Writing Philosophy

Listen to

“If you are writing a memoir and you’re talking about your relationship with your mother, the reader doesn’t care about your relationship with your mother. The reader cares about their relationship with their mother.

So it’s important that if you are writing from something in your own mind, you feel like people will connect with it, that it’s important, the voice is open-ended enough that people will be able to apply their own experience to it.”

-Colin Meloy, The Decemberists

Posted in Family | Leave a comment

Worship at Sojourn

Come join us this week as I lead worship Sunday at 10AM at Sojourn Church…hope to see you there.

www.sojournchurch.org

Posted in Praise and Worship | Leave a comment

Sunday Worship at Sojourn

This Sunday, September 26th, I am leading worship at Sojourn Church in Carrollton. We have a 10 am service and, this week, a 6 pm service. The evening service is our monthly Seeking Him time where we will have extended worship. We have a blast so I would love to have you join us.

One of my favorite recent songs is a new song by Brian and Jenn Johnson of Redding, CA. The song is called “You Are Good” and it’s a simple, fun but powerful song. They first introduced the song at our Emerging Worship conference this summer and we have been doing it ever since. Expect to hear it this Sunday as well.

See you Sunday.

Posted in Family | Leave a comment

Keytar Venn

Posted in Family | Leave a comment

Learning…

We are working on a few new songs for worship in the upcoming weeks.

The first is Amazing God by Brenton Brown.

This is Anthony Evans’ version which Roland sent out as an example of how he will do the song. I found a version by Brenton Brown (who plays guitar as his lead instrument) and liked his version as well. The song starts at 1:20 but his story to set it up is touching and worth watching.

I will most likely do a combination of the two songs. Namely, the two have different tempos but since I plan to put the song early in the set, I will tend to lean toward 148 bpm or so.

The next song is Jesus Saves by Tim Hughes.

I like the feel and message of the song but I am kind of struggling with the fact that the chorus does not seem to be defined…maybe that’s cool. But my mind, especially in regards to how I will lead a band through this song, needs to clearly define the different sections of the song.

I really like how Hughes, toward the end of the song, lets the worshippers sing the “chorus” out in chant-type fashion…hearing worshippers worship is cool.

I love doing new stuff and look forward to adding these to the song lists in weeks to come.

Posted in Praise and Worship | 1 Comment

Rock and Worship Recap

We had a great time at the Rock and Worship Roadshow on Friday night.

From right, my friend Ryan Forsman, some kid in an orange shirt, Mae Morton, Wyatt, and Kara.

There were fully 15,000 people at AAC for the concert. If you have never been to a Christian concert where the name of Jesus is being lifted up by so many people in one place, you should. It is really cool to hear the sound of so many believers singing together…what it’s all about.

Posted in Family | Leave a comment

Upcoming Worship Schedule

There are several worship outings and events that are worth your time if you live in the Dallas area.

Friday, April 16 – 7 pm
Rock and Worship Concert at American Airlines Center – Dallas
I will be enjoying worship with David Crowder Band, Mercy Me, Fee and more for only $10. Let me know if you want to join me.
LINK

Sunday, April 18 – 9 am and 11 am
Worship Services at Sojourn Church – Carrollton, TX
I will be leading worship along with the Sojourn Band for our morning services. Join us!
LINK

Saturday, April 24 – 7 pm
God of the City worship and prayer night – Frisco, TX
This is a moving event with worship, prayer and Godly words for the Dallas Metroplex…let’s act on behalf of our cities.
LINK

Sunday, April 25 – 6 pm
Seeking Him Night of Worship at Sojourn Church – Carrollton, TX
Join Pastor Roland Worton and the Sojourn team (including me on acoustic guitar :) ) for a night of extended worship and prayer. We will be blowin’ out the worship this night…such a blast.
LINK

Hope to see you at one or all of these worship events, it will be well worth your time.

Posted in Family | 2 Comments

Easter Celebrations

Over the Easter weekend, we took a trip to Boerne, TX (just north west of San Antonio) to visit my Grandparents.

While there, the kids and Kara visited mission San Jose and the Alamo.

I spent Saturday playing in my first disc golf tournament of the year. The park was in Boerne and only five minutes from my grandparent’s house. I didn’t play well so look at the results if you must.

LINK

Sunday, the kids hunted eggs.

After celebrating the resurrection of our Lord at Boerne Church of Christ, we posed in our Sunday best in the field of Blue Bonnets behind my grandparent’s home. (Click the pictures for a larger view.)

We capped off the trip with a stop at the Underwoods to hunt some more eggs and eat some great grub. In all, a wonderful weekend.

Posted in Family | 1 Comment

Sunday’s Worship

This past Sunday was a sweet time of worship at the morning services and at the evening Seeking Him service.

We have been doing a new song called I Love Your Presence. With it, we sing a part that goes:

“If you want it, come and get it
He’s crying out loud
This love that He has given you was never in doubt
Let go of your heart, let go of your head
Recieve it now”

If it sounds vaguely familiar, it is because the lyrics originally belonged to David Grey on his Babylon song. I like the redeemed version quite a lot, there is some real power on the words when sung from the Christian perspective.

Posted in Family | Leave a comment

Worship at Sojourn

Come and join me as I lead worship with our worship team band this weekend at Sojourn Church in Carrollton. We have a 9 am, 11 am, and a 6 pm service that day.

www.sojournchurch.org

Posted in Praise and Worship | Leave a comment