Updates

WOW...SO- life has been interesting as of late. Let's see if I can start (and keep going) in a sequential order of updates.

Snowboarding
I have recently been snowboarding at Snowshoe resort in WV. This marks a couple of firsts. First time going to snowshoe, first time snowboarding with my dad (who opted to ski) and first time snowboarding to music. All of which made for a very, very exciting trip.

Relying on the shuffle option of my ipod for the day proved to be a mostly exciting experience. In fact, so amped by the music I was, I decided to roll up to the terrain park hoping my playlist would provide some ultimate motivation for the more dangerous of activities on the mountain. Turns out my ipod deemed Pink's "Just Like A Pill" (oh hey, how did that get on there??....) to be the most fitting to the moment. Needless to say, I rolled right through the terrain park...as fast as I could.

Marriage
Not exactly fitting in the order format, but I have been reflecting on our almost 1 year of marriage. Exciting, interesting, and over all a huge blessing/gift from God. I stick with my original assessment of marriage being the few things in life that actually meet and surpass the hype and build up to it. I'm a lucky man.

Reading
Gotten back into that. So far I finished The Case for Christ, and The Case for Faith (Lee Strobel) and am currently working on Quitter (Jon Acuff) Which does not directly apply to my job situation, but has awesome views and ideas I find interesting. How to not hate a job you don't feel called to, and how to practically pursue your dream job. Very good so far!

Worship
This past Sunday was my very first opportunity to play keyboard with Crossroads Church!! This has been my active pursuit for the past couple of months, and my secret passion for years. What's particularly interesting about this pursuit is the fact that fear wasn't enough to dissuade me from going for it, and there were many reasons to be afraid...

1. I've never played with a live band before
2. I've never had music lessons prior
3. The usual in my head excuse was that I wasn't good/experienced enough.
4. Public performing is terrifying...At first. (amplified that I am clearly the least experienced musician in the bunch)

 But with the help/encouragement of some awesome friends, a sermon on fear and calling, and the incredible patience of our worship leader (heh..) God made it happen. He made it happen. I can't put into words how excited I am for this opportunity to worship God with the gifts He has placed in my life!

 I mean its pretty ridiculous to come from a mindset of "I am nowhere near good enough, or confident enough to pull this off" to actually experience God fulfilling in His own words, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find."

While there is still MUCH work to be done- I am once again reminded of Him placing me exactly where I need to be in this life, while also providing the exact people that need to be there.
  

Life Lately- Boldness And A Passion Pursued.

 -Soul Surfer is a fantastic movie. Carrie Underwood is a great singer. Unfortunately, someone decided to combine the two to create that which would later result in the executive decision to have her go from speaking roles in the first part of the film, to significantly looking at things in the latter. Still a great movie though and worth a watch.

-I have recently been in a lesson about boldness from God. I think the point is- what I would miss in life if I didn't take certain steps (sometimes out of shear terror)...for instance...

•    I would never have met my wife. In fact, I constantly tell her I bet some alternate version of myself is out there somewhere watching my life and kicking himself for never asking her out as he scores his 160th Fantasy Football victory in a row. Awesome? Yes. Guinness worthy? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely not. He knows and weeps this fact.

• I never would have experienced the moment of practicing God of This City with the lead guitarist from Crossroads, to then have the drummer unexpectedly add a beat to our session mid-song. Indescribable, and electrifying really. 

•  I wouldn't get to know people. Hear their stories, and learn from their experiences. 

-Watched the season premier of survivor the other night. Ever wonder how you would socially react on that show? I do. A few seasons back there was a guy who was really interesting socially. He lied, cheated, stole, and promised a lot of people he would take them to the end.(where your fellow survivors get to vote if you win or not) He actually did make it to the end twice (no easy task) only to be shot down by voters who saw him for who he truly was. His claim to the money was that he played the game so well he deserved it, but in the end, non of the jury voted for him because of his character. I find that fascinating.