!!!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen I possibly have the greatest news to ever hit the Akron area!

RadioU, the best radio station ever, can now be heard at 98.7 FM. The station has expanded and now reaches the Springfield area. I am really hoping that this signal can be picked up in the Akron area (peeps you might want to do a little test for me!) but if not at least I only have to drive to Springfield (as compared to Columbus) to hear good music.

We don't want to bash radio stations here but if you are tired of "seafood" and want to listen to some good (really good...not, "we are putting up with Amy Grant") music RadioU is for you!

All of Heaven Rejoices!

Thought of the Day- 4 March 2007

I purchased a new CD on itunes today. Great CD. Terrible band name!

The name of the group is Group 1 Crew. See! I told you it was a terrible name!

The lack of creativity displayed in the name in no way reflect the lyrical masterpiece you will find in Group 1 Crew's album. They are the perhaps the first group on the "Christian" music (other than Christian rock which tends to be ahead or right on with the industry) side of things that actually succeeds at being "up to par" and honestly, good for their genre.

Warning: This is a hip-hop/soul/rap album...not recommended for fans of Carmen!

If you don't like hip-hop, purchase the CD for no other reason than the fact that it has a white girl who can rap really good! Appriciate that! Also, there are some really good beats and songs that just make you want to shake your booty*! (aka. Dance...for all of you over the age of 40...or those who have no radio...or ears).

*Shaking your booty can also translate into:
"Move your hips"
"Cut the rug"
"Boogie"
"Get Down"
"Shake your money maker"
or "Dance" (as already clarified)

For those of you who do not condone dancing (the Taylor Admin.) this CD will inspire excessive humming and finger tapping!

Brandon gives this Album (self titled by the way)...

Two Raptor Toes Way Up!

Favorite Songs
1. Forgive Me
2. Love is a Beautiful Thing
3. What Yo Name Is
4. I Have a Dream (White Girl Raps! A miracle, I know!)

CD Reviews from Hong Kong

Car Alarms...

Are stupid!

Well, maybe they are useful. When they keep going off at 12:34 in the morning though, an individual is nearly pushed to insanity! OK, it stopped. "You better turn that junk off!" One of those things you think often but rarely say.

On another note. I had a fantastic night tonight! I went to a church on Hong Kong Island called The Vine. Every saturday night they have their 20-somethings service. It was fantastic!

-I went with expectation.
-God showed up very strongly in my life....the real stuff.
-There was a divine encounter (totally God)
-A series on Sonship was started tonight...by the way, we aren't all God's children! There are Christians who aren't children of God (Romans 8:13-17)...interesting thought and study!
-Words of Wisdom
Not necissarily in that order.

To top the night off, on my way back from church I ran into some of my semi-drunk friends! Funny! I was able to clear up that I just got poop on my hand, I didn't completely fall into the squatty potty! Good times

Mom I'll tell you more later!

Redemption

Thought of the Day- 2 March 2007

Mid-terms

I have two mid-terms coming up next week. The first bundle of fun comes on Monday, Entrepreneurship and New Venture, while my second joyful encounter comes on Wednesday, International Marketing. I hate mid-terms...and finals for that matter. One or Two hours define your entire semester. One hour to place an achievement tag on months of work and study.

What if you are a terrible test taker!? Stinks to be you!

I am finding that I am really not a good test taker. In fact, I hate taking tests. If you know me, you know that I sweat. Not a little sweat, a lot of sweat! When it comes time to take tests it is as God takes Niagara Falls and inserts it into my arm-pits. Now I am not only worried about the test but also self conscious! It is a vicious cycle. Plus, I am quite certain the girl across the room would rather take her test on dry land rather than having to utilize a life raft just so she doesn't drown in the process. I sweat a lot!

I am going to be doing a lot of studying this weekend. Seriously! Did you see a "j/k" at the end of that sentence?! I am a changed man. I study now. Let me rephrase that...I am going to begin studying. I will be a changed man!

Pray for me.
Pray that I study.
Pray that I find an anti-perspirant/deodorant that works.
Pray that girls would quite running away from Brandon "the arm-pit rapids" Kightlinger.
Pray that I wont need therapy from them running.

Midterms

Thought of the Day- 1 March 2007

The motive behind it.

Motive is everything!

It is like this in murder (pre-meditated or not). It is like this in life (why are they nice to me?). It is like this with Spiritual maturity.

I just had a conversation with my mother, a conversation that went pretty long and I think pretty well, and one of the points I addressed was the motive of engagement.

The topic of choice was this, music. Point: not every "Christian band" is beneficial or redemptive and not every "non-Christian" (terrible terms by the way) band not beneficial or redemptive. We both agree on this. As this convo developed (and yes we did talk about other things) a concern came up.

What do you when people take this truth and use it to listen to whatever they want?

There is some crap music out there. There is some "Christian music" that is crap. It is extremely shallow, watered down, cookie cutter, non-redemptive, hiding, terrible musicianship-ed garbage. You will find the same from "non". There are some terrible things said in music, a lot of cussing, a ton of violence, and a lot of truth amidst it all. What are your motives?

I do not believe it is wrong for Christians to listen to "non-Christian" music. I do believe it is wrong to listen to it in order to "fill" the cravings of your flesh. There are some incredible truths found in some "non-Christian" music but there is also alot of shallow, garbage filled, flesh fueling works of crap out there too. What are your motives.

When someone engages music. Catch that! Engages...not just listens. There is redemptive, eye opening processes that take place. What are you going to do when your eyes are open? Are you going to sit there and just fuel the furnace or are you going to burn something up? What are your motives.

I know people who cannot listen to "non-Christian" music. There is nothing wrong with that. I know some "Christian" music they shouldn't be listening to as well. When they compromise and listen to it under the cover of "it has redemptive value...or...it is truthful" they are setting themselves up for failure. Soon they will be listening to everything, crappy music included, for no other reason than to feed their flesh. What are your motives.

So, it comes down to that. Motives. If you can't do it, don't! Don't engage something under the false cover of engaging culture when all you want is a fix of the flesh. By the way, If a song is not redemptive, truthful, or reveal the nature/truth of God's heart, quit making up crap to make it seem alright for you to engage it. If it looks like crap, smells like crap, tastes* like crap...it's crap!

* It is part of the saying! I wasn't going to change the whole saying just because I used "crap".

Motives?