"Seen It All"

My pals Jason and Lance have fostered not-so-secret loves for hip-hip for many, many years. Now, the come correct w/ this new single, straight outta' the MD. Carroll County, yo...

Kick back and enjoy this new East Coast joint.



Hard rhymes from hard times.

I Know That Guy...

Famous actors that remind me of Lance Burch.

Flat Joey...

You're probably familiar with the Flat Stanley movement.
Well, LifePoint Church has taken that to a whole new level.

Meet Flat Joey. The one-dimensional incarnation of LifePoint's Senior Pastor Joe Duke.

And Flat Joey came to camp. Here are kids worshipping and celebrating and, of course, there's Flat Joey mugging for the camera.

Here, you see that photographer was trying to capture Kyle in full on ROCK-FACE VEST-MODE, but alas, Flat Joey was having none of that.

We weren't too happy with Flat Joey interrupting our rocking and we decide to go all Matthew 18 on him.But darn it if the little fellow didn't charm us back into his good graces! Here's to Flat Joey, the newest honorary member of the TWB!

INTER:VIEW

Interview with Lance Burch, winner of Coolest Guy Contest

Congratulations, Lance on winning the "Coolest Guy" contest over on Todd's blog. Can you put into words what's going through your head right now?
I guess the biggest thing is surprise... especially with the margin of victory. I had no idea that the guys I spent a lot of time with while in Lufkin were so incredibly uncool. I guess being super-cool like me has its disadvantages - one of those being the uncool hangers-on.

Have you spoken to any of the other candidates? Do you have a message for any of those guys?
I have yet to receive a congratulatory call from any of them so... no, I haven't spoken to them. My message to the others would be this: Maybe cool is genetic - if I were you I would just focus on being friendly.

This really is probably hardest for Todd, don't you think? Why do you think Todd lost? Do more people genuinely feel that you are cooler or do you think there was some sort of backlash against Todd's ego there?
I am concerned that this whole thing has been a huge blow to Todd. And, although there is some level of coolness potential in Brandon T., so far he has only been able to tap into the "hey look at me I'm sarcastic and funny" side of his personality. This is the main reason that Todd lost... I hope he's ready for this truth.

Did you have a strategy in this? What you were doing online and in the public to encourage people to let their voice be heard in your honor?
You don't win these things by accident. We had people out on the street - showing video clips of me during my coolest moments and giving out the website so others could vote. The organization was mobilized in multiple locations and we got the win.I didn't do anything. You let your team speak for you. Nothing is more uncool than asking for a cool vote.

Jason and Robert made very poor showings. Thoughts on why?
Uh... they're not cool.

Do you think Jason's proximity to you was detrimental to him? As friends and neighbors and co-workers, do you think you ended up stealing votes?
Jason only benefits from proximity to me. If anything, he got some mercy votes from people that would have gone to me if he wasn't so approachable and friendly.

Todd is playing your youth camp in July of this year. Is that gonna' be awkward to see him in person? Do you know what you're going to say?
I always find it awkward to see Todd in person... but, that's a long story and one that I won't tell today. I sometimes talk about it in my support group; but, even they shudder when I speak of it. First we will hug. Then, I'm sure, the tears will flow like rain. I will say, "I'm sorry, Todd. I'm so so sorry." I think he will believe me... and then we will move on.

There are some rumors that you will now continue your campaign - that you'll make an effort to showing up on more blog polls for coolest guy or even, as one insider tells us, "best male rock vocal"? Any truth to these rumors?
While we did have some feelers out to see if I could be a viable Coolest Guy in the Nation candidate, we gave up on that effort when we discovered that there was no such contest. I am currently working with the "powers that be" to initiate one.The "best male rock vocal" rumor was started when I totally rocked out to "Wanted - Dead or Alive" at Belisimo's Karaoke night. I am worried that as I age, I am going to lose the classic rock shriek that has been my calling card.

These sort of elections are hard on families. You have any vacation plans with your family now that this amazing journey has come to an end?
You know, the campaign was hard. But, they knew that I was doing this for them. This is all about securing the future... for my children. I am getting a little misty eyed even as I type this. Just think, what kind of difference would it have made in your life if your dad had been cool? We are taking some time off for travel... just the kids and me. I am billing it as an adventure vacation. We are calling it: Let's go find Mom!Seriously, if you hear from Amy... tell her we miss her and to come home.

Do you have a theme song for your campaign victory?
Word Up... by Cameo (not Korn)

For more campaign info from Burch HQ, check out http://www.iftheywouldjustlisten.blogspot.com/.

WHO MADE YOU?

David's recent post about influential records got me thinking about all the people in my life who have shaped who I am, what I think, how I behave, etc.

After thinking on that for awhile, I started to think about people who have influenced me in my chosen field of ministry/career of worship leading. These are people who helped in some of my formative stages. Their support and encouragement shaped by thoughts and theories and put me on the path to realizing my full, God-given potential.

Mitch Powell - Mitch was my first youth minister. As I came into youth group at my church, the current guy was leaving, so I had no idea what to expect. Mitch was loud and funny and sincere and he was the first guy to ask me to lead worship. (My first time was singing Carman's "God's Got Army" with one of those Youth Worship Split-Track CDs. Ugghh.) Mitch was always ready with an encouraging word.

Tim Stacy - Coming up in a pretty conservative church in the 80's, (Who didn't, right?) I had almost no exposure to the modern praise and worship movement. Thanks to Christian radio (Yeah, I said it) and a man named Tim Stacy, I became a fan and researcher of all things worship. Tim took me in when I was a passionate young man in danger of becoming bitter and angry at my church's lack of "progress." (Oh, the drama!) Tim put good music in my hands and encouraged me that God was taking care of his church, even if I didn't believe it.

Ralph Rose - Ralph was the first guy to ever walk up to me and say, "You can make a record." Ralph is the reason I got hooked on playing gigs and recording music. His faith in me was unshakable - and a little bit unfounded. He thought I was better than everybody. He was wrong, but it's nice to have a guy like that in your corner.

Lance Burch - Lance is responsible for one of the most exciting times in my worship-leading life. He begged Kristen and me to lead worship for his youth group for months before we agreed. I'm so glad we finally wised up. My time as Lance's worship leader ended up being worship boot camp. I tested songs, learned about observing a crowd and formed some pretty important theories about what worship is supposed to be.

They are others, but these guys loom pretty large in my past. They are markers in the journey of my ministry - testaments to God's faithfulness to put good, Godly people in the lives of punk kids to shape those kids to be something useful and good.

You don't have to be a musician to have influences; everybody's got 'em. So, in your field of expertise.

WHO SHAPED YOU?