javenbear

The Internet Shapes Mindset

How does the internet change the way you think and process things? In the following six paragraph paper, I argue that as the context of our personal life changes, our behavior and goals will change as well. I also reflect on the why Instagram and posting on this blog are not altogether healthy. *I sendContinue reading “The Internet Shapes Mindset”

“hot water”

heated water, i’ve deemed priceless, shower, tea, oatmeal, and steam, rising up off the lake, and over the concrete bridge i cross on my long commute, during which i try to decide, what things are truly valuable; hot water, —

the reason i write

I’ve written 85 WordPress blog posts over the course of about three years. And I’m finally starting to understand the point of it. In class, we’ve been discussing different approaches to communication as laid out by a guy named John Peters, a longtime professor at the University of Iowa. He describes communication as happening from one ofContinue reading “the reason i write”

the squid and the whale

I’m the type who will spend forty-five minutes laboring over the choice of what movie to watch. And then usually the choice is between films that you have to really work to appreciate. Tonight, I found myself feeling like watching something. And forty-five minutes, later I found myself on the porch having finally chosen TheContinue reading “the squid and the whale”

Episode 3: talking about college

For the last couple of months, I’ve been working at the radio station at Toccoa Falls College (we record stuff in our studio but don’t broadcast live). In the past, I’ve always set aside a day (or two) for work, cramming all my classes into the other days. This semester, that didn’t work out. WhenContinue reading “Episode 3: talking about college”

The Lord’s Day

After church, someone in the circle brought up the age-old question, “So what are we allowed to do on Sunday anyway?” Being a student requires me to read and to listen to lectures for many hours each week. What follows are not my own ideas – but a condensed version of reading from Peter Scazzero’sContinue reading “The Lord’s Day”

all i know

I wrote this song one night while sitting on the floor of the room in the cover photo. Then, it still had bare studs and a plywood floor. It’s about the enneagram, and a girl, and it kind of borrows from a Springsteen song. To record, I put some delay and distortion on my nylonContinue reading “all i know”

good old days

This is my disbelieving smile: to those who say that we’re headed for hell – to those who say we’ve come so much farther than any other people – to those who say the good old days were so much different than today. My friends, these are the good old days. And we too willContinue reading “good old days”

in your arms

This is my favorite song on this album. It’s about having somewhere to run when the world around affords no place to hide, a bridge to walk up under when the road is getting driving rain. It’s a very short, simple song. I wrote it while sitting at my desk – then recorded it theContinue reading “in your arms”

to the sea

I was on a surfing trip in Charleston with some of my best friends when this song came to me. It was late at night, and I was sitting up in a stranger’s living room. Then I went to Corey’s house, and helped me record it. It’s about getting washed clean of everything that isn’tContinue reading “to the sea”