I Gave It a Shot

Albums I listened to this week that I quickly deleted:

Mojave3 - Boooooooooring. I just don't like Brit Pop which will explain the rest of these too. I find BritPop's vocals are very monotonous and tiresome and the guitar effects are all the same.

Supergrass - Same complaint with the monotonous vocals and rhythms, almost put me to sleep.

Trembling Blue Stars - Is this the same band as Mojave3??? Well, it should be.

Clinic - Music is not bad but the dude's voice is terrible. Plus you have to question a band that dresses in scrubs for every show. I think they are taking the theme a little too far.

Bands I've listened to lately that I've enjoyed:

The Long Winters - Saw these guys open for The Decemberists and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Clem Snide - Creative, funny at times, song writing. Some nice twang once in a while. I really enjoy the smoothness of it.

Sleep Station - As close to boring BritPop that I'll get.

The Black Keys - As my friend Kurt says, "they're a 60's rip off band but they're good at it."

Corporate Rock Song I Can't Get Enough Of: Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Dreams
I can't get it out of my head. DARN THAT TRL!

Life Aquatic

I watched the Life Aquatic with Bill Murray yesterday and was pretty disappointed. It was long and pretty uneventful. Your typical "indie" movie where it is cool to have no plot but just many unconnected events that is supposed to get people to think deep. In other words, it was garbage. There were some funny parts but overall it wasn't worth seeing.

My friend Elvyss dared me to go to the front of the theatre beforehand and talk to everyone for 20 seconds. I went ahead and did it. I welcomed everyone to the theatre, told them what movie we were going to see and told them where they could get refreshments. It was quite an embarassing moment. You should have seen their faces! But I got 20 dollars for the humiliation so it was worth it.

Last night my knee started hurting really so i got up, took some Vikaten and continued to wake up in pain all night long. Today it is a little better but I've just been laying around. Tomorrow I get to go and get the sutures taken out. THANK GOD!!!!! Hopefully that will clear it up!

Friday Breakthrough

Today my knee took a bad turn so I've been literally sitting on my couch all day long watching Seinfeld, writing emails, literally sitting and staring at the ceiling at times. Because of that it's almost like I had a day long silent retreat. I've thought a lot today and realized that I'm really in a preparation stage right now in every aspect of my life. I'm preparing for a new church, preparing for a new marriage, preparing my knee to be strong again....and more stuff that you don't care about. Preparation is a tough position to be in. You don't get to see any fruits, you are just stepping out in faith believing that all of the things you are doing during this time will pay off. It's hard to believe that sometimes.

I can't wait until Spring! By spring my knee will be fully rehabilitated, we'll have a lot of wedding stuff done, we'll be meeting for church! So much will happen in the Spring! It's tough right now not seeing anything happen but just waiting. Waiting sucks! I read one of my favorite passages tonight and it encouraged me.

"Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run wiht perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it's shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Heb. 12:1-3

It's clear that during this waiting period that there needs to be a focus. This time is a great opportunity to prepare myself for what I have ahead in every aspect, spiritually, emotionally, physically. I don't want to look back on this time knowing that I wasted it and I am the same person that I was before. God help me.

3 Releases for 2005!!!!!

Just saw on Ryan Adams website that he has three albums being released this year, one of which is a double album! Oh my word! And he's touring all year! I can't wait to hear it. They come out in April. How much does this guy record????

The first album is called 29,
the second is Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cold Roses (double LP),
and the third is called Jacksonville.

Looks like he might return to some of his alt-country roots. That would be awesome. Still waiting for a Whiskeytown Reunion although that doesn't look like it's going to happen. I also found out tonight that Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst lives two blocks from me. Kurt saw him the other day walking around and it turns out he lives off of Tompkins Square Park two blocks south of me. I guess I'll see him around the hood. Weird. Ryan Adams lives over here somewhere too but I haven't seen him. He used to play at the bar I hang out at called The Lakeside Lounge a lot but hasn't for some time now that's he a big guy.

20-0

Somebody back off the Reverend!

Scary game for Illinois tonight. Didn't look like they were going to pull it out. They can really turn it on in the end. I think they have everything they need to win a championship. They might just run the board but it might be better to get a loss before tournament time. I hope Duke loses soon. Who cares about Boston College.

GO ILLINI!

Colin Meloy - The Decemberists

Tonight Kelli and I went to a small club called the Fez to see Colin Meloy (lead singer of the Decemberists) play. It was a tiny little bar. There were probably only 75 people there total due to the enormous snowstorm. It was an absolutely amazing concert. I am speechless with how good it was. He played a bunch of stuff off of Cutouts and Castaways, a few Morrissey covers and about three songs off of their first EP which I LOVE! When we were waiting in line to get in Colin walked by us and I didn't even notice until Kelli said, "hey is that him?" That's why I don't see anyone famous, because I don't pay attention. I'm stupid. But he was there, right by us. So I jumped on him and kissed him all over which was weird for even me.

Anyway, after they drug me off of him, he played a great, long set! Unfortunately before Colin Meloy was the girl from the band the Places which sucked big time. It was horrible. I can't imagine anyone in there really enjoying that show. The girl across from us wrote down Colin's set list probably to put on her blog. What a freaking nerd. I wouldn't even do that. Although he did play California One, I Dreamt I Was An Architect, Shiny, Apology Song, My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist and three songs that will be on the new album which comes out on March 22nd. Maybe I am just as much of a nerd. Darn.

To get to the concert we had to walk through about 2 feet of fresh snow on the ground. They are calling it Blizzard 2005. The news is always a little dramatic. On the way back from the concert I tackled Kelli about 5 times on the street. It was fun. I let her take me down once to make her feel better about being soaked with snow. And then we made out. By the way, the Decemberists are touring with Okkervil River this spring. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I can't wait to see it. Man I'm a nerd.

It was an excellent evening.

Colder than a mother.....................

Tonight Kelli and I walked to an Italian restaurant to have dinner with Brad and Noelle (we're doing counseling with them) and I cannot believe how cold it is outside. HOW DEPRESSING! I can't wait until Spring already. Afterwards we walked over to the Lakeside Lounge where The Damnwells were playing. It's a tiny little room so we were disappointed that they were done by the time we got there. At that point Kelli and I just went to a little Spanish Bar to have some Sangria and came home to watch Battle of the Sexes on MTV. Go BOYS!

You didn't ask but I'm going to tell you.
I'm reading.....The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Awesome)
I'm listening to......Clem Snide, The Long Winters (thanks to Adam), Green Day, Old 97's.
Concerts I'm going to see.......Colin Meloy(from the Decemberists), Clem Snide, The Honorary Title, and Lucero.

So is it spring yet? Is it? Well? Is it yet? What about now? Darn.

Surgery

I had knee surgery for the second time in two years this Friday. The dude that did my surgery is the surgeon for the New York Knicks and traveled with the Olympic team this year. He was rated one of the best knee surgeons in the country so that really made me feel good about it. The last surgeon just kind of gave me a temporary solution which I didn't know at the time.

Anyway, i've just been laying around and am starting to go stir crazy. Kelli is here taking care of me so we've played Scrabble, Upwords, and watched a lot of TV. We watched Collateral the other night. Kind of a disturbing film but enjoyable. I watched my first episode of Dawson's Creek and the Gilmore Girls. We've been trying to decide on our honeymoon location which we have. We're going to.....

St. Lucia. We really love the island because of the volcanos, mountains, rainforests, sulfur springs, botanical gardens, and great resorts. It's a beautiful island and has the best of everything as far as nature goes. Now we just have to decide on a resort.

College Student Stops Kissing Dating Good-Bye

RICHMOND — Neil Granger, 19, took author Joshua Harris' advice and stopped kissing dating good-bye after reading the book of the same title.

"It sounded good at the time," he said. "I liked the purity thing."
But six months later, he's burned out on chastity and says he's kissing dating hello again.

"Two words: bodacious babery," he says, referring to the attractive women at Overland University (formerly Overland Bible and Missionary College).

At Overland, as with most Christian colleges, female students outnumber male students by about 8 to 1. Granger says Harris' book was getting in the way of finding a "terrific little Christian tart" to hang on his arm on Friday nights.

"You cannot imagine how little action you get when you're not dating," he says. "Harris must have had superhuman will power." Granger says he is very much enjoying his new kissing career, and that his whole life has improved, except for his grades. He is also holding to certain dating standards. "I keep it above the neck, like my dad says," he says. "I'm an ear man. I play it like a violin and make them squirm."•

Oh man, that's hilarious. Thanks www.larknews.com I love you!

Clubs, Bars and Coffeehouses.

In Matthew Turner's book, "The Coffeehouse Gospel" he says "It's a Christ followers ultimate goal to reach out to those who do not know the loving-kindness of God. Yet in many ministry organizations, fraternities, and churches, they expect people to come to the safety of their environment to learn about Christ or hang out with those who do know Him. Unfortunately, we Christians have become experts at creating clean and safe surrounding for ourselves, but in the process, some of us have lost the true ideals of the Great Commission. "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." The Bible doesn't say, "Let all the sinners come to our little world of traditional religion so we can preach the hell out of them."

This is what part of my chapter was about in The Relevant Church (which by the way is #142727 on the sales chart). That's not good is it? Anyway, i feel very similarly about this issue of evangelicals trying to create an event where we feel safe and secure and try to get pre-believers out of their comfort zone when God has called us to be the ones to go and be out of our comfort zone. I've found myself in some pretty weird places and some very uncomfortable situations in the last three years but I've learned to realize that this is part of God's plan! He wants us to spend time with people! All kinds of people even if it does make us uncomfortable. It's so easy to get in the habit of being selfish (but I want to remain pure and untainted) rather than selfless (i'm not sure i'm comfortable here but this is a great opportunity to build relationships with people who need God's love).

Theology Pub and Church Names

I'm excited because Theology Pub will start this upcoming week. My boyz Kurt, Todd and Brad will be joining me in the beginning. I'm hoping we get some more people to hang out and talk theology over a couple of full pints of Guiness. Man, there is nothing more fun than that! Still trying to find the right bar to meet in. It's tough in the East Village because most bars are so noisy over here with bands playing and stuff. Plus we want there to be an array of beers on tap. I'm pretty picky. I'm hoping to do something specific that will be relevant right now. I'm thinking reading and talking about Mark Driscoll's book The Radical Reformission will do some good right now with the new church plant that will be taking place since these guys will be leaders.

Brian Moll and I met today at Starbucks (our office) and talked about names for the new church here in Stuyvesantown. Let me know if you have any suggestions for names because it's a toughy. So far there are a few we like but nothing jumps out at us so far. In a few days I will post a list of them and you can tell me what you like. Anyway, it's 2:30am and it's about bedtime I guess.

The Big Day 

St. Lucia
Our newest selection. This island is beautiful, complete with rainforest, waterfalls and hidden caves to explore plus plenty of snorkeling. I love this place!

Honeymoon Choices! Too many island to choose from.

Harbour Island - Bahamas
This island has pink sand and was rated number 1 island in the Caribbean by the Travel Channel. At high season there are about 50 people on this beach so it's pretty secluded. The last thing we want is a tourist trap with hundreds of people. That would suck.

Bora Bora
This would be our first choice except that it would cost us about 10,000 dollars total. The overwater bungalos are amazing. They have glass bottoms that light up at night so you can see what is swimming under you. This resort is located in a lagoon formed by coral reef so there is lots of sea life. Oh, maybe for our 5 year anniversary or 10 or maybe 25.

Bermuda
I just don't want to get sucked up by the triangle!

Mr. Nice Guy

I just read Doug Van Pelt's "Rock Stars On God" which was a set of very interesting interviews with several music artists that I enjoy. Alice Coopers interview was shocking as always. Here is what he wrote.

Doug asks, "Well, you have seemingly avoided the Christian celebrity, "Let's get him on the 700 Club mentality." And my question is: Where did you acquire the wisdom to make that astute decision?"

AC replies: "I have been surrounded by guys that are strong Christian guys. A youth pastor, my pastor, and all of them have protected me. They've all said, 'You know, it's great who you are. Be careful of celebrity Christianity.' because it's really easy to use somebody. It's really easy to focus on Alice Cooper and not on Christ. It's so embarrassing in the very beginning, when somebody would say, 'We want you to speak at our youth thing.' And you get there and it says, 'ALICE COOPER' in huge letters, 'speaking about Christ' in small letters. And I'm sitting there going. 'That is blasphemy’ That tells me something right there that something’s wrong. I'm a rock singer. I'm nothing more than that. I'm not a politician; I'm not a philosopher. What I really am is a follower of Christ. My job is rock n roll; my life is dedicated to following Christ. When I go to speak to people, they think I’m going to have some answers. I go, 'I don't have any answers. Please, give me some answers. I can give you what I think. I think that the most important thing that I know is dependence on Christ. That's all I know, is that I have absolutely no answers, and I have no power. I can entertain you, but when it comes to being subject to Christ, I consider myself low on the totem pole of knowledgeable Christians."

I didn't even know Alice Cooper was a Christian (where have I been?) or the fact that he's good friends and golfs with RC Sproule! He's never stops shocking people!