Fall Brawl Tour

POD is on the verge of releasing their brand new album in January 2006. In the meantime, they are touring with Staind and two other bands to help promote the release of this new album, "Testify." The closest they come to Illinois during this tour is Denver and Dallas. Hopefully this spring they'll be able to make it even closer with a brand new tour.

Fall Brawl Tour

Songs from Africa

This past Friday evening, our church hosted an event for the whole Carbondale community. It was time of worship and spiritual engagement as we experienced the African Children's Choir. I highly recommend checking them out if you ever get a opportunity to experience them. It's very humbling to see that our own way of worship is not the only way of worship... many cultures are so diverse, yet so sincere, in their pursuit of our Lord.

Songs from Africa

Hey... just want to give a "shout out" to my good friend and fellow brother, Joe, out in Pittsburgh, PA. We had a super time on Sunday... thanks for taking me to the church where you do ministry and for din din that night at the Hard Rock. It was great seeing you, Rachel, and Carissa. The Steeler game that Sunday was WAY COOL! I thought I might have to be escorted out of Heinz Field in an armored tank division because the Steelers lost in overtime, but it was still a lot of fun.

I don't know about all of you, but I really enjoy days like today. It's Friday for one, but it is definitely fall outside, and I've been waiting for this for a long time. It's very chilly, breezy, overcast, and drizzly outside. Summers are good and I totally live it up in the summers, but when fall comes around, I always get excited.

Some of you I have been able to keep up with, while others, this may be the first time you've heard from me since college. Well, to make one huge story short, here goes a summation of the last few years of life:

- Summer of 2002 - Moved from NH back home to OK to spend some quality time with my family and gain a sense of where God could really use me in full-time student ministry. I worked for a year as a courier in a medical nuclear lab - the same lab my sister works for, and I absolutley loved it.

- Spring of 2003 - Was offered a job in Pensacola, FL, but it just didn't feel right. Some (and even myself) would later call me crazy for turning it down because of its location, but I really had a hard time feeling like I could be myself in that ministry situation.

- Summer of 2003 - An "open window" of oppurtunity made itself known to me through J. Luzadder about a possible new position in Carbondale, IL. I was completely turned off by moving to a small town environment (especially in the midwest), but thought I'd stretch and challenge myself and expect the unexpected.

- Later that summer - Decided to take this opportunity and it has been great ever since. A fellow alum from our alma mater (Brooks Wilson - as the lead minister) came here 6 months prior to when I accepted this position. He and I have had a lot of moments of growth, learning, and good times as we partner together in this ministry.

- Summer of 2003 through present - Done a lot of things, been a lot of places, met a lot of people, created some great memories, and have gone through some really cool and fun experiences... while also going through some very undesirable, yet growing experiences as well.

As of this past Monday, I came back from a Youth Specialties conference in Pittsburgh, PA. Met and shared a room with my good buddy from Jacksonville, FL - Howie. It was a lot of fun... I have always really enjoyed the perspectives and opportunities YS gives through their website, their resources, and their conferences. Heard the typical line-up in the main sessions (i.e. - Doug Fields and a few others), but was able to go hear Dan Kimball and his view on the emerging culture, as well as Walt Mueller and his paradigm for bridging the Gospel with that of teen/pop culture.

I'll float around my ideas and experiences from the conference. It helped give some peace to some personal restlessness while also reaffirming desires I have in the long-term pursuit of ministry and life.

Tonight, the African Children's Choir is performing in our brand new auditorium in our brand new building. So, this ought to be pretty cool. Everyone's pretty excited....

Happy Friday everybody!

Yeah, who knows how well, and quite honestly, how often I'll maintain this "glimpse" into my life via this blog, but I'll at least give it a try.