She's back

My awesome wife is back to blogging...that's a good thing...

fast summer

Things are going so fast already I can hardly believe it. We've already been out of school over two weeks...wow...

We had a great father's day. My girls took me to guitar center to look at some effects pedals and we scored a very sweet deal. Less than half price for a line 6 tap tremolo pedal that was the display model, should make for some very interesting sounds.
Now I not only have to remember the words, play, and sing...now I have to stomp on some pedals too. I also picked up a tube screamer pedal for a little overdrive boost with some birthday money still hanging around my dresser. A delay pedal will be the last on the list...

When we were hanging with the Blinns last week I saw "the irresistible revolution" on their coffee table, so when we were at the library monday I thought I'd look it up(actually I wanted to find "the secret message of Jesus" but they didn't have it). It is an incredible book...I'm only about a third of the way through it and it has challenged me yet confirmed what I feel God has been speaking to me in my heart. The guy's story it amazing and the Holy Spirit is clearly having His way with this guy.
Here is a quote:

So I did a little survey, probing Christians about their (mis)conceptions of Jesus...I asked participants who claimed to be "strong followers of Jesus" whether Jesus spent time with the poor. Nearly 80 percent said yes. Later in the survey, I sneaked in another question. I asked this same group of strong followers whether they spent time with the poor, and less than 2 percent said they did. I learned a powerful lesson: We can admire and worship Jesus without doing what he did. We can applaud what he preached and stood for without caring about the same things. We can adore his cross without taking up ours. I had come to see that the great tragedy in the church is not that rich Christians do not care about the poor but that rich Christians do not know the poor...I long for the Calcutta slums to meet the Chicago suburbs, for lepers to meet landowners and for each to see God's image in the other. It's no wonder that the footsteps of Jesus lead from the tax collectors to the lepers. I truly believe that when the poor meet the rich, riches will have no meaning. And when the rich meet the poor, we will see poverty come to an end.

more ink and stuff

so I'm getting some more ink...like I really need it...this may be it for a while though, half sleeve is enough

Had the line work done last week and will get filled tomorrow...
I'll have to post some pics when it is finally done...should be very cool

Life is good so far this summer. I've been meaning to make a list of things I wanted to get done but I haven't gotten around to it yet...I've been too busy...

I recorded some scratch tracks of guitar and vocal that Dan and Lamby can record drums and bass to for the 4 new songs we've been working on. We have a new sound card that we're using which has been incredible so far compared to the original soundblaster piece of crap we used on the 1st 3 songs on the Undone LP.
Hopefully we'll have another small project done by next summer...(I've got some pretty high hopes...I better get writing)

Spent a few hours last night with the Blinns...Matt and Kelli are great people and it was nice to be able to get to know them a little better. Matt also made some nice french press coffee...very good...went perfectly with the strawberry shortcake.
We were able to talk about life and the kingdom of God...it was refreshing to talk to some more people that seem to be on a similar journey.

Mike and I are at the end of the 2nd week of a new 4 week workout routine we decided to try out. It is kicking my butt...I'm really not looking forward to the next 2 weeks. It's going to get worse before it gets better.
My 'whiplash' from diving for a few fly balls is killing me right now too. I sound like a sissy, but I've not had this much pain in my neck since my sophomore year of wrestling after being carted off the mat strapped to a back board. Dinner at the Schroeders with an ice pack on my neck seemed to help...maybe it was just the peach crisp...wow

In the midst of a busy yet relaxing life we are still experiencing Jesus as our life more than ever. Mike and I have been in Romans for LTG and I keep coming back to this section. It is only possible as I continue to allow my flesh to die and His Spirit live through me.

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[b]says the Lord. 20On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[c] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:9-21

School's Out For Summer...

It was a great year...maybe the best year of my eleven. Even good things have to end sometime. I can't imagine having another job...the life cycle continues even in our careers...

Now it's time to get some projects done around the house and enjoy some semi-structured activities with Macee for the next couple of months. I think the pool, library, park, and Zoo will be on the regular rotation.

My parents are making plans for us to all go to King's Island together this weekend. I think Macee will absolutely love it. I am more excited about seeing her response to it all than actually going myself. I've been so spoiled with our annual physics trips to Cedar Point in May, where there are practically no lines, that I will probably not be willing to wait for anything...sad but true...

The cd's are in...we got them last weekend and I've been pretty surprised at the number of people actually wanting a copy. They did turn out pretty well I think.
We'll be leading sung worship for St. Mark's here in town a few weeks over the summer. June 24th, July 1st, and July 29th for their 11:00am contemporary service.



We've been able to form a relationship with a couple and their 4 boys through the process of us getting rid of the van we have(with a blown transmission). They came last week for Tuesday common meal and I think they felt welcome here. I hope they come back. Mary made a comment at one point that they feel so alone and don't have any family close by. I hope we can be that for them, that Jesus in us will be that for them...

Life is so good...we're excited to see these and other relationships go deeper this summer and ultimately that Jesus will have His way in these relationships and in these folks lives.