Want to see some DANCE!?

Hey guys~ I know I've been "bad" by not posting more updates! It's a bit out of control how long it's been.

Here's a nice vid from us performing with Project Dance at the annual "Broadway Blessing" event (Monday, September 13th). Kudos to my mom for filming with my little digital camera (she had just arrived for a one week visit to NYC, that afternoon!).

Every year a "Broadway Blessing" is held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. It's very interesting...because although it may sound very christianese the actual event is a group of "spiritual" people coming together asking for "God's" blessing.... Everyone in Project Dance is sold out for Jesus of course, but other groups invited or involved in this particular event included Christian Scientists, a Jewish Rabbi, and other mixed faiths who believe there is a "God" but not necessarily a Saviour.

The event went very diplomatically, and professional. Several artists from Broadway performed. And of course....Project Dance got to point to Jesus! :) Check it out...

(A pic of us after the show.)

A call to prayer - Hezekiah

What if??

What if America was never meant to have “freedom of religion” but FREEDOM OF RELATIONSHIP with God. The only religion that exists…that can honestly support and be based on that kind of lifestyle is the one that serves the Living God. Israel…Judah…they were not to be a place of “Freedom of Religion”, but meant to be a place that represented a chosen people. CHOSEN. Chosen by LOVE. Love: A foundational building block in the creation of humanity was the love of the living God. The Abba - Father. He gave us freedom of choice, so that we may CHOOSE Him!! So that we could choose Love, something that always renders from choice.

Hezekiah, a king who did right in the eyes of the Lord, “He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. ” 2Kings 18:4

This was no place of “freedom of religion”, but a place to live in the freedom God offered to his chosen, now which has been revealed as the freedom in Christ extended and granted to all peoples who choose Him.

Hezekiah was a man who did right in the eyes of the Lord. Now what are we doing? We need to be living lives of integrity. Like Hezekiah, we need to be living lives that have full trust in the One and Only: Living God. Placing our lives in the hands of the King of kings, the Lord of Lords, who promises to His chosen one’s, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples of earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-2

I’ve heard a saying, “…America, the most powerful nation on earth.” I don’t believe America will much longer be the most powerful nation on earth, unless do as was commanded to the nation of Israel through Jeremiah, “Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, ‘Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers’ But you have not paid attention or listened to me.” Jeremiah 35:15

I know…our forefathers of this “most powerful nation” meditated and pondered upon the scriptures of the Bible, when they came up with the idea of a “free” country. A country that could live in the kind of freedom that God offers us, the freedom to love him, the “freedom of relationship” with the Living God. Not a freedom to be abused, or used for selfish desires and false gods.

Not only America but peoples of all nations, may we strive to turn from our selfish ideas, selfish agendas, and our gods. May we put our full trust in the Living God, and seek truth – through the word of God and the Holy Spirit – day and night. May our heart’s desire be turned to the God of mercy and grace, the only one who is worthy.

I believe we need to do as Jeremiah said, and “each of us need to turn from our wicked ways”. If we stop long enough to listen to our heart of hearts, it won’t take long to recognize the “wicked ways” we’ve been living out. We all have made mistakes, and it’s God’s grace that allows us to turn and live with hope and true freedom. Occasionally someone needs another person to point out what he/she is doing wrong, but a lot of times it doesn't take long when we actively chose to be introspective. Be introspective and recognize where our guilt roots from. God is not a God of condemnation, but of conviction, because he is a God who offers a way out: forgiveness (when we choose to change). Why not take advantage of this freedom of relationship he offers?

In addition to continuously placing our trust - our faith - in Christ and being introspective with our mistakes – our sins -, we need to act, we need pray, we need to verb. Verb: a word used to describe action.

Recently God's really been burdening my heart to pray for Christian leaders to rise up in all spheres of society (in government, education, church, science, family, economy, arts & communication). The other night, I had an inkling that we need to pray for leaders to rise up from the coming generations, especially political leaders, who will be like King Hezekiah. Hezekiah “…did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. …There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.” 2 Kings 18:3& 5b

We need Godly leaders. We even need Godly leaders in politics, especially in politics. Let’s pray! (not only for Hezekiahs to rise up in America, but worldwide!) I'll be praying through out the week for Godly leaders, but especially on Mondays. You can do as you feel lead. Whether it's praying in your car on your way to/from work, on your way to the store, at home in the morning/evening, fasting food/music/tv/etc., whatever way you feel God leads you to pray for Godly Leaders to rise up!

what's up Park Slope NY

(Park Slope: our new 'hood) :)



So this is just a quicky (I hope), to share a bit of what's going on over here in NYC - from miscellaneous fun things to work and training.

We moved in on Sunday, June 13th. (with my dad's help - thanks!) Into our fantastic apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY.

Shows! (and some miscellaneous fun)
We've been enjoying a lot of free shows at Prospect Park near our apartment. A concert series called "Celebrate Brooklyn" put on by BRIC. (We even were able to see a few dance performances at this venue: like itutu and zvidance).

We've enjoyed the extremely diverse culture's that live here in NYC, celebrated through watching the World Cup! (Congratulations to Spain!)

We attended Broadway in Bryant Park - last Thursday (concert series started July 8 and will run through mid-August). We enjoyed watching snippets from the Broadway shows Nunsense; Promises, Promises; In the Heights; and STOMP!! :)


DANCE
In the beginning of July the world renowned dance company: Alvin Ailey performed at Brooklyn's BAM theater. We were so blessed to be able to attend and see their famous "Revelations" piece!!! :)


We've been joining with ProjectDance every Wednesday night, with their company "Atmosphere", for a time of prayer and dance.

Through our connection with ProjectDance we were invited to see Broadway Underground in action at the B.B. King Blue's Club. Extremely inspiring!

From June 21-July 1 we each bought a "5 Class Card" for Broadway Dance Center and each attended five great classes there.

Now we are hoping to attend other fantastic studios in the area such as Mark Morris, Alvin Ailey, Steps On Broadway...for drop in classes. We hope to continue to take drop in classes at various studios, then we may attend a dance program at Broadway Dance Center for 6-9 months starting in October 2010.

WORK
I've applied to a few positions via craigslist and other website ads. Mostly positions in dance studio operations/administration. I haven't gotten any call backs. Preferably, I would like to work in operations/administration for a dance studio or a theater. God knows best though, and although I'm being vigilant, I want it to ultimately be in His timing and hands.

Andreas has posted on craigslist and fliers around town, that he will help people move for a hourly fee. He has gotten one hit from that, and hopefully more inquiries will come!

We are praying and asking God for creativity and ideas in how He wants to provide. Thus far, God is good, and we've been provided for every step of the way. :)

OTHER STUDIES
I've been slowly, yet steadily making my way through three books. I'm thankful for the self-discipline in studies I acquired through homeschooling (hehe). As I've thoroughly been enjoying studying through the following books:


*click on the titles see info on the books on Amazon.com (images from their website.)

Teach Yourself Norwegian (Book + CD)












Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology











Theatrical Design and Production

To the Fellow Achievers

One of my results from my "Strength Finders" test was Achiever it states, "Your Achiever theme helps explain your drive. Achiever describes a constant need for achievement. You feel as if every day starts at zero. By the end of the day you must achieve something tangible in order to feel good about yourself."

So to all my fellow Achievers or if you're one of those people who lay down in bed at night only to think about all your to-do's...
Here's a tip - from yours truly - that I feel helps me:
Pick an area of your house to tidy up after you're all or mostly ready for bed. It could be a the surface area of a room or the blankets piled in the corner, or even the counter tops and sink in the kitchen. I'm not talking deep cleaning, just a nice clean sweep over things. This is not high-energy therefore it shouldn't re-energize you before bed. When you're done, allow yourself to feel accomplished! Because I'm sure you are an accomplished person - not only in the small task of cleaning but in daily life! Be encouraged!

Don't stress yourself over the next day of to-do's! that will be taken care of in it's own timing...each day has enough worries of it's own (Matthew 6:34 paraphrased). So when the day is done let it be done.

Enjoy you Given life.