Vacation Over...Feeling Good

SO much has happened since my last post. Liv and I went on vacation for a couple of weeks. We went camping about 3 hours south of where we live to a place called Corrindi Beach. Our tent was set up about 20 yards from the edge of a cliff with a 180 degree view of the ocean. It was awesome. The weather was a little crap but it turned out ok. Lots of reading and listening to music which is great anyway.

Then when we got back this week we worked monday then left for this years first staff retreat. We went to "Kingscliffe" a town about 30 minutes south of the Gold coast and we stayed in a 5 star resort for 3 days. We relaxed, talked about the upcoming year, and we had some guest speakers come in and share. It is so fun to be a part of such a great team and great church. I can't describe how humbled and honored I am that God has given me what He has. Jesus love is amazing.

One of my many responsibilities is to publish our church magazine every 2 months and that will be my big focus today. I need to get it done before Wednesday so we can go to print. It's a lot of work but it's also a lot of fun and a great experience.

We've been doing a series at church this month called "Supernatural." It's about the holy spirit and the power of God, Anyway, we shot a video "spoof" of the TV show supernatural and it's pretty cheesy/funny. Check it out,

Head Cold

It has been an interesting week. First of all, tropical storms continue to pound the Gold coast so it rains for about 20 minutes, then stops for 20 minutes and that cycle just repeats itself. It means that we've spent most of the week inside and I'm starting to get a little bit of cabin fever. Next week Liv and I had planned to go camping for a week but unless the storm clear up we won't be going. My fingers are crossed though cause I don't want to be stuck in the house again!

This week at church we are starting a new series called "supernatural." It is of coarse a take off of the television show. The cool thing is me and this guy named brad at church filmed a supernatural video clip that I edited yesterday and we'll be showing at church on Sunday. It's so cheesy and funny I think it's going to go good.

As of yesterday I have had a gnarly head cold and I'm doing my best to try and shake it today. I hate being sick, especially when it's so humid you lay in bed and sweat. Ha ha, welcome to Australia I guess.

Tonight we are going to see "I am Legend" with a bunch of friends and tomorrow I'm going over to a guys house to play Halo 2 head to head with 2 tv's linked up. It's going to be awesome.

Happy New Year

Happy new year to everyone! I hope that 2007 was a great year for you and that you are all healthy, happy and that 2008 seems fresh and exciting to you.

It's funny how the calendar rolling over makes everything seem different. It's really just another day, but it always fills me with a sense of anticipation and a potential for what the future holds.

Over the last week it has been cold and rainy here. There is a cyclone off the coast that is causing all this bad tropical weather. The cyclone won't come here because there are too many islands in the way, but it's made it very wet and windy.

Liv and I went down to the beach today to look at the huge swell and waves crashing in. It was quite a sight and there were a lot of people watching the sea. Then there were those few crazy guys out there surfing. I have to admit, I kind of like that they are not afraid to get out there. It's dangerous, its rough, but they could also catch an amazing wave for the ride of there life. I want to have that kind of ambition this year. I want to go for it and really put myself out there. I just have a sense of "now or never" for most of what is in my heart, and I think that is a good thing.

Right now Liv has her easel set up next to me and she is painting away. I am sitting here looking out the window at the rain falling and the trees swaying back and forth and I feel so
happy and alive...

Godspeed in 2008

Liv's Teeth

Liv's wisdom teeth days are numbered. She has been in pain for the past week and this Friday they are taking them out. She asked me what they will use to take them out. I said i think they use pliers, dental pliers sure, but they are still pliers. It made her nerves get a lot worse I think. Oops. Thats what a good husband does I guess. lol.

We don't have Sunday night service this weekend so that is gonna be cool. We're gonna hang out with Jon and Crystal and maybe catch a movie...probably a movie you Americans saw months ago. Australia blows when it comes to new releases!!

Just found out that I get to go on Christmas vacation from December 26-January 14. YEA! That's one thing America could learn to do better. Back home it's all push push push and the day after Christmas you're right back to the grindstone. Everything kinda stops here and unless its at least 2 weeks off they don't even consider it a real break...as apposed to 2 weeks being your entire vacation time for the whole year back home.

I have been writing a lot lately for church and hope to start doing original church songs really soon. I am sick of playing hillsong and citipointe stuff. God has really opened my heart to writing worship music and I hope that people get in to what I am doing. Either way it's just good to be writing again.

So Many Things To Say

I don't know where to begin with this post. I wish I had more time to post here more often because I miss everyone back home. I wish I had more time in general. This is going to be one of those heavy posts so if you're not in the mood stop reading now.

still here?

Cool.

Since I got here in Australia I have become part of something so much bigger than me. In absolutely every way I have faced a tremendous challenge to grow in every area of myself and my relationship with God. This is a good thing but it has also been a tremendous challenge. Everyday I face more tasks than time, more needs than resources and more desires than satisfaction. I think this is a good thing and ultimately the place God wants all of us to be. But there's a battle going on in me lately that I can't deny.

Maybe it's because thanksgiving is this week. I think the holiday season is a big part of it. But I have missed everyone and everything from home this week like crazy. I want to go to buffalo wild wings with you guys and eat until my stomach burns. I wanted to watch the world series with all of you and curse the tv like you all did. I want to hang out and talk about music, swap mp3's and just laugh and have fun.

That's not saying I don't have fun here. I am having a great time but it's just different. When you just pick up your life and relocate it to the other side of the world, you've got to expect some withdrawals I guess. But that doesn't make my selfish want just go away.

I love what I am doing, I love the amazing things God is doing through me that I never thought He could, I love the people here and I love my church; but I also love home and I love all of you. I want you all to know that. I want to keep growing to a new capacity. I want more of Jesus and less of me.

The Day The Music Died

R.I.P.
Oink

Bacon

Then Again....

These guys just might release the best album of '08. Can't wait for Mercy to come out!!!

Do Yourself A Favor

The best album of the year, maybe next year too, has come out and you can get it for whatever you think is a fair amount. Get it now.

I can't stop listening to this one. This album is so good. So much has been said about radiohead I can't add anything to it. They are really good and I am glad that they make music. Me happy.

Always Breaking The Rules

I know that I am way behind the curve. But I just found out about Radiohead's 7th album being sold for download for whatever you want to pay. I'm sure everyone has already discussed and digested this but it's news to me since I haven't had Internet access in a long time.

This band has constantly challenged itself, it's fans and the music industry to new heights. I remember the first time I heard "The Bends" and I thought it was so different and weird but so brilliant. I remember sharing it with my friends and telling them that this was a weird band but they were good and they should give them a chance. By comparison when you look at Kid A or some of their other more recent stuff, The Bends seems so mainstream now.

Now they are taking on not only the music industry, but the very idea of paying for music. The best band in the world says you can pay them whatever you think is fair for their new album. While so many artist continue to sit around pouting about the reality of the digital download, Radiohead embraces it and changes the music industry.

This is not only a GENIUS publicity stunt, but a revolution of some sort as well. How many people will check out the band now because they want to hear what all the fuss is about? And also, how can people go on with the same mindset about art and music as commerce?

This move is the dawn of a new music era. Because of the low cost of studio gear ($50,000 will get you the equipment you need to record million dollar sounding albums) and the power of the Internet, the era of music coming directly from the artist to the listener has begun. How this will all pan out in the long run I don't know. But the idea of not having music and art filtered through what some business man in a suit thinks is very exciting to me.

GO ROCKS!!!!

YEAH BABY!!

I was supposed to be in Brisbane all week this week for a conference but I ended up needing to do some graphic design (my little freelance, on the side income since I've been down here). I was a little bummed to have to come all the way down but I am so happy now.

Once I got to the office I remembered the rockies game and I went online to see how the game turned out. It was the top of the 11th and I quickly registered for an account on MLB.com so i could listen in on the game. So here I am on the other side of the world listening to the baseball game. What a world we live in.

When the Padres hit that homer in the 13th I thought it was over. I even told everyone around me (who I was explaining the rules of baseball to) that one of the greatest closers of all time would definitely close the door on the win.

I am glad that I was wrong.

When that sac fly happened, I felt so happy. Like a part of me was here and a part of me was home. I knew that my family and friends were listening too/watching the same thing and cheering at the same time. It was like we were together. The internet is a cool thing.

Go Rockies! Beat the Phillies!!!

Naked Icky Thump

I am sitting butt naked at my computer listening to my just oinked copy of Icky Thump by the white stripes. I can't say how happy this makes me. It's funny what you get used to and what you start to need in your life. I need new music. Without it I just start to go stale and boring.

It's Saturday and I am looking forward to just chilling most of the day. Going over to Johnn-o's house for lunch and gonna kick back a bit. Work has been so hectic lately since we don't have a church building at the moment. I thought my days of setting up and tearing down church every weekend were over but I guess not. For the next 6 months or so we'll be setting up on saturday nights until our new venue gets fit out inside. It's a lot of work but a lot of fun at the same time.

ODD THINGS ABOUT OZ
I want to start a little series of strange things I notice here in the land down-unda.

Part 1: The way they say Aluminum.
Say it with me my american friends, aluminum. Down here they say: "AL - LOO - MIN -EE - UM That's right. AL-LOO-MIN-EE-UM I laugh everytime it gets said. Who's right, who's wrong? Who cares, it's just strange.

Back In Black

After 6 long months, I am finally back online. I have not had internet access since I got here in Australia and it's been rough. In honor of my American way of thinking, my first post back on line is of a Kangaroo that I shot on my hunting trip here. Look how happy I am.

For the first time in 6 months I logged in to oink today. Those of you who know what that is and what it means to me will observe a moment of silence with me now . . . . . . . .

Can't wait to catch up with every one. I'm going to try and let all of you know that I am back online and we can swap emails and messenger info.

Cheers!!

Our Current Decor

This is the current decoration scheme we have chosen for our living room. It's called "Minimalist Musician." Perfect for writing angry, self-indulgent "Stained" stuff. Because we live in a nice place, it's just empty. So you don't really have anything to complain about, but you choose to anyway. And the kids just eat it up.

Container is set to arrive in Brisbane on April 20th and should be at our house around the first of May. Until then, we will keep living like musician squatters. Ha ha ha.

My New Sin

"Donuts. Is there anything they can't do?"
- Homer Simpson

These happy little fella's are donut king donuts. Are they that different from anything in America? No. But that's the point. When I close my eyes I think I'm eating a Dunkin Donut. A little round, fried sugary piece of home. Mmmmm.

Get Your Head Around It

Hello everyone! It's me, the blogger who doesn't blog! Ha ha. It's been so long since I've posted anything. To be honest, my head has been spinning a little bit. All in a good way though. It's just been such a big transition. To start off, we basically took over the creative arts department the day we got here. The first weekend we were at the church, we both were singing. The guy who was running it wasn't around because his wife was having a baby so we jumped straight in. Looking back it was a perfect way for things to go down. I didn't have time to be nervous or worry about it, we just had to jump straight in. 3 services a weekend, a music team of 50+ people and all that goes with it. I said all that to say this, I haven't even thought about my blog.

But that's not a good thing. I had a revelation this week (and when I say revelation I mean my wife talked to me about it). I've still gotta do things for me and that means blogging and talking to my friends. I've seen first hand what "ministry" can do to your marriage and relationships when you let things get out of whack. So, I will be blogging much more regularly. I'm even gonna put up some pics tomorrow.

SO MUCH has happened since we got here but I'll just stick with some personal stuff. We've got a home. It's a 3 bedroom townhouse in Merrimac (a Gold Coast Suburb). It's got a/c and a dishwasher which are not "standard" like they are in America. It's also only about 7-8 minutes from the church which is nice. The best thing is we can be at the beach in about 12 minutes. I LOVE the ocean and the beaches here are the most beautiful I've ever seen (including Maui). Its just so relaxing.

We also got a car! A '93 Ford Laser with 220k. Ha ha. It's nice though. It's got a/c, great gas mileage and we only paid $2k for it. It's really cool to have a car and not debt. I've never had that before so it's exciting.

I miss you all and I miss chipotle. God how I miss chipotle. Ha ha. All is well though and I can't wait to put some pics up and tell you the story that way. Talk again soon.

My Guitar Has Arrived

Thank God. My guitar is safe at last.

Liv and I waited on hold with the airlines customer service number for 45 minutes yesterday only to be told they didn't have it and they didn't know where it was. When we said, "so it's lost" they corrected us and said it was just "misplaced." We didn't really get into what the difference was between the two with them but it was upsetting.

So then Phil came over and said we should all pray and agree that the guitar would be returned to us. I had a big "why didn't I think of that moment" and we all prayed together. It really eased my mind and I just felt like it would all be OK then. Well only about 45 minutes went by and then the airline called and said they had it and they would be delivering it between 7-10 last night.

Ten o'clock came and still no guitar. I didn't freak out though cause at least it was no longer "misplaced." About 1:30 in the morning last night the knocked on the door and Caleb heard them. He walked it right up and put it in the room with me and Liv. We were tired so we didn't hear him. I woke up this morning and went to swing my legs out of the bed and I ran into the box with my guitar in it. It was like a Santa moment when you were a kid. I'm just glad that I don't have to be distracted by this drama anymore and I can just play my guitar.

We Made It, But Not Taylor

We made it. I am sitting here in my in-laws house in Sydney writ ting this. It is such a long journey here but I am so excited. I feel like anything is possible right now. I guess it's just the feeling you get when you know you are obeying God.

The flight here was uneventful but I must say, Qantas is a very nice airline. Laugh at me if you must all you Australia detractors, but 60 on demand movies, 50 on demand albums and 25 channels of tv, plus better food, service and accommodation make it way better than United.

Except for one little thing. They lost my guitar. As it stands right now my Taylor is somewhere else in the world. I am not freaking out though. Everyone on our flight that had any baggage with "special handling" instructions lost their bag. So it's not just me, there's about fifty of us. Liv talked to the airline today and they said they think they have it and it should be here tomorrow. We will see.

Jet lag was pretty bad last night but I feel refreshed this morning. It will take a week or so before I feel completely normal but that's alright. It's all part of traveling 8,000 miles to a completely different day and time.

If I could describe my life in one word right now it would be anticipation. There are so many new things to discover and experience and I have just begun.

We Be Thuggin', They Be Movin'

Last Beer At The Cherry Cricket