As the north wind blows, bringing the once triumphant sweat of summer to its knees, the failing army of grass birthed in spring now shows nothing but its rusty swords aimed at the sky. The work day is over for nature and all of her vices and the time rest, for slumber has just begun. The truth that lies only in color stands vibrant with every turning leaf, leaving only the foundation from which it was built to stand firm against the prevailing winter winds. Hope is found. Change is now. For slumber brings new breath, a new life and a new understanding of the challenges to come.

6:22 pm  •  18 September 2010  •  1 note

Like the last draw off of a cigarette…the last inhale before your you fall asleep at night… the tiniest moments make life enjoyable. The tiny moments bring hope, bring joy to this world that’s most certainly out to kill us all.

1:38 am  •  2 September 2010

I have not time to get my thoughts out anymore and eventually they spill into a bulleted list like this:

I finished the semester strong.

I turned 21 and had an awesome birthday.

Beer is okay….can’t decide if I love it or hate it but I know I don’t prefer a lot of hops.

Me and Taylor went to the zoo and petted a cow. The elephants were fun but elementary school kids were annoying.

Last Saturday Jamie asked us to go on tour with Set Apart….we all couldn’t go but Tyler did and is doing awesome!

On Sunday, Andrew quit I Anthem.

I started maymester on the Monday and am currently embedded into Clemson University for 6 hours everyday until Tuesday the 25.

Today marks 1 year until I am married!

Hopefully next time will come out slightly more poetic and thoughtful…not as a stale bulleted list

11:48 am  •  14 May 2010

Slow DOWN! You are running too fast. You cant keep up with yourself! JUST STOP for two seconds….. and feel what is happening around you!

Feel the kiss of a cool Winter breeze, biting at your lips. The smell of a fresh, clean breeze blown in from the mountain tops. The salt from the sea. Feel the wind as it gently picks up your hair and lays it down around your face, as it rustles your beard and mixes the warm smoke from a freshly lit pipe and buries itself into your skin. Slow down and never forget that love is all around you and is ready for you to gather it up and take hold it. Love it back!! You can’t feel the warmth from the sun if you constantly run from it. Likewise, if love runs up and tries to sweep you off your feet…let it.

5:15 pm  •  23 February 2010

Ive been reading a book called The Jesus of Suburbia. This book is not a very great read as far as grabbing your attention, holding you in and refusing to let you go, but it does have some good ideas. The main idea is that Christians have completely boxed in Jesus to conform to our lifestyles. It recounts, through scripture and history, the rebellious nature of Jesus and it makes a call to all Christians to hold on to this rebellious nature and for us to adopt it. So here is my first step toward a rebellious Jesus: Hello, I’m Christan Neal, follower of Christ.

3:04 pm  •  3 February 2010

This past Friday I had my very first experience with a college party. No there was not underage drinking or anything technically illegal and we were pretty responsible despite the fact there was approximately 48+ bottles of beer in the house when there are usually 6. So maybe 2 4x10’s with a 500 watt amp was a little much.  Luckily I have a boss that has always told me to go big or go home. Well that is all well and fun until the cops show up and you get a warning that claims that playing a piccolo too loudly is offensive as well as music being too loud.

Rundown of what i learned:

1. always start the party after 11

2. only one 4x10

3. Stereo is not always important

4. Strobe lights make a party

5. 1 out of 6 engineers will have fun

6. 5 out of 6 engineers will sit in the corner and drink way too much

7. and most importantly, don’t let the dumbest guy at the party bring his 17 year old girlfriend and her 5, >17 year old friends.

I hope you all enjoy and can take from my experience.

10:23 pm  •  1 February 2010  •  6 notes

“Stormy seas over the starboard side” cried the Captain.

“There is still time to turn back, let us turn back I pray you,” responds the First Mate.

“No Son, the time for turning back never arrives. The storm ahead or the battle behind, this crew will see a fight tonight.”

“Is there no other way?”

“I am afraid not,” says the captain, ” The sea is an evil mistress, bent on swallowing you up alive. Our only hope is that her rogues are at bay and our sails are strong enough to hold her wind. We head straight into the storm and pray that God sees fit for us to see it through.”

“Aye Aye captain, right away!”

12:04 pm  •  29 January 2010

Went to house church tonight and it seemed like everyone was searching for that next step…that next big adventure in their lives. I have also been searching for that next answer and am completely perplexed, but I do believe I have found a little nugget of truth and hope. GIVE UP! No matter what you plan, GOD has another one waiting for you that is even more beautiful than the one you came up with. It is just stepping out of the safety of being clothed and being able to stand naked with dust on your face and say, “My GOD, just what the Hell am I supposed to do?!” I have no answers…

10:20 pm  •  20 January 2010

chanwrenn:

Christian Neal this is what the rest of canada is like. So yes i do love newfoundland and all the other candaians can suck it. Yeah if your referring to to rachel is from quebec, well lets be honest the french suck enough we dont need an even more annoying candaian version of the language.

Everything you said is void for the simple fact that you misspelled my name. Canada and especially Newfoundland, still sucks.lol

6:00 pm  •  20 January 2010  •  2 notes

chanwrenn:

I miss the place

I think its funny that you miss this place when its honestly the last place on Earth anyone would ever want to go. I have heard that some Canadians don’t even think this place truly exist.lol. I think you just miss the people.lol

10:11 am  •  20 January 2010  •  1 note