Name that band... no really. Give it a name.

On Wednesday, SL's were in charge of presenting their ministries to the students of VI. I forgot to mention while presenting my ministry- Musical Worship - that the band is looking a new name. We've been nameless for some time now, and need YOUR help in establishing an identity. Post any ideas here, drop me an email @ drewtroller@gmail.com, or see me!



By the way, here's the video I presented in case you weren't there/wanted to see it again.

Feeling LOST?

I have a reputation for being a bit of a TV junkie. It's not like I sit for hours in front of the tube every day and soak in the stuff on the screen, but I do get a bit hooked on some of television's great series. What makes these series compelling is the depth and magnitude of their characters.

For example,

This show has storylines that are powerful and mind-blowing, albeit far-fetched at times. It's more than just a drama about a planeful of people who are stranded on an uncharted island with no means of rescue (which is ironic, since their island comes stock-loaded with everything from food to a washer and dryer (it makes some sense if you watch the show, but nevermind that).

I recently re-watched the season finale from last year, and it really shocked me how much I got out of it. The character of Jack Shepherd was really important in this episode. Jack is trying to lead the survivors of the plane crash to a radio tower to turn off a jamming signal so that they can use a satellite phone to contact a boat that's allegedly off the shore. "The Others," the inhabitants of the island who were there before Jack and Co., attempt to stop the Lost-ies from reaching the radio tower.

As the leader of the Others, Ben, puts it, "If you contact that boat every living person on this island will be killed." He claims that the people on the boat aren't a source of rescue- they're out to slaughter the Losties.

It amazes me how far Jack is willing to go- willing even to sacrifice the lives of three of his friends- in order to get rescued. Sure, it may seem logical to want to get off the island, but back home Jack has a dead dad, an ex-wife who hates him, and a job that consumes him. And yet what he really wants is to FIX things. He became a doctor to fix broken people. He leads the Losties because he likes making sure things are right. He alienates every person he loves because he has to fix them.

How many of us are like that? All too often we see things as problems, and everyone and everything in our lives is a case that we have to solve.

Why can't things just be fine as they are? Why do we have to seek greener grass? Why is it NEVER good enough?

Later in the episode we gain perspective into Jack's life off the island. In a flash-forward sequence, we see that Jack and his love interest Kate have made it home, but Jack is a washed-up, beard-wearing, alcoholic, drug-addicted, suicidal mess. He demands to Kate that they made a mistake, that they have to go back to the island.

How ironic. He fights for what he hopes are better times, and then he realizes what he was missing and wants to go back to how it used to be.

I for one am sick of trying to fix bleak situations. I'm sick of sacrificing everything to get off the island. And I'm sick of trying to go back to the place I mistakenly left. I'm sick of thinking that it doesn't matter where I am, the grass is greener elsewhere.

Are you sick of it too?

Live big. Stay classy.

Rob Bell 1 Year Later & SYATP

Forgive me if this seems like self-promotion. It's not.

About a year ago, I was sitting in my Digital Video class trying to think of an idea for my first video project of the year. I was in my own group, and I was running out of time. Then it hit me: See You at the Pole was coming up. I decided I was going to make a video to promote See You at the Pole.
But since I had no footage of a crowd of people meeting around a flagpole, and since I was by myself, and since I wanted the video to be creative and amusing, I had to think of a way of presenting SYATP in a new way. I realized there was a way to do a video with one person that could still communicate what it was trying to say. Rob Bell does it all the time.
What happened from there was the Rob Bell video. It took two class periods to film, and another three class periods to edit. I showed to clip at VI the week before SYATP. Here it is.




Later, I decided to put the video on YouTube, as I only had a couple of videos to put up anyway.

I had no idea it would actually be seen by anyone.

11 months, 13,471 viewers, and 68 comments later, here' s what people have responded with.

"That was a pathetic piece of garbage. I don't even see the point in making fun of Rob Bell. and EVERYONE tries to say they love the person that they laughed at so much they made fun of him in a video, just so they won't get bashed. Shut up. "
"Apart from the spoofy part from the start I was actually quite encouraged by this. Did Martin Luther really pray extra when he had to time. Great idea. "
"you are pathetic...and iam hate myself for wasting 3 minutes of my life watching your garbage.i know this isn't the most chritian thing but i really hope you lose the ability to walk "
"Wow, maybe you should get a life. Rob Bell has great messages but you obviously can't see them for what they are. "
"if people would watch more than the first 30 seconds they'd see what you were doing with this video. It was good man. "
"Hey man i think you should take this down. Thats not really cool at all. He is a very good guy hes someone that will be reawarded in heaven. "
"It's okay friend, I still appreciate the art of impersonation. You did a great job. "

But here's the one I remember most:
"where do you get off making fun of a man of God?Isaiah 54:17"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.""

This guy quoted the Bible, and hinted that my video was a weapon against God. According to him, God frowns upon those who lampoon other men of God.
It makes me think about Lee's lesson recently about words. There are those words designed to pick others up, and those designed to bring others down. There's a big difference between poking fun at someone and deliberately bringing them down. The problem comes when people step over the line that separates the two.
I sincerely doubt Rob Bell's feelings were hurt by the YouTube video of a 16-year-old. But I wonder, out of those people who commented negatively about the video... did I hurt them? Was it insensitive to poke fun at someone when it indirectly brought someone else down?

Regardless of that rant, the fact is that SYATP is September 26th. I always enjoy seeing who shows up @ the flag. There's usually two or three people who I never would have suspected would come to school early to take part in a prayer like that. So...
I'll see YOU at the pole.

Live big, stay classy.

Stuff goin' on

Ok. So a lot has happened since my last blog. Here's a quick update, to borrow Acheson's term.

• Fall play- My school is doing The Crucible as our play this year. I'll be playing John Proctor, the farmer who fights to save his wife from the gallows when she's accused of witchcraft. Come see me (VIers Hannah, Anne P, Mary Kate, and others [sorry if I forgot yoy] are also in it) November 15th-17th @ Mariemont @ 730. Ticket prices TBA.


• Worship- I've been having so much fun on stage these last few weeks. If you guys want to request any specific songs for upcoming weeks, let me know. Also, on the 26th, Student Leaders are making their ministry presentations to VI. Let's just say that Trey and I have something special planned for the worship ministry (with some help from Dustin- mwahaha).


• SYATP- See You @ The Pole also takes place on Wednesday, Sept 26th. Basically, this is a chance to get to school a little early and pray around your school's flagpole with the student body. Get the word out, and make sure to follow thru. Call Lee if you need posters/promotional stuff. Website is HERE.


• Seniority- I LOVE senior year. Last night FSN broadcasted Mariemont's FB game live, and I was on TV a few times cheering on the Warriors from the senior section. One of the many perks of being a senior. Another perk is...


• Camp Kern- I won't see you guys next week @ VI, because I'll be at YMCA Camp Kern acting as a counselor for the district's 6th graders. Don't fret, you'll see me at SGM, and Breakfast club the 18th, and VI on the 19th.


• WHO DEY! 'nuff said.

I'm sure there's much more to mention, but this is all I've got. Love you guys! SEE YOU AT THE STUDENT AUCTION THIS SUNDAY AFTER EVENT-IN-THE-TENT @ 1015!

Live big, stay classy.