oh...you're all in trouble now...my computer just got set up in my apartment...wi-fi hopefully set up tonight...video feeds and youtube...let the blitz begin.
...can you feel the anticipation?
Monday, November 27, 2006
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Soon...very soon...
What is coming soon? Me. Well, not really me, just the cd I've been working on for the past two years. I just got the mix back from Andrew Osenga today and it sounds great! He does some fantastic work. Now I just need to get it mastered and duplicated. Jon Ringger of Rigg Design finished the artwork for me this week too. Check him out, because he is out-of-control awesome (and my former roommate:)). He makes some great t-shirts as well. That's all of my plugs for now. Check in for a projected release date soon!
Friday, September 29, 2006
Well that was awkward...
So...funny story, for all of you anyway. Tuesday night we started recording for the Servant Christian Community Foundation project. I borrowed my friend Jeremy Davis' beautiful Taylor guitar to do some of the recording with and offered to bring it by when we were done. Well I went to the studio and we had a good "get our feet wet session" (first sessions are really highly productive), and finished up around 10:45 or so.
I went from there to pick up my Dad from his office and found the most unusual site. There was a note on the door that said, "Mom picked me up." But that wasn't what was unusual, what was rather amusing is that there were 5 deer just chilling in the parking lot. They would just kind of watch me, decide I was rather impotent and go about there business of filling up parking spaces just feet away from me. That was weird.
But on to the real story. Post leaving my Dad's office, I dropped my Jeremy's house to give him his guitar back. It was about 11:15 by now, and I didn't want to wake up his parents, so I knocked lightly a few times. No answer. I knocked a few more times. Still no answer. I tried the knob to see if I could just set it inside. That didn't work. So I did what any half-way intelligent improvisational American would do - gather the known facts and create a plan of action for returning the guitar.
Looking up and to my left I could see the lights still on in a bedroom. Seeing how I am only 5'11" and the bedroom was on the second floor, all I could see was the baseball wallpaper going around the top of the walls. Aha! My friend Jeremy is probably the biggest baseball fan I know - this was clearly his room. Plus he indicated that he would still be awake. So I resorted to the tried and true method of chucking objects against the window. Unfortunately there were no rocks around, so I fished my wallet out of my pocket and launched it at the lit window. The leather object met the glass with a thud and dropped to the concrete driveway below. As I was retrieving my wallet I heard a voice above me, "Yes?" it questioned. Only the voice was not coming from Jeremy, but from Jeremy's Dad. "ummmm...," I stuttered, "hi, uh sorry about that, I was just trying to drop off Jeremy's guitar..." Then Jeremy came and opened the front door laughing at me. Apparently his room is in the basement. So yeah, that was my Tuesday night. Now it's time to leave for the airport to fly to San Diego:)
I went from there to pick up my Dad from his office and found the most unusual site. There was a note on the door that said, "Mom picked me up." But that wasn't what was unusual, what was rather amusing is that there were 5 deer just chilling in the parking lot. They would just kind of watch me, decide I was rather impotent and go about there business of filling up parking spaces just feet away from me. That was weird.
But on to the real story. Post leaving my Dad's office, I dropped my Jeremy's house to give him his guitar back. It was about 11:15 by now, and I didn't want to wake up his parents, so I knocked lightly a few times. No answer. I knocked a few more times. Still no answer. I tried the knob to see if I could just set it inside. That didn't work. So I did what any half-way intelligent improvisational American would do - gather the known facts and create a plan of action for returning the guitar.
Looking up and to my left I could see the lights still on in a bedroom. Seeing how I am only 5'11" and the bedroom was on the second floor, all I could see was the baseball wallpaper going around the top of the walls. Aha! My friend Jeremy is probably the biggest baseball fan I know - this was clearly his room. Plus he indicated that he would still be awake. So I resorted to the tried and true method of chucking objects against the window. Unfortunately there were no rocks around, so I fished my wallet out of my pocket and launched it at the lit window. The leather object met the glass with a thud and dropped to the concrete driveway below. As I was retrieving my wallet I heard a voice above me, "Yes?" it questioned. Only the voice was not coming from Jeremy, but from Jeremy's Dad. "ummmm...," I stuttered, "hi, uh sorry about that, I was just trying to drop off Jeremy's guitar..." Then Jeremy came and opened the front door laughing at me. Apparently his room is in the basement. So yeah, that was my Tuesday night. Now it's time to leave for the airport to fly to San Diego:)
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Finally...
The REDEEMED will walk there...
The GIRL who finds that her night with her boyfriend has left her pregnant
The BOYFRIEND and GIRLFRIEND who went one step farther than they should have ... again
The LEADER who lives a double life steeped in pornography thinking no one else knows
The BOY who thinks he can never be free from his past, that he has gone too far
The SATANIST that has sacrificed a child to attain power
The UNWED MOTHER who has sacrificed her child to attain freedom
The STUDENT who has failed his last class and is on academic probation
The MAN who wakes up from the previous night wondering what he did...and why
The ATHLETE who loses his scholarship because of one mistake...and wonders where his life will lead
More than likely every person who reads this can identify with at least one of these things. In Chapter 35 of the book of Isaiah from the Bible, where Isaiah was prophesying about heaven, one phrase jumped out at me, THE REEDEMED WILL WALK THERE. Not the perfect. Not the sinless. Not the ones who walked with God from the womb. No, the PROMISE is to the REEDEEMED. To people on that non-exhaustive list above who God has called out of their sin and forgiven COMPLETELY. Who God now empowers and indwells and infuzes with Jesus to live a life SANCTIFIED to give them a PURPOSE to give them HOPE.
How is this possible? How can God take a life RAVAGED by the worst of sin and make it a life RESTORED with JOY and MEANING.
Because...Jesus became our TRANSGRESSION, our SIN, to bring us our REDEMPTION.
HE did that...the perfect one...the one who never screwed up, who never deserved it...
HE did that...for YOU.
HE did that...to pull you into His story of grace, His story of redemption, so that HE could be glorified and you could finally...finally....finally...be satisfied. Finally...have rest. Finally...have peace.
Finally...Finally...Finally...found what you were made and redeemed for - to worship God.
The GIRL who finds that her night with her boyfriend has left her pregnant
The BOYFRIEND and GIRLFRIEND who went one step farther than they should have ... again
The LEADER who lives a double life steeped in pornography thinking no one else knows
The BOY who thinks he can never be free from his past, that he has gone too far
The SATANIST that has sacrificed a child to attain power
The UNWED MOTHER who has sacrificed her child to attain freedom
The STUDENT who has failed his last class and is on academic probation
The MAN who wakes up from the previous night wondering what he did...and why
The ATHLETE who loses his scholarship because of one mistake...and wonders where his life will lead
More than likely every person who reads this can identify with at least one of these things. In Chapter 35 of the book of Isaiah from the Bible, where Isaiah was prophesying about heaven, one phrase jumped out at me, THE REEDEMED WILL WALK THERE. Not the perfect. Not the sinless. Not the ones who walked with God from the womb. No, the PROMISE is to the REEDEEMED. To people on that non-exhaustive list above who God has called out of their sin and forgiven COMPLETELY. Who God now empowers and indwells and infuzes with Jesus to live a life SANCTIFIED to give them a PURPOSE to give them HOPE.
How is this possible? How can God take a life RAVAGED by the worst of sin and make it a life RESTORED with JOY and MEANING.
Because...Jesus became our TRANSGRESSION, our SIN, to bring us our REDEMPTION.
HE did that...the perfect one...the one who never screwed up, who never deserved it...
HE did that...for YOU.
HE did that...to pull you into His story of grace, His story of redemption, so that HE could be glorified and you could finally...finally....finally...be satisfied. Finally...have rest. Finally...have peace.
Finally...Finally...Finally...found what you were made and redeemed for - to worship God.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Response to my fiance's lettter
Jesus, I miss You too! I hate how eratic my time with You has been! You're right, I have had other lovers. I cry now writing this. I know the pain it has caused You. They never satisfied me - they always left me wanting something more. They can never give what I find in You and in the purity of our relationship.
Whenever I spend quality time with You, I see that You are better, I know that You are better! - but my lovers kept returning, they won't let me rest until the wedding - at least then they will be gone forever. Oh the pain that have caused me - and I know now - have caused You! Jesus, chase them away, claim me! Tell them I am Yours. They don't listen to me unless You are here. They tremble and run from me at the sound of Your approach - even the sound of Your name! I want to be presented to You as holy, as pure, and I know that You are the deepest desire of my heart, that every time I feel alone and worthless, You are what I'm missing!
Jesus, I will return, I must return! Where else can I go? There is no one better than You! There is nothing better than You!
Hold me...come, hold me... I need Your reassurance, I long to hear Your gentle voice and feel the caressing of Your love on my heart! I am Yours. Forgive me for my past sins against You, for my former lovers. I will learnk, love, and grow by Your mercy, grace, and by You loving example to me. Thank you for pursuing me! My heart skips while I am with You, and I too, cannot wait until the wedding day that I am forever Yours!
Maybe you can relate to these past two letters. Write your own response to Jesus, as we as the church are collectively His bride!
Whenever I spend quality time with You, I see that You are better, I know that You are better! - but my lovers kept returning, they won't let me rest until the wedding - at least then they will be gone forever. Oh the pain that have caused me - and I know now - have caused You! Jesus, chase them away, claim me! Tell them I am Yours. They don't listen to me unless You are here. They tremble and run from me at the sound of Your approach - even the sound of Your name! I want to be presented to You as holy, as pure, and I know that You are the deepest desire of my heart, that every time I feel alone and worthless, You are what I'm missing!
Jesus, I will return, I must return! Where else can I go? There is no one better than You! There is nothing better than You!
Hold me...come, hold me... I need Your reassurance, I long to hear Your gentle voice and feel the caressing of Your love on my heart! I am Yours. Forgive me for my past sins against You, for my former lovers. I will learnk, love, and grow by Your mercy, grace, and by You loving example to me. Thank you for pursuing me! My heart skips while I am with You, and I too, cannot wait until the wedding day that I am forever Yours!
Maybe you can relate to these past two letters. Write your own response to Jesus, as we as the church are collectively His bride!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
My fiance's letter
I saw you today. You were looking pretty busy. I tried to wave and I called out your name, but you were with your other friends. I guess you didn't hear me. Maybe I was naive, thinking that our relationship would be like it was last semester. I wish it were. At least you made time for me then. That's what an engagement is about.
I wanted to get to know you better, to understand you, to fall deeper in love with you -but I never thought it would be this one-sided. I wanted to share the same activities, to like what you like, to do what you do, but you have made that impossible. You know how much I hate those things! How I remember the seperation from my Dad when He looked at me and saw your activities as if I had done them. But it was worth it. It was the price I had to pay so you could know me, so that I could be with you!
But why do you do those things? Do you think that because I can see what you will do, the pain I receive from your actions is any less? It is worse than the bouquet of thorns that was pressed into my scalp on your behalf. That was nothing compared to the searing anguish in my heart.
But I will bear it. It's worth it to know you.
I know about your other lovers. I see you flirting with them before you yourself have even realized what's going on. I still love you, though my heart breaks every time like a stain-glass window being hit by a wrecking ball.
Please come back to me. I miss you. I want to be with you. I know your dreams. Some of them I will give you, for they are what I want for you. Please listen to me as I give you new dreams, for I want to save you pain, and I want to give you pleasure. Don't settle for less then what I give! Please...
I know you, and I know your potential, and your future...and I know that if you pursue your dreams on your own apart from me that you will regret it.
Never forget my zealous passion for you, how I love you enough that I gave everything for you! I can't wait for our wedding day! But oh, how much sweeter it will be if you will get to know me first. Remember, our engagement is a time for learning, for loving, for forgiving, and for growing, and it is a time that cannot be skipped - and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I wanted to get to know you better, to understand you, to fall deeper in love with you -but I never thought it would be this one-sided. I wanted to share the same activities, to like what you like, to do what you do, but you have made that impossible. You know how much I hate those things! How I remember the seperation from my Dad when He looked at me and saw your activities as if I had done them. But it was worth it. It was the price I had to pay so you could know me, so that I could be with you!
But why do you do those things? Do you think that because I can see what you will do, the pain I receive from your actions is any less? It is worse than the bouquet of thorns that was pressed into my scalp on your behalf. That was nothing compared to the searing anguish in my heart.
But I will bear it. It's worth it to know you.
I know about your other lovers. I see you flirting with them before you yourself have even realized what's going on. I still love you, though my heart breaks every time like a stain-glass window being hit by a wrecking ball.
Please come back to me. I miss you. I want to be with you. I know your dreams. Some of them I will give you, for they are what I want for you. Please listen to me as I give you new dreams, for I want to save you pain, and I want to give you pleasure. Don't settle for less then what I give! Please...
I know you, and I know your potential, and your future...and I know that if you pursue your dreams on your own apart from me that you will regret it.
Never forget my zealous passion for you, how I love you enough that I gave everything for you! I can't wait for our wedding day! But oh, how much sweeter it will be if you will get to know me first. Remember, our engagement is a time for learning, for loving, for forgiving, and for growing, and it is a time that cannot be skipped - and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
revealing
I did not write the following, but I really liked it, and you should read it, because it's so true.
Tim seemed to be a reasonably mature, stable teenager as he prepared to go off for his first year of college. He always looked clean and neat, he was polite, and he did well enough in his high school studies to be accepted by a good university.
It was a real shock to see the contrast between the boy who left in August and the boy who came home for Christmas vacation after the first semester. His once-neat, medium-length hair had become long, dirty, and shapeless. He had gained 25 pounds. He wore a dirty, smelly T-shirt and jeans, both checkered with holes. His tennis shoes were rotting away, and their pungent smell preceded him into a room. Tim's mother was also less than thrilled to discover that he had brought home with him a large laundry bag full of clothes, towels, and sheets for her to wash--none of which gave any evience of having been laundered since he had left the previous summer! Tim's father, on the other hand, contemplated the fact that his son, who had always gotten A's and B's through public shool, had managed at college to achieve one C and three D's, and had avoided an F only by dropping a course before the final exam.
What had happened to Tim? Are these the usual results of a young man going off to college? If so, you might conclude, let's not send our children there. But we had better take a closer look at the facts before we draw a hasty conclusion. in partiular, we need to examine what Tim seemed to be BEFORE leaving for the university.
I mentioned that Tim had seemed to be a reasonably mature 18-year-old, but on closer examination that appearance turned out to be artificial. He always did look neat and clean, but that was because his mother did his laundry and insisted that he wear clean clothes, and his father supervised his haircut and style. The polite manners that he displayed turned out to be the result of a lot of nagging and dire threats from Mom and Dad. His acceptable grades in high school were generated because his parents strictly enforced curfew rules, demanded to see daily work, and promised money and privileges for A's and B's.
In short, what looked like qualities of maturity and character in Tim were in reality a mere facade that was propped up by Mom and Dad. He really had very little character of his own, and that was proven by what happened when Mom and Dad were taken out of the picture: Tim immediately collapsed into a fat blob of immaturity. Without Mom to do his laundry, it didn't get done. Without Dad to make him do his studies, Tim didn't do them. Without anyone telling him when to go to bed, Tim stayed up to all hours, went to late-night fast-food restaurants, and slept through his morning classes. When he came home for Christmas vacation, he exhibited the fruit of four months of undisciplined, unrestrained, immature living.
Did college make him that way? Absolutely not! All going alway to college did was to reveal the lack of character in Tim that was already there by removing his artificial props called parents. In other words, freedom did not make Tim immature; it revealed the immaturity in him that already existed.
[...]
The ultimate practical proof that the law is useless to prduce Christ's life--the fruit of the Spirit--can be seen when it is abruptly removed from the teaching of Christ living in and through you. You'll sometimes see Chrsitians reacting to their newfound "freedom" much like Tim did when he finally escaped from Mom and Dad: They go wild. Then the accusation comes, "See what happes when you don't keep people under the law? They go out and live like the devil. That's what the teaching on freedom produces!"
No! That's what keeping people under the law produces--a total lack of Christian maturity. Taking them out from under the law merely reveals the lack of character in them that already existed. The teaching of God's grace does not make people spiritually immature any more than going away to college made Tim immature.
Bob George, Growing in Grace (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1991), 161-163, 165-166.
Tim seemed to be a reasonably mature, stable teenager as he prepared to go off for his first year of college. He always looked clean and neat, he was polite, and he did well enough in his high school studies to be accepted by a good university.
It was a real shock to see the contrast between the boy who left in August and the boy who came home for Christmas vacation after the first semester. His once-neat, medium-length hair had become long, dirty, and shapeless. He had gained 25 pounds. He wore a dirty, smelly T-shirt and jeans, both checkered with holes. His tennis shoes were rotting away, and their pungent smell preceded him into a room. Tim's mother was also less than thrilled to discover that he had brought home with him a large laundry bag full of clothes, towels, and sheets for her to wash--none of which gave any evience of having been laundered since he had left the previous summer! Tim's father, on the other hand, contemplated the fact that his son, who had always gotten A's and B's through public shool, had managed at college to achieve one C and three D's, and had avoided an F only by dropping a course before the final exam.
What had happened to Tim? Are these the usual results of a young man going off to college? If so, you might conclude, let's not send our children there. But we had better take a closer look at the facts before we draw a hasty conclusion. in partiular, we need to examine what Tim seemed to be BEFORE leaving for the university.
I mentioned that Tim had seemed to be a reasonably mature 18-year-old, but on closer examination that appearance turned out to be artificial. He always did look neat and clean, but that was because his mother did his laundry and insisted that he wear clean clothes, and his father supervised his haircut and style. The polite manners that he displayed turned out to be the result of a lot of nagging and dire threats from Mom and Dad. His acceptable grades in high school were generated because his parents strictly enforced curfew rules, demanded to see daily work, and promised money and privileges for A's and B's.
In short, what looked like qualities of maturity and character in Tim were in reality a mere facade that was propped up by Mom and Dad. He really had very little character of his own, and that was proven by what happened when Mom and Dad were taken out of the picture: Tim immediately collapsed into a fat blob of immaturity. Without Mom to do his laundry, it didn't get done. Without Dad to make him do his studies, Tim didn't do them. Without anyone telling him when to go to bed, Tim stayed up to all hours, went to late-night fast-food restaurants, and slept through his morning classes. When he came home for Christmas vacation, he exhibited the fruit of four months of undisciplined, unrestrained, immature living.
Did college make him that way? Absolutely not! All going alway to college did was to reveal the lack of character in Tim that was already there by removing his artificial props called parents. In other words, freedom did not make Tim immature; it revealed the immaturity in him that already existed.
[...]
The ultimate practical proof that the law is useless to prduce Christ's life--the fruit of the Spirit--can be seen when it is abruptly removed from the teaching of Christ living in and through you. You'll sometimes see Chrsitians reacting to their newfound "freedom" much like Tim did when he finally escaped from Mom and Dad: They go wild. Then the accusation comes, "See what happes when you don't keep people under the law? They go out and live like the devil. That's what the teaching on freedom produces!"
No! That's what keeping people under the law produces--a total lack of Christian maturity. Taking them out from under the law merely reveals the lack of character in them that already existed. The teaching of God's grace does not make people spiritually immature any more than going away to college made Tim immature.
Bob George, Growing in Grace (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1991), 161-163, 165-166.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Crikey!
there are no words to express the sadness...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060904/wl_asia_afp/australiapeopleirwinwildlife_060904071925
We will miss you, Steve.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060904/wl_asia_afp/australiapeopleirwinwildlife_060904071925
We will miss you, Steve.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Free Derek Webb!
Hey go to www.freederekwebb.com to download his new cd Mockingbird for absolutely free! I'm downloading it right now...63% done. Thanks, Derek!
Friday, July 28, 2006
3 Questions
This post is in response to Kim's post of the following. "Tell me 3 things about you that most people dont know. Ready....Go."
1. I once almost got arrested when a police officer thought I was a vampire.
2. My brother hit me in the head with a golf club when I was 12. I got to go the hospital in an ambulance..then I got 12 stitches.
3. I once got asked to perform on television in Japan.
On a side note, I just went to see Empathy in concert last night. They were phenomenal! You owe it to yourself to check them out at www.theempathy.com and www.myspace.com/ryanandsean
Do it now. Well...after you tell me 3 things about you that most people don't know. :)
1. I once almost got arrested when a police officer thought I was a vampire.
2. My brother hit me in the head with a golf club when I was 12. I got to go the hospital in an ambulance..then I got 12 stitches.
3. I once got asked to perform on television in Japan.
On a side note, I just went to see Empathy in concert last night. They were phenomenal! You owe it to yourself to check them out at www.theempathy.com and www.myspace.com/ryanandsean
Do it now. Well...after you tell me 3 things about you that most people don't know. :)
Sunday, July 23, 2006
wow. just wow.
So, funny thing happened at church today.
It's a good thing I don't get embarrased easily or it would have been really awkward.
After the service, I go up front to talk to Mike about Belarus and stuff, then I see this middle aged woman from the corner of my eye making a bee-line for me. She introduced herself and asked how old I was.
"22", I replied (with what was I'm sure a quizical look on my face).
"Great," she said, "my daughter is 22, are you attached?"
whoah, wasn't prepared for that one "uh, I guess not ...technically."
She continued, "my daughter is 22, a nursing student and she'll be moving back next week."
I'm thinking how to get out of this and still be polite as she tells me more about her daughter. I was telling her I'm not really interested, but she wasn't really catching that. Apparently she was at church one of the Sunday's I led worship and decided I was perfect for her daughter. - But I had my trump card... "Well...you probably won't want me to marry your daughter - I'm planning on moving to Japan" Check and Mate.
"Oh," she resigned,
"well, you know...if God wanted her to go to Japan I'm ok with that."
DOH! That usually works. Best just to be direct now, "I honestly don't think I'll pursue that, sorry. But I like friends, so I wouldn't mind meeting her." She gave up then and we left on good terms I think. She really was a nice lady. I feel kind of bad for her daughter though. I'm sure she'll find a great guy some day.
It's a good thing I don't get embarrased easily or it would have been really awkward.
After the service, I go up front to talk to Mike about Belarus and stuff, then I see this middle aged woman from the corner of my eye making a bee-line for me. She introduced herself and asked how old I was.
"22", I replied (with what was I'm sure a quizical look on my face).
"Great," she said, "my daughter is 22, are you attached?"
whoah, wasn't prepared for that one "uh, I guess not ...technically."
She continued, "my daughter is 22, a nursing student and she'll be moving back next week."
I'm thinking how to get out of this and still be polite as she tells me more about her daughter. I was telling her I'm not really interested, but she wasn't really catching that. Apparently she was at church one of the Sunday's I led worship and decided I was perfect for her daughter. - But I had my trump card... "Well...you probably won't want me to marry your daughter - I'm planning on moving to Japan" Check and Mate.
"Oh," she resigned,
"well, you know...if God wanted her to go to Japan I'm ok with that."
DOH! That usually works. Best just to be direct now, "I honestly don't think I'll pursue that, sorry. But I like friends, so I wouldn't mind meeting her." She gave up then and we left on good terms I think. She really was a nice lady. I feel kind of bad for her daughter though. I'm sure she'll find a great guy some day.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Love for me: One thing that God and cell phones disagree on
Things I am feeling:
Sadness at friends left in Belarus
Gratefulness to God for His work there
Excitement at what the near future holds
Something in my stomach I have yet to identify
If you were wondering why cell phones hate me, it's because my 4th phone in 6 months just met an untimely end in a fountain in Minsk. I think it's a conspiracy. How did it happen? I fell into a fountain. Not pushed or anything just fell in. I'm weird, I know. Well, it was a rounded edge, and I did have a heavy back pack on, and just maybe I was pretending to push someone into the fountain, but that's just hypothetical of course.
Sadness at friends left in Belarus
Gratefulness to God for His work there
Excitement at what the near future holds
Something in my stomach I have yet to identify
If you were wondering why cell phones hate me, it's because my 4th phone in 6 months just met an untimely end in a fountain in Minsk. I think it's a conspiracy. How did it happen? I fell into a fountain. Not pushed or anything just fell in. I'm weird, I know. Well, it was a rounded edge, and I did have a heavy back pack on, and just maybe I was pretending to push someone into the fountain, but that's just hypothetical of course.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Penguin + 2 cymbals + especially small brain for the species = lunch for the coca cola bear
Wow. I think I just burnt 1000 calories laughing.
Out of all the penguins, Freddy wasn't the brightest of the bunch...
Nashville went great! Thanks so much for your prayers! We finished the cd and should have it mixed, mastered, and produced by some time in August. So then you can buy it to support this poor missionary and help him pay off his student loans. Thanks:)
Out of all the penguins, Freddy wasn't the brightest of the bunch...
Nashville went great! Thanks so much for your prayers! We finished the cd and should have it mixed, mastered, and produced by some time in August. So then you can buy it to support this poor missionary and help him pay off his student loans. Thanks:)
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Day 1
Andy and Matthew's show last night rocked. Awesomeness. It was good to see a lot of people I hadn't seen for a while. Today was a great day though, we made some good progress with Andrew "sweet action jackson" Osenga at the helm, and Dean "I don't have to say how amazing I am because it's self evident" Baylor sitting shotgun. Vocals are finished for My Prayer, Sustain, and By Grace I move. Plus, all the bass is done and Samuel threw down a sweet violin part for By Grace. Thanks for your prayers, and keep em comin!
Thanks to Dean and Landon for a place to stay last night!
Thanks to Dean and Landon for a place to stay last night!
Monday, June 19, 2006
Music City
Well, in the morning I leave for the sprawling city of Nashville to try and finish my cd. Please pray for me with travels, vocals, songs, inspiration, and for Andrew Osenga, Samuel Griggs, and Paul Eckberg, along with anyone else working on this. I need to go pack and get some sleep. I just wanted you to pray. Thanks.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Christian mulch
BFMRT - yes it's a word. Or at least it was at Paragon Landscaping where I used to work in Indiana. It stood for their core values - Best of the Best, Fair, Mentoring atmosphere, Respect, and Trust.
The other day I had the privelege of doing some landscaping and cleaning work alongside some wonderful missions minded people from my church. As we walked up to the foundation where we were to be working, I couldn't help but notice a pile of refuse on the drive. There were leaves, and sticks, and molding wood all piled together in a mass resembling a pile of rotting squirrels in an aging forest. Upon meeting with a person in charge, I discovered that the compost dump of a pile in the front was actually mulch, and that we were going to use it to cover all of their landscape beds. My friend and I started working to spread the "chopped up forest heap of dead furry animals" across the beds and around and under bushes. I look over to see him thinking and he says, "hey I know what this stuff is, it's Christian Mulch!" I stared at him incredulously waiting for an explanation, he continued "it's the good enough to get the job done mulch, the take what you can get mulch." It only improved slightly as he continued, "the be thankful for what you've got mulch." - I just shook my head...
That's been the attitude of so many members of the church for so long. People make Christian music, Christian movies, or Christian books, and the next question regarding it is, "is it any good?" Some is good , to which they usually find themselves pleasantly surprised. Other stuff is not, and we find ourselves supporting it just because it's "Christian".
God is a not a shoddy God, or an ok God, or even a pretty good God. God is an excellent God, a creative God who created creativity, a God who expects much, and gives much more.
The Message expounds on Collosian 3:23 the best I think,
3:22-25 Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.
I'm tired of hearing of "Christian" as some subpar genre of anything, under which excellence is the exception. This needs to change, not be cause the word Christian labels and reflects on us, but because it reflects on Christ. We are labeled as followers of Christ, as someone Christ works through. Jesus Christ is someone who did and does all things well and it is Him we are claiming to follow and model after when we call ourselves Christians.
Let it never be said of us that grace and forgiveness is an excuse for us to do poorly, to be lazy or greedy, just simply expecting little to be good enough. I want to do my best. To take time and effort to do every job the best I can, so that people will be able to look at me and say, "He will do his best. He will be trustworthy. He has my respect. He mentors and helps others to grow, and he is always fair, because he is a Christian, and I've learned that's what Christians do" And through we can tell them and they will see first hand, that we are like this because it is who Christ is, and it is HE that is doing this through us!
Maybe then people can look at beautiful golden mulch, or a masterpiece painting, or an awe-inspiring skyscraper - and then to the cross and say that's Christian, and in it, I see Christ.
The other day I had the privelege of doing some landscaping and cleaning work alongside some wonderful missions minded people from my church. As we walked up to the foundation where we were to be working, I couldn't help but notice a pile of refuse on the drive. There were leaves, and sticks, and molding wood all piled together in a mass resembling a pile of rotting squirrels in an aging forest. Upon meeting with a person in charge, I discovered that the compost dump of a pile in the front was actually mulch, and that we were going to use it to cover all of their landscape beds. My friend and I started working to spread the "chopped up forest heap of dead furry animals" across the beds and around and under bushes. I look over to see him thinking and he says, "hey I know what this stuff is, it's Christian Mulch!" I stared at him incredulously waiting for an explanation, he continued "it's the good enough to get the job done mulch, the take what you can get mulch." It only improved slightly as he continued, "the be thankful for what you've got mulch." - I just shook my head...
That's been the attitude of so many members of the church for so long. People make Christian music, Christian movies, or Christian books, and the next question regarding it is, "is it any good?" Some is good , to which they usually find themselves pleasantly surprised. Other stuff is not, and we find ourselves supporting it just because it's "Christian".
God is a not a shoddy God, or an ok God, or even a pretty good God. God is an excellent God, a creative God who created creativity, a God who expects much, and gives much more.
The Message expounds on Collosian 3:23 the best I think,
3:22-25 Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.
I'm tired of hearing of "Christian" as some subpar genre of anything, under which excellence is the exception. This needs to change, not be cause the word Christian labels and reflects on us, but because it reflects on Christ. We are labeled as followers of Christ, as someone Christ works through. Jesus Christ is someone who did and does all things well and it is Him we are claiming to follow and model after when we call ourselves Christians.
Let it never be said of us that grace and forgiveness is an excuse for us to do poorly, to be lazy or greedy, just simply expecting little to be good enough. I want to do my best. To take time and effort to do every job the best I can, so that people will be able to look at me and say, "He will do his best. He will be trustworthy. He has my respect. He mentors and helps others to grow, and he is always fair, because he is a Christian, and I've learned that's what Christians do" And through we can tell them and they will see first hand, that we are like this because it is who Christ is, and it is HE that is doing this through us!
Maybe then people can look at beautiful golden mulch, or a masterpiece painting, or an awe-inspiring skyscraper - and then to the cross and say that's Christian, and in it, I see Christ.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
My friend Andy (you can click on his link for his blog, AO, to your right) is releasing his new solo album. He's out of control good so you should buy it, but for now, go download his free MP3 of the album by clicking the picture below. Also, I posted a soundtrack project I did in MIDI Composition 2 Class on my myspace. www.myspace.com/theothermarkmiller
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
New Myspace, Prayer, and Ben
Well folks, I just got a new myspace account so I could upload songs. It is www.myspace.com/theothermarkmiller
I put up a few songs, rough but up, and you can download them if you wish. Then you can add me as a friend. That'd be sweet.
Also: Friday morning from 2-4 AM, my worship band will be leading for a city wide 24 hour Harp and Bowl (Prayer and Worship). Please come join us in prayer! It will be at the Salvation Army in Olathe, KS, right off Sante Fe (135th St.) about 2 miles West of I-35. If you need directions, contact me.
And if you would pray for my brother, Ben, who's active duty in the Marines, that would make me happy. Thanks!
Thats all for now. Good night:)
I put up a few songs, rough but up, and you can download them if you wish. Then you can add me as a friend. That'd be sweet.
Also: Friday morning from 2-4 AM, my worship band will be leading for a city wide 24 hour Harp and Bowl (Prayer and Worship). Please come join us in prayer! It will be at the Salvation Army in Olathe, KS, right off Sante Fe (135th St.) about 2 miles West of I-35. If you need directions, contact me.
And if you would pray for my brother, Ben, who's active duty in the Marines, that would make me happy. Thanks!
Thats all for now. Good night:)
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
I stole the first half of this from my bro
1. I will respond with something random about you
2. I'll challenge you to try something
3. I'll pick a color that associates with you
4. I'll tell you something I like about you
5. I'll tell you my first/clearest memory of you
6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of
7. I'll ask you something I've always wanted to ask you
8. If I do this for you, you have to post this on your blog.
If you want me to to do it, say, "The curtains" and comment too! I always enjoy comments
PS, in response to certain persons queries, MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. Basically I can write music and the computer plays it back for me as strings, synth, oboe, drums, whatever. I hope that makes sense. I'll post my first project up somewhere so you can hear some MIDI.
PSS PRAY for Micah Bradley's family, especially Caleb Bradley, his brother, and Micah's wife. I was just told that Micah died in a car accident last night. Micah is a believer, now more than ever as He is interacting with Jesus face to face. Ironic how some of the greatest joys can come out of the deepest sorrows. Only in Jesus. Thank you Jesus, for rescuing us from a brief meaningless life, and letting us be a part of your eternal story!
2. I'll challenge you to try something
3. I'll pick a color that associates with you
4. I'll tell you something I like about you
5. I'll tell you my first/clearest memory of you
6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of
7. I'll ask you something I've always wanted to ask you
8. If I do this for you, you have to post this on your blog.
If you want me to to do it, say, "The curtains" and comment too! I always enjoy comments
PS, in response to certain persons queries, MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. Basically I can write music and the computer plays it back for me as strings, synth, oboe, drums, whatever. I hope that makes sense. I'll post my first project up somewhere so you can hear some MIDI.
PSS PRAY for Micah Bradley's family, especially Caleb Bradley, his brother, and Micah's wife. I was just told that Micah died in a car accident last night. Micah is a believer, now more than ever as He is interacting with Jesus face to face. Ironic how some of the greatest joys can come out of the deepest sorrows. Only in Jesus. Thank you Jesus, for rescuing us from a brief meaningless life, and letting us be a part of your eternal story!
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
I love accomplishing things
MIDI Music Composition 2 project - Done
International Relations Midterm complete with five 1-2 page essays - Done and sent
The currently last production of The Pastor in Wichita - Done and awesome!
The Cross and the Switchblade complete with writing a song for it - Done and incredible!
Speaking at FCA last night - Done and God moved
And to top it all off, it's like 70 degrees and sunny out.
The MIDI comp project turned out sweet, and it was more fun than listening to Brian Huther tell jokes about forest fires, web-footed ducks, and large pachyderms. I had the oppurtunity to ask about 40 people what they believed about God and Jesus, capture about 20 different languages responding to those questions, and meet a lot of people in the process. I may post my project online in the near future.
So, next on the to do list:
-Complete Biblical Beliefs form for my Japan application
-Write songs for the Servant Christian Community Foundation Project (and others)
-Sleep
-Learn how to swing dance
-Finish the "never ending cd project"
-Work on my last project for MIDI comp
-read your comments;)
...and if you don't have facebook, go get it and add me as a friend...or if you do have facebook add me as a friend...k...that's it.
International Relations Midterm complete with five 1-2 page essays - Done and sent
The currently last production of The Pastor in Wichita - Done and awesome!
The Cross and the Switchblade complete with writing a song for it - Done and incredible!
Speaking at FCA last night - Done and God moved
And to top it all off, it's like 70 degrees and sunny out.
The MIDI comp project turned out sweet, and it was more fun than listening to Brian Huther tell jokes about forest fires, web-footed ducks, and large pachyderms. I had the oppurtunity to ask about 40 people what they believed about God and Jesus, capture about 20 different languages responding to those questions, and meet a lot of people in the process. I may post my project online in the near future.
So, next on the to do list:
-Complete Biblical Beliefs form for my Japan application
-Write songs for the Servant Christian Community Foundation Project (and others)
-Sleep
-Learn how to swing dance
-Finish the "never ending cd project"
-Work on my last project for MIDI comp
-read your comments;)
...and if you don't have facebook, go get it and add me as a friend...or if you do have facebook add me as a friend...k...that's it.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
"Wake up and feel the coffee" or "Why you should always bring lids for your coffee mug"
I was really tired today. After finally hitting the wall at 2PM, I broke down and paid to fill my mug with coffee. Promptly thereafter I went and sat outside the MIDI music lab where I was waiting to work on my project, put on my headphones, reclined in the chair, and cupping my mug with both hands, proceded to fall asleep. Do you know how your body involuntarily twitches sometimes when you start to fall asleep? Yeah, well mine decided this would be a good time to do that. Now I have a 12" coffee circle encompassing my jeans and shirt, so if you see me today, that's what happened. But I'm awake now, so I suppose the coffee did what it was meant to do:). Happy Singles Awareness Day btw.
My sister left me note this morning that reminded me of that, but said, "don't worry, you won't be single forever." I have nothing to add to that, other than God's really awesome. Actually, I saw some girl at college today crying because her man neglected to tell her Happy Valentine's Day, so I gave her a sucker with a note on it from FCA that had a cool Valentine note about God's love. And God is all sufficient, never forget that my fellow singles, or you married folks for that matter. time to go write some music. Have a blessed day in Christ!
In Christ who is our strength,
Mark
My sister left me note this morning that reminded me of that, but said, "don't worry, you won't be single forever." I have nothing to add to that, other than God's really awesome. Actually, I saw some girl at college today crying because her man neglected to tell her Happy Valentine's Day, so I gave her a sucker with a note on it from FCA that had a cool Valentine note about God's love. And God is all sufficient, never forget that my fellow singles, or you married folks for that matter. time to go write some music. Have a blessed day in Christ!
In Christ who is our strength,
Mark
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Japan Update
If you were all wondering what's up with me and Japan, you can thank Hannah for spurring this post:).
I actually just had my 1 hour 15 min telephone interview with TEAM yesterday. That's one of the last initial steps for me. I will have JCCC send my transcript in to TEAM today, then just wait for the rest of my references to finish up. At that point they finish looking over everything and, Lord willing, ask me to come up to Wheaton, IL to talk with them there. So it is coming along well, I think. Your prayers are defiantely needed and appreciated!
On another note, I went to Ned Kellenberger's orchestra concert last night, which was sweet! They played some great pieces, and ended with the theme from Pirates of the Carribean. Good stuff. Ned is amazing too, that kid's a freshman, but an amazing violinist/section leader of his high school orchestra and like 2nd chair of Kansas City Youth Symphony. I'm trying to recruit him for music school in Japan:).
Oh, and Applebees has 1/2 price appetizers after 9PM, which is only beat when you think you're paying and a friend picks up the tab instead. So, that was yesterday. Today should be awesome.
I actually just had my 1 hour 15 min telephone interview with TEAM yesterday. That's one of the last initial steps for me. I will have JCCC send my transcript in to TEAM today, then just wait for the rest of my references to finish up. At that point they finish looking over everything and, Lord willing, ask me to come up to Wheaton, IL to talk with them there. So it is coming along well, I think. Your prayers are defiantely needed and appreciated!
On another note, I went to Ned Kellenberger's orchestra concert last night, which was sweet! They played some great pieces, and ended with the theme from Pirates of the Carribean. Good stuff. Ned is amazing too, that kid's a freshman, but an amazing violinist/section leader of his high school orchestra and like 2nd chair of Kansas City Youth Symphony. I'm trying to recruit him for music school in Japan:).
Oh, and Applebees has 1/2 price appetizers after 9PM, which is only beat when you think you're paying and a friend picks up the tab instead. So, that was yesterday. Today should be awesome.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Interview Questions
Dan and Kelbs, I usually never do these, but since you guys sent it to me, I decided to. You should feel special:)
>
> 1. What time is it? 11:12 AM
>
> 2. Name? Mark Alan Miller
>
> 3. Piercings? None...
>
> 4. What is the most recent movie you've seen in the
> theater? End of the Spear
>
> 5. Eye color: Green
>
> 6. Place of Birth: Olathe, KS
>
> 7. Favorite NEW food? hmm...the last new food I tried was popcorn dipped in peanut butter, though I highly doubt it will ever be considered one of my favorites.
>
> 8. Ever been to Africa? No, someday...
>
> 9. Ever been toilet papering (rolling)? I plead the 3rd, and the 7th, and the 22nd...wait... Kelbs help me out;) jk
>
> 10. Love someone so much it made you cry? Yup, often, I think god puts more tears in male musicians than other guys, but don't tell anyone
>
> 11. Been in a car accident? twice, in fact my perfect driving record just disentegrated last week in the wal-mart parking lot.
>
> 12. Croutons or bacon bits? Both, but bacon bits are the BEST!
>
> 13. Favorite day of the week? Today (whichever the
> current one is) (is it ok to steal answers?)
>
> 14. Favorite restaurants? hmmm....Jack Stack, McDonalds and Taco Bell for value menu's, MJ's Pizza, does Starbuck's count as a restaurant?
>
> 15. Favorite Flower? Water Lily
>
> 16. Favorite sport to watch? College Football, KANSAS STATE WILDCATS, YEAH!!!!!
>
> 17. Favorite Drink? Venti Caramel Frappachino
>
> 18. Favorite ice cream? Starbucks ice cream, good stuff
>
> 19. Disney or Warner Brothers? Disney + 4 words
The Emperor's New Groove
Enough said.
>
> 20. Favorite fast food restaurant? McDonald's $1
> double cheese burger, but recently the 1/2 $1 burritos at Taco Bell have been rockin my world
>
> 21. What color is your bedroom carpet? tanish, with assorted carefully placed dark brown spots, located strategically by my study desk. (are we allowed to lie on this test, or is this blinking button on my computer some type of lie detector?)
>
> 22. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
> ...doh! You would ask. The first time, no problem, but when I moved to Indiana and had to switch my license...yeah, I failed. That was humbling.
>
> 23. Before this one, from whom did you get your last
> e-mail? I don't remember, the only two I have so far today are from Dan and Kelbs, though I did get one from my Chinese friend Tren in my other account.
>
> 24. Which store would you choose to Max out your
> credit card? Evil question, it's making me covet. Probably Sweet Water Music Technology so I could get an amazing new recording studio, wait...do I have to pay off this credit card?
> 25. What do you do most often when you are bored? You don't want to know, no really.
>
> 26. Bedtime? Probably average around Midnight.
>
> 27. Who will respond to this e-mail the quickest?
> Kristi
>
> 28. Who is the person you sent this to that is least
> likely to respond? Dan and Kelbs since they already did this
>
> 29. Who are you the most curious about their
> responses to this? Kami, cause it's bound to hilarious
>
> 30. Favorite TV shows? Sue Thomas F.B.eye, college football, but I really don't watch much tv at all.
>
> 31. Last person you went to dinner with? myself and God, if it wasn't for Him I would have a really lonely life.
>
> 32. Ford or Chevy? Toyota!
>
> 33. What are you listening to right now? Hawk Nelson, Shane and Shane on the way here
>
> 34. What is your favorite color? Green
>
> 35. How many tattoos do you have? I had a couple fake tattoos I got from a Pop-Tart box once.
>
> 36. How many animals? 0
>
> 38. How many people are you sending this e-mail to?
> Kelbs, I want to know if I got a whole number or if I counted as the .2375
>
> 39. If you could go anywhere on vacation, where
> would it be? Wow, everywhere, I love traveling. I would really love to go to Europe, see all the music history there and go to a bunch of different Symphonys.
>
>
> 1. What time is it? 11:12 AM
>
> 2. Name? Mark Alan Miller
>
> 3. Piercings? None...
>
> 4. What is the most recent movie you've seen in the
> theater? End of the Spear
>
> 5. Eye color: Green
>
> 6. Place of Birth: Olathe, KS
>
> 7. Favorite NEW food? hmm...the last new food I tried was popcorn dipped in peanut butter, though I highly doubt it will ever be considered one of my favorites.
>
> 8. Ever been to Africa? No, someday...
>
> 9. Ever been toilet papering (rolling)? I plead the 3rd, and the 7th, and the 22nd...wait... Kelbs help me out;) jk
>
> 10. Love someone so much it made you cry? Yup, often, I think god puts more tears in male musicians than other guys, but don't tell anyone
>
> 11. Been in a car accident? twice, in fact my perfect driving record just disentegrated last week in the wal-mart parking lot.
>
> 12. Croutons or bacon bits? Both, but bacon bits are the BEST!
>
> 13. Favorite day of the week? Today (whichever the
> current one is) (is it ok to steal answers?)
>
> 14. Favorite restaurants? hmmm....Jack Stack, McDonalds and Taco Bell for value menu's, MJ's Pizza, does Starbuck's count as a restaurant?
>
> 15. Favorite Flower? Water Lily
>
> 16. Favorite sport to watch? College Football, KANSAS STATE WILDCATS, YEAH!!!!!
>
> 17. Favorite Drink? Venti Caramel Frappachino
>
> 18. Favorite ice cream? Starbucks ice cream, good stuff
>
> 19. Disney or Warner Brothers? Disney + 4 words
The Emperor's New Groove
Enough said.
>
> 20. Favorite fast food restaurant? McDonald's $1
> double cheese burger, but recently the 1/2 $1 burritos at Taco Bell have been rockin my world
>
> 21. What color is your bedroom carpet? tanish, with assorted carefully placed dark brown spots, located strategically by my study desk. (are we allowed to lie on this test, or is this blinking button on my computer some type of lie detector?)
>
> 22. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
> ...doh! You would ask. The first time, no problem, but when I moved to Indiana and had to switch my license...yeah, I failed. That was humbling.
>
> 23. Before this one, from whom did you get your last
> e-mail? I don't remember, the only two I have so far today are from Dan and Kelbs, though I did get one from my Chinese friend Tren in my other account.
>
> 24. Which store would you choose to Max out your
> credit card? Evil question, it's making me covet. Probably Sweet Water Music Technology so I could get an amazing new recording studio, wait...do I have to pay off this credit card?
> 25. What do you do most often when you are bored? You don't want to know, no really.
>
> 26. Bedtime? Probably average around Midnight.
>
> 27. Who will respond to this e-mail the quickest?
> Kristi
>
> 28. Who is the person you sent this to that is least
> likely to respond? Dan and Kelbs since they already did this
>
> 29. Who are you the most curious about their
> responses to this? Kami, cause it's bound to hilarious
>
> 30. Favorite TV shows? Sue Thomas F.B.eye, college football, but I really don't watch much tv at all.
>
> 31. Last person you went to dinner with? myself and God, if it wasn't for Him I would have a really lonely life.
>
> 32. Ford or Chevy? Toyota!
>
> 33. What are you listening to right now? Hawk Nelson, Shane and Shane on the way here
>
> 34. What is your favorite color? Green
>
> 35. How many tattoos do you have? I had a couple fake tattoos I got from a Pop-Tart box once.
>
> 36. How many animals? 0
>
> 38. How many people are you sending this e-mail to?
> Kelbs, I want to know if I got a whole number or if I counted as the .2375
>
> 39. If you could go anywhere on vacation, where
> would it be? Wow, everywhere, I love traveling. I would really love to go to Europe, see all the music history there and go to a bunch of different Symphonys.
>
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Inadequate
I wanted to write about the Passion 06 conference. I still do, but I just had a hard time condensing it into words.
Coming out of it I had this thought,
I'm convinced that God left our language inadequate to describe Him and His works, so that we would be forced to be quiet and listen to Him. Sometimes, maybe the best worship is silence.
I'm really excited for this year. It's going to be INCREDIBLE to watch God work, and oh the joy at being a small part of that!
Coming out of it I had this thought,
I'm convinced that God left our language inadequate to describe Him and His works, so that we would be forced to be quiet and listen to Him. Sometimes, maybe the best worship is silence.
I'm really excited for this year. It's going to be INCREDIBLE to watch God work, and oh the joy at being a small part of that!
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