Jan

31

Animator vs. Animation

Post Category: Completely Crazy, Videos 

This is an incredible piece of flash animation. If you’ve done any timeline animation or

Here’s what the artist had to say:

“An animator faces his own animation in deadly combat. The battlefield? The Flash interface itself. A stick figure is created by an animator with the intent to torture. The stick figure drawn by the animator will be using everything he can find - the brush tool, the eraser tool - to get back at his tormentor. It’s resourcefulness versus power. Who will win? You can find out yourself. This took three long months. I think it’s worth it. ”
Animator vs. Animation by *alanbecker on deviantART

Jan

31

I have a frickin long way to go

Post Category: Authenticity 

badmouth

I was in a conversation the other day about our upcoming church plant.

My emotions were running high and I was feeling frustrated that I wasn’t getting my point across. At one point in the conversation I said,

“Come on! We’re planting frickin church here!”

Planting a frickin church? Did I just say that in reference to a church plant?

I realize more and more each day that I’m not there yet.

It appears that God is still working on my frickin mouth.

Jan

30

Music I’m Loving Right Now

Post Category: Culture, Music Reviews 

Here’s what’s in my iTunes playlist this week:

  • “Once” Movie Soundtrack - This one has some really beautiful music! I think this one has snuck it’s way into my top 5 favorite movie soundtracks.
  • Perfect Timing by Orba Squara - Yes, this is the song from the iPhone commercial. Can I help it if Apple picks great music?
  • Levater by Yael Naïm - This Paris-born, Israeli-raised singer has some beautiful songs on this album, most of them sung in Hebrew. Yiddish ballads never sounded so good.
  • Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is by JET - This song is fun for rocking out and having fun. It’s also a great workout song…too bad I don’t work out.
  • Transformers Theme by MuteMath - I blogged about this song last week…great version of the theme from the original 80s cartoon on the Soundtrack to last year’s blockbuster hit by a favorite band of mine.
  • Restore Unto Me by Spur 58 - I found this band first through Steven Bush’s blog who happens to be one of the band members (his blog is also worth checking out by the way). This song resonates with me. It borrows it’s lyrics from the prayer David prayed in Psalm 51.
  • “Fall” and “Winter“ EPs by Jon Foreman - awesome solo projects by the frontman for Switchfoot. Beautifully sung and exquisitely crafted lyrics make these two EPs that are worth spending $5 on.
  • “Juno” Soundtrack - Another great soundtrack that’s worth picking up. Fun and lighthearted listening.
  • “Fresh Pair of Eyes” by Brooke Waggoner - A great EP from a new artist that’s worth checking out. Did I mention that it’s also a free download?

What are you listening to?

Jan

30

The Most Important Thing

Post Category: Authenticity, Church Planting, Family 

I was thinking yesterday about all the things I need to do. I have months of work ahead of me getting ready to plant a church. There’s pages of paperwork I need to fill out for our incorporation and non-profit status. I have tens of thousands of dollars I need to raise and a team of dedicated volunteers to build.

But do you know what the most important thing I should be doing right now? I’ll give you a hint. It has to do with this picture right here.

Dad, Chloe & Emily

The most important thing in the world for me isn’t the church, my job (or lack thereof), or whomever I try to impress on this blog. When I stand before God his first question isn’t going to be how good of a job did I do Pastoring a church. My first responsibility before God is how good of a job did I do being a loving husband and father. To borrow a quote from Craig Groeschel,

“Love your wife more than you love the church. The church is Jesus’ bride, not yours.” (from 40 Lessons from a 40-year-old Pastor)

Another one of my mentors has told this,

Spend time with your wife and kids. If you lose a church you can always start another one but you can never replace your family.

Do I have a lot to do? Absolutely. But I’d like to think that the most important thing I did yesterday was chasing my girls around the house and giving my wife a hug.

Jan

29

Song stuck in my head

Post Category: Completely Crazy, Videos 

Thanks to XM Radio I get to listen to some pretty fun music on the XMKids channel when I drive Emily to school. This song has been stuck in my head all day so I thought I’d share the Scatman love.

(click here if you can’t see the video)

Jan

29

God Of This City

Post Category: Music Reviews 

I’m looking forward to this CD coming out February 5.

Pretty cool cover artwork too, isn’t it?

Jan

29

Here Be Dragons!

Post Category: Blog Posts, Makes You Think 

Here Be Dragons
In the 1400s, early cartographers (map-makers) began mapping out large portions of the known world. Before Christopher Columbus began his explorations the common knowledge was that the world was flat and that the far, unknown reaches of the ocean were filled with terrible and dangerous monsters. Mapmakers of the day would fill large expanses of the unknown oceans on their maps with dire warnings such as “Sea Monsters Be Here!” or “Here Be Dragons!” Instead of discovering the unknown they imagined it filled with their worst fears.

Stories are told of early Christian explorers who looked at those maps and crossed out the drawings of sea monsters and wrote instead “God Dwells Here.” They were convinced that the unknown wasn’t something to fear if God was on your side.

How many times do we fear the unknown and fill it with terrible monsters of our own imagination? The truth is that God dwells in the areas we fear the most. He has promised that there is nothing outside of his control and nowhere that we can go where he won’t be present.

I don’t know about you but I need to reminded of that sometimes!

“Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute - you’re already there waiting!” (Psalm 139:7-10)

Jan

28

Karate kicks with Chloe

Post Category: Family 

Chloe & I have some pretty mad karate skills, don’t you think? Karate with Chloe

Jan

28

Brooke Waggoner - Free EP Download

Post Category: Blog Posts, Culture, Music Reviews 

I recently had the chance to download this free EP from Brooke Waggoner and have really enjoyed listening to it. While not a decidedly new sound you can’t beat the album for the cost (did I mention it was free?).

Other artists, like Derek Webb (who released his Mockinbird album for free through his web site), have introduced thousands of new listeners to their music in the same fashion.

I personally think this is a great new trend that I would love to see more of in the music industry. If I find a new artist through the means of a free EP or MP3 download and like their music I’m much more inclined to purchase additional music legally. With so many new artists coming on the scene every day sometimes the only way I’ll give someone a chance is if I have the opportunity to download some of their tracks for free.

In the instance of Brooke Waggoner, I was glad I took the time to listen to and become a fan of this talented newcomer. Now that she’s in my iTunes library I’ll be far more likely to purchase her next album when it comes out.

Have you found any free EPs or MP3 downloads for artists I should know about? If so, leave a comment and share them with everyone.

Visit Brooke Waggoner online at :
www.brookewaggonermusic.com

Jan

26

The Coolest iPhone app ever!!

Post Category: Apple, Completely Crazy, Videos 

This blew me away!! PocketGuitar for the iPhone. How cool is this?

(click here if you can’t see the video)

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