Worst names for festivals you've played

Alright all you retired rockstars out there. I was thinking about some of the terrible names for festivals I've played in the past. Here's my two favorites:
Word Stock
Jam for the Lamb
Seriously...who in their right minds thought that was a good idea. Did that have to run through a committee of dudes that sat around and said...yeah...that's awesome....let's go with Jam for the Lamb. Sounds like something Hulk Hogan would come up with on a hopped up steroid binge. Can anyone beat that?

Creation care

So last night at College Night Life we tackled the idea of our care for the earth. Our group has been getting together on Wednesday nights and talking about the way we want to live out the teachings of Jesus personally, within our group, and towards our world. I confessed to the group that it's only been in this last couple years that I've seen the environment as a spiritual issue. I was listening to Tony Campolo give a talk about global warming that was amazing. He said, "I can't understand why people get so bent out of shape in opposition to global warming. At the very least we are fighting to make the world a better place." That struck a huge chord with me. What is all the anger about. Is there something in us that just gets pissed when other people tell us that we are doing something wrong. Have we become a society that has nothing else to learn? The Left Behind series of books has left us with this fatalistic escape mentality from this earth where everything blows up and in case of rapture we have a bunch of unmanned death traps killing a bunch of innocent people. (I don't know something in me feels like that might be a little off) Sorry Tim LeHae, I hope you don't read my blog. Nothin' but love. Thoughts?

Bishop's in the house!

Well Daniel Bishop came by the church today for a little bit. He is taking a week off from his year long trip in Chile to come and visit. Daniel is going to be the new Junior High Pastor at the Grove when he comes back in June from Chile for good. Today was the first time he had seen the new campus. I can only imagine his thoughts as we walked around our new facility after spending the last 9 months in Chile. I'm really glad to have him around and I can't wait till he's here for good.

Why don't I practice my scales more?

Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris uses Tabasco sauce for eye drops.

Lunch with Los

So I had lunch today with Carlos over at Zaccatecus (that's the most ridiculous spelling you'll ever see but I'm hooked on phonics so I have no idea of how to spell it). This is the picture I took of him as I pulled up...pretty dramatic huh! Nothin' but love Carlos...this is actually the shot on his blog. This whole blogging thing cracks me up. We started talking and it's been like we hang out last week but it's been more like 3 years ago. But we knew what was up with each other through this crazy little blog thing. We have a deep connection though because we were both fatties that found redemption in the point values of our food through Weight Watchers. And we both have gone through the international adoption process. It was good times. Good food...we didn't count points but I'm sure we were both in the 20's. Just goes to show you that you need to keep up your blogs so I can keep up with you life. Thanks for hangin' out Carlos...we will do it again.

Matt Redman...giving props to Bono...thoughts on songwriting

So, now a quick thought for songwriters. Not from me, but something I came across from Bono of U2. Speaking on songwriting he said “You can have 1000 ideas, but unless you capture an emotion, it’s an essay.” What a great thought. It can be so easy to generate ideas for songs - and put some kind of theme together. But if it’s merely a cerebral exercise it may only take us so far. Truth-based songs will always resonate to some degree, but taking it further, if that truth is delivered with passion, purpose and emotion it will be even more compelling. When writing a worship song we’re not just trying to give people some information. We’re trying to convey the awe-inspiring wonders of Jesus, and describing how our hearts, minds and souls respond when faced with these things. Just take a look at the Psalms - these songs are full of passion and emotion - poured out in the most full-on adoration, intercession and praise you’ll ever come across. They are built on truth, and oozing with emotion. So there you go - a tiny little thought on songwriting, courtesy of Bono.

Pre shower closet picture

So we had this lady give us a ridiculous amount of clothes for our little girl that we will be bringing home shortly. This is her closet and we had 4 bags of stuff that we didn't keep. We haven't even had a shower for Sofia yet. She probably has one outfit to her name at this point and now she has 46...wow. I can't complain, I think we've bought Zeke less than 10 items of clothes in his whole lifetime. We're all about the hand-me-downs. Plus we have the over zealous grandparents that don't understand the idea of moderation.
Side note: you know those pictures that your parents have of you with every school picture from kindergarten to senior year? Well there are 3 different years between 1st and 4th grade that I'm wearing the same shirt. We didn't have much back in the day. How do we bring our kids up to appreciate what they have when they have everything they could ever want?

Jonny Ri's got a new blog

Jon did something similar to this video for our Anthem art show: fake vs. real. I wonder what I'd look like if someone cleaned me up like that and blew a fan through my hair...oh wait...maybe it would blow my eyebrows back and look really cool. Side note...If you have to photoshop a picture of yourself to put it on your blog then call it art because it's not real...and we won't know who you are when we meet you in person...oh wait...maybe that's the point. This is a blog guarantee from Dan...no blemish touch ups...no cropping or slimming effects...just the raw Dan. Sorry, that's just how I roll! If you read this Jon you need to find a way to get your video up so people can see it...it was really cool!

Echo prayer

Echo prayer is this really cool program that emails you or text messages you through the day to remind you to pray about certain things. You submit a list and it sends you your prayer requests in order or randomly through the day. I heard Francis Chan talking about this and I just went to check it out. I tell people I'm praying for them all the time but forget about it or fail to be disciplined in it. I'm going to try it out for a while and tell you what I think. It's free...go check it out.

Worship article

So someone at the church asked me to write an article about worship for our Little Church's. I asked if they could please give me a broader topic...I could only narrow that down to everything that exists. Anyways...this is what I came up with. I don't know if it makes any sence but it's where I'm at right now.
I recently read a book that talked about the role that revelation plays in the interpretation of scripture and I believe the same concept can be applied to how we worship. Peter Rollins in How (not) to speak of God says, “What is important about revelation is not that we seek to interpret it in the same way but rather that we all love it and are transformed by it. To fail to recognize this would be similar to an art critic saying that what is important when considering a piece of art is that we interpret it correctly rather than loving it and being challenged by it.” (page 17) If we’re not careful we can find ourselves caught up in the form we use to worship rather than loving the God we worship and being transformed and challenged by him. One thing I’m learning in the area of worship in my life is that silence and “being” are just as important as saying and “doing.” We are so prone to words and duty that we forget the power of space and allowing God to transform us through his power and not through something we can muster up on our own. David ended many of his thoughts in Psalms with the word “selah” which is a technical musical term showing pause or interruption. How many times have we blown by that word or other thoughts in scripture or conversations or an article we’re reading for the sake of checking something off our list of things to get done for the day? Our worship of God could be so much deeper if we would take a break everyday to be still and let our thoughts and our busyness cease and to let God be able to speak and transform. Sometimes I think I must wear God out with the amount of thoughts and words I have. We are most transformed by God in worship when we have time to realize that we are not God. That takes slowing down and space. Any thoughts?

See... I'm teachable!

Thanks Ian and Jim for looking out for your "cyber slow" friend.

The shirt says it all

So I didn't take notes when Jim told me how to mirror the pictures when I take a photo with my mac. Does it make me a poser when I'm clean shaven now but still sportin' this shirt? Beardcore for life!! Happy St. Patty's.

Art weekend

Yeah...so it's been a long weekend but really cool. Yesterday I played acoustic for a benefit show for the high school Chile team going out this summer. It was really good. It's always good to play with Ann Lynn, and my buddy Scotty has a new band called Fransico the man. They played and were amazing. I did a mixture of old and new stuff that I've written along with a cover of "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead...good times. Seriously...how good is "The Bends" album?
Tonight we had an Anthem art show. I'm holding up the pic that my wife took for the show. The theme was "fake vs. real." We had some really cool pieces. Ellie came through with a pigs heart in a makeup case...classic. Micah took a rad picture of someone stepping on egg shells. Joel Hasemeyer did this amazing piece. The kid is a senior in high school and puts together some ridiculous stuff. Casey's piece was museum quality. Go to her blog and make her post it! Jon did this rad photoshop manipulation of pictures (his dad, Sam Boone, and his wife) that he showed in slideshow fashion as he slowly airbrushed them in layers to the zine rack quality that we all aspire for. It would really be hard to do that with my face because I don't really have any blemishes...ha!! I just realized there are a lot of my blogging friends that are artists. And they're in my life group. And no I didn't forget about you Christina and Marissa but you've got to present pieces to get the love. If I forgot someone from my life group I apologize. That took forever to link all that stuff so go and spend time at each link so I feel better about myself being a good steward of my time.

PS2 did a commercial for the church

Thanks Jordan Cooper

New header...new url...new boxers...tmi

Thanks Ian...you are my cyber junkie that gives my blog that fix of cyber love from time to time. That's a picture of my tophat king royale. (that's right folks...jump on the train and I'll take you to tone country!) Notice the new url too. I am now officially www.revrock.org. Cost me nine bucks for the year. I figured it was worth 75 cents a month to not have to type out www.reverendrockstar.blogspot.com Take that www.reverendrockstar.com!

We're adopting again!!!

I'd like to introduce you to "soon to be...God willing" Sofia Rima Lance. I tried to get Alyssa to go for Sofia "the Edge" Lance but she wasn't havin' it. She was born on January 2, 2007 in Kyrgyzstan. We finished our paper work on Friday and once they process everything we should be able to bring her home within a two month period. We are very excited. She's living in an orphanage right now so every day is tough knowing that she is over there. I will keep you up on the process. I'm gonna have a little girl...crazy.

I'd make a mean super trooper

Don't worry village people...the mustache only lasted four minutes. This is now my three day o'clock shadow. It's been 90 degrees the last two days. The reign of beardcore must take a sabbatical. Don't fret...beardcore shall return. Here's my theology of facial hair...when you're bald all you have left is your facial hair to give you a different look. Being bald with no facial hair is a very vulnerable state...all you've got is your eyebrows for expression. I think I've acquired a heightened use of my eyebrows sense I've lost my hair. It's kind of like the heightened sense of smell for a blind person. It's scientifically proven. Next time you see a bald guy, check out his excellence in the area of eye brow expression. It's getting late...can you tell...and by late I mean 11:06pm. How old am I? I'd love to hear my bald peeps weigh in on this subject...

Home Depot Ronnie

So tonight I hung out with my second window washer guy. His name was Ronnie and he was a great guy. I was returning something at Home Depot and he came up and asked to wash my windows. I told him I didn't have any cash but I grabbed him a coke when I was checking out. As I gave it to him we sparked a conversation that I was unaware would last 45 minutes. This guy blew me out of the water when it came to his knowledge of the Bible. He knew how to read and speak Hebrew...we had a great talk. Came to find out that he was living in San Bernadino with his wife and three kids, working at the railroad in Orange County. He came home one day and his wife is in bed with his brother. He loses his kids in a custody battle...stays with his friend for a little bit and his friend gets evicted. Can't keep up with child support payments...loses his job...loses his car...falls into deep depression...takes heroin for 8 days...gets clean. Now he's been living behind Bally's on Madison for 7 months. I ended up taking him "home," and grabbed some McDonald's on the way. He introduced me to his buddy "Bozo." No shelter...they are just living on the side of the building...how does this happen! We prayed together and I gave him my phone number...he said he wanted to get together for a bible study sometime...how cool would that be! When I came home an hour late my wife said, "it's ok, I figured you found a guy that needed some food." I was so encouraged by that statement because she would not of said that about me a year ago. It's crazy the people that I've met as I've tried to be more intentional about living with my eyes open to needs around me.
Ian told me about this interaction his wife Marissa had with a woman today where she went and bought her a ton of groceries. 4 people from our college night life group got together this Saturday and fed a ton of people at Fairmont park. There is so much need in Riverside...nothing profound to say...just think about Ronnie and Bozo tonight.

Book clubbin'

Well, book club went down on Thursday and it was a glorious time. Journeyman, Chis, Nick and myself threw down on thoughts of "How (not) to speak of God" by Peter Rollins. There were parts of the book that I enjoyed and parts that I wished went further. I liked the thoughts in first half...orthodoxy...not just right belief but belief in the right things. But when it came to orthopraxis he just talked about how they did services in Northern Ireland. I'm kind of done with how people are doing services...I'd rather hear how they live out these ideas day to day. Oh well...he can write another book now. I just wish some of these guys that have so much to say would be a little less brilliant. I'm pretty dumb and keeping up with Peter's language and ideas proved to be a challenge. That's why I enjoyed the time with the guys so much. I knew that Journeyman (much smarter than myself) would be eating this stuff up and have plenty interpretation and he did. I think books (including the Bible) should always be read in community. There is something that happens when people bring personal understanding and worldview into a reading. It's healthy to have more than one voice on a set of ideas. We never disagree with ourselves and that leaves us incapable of pushing ourselves to deeper and fuller understanding of what we read and listen to. Dialog with friends about books, life, and things you hear. You'll be better off for it. This life was not meant to be lived alone. Next month we're tackling "Sex God" by Rob Bell...can't wait.

Bono's the og "Reverend Rockstar"

This gave me chills. Where is this message in the pulpits of America?

Jr. High Sex

Thought I'd spice up my title to get some looks...you're reading aren't you? Tonight I get the great priviledge of teaching to the jr. high on the idea of sex and dating. I'm filling in and teaching for the jr. high on some of their Wednesday nights until Daniel Bishop gets here and officially becomes the jr. high guy in June. Seriously...what do you say to a bunch of 12 year olds about sex. A strong wind can arouse the guys in the group and some of the girls in the group look like they're 7 and others look like they are 22. In jr. high the last thing in the world I was worried about was sex. Times they are a changing, and yes, I am getting very old. I'm attempting to stay away from the whole "how far is too far thing." Seriously...how many times have you heard that speech in church. I'm betting 37 times for me...how bout you?

New look

I get bored with the look of my blog. So here's somethin' new for a few weeks until I get bored again. I streamlined things this time. Added blogheads...but just names this time. The tags were taking up too much space. Welcome Jenn and Christi. Added some books, but cut off some authors if it spilled onto the next line. (I'm weird and anal about certain things.) I like everything to fit on one line so there's no confusion on the link. Added a new podcast...go listen to my friend Nate at the Stirring. We started the beginnings of this new church plant a long time ago...I'm old now! Added a new link...follow the rabbi is money. You could spend all day there. Hope you enjoy the upgrades. It's revrock 2.0. I might have to shorten my name to that since bizarro Dan has taken my full identity. Ha, ha!

Bizzarro world...gettin' punked!!

Alright...so Ian was looking at www.reverendrockstar.com for me to see if it was available to register and this dude has taken my name and my identity. Is there actually another dude out there with more hair and cooler sideburns that is vicariously living my life. His tagline and everything sounds like me. Am I on candid camera? Am I being punked? Where's Ashton? He registered his domain in February of this year. I've been bamboozled!! It's all good bizzarro Dan...when you read this post and find out that you've been had you'll have to sleep with your guilt...ha, ha! Seriously...how weird is this?

Even though we're using the FEAR music!!!

Anyone else fed up with the news?

Dinner with the Hasemeyers

So last night we had the Hasemeyers over for dinner. This is a replay of the conversation that happened as they came through the door. Hey Eric and Jackie...what up Stevie, Joel, Krista, hey Rosie, Gabby...how ya doin' Luke, Josh...hey Jonah...you are getting so big Levi. That's right, two parents, nine kids. They are an amazing family. Alyssa threw down this awesome dinner of chicken and rice that seemed to take all day and I asked myself how they feed this army every day. Their last six kids have been adopted through the foster care system here in Riverside and they all have special needs of one kind or another. They take care of each other and are super behaved and a family that understands what happens when God's kingdom gets let loose on this earth. Kids that are alone and need parents find loving homes in God's kingdom. It's not about personal comfort or risk free living. It's about giving your life for others and the Hasemeyers do that in a tangible way every day. Thanks Hasemeyers...dinner was amazing, and so is your family!

Obama and Bono...word

Two of my favorite peeps working together...what could be better. I think Bono should run with Barack. Bono for president of course and Barack for vice. Now that would be a deadly combo in the white house.

Bono seeks Obama's help
Chicago Tribune, February 28, 2007
Mike Dorning
WASHINGTON -- Presidential candidate Barack Obama discussed global issues with U2 singer Bono on Tuesday.
The two met for about a half-hour in the Illinois senator's personal office in the Hart Senate building to talk about the ONE Campaign, a non-profit organization that the Irish rock star helped form to combat AIDS and world poverty, according to Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for Obama. "Bono was making rounds on the Hill to build support for the ONE campaign. He particularly wanted to meet with Sen. Obama since he's a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and has been active on international poverty and global health issues," LaBolt said.
LaBolt said the two did not discuss particular programs or legislation but "had a general discussion about how foreign assistance to the right programs [anti-poverty, global health] can boost our security and the standing of the U.S. around the world."
(c) Chicago Tribune, 2007.

The Linda story

So there has been this guy Travis and his wife Linda (and two sons) that have been living on the campus of the Grove since we started construction. If you've been to the Grove you've seen there fenced off shanty town of campers, trailers, and quasi motor homes. This is where they live and they have been helping with security of our campus at night and in exchange we have let them live there. Well about three weeks ago Travis suddenly died from a heart attack leaving Linda and their two sons with no source of income. For us to get our final inspection signed off on the Grove they have to be completely off our property. The superintendent has given them one week to leave. They don't have anywhere to go and a ridiculous amount of stuff to move in the matter of a few days. Our life group found out that they were in need of a radiator for one of the campers so we raised some money to help Linda out. I headed over there today to talk to her and as I came up to the camper I could hear her weeping inside. She came out and continued to tell me that see didn't have the money to get gas to get her car to the mortician to pick up her husbands ern and death certificate. She told me that God must have sent me and that she wanted to pay me back somehow. I told her that the church does not exist for itself and that we should take care of the people around us that are hurting. I told her that the church had been there for me in time of need and that we will be there for her family. I walked away realizing I've been working right next to this family for 6 months and I had never taken the time to get to know them. I always talk about having the eyes to see the needs around us and I have been blind to this situation for far too long. If anyone has a couple hours that they could help this family to pack up or take stuff to the dump or bring them a gas card or food voucher I'm sure it would encourage them a ton. Linda is a great person and I'm sad it took me this long to realize it.