My Body, Soul, and Mind Guard

My kids love to practice their independence. They push boundaries. They don't want help if they think they can do it themselves. Part of my role is to protect them, to keep watch over them, to guard them. Sure there's a balance to overprotectedness (care vs. worry/fear). They simply need special care at this stage of their life.

I need special care too. I find myself with my kids' mentality when it comes to God's protection. Sometimes I don't know I'm in danger. The fact is, I'm ALWAYS in danger. Like my kids, I like my independence. I push boundaries. I don't want help because I think I can do it on my own.

The Bible says the Lord will strengthen and protect me from evil (But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. - 2 Thessalonians 3:3). The question is do I live my life like I understand and believe this as real truth - that I don't have the strength or the ability to provide protection for myself?

Do I write this because I'm done something or am hiding something? No. But I'm not perfect. Never will be. That's why I need God in my life. I simply was reminded lately that I should submit myself to God's strength and protection. I can't survive without it.

God, thank You for being there to protect me and guard me. Thank You for your faithfulness to me in the past, present, and in the coming years. I have a need for Your protection from the Evil One. Satan is out there to get me. To see me stumble. To make me fall. Thank You for helping me Lord. You are always there for me. Thank You for your strength...I need it. I'll submit to Your ways instead of finding ways on my own. Thanks for sticking with me.

Final 2007 Christmas Light Show Videos

A big thank you to Matt Ottman for uploading the final videos of TBC's Christmas light show. Plus an interview that I never saw before. Thanks Matt!

Interview by KSNT Channel 27 NBC

Part 1 of 3

Part 2 of 3

Part 3 of 3

Visual Bible Cross-Referenced Names

I'm not sure how it works, but Chris Harrison at Carnagie Mellon has put together an arc diagram of a compiled a list of cross-references found in the Bible. Amazing.

http://www.chrisharrison.net/projects/bibleviz/

You know, when you're...

You know, when you're driving down the road and you want to post a blog, I thought I would try up this new thing from Jott.com that would allow me to call in my blog post. So, if you're reading this, and it is all written out correctly, great. listen

Powered by Jott

Is This What Heaven Will Be Like?

Just discovered that there's a wifi (wireless internet) signal at Burger King. Is this what heaven will be like?

A Word About Polka Praise

OK folks. The accordion has appeared 2-3 times at Topeka Bible Church in the last 9 months. And now - the Polka Mass Poll Results are in. While we didn't do true polka (except for that dandy greeting music) - the accordion really has a nice flavor. Who woulda thunk it - polka one weekend, Jewish music the next.

Name That Tune - via cell phone

How many times have you heard a song and wished you knew who it was or wished you could get it before you forget it? Now you can with 411 song. Simply hold your cell phone up to the car radio and in 15 seconds get a text message with what song it is. For a fee of course.

http://www.411song.com/

It's Finally Here - Light Show Video

OK folks - sorry for the wait. Here's the light show video from Topeka Bible Church (Topeka, KS). I can only put up the first song since YouTube only allows 10 minutes max. Entire show is 15 minutes. Enjoy the first song.

Bryan's Playing a WHAT?

Our existing orchestra instrumentalists at TBC have been hearing about this for months, but many other might now have heard yet. Beginning in 2008, the existing orchestra will turn into TWO orchestras. Two? That's right. Two orchestras. One will be a non-auditioned "All-Church Orchestra" that will play every 2 months on a weekend without the Mass Vocal Group. This All-Church Orchestra will be a multi-generational of all playing levels. The other orchestra will be a very streamlined "Studio Orchestra" that will play with the Mass Vocal Group on weekends. It's important to note that Studio Orchestra members are required to be in the All-Church Orchestra. In other words, the Studio Orchestra is a very small branch of the All-Church Orchestra. I'm exicted about this change because of opportunity to connect with a wider range of musicians. As you see new musicians, welcome them to the TBC worship family. Oh, by the way, I'll be PLAYING in the All-Church Orchestra myself.

Want to know what I'll be playing? I'll be playing a sackbut. Don't know what a sackbut is? Click here to find out.

What song is this?

You GOTTA watch this ALL THE WAY THRU. Kudos to the guy who took the time to figure this one out.

Where Would Jesus Park?

Another personal character goal this year is to put others WAY before me in manageable ways. How's this going to work? I need to take to heart the question WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

The popular phrase/question "What would Jesus do?" has its roots in Topeka, KS. According to Wikipedia...

Though variations of this phrase have been used by Christians for centuries as a form of imitatio dei, the imitation of God, it gained much greater currency following Charles Sheldon's 1896 book, In His Steps. Sheldon's novel grew out of a series of sermons he delivered in his Congregationalist church in Topeka, Kansas. Read more here.

So when it comes to parking at church...what would Jesus do. At TBC's office, Carol just informed me that she sees people parking at the library and walking over to church. Geesh. I get there early and park in the TBC parking lot and leave my car there all 3 worship services.

As a worship leader, I always battle the "me" in myself. If I truly put others ahead of me...maybe I should park at the library?! Do I want to? Absolutely not. Do I want to go through the trouble of dropping off gear I have and then repark my car down a block at the library? No, I don't.

Should I say "no" to myself, and give my parking spot to someone who comes later. Well, what would Jesus do.

I'll start parking at the library - even though I don't want to. It's what Jesus would do.

Then again, maybe Jesus would sell his car and spend time somewhere else on a Sunday AM. But that's all another topic.

Look for my car at the library...even though I don't want to make the walk.

My Resolutions

OK, this one's going to be personal. Why? Because I'm all about being transparent. Hope this isn't too transparent for some of you - or me. I've set some preliminary goals for 2008. I'm using a site called "Joe's Goals" below which is actually a site where I'm tracking how well I'm doing on my goals. The green graph is actually how well I'm doing. I'm not sure what happens if it gets below the grey line - but that's where I DON'T want to be.

ADDED NOTE ON 1/9/08: Initially, I thought I could actually share my goals with you - however, when you click on my real-time graph - it only takes you to an example (not my own). Sooo, I'll have to post below what my goals ACTUALLY are. The graph here is simply a thumbnail of my overall status, but without details.



OK, now for the actual daily goals...

20 minutes w God
15 minutes w wife
15 minutes w guitar
brush 3x daily
connect with distant family
eat healthier
exercise
floss daily
less TV
no caffeinated pop after 7pm
pack a lunch
weekly family devos

Holy Hamburger!

Just went to lunch with Evan Bonous at Reed's Resturant just down the street. Don't tell Burger King. But, the hamburgers were HUGE. ENORMOUS! Check them out. This is gonna tie into my new year's resolutions well...or not so well.