From Fight to Freedom

New skills are a pain to learn.

I'm helping a friend of mine learn how to play the drums. Now part of the problem is that I'm teaching him and not a drum instructor. But after the first session, his right hand did not want to move at different time from the left hand or his right foot. And we have yet to add the left foot.

Your brain fights these until repeated practice wins.

My other friend Jon and I had coffee the other day. (anytime you're in Molalla and need some coffee, Main Street Coffee is the place to go!) But he's been learning a ton of new skills in music and leading in worship. One of those new skills is using a click-track. For those non-musicians, a click-track keeps the beat in your ear to help you keep consistent time.

Now I've never played live with a click track. I think it might be rather annoying. So I asked how that goes, and the process for the band. He described a process that goes like this:

Fight - Focus - Freedom

Stage 1 is Fight. You abhor the click-track. It is frustrating and annoying. You wish it would go away.

Stage 2 is Focus. It's not your friend quite yet, but you realize it's helping you accomplish something greater, and stay in time as a band. But your focus is on the click-track, not the music or worship for that matter!

Stage 3 is Freedom. Your brain, your coordination, your team...is so used to playing with it that it becomes the background stability that give you the launchpad to play and sing freely.

I've see this true as I lean new skills, whether from musical instruments, to leading, to...ahem...keeping my desk clean, to learning to trust and follow the Holy Spirit.

So what are you leaning? Keep at it. Hopefully you move on into Freedom.

Brian's 11 Years

Today was bittersweet. On the one hand, our student worship team rocked the house and I so enjoy using my gifts alongside them in worship. I also enjoyed playing one last time on a Sunday morning with Brian.

See, that was the bitter part. It's hard to let go and move past what I've come to know. Brian has been a friend, mentor, and a wonderful co-minister at church. There are many thing's that I'll miss.

But today we had a going away party for his family. I had the pleasure of creating the video for the occasion. So check it out and look back with me on 11 years of Brian's ministry at GPCC.

Mexico Missionaries

Last night was a treat. Usually, the only time we get to see Tim & Kathy Johnston is while we're in Mexico. But due to an unfortunate flight time out of Portland, they needed a place to stay. They were up visiting their son in Sweet Home and had to be at the airport at 4am! Needless to say, they didn't want to leave Sweet Home at 2am. :)

We had a wonderful time talking and finding out what is next for them. They are incredible people to be around. Such faith, such stories of the journey God continues to lead them on. It gets me all excited to return this Summer!

Mi Amigos

Saturday night, Ali and I were treated to Kabobs made by Justin over at the Ubel's. It really doesn't get much better than a night with friends, our Goddaughter Brooklyn, great food, some backyard disc golf and a game of whist.

But alas, it is Monday morning, and I—as I'm sure everyone else in reach of the early Northwest Summer—am not ready to go back to work. I'd rather have another kabob.

New Blog

No, I'm not moving blogs. But my friend Tyson just started a new blog. Check it out when you get a chance. I'm sure that if he goes for it, it will be filled with art and good thoughts.

While you're at it, Check out his artwork.

San Diego, Here We Come!

Brian and I head down to San Diego tomorrow for 4 days and 3 nights at the National Youth Workers Convention...and boy are we excited!

We went two years ago and were impacted, refreshed and much more. Our plan is to spend some time blogging so you can see what we're thinking as we go along. Unfortunately, the hotel we're staying at charges $9.95 per day for wireless internet! You've got to be kidding! The Super 8 give free internet. Geesh.

I'm excited about David Crowder leading us in worship for the first day.

Timely Lyrics

I'm not going to lie. Watching the ending stage of your mom's life is not easy. There are bad times. There are sad times, but there are also times of great joy.

Our Almighty God can work wonderful miracles, but sometimes, the process of life must continue. And don't get me wrong, many miracles—God working through my mom—happen all the time. There is much hope around our house. Hope in things we know are to come. Hope of a new body. Hope of an unending life lived with our Creator.

Though I pray for a quick, miraculous recovery, or a quick and painless end, the process continues slowly.

But if this process didn't take as long as it did, we would have missed out on some wonderful times together as a family. There are a many smiles, knowing sighs, and a joy that we are given this life to experience together.

My friend Justin & Jessica just had a baby yesterday! How incredible! They have walked the long road of waiting for little Brooklyn...and you can see in their faces that she was worth the wait. To see her, just click on Justin's name.

Jack Johnson wrote a song called If I Could. Its theology is not the greatest, but the description of new and an ending life are priceless in times like these.

Thanks for the words Jack.

A brand new baby was born yesterday,
Just in time
Papa cried, baby cried
Said, your tears are like mine
I heard some words
from a friend on the phone,
didn't sound so good
The doctor gave him two weeks to live
I'd give him more if I could

You know that I would now
If only I could
You know that I would now
If only I could

Down the middle drops one more
grain of sand
They say that
new life makes losing life easier to understand
Words are kind
they help ease the mind
I miss my old friend
And though you gotta go
we'll keep a piece of your soul
One goes out
One comes in

Back from Mexico!

Okay, so I never blogged to say that I'd left for Mexico...sorry :)

Ali and I, along with our youth group, spent an amazing 12 days in Mexico with missionaries Tim & Kathy Johnston. We participated in building a house, building a dorm type building for the missionaries, church ministry, a VBS, clothing and food distribution, house visitation and much more!

It was an exciting time in our lives for ministry but to also watch students gain a greater compassion for the poor and understand God's heart for them.

I'll share more soon, but I wanted to let you see the pictures and video. Hope you enjoy!

Check out the pictures here.

Big Sky - Day 2, The "M"

Yesterday I hiked the "M." The M is about 670 ft. or half way up Mt. Sentinel, and sits right above the University of Montana. What a nice hike. The trail zig-zags back and forth until you reach the giant concrete "M." From up top, you get to look out at all the beautiful mountains and the valley below.

This photo here was taken from atop the "M." You can see the football team showing off their new members down below as I-90 stretches away in the right.

After spending much of the day on my own hiking, hunting for the local Starbucks and reading, Ali and I went to the rehearsal dinner. After what I thought was a very quick rehearsal—mine seemed long—We headed for a very nice restaurant next to a golf course up on another hill overlooking Missoula. Besides the great views, dinner was amazing; I had the prime rib and Ali had the seared Ahi tuna. Yum! Here we are eating with some bridesmaids and other guests.

Pictured here are DeeDee, Alison, Jill (sister of the bride), Stacey (the bride), and Cameron (not her baby). Ali, DeeDee, Stacey and Cameron were college roommates and great friends.

Ah, Sunset. After the dinner ended, many of us, including both sets of parents, met up at a local pub for more celebration. It was a great day and if you have the chance to see the landscape of Big Sky country, you really must. Well, I've got a couple of hours and then I need to get ready for the wedding myself. I'm off for some more reading.

The iPod Mystique

I love my iPod. It is a great thing not to have to carry around my CD Library but just a small little device. It helps me block out distractions while I am studying, I can listen to sermons from my favorite preachers (Rob Bell, Erwin McManus, Tony Campolo) on the road, and I can even get just the right play list ready for a youth retreat. Yes, the iPod is quite a nifty device.

But my friend Brian and I were talking about the iPod as a prize. You see, I filled out a survey for my school's Student Ministry department and by doing so have the chance to win one of two iPods. I helped lead some music at another youth group's all-nighter where they raffled off an iPod. At the Youth Specialties conference two years ago, every other booth was giving away a free iPod (probably 50 or more total). Thousands of online adds claim that you can win a free iPod.

Brian mused that no other product in history has ever been used to get us to come to events, fill out surveys, click on a link, and give our address and phone number to strangers more than the iPod has. And all of this in just the last few years! Way to go Apple.

Stranger Than Fiction and our story

Spoiler warning. Don't read this post if you plan to see Stranger Than Fiction.

Jessica, Justin, Ali and I saw Stranger Than Fiction a couple of weeks back. (Actually now a month ago, but I started this post and got distracted. Yeah, I know, distracted for a couple more weeks? Hey, it's my blog) What a movie. For those who read this blog and are not quite yet out of their parent's homes, please note the PG-13 rating and my unofficial recommendation.

We meet Harold Crick, a employee of the IRS, who goes about living a mundane life, not doing anything out on a limb and not really living as viewed by the writer of the movie. He begins hearing a woman narrate his life exactly as it happens and finds out that his eventual death is around the corner. As Harold begins to "truly live," he seeks out why he hears this voice, and if he is truly going to die soon.

After much work, Harold tracks down the famous author who is a drama novelist, currently working on the script of Harold's story. She has written the end but it has not been typed up yet, meaning that Harold hasn't lived it yet.

While the interaction between the author and the character is quite interesting, Harold struggles with wanting to read his own ending. After a time, Harold decides to read the ending. He returns the story to the author and says that it's a good ending, and that she has to type it up.

Harold faces his heroic ending well. I'll let you watch that part yourself. But the part that kept on shouting to me was that we can—as people who know the Creator—know the ending. Whether it be our end, just a turn in the road, or the end of the whole story itself, we know the one writing the story. And because we can trust the writer, we can trust the future of the story.

So, mind the rating, see the movie, and feel the sense of trust in the writer of our story that Harold has in his. Continue to bring about His story now.

Happy New Year!

Before I share my final thoughts on Winter Youth, I'd like to wish you a Happy New Year. I hope your celebrations were fun. Ali and I had a wonderful night with the Justin & Jessica eating fondue, playing games and watching the ball drop.

I also want to give a shout out to my Beavers who won their bowl game (unlike Dennis' Ducks).

And finally, Here's a link to the pictures of this year's Winter Youth trip. Make sure you visit Brian's blog for his reflections as well.

A Great Day

I just have to take this time to say what a great day it is and why:

I took my last final of the term today and won't head back to school until January 11.

I played guitar on Justin & Jessica's 6th Christmas album. (Which you'll be able to hear at a later date).

My brother returned from the blogging dead with a great post.

So those are my reasons for the great day. How about you?

Trench it or Play it

In the spirit of The Amazing Race "detour", I chose the title of my blog to reflect my day yesterday. Although it wasn't an either/or choice, I got to do both.

In trench it, Justin, my friend, has a clogged sewer line from roots growing within. Bummer. Instead of shelling out a couple of grand, he decided to shovel out a trench himself, ranging from about 2 1/2 feet by the house down to 3 1/2 by the street. Fortunately for us, the ground is saturated with water from this past month, so the chunks of dirt came out quite nicely.

I must give my upmost appreciation to all the trench diggers that dig and dig every day for 8 hours straight. I went 2 1/2 hours with an hour break in the middle and I am sore all over the place today.

In play it, Justin also purchased a used Taylor 314 guitar that is in great condition. We spent time playing a few songs. What a nice guitar. What a nice time.