SOTW #4

I am absolutely digging this guy right now. His name is Phil Wickham. He's a local San Diegan that's making good. The first time that I heard this song I was struck by how much he sounded like one of my favorite secular artists, Ryan Adams. I guess it's not as big a surprise as you would think. I was checking out his myspace page and he lists Ryan as one of his influences. Along with Jesus and his parents, so that's some pretty good company. I really love how this song is put together. He talks about it a little in the beginning of the first video.

Yes, the first video. There were two really good ones that I found and I couldn't choose so I'm leaving them both here for your perusal. The first one is him live and acoustic. A really pretty version of it.





The second is actually a video that was made by my church, Journey. Actually, the guy who made is Dan Stevers. he's done some really amazing work at our church of which this video is only one small example. Check out his other stuff here. It was made for our Easter service. I'm still trying to figure how I missed that. Where was I on Easter? I couldn't tell ya.



True Love

by Phil Wickham

Come close listen to the story
About a love more faithful than the morning
The Father gave His only Son just to save us

The earth was shaking in the dark
All creation felt the Fathers Broken Heart
Tears were filling Heaven's Eyes
The day that True Love died, the day that True Love died

When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died

Search your heart you know you can't deny it
Come on, lose your life just so you can find it
The Father gave His only Son just to save us

The Earth was shaking in the dark
All creation felt The Fathers broken heart
Tears were filling Heaven's Eyes
The day that True Love died, the day that True Love died

When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died

Now, Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Jesus is alive
Oh, He is alive
He rose again

When blood and water hit the ground
Walls we couldn't move came crashing down
We were free and made alive
The day that True Love died, The day that True Love died

Come close listen to the story

Does this guy rock or what?

Tito, get me a tissue.

I've seen this video quite a few times now and every time it never fails to make me cry. I don't know if it's because the message is so personally powerful to me or it's just a powerful message period. It might be a good idea to have something to wipe your eyes with after this. I know I needed it.



I found it again on Dustin's blog. He's got something good going on up in Alaska. You should check him out.

Bonus SOTW!!!!

OK, I'm not sure how many of you have seen this video but it might be my most favorite Christian Rock song and video of all time! It's definitely been making the rounds.

The Band:

Sonseed

The Song:

Jesus Is a Friend of Mine





So, I love this video and song. It makes me happy. What do I find out today over at some unknown guy named David Crowder (He must have a real ego problem to name his band after himself). That's right, he ripped off Sonseed! Check it out:




As a musician I'm shocked and appalled when I see unknown bands stealing songs from giants of the music industry. Just like Kid Rock ripping off Lynrd Skynrd. Unbelievable.

Does this blatant attempt at song stealing offend you?

Wednesday Words Vol. #4

Thanks for all the birthday wishes from everyone. It turned out to be a wonderful day. I got off from work and headed home thinking it was just going to be a normal day. My wonderful wife had other ideas, however.

Letty surprised me by taking the day off from work. When I got home I thought she was headed out as per usual. No way man. She had plans. Off to Viejas for a little breakfast action. I had the bacon and eggs special while she had their breakfast burrito. Both were delicious.

After breakfast I got my entry into the morning no limit poker tournament. We had about a half hour wait before the tournament started so we lost some money playing Monopoly Slots. The tournament started and I just got there in time to see the first hand. I ended up taking the first pot down, that was the last one I would win.

I was treading water for the first couple of levels. We colored up and then I ran into this hand. I made a couple of mistakes I think. The guy that was under the gun two to my left raises. A guy in mid position raises himself all in. I wake up to 10-10. Mistake #1 not raising all in after him. I thought that the guy behind me would have been put all in by me just calling instead of raising. Anyway, he called which left him with about $1,000 behind. I had him out stacked by a couple of grand. The flop comes A-J-x. Rainbow. UTG guy checks and I check behind him. On the turn a brick. He checks and here comes Mistake #2. I check. I should have pressured him out of the pot, put him all in. I didn't and it would cost me. The river is a harmless-looking 8. He suddenly pushes his last $1,000 in. I call and he shows pocket 8's for the set. Ugh. The 1st all in guy mucked his hand. I'm down to about $1,500 in chips. The very next hand I'm dealt A-J. I push all in and say "steam raise," hoping that someone will give me some action. The same guy that had just rivered the set calls immediately. He tables A-4. What happens? He hits the 4 on the flop, I don't improve and take the staircase of shame from the poker room.

Fortunately for me, my beautiful wife is still in the casino so I'm not alone. I meet her over in the bingo hall and we play a session of bingo. Letty came close once or twice but no luck. We got the heck out of there after the bingo. That was enough losing for us for the day. All in all we had a good time and my wife was an awesome good sport about hanging at the casino with me. It's definitely not her thing although she does enjoy the bingo.

That was about it for the day. By the time we got home I was tired. I needed to go to sleep. I played some online poker for a while, then finally dragged my ass to bed. It turned out to be a great day and the best part of the whole thing was that I got to spend it with my love. It doesn't get any better than that.

SOTW #3

OK, even though it might seem like it, I'm not in love with Brooke Fraser. Maybe her voice. Definitely her words. I promise, I will pick other artists but I mean, c'mon! This song just hits it out of the park for me. One of the girls at church yesterday just killed it. Did an absolutely marvelous job with it. Todd asked us to underline any part of the song where the words stood out, where you felt like God was speaking to you. I underlined "Still standing."

What did you underline?




Shadowfeet

By Brooke Fraser
Off the Album "Albertine"

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet
Toward home, a land that I've never seen
I am changing, less and less asleep
Made of different stuff than when i began
And i have sensed it all along
Fast approaching is the day

[CHORUS]
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

There's distraction buzzing in my head
Saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
But I've heard rumours of true reality
Whispers of a well-lit way

[CHORUS]

You make all things new
You make all things new
You make all things new
You make all things
You make all things

[CHORUS 2]

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

When time and space are through
I'll be found in you
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Wednesday Words Vol. 3

Been a good week here in bubville. What with Gracie's birthday, me doubling up my bankroll, and winning Stacy From Louisville's guess the post contest, it's been very exciting around here. The only downer of course was watching the Chargers get robbed in Denver on Sunday.

The message at Journey was what I needed to hear. It was about bouncing back from snags in the workplace. About how to be o.k. with your job even if it isn't the most glamorous or exciting job in the world. It was about how God has a plan for you in whatever work it is that you do. God wants to reveal himself as a provider to us.

I don't have the most glamorous or highly sought after position in the job market. I'm an overnight associate at one of the largest employers in the world. I don't want to type it's name because they are pretty tough about their employees talking outside of the walls but it rhymes with "Fall-fart." I'll give you three guesses.

Compared to what I used to do, working at fall*fart is like jumping off of a cliff. Financially AND glamor wise. I used to run a company that had 40 people under me. Now I have, oh let's see, me.

Why, you ask? What would make me leave what I had been successfully doing for 15 years? There's only one answer. The Lord came and messed up my life. I couldn't do the things that I used to do to make money. I was a salesman. At one time one of the best in my little industry. Check it out. This is important. God took away my hustle. I couldn't do it anymore. It became pointless to me. Before, I was a stone cold closer. Now, I can't close a door.

I think the reason it happened is because God truly wants something better for me. The people that I worked with and associated with for the last 15 years are a tough bunch. Maybe the best description of them would be hard-livin' folk. I believe that God wanted to take me out of that life and deliver me to a new one. Even now, it's hard for me to put into words what my life was like, especially the last 5 or 6 years of it. How about it was a really tough way to make an easy living.

I didn't know what to do. I couldn't do my job anymore. I didn't even WANT to do it anymore. I don't know if it was burnout or God moving me to do something different. I'd like to think it was God. I had to find a way to make an honest living. I swallowed my pride and gulp! applied at Haul*kart. I will tell you this. The day that they hired me it was like a black cloud had been lifted from my head. I felt free. Sometimes God knows what He's doing even when I don't.

It hasn't been easy. I don't make a lot of money. It's tough, physical work. I've already broken my hand once out of my own stupidity. Here's the thing though. I love it.

Why? Because it gives me the opportunity to be an example of how I believe God wants us to live life. For the first time in my life, I go to work knowing that God is right there at my side. To truly not just say the words "The Lord will provide" but to believe and live them. To work hard and be the best employee I can be even when no one is looking. It's harder than it sounds. I think that's the deal me and God have though.

Would I like to do something different eventually? Probably. God hasn't taken me there yet so I guess there's still more work to do at doll*part. Here's another cool thing. I see me rubbing off on other people. Of course, I can't quantify it, but I think the people I work with seem to smile more, are friendlier and work harder around me. That's like seeing God in action, it's wild stuff!

God, thank you for the opportunity to be a difference wherever I'm at. Thank you for taking me out of the mental and spiritual bondage that I was in and delivering me into a completely different world. Let me continue to be a light to those around me and to keep bringing glory to Your Name. Amen.

Starving Jesus

This is so rare as to be unprecedented I think! Two posts in one day. Here's the deal. I'm playing in a poker tournament on the internet, reading blogs when I stumble into Holy herectoclite's blog. I don't even know if I spelled that right but it's close. Anyway, there is this video on there about two young preachers from http://www.xxxchurch.com/ that go on a 40 day fast and a 40 day tour of the country. It's an amazing thing to watch and also for a good cause. If you have an hour (I know, almost impossible anymore) check it out. I am so glad that I did. Maybe the best video I've seen on the 'net. Here it is and I believe the website is http://www.starvingjesus.com/.





p.s. I won the tournament!!! See what a great video it was!

Alright, I can't make the google link work. If you REALLY want to check this out, type in "google starving jesus" and you will see the video link on there. I suck. Thanks.