World Away

So I saw this and decided to try it out. . . .

1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Tag 10 friends.
6. Anyone tagged has to do the same, because fun pointlessness spreads like a virus.

My answers:

if someone says, “Is this okay?” you say:
"Heysátan" Sigur Rios

How would you describe yourself?
"We are what you say", Sufjan Stevens

What do you like in a guy/girl?
"Soundtrack for our movie", Mae

How do you feel today?
"This Boy", James Morrison

What is your life’s purpose?
"Everlong", Foo Fighters

What is your motto?
"Colors", Amos Lee

What do your friends think of you?
"Ridin' the Storm Out", REO Speedwagon

What do you think of your parents?
"It's a hit", Rilo Kiley

What do you think about very often?
"Summertime", Mae

What do you think of your best friend?
"Peaches", Presidents of the USA

What do you think of the person you like?
"Looking Back on Today", The Ataris

What is your Life Story?
"Holdin Down the Fort", Chris Thile

What do you want to be when you grow up?
"Teenage Dirtbag", Wheatus

What do you think of when you see the person you like?
"1x7", Project 86

What will you dance to at your wedding?
"Living in the End", OAR

What will they play at your funeral?
"When the morning turns to night", Lenny Kravitz

What is your biggest fear?
"Mad as Rabbits", Panic at the Disco

What is your biggest secret?
"Amy's Song", Switchfoot

What do you think of your friends?
"Funky Dudley", Dudley Perkins

What will you post this as?
"World Away", Emery


There it is, pretty eclectic if you ask me. . . . . . .

Happy Thanksgiving!

So, it is the day that has been set aside to give thanks for what we have. I am sitting in Indiana at my Aunt and Uncle's house listening to some great jazz, writing this and wondering, "what am I thankful for?"

I am thankful for my family, for my mom and her spirit to push me through the tougher times in life. And for her great attitude about life, love and God. I am thankful for my brother and his can do attitude about life and his willingness to serve people. For my sister Sarah and everything she let's me talk to her about. For Rebekah and the way she is, I love that she doesn't take crap from people. For all the other relatives that love me I am so thankful for.

My friends, oh how I'm thankful for my friends, without the people in my life who I hang out with I would not be the person that I am today, and the man of God that I will become.

I am thankful for my job, the opportunities that God has blessed me with and the things that I will see and do in this life.

I am thankful for so much that I can't even put into words right now, but I have to go help cook so I hope that you and yours have a great thanksgiving and a wonderful weekend in general.

typed this up at khaldi's today. . . .

Think of this as a prayer. . . . .


Father, thank you for this beautiful day that you have given me. Thank you for the health that I have and the health of my friends and family. Thank you for the prosperity that you have given to me, I ask that in this time in life you would unveil to me the path that you have chosen in my life. Teach me to pray with holy hands lifted up to you. Break me, I know that I live in a broken world but break me. Allow me to die so that I can become the man you desire for me to be. Please keep me from the wonders/crap of this world, let me be a strong leader when in the presence of younger believers, by not giving into the temptation's that I struggle with.

Abba, be lifted high. Abba be lifted high.

Show me the ways that I need to improve myself so that I can become a man that is worthy of a wife. One who doesn't speak out of anger, who doesn't drink to heavily, who is looked well upon by You and other leaders. Help me to take care of the life that you have given me so that I may live a long and bountiful life for you. I beg of you to help me find the passages in your word that are going to help me worship you in everything i do. Break me of the "grid" that I look through during a worship service, help me worship you with every bone in my body always.

Let your name be lifted up with every action I do.

I ask now that you be with Mom, help her through this time in life at work. Give her the strength and courage she needs to make her feel like she has done a good job. Be with Sarah, give her the energy to get through school, work, and life so that she sees you in what she is doing. Watch over Drew, give him the courage, strength and patience to get through this time in life so that he can advance into the branch of the armed services that you have picked out for him. Look over Bekah at school, give her the strength and mind to get through the day and maybe even begin to like school. I so with I would have watched my mouth more around her so that she wasn't such a psynic when it comes to school. I ask that you be with the rest of my family and watch over them in their daily lives, reveal yourself to them in your time and special way.

Lord I thank you for all the friends that you have put in my life, I especially thank you for Randall, with his willingness to keep pushing me to reach for my dreams and become something more than what I am. Tim is another one of those guy's I couldn't imagine doing life without now. I thank you for allowing me to become friends with him so that I have another mentor to blast ideas off of. I thank you for Eric, Rob, Adam B, Brian, Shaun, Adam L, Sarah L, Ali, Sandy, Chrissy, Joel, Emily, both Jamie's and all the other friends that I have found for the relationships that I have with them, the conversations that i have shared with the and the dreams that I have unveiled to the, for me.

I also would like to thank you God for the youth that you have put in my life, for the seniors that have already moved on Brett, Brunson, Taylor, Ben, Justin, and all the others to the youth that are still a challenge for me to encourage, lead, and just talk to. I thank you for Aaron, Logan, Adam, Stevie, and so many other's who challenge me at the same time I am challenging them.

Father I so love the life that you have led me in and I can't think of any other adventure that I would want to be on. than this one with you.

I can't wait to see what's next.

Oh the afternoon it was and was not. . . . .

So, I am currently reading Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller. I am up to the point where they get to the Grand Canyon and are about to hike through it. It sparked my need to get out of the house and so I decided to go down to Castlewood park and hike around for the afternoon.

So, I got in the car and headed toward Castlewood; Now there has been a lot of construction going on around me lately because of the new best buy, Petco, Wal mart shopping prison and they just opened up the new road to get to best buy. Since I wasn't in any rush I decided to stop by best buy to check out the new store and see if Joe Perry was working. I walked in the store and saw all the cool electronics's, laughed at what they called their "apple" section and then proceeded back to the instrument section. I walked in and was impressed by how it was laid out a ton. The drum is completely closed off from the rest of the section as well as an amp "test" room where you can crank it up, and there is also another closed off room with acoustic guitars. Joe didn't happen to be there but I did run into Kent Hughes and we talked for a little while while checking out the acoustic guitar selection. All in all I was fairly impressed with the gear selection at best buy, the guys who were working did inform me that they didn't have all of the gear in yet so it should get better. They didn't have a lot of tube amps out yet. mostly just modeling amps, yuck.

I then restarted my journey down to Castlewood to hike around. When I got down to Castlewood I drove about half way in parked the car and just started walking toward the Meramac river. I hiked around in the woods by the river just enjoying what God had created there and also wondering why there were old concrete structures in the middle of the park. Question's came to my head while looking at these structures like, what were they originally used for, why had they been abandoned.

After wandering around the woods I decided to head down to the river and watch the water flow. As I approached the river the ground began to get softer I didn't really care because I was still making progress toward the edge of the water. I stopped my progress close enough that I could squat down and feel how cold the water was. As I stood back up and looked around I decided to head up stream and see if I could walk on the "beach" around the bend without getting stuck or falling in the water, well both kinda happened. Just not the way I thought they were going to.

When I was about 100 yards from the bend I was aiming for the shore began to get very soft and I saw a few spots where someone before me had stepped and created a hole that was about 8-10 inches deep. I tried to avoid doing the same and was successfull for all of about two minutes. Then it happened I was trying to move faster thinking that I had a better shot of not sinking y foot into the ground. That didn't really work to well, about ten seconds after into this attempt my right foot sunk into the ground with a nice "slurp" sound. As I tried to pull my foot out my shoe actually came off inside the hole that I had created. It was at this point that my left foot also sunk down about three inches and then decided to hold long enough for me to reach back and pull out my shoe. As my shoe came out of the whole with the same slurp sound my other foot decide to sink down til I couldn't see it either. I threw the first show up the shore as far as I could and started working on getting my other foot unstuck.

Once I had both feet out of their respctive holes I looked down at my self and saw how muddy I was. I walked up the to the forest where my shoe was waiting for me and decided to take off both shoes and socks. As I looked up the river I saw where Kiefer Creek meets the Meramac and decided that I would follow the tree line toward that point and get as cleaned up as I could. I stepped into the water and was washing my feet and lower legs off with the cold water, and it was kinda fun. It felt like I was 13 again and in the boy scout's wandering through the woods, it was really nice. At that point I made up my mind that I was going to wander through the woods til it was to dark to see, or at least close enough to dark.

I finished washing off my shoes and put them back on wet. With my socks in my back pocket I headed up the creek to wander through the forest some more. It was about this time that I pulled out my cell phone and updated my facebook status through twitter. I thought that I had sent, "Steve fell into the mud while hiking. Check the blog later for the full story." More on that later. . . . . .I headed up the trail a little bit and then decided that I wouldn't get on a trail for the rest of my "adventure." I tramped through the forest back toward the river where I could safely walk up to the water. I was walking the shore and stumbled upon an outrigger from a sailboat, I think. I then looked across the river and saw that there were many items that aren't normally found on the shore of a river. Lawn chairs, plastic toys, and other out door items were strewn across the oppisite shore. I wondered if they had been caught there during the last flood and hadn't been cleaned up yet.

I headed back into the woods and stayed off the trail trampling over fallen tree's and shrubbery. I so enjoyed making my own trail and viewing things that I wouldn't have seen if I had stayed on the trail. I wandered through the forest for a while longer and then headed back to the car. At the car I threw my shoes in the back and drove home barefooted.

When I arrived at home I flipped open my computer to let it grab email and jumped in the shower to wash off the woods and the mud from the afternoon. After a nice, hot relaxing shower I sat down at my computer and began to look at my email. After reading through my email I checked my facebook and found that seventeen people had commented on my status because instead of texting "hiking" I had instead sent "hicking" which started a string of comments because Randall took that to be hickey in the plural form and off people went from there.

So that was my afternoon, no there was no outdoor make out session, though it would have been nice. And I do not have a hickey from the vacum cleaner, Brian. If you would like to view the madness that went on check out my facebook page and click on the status that has all of the comments with it. Let me end this post with, "I hate my phone, want an iPhone and can't wait for thanksgiving so that hopefully my hours will go up and I can afford things again." And yes I would have left my iPhone would have stayed in the car. . . . . . . .

New hair color, same Steve-o

So I re-dyed my hair from orange to red. I like it a lot!!! Unfortunately I am unable to get good pics right now but will try to soon.

It is really hard right now to be Steve. . . . .no new music, no new toys, no new clothes. Not that any of that stuff matters but it is nice to stay up on all the new idea coming out. What's a guy to do?

It feels like I'm in college again without the excuse of "college" to explain things. . . . . . .

So, it's been awhile. . . . . .

So here has what's been happening in my life-

I have started at the Apple store and I love it. Everyone I work with is really cool, laid back and easy to work with. The only issues I am having is that I can't seem to get enough hours, hopefully that will change as the holiday's get closer.

I have had to step back at Windsor so I could give the Apple store a very open schedule. I am just volunteering with the youth tech and music team as much as I am free and not mixing or playing for the adult service. I decided to do this before the internship ended and I am on a break til at least the new year. We'll see after that, right now I am not really sure if I want to be apart of the main room expierence. I am having trouble accepting the methodology that is used. It may sound rude, immature, or wrong, but, "were not questioning God, just those he chose to carry on his cross" look that lyric up, it's in an awesome song by Anberlin. I sometime feel like the I am the chorus of the song.

I am trying to enjoy life while I have the time off, doing some work around Randall's house for him. I have picked up a couple of free lance jobs but not much. Trying to write/record some songs of my own in garageband. And a couple of friends and I have been talking about starting a worship project, we're still in the early stages but I hope it will work out for the best.

RSB came to town back in September and is was really an awesome time. A great weekend of worship, a little bit of time to hang with Robbie and the boys, and it was so what I needed. The worship experience that they put on is what I really needed.

(Step up onto one of my many soapboxes, I know I have issues.) I don't think I will ever get tired of a rock'n roll worship night. Some may but not me. I have been called a "rock guy" by some people but all I know is that when U2 has 50,000 people singing Psalm 40 I call that worship. When I watch the David Crowder Band DVD it just makes me want to go out on tour and lead people in worship. I love the whole aspect of a rock n' roll worship concert. The sound, lights, and the band make for a great avenue for people to worship in. Especially when the band is really getting in to it.
(Stepping of the soap box.)

I am in this lab group that meets in Randall and Emily's house, aka-Upstairs. I am really enjoying the conversations, honesty, and the people in the group. I have enjoyed the friendships that have started because of the lab. I hope that it will continue to get better. We watch The Office, recorded after lab and I am so waiting on a good "that's what she said" from Michael.

If you think about it and feel up to it, please pray for me as I try to find a way to pay the bills, pray for me and my friends that we are doing what God wants us to do with this worship project, pray for my lab group and pray for my patience in this new chapter of life. . . . . . . . I am trusting God but it is super hard, as many of you know. . . . . .

that's a lot of info about me, hope everyone lives are doing good. If your in St. Louis stop by the Apple store at West County and check out the new macbook's they are freakin' awesome.

Later, but hopefully not too much later. I am going to try and be better at keeping this blog fresh, I just don't think anyone reads it so it's hard to get motivated to post, actually I am just a "comment whore" as one of my friends once put it. . . . . .

New Banner (Edited)

Try this one on for size.

thanks to Renee for the suggestions, and no you were not that harsh.

New banner. . . .

let me know what you think. . . .

Book update. . . . .

Ok, so I posted this also on my facebook page and got more responses there.

Here is the order-

C.S. Lewis- The Great Divorce
C.S. Lewis- Mere Christianity
Rob Bell- Velvet Elvis
Rob Bell- Sex God
Donald Miller- Through Painted Deserts
David Crowder- Praise Habit

Oh, yeah I start at apple on Saturday. . . . . .

You pick the book. . . .

So, last Thursday I picked up 6 books from the bookstore at The Crossing to get the most out of my staff discount.

I am going to let you guys pick which book I read first. And then I will tell you what I got out of it, my thoughts on it and any other things I happen to be thinking while reading it.

Here are the books-

Rob Bell "Velvet Elvis"
Rob Bell "Sex God"
C.S. Lewis "Mere Christianity"
C.S. Lewis " The Great Divorce"
David Crowder "Praise Habit"
Donald Miller "Through Painted Deserts"

I will let the comments be the official votes and voting will end on Sunday at Midnight.

So let the voting begin. . . . .

New Job

Ok, so I got the official offer from Apple and accepted the position as a part time specialist at the West County store in St. Louis. Hopefully I can pick up some side jobs to keep the bills paid and what not.

So here's to Apple, moving up in the company quickly and getting into the next stage of life.

Thoughts on 8.25.08, or what I learned from mixing four services over the weekend. . . . . .

So, over the weekend it was the last time I will have mixed an adult service for awhile. As the internship ends I have discovered that I need to take some time away from the doing anything in the adult service, which includes mixing, playing bass, and setting up the stage.

So, as of this Saturday night I will no longer be an intern at the crossing. And I will go back to a youth volunteer only. It will be tough, there will be times where my mind wants to say something, and I just need to tell myself to shut up because in the big picture my opinion doesn't matter. It took me nine months to figure that out but I finally figured it out, hindsight being 20/20 is a lovely thing.

There has not been any official word from apple yet, but things are still in the works. If I get a job at apple it will be as a part time employee so I will be searching for any and all other that I can get to make up the hours.

I have learned too much from this last 11 month period during the internship. I have learned a lot about myself and how I am wired, I have learned a lot about how a church works, and also how I interact with people. All great lessons to learn and they all were/are lessons that I needed/need to learn.

So after listening to Reggie's message this weekend at the crossing, I am trying to let go, trying to give up and let God take control. In my great wrestling match I am throwing in the towel because the other option, to continue wrestling with God just doesn't seem like a smart option. . . . . . .

It is finished

Youth Weekend was AWESOME!!!! Everything worked really well, the lights worked, the band was amazing, and Rob laid it down.

At the end of every youth weekend I look around and say, "This was my favorite!" This one will be hard to top but I am sure Randall, Rob and Eric can figure out something to do next time.

The end of Youth Weekend also marked my two weeks notice until the end of the internship. So the next two weeks should be interesting. . . . . . .

Post Interview

Ok, so the interview was good. I believe I represented myself well, wow do I sound like a politician, and that I have an even chance at getting the job.

Things are in the works right now to get to step two.

Thanks for the support!

Apple

Ok, so I have an interview at the apple store at west county mall. It is happening at 10 AM on Friday morning.

We'll see what happens. . . . .

A little help. . . .

Ok, so once again at the end of this month I will be jobless. Yeah, as some of you remember, I was in this same predicament a year ago. Well my internship is done on Aug 31st and there is no position for me to continue my employment at Windsor.

So, I have applied for a couple of jobs at the apple store inside of west county mall and heard nothing yet, but my fingers are still crossed. I just can't seem to find any other jobs in St. Louis I want to apply for. And I don't feel a calling to leave St. Louis right now.

If anyone knows of a job they think that I would be able to perform and pays some sort of money please don't be afraid to pass it along.

Oh the joys of being a christ follower. . . . . . .

I love it when I get lumped in with this guy because I choose to follow Jesus. These are the times when I look up and go why????

iPhone coolness

Now this is cool.

Relevant Top 10

I was reading the newest issue of relevant magazine and saw this top 10 list of The Most Spiritually Significant Films Of The Last Ten Years.

In no particular order-

O Brother, Where art thou? *
The Big Kahuna
American History X *
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
American Beauty
Crash *
The Green Mile *
No Country for Old Men
The Divine Bell and The Butterfly
The Royal Tenenbaums *

(Astericks- I have already seen them.)

I have seen half of these and now I want to see the other five and see if what relevant says is true.

Keynote

Today is the macworld keynote, right now I am following it here.

I am hoping for a 3G iPhone that is subsidized by At&t. That would be sweet.

Anyway, a guy can dream right.

Technology

I just read this interesting blog post today and tend to agree with it. The irony of the whole thing is that I am posting about it and not talking about it. . . . .

Artistry. . . . .

I am an artist.

Yes, that's right. I may be a "techy" but I think of it more as art than tech. Since I feel that my primary goal as a tech is to effect how people connect God in a worship service, from the color of the lights, to the jumpback on the screen, and in the audio mix of the band and worship leaders. It's all art to me.

I also am an artist because I make music. I wish I had more energy and drive to make music more often but in the fast paced life that I am in right now, I just don't have the energy to want to sit down with other musicians and create music.

I love going to art gallery's, art shows, and seeing all different kinds of art out in the world. I wish I could paint and draw well, but I can't so I just like to appreciate the different artists in the world. This also goes for sculpture, theatre, and every type of concert, e.g- Symphonic, Rock, DJ sets, etc.

Tony Morgan made a few good points on why the church needs artist. I agree with him. . . . .

Nerd's Unite!!!

Every "Techno Nerd", like myself should have one of these.

Judgement

OK, So I have been thinking about some things lately and I am going to voice some of my thoughts here.

Since when does what "man" thinks about me matter. The only person's approval I am looking for in this life is God's. Now hear me out on this one, I do realize that I will never live up to God's standards and will need his grace all my life but I still rely too much on the approval of "man." Why do we do this? Why do we care about what others think of us?

I am starting to believe that if one worries all day about what his fellow "man" thinks of them, haven't we already missed the mark. What would a world look like where we were all searching for God and not worrying about what our fellow man was thinking about us. Now this could lead people to believe that I am talking about being disrespectful to our fellow man, but I AM NOT. I am simpling putting that we should respect our elders and those who God has put in authority over us, but does that mean we have to live for their approval, I say no.

I say that if we are seeking God's design for our life and chasing after that and God at the same time then aren't we living out our life for God.

What if God put you on this earth to push envelopes, push on people's comfort levels, and just stir things up? What if your purpose on this earth is to do the exact opposite? What if . . . . .you fill in the blank. God created every one of his children in a unique and beautiful design. I thank God for the way he has put me together. I thank God for the way he has put others in my life together.

No matter what God has in store for me next I will accept his challenge with honor, respect and a drive that is unmatched. I believe that God is going to use me for a purpose and that purpose is to change the norm. . . . . .in my life, in other people's lifes, in the local church and in the world.

Questions, Comments, Angry exhortations?

A great day. . . . .

So, today was a good day. I took a day off from work. I slept in, played golf and finally got the couch into the basement. I know it may not be a big accomplishment that the couch is downstairs but I love having a couch finally. It is so nice to not have only my bed to sit on, and I like to sleep on a couch every now and again.

Tomorrow is my normal day off and I am going to be taking my mom out for lunch for mothers day. I know it was Sunday but I didn't have a chance to do anything with her. Friday I did go to Derek Webb with her and enjoyed it a lot, I didn't think I was going to but I did. Listening to such an amazing songwriter with just an acoustic was just what I needed on Friday. . . . . .

Well that all for now. We'll see what happens tomorrow. . . .

Bloggers Bloc. . .

So, I know it's been a month since I put anything on here, and I don't really have an excuse so I digress. . . .Lately I have been thinking a lot, praying, and just trying to decipher what God wants me to do next.

So, I haven't found anything cool to put up here. And since my life is rather boring the only thing that has really been ground breaking for me is I lost 20 lbs. between doctor visits, about a month and a half. And my blood pressure is down. So, I am getting healthy, and life is going good.

Though I will admit the current series at church is kicking me in the butt a ton. It has made me think a lot about how I think about relationships, my future, and everything that goes into my future relationships.

So, there it is. The freshest post from a guy trying to pursue something better in this world. Some people have been challenging me to write down some of my thoughts about Church-big C- meaning worldwide-music, life and me. So I may be posting some of that on here, and I am getting the urge to be more creative in my personal life so I may even be posting some songs on here too. . . . . .

and from right field, well not really, I have seen this sort of thing before. . . . . .

So I was reading this today and found it very interesting, it has been said before but this one can be considered rather high profile.

So I know I suck at this, but I have BIG news

Ok, so I know I haven't blogged in awhile, and I know I really don't have a good excuse. So I will bore you the details and just move onto the BIG news. . .


I will be moving from St. Louis to LA where I have received a job offer from Yamaha Pro Audio.

Here's a list of the stuff I will be doing for them-

• Travels regularly in the market to meet with District Managers, dealers, end users and consultants to gain current and accurate information about competitors, market situation, future trends, etc.
• Works with Commercial Audio Marketing Manager on product and marketing plans, keeps Commercial Audio Marketing Manager, Commercial Audio District Managers and other staff aware of product issues, market situation, etc.
• Works with product planning counterparts to insure good communication, accurate market situation and competitor information, product feature and price requirements etc.
• Manages all aspects of hardware and software feature set planning for future Digital and Analog Mixer products.
• Specializes in software, interface and compatibility issues for Digital Mixer Products.
• Develops cohesive feature set strategies for future Digital and Analog Mixer products.
• Prepares trade show demos and other demo materials as needed, assists marketing manager in planning trade shows and other events.
• Maintains complete and current information on key competitors, current and future relevant technologies, market size and share, and other information needed to develop the correct future products and marketing strategies.
• Checks all specifications, literature and support materials to insure accuracy, grammar, and proper marketing message.
• Works with marketing manager and marketing department staff to produce effective ads and other materials for print and web.
• Provides information as needed to update YCAS web site and databases.
• Assists public relations agencies in preparing press releases, fact checking articles, etc.
• Assists trade publications with product reviews and releases, technical information and product comparisons.
• Develops and implements strategies for product training and support for Yamaha Commercial Audio staff and customers.
• Works closely with Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems technical support to insure products meet specifications, replacement parts are available, tech support staff are informed about all key product issues, etc. Tests all new product software to insure correct operation, supervises software upgrade activities, etc.
• Provides support to key end users as needed.
• Maintains relationships with key end users, consultants and dealers.
• Provides support and maintains regular communications with R&D and product planning as well as assisting them with research tours.

While I have enjoyed my time in Saint Louis it is time for me to move on and "grow up."

This is the first I have told anyone about this, so I am sorry to keep this from all of you but I wanted to do this on my own.


Oh yeah and one more thing-
















HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!!!!!!!!!

If this was on more coffee cups I might go to Starbucks more. . . .

Someone posted this on their blog, I thought it was cool so I will pass it on to my blog community, though it may be small. It is strong.



Let’s do a better job of exposing the children to our rich musical history, so they know more than hip-hop samples of artists like Curtis Mayfield, Jackie Wilson and Billy Preston. Help them appreciate Duke Ellington and his peers, like Count Basie, for being more than lyrics in a “back in the day” Stevie Wonder song.
–Sam Moore

Agree or disagree

How does all this stuff apply to my life? Hint: How does it apply to everyones life?

Do I agree with all of these?

• "Sometimes we overdo the mystery of God and we ignore the things that we do know."
• "When you settle, you die."
• "If you are a child of God, better things are on the horizon. Don't settle for anything less than God's best."
• Advice for men: "Love Jesus. Get a job. Take a bath."
• "God will never call you to do something where you abandon your family."
• "What do you feel that God has placed you on this planet to accomplish? 'I don't know' is an unacceptable answer."
• "God doesn't want you doing something that you're not excited about."
• "Here's the myth: If it brings you joy, it's not of God."
• "There's not a father in this room that doesn't like to see his child smile."
• "Most people stand along the wall and are afraid to dance. It's time for you to come off the wall and dance."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Interesting Article

Here is something interesting that the drummer fro Jimmy Eat World posted.

Here's something you don't see everyday. . . .

So, I tried to do this music review thing on Tuesdays for awhile and haven't really kept up with it as much as I would have liked to. But, I got this email about a post on my blog, and I was thinking it was something sarcastic from Rob, Randall, Bill, or Mike. But it was the girl in Singapore commenting on my review of Dashboard's Album Shade of the Poison Tree. I was thinking ok, so how did she find my blog. So, I did a google search for Shade of Poison Tree and I was the second hit. How cool is that?

How cool is that?

Two things-

Ok, so I love waking up to the sound of a two year old laughing, I am going to miss that when I get into the basement. Were almost done with it.

I saw this on ragamuffin soul, thought it was cool. You can check it out for yourself.

Also, Randall posted something really cool today.

HAPPY SINGLES AWARENESS DAY!!!!!!!

Ok, so some people think this is a really cool holiday but I personally think it's just one more way that single people get to be outed for being single. All the couples go out with each other and us single people go to a movie or something. . . . I am not actually as bitter as this post seems but I just like to make fun of a holiday that, though it origins are true, has become blown out by Hallmark and every chocolate shop, flower shop, and jewelery shop in america.

Fun at the hockey game. . .

So last night I went to the hockey game, Blues 4-Kings 2, woohoo. I went because it was for T.B.I. research which is traumatic brain injury. if you go to seanglanvill.org you can read all about it. The blues won, I had fun with some friends and it was all for a good cause. What more can I ask for?

This is Rob's fault

Ok, so I saw this on Rob's blog and took it. I scored lower than him, does that make me a better person? I say yes. . . . .

44%

Update

Ok, so I think, fingers crossed, I am over the flu crap. It is still lingering as a cold/sinus crap, but a friend said the color has come back to my face. My tattoo is healing nicely almost all the scabbing has come and gone, just waiting on a few stubborn spots.

So, life is pretty much back to normal, as normal as my life is. The basement is drywalled, mudded, and sanded. The main room is painted, all the electrical is done. We are now on to tile, carpet, cabinents and odds and ends to "get er done." So I should be downstairs by the end of the month, Randall will probably leave a comment about how I'll be down there before the end of the month, but I'm being realistic.

My boss is looking to get this guy to see his blog and leave a comment. I have commented on Los, can I call him that, blog a couple of times with this web address so we'll see if this helps. who nows?

Sick. . . and this time it's for real. . . .

Ok, so this time I am really sick, I went to the doctor and everything, I have the flu.

I was supposed to leave this morning for winterblast with the truck and trailer. Instead Randall has too and I am at home feeling like crap.

So-
Pray for me, that I can get better and be able to go back to work monday.
Pray for Randall, Rob, Eric, and Casey as they lead the winterblast retreat.
Pray for Kristin as she tries to deal with those mentioned above and 150 kids.
Pray for all the kids going to winterblast.
Pray for everyone who isn't feeling well.

OK, So here it is.

Here is the cool thing I did on my birthday.










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I got my first tattoo!!!

Today

OK, so today is my birthday! I am officially old, 25. But I am doing something really cool today. . . . .I will post more about it later.. . . . . . .

I'm sick. . . . .no really

OK, so I know, i know you don't want to here about me not feeling good but thats what it is. I have a stinkin' sinus thing that seems like it is going around.

I hope I am over this by my birthday.

Heath Ledger died,wow! Just remember life is short and precious. It's even shorter if you OD.

I'll find something to put here. . . .

I have no idea what to put here. . . . . .