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tim_pike
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Name: Tim
Country: United States
State: Texas
Metro: Dallas
Birthday: 4/17/1985
Gender: Male
Interests: Christ, tech, movies, thinking, teaching, sailing, relaxing, sunsets on cityscapes, coffee, hot tea, disconnecting myself from the stresses of the world through melody, meeting, observing, and otherwise interacting with people.
Expertise: Anything I set my mind to, as I have found over time.
Occupation: Artist
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
AIM:  swoon4
Member Since:
1/9/2005
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| It's been over a month since my last post. So much has changed since
then. New decisions. New faces. New experiences. New trials. New
perspectives. New car.
All of these things have brought me to my
next period of "realignment", when I feel the need to tear down the
spin, plans and hopes I have for things and really seek guidance from
the Holy Spirit to find the things that I need to do. During this time,
everything goes on the table... and anything can be tossed out. Other
things may receive a new priority. And other things have shown up on my
list of assets that must be dedicated to furthering the name of God in
a desperately seeking world.
Generally, a fast of one kind or
another is in order to free my mind from the things in this world I
think I am bound to. It is at this point that we feel fully human...
that is to say, our heart of stone is replaced with a heart of flesh,
and we become what we were intended to be... a reflection of divinity.
We
must undergo life's grand adventure. And a "grand adventure" should be
the way we see our life... especially when it is given to serving the
Will of God. I've found that only through the eyes of an explorer can
we see and appreciate God for who He is and what He has done. An
explorer first sees the new land for what it is, until he allows time,
perspective, experience, and others to destroy it. This mindset
transcends "predestination", "evolution", "existentialism", "nihilism"
and any other highly debatable topic by my accepting "I am here," and
seeing the world in purity, rather than manipulation. If we keep our
youthful, "naive" perspective and rebuke those who wish to destroy it
("it" being our perspective as much as the actual world), then we are
upholding the principles laid out by Jesus, and we will not overlook
all the "good stuff" that He never intended us to miss.
We beg
for signs and reflections of God and His glory, but take them for
granted as "part of our world". We must see a burning bush. Fire coming
out of the sky. The dead brought back to life. Or any other spectacular
thing that is "not of this world". But, would that even be enough? Or
would we find some "scientific" way to explain it? Too often, we forget
that a scientific explanation does not make "something". It only
describes the "something" that exists. "Scientific miracles" only show
human progress in recognizing/understanding a step deeper into God's
complexity. Just because we categorize "sedimentary" rocks does not
mean that we called them into existence.
I got a little off
topic. But the point is that times of hardship can be just as exciting
as times of luxury, given the proper... simple... perspective.
I've
come to find that I usually have two plans (as is natural at every
crossroads) that take me in different routes to the same place. One may
be quicker, though that's hard to say... I do know that one is more
"certain" and the other demands more risk. Those are always my two
paths... and guess what... generally the easy, "certain" route doesn't
work out for me. I admit that there was some disappointment for a
while, but over time that disappointment has lessened (though it has
never disappeared). I was writing random outflows of my mind and what
came out on the scrap paper was "without risk there is no
accomplishment". You may have heard me say that several times. It is a
phrase that has motivated me for close to a year to do what I know I
should do and have faith that any cost will be taken care of. This also
helps me from being "safe" all my life and writing my regrets at 40.
And it is the only way I can accomplish the insurmountable tasks God
has call me for.
There are many whose purpose is to work very
hard to get where they are going, but how much greater a testimony they
have! How much more do they understand God's faithfulness and grace!
How much more do they appreciate their blessings! How much greater is
the peace in their soul!
We see everything backwards... when we
give, we receive; when we stop everything, we are doing even greater
things... and then we are in heaven, and God suffers on earth.
When
it's all said and done, I will have nothing more to show than my
faithfulness. It's through this faithfulness that God will have done
great works.
... to see God restore humanity through my life...
... what more can I really ask for?
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen Ephesians 3:20-21
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| Greetings
all! I am sitting in a neat little coffee shop in North Hollywood
called "Psychobabble" at the moment. It's pretty cool.
The
last couple of days I have been hanging with my buddy Cullen in
Pasadena, and visiting the Art Center College of Design with him. That
has been quite the experience! I think that if I went to a school like
that, I probably wouldn't have quit. Since it was the end of the
semester, I got to see all of the final projects, including the
graduate art show and films! So that was fun! I can't say that I liked
them all... but it was fun seeing things that people worked on with an
artsy crowd that is excited/knowledgable about the same things who
would give criticism, not complaints or demotivators. Very cool. This
school is also the top school in the world for auto design... so i got
to see all kinds of VERY cool projects in that arena and every other
design-oriented area.
Anyway, that was fun. And the fact that I
woke up in my friend's place in Pasadena to see the clear skies,
mountains, and absolutely perfect weather (about 68 degrees) in the
middle of December. Amazing. I love cold weather, but you must
appreciate the beauty of such a day.
I got to meet my cousin,
which was quite cool! And, I tell you what... excitement was
overflowing after such a meeting. :) I'm going to try to get back out
this way in January to catch some of the filming of "Criminal Minds"...
yes... the TV show that beat out "Lost" in the ratings. :)
Tomorrow
I plan to do some more exploring... maybe head out to Sunset Strip...
there's another very cool coffeeshop/cafe out there that many film nuts
hang out at... Then Sunday is Mosaic! I'm so excited to actually
personally experience their worship service! Monday takes me to San
Diego! I think I'm going to take the 5 all the way south along the
coast. :) That sounds fun.
Anyway, I hope to have some pictures
starting tomorrow... I hope. :) We'll see. I have a car now, so I can
carry it much more safely...
I better get some more stuff
done, and then head back to the hotel... I certainly don't want to get
lost at night... And the idea of this trip is to take it easy and get
accustomed to the city... And that is definately happening. I'm
actually pretty excited to come back out! Everyone has been very nice
to me, so that's quite cool.
Anyway, I'll try to post more later. 'Til then. Take luck, and be at peace. | | |
| Believe it or not... my phone actually died today... so, I guess I will have to get a new one this week... along with such a loss of hardware was the memories it had... that is to say... your phone numbers... so, PLEASE SEND ME YOUR PHONE NUMBER IF YOU THINK I SHOULD HAVE IT!
Thanks. I just might be joining the SLVR cult this week... we shall see... I will keep you posted.
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| So, the number of people within this last week that have been encouraging me to begin dating again has been quite interesting.
I'm not sure exactly what to think of it. My immediate, visceral reaction is to believe that it is a "sign" for the immediate approach of my bride. And that excites me quite a bit, as I long for the one on earth that I may devote my heart, cares, talents, and future to. Her image endures as lastingly and lucidly as my desire for her, awaiting a heart to compliment her form and meld into one, wrapped in the blessing of the Spirit of God, and lacking in nothing.
At this point, however, reason counters; and I realize that, like any other fad, such "signs" are cyclical.
Does this discount the meaning of the occurrences? No. It just reveals a different meaning. One that is often overlooked, but exists in nearly all great and true stories of love. Even many blatantly fantastic stories have realized one principle, key to an honest romance that many audiences overlook in a fast-paced, efficiency-driven world.
What is key to an enduring love? Quite obviously, such a love must endure. And the infinitive "to endure" can most aptly be substituted with "to suffer patiently". And, if there was any doubt, patience can only be achieved over time.
What people don't think about is the many years of longing and separation between the meeting and reunion of Jonathan Trager and Sara Thomas in Serendipity. Or the years of loneliness Noah spent waiting for Allie in The Notebook, then the years spent fighting the curse age had laid on their relationship. Or the time God must be pained but our disobedience, until we repent and rejoin communion with Him.
Maybe I'm just idealistic... but I do believe that you will not find what you're not looking for. So, I consider these times of loneliness I face a necessary longing period, as companionship will no longer be taken for granted. And these cycles of encouragements only strengthen the perseverance necessary in all stages of relationships.
This is a short, late, and thrown together response the the tugging on my heart at the moment. I intend to add more of my rustling thoughts as I feel the need. So much more on this topic to write. Keep watching. I will not point out updates, as they only fit within context... and feel free to respond.
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| I posted this on my MySpace about a week ago, and happened to realize today that I didn't put it on my Xanga... so here you go, for any of you keeping up with me exclusively via Xanga...
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Wow folks! So much is happening! It's quite exciting!
If
you hadn't noticed, I am now self employed! Woo-hoo! And I tell you
what, business just keeps building up. It seems like everywhere I go I
meet someone who is at least interested in what I do. Now... if only I
can get organized as I get equipped...
I have found my porch to
be a pretty good work environment (for the time being anyway). I
imagine that this will change in the next month or two, as the winter
sets in.
I begin the first leg of travelling this week. That will be fun... Chicago, Il... next week: Dayton, OH, then Charlotte, NC... it just keeps going. 
I
will try to post more soon, and hopefully have some new pictures
soon... I just acquired a studio strobe lighting set, which I must now
start getting comfortable with before I market it too much. But between
photography, flash, web, print, video, and the new languages I'm
learning... business is great, with an even greater potential!
In the mean time, be sure to get "The Decemberists" new album... It's amazing!
Talk more later. | | |
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