frombehindtheguitar

Why don't I ever post anymore?

2011-09-03T21:41:00.001-05:00

I don't really know except for laziness I guess. Blogging just hasn't been as exciting as I'd hope here lately but who knows it could all change again. We'll see.

Another one off the list

2011-06-22T19:08:00.003-05:00

Well Monday night I was able to finally after 5 or 6 years go and see Hillsong United in concert. They are one of the bands that I have not seen that I wanted to see more than any other and since they hail from Austrailia they only tour here once or twice a year and its normally for a few weeks. This year they came earlier in the year and hit major markets, then came back a few weeks ago for "smaller" markets and a few festivals, then they will be back later in the year for a few more smaller market cities, like Columbus Ohio and yes the thought has crossed my mind to go see them there as well but more than likely not. It was well worth the wait. Took Taylor, Cody, Matty T and Haley with me and we all had a good time and really enjoyed the show. I'll blog later more details on the show.

This was the 6th concert I've been to already this year, WinterJam at Ft. Wayne in January, Lincoln Brewster in Greenfield and Philmont at FFC in Feb., none in March, in April I saw Sent By Ravens/Write This Down/ and Icon for Hire at FFC and Lincoln Brewster again in Ft. Wayne and then United in Indy. Next month is Disciple at FFC and August might be another show at FFC then from there who knows, Illumination is in September in Greenville, OH, hoping that JOY FM needs me to help at that one since we play just about all the bands on Solid Rock Friday Nights. Now at the top of my list of bands to see is probably Demon Hunter or Anberlin. Who knows who else I'll see this year.

Do you have an app for that?

2011-03-30T19:02:00.002-05:00

Saw a commercial the other day where there is an app for you phone where you can start you car, really. Do we need that? What if you hit it by accident at work or something and your car runs out of gas, that would be funny as long as it wasn't you. It made me think whats next, will there be an app to flush your toliet, now that would be cool but seriously. It could be fun to play tricks on people who come over and have to go to your bathroom though. Is there an app to turn up people's intelligence? I know on the TV there is a brightness level but that doesn't seem to help some shows though. What about one to load and unload your washer and drier, dishwasher, cook supper, I could go on and on. Maybe I oughta pitch these to the phone companies. Anything I left out?

Is this thing still on?

2011-03-27T14:00:00.002-05:00

I thought when we got the internet back here at the house I'd be blogging and such but that hasn't been the case. Oh I've thought about it and had some things I'd like to blog about but alas laziness has taken over and I never did. Hopefully that will change and blogging will become fun and a normal routine again. I do know that I really like my job in Muncie and actually look forward to it, with the exception of the getting up early part. Been there about 8 months and enjoy it, it is alot of fun. Still enjoying the radio stuff too and the concerts at The Branches that have happened. I'll save all that for another blog sometime.

We're back.................

2010-10-28T16:54:00.001-05:00

The internet got hooked back up today so its good to be back online, who knows maybe I'll start blogging again. Lots of things have happened since I last blog so I'll try and catch up soon.

Waiting is over

2010-06-11T09:05:00.002-05:00

Well the waiting is finally over, on Monday I start a new job at Muncie Transit Supply where I will be getting orders ready for Greyhound bus company. MTS is a supplier of bus parts and it is a warehouse seeting with about 10 people pulling orders so that is cool. I like the fact that there aren't hundreds of people working there where you have 50 or 60 people's names to try and remember so that is a plus. I actually had an interview there last year but didn't get the job and for whatever reason stopped in there last week and they said to call back this week, which I wasn't able to do because they called me for an interview last Friday. Did the interview on Monday and they called Wednesday and offered me the job. I feel good about this situation and am thankful that God is good and He has a plan. Ready to get rolling with this now.

Only bad part of this is that in a couple of weeks I was to fill in at JOY FM for the Workday Wrap-Up and that was gonna be fun but I think permenant employment ranks a little higher right now. I still have Saturdays and SRF so that is all good on the radio front. Youth has been fun the past few weeks and now we are at a time where we'll meet regularly this Sunday, next Sunday is Father's Day so we won't have a lesson just hang out time then a lesson the following week, then no youth for July 4th then the next Sunday is the week that the 6th graders now move up and the 8th graders go to high school youth. Finally on July 18th we will settle down and start a 14 week series on sharing your faith called "Bringing it up without throwing up." Catchey title huh? That should be fun and hopefully it will speak to some of them and get them to share their faith easier.

Waiting

2010-05-25T12:47:00.002-05:00

Am I the only one who ever gets impatient, I'm not, cool you all know what I'm talking about then. For the last year and a half I've been unemployed for most of it, the first lay off was as 2009 was just getting started, I didn't see it coming at all but I was OK with it, I knew and still do know that God has something better for me, something that is "right up my alley" but I'm waiting to see what that is. After spending 7 months unemployed I got hired at a warehouse driving a forklift. It was fun and met some pretty cool people but alas in December the work that we were doing was done for a few months so once again I got laid off. Once again no problem, God is in control and He knows what He's doing and where I'm supposed to be. So once again back to waiting to see where that and what that is.

A month or so ago I was offered a job in Winchester which to be honest with you never set well with me. Now I didn't mind that the drive to work would be less than half of what its been for the last 15 years but I just never felt right about the whole thing. Went to orientation and still wasn't feeling at peace with it, on the way over I prayed that if this is where I was supposed to be that I'd know, that feeling never came so after lunch I told them that it wasn't for me. I felt free after that and within a week or so I was reaffirmed that I'd done the right thing by some events that happened. I still know that somewhere out there in this big old world God has a plan for me and the perfect situation, I will wait on that. Waiting, Tom Petty said it was the hardest part and I think he's right. I know that its not MY timing but GOD'S timing that is perfect and in His timing I'll be where I'm supposed to be so for now I'll just wait and know that He is in control. It gets frustrating and nerve racking sometimes and during those times the enemy likes to sneak in and try and ruin everything by making me worry and regret and well you get the picture. I won't let him steal this season of waiting, maybe its a good season to grow stronger in God's word or just grow in Him while I wait. So I'll wait, watch and listen.

Longer time between posts huh?

2010-05-19T13:47:00.002-05:00

Yes I know its been awhile between posts, seems that the blogging newness has worn off a bit and who knows when it will kick back in again. Anyway its been almost a month and alot of things have happened like the kids spring band concert, which was Tyson's first and maybe last one. He doesn't seem to enjoy band like Taylor does so he will probably be done after school ends which is right around the corner. Where has this year gone? Got to go hang out with the Sorensons, Pinkertons, Canadys, Harris', and a few others down at Brookville Road Com. Chruch at the begining of the month to watch and support PK as he was speaking there. It was alot of fun to hang out with them again and just chill. BRCC is a nice place and nice people there as well. I'm still excited to hear what all goes on out in So. Cal. in the coming months. Speaking of PK and Pink, I hope to be able to have them with me on SRF on June 4th for one last go around before they head out, I'll let you know.

Radio has been fun, there have been a few Saturdays where I don't feel like I "have it" and there have been other ones where its like I'm totally on that day. Still have a blast over there and would like to at some point move foward in the radio business, I really think scratch that I know that I would really love that. Worship has been good the past few times I've played. Getting back into the groove with Ryan again, seems like it was just a month or so ago when he asked me to join the worship team. Got some new faces with us now, I think Devin, for those of you who don't know is the other guitarist on the weeks I'm up there, is going to be a great addition to the team. I'm fine with letting him cut loose while I hold down the rhythm which maybe then I'll cut loose a little more.

Youth has been good, we are doing the final video message this week, I took a couple weeks off of it, on Mothers Day we only had 3 jr. high students so we played games the whole time and then we decided to do that in high school as well so they would both be on the same page. I think the students liked just hanging for a week and seemed to really enjoy the games. Last week I gave my first official prepared message which was fun. It was based around Eph. 4:29 and our speech and how we speak to others. I hope each week that whatever the message is that the student or students who need to hear it listen and learn. I'm gearing up to get a little schedule done on upcoming messages which will include topics from the bible, things that kids are going through and the occasional song message.

Been passing around some sickness here at the house, I've just gotten over a cold and then Tammy and now Tyson have had some stomach virus. He is the only person I know who can throw up then start talking again without missing a beat. Ready for all of that junk to be gone and we get back to good health. Got to hang out with his class last Friday night at the 6th grad party and had fun til I found out that the virus that him and Tammy have has been going around the school, oops. So there you have in a nutshell whats been going down in my little world and hopefully the next post won't be in a month it will be sooner.

Monday morning thoughts

2010-04-19T09:28:00.003-05:00

Here it is a nice Monday morning after 2 good weekends and its time to put down in words a few thoughts and such. Last weekend of course was the final message from PK and we got to celebrate the Sorenson's and Pinkerton's with a little gathering after service but also during service. I was honored to be able to pray for them and their new adventures that they are embarking on. I am excited to hear of all the blessings and miricles that are going to be happening out in Escondido in the coming months. That was a tough one for me to get through but with a little help from above we got through it. I have been incredibly blessed to be able to work with and minister with these two families for the past few years. There is still time for a little radio fun before they head out. We ended the service with a fitting song as a tribute to these families, "Jesus Freak". Judging from the response of the people during that song and all the feedback I've gotten since that song went over very well.

Last night was my first night of leading the youth group during the message time and it went pretty good, I've still got a ways to go but I got more comfortable as the night went on. Last night we started a video series called Am I Happy, got 3 more weeks of videos and discussions then it will be time to start coming up with a few topics to discuss and give a little message on. I am both excited and nervous at the same time but I think good things are in store.

It's Opening Day

2010-04-05T07:28:00.002-05:00

Today is the official Opening Day for Major League Baseball, I don't consider last nights game as an Opening Day game it's just a made for TV kind of thing. Now if I were still in school I would skip today to stay home and watch baseball all day. Looked at the guide on the tube today and see that there is supposed to be 4 games on as well as a big NCAA basketball game I've been hearing about lately, but there is a possible glitch. On the guide the first two games of the day in Cincinnati and Chicago have a black circle on them so I'm wondering if they will be blacked out here which would mean that the 4 pm game with the Braves would be the first one I could watch, I hope thats not the case but oh well.

We put our big surprise off yesterday at church and will work a little more on it this week and bust it out next Sunday so be sure to be there. Next Sunday will be a emotional rollercoaster as we celebrate PK and the Pinkertons last Sunday with us. I've said it before that this is bittersweet because I'm selfish and want them to stick around but I know God's call trumps mine everytime and there are big things in store for So Cal later this year. Don't forget that this Friday from 8 to 11 you can check us out on Solid Rock Friday Night on Joy FM which will be a blast and I get bonus time this week on Joy FM for their sharathon. I will be on Wed, Thu and Fri from 10 to 12 helping out and I'll be handling the phones Wed & Thu from 8-10 so give me a call and help out the station.

Worship yesterday was amazing and I was floored at how many people were there, that was cool. Thanks to Kyle P. for letting me borrow his footpedals for yesterday. The power chord to my pedal decided to finally give out Thursday at practice so I got a new one ordered and it should be here in a day or two and we'll be back to normal but big thanks to KP for the help.

The Difference

2010-03-29T08:02:00.002-05:00

Last night at youth I had the opportunity to lead the message for the first time ever in my life. To say that I was a little nervous was an understatement, but I made it through alright and no one got hurt so that was good. A few months back I bought a cd by a band named Philmont, and on it was a song titled "The Difference." I always thought that this would make a good little message and a few weeks ago I had a tugging on my heart that "hey you need to talk about this to the youth" so I finally got the courage to ask Pink if it was ok to lead youth some week and he agreed and the rest is history. The song and my message was about how when we give our lives to Christ there has to be and should be a difference in them, meaning if you used to go out and party on the weekends before you gave your life to Christ then after you shouldn't still live like that. One of the lines in the song says "I've tried so hard to mix the old life with the new, but there's no in between if I'm gonna follow You."

I was nervous during Jr. High youth mainly because I've never done this and I only knew a handful of the students. When High School youth was starting and there were about 3 times as many students I was thinking I'm really gonna be nervous with that many people in there but actually the opposite happened and I was more relaxed for that, maybe because I had the first time speaking out of the way or maybe because I know almost all of those students. Either way it was enjoyable and maybe I'll get to do it again.

One thing I'll leave you with and it was something I told the students to think about is a quote from Brennan Manning, author of Ragamuffin Gospel which states "The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." Pink was able to share some of this firsthand after I was finished of his experiences with a relative who would agree with that quote 100% and I firmly believe that when PK and Pink get The Branches of Escondido up and running, Pink's cousin will come to know Christ as his personnal saviour through the work that God is going to do through those 2 and all those who are joining them.

Recap of the past few weeks.

2010-03-22T16:55:00.002-05:00

A few things have happened since my last post and I'd like to tell you about them now. First off if you listened to Solid Rock Friday Night this week with my two special guests, PK and Pink, thank you and I hope you were entertained. If you didn't happen to listen all I can say is that you missed out. It was an absolute blast and alot of fun hanging out and talkin and rockin with those two. I'm gonna miss when they head out to California but there are still a couple of Friday nights that we can all get together and have some fun on the radio like say Friday April 9th. Go ahead and mark it on your calendars because its gonna be fun. It was mentioned that we need to syndicate that show and I think that is a great idea. We were on for 3 hours of course and had 32 total requests. that is like an all time record. The amazing thing is that the last 31 songs of the night, which included the last 20 minutes of the first hour and all of hours two and three were requests. And it is always fun to come up with nicknames for our new friends (those requesting) and to have a little banter with them. Next time I think we will take that banter on the air live every once in a while, that could be fun.

The last couple of Sundays on the worship team have been fun, exciting, good and nerve wracking. Last Sunday when we sent the Blacks and Marggy off was really cool when I was talking to Aaron he thanked me for the song I wrote, we did it that day per his request, and I was floored that it meant alot to him, mission accomplished. Yesterday it was fun to play the old bass again and had to switch to guitar for Hosanna and that is where the fun started. For whatever reason I started getting the nervous shakes right before that song, don't know why we've done it quite a few times and I know what to play but yesterday I couldn't stop shaking. We made it through it though and I don't think it sounded bad at all.

Tammy went and hung out with me at youth last night, the kids are down in Tennessee for the week and we have some freedom for a bit. Had fun of course watching some of the kids jump over the cushion chairs up in the 3:7. Next week will be another first, I will be giving the lesson for both the jr. high and high school, I've never ever done that so it could be interesting.

Open Hands Acoustic Performance

2010-03-09T20:28:00.001-05:00

This is a song I heard on Air1 one day and liked it. It is from a newer artist named Matt Papa. I'm thinking we should do this some Sunday.

The longest blog ever…

2010-03-06T17:35:00.000-05:00

Everyone who goes to church, is a member of a church or a leader in a church should read this and live it. The longest blog ever…

Need more shows like this 'round here.

2010-02-25T09:33:00.014-05:00

Last Sunday in Greenville Ohio the Nothing and Everything Tour with Red, Decyfer Down, The Wedding and Me In Motion came rolling into town and the youth group made a little road trip. It was a fun evening and I was blessed to be able to welcome the crowd and give a few announcements before the show started. It is a pretty cool feeling when you say something and the crowd reacts loudly, I dug that. Wasn't too nervous but I did forget to mention a thing or two and I know I'd like to do it again sometime. Funny thing one of the leaders who went, Jennifer Wise, is such a rock and roll rebel, she went out and took a nap during the show. Who does that? Good times and here are a few pictures that Taylor took for you to enjoy although for whatever reason she didn't get a picture of me doing my thing on stage. Thanks to JOY FM, Marty McCabe, and the tour manager for Red for the chance to live out a dream.

What a nice looking group of people waiting to get in, notice the one without a coat? They only stood out there for about an hour. 4 cars with 15 kids and 5 leaders equals a good night.

Seth Mosley from Me In Motion using my mic. These guys got the evening started off.

The Wedding rocking it up. These guys played a short set, the lead singer was battling illness but still gave it all for the show.

Decyfer Down lead singer TJ Harris. This was the second time I've seen them and they're a good band. Played alot of songs I like and even did one I didn't think they would do. I feel bad for them though as Taylor and Rylan were both yelling "We love you Caleb" to the guitar player. Bad thing is his name is Brandon and Caleb was the old lead singer whose not in the band anymore. Hope it didn't upset the band any.

Micheal Barnes lead singer of Red belting it out. This was also the second time I've seen Red and they put on a good show and I'll be seeing them again sometime.

Anthony Armstrong from Red making the guitar faces. I spent some time at the side of the stage before I went on to welcome everyone and was checking out his guitars and set up, maybe someday I'll have that kind of set up with 7 or 8 guitars and a nice amp rig.

Red doing a song called "Pieces" off of thier first cd. Was really surprised that they did this one, I've always liked it and thought we could do it some Sunday.

Great show and we need more of them like this in the area, I know of quite a few people who would go to them. Makes me ready for this Friday night and 3 hours of SRF.

And that my friends was an incredible night

2010-02-20T01:19:00.003-05:00

Went out to the high school tonight for senior night and a little basketball between MC and Cowan and let me tell you it was an amazing, incredible, insert your best adjective here night. It was a night that a few years ago didn't seem like it was going to happen but tonight it did. I'm talking about a senior on the team named Shane Hines. Now I don't know him personally but I know who he is. A few years back he was in a serious accident just outside of town. I remember hearing that the doctors didn't know if he'd ever walk again, well he has. At homecoming a few weeks ago he walked out to the court without his cane that he uses, much to the delight of those in attendance. He has been a member of the varsity b-ball team the past few years even though he hasn't played but that all changed tonight. I remember MC coach Jeremy Duncan saying in an article last year that he was going to put Shane in the line up on senior night this year and it would bring down the roof, it did and then some.

Normally on senior night you start all the seniors on your team and let them play for a bit. Shane has never started let alone played in a varsity game until tonight where he started and by a very nice and sportsman gesture Cowan got the tip then proceeded to throw the ball to Shane and he dribbled down the court, even went behind his back at one point, then went to the basket and hit a lay up for the first points of the game. Cowan then went down and hit an uncontested layup and then MC called timeout to take Shane out. I have never heard that gym any louder than tonight, it was louder than last years sectional championship game. Shane recieved a couple of standing ovations from the whole crowd, it was an awesome sight. Big props to Cowan's team and fans for taking part and appriciating this situation, they are a class act.

If you missed it you can either go to WTHR channel 13's website or WRTV channel 6's website as they were both out there doing a feature on Shane or WANE TV 15 out of Ft. Wayne, they were also out there. And of course the Star Press was there and has pictues up on thier site. It was a very emotional and triumphant night at the old alma mater. Great job Shane and all those who were involved.

Madhouse Preview

2010-02-16T04:33:00.001-05:00

Here is the video from the post before.

Madhouse Preview #2

2010-02-16T04:21:00.003-05:00

A new show that Tammy and I started watching after one of her boss's told her about it. Brings back some memories of the old racing days. They follow basically 5 drivers, Junior Miller (the legend) Burt Myers (the talented one) his brother Jason Myers (nice guy), Tim Brown (the pompous jerk), and Mark Fleming (the racer thats broke). It is very entertaining especially since I've seen first hand how racing is. Although I don't know these fellows, the series I used to work for and when I worked at Winchester I've seen guys like each one of these guys. It is on every Sunday night at 11 pm on the History channel. Watching this makes me want to go back to my racing roots.

The race track they race at is Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston Salem, NC. It is a flat 1/4 mile track that is very narrow. The best way to pass is to move the car in front of you out of the way, which leads to retaliation which leads to more paybacks and so on. Just imagine racing around the track at the high school, that is what it would be like. I wouldn't mind visiting this track sometime just for the fun of it.

Seemed like old times

2010-02-08T16:58:00.002-05:00

Well what was to be a busy weekend was cut way in half with all of the beautiful snow that we got, and yes I am excited about the accumulating snow that will be here tonight and tomorrow. The weekend was to inculde a MC boys basketball game Friday night (postponed until tonight), radio on Saturday (unable to go because of said snow), Bud Shootout Sat. night (great to see racing again can't wait until next weekend), church (rocked the house), and a Super Bowl 44 party out at the McAllisters (great food, great friends, not the outcome on the game we expected). So only missing 2 events wasn't so bad, I'll let you know depending on the outcome of the MC - Winchester game tonight. I kind of liked being stuck here at home with nothing to do but watch it snow and even didn't mind going outside to shovel, thanks to my bud Kenny Marquis of the town for a little help on that. We were going to have worship practice at 9 on Sat. morning but that got pushed back a little later and ended up being held at 7 pm. Lots of fun sharing the stage again with Ryan and Mandy. When they both stepped down I didn't think I'd ever get to share the stage with them again but now I have and who knows maybe I'll get to do it again in the future.

Just sitting here waiting on the next snow storm and the ball game and for this crazy cold to run its course, if I could sing I'd sound like Barry White right now. Also a little anxious and ready to go do a little Solid Rock Friday Night again this week with some new Toby Mac to play. Also waiting word on something pertaining to SRF that if it happens is going to be totally awesome, like fer sure.

Sunday Set List:
How Awesome Is The Lord Most High - Chris Tomlin
Prince Of Peace (You Are Holy) - Micheal W. Smith
All For Love - Hillsong United (good to pull this one out again)
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - ?
Forever (Nails In Your Hands) - Can't remeber who wrote it but Delirious did it.
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) - Chris Tomlin
Mighty To Save - Hillsong

Ahead of schedule

2010-01-13T09:13:00.002-05:00

As mentioned before I'm doing the newthru30 which is a reading program that reads through the New Testament in just 30 days. Yesterday I actually got ahead of schedule by reading an extra chapter of Matthew, that's cool. Today I will finish up Matthew and head into Acts by reading the first 4 chapters. I'm enjoying this program and to be totally honest with you I thought man I'll never be able to read that much at a time but I tell you it has been very enjoyable and a breeze so far. It also helps that we've been studying Matthew at the Branches the past couple of months so as I was reading those chapters I was reminded of the messages that PK has brought. Hopefully you are reading your bible daily and maybe even joining me in the newthru30 program.

I've been listening to Air1 alot lately here at home online, it is a radio station that is owned by K-love and they play alot and I mean alot of the artists that I like - Kutless, Pillar, Red, Me In Motion, Disciple, Anberlin, and so on and so on. They have stations all across the US but none real close to us that we can pick up in the car unless you head to Dayton. If I could start a station or be program manager I would play alot of the same stuff. Who knows maybe someday.

I'm excited for today because there is a marathon on TNT of my favorite TV show, Leverage, this afternoon and the new episodes start tonight at 10 so I'm pumped for that. Got to speak at the Monthly Meeting tonight about a serious topic and am trusting God to give me the words to say and to follow His lead as we lay it all out on the table. Praying not only for the words to say but the attitude and way to say it without losing control. If any of you want to throw up a prayer I thank you in advance.

False start

2010-01-10T08:54:00.002-05:00

OK so I was going to start reading my bible at the start of the new year and try to make a new habit, you know the 21 day thing I mentioned. Well I kind of laxed and haven't started but no fear. During the first week of the year I found this site. It is newthru30.com from Elevation Chruch which is Steven Furtick's church in NC. What they are doing is reading through the New Testament in 30 days. They have reading plans, study guides and other resources on that site so check it out. The reading plan starts tomorrow or actually it can start whenever you want it to. So I'm doing this tomorrow, yes I am no kidding. Come join me if you want.

21 Days

2009-12-31T11:01:00.002-05:00

It's been said that it takes 21 days to break an old habit and 21 days to form a new one. So with that I'm giving myself and you all a challenge - to form a new relationship with God and by that I mean setting aside time each day for the next 21 days to 1) read my bible, 2) spend time in prayer with God, even listening to Him not being the one to always speak, 3) maybe even keeping a journal and taking it way beyond the 21 days. So that my friends is a challenge that I'm up for and I hope you are as well to start off the year going deeper and continuing throughout the whole year. If you need a little help or something on paper to help you out go to deliberatepeople.com and they have all you will need. Now saying that I will let you know that for the bible reading they have is a good one but it jumps around. By that I mean they have you read something from the Old Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, and the New Testament each day. Sometimes it might just be a verse or two and some might be a whole chapter. I did that once and for me it was a bit hard to try and keep everything in perspective and remember so I'm going to start in the New Testament and go from there. Feel free to start however and wherever you want.

21 days is not a long time, just 3 short weeks, but the results will be monumental. So are you up for it? If you are lets all be encouraging to each other and hold each other accountable for the challenge and track how we are progressing. This is gonna be cool.

One good thing

2009-12-28T12:19:00.003-05:00

There is one good thing about being laid off at this time, I don't have to get out and drive with all the maniacs out there when it's slick outside. I love this type of weather as many of you know, the more snow the better, but I don't like driving in it and the main reason is all the other people out there driving. I can't drive them and me at the same time just not possible. Some drivers think that no matter the conditions they can drive the same but that is just not the case, and I've always said that if you go flying by me on days like today I'd wave as I went by while your stuck in the ditch. I really have been enjoying this since yesterday, hey give me a break, there will be alot more days of sunshine and temps above 75 then there will be days with snow so get over it. I hope that there is more on the way but we will see.

Good final service of the year yesterday, where did this year go, and a good little set list for worship as well. This year has flown by and I'm looking forward to 2010 to see what it holds. Gonna be a lazy last week of the year here at the homestead but I expect things to pick up next week. Not sure yet how we'll ring in the new year but I'm ready for some NCAA football on New Years Day though.

Sunday Set List:
Not To Us - Chris Tomlin
Open The Eyes Of My Heart - Paul Balachoe
Burn For You - Steve Fee
Let My Words Be Few - Matt Redman
Just As I Am - Daniel Baker
Saviour King - Hillsong United

December's post

2009-12-16T12:35:00.003-05:00

Well maybe there will be more than one post in December but we have to wait for the last half of the month to see. Been a few weeks since the last post so here in a nutshell is what has happened so far in the month. Meetings, practices, performances, church, youth, relaxation, and a few bout's of boredom. That has been what this month has been so far. Meetings are going to be getting cut in half at least which right now is a good thing. I have stepped down from clerk of M&O but have reconsidered the offer to remain on M&O, still haven't heard if that has been accepted or not, so that means that only the meeting on the first Wednesday of the month will be the only one I have to be at. I've had an enjoyable few practices with the worship team the last few weeks and I might add that worship has been pretty cool and downright amazing the past few weeks. Youth has also been really good the past few weeks. We've started a new 4 part series called Why Jesus by David Nasser. Good stuff.

Went to 3 performances, 2 for Taylor and 1 for Tyson. Both are in band and are enjoying it very much. Taylor has really taken off in it, she played in Winchester as part of the Honor Band I believe and it was cool to see what all these kids from the area could do in just 1 day of practice and then a performance the following day. Then there was the Winter concert out at the school which was good. Tyson has his first ever band performance last week and during the band part it was very good, then came the main act: the rest of the show. All I need to say is that quite a few people came up to us after the performance and said that they couldn't stop watching Tyson. Why you ask? Because of his "performance" of singing and a few dance moves while sitting down. It was quite the experience. The one year we don't tape it and he goes all out. Oh well you'll probably be able to see him do stuff like that sometime in the future on some comedy show somewhere.

Relaxation and some boredom has set in now as I got laid off for the second time this year, I liked it so much I thought I'd do it again. We kinda knew that it was going to happen, just didn't know when. So now its back to filing for unemployment and back out searching for a job. I do know that God has that perfect job out there for me, just have to be patient and wait for it which as many of you know sometimes can be nerve racking. So thats whats been up for the last few weeks.

Need more 4 day weekends

2009-11-29T08:45:00.002-05:00

Weekends are my favorite days of the week like I've posted before, I enjoy each one of them. 3 day weekends are even better although they are few and far between. But a 4 day weekend is absoulte bonus, paydirt, excellente', fabulous, any other great adjective you can think of insert here. And of course this one was a great one, plenty of food and football on Thursday with Thanksgiving, watching crazy people on Friday with a little shopping action, radio yesterday, and church and some more football today.

Thanksgiving was good and pretty much all of the food is gone except for a little turkey that will become turkey manhattans Monday night. Had my grandma and uncle over, Mom and Dad got some as well as Mom was a little under the weather that day, and we had fun just relaxing most of the day. Friday was off to face the crowds in BLACK FRIDAY, which for some odd reason is fun. Got some shopping done then came home got the kids and went back for seconds. During that time at the mall Tyson and I were in Game Stop getting him some games for Christmas when we got to the counter he said he wasn't feeling real good so we were trying to hurry to get out of the store got our stuff and was heading out when he went down to his knees and sorta passed out for a quick second. I think he just got to hot because there were a ton of people in there packed in. Carried him out of the store and he was fine then. Then later the power went out which was kinda cool.

Today we do my song again at church and I hope to keep it together a little better this time. It wasn't planned for us to do this song but due to circumstances beyond our control we had to replace a couple of the songs we were going to do and add a couple and mine happened to be one of them. We also get to do everyones favorites, Christmas music starts today. Those songs are wild because alot of them have chord changes on either every word or everyother word which makes for fun playing them......NOT!!!!!!!!!

Today's list of songs:
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
All Because Of Jesus - Fee
It's Not About Me - Me and Nate & Nate
You Are My Portion - Darrell Evans
Draw Me Close/ All In All - Name escapes me
Joy To The World - Three Dog Night (OK I'm kidding on that one)

A good and draining weekend

2009-11-02T21:46:00.002-05:00

Weekends are my two favorite days of the week for many reasons but some weekend just seem to go by and it seems like there wasn't the relaxation that you were looking for or they fly by because you were totally swamped with activities and such. That was the case this weekend. Got to do the final broadcast of high school football on JOY FM then a little SRF which was good. Then come home and go to bed to get up at 3:30 am to be ready to head out between 4 and 5 am to go to Illinois to help move the McAllisters. Got to bed after midnight and didn't go to sleep til 12:30 or so, 3:30 comes awfully quick. Got up and got ready and waited looking out the window around 4. By 4:30 nothing, 5:00 nothing, 5:30 ok whats going on. Gave Stephen a call and no answer, did he already leave without me? Why aren't I still sleeping? Are we still going? All these questions are flying through my mind. At 5:45 my cell phone rings with someone on the other line saying, "I just woke up I'll be there in 20 minutes." He finally arrived at 6:30 or so and we were on our way. 6 hours there and 6 hours back along with a couple of hours to load up and we finally made it back here around 9:45 pm. Got them unloaded and set up then off to home around 11. Good fun filled day.

Went to church where I was a bit nervous like alot of Sundays but particularly this one was different, we were doing a song I wrote for the first time in front of the church. It went well at Heart Song so I was excited for it for this weeks service especially with the new series and what its about. Got time to play it and it started off good then BAM it hit me. Doing a quick little look around saw Tammy just smiling from ear to ear, looked in front of her and saw Mom & Dad and they were both into it. Starting to get a little choked up but I'm fine, then the chorus came and I could hear people singing along, whoa wasn't ready for that, now its a little harder to fight. Then I look around a little more and saw PK's Mom & Dad up front both smiling and singing and for some reason that just got me now its even harder to fight. Then saw people in moments of worship with hands raised and or eyes closed and thats when I gave up the fight and pretty much lost it. I always thought that it was a neat little song but seeing it being used for God's glory gave me a whole new perspective on it and I felt really appriciative for Him to use me in ways that just floor me. That was just totally cool. Had to regain composure to finish out the set, luckily the next song was one that I just play simple chords for. I really enjoy the worship experiences out there at The Branches, they totally rock.

Sunday Set List:
All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises - "oh my gosh it's" Paul Baloche
My Glorious - Delirious
Not About Me - Me with help from Nate & Nate
Give Us Clean Hands - Charlie Hall
I Surrender All - Judson Van something or other
Hosanna - Hillsong United

Big Weekend

2009-10-30T22:55:00.002-05:00

Gotta big weekend planned, already completed one task, did the board for the final high school football game on JOY FM then did a little Solid Rock Friday and yes I rocked it up. Got to talk to the Headbangin Hawkeye aka Mike. Had fun but now its almost midnight and I'm leaving in the morning with Stephen Price to head to Geneso Illinois to help Ryan McAllister move some furniture back this way, we are heading out around 4 am so I guess I should go get some sleep.

Sunday is a big day, starting a new series at The Branches called Hope Epidemic, this is gonna be cool. Time to get out of those comfort zones and do some serving and blessing and spreading a little hope to the community. The worship team is doing the song I wrote that we did at Heart Song so that is pretty cool. I still am blown away and humbled at how many people have come up to me or told me that they dug that song. Never done anything like this at church before so it should be interesting. Ready for the rest of the worship set and pretty much the whole service. Then come home and veg out with a little Talladega and the Sprint Cup fellows and flipping back and forth to the football games as well. Fun fun fun. Now to bed to get this started.

Day of Fire - Dark Hills

2009-10-26T18:07:00.001-05:00

Saw them do this song up in Portland this summer, can't wait til the new cd comes out. This song was fantastic in concert with the full band.

How heavy was the crown of thorns?

Addison Road - What Do I Know Of Holy

2009-10-21T19:56:00.001-05:00

Great new song from a band that some of you might have heard of before. Enjoy

Heart Song & the weekend that was.

2009-10-19T17:35:00.002-05:00

If you didn't make it out to Heart Song all I've got to say is you missed an incredible night of music, not just because I had a song in it, but because of the other 12 or 13 songs that were done. We have some amazing talent out at The Branches at Farmland Friends. I was really digging Brent's song My Strength Is In You and Dave's Talk To Jesus and Nathan's The Edge and Nate C's Sinners Prayer and my personal favorite was the last song of the night, Nate and Nate's Victory Is Yours. Wow that song is amazing and I can see it being done some Sunday with the full band and all. It was alot of fun to do that for Marggy and the Black's to help out with rasing some money for them. I'm still not used to people coming up to me and saying they liked my song, I never know how to react except with a thanks. Its amazing that God can use a simple little song to affect people in different ways, I know I can't do anything like that. I wrote that song a few years ago and when Nate C. asked if I'd be interested in participating in Heart Song I told him I had a few songs and gave him that one. He put the music to it and tweaked some of the words to make them flow a little better and I think he knocked it out of the park. I still have another one I'd like to do someday but it is a little more rockin', huh imagine that. I kind of thought that Saturday night wasn't the time to bust that one out yet.

I think the youth worship team dudes did a great job yesterday, I'm excited to see how they are used in the upcoming months up at the 3:7, that's the youth room who are wondering what that is. It was good to have a week off but I'm ready to get back at it this week. Tammy has been excited these past few days as Pastor Kris asked her to help with the upcoming Hope Epedimic series and let me tell you shes been on it. That kind of stuff is right up her alley. I'm excited to see how that series unfolds and how it impacts not only us but the community as well. Humm maybe we can throw in "It's Not About Me" at some point in that series.......

All I can say is WOW

2009-10-05T17:10:00.002-05:00

That is the only word that comes to mind after yesterday's worship, WOW. From the little bridge part in You Alone to the end of Came To My Rescue that was just absolutely fantastic worship. Don't know if those in the congregation felt it but I sure know I did. It never ceases to amaze me that God can use a screw up like me and use me for His GLORY. I also like the fact that we have a leader, pastor, who is not afraid to talk about subjects that are hard to talk about and those that some people don't want to hear about. Kudos to you PK, keep on speaking the word that God has placed in your heart.

This is a great time of the year with fall here and the temps dipping below 60 degrees for highs and the cloudy days are flat out cool, no pun intended. Got to run the board for 2 high school football games this weekend and did a little something different, instead of going to a spot during one of the breaks after a score, the play by play announcer Mike Hohler sent it back to me on Friday to hype up Solid Rock Friday Night for 30 seconds and on Saturday to preview the half time show I had planned. Dang, we almost sounded like professionals during that time. It is alot of fun to work with Mike and Ryan Gathard on the broadcasts and I've met Ryan but have yet to meet Mike. We have a blast before the games and after and sometimes during as I've finally learned how to talk to them why we are at a break. Good times.

Sunday Set list
Blessed Be Your Name - Matt Redman
One Way - Hillsong United (I think I was either a half step ahead or a half step behind during these songs for some reason)
Holliness - Brian Doekerson (Did this one a little funky and I liked it)
Grace Covers Me - David Bell (Great song)
You Alone - David Crowder*Band (The I'm Alive part definately came alive)
Came To My Rescue - Hillsong United (WOW, thats all I can say. Ready to do this one again)

Seriously killed.

2009-09-28T16:26:00.002-05:00

That is what I almost was today, speaking with my proper english that I learned it high school. I was loading a truck today at work and was getting ready to put in the last skid when the as I was turning to go into the truck and the driver decided to pull out, whoaaaaaaaaaa Nelly. Luckily I was looking down to see where the skid was when I noticed that the light from underneath the truck was getting brighter. I stopped about 3 feet from the tow motor heading outside and about a foot from having the skid I was carrying fall outside. It is about a 3 to 4 foot drop so that would have been interesting. I wonder if someone is trying to tell me something?

A good version of the title of the post is what PK's message did yesterday as well as the worship, this series is awesome and I'm not ready for it to end. Rocked it up a bit yesterday and the suggestion I made on Thursday on Oh Praise Him was totally rockin, that is when it builds and builds to go back into the chorus we drop out with the instruments (got that from that video we saw a while back at church of that song with the dude walking down the street). Enjoying the cooler temps, now if it would just snow like crazy.....

Sunday Set List
Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin
Oh Praise Him - David Crowder*Band
Your Grace Is Enough - Chris Tomlin
I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) - Chris Tomlin
Majesty - Jack Hayford
He Is Exalted - Twila Paris

I'm back................for now

2009-09-07T07:36:00.002-05:00

The blog posts have been few and far between here lately, not by design but just because I haven't really felt like posting daily or weekly for that matter. I thought it was time for a little update or post so here goes. Work has been going alright, still don't think that where I'm working at is a place that I'll be at for an extended period of time but who knows. Been getting more comfortable with some of my fellow employees and actually getting some friendships started so thats good. Things have actually slowed down here with school starting so it has been VERY NICE to be able to just hang out at night with Tammy and the kids in a nice relaxed atmosphere.

Worship and service yesterday was off of the charts, it was just a great day all around at church and I'm hoping that this is a sign of things to come where we all get together and actually come together and worship. I have enjoyed the last month of messages and am pumped about the "Worlds Greatest Sermon" and my prayer has been that it just messes us (me) up and that each Sunday we leave there changed in some way. Yesterdays song set was a great one, more on that later.

I get to go, weather permitting, out to the Winchester Speedway here in a few hours with Tammy to hang out and enjoy some racing and catch up with some old friends. I "retired" from being an official for the CRA series and the track a couple of years ago and this year for some reason has been the hardest one or the one where I've missed the races the most so I'm excited for today. Enjoy your Labor Day.

Sunday Set List:

My Glorious - Delirious (I've always liked this song, and we got to rock it up a bit then drop off for the finish, awesome)
Everlasting God - Brenton Brown/Chris Tomlin/ Lincoln Brewster and a host of others (This is another one of those songs that get a good response)
How Awesome Is The Lord Most High - Chris Tomlin (Crank it up to 11 and let it rip, fun song to play and to watch the congregation on. Felt a little funny busting into the opening riff right out of a prayer but it rocked)
How Great Is Our God - Chris Tomlin (Been awhile on this one and I liked that we cut out the ending with How Great Thou Art part this time)
Our God Reigns - Delirious (Simple but yet powerful little number)
Here Is Our King - David Crowder* Band (The energy level really picked up on this one, I don't think people where too familiar with the previous song but this one they were loud)

NEW POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-18T16:17:00.002-05:00

Yes its time again for a new post, been a week or so. A few fun things have happened since I last posted, went on a date with my wife, got to go to a ballgame, said goodbye to some friends before they left for their new adventure, hung out with friends, played at church, hung out at the radio station and yes its true, had a week with only one meeting and nothing else on the agenda and yes that was a great week. I wish I could remember what all we played a few Sundays ago but I don't so I can't post that but I do know that I had alot of fun playing bass again although I'd still like to sell it and use the money to buy a different pedal board. Nathan H. is getting more and more relaxed each time he leads I've noticed, he's doing a great job.

Went out on a date with Tammy last Thursday to Applebee's, its always good to get a little time alone without the kids every once in awhile, need to do that more often. Even though all we did was go out to eat, to the bread store and a quick lap around the mall it was alot of fun being alone with her again. Came home and headed out to the McAllisters before they left for Illinois and got to spend a couple of hours with them just hanging out, I know we will be heading off to their new place sometime in the next few months. They are a cool couple who have been good friends and good influences on us, I only wish that we would have spent more time hanging out than we did.

Got to take a adventure I mean trip to Cincinnati with a few friends to see a ball game and that was a blast this past Saturday. It was an adventure getting there with Highway 27 closed and us finding our own detour which led us down "Round Barn Road" which I thought was a path heading to someones barn. We finally got out and to the game and had fun, especially since the Reds lost again, I've seen them 8 or 9 times and they've only won one of those games. The trip home was just as adventurous with missing our turn onto 1 from Interstate 74, finding another highway to take us back to 1 which was straight out of Tennessee with all the curves and all, then finding out that 1 was closed and finding our own detour again. Low and behold after alot of laughter we made it home around 1:30 am, need to do that more often as well.

Waiting for the next series to start at the FFC, gonna be good. Really enjoyed Pink's series and I've been telling myself daily "Delight in the Lord...." and singing worship songs while driving the old tow motor and the days have been flying by. I love it when God uses people to deliver messages that are needed and enjoy it when the people are obedient and follow His lead.

AWESOME GOD - United Live

2009-08-04T18:37:00.001-05:00

One word - WOW. I haven't seen this for awhile and it still hits me. Of course you all know the song, all they do is the chorus. This is from the end of the "Look To You" DVD so that is why the credits are there.
I really dig around the 3:15 to 3:20 mark, sometimes you don't need the music, you'll see what I mean. That is one loud crowd and if you know me I dig it when the singers stop singing and all you here is the crowd singing, something that always gets me on Sundays at the FFC.

Open Your Earholes

2009-08-02T15:18:00.002-05:00

I had a great time over at the radio station Friday night with Sir-Rocks Alot (PK) and the Head Bangin' Hawkeye (PK's cousin Mike) as we rocked it up and cut up a bit having alot of fun. The only thing that would have made it better is if we would have got that pizza from Pizza King we asked for, maybe next time. I wish that we could have had a web cam in there so that people could have seen all the funny stuff that happened while we were not on the air. We did have a record set, our buddy Nate-Dog from New Paris called in 18 times, yes 18 times. He really wanted to win the cd we were giving away, which he did, but it got funny everytime the phone rang we knew it was him. Made a little mistake but we corrected it as I mistakenly put the ' after the 84 instead of before it on a song title so it was not a 84' Sheepdog, which by the way would be a really big dog, but we fessed up and cleared the air. That was the last time for a while that I'll have all 3 hours as high school football is coming up at the end of the month so there is only 2 maybe 3 more full shows until November for a bit then high school basketball will be coming.

Church was good today, Pink brought it. I hope that the message sank in with alot of people and that God does a mighty work, like He does, and that lives will be changed. I'm anxious for next week now to see this message continued. Worship was good and I really think that Let God Arise is the most popular song we do, it really seems to get people going. Getting ready for a little youth tonight then back to the grind tomorrow. Work has been alright but I still don't think that this is the place I'm supposed to be at if that makes any sense. I think there is somewhere else I'm supposed to be but I just don't know where yet. And wasn't it awesome to hear that there were over 200 kids that were at the big Back To School Bash yesterday. That was totally cool, I only wish that there was enough items to go around for all of them, maybe next year.

Sunday Set List:
Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin (Best opener we do, really get to rock out on this one)
Whom Shall I Fear - Darrell Evans (Really like the "hook" in the chorus)
Open The Eyes Of My Heart - Paul Baloche (Been a while since we did this one, think the second time through was really good)
Grace Flows Down - David Bell (I dig this song)
I Surrender All - Judson VanDeVenter (Really like this one too, the congregation was loud on this one)
All Because Of Jesus - Fee (2nd time doing this song and its getting a little bit more comfortable)

Week 2 at the new job

2009-07-13T15:59:00.003-05:00

Well I have started week 2 of the new job and I'm still not used to the getting up around 5:30 am routine yet. The new job has it moments and I can honestly tell you I'm am so tired of seeing popcorn. The company I work for has a 5 year contract with Pop Weaver and the Boy Scouts and I spend 80 to 90% of my day moving, loading, unloading, and stocking popcorn. Don't get me wrong there is nothing better than a bowl of popcorn, some tea and a sporting event but I am tired of seeing it. Another thing I'm tired of is how my behind sweats while sitting on the tow motor for hours on end, I know TMI, thats too much information for those of you who don't abbriviate. Tomorrow will be a super long day, go in at 7 and work till 4:30 then have a 3 hour class to get certified on the tow motor again, thats gonna be a long day.

Church was good yesterday again as was youth, I really enjoy Sundays. The old fingers had a mind of their own in a few spots and had a brain fart on the last song when I forgot the capo for a bit but it was still all good. I really liked the enthusiasm that Nate had yesterday, really got people going. Youth was good with a little sanctuary dodgeball and hanging with some cool kids. Getting excited for Friday night when I'll be back on Solid Rock Friday Night again, next Friday we are having our 10th anniversary bash there which should be fun.

Sunday Set List:
All Because Of Jesus - Steve Fee
All We Need - Charlie Hall
How Firm A Foundation - John Rippon
Your Love Oh Lord - Third Day
From The Inside Out - Hillsong United
One Way - Hillsong

Hey I'm actually reading a book

2009-07-02T22:06:00.003-05:00

There are a few things that I've picked up from my Dad over the years, love of baseball probably being one of the biggest, but one of the things he loves to do I don't do so much that is read books. I got him a book for Fathers Day, of course it was about a baseball player, Josh Hamilton and his rise and fall and rise again and his faith, and he read it that night, the whole stinkin book in one night. I can't do that. I do get in those moods to read a book, I recently read the book on Joe Torre and his time with the Yankees, good book. I like reading biographies to see how people have overcome something but I also like reading books that teach me something. I am reading such a book thanks to the Chrome Legend. It is Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" and I'm digging this book.

The last chapter I read was a tough one and I'm gonna read it again. The chapter was called PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM and yeah my toes hurt, my butt was kicked so hard that I had trouble sitting down and some of the things he mentioned hit me like a kick to the groin, in a good way though. He mentioned something that hit me and here it is:

The American church is a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity. The goals of American Christianity are often a nice marriage, children who don't swear, and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered. That's for the "radicals" who are "unbalanced" and who go "overboard." Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not invlove suffering. Check out Philipians 3:10.

He also mentions that "LUKEWARM PEOPLE say the love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn't allowed to control their lives." I think that we can all find ourselves guilty of this WAY TOO OFTEN. This is a great book and I suggest reading it if you get the chance. Early in the book he painted this picture which I will leave you with:

Not being able to fully understand God is frustrating, but it is ridiculous for us to think we have the right to limit God to something we are capable of comprehending. What a stunted, insignificant god that would be! If my mind is the size of a soda can and God is the size of all the oceans, it would be stupid for me to say He is only the small amount of water I can scoop into my little can. God is so much bigger, so far beyond our time-encased, air/food/sleep-dependant lives.

Try this again

2009-06-25T15:51:00.002-05:00

I noticed yesterday that it has been over a week since my last post so I did one up yesterday only to hit publish and get an error code. So that post is lost in space somewhere so I give you this one. Its been a quiet week here this week, the kids are in Tennessee which we will be heading down there to pick them up tomorrow and head back early Sunday so we can be back in time to duct tape the bus, thats gonna be fun. The kids have enjoyed their week away, didn't know about Tyson because he's never spent more than a weekend away from home but he is having a blast and they are already talking about going back for a week before school starts.

Enjoyed a couple of mini dates with Tammy this week and I think we need to do that every week no matter what we do. Got a book to read when I get back "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, that dude is amazing so I look forward to reading the book and learning. Radio has been fun, I'll miss Saturday over there, and I would love to do that full time, maybe someday. Work front is still stalled out, nothing really on the horizion as of now but I know God has a plan for me and its not by my time but by His.

Birthday / Father's Day wrapped into one

2009-06-18T07:37:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I got my birthday/Father's day gift, tickets to see the Indianapolis Indians play. Tammy got them for half-price from WLBC and their half-price hookup and we decided to take in a day game yesterday. It helped the decision when I found out they were playing the Atlanta Braves triple A team Gwinnett. We actually lucked into seeing a doubleheader as Tuesday nights game was rained out so they played it yesterday. The games started an hour earlier at noon and were only 7 innings each. Both games were good, we sat about 10 or 11 rows up right beside the Braves' dugout on the first base side, good seats except for the first game it was packed in that area, most of the people in our section left after the 1st game so we got to spread out a bit. The Indians scored all 3 of their runs in the first game in the 7th inning to win game one 3-2. The Braves held on in game 2 to win 4-3.

During the second game in the bottom of the 5th inning a member of the Indians grounded to the shortstop who threw to the 2nd baseman to force a runner out to end the inning. As they were coming to the dugout the 2nd baseman Brooks Conrad was looking into the stands at all the people screaming for the ball, I was standing there pointing towards Taylor and Tyson beside me and he flipped the ball up there and Tyson got it. After that he was into the game for the final 2 innings. Now I've been to about 15 games before and never really even come close to getting one and Tyson at his second ball game got one. He of course didn't want to go in the first place, not a sports fan at all, so he was complaining most of the day about being hot or bored or whatever but after he got the ball he was all into it. I told them all before we left the house that Tyson would probably have the most fun there because he didn't want to go and it turns out he did. If you've never been to Victory Field it is a beautiful ballpark and a good place to see a game, I'm sure we will go back.

Topped the day off by stoping at the Hamilton Commons and eating at Red Robin, we need one of those in Muncie. Got a bit fried at the ball game and I'm paying the price today, it was all worth it, even parking at the zoo and walking a couple of blocks to the stadium. Got to meet up with an old classmate there and it was good to talk to her and meet 3/4 of her family and her to meet mine.

Summer is here, almost

2009-06-15T08:30:00.002-05:00

Although the first day of summer is actually a few days away, the kids have started their summer vacation and I think they are enjoying it already. Taylor slept in til 9 am and Tyson is at his normal spot playing a little PlayStaion. This could turn into a normal routine for these two except for when band camp and band practice come up for Taylor. I on the other hand look forward to playing a little golf in the coming days or weeks depends on the job situation which is still at a stand still. I got a thing from Hickory Hills Golf Course via WLBC's half price hook-up which is where you get things half price. I got a $50 gift card for $25 so when I get it I will be enjoying some golf no matter how horrible I play I'll still enjoy it. I always have enjoyed playing even though I'm not that good but it seems like its hard to find time to go. When I worked at Twoson we'd have 1 or 2 outings a year, 1 for just Twoson and 1 for Twoson and our customers. They cut those a few years ago but I still enjoyed taking a day off with my boss and we'd go play 18 holes somewhere, Winchester, Selma, Hickory Hills and one time we went to Indy to play at William Sham, had to wear a shirt with a collar. I didn't go out last year and not sure if I made it out the year before and I know it has been around 5 years since I've played just a mile or so north of where I'm sitting so to say that I'm pumped is an understatement.

Something else I'm pumped about, the new series "Personal". I really enjoyed yesterday's messge and look forward to the next few weeks. I've been a christian for 20 + years and I can honestly say that alot of that time it was not personal. I never really thought about in that light most of the time but PK is right on when he talks about it being personal. I'm excited to see how God is gonna move during this time. Worship was good yesterday, I think everyone did a good job not only yesterday but last week as well, don't think I ever posted on last week. I'd post last weeks songs but I don't remember all of them, I'm getting old.

Sunday Set-List:
How Awesome Is The Lord Most High - Chris Tomlin
Whom Shall I Fear - Darrell Evans
How Marvelous (I Stand Amazed) - Chris Tomlin
Enough - Chris Tomlin
Came To My Rescue - Hillsong United
Arms Of Love - Craig Musseau
In The Secret - Sonicflood

Fun at the station

2009-06-13T22:43:00.002-05:00

Last night was a blast again at the station with PK and Solid Rock Friday Night. We did the rock A to Z and completed the alphabet with the exception of Q and Y so if your starting a band use one of those letters. We had a ball and I'm sure some footage will show up at some point. Had fun bantering and just doin our thing with Kris aka Sir RoX Alot and myself DJ Jazzy D-Roc the Professor of Roctology, make sure you don't have a P on there. Did my first interview on the air with a fellow named Dave who was putting on the Day of Fire show that we went to tonight, more on that in a bit, and there was a time we thought we'd never make it through the alphabet and then there was a time where we thought we're gonna have time left over. Turns out we ended on Z and that was the end of our show, we played the time perfectly. Even got a chance to kind of interview PK for a bit about what is going on at FFC. I'm sure that there will be yet another return engagement in the future. Bummer that Pink couldn't make it but we still had a blast.

Tonight the family went to the Jay Co. Fairgrounds and caught the Day of Fire show for FREE and it was a rockin' good time. They sounded good and put on a whale of a show, I'd defineately go see them again sometime. Got to talk to Josh Brown the lead singer for a few minutes, he used to be in a rock band called Full Devil Jacket and had drug problems but gave his live to Christ and started all over again, he has an awesome testimony. They played a new song called "The Darkest Hill" or something to that effect, it is about Christ going to the cross and it was amazing. I told him I'm playing that one on the radio when the cd comes out. It was a great song, I'm gonna have to check out YouTube to see if there is any footage of it.

Ready for the new series tomorrow, I know I've said it before but I'll say it again, I think this is going to be an awesome series and we are going to see lives changed. Ready to play tomorrow and after practice Thursday I'm ready to do You Are Here (The Same Power) in a couple of weeks, your gonna dig that one.

Another year has passed.

2009-06-12T11:00:00.002-05:00

As I type this it is 12:01 PM which means in 11 minutes I will officially be 41, another year has came and went and I don't know what happened to most of it, it seemed to just fly by. Why didn't the time go by this fast when I was in school? Alot happened during the year some good things and some bad things but chalk it all up to experience and move on is how I feel about it. I was sitting here thinking of past birthdays and I know we always had a little party and I got to thinking about my favorites and I narrowed it down to the 3 that stick out the most, and funny two of them have to do with the same thing.

My first would be my 12th B-day which would be 1980, my aunt worked at the bank in Winchester and got us 4 tickets to see the Reds take on my favorite team at the time the Pittsburgh Pirates, why were they my favorite team? Thats easy, Chuck my brothers fave was the Phillies so being the rivals that we were I followed their biggest rival at the time, the Pirates. Now I had been a Pirates fan for a few years and it just so happened that in '79 they won the World Series, the following year I got a chance to go see them in an afternoon special on my B-day, how cool is that. They beat the Reds of course and the game is memorable because one of the Pirates, Mike "The Hitman" Easler hit for the cycle that day. For those of you who don't know what that is it is when a batter hits a single, double, triple and a home run all in the same game, don't worry I didn't know what it was until that day either. Can't remember the score but that was fun seeing my heroes that day.

Second would be 6 years later at the same place but this time it was the Houston Astros taking on and beating the Reds. I got 4 tickets from someone and myself, Chuck, Scott Parkison and Monte Gaddis all headed down there to see the game and spend the night across the river in Kentucky. We had a blast except for walking to the game across the bridge over the Ohio River, not fun for two reasons, I don't like heights and I don't like big bodies of water. It was the longest 5 minutes of my life bt we made it and enjoyed the game.

Last would be just last year when Tammy and Mandy Bly cooked up this idea for a surprise party for Andy and myself for our 40th and they did surprise us. Because of that I am now suspicious when someone asks me to help move chairs at the church. Many were involved in the whold plan and played it out without us knowing, I still hope you all went to the alters that next day at church for the "deception" of the whole thing ;}. It was a cool day and I thank all who came out.

Tonight PK and possibly Pink will be joining me for a little A to Z on Solid Rock Friday Night from 8 to 11 on 88.9 Joy Fm or 889joyfm.com. Listen and play along with us as we are not asking for requests persay but for suggestions of artists with the corresponding letter. Should be fun and who knows what is going to happen. Tomorrow more radio from 12-3 and free concert featuring Day Of Fire tomorrow night at the Jay County Fairgrounds.

Not a big fan of funerals

2009-05-31T21:57:00.002-05:00

What a different weekend this was, Friday got to do a little radio which is nothing out of the ordinary nor the Saturday stint which both were fun and I enjoy each time I go over there but I also get critical of myself, as I'm sure alot of you do at your work or doing something you enjoy, and I think to myself how smooth or not so smooth my transitions were or how many times I say "UHM" that is one thing I try to mentally focus on not doing so when I do say UHM is sticks out to me. I love doing the radio gig and am really looking forward to Fri. June 12th when my compadres from a few weeks ago (PK & Pink) will be joining me again for 3 hours of mayhem and madness. I've got an idea for the show which I have not let them know yet but in due time I will let them know and we will have a blast. We need to work on radio nicknames for them for that show, I'm gonna be DJ JAZZY D-ROC, PROFESSOR OF ROCKTOLOGY. I know I'm a dork but oh well.

Wish that all those big nasty thunderstorms they were having around Indy last night would have been here but sometime. Tammy spent the day with our friend Aubery working on a couple of photo boards for Aub's grandmother who passed away last week for her funeral which was today. I was honored to be asked to be a palbearer for her and enjoyed hanging out with her and her family during this time. I'm still however not a fan of funerals or hospitals still though. Got a call tonight as well saying that my brother and his family were here in town for a few hours so it was good to see them for a bit. They are back on the road tomorrow to Va. Beach and home so it was a whirlwind trip for them but still good to see them.

I am so ready to get back to playing with the worship team as its been two weeks now that I've not played, they did an awesome job this morning, and also ready to get back into the youth group groove, had to miss the past two weeks but things should be back to normal next week whatever normal is.

FUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-29T06:44:00.002-05:00

Something is happening today that hasn't happened to me in over 15 years, I'm going for a job interview. Now its been a long time between these and I'll be honest with you I'm a bit nervous, am I going to say the right things, how will I look, am I what this company is looking for, and the one question that drives me crazy - "What can you bring to our company that we don't have?" or something to that effect. It has been almost 5 months since I was laid off and this is the first interview obviously that I've had. Most places I go to I get the same "We're not hiring right now" thing and occasionally I'll get a little boost of confidence when they ask me to fill out an application to go along with my resume, that has happened 3 or 4 times and for me that makes me feel a little better about the place I'm at. Now getting called for the interview really boosts my morale and even if nothing happens with this place it lets me know that there is still hope, which by the way I still know that God has a plan for me and it's not my time that this will unfold but in His time.

Now you maybe asking yourself why did he name this post FUMBLE, well your in luck, I'll tell ya. I'm a big sports fan and I was thinking yesterday and last night about how things happen and I thought I'd put it to a little sports annology. Sometimes in life things happen and the ball gets rolling in different areas and I drop the ball,.
Example: Heres the snap, handoff to Chalfant in the back field, FUMBLE.
Sometimes I don't even get the ball to take off with it before I lose it. Other times its:
Example: Hand off to Chalfant, hits the hole, cuts back to the inside FUMBLE.
Sometimes I get the ball and start to run with it and lose my grip as I'm going and lose it.
And then theres this:
Hand off to Chalfant and he breaks through the line, down the sideline he goes 20, 15, 10, 5 and he FUMBLES before the goal line.
Sometimes I get a good "run" going and lose my focus or get relaxed and cruise and lose it. But everyonce in a while I take that ball and go in for the score and those are the cool times.
I've felt in the past few weeks that I've been FUMBLING quite a bit at different things whether it be in conversations, relationships or in everyday living, being forgetful or unassertive and passive or just plain being a screw up. I know there is a work in progress here and that those fumbles will soon turn into touchdowns on a regular basis. Man I'm ready for some football now.

Tear Down The Walls

2009-05-26T08:39:00.002-05:00

I am super pumped, the new Hillsong United CD is out today and it is called "Tear Down The Walls". I listened to a sneak preview of the cd Sunday night thanks to Carlos Whitaker who hosted a listening party and chat which was fun. Today I got to listen to it again, not because I went out and bought it, I haven't yet and don't know when I will, but because it is the free preview from New Release Tuesday and if you want to check it out go over there and sign up, its free and you can enjoy it as well. After listening to it there are alot of songs on there that we could do on any given Sunday but my favorite is the title track. I went to You Tube yesterday to see if there were any vids of this song and there wasn't but they did have the audio of the song on there if you'd like to check it out that way. Be warned that it is a 10 minute song but also be warned that it is one of the most POWERFUL 10 min. song you'll ever here. WOW just a flat out worshipful song. Here are the lyrics for it:

Verse 1
Tear down the walls, see the world
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves, look beyond
There is so much more than this

Pre-Chorus
And I don't need to see it to believe it
I don't need to see it to believe it
Cause I can't shake this fire deep inside my heart

Verse 2
Look to the skies, hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life, There is love, there is hope
And this is real

Chorus
This life is Yours
And hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation
Would come back to You
It's all for You

Chorus 2
Your Name is glorious, glorious
Your love is changing us, calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You

Bridge
Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You

Great song and I hope you enjoy it if you get a chance to check it out. Also check on the side bar go down to Earl aka Jamie Rowe and check out a post on his blog, its about 3 or 4 posts in and it is called "Sick of going to church" its a bit or a read but it is full of honesty and some good little nuggets. Enjoy.

Hey I'm blogging.

2009-05-18T11:18:00.002-05:00

It seems here recently that I am not blogging as much as I used to, don't know if I've ran out of stuff to say or just get preoccupied with other things, I'm going with the latter. Been an interesting few days here. I got to fill in for Joel Brantingham on the Workday Wrap-Up Friday on Joy FM and had alot of fun doing those duties and then when I got home there was a message on the machine from the guy who was going to do Solid Rock Friday Night saying that he wasn't able to be there and wanted to know if I could fill in. So Taylor and her friend Emily and myself all piled back into the car and made a B line over there to do SRF. Had a good time with that, I let the girls do some announcing but I think they were in for a speed record each time as it took under 5 seconds each time they were on the air until the last little segment where it was about 10 seconds. I think they had fun with it and Taylor wants to do that more often and I'm sure I'll be taking her back with me. That was the 3rd week in a row that I did all 3 hours of the show with 6 different guest hosts. I'll be handling the show again on my birthday June 12 with PK as a host and we are working on Pink to go with us again and have some more fun. This time I'll be sure and talk a little bit about thier ministries like I had planned to do last time but craziness insued.

I already love the new series at FFC "FEAR", yesterday's message was spot on. I do not want to be known as a man pleaser but a GOD PLEASER no matter the cost. Too many times we as christians forget that and try to do everything we can to make everyone around us happy and comfortable when we should be doing what GOD wants us to do which doesn't always make people happy and comfortable. Christians (and myself included) need to stop being yellow bellied cowards and live our lives in a way that is pleasing to GOD and not man. I really dug the Perry Noble references that PK used yesterday (the christian music one and $100 bill one) as he is a straight shooter who has one purpose and one purpose only and that is to get as many people as possible to change thier eternal destinations and I think that is what PK wants to do as well. I'm bummed that we are going to miss next Sunday's message, gonna have to put an order in for the DVD, as we are heading down south for a few days.

Sunday Set list:
I Will Not Be Silent - David Crowder*Band
Lord Reign In Me - Brenton Brown
Came To My Rescue - Hillsong United
You Are My Portion - Darrel Evans
Thank You - David Crowder*Band
Came To My Rescue - Hillsong United (I have a feeling this is another one of those songs that could be huge on alot of Sundays)

2 days in a row.

2009-05-15T08:11:00.003-05:00

I get to be on the radio 2 days in a row this week during prime listening hours. Today I will be filling in for Joel Brantingham with the Workday Wrap-Up from 3-7 and then tomorrow my normal Saturday noon to 3 show. I'm excited about doing the Workday Wrap-Up again, I filled in for a few days last year and enjoyed it, and would like you to hang out with me for a bit today if you could. I would appriciate it. Had fun last night at worship practice, we are doing a new song this Sunday that we've worked on a bit before and it came together last night. Tammy and Tyson are hanging out at King's Island today with Tyson's class, they have made it a school field trip with some homework involved before lunch then play for the rest of the day. Tyson couldn't stop talking about some ride called the Diamondback. He's our little thrill seeker and I think he would ride anything which is a good thing that Tammy is with him, I'm not that adventurous with theme park rides.

Got new furniture yesterday thanks to Tammy's Dad and now I hope someone stops by and buys our old furniture that I have sitting out for todays town rummage. I already broke in the new couch yesterday with a little nap action and it sleeps nicely, I see quite of few more of those in my future.

I think there will be an encore sometime

2009-05-09T19:25:00.002-05:00

Last night was a total blast over at the old radio station. I sense that there might be an encore sometime this summer if the other participants are willing, which I think they will be. It was alot of fun to just let loose and joke and kid and just having a good time. I know we set some records last night with the longest request, we had one from Austrialia from David which by the way it would be Solid Rock Saturday Morning there, countless twitter requests and text requests and around 10 phone requests, basically over half of the first 2 hours were requests. Got to play around 46 songs or so and just had alot of fun. If you listened I hope we entertained you and you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed bringing you the rock and general goofiness. I know there is some video footage that is floating around and I'm sure it will surface at some point.

I really enjoy taking the kids from the youth over there but PK and Pink were not at all itimidated by the microphone and made it real easy to just let loose and cut up. I never knew you could do 2 segments talking about cheese but now I know its possible. Today was fun over there but nowhere near as lively as last night. Thanks for all the calls, texts, and tweets during the show and like I said we'll have to do it again sometime.

Guest host and another guest host

2009-05-08T06:39:00.003-05:00

Tonight on Solid Rock Friday Night Iwill have once again 2 very special guest hosts. These are 2 individuals whom I admire and look up to, even though they are both younger than me and I am taller than. Tonight for the first time ever you can listen in from 8 to 11 pm on 88.9 JOY FM or listen online at 889joyfm.com and check out the show with myself and my 2 guests PK and Pink. This is going to be fun. I've enjoyed taking the kids and some of the youth over there and everyone has enjoyed it but tonight I get to take a couple of fellows who have plenty of experience in public speaking so I don't think I have to worry about them locking up on me if you know what I'm saying. Could have alot of fun conversations between songs and just general craziness. Be sure to check it out if you can and call in some requests at 877-335-4569 but please refrain from all those songs that do not rock, i.e. Gaithers there Mom and Dad. With this crew its gonna be alot of fun. I have brought to Dan Franks the GM of the station that I thought it would be cool to each month or so bring a youth pastor from a local church and a couple of the kids for a little interview and guest hosting. This could be a little preview of what that could be like. If the ROCK is not your thing don't forget that I'll be on there again tomorrow from noon to 3.

Com'on rock, rock, rock

2009-05-03T14:19:00.002-05:00

Couldn't resist a little tribute to some good old Stryper with the title, speaking of rock had alot of fun Friday night, for the most part, over at the station with Kyle Parkison and Matt Thornburg. They both had fun I think, they kept thanking me all night so I think that means they had fun, and both did a good job even though they both messed up the name of the show. Brought the rock and had quite a few requests from calls from some we knew and some we didn't. Had a call from a girl in Chicago listening online requesting a song for her sister in Greenville, OH. The only part of the night that wasn't cool was when the car messed up coming home. It would die and then keep going all in a matter of seconds if that makes any sense. The car spent the night over in D & J Resturants parking lot thanks to Tammy coming over at midnight and getting us. Ready for next Friday night when there will be 2 more guest hosts with me. I'll let you all in on who later in the week.

Had fun again Saturday with the show, I'm trying to figure out little things to do each week that maybe could be something I do every week. Of course its a different flow then Friday night but still fun none the less. Who knows where it will lead but I'm really enjoying the chance to have a little fun for a couple hours on a Saturday.

Church was good again this morning, the beach ball thing at the begining was so cool, hopefully we can do that again sometime. Nathan did a good job with his first time leading and PK brought it and I'm up for the challenge of using my time wisely this week. Now its almost youth time, think I might hang out with the junior highers tonight as well.

Sunday Set list:
Days Of Elijah - Twila Paris
Shout Unto God - Hillsong United
Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing) - Brian Doekerson
I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever - Delirious
You Are/Jesus Messiah - Nate & Nate/Chris Tomlin

Radio tonight with 2 special guests

2009-05-01T08:42:00.002-05:00

Tonight as well as next Friday night I'll be doing the whole 3 hours of Solid Rock Friday Night and I'll be having a couple of guest hosts for those 2 shows. Tonight I'll have with me a couple of fellows from the jr. high youth group, Kyle Parkison and Matt Thornburg, both are excited and pumped up for it so can you do us a favor and check it out if you can from 8-11 on 88.9 or 889joyfm.com and listen in and call in your rockin' requests. It is always fun to watch people who go over there with me and watch how at the begining they are kind of shy and nervous but after they get the first time talking out of the way they normally warm up and have alot of fun with it. I'm sure I'll do a little post about it tomorrow or sometime in the next few days. On tomorrows normal Saturday show I'm going to add a little segment on strange news at some point. I'll be scanning the internet to find odd and strange news and report on it during the show. No remotes again this week so I'll have plenty of time to tell about these from 12-3 tomorrow.
Tyson has 2 birthday parties this weekend, tonight 2 or 3 of his buddies from school are coming home with him and spending the night and then tomorrow we are having one with the family and it is a co-birthday party with my nephew Tyler who turns 17 next week. Tyson hits the big 11 this week and he is anxious to turn 13 so he can play video games that are rated T for teen, oh the simple things in life to look forward to. Ready for church already, Nathan Harris will be leading worship this week with some twists up his sleeve, come join us Sunday at 10:45.

Craziness continues

2009-04-27T21:47:00.002-05:00

It's been a few days since my last post and its been nothing short of crazy around here since. Went to the station on Wednesday and met the guy who does the play by play for all the football and basketball games on JOY FM, I have worked with him for about 2 years and never met him face to face so I heard he was going to be there Wednesday for a bit so I went and hung out and talked to him for a few. Got a few ideas for the upcoming football season since I'll be on the board in the studio about some banter between the two of us, we will see how that goes.

Thursday and Friday I helped out with the sharathon answering phones and just having some fun, so much that I'll be back over there in the morning from 6-8 am doing it again. The station fell around $26,000 short of the goal so hopefully they can get that tomorrow. Went to see a buddy of mines son preform Friday night before he headed off to Nashville to pursue a career in music, good stuff. Tammy stayed the night with her aunt in the hospital then and I came home and got a call at 5 in the morning on Saturday saying that she, the aunt, had passed away. Came in got Tammy and came home to go to the station for the Saturday show, came home and went back to Muncie to go to a benefit for her aunt at their church, PK would have loved it southern gospel, a little bluegrass and a quartet. Not my cup of tea but it really wasn't bad.

Church and youth on Sunday and two of Tammy's cousins from Tenneesse came up and are spending a few days with us for the funeral so we hung out with them, cookout tonight, funeral tomorrow along with 2 meetings and then a little break, woohoo can't wait.

Sunday Set list:
Not To Us - Chris Tomlin (Seems like its been a while since we've done this)
Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing) - Brian Doekerson (Been a while on this one as well)
My Glorious - Delirious (Did this one end amazing or what?)
I Give You My Heart - Hillsong (I thought Shannon did a great job on this one)
I Surrender All - Judson W. Van DeVenter (I like this one)
One Way - Hillsong United (I think this pumped the people up)

Sharathon time again

2009-04-22T13:14:00.002-05:00

Its that time of year again over at JOY FM for the spring sharathon, it started this morning and goes until 7 pm on Friday. If you can pledge ANY amount please do so, it is great having a christian radio station in our own backyard. Call in your pledges toll free at 877-335-4569 and I know they will appriciate it very much. I was over there for a bit this morning and things are hoppin' over there. I will be there tomorrow and Friday mornings from 6 am to 10 am to take your pledges, feel free to call in your pledge during those times.

I really enjoy my time over there, if you can't tell, and I am thankful not only for the chance to be a part of that ministry but also that there is a station like that in our area that is safe for the kids and enjoyable for mom and dad. Last I checked though the P-town down crew had 2 supporters, Albany 1 and our own hometown of Farmland is being shut out right now, lets go fellow Farmlanders, whats up with that?

Wow.

2009-04-20T07:19:00.003-05:00

I had a feeling that something big and powerful was going to happen yesterday at church and it did, what an awesome God we serve. At small group Saturday night I was talking to Ryan and discussing the song "Saviour King" and I told him I think it is going to be a HUGE song like "Mighty To Save", "Let God Arise" kind of thing at the FFC, you know the kind of song that just gets people going. During the second time around for that song I believe it was there. I know how I get when you look out and see people worshiping and giving it all to God, I can't imagine how He feels. Great time and I believe we will be doing that song again and again. It was good to have Ryan back and singing for that song, kind of took me back a few years, not only did he bring it for that the message he brought was right on as well. Kudos to Ryan.

I was a bit bummed however yesterday, I had planned on going to the race track after service but on Saturday they cancelled the races with the forecast for rain all day, bummer but I understand, I've been at the track for hours before waiting on it to stop raining and dry the track, not fun. Glad they cancelled early, saved alot of people money and gas.

Sunday Set list:
Forever - Chris Tomlin
All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises - Paul Balachoe (Been a while since we've done this one)
Saviour King - Hillsong United (Gonna be HUGE)
King Of Glory - Chris Tomlin
Breathe - Micheal W. Smith (liked the little intro playing as Brent was talking)
Saviour King - Hillsong United (See above, great song and even greater moment with everyone coming to the front to pray, awesome, awesome, awesome.)

Radio, radio, radio

2009-04-18T08:01:00.002-05:00

Had fun last night on Solid Rock Friday Night, I was supposed to take care of the first half of the show but ended up doing the whole thing. I had a blast and gave away a couple of cd's, had quite a few requests, it must have been Skillet night because 4 out of the 5 requests were for their songs. Gonna be heading back over there in just a few to do the Saturday Afternoon show from noon to 3 which will be the start of my new routine there. I am so excited about the possibilites over there with the Saturday show and filling in when needed, I am blessed to be able to do something which I really like with music and praising God at the same time. Get next Friday night off but then the next two I'll be doing the whole show both weeks again and might just have to take some guest hosts over there with me.

Getting pumped for tomorrows service, Ryan's got a good message to bring and the worship team has a few good songs to bring as well. Got a new one that I think is gonna be HUGE, we are gonna do it twice tomorrow, first time you all can just take it in then the second time join us in worship. Dusting off an older song that hasn't been done in a while that I get to put a little "drive" in it. Getting ready for that and also hope the rain holds off so I can watch some racing out at the Winchester Speedway and catch up with some old friends. Come join us tomorrow at the FFC.

It's Hot In Topeka

2009-04-16T19:52:00.001-05:00

Just some senseless humor, hope you get a kick out of it.

Upcoming dates and weekend update

2009-04-16T10:45:00.002-05:00

Some news for you and some dates to remember if you could, starting this Saturday April 18th from 12 noon to 3 pm I will be on the air every Saturday except for the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend on 88.9 JOY FM as the new host of that time period. I got the call a day ago asking if I would be interested in doing that and without hesitation I said yes. It's the perverbial foot in the door kind of thing and I am excited about being a part of the JOY FM family. Who knows where this will lead but I know God has that all under control so I'll just obey and have some fun with it. I'll still be doing the Solid Rock Friday Night thing, which by the way I'll be on tomorrow night from 8 to 9:30, and now Saturdays, that is just too cool. God is good even though I am undeserving alot of times.

So this weekend will be packed with radio tomorrow night, radio Saturday and all kinds of things for the kids to do that day and then church on Sunday and after service I'm heading out to the Winchester Speedway to check out the opening day races with the USAC Sprint Cars and CRA Late Models, I'll get to hang out with some old friends and catch up a bit and watch some good racing, then its probably off to youth for a bit before coming home and collapsing. Gonna be a fun weekend with lots to do, plus I hear the weather might actually cooperate and be nice.

Busy weekend that was

2009-04-14T08:15:00.003-05:00

What a fun, but busy weekend that was. Got to hang out with my brother and his family since Thursday when they arrived from VA Beach and had alot of fun just hanging with them, had a little party on Thursday night for Mom's B-Day then Friday hung around all day and took my brother and his wife out for a anniversary dinner, their anniversary is actually tomorrow, and had a big cook-out easter egg hunt thing on Saturday. Lots of good food and lots of fun, then off to small group and then home to bed. Sunday was good as well, did you see how many people were at church, my goodness there was a bunch. Great service and I pray that lots of people were touched and that we would see them again some Sunday at the FFC. Gonna miss the TXT series, that was alot of fun and very interactive, maybe we can do it again sometime.

Got up yesterday and took Taylor and a couple of other girl-scouts to Indy to the Statehouse where they were pages for the day. If you've never been to the Statehouse let me tell you it's huge. I got to take a tour of the place which was cool but the tour guide was giving facts about the place that sometimes just weren't very interesting. But I digress the tour was fun and got to go into alot of the "big" places like the House room and the Senate room, and the Judges area. Lots of fun. The building has a hallway or tunnel if you will that goes from the Statehouse to Circle Center Mall which is where we ate lunch, CHIC-FIL-A, great food and we need one of those in Muncie or Winchester. Took the girls back after lunch and went back to the mall, not impressed with Circle Center, too many clothing shops not enough other stuff just my opinion, spent about a half hour there then went back over to watch the House in action. Got in there and when they were getting ready to start they announced that the Republicans wanted a caucus and left for an hour, so I had to waste about an hour and a half until 3 when the girls would be done.

Sat on a bench and was watching all the people dressed in their suits and all and couldn't help but wonder, how many of them were on the up and up and how many of them are crooked politicians who take money under the table, do dirty business deals, you know the whole nine yards. Just a thought I had while people watching. There are alot of people in that building, young and old alike and I just wondered who was legit and who was phoney.

Sunday set list:
Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin (Brought the rock on this one, but heard you couldn't hear it, but trust me I brought it)
Here Is Our King - David Crowder*Band (Fun to play except those two fingers that don't move)
You Alone - David Crowder*Band (liked the spontainious thing with the kids)
Everlasting God - Chris Tomlin (Loud crowd on this one)
Jesus Messiah - Chris Tomlin (Haven't done this one a whole lot but people seem to enjoy it)
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) - Chris Tomlin (It is hard for me to do any songs arranged around Amazing Grace because I know the effect it has on Tammy, it was her moms favorite song and it reminds her of how much she misses her mom)
Blessed Assurance - Fanny Crosby (a little diddy thrown in late Thursday)

Frustration

2009-04-09T07:17:00.002-05:00

Ever get frustrated? I get frustrated rather easy quite often and 9 times out of 10 it is myself that I am most frustrated at. Either not doing what I know I should do, speaking up when I know I should, going where I know I should go, and the list goes on and on. I wish I wouldn't let things get that way and just wise up and do what I know I should do, eaiser said then done sometimes but I know I can do it.

Don't forget to say a prayer for our church and all the other churches out there who are going to have alot of CEO's in attendance this weekend. Of course CEO stands for Christmas and Easter Only so say a little prayer that eyes are opened, hearts are softened and people are receptive to the message that will be preached this weekend. I'm pumped for worship team practice tonight because I think worship is gonna be HUGE this weekend.

TXT it.

2009-04-06T07:26:00.002-05:00

I love the new series TXT and the use of technology to enhance something that has been around forever and something that we all far too often overlook and that is God's word, the bible. I enjoy the angle of this series and I hope that when it is all said and done that everyone who attends FFC will be deeply engaged in the word. Just imagine what would happen if we all dug in and started living out the word, it would be "OFF THE HOOK", so let's do it. There were alot of people at church yesterday, wow, what a great looking bunch and a loud bunch at that. Kind of a sneak preview of next Sunday, that place is gonna be packed and I for one am excited about that. I'm really excited that there are going to be people who don't normally go to church who are going to be there and hearing about Jesus, let's all pray that He moves within all who attend next Sunday, its not too early to start praying for those attending this week, in fact we should all be doing that everyday leading up to the service for God to do an amazing work this week. He is faithful and I'm ready to be blown away by what He has in store.

Music was fun yesterday, I enjoyed playing the bass and putting the low end in the music. Like I said earlier you all were LOUD during Mighty To Save, I love that when I can hear the congregation over us. Great times. Looking forward to next weeks worship, got the initial list of songs and I'm pumped because I have a feeling it's gonna be even LOUDER next week, got a couple of favorites lined up. I am getting this feeling, if you can't tell, that something big is on the horizon.

Today is opening day for Major League Baseball today and I'm ready to kick back and watch some games today, in school opening day was the day that Mom and Dad allowed me to skip school that day to stay home and watch. Now back then there was only the Reds to watch and if you know me I've never been a fan of them but it was baseball and good to watch, plus I got to root for the team they were playing so today I'll be pulling for the Mets, sorry Andy.

Sunday Set List:
Because He Lives - Gaithers (Not a Gaither fan but I liked the way this one was done)
Grace Like Rain - Todd Agnew (Another fun one to play, Todd Agnew is one of Tammy's favorite artists, he's got a cool, deep voice but have you ever heard him talk????)
Made To Worship - Chris Tomlin (Haven't done this one in a while)
Give Me Jesus - Jeremy Camp (An Indiana boy)
Mighty To Save - Hillsong (This is one of about 5 or 6 songs that we could do every week and the reaction would be the same each week)
I Stand Amazed (How Glorious) - ? Chris Tomlin re-did it (I loved the accapella ending)

The Essential James

2009-04-01T12:37:00.002-05:00

Today as I was checking blogs I went to Steven Furtick's over there on the left hand side of this page and went to the watch messages online thingy, it has been a while since I've watched on of his messages so I thought I'd check one out as I sat here and ate my buffalo chicken pizza. If you don't know who Steven is he is the pastor at a church in North Carolina called Elevation Church which is a rapidly growing church in the Charlotte area, the series they are in right now is called "The Essential James" and its description is 4 weeks, 4 principles, one book, thats it. A fresh approach to spiritual growth straight out of the book of James. I checked out the message on James 1:13-18 which ended up being about temptation.

I've watched a few messages online before but this time about 15 or 20 minutes in I started jotting down some notes of things he said that just hit me and I'd like to share a few of them with you. Number 1 - If you haven't had a head on collision with the devil in a while it might be because your on the same path as him. Woah never thought of it like that.
Number 2 - New levels bring new devils. Each time we progress in our walk with Christ, the devil comes at us with different angles and such to knock us off God's path.
Number 3 - If God isn't in it then get the hell out. I got a kick out of this one, he was talking about conversations and situations and us knowing that what we are doing does not have God in it.
Number 4 - Worry is the opposite of worship. That one hit hard. How easy is it to worry about our jobs, our finances, our future, our family, and every other little thing there is to worry about. If we are totally sold out to God like we say we are we should have the faith to know that He is in control and we should worship Him for who He is instead of worrying about who we are.

I have a feeling I'll be checking out the other 3 messages in this series in the upcoming days. He even took me back a few years when he started talking about Mike Tyson's Punchout for the Nintendo game system, Bly and I used to play that every chance we could. You should check this message out sometime, you'll be glad you did.

Guitar Hero Metallica ad featuring College Basketball coaches, and Metallica

2009-03-30T20:19:00.001-05:00

Put on some pants pops. Funny stuff.

Sunday morning

2009-03-29T08:07:00.002-05:00

As I type this I'm getting ready to head out to church in about 40 minutes for our new series "TXT" which is going to be off the hook, it is the first time that we are actually encouraged to bring cell phones to church and use them as part of the message. I think this is a cool idea and it is gonna be fun. I am excited to see the participation and what all people have to say. Worship is gonna be good today I got a feeling, Pink is back at the helm this Sunday and we are ready to go and see where God takes us.

I did another Solid Rock Friday Night the other night and it was fun, I rocked out and got the thumbs up approval from both Tammy and Taylor for the second week in a row. Now I have to wait until April 17th to head back over there and while thats cool its also a bummer because that means I won't be able to go to the Skillet/Disciple/Decyfer Down show in Indy. Had a neat little conversation with a listener in Albany who won the cd I was giving away, she requested some Brian "Head" Welch who was the guitarist from the rock band KORN, he got saved and left the band and is now back in the music business. I told her I saw that KORN's bass player also accepted Christ and had a book out talking about it that I was skimming through the other day. It is so cool to see these people in the spotlight turning to Christ and the witness opportunities they are going to have is just amazing.

Looking forward to watching the race today from the paperclip also known as Martinsville, lots of beating and banging and shoving, good old short-track racing the way it was meant to be. Makes me long to go back to the track.

Family Vacation (day)

2009-03-26T09:14:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we got to take an overdue family vacation albiet only a day it was still fun and enjoyable to leave this big metropolis we call Farmland and venture out into the world. This years destination was Dayton, Ohio and the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum and the Fairfield Commons Mall. We took off around 9 am and took the old route to Dayton going the old Greenville Pike to Greenville, Ohio and then State Road 49 down to 70, it has been quite a while since we went that route but it was cool to see how much we remembered of the road and what all has changed. Got to Wright-Patt around 10:30 or so and got in, it is free admission by the way, and decided to hit the IMAX first, I have never been to an IMAX before and it was pretty cool. We saw a show on the Spacestation which was very interesting and enjoyable.

Then it was off to the rest of the museum. The kids actually enjoyed it, Tyson liked all the bombs and big guns. It has been years since I've been there and they have added a whole other wing and space area that were not there the last time we went. While we were in the space area, which is the smallest of all the "wings" it has a second level where you can walk around and check out the rockets, after seeing them we decided to race down, the kids in the elevator and Tammy and I taking the stairs. When Tammy and I got to the bottom we noticed that the kids were still on the elevator, they stepped out of the elevator and Taylor took the stairs while Tyson waited again on the elevator. When they both finally made it to the bottom we asked what happened and they said they couldn't figure out which button to push, WHAT?????? My kids are so blond, 2 buttons and didn't know which to push. I think they need to teach common sense out there at the school.

Got done at Wright-Patt and took off for the mall, as soon as we got there it was a mission to find the food court for lunch. I ate at Chic-fil-A for the first time ever and I think that we need one of those in Muncie, it was awesome. If you've never been to the Fairfield Commons Mall, it is huge, two levels and tons of shops. Taylor went into every store that sold clothes I think and after a while we learned that if she went in there by herself the average time she spent in there was about 2 or 3 minutes, if Tammy went in with her it was more like 10-15. Walked around for a few hours and left to head home and complete our vacation day.

Rock show, Ultimate Frisbee, & the Enemy

2009-03-24T07:08:00.002-05:00

The last few days have flown by and were packed to the max with fun, excitement, rest, and new adventures. Saturday I got to go with JOY FM to Richmond and work at the Disciple concert, while it was fun to hang out and talk to people about the station it was a bummer because while I could hear the show going on I wasn't able to see a whole lot of it. Got to hang out later and talk with the bands and while meeting Disciple the lady who was making sure everyone was in line for them she told the lead singer Kevin Young that I was from the radio station that was helping with the show and he came down the line and shook my hand again thanking me for playing their music and how much he appriciated it, that was cool. It was a good show and at the end of the show after Disciple had played their encores, Kevin sat down and challenged all of us there to "go deeper" in our relationship with Christ. He spoke for a good 15 minutes and gave an alter call at the end and 10 to 15 people accepted Christ, that never gets old. It was good to see that side of the band, all too often bands just play and say "Jesus loves you" from the stage without giving much more of a testimony like the old days.

Sunday was church, Bristol, and Ulitmate Frisbee. Jeff brought it again this week and seemed more at ease with his message this week, it is very easy to get caught up in the fruit of the flesh. Got home and got to watch pretty much the whole NASCAR race at Bristol which was good, if you don't know Bristol it is a half-mile track like the Winchester Speedway but it has seating for 160,000 people. Next time you drive to Winchester and pass the Speedway just imagine about 151,000 more seats. At youth we played a little Ultimate Frisbee in the gym and it was a blast, next week we are taking the game outside which will be a whole new challenge.

Yesterday I had a brief job, I drove a skid of metal plates, about 1700 lbs. worth, up to Purdue University for a friend of ours company. It was the first time I have ever been to Purdue and I joked later being the big IU fan I am that I had to come home and clean off and disenfect and get rid of all that I saw up there, just kidding. It was a fun morning doing that. Driving a pickup truck with 1700 extra pounds in the back took a bit to get used to especially on the interstate but it was all good.

Sunday Set list:

Love The Lord - Lincoln Brewster (wish I could play guitar like him)
The Solid Rock - Edwin Mote (kept getting messed up on the timing on this one)
One Way - Hillsong (been a while since we've done this one, always have liked it)
I Exhalt Thee - ? (don't know this one too well)
Break Me - Nate & Nate (like the way this one builds)
Your Grace Is Enough - Chris Tomlin (nailed this one, always seem to get nervous before this one hoping I don't blow the intro)

Thumbs up

2009-03-21T07:54:00.002-05:00

When I got home from SRF last night I basically got 2 thumbs up from the women in the house so I must have done better than the last time I was there. It was fun rocking out and I'm ready for the show tonight in Richmond. Found out that it will just be me and Dan Lipps hanging out at the table but its gonna rock. It has also been alot of fun following the NCAA tournament again, this is one of the best times of the year in sports with the NCAA, NASCAR getting back in full swing (doesn't hurt that they are in Bristol, TN this weekend at one of my favorite tracks) and MLB just around the bend. Its a great sport season. Thanks to all those who listened last night, we'll do it all again next Friday night.

We need more Fridays

2009-03-20T07:08:00.002-05:00

I wish that there were more days in the week like Fridays but alas there is not so I guess I'll just have to enjoy the one we are given each week. This is a good Friday, why you ask, because I get to go eat lunch with my wonderful wife Tammy as this has become a habit for the last month or two and I really enjoy a little "date time" with her. Its also the last day of school for the kiddos as spring break officially starts when they get out today, both of them are ready for a little break I think. Not really doing much over the break but we have planned a little trip to Dayton to go to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Museum and then to the Salem Mall so that should be fun. The kids have never been to Wright-Patt and don't really know what to expect from them but I know I've always enjoyed going there.

Tonight from 9:30 to 11 pm I'll be doing the SRF bit here so please join me if you can, I have been challenged from the two ladies of the house because they said last time that I didn't do enough of the ROCK part of Solid Rock Friday Night so needless to say I'm bringing the ROCK, oh yeah. I'm sure there will be giveaways and plenty of talk about the DISCIPLE concert that is happening tomorrow night in Richmond, I along with the three other hosts of SRF will be there with a JOY FM booth and hanging out, never done that before so I'm excited about it.

Worship practice was fun last night, we worked on a song that we will be doing in the upcoming weeks, I always enjoyed working on a new song for a couple of weeks then breaking it out and this was no exception. I wish we would start doing stuff like this again where we get a couple of songs and work on them for a few weeks then bust them out. We are even breaking out another oldie but a goodie this week for offering, it was one that we did a few years back quite a few times and everyone seemed to enjoy it, its an uptempo tune that will get you all jumping and yelling the chorus, should be fun. See you then.

I am excited

2009-03-17T07:53:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you are looking forward to something and that day just can't get here soon enough? Well I am having one of those myself especially today. This weekend is gonna just flat out rock in more ways than one, yes I'll be back on the air with a little Solid Rock Friday Night then on Saturday I'll be heading to Richmond with my other 3 DJing partners from SRF to go work at the Disciple concert coming to the Bethesda Worship Center. I am starting to get pumped up for this show. We will have a booth set up and we will be manning that and I don't know what else we will be doing but it will be fun. Taylor won a pair of tickets so her and Tammy will be there as well. Last night Tammy was asking what all songs she would know from Disciple so I played her some snipets of a couple of cd's and she knew more than she realized and we were both doing a bit of rocking out to them. Just a few more days.

I think there might be some pain in the future

2009-03-15T19:45:00.002-05:00

Played a little football tonight at youth and I'm fairly cetain that I'll be paying for it tomorrow. My knees are a little achey right now and after a good nights rest I think they will be stiff and sore in the morning. Ah the price you pay for being old and not giving in to it. Had fun playing electric again today, normally when Brent is leading it is my week to play bass but this week he decided he wanted some electric to boost things up a bit and I was happy oblige. Got to play one of my all time favorites "He Reigns" which is a simple 3 chord song but I like the little effect I use on the intro and verses, kind of a little wah/delay/flanger kind of thing for those of you who speak guitar. I think Jeff did a great job this morning with his message and I look forward to next week and hearing part 2.

It is a good time of year now with the NCAA basketball tourney firing up this Thursday, it has got to be the best at determining a national champion, all it takes is a team to get hot and roll off 6 wins. I'm sure I'll be filling out some brackets online and having some fun.

Sunday Set List:
Oh Praise Him - David Crowder*Band (always have liked this one)
King Of Glory - Chris Tomlin (I liked how we went right into this one)
Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble - Delirious (I liked the quick little distortion parts)
My Hope Is In You - Third Day (another fun little diddy)
All Who Are Thirsty - Vinyard/Kutless (Good tune)
Our God Reigns - Jonathan Thatcher/Delirious (This song could go on forever and I mean that in a good way)
He Reigns - Newsboys (see above)

Date day

2009-03-13T14:43:00.002-05:00

Today was something that was long overdue, a date day with Tammy. She took today off so we could spend it together and do whatever in celebrating our anniversary tomorrow. It will be 17 years tomorrow that we have been married, time really does fly by because although it doesn't seem that long ago, I can't remember life before the kids. We took off for Indy a little before 10 and got to hang out and dream at that music toy store known as Sam Ash for a bit then off to the Castleton Mall. Haven't been there for quite some time. Had alot of fun just walking around and browsing. Went to Fridays to eat lunch, never ate there before and it was pretty good. I told Tammy if that whacked out dude from the Food Network who is the spokesman for Fridays showed up we were leaving. Got home now its getting close to time to head out with our growth group to go eat and do a little challenge kind of thing, should be fun. Good luck to MC tomorrow at the regionals.

Radio, family time, sectional, church and other stuff

2009-03-09T12:23:00.003-05:00

A whirlwind of a weekend is now but a distant memory but it was very enjoyable from start to finish. Started out Friday by doing the first hour and a half of Solid Rock Friday Night or as I like to call it now the "SRF" and had a great time. Not many phone calls this time in fact I only had 2, both were for requests and one of them also was to win tickets to a concert. Tried to give away a cd and no one called. Had a blast, PK twittered another request which I graciously obliged and let him proceed to blow his speakers, have to ask him about it sometime, now I can rock it out to blow speakers but I get home and Tammy and Taylor both said I didn't ROCK very much, WHAT????? I guess I have been challenged to bring the rock when I go back over there on the 20th. You want rock, you got it.

Saturday was fun, on what was planned to be another stay at home and veg out day turned into alot of fun. Went grocery shopping, I know your thinking I thought he said fun, I did and I enjoy grocery shopping alot. Had alot of fun as a family just out and about tricking Tyson, he saw a LEGO he wanted for $6 and since Taylor and I were going to the game later that night we decided to get it for him. He looked at it and I then looked at it and acted like I put it back but instead gave it to Tammy who hid it. Now he decided to look at it again and noticed he couldn't find it, told him there must have been someone else looking at it. He was kinda bummed in a way throughout the rest of the store until we got up to the registar and paid then the lady handed him the bag with that in there, MOOD SWING. Taylor and I went to the game and in all my years of high school we never won a sectional but we did Sat. and I was glad to see that. Good luck MC at the regionals.

Church and youth were both excellent last night, I got to spend alot of time just hanging out with a couple of new kids, one is from Hagerstown I believe and has come the past couple of weeks with his girlfriend who attends quite often, had alot of fun just hanging out and talking music and other stuff, told him that when we get the youth worship team off the ground there would be a spot for him. Spent alot of the evening with one of the basketball players from MC at the pool table and playing some ball down in the gym. Good times, I'm getting more and more relaxed around alot of the kids even though I'll admit there are quite a few of them I still don't know, but that will change.

Sunday Set List:
Let Everything That - Matt Redman (fun little song to play)
Here Is Our King - David Crowder* Band (playing this song, two of my fingers basically stay in the same spot for the whole song)
I Surrender All - Judson W. VanDeventer (Never heard this song before Thu. but I liked it)
Enough - Chris Tomlin (another song where my pinky and ring finger hang out in the same spot alot)
Holiness - Sonicflood (an oldie but a goodie)
You Are - Nate & Nate (I don't think people recognized this one until the chorus then it was on)

Good Rockin going on tonight.

2009-03-06T08:17:00.003-05:00

A heads up if your interested, I will be hosting the first half of Solid Rock Friday Night tonight from 8 to 9:30 pm on 88.9 Joy Fm. Those of you in the area can probaly pick it up but if not you can always listen live at 889joyfm.com. I've already got a bunch of ideas and have been picking and choosing and planning all kinds of different stuff to do, needless to say I'm excited and can't wait to get over there. So tune in if you can and enjoy.

It's time to wake up.

2009-03-05T08:23:00.002-05:00

Unfortunately I had to wake up this morning but that is not what this post is about. I was up til well past 1 am last night with all kinds of thoughts going through my mind, I really thought about doing this post early in the a of m but decided to wait and I really wish I would have because right now I can't remember alot of what I was thinking but I do know this........we as christians, Christ followers and or church goers have to realize this one very important and yet simple little fact---church is not about US. Church is all about Jesus and leading people to him not about the musics too loud, the don't play anything I know, why are they using videos, no one came to shake my hand, there is someone sitting where I always sit, the thing that I focus on during worship is gone, (to that I say shouldn't you be focasing on God during your worship and not some object?) why is he preaching on money, I don't like to hear those kinds of messages. Uh NEWSFLASH McFLY, those are the messages you probably need to hear. It's not OUR church, IT BELONGS TO GOD. Why do people constantly complain about services and the way they are done and or if changes are made. Here is a little quote I heard "A person who is uncomfortable with change will NEVER be comfortable hearing the voice of God" I don't think for one second that God wants us to coast, take it easy or just plain go through the motions.

I don't think God is sitting up in heaven going "you know I think it's going to be crowded in here someday so I don't need anymore people." And if we coast then we are probably not reaching anyone and that my friends is not good. Something I heard that just stopped me in my tracks and in my mind I thought "WHAT?" and I probably had a look of dumbfoundness, but it was said "I think we grew too fast" and I thought you got a problem with that? That should be the very thing we long for, that people who are searching for the answer come every Sunday and come in droves, I hope and pray that every Sunday we have to search around for chairs for people to sit in. Wake up people. I'll leave you with a little quote from Steven Furtick and its the kind of passion and drive that I hope our church has, "We're charging the gates of hell with squirtguns, whose with us?"

PK and Pink's ping pong match

2009-03-03T21:36:00.001-05:00

I had the pleasure today of witnessing first hand the exciting ping pong match between PK and Pink and yes for you my loyal followers I was able to sneak a camera in there and got this unbelieveable footage. This little snipet will show you the intensity at which these 2 play ping pong, and this was just to see who served. I had to keep telling them to stay off the table but all to no avail. Sorry about the interference in there, someone must have been messing around with a ham radio near the church. They found out that I had a camera and requested that I put it away before copyright laws crept in so I obliged and put it away but I did get the above footage for you, my posse. Enjoy.

Have you ever.....

2009-03-02T08:44:00.002-05:00

Anyone out there ever had a day where you did not get dressed or leave the house and you weren't even sick? Had one of those days Saturday and it was very enjoyable. Lounged around all day in our pj's and the only time I even went outside was to take the trash out. Those days don't happen too often and Tammy has been wanting one of them forever, seems like there is always something to do or somewhere to go but we got lucky this weekend with nothing on Saturday. Now who knows when the next time we will get to do something like this but granted we will be counting down. I know some of you might say that we wasted away a perfectly good day and maybe we did but sometimes you need a good battery recharge and thats what we got.

Sunday was alot more eventful and packed, went to church and can I just say that it is an honor to serve at such a cool church. I remember as a child not looking forward to Sundays cause we "HAD" to go to church but now my attitude is that I "GET" to go to church every Sunday. It is a highlight of every week and I can't wait to get back next Sunday. It was fun to play bass again this week and even funner, yes I said funner, to move around and get a different prespective playing on the other side of the stage this week. Next week I'll move back to the "ROCK" side of the stage and bring it. The song we did for offering I have never heard of before Thursdays practice, I think it is obviously a hymn because Jennifer knew it. It was good to have a piano back for a few songs and just to shake things up a bit with the switching around. Youth was fun, they played a game called TOAST where a piece of toast was put in the toaster and we went around the room with each student stating a fact about themselves and when the toast popped up whoever was speaking or supposed to speak got to pick a bag and whatever was in that bag was spread on the toast. There were a few surprises, cheeses, spreads and wacked out stuff to choose from. Good times.

Sunday Set List:
All We Need - Charlie Hall (first time I've played bass on this one I think)
How Awesome Is The Lord Most High - Chris Tomlin (see above)
Fill My Cup, Lord - Richard Blanchard (see text)
Give Us Clean Hands - Charlie Hall (always have liked this song)
Just As I Am - Daniel Baker
40 - U2 (Jennifer calls this the tax song, "did you get your U240 filled out this year?")

Friday ramblings

2009-02-27T08:44:00.002-05:00

Friday is always a great day because its the lead in to the weekend which in my book is always a good thing. I remember when I was working the first half of the day was always busy getting things caught up then the last half of the day was a little more subdued and dare I say it relaxing. Ah but those are just memories for now, I was encouraged this week while out looking for a job. Most places I have been to this past month have all pretty much said the same thing, "we're not hiring right now" or quite a few of them even have signs up saying they are not taking applications or resumes at this time. So it's a little frustrating going in knowing that chances are very slim that they will ever call and I think I'm learning to take rejection pretty well now. On Wednesday though there was a glimmer of hope, I went over to Union City to do some recording at the radio station and actually hung out there for a bit and had lunch with them there and when I left I stopped by a place to drop off a resume and the lady said why don't you go ahead and fill out an application as well, that was a first and it actually put a little pep in my step. Even I never hear from them it was a good morale boost.

Gonna meet Tammy for a little lunch today after I go over to Winchester to the license branch, seems someone here at the house, I won't mention any names but it was one of us who can drive and it wasn't me, put the little sticker you get when you renew your plates in the wrong place covering up the wrong thing. Now I get to go and fix it and put more stickers on the plate. Have you ever tried to get one of those stickers off, let me just tell you they don't come off and when they do they are in little pieces. Final game for the pep-band tonight, its senior night so that will be fun and enjoyable to watch. I hope MC can shake the funk they've been in for the past few weeks and bust out with a good game heading into sectional next week. I've really enjoyed going to most of the home games this year and even though I don't know these kids personally it seems like you do know them.

Had fun at worship practice last night, we mixed things up and moved around a bit and it was alot of fun, now how much of this will take place this Sunday remains to be seen but it was alot of fun. I get to play bass again this week and in the next few weeks I'll be playing it quite a few times as some shifting had to be done with the leaders for various reasons. I'm excited already for Sunday now.

COME UNDONE a lyrical study

2009-02-25T09:06:00.003-05:00

There are ways I’ve fallen
There are times I’ve been so weak
There are moments when I hear redemption calling
But I’m too far down to speak

Chorus
Come sweet fire of mercy
Cover up my skin
Warm me like the sun
Won’t you let me in
To come, come undone

There are scars that I‘ve been hiding
There are ghosts that I do not claim
There are closets I do not care to open
They open all the same

These are lyrics from a song by a band called Jackson Waters and the song is called "Come Undone" which I think is a cool song. It also makes me think that this could be a good message some Sunday. I look at this song 2 different ways. The first verse makes me think that we are so incomplete and some people think that they cannot come to God until they have it all together, which we all know very seldom do we have it all together, so I look at this verse as I'm coming to you God as an "undone" person.

Verse 2 reminds me of more after we have come to Christ that sometimes we have things that bind us, things that have us addicted, and just our own faults and that we need to come and have all these things broken and taken away and to "come undone" from all these things that hold us back or down. Anyone have any opinions or see this song in a different light than what I do?

Looking in the rearview mirror

2009-02-23T08:53:00.003-05:00

Looking back at the weekend that was it went by way too fast. Saturday Tammy and Taylor took off for Muncie around 10 in the morning and didn't get back til 6:30 or so, it was cool for them to have a mother-daughter day, Taylor got a hair cut and then they hung out until it was time for them to go to a girl scout cookie thingy. They ended up staying for the duration and met up with Tyson and myself at the church for the always enjoyable chicken noodle dinner. This was the last one til October and I'm gonna miss the good food but alas it will be October before you know it. It was a good chance for people to take a closer look at the new building and see what all we have to offer especially for the youth and kids, you do realize that they will be our leaders before you know it, sorry for the reality killer but hey its gonna happen.

Church was enjoyable and music was good even though for some reason I was struggling through God Of Wonders, don't know how many times I've played that but I was having a bit a trouble yesterday. Nate and Nate's song went over well and I can see that being done again. Have I ever mentioned that I dig the Jackson guitar I have, I always enjoy playing that one, wonder if I could ever get an endorsement deal with them and get all kinds of free guitars...hmmm. Youth was fun it seems like I haven't been there forever. Played a scavenger hunt with digital cameras and that was fun. I was digging the snow last night but I must admit it's almost March which means spring so I'm starting to get to the point where its time to move on to the next season, now saying that I could still go for another big snow though.

Sunday set list:
Sing, Sing, Sing - Chris Tomlin (A newbie, went over pretty well)
God Of Wonders - Third Day (see above)
You Are - Nate and Nate (Another newbie and see above)
He Is Exhalted - Twila Paris (Once again another newbie)
Above All - Micheal W. Smith (Been a while since we've done this one)
Majesty - Jack Hayford (did you know that if you spelled it backwards its Ytsejam, how do I know that? One of the bands I used to follow quite extensively Dream Theater used to be called Majesty and had an instrumental called Ytsejam and that is also the name of their own record label in which they release all kinds of cds ranging from demos to bootleg concerts to complete cover albums. I know mindless rambling.)

Sick of being sick

2009-02-20T08:48:00.002-05:00

Just about the time I think I've shaken this cold and all my sickness it has to come back and rear its ugly head again and wham right back to it. I thought the cold was gone but these last few days it has taken up shop in the sinus area mostly in the left nostril. Ah someday it will all be but a distant memory and believe me I'm ready to distance myself. We had small group again Wednesday, I've missed the last 2 meetings because of other meetings so I was ready to go hang out and fellowship with the group but that lasted a whole half hour, started feeling queezy a little before we left to head out there and thought it all be gone after I ate, wrong. It kept getting worse so just as we were getting ready to dig in I bailed. Hate to keep missing but after spending some quality time in the bathroom when I got home I know I made the right decision. I'll go next week then miss 2 more.

Excited about today and tonight, in a little bit I'm heading into Muncie to drop off a few more resume's and to take lunch out to my lovely wife and have lunch with her, it will be the second time this week, and we even had a little date night Monday, am I lucky or what. Later tonight Taylor and I are heading to the big thriving metropolis known as Cowan to watch the ball game between MC and Cowan, plus we also get to see my nephews girlfriend cheer for Cowan and I hope to run into a buddy of mine from the old TTC whose son plays for Cowan. Gonna be good times. And don't forget chicken noodle dinner tomorrow night at the FFC, those dinners rock.

Had a little worship team practice last night and did a little test and yes the wireless still works at least with the Kamakazi guitar, I'll test it on the Jackson later. Hopefully it will and we can have a little fun in the coming weeks. Enjoy the day.

Back to reality

2009-02-16T08:34:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was a very rare day indeed. For the first time in I don't know how long I actually got to spend the day with my lovely wife with no where to go. Now I should have gone to youth group but I decided to take another week off from there to be able to spend the day with my wife. We have not had one of those days in like forever, normally there is somewhere to go, or something to do but yesterday was nice and relaxing for the most part. Got to hang out with Tammy and watch the Daytona 500 or 400 or 390 or whatever it ended up being and just chill out and snack and relax. I did run Taylor out to youth and Tammy went and picked her up and then the quiet, relaxing day quickly vanished as soon as Taylor got in the car. The day was not totally ruined but a damper was put on it for a bit. Teenagers, never happy or always feeling like the world and you are against them.

Service was good again yesterday and its kind of funny that one of the points I wrote down to work on was basically my relationship with the kids. We have alot of fun but I'll admit I get a little uptight quite often which can turn the whole day around. So I did get to work on that a bit later in the evening so that was good. Music yesterday was rockin' which is always good. I told Tammy I still don't know how to act or what to say besides thanks when someone comes up and says what a good job we did, I still get a bit embarassed and shy when someone does that. And yes it was I who planted the PEEPS for PK, someone let the cat out of the bag, dang, I was gonna play this one for a while putting them in different places each Sunday but alas now I can't because I was sold out. Oh well.

Today though is back to reality as I get to take the green car to the shop to see whats up with the check engine light and see what that is gonna cost us. I can tell them I popped the hood and I checked and the engine is still there so I don't know why I should check it, haha.
Sunday set list:
Days Of Elijah - Twila Paris (Oldie but a goodie)
My Glorious - Delirious (One of my faves from them, rocked it up a bit)
You Are My Portion - Darrel Evans (Only the 2nd time we've done this, I like it)
We Fall Down - Chris Tomlin (Liked the little twist on this with the start and finish)
Holy Holy Holy - Reginald Heber (Liked how Jennifer and Dave started this one at the end of We Fall Down)
Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin (Rocked it)

Where you been?

2009-02-12T13:16:00.002-05:00

It's been a few days since an actual post came across the board here so I thought it was time for another. Its been a busy few days and interesting ones to say the least. That busy weekend that was planned last weekend happened but with a few minor adjustments. Taylor and I got to enjoy an hour on the radio Friday night with what I dubbed the Chief and Chick show, thanks to all who listened we had alot of fun and even a few eventful situations. First off during a song it was playing good then all the sudden it decided to do its own re-mix version. After a few seconds of that I went ahead and started the next song, I've learned to always have 2 cd's in or at least a backup song on the computer for such instances. After that was done I did a little plug for the new RED cd and then was going into some Family Force 5, intro the song in my best radio lingo and went to hit the play button which of course looks something like this > but instead I hit the button that looks like this ^ with a line under it. For those who are lost I hit the eject button instead of the play button, not good. So after ad-libbing for a bit while I tried to get it back together the cd I wanted to play was having trouble loading in the cd player so I chose a song from the other cd and we were back in action. Never a dull moment.

Fast forward to Saturday which was packed with band and ball games, left early to take Tyson's buddy home and got stuck for a bit in his driveway, got out and took it easy till the highway then hammer down to Wilson Middle School where Taylor had her first ever band competition thingy. She was with 4 other 8th grade students who played a song and won a silver medal, found out they could've had gold if they didn't tune up in that room even after they told them they could. Good job sis, we're proud of you. Then it was home for a moment then out to the school for cheerleading for the final time. Good game the 8th grade pulled it out and won and off to the championship they were going. Didn't feel so good out there but made it through got home and took a nap and woke up still feeling sick to the old stomach and had a fever to boot. So I stayed home for the rest of the weekend while everyone else kept up with the busy schedule. Not a big fan of being sick but now that's over for now and we are back in action and going strong.

joseph Story

2009-02-09T14:58:00.001-05:00

The amazing testimony of Joseph Rojas, the lead singer of Seventh Day Slumber. I think this is a powerful testimony and shows that no matter what God still loves us and wants us. You may have heard SDS on the radio or at FFC between services with songs like "Oceans From The Rain" and "I Believe". They have a new cd TAKE EVERYTHING coming out in March which is a worship cd with a bit of an edge to it. Can't wait.

Busy weekend on the horizon

2009-02-06T08:18:00.002-05:00

This weekend will be one of being on the go quite abit starting out tonight, Taylor and I will be over at the radio station at 9:30 and probably on the air around 9:45 to 10 pm and we will be on until 11 pm so come join us if you can. Tammy and Tyson will be bowling with Route 456 and we will actually beat them home. Tomorrow the madness really kicks in, Taylor has a band thingy at Wilson Middle School at 8:45 as soon as that is done its off to the school for her final game as a 8th grade cheerleader. Then we get a quick break then back out to the high school for the varsity boys game and watch Taylor in the pep band. The only bad thing about tomorrow night is that NASCAR kicks back in with the Bud Shootout, always a fun race to watch, and I'll be at the game. Sunday church and youth but those are always enjoyable so I'm ready for those.

Love the weather not the effects

2009-02-02T08:58:00.003-05:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again I enjoy all 4 seasons that we experience here in Indiana. I have always had a fondness for snow, I get that from Grandma C, so this time of year I love the weather but not the effects. In the Chalfant house the past week or so we have passed around a cold, Tyson started it late last week, Tammy got it in the middle of the week and now I have latched on to it. I have been attempting to go on like there is nothing wrong but it is slowly catching up to me. Right now I feel like I have a 100 lb. head with a ton of pressure just waiting to come out. Bad thing is nothing is coming out. It will soon be gone and I'll be glad and hope that no more sickness hits the house for awhile.

Had some fun last night at youth while I was there, left at half-time cause I felt like crud and so did Tyson. It was fun to play around with the new soundboard and speakers that were up and running. I am getting excited about the media area and what it will be like as it is coming together. If you don't know already the new youth room, the 3:7, rocks. There was plenty of good food and great times last night and the game wasn't too bad either. The commercials were ok for the most part, there were some good ones, the snow globe Doritos one was my fave, and then there were the Go Daddy ones that keep pusing the envelope each year. When is it going to end.

Yesterday service was good and that was a good series, now I'm ready for the next one. It is amazing to see God moving in our neck of the woods. Talked with PK last night and totally missed the Perry Noble reference he gave during offering, I saw and heard what he said but didn't make the connection until he mentioned it at youth. Songs used yesterday were:

Your Grace Is Enough - Chris Tomlin/Matt Maher
Prince Of Peace (You Are Holy) - Micheal W. Smith
Here Is Our King (chorus) - David Crowder*Band
Mighty To Save - Hillsong
Here I Am To Worship - Tim Hughes
Shout To The Lord - Hillsong
You Alone - David Crowder*Band

My desktop

2009-02-01T15:34:00.002-05:00

This is what is on my desktop. I got it from c28.com. They have alot of these and they are cool. I have used plenty of them for my desktops over the past few years both at home and when I was at Twoson.

NFL Fantasy Files: The Best Players

2009-01-31T13:48:00.001-05:00

A little hype for the most overhyped game is sports, the Super Bowl. These are some amazing things and there are some amazing athletes in the NFL. Now I will watch the game tomorrow and I hope its good. Enjoy.

Little bit of a problem

2009-01-31T11:05:00.003-05:00

For the past 3 nights I have woken up around the 2 am point of the day, the night before that it was around 3-3:30 that I woke up basically rip roarin' ready to go. Now the first night could be explained because of the impending winter storm coming in and wondering how much we were going to get, I understand that but what about the other 3 nights. Could it be hunger, yes I got up on 2 of those nights and one night had a bannana and the other a cup cake. Could it be because of a nap? No. Haven't taken a nap for days. Could it be because of Tammy's snoring? Possibly. There have been a few nights where those weren't normal logs she was sawing on, I know those were redwoods. She seems to think its God telling me I'm gonna be getting a job working the night shift, who knows. All I know is that for the past few nights there has been a hour or two hour block of sleep that I'm missing out on. On a side note I have sharpened my Mahjong Titans skills on the old computer as well as Spider Solitaire. Hopefully tonight will be different but that remains to be seen. I would just like a normal nights sleep again.

Starfield I Will Go Video

2009-01-27T10:33:00.001-05:00

I borrowed this cd from Pink over the weekend and have been listening to it quite a bit and I must say it has been messing me up. I have heard of few of Starfields songs before and enjoyed them so I thought I'd give their new cd "I Will Go" a shot, and I'm glad I did. There is not a bad song on here and it has just been hitting me over and over again, I dig it when songs do that to me I just weird like that. Check it out. This song is one of the first to hit me, it could be used at church for a mission trip because that is what the song is about. So if you've been on one or are going on the next one or if your like me and know that you will be going on one in the future check this out.

The second verse is the one that hits me the hardest:

Let me not be blind with privilege
Give me eyes to see the pain
Let the blessing You've poured out in me
NOT BE SPENT ON ME IN VAIN
Let this life be used for change
I WILL GO

A milestone of posts, #500 wow.

2009-01-26T08:01:00.003-05:00

This is my 500th post, wow thats pretty cool I guess. I celebrate my 500th post by listening to a cd I borrowed from Pink and after listening to it I wonder why I haven't either bought it or borrowed it sooner. It is from a band called Esterlyn and the cd is called "Lamps." I have seen their first video on the Gospel Music Channel and thought it was alright then they put out another one for a song that escapes me but I really dug that song. So now after listening to the cd I highly recomend it. Its just a good cd mixed with some rocking songs and some poppier songs and then some that are almost ballady. Good stuff you should check it out. I also checked out a cd online this weekend twice from a newsletter I get every week from New Release Tuesday, it is the latest from Paul Coleman. You might be saying who is Paul Coleman. He played guitar for the Newsboys for the last 5 years and now is back to being a solo artist. You might have heard "Fill My Cup" or "Gloria" on Joy FM before but he is back with a cd called "History" which is a greatest hits kind of package with a few new songs thrown in like a cover of Delirious' "History Maker" and a song that I thought was his but later found out that it was actually done by, get this, *gasp* a country artist, Toby Keith. Oh ick. No really its a cool little song called "If I Were Jesus" kind of a funny little song but with a powerful chorus. And yes I like Paul's version way better.

Yesterday was a cool church service how it was all laid back and it was really cool to hear all the stories from the team that just got back from Jamacia. And wasn't it cool to see all the baby dedications, especially since they were all from the same fertal small group. I guess if you want to have a baby just join that small group, just kidding. Youth was fun and I'm ready to watch the video that Cari shot of the game that they played, blind-folded musical chairs. It got real interesting when the 12 dwindled down to around 4 or 5 then it got a bit physical and interesting. Not for the faint of heart.

Sunday Song List:
Not To Us - Chris Tomlin (fun little diddy to play, did it a bit different with the guitar intro which rocked not because I played it but because how everyone started clapping)
Holy Is The Lord - Chris Tomlin
Blessed Be Your Name - Matt Redman (Another favorite of mine, once again it rocked with the clapping at the begining and pretty much throught the whole song)
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Not sure who wrote it but it was cool
Draw Me Close/You Are My All In All - Rick Founds and Dennis Jernnigan
You Alone - David Crowder*Band

I think Nate and the rest of the team did a fantastic job yesterday and it was fun to have Brent up there with us on the mandolin. I even got a kick out of a carry over from practice Thursday when Brent started taking the side of his pick and bouncing it off the strings which makes a pretty cool sound. Kind of made me chuckle.

That was fun.

2009-01-23T23:28:00.003-05:00

I was on the radio again today and hopefully you were able to catch a little bit of it. It has been awhile since I've been over there and that made up for time spent away. I filled in for Joel who does the Workday Wrap-Up from 3 to 7 and it was a blast. Had the normal "I forgot what I was going to say" moments but made it through them just fine. During the all request drive at 5 I got enough requests to almost fill the entire hour, that has never happened to me before, I think I ended up with 8 requests, 2 from Farmland, 2 from Lynn, 3 from Winchester and 1 from Portland, way to represent Randolph County. One of the requests from Lynn was from the guy who is promoting the Building 429 show in Richmond on Feb. 6th, if you get a chance you should go check them out, and he was telling me they have quite a few more shows in the works and I hope they can pull them off. We need to get the word out there about good christian bands that are coming to our neck of the woods and support them so we can get more and get alot more people introduced to these bands.

Also got the schedule for Solid Rock Friday Nights and I'll be over there on March 6th for my kick-off, I'll be there on Feb. 6th after the basketball game as a tune up. Come March we will be back on for 3 solid hours rockin your socks off, each night there will be two of us taking 90 minute shifts, I will be sure and keep you updated.

What happened?

2009-01-21T08:43:00.002-05:00

I remember when I was young playing sports how fun it was and how no matter what the outcome was life still went on. We could get beat 13-1 in baseball and still be able to laugh and have fun, yeah it sucked getting beat but it wasn't the end of the world and we still went over and gave the other team high fives or shake hands. Last night I noticed something that for the past few weeks or times I've went to either Tyson's ball games or to watch the games Taylor is cheering at that attitudes are becoming a big issue and that sportsmanship is lacking in some of the participants. Now I've played sports long enough to know its a competition and that the other team is the "enemy" for 24 to 32 minutes of action but when its all said and done its still just a game that is meant to be fun.

I know that in the past when playing that there was always one, either on my team or the other team, who had a chip on their shoulder, thought that the whole game revolved around them, or that they were the best thing since the other side of the pillow. There are always those who I call a deep black hole, which by that I mean when they get the ball in basketball the other 4 teammates might as well head back down to the other end of the floor because they aren't going to see it again until the next possession. They are the kind that no matter if they are guarded by 1,2 or more of the other team they take it upon themselves to make the shot wherever and whenever they can. Case in point, last night at one of the games a player scored like 28 of the teams 32 points or something to that effect. You might say they were on fire, yes they hit alot of shots but there was times where a break was happening and it was a 3 on 1 break and the defender was on them and they still shot the ball. Its called a team. You win as a team and you lose as a team.

The sportsmanship side real quick, at Tyson's game they got beat by 1, they had the lead and was trying to hold the ball and lost it and they went down and scored with like 10 seconds left and we had a chance but couldn't hit so tough loss. We were sitting on the top row of bleachers which was actually the 4th row and one of the kids on Tyson's team said he wasn't shaking hands with them and he didn't and I saw that the coach noticed and hopefully the coach let him know about it. Do they see this from pro athletes? Is our sports world so caught up in individual play now instead of team play? I do remember once as a young baseball player that we got beat and I was mad for whatever reason and while shaking the other teams hand I thought it was a good idea to punch one of the kids in the stomach, just a random kid who was actually older than me and probably could have beat me up but didn't. Dad caught wind of it and let me have it on the way home and I can say that I have never done anything like that again. I hope that both of my kids when ever they are competing in sports or whatever always show good sportsmanship and lead by example.

Are you kidding me?

2009-01-19T08:37:00.002-05:00

Don't you just love cars? Cars are like insurance, they are a necessary evil. Got in the old green car last Friday went to Muncie then back home and over to Winchester, no biggie. Go to get in it Saturday to go get some gas in it and notice a nice size stain underneath the front of the car, pop the hood and see that there is no coolant in the overflow, so I put some in it to get it to the full cold area and thought I'll wait and see. Got in there yesterday and nothing had leaked out, that's good, start it up to warm it up before taking Taylor to youth and go back out and the "Service Engine Soon" light is on, that's not supposed to be on. So to make a long story short I'll be taking it to AutoZone so they can hook up the little gizmo they have that reads what the code is that is causing that to be on. I hope its nothing big or major but we will see.

Yesterdays service was good and Pink did an excellent job filling the pulpit. Music was fun playing the bass and all, it's always nice to play that everyonce in awhile, every 3 weeks now, to keep my chops up well what there are of them. Good to see my brother-in-law and his family at church again. He and his wife and youngest son came a few months ago for a series that escapes me right now and they really enjoyed it and talked about coming back. Well they did yesterday and brought Tyler their oldest son and his girlfriend, it was really cool to see them there. Gave Tyler and Mariah a tour of the new youth room aka THE 3:7, and they dug it and I extended a invite for them to come join us some Sunday evening, I hope they take me up on it sometime.

Anywho back to the music portion of yesterday, once again something unplanned just absolutely floored me, we were doing the second set and we were to end with Mighty To Save, finished it up and Pink came back up to make another quick point which was cool then I thought they'd turn the lights back on and people would head out as we played another song again, WRONG. When he left the stage and we went back into Everlasting God someone (God) turned up the energy, volume, and presence as not a single person left and that song was off the hook with everyone singing and celebrating and just all out worship. That was one of those WOW moments.

Set list:
Come, Now Is The Time To Worship - Brian Doerkson
Everlasting God - Brenton Brown wrote it, Lincoln Brewster and Chris Tomlin made it a hit.
I Will Not Be Silent - David Crowder*Band
Break Me - Nate and Nate
All Who Are Thirsty - Vinyard, Kutless version is what I'm used to.
Breathe - Vinyard, Micheal W. Smith's version is the one most people know.
Mighty To Save - Hillsong, this is one of those songs that never gets old.

Question

2009-01-15T21:47:00.002-05:00

The picture above is out our kitchen window this evening. I noticed this morning that these icicles were only about an inch long or so. This evening I noticed that they had grown which makes me wonder, can it melt and freezze at the same time. It didn't get above zero today so it wasn't warm enough to melt but they were not this big this morning. Makes you wonder.

Also real quick next Friday the 23rd from 3-7 pm I will be doing the Workday Wrap-Up once again on 88.9 Joy Fm. For those of you not in the area but still want to listen you can go here and listen live. Tune in and have some fun with me as it has been awhile since I've filled during the afternoon, who knows maybe I'll even get to do some Solid Rock Friday Night later that evening.

It has been a little over a week now and I'm ready to venture out into the working world again looking around. If you know of any where that needs warehouse help, quality assurance help, or a DJ opening feel free to let me know so I can go check it out.

Isn't blogging amazing

2009-01-13T09:32:00.001-05:00

I noticed a day or so ago on one of the comments on a post I had that a fellow mentioned that I didn't know him but he was praying for me and my situation, which is cool. I had noticed his profile pic before on Nathan's blog so I figured he was a friend of Nathans. I then saw that he posted on PK's blog about tv shows and saw that he was from Austrailia. Now I was overwhelmed that someone from another country would be following this little blog from a small town in the middle of America. So I looked at David's profile and found out that he too is a worship team member/leader down in OZ. I have linked both of his blogs on the sidebar now so I can see whats happening down under its the David from OZ and Worship + links if you'd like to check them out as well and say hey. I have a little connection with the land down under, as many of you know my brother and his family spent 2 years at Hillsong college and got me hooked on Hillsong United which is a whole other blog. I have always wanted to visit Austrailia even the flying over the big pond, flying doesn't bother me-big bodies of water does however, and see what it is like there. And one side note, you all know that it is summer there now don't you, just thought I'd throw that out there. And speaking of weather what another bummer, I was all pumped after seeing we could get a couple of inches of snow and winds and we got pretty much nothing, maybe next time.

Mr. Mom

2009-01-12T08:18:00.003-05:00

Well for the past few days I keep having flashbacks to the Micheal Keaton movie Mr. Mom, if you've ever seen it you'll understand where I'm comin from. Since the lay off I've been doing stuff here at the house you know cleaning, laundry, dishes, getting the kids where they need to be, even cooking. So when Tammy heads off to work I become MR. MOM. It has been kind of enjoyable but I don't think I want to do this for an extended period of time.

Little bummed that we didn't get alot of the snow that was predicted this weekend, I know I'm messed up. I could do without the ice and would rather have just all snow, it is easier to drive on snow than ice. There is still time this season for a couple of big snows. Youth was fun last night, both jr. high and high school had quite a few new faces and I have a feeling that each week there will be more new faces. That new room is cool, you really need to check it out if you haven't yet.

Sunday set list:
How Awesome Is The Lord Most High - Chris Tomlin (started out Thursday being a new song, then changed to another then yesterday morning changed to this)
Forever - Chris Tomlin
I Stand Amazed - Charles Gabriel (I always heard you can't trust people with two first names or two last names)
Holy, Holy, Holy - Unknown
We Fall Down - Chris Tomlin
I Exhalt Thee - Pete Sanchez

A few days of relaxation

2009-01-09T13:00:00.002-05:00

After what went down Tuesday I have enjoyed a few days of relaxation and really tried not to think a whole lot about what happened. Monday I will get out and start looking around so I thought I'd take a couple days easy. I did go to the unemployment office on Wednesday to sign up for unemployment, I got there at 7:45 and was about 12th in line and to my surprise it went pretty quick, however if I knew it was going to be like it was, I filed all the info online there, I would have just stayed home and done it online here. Didn't know that but I have that taken care of for now. Enjoyed my first M & O meeting as the clerk and to be honest I was not nervous and just let the meeting happen. We enjoyed the new youth room for the meeting, I really like to see people's reaction to the new room. Speaking of the new room I enjoyed a strawberry Frap after worship team practice last night and I think I have a new favorite. I am excited for Sunday because during practice last night you could feel God's presence there. That doesn't always happen every practice, sometimes its just going through the motions, but if you just open up it is amazing.

Now after coming home from that great experience when I got home everyone was in bed so I was the only one left up and just sat there thinking and alot of the thoughts were ones of anger towards the job and playing scenarios in my mind like "man if this happens then I'd say ...." stuff that I really wish I wouldn't have thought. I am trying to stay positive during all this and I must say we appriciate all the prayers that everyone is doing and I know that there is something that I am supposed to do. I get frustrated knowing that then going and doing or thinking things that I should not. I'm glad that God is not like me and is very forgiving and loving and even when I go from a spiritial high to an awful low He still loves me no matter what and is ready to pick me up and help me even though I feel so undeserving. Thank you God.

Didn't see that coming.

2009-01-07T10:23:00.002-05:00

Yesterday started out like any normal day, getting up getting ready and head to work early cause I saw the radar and didn't want to get stuck driving in the freezing rain, made it there a half hour early and settled in getting things ready for the new year, all my reports and things I track and keep watch of. Around 10 the president of the company comes down and goes in my bosses office and shuts the door for a little meeting. A little bit later he leaves and the door is still shut so I don't think much about it. Had a little conversation with a couple of the other people in the office and word was getting around that they were going to lay off 22 people today. Still not thinking much about it, see my boss leave with one of the other guys in our office who was in charge of the quality lab so I think one of the guys from the lab, who misses quite a bit of work, is probably going to get it in our area. He did and so did the guy who runs the lab, didn't see that coming.

Fast forward to after lunch my boss gets called up to the office and about 10 minutes later he gave me a call asking me to come up there. Now I'm starting to think about it, get up there and he pulls me to the side and says that he wanted me to know that he had no say in this and it is out of his hands and apologizes to me. We go in and I have also been selected to be one of the people that is getting laid off, didn't see that coming at all. So we have the little meeting and I think that the lady doing the talking and my boss actually took it harder than I did. I just had this calming sense that when one door closes another one is going to open and that God does not leave us and that he provides for us so I know He has something out there that He would rather me do. I just pray for obedience and that I can plainly see where and what He is leading me towards. Yes its a bit scary right now to think of not having my income coming in after next Friday but I just know that we are gonna be o.k.

Back in the routine?

2009-01-06T08:02:00.002-05:00

Well the new year has started and we are back into the routine or work, practices, soon to be games, and all the extra little things that life throws at us. Had a curveball thrown Sunday evening, Taylor decided to come down with a little something. She came up to me at the 3:7 and said she wasn't feeling good, achey and tired so I brought her home and when I got home a little after 8 she was already out. Woke up yesterday morning with her in the bathroom which she spent most of her time yesterday between the bathroom and the couch. Woke up this morning and she is still not feeling well so another day home, I guess 18 days away from school wasn't enough so she needed 19. Tammy is getting to hang out at the house with her and I hope she doesn't catch it, I would gladly take it away from her so that I would be the only one in the house that gets sick. Its kinda of funny in a way to see how each of us at the house handles sickness. Taylor and Tyson both spend most of the time on the couch and Tammy and I both try to keep on going like nothing is different but sometimes that doesn't always happen.

Get to face a new challenge tomorrow, it marks my first official duties as clerk of Ministry and Oversight which means I get to run the meeting. Kind of nervous in a way and in a way I'm excited for it to engage in some discussion on some of the items that are on our docket. Got a report from one of the pastors yesterday and after reading it, it got me all fired up ready to take on the world, hopefully I can convey all that tomorrow at the meeting.

Good weekend

2009-01-05T09:00:00.002-05:00

What a cool weekend that just took place, the only downfall of the whole weekend was the fact that it was the last two days of my vacation, oh well the real world is calling again. Enjoyed having 14 days off but alas I must go back. Was at the grand opening of the new youth room last night and let me say the room was well worth the wait. There are a few minor tweaks to get it going full bore which from what Pink said should be done this week. We are now entering a new phase of the youth I think and its gonna be cool. Played a little ping pong, basketball, a little X-box 360 and messed around with the touch screen computers. Still need to get to the pool table some time and hit up the Wii and PS3 again. You need to check the room out sometime. Yesterdays song list:

Famous One - Chris Tomlin
In The Secret - Sonicflood
Be Thou My Vision - Eleanor Hull
Your Love Oh Lord - Third Day
Here Is Our King - David Crowder*Band
Oh Praise Him - David Crowder*Band

Just a little tidbit from last year the worship team did 110 different songs over the 52 weeks with How Awesome Is The Lord Most High being done the most. What a fun year it was now looking forward to what this year holds.