On 2nd Thought

Have you ever committed to something - REALLY committed. Not like "hey it's the new year, so I need to hit the gym for two weeks". Really. Committed. To something - like with your whole life.
My wife and I are in the middle of said commitment. I find myself becoming restless because I feel like I am only doing a fraction of what I am called to be doing. Maybe it's the fact that I just turned 31. Maybe it's more. I think it's MUCH more than that, and I don't know how to go about fixing that. I asked my friend L last night if he was doing what he was passionate about. He responded "no". I asked him why not, and he gave me a very heart-felt reply. It's the same as mine. There is too much comfort in the status quo and I am just lazy enough to not try. It's a sad thing, but it is refreshing to be in honest community with someone like that.
I know I am called to play music. I know I am called to lead people in worship. I know that where Stef and I are is a stepping stone and not the end of the journey.
Like I said I am restless. The fact of the matter is I need to start actually writing my own material again and put it out there instead of complaining that things aren't happening like I had intended them to. Something about a "bull and his horns".

Stay tuned - I have a feeling some stuff is about to start happening . .

Remedy

I spent the evening with my wife and a couple of friends. We bought tix to go see David Crowder in Columbia. Columbia, for those of you who may not have been there, is a hole. It's a little stinky and it takes over an hour to get there. That, coupled with the fact that I felt like I had been emotionally taken outback and worked over with a lead pipe means that I was not really all that pumped for the show. I was wrong.
We got there, and caught the end of Phil Wickham's set. Just him and an acoustic. That seems to be the bravest thing to me. Anyone can go up and be surrounded by a raucousness called a band. When it's just you and the acoustic - you'd better bring it. Derrick Webb does that well, too.
So - 20 minutes for a set change and then Crowder and the boys took to the stage. Of course, they played your favorite tunes, but they also rolled out new material from their new CD, Remedy. It is an album about no longer just serving the oppressed in mercy, but actually seeking justice for them. Very cool stuff considering where I find myself these days occupationally. David always makes the crowd feel right at home, and then politely knocks you on your butt with his insight and wisdom.
He had also rigged a controller for Guitar Hero as a midi controller and played it for a song as well as the beloved keytar. Although we usually spend Wed. evening with L & A, (and hopefully they'll invite us back after we ditched them TWICE to go see shows . . .) I needed to go see Crowder. It reminded me of why I play music and write songs.

Ben Stein

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards.

Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Where'd I put those keys . . .

peopleofthe504 : i think i barfded

S : on your pants?

peopleofthe504 : in mai pantses

S : whoa - impressive. Head up butt?

peopleofthe504 : saw mai bfast!

S : nice. I found my keys once in college - long night.

peopleofthe504 : bad morning

S : not for my keys

peopleofthe504 : oh holy night

S : couldn't get my day started - or my ass in gear

peopleofthe504 : o no you di-int just say that
ROFLR OFLR OFLROFLROFLROFL
pun master
S : it's what I do

INANITY, MISTER: petri dish

INANITY, MISTER: petri dish

a complex existence...: Puppy Troubles in Fall Time...

a complex existence...: Puppy Troubles in Fall Time...

INANITY, MISTER: the swiss? bliss

INANITY, MISTER: the swiss? bliss

Speak

I am always scared spitless when someone takes it upon themselves to speak for God. I have spent the last 2 weeks working on a worship project with a guy here in the Charlotte area. He was heading a multi-cultural event for a national conference that was taking place at a large church here in the area. I was invited to play acoustic and help out. It didn't hurt that it was a paying gig, but I was not in it for the cash. If you know me, you know that the music is more important than the money - but the money is a nice addition. He promised talented musicians to round out the event, and I was excited but skeptical.
After numerous e-mails and phone conversations, we had our first rehearsal on Monday. All along this guy was telling me that he felt like God had put this thing together and that He had brought all of the musicians together. He had been praying for this to happen and our meeting was foreordained. I was guarded, but still excited. I had invited a drummer friend of mine along as well as a lead guitar player that I know.
The first rehearsal was awful. No charts were provided. We barely had time to listen to the music. It was tough. I was supposed to be in leadership, but there were 4 people giving orders, and there was no room for suggestions.
I didn't want to be a jerk, but I made a push for us to get the tunes charted. All of the guys wanted charts. I e-mailed the coordinator and made a plea for all of us to get some music in front of us or run the risk of being a part of a tremendous rain wreck. I guess it was too much work - or maybe professionals don't need charts. whatever . . .
I guess God changed His mind today. My friends and I were dumped from the project. Maybe it's so we don't go down in flames. Maybe that guy didn't know what the heck he was doing and we all got taken for a ride.