Busy weekend

Sorry for the blog silence.
Saturday was an amazing day.
Got up...helped Patrick and Bethany move...came home...dug out 5 stumps in my backyard...went to Sean's house...climbed a 75 foot tree in his front yard with a chainsaw and cut it down.
Not gonna lie...some of the most intense moments of my life...I captured some pics on my phone that I put up on Facebook.
Yesterday I led worship with an amazing team for all three gatherings...the Heaven series has been great!
We also finished up the caulking and painting of the pantry...Thanks Eric...it looks awesome!
More to come. I'm gonna enjoy a Sabbath with the fam today.
I preach this weekend at the Stirring...Salvation is the door...that's all you're gonna get...you gotta be there or grab the podcast :)
Shalom.

Thanks Josh!

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Jason sent this to me...amazing.

Sabbath

Got out of bed today after 11...unbelieveable.
Haven't done that since pre-Zeke.
There were a couple times I was up to help out but the sleep was much needed.
My wife is a superstar.

Today it's been a lot of baseball with Zeke.
That's been the routine lately.
Here's the interaction we just had...

Hey Dad
Yeah Zeke
I want to hit the ball at your face and crack your head open!

I don't know if I've ever been more proud

Here's my short U2 review.

First off...Erase the Dark ruled...that post is coming later.

Hagabeefy has some good thoughts about the new U2 album.

I like the album a lot more than he does but he'll come around in a couple weeks...just wait.

Here's my quick review:
- Really like the title track. Love the weird little pull off thing the Edge plays. Riff reminds me of Even Better Than the Real Thing meets The Fly.
- Magnificent blew my mind...love the lyrics...great!
- Moment of Surrender sounds like a great gospel song with the Edge playing Pink Floyd riffs in the background.
- Unknown caller. Love the music. But I'm a little weirded out by the monotone vocals in the chorus. Sounds like they're all drinking the cool-aid during the chorus.
- I'll go crazy is my favorite. Almost the Miracle Drug lick at the beginning. Love it. It's not a hill it's a mountain...love it...did I say I loved it.
- Here's the lull in the album: Boots and Stand seem like filler. You don't get that much with U2. A little disappointed. Both the songs have moments...but only moments.
- Fez is cool. Starts off a little shoe gazer.
- White as snow is great. Love the melody to O come O come Emmanuel.
- Breathe is epic. Love the cadence in the verses.
- Ceders is really cool. Mellow.

I really love the album as a whole.
You can definitely tell Lanois and Eno were writing with them...real different vibe.
It doesn't have your typical soaring anthem that you look for on a U2 record but I like the direction they went.
Every time I hear it I like it more.
I love albums that grow on you.
There aren't many bands that will get me out to the store on the release date but I will be at Best Buy when the doors open if U2 puts out an album when Bono is 98.
There the best ever and I will cyber punch you if you have somethin' to say about that.
Go buy the album and let it soak in.
It's like a great marinade!

Erase the Dark

This is my life for the next two days.
Please come out and support.
The films will blow you away.
The performing artists are the best Redding has to offer.
And bring money because you will want the art that is being auctioned off in your house.
Let's raise a ton of money for Cypress and put shoes on half the kids in Redding!
Can't wait.
There's new surprises this year that I can't tell you about yet...you've gotta come to experience it.
Friday, 7pm, 10 bucks.
Come early...we might have to turn people away because of lack of oxygen in the room.

No excuses

U2's new album comes out today.
If you don't buy it today you can no longer read my blog and we have to end our cyber friendship...plain and simple...I hate to get extreme but this is U2 people.
No excuses.
Album review coming shortly.

Yellow shirt Mondays

Mondays are my Sabbath.
If you ever run into me on a Monday (and most Saturdays) you'll see me in a yellow shirt.
I have this one: The 2001 Jog-o-thon shirt, with kids standing in a row with shirts that spell Jesus loves you.
And I have a yellow Walk your talk walk shirt that was raising money for adoption.
I just came to this revelation this morning. I have no idea why I do this but these weird shirts bring a sense of normalcy to my life...something I can count on.
The only time I switch it up is with the red CUSH shirt that I've had since 1999. Steve and I still sport this shirt whenever possible.
I'm a pretty simple dude...
Mondays...yellow shirts...
Coffee...gray flannel sweats...and my 10 year old moccasins that you can smell 2 minutes before I arrive.
Do you guys have any weird habitual outfits?
Am I the only one?

Lent

I'm switching it up this year because I pretty much suck at giving stuff up.
I'm gonna read N.T. Wright's Surprised by Hope in the next 40 days to prepare my heart for the reality of the resurrected Jesus. I know I can stick to that.
Can't think of a better book to center my thoughts. (if someone says the bible, they will get cyber punched in the neck :)
Anyone else want in? I'd love to talk it through with someone. Let me know.

Moving weekend

Tomorrow we move into our new office.
Downtown baby!
Right above Nathan's tattoo
I'm gonna trade indulgences for free ink...brilliant
If anyone wants to help us move meet at the old office at 2pm
3468 Bechelli Ln. Ste E (Just south of Yaks on Bechelli)

Then we are moving Jeremy and Meg on Saturday at 9am.
Go here for the deets.

My back hurts just thinking about it. I need to start the advil cocktails now!

New tunes

Got the new Listening ep in the mail today. Do yourself a favor and go check it out. I'm throwing a show with them and a couple other locals on Thursday April 9th. Their live show is unbelievable. We toured with these guys way back in the day when they were the Rock and Roll Worship Circus. Gabe rocks the leather pants like no ones business!

The silence

It's been almost a week.
I never do that.
I'm still trying to figure out facebook but I have to admit that it has stolen some of my social networking affection. It's quick and I can manage it on my phone in seconds...I'm lazy...sorry.
God is teaching me a ton right now.
Don't know if I could really articulate it in a blog so I wont.

This week...
Nate had his baby
My in-laws came to town
I spoke at the Stirring about Jonah.
God uses Jonahs...and Dan Lances...unbelievable!

I'm having a great Sabbath.
Life is good.
Shalom!

Staff meeting today

Nate and Erica had their little baby girl last night...amazing
so staff meeting went a different direction today.
We contemplated the normal christian life...
Matthew 10:7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' ⁸Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
What the heck?!?
How did normal become showing up to church and going to small groups?

Happy Valentines Day dear

Our first date was Valentines Day 14 years ago.
I was 17...you were 16
I had hair...kind of
I was the baseball dude with the big attitude
You weighed 27 pounds and wore spandex hot pants for your volleyball games...hubba hubba
Look at us now...unbelieveable
The hair is long gone...the baseball days have been replaced with guitars and tattoos...you weigh 37 pounds now and spend your days with the three greatest kids to ever grace the planet...and you rock the hottest tattoos a female has ever rocked!
You are more beautiful every year babe.
I laugh more with you than anyone else.
So many memories...go many great times...so many hard times.
There is no one else I'd want to share this life with.
I'm the luckiest guy on the face of the earth.
Can't wait for the next 14 years.
Happy Valentines Day!

Cypress Elementary School opportunity

In April, the 5th graders from Cypress are going to camp---2 nights, 3 days- April 22-24. The school is looking for people who are over 21 and would be interested in being cabin counselors? Ideally, they would love 4 ladies and 4 men to be counselors. If anyone is interested please comment on the blog. This could be another great opportunity for us to deeper our relationship with this school. Thanks.

Sabbath

Slept in...thanks babe!
Omelet's
Genesis
Went to the gym
Played with the kids
Lunch with Jason (Yuet Bistro...amazing)
Hang with the fam
Madagascar...dinner...baths for kids...
Alyssa headed off to book club
Chillin'
Great day
How was your day of rest?

Thoughts on Sunday

Go here to check it out.

The Archiver

Legit! Go check out Jeremy's stuff...amazing.

Don't miss Sunday

trust me.