Feedback Please

Have you read my article??

If you have not, you can download it on the right side of the screen and check it out. If you have,
I would love to get some feedback on it.

What did you think? What would you like to see more of in the future? I want to know. I think feedback can be a great learning tool, so I would love to have some.

You can leave it in the comment section of this post, facebook me a message, or email me.

Fresh off the Press

Or my fingers.... 

The newest addition to the blog is now up. Thanks to Brent for helping me set up my html formatting.

You can now download my first article. If you look on the right side of my blog below my Twitter updates, you will find a section that says "articles." Under that section you will find my first article download. It should open as a PDF file that you can save to your desktop. 

Check it out. Tell your friends. Send it to other. Feel free to use them any way you like. They are for you, my faithful readers. 

I hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to comment about what you think. I would love to have some feedback. 

I am going to try to have at least one a month, so check back often for the latest content. I am also in the process of giving the blog a fresh update. There will be lots to see in the coming weeks. 

hope you enjoy the articles

Critics

"The critics don't change the world do they? 

-Rob Bell 

Confession- I am very judgmental about all sorts of things, especially when it comes to worship, church, and religious movements. 

why?. Well, I think it is because it is something that I am so passionate about. Worship is my passion. Creativity is my passion; I feed off of it. The problem comes when I let my passion turn negative. instead of talking about what is good, I talk about what is bad. With that mindset comes judgement on others. 

One of my goals for this year (and beyond) is to consciously make an effort to judge people less, those in leadership roles and everyone else as well. 

I want to be known for what I love rather than what I hate. The majority of a critic's worlds are negative...I do not want to be that. I want to be a voice that is positive, creative, and uplifting to Christ. 

John 3:30 say, "I must decrease, He must increase." 

When God is bigger, my selfish desire to be critical is much less. It is a daily fight, but it is one  that is worth fighting. 

I do not want to be the biggest critic in town. I know people like that, and they are not very fun to be around. I think if Jesus spoke on Sunday morning, the critic would have a negative comment; he may say, "well that was just too perfect."

you get the picture. 

I want to be a vessel that God uses, and part of dying to myself daily. I want to be part of something of world-changing proportions, and I cannot do that if I am the critic who points out all the flaws. 

What do you need to decrease in your life so God can increase?? 

An unlikely source

I was watching What Not to Wear this afternoon. 

(I know that my man points just dropped down over 100 points...I am going to have to do something daring or lift weights tomorrow). 

But, There was some powerful truth spoken by the very well-dressed Clinton. 

This episode involved a lady from Las Vegas who was in charge of the recycling initiative in the city. She 

was not very stylish (that would be why she was on the show I imagine...). She was showing them some of her outfits in the 360 degree mirror when Clinton made a very great observation. 

She had a shirt on that said "Think Green". Clinton asked her why she liked the shirt, and she replied, "well, I just want to get the message out" 

Clinton looked at her and said, "Wouldn't is be more powerful if you used your mouth and your life to spread the message rather than your shirt?" 

                           As I sat 

there listening, I thought about all the "christian clothes" we have. Jesus fish, crosses, and shirts that look life this 

have become a wardrobe favorite for many Christians. 

I am not a big fan of the "christian t shirt", but I don't have a problem if you like them...  

My question is this: Are the thing we say, and the life we live showing Christ? Or, are we relying on our t-shirts to speak for us? 

God has called us to something much bigger than a fashion. We have a message, and we have a mouth to share it. We also have a life to live. How we handle our life and what we say will speak more than a t-shirt...

Are you relying on t-shirts to get your message across? Or are you being bold and actually making a difference? 

Be bold. Do hard things. 

-that would be a great t-shirt.... just kidding. 

-I will try not to make any posted related to watching fashion shows for a while :). Unless they have something worth sharing. 

Giving God our crap...

I have been very convicted about worship lately. 

What it looks like, how it can be lived out, and what that means for me every day. 

Here are some of my thoughts on worship. There is more to come in my first article that should be up later this week for download :). Hope this can wet your palette... and make you think outside the box a little (lot). 

- When we become more obsessed with tradition than seeking the face of God.... we miss the point of worship. 

- Luke warm worship leaders say things on stage they would never say to their friends or family.

- I saw this one on Carlos Whitaker's blog, and has been on my heart and mind since... I can remember times when I have been very guilty of this. Saying prayers that mean nothing, but sound profound. Saying thing when I do not live them. Saying things on stage I know will get a response. 

The more I read and pray about this, the more I am convicted. When I see how many times I am guilty of this, it is shocking (and humbling).

 When I talk with my own power, it is kind of like giving God the middle finger and saying, "I can do this on my own...Your help is not needed today". 

My favorite verse is Psalm 51:15, "Oh Lord, open my lips that my mouth may declare your praise". This has really become a theme verse for my life.      I do not want to say (or do) anything that is not from God. Especially when I am on stage. 

I want to be a transparent worship leader. Part of that means being honest on stage. I want people to experience God, not me. When God is in charge, things are better. 

SO the question becomes, 

If everything is better when God is in charge, why would I ever want to speak on my own power??

-The  answer is, that it is more convenient. It is easier sometimes to pick songs you like, say what you want, and make the service happen. 

Problem. This is not worship (at least not worship of God....maybe of self). 

Worship is all about giving up my pride, and giving over my power. This is my struggle with the flesh every day. I want the glory, I want fame. But God has called me to much more than I can imagine. I do not want to let me pride and arrogance get in the way of the life-changing power of Christ. 

Give God your best... not your crap. 

-What has God been convicting you of lately?? 

Lull in the blog

Hello faithful blog readers

I am sorry for my disappearance from the blog world. I have been busy with school stuff and BSU, and I have been spending all my free writing time working on some articles (hopefully the first will be posted soon). 

Here is what went down the first week of school (by week, I mean 3 days; but it felt like a week).

- I love my new classes (and major). Media Ministry is going to be wonderful.

-Fusion was amazing on Thursday. If you did not make it, or do not go to NGU, you can check out some video footage on my facebook page. 

- Spent 2 hours at Spill the Beans last night writing; it was actually one of the most cathartic things I have done in a long time

- I want the new Line 6 M13. Just had to say it. I have been watching videos and reading reviews all day, and I am pretty much sold. I should sell something I suppose, but I think this could appear on my pedal board in the near future. 

- Pumped about Newspring tomorrow!!!!! Oh how I missed the amazing worship experience at Newspring. It is wonderful. If you live in the upstate, you need to make a trip to Anderson or Greenville to go to Newspring 

-I have Spanish this semester. I may die.   I need a good tutor.... any takers? 

Much more to come soon. I am excited about getting some of my articles up for download.

 Check back often for updates and fun. 

Illumintate

I picked up the coolest thing the other day.

I am always looking for interesting things. I am a hunter of all things cool (or at least what I think is cool...).

But this book may be the coolest book I have purchased in a long time (maybe ever).

It is called "The Book", and it is a copy of the new testament with pictures and graphics in a new and fresh way.


A group from Sweden came up with the idea and worked on this book for a few years. It was published in Swedish first, and has been translated  into English.

I saw someone on twitter that had this book, and I was drawn to it. I checked out the website, looked at some shots from the book, and decided that it was the coolest thing ever. And I was right.

If you love photography, graphic design, or just amazing art, then you need to check this out. It is the whole New Testament with pictures and graphics. I cannot really describe what it is like, it is really just something you need to check out for yourself.

- This is not a typical bible in any sense (expect that they did not change (or leave out) any text; they use the Good News Translation). It looks like a magazine, it reads in a column style, and is filled with things to look at.

 Some of the images are...provocative (not in any sensual way, but they are not necessarily "churchy" pictures). They are modern pictures put to biblical text; it is geared to make you think.

I am really enjoying reading through The Book. I highly recommend you to check it out.

You can get a glimpse of it, and read more on their website here  

Thanks for the help

Hey everyone. 

Just wanted to say thank you so much for the help with blog stuff. 

I hope to have some new stuff up soon...not sure when, but as soon as I can get it finished. 

Check back often for new things going on.

Good love is on the way

That has nothing to do with anything in this blog. I just stared singing that song by John Mayer when I sat down to type this and cannot get it out of my head...

OK. I mentioned in my blog the other day that I was going to add a new element to my blog. 

Here is what I want to do...and I need some help from someone who is smarter than me..

- I have been wanting to write some longer, more serious blogs.

the problem- they would be too long to post, and I do not want to do them in parts.

What I want to do- write some short ebooks that you can download from my blog for free and save to your computer. Some people have mentioned that they have used my blogs for different things. With the short articles, you can download them to your computer and use them as you wish.

I just do not know how to make this happen 

-I need to figure out what I need to do to post them to my blog in some form on my sidebar. 

If anyone know what I need to do to make this work, please let me know 

Best Browser

OK.

I am on the search for the best browser. I use Safari and Firefox both.

I switch between them every now and then to give a little different feel. I cannot decide which one I like better so I tend to switch back and forth.

Here is the question.

Which browser is the best and why??

comments please...

On the horizon

Heads up

There is a new element to my blog that is in the works


I am not exactly sure how it is going to work; I am still working on the whole idea.

but

I think it could be a great addition to everyone who reads this blog.


More to come soon...

I know this said basically nothing... that was the point :). Just letting you know that new things are on the horizon.

New Year. New Plan

New Years resolutions...

they are a dime a dozen these days. Last night they had a whole news show all about calling in and sharing your resolutions for the new year.

I heard someone on the radio say that is could be bad for Christians to make resolutions (He said that these resolutions were the same as making rash vows, and they were especially bad if you "swore" you would not do something...).

So,

Here are my new year suggestions that I feel I should try for better living in the new year.... also known as my new year's resolutions.

- Try to spend some amount of quality time with God each day.

          I want to focus more on quality and less on quantity. It is easy to read your bible, say a prayer, and fall into a boring routine that will get you no where spiritually. This year is all about seeking God's face. If that means I make it through the whole bible, great. If it means I get half, just as great. I just want live a life with a laser-focused goal. It is much easier to do quantity, but I think quality will bring the most change in the long run.

- Lose 20 pounds...and keep it off.

       I was doing pretty good this year. Started biking this summer, loved it. Lost some weight, went to college...gained it back this fall/winter. Yeah, caf food is not the best for the weight loss, and the chilly weather just makes me want to eat and eat. This year is all about eating healthy... and trying to keep it that way.

- Train to ride 100k.

     The big thing in road biking is to be able to ride 100 miles at a time. I want to be there one day, but I think a goal that is much more obtainable at this time is to train to ride 100k. That is a little over 60 miles (I have made it to 40, so I think this is goal I can reach). This is also part of my losing 20 pounds and keeping it off. If anyone want to train with me, let me know and we will do it.

- Read, read, read, read

     I get some much out of reading, and I need to do even more of it this year. I got some great books the other day, so I should be stocked for a while. I am excited about jumping head first into all kinds of stuff and learning all I can.

- Make all A's this semester

     This one had eluded me in college. Last spring I had all A's and one B...this is the semester to make all A's. I am really going to work on keeping my grades up this coming semester.

- Visit churches and meet with as many pastors/staff that I can.

     I want to learn from people that are in ministry. I feel like I have so much that I can learn from them, and I want to take every opportunity I can to meet with church staff and just chat about stuff. There are a few churches I am visiting soon, and I am so excited about it. I am like a kid in a candy store when I can talk to church leaders.

- Take time to enjoy.

    This last semester was work work work work work... drag. It was good stuff, but I was too busy. I am simplifying my life, and I am going to work hard to be great at a few things, rather than decent at a bunch.  I am disciplining myself to say "no", and take some time to myself. I am not sure exactly how this will look, but there will definitely be a sabbath day of rest in my week where I can take some personal time and relax.

There are other things on my list, but these are my main ones. I hope everyone is having a great new year!

I am so excited about what is in store for the year to come.

  What are you doing this year??  Comments please...