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. 

"Leave"- Once Soundtrack

So it was late one night and we had some energy... Tim, Clem, Mooch, and Brian all gathered in my room and belted out "Leave" from the ONCE soundtrack with pens in their hands as microphones. Besides Brian, all of us are the guys that are going on the Spring break trip that's outlined below this blog.  Anyway, here's a vid we shot a couple nights ago...... don't judge us....

Spring Break Plans

So I'm super stoked for Spring Break this year! I'm always stoked for it but especially this year because I am going on a road trip with 3 really close friends from school here in Oklahoma and It's going to be crazy. Staying in 4 different states with 5 major destinations totaling about 4,000 miles while we are all crammed in my 1990, deep burgundy, Honda Accord EX.... we are going to have a blast!

We're taking my video camera and are going to document our adventures and most-likely make a vid of it and throw it up here so keep an eye out.

The Trip:

View

 Larger Map

Beginning in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 14th, we will travel to White City, New Mexico and camp there for 2 nights as we discover the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It's said to be amazing and was a thing that I have wanted to do ever since I saw BBC's "Plant Earth" videos. 

After 2 nights we leave early to go to Valley Center, California and stay at Pat and Laura O'Connor's house (my Aunt and Uncle). We will be there for 4 nights surfing, taking a one day trip into Tijauana, Mexico and kicking it on the beach. 

By now it's the 20th of March 

and we are going to head up to 

Los Angeles, California and spend the day with Jordan Houser. We will stay at his apartment right on HollyWood Blv. only to leave early the next morning for the Grand Canyon in Arizona. 

Camping at Hather Campground next to the Grand Canyon, we will have one full day of hiking and exploring the canyon. 

After 2 nights of camping we head out EARLY for the last time and make a straight drive back to Tulsa, OK. 

It's gonna be a blast! I will be sure to post pictures and recap of the trip after we take it!

Pictures from Jared's slideshow

Jared Nagel's Legacy

Jared Nagel's Legacy

It was a Beautiful Celebration of a life lived for Christ and an amazing beginning for so many to make a decision to see Jared again and accept Christ as their Savior. With over 1,500 family, friends, and admirers, Jared's "Party" brought a strong display of love that he lived with each day, influencing hundreds all around the world. People all over began to follow Jared's lead as they got "ALIVE IN CHRIST" tattooed on their own bodies, one of Jared's legacies that he had tattooed on his foot.

When I was at the Nagel's house every evening this weekend I was able to see more support and love between his family and friends than I have ever seen in my life. People were laughing telling "Jared Stories," singing their hearts out, dancing to music that was jam-packed with memories, and loving on each other with hugs and kisses. "I love you" reclaimed it's significance as each of us expressed our care for the other. It was beautiful and horrible, "The best, worst day of my life."(Joyce Nagel- Jared's Mother; aka. Big Mama).

My challenge to you as you watch over these captured memories of Jared is that you again reevaluate your life. What are you doing? Where are you going? No matter what your past is, what would your memory be?

Do you truly know what it means to be "Alive in Christ" because it's not just a clever play on words that was something that someone remembered Jared had tattooed on his foot. It is a lifestyle, a belief, a passion that there is a God that sent his only son to die on the cross for your and my sins, so that we can be with him and have a personal relationship with him.

It's never too late to become alive in Christ.

Some Videos

Hey,

Here's a few video's of some fun stuff that I have on my facebook but if you can't/don't check my facebook you can watch them here--

"August Rush"

An inspiring continuation of prolonged fated passion, "August Rush" left me speechless.

Within its 114 minutes I experienced the complete spectrum of human emotions better than almost any movie I have ever seen. I want to encourage anyone to go see this movie.

 It's fantastic with a great story line, awesome music, and well played roles. 

I also want to quickly express one of my thoughts as I was able to single it out from the chaotic accretion of ideas swarming in my mind after viewing the film. 

One of the main connections that I had with the film was the use of destiny and passi

on

; both of which I completely believe in. If you haven't seen the

 film go see it and then finish reading this blog. Not that I am giving anything away, I would rather you see it and experience the film without my influence; then come back and respond to this blog. -- Through horrible and beautiful events, everything is purposely driven. Conclusion does not entirely depend on the choices made by an individual, rather, it can be discovered through PASSION as one's life is intertwined to reach their destiny. -- Knowingly a controversial statement, I would love to hear your opinion on this and/or the movie in general. This movie completely rocked my world and I'm curious if anyone else has experienced the same affect.