10 Ten albums of 2007/Top 5 Books I read

Ok, so as promised here are the top 10 albums of 2007, and the top 5 books I read this past year.

These are not in any order.

Albums-
Radiohead- "In Rainbows"
Timbaland- "Shock Value"
Angels & Airwaves- "I-Empire"
Jimmy Eat World- "Chase the Light"
Thrice- "The Alchemy Index"
Robbie Seay Band- "Give Yourself Away"
The Almost- "Southern Weather"
Anberlin- "Cities"
Underoath- "Define the Great Line"
Eikon- "Clarity After Chaos"
jacksonknife-"You don't know what your talking about"

Ok, so thats 11 but the last two are EP's so together they count for a full album. All of these bands are available on iTunes, so you can check them out for yourself.

Books-

Charlie Peacock- "New Way to be Human"
Cloud and Townsend- "Boundaries"
Tom Rath- "Strength Finder 2.0"
Gordan MacDonald-"A Resilient Life"
Larry Osbourne- "Contrarians Guide to Knowing God"


Ok, so there they are, sorry no time for links, there is too much to do before tonight.

Everyone have a safe and HAPPY New Year!!!


Oh yeah, there were to many album flops to list them all.

Merry Christmas!!!

So, we finished up our last service at 8:15 last night. It was an awesome weekend full of good times and a great talk from our lead pastor Greg. For more thoughts and some pics go to Bill's blog to check it out.

It was a good time for me this weekend, I really ran the gauntlet of emotions but came out on top hopefully a better man for it and stronger in my faith and emotionally. As I drove away from church last night, I was that good kinda of tired, where you just feel great about what you have done and ready for a long winters nap. So I wish you and yours a MERRY CHRISTMAS! and I hope that we all get some peace and relaxation in whats left of this busy season.


Check back later this week for some special year end blogs about top 10 albums, top 10 over-hyped albums, and top 5 books that I read this year.

What is Christmas to you . . . . .

So, what is Christmas to you?

Is it some neat, little, pretty Christmas with all the tradition and pomp and circumstance?

Or is it something rebellious, is it the start of something big, does it make you feel a little weird, a little intimidated and do you want to ask the question, "Does this count as Christmas?"

I want my Christmas to be the second one , but so far it has been a mix of both and has brought forth a ton of questions and mixed emotions.

I hope that each of you has the Christmas you want and that you receive the gift that God has laid out there for each of us. . . . .

Holiday Christmas EP's

Ok, so I think I will finally go down that dreaded street and be a bit of a party crasher.
Here are four albums to avoid, OK, so there really not full albums just EP's but still the same don't buy them.

The four Christmas EP's that I purchased from the iTunes store were the David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, Relient K, and Hawk Nelson.

So, these are from three bands that I really like and a great worship leader. I would normally buy anything they put out but this time I got ripped off.

None of the albums really have "new" music on them. They each take two songs already released on past albums and then the artist either covers a Christmas Song or they wrote a new one with a Christmas theme. Either way the EP's are not worth the money.

Now I will throw a disclaimer out that there has never been much Christmas music that I either like or can tolerate. But these are just out there to make money and add to the consumerism idea that surronds Christmas.

Go the itunes store. . . .

and look up a band called jacksonknife, read the review by me. Buy this album.
Yes you can call me biased but I don't care, it's still good music.

The basement is starting to come together. Walls are built, plumbing is started, etc.

Dead Poetic- The Finest

New album from Dead Poetic "The Finest". It's good rock n' roll. I said so, so pick it up. If you like rock n' roll you will like this album. No track pick this week. They are all good to listen too.

OK, so it's not exactly new it's more like a crap shot from Tooth and Nail to try and make money of the holiday frenzy. Check out Dead Poetic's story here. . . . . . . . and if you are sick of the way the holidays get treated check this out. . . . . .


Sorry if this isn't in depth enough for you I have had a basement to work on. . . . . . .

Just stuff to think about. . . .

So lately I have been thinking about life and how it, mostly mine, pertains to boundaries, relationships-both physical and spiritual, and what my purpose is? So these are some of my thoughts. . . . .

There is a time and a place for boundaries in ones life. . . . . I have a strong thresh hold for work, and therefore can go longer and harder than others. . . .I get pleasure out of my work. . . . .I am SICK of how much attention is placed on relationship status. . . .everywhere in the world, any form you fill out, the first question people ask, your facebook status, even some churchs ex. Singles ministry, Married ministry, Divorced People ministry. . . .it's all crap that we put to much weight in, including myself. . . .I am really enjoying my relationship with God right now. . . . .I love that I get to do what I love to do and get paid for it. . . . .There are things I need to fix about me. . . .and there are things I need to work on . . . . .but I am still LOVED.

There, it may seem like an off hand post but I had to do it.. . . . . . .

Don't know about you but I like this plan. . . . .

The Wetzel plan

By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports
November 27, 200

A playoff is coming to college football, not eventually but probably sooner than the moneyed-establishment wants to admit.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany, the Vladimir Putin of college sports and the key figure preventing a playoff, can stem the tide for only so long.

Unfortunately, we're stuck with the current Bowl Championship Series for the time being. But that doesn't mean we can't dream about what a real playoff would entail and the magic it would produce each December and January.

If you think you like Saturdays now, understand that this is just college football lite; one day to be looked back on as a quaint and confusing era.

Here's how the playoff will eventually work – and this isn't just my idea, it's essentially the exact scenario the NCAA (which will eventually run it) uses to run the football playoffs at the former Division I-AA, II and III.

We even made up a mock bracket for you to salivate over.

(Please note, whereas some conference title games still need to be played, for the sake of argument we assigned victory to the higher rated team in the current BCS standings to place and seed the field).

A 16-TEAM FIELD

Just like in what used to be Division I-AA, the tournament would feature four rounds with teams seeded one through 16. Just like the wildly popular and profitable NCAA men's basketball tournament, champions of all the conferences (all 11 of them) earn an automatic bid to the field.

Yes, all 11. Even the lousy conferences. While no one would argue that the winner of the Mid-American Conference is one of the top 16 teams in the country, there are multiple benefits of including champions of low-level leagues.

First is to maintain the integrity and relevancy of the regular season. While the idea that the season is a four-month playoff is both inaccurate and absurd, there should be a significant reward for an exceptional season.

The chance for an easier first-round opponent – in this case No. 1 Missouri would play No. 16 Central Michigan or Miami (Ohio) – is a big reward for a great regular season. Earning a top-three seeding would present a school a near breeze into the second round. Drop to a sixth-seed in this year's scenario and you are dealing with Florida.

On the flip side, it brings true Cinderella into the college football mix for the first time. Is it likely that Central Florida could beat Ohio State? Of course not, but as the men's basketball tournament has proven the mere possibility (or even a close game) draws in casual fans by the millions.

Last season the most memorable college football game was Boise State-Oklahoma, in part because Boise was the unbeaten underdog that wasn't supposed to win. When it did, in dramatic fashion, it became arguably the most popular team in America.

But it had no shot at a national title because the system says Boise can't be any good in 2007 because it wasn't any good in 1967. As illogical as this is, that's the system.

For even lower-rated conferences – the Sun Belts, the MACs – allowing annual access to the tournament would not only set off celebrations on small campuses but it would encourage investment in the sport at all levels. Suddenly, there would be a reason for teams in those leagues to really care. This would improve quality throughout the country.

With the bigger conferences, a championship would take on greater value. Does anyone without direct rooting interest really care if USC wins the Pac-10 Saturday? How about the Virginia Tech-Boston College ACC title game? You would now.

AT-LARGE BIDS

In addition to the 11 automatic bids, there would be five at-large selections made by a basketball-like selection committee. Most years, those would come from the power conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC).

While the selection process would still draw complaints from the teams left out, those schools often would have two or three losses or significant flaws. Gone forever would be the days of an unbeaten Auburn in the 2004 season not getting a chance at the title or the bizarre 2003 season where nearly everyone thought USC was the best team but got left out anyway.

HOME GAMES FOR HIGHER SEEDS IN FIRST THREE ROUNDS

The strangest part of the BCS is that outside businesses – the people who own the bowl games – get a cut of the revenue. It would be unfathomable for a league such as the NFL or NBA to allow independent promoters to stage its playoffs.

College football is leaving millions on the table by staging top games in far-off locales. Ohio State, for instance, earns an estimated $5 million-plus for each home game. And that is just direct revenue. Forbes estimates Buckeye football games generated $42 million for the Columbus area in 2005.

The 14 hugely profitable home games from the first three rounds would create a huge revenue stream.

There is simply no need to include the current bowl structure. Obviously no fan base can afford to travel week after week to neutral-site games. But they wouldn't have to. In what used to be Division I-AA, the playoffs are home field until the title game. That's the way it should be.

The competitive value of home-field advantage would also help maintain the importance of the regular season because the higher the seed, the more home games.

This would also be a boon to teams in the Midwest, which build their teams to deal with the predictably harsh weather only to play postseason games in generally warm, calm environs.

So how would say, USC fare if it didn't get a Big Ten opponent in Pasadena each January, but rather had to slip and slide around Ann Arbor or Columbus for a change? And who wouldn't want to see the Trojans invade one of those historic old stadiums, snow falling, and proving they have grit not just skill?

COMPETITION

That's the best part, of course, the games. As heart-thumping and pulse-stopping as college football is and always has been, we aren't even scratching the surface in our plan. We currently have nothing even close to this. Week after week of building excitement, tension and stakes.

A byproduct of the BCS has been a devaluing of competitiveness in college football. There is no longer an incentive to play games against other big-time opponents. It's not just intra-regional games that are all but gone but most non-conference games of any significance. Teams just load up on patsies to grab the home gate and maybe play one local rival.

Amazingly, the BCS rewards them for this.

Because of human voters' tendency to favor record over all else – unless the school is from outside the BCS – the goal of the season is simply not to lose. The easiest way to do that is to play as few teams as possible that are capable of beating you.

The BCS favors teams that load up on cupcakes early and play in a weaker BCS conference that ideally doesn't have to deal with a 13th game (for the league title).

Consider Kansas, which is rated No. 5 in the BCS (and was No. 2 last week) despite owning wins over opponents with a combined record of 45-63 record (.417 winning percentage). Maybe the Jayhawks are a great team that was capable of beating other great teams. But no one really knows. And the BCS didn't care.

The playoffs return the big-time games between teams from different conferences. Even better, it puts them on campus – not some far-flung NFL stadiums – in historic venues with all the pageantry.

Oklahoma-USC in the Coliseum in the first round? Florida-Ohio State in the Horseshoe in the second? How about the Buckeyes at West Virginia in a national semifinal? Every week of every year would be incredible.

BOWL GAMES COULD STILL EXIST

Understanding that there really isn't anything wrong with most bowl games – it's not like innocent people are dying because the Meineke Car Care Bowl exists – we'll allow them to stick around.

One bowl could serve as the championship game, giving college football its neutral, Super Bowl-style site to conclude the tournament.

As for all the other bowls, they can go on as they wish. The NIT still operates, doesn't it? It's not like most bowl games have any direct bearing on the championship now.

There is value to the smaller bowls in smaller communities. If the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, still wishes to stage a game, it by all means should. It just won't have access to the 16 playoff teams. But it doesn't have access to teams of that quality now. It still can host a meaningless game between two moderately successful schools. For most bowls, nothing changes.

The lack of 16 "bowl-qualified" teams would filter down, of course, and run a couple of minor bowls out of business since there won't be enough bowl-eligible clubs. But if the reason college football is not staging a playoff is the need to save the International Bowl in Toronto, then the current system is more corrupt than we think.

THE SCHEDULE

While the former Division I-AA plays all four rounds in four weeks and stages the title game before Christmas, football’s top division might be better served playing the first one or two rounds in December, breaking for final exams and staging the semifinals just after Christmas and the title game in early January.

The schedule is a minimal concern. Something can be worked out. Whatever it is, it would allow teams and stars to become familiar to the American public, for momentum to build and excitement to grow.

The college football playoffs would have a chance to rival the NFL playoffs (Super Bowl included) as the biggest sporting event in the country. Fans would love it, players live for it and a game deserving of a real playoff finally enjoying it. It would capture the imagination of the nation.

Right now it's only a dream, but the day is coming. There is only so long the dictators can stop it.

Dan Wetzel is Yahoo! Sports' national columnist.

The Shade of Poison Tree's

So this week I will take a look at the new Dashboard Confessional album- "The Shade of Poison Trees"

The new album from Chris Carrabba goes back to Dashboard's roots, musically there are a lot of acoustic driven songs. Unlike some the last two Dashboard albums. There is still songs with the band like Matters of Blood and Connection, These Bones and Thick as Thieves. Though many of the songs have other instrumentation on them they could be just as easily played on an acoustic only. Check out the synth/loop work in Fever Dreams and The Shade of Poison Trees.

This album kinda reminds me of the MTV "Unplugged" Ablum. It just has a nice feel. With most of songs right around three minutes this would make a great album to listen in the car on the way to work. It's got the right amount of pep to get you going in the morning but not too much. Yet it is still relaxing to listen to in the evening.

If you were a fan of other dashboard albums that were more driving electric guitar based you may be turned off from Poison Trees but I would challenge you to give this one a try at least once or twice. Mostly because the songs are finally not about the same girl that broke his heart like five albums ago.

Honestly there isn't a bad song on this album. Some good ones are When There's Gold. . ., Keep Watch for the Mines, and The Shade of Poison Trees.

In a nut shell it still Chris Carraba emotionally fueled music, good to listen too, but doesn't seem to drone on about the same girl.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

So it is Thanksgiving. I have much to be thankful for this year. This is my first Thanksgiving as a graduate. I have many friends that will do anything to help me. I have my health. I have a loving family, I don't see them enough, which is mostly my fault, but they love me still the same.

I have a job that is rewarding, challenging, and fun. My God loves me and I love Him because he is my strength, my refuge, and my counselor. He is all I need, and as easy as that is to say it is still a daily challenge to live out.

Psalm 106:1
"Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever."

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take."


Psalm 121
"I look up to the mountains does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord Himself watches over you, the Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life, the Lord watches over you as you come and go, both now and forever."


So as I sit here and watch/help my mom prepare the meal I give thanks for everything I have. I hope your Thanksgiving is going well and that you can take time in the hustle and bustle of the season to sit back and take in everything God has provided for you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

This is awesome

Music, music, music. . . . .

So my buddy Rob gave me this idea and I finally think I am going to start reviewing newer albums on Tuesday's.
If you have any suggestions of something you would like me to review all suggestions will be taken into consideration.

So here we go. . . . .

Jimmy Eat World "Chase this Light"


The new album from rockers Jimmy Eat World is still a "rock" album with a little more pop to it. Now I can take a little bit of pop every now and then, and some may think that his album is to poppy for me. It is not, because it doesn't have that "over produced" aspect that many pop albums get. It still has a raw sound to it. And the guitar work is classic Jimmy, nice little parts thrown in on the verse's into an all out rock'n good time on chorus'. The extra little things thrown in throughout the ablum like bells, strings, and tiny little trinkets of sound makes this album musically for me.

Lead singer Jim Adkin's lyrics are still full of emotion and thought. Yet there are not too deep that you get lost in them. It feels like he finally wrote an album instead of just a collection of songs.

This album is not near as hard rock'n as "Futures" yet it still is a good listen anytime. It is a great album for any Jimmy Eat World fan yet has aspects in it that could appeal to any music lover.

Track picks- "Big Casino" "Gotta Be Somebody's Blues" "Dizzy"

My New Car. . . . .

So as most of you know I recently had to purchase a new car, the truck died for those of you not in the loop. After extensively searching the dealerships in the area I decided to go to the private owners and found a nice Mazda3 Hatchback. It is a lovely car with great gas mileage and room for me to still fit my guitars in and what not.

I will not bore you with the technical details but it's Red, 5 speed, and it has a sunroof. I love the fact that I only have to fill up every 300 miles or so instead of 225. It's sweet!!!

RSB. . . .

So last night we had the Robbie Seay Band in for a worship concert. They are a great band to work with and just great guys to hang around. It was fun helping them set-up, soundcheck, and tear down.

It looked amazing and sounded freakin' awesome. If I do say so myself.

Here's a pic.

Help, I've fallen and I can't get up. . . .

Ok, so let me preface this with saying that I AM OK. But I digress, tonight while taking down some of the design stuff at church after STaC I was helping take down the scaffolding we have been using. So I'm up about 15-17 feet in the air and beginning to take apart the scaffolding when all of a sudden it shutters and I lose my grip. I try to regain a hold but it's too late, I am falling down to the floor. I hit hard on my left knee and bumped my head on a light that was on the floor. BUT I AM OK. It hurts but it will be better at some point.

In brighter news I did purchase a new car , I LOVE IT!!!. I will put pics up as soon as I can. The internship is going well, we are upgrading to a full HD camera system, which is going to be sweet!. I am learning a ton about how to lead teams and minister to others, while also learning to deal with my self and keep me healthy.

Come on at least tell me this is cool.

This is pretty cool. . . .

I like this commercial. It took them like 15 takes to get some of these shots.

The writers guild went on strike, why should I have to keep this thing up-to-date?

Ok, So I know I suck at keeping this thing up-to-date but I've been busy.

The writers strike began today, so don't expect me to update this all the time just because there won't be anything to watch on TV.

Hopefully I have found the next car I am going to buy. Please pray that God watches over this decision and blesses me in the decision I am about to make.

The job is going well, I am discovering things about myself I didn't know I could do. And I feel like I am doing a good job. We'll see. . .

Hope all is well with everyone.

WFX. . . . .

So I got back today at 12:20 and then came straight to church. The conference was awesome, I got to look at a lot of cool tech stuff, networked with some guys and gals, spent some good quality time with Bill and Clark. It was just a good trip.

I got to play with the new Midas XL8 console but I personally thought it was too much console for any church, not to mention the price tag on it. I found this console much better for a ton of reasons. I also talked to a Rep at Audix and had a great talk with him right as the conference shut down.

Now I know that I am just a sound guy but these are freakin' cool and so is this.

Oh yeah Bill got Tech director of the year from Church Production Magazines, they put the whole conference on.

Way too much to process and understand in two days.

I'm leaving on a jet plane don't know when I'll be back again. . . . . .

Today I am leaving for Atlanta with Bill and Clark. We are off to WFX, it's this cool conference for Tech guys, so there will probably be a lot of nerds there and other weirdos not to mention Bill, Clark, and myself. Hopefully we get to see some of Atlanta and I start to feel better, whatever Isaac had I got. I guess that's the cost of living with two kids under three years old.

Anywho, I should get to play/test some really cool consoles will at the expo. As well as figure out how to use some of the cool lighting consoles. And just spend some time with Bill and Clark and we can start to meld better as a team.

We get back Saturday so I guess I do know when I'll get back. . . . . . . . . .

Amazing night. . . . . .

Tonight I went to Underoath at Pop's with a couple of youth. I love our kids and how real they are. I also love Underoath because of the passion they put into their music. It was awesome to see so many people come out to see a bunch of guys doing music for the right reason's. Not to mention I haven't been in a pit in too long and it was as much, if not more, fun as I remember.

I am sore, it is late, and I smell like cigarettes and stale air. I need a shower and sleep.

ROCK ON!!!!!

All better....

Must have been a 24 hour thing. . . . . .

I'm Sick

No this is not another rant about society. This is me being physically sick. Head cold/Flu crap.

Woohoo.

Check this out

I loved this game when I was a kid.



Play More Arcade Games

Ok. So the new Crowder

The new Crowder album Remedy is awesome. It is amazing. I love it almost as much as Collision. The songs are powerful yet simple all at the same time. If you haven't picked it up yet I would highly recommend it.

The lake was awesome, I got some reading done. Did a lot of chillin' and a little bit of shopping. And it felt really great to just sit in God's glory and soak it all up.

It feels good to be moved in to my new place and it will feel a lot better when we finish the basement.

So life is good right now.





Oh yeah I got the internship at Windsor!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the prayers and support.

"No news is no news" Right?

So my interview process is done with. Now it is completely in God's hands. I feel like I am a better person because of the interview process and that I will also be a better leader because of it. I should have an answer next week sometime.

I have applied for another position at Willow Creek Community Church in Chi-town. It is there next gen audio director. It would be a great job for me but I would have to leave Windsor and St. Louis to get it. So we'll see what God has in store for me.

Thank you for your prayers.

I picked up the new Crowder yesterday and am really enjoying it. I will post something about it later this weekend. Right now, I am off to the lake to enjoy one last weekend away.

Peace Out

Finally

So I finally completed an expert Minesweeper. It took awhile but I got it done. Here's the screen shot so no one can call me a liar.

Ok, so life is what it is. . . .

So I have had my first two interviews at Windsor for the internship program. They were both emotionally draining experiences, but I feel like I am a better person because of the interviews. It has been a hard, trying, and challenging time trying to trust God with this area in my life. I drove home last night without the radio on just listening to God and thinking about life.

Anywho, either way this process turns out. Pray for me. Pray for the Windsor leaders. Pray for the world we live in. Pray for Sean. Just remember, "Life is what it is. But God's in charge"

I love you all.

Update......

So it looks like I will be moving into RL's basement. After we finish it. There will be pic's somewhere on the internet at some point.

My friend has a new blog. You should check it out. It should be a good time, I'm not gonna lie it will be a good time.

Anywho, still no job but there are still possibilities out there and I know that God has a grat adventure planned for me.

Peace Out

For your browsing....

I'm not trying to say I'm greedy but here is my wish list from amazon. Any of you are more than welcome to gift any of these items to me.

The address is in amazon's database.

And yes I'm know that there is Star Wars, Star Trek, Voltron, and Andromeda stuff on there, I'm a geek I know.

I have no idea what to put here, so watch this. . . .

Check out this band. It is a fairly new band called The Almost. And yes for you music snobs it is the drummer from Underoath.


If you can think of something for me to write about then tell me.

Prayer......

So I lose my job in 6 days. I am so happy to be leaving my college job and looking forward to what God has in store for me. Please pray for me; A. That I am able to see what God has for me next. 2. That I don't lose faith in God. C. That I land an awesome job. Ok so the last one's selfish but I need something for me right now.

If you haven't heard the story, they are privatizing the emissions program so I am out and the emissions testing goes back to the garages.

Thanks for the prayer. I can't wait to see what God's has in store for me.

Good Weekend.

It was another awesome youth weekend. The kids did awesome, the lights looked B.A. (thanks to Brunson, I'm so gonna miss you.)
















Randall was freakin' on fire, melting faces all over the place. I loved every ounce of the weekend yet I am glad it is over. It's hard work on all of us.

I am once again going to the gym and loving it. I haven't been since camp and needed to go. I wish it was easier to get to the gym. I just don't have much motivation besides the fact that my body is not my own, it's God's and if I don't take care of it I am letting him down.

I am thinking that I need to figure out what I really want to do with my life. Since my dreams are still dreams and not reality yet. Please pray for me and all those like me. Please pray for everyone you know in pain or who is suffering right now.

One of my favorite parts of Randall's message was when he was talking about his dad praying for his future wife. It made me miss having an earthly father but every service I was reminded that I have a father who wants the best for me and my future wife.

So what happens next? I don't know but I am trusting God, delighting in him, and looking forward to the adventure He has laid out for me................

Project 86- Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)

Another weekend.....

So this weekend is a Youth led service. These are so fun for me because I get to mix for them and it is a great pleasure to watch the next generation lead the service as peers, not as kids. Or at least that is my prayer for this weekend; that the worshipers in the seats see the people on stage as peers and not as kids.

These kids work so hard for this weekend, and so do I. Satan has already tried to play his cards but my God has played a better hand and God wins. Through all the crap, muck, and mire of my life God still shows up as that small voice and says your doing a good job. God wins when these young adults lead worship and God wins no matter what. When God wins we all win.

I am just happy I'm being taken along for the ride.

It's to freakin' hot....

So it has been way to hot in St. Louis the last couple of days. Since I work outside with cars that produce heat it is safe to say I know all about what hot is, the steaming kind, not the good looking kind. Anywho, what sucks is that after working 8 hours in the heat I have no energy to want to hang out with people, or do anything else productive. This is the big problem that I hope will be fixed later this week. It's supposed to cool off just a little bit.

I hope everyone else is not having to put up with this heat like I am.

Just P.U.S.H.

I grabbed this from Sean Glanvill's carepage. Sean is a little boy that goes to my church and was in a car accident May 17, he has been in a comma ever since. You can read the whole story with updates at the carepage. You will have to create a profile and then search for the carepage, the name is seanglanvill. His dad Derek's faith is a great source of strength for me. I love the work God is doing through Sean and Derek, and I pray that Sean will come through this in God's manor and timing.

Now onto the reason I posted this story.

It really made me think about how I am always worrying about the future and I need to listen to God and trust that he is prepping me for great things.


Kinda reminds me of the camp theme.

Just P.U.S.H.

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room Filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to Push against the rock with all his might...

So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from
Sun-up to sun-down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might!
Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, Feeling
that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: (He will do it every time)!

"You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn't moved." Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.

Satan said, "Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time,
Giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough."

That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a
matter of Prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to The Lord.
"Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in Your Service,
putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your
task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back shiny and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be Obedient and to push and to exercise your Faith and trust in My Wisdom. That you have done. Now I, my friend, will move the rock.

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He Wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the Faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God Who moves The Mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong....... ............. Just P.U.S.H.

When the job gets you down........................ ... Just P.U.S.H.

When people don't do as you think they should......... Just P.U.S.H.

When your money is "gone" and the bills are due........ Just P.U.S.H.

When people just don't understand you.................. Just P.U.S.H.

P = Pray
U = Until
S = Something
H = Happens

One more time.......camp '07

So, we got back from camp and it was a good week. I watched our youth group grow in God and themselves. I watched two awesome guys lead their peers in worship and it brought me to tears. I have had the honor of watching those two grow into men of God and love on their peers.

I watched out kids come together as a group in community and it was so God honoring. I loved every minute of camp with the kids. I watched a good friend lead a group of students in a God honoring, God loving, and compassionate manor that I could not help but smile. Watching all of the leaders interact with the kids was a pleasure for me.

I wish I could live in the God moments of camp. I have to go back to work on Monday and it will be an abrupt change from the God moments of camp. Working in the environment I work in is a daily struggle to chase after God. But I think that is what we are called to do, having to live in the world yet not of the world. I love my God, the youth I serve, and the one man who has allowed me to do all of this cool stuff. I would not be the man of God I am today without him and would do anything for him, Randall is the man and ROCKS THE FREE WORLD!!

It's was an amazing week and I will miss the comrade that happens at camp. I can't wait for next year and hope God will allow me to be apart of his story in the youth group for a little while longer.

Once again go here for pics.

Camp update

Camp has been a really eye opening experience for me. The theme is "Here and Now", and as I have had to talk to a family group all week it has been a struggle for me because I struggle with living in the here and now and trusting God to take care of the rest.

It has been a great week with my boys, we have had some really good discussions and have really grown together. I have loved watching them ask the tough questions and figure out how to live for God in a dark, sick and twisted world.

The worship band has been awesome they have really connected with the kids and led us into God's presence every morning and night. The speaker is just as good. He has a heart for youth and he loves the lord. It has been awesome to watch him work this week.

We leave tomorrow, so my blog will go back to looking like normal; boring. Oh, well thats all for now. Hope everything is good in your neck of the woods.

'til we meet again.

Camp 07

It's been a great two days at camp, the kids are having a great time. My Family group is getting into some great discussions and it feels so awesome to watch young men wrestle with God and the great thing is I'm fairly certain that God is at work.

For pics check here.

I'll try to post more later.

Weekend Blowout

So it was a worship blowout weekend at church and it was awesome to get the opprotunity to play bass for the weekend. I had a ton of fun worshiping my God and leading people in worship this weekend.

I love my church, my friends, and my GOD.

More than a feeling....

Does anyone out there ever feel like they are going crazy?

No. . . . . . guess it's only me.


Oh well just add it to the list of things that God will take care of. . . . . . . . .

Great Sunday Message

So this weekend at church we heard from Steve Gillen of Willow Creek Community Church. He talked about community and what true community looks like. It was just a really good service to sit through. The music was excellent, I was in a good place and I was sitting with a good friend. What more can I ask for?

It was really cool b/c I have been reading through Donald Miller's Searching for God know what? Highly recommend the book for anyone. The part of the book I am in really connected with the talk today. It's really cool when my life works like that.

It has been a really cool week.

Thanks God.

I am sick of being tired and emotional....

So this is not one of those fun, nice or cheeky posts. It's has been a long weekend and I am tired. If you don't know me that well, when I get tired I get over emotional. (I am an emotional guy to start with so when I'm tired it gets worse.) Anywho, it was definitely a good weekend in God terms because Andy gave a great talk and it touched me and opened my eyes to something I need to take care of. I got the pleasure of playing bass and had a blast doing it.

Anyway that's just to say that I need to take care of myself more often and rely on God for my strength.

If you ever see me tired or stressed out do two things a. Pray for me and 2. steer clear or at least try to.

I love my friends and know that God has put them in my life for a reason.

Who knew?

did you know that you can eat your weight in short ribs and not gain a pound?

did you know that your ear wax can sustain little pockets of life inside your ear?

did you know that your sexual prowess is predetermined by the amount of money your parents put away for you before college?

did you that for every pair of converse "chucks" you own your stock value rises a half point?

Did you know that Jesus loves you more than you'll ever know?

Can you pick out the truth in these statements?

4th of July

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!! I did absolutely nothing to celebrate the fourth of july this year, yeah!! (Sarcasim)

Oh well.

You need to vote for this band.......

It would be an awesome thing if Mutemath got to open up Virginfest in Baltimore, MD. So you think so too, go here and vote for them.


Oh yeah spread the word too.

The first sign the world's about to end.......

This has to be a sign from above that the world is over.

Sunday Night......Baptism 07

Ok, So I know it's Thursday morning and I am just now getting to what happened Sunday night.

Sunday night at church was out annual baptism celebration. The entire church is in one place at one time. We have it in our backyard with our baptismal "lake" and it has to be my favorite event of the year. For me it is so cool to look through the list of names and only recognize a few, don't get me wrong I wish I could now everyone that made that huge step on Sunday night but at the rate my church is growing only God nows everyone and all the stories.

For this event we always hire out to a local sound company to provide the support for the band(s) outside. This year was no different except for the fact that we hired a different company from last year and the boys over at Ironman Sound Industries went all out for us this time.

As you can see from the pic it was an awesome night.

I can't wait for this movie....

Love the show.
Love the trailer.
Can't wait for the movie.

I love my friends....

I have been doing some soul searching and thinking about stuff. I have come to the conclusion that without the people in my life I would not be who I am today.

Thanks you to everyone who's listened to me, prayed for me, and cried with me. Thank you to those who will continue to do this and help shape me.

I love you all!!

Thank you.

OK....

So I didn't get to the gym on Friday b/c I needed a nap before my graduation party, Why weren't some of you there? Anywho. It was a lot of fun for me because I got to catch up with some friends from my old church and it was good to be the center of attention yet not at the same time b/c the party was also for my bro.

Time to get to work, I get to mix this weekend, you should stop by and say hi. It will be a good one.......

Soreness........

So, I have worked out everyday this week so far and my body is sore. If I get to go tomorrow I will be 5 for 5 this week. Ah the joys of the gym.

Randomness....

So this was in my friend Rob's Blog thought it was interesting.

Fast Food

I have always heard that cutting out fast food is the way to lose weight. It's probably true. What I love is how fake the fast food ads are...how good they make the food look. Relevant Magazine posted a funny little blog that compares the food shown in ads to the actually food you get at the restaurant.

I have a friend who acted in a regional Subway commercial. He said that there is so much glue, toothpicks, hairspray, and other chemicals on these sandwiches in the ads it would kill someone to eat it.

OK, I Know I suck at this......

So it seems like I don't have time to blog enough. But it probably doesn't matter cause I don't think anyone reads this, hehe. Life is good, life is great, and I am enjoying life as much as possible.

For some reason I can't figure out what to post on this that isn't deep and poetic. I wish I could just chill out and find funny stuff to put on here.

Oh well maybe I'm just a deep and poetic guy.

Ok, So I'm a genious....

So it's been a week since I posted anything, sorry. Not much has gone on. I still have no post-college job, still don't even have a prospect and I am still working on me. Otherwise life is going ok. Memorial Day weekend was nice, I mixed at church and went out on the lake, and had some people over to the house tonight. It was just a nice day of a lot. Tomorrow is Winery Day, YAY, it will be fun to just sit out and have nice conversations tomorrow.

Anywho I'm off to bed..................

I love God, he loves me, and thats all I need.....

So tonight was the Sleeping at Last show. They pretty much rocked the house with their great blend of instruments and one sweet vocal. It was so cool to be apart of the team that helped pull this show off because God showed up.

I played bass for Monty, check out his music here, it was the funnest time I've had in a long time playing. I love playing music with Monty, Randall, Aaron, Jared, and Jeremy. The vibe we had going was awesome. God showed up, calmed my heart, allowed people to see Him through me and also gave me hope that everything is going to be alright. Yeah there will be struggles, disappointments and challenges. But with my God I can do anything.

"In this life your the one place I call home,
In this life your the feeling I belong.
In this life your the flower and the thorn,
Your everything thats fair in Love and War."

Jon Foreman (Switchfoot, duh!!)

I love this song, this album and this band. If you don't you need to at least read his lyrics, great writer.

Currently this is my theme song, yeah it may be about a girl but for me it's about God........and he's all I'll ever need.

I need to write more......and read more too......

So, I've figured out why I am the way I am (ok, I'll never fully figure it out but I'm working on it)

I need to take better care of myself, sleep, eating right, sleep, sleep. But one thing I don't do enough is read. I don't get into God's word enough, nor do I read other smarter peoples opinion on topics. I also don't write down what I'm feeling enough, I store it all up in my head where it can torment me and make me crazy. Anywho if I could turn off the bloody TV and do these things I might love myself a little more..........and be able to accept God's grace, mercy, and love......

Another awesome weekend....

So this weekend I got to go with a bunch of our youth musicians to Table Rock Lake to hang out and write music as well as goof off on the lake.

The songs these kids came up with were completely awesome, I was in awe at the creativity springing from these youth. Their thoughts on God, worship, and how life interacts with worship was inspiring to me. I also was thanking God all weekend for allowing me to be apart of these kids life.

Now as for the fun in the sun, that part was awesome, throwing some kids around on the tubes, watching three of our guys jump off a pretty high cliff, just chillin' on the water that was the most relaxing thing I think I've done in a long time.

Thanks God!!

It's 10:25 on monday night and this is whats on my mind...............but this is pretty much me all the time.

Is it better not to love, or to love?

Is it possible to fall in love in this day in age, where everything is go, go, go and no one wants to let God speak to them?

Will I ever get the girl of my dreams?

Why am I such a sap and impatient when it comes to this sort of thing?

God, give me peace, patience, willingness to seek you, a heart for worship in all I do, and a Godly woman who will make me the happiest man on earth.........some day.

AMEN

It's been a long weekend already (and it's only saturday morning)

So it's 1:30 in the morning on Saturday..... I have been up for 20 hours or so. In the last 36 hours I have seen Spiderman 3, it was Ok, went to work for 8 hours on 4 hours sleep and then went to the cards game, we won; 1st win since Josh Hancock died, went to the landing to hang out after the game.

I had a really good time and now it's time to get some beauty sleep, oh wait I don't need beauty sleep, I'm dead sexy!!!

Maybe that's the lack of sleep or maybe I am just dead sexy, not really sure, my mind isn't working to it's full capacity.

So I'm going to bed now..............................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

So.....

So I usually help out with middle school on wednesday nights but I've recently decided to step back a touch and start to take care of myself, or at least attempt to, it felt really good to just relax at home tonight. I practiced a little music, caught up on some reading and just kinda got used to just being alone. It was a nice change of pace.........

Oh yeah if your in St. Louis on May 20th you might want to check out this show you might just recognize the bass player for the opening band......

THIS WEEKEND ROCKED

So this weekend was an awesome one for me, we had a guest speaker, Dr. David Anderson, he totally rocked my world. I'm gonna have to watch the podcast to be able to produce something personal. If you wanna check out what he said you can download the podcast here

So, I just started laundry and I ran across a five dollar bill in the laundry room. What is the rule when you have a roommate(s)?

a. Finders Keepers
b. The other person than the one who found it gets it
c. It goes toward the bills
d. you fight to the death over it

Anyways I hope this weekend is better than the last one.

Interesting poster....

I saw this poster in at the hair salon, yes I go to a hair salon, it had an intersting quote on it. It made me think about life.






Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.



James Dean

So, How does this playout in a daily walk with God?

I think it means that you dream as big as you want to and God will meet you and fulfill your dreams. It looks just like a dreamer walking along doing what God asks you to do even if it doesn't fulfill your dreams.

If you live like you'll die today then you live life to the fullest, living your passions for God and not regretting anything. Living like theres no tomorrow is the easyiest way to think about this.


Do any of us know how to do this?

So...

So I look around my life today and I wonder what it would look like if I had done things different. What would have happened if my dad wouldn't have left? What would I be doing if not for God and his never changing love, mercy and grace? If I had let Him interject in my life would I be the man I am today.

Anyways it's kinda fun to think about what my life would look like/be if not for the choices I made in life.

"This is your life, are you who you want to be,
This is your life , are you who you want to be.
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger and you had everything to lose."

Jon Foreman

I think I can finally answer YES to those questions.

Lazy, Lazy, Lazy...

So I went grocery shopping tonight and I saw what has to be the stupidest invention I think I ever seen...

So this is how lazy america has become we can't even put a hot dog in a bun.

Gosh I love this country!! (Put my sarcastic twist on that.)

My Church......

So I go to this really cool church that loves to push the envelope of what church is. I run sound there a few days a week, play bass occasionally and get to hang out and shape the lives of some really cool teenagers and it certainly is a fun job(s) to do and I love how much they allow me to participate in the lives of a bunch of people trying to love God and let God love them. Yes it is tiring and I don't set healthy boundaries in what I do at church, everyone sucks at boundaries get over it, I love what I do.

My love for this church was very alert this weekend as Greg, our lead pastor, talked about what it looks like to take God to the world both here and abroad. I got the privilege to run sound this weekend and got to hear his talk four times. Every time I heard something I hadn't heard the other times, I love that. He also hinted at not running and hiding from culture but facing culture head on and embracing certain aspects of culture but, to be aware of culture that is not uplifting to God or us yet effects people.

If it weren't for my church I would not be the God fearing man I am today and I wouldn't have a ton of great friends who I want to hangout with for a long time.

It's truly amazing to me the work God does in my life through this church and the work God is doing through me.

Check out this band they really rock!!!!

So this is what I read.....

I have studied many times
The marble which was chiseled for me-
A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.
In truth it pictures not my destination
But my life.
For love was offered me, and I shrank from its disillusionment;
Sorrow knoocked at my door, but I was afraid
Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances.
Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life
And now I know that we must lift the sail
And catch the winds of destiny
Wherever they drive the boat.
To put meaning in one's lofe may end in madness,
But life without meaning is the torture
Of restlessness and vague desire-
It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.

Edgar Lee Masters


So this poem was in the book Wild at Heart and after I read it I took a look back at my life and saw all the times where I had the chance to turn and run from the way of God and do my own thing. I look at the times I did and saw that God was still with me even when I didn't choose Him.

THIS IS HOW AWESOME MY GOD IS!!! Even though I thought I turned from Him he still showed up, how awesome is that.

SO, what does this mean? Well it means that I am going to pursue him in everything I do and my some of my dreams, desires and goals will be shown to me while at the same time I will have to learn what it means when God's will is not mine and therefore I have to slow down and look for the reason for his will.

Go visit for some sweet tunage.

Step up and get out of the meat market....

I am officially out of the meat market that is single life. No I didn't find someone to date, No I didn''t give up and go celibate, and NO I DID NOT GO GAY, not that there's anything wrong with that. It has come to my attention, throght a series of events, that all any single person does want, or according to the world, should want/need is someone who looks like a supermodel and puts out like a porn star. I am done with that! I may not be Brad Pitt or Jude Law but I am a good looking man. I don't want a woman that only goes for looks. I'm not into the girl that will get ride of me at the drop or gain of a few pounds. I am not into flings or one-night stands, a hookup, or anything that can be labeled as "complicated". LIFE IS COMPLICATED GET OVER IT!!!! It may be a long, hard, tough road to follow. I will get impatient, I will make mistakes, but in the end God will show up, God will be the center of my relationship with that beautiful, Godly woman, who loves me because I love God and live by his standard. I want a girl who finds me intresting for my personality. I am looking for that one woman that finds God is all she needs and doesn't require a relationship with a man to be fullfilled.

Someone like this-

A Wife of Noble Character

10 ^[b]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm^[c] clothes.
22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Proverbs 31.

When this happens I will go on living the life God gave me with her on one side and the Father above.

Ok, so I don't think anyone will read this....

So, I am starting a blog. I am not sure who will read it or what, it's going to be more of just notes that I will write about me and my views. So here goes......