Mimicking Others

I got this in my inbox today from “Splink“.  You have to watch this video.  Great message!

The lyre bird of Central Australia can mimic other birds (or even humans).  Watch an amazing video to see the many ways he can mimic others, even a chainsaw and a car alarm. One of the ways you can be a hypocrite is to “mimic” others. Instead of being or doing what you know is right, you act like others. 
  
How can mimicking others lead you to do wrong things? (You join in their wrong behaviors, like using bad words, drinking, stealing, cheating, etc.)
What can you do when you are tempted to imitate others in wrong behaviors? (Ask God for help, talk to parents, leave, say, “No, thanks”)

Sometimes I try to be like Lenny Kravitz…  I’m just saying… 

Joshua Radin

Joshua Radin

I found this guy Joshua Radin through the Starbucks free song Tuesday deal.  I really like him.  They say he’s this generations Simon and Garfunkel.  I’m not sure how one guy can be two guys, but the backing vocals are definitely reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel.  And since they (Simon and Garfunkel) were instrumental in my salvation and involvement in worship ministry you can imagine why I like Joshua.

It doesn’t hurt that he likes to play what looks like a vintage Gibson LG1…  a man after my own heart! 

Check him out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19IVl7kbNFY

And I don’t hold the fact that he’s a favorite of Ellen, the shows Scrubs and Grey’s Anatomy against him…  his music is better than that!  

Worship Recap – Old New Songs

Setlist:
I am free (Desperation)
Glorious One (Fee)
-welcome-
Hear us from heaven (Desperation)
-message-
Healer (Planet Shakers)
-offering-
Healer
-dismissal-
I am free (Desperation)

Band:
Me – vox/egtr
Tammy Cook – vox
Tim Cook – agtr
Brad Cook – drums
Dan Allen – bass
David Bishop

Tech:
Bradley – audio/lighting
Peter – audio
Andi – video
Perris – video

Highlight:
I think the highlight of this week was that we had a fairly new band and that they’re all family! Not only that, but they’re all fairly experienced musicians… a triple threat!

Challenge:
The biggest challenge this week seemed to be sound. I learned a couple of things from it. Never put a hard of hearing bass player in the front left part of our stage. His monitor was cranked so loud that it caused some serious issues for our sound guy. I also learned that it is important to hear your amp on stage (duh). I sometimes trust my sound guys so much that I play without a monitor which means I have trouble hearing my amp. When you’re leading worship, controlling the click, playing without a monitor, you sometimes might play a whole song or two with thick delay & tremolo on at the same time… Not good! Lastly I learned that no matter how many times you’ve done a song, it’s possible for it to still be new to a new band! I wonder how Bono would feel if he was asked to play with Jaggar’s band?

What did u learn today?

Favorite Music

Okay, so my sister blessed with the most perfect gift for my birthday this year.  She got me a $25 iTunes gift card.  I love these kinds of gifts, but I’m always at a loss for what to spend it on.  And now that I have an iPhone the decision is even more complicated.  So I need your help…

What should I purchase with this card?  Here are a couple of options, but feel free to come up with your own.

1. The newest, coolest app for my iPhone
2. The newest, coolest game for my iPhone
3. The newest, coolest tunes for my computer/iPhone
4. The not so new and cool tunes/apps for my computer/iPhone

Please elaborate on your choice.  In other words don’t just put “app” or “tunes”…  let me know which ones. 

I can’t wait to see the suggestions!

Easter Recap

setlist:
Oh Happy Day (sister act version) – Oh yes we did!
Happy Day (Tim Hughes)
All Because Of Jesus (Fee)
-welcome-
Viva La Vida (Coldplay) – I know you’re jealous!
-message-
-cardboard testimonies-
How Great (Tomlin) – Chorus only.
-message 2-
King Of Glory (Third Day)
-offering-
Mighty To Save (United)

band:
me – vox/agtr
Dave – keys/vox
Kevin – egtr
Daniel – egtr
Dan – bass/vox
Brandon – drums
Lynette – vox

choir:
too many to name (about 15 total)

tech:
audio – Andy
audio 2 – AJ
video – Andi
lights – Bradley

highlight: Wow… where to start?  Attendance was all time high, the Chorus Chorus (choir) rocked it, testimonies brought buckets, my wife and I got to do ministry together…  yeah, that’s it.  I think the highlight of the weekend was the fact that Staci and I got to serve together in our gifts.  She helped orchestrate the cardboard testimonials and sang in the choir while I directed the band and lead worship.  There was one point where we were talking on stage and it hit me…  I was like, “wow, we’re really working as a team here!”  It almost brings me to tears even to think about it.  There’s nothing better than when you get to function in your gifting along side your soul mate.  Not that taking care of the boys isn’t…  well, you get my point! 

challenge: Hmmm…  There are always challenges in life and when you add ministry to the picture those challenges get magnified and multiplied.  But I have to say that the biggest challenge this week was holding it together during the testimonies.  I had the priveledge of playing my guitar onstage while people stood in front of me holding up their signs…  Meth Addict/10 years sober, Family falling apart/God restored & saved, Diagnosed with Cancer/Fully Healed by God, etc…  I say priveledge because I was able to see the reaction of the congregation.  I say challenge because it’s hard to hold it together (let alone sing) while everyone in the Church is sobing.

What an amazing weekend!

How was your weekend?

Worship Recap – Acoustic Set

setlist:
Everlasting God (Brown)
Holy is the Lord (Tomlin)
-welcome-
Glorious One (Fee)
-message-
Rescue (Anderson)

band:
agtr/vox – me
vox – Tammy Cook
agtr – Tim Cook
bass – Sal Hamby
cajon/tamborine/vox – Herb LaMadrid

tech:
video – Andi
audio – Charlie
lights – Bradley

highlight: I think the highlight of this week was the simple fact that we got to do an acoustic set.  If I had to pick one song that stood out it would have to be “Rescue”.  We started it with just me and my guitar on stage.  It was as if I were in my room at home playing for the Lord and noone else.  That is my passion!  I could do that all day long and the fact that I could bring that to the Church was incredible.  After the first chorus the rest of the band came on stage and jumped in.  Such fun!

challenge: The challenge with an acoustic set is always the arrangement.  There’s not a whole lot to cover mistakes and/or add dynamics so contrary to popular belief, I think an acoustic set is more difficult and takes more planning than a full band. Luckily this week I had some very talented musicians who made the whole thing killer!

What’s your favorite set?

Friday Mind Dump….

It seems that Fridays (or Saturdays in this case) are a great day for a mind dump.  I kind of like to unload before I go into a worshipful weekend.  So here goes…

Simplify Youth Worship Night Rocked!
We need to do more worship nights
California Adventure with the family was fun
I miss San Diego
Surfing is therapeutic
Planned vacations are better than quasi, off the cuff vacations
I love my family!
I miss San Diego
Easter Break is not a good time for vacations (at least for me)
Easter is coming
Easter Choir is coming
More effective meetings
More intimate relationships
Jesus’ yoke is light & easy (& all about relationships)
New Youth Service is coming
Church Planter’s Forum is coming
Church Planting is cool!
My Album is coming (soon I hope)
I miss San Diego
I need to surf more… in San Diego! 
I really hate to move on from the previous post about Jessie…  so check this out!

What’s on your mind that needs to be dumped?