I Plan on Riding This

Oh my, the dramatic music!

This Week:::

Starting tomorrow, my and my gang (along w/ the Conn family) will be enjoying our leisure in beloved, historic San Antonio, Texas. This is actually the FIRST vacation we've taken as the Wright family, so we're all very excited. We'll be spending two days at Sea World where we'll ride rides, pet exotic sea creatures and take thousands of pictures of animals jumping into the air.

As I want all of you to always feel included in my various adventures (this is what makes me the coolest blog you read,) I went over to YouTube to find some video of SeaWorld San Antonio to further engage you in our coming week. What follows is the video I found...it is, in a word, "awesome." Enjoy this video. It's amazing.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

Batman

Special thanks to fellow worship confesser over at Sensing the Shift for passing along this pic from the next Batman movie. Ladies and gentlemen...the new Joker:

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Video We're Running Tomorrow

Saturday Midgley

Most Important Meal of the Day

Okay, we all know that breakfast is important. So here's my question: what do YOU eat for breakfast?

Share with us your typical, favorite breakfast. Note of course, that this question has two categories:

1. The Stay At Home Breakfast (what you eat at home)

2. The Fast Food Breakfast (what you eat when you're out and about in the morning)

My Friday...

Jonah woke up at 5. Thursday was his last day of school and it was "water day," so he was exhausted, which, for him, usually means he doesn't sleep very well. (It's strange, I know.) Anyway, Kristen jabs me in the ribs at 5 because he's calling us. Now, Krist is usually way better at these early-morning go-back-to-sleep conversations, but something was telling me I just go. That "something" was Kristen's elbow in my ribs. Jonah calms down, then wakes back up about twenty minutes later. This time, Krist gets up and goes in to help him fall back asleep.

Finley woke up at 7. I get her, change her diaper, get her cup of milk and we lounge around the living room. She was abnormally grumpy so I was trying everything to keep her from whining and waking up Jonah and Kristen. He woke up at 10 'til 8.

Woke Kristen up, passed off the baby and jumped in the bed for an hour of sleep myself. (I love Friday!) Slept until 9 and woke up to the soft sounds of Jonah essentially calling Kristen a liar and then getting in trouble. Came into the living room, sat around with the kids. Once I got a few minutes, got on the computer to listen to another track Ross sent. (I won't brag any more on the record, don't worry.)

Headed outside at around 10:30 to weedeat and mow, but had to do the backyard first since Finley was laying down. Worked for about thirty minutes, then realized the lawnmower was running way low on oil. Jonah was getting bored outside, so I paused the project and we came in for lunch. Jonah made himself a marshmallow sandwich. He said it was good. Somewhere during lunch, the idea of Rice Krispie Treats came up. Fifteen minutes later, we had delicious, gooey goodness from the able hands of Mrs. Wright.

Jonah and I played some video games while Krist cleaned up. Finley woke up from her nap and ate while we kept picking up around the house. We all got dressed to head into town to pick up some stuff. (Oil for the mower, vacation supplies, cheap gasoline.)

While at Wal-Mart, Krist called her parents and we spent about half-an-hour over at their house with them. Afterward, we went and got a pizza. Came home, ate, bathed the kids and put Finley down early. (She missed her second nap.) Krist left at 7pm with her parents to head to her cousin's high school graduation.

Jonah ate more pizza and watched Transformers for a while before storytime and teeth-brushing. He finally went to bed and I cleaned up around the house.

Los featured this on his blog, so I borrowed to pass on to my pals. I don't watch much nature TV, but this is pretty cool

Thinking about getting a haircut...

You Know What I Love...

...watching reruns of A Different World on those rare epidsodes where they got political.

Wait a second....

Next...

Keys are done...

Ross sent me a rough mix of "King of Mercy" w/ all the keys on there. Brady did a bunch of cool stuff...listening now to soak it all in.

I can honestly tell you that the collaboration of the musicians we've used on this thing has been amazing...these songs sound great because of John, Brady, Forrest and Ross. They're turning this into a record that I think is going to stand out. No self-promotion here - just gratitude for the amazing creativity these dudes have brought to the table.

Chris Caraway - you're the one who made this happen. Thank you.

This is the new promotional pic for Caedmon's new record. Anybody notice something special here?

Dang You, Maroon 5...

I remember the first time I heard these dudes. I remember thinking that Justin Timberlake was fronting a real band. Later, I found out who they were and I dug 'em. I dug 'em a lot.

But then, radio killed Maroon 5. I got so sick of hearing them. I vowed that they would not get me again. I would not be sucked into their infectious, syrupy sweet disco/motown/rock anthems.

Well, they're back and .... dangit .... I like them~

1:30 PM
Charting "The Great Adventure" for my band to play at VBS. Man, my life has come full circle...

Tuesday Tavin

_______ Barry White

Setup: two weeks ago, Kristen and her friends threw a lingerie shower for a friend who was getting married. Upon realizing they had no music for this particularly sexy party, they quite luckily happened upon a Barry White CD in our local CVS. They buy the CD, play it at the party and then...it ends up at our house.

One day, we throw it in the car as we drive around. Jonah listening to it and says..."Who's he lovin'?" We laughed about it, then replaced the CD with Justin Roberts, our current family favorite to listen to.

So, on Monday, while I'm giving guitar lessons, Krist and the kids drive by Chic-Fil-A before picking me up. Apparently, they listened to Barry White, because when we get home, Kristen says...

"Hey, Jonah, tell Daddy who sings 'Can't Get Enough of Your Love',"

Jonah is busy kicking a ball around the kitchen and quickly responds:

"BLUE-BARRY WHITE."

Dear Mr. Paisley...

Okay...you can play guitar really really fast. Got it.

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Thank You, Andrew Osenga

Virtual Praise Band

Well, Mr. Beauford and Mr. Lee are tied up for the coveted drum spot on the Virtual Praise Band. So, come on, who would you take on your next gig?

Hey, you know what I love? You know what's been the MOST fun about doing this thing? It's those of you who disagree with me...

You see, I like the sort of community that blogs afford us, but I'm going to have make one request. If you disagree with the options, think I'm being stupid or would rather post your own potential players, please don't. Just vote. The point is you HAVE to pick one. So, live a little. Don't forget, the band is "virtual," after all.

(Plus, these players make for great joke-material...why not show how creative your vote can be? My favorite was Ryan's idea of a rotating drum cage in Crosspoint. That's the kinda' votes I'm looking for!)

Vote. Or don't.

Anybody else loving the new autosave feature on blogger? Digging it big time, man.

Update on Tracking Schedule

Hey gang...

I've opted to push back my acoustic tracking. I was supposed to track this coming Thursday and Friday, but the next few weeks are pretty busy around home. I'll try to shoot for sometime in June to do the acoustics for the record. (Give me some time to practice my fingerpicking.)

My knee hurts.

Saturday, May 18

What I did on Saturday...

• Drove (a lot)
• Ate many delicious things (Reece's Peanut Butter Cups as well as Ritz crackers w/ peanut butter and dipped in white chocolate...amazing.)
• Fished with my son
• Watched my daughter play in a lake
• Took my kids to a playground
• Hiked with Jonah and a friend
• Played volleyball
• Ate birthday cake
• Spent almost every minute of the day with Kristen right beside me

Saturday Midgley

Okay, I'll admit it - this guy intrigues me. This is "Dog, The Bounty Hunter" for those of you who aren't familiar.

But here's what bugs me about his show. I turn on the TV to watch this mullet-wearing, muscle-bound, pepper spraying bad boy kick tail while bring bail jumpers to justice.

And instead, every show ends like this.

Dog walks in house. Dog talks to criminal.

DOG: Hey man, you know we gotta' take you in, brother.
CRIMINAL: I know.
DOG: You want a cigarrette?
CRIMINAL: Yeah, thanks.

Dog and Criminal ride side by side to booking station in the back of SUV.

DOG: Hey, bra, you gotta' straighten out your life.
CRIMINAL: I know, dude.
DOG: You got a family, man.
CRIMINAL: I know, Dog. Thanks, man.
DOG: Hey, God bless you, man. Be safe.

Dog and Criminal hug before criminal gets thrown back in the slammer.

Isn't it false advertising to promote this dude as some action hero when he ends up being a long-haired, hippie-surfer?

Anybody with me?

My Friday

Woke up with a really bad case of the "I can't keep my eyes open." Kristen got up with the kids first, gave me an hour to sleep, then I took over. The whole Wright clan was up an moving by 8:30. (Some earlier than others.)

We all had a little breakfast, watched some PBS, played with toys. I started getting ready for some Friday yard work. I was changing Finley's diaper back in her room when Kristen yells out...
"POPS IS COMING OVER WITH DONUTS!"

'Pops" is my dad. He brings donuts. And that's why we love him. He showed up a bit later - we ate, then Pops took Jonah and Finley outside to the playhouse and occupied them for a few minutes. He came back in, handed them off and went to work.

I got outside for the yard work, but told Jonah we could play instead. He was in the middle of "Caillou," this annoying cartoon that PBS shows, so I told him I'd get started on yard work while he finished his show...

I worked for about a half-hour until Jonah came out, then we played "Robots" until Kristen yells out...
'PAPA AND GIGI ARE COMING OVER!"
My grandparents showed up about 10 minutes later. We visited with them for a bit, then headed back outside when they left. While Jonah and I played, Krist laid Finley down for her nap.

After a little while, Jonah decided he wants to play by himself, so he heads off and I resume cleaning up the Jungle in the back. It's a massive project, but there's no rush on the fence construction, so I've decided to donate time here and there and gradually make it better. On the day, I spent about two hours clearing and carrying nature's debris to the fire pile.

Came in, showered, then dressed as Finley woke up. Kristen was scheduled to work at her aunt's today, but rather than just hang out at home, we decided that the kids and I would run around town while she worked. On the way to the office, we stopped to get Icees and gas where I saw two very passionate lesbians. It may not be weird to see women hugged up in a gas station where you live, but in Lufkin, it's relatively rare. I get the snacks and gas and took Krist to work.

While she worked, the kids and I made a deposit at the bank then hung out at Target before heading back to pick her up. Finley was not digging the car-riding thing today, so she whined for most of the trip. (I was proud of myself - I didn't lose patience and turn into Angry Dad. This is a big step for me!)

Picked up Kristen, headed for Sonic. (Yes, I bought my son an Icee and ice cream in the same day. Sorry. It just happened.) On the way, we drop off Kristen at a little shopping plaza, then make the Sonic run. After Sonic, we pick up Krist and head for the park.

We didn't stay long at the park, Finley was still quite grumpy.

Drove home. Jonah looked at comic books while we put Finley down for a nap. After she laid down, Krist laid on the couch and pretended not to doze as Oprah and Sarah Jessica Parker talk about affordable fashion. Jonah went outside, making sure I'd be out there in a little while. Jonah came right back in while I was setting up GameCube as a surprise for him. (He's been on a no-video game diet this past week and we decided to reward him.)

He played GameCube while Krist and I napped for about 20 minutes. (NICE!) Me, K and Fin got up about 5 and started cooking dinner - French Bread Pizza, easy and delicious. After pizza, we let Jonah finish one more level before he turned it off.

Once the video game was turned off, our kids were running around the living room doing their best to drive us crazy, so we all went for a walk around the neighborhood. It got us outdoors and gave Jonah some time to run and yell. We came back home, bathed the kids, watched America's Funniest Videos (a favorite around the Wright house,) then put the kids to bed.

Now it's off to bed early...we're heading to a reunion in Tyler tomorrow.

Just finished watching Denzel Washington in Deja Vu. Denzel's had a bit of bad run lately in films, but I think this movie is quintessential Denzel-action-hero movie!

I loved it!

CD Tracking: Electric Guitar

Ever had the experience of having a great, funny, relevant blog post and then realizing that it could get you in trouble?

Just had one of those moments. Don't worry, the post is saved, so if I ever get brave enough, I'll throw it out there. But since I'm bailing on posting it, I'll at least tell you the topic...


Senior Pictures.

Thursday Tavin

TRACKING recap

1. No, there wasn't really a "brawl." I figured that most of you would understand that I was joking. The whole session was great...every song we finished, I'd think "Ooh, that's my favorite." So if you leave a session thinking everyone was your favorite, that's pretty good.
2. Forrest did an amazing job. His tone was fantastic. He rocked the rockers and smoothed out the slow jams. He was as creative and musically supportive as I thought he'd be. His ideas were good and he was willing to try whatever Ross and I asked of him.
3. Ross, once again, did a great job of producing. He's got great musical recall...he can track a whole song and afterward say, "Hey, I think the timing on those notes in the first measure were a little off." That's pretty impressive to hear considering it's thirteen songs.
4. Next week, I'll be tracking acoustics on a extremely nice acoustic guitar and I am crazy excited.
5. I plan on posting a video of the session (w/ no audio though, I don't want you hearing Forrest's stuff yet!) Since you can't hear what these sound like yet, I figured I'd give you a brief little description of how we're doing them.

• MY LIPS WILL SING: Standard arrangement with one slight change after 1st chorus. Studio version will be a little less "spacey" a little more smooth.
• LIKE THE SUN: All the percussion business gives this song a new feel. The rhythm stuff coupled with the chorus Forrest did makes this song flow a bit better and become a bit more subtle in its jamming.
• ALL THE FREED: Can you say funk/blues jam? This one came off great, although significantly different from original version. The riff is gone and the choruses are way more poppy. There are two instrumental breaks that are going to melt your speakers.
• PART OF YOUR STORY: Not much different on this one. A few arrangement changes, but this one is pretty straightforward.
• BEAUTIFUL: I've done this one live maybe 3 times in my life, so we had some freedom on this one. Hopefully our arrangement will be simple and intimate in an effort to communicate with music what we're saying with our words.
• SEARCH AND KNOW: One of my favorites to sing. Lots of rhythm stuff on this one. Interested to see what folks think of this one.
• GLORIFY: Two things are going to stand out on this one. First, Forrest's guitar sounds amazing. Secondly, we're losing the rocking nature of the chorus to make it more vocal-centered. I think it's gonna' work big time.
• ALIGN: Going in, I wasn't sure about this one, but the band stuff shaped up the tune and made it accessible and alive.
• THE CROSS OF CHRIST: Very percussive...hymn like. Nice.
• I AM GLAD: Forrest may have played the coolest guitar solo in all of worship music on this one. It was something to behold. (And if you buy the record, you too can behold it.)
• KING OF MERCY: My, my, my. This one falls somewhere between John Mayer, Jackson 5 and some latenight jazz show on AM radio.
• YOU GAVE SIGHT: I think this song is going to be great. It is nothing like the original version, but I like it. I imagine some folks won't dig it, but some of you weirdos out there are going to think its the coolest thing I've ever done.
• LET IT BE: This one didn't come off as "ballady" as I imagined it, but I really like the end result. It's got some guitar hooks, but this another one where we're trying to be creative without stepping all over the lyrics.

Me learning iMovie on Forrest's Mac.

I must have one.

TRACKING: Day 4

12:43pm...smoking through the songs. Forrest laying funky Jackson 5 stuff on "King of Mercy." You're gonna' love it, Chris.

Headed to lunch in just a bit.

Ross danced. It wasn't pretty.

TRACKING: DAY 3

• Picked up Forrest around 7:45 this morning. We loaded gear and headed toward College Station. Made a quick stop to trade out cars with my mom so I could travel in something a bit more reliable.
• Go to studio around 10:20am. Forrest started setting up. (Robert Conn showed up...awkward.)
• Here are the tunes we got done so far: I Am Glad, All The Freed, Like The Sun, My Lips Will Sing and a little special something on Search and Know.
• We finished up a little before 5. Everybody was beat. (Mostly because My Lips Will Sing almost started a brawl in the studio.)
• Forrest and I check into hotel, then went to dinner. As we drove around, Forrest says he has his Mac and all his interface stuff if we wanted to record anything. I've been dying to do click tracks for some new stuff so I get all excited. Then Forrest realizes he doesn't have a vocal mic. Or a cable. Or a mic stand.
• I played on Forrest guitar at the hotel, called my wife. Forrest played in GarageBand.
• Probably will head to bed early tonight so we can hit it full on tomorrow morning.
• I did get some video footage and may try a little editing on Forrest iMovie. Will post as soon as possible.

This is an old record, but I am really enjoying the heck out of it.

Michael Neale's Made Me Glad is fantastic.

SUNDAY MIDGLEY

Sorry I didn't get to post on Saturday. Maybe this will do...

Why aren't there more Zydeco worship songs?

(Looks like somebody has a theme for the next record!!!)

These guys are tied up with 1 vote each. Come on, people...who would you want backing you up in worship?

My Friday

Got up with Finley around 6:30. Jonah woke up at 7. Let Krist sleep about 45 minutes, then we swapped out. I woke up around 8:30 (I think.) Had a delicious breakfast of chocolate cake. (Left over from a shower that Kristen had hosted the night before. Breakfast of champions....

Got outside to mow the yard and clean out "the jungle" at 9:30. "The Jungle" is the overgrown section of the backyard that housed the previous owner's dog pen. Over the past couple of years, I had let a lot of the grass grow up on one side to seperate our property from the neighbors. Nothing untoward, mind you...just wanted a little privacy. But, now that the dog pen is gone and Krist is wanting the backyard fence, the Jungle has got to go.

Since this is my blog, I feel that I can pretty much say whatever I want. So, I'm going to now tell you my mowing procedure for the morning. If you care not to read about lawn mowing, I suggest you scan lower in the post for items of interest.

I mowed the right-hand side of the yard first (seperated by a sidewalk that runs from front door to street.) After that, used the weedeater on the right-hand ditch, once again angry that our ditches are far too overgrown for our culverts to truly work. After than did the same procedure on the left-hand side yard and ditches. Then moved to other side of the driveway, same procedure. At this point, the whole ditch situation was getting to me, so I grabbed a shovel and worked on leveling up my ditches. Now, you should know that

• A) I'm kinda' lousy at yardwork. Especially involving a shovel.
• B) I didn't really have time to do all the ditches, so I just played in the dirt a bit to see if I get the water moving come flood-time.

It really was a great day to be outside - cloudy, with a nice breeze. By this time, I'm thinking that maybe The Jungle isn't gonna' be on the schedule, but Kristen walks out and lovingly says...

"ARE YOU GONNA' CLEAN UP THAT JUNKY PART IN THE BACKYARD?"

I growl at her, then went to The Jungle. In mid-clean up, I turn to see my good friend Chris Caraway standing in my yard with a handful of $100 dollar bills. I turn off the weedeater and hand over the drugs....

Not really...Chris was giving me another installment of the "Todd Wright CD fund" to help cover meals and hotels for Forrest and I next week.

When all was said and done, I finished up around 12:30, played for a few minutes outside with Jonah, then headed in to clean up and have lunch with my family.

A little after 1, I loaded up the kids and we headed into town to do some Mother's Day shopping. I had already picked up something for Kristen, but I wanted Jonah to pick something out for her on his own. While at Target (don't worry, Kristen knows that's where we went,) we walked over to the toy section for the obligatory "can we look at toys?" Jonah still has about twenty bucks saved up, so when he found a LEGO kit that he's been looking everywhere for, we bought it. 106 pieces of pure parental torture.

Alas, we got it done and played with it a bit before driving Kristen to meet her ride to the rehearsal dinner for her friend Nicole. After dropping her off, me and the kids drove over to parents' place, but nobody was home.

We came home, ate, took an extremely long and splashy and crazy bath. Put Finley down around 7:30. Jonah and I stayed up and played LEGO Star Wars. He went to bed just after 8. Stayed up and blogged, waiting for him to go to sleep so I could get started on straightening up the house.

I think Andrew Peterson is one of the best songwriters around. I found this video that a church did alongside his "Holy Is The Lord."

How Many Genres?

I always find it interesting to look/listen through folks' mp3 players. It definitely is a new day - people today are listening to the most vast and varied collection of music in the history of the world. So, what are some genres that you dig or don't dig that might surprise us?

I'll start:

Bluegrass
If done right, I love it. For me, it's all about tone. I can't dig some 1956 one-mic recording that sounds like crud. Give me some deep, resonant bluegrass done smooth and I'm all about it.

Blues
Sorry. I like "bluesy" things within music, but I just can't enjoy it for any period of time. I want to like it, but can't.

Funk
Yes, indeedy. I like all things funky, but lately found much enjoyment from funky, 1980's, "new blues." This stuff isn't bluesy - it's usually funky party music sung by dudes in their 50's.

Jazz
Somewhere there floats this idea that true musicians should appreciate jazz. No no no no.

Choral
I love it. Anywhere. Anytime.

So, what are your weird genres? What would surprise us about YOU?

Write Songs Wrong

Here's a little game we're going to play: I'm going to rewrite a popular worship song with some different wording and then you all see if you can guess the original song. In addition to seeing who's really smart out there, I think it may offer some insight into some of our most popular worship songs. (And it may be an insight we don't like...)

Verse
We rise with holy hands, finding joy in You
We kneel, for You are good
All people join in...
Sing with us now...

Chorus

The Lord is Perfect, The Lord is Strong
All creation testifies to His goodness
The Lord is Perfect, the Lord is Strong
All creation testifies to His goodness
All creation testifies to His goodness

Bridge
A great song we all can join
A great song we all can join

So, what song is it, and, is it a good one?

Oh, My....

Last week, Ross and Keith threw the drums/bass/scratch tracks online so I could start listening to them and pass them Forrest's way.

Since then, Forrest has been emailing me his ideas for the songs. There will be much tasty electric, my friends.

This One's For Ashlin

6:50pm
I'm babysitting the sound system tonight for the Lufkin High School Choir "Pop Show."

You know there's such a thing as choir nerds, right? (I used to be one...)

Pray for me.

10 Reasons I'm Hardcore

1. Cut capo? Please.
2. I don't use a screen on the back wall when I lead worship. I rock it straight at the people, y'all. (Take that, WLC.)
3. I know every Paul Baloche song. Ever. And there are hundreds.
4. I regularly watch PBS.
5. I don't like liturgy (read..."spoken liturgy,") and I ain't afraid to say it.
6. I blog 12 times a day.
7. I don't drink coffee. I never will. I go to Starbucks for their awesome bottled water.
8. I am a terrific pianist, but no one knows it. (Because it's just for me.)
9. I edit video late into the night and love it every minute of it.
10. I'm a great kisser. Right, ladies?

Ode to Rhapsody

Thanks to Rhapsody, I've been slowly working my way through these records. Anybody heard any of these...you like? Give me your thoughts.

And please, no "I've never heard of them" comments. That just makes you sound lame. (Be the strong, silent type.)

Virtual Praise Band - DRUMS

Question for TECH/VIDEO Dudes

Here's the deal:

During our Sunday morning taping (which I edit for KTRE,) no audio went to the DV recorder. I figured this was going to happen, so I asked our sound guy to record the whole service (to cassette!)

On Monday, I get the cassette, burn a CD and rip it to mp3. I fly the silent video footage of the service into the editing program, then import the mp3 audio. Now, wouldn't it seem logical that if I was able to sync up the audio with the start of the service then it would stay in sync throughout?

I thought so.

I was wrong.

So now, I'm having to readjust the audio track for about every minute of video footage.

Why does this happen, tech guys? Is my video running at a variable speed during playback?

Next Monday, this fella and I will spend three days in College Station. He will play many, many rockin' things on his guitar.

Ross and I will sit back and enjoy watching this young punk from Nashville take this record to a new level.

Tuesday Tavin

Quote Trivia:

(We're) "...gonna to get married on top of a mountain, and there's going to be flutes playing and trombones and flowers and garlands of fresh herbs. And we will dance till the sun rises. And then our children will form a family band. And we will tour the countryside and you won't be invited."

What movie is this from?

A Poem, by Todd.

How can I put pen to page?

And capture the very essence of thee

How can I put "you" into words?
And all you are to me

There lives no page so wide or tall

To capture you in full

And the eloquence I have in me
Rings hollow, trite and dull

Fare thee well, my spotless love

You're off to toil your share

A no matter how they burden you
They'll never hurt your hair

See you in 45 days, P!

10

New video thing we're starting tonight:

Saturday Midgley

FRIDAY

Got up with Finley around 6:30. Jonah got up near 7. Woke Kristen up at 7:30 and then climbed in the bed for an hour of sleep for Daddy!

Woke up somewhere towards 9am. Played LEGOs and GI Joe, some GameCube, some chase Finley around the living room until about 10. Jonah had a haircut at 11 so he and I started getting ready.

When we got home from the haircut, Jonah headed striaght for the backyard while I checked in with Kristen. Finley was napping, so Kristen was getting dressed. We decided on Chic-Fil-A for lunch, so when Finley woke up around 12:45, we headed out.

Ate for free at Chic-Fil-A (free coupons,) let Jonah play in the playground, then ran around. We went to Target for some staples. While in the toy department, the lights started blinking on and off, which freaked Kristen a bit, so we made for a hasty check-out and sped away, just in case somebody decided to blow Target up or something. (Who would want to hurt Target, though?)

We went to the library. Jonah got two books (1 spider book, 1 caterpillar.) Krist got biographies of Jimmy Stewart and Audrey Hepburn and I got Stephen King's Gerald's Game and Ludlum's The Bourne Identity. (Like the movie/heard the book was even better.)

After library, we went to Dairy Queen is search of the new waffle bowl, but they didn't appear to have any. Instead, K and I got dipped cones and Jonah got a regular cone. I always try to get a dipped cone in summer while I'm driving. How impossible is that?

We came home, poked through our books a little bit, then Krist's mom came over. While there, Jonah went outside. We played Star Wars, then baseball, then we played on the swings with Finley.

We decided to do pizza and a movie with Kristen's Mom ("Sugar," as the kids call her.) Sugar went home to change clothes, Krist went to pick up pizza and movies, and I bathed the kids.

We ate, then Jonah watched most of Star Wars:Clone Wars II. Finley went to bed, then Jonah went. We fired up the movie, Bobby. This was one weird film, friends. Way too many characters and way too slow for my tastes. The end really was pretty gripping, but the whole thing was really ficitonalized and it felt it. It took us forever to finish the movie because Jonah was up for a good while, calling us in for water and songs and to talk about Star Wars. I also had to make a quick run to the Texaco for some M&Ms to put in our popcorn. (Trust me, it works.)

The movie wrapped up around 10:30. We said goodbye to Sugar, surfed the web a bit regarding the whole RFK Assassination, then Kristen went to bed a little after 11.

I stayed up and typed this blog.

Link Love

You may have noticed that I linked Ross King on the right hand side. Ross' new blog is going to chronicle his set of house shows and the release of his brand new singer-songwriter record.

Not only has working with Ross been a fun, creative experience, but it's also allowed me the chance to hear two or three of the songs that will be on this new record. I have to tell you that I am very excited to:

• Hear a collection of new songs from a great songwriter and theological thinker
• Take part in the inevitable discussions that will be prompted by the tunes
• Maybe get to hear Ross play these epic new songs in somebody's kitchen

Bookmark the blog so you can keep up with this exciting new phase in Ross' ministry.

And The Winner Is...

Voting ending at midnight Thursday night for the bass slot in the Virtual Praise Band.

Handling bass and background vocals will be: STING.

Drums are next...stay tuned.

Okay, I'm VIRBING now. Go get you some so we can all waste even more time on our computers!

Just One Question

Are we ever gonna' REALLY make poverty history?

Just thought I'd ask...

On Communion and Baptism

"If it's alright to use grape juice in Communion, why not baptize with confetti?"

-John Simmons

Inside the offices of J.J. Abrams, creator of LOST. Monday Morning, 9:14am.

ASSISTANT 1
(phone to ear, whispering to others in the room)
What do I say? What do I say?

ASSISTANT 2
You'll think of something. Just get him here.

(A voice answers on other end of the line.)

ASSISTANT 1
Mr. Abrams?
Yes, this is Joseph at the office. Good morning.

ABRAMS
What is it?

ASSISTANT 1
Well, the deal is, uh, we reallly don't know what to do. You know, with the show.

ABRAMS
Show?

ASSISTANT 2
What's he saying? Is he coming?

ASSISTANT 1
Uh, "Lost," Mr. Abrams. We need to know what happens next. The network is calling every day wanting to know when they'll get the next show.

ABRAMS
Uh, maybe, uh, Jack could be Claire's, uh, half-brother or something?

ASSISTANT 1
We did that already.

ABRAMS
We did? Okay, uh. Let's bring Locke's dad onto the island.

ASSISTANT 1
Sir? How are...how do we...how would that work?

ABRAMS
I DON'T KNOW, OKAY? DON'T YOU GUYS GET IT? I NEVER HAD A FAT CLUE WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON ANYWAY!
IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS!

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO CANCELLED BEFORE THIS!

HOW AM I GOING TO PULL THIS OFF, JOSEPH?

WHAT DO I DO?

PEOPLE WANT ANSWERS! THEY WANT ANSWERS AND I DON'T HAVE THEM.

IT'S JUST A SHOW. A STUPID SHOW....
(Sobbing)

From the brilliant minds at LarkNews.

Man’s Use of Religious-sounding Curse Words Riles Some

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — For years pastor Greg Daley has used the expression "Give me a Pentecostal break" to express supreme disgust. But lately he’s been stringing together more and more religious words in a cursing pattern that bothers some in his congregation. Secretary Rebekah Simms heard Daley burst into a youth room recently and exclaim, "What the Pentecostal-holiness is going on in here?" "He must have been really angry," she says.

A board member says he witnessed Daley use a series of church-related terms in what amounted to a sanctified blue streak. Daley had just learned that the church accountant had made a $4,950 error. "

He said, ‘That tongue-talking, Southern Pentecostal-holiness, fire-brand preachin’ scoundrel,’" says the board member. "He sounded like Yosemite Sam."

Daley often says the words so fast that people can’t keep up. At a staff meeting last Wednesday he got miffed at someone and exclaimed, "That’s a water baptizin’, two-bit, pew-warming, evangelizing lie if I’ve ever heard one," says Simms. •

Not digging this, gang. Anybody else heard it? Who's loving it? Who ain't?

Might still grow on me, though...music has a way of doing that sometimes.

Okay, worship leaders, pastors, sunday school teachers, sound engineers, volunteer chair setup director, etc...

We all have our busiest ministry days each week. For me, it's Sunday. While I do get a couple of hours at home on Sunday, they are usually busy in themselves so I pretty much stay in full motion on the high holy day of each week.

Here's my question - on your busiest ministry day, how do you unwind? Every Sunday night, I am completely exhausted and, while I do find satisfaction in knowing that I've worked hard, I have trouble finding a good way to rest up, get refreshed and ready for the next week.

So, how do YOU rest up?

11:48am. LISTENING TO THIS.

Kindergarten, Here We Come!

YES...

Okay, all you folks 28 and older. This one's for you:

Tuesday Tavin