http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIWs_G4oJaA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLTsefTbL1I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBQPN0rVs1I

i got really pissed yesterday when some dudes were hating on my band. then the longer i thought about it, the more these words were pounded into my head: “in humility, consider others better than yourselves” — “bless those who curse you” — “all that matters is faith expressing itself through love.”  glad i have peace about that.

i better rest my eyes ‘cause i’m growing weary of this point you’ve been trying to make

so rather than imply, why don’t you just verbalize all the things that you’re trying to say

i better check my pride

because i was starting to think that i was onto something good

but things started to slide and i sit here in retrospect,

understanding that i misunderstood

why don’t you come right out and say it?

what it is you’re thinking though i’m thinking it’s not what i want to hear

todaysdocument:

On January 26, 1837 Michigan became the 26th state!

schriemy:

A recording my friend Kurt Roy did for me. :)

this guy. he’s the real deal.

So, I’m in the process of refinishing my drums.  This is the FIRST drum (of five) that is finished with the sanding process, which is definitely the most time-consuming step.  I just figured I’d share what my approach is going to be.

I started with the $40 hand sander, which I used to take off the glittery, clear coat over the actual paint on the drum.  It turns out there’s a really thick layer of primer, paint, and clear coat on the shell of a drum (a drum that doesn’t have a wrap, at least- my friend Spencer recently underwent a similar process with his drums, but they were wrapped rather than painted…lucky).  All he had to do was peel off the wrap and sand off glue residue!  Not so with my drums, unfortunately.  So the sander is used to basically do a lot of the removal of top layers.  I sand with it until I can barely see the wood, then I started with 100-grit sandpaper.  

When all of the paint/primer is off, I went through with 220-grit sandpaper and smoothed out everything.  I’ll probably go over it once more with 220.  

Since I’m probably planning on going with a paint/lacquer rather than a stain, a primer will be next.  I’ll let you know when I get there!

until this year, I didn’t know what it meant to dream.  I’m the most driven I’ve ever been and coincidentally it’s during a time where I’m being challenged more than I’ve ever been (in school, at least).  the future freaks me out yet gives me butterflies.

dream on. 

joshcollesano:

Here is the recap video for this years Fall Retreat “Greater Than”. It was an honor to be able to lead our high school students in worship. Our production team did an incredible job on two back to back weekends worth of students. A HUGE thank you to Sandon, who shot and edited this video. 

THE TEAM

Drums: Drew Stoutenburg

Bass: Ben Dage

Guitars: Joe Mariucci/Justin Thiede

Vocals: Katy Baty/Josh Collesano

Audio/Producer: Kevin Folster

Lighting/Video: Seth Brown

Capture Team: Jordan Kassis/Sandon Voelker

Speaker: EJ Swanson

on the day i called, you answered me

and the hope in my soul increased

i lift my hands and turn my eyes

to the God who heals my heart and gives me peace

you are more than my words could ever say

you are lord over all, over all my days

i will see this season through, i will fix my eyes on you

only you

i worship you and lift you high 

God forever let your name be glorified

i will my voice and sing your name

for you gave your life to cleanse my sin

and took away my shame

hallelujah, the earth will sing

may your name be glorified

i will see this season through, i will fix my eyes on you.  only you.

I’ve been evaluating myself lately.  I’ve been trying hard to examine my ways and behaviors and reactions to certain situations or certain people.  Here is why:

The truth is that we’re supposed to love everybody.  Plain and simple.  Sometimes I try to justify my (often selfish) behavior by thinking to myself, “Oh, ‘love your neighbor’ doesn’t mean I need to be friendly with everybody, it just means don’t be enemies with people.”  But that is terribly misguided.  I’m gently convicted by this:

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…”

Shoot, man.  To walk in the way of love, like Jesus did… huge concept to me.  Does that mean I need to act “this” way?  Or say certain phrases or go to certain places?  Or do certain things for specific people? — my mind instantly starts to analyze and tries to count and quantify the things I need to be doing in order to “live in love” as Jesus did.  But I think that this approach, while well-intentioned, is also slightly misguided.  The main question is how did Jesus love people here on earth?  

by always coming under people in loving service?  yeah.  

by reaching out to the broken, outcasted, mistreated?  yep.

by turning the other cheek when mocked and tormented? …yes.

by ALWAYS considering others before himself?  absolutely.

That’s the kind of love we’re supposed to live in?  God wants me to love like that?

The answer to that is of course, yes.  His life’s example is the definition of “living in love.”

By loving people and staying connected to him, we “bear fruit” like a tree.  Except even better and sweeter!  The kind that people instantly identify as other-worldly and not natural or instinctual human behavior: love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness begin to overflow and reveal themselves in our lives.  

It’s often through our “fruit” that God is seen by people around us.  

I want to draw out a goal for my life and hopefully yours.  This was shown to me by my friend and mentor Josh: 

God is love, right?  Duh.  Okay, well here are some of Love’s attributes:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Beautiful, really.  But if we are to always reflect Christ (who is Love), then we too need to live lives describable as such:

“I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, I do not boast, I am not proud.  I do not dishonor others, I am not self-seeking, I am not easily angered, I keep no record of wrongs.  I do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth.  I always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere.”