Fall Break.

The best way I could possibly sum up my week so far is with this picture:





Having the week off of school, a few friends and I decided to drive to Washington. All of us for varying reasons. I have several reasons for being here. One of which being... I might move here after I'm done at North Central. I'd love to move out, soak up ridiculous coffee knowledge... work as a barista... and then move back to MN and open up a small coffee shop.

Is that weird? I feel like it is. Anyway...

The week has been filled with laughter and the company of good friends, new and old. Gotta love it. I need to start taking more pictures.

"Update"

It's been quite some time. Two months to be exact. A brief update (more in the next day or two, I promise).

I'm kicking it at North Central, yet again. I'm expected to graduate in 2012. Disgusting. However, I'm pretty gosh-darn excited about OA '09. I couldn't ask for better people, friends, and musicians to be together with for 18 months. I know my opinion will change around July; but for now... I'm just amazed at what I know God is going to do with us. I'm excited.

iPhone = awesome. I'm actually organized for once in my life.

As far as bass goes, I finally found a church that I'm getting plugged into. I'm playing sunday mornings, and will be helping out with youth stuff (I'm more excited about this than the music). I'll most likely be giving lessons too. Again, I'm excited.

Well, I'm off to Seattle right now. I'll take pictures and stuff.

The end... the beginning.

It's weird. I've been off the road for a week now. I miss it dearly. I miss playing music on a daily basis. I miss meeting awesome people: kids and leaders alike. I miss the passion. I miss the desperation and the passion in the worship services. I miss the feeling of being used day in and day out, until I don't have an ounce of energy... for God.




This is what I want to do with my life.
This is what I AM DOING with my life.

...sweet.

Here's to 2009, and what it might entail...

6/8.

So. 6 weeks in.

Missouri. Check.
Indiana. Double Check.
Ohio. Check.
North Dakota. Check.
Michigan. Check.

I'll be honest, this summer has been one of the hardest and most challenging things of my life. There have been times I wanted to quit the tour, music, bass, and so much more; but no. Through all of it, God has been there... rocking my world.

I met some of the coolest kids during the weeks that I dreaded. My North Dakota boys were the bomb. Security in Indiana was a blast. The people in Michigan... SO welcoming and full of love. Heck, I'm even getting a bit of a tan (I know, right?).

The most exciting: I know. I know my calling. I know my goals. I know my dreams. I know my passions. I know my GOD.

Word.

Summer 2008.

Well. Starting tomorrow, I'll be on the road for 8 weeks. North Central put together a second traveling worship team this year to lead at a handful of camps and churches throughout June and July. I'm stoked.

We'll be in Missouri, Indiana, North Dakota, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and possibly another state or two. Who knows? I should; but I don't know where my copy of the schedule went. Bummer. All I know is that God is going to rock these camps (and us as a team). I just know that lives are going to be changed in these next few months, and that excites me in ways I can't explain.

Tears. Joy. Deliverance. Callings. Salvation. Release. Healing. This is what's in store.

Does it get any better? I say no.


In other news, I saw Brooke Fraser play at the Varsity this week. She was great. The guy who opened for her, however, what PHENOMINAL! William Fitzsimmons is his name. I am now a die-hard fan. I had to go and buy both of his albums on iTunes as soon as I got home. So good. His story is amazing too. Look it up. Yes, his music is great; but his candor and witty humor is what won me over. Not to forget... the beard.

www.myspace.com/williamfitzsimmons
William Fitzsimmons' Wikipedia Page

I'll try my hand at uploading pictures, and updating stuff on the road.

Until our screens meet again...

P.S. MY BROTHER GOT MARRIED LAST NIGHT!!!!! Fewer things could excite me more. He married and awesome woman, and they like each other very much. He sent me pictures this morning, and I may or may not have cried. OK, I did. Awesome.

A$$

I finally bought the "new" Muse CD/DVD set: "Haarp." Amazing. Chris Woolstenhume is a beast. I love it. However...

I recently calculated how much money I have invested in stuff. Bass gear, clothes, DVDs, CDs... you know... "stuff." I wanted to puke. Seriously.

None of the bass stuff I have is really a necessity. I mean, yes, it is my primary source of income. Yes, it's something that I love. However... 3 basses, 2 rigs, and a pedalboard... I sat and said to myself: "Really? ...REALLY?!" Disgusting. I've invested over $12K into gear. Meanwhile, there are people that can't afford a meal this week.

Really.

This, after having an extensive talk with a friend of mine about how we, as Christians, suck. He's Jewish... he can say that. Also, because we (or at least I) do. Maybe it's just the capitalist culture that we live in... or perhaps it's the world as a whole; but we seem to have the impression that money makes everything better:

- People are dying in Africa... we send money.
- Orphans need food... we send money.
- We see a homeless guy... we give him money.

Why don't we do something useful? Why don't we take action (more than the stroke of a pen in a checkbook)? To utilize an overused quote, Gandhi said "Be the change you want to see in the world." I'm going to start trying; but it's easier said than done. So, note to self: "Get up off your ass and do something."

To utilize another quote:

"I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a shit. What's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.”
- Tony Campolo

Word.