Love Came Down at Christmas

my fave song of the season:

Oh Holy Night

have there even been penned more profound words????

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.

2010 Top Ten

It is LIST TIME! LOVE IT!
Here are my fave ten albums of the year:

10- Neil Young- Le Noise
9- Magic Kids- Memphis
8- Jars of Clay- Shelter
7- Vampire Weekend- Contra
6- Dr. Dog- Shame, Shame
5- The Gaslight Anthem- American Slang
4- Black Keys- Brothers
3- Roots- How I Got Over
2- The Arcade Fire- Suburbs
1- Mumford & Sons- Sigh No More

Give me your input, and I will give you mine!

Season's Greetings to the fams

to our dearly missed in CO:


To our dearly missed in TN:

Christmas Jams

blast from my personal past, thanks to my sistas

Christmas Jams

I want to try and flood you all with delightful sounds of the holidays...so here ya go:

Worry...........you WILL tap out

I was doing a mini self spiritual exam last night. Yeah.....dumb idea huh :)? And while I readily admit that there are MANY areas in which I fall short, I am confident my biggest weakness is WORRY. I come from a long line of worriers actually. As far back as I can remember, I have worried. Now I fully understand that a LITTLE worry is normal and possibly even healthy. But I tend to take normal worry and multiply to ridiculous BROCK LESNAR sized proportions. EX: A common cold in a child can easily become a serious case of deadly Ebola in my mind….no kidding. I am trying REALLY hard to figure out why I act this way and I am trying really hard to correct it.
I KNOW these things that you are about to read. But I am writing them to try and make them stick in this slippery brain of mine:

1. Worrying is Not Good for You.
Worrying is destructive to us in many ways. It has often made me physically sick even! It becomes a mental burden that can eventually cause bodies to break down like a Josh McDaniel’s offense.
PROV 12:25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

2. Worrying Accomplishes Absolutely Nothing.
Time is at a premium in my simple life. And worrying is a waste of very precious time. I know worrying won't help me solve a problem or bring about a solution:
Matthew 6:27-29 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

3.Worrying is the Opposite of Trusting God.
Confession time: I worry WAY more than I pray most of the time.
Matthew 6:30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
Philippians 4:6-7 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

4.Worrying Puts Your Focus in the Wrong Direction.
When we keep our eyes focused on God, we remember his love for us and we realize we truly have nothing to worry about. I am fully aware of this. I believe God has a wonderful plan for my life, and part of that plan includes taking care of us. I know God will take care of our every need.
Matthew 6:25 That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:31-33 So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
I am fully aware, as a follower of Christ, that worry is NOT to be something in my “arsenal of garbage”.

I truly believe in God's divine providence and that He will never fail me…..but when my buddy Mr. Worry decides to visit, I struggle to remember such things. Over the span of my lifetime, worrying accounts for hours and hours of invaluable time that I'll never get back. And I am literally tired of it…weary in fact. Today I am making as public stance against this jerk called worry. I am done with it! So I am asking my few blog readers for advice…..what, besides drugs helps you? :)

Good Tune

I heard of these guys on the last Jars of Clay album where they guest sang. I found this on YOUTUBE and LOVE IT

Free Music Friday

it is time for some Christmas tunes! but really, who wants to hear Bandaid one more time?!?!?!? SO, for the next few days...here are a few nontraditional jams for you to enjoy:

Exciting Week

Well, we got a surprise snow for a few hours, so the kids lived it up while they could!






Then, on Tuesday Merrick went to bed with a normal mouth of teeth. 30 minutes into the supposed slumber she called out to me alarmed. It turns out she had suddenly discovered that her tooth was loose. That was an understatement, it was SUPER loose! By mid breakfast the next day, the tooth was gone! Notice how I think teh tooth fairy accidentally gave a five instead of a one :)!

Thanksgiving List

Things that I am thankful for (in no particular order, most of the time):

A Savior who loves me regardless, and died for me
A beautiful wife who makes my life better
3 AMAZING kids
Ipods
DVR television
My mom, who’s sacrificed SO much for my life
Good books
My church family
Good friends
Annual hunting trips
Mumford & Sons
Houses with heat
Nice shoes
Clean water
My wife’s lasagna, and her tomato soup
My little sisters and their lovely families
My kids’ teachers
My youth group
In-laws whom I love
Kaleidescope Pizza
Traveling with my wife
Pearl Jam
Flip flops
FIFA 2011 on PS3
The Bible
Funny movies
The Avett Brothers
Harry Potter
The internet & email
Our trampoline
Shane Claiborne’s “Jesus for President”
My wife’s convictions
Good flannel shirts
My green vest
Keen Shoes
The Beatles
Watching my kids play soccer
Cell phones
Music in general
Netflix
Good lyrics
Pepsi
Tylenol
Facebook
The sun
Medford, OR
Fake Christmas trees
Health
A co-worker who’s a friend
Sour Patch kids
And much much more…………

School's Out

School is out today, and Jessie has hurt her back, so today was DADDY DAY! This morning we had SO much fun. We played a game where Jude and I were bad guys who kept fighting. Eventually in the fight he lost a tooth:

Merrick and Haddie were police ladies who broke us up. Turns out they were actually fairies in training trying to earn their wings through bravery! They were twin sisters named Rusella and Stella. They took me to a fairy hospital where Stella worked dilegently on bandaging my broken arm:
]

Rusella then decided that my ribs were gravely injured and the only way I could ever heal would be by the magic of fairy song. It was actually beautiful. Enjoy:

We are now hanging out in the den, waiting to go see Megamind 3D. It is a good day.

Rain Dancing

Last weekend our family at W Main celebrated with the Harvest Festival. It was a nice of fun, food and fellowship. There were all kinds of good food and drinks. We collected canned goods for Christmas baskets, caught up with dear friends, and enjoyed life.

It was an outdoor event. And this always makes for an adventure in an Oregon autumn. The rain season was late coming this year, but it decided that Saturday night, when the W. Main Family was gathered outdoors would be the perfect time to commence the downfall! J The main entertainment for the evening was a delightful band of musicians known as "The Old Time Fiddlers" who were gonna' strum and pick away and teach us all the fine arts of square and line dancing.

So, as you can deduce, the potential for a problem was glaring in our faces. How do we dance and enjoy when the rain is coming down? It would have been quite easy to simply say "well, the food was good. But the rains have washed away all hopes of entertainment." But that would not fly with this group! We are OREGONIANS! We laugh in the face of precipitation. We scoff at the word "rain-out". And we would not be defeated!

After a few notes drifted into the crisp and wet air, a few of our beautiful children began to dance. The joy was evident in their faces. This proved to be infectious, as before you could snap your overalls, a huge line had formed and the formal dancing had begun. For the next hour or two the crowd continued to grow as we danced and do-si-do'd around in the puddles. There was clapping, hooting, and MUCH laughing. It was a true blast. WE were having so much fun together. It was AWESOEM to see that a little adversity could not kill the good time.

This is also how we are to approach our walks with Christ. We were never promised easy living. There will be tough times. But, if we allow a little rain to keep us from "dancing" we will surely miss out on the blessings and memories! May we live a faith that is not afraid of adversity, and that does not give up.

Go dance in the rain!

Politics of religion

I am baffled by something I have seen lately. It seems that when myself or someone else posts something about our faith, or God on Facebook, no one ever really comments much. No one cares enough to say anything. BUT…if anything is posted at all about politics or any differing social opinions, then people go nuts! I can state a belief about a company who systematically abuses human rights and folks cannot keep quiet. They may even begin attacking one another. But, if I state my love for Christ….it is mostly silent? I’ve been trying to figure out why this is. Does anyone have any answers? Are we that afraid of new ideas? Are we that scared to let others have a different opinion? Are we all insecure? Or, is it maybe that politics have become our real religion? Maybe all that “Jesus stuff” is cool for Sundays, but what we really are passionate about and want to spread as "gospel" is political ideas and agendas?????? I have no clue. I think we all may be guilty here. What do you guys think?

I think maybe we put way too much trust in our country,our leaders, and our political parties. Maybe we should call on God for our security rather than systems of men a little more! Maybe we should all pray for our leaders rather than slander them. Nothing in this world will last and nothing in this world offers salvation. I fear that today, politics has become a form of religion. And we are all in danger of worshipping false idols. We seem to have totally forgotten about the sovereignty of God............who is good, all the time

Golden Arches and Preservatives

My wife and I do not allow our family to ever partake in the pseudo-food known as McDonalds. My kids have never had a Happy meal. Some say this is cruel and denying them their basic childhood rights. I say it is actually protecting them! if you want to know why you should also join us in this thought process regarding the Golden Arches, then read this article. WOW! That is NOT food!

READ ME

IPOD Shuffle

Here was the mix this morning in the office. See if you like any of it?

ID Engager- Of Montreal
While We Wait for Others- Grizzly Bear
Oh No- Andrew Bird
I Was a Lover- TV on the Radio
The Old Days- Dr Dog
ragged Wood- Fleet Foxes
I Turn My Camera On- Spoon
Never Had Nobody Like You- M Ward
Tears of Gold- Ryan Adams
Massive Nights- The Hold Steady
Lucky- Radiohead
Big Trucks- Pedro the Lion
You Got Me Rockin- Rolling Stones
Confetti- The Lemonheads
Top Yourself- The Raconteurs
Masters of War- Bob Dylan
One- U2
Off The Record- My Morning Jacket
Spirit Fall- Phil wickham
Our House- Madness

good stuff.....

BUSY weekend: Soccer, Mountains and Mr Darcy

It was a fantastic weekend. We had a LOT of fun together as a family....except when Nana had to leave to return to her home in Memphis. Let me share a few snapshots with you:
Merrick started soccer! It was simply the cutest thing you have EVER seen. Here are some shots right before her first practice


Her brother was "teaching her how to play"


Saturday Jude had a morning game. It was VERY exciting. They got down 3-0 quickly but stormed back to tie it at 5-5. Jude scored an amazing goal! After that Merrick's self named team "The Princess Hearts" had their first game! It was SO SO SO SO cute. I only had 3 players, so they had to play the ENTIRE game. They did SO good. I was so shocked at their little aggressive natures (through smiles and giggles of course). They tied 3-3 and Merrick scored a goal!!!





Then Sunday I decided it was time the kids climbed up their first hike! So I took my 2 oldest and the youth group up Table Rock. I was VERY proud. they did a great job!
"We have to get up THERE Dad?"

Being a boy has advantages!

On the trail!



WE MAKE THE TOP!






The weekend ended that night with Jessie and I catching a wonderful performance of "Pride & Prejudice" at the internationally acclaimed Shaekespeare Festival in Ashland, OR. It was great.

More bad press.....LET'S THINK

Read these:

here
here

I just wish sometimes we would stop and think before reacting. These COULD have been good conversations where folks could share their ideas, beliefs and desires and maybe everyone could have learned something. Instead, the nation gets more reasons to attack Christians. May we all really take the Biblical command to be quick to listen and slow to speak a little more serious!

Mumford and Sons & Worship

I LOVE music. I LOVE worship. So the logical conclusion would be that I LOVE worship music. Well....yes and no. I love to worship God in song and listen to artists who do.......BUT modern music that is blatantly "classified" as worship is not very appealing to me on an artistic level as a whole! Much of it sounds "plastic" for lack of better terms, as if it was mass produced in the "worship music factory". It is formulaic. There are certain melodies and chord progressions that must be used. There are buzzy, Christianese words that MUST be included. So when you throw this all together, it really turns some music snobs such as myself off! :)
(I don't throw it ALL out, I have my fair share of Newsboys, Third Day faves etc)

But, often I find DEEP themes of spirtuality in "secular music". Many of the jams in my Itunes library resonate with God, but never use His name. For me, some of the best "worship" songs will sadly never be sang in a church! Some songs that deeply move my soul are not on what many Christ followers would consider "christian music" albums. Some examples are Son Volt's "Windfall", John Lennons "Gimme Some Truth", Sam Phillips "One Day Late", Coldplays' "Fix You", Neutral Milk Hotel's "The King of Carrot Flowers", Juliana Hatfield's "For the Birds" and many many more......

So recently when I was introduced to the music of Mumford & Sons, I was BLOWN AWAY with child-like giddiness. Deep within many of the tunes on their amazing record SIGH NO MORE, are lyrics and sounds that scream out to my soul! It is worship stuff man! So I was ecstatic to read this story, and wanted to share it with you:

READ ME!

I'd love to hear your favorite songs of inspiration! Please share!

Freaky Freakin' Freak Show

Man...the weirdos come out of the woods when Primus comes to town......and I LOVE it! Bass maestro Les Claypool has reunited his old band PRIMUS, and he brought them and their Oddity Faire 2010 to little ol' Medford, OR this week. Of course, those freaks are my peeps, and I HAD to go. MAN IT WAS INSANELY cool and awesome. The weirdos were out in full force. Amongst the crowd of black t-shirts, dirty dread locks, and dickies pants were acrobats and stilt walkers. The first band was called SPLITLIP RAYFIELD. They were great. It was a rugged cow-punk,rockabilly 3-piece (complete with a one-stringed stand up bass made from the fuel tank of an old Ford!) and they were great. Next up was a band called Portugal.The Man. They too were quite stellar. I LOVED their falsetto, "Mars Volta meets Carney" Alaskan sound!
Then...the triumvarite came out and blew us all away! Through the fog of that strange smelling smoke everyone around us was blowing, the Spaceman Themed Stage lit up, and out came Les, Larry and Jay! It is literally IMPOSSIBLE to describe the next 2hours. It was INSANELY wonderful. The musicianship was out of this universe. The song selection was great. It was an otherworldy experience, complete with costume masks, George W Bush montages (during "My Name is Mud") and "Whamola" solos! It was incredible...and I am SO glad I got to experience it. Any fan of music should see them once. Here is their setlist from the night:
1.Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers
2.Duchess and the Proverbial Mind Spread
3.Tommy The Cat
4.American Life
5.Sgt. Baker
6.Over The Falls
7.Coattails of a Dead Man
8.My Name Is Mud
9.Drum and Whamola Jam
10.Eleven
11.Frizzle Fry
12.Here Come The Bastards
13.Harold Of The Rocks
Encore:
14.Behind My Camel (The Police cover)
15.Groundhog's Day
16.Pudding Time

Thank you Mr. Claypool for dazzling us with your freakiness!

Enjoy some video from the gig:

Straight to a Parent's Heart

As a youth minister, this is powerful to me. As a parent, it is even more so! It may offend you...but if so, maybe it's because you feel guilty (like me)? It makes some solid arguments. Give it a read and pray about it :). I'd love to know what you think. Leave a comment. I know that my son LOVES sports, and these fights for our family are just around the corner. I am praying for the right choices now!

HERE

Free Music Friday

it's time to bring back the old tradition. these guys are back together! Amazing musicians! If only there was a place to see them live...............

ITUNES SHUFFLE

It has been awhile since I shared with any of you guys some tunes from my shuffle. Many of you say you enjoy these, so here are the last 20 songs I was offered:
Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses- U2
The Turnpike Down- The Lemonheads
Melt My Heart to Stone- Adele
Where the Sun Never Dies- Blindside
Fame- Citizen Cope
Turn Smile Shift Repeat- Phantom Planet
A-Punk- Vampire Weekend
Undercover- Pete Yorn
Like the 309- Johnny Cash
Ocean Breathes Salty- Modest Mouse
Learn to Fly- Foo Fighters
Down in a Hole- Alice in Chains
Girly- The refreshments
On the Radio- Regina Spektor
Where Eagles Have been- Wolfmother
Sparks- Coldplay
Sometimes (Lester Piggot)- James
Resurrect Me- Jon Foreman
Far Behind- Eddie Vedder

Kindergarten!

Well, today was the big day. Merrick woke up MUCH MUCH better (Praise God) and was ready to begin her exciting adventures in the Medford School District. After a good breakfast we got dressed and took off. If she was nervous, she sure did not show it! She confidently marched into Oak Grove as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She snuck up behind her beloved teacher and tapped his back. He was happy to see her since she missed yesterday and welcomed her with a big loving hug (which makes us parents feel good). She waved goodbye, got in line and that was it.........her precious little life was changed forever. It's hard to believe our sweetheart is in school. I am having trouble with this one. She is my precious, little sweet thing. She is my love bug. She is my schoolgirl????? I pray she will be ok. I pray she will be happy. I pray, pray, pray...... What we did NOT prepare for was her baby sister's reaction. Haddie is SOOOO sad to be alone at home. It is hard. It feels a little empty. She is moping around saying "I want sissy...". Thank you God for my perfect family!

No go for Kindergarden

Today was SUPPOSED to be my precious Merr Bear's 1st day of school. Today she was to embark into the world of kindergarden. But...alas, it is a no go :(

She woke up REALLY sick last night, having a serious struggle to breathe, and quite frankly scared the crap out of us! She seems a little better today. She is praying to get better and into her classroom! She is so excited to start. last week she went to an assement they have for all incoming students. When the teacher brought her out she told me "We decided that she is the ONE student we are ALL fighting for this year. Everyone wants her in our class. That smile and energy just lit up the whole room!".....boy was I a proud daddy, and I have to say I totally agree :)

Here she is on her 1st sick day:

Jude's First Day

Time is flying by way too quick. I remember like yesterday Jude and Jessie walking from the van for his first day of Kindergarden. Somehow, I have blinked my eyes and he is in 2nd grade. He has proven to be an excellent student excelling at reading and overall politeness. He is a teacher's dream. After a rough 1st grade teacher I am proud to announce that he LOVES his teacher this year. Jessie walked him to school on day one and was VERY thrilled that he even held her hand the whole way!
What a sweet boy. here he is:

Just a small town girl......

Merrick and Leela break some Journey off, GLEE style:

Pannell Camping Trip 2010

It was the 1st ever time for our whole family to hit the great Oregon outdoors to camp in the brisk mountain air. Check it out: