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)