Aurora

I read this blog and cried! It's from a woman that was present during shootings in Aurora, CO. I think it's better than anything I could say about the events of this weekend.
http://aminiatureclaypot.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/so-you-still-think-god-is-a-merciful-god/ 

I am praying for this community, these people and for all the families involved...even the man who did the shootings...it must be just as deviating for them as well, they're also dealing with the brunt of anger of not only our nation but the globe.  That must be a horrendous weight on them.  God that your peace, glorious grace and mercy that is new everyday strengthen and uphold them today and in the days ahead.  

Filter-less

I'm sitting here outside the Hospice facility and I noticed a tree that looks a little worse for wear. For the middle of the summer after all of this rain I would think its leaves would be greener, perkier or at least more lifted up. Then a squirrel runs along the fence top behind the tree, the wind blows, a serenade of grasshoppers (my aunt says they're June bugs) start a chime in the distance and the sound rolls across my spectrum from right to left. A turtle pops it head up from the retention pond causing ripples to bounce the water ever so gently across to the other side. It's then my eyes see the oh so ordinary, slightly worse for worn, tired tree in the beauty of its reflection. The serenade grows louder and wind now amplifies the rippling, distorting the image to unrecognizable and it's colors melt into the taller oak behind it and the crystal blue of the sky. I tried to capture that image with my camera but it lost its majesty in the iris of technology but not in my minds eye. I know I've written about the importance of perspective, but today I see the beauty of it.

I know that the God of all creation is taking the shell of a woman I've had the honor and privilege to call mom, and more recently the joy of calling friend, and transforming her out of her tired, a little worse for worn, always-anything-but-ordinary body into a beautiful reflection of what her forever is going to be. It started as an assignment for me to walk her through the valley...and there have been some dark twists and snares...but I pray it won't be long until I can report to you that she has accomplished the task before her and won the race, with more wisdom and grace and peace than I have ever known. Yes it started as an assignment, but it has become my privilege. My heart hurts to let her go...I miss her already...but this is not her last breath...it will be her first.

When Things Get Bad

If I could throw this lifeless lifeline to the wind
Leave this heart of clay, see you walk, walk away
Into the night...and through the rain
Into the half-light and through the flame...

Mom was admitted to the hospital Friday. I've been sitting with her, watching TV, talking, remembering the this and that's of our lives. I have discovered exactly how funny she is with her filter removed...and IV pain meds are great for removing filters. She is also VERY fidgety!!!! I am not. I am usually annoyed by those who can't be still. I have always been very still. A thinker more than a doer. But she is not annoying me. These are the precious times. The calm before the storm. (There are storms coming that can't be prayed away.)


Yesterday I went to church but got the call that she needed me before church. In Sunday school (first church) I wrote a letter to her.


Dear Mom,

Chance told me the other day that some of his best / favorite memories of you and daddy were our cabin / mountain trips. When we would all get snuggled into bed and you would start laughing. We all knew it was because you had just 'got' the joke of the day. But to him it would cause a joy to come again and that moment to him was funnier/ better than the original joke. He remembers going to sleep with such a peace and joy.

When he told me that story, it brought back to me my childhood-because that's what you've done for all of us throughout our family life. You have been the JOY of this family. I know that it must have seemed like we were laughing at you- but we weren't. We were laughing because of you. You have been our joy all of these years. I want you to rise up and continue to be our joy for years to come.

I know that the pain you are in is great.

If I could through myself
Set your spirit free
I'd lead your heart away
See you break, break away...

I'm praying that God takes this pain from you.

If I could, you know I would,
If I could, I would
Let it go.....

I pray that HE restores to you YOUR joy! Chance is funny because you are funny. I am strong because you are strong. And you are healed because He IS healing. You are holy because He is too holy to fail you!
I love you momma!
Love,
Jant.

(Song by U2 from the album 'The Unforgettable Fire' October 1984/ Lyrics by Bono)

It's Not A Hill It's A Mountain As You Start Out The Climb

They say it’s all about perspective. One of the driving factors in my life has been that I want to know the truth about what people think of me. It’s the only way I can change. But we are blind to ourselves. We simply don’t see the need for change in ourselves. “How can you stand next to the truth and not see it?” We think we are the ones who are okay and everyone else is nuts. I think it would be one of the most hateful things to get to the end of our road or journey and look back to find that those we chose to surround ourselves with were merely tolerating us, that there were things about us that they really didn’t like, things that we could have changed if we only realized how others really saw us.

On the last day of high school I found out what one of my closest friends really thought of me. I hunted her down to confront her. I wasn’t as mad as I was hurt. After all of these years, to find out at the end what she really thought. It cut me deep. A couple of years later, in college, I found a former roommates’ car unlocked in a place that it usually wasn’t. When I found her she wasn’t impressed that I was concerned. But rather she hurled an insult at me, thus letting me know what she had really felt but kept pent up about me. “Everybody needs to cry or needs to spit.” I found myself developing a clinging nature. The need to know, to be told…how do you really feel about me? I became “That” girl. Not long after I suffered “THE” breakup. (You know the one…the one you STILL haven’t gotten over…yup THAT one) Looking back, I can’t blame him. I would have ran from me too! “There’s a part of me in the chaos that’s quiet…”

As I moved to Atlanta, I took with me my favorite pair of blue jean, knee length shorts. I think they were my favorite because the “crew” had signed them…(don’t ask…even I don’t know what I was thinking then) I took a sharpie and wrote “Never Never” (Stacked as if in shadow) People thought it was because of a band of the same name. (Were they a local group? Or popular? I don’t know…) But it was in fact because the Raven cries nevermore… I began introducing myself as Raven. I had decided that no one was ever going to make me cry again. I was not going to let anyone get close enough to me to even know me, let alone inflict pain on me. Because they say it’s all about perspective. My perspective was that if you didn’t know me, you couldn’t affect or effect me. It amazes me how quickly I put that wall up…and how long it took to break it down. I still from time to time catch myself standing off, wondering…”Oh, a change of heart comes slow.”

Yesterday I had someone say to me, “Maybe the memory issues you’re having is because you’re too self-consumed.” I suffered a concussion on October 5th. I’ve developed headaches, but my “memory” issues have been with me for YEARS lol…it’s been a running joke in our family that you could get me the same gift every Christmas I wouldn’t remember it was the same! I didn’t know if I wanted to scream or cry. I moved to Houston, TX because Chance begged me to. (Yes I did want to move there myself but I would not have taken him out of school to go.) I took close to a $10 an hour pay cut to move back to FL because I was asked to. ”Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear.” But I don’t want to wait 20 years to reflect back to see that they were right. Because, remember my high school friend? Yup, she was right…I really didn’t ever shut my mouth. And my former roommate? I wasn’t always the most upright honest person. And my boyfriend? Yup, I was clingy/needy/ and altogether unlovable at that point in my life.

“Do you believe me or are you doubting We’re gonna make it all the way to the light”

I guess I’ve got some perspective to work through. I do love the peaceful life. As the middle child I’ve always thought that I was spending all of my time doing everything for everyone else. But that is simply my perspective. I’m not sure what I am doing now that has me consumed with me…but I intend to find out. I’ve heard for years to get yourself off of your hands. I honestly thought that was one sermon I had nailed into my personality…apparently not. I am open to suggestions. And I am dead serious when I say I want to know what you REALLY think of me. I don’t care if you think it will hurt…THAT hurt will only last for the night, but the feeling of betrayal that comes after discovering years later is much worse.

I know, I’m asking for it now. LOL Feel free to email/text me.

Latest update on the Sanctus Real Bus Fire

___________________________   ** SANCTUS REAL MEDIA ALERT **   BAND’S BUS INVOLVED IN FIRE   Monday, 4 June, 2012 - Many of you may have heard the news that the tour bus of Sanctus Real was involved in a fire early yesterday morning, destroying the entire bus and losing all of their personal belongings. Thankfully, everyone that was on the bus got out safely and no one was injured.   At approximately 4 a.m. Sunday morning, the band members and a few of their family members, including four children, were all on the bus departing from their performance in Mitchellville, Maryland, on their way to return home to Ohio and Tennessee. While on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, their bus driver saw flames via the side view mirror, quickly stopping to get everyone off the bus. Everyone left their belongings behind, not knowing how severe the fire was encapsulating the bus. As a result, everything was destroyed in the fire, from clothing to laptops, cell phones and wallets. The trailer behind the bus remained in tact, receiving the least amount of damage, yet the band will find out later this week if any of their equipment did suffer any damage.    Thankfully, many of the band members were able to return to their homes later in the day, while band member Dan Gartley is still in Pennsylvania going through the wreckage along with the crew. The band will continue to perform their scheduled shows, beginning this weekend in Atlanta with The FISH Radio and at a performance at Lake Lanier Islands Resort, just outside of Atlanta.   Many of you have expressed interest to help support the band. To find out how you and your audiences can help by giving a donation to the band, please visit here.      For more information about Sanctus Real and to connect with the band, please visit: SanctusReal.com Twitter.com/SanctusReal Facebook.com/SanctusRealMusic   For media inquiries, please contact: Merge PR Lori Mahon and Stacie Vining Lori@MergePR.com  |  Stacie@MergePR.com   Photos from the fire, June 4, 2012

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BEC RECORDINGS’ ARTIST JESSA ANDERSON SET TO RELEASE LABEL DEBUT,
NOT MYSELF ANYMORE ON SEPTEMBER 13


Seattle, WA...August 05, 2011...Earlier this year BEC Recordings’ announced the signing of female singer/songwriter Jessa Anderson. Her label debut, Not Myself Anymore, will release on September 13. The new single, “Fireflies” was co-written by Phillip LaRue and Pete Kipley and is going for adds at radio August 19. Fans can hear the new song as well as listen to Jessa talk about the meaning behind the song here. The label debut album is produced by Brandon Perdue and Kevin Bruchert as well as Pete Kipley on two tracks.

A 20-something Michigan native, Jessa, met her singer/songwriter husband, Jordan, while touring with Cedarville University. Shortly after she transferred to Belmont University and they married, the couple decided to pursue music full-time. With no back-up plan, they struck out on their own recording albums independently and booking their own shows. Jordan plays guitar for his wife, and he and their young daughter (Lorelei, of course inspired by “Gilmore Girls”) continue to travel with Jessa full-time. Her goal in songwriting and being an artist includes honesty and a genuineness that can be found in her music and life.

“We have a real life, and part of that is our relationship with God and praising Him, but other than that you’re taking your kids to school or you’re going to work or whatever you have to do that day. So to focus only on that one little sliver in your songwriting feels like cheating people out of what really happens,” shares Anderson, who believes talking about real-life issues makes her music accessible to Christians and non-Christians alike. “If all I say is ‘I love God,’ then [non-believers are] wondering, ‘OK, what if I don’t?’ I think everyone can relate on some level whether you have the same religious beliefs or not. Hopefully, I can connect with people and then share what God’s done in my life.”

Jessa will be taking this genuine approach on the road, as she will be touring with label-mate The Museum for the second leg of the Not For Sale Tour. It is through the Not For Sale tour that the artists hope to help people, regardless of their age or life stage, realize everyone has a roll to play to fight trafficking. She will also be traveling for dates in October overseas in Germany.

Make your move

My favorite band, Third Day, released a new CD called Move. And so that's what I did! I know it had nothing to do with Third Day and more to do with my mother being sick again. I've known for years that there were storms coming that can't be prayed away. So in this we will stand...and having done all~stand. But what happens when the ground your standing on shakes beneath your feet, and the life is sucked out of the air that you breath? You stand. You stand until the day comes that you no longer stand here but stand before the God that you've believed in, that you've trusted in, who is your beginning and your end. I walked through death with my daddy, and while I'm not ready to go there with my mom, I am willing to stand, and trust in Jesus, my only hope. Leaning on friends doesn't mean that your not standing on your own...it just means your standing along side those who've chosen to stand with you. Ideally you'll be standing so close that you wont notice that your leaning... So forget that song by the Police, Don't Stand So Close To Me...I want, and need, all the friends who are not afraid to walk through the valley to stand again on the mountain of God with me! There will be dark days ahead, but there will be memories made that can't be taken away. Treasure your health. Treat it better than your wealth. And having done all...stand.

Houston...We've had a problem

I have been writing most of my life. As a child, maybe just the requirements, but as I moved into High School I expanded my creative process. I wrote for the school news paper. I wrote for the city news paper. I secured a job writing commercials for the local radio station. I wrote songs for my yet-to-be-formed rock band, Fluid Vision. I wrote.
In December of 2008 my father died. For 2009 I slowed down in my writing. Forcing myself to complete a couple of assignments and attending my usual events, (like the Doves.) In 2010 I stopped writing. I don’t know if it can completely be blamed on depression over my fathers death, or on technology overload, heaven knows I put enough “tweets” and “Facebook status updates” out there. I had a really great friend tell me that I had moved my “line” in the sand. That I was allowing things to flow out of me that she hadn’t seen or heard before. I dismissed her comments (and quite frankly her) for a brief time.
In August of 2008 I had moved away from Jacksonville, FL, my home and my home church. I have been faithfully attending churches in Houston, but not really “feeling” any of them. I think I attended out of guilt. Not wanting to walk away “from” God but not exactly walking “toward” Him either. We’ve all read the scripture about your first love (Rev 2:4) It has played in my head for a year. Another scripture also plagued me over the past year is James 3:10-11. I have begun a new journey with a church here in Houston that I finally feel at home in. There, I have begun a new study…on James. Its funny how God can take simple words on a page and make them hit you where your hurting, yet use that hurting to heal you!
My first loves were simple: writing and music. While I’ve dreamed the lofty dreams of writing the song that touches the emotions of all who hear it, I’ve yet to hear one of my songs sung. But I have written the reviews, done the interviews, and seen my work in print (my own byline both in digital and actual print).
Houston, yes, we’ve had a problem. But I am praying that 2011 moves me back into God’s will for my life. I believe that it is writing, until He shows me something else, I will once again… write.

41st Annual GMA Dove Award Nominees: Here are my predictions!

Here are my predictions in bold!! (and wishes in italic !)!

Artist of the Year:
Casting Crowns
Jars of Clay



New Artist of the Year:
Revive

Group of the Year
Casting Crowns
NEEDTOBREATHE OR
Jars of Clay I'd be happy with either...


Female Vocalist of the Year
Natalie Grant



Male Vocalist of the Year
Brandon Heath
Bebo Norman


Song of the Year
“I Will Rise” by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio
“Revelation Song” by Jennie Lee Riddle or
“Two Hands” by Jars of Clay


Producer of the Year
Ed Cash


Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year
“End of My Rope,” KJ-52, by Jonah Sorrentino, Aaron Sprinkle
“Movin',” Group 1 Crew, by Jeremy James, Byron Chambers, Christopher Stevens


Rock Recorded Song of the Year
"Mess of Me,” Switchfoot, by Jonathan Foreman, Tim Foreman


Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
“How He Loves,” David Crowder*Band, by John Mark McMillan
“Lay 'Em Down,” NEEDTOBREATHE, by Bear Rinehart and Bo Rinehart


Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year
“City On Our Knees,” TobyMac, by Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore, Cary Barlowe
“Until The Whole World Hears,” Casting Crowns, by Mark Hall, Bernie Herms, Jason McArthur, Roger Glidewell

Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year
“Since the World Began,” Matt Maher, Amy Grant, Ed Cash, Mac Powell, by Mac Powell and Trevor Morgan


Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“Because He Lives,” Gaither Vocal Band, by William J. Gaither and Gloria Gaither
“Live With Jesus,” Oak Ridge Boys, by Paul Kennerley

Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year
“This World Is Not My Home,” Ricky Skaggs, by Albert Brumley


Country Recorded Song of the Year
“God Is There,” Diamond Rio, by Marty Roe, Jimmy Olander and Bernie Herms
“King of the World,” Point of Grace, by Cindy Morgan



Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year
“The Power of One,” Israel Houghton, by Israel Houghton and Ricardo Sanchez


Worship Song of the Year
“I Will Rise” Chris Tomlin, by Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher and Jesse Reeves
“Revelation Song,” by Jennie Lee Riddle

Dove Awards in album categories are given to the artist and producer, if other than the artist.


Rock Album of the Year
Awake, Skillet, Howard Benson


Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year
The Outsiders, NEEDTOBREATHE; Rick Beato, NEEDTOBREATHE, Jim Scott and John Alagia

Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year
Speaking Louder Than Before, Jeremy Camp; Brown Bannister and Jeremy Camp
The Long Fall Back to Earth, Jars of Clay; Jars of Clay, Ron Aniello


Inspirational Album of the Year
A Grand New Day, Women of Faith Worship Team; Chance Scoggins
Fearless, Phillips, Craig & Dean; Bernie Herms



Traditional Gospel Album of the Year
Shout! Live, Mike Farris & The Roseland Rhythm Revue; Mike Farris and Joe McMahan



Special Event Album of the Year
Glory Revealed II: The Word of God In Worship, Mac Powell, Shane Everett, Jonathan Shelton, Brian Littrell, Trevor Morgan, Mark Hall, Jason Crabb, Bear Rinehart, Matt Maher, Amy Grant, Ed Cash, Geoff Moore, Natalie Grant, Laura Story, Brandon Heath, Mike Donehey, Aaron Shust, Shawn Lewis, Sara Evans, Bethany Dicks Olds, Shane & Shane, Bethany Dillon, Kari Jobe; Mac Powell, David Nassar
Oh Happy Day, Jonny Lang, Fisk Jubilee Singers, 3 Doors Down, Robert Randolph, Clark Sisters, Jon Bon Jovi, Al Green, Heather Headley, Mavis Staples, Patty Griffin, Michael McDonald, Angelique Kidjo, Aaron Neville, Queen Latifah, Joss Stone, Buick Audra; Ken Levitan, Bill Hearn, Jack Rouner, Ken Pennell, Cedric Thompson I know right? NOT VOTING FOR MAC POWELL?? but its JON BON JOVI!!!

Christmas Album of the Year
Glory In the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship, Chris Tomlin; Ed Cash
The Family Force 5 Christmas Pageant, Family Force 5; Joe Baldridge
I think if FF5 wins this...it will be one of my highlights of the year!!

Praise & Worship Album of the Year
Church Music, David Crowder*Band; David Crowder*Band



Recorded Music Packaging
Long Fall Back to Earth, Jars of Clay; Tim Parker, Jars of Clay; Tim Parker; Kharyn Hill

Short Form Video of the Year
"Lose My Soul," TobyMac featuring Kirk Franklin and Mandisa; Danny Yourd; Danny Yourd and Steve Hoover
"Wait and See," Brandon Heath; Eric Welch; Tameron Hedge


Long Form Music Video of the Year
"Live Revelations," Third Day; Andy and Jon Erwin; Dan Atchison, Jonathan Erwin and Andrew Erwin

Hello Huricaine!

In 2008 in the wake of hurricane Ike, Houston struggled to put the pieces back together again. As the Music Builds tour rolled across America they had lost their venue in Houston to hurricane Ike, so they renamed themselves the Music Re-builds tour... and Swithfoot was there. Through natures providence and Gods grace, Houston did not see another hurricane again...until Switchfoot was there.

On a rainy night fans lined the outside of the Wirehouse Live to catch Switchfoots Hello Hurricane tour that is literally taking the nation by storm. In a new approach Switchfoot is playing their new CD from start to finish in the CD track order, rounding out their show with fan favorites. It is a bold move to say the least but it also accentuates the flow of the CD that the band meticulously arranged. It also signifies the bands belief in their new songs, they know that you will love Hello Hurricane and are willing to prove it. The show works. The show flows. This is one of the best concert experiences of the year.

Even if you are not a “die-hard” Switchfoot fan you will enjoy this concert. The band uses a complete stage of showmanship mixed with their talent to capture and hold your interest and expectation. Judging from the “chatter” of those exiting the concert there were not disappointment mixed in the emotions of the evening.

As the band continues to take control of the forces of nature and ride their storm known as the Hurricane Tour allow yourself to get caught up in the whirlwind, if only for one night. The band is enjoying sold out shows across the country so don’t wait until the last minute to get your ticket.

When Heaven Meets Earth…

Last week during my church’s worship service the words to the song How He Loves were transcribed and projected as, “When heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss” when the lyrics are written as, “When heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss.” It, at first, made me smile/blush~ then giggle. It reminds me of that blog post I did a while back about who is hearing what. It amplifies to me that we can all be hearing the same heavens song yet interpret differently the word, sometimes without altering the meaning of the message. I can only speculate that in that audience on that day someone needed a sloppy wet kiss from God… As for me, I think all of my future kisses are unforeseen!

**See Dan's comments...apparently it was written as sloppy wet kiss!

NeedToBreathe's The Outsiders

We have all felt like the Outsider, either as the only Christian in a group of non-believers, or at a small group meeting having not studied the weekly lesion. Somewhere inside of each of us there is a rejected thread of life leading us to feel the sting of being an outsider.

"I've been wondering if we start sinking could we sand our ground? After everything we've learned we've finally come to terms…we are the outsiders" NeedToBreathe has done what to most would be impossible. They not only avoided the "sophomore slump" with their second CD, The Heat. They have came back with a third CD that will forever solidify them as one of the best bands recording CD's today, in any genre. If CCM were looking for new "darlings" to represent the Christian market in a secular arena NeedToBreathe would be their best bet. According to their fan site, The Breathers, NeedToBreathe will be the supporting band for Kings of Leon on a portion of their fall tour in addition to headlining their own tour. Very busy band for sure.

Every song on The Outsiders is a stand alone radio hit. There is not one that stands out or lags behind the rest, making it hard for a critic to single out highlights for a review. Lay `Em Down is the first radio offering that the band laid on the turn table. Opening with heavy drum/stomp track that reminds you of an 80's fist pumping arena rock song, Lay `Em Down "makes good on a promise" of a great CD.


If you think that you've heard These Hard Times before even though its your fist time hearing the CD, you are probably correct. The song is currently being used as the intro on NBC's fall show Mercy. If the secular market is confused as to whether these guys are truly a Christian band the words to These Hard Times, "Give me something sacred, something worth fighting for. Its clear enough to me the ugliness I see is evidence of who I need… give me the faith to believe in these hard times" should help clarify things.

For those in the Christian market who are confused as to whether these guys are truly a Christian band the words to Garden, "Let the songs I sing bring joy to you. Let the words I say profess my love, let the notes I chose be your favorite tune, Father let my heart be after you" should help to clarify things for them! Rarely, if ever, has there been a band that can write a CD of such diverse offerings that would honestly appeal to both Christian and secular music fans. I believe it is because this CD is full of GREAT music… no matter what genre you support you can appreciate that.

There are a couple of tracks on The Outsiders that I am looking forward to see if they translate well into a live show. One being Let Us Love, again for the arena-anthem- rock style of the song, the other is Stones Under Rushing Water, a slower love song. A couple of fun sing along songs round out the CD, each deserving a spotlight of their own.

This CD is simply "Something Beautiful." If you have the opportunity to play music at work, where not everyone scribes to CCM, The Outsiders is the CD you need to bring along. "I can't figure out just how much air I will need to breathe, when your wave crashes over me." Let NeedToBreathe' s The Outsiders crash over you and become an Outsider. It will soon become a favorite in your play list.

The "Story" behind "Jant"

I recently sent someone the story behind why people call me Jant. He suggested I write a book. LOL It made me think...I wonder if all of my friends have heard the story...



Scene: Sophomore year: Georgia Southern College: 1987 (*Now Georgia Southern University): English Class: Front row student: Late to class.

The instructor is taking up the papers that we wrote. Mine was on the invention of a new and soon to be revolutionary HGTV! No one had heard of it, but me just coming off of two years studying film at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), had been studying how this was going to change everything we've ever seen in TV transmitting. I was so proud of that paper I had told all my friends how much it rocked. I had told the girls in the dorm how wonderful it was. I had bragged in study hall, how they needed to read it when I was done so they could learn something...

Late for class I hastily folded the paper in half long ways as instructed and scribbled my name on the side of the paper and handed it in.

Two days later ( M-W-F class) The instructor hands back all of the papers except mine... He holds it up in the air with a HUGE red F on the side of it written in thick-poster-marker and asks who's paper it was.... I raised my hand with tear filled eyes and whimpered it was mine... He (very loudly I might add) exclaimed, "Well, I had no idea who "Jant" was... so...seeing as how you could not manage to spell your own name right on the outside of the paper...I held out no hope that ANYTHING inside the paper was spelled correctly either..."

I was able to turn in a re-write to receive one letter grade less than what I would have originally received... and I forever became known to all of my college friends as Jant.

True story...

Tell me I'm forgiven and loved...

Jimmy Needham led worship at my church Sunday. He graduated from the same high school that Chance is attending. I didn't even know he was from Tomball! I've mentioned on twitter before how his lyrics to "Forgiven and Loved" struck me in a way, I'm sure he didn't intend. There is a line in that song that says, And my peace is almost past away. I have felt that since daddy died, my peace did pass away with him. I've had an incredibly hard time dealing with his death.

My pastor's series of sermons has been titled "Talking Donkeys" where we're exploring seemingly insignificant passages in the bible. This past Sunday we focused on 2 Kings 6. In a nut shell the sermon focused on how when the worker lost his ax head, he first had to admit that he needed help. There was a great illustration on how we lose our ax head and continue to strike the tree with just the handle, yet insist that there is nothing wrong, even though everyone around us can clearly see that there is.

The second key point is found in verse 6. Elisha asked the worker to show him exactly where the ax head was lost, "And the man of God said, Where fell it? and he shewed him the place." The lesson taught that when we lose something, we have to go back to the place where we first suffered the loss. That is where God is going to restore to us what is gone. It can be a physical place, or a place in our soul/heart/thinking.

Earlier in the week I was listening to the band The Listening. They have a EP called, The Rock&Roll Worship Circus is becoming The Listening. On that CD there is a song that's last line (is something like) "If you don't know where is you're going, you have to go back to where you started growing..."

So twice in one week I'm picking up on the theme of going back to where you started from if you've felt like your no longer growing or you have lost something.

Something I'll still ponder in the days ahead.

Dying social skills

I was listening to KSBJ this morning while they were talking about the amount of texting that people do. I had the opportunity several years ago to attend a gathering with a vibrant online community. There were moments of awkward silence, referred to as the 60 second rule. (At the online community you have to wait 60 seconds between posts.) Even though there were strong friendships made prior to the actual meeting.

All of this got me thinking. Is the online social networking, killing social skills? Have we become so online driven that we are actually loosing face to face communication skills? (Have you ever used LOL or OMG in "Live" conversations?)

I have read other peoples blogs where they feel that blogs/journals are becoming a thing of the past due to the "What are you doing?" status update lines common to Twitter, or Facebook.

I do not have a solution to this. I merely see it as a trend in our social behavior. Any thoughts?

American Airlines (Why I will never fly with them again!)

I should just re-post my letter of complaint against American Airlines but I think that maybe I should give them some time to respond before I do. I know, its not like me to be so nice when dealing with a complaint, however I think that just the fact that I'm never flying with them again may prompt you to at least research airfares with another company prior to selecting AA. I know I say never, yet given the amount of time that I spend in the air, and my dislike of the drive to Houston's Hobby, there is a remote chance that I will consider AA again in the future. BUT when that day comes, as it may, I will have this blog post to refresh my memory.

Check back soon, I may spill my story here after all...

Miss California

I took a picture of Miss California.




This was taken at the Gospel Music Award show (The Doves.) She was there because of her Christian answer that she gave during the Miss USA pageant. Less than a month later TMZ posts topless pictures of her. Granted they were taken before she willingly, of her own accord, jumped into the spot light of fame but none the less not at a good time for her. I have read comments from people who think that TMZ has poor taste.

I think that the pictures themselves were in poor taste. I wonder, how they have helped her career? Why would anyone take nude/ simi-nude photos? If you are going to try and build your fame among the Christian community or use your morals as a high ground then you should live every day under the same standards.

If you have daughters, let them know that NOTHING GOOD WILL EVER COME OUT OF POSING NUDE! (For anyone, ever!) Never take a photo that you would not be embarrassed to show to your daddy, or have shown on the overhead in church.

Has she made a mistake? Yes. Should be forgiven? Yes. Should we all be praying for her? Yes. Should we be judging her? No. But should we be learning from her mistake? Yes.

If you are young enough for people to still want to see you nude, please, please, please DON'T GO DOWN THAT ROAD! NOTHING GOOD WILL EVER COME OUT OF IT! (It might get you in Maxium, or Playboy, or a commercial/movie... but at what cost? And do you really want to be famous that bad, or for that?)

Third Day on the third day finale

As the last of the Third Day on the third day approaches I'm perplexed on what to write about them. I last saw them GMA week in Nashville at a fundraiser sponsored by Big Kenny from the country band Big and Rich. The band played near the end of the evening, after a list of country music's finest artist, yet Third Day garnered the best crowd response! I don't know if everyone was just tired of sitting on their butts and wanted to be dancing or not, but it took very little encouragement from Mac Powell to get them up & at it! That "benefit crowd" really let their hair down and cut a rug!

It was only one song, but I pray that it left a lasting impression on them. It is very fitting that this is the finale of the 3D on the D3 blogs as it was probably my last time seeing Third Day for a while. (Until the Fall? maybe?)

Roll on Third Day and I will keep rockin'!

Third Day on the third Day

Yes I will once again gear up for a run of Third Day shows through Texas (its why I moved here right, right ;) ) In preparation for the shows I've been doing a bit of Third Day voting... Have you voted yet? First place to get your vote on is at the "Official" GMA web page by voting for Third Day as artist of the year!

Next up in your web tour with Third Day voters is to hit the Sophie Show and vote for Third Day to beat Depeche Mode (yes its a secular station and Third Day is in the top voting for their song Slow Down)

Join me next month when my shows are over and I'm getting ready for the whirlwind also known as GMA WEEK!!

Question for my fellow RN's

Recently I had a patient come down for surgery who had dementia and diabetes. The family had phoned in the surgery consent but were now bedside for the procedure. The patient was adamant that they had brought a breakfast tray into her, she had eaten eggs & bacon but they took it away from her before she could finish. The nurse had documented that the patient was NPO since MN the night before.

Even though the patient suffered from dementia her second proclamation of anger over her tray being taken away prior to her finishing the meal prompted the anesthesiologist to have the RN on the floor called to verify the NPO status.

When I called up to the unit, it was shift change and the new RN said that’s what she had been given in report but the other RN was still in the locker room. I asked her if she could please verify with me the NPO status. When the primary RN was being questioned I could hear her in the background, “NO the patient didn’t get a tray taken away! We did catch her with a couple of cookies from her own private stash but it was only one or two!... Tell them they were sugar free, good God.”

The anesthesiologist was livid! He wanted to know if that RN understood what NPO stands for. (To all OR nurses who have had to endure the brunt of misplaced frustration I know you can relate.) The surgeon came in, and because the surgery was for placement of a catheter for dialysis, it was late, and the patient needed to be dialyzed today went to the family and told them that we had to do the surgery or she could die…however she could die because she ate.

Anesthesia decided to do a rapid sequence intubation and continue on with the surgery. (At this point it had been 6 hours since the “cookies”) The MD wanted to make sure that a report of some kind was followed up on to make sure that some teaching was done to the RN on the floor. I asked if he wanted her “formally” written up or a verbal to my supervisor to take care of things. He stated that a verbal would be OK. I made a copy of the documentation and gave it to my supervisor. The next day, the anesthesiologist, went to her as well to follow up- prompting her to mandate that I do a formal incident report for teach only purposes.

I wonder if non-operating room nurses know/understand why it is so important that a patient be NPO prior to surgery? One anesthesiologist was talking to another one at the surgery desk and made the comment, “You know I heard a nurse tell a patient one time that the reason they were to be NPO is so that they don’t throw up after surgery… The patient drank thinking that it would be so bad to throw that up afterwards…”

Any thoughts? Any suggestions on teaching tools? Maybe I should make something…