Something New

So it's been about 2 months since my last blog, however, this past month has been a life changing one and I have so much to tell about it!

As I recap this last month, in as few words as possible, I would love to hear your comments and updates on what's going on in your life. As you will see, my life has taken a few exciting trips and I would love to hear about your life, and where your at. Seriously, take a second and reconnect with me-- my e-mail is: oconnor.sean@mac.com or you can get to my facebook address at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=79103528 .
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It all began with the long awaited Spring Break trip. I outlined the trip in a past blog, but essentially me, and three other school colleagues, headed out on a 4,000 mile road trip across the South Western part of America. We begun and ended in Tulsa, Oklahoma, traveling to New Mexico, California, and Arizona visiting the carlsbad Caverns, beautiful beaches of Southern Cali, and admiring the Grand Canyon as we hiked down it. In those 10 days, we laughed so hard that our abs contorted in pain, mastered the art of making a PB&J sandwich, and actually read an entire book. The book was, "Through Painted Deserts" by Donald Miller and became an influential spark that elated my adventurous spirit. 

The Road Trip was everything it could have been, and God began to work in my heart. 

"Through Painted Deserts" is a story of Donald Miller and a friend who embark on a journey to live. They have little plans and very little money. Throughout the story, their personalities and adventurous hearts are clearly evident in their experiences. This book sparked my thinking a few days later, upon arriving home from my road trip. I began to understand my passions, past and present.

I realized that, though my passion is the same-- I want to lead worship for conferences and conventions all over the world while still having a home church-- I felt my passions broaden. This past year I have had amazing opportunities to travel. Traveling to School in Tulsa, Oklahoma I traveled with my dad through Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and Kansas. In September i had the chance to travel to Germany, Switzerland, and France. Then Spring Break hit and I traveled through Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. 

Apart from seeing all of these majestic places and realizing God's beauty in the world, I began to see other passions increase. Though playing music is my leading goal, I have recognized that God has so much more for me to see and do before I am able to dive into what I want to do with music. The idea that THIS IS MY LIFE and there is nothing that I want to miss out on. Whether it be something that I could have seen, or could have done; someone that I could have influenced, or have influence me; I don't want to miss it. I want my life to be an exciting adventure, that is broken by an understanding of my worthlessness and reformed by God's endearing value on my life through grace.

These past two years at Oral Roberts University have been amazing and I 

have made some lifelong friends. One's that taught me, challenged me, and encouraged me in unexpected ways. When I came to school here I was lead by a few desires-- I wanted to submerge myself in a unfamiliar culture, one that pushed me religiously to find God for myself, becoming less ignorant of what others believed. I wanted to learn guitar and music so that when I would lead people in worship, I could more easily create an atmosphere where the focus is on the words being sung and hearts being changed from the inside out. The last thing was I wanted to create relationships that would be lifelong and influential. I wanted to meet men and women that would be friends I could count on and believe in; having experiences and events that strengthened our relationships.

This all happened. In the short amount of time I was at ORU, God placed experiences and people in my life that lead me to where I am now. Now I feel God taking me somewhere new. Somewhere that I am so excited for. 

YWAM Montana

I am applying to do a DTS in Lakeside, Montana in the Fall. DTS stands for Discipleship Training School and is a program run by YWAM. It is a 5 month long program that entails 3 months of learning, lectures, creating relationships, and diving into God, followed by 2 months overseas. I will either be 

going to Nepal, the Ukraine, India, or Thailand. 

I have no idea where God will take me after this and what exactly I am going to experience, but I am complete in knowing he's with me.

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If you want to see the movie, I would love to show you-- just send me an e-mail or catch me sometime and we can connect to watch it.