Cubs/Music Monday

As a child of the 80's, and the (then) new cable TV (prior to ESPN being a really big deal) I grew up in the summers watching WGN from Chicago and the Cubs baseball games. I can still remember listening to Harry Carry and the 7th inning stretch.... What does any of this have to do with music?

WELL - Pearl Jam - One of my favorite bands - announced last week that it will be playing Wrigley Field in Chicago this summer, July 19th to be exact. So in honor of the Cubs and PJ, it would make me Smile to go to this show!

Christmas Music Monday!

Last night some of the Jr. High girls were having a blast singing "The 12 Days of Christmas" ... oh the joys of Christmas tunes....

But I tend to be a little more indie/emo than the traditional songs...here is one band's take one this traditional classic...Taking Back Sunday's version of "12 Day of Christmas" enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

Why today?

I need help, prayer actually! I hate this situation...I can't see which way to go and how to make this work! Why today, what should I do now? How will this affect those around me? This decision will stink no matter which way it ends up going!

This breaks my heart!


I know this is very vague and I apolgize...but others are involved...just pray!

It should be thanksgiving!

What a week....sorry we haven't talked much, but I have been pretty busy! I do want to share some of the awesome things that have been going down this past week-two weeks.

* At ILA - we have had record crowds the past two weeks in a row! I am so amazed at our students and thier desire to know about God. The joy they have shown since we have started back up is awesome...I am so please I get to hang with them on Sunday nights!

* LCS Drama- the students I work with have so much to be proud of. They presented a difficult topic, the Holocaust  with integrity, passion, and a level of excellence. I am so proud that I get to serve at LCS in this capacity and am truly blessed by what the students have accomplished  Most importantly they performed for "An audience of ONE" and gave thanks to Him for the talents He has given.

* Hopes and Dreams - I am amazed by this night. We had a record number of people come to hear the story of City Impact...a number of them have decided to partner alongside of us. The ILA students were out using their God-given strengths; speaking team members were greeting all of the guests while philanthropy team students were auctioning off cookies for the next projects. My friends, Alonzo and Tonya did a great job of communicating City Impact's ministry and the affects on their family to all who were there. Just a great night, and God' has provided so much blessing from the night....we are getting ever closer to groundbreaking, keep an eye on CI's website for updates on pledges and cash donations.

* Our friend and missionary Nicole came to Hopes and Dreams, she told us about how awesome Gad has been...and she is ready to go to the field. Language school in France in January and then on to Africa. Our family will miss her but we are excited to see her go, and to see what God will accomplish through her and her fellow co-laborers!  

*Pumpkins - We had a chance to carve pumpkins as a family and with Ethan our exchange student, I am sure Renee will be posting pics soon on Facebook.

Music Monday - Theme Song

As production week is upon us, and Hope and Dreams is right around the corner from that...I feel really busy and stressed! So my theme song for the week is my Music Monday selection!

"Where is my Mind" by The Pixies

Fun - Music Monday!

Okay, let's be honest, I am a kind of indie/alt./emo. kind of music guy. That is my default ..I listen to just about everything and really do enjoy all music. But I like music that has some sort of depth ... some "pathos" for all of my acting/speech students, and that genre does it so well. So when "We are young" started blowing up the radio this past year I took some notice of the band FUN. I enjoyed the song but, I would not say I was an instant fan...although one of my drama students was saying they are awesome...and that their first album may be better. Then "Some Nights" kinda of became the unofficial soundtrack of the summer...I finally went back to do some investigating on their earlier work. I discovered that in fact it is a solid record... with a great groove and mash-up of different genres...that comes out just being FUN.

So for all of you who haven't checked out their first record yet "Aim and ignite", the best track, in my opinion - "At least I'm not as sad (as I used to be)"

Joy!

"We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. The strength produces character. Character produces hope. And hope will never let us down. God has poured His love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given to us."

This is what I will be talking to ILA students about this week...and it is a hard message, mostly because our human nature works so opposite to the concept in these verses. It's easy to look at the circumstances of our life, especially when we are "suffering" or going through trials...and to have little joy...which leads to a lack of hope! I look back at my own life, when I have been through very hard circumstances (in my mind) and I can see how hopeless I reacted...pity party for 1. Or I look at a someone else who is sick, with a terrible thing like cancer or diabetes....sometimes you can see the joy & strength leave them...they lose hope!

Our students at ILA have their own problems, some are "normal" teenage problems, some are things I wouldn't ever imagine going though...or things I would never want to experience again! How do we keep our joy during these horrible events! During this time in our lives!

Perspective! Jesus said "In this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." Christians do a great job of painting a relationship with Christ as cure-all type of elixir.Look at Christian movies like "Facing the Giants," where faith in Christ and a new found devotion leads to everything working out just right...the protagonist of the film riding into the sunset with everything he ever desired from God. Or a name it and claim it mentality  as if God is some sort of supernatural vending machine that we can get to respond to our wishes with the right prayers! God, through His Son, has resolved humankind's  SIN issue, He didn't promise gumdrops and rainbows where everything is right. In fact He said the opposite!

So where is our joy! How do we keep in good cheer? How do awful things build character in our lives! God is sovereign - He works ALL things to good according to His will. He promises He will one day make ALL things new. A world without sin and the suffering that comes because of it! His goodness to us, that He loved us so much that He devised a way to bring our unholy selves into a relationship with Him, Who IS HOLY! I can't imagine why God would allow such horrific things in this world...but I believe that why is the wrong question, in asking why we are in fact going down the road that leads us to losing our joy! Perhaps we should be asking what and how, what do you want me to do in this situation and how can this hurt bring glory and honor to your name?