I've got the Csehy Blues...

Today marks the first last Sunday of June in five years that I haven’t packed up some of my belongings, hopped in the van with Mom and Dad, and headed over to Langhorne, PA for two weeks at Csehy (CHAY-hee) Summer School of Music.

Depressing? Yes.

Csehy Summer School of Music is truly a place like no other. The people there are the nicest, most welcoming people I have ever met and I have made some amazing friends there over the years. Csehy encouraged me immensely throughout my teenage years and has done a great work in shaping me into the person I am today.

At Csehy, I laughed the hardest I ever have in my life at the counselors and staff.

At Csehy I learned that making music is not simply playing notes, but an art that is to be perfected and shaped to the glory of God.

At Csehy I learned great hymns of the faith and sang them until my throat was sore.

At Csehy, I was taught and instructed by impeccable artists who also happened to be committed Christians. Now that’s a rarity!

At Csehy, I witnessed countless kids my age leave their two weeks of camp as completely changed individuals because of the tremendous example of staff and counselors and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Because of Csehy, I found out that my future did not lie in the area of piano performance. For that I am very grateful.

Csehy planted countless seeds in me that continued to bloom throughout the whole of my teen years.

One of my most vivid memories is a piano lesson I had with Ben Harding where he brought in a book of modern art. He started explaining to me the stories behind some of the paintings that, before he explained them to me, seemed like nonsensical shapes and patterns. I think that was the first moment that I really got chills over an art other than music. In that moment I gained respect for art of all kinds and after that, would never look at things the same again. That was my first step in looking closer at God's world.

Even before Summit…

Even before Bryan…

It all started at Csehy, a place that will always hold a place in the very center of my heart. A place I will never ever forget.

PS: This video is also a product of Csehy and the unique breed of people there...

Trying to give my best...

Last night, I was sitting at my desk trying to find an inspiration for a short film ... what I've been doing alot, but to no avail, the last few weeks. iTunes was on shuffle and a live rendition of Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb came on (a song used excellently in Scorsese's The Departed). I like Pink Floyd when I'm in a certain mood ... when I'm really tired ... so tired that I feel high (not that I know what that feels like).

Last night something hit me though as I was listening to the guitar solo at the end.

I was listening to mindless noise.

Then I thought, sure, it takes talent to play the guitar and other instruments like Syd Barrett and company. It is art on display and the men are very talented. BUT, this is art without substance like so many things out there today.

In our culture, there is a barrage of mindless noise. Every week we get new films out of Hollywood that are devoid of substance and meaning wanting only to entertain an audience and give them cheap thrills (just from this week, Ghost Rider and Norbit come to mind). Take a look at iTunes on new music Tuesday. You'll see a barrage of fluffy music that is devoid of any significance whatsoever. Hords of pop literature is also released every week ... from harlequin silhouette novels to the latest repetitive James Patterson fare. Sure, there is room for fun, but should things made simply for frivolity really so greatly overshadow things that are made for enlightenment?

You really have to look hard sometimes to find worthwhile artistic endeavors in today's culture. Maybe that's why it's taking me such a long time to think of an idea for a short subject film: I've felt convicted lately to not put my talents into things that aren't of value. I so badly DO NOT want to come up with something shoddy and second rate like so many Christians nowadays. I know I'm not all that experienced yet in the whole filmmaking department, but I at least want to try my best. I pray that God gives me the strength to do so because, quite frankly, He deserves nothing less.

Two years ago at Csehy, Dr. White talked about the Luke 12:48 concept of "to whom much is given, much is required." With this message, he passed each of us a piece of paper that had two hymns printed on it. One of them was "Give of Your Best to the Master." I've had the paper in my Bible on the Luke 12:48 page ever since, and just passed by it a few moments ago.

Give of your best to the master,
Give of the strength of your youth;
Throw your soul's fresh, glowing ardour
Into the battle for truth.

Give of your best to the master,
Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave himself for your ransom,
Gave up his glory above.

That's just part of the hymn, but I thought it spoke to what I had written above.

With that, I'm off to bed...