Better Than Crashing the Pots and Pans!

Here's some phenomen-alden?-al music that I have been moved- nay, inspired- by these past few months.

Is it ok if I share?

The first musicians I would like to point out are some super-soundin' snow-patrollin' guys known as Until June. ( go here for virb-age.) They have a particular song "Sleepless" that will get stuck in your head worse than the NFL Football theme, or a song by Lee McDerment.

I am not ashamed to say I have bought the album. If they sound familiar, you probably heard them on a Mosaic podcast.

Those of you who know I listen to Erwin McManus a lot would say "Of course."

Overall, they have a good sound to go along with some catchy lyrics. Although they sometimes have a high-pitched chorus and lead vocals, I don't think it will strike them out.

(Wait. Baseball? NVM.)


And now, my most inspirational songs shall be presented...

Hillsong (virb) Hillsong United (non-virb)

Five songs from the new album "All of the Above" really get me goin. While the CD has some wonderful "filler songs" like the "United We Stand"CD, the songs "Lead Me To the Cross" and "Hosanna" have the potential to bring amazing worship. I mean, they really BRING IT.

I would like to hear these at NewSpring in the future. (Do I hear an amen?)

Also "Solution", "Point of Difference" and "Saviour King" are all great songs that really rock out and cause for some jumpy-jump.

I think the CD, like much of Hillsong's stuff, has songs easy to learn (to sing), and cause us to reflect on our relationship with God, what it means to come to God, and on who Christ is.

I'm looking forward to Hillsong's next release, a live CD called "Saviour King".


Now, there's one band that deserves some recognition. I've seen these guys twice in concert, and I think they are talented AND awesome. They really have fun doing what they do.

Whenever they play, it seems to be a form of worshipping Christ. I would really like to incorporate their music in some of the videos I am planning to do for youth.

They're called THE DIRT AND THE FLOOD.

SOme of you might now Alex Baxley (a pretty cool cat) from Clemson and stuff. He and the band have some awesome sounds. Very melodious and soothing with a hint of...(tastes)...mint?

Anyway, you can check them out on myspace.com. One song that they have is really awesome to watch because halfway through the song, it seems like everyone in the quartet has a different instrument! Mute Math-ish experimentation? Who knows? I think these guys could go far.

Well, that's my music review. Keep your ears peeled! (ewww.)

I Love Messing with People!

The other day at the coffee shop (Saturday, I believe), I was serving this one family that comes in pretty regularly while I'm at the shop on the weekends. I was making the girl in th family an Oreo Speedwagon (pretty much an Oreo milkshake with espresso) and her parents went into the lounge area (now this "girl" wasn't really a girl, probably more like in her early to late twenties).

As I reached the final stages of making the drink I asked her if she wanted whipped cream on top of her Oreo Speedwagon.

Her reply was, "An ungodly amount, please."

Now,

the first thing that popped into my head was that, to me, the statement she had just made sounded completely wrong.

My thinking is that an "ungodly amount" would be very, very, very

small.

A "godly amount" to me would be GIANORMOUS! (after all, my God is huge!)

And so, I toyed with the idea of completely throwing her off, and giving her a small amount, but not saying anything about it.

But that wouldn't have been any fun at all!

I asked her if she meant for a lot or a little, and she said, "OH, a lot! A sinful amount!"

Once again, I thought to myself, "Well, I am trying to minimize sin. Sin = Bad. I guess that should mean "not a lot".

So I said, "Oh, well, I would think that would be a small amount too. See an ungodly amount to me would be small, because my God is pretty generous."

She thought for a moment, and for a second I thought we would have a down and dirty staring contest...

but she chose the option to say, "Well, I'm not going to argue with that..."

I think I won this one. :)

Anyway, it was fun and it got her to think about what she says, and maybe how good God can be!

Today! @ the Coffee Shop

Tonight at the coffee shop, things are pretty dead. This is a far cry from Thurday night, when I was so busy that I was ready to destroy a blender (believe me, I could do it)! Not because I was busy, but because I was becoming annoyed with the constant busyness.

So I take this opportunity to blog-chat with whoever's still reading out there.

I have a few projects at hand that are occupiying my thoughts. One, I want to make a discussion video for my out-bound small group guys at Ignite. I'm thinking a look at the Israelites move from Egypt...but I want to hit "What has Jesus done for you at Ignite?" "How can you take that to the next level?", humility, integrity, generosity, faithfulness and perseverance, and owning your faith in Christ and what that means. And then, how has God "ignited" your faith and how can we become one, be "fused" with him and strive to be like him. Sounds kind of iffy but we'll see.

If you have any ideas, criticism, or suggestions for this video, lemme kno!

Also, yesterday I had three wonderful conversations with three different wonderful people! It was awesome being able to just sit down (or stand) and have some meaningful conversations about what God has called us to do at this point in time. As one friend pretty much put it, sometimes we need to hear ourselves say some things to grasp what we are thinking and to understand more about where we are and what God wants of us.

Also, there are a handful of Ignite leaders that I really want to try and lift up and encourage. People will know about these things when I talk to them (keep an ear open tomorrow!)