Where, When, and What.

10 years ago I was: Letsee, September of 1995. I was just starting my Senior year of Highschool at Shady Grove Christian Academy I had just become an Eagle Scout. I was driving the 1991 Ford Ranger with a 4.2ltr. V6 (standard transmission) gosh I miss that truck! There was a lot more going on that year, but this is a public post!

5 years ago I was: teaching typing and computer to fourth through twelveth graders at Plainview Christian Academy. I was in between college and seminary. I was preparing for Candidacy in the United Methodist Church, a path I ultimately did not follow.

1 year ago I was:
Applying and interviewing with several churches across the nation for a worship leader position. That search brought me where I am now, and gratefully away from Tulsa (The land of my exile.) The only downside to leaving Tulsa was leaving those I love.

Yesterday: Kristin called and woke me up, a daily ritual that makes waking up worthwhile. I went to work, and make a brochure for the music department to hand out at Bryant's annual "Fall Fest." Set up a sound system for our annual church craft fair. Got home by 9:00p.m. Watched my current Netflix selection, "Lost In Translation." It was okay, not spectacular, but ok. Kristin called while I was watching the special features. Talked ourselves to sleep.

5 snacks I enjoy:
a.Cinnamon Mocha
b.Rasberry White Chocolate Scones
c.Jello!
d.Pringles
e.Gummy Worms

5 songs I know all the words to:
Wow. Five. um. knowing songs is like.. my job! Five is the limit, ok then.
a.Cheek to Cheek
b.Amazing Grace
c.L-O-V-E
d.Yellow
e.Your Grace is Enough

5 things I would do with 100 million dollars:
a.Tithe
b.Get rid of the debt of all my family and friends
c.Buy guitars
d.Buy studio
e.(I guess I had better invest a little.)

5 places I would run away to:
a.Wilmore, KY
b.Mykanos Greece
c.Warsaw Poland
d.Somewhere with tall Mountains
e.ANYWHERE with Kristin and a Justice of the Peace!

5 things I would never wear:
a.Thong
b.Bra (just telling the truth)
c.Socks with sandles
d.Tube top
e.Toe ring

5 favorite TV shows:
I no longer watch tv. It wastes too much of my time. But if I still did, I'm pretty sure it would be.
a.Law and Order
b.Trading Spaces
c.Get Smart
d.Hogans Heros
e.The Greatest American Hero!

5 bad habits:
a.
b.
c.
d.Waiting till the last minute.
e.Rushingtogeteverythingtogetherbecauseiwaitedtillthelastminute!
f.Not following directions.
g.Throwing my clothes on the floor (both clean and dirty).

5 biggest joys:
a.Kristin
b.Leading worship
c.Taking cool photographs!(subliminal message:buy me a digi camera!)
d.Being engaged!
e.Dancing (with Kristin)


5 favorite toys:
a.(will I get in trouble if I say Kristin?)
b.Home theatre
c.Webcam
d.Guitar
e.Adobe CS!

5 fictional characters I would date: Two words...
No Need

6 people I tag to do this:Jeana, Jessica, Luke, Andy G., Rachel

Anger Management?

This is going to anger all of you.

What does a follower of Jesus look like? Here in the U.S. of A. we are convinced that a follower of Jesus looks like a Christian. We have Christian laws, Christian standards of living (i don't drink, i don't chew, I don't go with girls who do etc.). I mean, we've got it pegged! But first century follower of Jesus were convinced that a Jesus-lover looked like a Jew. They too, had their own Jewish laws, and Jewish standards of Living.

You see, the very reason that you and I are Christians, and not Jews, is because Paul had it out with the Jerusalem council! He fought for your right to be a western Christian. He fought for the right for us to keep our culture when we accepted Christ.

But now, we are an island in the middle of a Godless culture, and we are more concerned that the Godless look like us than we are that they look like Him. Can I tell you that is just a little more than disturbing to me. What if a Muslim decided to love Jesus, all the while rejecting our Christianity. Would s/he be saved? Would God's mercy extend to someone like that? Why not?

Do you not realize that a person does not have to change to come to Christ? It is Christ in us that makes the change. And wouldn't we be surprised if when He was finished changing them, they didn't look like us. I'm sure the first century Jewish followers of Jesus were surprised when we didn't look like them.

Just food for thought.

God May Ruin Your Life

This may make some of you angry.

I saw this over at Maggi Dawn's and thought it was rather interesting. Tell me what you think.

The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians...pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church's prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close.

Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

MySpace Music

Because I long to be cool like Andy Gullahorn, Derek Webb, and Sandra McCracken - I now have my own "myspace music" account. So in case you didn't know... In addition to being a really stand-up guy and a decent writer, I sing too.

Wicked is as Wicked does.

I sat horrified as I tried to process the news of New Orleans. Wickedness has overrun the city. Rape, theft, looting, mugging, murder and ingratitude now dominate the headlines. The Mayor of the city points obscenities toward those who would try to help, because he thinks that they are not doing enough. Yet, if I were a rescuer, I would be wary going into a place where those who try to help get shot at. Then I look at Gulfport, MS, and some of the other affected locations, and this wickedness is conspicuously absent.

What are we witnessing here? If you have even been to New Orleans you know that it is a place that has long condoned all forms of wickedness. The local government is widely held to be corrupt (just read any fictional piece on “The Big Easy.”), and has proven itself to be ineffective. How long has New Orleans realized that a direct hit from a Hurricane would take them out? It must be obvious, that a town that is built in a depression of land lower than sea level right by the sea, won’t survive that kind of catastrophe. But other things received funding before reinforcing the levees. This week New Orleans was to be host to the “Southern Decadence Festival” a gay pride weekend with the same New Orleans activities that have become famous with Mardi Gras and daily life on Bourbon St. I am not saying, as some no doubt will, that God brought this as judgment on New Orleans. But I am saying that we should not be surprised by the wickedness we are witnessing. This wickedness is simply the overflow of what we as a society have long accepted as “New Orleans will be New Orleans.” After all, Wicked is as Wicked does.

We can no longer condone this kind of wickedness as a society. It will destroy us just as it destroyed the Roman Empire.