If you're going to try to steal my Paypal account information, at least have the decency to check your grammar, geesh!
"According to our terms of service, you will have to confirm your account every 6 month.
Unless you don't want send us a copy of your personal id for verification, you have to confirm your account until: 27 September 2008"
Here's a story out of my local paper about a dude traveling around the country, ministering to homeless people. The crap that went down with Ignited Church unfortunately enhanced the perceptions of hypocrisy in the Church that is all too often a barrier to all too many.
But that's a side story here. A necessary footnote that will bring to light Brandt's ministry. More importantly it will put a face on the faceless.
Journey Church, mentioned in the story and it's pastor, Adam Mayfield, are my church and pastor. The seemingly insignificant thing Adam did by letting them crash at our offices and continue is work there is the most important thing Journey has done in it's 1 1/2 years. But again, the story here is about Brandt's ministry so be sure you watch the video on the left and hear a little about his work.
Click the link…………
HERE
First let me thank Big Doofus for telling me about 89.3 Minnesota Public Radio The Current..........
Now to the songs:
Yeasayer - Sunrise (different but great percussion)
The Black Keys - Psychotic Girl
Mudcrutch - Scare Easy (the band that became Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers that came back together to release an album)
Tune in next time...........
Thought I'd share what's going into the iPod.
I've been listening to a public radio station out of Fordham University in New York that plays everything from Johnny Lee Hooker to Bjork. It's a great mix plus they have an all Irish show on the weekends...........
The website for online listening is www.wfuv.org
Here's todays list:
Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun
Coldplay - Violet Hill, Viva La Vida
My Morning Jacket - I'm Amazed
The Raconteurs - You Don't Understand Me
Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Posses Your Heart
Stay Tuned........
Thanks to everyone that's commented asking about how we're doing. We (yes we, the whole family arrived last Friday) are doing great! I got our apartment furnished and cable ready all by myself, just in time for my arrivals who would have killed me if they missed the premiere of "Camp Rock". (for those without young girls, it's the latest Disney movie, starring the Jonas Brothers)
We're living in a great little town named Ramsey, NJ. Five minutes north and we're in New York, twenty minutes east and we're in New York. Work is going awesome and I know Sheri and the kids have all of our weekends planned for the next 2 months. Saturday we might try to do the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan or maybe the Edison Museum in, uh, Edison, NJ.
I located a Redeemer Presbyterian church plant in Teaneck, NJ and hopefully we'll be checking it out soon. I can only hope that they need a stand in drummer from time to time..................
I don't know what our plans are for the future. I'm sure we'll make it back to Lakeland sometime, just don't know when! I hope to be on here more regularly, doesn't everyone say that?
Talk soon!
p.s. Pastor Eddy, I got your message, sorry for never getting in touch. Leave me a message if you still want to talk..........
Had the ultimate NYC experience yesterday. At the last minute Sheri got me a ticket to the Yanks-Mariners game at Yankee Stadium. Got to test my driving skills in the City. First took the George Washington Bridge into NY, this became the Cross Bronx Expressway, then exited onto the Major Deegan which I took to exit 6 for the stadium.
Had a little adventure finding parking, got to see some streets in the Bronx that I never would have, on purpose at least. The game was awesome. My seat was in the lower level right behind home plate. The Yanks came back in the 8th to win 6-5 and I enjoyed a cup of Bud and a messy but delicious sausage, pepper and onion sandwich.
Afterwards, on the invitation from a guy at work, I left the stadium headed across a bridge (155th?) into Manhattan (Harlem), took a left on Adam Clayton Powell Ave, went down to 139th, left to Lenox Ave (Malcom X) then right down to a secluded little Jazz Club/Art gallery called 449 LA. Awesome music, fresh sangria and great people. I'm sure I stood out a little, white guy in a Made in Ireland t-shirt, but I had a blast. They let anyone get up and play so maybe next time I'll feel a little more comfortable and hit the congas or something.
Altogether it was a great time. Thanks to Sheri for getting me off my butt or I would have spent the day in my hotel room (like I'm doing now........)
I appreciate the comments from those of you that read my blog. I've been going through some major changes lately and I hope to be back soon. I'm starting a new job next week and will be away from my family for a while. I plan on using the time away to get back into my bible study and hopefully my blog will kick back into gear. Talk to you all soon!
...but that's a different story.
I couldn't pass up linking to this blog by Carlos. YOU HAVE TO READ IT!
Ranks up there with Chris' blog on Pete's baptism as posts I'll never forget.
Why are you still here? GO! NOW!
Here was the set from yesterday,
Love the Lord - Lincoln Brewster
Blessed be the Name - Tree63
Mighty to Save - Hillsong
Shout to the Lord - Darlene Szezch
It is Well - Jeremy and Adie Camp
Beautiful Contrast - KAZ
I missed the ending to Love the Lord and threw in some miscellaneous hits that ended up sounding like I just threw my sticks at my kit......gulp......I don't think to many people noticed.
I was sitting at my desk this morning, probably banging my head on my desk, when a co-worker came up to me. I recognized what was in his hand before he even asked, "Is this yours?" It was my trusty pocket ESV bible. Yes, forgive me Father, I left Your word in stall number 1. I looked up at him and said, "Yep, I left it in there for you to read." Pr-ett-ty cl-ev-er, huh?
Anyway, I just thought it was cool that after finding a bible in the bathroom, this person knew right where to look to find it's owner.
The reading plan's got nothin for the 29th so I thought I'd throw out this tidbit. Ever feel like you're just faking it? It's all a show? No? Just me? ACK!
Anyhow, whenever the song "Fake It" by Seether comes on it gets me all screwy:
And just fake it, if you’re out of direction
Fake it, if you don’t belong
Fake it, if you feel like infection
Whoa, you’re such a f&#*&n’ hypocrite
Sorry, just one of my moods..............
...that I will be buying for my wife when she sees them! These babies will give you the old fashion comfort you remember from those old land lines when you're relaxing with your cell. We all know you can't do the old "tuck the phone between head and shoulder" with your Q!
You can get yours at Perpetual Kid for only 15 bucks!
...from Brian McLaren on the strides he has made in Africa, plus a hope that our next president continues his work.
A lot apparently. Check out this blog on:
"...doing whatever He has put before you with all your heart, regardless of whether it appears significant or not, you will find yourself benefited and strengthened, ready for next thing."
Hopefully I'll take some of this to heart when it comes to my daily grind. Read the entire post over at The Rebelution.
Adam hit me up with a Book MEME.....Unfortunately I had already done it and dead ended it........the link's below.
Check it Out!
HOW TO MAKE A WOMAN HAPPY
It's not difficult to make a woman happy. A man only needs to be:
1. a friend
2. a companion
3. a lover
4. a brother
5. a father
6. a master
7. a chef
8. an electrician
9. a carpenter
10. a plumber
11. a mechanic
12. a decorator
13. a stylist
14. a sexologist
15. a gynecologist
16. a psychologist
17. a pest exterminator
18. a psychiatrist
19. a healer
20. a good listener
21. an organizer
22. a good father
23. very clean
24. sympathetic
25. athletic
26. warm
27. attentive
28. gallant
29. intelligent
30. funny
31. creative
32. tender
33. strong
34. understanding
35. tolerant
36. prudent
37. ambitious
38. capable
39. courageous
40. determined
41. true
42. dependable
43. passionate
44. compassionate
Without forgetting to:
45. give her compliments regularly
46. love shopping
47. be honest
48. be very rich
49. not stress her out
50. not look at other girls
And at the same time, you must also:
51. give her lots of attention, but expect little yourself.
52. give her lots of time, especially time for herself.
53. give her lots of space, never worrying about where she goes
It is very important:
54. Never to forget: birthdays, anniversaries, or arrangements she makes.
HOW TO MAKE A MAN HAPPY
1. Show up naked
2. Bring beer
OK, this'll be a quick one....here it is:
Marvelous Light - Charlie Hall
Live for You - Connersvine
East to the West - Casting Crowns
From the Inside Out - Hillsong
Your Love O Lord - Third Day
Glory of it All - DCB
See you next week......
......in two weeks be on the look out for a drummer on acoustic in a duet with Joe singing "If I Had a Million Dollars".......
gulp
Speaking at the Academy Awards on Barack and Hilary battling for the nomination:
"Normally when you see a black man or a woman President, an asteroid is about to hit New York City."
What an awesome day. Journey celebrated our 1 year anniversary with an outstanding message, "Slavery equals Freedom", followed by a picnic on the schools grounds. Churchwell is truly turning out to be gift from God.
For the topic Joe led us in "Irony" by Jonny Diaz. If you haven't heard him, stop, go to iTunes, and by some of his songs now..................OK, you back? Great stuff isn't it.
Carrying on, here was the set....
Trading My Sorrow
Not to Us
Lord Reign in Me
Empty Me
Sanctuary
Irony
Walk by Faith
Til next time...
FishHawk (in his Crackerhead phase) takes on 3 500lb Gorillas and tackles 'em to the ground in his latest post.
As I was driving back from Guitar Center where I picked up a new mic clip for my kit I stopped at Hardees for a bland double cheeseburger. No, that's not what I ordered, but now I know that I have to specify flavor. Anyway, I'm driving down Dale Mabry, with burger approaching my mouth, and I thought, "Hmmm, I'd better be careful, I don't want to make a........." Picture a small bit of onion floating gracefully in slow motion towards my shirt and me yelling a slow motion "NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" in my best Will Smith voice. Yes, though not very large, I now have a nice ketchup stain on my shirt. Sure, you might ask why I don't have any spare seltzer water in my glove compartment for such situations, but alas, me being of the XY chromosome, I don't.
The entries on my blog for my Monday readings are done in a Life Group setting. We read our verses, jot down our thoughts and then share. Let me tell you, Leviticus 15 is a beautiful piece of scripture to share with your close friends.........not! Needless to say, there was a little Beavis and Butthead giggling going on last night. Read it for yourself!
Yesterday was awesome! I love listening to Jason Herndon. He always seems to hit me with a message relevant to that exact time in my life.
Worship was great! Our attendance is growing and more people are actively moving closer to Him through this time and it's awesome!
Here's the set list:
Brave - Nicole Nordeman
Live for You - Connersvine
Better is One Day - Kutless
Everyday - Lincoln Brewster
East to the West - Casting Crowns
To the Only God - David Crowder (Glory Revealed)
See you next week, live in constant worship, it's a 24/7 thing..........
He was born in an obscure village…
He worked in a carpenter's shop until he was thirty…
And for three years He was an itinerant preacher…
He never held an office…
He never had a family or owned a house…
He didn’t go to college…
He had no credentials but Himself…
He was only 33 when the public turned against Him...
His friends ran away…
He was turned over to His enemies…
And went through the mockery of a trial…
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves…
While He was dying His executioners gambled for His clothing…
The only property He had on earth.
He was laid in a borrowed grave.
Twenty centuries have come and gone and today He is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as much as that…
ONE SOLITARY LIFE.
Thanks Christian
I've added a few more Life Journallers to the listing on the left! That's OUTSTANDING! I love the fact that I can see multiple observations from multiple people on the same readings I've just finished. It's a world-wide, word for word bible study!
**Let me know if there are others out there!**
While keeping everyone affected by the recent violent storms in your hearts and prayers, here are two letters from Union University's Greg Thornbury and David Dockery to read. The college in Jackson, TN was hit hard, approximately $50 million in damages but by God's grace there were no fatalities even though there were 1,200 people on campus that night. Within their words are a story of the strength and faith the students there have and have exhibited over the past few days.....
Dear Friends:
To everyone who has thought of us, remembered us in prayer, or beseeched God on our behalf to spare the the lives of about 1,200 who were physically on campus last night, I want to thank you from the depths of my heart.
If you have been following the Union story through national news media outlets, you know that our campus sustained somewhere in the range of $50 million worth of damage yesterday. To get a sense of what we're going through, please do me the favor and take the time to check out the following slideshow.
More information can be found at uuemergency.blogspot.com & at uu.edu.
I arrived on campus with President Dockery as the tornado hit the ground last evening. One minute later, we felt transported into a scene from the London Blitzkrieg. Streams of students with bloody faces and limbs streamed past us as we walked toward the mountain of rubble that was once Watters Commons. 9 boys were trapped beneath the rubble. All of them made it out, by the grace of God. I spent least evening until 4 a.m. in the Trauma unit in my role as Campus Pastor as one by one they were brought in, and we prayed for mercy for them and their families.
All will, according to their doctors, and the Lord willing, recover normally.
Last night we had 86 injuries, 51 hospitalizations, and 7 in ICU. At the end of this evening we only have 3 still in the hospital.
The media coverage of the Union story has been amazing. Today, Good Morning America, CNN, Foxnews, MSNBC, and etc. have been interviewing David Dockery and our students today. These folks in the media have walked away saying that something is indeed very different about this university and these young people. I have been overwhelmed by their faithfulness and boldness.
Please do continue to pray for us.
Yours,
Greg
* * *
Dear parents and friends of Union University:
At 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening, the Union University campus was devastated by serious tornadic activity, resulting in extensive damage to the facilities. Following a nearly five-hour emergency effort, all students — including the 13 who were trapped in the fallen rubble — were rescued. Fifty-one students were taken to the hospital, nine of whom suffered serious injury. By God’s providence, no lives were lost. Seventeen buildings received some kind of damage.
Approximately 40 percent of the dorms were destroyed, and another 40 percent were severely damaged. Additional damage has been observed in other academic and administrative buildings. The damage from this storm exceeds the impact of the 2002 tornado by 15-fold. Classes will not begin again before Feb. 18. We encourage all Union friends to stay in touch with us through the Union Web site at http://www.uu.edu.
We currently are working on a five-fold strategy:
1. Today is a day of assessment.
2. Initial efforts to help students return to their homes or to a safe place also have started today and will continue throughout the week.
3. A major clean-up project will start on Thursday.
4. An intermediate strategy to help us begin classes on Feb. 18 is underway.
5. Plans to regroup and rebuild the campus will help focus us for the future.
The rebuilding efforts will be lengthy and extensive. At this time, we want to thank everyone who has given help, provided service and offered ongoing prayer on behalf of Union University. We thank God for His providential care. With the help of God, we will move forward together. Finally, I want to offer highest commendations for our students and the Student Life Team, who have handled this challenge in amazing ways.
For your friendship, your support and your ongoing prayers for Union, we are most grateful.
Faithfully,
David S. Dockery
President
Union University
Awesome stuff from In the Quiet:
"Experiencing the present purely is being empty and hollow; you catch grace as a man fills his cup under a waterfall. " Annie Dillard
I read this quote and I am just struck with a vision of a waterfall and me in it...smack dab in the middle of it with my cup extended trying to fill it and of course you can't. The force of the water is so overwhelming, the force of Your Grace the same.Trying to take just a cup of grace, just a cup of water from the falls ...and being drenched in the trying. There is no taking a little grace, in the trying your hand is drenched, your wrist, your arm, your body, your hair and face and neck...the power of the falls is overwhelming. The power of Your Grace....staggering.I am drenched but the cup is empty, nothing to take away. Nothing to take away, I have to stay smack dab in the middle of the fall, in the middle of your GRACE. Maybe if I do and become so drenched w/love and grace....I won't be able to stop giving it to others???So as I am feeling SAD today step into the falls...BE DRENCHED...So as I am feeling DOWN tomorrow step into the falls...BE DRENCHED...So as I am feeling angry or joyous or jealous or content the next or the next day...step into the falls...BE DRENCHED....
It's the attack of the killer MEME's............!!!!
Sean hit me up with this one:
Book meme:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people. (Again, join in if you'd like.........no pressure)
Since I'm at work the only book I have within reach is my ESV Pocket Bible so here we go............
And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land - the men who brought up a bad report of the land - died by plague before the Lord. Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.
When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly.
(Numbers 14:36-39)
Wow, have I obeyed God today??????
Steve Forcum tagged me for a MEME.
Basic rules are to list 6 quirky facts about yourself
Link back to the person that tagged you
Tag 6 more people and link to their blogs (and post a comment on their blog letting them know about the MEME)
I'll leave the last part up to anyone that reads this. Join in if you feel like it, why leave it to only 6?
Here we go:
1. I'm a huge "BIG HAIR" 80's metal fan.
2. G-Strings on a guitar fear me.
3. I eat spaghetti with pickles and a glass of milk.
4. My wife loved me enough to marry me even though her name is now Sheri Carey.
5. My 20-year reunion is in June, I'm overweight and I don't care (because I'll have my hot wife with me)
6. I have an orange cichlid named Tebow but we think he's a she.
Well, I guess you now know all there is to know about Drummer Chris............!
Yes, another drummer thinkin' he's a musician. I picked up this Yamaha yesterday as my Christmas present. I played just about everything in the store, in my price range at least, and to my highly trained ear this guitar, the FG700S, sounded the sweetest. Now, a little more drummer humor........after arriving home I brought out my tuner. Everything was going great until I got to the final string. As I was tightening the E, bit by bit, nothing seemed to be happening. So, bit by bit, I tightened it even more. Nothing. Little more, little more.....TWANG, there goes the G-String. Yes, everyone can roll on the floor laughing. I was tightening the wrong string........... =[
(From the Lighter Side of Theology)
CHANGING A LIGHT BULB THE RELIGIOUS WAY
How many members does it take to change a light bulb?
Charismatic: Only 1 - Hands are already in the air.
Pentecostal: 10 - One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.
Presbyterians: None - Lights will go on and off at predestined times.
Roman Catholic: None - Candles only.
Baptists: At least 15 - One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken.
Episcopalians: 3 - One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks and one to talk about how much better the old one was.
Mormons: 5 - One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.
Unitarians: We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, you are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.
Methodists: Undetermined - Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Bring a bulb of your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass.
Nazarene: 6 - One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.
Lutherans: None - Lutherans don't believe in change.
Amish: What's a light bulb?
Tullian Tchividjian just posted a great piece on being in the world but not of it. He begins with an anecdote about D.L. Moody:
The great nineteenth-century evangelist D. L. Moody was once asked to describe what he thought the relationship between the church and the world ought to be. Should the church reject the world altogether — separating from it so as to avoid contamination? Or should the church embrace the world wholeheartedly — becoming just like it so as to reach the lost? The evangelist answered, “The place for the ship is in the sea; but God help the ship if the sea gets into it.”
You can (should) read the whole post here.
1και υμας οντας νεκρους τοις παραπτωμασιν και ταις αμαρτιαις υμων 2εν αις ποτε περιεπατησατε κατα τον αιωνα του κοσμου τουτου κατα τον αρχοντα της εξουσιας του αερος του πνευματος του νυν ενεργουντος εν τοις υιοις της απειθειας 3εν οις και ημεις παντες ανεστραφημεν ποτε εν ταις επιθυμιαις της σαρκος ημων ποιουντες τα θεληματα της σαρκος και των διανοιων και ημεθα τεκνα φυσει οργης ως και οι λοιποι 4ο δε θεος πλουσιος ων εν ελεει δια την πολλην αγαπην αυτου ην ηγαπησεν ημας 5και οντας ημας νεκρους τοις παραπτωμασιν συνεζωοποιησεν τω χριστω χαριτι εστε σεσωσμενοι 6και συνηγειρεν και συνεκαθισεν εν τοις επουρανιοις εν χριστω ιησου 7ινα ενδειξηται εν τοις αιωσιν τοις επερχομενοις το υπερβαλλον πλουτος της χαριτος αυτου εν χρηστοτητι εφ ημας εν χριστω ιησου 8τη γαρ χαριτι εστε σεσωσμενοι δια πιστεως και τουτο ουκ εξ υμων θεου το δωρον 9ουκ εξ εργων ινα μη τις καυχησηται 10αυτου γαρ εσμεν ποιημα κτισθεντες εν χριστω ιησου επι εργοις αγαθοις οις προητοιμασεν ο θεος ινα εν αυτοις περιπατησωμεν
(Ephesians 2:1-10 Tischendorf’s Eighth Edition Greek New Testament)
See how relevant the untainted scriptures are to our culture? Who needs contextualization?
Nathan over at christianresearchnetwork.com, the watchdogs watchdog, posted this humorous look at the importance of centextualization. Some ain't gonna like this, but wasn't the KJV Bible the first "relevant" printing of His word?
p.s. the above scripture is in Greek. If you don't have a certain font installed it will look...well...Greek to you =]
I was just listening to a sermon presented by a good friend of mine, Bryan Stiverson. He was very instrumental in getting me where I am now in Worship Ministry. Anyway, I downloaded the message and realized he must have acquired some land in England or something. His message pops up on my media player as "Lord - Bryan Stiverson". Ha ha ha ha.........
Check it out here.
