The I Heart Revolution - United (B-)

I’ve never been a big fan of compilation albums that put together songs you have heard before from various artists original albums and provide very little new for the listener (read: Passion, WOW, et al). I’m not a fan of “best of” albums mostly because it is a sign the artist is on their way out. But for whatever reason, I bought this album and I like it. Maybe it is the encompassing international unity message or maybe because there are a ton of songs on here I rarely listen but love. Whatever it is, it got me. I guess record labels still know how to get the consumers money.

It was a nice Mother’s Day. We chose to give one big gift to one deserving mom instead of splitting the money up and buying all the mom’s flowers like is typically done. We also didn’t want to do that because it is typically done. However, I still think our kids area got a hold of a ton of flowers and gave each child one to give to his or her mom. And Michaels’ message…was on why men hate going to church based on the book by the same title. Very well done.

Here is the set list:

• We Stand (Lee McD)
• My Savior Lives (Desperation Band)
• O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Crowder)
• Awesome is the Lord Most High (Tomlin)

I’ve posted a few times about how much I like and/or have been frustrated with Renewed Vision’s software software. Recently I had the opportunity to sit down and spend more time than I ever have before just checking out the features on ProPresenter 3. Oh my goodness, I feel like a whole new world has been opened up to me. It is now official. Without a doubt, ProPresenter is hands down the best lyric presentation software available.

Trust me, I’m not saying that lightly. I’ve used just about everything out there - many times - and none of them even come close. Why? Well, for one thing most of them are for WIndows systems only and I’m not even going to begin to explain again why that is a disadvantage. PP3 has always looked slick and been easy to use but now that I have seen the light with some of the features I wonder if most of their users even know about, I am singing it’s praises and will be using it exclusively when I travel this summer.

Here are some of my now favorite features:

1. Song Automation - insert an audio track (i.e. click track) and record when the slides are supposed to change. Yes, exactly what you are thinking. You can even make it so the words change color or light up as you sing them (i.e. bouncing ball effect).
2. Countdown Timer - with it’s built into countdown generator, you can insert a clock or countdown on top of anything. Mess around with this for a minute and you’ll see how useful it is.
3. DVD Clips - Instead of having to rip sections of a DVD for a short clip, you can set in/out points in PP3 and it will play them directly from the DVD.
4. Live Video Feed - hook up a video signal via firewire or SDI and you can overlay text on a live feed.

There are so many other little things I love (i.e. color coding song sections, quick editing, common sense video library, playlists) that I regret ever saying anything negative about any Renewed Vision products. Just remember - the Apple Button is the most important button.

Now that my son is riding the bike like an up and coming Evil Knievel, I have got the bug worse than ever. You can’t really tell by looking at me (very frustrating) but I’ve been working out like crazy trying to trim down and prepare for some insane 150 mile charity ride some of the guys from church have got me all worked up about being a part of. Problem is, I don’t have a bike. Well, I do have a bike, but it is cheap and broken, and not something you ride in a road race unless you beggin’ for pain, discomfort and a guaranteed last place finish. So I’m trying to find something like the picture above but in the $300-it’s-just-sitting-in-my-garage-but-i-paid-a-fortune-for-it kind of range.

Anyone know anyone who’s looking to get rid of a nice road bike to a broke broke?

God has been taking me a rollercoaster ride for about a week now.

Life changing, but it is still difficult. I haven’t even talked to my wife about it (though I guess I’ll be getting some questions after she reads this - I love you).

The question I keep asking myself…”How long?“

Final mixes were finished tonight and next week it will be mastered and printed. That could take 2-3 weeks. Just a little more patience and it will be here. But then you’ll have to wait a bit more. The official release will be this summer when it is posted on iTunes, amazon.com, independentbands.com and other music distribution sites online.

We’ll have a CD release concert and announce the date soon, so keep checking back.

Time for me to lose some weight!

I’ve admitted for years that I am addicted to food. It is without a doubt my biggest weakness - food is my drug. People who defend smoking and alcohol consumption often use the amazingly bad-for-you foods most people eat as a counterargument. And they should. The majority of the foods Americans eat are not healthy. Even some of the foods labeled healthy are not healthy. Let’s face it, the food giants are in the business to make money and they have done and will continue to do a lot of dirty tricks to try and convince you to buy their products. I for one have fallen for it hook line and sinker far to long

So what am I doing about it? I have decided to take some advice I heard recently that had nothing to do with dieting and apply it to all my habits - change “should” to “must.” Every time I think, “I should do that,” I am going to train myself to believe “I MUST do that.” A should is weak. A must is much stronger. For years I’ve told myself I should lose weight or I should get in shape and now I am saying I MUST. And I am.

I’ve been in a heavy duty workout routine for about two months now and I am about to start and very difficult diet to try and rid my body of 25 years of toxins and water retention. Pray for me. This is obviously not an easy decision. I love food. But I believe I can not give God all of me until I am willing to let go of the one thing I know is still holding me down.

Originally I was told I only lost about 750-1000 cc’s of blood and not near a liter. However, after doing some calculations based on the estimations they gave me at “ground-zero” and then later at the ER, the numbers say I lost almost a liter of blood. Considering the human body only has 6 liters total, that is a pretty significant amount.

For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, let me recap in short form since people hate long blog posts.

1. I scratched what looked like a black zit on my leg. It bled a little.
2. A week later, I scratched the scab formed from above scratch and a stream of blood shot out of my leg like a tiny faucet being turned on full blast.
3. Hundreds of napkins later among 10-15 onlookers at a local gas station, the EMT guys showed up, put on some goggles (because it was still spraying - but now more like a pin hole in a coke can), bandaged me up, and sent me to the ER.
4. Doctor told me I had ruptured a varicose vein (i.e. all the blood above my shin was spitting out a hole the size of a ballpoint pen) that had surfaced on my leg (NOTE: don’t scratch black zits on skin).
5. Nurse cleaned my leg up, put on a band-aid, and sent me on my way.
6. Stood up and it ruptured again (the blood in the picture came out in about 3 seconds).
7. Nurse held the hole in my leg for 30 minutes so blood would clot.
8. Got more than a band-aid and was finally allowed to go home

Pretty crazy, huh? I never got woozy or passed out, but my wife sure came close. She probably will not even read this post.

So…the guy who invented the Segway has got a brain on his shoulders. No one can argue that. My wife and I first became aware of his talents when we got to see a demonstration of a wheelchair he developed that could stand on its own, balance itself without falling over even when pushed hard, and even climb stairs. For those keeping up, those same ideas and technology were eventually put into the aforementioned personal transportation device. Well, it seems the neurons were firing once again as Dean Kamen has now released a new invention that can convert ANY liquid (including wine) into clean drinking water (get the joke) and enough electricity to power 70 light bulbs. On top of that, Kamen claims it will only cost $1000-2000 when available.

So…how many churches are ready to line up and buy cargo holds full of these devices to help struggling people groups around the world? Check out the video of him on Colbert.

Sunday - Tree63 (B+)

I’ve been a fan of Tree63 for sometime. They sound ridiculously full live as only a three-piece band and I love to lead worship with some of their songs. Their last couple of albums had a lot of repeats so I was excited to get this new studio album full of all new music (even though I’m picking it up it a little late). My thoughts? I like it a lot. There is a fair amount of predictability. Not as many songs that I can include in my Sunday sets than they previously provided, but - killer melodies, fun tunes, great message - I’m glad I got it. The title track, World Undone and Not As This World are my favorites.

As I’m writing this, I’m thinking how much people are going to rip my album apart. Criticism is an artist’s best friend.

Great Sunday! It was nice to play behind the scenes and sit in during the worship instead of leading. We participated in communion for the first time in the Leaf’s history (on Sunday morning). Outside of everyone drinking out of one cup, I thought the way we presented the elements was right on. I understand the whole health/germ thing, I am just think people should suck it up and get over it - or at least have faith God will protect them while they are participating in the Eucharist. That might even be a good way to filter out those who probably shouldn’t participate. Now I’m stepping on toes. I’ll move on.

Here was the set:

• Where the Streets have No Name (U2 - want to guess who led this week?)
• Burn For You (Fee)
• Nothing But the Blood (Even Adam arrangement - very nice)
• Beautiful the Blood (Fee - what can i say, he writes good songs)
• Marvelous Light (Charlie Hall - with long acoustic intro that Michael led - I’ll be looking for chance to preach some day soon )
• Surrender it All (Joel Bridges)

I know I’m not in the same blog-league as this guy or this guy or even this guy but I hope the few of you out there who check in on me from time to time have not abandoned me completely. I’ve been on a very relaxing vacation and instead of performing my usual fill-in-the-dates blogging method, I’m just going to pick up today and get back on pace. I’ve got so much to talk about. God has shown me some really neat things and you’d be suprised how much spiritual application I learned on the Disney cruise. Here is what you can look forward to in the coming days:

• yes, I went on a Disney cruise with my family and I’ll tell you all about it.
• album update - days from being finished
• the wellness triangle and how it can apply to just about everything in life
• the crazy story of the vein that busted in my leg (I’ve got pictures)
• what is this detox thing I’m putting my body through?
• Kevin Max, United, Tree 63 and several other new albums get reviewed
• what I’m learning from the sermon on the mount
• 142 tough questions for Christians from a self-proclaimed witch that I’d like to answer
• tidbits from some books I’m reading
• family news (as always - but maybe something unexpected )

That’s it! We are done in the studio. It is late and I will do my best to stay awake on the way home. Good news is, all the mixing is done. We’ll “live with” the tracks for about a week, take one more day to polish any minor tweaks we find between now and then, finalize the best order of songs as well as finish up the artwork, and then we’ll send it off to be mastered and printed. Worst case scenario, it should be in my hands end of May.

So…should I start planning a CD release party?

Well, it has been a long time coming, but we are putting down final mixes the next few days at Steve Thomason’s studio in Cumming. Killer place. We’re working with Russ Fowler. He mixed my last studio project and won out as our favorite again in a bid battle from two other mixers. It is a long way out here from my humble abode. Maybe I’ll stop by the Premier Outlets on the way home and by me some bargain clothes. Or not.