What...an update...WHOA!

Greetings Blog-world!
It has been quite sometime since I last updated. My utmost apologies to the two of you who regularly check this site for updates. Needless to say, life has been quite busy, QUITE BUSY, since I last updated back in September...Marriage, work, ministry, and a particularly difficult semester of grad school, among other things has more or less, unfortunately, pushed the blog virtually off of my radar. Perhaps soon I will get back into the habit of updating more regularly.
As I write this, it is nearly 2am on Thursday, 11.30.06, it is sleeting outside, and I am working on three research projects.
1.) An analysis of Faure's requiem...

2.) A research paper on Bach the theologian and his setting of scriptural texts in his sacred motets, BWV 225-230

3.) Conducting preparation for a final in which I will conduct portions of the Brahms and Faure Requiems, as well as Mendelssohn's Elijah and the St. John Passion.

For now, enjoy these two pictures... More to come later...maybe!

Rumors are in fact true...I can't dance....














But my dad and father-in-law chose to make the deal, instead of choosing what was behind Monty Hall's door #3!



Writings to come...Match Game on DVD and Bob Barker's retirement (Mourning covers the land!)

He's Back...and He's Married!

WOW...
The last month has been a whirlwind. From Trips to the Emergency room with a bloody nose to a wedding and honeymoon and to the grief of losing a grandmother-in-law, it has been an amazing last few weeks! God is faithful!

All I can say is that the wedding and party/reception afterwards was abosolutely amazing! I have never had so much fun in my life! My closest friends around me celebrating perhaps the most important day of my life and then partying til midnight! It couldnt get any better! We are now, after two days of driving and an extended post-honeymoon stay in Chicago to celebrate the life of Meghan's grandmother who died unexpectedly while we were in Grand Cayman/Jamaica, back in Texas trying to get a grip on reality again! We are glad to be home and anxious to face life together!

I will try to post a few of the nearly 2000 pictures that were taken as often as I can. We will start with a few of these.














Here are Meghan's and My Father "making a deal!" (Notice the table card is a game show picture of Monty Hall and the Let's Make A Deal. My Game show fetish led us to name each table after a Game Show!)




Here is a picture of Meghan and I dancing our way into the reception.









Us leaving the Church...






















Some of the folks who came up from Arlington!


















And "they" say Church of Christ folk can't dance...HA! What do "they" know?











Mother of the Bride...















Mother of the Groom...










I could post so many more. I think it is so obvious just in these few pictures just what an awesome time we, and everyone else, had!

I am married! Unbelievable!
More to come...

For your viewing pleasure

Today, I give you this jewel for your viewing pleasure!

Today's New Picture

Ok...So on Tuesday, we went and looked at some engagement pictures, and ORDERED them! Some of them turned out great! When we get those, I will post them! But for today...something completely different! This is Meghan, myself and her best friend Beth (a.k.a. Bethis) back during spring break at the Bin 36 in Lincolnshire! Awesome restaurant...I mean AWESOME!

YEAH FOR PICTURES

OK...Here is a picture...Not my first choice, but one that is on the computer at my office from like, December! So, I'm not a big fan, don't think Meghan is either, but it is a picture!

We had engagement pictures taken yesterday, so when I get those, perhaps I will post one of them!

Thanks to Sarah the Stirman-ator for helping me get to picture posting!
This could be fun!!!

Once again...Stay Tuned!

More than a month

Just when you thought I was going to update, another let down! I still have not figured out how to post pictures. Hopefully, will do soon! Maybe my friend Ryan will help me!

Stay tuned...And yes, I am still getting married in 71 days!

djb

Details from her mouth

Okay, so he's not giving you details, well I will! DJ proposed at the Keg in Fort Worth. He arranged it so we were seated in front of the fireplace!!! I knew something was up because the boy was quiet! He's never quiet! Anyway! After we had a wonderful steak dinner the waiter came out with a special dessert. We didn't order dessert (DJ did though!) It was a rectangular plate divided into 3 sections. On the left was a wonderful chocolate mousse pyramid, the right a turtle brownie and in the center was the ring! He then proceeded to come around to my side of the table and get down on one knee! The boy done good!
So far we know that we will get married on July 15th in Chicago where I am from. And yes that would be the July that is 4 months away! I know we are crazy! Do we know anymore than that, like a specific location or time, No! But the fact that we know what city and date is a huge thing! When we know more I will be sure to make DJ post it!
Have a wonderful week!
Meghan

Guess What...

As of Friday at 1036pm...I AM ENGAGED!
More details to come...

Happy February 28th!

Have you ever noticed that even though teachers slammed and crammed into our brains that this month is supposed to be pronounced "Feb-roo-eh-ree" we usually only refer to it as such on the first or second day and then we fall right back into our "Feb-you-aree" pronunciation? It was obviously not a Texan who named this month!

Well, I just got back from a swift, but exciting musical vacation to New York City! What a blast!
Thursday: NY Philharmonic, with Soprano Dawn Upshaw
Friday: Yale University presents "Marriner Conducts Mozart" (THIS DAY included the highlight of my musical career in getting to spend a few minutes one on one with who some regard as the greatest Mozart Conductor of our time, Sir Neville Marriner, and I have a picture to prove it! As soon as I can learn to post pics, you can be certain it will be seen here...
Saturday morning: Sight Seeing
Sat. afternoon: Metropolitan Opera, second row, for Saint Saens' "Samson et Dalila"
(And after enough high-brow entertainment...)
Sat. Evening: Monty Python's SPAMALOT
Sunday and Monday: More sight-seeing (2 hour outside bus tour in 22 degree weather w/5 degree wind chill, I still can't feel my legs! Empire State Building, Staten Island Ferry/Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge [which I walked], Ground Zero, St. Patrick's Cathedral)

It was quite a trip!
Missed my Meghan though...Glad to be home, miss the Cold weather!

Happy Valentine's Day...

Happy valentine's day, M! Our first date was 4 months ago tonight! And time has flown! I Love you!

Thank the good Lord, I no longer celebrate this day as "Single's Awareness Day!"

Missional Reflection..."Let Us Be You"

A few passages of refection on how are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, incarnation, on this earth.

"Arise, Jerusalem! Let Your light shine for all nations to see! For the glory of the LORD is shining upon you. Darkness as black as night will cover all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD will shine over you! All nations will come to your light. Mighty kings will come to see your radiance." (Isaiah 60:1-3)

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion 'Your God reigns!'" (Isaiah 52:7 TNIV)

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot...You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do pepole light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven!" (Matthew 5:13-16 TNIV)

I borrow this prayer from Clarissa Cox in her song, "Let Us Be You!"
Live in our hearts, fill this body.
Stir our spirits, help us serve,
Walk with our feet to the hurting,
Use our blessings to bring justice,
Let us be you, revive your church!
Let us be you on this earth.
Let us be you...when a wounded soul cries out for hope,
Let us be you...when the lonely need to know they're not alone!
Just as your stars pierced through the night,
Let us forever shine your light!
Let us be you, on this earth!

The Prayer of a Missional Worshipper

I borrow today's [first] post from a worship prayer of St. Augustine.

"My whole heart I lay upon the altar of thy praise,
a whole-burnt offering of praise I offer to thee...
Let the flame of thy love...set on fire my whole heart,
let nought in me be left to myself,
nought wherein I may look to myself, but may I wholly burn towards thee,
Wholly be on fire toward thee, wholly love thee,
as though set on fire by thee."

Missional Worship and Reflection, Part Two

Here is another thought to help us spend some time in reflection.

Author Marva Dawn has had her fair share of physical maladies in life…Limited exposure to light, and other physical handicaps.

She writes the following in an article on Worship to Form A Missional Community.

“One of the problems arising from many congregations’ emphasis on emotions is that it leaves out those who are at the moment struggling with the opposite feelings or encountering experiences that call those emotions into question. For example, if you tell me that I should get all excited about Jesus when I am battling with anger at God because of a new physical malady (my handicaps already seem legion!), your invitation will only make me more depressed. If, on the other hand, you show me some objective truth about God that can produce in me the hope for his presence in the midst of the new tribulation, then I might be able to move away from anger and into a more positive response.”

[REALLY LISTEN TO HER NEXT THOUGHT]

“That is why the content of our worship music and preaching must proclaim primarily the splendor of God, rather than our feelings about him. (I am not excluding feelings; they simply are not as important as the One whose splendor stirs them.)”

Do you have any thoughts about this article? I am going to try, key word being “try,” to do more things like this to help us think in a missional way about worship. Please take some time and spend it daily reflecting on worship and the mission of God…

Missional Worship...Reflection, Part One

As I have spent considerable time over the last few days in preparing to speak at a worship conference next weekend, I have been immersed in thinking about, praying about, and discerning about mission and worship, as well as missional worship. I am increasingly convinced that we need to hold each other accountable to being committed to planning worship that not only spiritually shapes and forms disciples, but worship that equips God’s people, the body of Christ, to be the body, hands, feet, smile and words of Jesus Christ in the world, to be “players” or participants in the mission of God.

We need to be thinking about worship and worship planning in a more missional way.


How do we do this?


Songs? Prayers? Images? Fellowship? The Supper?


What kinds of words are we using in the assembly?


Are we missionally framing the opening and closing, the “welcoming” and “sending” portions of our assemblies?

Are we focusing on the table of the Lord as something that isn’t exclusive, but rather welcoming?

Is it understood by every worshipper in the church that a worship that equips people for participating in the mission of God is not merely contained in a few minutes a week within a building? But is rather a life of worship, living like Jesus did, talking to whom Jesus talked, and walking where Jesus walked…

Lord, may we look beyond ourselves and worship for sake of others, for the sake of the world. May we be shaped into your image so that we can live out what it means to be the body of Christ. May we discern what your will is for us as a worshipping community and what will help us to equip the body of Christ to participate in your mission. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Happy Thursday

Well, they did it...Those perennial non-big game-winning Texas Longhorns won the biggest game of all on the world-wide stage last night...Hook-em! And yes, I am wearing one of my 40+ articles of orange clothing today!
As Meghan and I sat watching the game last night, I was just amazed at how in control Vince Young was of the game and of his team...He is gonna make some NFL team VERY VERY happy in coming years.
Life is GREAT...Work is OK...Meghan is, to quote Wicked's wonderful wizard, "WONDERFUL!"
I am a blessed man!
Happy Thursday BLOG World!

2 Months plus 2 days!

What a quick 2 months it has been...2 Months Wednesday Meghan and I celebrated 2 months! Yes, of course...me being the romantic that I am, her day began with flowers at her school...Her co-teachers apparently think I am quite the Cassanova...Anyway, that is beside the point. We are incredibly happy and feel blessed by God to have each other! Loveya freck!

Now...to business.
We are T minus 48 hours exactly from the beginning of our Christmas Musical here at North Davis. IF you had asked me last Friday if I thought we would pull it off, I probably would have said no...but today, I update the "Collapse Warning," to borrow a phrase from Randy Galloway, to MAYBE! We had a good rehearsal with both groups of Kids and the Adult Choirs on Wednesday night and spent last night doing essentially a tech rehearsal...got two great tech guys! Have new lighting system in Worship center for this show...It will be...[gulp] "cute!"

Come see us on Sunday if you are close here at North Davis for "Operation Baby-King!"
Happy Holidays!

Happy Turkey Day

Well...happy turkeyday eve everyone! Had to post an update today, so here goes!

Short and sweet...

9am this morning...GULP!

"What is significant about that," you may ask? It was the last time until Sunday evening sometime that I will see my Meghan. She met her parents in Tulsa for thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving Freck (and Andersons!)

Swiftly approaching two months in our relationship and I "couldn't be happier." Life is Good, God is Good, Life is God, God is Life, ITS ALL GOOD!

Maybe your thanksgiving, like mine, will be truly filled with the stark realization of how truly blessed we really are!

Happiness is...

Well,
Here we are again!
23 Days into a most wonderful relationship with Meghan, I can still proudly say I am happier than I have been in who knows how long! She has a wonderful personality, her heart for hurting people and kids in difficult circumstances cuts me to the core, and what a Christ-like example she sets for me! I am a very blessed man! As my friend Gil Peters would say, "I am BLESSED by the BEST!" School, UNT, very busy..Things at church, improving--going well, and life is...as they say...simply "maahvelous!"

Ah...to be Happy!

Well...
I won't make this a long one. But I just have to say...that this special lady in my life, Meghan, is UNBELIEVABLE!

It is so wonderful, no, it is absolute bliss, to have someone who appreciates me for who I am and does not expect me to be someone else...Someone who appreciates chivalry, and just genuine care! She is amazing! And I am very happy...Hard to believe it hasnt even been 3 weeks yet! This is easily the best relationship, healthiest relationship, and genuinely cared-for relationship ever for me! YAY! Who knew something could be this wonderful...wow, do I sound mushy!

More to come...

Day 5

Well...
I am now five days into utter and supreme happiness! Meghan continues to amaze me...Her sense of humor, smile, and just sweet disposition simply makes me smile from ear to ear...I don't know that I have ever been this happy in a relationship of this sort! I can't wait to see what lies ahead. Last night we prayed that God would be the author of our relationship and it feels wonderful to have a relationship based on those kinds of principles. Whoever you may be reading this blog, I can't wait for you to meet her! She is just flat out special!
On a ligher note, I am thrilled at how our worship planning team came back from the ZOE conference in Nashville last week, all 15 of them, completely inspired to worship at a different level. We have had two really incredible planning and vision sessions and again, I can't wait to see where God is taking our church.

To borrow a phrase from someone pretty special...
"Life is Good!"