From the Kid File

Well we have entered, or shall I say continue to enter, the ever increasing activity list that is part of this eras child developmental cycle. Our eldest (6) is now in basketball, which I think is hilarious. Truth is, I am very proud of her. She really likes to practice her dribbling and running and really loves the whole deal. Seeing the joy that she experiences is a great parental experience, and this seems to be a father daughter connection point she really likes. Very cool.

The Trio Returns!

Well the Great Wodden Trio, one of my favourite names for a group, dropped by with their brand of story telling and music and brought wisdom, humour and inspiration to our church last night. I haven't got the count, but it was well attended.

Had the opportunity to go out after for some wings with the band. A great time of catching up on old times and hearng the massive history that this group of guys has together. For sure it is part of the unseen appeal of this group. May they do this for a very long time to come.

Thanks guys. www.greatwoodentrio.com

A Great Read

Some my wife dictated that life had become to work-centric, to the point where my recreational reading was to educationallly or carrer based. In short, I was not leaving work at work enough. I am a Pastor, you see the challenge.

Regardless she picked out a book for me based on another passion - coffee. "The Coffee Trader" by David Liss. link



By puritanical standards this book might not pass the test of cleaniliness, but by reality and life's standards it felt quite accurate. Ultimately, however, it was masterfully written and a great, if short due my enthusiasm, read.

I mostly include this because I am very uninteresting sometimes in my blog and write too much of the gig life and not enough of the "mundane" and frankly lately I feel my "deep thoughts" are as deep as the groove in my front hall tile.

Alas, I am happily diverted. Have a great day.

Peace.

The Great Wooden Trio

Well, I thought I might as well advertise for friends considering they are coming to our church this Sunday night @ 7pm. The Great Wooden Trio will be performing (and I will most likely join them on a number - no guarantees) at Valleyview Alliance Church. It is a free 'show' and will be one of the most entertaining you will expereince for some time.

We hosted these fellows recently and could not resist having them back. It is a Christmas theme so it a great way to start you celebrating this season.

www.thegreatwoodentrio.com

Can you hear me now?

This one has two themes. First is the 100 Huntley Street thing. It was a real blast to do. As I mentioned before, I think, it was my first time being interviewed at length on Huntley and I was nervous. It seemed to go very well. You can check it out on their site and download the whole show if you want. link You can also view it right from here streaming, by clicking on this link.

Secondly I have finally bought a webcam. Way behind the times I know, but I finally come to the place where it is necessary for cheap, visual, cross-country communication (video conference) and I have purchased a cheap logitech camera to see how it flies in general. Alas, I have now done a test via msn (oneway) and it seems pretty cool. The next thing is a true conference. Can you hear me now?

100 Huntley Tomorrow, Etobicoke on Saturday

I am very excited about going on 100 Huntley tomorrow, looking forward to bringing my percussionist, Kevin Jongsma, with me. Really cool. I am interested in the whole experience as I have never been the interview guest on 100 Huntley, although I have been a musical guest several times. Hopefully God will use what is said and done to touch someone - that's my prayer. Show times are through this link. (it does repeat at night many places)

I am also singing at Hilltop Bible Chapel (Torotno area) on Saturday night with an acoustic band. If you want to come out you can get directions through this link. I think the tickets are around $6-8 at the door, I will confirm tomorrow. Love to see you there.

Peace.

Lots of Things Coming

I have a few things coming up that I thought you should know about. This Saturday I am doing a fundraising event for the Neighbourlink churches in Newmarket at Newmarket Alliance Church. I am doing several songs as part of a greater event. I am also going to be on national television next week on 100 Huntley Street, both as the musical guest, and being interviewed. Lastly, I have a gig in Etobicoke at Hilltop Bible Chapel. It should be an amazing intimate "unplugged" thing with acoustic guitar, percussion/drums, and myself on piano and vocals. I think it would be a great event to catch a different side of the music.

Anyway, just thought I would give a quick update to keep you in the loop and informed.

I am on the charts at Indieheaven again, but a long way down. If you think of it you can vote once a day at Indieheaven Radio. Just look for my song "We Cry Out", click on it, look for my CD at the top and vote 5 stars and watch it climb!!

Fun Stuff

I am starting to build out links to friends and other things I am doing on my website. It is really at the new stage but there are a couple of things you can check out through the page now. I will try to keep building and updating as things go on.

Have fun. link

The Church

I think the thing I love most about the church when it works well is the relationships, both deep and new, that transcend circumstance and unite us. I was able to go to a sister church in London this past weekend and teach and lead worship with their people. It was a great experience (for me anyway). The thing about God working in peoples' lives is it is real, it shows. I was blessed to know them, even at the level I was knowing them at, and God was definitively working in their lives. Man that's cool.

What's also cool is coming home. Came into church Sunday morning and interacted with many people from the home church. Same thing, God working in peoples' lives. The excitement of God at work. So good to see the fruit of Christian living up front and centre!

On the road again

So this weekend is going to be a blast. I am in London, ON doing a worship workshop and then doing a worship concert with the folk from the church I am at. I am really looking forward to meeting all these fellow padres in worship and music.

I am finding all of the travel right now refreshing. It is constantly rejeuvenating the creative juices. Writing songs like crazy. Anyway, I will let you know how it goes.

Oh yeah, don't be afraid to keep voting for the new song on the Indieheaven radio show, "We Cry Out".

Peace.

Preaching and Such

I preached last Sunday morning for the first time in the morning service at my church. I haven't tallied how many times in this past year I have preached at the Coffee House, but it should be up in the teens. Nevertheless, it is a different vibe speaking to a bigger crowd at two services than to 20 to 30 in an intimate setting. Frankly, it is easier to speak to a larger crowd, at least it was for me.

The point, though, was the learning. Now hopefully people got some good content from the way that I spoke from the Bible. The positive, strong and plentiful feedback would indicate that was the case - very encouraging. It was also encouraging to feel like that forum was not above me, that I was well received and effective.

Preaching in a church environment is not about ego or status, but when you feel like God has laid on your heart the desire to share His word, and has given you the ability to communicate it - it is a very fulfilling thing to get the opportunity to do it. Fun, really fun.