I wanna be in the light....

Tonight during my reading time I read 1 John 1:5 - 7 which reads This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

And yes after reading this I started singing to myself,
I wanna be in the light
As you are in the light
I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh Lord be my light and be my salvation
Cause all I want is to be in the light
All I want is to be in the light

Lyrics by Charlie Peacock, made a hit by DC Talk.

I am glad that I am able to have fellowship with others who are in the light as well each and every weekend at FFC.

Final hint for the weekend

I've been having fun thinking of ways to drop hints as to what Tyson and I will be doing on Sunday and this is the final installment. I hope that I am able to make it back in time for Youth Group but if not I know it is going to be a good day hanging out with the boy.

Earl Pitts?

In the imortal words of Earl Pitts, "You know what makes me sick? You know what makes me so angry I just wanna spread my ears with jelly and roll in a big anthill." (thats funny if you know who Earl Pitts is, if you don't your probably thinking what is this all about). I noticed last week that there were quite a few houses on the way to work that allready had up Christmas decorations. Now don't get me wrong I think it is cool to see the houses all done up and all but to have it done before Thanksgiving is just plain crazy I think. Now I know alot of people who put the tree up either on Thanksgiving or the day after and more power to ya on that. It seems that each year it is getting earlier and earlier that decorations go up. My own personnal rule is it has to be December before decorations go up, but if you really know Tammy and I you will know that it is not uncommon for it to be the week before Christmas when the tree finally goes up and usually on Christmas day the tree comes down and is put up. We are not Scrooges by any means but I guess we just like our living room as normal as normal can be. Now shopping for Christmas (notice I've never once called it anything other than Christmas. No holiday day or whatever these crazy people want to call it so no one gets offended, get over it people) is another story, Tammy has been know to start as early as July or August hiding stuff in the closet and the kids know to stay out. I've never been one to search the house to see where presents are hidden, thanks Mom. Dad did that once, he found a real nice radio Mom bought him and laughed and teased her about finding it so she took it back and got a cheap little radio (which they still have and this was 25 or so years ago) so I took a mental note and never looked.

I forgot yesterday so here is the hint for what is going on this weekend, I'll be spending time with a few cats and horses. More later...................

Ripped off

During this past weekends message one of the points PK brought up was how sometimes we feel that God has ripped us off in some way or another. This was a very good point and I sat and thought do I feel that way, is there some area in my life that I feel I've been jipped in. And to be honest I couldn't think of many if any and most of them were by my own doing. Later at Youth Group we talked about being a witness, not only with what we say but our actions as well. And that got me thinking as well, what is my witness like? Not just what I say but what I do, what I wear, what I watch and listen to. When people see and hear these things what do they think of my witness are they thinking "I thought he is a christian" or do they think "he is strong in his faith." Which then brings me to this point, I think that the one being "RIPPED OFF" is God. How many times have I wasted an opportunity, not helped someone out, spoken words of encouragement, etc. I am thankful that God is always there no matter how many times I rip him off waiting with arms wide open for me to come back around. Unfortunately this happens far too often than I would hope. This does go to show that the messages that we hear at church each and every Sunday speak to us and teach us and I thank all of the pastorial staff for being obedient to what God has laid on their hearts.

Problem avoided

Do you ever have that feeling when your leaving somewhere that you didn't do something you were supposed to do like turn something on or off? Last night I was running the board at JOY FM while Naomi and David were on location and after they were finished and signed off I started the last song of the hour and turned the lights off, locked the doors got out to the car started it up and sat there for a second thinking I forgot something. I debated for a quick moment if I should leave or go check. I decided to go check so I ran back in unlocked everything, luckily the song was still playing, I peeked into the control room and noticed that the box on the top was white instead of red which means that when that song was done nothing would have happened but a bunch of dead air. I had about 2 seconds of dead air as I manually got the 7 o'clock hour rolling. That could have been catastrophic with a bunch of dead air had I taken off but something or should I say someone said go back in. Problem avoided.

I had a few little glitches during the broadcast like starting a song and for some reason the song and a jingle both started at the same time but I caught that one and fixed it rather quickly but it just sounded funny for about 5 seconds. And one other thing I was all caught up in a song with a cool bass line just air jamming away when it ended and I noticed that I didn't have the auto on button on but took care of that quickly as well. I guess I need to use the break option instead of turning the system off.

I'll be listening at 8 again to hear PK and Pink on the air should be good. I did make a quick list of songs that we as a worship team might have to learn and they are as follows:
Storyside B - Be Still
Robby Seay Band - Song of Hope
Newsboys - In Wonder
Matt Redman - Beautiful News
Connersvine - Live For You
Echoing Angels - You Alone
Leeland - pretty much anything from Sounds of Melodies esp. Tears Of The Saints, Yes You Have, Beautiful Lord, Reaching.
I'll miss this Sunday again because of something to do with something from Florida and something from Indiana. More details and hints later.

Back to it.

Well I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving break and didn't eat too much and for those of you who braved early morning Black Friday shopping I hope you got what you wanted. We waited this year till around 8 to head out, good to get a little extra sleep but I missed watching people going crazy when they cut the shrinkwrap on items and they start flying, maybe next year. We did put a pretty good dent in this years shopping though and had fun.

It was really good to see alot of people at the Saturday night service and the message that went along was great and it was cool to see the Wii giveaway. I'm glad we went Saturday night because yesterday I had a little "wardrobe malfunction" and had to run home after the first set to change, so I missed a bit of the message Sunday, did get back in time to watch the video from the night before.

Youth group was good again as well and James message on being a witness was a good one and made me think if I am doing everything I can to be a witness or is it just when I want or find it convenient? I hope alot of the kids take up the challenge and we leaders do the same and make a difference in our community. Hopefully I'll be back in time next Sunday to make it to YG, more on that later this week. Get to head over to the radio station again today to run the board while they are on a remote for a couple of hours. Should be fun.

What do you think?

Here's a little question for you - What do you think of cussing? Do you use these words? Do you think these words? Do you just use them around certain people or doesn't matter whose around? Do you NOT use this type of language? What if your child uses (used) this type of language?

I am happy to say that it has been a few years since I have used this type of language. Back in the day I could talk like a sailor because I thought that it made me look older, cooler, tougher, insert any other excuse but all it really did was show that I had a limited vocabulary. I also as a child had a few tastes of soap which after the first time should have triggered something saying "Hey its not worth it" but I probably did it again.

Ephesians 5:4 - "Obscene stories, FOOLISH TALK, and coarse jokes - these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God." That is all I need to know for my own perspective.

One day closer to my fave holiday.

It is one day closer to my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. Now I've always liked Christmas but Thanksgiving has long been my favorite because one look at me and you'll know I like to eat. And there is always plenty of good food to go around for a couple of days on this holiday. Throw in a couple of football games and a nice nap and you've got yourself one great day. I remember years ago I just got into eating stuffing, for some reason one year I tried it and there was nothing else like it, and so everyone knew that I really liked it. Well my late Grandpa Ullom also liked stuffing but he liked oysters in his so Grandma would make a regular one and an oyster one. This year there was only one on the table and of course after I got a big helping he told me it was the oyster one so I was picking at it slowly looking for oysters until Grandma brought out the oyster one and set it in front of him. I never lived that down and he got the biggest kick out of that, I only wish he was still around because I could get back at him with Tyson as my helper somehow, all in good fun.

Cool and weird at the same time

Watching the service yesterday online was both cool and weird at the same time. It was cool that this option is available if you are unable to attend for whatever reason and you don't miss out on the message. It was weird cause I should have been there and it was happening just a few blocks away from where I was at. This weekend was one of those wasted weekends in a way with Tyson being down with a cold and a touch of a fever. Missed out on being at service and youth group but I know it was worth keeping the kids in and doctored up so that they can enjoy later this week. I am getting ready for some good food Thursday and hopefully some shopping and people watching early Friday.

It was good having Tammy home last night, I'm glad she got to go down to Tennessee but I am more glad that she is back home. Took a little ride checking out the new and improved Main Street and it is good having the main road finally open again. Tammy brought home some of the most incredible fudge I've ever had from a little town just outside of Jamestown, TN. For $10 a lb. it was definately good. And she has officially started Christmas shopping as she picked up a few gifts down there. Man Christmas will be here before we know it.

Try something new tomorrow.

I am going to check out the service tomorrow live on the internet. Normally I would be there and playing but Tyson started running a fever this evening and allthough it seems to be going away I'm not going to chance it and just stay in and doctor him up. It will be different but I have been intrigued by it after hearing about it just to see what it is like.

Could be a father of the year moment.

I got to work at the radio station tonight and since Tammy is in Tennessee I took the kids with me. I also let them introduce a song each than one at the end together. That could have quite possibly got me the "Father of the Year" award. It was so cool and fun to see them introduce the songs they did and to watch them and wonder if they new that people in the area and for that matter all over the world could have heard them. They were so good.

Here is tonights playlist:
Holy Soldier - Promise Man
Hillsong United - Break Free
All Together Seperate - Paradigm
The Unknowns - No More (Sounded familiar)
Falling Up - Hotel Aquarium
Toby Mac - Boomin' (With Tyson intro)
The Almost - Southern Weather
Kids In The Way - Your Demon (With Taylor intro)
Project 86 - Evil, A Chorus Of Resistance
Demon Hunter - Fading Away
The Showdown - It Drinks From Me
(Talked about Rock and the Cat Box)
Red - Let Go
P.O.D. - Going In Blind
Day Of Fire - Through The Fire
Pillar - Resolution (With Tyson and Taylor intro)

Lot of fun but don't know when I'll get to do it again for a while until basketball is over. It you listened, thanks for the support and I hope you were entertained. And for those who missed it I'll keep you updated on when we'll do it again.

Ready to ROCK

I am excited for tonight because it is another chance to hang out at the 88.9 JOY FM studios and do a little DJing, if there is such a word. I will be on from 10 pm to 11 pm and will kick out the jams and even get to talk about the youth event that we are having at FFC on New Year's Eve. Taylor and Tyson will be joining me and who knows maybe you'll get to hear them as well. While all this is exciting and I can't wait for it this weekend will be a lonely one as Tammy and her Dad head down to Tennessee for a few days so I'm gonna be missing my wife big time this weekend. You can just call me Mr. Mom for a few days.

Practice went well last night and we are doing a couple of songs we haven't done for a while and one we haven't done for quite some time. Here is the list for this weekend so you can get your singing voices ready.

1st song is a surprise for the opening and greeting
1st set: All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises, I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever, Oh Praise Him
Offering: My Glorious
2nd set: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, All Who Are Thirsty, My Savior My God.

Human Tetris II

Ah, the games that people will play.

Watch what you say...

I have found out, and I think I might have mentioned it before, we used to say that we (Tammy and I) would never get to the point where we were on the go all the time. We always said that we wouldn't allow that to happen. Guess we should have never said never. I now long for the day where when we get home from work there is nothing to do, nowhere to go and no one to see. Just nice quiet time at the house, we don't even have to be doing anything of particular importance just hanging out. Tonight is one of those nights where it will be a "hi see ya bye" kind of night. I have practice and Tammy is cleaning the dentist office because she is heading down south tomorrow morning. I get to play Mr. Mom this weekend which should be an adventure to say the least but we will be allright.

Heard there is a slight chance of snow today which for me is cool, I'm allright with it. I always say the more the merrier. I look forward to another blizzard, and not the Dairy Queen type, this winter where its stay at home, go out and play in it for a while then back inside with some hot chocolate and hanging out. I know I'm not right.

More lyrics

Yesterday I got a cd in the mail that I won from the Weekend Top 20 Countdown show that is on JOY FM every Saturday at 3 pm. It is the cd IWorship 24:7 and there is a song on there from New Life Worship called Here In Your Presence. Sometimes something you heard or read just sticks with you, gives you goosebumps, strikes a nerve or whatever and this particular piece did that to me last night as I was listening to the cd. So without further ado here it is

Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonder
Kings and their kingdoms are standing amazed


Here in Your presence
We are undone
Here in Your presence
Heaven and earth become one
Here in Your presence
All things are new
Here in Your presence
Everything bows before You

I've never......

Sunday at youth we played a little game called "I've Never" which is a fun little thing that allows you to kind of get to know some people and a little about them and it also gives some comic relief seeing bodies flying across the room. The game is played with one person in the middle and everyone else sitting in a circle on chairs when the person in the middle gives their I've never.... if you have done it you must move to another chair, last one standing is in the middle and gives the I've never thing. It was funny watching some of the youth messing with others by blocking chairs and bodies flying and diving and even saw a block put on someone that would give NFL players a run for the money. Fun stuff. Of course when I was in the middle mine was I've never owned a country music cd.

I saw where FFC is JOY FM's church of the month. Go to 889joyfm.com to check out all of the details and if it hasn't happened yet they are supposed to talk to PK on the air some morning. Speaking of JOY FM, I'll be back over there Friday night from 10 to 11 pm for a little Solid Rock Friday Night action so check it out. They will be starting basketball coverage after Thanksgiving so I don't know when I will be back over there but I will keep you informed. So tell your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, enimies, people you don't know, basically everyone to check it out. It will be a rockin good time.

Weekend wrap-up

This weekend just absolutely flew by, lot of fun, lot of running around like a chicken with its head cut off, and even a little bit of rest. Saturday Tyson had a basketball game which his team won which is good but the bad part is the team they beat had 2 of his buddies on it (Lane and Justin). My worst fear of the game came true when he had to guard Lane. I didn't see this but Tammy told me that when he was guarding him Lane got away from him so Tyson started yelling for him. He even got to bring the ball up a couple of times and once he just stood out there dribbling and looking around like he was in control of everything then he passed it off and took off running and skipping again.

Small group was fun as usual, I really enjoy that time in that type of setting and it makes me wonder why we got away from them for awhile last year and most of this year. I look forward to next Saturday but I will be flying solo as Tammy and her dad head down south Friday. After small group took off like a bat out of you know where to make it to the McAllisters before they got there for a sursprise party for Elizabeth. That was fun to hang out with them and the others that were there even got to play a little euchre and spoons.

Sunday was another great day and I must say that another awesome series has kicked off. PK's messages are always great and I'll admit I got my toes stepped on a bit but I know that these messages are done for a reason for each one of us. I really did need to examine my heart and take care of business and get things straightened out. Thanks for that message PK. I have to say great job to the worship team as they all did a good job yesterday and big kudos to Jennifer for her singing on Here I Am To Worship. Once again I loved the "free worship" at the end of service, I know we have a set list and schedule of service each week but when God steps in and takes over that is just soooooooo cool. The last song of the set I Give You My Heart was thrown in late Thursday but what a perfect fit. Youth group was fun again and I am getting a little more comfortable with my role there and look forward to each Sunday evening and getting to know more of these kids.

Is it the weekend yet?

It is my personal belief that weekends should be longer than 2 days, case in point this weekend which is packed full of games, meetings, church and other gatherings. It will be a whirlwind weekend with alot of time spent away from the house, which means no nap, but a fun filled and enjoyable time. Tyson has his Y-league game at 10:00 Saturday morning with pictures before than a break until small group and a few other fun gathering afterwards. Sunday of course is all about the worship and message at church which I am excited at the begining of a new series. Had practice last night and have a surprise for this weekend, two weeks ago we had a young lady on the piano starting out with us and this week she (Jennifer) will make her singing debut and I think she has an awesome voice. Missed last week so I am ready to get back to it. Then top off the day with a little youth group and football watching for a bit on the BIG screen, poor Pink will be a lonely man Sunday night during the game.

Connersvine live (Hunter the punter)

Here is a video of a new band called Connersvine. If you have never heard of them the guy playing the electric up front is Hunter Smith who is the punter for the Indianapolis Colts. This song is called Live For You and if I could ever find the music for it I think it could definately work its way into a Sunday service. Check it out.

Not there yet.

The pastor at the church we visited this weekend had a few good points that I would like to tell you about. The message was on personal worship and some of the things that this includes. First was prayer. This is something that I do daily as I hope you do as well. That being said though sometimes my prayer life isn't where it needs to be. Do you ever find yourself during prayer letting your mind drift off in another direction thinking about something you forgot at the store, what your doing later, something that happened earlier in the day, etc.... I have a problem with this alot of times especially during the drive into work. That is when I have a little prayer time but my mind starts going to what am I going to blog about today, what are we doing at practice tonight, etc... One of his suggestions was to go to a quiet place where there are no distractions where it is just you and God. This is something that I definately need to work on.

Another point was on reading the bible daily. I have been on a reading schedule from Deliberate People, check the site out at the side, and have done good at times staying on schedule than other times I get a day or two or more behind. I am back on track now with the schedule but sometimes I feel that I am just reading and not getting anything from it. Once again the mind drifts, someone asks a question, something happens on tv and I am not fully in. I do know that next year when I start this all over again I am going to do a journal and hopefully find a time and a place where I can get fully locked in with what I am reading and how to apply it.

There was a third point but right now I totally forget what it was, I sometimes wonder if I got ADD or am just getting old because I forget alot of stuff anymore and feel scatterbrained everyonce in a while. Does anyone else feel this way?

The weekend that was.

Where does the time go on the weekends, anyone know? Got to have a three day weekend thanks to inventory at the shop didn't have to go in Friday. Tyson had his first Y-League game Saturday and I think he had some fun. The team lost 28-24 which isn't bad considering that after the first quarter they were down 16-4. They got within one at 23-22 but couldn't do much from there. Should be a fun year with the team.

Spent yesterday morning with a friend at his church just for support for him. He's had some hard times and made some mistakes but has just recently given it all back to God and is using his situation to help others, God is good. He said after people talking to him and things falling on deaf ears it was a powerful video that got things back on track. The video, which was posted on here a few weeks ago, is for the Lifehouse song "Everything" and is a very powerful drama video, check it out on either you tube or God tube.

Spent last night in Indy checking out my nephews band in a battle of the bands which unfortunately they didn't win. They are called "Fake Is The Latest Trend" hailing from the rock and roll capitol of Cowan High School. It was looking to be a good evening until someone decided that they needed his footpedal and guitar case more than he did. It was shame that it had to ruin a good evening. It was the first time I've got to see him in action and if you knew him he's a shy kid who comes to life on the stage.