Carl's Green Burrito

I was quite excited to discover this week that our Carl’s Jr. across the street is now a Green Burrito as well. Two restaurants in one! This seems to be a catching phenomenon. I’ve seen Taco Bells that also serve some Pizza Hut items. I’ve seen donut shops that also serve ice cream.
So it hit me that some other merges should be explored. Like…
Tommy’s Burgers and Dry Cleaning
Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza and Library
Farmers And Merchants Bank and Prison
Pet Smart and Pastor Sheri’s Pies (Sheri loves animals.)
Cinnabon and 24 Hour Fitness
Starbucks Coffee and Karate Class
Jet Blue and Bounce House
Super Cuts and Hertz

Darth Vader As A Baby

Spotlight On Music Ministry

In regard to music ministry, my education came from a variety of sources. College was not one of them. But looking back over my life I could see how God prepared me for this calling. I gleaned much from everything in my school years. The public school I attended offered me experience with jazz bands, concert bands, orchestra, and, of course, marching band! Also I enjoyed singing with choirs and jazz groups -which would tackle some especially difficult music.
Growing up in church meant you were always involved. Being in the atmosphere and being faithful to attend is incredibly important. I heard it said once that God doesn't take the able and make them faithful...He takes the faithful and makes them able.
God can teach you through a variety of sources. When I first moved to Southern California from Seattle, I worked a number of "odd" jobs and I learned something from all of them. (Cue dreamy harp music and fade picture to flashback.)

As a bus boy at Velvet Turtle -I learned that you have to "save your steps". Make the most of where you are at any given moment.
At a warehouse where I punched gaskets most of the day, I found myself continuously drained by a fellow employee who had the dirtiest mouth I'd ever heard. So I began singing worship songs at work -which made all the difference.
For awhile I even had a door-to-door job setting up appointments for solar panel salesmen. This helped me learn how to start conversations with complete strangers. Also it improved my running skills as dogs chased me through neighborhoods.
For awhile I worked for a short, short-tempered man who repaired computer boards. One day he was introducing me to his family -as he was firing me. There I learned how to wait on God until I had a peace that He would provide a new job.
For awhile I worked for a company that shipped military household goods around the world. There I learned the importance of a good work ethic. I remember a manager writing down "8:01 AM" when I came in one minute late.
For awhile I worked in a ball-bearing factory in the beautiful City of Industry. There I learned how to persevere in an oppressive environment.
Finally, I worked for a D.J. Company. We provided music for wedding receptions, parties and fashion shows. It was here that I learned one of the most important things in regard to being a music minister -surprisingly enough. I'll expand on that next week.

Thanks For Don

Well, amidst a week that especially encourages gratefulness, here's something -or actually someone, for which I'm very grateful. This is my buddy, Don Croswhite. In this pic he's at the range.

Don finished his basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia and is now a part of the 1st Armored Division, Army Evaluation Task Force in El Paso, Texas. So after weeks of studying the Georgian accent, he's now working on his Texan slang. He confirmed for me that the stars at night are indeed big and bright....deep in the heart of Texas. I'm certain that he'll return with a great love for sweet tea.

It sounds like he's got a pretty important -and potentially dangerous job. He is testing new equipment before it goes to Iraq. (I imagine things like Mr. Coffee, toasters, and hair dryers.)

While most of his buddies were able to go home after basic training, he went straight to El Paso. We will get to see him around Christmastime. So I'm pretty excited about that. But offer up a prayer for Don and the other soldiers in your life who can't make it home for Thanksgiving.

Spotlight On Music Ministry

Okay, now to let you know where I'm coming from, here's a bit of my background that I think pertains to God's calling on my life as a music minister.
From the youngest of ages I was singing solos in church. Throughout my school years I was involved in various choirs, singing groups, bands -playing trumpet and trombone, drama classes, speech classes, plays and musicals. I even had a leading role in a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta titled, "The Yeoman Of The Guard" in the eighth grade. This was serious stuff!
At 14, I got my Mom to sit down with me and teach me a few things on the piano. She taught me how to read chord charts and I fell in love with the piano. Two hours would go by like two minutes -and it was never that way when I was practicing my trombone. I began to write songs around this time.
At 15, I started leading worship for my Dad's church in Bellevue, Washington. I continued to lead worship on a volunteer basis in the churches I attended once I moved to sunny Southern California.
At 24, I was leading at Life Center Assembly in Lakewood as they were trying out potential music ministers. Then they gave me a tryout. I stayed for 17 years.
To keep these blogs from becoming novels, I'll stop here. Next week I'll talk about my education for music ministry -which most certainly did not come from typical sources.

This Weekend

We couldn't be more excited to have Dennis and Necole Luce with us this Sunday morning. I worked with Dennis for 10 years in Lakewood and I consider him to be, quite simply, the best youth pastor in the universe. (Although I still haven't met some on Jupiter.)
One of the things I've always appreciated about Dennis is his focus on the inerrancy of Scripture. He's always encouraged young people -and adults- to know why they believe what they believe. His style in the pulpit is very real, down to earth, often given with humor that brings the truth home.
This is a man who loves God and His people. I respect this man of God so much and encourage you not to miss him while he's here!

Sunday night, I'll be sharing the pulpit with Charles Spurgeon. (Actually, I'm not sure that he can make it.) So, I'd like to share something that he's written that I find to be quite beautiful. Isaiah 53 speaks of Christ being numbered with the transgressors. The Message puts it, "He embraced the company of the lowest. He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep." The more you think about this, the more incredible it becomes. He left the incredible company of heaven...to be listed with the lowest of the low. In what ways did He do this? And why? Join us!

A Chance Of Showers

Thanksgiving is here just in time. I've had concerns lately that I'm beginning to morph into Eeyore. It's become a little too easy to complain. Complain about what? You name it! Bills. Stress. The state of the world today. The condition of the freeway. The state of conditioner in my hair. (It just makes my hair fall flat.)
So...maybe it's time to go against my nature. Instead of doing the easy thing by turning into a gloomy gus, maybe striving to "rejoice in the Lord always" is worth the effort! I don't believe Paul just jotted that down to sound like a motivational speaker. It was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
This picture is fascinating to me. We see everyone with their best face on. Such composure. Kind of like Sunday morning. But once the water hits, what happens then? I imagine some will laugh. Some will probably be furious. And some may turn into Eeyore. What would be your reaction? I'm hoping to laugh more -at the unexpected rains that come my way. Thank You, God, for wanting us to REJOICE!

Spotlight On Music Ministry

Allow me to give you a bit of an autobiography at this point -just to let you know where I'm coming from.
Seattle.
(I'll expand more on that next week.)

She's A Peach

An older couple had been shopping at a grocery store, and the wife decided to steal a can of peaches. The inevitable happened and she was caught. Upon her court date, the judge asked her what she had stolen.
"Your Honor, I stole a can of peaches."
The judge replied, "How many peaches were in the can?"
She said, "Six."
The judge then said, "I will sentence you to six days in jail."
Her husband stood up behind her and replied, "Your Honor, she also stole a can of peas."

I told this story Sunday morning -unaware of the fact that my Mother buys this very brand of canned peaches. However, she has never stolen any ...to my knowledge.

Last Weekend

Typically I try to give a little commercial for what's ahead. I just couldn't get to it last week. But I wanted to pass along something that captivated me. This is from a commentary by David Thomas in regard to John 3:16.
"God is love. How is this love to influence men? ...to influence the guilty to absolve them, and the enemies to atone them, and the lost so as to save them? Simply by faith. The greatest love in the world can only move a moral being by faith."

Chipotle Has Left The Building

Carl's Jr. has discontinued their Chipotle Chicken Salad. I was quite offended and told them to tell Carl to bring it back. The nerve! And just after I finally learned how to pronounce it.

Spotlight On Music Ministry

In case you were wondering what a full-time music minister does, I would like to tell you what my responsibilities have included. This is a real list. I'm not trying to impress you or scare you (if you're pursuing this calling). I just thought it would be good to give you an inside look at what I've experienced in music ministry.
My responsibilities have included...leading worship, directing the choir, directing instrumentalists, planning the services, arranging and writing music for rhythm section/horns/woodwinds, rehearsing soloists-ensembles and instrumental groups, administration -which involved scheduling musicians & singers & sound men & overhead crews, purchasing or renting sound equipment/lighting and instruments for the church.
...meeting, contacting & auditioning people
...reviewing and ordering music for worship, for choir, for instrumentalist, for soloists & ensembles, for special productions such as Easter, Independence Day, Christmas -and purchasing or renting sound equipment/lighting and instruments for special productions.
...producing musical productions for Easter, Independence Day, Nights Of Worship, Missions Convention, Christmas and overseeing all aspects of production -which included drama, props, sets, lighting, sound, costuming, makeup, choreography, budgeting, advertising and rehearsal schedules.
...attending various conferences on leadership, worship, choral music, songwriting, drama, sound, staff retreats and more.
...playing for weddings and funerals.
...hosting guest artists and groups -which can mean picking them up at the airport, feeding them, getting them back & forth from the hotel, helping with their sound checks, making sure all their requirements are met, (pre-service snacks, CD tables, sound equipment, special effects). Over the years I've hosted everything from a full-scale university orchestra to a mime. We've had groups like Truth and The Kry & people like Alvin Slaughter and Bryan Duncan for concerts, -and Annie Herring recorded a 'live' worship CD at the church.
...being a platform roadie -which can be incredibly time consuming -and much more.
...songwriting, producing a CD for the church, assembling a writing team to write our own Christmas play.
All of this was on top of weekly staff meetings, frequent meetings with my pastor and interaction with other departments in the church which included children's ministry (particularly Kids Crusades and camps for our church kids and for foster kids), the singles group, home fellowships, men's retreats and one women's retreat. It's important to be well-rounded and involved in the life of your church -rather than just isolating yourself in your own department.
So it would amaze me when someone would say, "It must be nice to just sit and listen to music all day long." :)

Daylight Savings

I heard it's Daylight Savings. This is the fun one people. Take advantage!