Oh my! Has it been that long?

It's been way too long since I've blogged. I guess I've been waiting for something really cool to happen to me, but the waiting game can get a bit boring. One thing I've been waiting for is to find out the possibility of moving back to Oklahoma, but we believe that its not going to happen now. It was all relying on the hope of joining up with Acappella since they are now teaming with Oklahoma Christian University. (read article here: http://blogs.oc.edu/ocnews/popular_christian_vocal_group_acappella_relocating_to_oc/)
There was the possibility of this happening since 2 of the member were pushing to have me in the group. One member wasn't sure if he was going to make the move to Oklahoma from Nashville, TN but now has made the decision. I really got my hopes up and who knows what God could do since He often likes to do things last minute or just in His own fun timing. I guess I just continue to pray for God's will to be done.
Another thing I'm excited about though is the possibility of a new group forming here in Oregon. Jason Overstreet (Founder, producer, arranger, studio engineer, and I guess you could say, brains behind the group RESCUE) asked me to manage and help run a new group. We will be more worship oriented to where we can lead churches and other worship needs plus concert material. This is quite exciting to me to combine multiple passions with music and ministry in this style and to do it with a high caliber of talent and music quality. With the right hearts and voices I believe God can do some amazing things with this group. A couple of members have been chosen already and most likely we will have 6 members. I'm not one to wait on these kind of things so I'm making a push to get the right members together and to start recording as soon as possible. I plan on keeping everyone well informed on the future and what's happening with this ministry. If you could, just say a prayer for what God's plans are with the group and its future members. Whatever God's plans are, I'm getting quite excited!
Thank you Lord for always providing. Please sent the right tools for this group and provide us all with great work ethic and a passion to serve you in all we do. I love you Lord!

7 Years

Today Serena and I have been married for 7 years! What a blessing my wife is in so many ways. She gives of herself constantly and is beautiful in every aspect. Thank you Serena for all your love and dedication to making this marriage an awesome thing. You are my best friend and my God sent!

P90X

So yesterday I decided to really kick my health into gear and start my P90X program. I've owned the program for quite a long time, but have never truly committed myself to the long-run. I'll do many parts of the program but don't stick to all 6 days a week. Another thing I fail at the most is my eating. I might be running miles everyday, but eat whatever I want. P90X is an incredible workout. 6 days each week with each day being a different workout for close to 1 1/2 hours each day. I'm excited to see my progress through it all and hope that this discipline runs in all aspects of my life. Spiritually I hope to be committed to solid Bible reading and finding more God time. My reading has been somewhat consistent but not where it should be. I need more discipline in all aspects of life.

What is my story?

This last weekend is a weekend I'll never forget. My buddy Jay invited me to join him on the worship team where he is the worship pastor for Sunset Presbyterian. Only it was for the men's retreat out at an amazing camp in the middle-of-nowhere central Oregon. http://sites.younglife.org/camps/washingtonfamilyranch/default.aspx

Our speaker for the weekend was Don Miller who happens to be a well known author and a gifted speaker. http://www.donaldmillerwords.com/index.php Don brought the idea of our life being a story and how like many great stories, there is always conflict and some great way to overcome that conflict. He told us about how there is a particular formula to every great story or movie. A character or group of characters have one or many obstacles that they have to overcome in order to reach a high goal or gain victory over the conflict or obstacles. (in a nutshell) Our life is a story and we can count on conflict and pain. James 1:2 (New International Version) 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,. We need conflict and obstacles in order to fulfill a great story. Our character is pretty boring when we just float along and nothing happens to us. Often we need to take that crazy idea God put in our head and do it. Perhaps it's giving up your favorite TV time to volunteer at the Rescue Mission or selling all you have to give to the poor, or starting a new foundation to help troubled kids, or... the list can be so big and God's ideas can sound so weird to us because we think that what he's asking us is a week point in our lives. Moses was asked some crazy things that he thought he'd never do, but God surrounded him with the right voice and the right situations to free a nation. What an awesome story! I feel so challenged to find my story. Sometimes it's just something "small" in the public eye, but it can play a big part in many others' stories. I hope that many of my pages and scenes are filled with a father and husband that loves his family with all he has and shows them to love others with all they have. I want to have many scenes of service and sacrifice to others.

The worship all weekend was rockin' with loads of talent and the small group sessions we had gave me a special connection to a great group of guys. It all blessed me beyond any expectation. The picture of Jay and I is at the top of a hill where I got an amazing workout and experienced something special with my heavenly Father. The first day was by myself and the second I pushed Jay to join me. He did great despite his messed up knee and kept me distracted from any of my pain.

Thank you Lord for your life lessons and for a needed chapter to my story.

Feelin' Funky

Not sure what to think of life right now. It's been so tough with very little work and not much direction as far as where God is taking me. I want so bad to be doing music ministry and I'm hoping the Lord will do something wild with our family. I wonder if this stagnant life is due to my lack of faith and practice of His will? I've been pushing myself lately to be more in tune with what God would want me to do and like usual, I fall short. Time for some kneeling before His throne. I want so badly for my family to be blessed by our creator and for there to be so much peace within us all. This Sunday we are starting a Financial Peace group from our church. I look forward to the way God can us this tool in our life. We may not be making any money right now, but at least we can try to manage and do God's will with what we have.
I've been blessed to lead a men's Bible study the last week and again this Thursday. It's a bit early for my taste, (6am) but it's a blessing to be with these guys and to learn from each other. Last week I talked about Jesus' love and how He set an example for us. This week I've decided to teach where it hurts. Lust is what we will talk about and this is my biggest struggle. I lust after the wrong things and I know it is hurting my relationship with my heavenly father. My eyes wander to where they shouldn't and my mind goes where it's not healthy. Whether it's possessions or the opposite sex, I'm not living the way God wants me too. I know I'm being a bit open for this blog, but I can't be fake. I've got issues and I have a feeling I'm not the only one in the group who struggles with those things. My prayer life is getting healthier and I guess like a jeweler does with the gold, I am being refined by some fire.
Thank you Lord for all you do. I pray that my time in the pit is preparing me for what you have in mind. I pray that you do awesome and amazing things with my family and that I can be the best father/husband you created me to be. Help me to serve others so I can show Your Love. I am your servant so please speak to me.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

My 25 Random Things

This is something I got tagged with on Facebook so I thought I would post it on here too.

Rules: Once you have been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged, you have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, that means I want to know more about you.

To do this, go to the "notes" tab on your homepage. Paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, and then tag 25 people(in the right hand corner of this app). Then click "publish".

1. My doctor who helped deliver me was Dr. Miracle.
2. Before I had fully come out of the birth canal, I was looking around the room. The doctor said that it was the first time he'd ever seen that. (Try not to be grossed out)
3. I have many allergies to different foods, and the one that hurt the most growing up was dairy. I love cheese and ice cream, but they gave me ear-infections and stomach problems. (these things have diminished greatly)
4. In a middle school basketball game, a team-mate of mine pulled my shorts down when I got up off the bench to go into a game. Thanks Jeremiah.
5. Many times growing up I would tell my parents that I wished I was black. (I wanted to be better at basketball and to be able to sing better.)
6. In a spring-league basketball game I received 3 fouls close in the first minutes of the game, so I was benched until the middle of the second half. When put in the game I thought I was given an easy lay-up. They're always easy when you shoot at the wrong basket.
7. I've always had dreams of being in a successful boy-band. Not the front man but more of the Lance Bass without becoming the gay guy.
8. I want to adopt 4 black boys so Tyson and his brothers can be that successful boy-band.
9. I get nervous very easily. I would throw-up from this often when I was younger.
10. I struggled with depression when I was in high school.
11. I'm a neat freak and often when sitting in a particular area for awhile I'll wipe dust off things with my hand. (mostly in a car)
12. I love to cuddle. I wish my kids would still just fall asleep in my arms.
13. My first concert was Acappella. (big shock)
14. My first car was a 1992 Toyota Camry.
15. I received a ticket in Kelso, Washington and was banned from driving in the state of Washington for 3 1/2 years. Not so bad, but my girlfriend lived in northern Washington. I was doing 110 mph. Original ticket was $955 then reduced to $700 in court. (still hurts to think about it) That Camry some go to it.
16. I often can eat the same thing over and over. Mostly when I'm on a health kick. I'll eat the same thing everyday except on the weekends when I cheat.
17. When I was a junior in high school I got mono and lost 25 lbs in a couple of weeks. It was the best diet ever? The only time I ever felt comfortable taking my shirt off.
18. I've found myself planning what I would do with a billion dollars often. The school, churches, friends I would help and how our house would look.
19. I never thought I would marry someone as beautiful as Serena. I often look at her and say WOW! I'm way to lucky of guy that married someone who has sight problems.
20. I'm obsessed with food and it drives me nuts how much I crave certain things. Bad sweet-tooth. Bad, bad!
21. I've sung with 9 different a' cappella groups. (and members changed within those groups)
22. I've also played out the scenario of what I would do if I had 3 wishes with a genie.
23. I have a pet peeve of things not being in order (ex: chairs not put back at restaurants) and so this randomness is difficult in some way. Noticed I started with birth, but then realized that it's not going to work.
24. One of the worst things I've ever seen is when my best friend Zach had a bike accident and he was having a seizure. I thought he had bitten part of his tongue off. It all just looked really bad.
25. My claim to fame is that I "dated" Miss America. (but I married the perfect Canadian)

Confused and Stressed

Right now I am a loss of what to do. My 2 classes this semester have been polar opposites. First there is my Hermeneutics class that has to be my most favoritest class ever and then my Theories in Psychology and Counseling that would be the worstest class in the history of worst classes. The content in the Psyc. and Counseling is good and works, but the professor has been horrible. English is not her first language and she would write the tests so poorly that I didn't have clue what she was talking about. On top of that, I'm stuck with misunderstanding a message online which now results in me not being able to pass the class. (I thought a class was canceled and it wasn't. This was a presentation day for projects and she will give no leeway.) Because my test scores were so poor, this takes my C to an F. Now this takes me to my next problem. How will I pay for these classes? I'm under a private scholarship that requires me to have a 2.5 GPA and now it's not going to happen. I'm so scared! We don't have enough money to pay our monthly bills and now toss on a few grand. Back to the positive.....my Hermeneutics class has been so wonderful. The professor is brilliant and explains everything so well. I've never looked forward to sitting in a classroom so much. The class has only consisted of learning each style of hermeneutic and reflecting on books and the Bible in 6 short papers. I've never felt like I've learned so much before in a class. Please pray for miracles to happen.

Blessed

Lately things have been so tight financially. Both Serena and I have been out of work, but most recently a friend came to our rescue and provided me with painting and other odds and ends. When things are so tough I feel like God gives me a friendly reminder of who is in control. Serena and I always talk about wanting to have our own place and to afford the simple things, but at least God has blessed us with a safe place to live and with a loving family. We are so lucky to have my parents who love us and will make sure we are taken care of. Thank you Lord for providing us with all we need and for the things that we just want. You are our provider and in control.

80's Fun

I know this is a scary thing to see, but it was such a fun night.

MISTAKEN

Recently I started a new a'cappella group with some friends. It's exciting to be a part of a ministry that is talented, dedicated and striving for more. It consists of Adam Wolfgang, Jeff Hicks, Nick Rucker, Shawn Hanowell, and myself. Our first gig is at the church were Jeff and his dad works in Lynnwood, WA. Christ's Heritage church is having there grand opening on Oct. 19 and we will be doing a concert in the afternoon. Like all groups we struggled with finding a name, but ended up with Mistaken. It comes from a Warren Barfield song. Here is the chorus from the song.

Till everyone I talk to hears His voice
And everything I touch feels the warmth of His hand
Till everyone I meet
Sees Jesus in me
This is all I wanna be
I wanna be mistaken
For Jesus

What's up with me?

So my blog is obviously lacking in posts. I'm not sure where time has gone. I've been busy working for my dad. We've been building a house in Oregon City and are just a couple weeks away from finishing. Right now I am posting from the grand land of Gravelbourg, SK, Canada. I helped my father in law move hay to they're new farm. (That's always a decent chore.) After hauling 300 bales we tied down a tarp over the 1000 bales. They are getting a manufactured house moved in on their full basement they built out there. My father in law is a pulpit minister who can't get away from the farming life. He is now adding sheep to his list. One of the most exciting projects for me right now is the recording studio I've been building in my parents basement. I plan on recording groups I sing with and also recording others for some side income. It will be nice to have projects while school is going. The more I record, the more I get a bug for it. It can be addicting. I'll try to post pics or even a video tour of the tiny studio.

Alive in Oregon

Morning time on Grandma and Grandpa's couch.


Working on being a goat farmer like his mommy was.

You would think that Tyson was born on a farm.

Tyson's first time fishing.

Tyson doing some work on the tractor.

Great Trip

Here are some pics of the scenery in Branson. Very hilly country. It made me feel at home. Like my parents special driveway.




Here are pics from the show Tim is in. Great music and some hilarious comedy.




Now some shots of Tim and Angie's cute kids. Evan does remind me of Tim except with adorable curls. We went to a place called Silver Dollar City where Emma got her little umbrella decorated with her name.




And of course a couple of ours chillin in the car.

Branson?

So tomorrow we leave for Branson, MO to see our friends the Storms'. I'm excited to see Tim in his show and to meet his little boy. I know he's going to be a spitting image of his dad. I'll try my best to post pictures and have an update at least when we get back. This trip has been long overdue. I've been telling Tim that I've wanted to come see him for the last 2 years since he's only 4 1/2 hours away. I'm also excited to hear Tim sing down to 2 hertz. That's right, Tim is singing 2 octaves lower than his previous record. So now he is 4 octaves of the piano.

Finals and Moving

So I miscalculated my weeks left in school. (bad informer) Today is my last day in class and I only have one final next week. It's my piano final and then I have a big paper due Thursday. It's amazing that this school year has come to an end. The other note is, we are moving back to Oregon! We will pack up the truck on May 20th and leave either that day or the next. Serena and the kids will fly up while I drive the truck and tow the car. I'm hoping a couple of friends will be coming up with me to make the trip fun. It will be their first time to the west coast and for one of them to fly. (flying back to OKC) It's so exciting to think of being back in the green and mountains while at the same time sad to leave the life we've made here. Lots of great people here in OKC and a great school. Pray for our move and a place to live when we get there. We're looking for a 3 bedroom house to rent or maybe even to buy.

The Home Stretch

So spring break is over and now we only have 3 weeks of school then finals. Wow, where did time go. I must be getting old. Later this week I'm heading to Tulsa, OK to join the International Soul Winning Workshop and have a chance to hang with good friends.

Beginning of Spring Break

Well... we are in in Oregon and are having a great time with our family and friends. Tyson and his cousin Braden are sleeping in the same room.....That's not going to well. It's been a battle everytime they're supposed to sleep. So we need to figure out another place for Tyson to sleep. Friday night I had the pleasure of seeing a friend from Rescue sing in downtown Portland. His band is called Phonochrome and they are quite good. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=242255526
They should be signed soon and playing all over the country. Today after church with my folks, we did lunch at Buster's Barbecue with the Sippel's. It's good to hang with Joel and his wife Sarah. Their little boy Trevor just turned 2 and is a great combo of his parents. (cute kid) I'm looking forward to the rest of this week. More great friends to visit and just more memories to make with the fam. Oh, by the way. I played the Wii for the first time. My brother-in-law has one and it's good fun.

Weather and Excitement

Today is a 80 degree day and it feels wonderful. Yesterday was about 70 and tomorrow will be in the 70's also. We leave for Portland on Friday and the 10 day weather is supposed to be in the 50's and rain everyday. I'm so excited to be back in Oregon to see the green, the mountains, my family and friends, but will miss some warmth. At least it won't jump from 70 down to 30 in a matter of hours. (This has been the pattern here in OKC for the last few weeks.) Praise God for quick means of travel and the funds to make it happen.

OC Goes Apple

This announcement was show in chapel yesterday. All staff, faculty, and incoming freshmen get a MacBook and IPhone. If you don't have AT&T then you can just go with the IPod touch. All other classes can do a buy-in for a great deal according to your graduation date. I believe all colleges and universities should chime in on this fine deal. (I love Macs) That's our university president in the video.

A Few Cute Pics

These pics were taken by Judson Copeland.