God blesses those who live up to their faith

There is something to be said about genuine people.

Many will agree they are hard to find. But those genuine people –the ones who sincerely care about you, the ones that believe in things with their whole hearts, and have such light in their eyes because you know they love life to the full capacity of all that it holds –those genuine people do exist.

I’ve recently had the privilege of filming a documentary of the Michael Alvarado band, both for my video production class and for The Appalachian Online. It’s been a long endeavor and it still has a lot of work to go through (10 hours of footage to be exact), but over the past month or so, I’ve gotten to observe the band closely, ask them questions, and even just be the fly on the wall as they go about doing their normal activities. 

From spending allthat time with them, I feel like I’ve gotten to know them. Many wouldsay that when in front of a camera, people don’t act like themselves;but I don’t believe anyone could put up a façade for so long when thefilm is rolling. After all, how else would you explain the crazy temperflair ups on reality TV shows such as “The Real World.”

Butafter filming for hours, sitting in on rehearsals and businessmeetings, following them as they put up fliers, helping them as theypaint their banners, cramming myself in a car as they sing to theBackstreet Boys, watching them set up backstage before their big show…Ican safely say that I 100 percent, whole-heartedly believe that thesepeople are among the few genuine people I have ever met.

Theylove their music and they love those that listen to it. They even loveeach other and many agreed one of the best parts of being in the bandwas the fact that they had each other to lean on and hang out with.

But they don’t just care about the things or people close to them. They care about others too.

Everytime I followed them around or filmed them, Michael Alvarado himselfwould be the first to ask if I needed something to drink or eat. Afterrehearsal one night, they even gave me a ride home. I’ve never actuallyhad a source ever care about me, the journalist, before.

Theyeven THANK me for filming them. Last time I checked, they were doing mea favor by letting me be annoying and in their face all the time with acamera for the sake of school and the newspaper.

But Iguess what impresses me the most about these genuine people is theirlove for God and their dedication to their faith. I’ve heard manypeople, organizations, and even bands claim Christianity, but not manyhave actually proved or lived up to their faith.

I knewthe Michael Alvarado band was professed Christian from my firstinterview with them in the fall semester. But following them around, Idiscovered that it was not just a label for them. It is the real deal.

Theirpre-show ritual? A group prayer thanking God for the opportunity andasking for help with influencing the audience with positive music.

Evenbefore the business meeting between Alvarado and his business manager,the first thing they do is whip out the Bible for a quick Bible studytogether.

And when making decisions, Alvarado mentions how he had been praying about it.

Inroughly eight months, the band went from starting out locally, totouring New York, to setting up plans for the recording of their secondE.P.

They areliving the dream. Many may say they are incredibly lucky since mostcollege students’ dreams fall to the wayside. But I believe that luckhas nothing to do with it. They are incredibly blessed and God iswithout a doubt on their side.

ManyChristians fail to incorporate their faith into their everyday life,making God just a “Sunday thing.” But if you whole heartedly live yourlife dedicated to God, continuously thankful through the good and thebad, and strive to live up to what you say you are –God will honor youand your faithfulness.

We all could learn a lot from the Michael Alvarado band. They are an inspiration and just a joy to be around.

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