What Equipment I'd Like Next

I'm using Pro Tools more and more now for loops / programming / clicks on stage Sundays in our worship services. I'm running an older version of the software that "technically" is not supposed to work with my computer's operating system...as a result, Pro Tools crashes on a regular basis.

So, I'm hoping to upgrade to the latest version of Pro Tools that is designed to work with my computer's OS and then maybe my days of crashing in the middle of service will end.

The Faithfulness of My Blog Readers

Today someone stopped by the office and in the course of conversation made the following statement:

"When I'm at work I get so bored that I read your blog everyday."

Can you feel the love? (;-)~

Help Needed!

Today I watched an episode of Dr. Phil and he was dealing with a family where their 14 year old daughter is trying to grow up too fast and is acting and dressing inappropriately...and it freaked me out!

My daughters are 11 years old and 14 is only 3 very short years away. How do I keep my precious little angels from turning into what I saw on the TV today???

Jesus - I need your help!

Amazing Grace

Josh Wilson does an incredible rendition of Amazing Grace.

Yet Another Manly Moment...

Today I was working in my office and I had iTunes on shuffle. I have lots of music, genres, artists and such in my iTunes library (6300 songs / 18.9 days without repeating a single song). Some of the stuff I have on there just for my girls...honestly it's true.

Well, there was a song that came on, I did not recognize the artist but I found myself thinking about how cool the song sounded. I even thought I really like this song and this girls voice, so I hoped on iTunes to see who it was...and to my surprise it was Aly & AJ. 

Wow do I feel like a manly man again today!!!

What's up with me?  :)

Crossing the Red Sea

I'm reading in Exodus right now in my devotions and this morning I read the story of God delivering the Israelites at the Red Sea from the hands of the Egyptians. It's a great story of God's deliverance, direction, faithfulness, and provision (Ex. 14:15-31). This is an incredible story and quite the miracle, but it's also a story of trust and faith on the part of the Israelites. 

Can you imagine the faith it would take to begin walking across the bottom of this great sea? I know the ground was dried by God and the great wind that He caused to blow, but what about walking in between two huge walls of water, I'd be scared to death...how about you?

Many of us, myself included, are feeling the pressure of the economy and all that's happening in America today. Not to mention the stresses of life, work, family, children, neighbors, friends, and such...

The Israelites were faced with a great pressure as well, Pharaoh and ALL of the Egyptian armies were coming to bring Moses and all the Israelites back to Egypt. When the Israelites saw the Egyptian armies coming to overtake them, the Bible says they "panicked." There was no way out, on one side was the Red Sea (which at this point had not been parted for them to walk across), and on the other side was the armies of Egypt bearing down to capture them.

How many of you feel the same thing, there's no way out as you see it right now, it seems like life is crashing in all around us—all at once!

Take heart, God made a way out for the Israelites by parting the Red Sea. He will no doubt make a way out for you (and me) too! Trust in Him, place your Faith in Him, stand on the Promises of His Word. He will see us through this difficult time.

How can I pray for you?

I Really Must Be Getting Old.....Looking

I went to Burger King today for lunch. I ordered off the $1 menu, a Whopper Jr. and a small soft drink. The guy taking my order asks me, "How old are you?" I ask him why and he responds with the following question...

"Well, aren't you old enough for the SENIOR DRINK?"

Better Than Drugs

I was listening to a song this morning by the band, Skillet. It's their song entitled "Better Than Drugs." I laughed and made a joke with someone, that's a funny way to offer praise to God, by telling Him that He's better than drugs...then I looked up the lyrics and I was actually moved by them. I enjoy Skillet's music, but I'm probably not their "target audience" and as I read these lyrics with their target audience in mind I had a completely different take on the song. Why don't you read these lyrics and comment if you so desire.

Better Than Drugs / by Skillet

Feel your every heartbeat 
Feel you on these empty nights 
Calm the ache, stop the shakes 
You clear my mind 
You're my escape 
From this messed up place 
'Cause you let me forget 
You numb my pain 

How can I tell you just all that you are 
What you do to me 

You're better than drugs 
your love is like wine 
Feel you comin' on so fast 
Feel you comin' to get me high 
You're better than drugs 
Addicted for life 
Feel you comin' on so fast 
Feel you comin' on to get me high 

Feel you when I'm restless 
Feel you when I cannot cope 
You're my addiction, my prescription, my antidote 
You kill the poison 
Ease the suffering 
Calm the rage when I'm afraid 
To feel again 
How can I tell you just all that you are 
What you do to me 

Feel your every heartbeat 
Feel you on these empty nights 
You're the strength of my life 

Feel your every heartbeat 
Feel you on these empty nights 

Feel your every heartbeat 
Feel you come to get me high

A Scary Moment

My son Kyle works at the Chandler Fashion Square Mall and last night he closed. I went to pick him up at 11:00 pm and as I pulled into a parking space to wait for him to come out I had somewhat of a scary moment.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that an SUV pulled in right after me a couple of spaces down, and I just happen to notice that the person in the passenger seat was wearing a hooded jacket (with the hood on) and a hockey mask, like the one Jason wears on Friday the 13th. I thought to myself, that seems a little odd, it's not even Halloween. 

Understand that it's 11 pm, and there is no one, and I do mean no one, in the parking lot - it's just me in my car and "Jason" from Friday the 13th.

Well, this guy immediately gets out of the truck, wearing his big black hooded jacket and hockey mask with both hands in the pocket of his jacket. He walks directly behind my car looking all around. My senses were heightened and I began to feel that something was not quite right. He walked past my car, stopped and turned around still looking all around the parking lot. He began to walk back behind my car again, moving from the passenger side of my car to the drivers side. This time a little closer to my car. As he makes it to the drivers side of my car he stops and turns toward the front of my car. At this point, I quickly start my car and drive away. "Jason" runs back to the SUV, jumps in and they drive off very quickly. (Thankfully not following me, but going in the opposite direction.)

At this point, all I can think is, thank you God for giving me a sense that something was not right and for causing me to be aware of my surroundings. So many other times when I've picked up Kyle late at night, I have set in my car totally engrossed in my iPhone and would never have noticed someone approaching my car. I believe God was watching out for me, and I'm thankful for His protection.

I found a mall security guy and told him about what happened and then went back to wait for Kyle, this time for sure watching my surroundings like I've never done before.

Psalm 5:11 says, "But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." (NIV)

Today, I am rejoicing in God's glorious protection!

On a lighter note: I told Kyle all about this when I picked him up. Then I said, "good thing this was not a scary movie....becuase then my car would not have started." That made us smile.  :)

A Total Manly Moment

So tonight I experienced one incredible "manly moment." I was in the men's room at a restaurant and I was....um....taking care of business...when I caught myself humming and singing (out loud) the following lines, "see that girl, watch that scene, she is the dancing queen."

Once I realized I was singing "Dancing Queen" by Abba in the men's room...I'm sure my face turned all shades of red and I quickly took inventory and was relieved to find that I was the only one in the bathroom...WOW I felt like a manly man at that point!

PLEASE NOTE: In my defense, my wife got the movie Mamma Mia for Christmas as well as Abba's greatest hits and her and the girls were listening to that CD on the way to the restaurant...that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Ha!

It's Not My Fault

Have you ever noticed that most of us, most of the time want to defer responsibility for certain things. Let me explain...

This morning I wanted to trim my goatee, I picked up my beard trimmer and found that the guard was missing. I knew that my son Kyle had borrowed my trimmer just a couple days ago to trim his beard and I immediately began the "blaming game," after-all, he was the last one to use it. Therefore it must be his fault that the guard is missing. I must admit that I actually found myself getting a little upset. (I've already had to replace one trimmer because we lost the guard for that one.)

NOTE: did you catch that I just deferred responsibility for the last guard - I just wrote that "we" lost it...hmmmm, do I have a problem here?!?!?

I looked all over my bathroom, in drawers, on the floor, then I looked all over the boys bathroom and still was not able to find that pesky little guard. Now I'm really starting to get mad, I'm even thinking of texting my son while he's at school to scold him for losing my guard...then...

I look up on the top of the shower rail and what do I see. The guard that I, at that moment, remembered putting there myself the last time I used the trimmer.

God forgive me for being so quick to blame others when it's really all my fault.

what do you need to ask forgiveness for today???

Another Psalm to Ponder

Me and My...um...Lexi's Pink Guitar

A Psalm to Ponder

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33:20-22 (NIV)

My New Dream Guitar

Need I Say More???