I'm a proud father.
As a father, I laughed out loud and alone for quite awhile this morning. As a father, sitting in the basement, a great pride welled up inside of me.
Why? Monsters of the Deep…an?
While in college, I started a 50 member band. We had full on choreographed dances, break-dancing, painters, rappers, singers, marching band instruments, harps, gongs and whatever we could get our hands on. We wore cultish outfits and put on the greatest performances I’ve ever seen or been apart of (our emphasis was on the performance and not the music). I’ve been to ska, hardcore, hip-hop, and progressive shows, but nothing has come close to the Monsters.
This band started back in 2005. I only competed in one battle of the bands with them in the Mabee center (where Elvis and Pavarotti played their last shows). Since I’ve graduated, they have now played more shows without me than with me. This brings me a great deal of pride—I’m very proud of all the monsters and the leaders like Pierce, Josh and Matt that have carried on the legacy.
It’s awesome to see something last beyond you. It’s even more awesome to see something become better without you. Monsters is growing bigger and better every year, without me, and I absolutely love it.
I’m learning to apply this perspective in every area of my life. As I put my trust in God and learn my identity and security in Him, I don’t have to hold on to things tightly. He’ll take care of me. I don’t have to establish or prove myself. A lot of times we’re not willing to take on someone else’s idea or critique because of insecurity. Many times we don’t allow the next generation to perform because we’re still able to.
Yes, it might take a little patience to see the next generation complete a task slowly and laced with mistakes, but eventually they will get better—just like the Monsters (not that years in Monsters before this were bad). Quick example: I might be able to clean the kitchen really fast by myself. Because I know where everything belongs and have a set system, cleaning flows like clockwork. If I take a 6 year old in the kitchen to clean with me, it’s probably going to take a little longer. Eventually, though, the 6 year old will understand the same systems and techniques as me and we will clean the kitchen in considerably less time. This is Kingdom. This is multiplication verses addition.
Monsters, you are Kingdom.
Father of the Monsters,
Pradeepan (Napeedarp)
[Click here to watch the Full 2009 performance]
[Click here to watch the Old Monsters of the Deep…an?]
P.S.
I love Monsters. I love that it's composed of normal people that come together and form mob mentality plus music. Sometimes when I watch the original Monsters documentary, I tear up because of all the memories and friendships that formed, what now seems to be, so long ago. We must keep the Monsters alive. We must continue to include people that normally would not intersect. I will forever be a Monster and so should you. If you are not, become one--wherever you are.
"Where are they now" article that mentions me
Where are they Now? [click on this for the article].
I've been in Colorado Springs for more than a year and a half now. Last Monsters of the Deep...an? (a 50 member band I created at ORU) performed their 3rd battle of the bands. They have now done more without me than without me. This great pleases me.
I've changed a whole bunch since my Oral Roberts University days, and I want to start explaining that a little more thoroughly on here. I want to do this for two main reasons:
1. Writing allows me articulate and solidify my thoughts and growth
2. Encouraging those who are on similar journeys to mine.
For now, you can read that article I posted above.
-Pradeepan
Numbering Our Days.
We don't have an infinite number of days, so it's important that live greatly everyday--as great as we can and not wait for some divine opportunity to make an impact on the world. The truth is, we can make an impact on the world today. In the place of prayer, in the place of initiative, a kind word, standing on a strong conviction.
Most of us have great desires to make change, in our lives and in the world, but we don't create systems and structures to express what's on our heart. When that happens, we forget to perform those desires.
Let me give a quick example. I have a desire to celebrate my friend's birthdays, but if I don't create a system (like writing it on a calendar or asking my a friend to remind me), I'll probably forget and not celebrate my friend (even though it is my desire to do so).
If I want to make the most of my time, I have to be intentional with it. I have to sometimes decide this week what I'll do with my time two weeks from now. I've found that, if I'm not intentional with my time, it is too easily lost.
Figure out how you can live greatly today, tomorrow and the rest of your life through proper time management.
-Pradeepan
P.S.A.L.M 90:12
So teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom.
Loving Costs.
A lot of people have a hard time loving people even though we often are rewarded for it. If I love someone through giving someone a compliment, that person will usually be grateful and say something uplifting back or start acting nicer around me. If I love someone through buying a person a meal, that person will typically want to buy me a meal, though I don't ask for it nor am I motivated by that.
There are many times, however, where I see the ministers around me get punished for helping. I have a pastor friend that knows he will recieve harsh consequences anytime someones asks for his counsel and he speaks what many are thinking is good for the person he is counseling. We live in a nation that desires change more than truth and will punish those who speak up. Leaders who have spoken up against abortion and other issues are suffering severe consequences. As people are scolded for speaking truth in love and reprimanded for sacrificial giving, how much less will it happen than it does now? I've heard that less than 10 percent of the American church gives in tithes and offering to the Church. When the Church in America loses its tax exemption, I wonder how many people will give.
With the underlying knowledge that much love is returned, I've noticed that people, including me, are still hestiant to give it. Even when someone gives, knowing that warm feelings will be returned, it still costs something (If I give you $1,000 for a missions trip, you will be grateful, but it will cost me roughly. How much more will it cost when people don't want the love you offer?
I may be making narrow conclusions, but my concluding point and principle is not. Do not love because of your circumstances. Make the resolution that you will love no matter what. I heard a Christian say that she could not tell a group of terrorists in the same hypothetical room as her that she loved them. To me, that's loving because of circumstances. We are called to love our enemies and as modern events continue, more and more people will consider Christians as enemies. We need to resolove to love no matter what. If that means you are a Christian and every warning, encouragement or discussion you have is thrown in your face, keep on loving. If that means, you are a minister and every sermon, counseling session and kid you're pouring your live into is thrown in your face, keep on loving. Right now, I believe we are in a season of easier love compared to what is ahead. I say we take advantage of that.
-Pradeepan
P.S.
If you're not recieving love from the Father daily, don't think you can give love.
Check out this link (it ties everything together).
http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=6498405&page=1
Luke 6:27-36
[27] "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. [29] If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. [30] Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. [31] Do to others as you would have them do to you.
[32] "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. [33] And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. [34] And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. [35] But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. [36] Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Innovative
I'm a huge fan of creativity.
Read this article.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/7798194.stm
