matt's thoughts

Don't Miss Out On This!

Derek Webb's latest album has been on his site for free for the past couple of months.  I got it a while ago and it is a solid offering on his part.  If you don't have make sure to hop over and pick it up!

Sunday Funny

HT: spitbox

The World is Shrinking!

Just popped over to Raggamuffin Soul to see if there were any updates from Los and Heather.  They are on their way to Korea to pick up their new adopted son. 

What did I find when I got there...free wifi on Korea Air!  Man that's great.  I don't fly much, and the best thing I have seen on a plane is a tiny video screen that comes out of the ceiling three rows up.  I'm so amazed people can be on the web for free while flying over the Pacific Ocean.  We live in a tiny world!

Prayer

My blogging friend from the other side of the country, Los, just found out today that his new adopted son Losiah is cleared to be picked up from Korea and brought home!  His family needs your prayers today that God will clear the details to make their trip to Korea happen tommorrow.  Will you join me in praying for him?

It's that time again...

We have been crankin' on Christmas Eve plans already around here.  I'm really excited, because this is absolutely my favorite time of year, and such a great opportunity to share the incredible love of Jesus with those in our community.

Some of our amazing designers at History just got us the proofs of the invites that are going to the printer today.  I'm psyched...gonna be a great year!

Sufjan is Super

I just picked up my first Sufjan Stevens album.  Seven Swans is from 2004, but I just couldn't bring myself to cut my teeth on this guy with an album called Illinois. 

I listened to the album through twice back to back, which says something for it right there.  Its great stuff, really mellow, really creative, very thoughtful lyrically, and not so many canned phrases...and...lots of banjo.  What's not to love!

lessons from being baptist

At my first sbcv annual meeting. I learned today that the word I formerly knew as "amen" is actually spelled and pronounced "a-man." (insert your own level twang depending upon which part of the state you are from...or how much affection you have for song medlies)

yur fod is so god

This little note was hanging on the wall at the back of the Cafetorium that our church meets in.  Ah the benefits of meeting in an elementary school.  :-)  Hey...at least they mentioned God...

Set List for this morning:

O Praise Him - Crowder (Actually this was bagged for an audible)
You Never Let Go - Redman
Speak It Out - my song
Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder - John Newton (Jars of Clay version)

We had some strange issues with a power outage this morning right as the service began.  Half of the building and a good part of the neighborhood lost power, so strangely enough half of our equipment failed right as we hit the first note.  The sound equipment survived but the video projectors were down for about 5 minutes while my tech guys found some alternative power sources.  I pulled an audible on our team to ditch "O Praise Him" in favor of something our folks could sing without lyrics on the screen.  We did another song of mine called None Like You.  My team nailed it...with no rehearsal and literally 10 seconds of notice!  They are awesome! 

So as a tech heavy church, we survived a power outage and God was still worshiped.  It was a good reminder to me that God is not dependent on our gadgets.  :-)

 

Hope's first time skating!

I grew up just north of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, where winter time means truly winter activities.  We lived close to all kinds of ponds and free man made skating rinks, so as soon as I could walk I had ice skates strapped to my feet. 

Since moving to the decidedly balmier state of Virginia skating has been much less frequent... though our most recent move to Northern, VA has helped that situation ever so slightly.  The Town Center right near our house puts in an outdoor rink every year in November.  So while the air temp was about 65 degrees, and it cost us $20 for the two of us just to step on the ice, I was so excited last night to skate a few laps with my little girl Hope. 

She had mixed reviews and our 2 hour passes were used for approximately 15 minutes, but to me it was worth every penny to share those moments with my little girl.  Later off the ice...where things are less slippery, and in between bites of pizza she said, "Dad this was the best family date ever!"

that voice guy

just heard a great interview with the guys who do the voice-overs for the negative ads during election season.  The best part starts at about 3:15 into the interview where they do some nursery rhymes in the "attack ad voice."

listen [here]