AND I QUOTE...

"Every other day, I’ll rev that sucker up to twelve miles an hour and do three five-minute intervals. Running at that speed for that duration doesn’t come naturally to anyone-it’s hideous, absolutely horrible. But by pushing past the pain, you become progressively tougher. You prove to yourself that pain is just that, pain. You can walk away from it afterward knowing that you surpassed a barrier that makes most humans curl into the fetal position and weep for Jesus."

- UFC fighter Forrest Griffin
via Daniel Wright, Biggest Loser Season 8

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

TREASURE

I treasure my family.

I'm madly in love with my beautiful wife.

I'm amazed by my wonderful daughter.

I'm inspired by my hero of a dad.

I'm strengthened by my fabulous mom.

I'm given hope by my super siblings.

I'm encouraged by my incredible in-laws.

I'm entertained by my fantastic friends.

I'm unequivocally loved by my heavenly Father.

What more could I ever need?

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

I FORGOT WHAT I WAS GOING TO WRITE ABOUT

At one point today I had a really interesting topic to write about. Over the course of my busy day, though, I forgot what it was. I cannot, for the life of me, remember what I was going to write about. Sure, I might remember later on. It may take a few days, and I may forget that I had been thinking of it in the first place, but I'll probably get it back someday.

I mentioned it to my wife and she said, "You were gonna write about cuddling me."

Guess I have some cuddling to do. :) G'nite!

Don't you hate it when you forget what you were going to say?





Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

AND I QUOTE...

"Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils."

- Louis Hector Berlioz

19th century French composer

 

Don't let your teacher get away from you without learning something great!

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate 

AND WE'RE BACK!

I now deem Spring Break officially over! We had a great trip to Tennessee to visit friends and family, and to rehearse with the boys in preparation for our new and improved concert program, which debuts in less than a week. I hope to see some of you at an upcoming concert. Here's a short list of dates:

March

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Date: Saturday, March 27th, 2010

Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00p.m.

Location: Tulsa Fairgrounds (Central Park)

Event: Free Concert as a part of the Tulsa Workshop.

Contact: Shane Coffman (918) 520-6959

Web site: http://www.tulsaisww.com/

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 

Date: Sunday, March 28th, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Oklahoma City Ford Center

Event: We will be performing the National Anthem at the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Portland Trail Blazers NBA game (how cool is that?!)

Contact: http://www.oc.edu/thunder.aspx

April

North Richland Hills, Texas

Date: Saturday, April 10th, 2010

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Legacy Church of Christ

Event: Private concert for Oklahoma Christian University's North Texas Alumni Dinner Auction.

Info: http://www.oc.edu/auction

North Richland Hills, Texas

Date: Sunday, April 11th, 2010

Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Location: Legacy Church of Christ

Event: Free Concert

Contact: http://www.legacycoc.org/ or call (817) 485-6749

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Date: Friday, April 16th, 2010

Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00p.m.

Location: Riverside Church of Christ

Event: Free Concert

Contact: Kent Hall (505) 898-2627 or www.klajhall@aol.com

Web Site: http://www.minuteswithmessiah.com/church/rside.html

Amarillo, Texas

Date: Saturday, April 17th, 2010

Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Location: Central Church of Christ

Event: Concert - Tickets $10.00 adults, $7.00 children under 10 Groups of 10 or more $7.00 each.

Contact: (806) 373-4389 or http://www.amarillocentral.org/

Garland, Texas

Date: Sunday, April 25th, 2010

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Saturn Road Church of Christ

Event: Free Concert
Contact: (972) 271-2444 or http://www.saturnroad.org/

May

Glasgow, Kentucky

Date: Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Location: Plaza Theater

Event: Free Concert for the IMPACT Youth Rally

Contact: Refuge Church of Christ (207) 678-4366

Picayune, Mississippi
Date: Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Location: First Baptist Church of Picayune

Event: Free Concert

Contact: Josh Spears (601) 337-0236

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Date: Friday, May 21st, 2010

Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Location: TBA

Cincinnati, Ohio

Date: Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Location: Cincinnati Christian University

Event: Concert festival

Contact: http://www.acapellacinnati.eventbright.com/

Which concert will you attend?

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

REST

"May the presence of the Lord go with you, and he will give you rest."

-from Acappella's album Find Your Way

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

MAGIC MUSIC TIME

My bride showed me this video last night and I had to share it with blog-world!



You're welcome.
Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

I WONDER...

Your thoughts?

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

EVERYBODY HURTS

I heard this great song today and it brought me to reality. No matter what we go through, there is hope. No one is immune to the adverse situations that arise in this journey called life. Everybody hurts some time. What makes the difference is how we handle the pain.



Don't give up. There is hope.

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

I WANTED TO PUNCH A KID IN THE FACE

(Disclaimer: I DID NOT punch anyone in the face...or anywhere else.)

We were standing in the check-out line at the grocery store today and quite possibly the single most rude child I've ever seen was standing in front of us with his mother. This little boy, maybe age 12 or so, had short blond hair, iPod earbuds in one ear, and an attrocious attitude. The entire time we were in line behind them, he was yelling (literally yelling) at his mom about how stupid she was - how she wasn't using the self-check-out machine correctly, how she was so slow, how she didn't sign her name on the credit card reader. I stared the kid down the entire time, but he never looked at me. I soooo wanted to walk up to him, punch him in the mouth, and say, "Do you know who this woman is? She's the woman who brought you into this world, provided food, clothing, and shelter for you, gave you all kinds of nice things, like that iPod you have jammed in your head like a fool, and this is how you repay her? I ought to beat some Jesus into you myself, but I'll let her do that for me. You had best learn some respect, and quickly, before you mess around and get yourself killed!"

But I didn't.

Steph wouldn't let me. She loves me too much to see me go to jail for beating up a child. If she hadn't been standing between him and me, though, things just might have been different...

And what was worse, the mom just stood there and took it! I wanted to tell her to beat her child! That's the problem with parents these days: they are so afraid of getting in trouble, and the government is so deep into the parents' business, that parents have lost their backbones. Stephanie was about to go Madea on both the mom and the kid: "You wanna call CPS? I'll call 'em myself!" I really wish she would have... it would've been awesome!

The moral of the story is three-fold:

1. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Eph. 6:1

2. "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Prov. 22:6

3. "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." Prov. 13:24 (or, in the paraphrase of "Pops" from Tyler Perry's House of Payne, "Get the rod, whoop the child!")

Seen any kids acting a fool lately?

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

FAITH LIKE A CHILD

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

FIRE!!!

There was an enormous fire in our apartment tonight!
We were making dinner and some of the marshmallows from the sweet potato casserole bubbled over and landed on the floor of the oven. Then they caught on fire. It was crazy! There was smoke all over the place. I couldn't even see the casserole dish for all the smoke.

Instinctively, I panicked. I didn't know what to do, so I did the only logical thing I could think of.

I blew it out.

Turns out it wasn't a big fire at all.
There was hardly even any smoke.

But my family thinks I'm all brave now. Totally worth it!





Had you going for a second, didn't I?

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

GETTING THE ITCH

I'm so eager to get back on stage, I just don't think I can stand it! I'm also getting excited about the upcoming drum corps season, even though I won't get to see any live shows because of the touring schedule. I'm hoping to get a gig somewhere writing/teaching for a high school drum line in the upcoming season. If anyone knows of an OKC area line that needs some assistance, throw in a good word for me, and then let me know so I can pursue it, would ya?

Back to my original statement - getting back on stage. We have less than one month until our first full concert since November! For those of you who aren't counting, that's more than four months!! I can't put into words my level of excitement for the possibilities of what is ahead. We are working on new music, new "old" music, new not-quite-so-"old" music, and of course, some "old" music (gotta keep it all fresh). Some of you who are facebook fans of Acappella, or friends of mine, have seen some rehearsal videos of a few "old" tunes we are freshening up. That's not really even the tip of the iceberg. We are working on some major upgrades that will take our shows to the "next level" and beyond!

Hope to see some of you readers soon at a concert near you. If you find out we're going to be where you are, drop us a line and let us know. We could always use the encouragement!

In the meantime, we prepare for the Tulsa Workshop on March 27.

Hang on tight... it's gonna be a great trip!!

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

HOOKS & VERSES

I was thinking about pop music today. I'm not really sure why. I'm not a huge pop music fan. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of pop artists I enjoy, but I don't necessarily follow the music like some folks might. Now, as I say that, give me a good Michael Jackson, Prince, Boyz II Men, or Mariah Carey tune, and I'm a pretty happy dude!

Anyway, I was thinking about pop music today - particularly about what pop music has come to; catchy hooks sung by people who probably have a good deal of talent but are auto-tuned all to pieces (another topic for another day) can only go so far. That's the part most people listen to...but I know fans of good music, like you, want more than just a catchy hook and some auto-tune.

Let's talk about the verses. It used to be that the verses to songs mattered almost more than the choruses.
Take My Girl for example. Most people know the verses to that song because David Ruffin put such thought and care into crafting each line to a memorable moment. The chorus is memorable in itself, but those verses are where it's at!

Nowadays, it's all about the hook. For instance, I Got A Feelin' by the Black-Eyed Peas. If you know the words to the verses of that tune, I commend you. I am willing to bet, though, that most of America doesn't have a clue. It's all about the hook. "I got a feelin' (woo hoo) that tonight's gonna be a good night..." People know that. Who needs a verse when you've got a hook like that?

Today's pop stars, in my opinion, really need a refresher course (or maybe a beginner course) in the art of singing great verses. I'm of the school of thought that verses are the gateway to the hook. If you only had the opportunity to sing the verses, but not the hook, could you still carry the song? People tend to do their most flashy work during the hook, especially once those pesky verses are done. I find it more impressive if a singer kills a verse...and then kills the hook!

And so I make my appeal to all aspiring pop musicians and songwriters:

BRING BACK THE GREAT VERSES!

It would make life, and music, so much more meaningful.

I'm just sayin'!

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate...and great verses

SHAPE

Recently I heard Chip Ingram talking about ways to get involved in ministry and use the talents God has given us. He called it our SHAPE. Puzzle pieces have all different shapes, but they fit together in a specific way to form a big picture and complete the puzzle. Figuring out our SHAPE is one good way to find out where we fit into the puzzle we call ministry. Of course, SHAPE is an acronym. It helps us to better understand how we can get involved in God's work.

S - Spritual gifts (Do I have the gift of counseling, benevolence, organization, etc.?)
H - Heart/Passion (Do I have a passionate heart to serve those whom I'm called to serve?)
A - Abilities (What am I able to do well?)
P - Personality (How can my personality be used to help people see Jesus?)
E - Experience (How can I put my spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, and personality to work and gain ministry experience?)

 So, what's your SHAPE?

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate

I'M AMAZED

Regardless of what I'm going through, regardless of my circumstances, regardless of my poor choices or lack of discipline, I can't help but be amazed at what Jesus went through for me. It puts my petty problems into perspective. It paints the perfect picture of perseverance. Knowing the sacrifice Jesus made for me, I have no choice but to be amazed.



Lord, I'm amazed by you - how you love me!

Peace, Love, and Dark Chocolate