Byte

Hey, friends! I just wanted to write a quick post to tell you about this awesome new creative tool I found called Byte. It's an app for the iPhone that gives you a blank canvas to let your creativity flow. There are very few limitations to what you can do with Byte, so it's actually a little hard to explain. But basically, it lets you arrange text, images, GIFs, links, videos, and more on a page in any way you like. You can add animations, change colors, and even link to other bytes to create a series. For example, the entire Support section of the app is simply a series of linked bytes, and it's very cool. Really, there's no limit to what you can do with Byte or what you can use it for!

My absolute favorite tool in Byte is the music composition tool. You use emojis to create loops. It's easy, fun, and even a little addictive. I've already made a couple of Bytes myself, and I hope to make more in the future. I'm not sure exactly what I'll use this tool for, but I'd like to at least tinker with the idea of incorporating it into my web presence in some meaningful way.

You can check out the Bytes I've created here and here, and you can download Byte for yourself from the App Store so that you can join in on the fun! Comment below with links to what you create, and I'll be sure to check it out.

Currently On Repeat

Here's my approach to listening to music: At any given time, I have about a dozen songs that I'm really into. I listen to them on repeat whenever I need some background noise or just want to jam out for a bit. I put those songs into a playlist called Currently On Repeat, and I switch them out as I get tired of old songs and find new ones.

And now, armed with this playlist and the power of Apple Music, I'm going to try something new on the blog. I'm going to share this playlist with you and give you an opportunity to enjoy the songs that I'm currently into. If this goes well, we might try to make it a regular thing. And if no one likes it… well, I might still keep doing it anyway because I like reviewing music and sharing my favorite songs with others.

Here's how this is going to work. I'm going to do a short write-up of each song I'm obsessed with right now, giving you an opportunity to understand why I love it so much and why you should listen to it, too. You can pick and choose which songs (if any) you'd like to include in your own music collection. Or if you'd like, you can subscribe to my Currently on Repeat playlist and always stay up-to-date on what I'm listening to. Sound good? Good. Let's get started.

Warning: This playlist is rated PG-13. I'm not going to include anything with rampant profanity or seriously objectionable themes, but it is intended to be listened to by adults who can appreciate an artistic work without necessarily agreeing with every single component of it or being negatively influenced by its edgier aspects. If this isn't for you, I apologize. If it is, read on.

---

She's Kinda Hot
5 Seconds of Summer

The first single from 5 Seconds of Summer's sophomore album Sounds Good Feels Good might seem suspiciously similar to last summer's hit "She Looks So Perfect" at first glance, but if you think the band is just regurgitating the same successful formula, you're in for a surprise. The title of the song is actually a throwaway, a purposeful distraction from what it's actually about. The song starts off talking about a girl who's not exactly nice ("She's kinda hot, though.") but as the song progresses, you find out that it's not about the girl at all. It's actually an anthem for a generation of young people who are constantly being bombarded with reminders of their shortcomings and want nothing more than to feel OK. The message of the song can be summed up in the simple line, "We're alright, though. Yeah, we'll be alright though." This is actually something I tell people a lot, so I instantly connected with the song's message. "She's Kinda Hot" is catchy, and the style is a little more experimental and fun than anything on the band's previous album. If this is an indication of what's to come with Sounds Good Feels Good, I'm all in. And I can't wait to hear more.

---

Bad Blood
Taylor Swift

I'm probably the last person on the planet to listen to Taylor Swift's album 1989. And now that I've heard it, I regret all the months I wasted resisting the urge to listen to it. It really is that good. Honestly, there are about six songs from that album that belong on this list, but I limited myself to one because I didn't want T-Swift to completely take over my playlist. I chose "Bad Blood" because it's the song that's been getting stuck in my head the most lately, and the only way to get it out is to listen to it. It's ridiculously catchy without being repetitive. There are some clever plays on words in the lyrics. And the song is so brutally honest and relatable that it's tough not to love it. "Bad Blood" is Taylor's tell-all song about a relationship that went sour because the other person simply didn't treat her right. Speculation about who the subject of the song might be aside (I'm looking at you, Katy Perry), Bad Blood is just a fun song to listen to, so give it a try if you haven't already.

---

View fullsize

Unbelievable
Owl City featuring Hanson

I'll be the first to admit that Owl City's latest album Mobile Orchestra is definitely not one of his stronger releases. I'm still waiting on Adam Young to come up with an album that even remotely rivals the genius that was Ocean Eyes. But despite its flaws, the newest album from Owl City did deliver at least one legitimate jam, and that's the song "Unbelievable." Not only does it have a hook that will burrow itself so far down into your head that you'll never get it out, but it also features tons and tons of 90's childhood nostalgia, which people my age are eating up right now. The song includes references to "no girls allowed" clubs, the raptors from Jurassic Park, Floam, McDonald's french fries, and more. It's a guaranteed throwback, and the combination of Adam's songwriting with the musical talents of Hanson makes this song a must-listen.

---

Here I Am Alive
Yellowcard

Yellowcard is one of those bands that I've always wanted to get into, but I've never actually invested the time to explore their music. I think I was afraid that I would really like them and end up spending lots of money on their songs, which is probably what would have happened. But once Apple Music came along and I knew that I wouldn't be tempted to drop any extra money on Yellowcard music, I decided to try them out. I listened to all of their albums in release order and found that, even though it was one of their older songs ("Ocean Avenue") that originally piqued my interest in the band, I actually enjoyed their newer albums the most. "Here I Am Alive" comes from one of Yellowcard's most recent albums, and it shows a lot maturity both musically and lyrically. It's basically a look back on their career and a wish to go back knowing what they know now. But ultimately, the message of the song is that they've survived all that they've been through. Despite all the ups and downs, here they are alive. I find that very inspiring, and I think that's a message we would all do well to hear.

---

Somebody Told Me
The Killers

I don't know a lot about The Killers, but I know enough about The Killers to know that I want to be a fan of The Killers. Not only does their music sound great, but they seem to be legitimately cool people. I mean, it takes a special kind of band to write, record, and release an original Christmas song year after year. And that's just the tip of the iceberg on the band's talent. My first experience with The Killers was playing "When You Were Young" on Rock Band. It was one of my favorite songs on the game. When I looked up the band to find out more about their music, every source kept leading me back to this song. "Somebody Told Me" is grungy, raw, and just plain memorable. Everyone can relate to the narrator's struggle, and the chorus is as hilarious as it is true-to-life. There's a reason so many people love The Killers, and there's a reason this is one of their most popular songs. So do yourself a favor and check out "Somebody Told Me."

---

This Is Gospel
Panic! at the Disco

Panic! at the Disco was one of those bands that was just a little too emo for me to be comfortable with when I was in high school. And now that I'm past that critical age where my musical taste was being molded into what it would be for the rest of my life, I honestly can't seem to get into them. But I know that they mean a great deal to a lot of people, and from what I can tell, they're objectively a great band. This was the first song I ever heard from them, and it's the only one I like. It caught my attention not only because it has the kind of chorus that you just have to sing along to but because of the title itself: "This Is Gospel." When I heard it, I thought, "Wow. These guys must be pretty confident if they're going to label their own song 'gospel.'" It's not gospel as in the musical genre. They're saying their music is gospel as in the good news. And maybe to their fans, it is. I'm still trying to figure out in what way their music may or may not be considered gospel, but until then, I'm just going to keep enjoying the song. I suggest you do, too.

---

Shut Up and Dance
WALK THE MOON

I've heard it said that often your brain tells you that you like a song when really what it means is that you're just familiar with it. I think that's what happened to me with "Shut Up and Dance." I would consider this song the song of the summer. I hear it playing everywhere. The first time I heard it playing in a store, I didn't really notice it. The next time, I heard it playing in a restaurant, and I thought, "Hey, that line about shutting up and dancing is actually pretty catchy." And the third time, I heard it who knows where, and I knew that I simply had to have that song on my phone immediately. So I opened up my Music app, searched "Shut up and dance with me" (since those were the only lyrics I actually knew), and found the song I was looking for. I have to admit, it really is a lot of fun to listen to. It doesn't have a lot to offer content-wise, but that's OK. Usually the most popular songs don't. It's a catchy, poppy song about a guy and a girl dancing together, and it makes you want to dance along with them. What more could you possibly ask for in the most-played song of the summer?

---

What's My Age Again?
Blink-182

There are a few bands that I would choose, if given the opportunity, to force my younger self to listen to. Blink-182 is one of those bands. I think that a lot of the musicians I listen to have been deeply influenced by Blink-182, but they were a little older than the bands I was into during my high school years. Blink-182 makes incredible music, and now that I've finally taken the time to explore their catalog, I can say that I'm a fan. I just so happened to be listening to Apple Music's "Introduction to Blink-182" playlist a couple of days before my 23rd birthday when this song came on. I knew there was a song out there that had the line, "Nobody likes you when you're 23," but I had no idea what that song was. It's an amazing coincidence that I discovered this song just before I turned 23, and now this song will stay in my music rotation probably until l turn 24. It's a hilarious song about growing up (or not), and I hope that by the end of my 23rd year, I'll be fully aware of my age and acting appropriately, unlike the narrator of "What's My Age Again?".

---

Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)
Omi

I discovered this song while listening to one of the top Pop playlists and was amazed by how much I immediately liked it. I thought that Omi's accent would be a barrier that kept me from fully appreciating "Cheerleader," but the way he pronounces the words actually makes it more enjoyable to listen to and sing along with. I also just think the lyrics are really cute. We all want a cheerleader, and some of us (myself included) are lucky enough to have one. Omi lets the world know how great his cheerleader is and how much he cares about her while also treating her with respect and giving her agency. That's a rare thing to hear from a male music artist these days, and I find it refreshing. (Side note: I listened to the original version of this song, and let's just say there's a good reason the remix is the version that's getting so popular.)

---

Geronimo
Sheppard

This song and I have actually been on a bit of a journey together. One of my jobs is to run slides for Baylor Chapel, and my boss always picks a playlist to run while the students are walking in and out. This song happened to be one of the songs he chose, so I heard it several times a week last school year, and I always enjoyed it. When Apple Music came out, "Geronimo" was one of the first songs I looked for, and I was disappointed to find out that it wasn't there. So over the summer, I practically forgot all about it. That is, until Sheppard appeared on Girl Meets World and performed the song. This inspired me to try one more time to find it on Apple Music, and this time, it was there. I've been listening to it nonstop ever since. "Geronimo" is about diving headfirst into something that you truly believe in without looking back, and I think that's a feeling we can all relate to, or at least one that I hope we can. It's a song that's exciting and has just enough repetition to be catchy without getting on your nerves. Plus the range of the lead singer is just incredible on this track. It's definitely worth checking out. It'll probably have you saying, "Geronimo!" after just one listen.

---

Do Something
Matthew West

Oh, look! Finally, a Christian song. I knew this playlist couldn't be completely heathen. This is actually the newest addition to my Currently on Repeat playlist. I heard the song on Air1 when it first came out, and I immediately loved it. Unfortunately, I forgot about it until a co-worker played it for me the other day. It's not only a great song; it's a call to action. No one, and especially no one who claims to believe in Jesus, can listen to "Do Something" and not feel compelled to act. This song serves as a reminder that we live in a broken world, and we are the ones who have been called by God to fix it. It makes me want to get up and do something to make this world a better place, to share the love of Christ with someone in a way that truly touches them. I love this song because every time I hear it, it draws me away from complacency and reminds me of what God wants from me: He wants me—and really each of us—to go out and do something.

---

Bonus Song:
West Coast Calling
Lights Go Down

This is the only song in my Currently on Repeat playlist that isn't available on Apple Music. That's right, if you want to hear this song you actually have to—gasp!—pay for it. But I can assure you that it's worth the money for a couple of different reasons. First of all, it's a solid pop punk track on its own merit. Secondly, it's the debut song from Lights Go Down, the new band fronted by none other than Jason Dunn, formerly the lead singer of Hawk Nelson. Jason quit Hawk Nelson a couple of years ago because the band had gone mainstream, embracing a bubble-gum Christian alternative style over their pop punk roots. He decided to start over by returning where Hawk Nelson originally came from. OK, so they're actually from Canada, but their first big song was "California," a pop punk song about a young man's desire to move to California. "West Coast Calling," the first song from Jason's new band, is naturally a song about a young man's desire to move to California, this time to "do it all over again." It's a return to form for Jason, and he has put together a great group of musicians to start this new journey with. I can't wait to hear more from Lights Go Down, and I would suggest you download West Coast Calling and get on board before this band makes it big.

---

So there you have it. These are the songs I currently have on repeat. If any of these songs piqued your interest, or if you'd like to keep up with songs I find myself listening to in the future, you can subscribe to my Currently on Repeat playlist through Apple Music and alway stay up-to-date. I'd also love to know what you're listening to. What were your favorite songs of the summer? Did any of my songs overlap with what you've been listening to? And are there any artists or albums you're really excited about right now? I'm always looking to discover good music, so leave your suggestions in the comments, and I'll be sure to check them out!

Where I'm At

I'm not going to lie to you. Writing this blog post is going to be hard. I say that for a couple of different reasons. First of all, I'm not exactly sure how to approach this topic. I started off writing a summer re-cap, but I don't think that's the best use of this post. Really what I'm trying to get at in this post is not so much where I've been but where I am now, at this exact time. That's a little difficult to define and even more difficult to express, which is one reason why writing this post won't be easy. But I'm going to do my best.

The other thing making the writing of this blog post hard is that, honestly, where I'm at isn't 100% a good place. It's certainly not 100% a bad place either. It's not even mostly a bad place; I'd say the vast majority of it is good. But there's some bad stuff mixed in there, and I don't want to be dishonest about that. I want this post to be an honest, transparent look at where I am right now. That's what I feel led to write, so I'm going to write it even if it isn't the easiest thing to do.

Let's start with where I'm located. That should be easy, right? I'm back in Waco, which is where I've lived for over a year now. It's really hard to believe that I've been in Texas for that long. I spent a month traveling to different places this summer, and I was surprised to find that I actually missed Waco. I missed my apartment. I missed my friends and co-workers. I even missed my school. It's good to have a home that you can long for when you're away from it. Waco is that place for me now, so that's where I'm at in the most literal sense.

Next up, let's talk about where I'm at school-wise. I've just started my second of (hopefully only) three years at seminary. I've completed 30 out of the 93 required hours for the Master of Divinity program, and I'm starting to put a serious dent in my basic requirements. I'm taking 12 hours this semester, and all my classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that should be fun. It's going to be a lot of work, but I'm really enjoying my classes so far—even Hebrew, surprisingly.

As far as work goes, I'm really happy with where I'm at. During the week, I work for Baylor Spiritual Life, where I serve as the Ministry Associate for Worship and Technology. (That's a fancy way of saying I create and run slides for chapel.) And on the weekends, I serve as a monitor at My Brother's Keeper homeless shelter. I think both of my jobs appeal to different—but integral—areas of my calling, so I'm feeling very fulfilled and energized by that.

Physically, I'm not exactly where I'd like to be. I got out of the habit of exercising over the summer because my schedule was just so sporadic. I've also fallen into the habit of eating the most convenient food I can get ahold of, which obviously isn't the healthy kind. But I'm on the up-and-up! I've been running five days a week for the past couple of weeks, and I'm starting to add some colorful foods back to my diet. Not only do I feel better physically, but I feel better about myself now that I'm putting forth the effort to actually take care of my body.

And now we get to the part that's not so fun. Feelings. Bleh. Emotionally, I've been pretty good, but not necessarily as good as I could be. This summer was really good for my emotional state in some ways and really bad for it in other ways.

Saying goodbye to Millie as she headed off to New York was difficult, but we've been rocking the long-distance thing and I visited her last month, so that relationship has been a real source of joy and fulfillment. Traveling with my friends and family was a blast and definitely made me really happy. I've made some memories that I'll cherish forever, and that's an emotional high that doesn't quickly fade.

But like I said, summer was a mixed bag. Most of you have probably heard or deduced that my family had a major change this summer. My parents have decided to go their separate ways, and obviously that's been quite a shock for everyone involved. Things were really stressful and confusing for a while, and they'll probably continue to be at least somewhat stressful and confusing for the foreseeable future, but that's the thing about life. It goes on. People adjust. Wounds heal. Things may be different, but life goes on.

And in the midst of the change and the pain, there is grace. There is a loving God who draws me to himself. There are friends who encourage me in ways that they'll never even know about, but that mean the world to me. There is my education, where I learn about what I'm passionate about, and my job, where I do meaningful work that ministers to others and to my own soul.  And there is always my family, no matter what it looks like, that always offers me beautiful moments and wonderful memories. 

So I guess you could say that's where I'm at. I'm in the midst of it all. It's a lot, but in the end, it's good. I'm thankful for where I am, I have hope for where I'm heading, and I cherish all the people who have joined me on my journey thus far. I'm also thankful for this opportunity to reflect deeply and share honestly about where I am right now.

I'd like to end with some lyrics from a song you probably haven't heard before. They are from the class hymn of Baylor's class of 2018, written by our chaplain Dr. Burt Burleson, but I think they capture pretty well where I'm at right now. I hope that you'll read these lyrics and not only get a glimpse of where I am but allow the lyrics to meet you where you are so that you can experience the same grace that I do. Hear these words: 

In between the seeking and the finding,
Underneath the wand’ring and the winding,
All around the hearing and the seeing,
Deep within the changing and the dreaming…

There is Truth that will meet us.
There is Love that will lead us.
There is Light that will waken us,
And Grace to make us whole,
And Grace to make us whole.

---

Now that you've heard where I'm at, I'd love to hear from you. Where are you at right now? That could mean in any area of your life: school, family, career, relationships, even just location. Whatever you think defines your current state, I'd really like to hear about it in the comments!

Blogging Is a Journey

From the time this blog was created until now, it has been a lot of different things. It started off as an accidental side-effect of my desire to have my own website. I bought a WordPress site when I was 19 in order to tell the world who I was, and I attached a blog to the end of the navigation bar just in case I ever decided to write anything meaningful. I wrote a few short updates when I felt particularly inspired by something I experienced or saw, but the blog wasn't really a priority to me.

When I switched the site from WordPress to Tumblr the next year, my enthusiasm for blogging was revitalized, and the blog became something completely new. Instead of consisting only of random text posts and a few videos, my blog became the hub that all of my social media accounts pointed to. It was also promoted to the main page of my website instead of a side one. I wanted to create a one-stop shop where people could check out everything I was doing at any given time. So I blew up my Tumblr with photos, Vines, YouTube videos, tweets, quotes, and short-form text updates. It was cool, but it was kind of a jumbled mess.

Fun fact: At one point, my blog became exclusively dedicated to counting down to the release of a feature-length film my friends and I made. Let's just say the movie took up most of my creative energy at that time.

But a couple of years ago, in the midst of a difficult time, I wrote an article called Feel Something, and it set the stage for the next phase of my blog. I found that I actually enjoyed writing long-form content, taking a theme or idea and expounding upon it over 600 to 1,000 words combined with a high-quality image. I started writing these types of posts every week, and it was really good for me. I took whatever I was thinking about that week and hashed it out on a keyboard. It was therapeutic, and people really seemed to enjoy reading what I had to say. This blogging routine became a central part of my identity and my online presence.

I even expanded into multiple posts per week. I started posting Stuff Devon Likes reviews on Saturdays to complement my deeper, more thought-provoking posts on Tuesdays. Things were going well. But over time, constantly having a writing deadline began to weigh me down. I went back to one post a week, but I struggled even to keep up with that. I would find myself scrambling on Monday nights to come up with something meaningful to say. I was rarely satisfied with the content I put out. And the technical limitations of the platform I was using were frustrating me and holding me back creatively. I got to the point where I wasn't even sure why I was doing this whole blogging thing anymore.

So I decided to take a break. Just for the summer. I thought it would be good for me to rest, recuperate, and spend some time re-thinking what I wanted my blog to be. I spent the first two months of my break ignoring my blog completely. I didn't even want to think about it. I dreaded going back to a regular writing schedule and kicked myself for ever promising to return to that commitment in the first place. It was starting to look like I might be done with blogging forever.

But then I started traveling for the month of July, and I suddenly had a strong urge to share my experiences with my online community. I started posting photos and tweets marked #WhereIsDevon as a fun way to keep people posted. And as I was taking pictures of the places I visited, I thought to myself, "This is going to look great on my website." By the time I got back from my first trip, I couldn't wait to start blogging again. So I sat down and wrote a blog post about my experience, and I had a ton of fun doing it. I did the same thing when I got back from my next two trips and found that I had eased my way back into my love of blogging.

As a result of my blogging hiatus, I learned a few things about myself, my blog, and what I want this site to be going forward. First of all, I learned that I can't come up with creative, interesting, sharable ideas every week. My blog can't just be about the things going through my head. Secondly, I learned that what I'm really looking for in my blog is a way of sharing life with people. Yes, I want to share my thoughts, but I also want to share my experiences, my preferences, my inspirations, and more. And I want to hear about these things from other people as well. Finally, I learned that I couldn't deal with the technical limitations of the platform I was on any longer. I want to spend my time thinking creatively about my writing rather than trying to work around the limitations of Tumblr and writing new code for every post I write.

All of that to say that the blog is back, but it's going to look a little different from here on out, both aesthetically and content-wise. Here's what you can expect:

1. I moved my website from Tumblr to SquareSpace. It looks a lot better, and it's way more flexible. This switch will allow me to share more types of content in ways that are more enjoyable to read. For an example, check out the way I was able to integrate photos into my travel posts this summer and include a full gallery of other pictures from my trips below each post. SquareSpace will also allow me to use my Tumblr as what it was meant to be: a social network.

2. Even though I changed hosts, everything is still intact. All the old links still work, and every article I ever posted on my old site is still available. SquareSpace made the transition easy and compromise-free. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

3. My blog posts are going to be a little more varied. I'm creating different categories for different types of posts. Some of them will basically be tags from my old blog carried over with new names, but I think this new system will give me opportunities to share with you in new ways. This blog post is categorized under What I'm Making since it's in reference to content I create. I'm hoping to add some video content and some creative writing to this category in the future. The types of posts you're used to reading on my blog where I reflect on what's been going through my head will fall under What I'm Thinking. Stuff Devon Likes will now be split into What I'm Watching, What I'm Using (software/hardware), What I'm Reading, and the all-new What I'm Listening To. That's right. I listen to music now. There will be categories for What I'm Doing (life updates), What I'm Learning (mostly theology and biblical studies), and more as we go along. I'm really excited about this new category system because I think it will allow me to share my life with you in really meaningful ways that I've been missing out on in the past.

4. I will start with one blog post a week at first and see how things go. If I really get into it, I may try to do more than that, but I don't want to burn myself out from the start. As usual, these new posts will go up on Tuesdays.

5. From now on, every post on this site will include a comments section! This is something I've wanted for a long time, and I'm really excited about it. I hope you guys will share your thoughts on my posts either in the comments, through the Contact page, or on social media. I really want this site to be about engaging and sharing our lives with one another. I think that's what this whole social media thing is all about, and I hope you'll try it out with me.

I know that's a lot of information, and I apologize for overwhelming you, but I've put a lot of thought, time, and energy into this, and I want to do it right. I think I really am a writer at heart, and I want to put myself in a context where I can explore and share this passion in a meaningful way. To all of you who have been reading my blog for a while, thank you for sticking with me through my hiatus and giving this new incarnation of my blog a chance. To any new readers out there, welcome! I look forward to sharing my life with you and hopefully being able to share in your life in a meaningful way as well.

---

That's all I have to say this week. I'll be back next Tuesday with a post entitled, "Where I'm At." It's my way of catching you guys up on what's been going on in my life lately and letting you know where I am on a lot of levels. Until then, I'd love to know: How do you feel about fostering true, meaningful online community? Are there certain things about an online community that make you feel more connected to it? Are you interested in sharing the deepest parts of your life with others online, or are you skeptical? Let me know in the comments!

Relaunch Video

Today, I officially announced the relaunch of my blog on September 1st! I made a little video to go along with the announcement, and I'm pretty proud of it, so I thought I'd share it on here. I've never really made a video like this before, and I was a little nervous about it (especially the narration), but I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I'm excited about the relaunch next Tuesday, and I can't wait to see what's in store for this new phase of the site!