Picasa Collage of said iPhone photos= very cool

 

iPhone +picasa = not necessarily flickr worthy, but decent!

 
 
 
 

Fiction Family Video...Finally....

Fiction Family - When She's Near from ATO Records on Vimeo.

Last day of Low Country FGF

I could not be more proud of my youth group. They "got it" and made an effort to invite friends. We are looking forward to what God is going to continue to do in and through our youth group. BTW, Tamara Walters and Ben Burris are both 8th graders.

REACH Prayer event

Ryan Brownlow is the youth pastor at Fellowship of Oakbrook...he is an amazing guy with a real heart for students. Cory Humphries is a Catalyst Coordinator at CSU...he and I are convinced that we are related. The featured band for REACH was Good Tomorrow...from Spartanburg. Great guys with a real down to earth attitude. It was HOT that day, but it was a really cool event.

Franklin Graham Festival- Night 1

So, I was asked to "host" some of the video blogs that the Franklin Graham Festival put together. The stand ups I did were similar to the ones that I did for Rock the City. The video crew was fantastic...and I have to say thanks to Craig Walters for his excellent direction. This is the first of three video blogs. The last one features my youth group!

Rock the City!!!

Obviously there's a story behind this video. Well, there are many stories...but mine is that somehow I ended up being the "host", "narrator", "reporter", (?) for this webcast. What fun! There were several segments we taped with minimal scripting, so it wasn't hard work at all. I got to see what goes into putting a clip like this together and enjoyed working with the AV crew that day.

I also was behind the scenes in another capacity. I worked with BGEA staff to put the guest rooms together backstage, lined up merch workers (all volunteers!) recruited a camera crew, and found drivers who could run bands and personnel for the day. PLUS, I've been able to work with some of the most talented, personable, Christ-like youth ministers in the area. Great men and women who are intentionally following Jesus and lighting up the world as they go. And to make it even more than I could have even imagined, the guitarist for Group 1 Crew asked me to take pix of them while they played...what?

But the best part of the day, no doubt, was in seeing 350 students and adults begin a relationship with Jesus. Chills...

God is good!

Switchfoot Up In Arms Tour

See all pix here...

Switchfoot’s Up In Arms Tour Brings Hope (and a rockin’ party) to Thousands
Concert review by Susan Lloyd

If you’re a fan of Switchfoot, you’ve been spoiled lately with The Appetite for Construction tour that finished up in late fall of ’07. Thankfully, our friends in the ‘foot have continued to spoil us with another big tour, this one supporting the work of the philanthropic organization To Write Love on Her Arms. The Up in Arms Tour began March 27 in San Antonio, TX and I was fortunate enough to catch the April 3 show in Myrtle Beach at the House of Blues.
Supporters of TWLOHA in a “behind the scenes” kind of way since the organizations inception, Switchfoot is throwing public support to the organization by including founder Jamie Tworkowski on the tour. Jamie was unable to make the HOB show, but tour friend Michael filled in to speak to concert goers about the problem of depression, cutting, and suicide among people ages 14-29 and how TWLOHA is dedicated to offering hope and help to those who suffer. The Up In Arms Tour will call attention nationwide to the struggle so many young adults face today in dealing with the too often taboo subject of depression. Kudos to Switchfoot for giving the organization such a broad platform from which to educate concert goers. It’s one of the best reasons to attend the show!
Touring partners for the duration include Athlete, The Myriad and Emery, and HOB attendees were fortunate to hear Athlete open the show. Although they weren’t running full octane (drummer Stephen Roberts was absent for the night…a Macbook Pro took over drum duties as best he could) the set was not lacking in intensity and served as the perfect primer for the more high energy set Switchfoot would provide later. Noel Potts, front man for the four piece band exuded warmth and appreciation for the audience at hand. Athlete bass player Carey Willetts showed himself to be a versatile member when he picked up an acoustic guitar on more than one occasion to fill out the sound of tracks selected for the night. Potts was a charming front man who peppered the set with dry British humor that fortunately wasn’t lost on the crowd. Midway through the set, it was apparent the band had already connected well with the audience, but hearing the story behind the song “Best Not to Think about it” sealed the deal. Potts explained the song was written after he viewed the UK documentary about the 9/11 attack entitled The Falling Man. Fans listened attentively at the provocative, haunting song. The set included stand out performances of “Hurricane”, “ Wires”, “The Outsiders” and “24 Hours”. Noel Potts ended the set by thanking the audience for such a warm reception..then he caused the Macbook to bow. Charming.
The majority of the crowd filtered in during Athlete’s set, so the house was fairly packed by the time the San Diego based Switchfoot took the stage. And they took the stage in a manner not seen in previous tours when all five members gathered around a mike to sing a line from the chorus of “Shadow Proves the Sunshine”. To make things even more intriguing, front man Jon Foreman walked over to the keyboard to play and sing out the rest of the chorus by himself as band mates took their places on stage. Switchfoot then immediately ripped into the opening guitar riff of “Stars”. Just as I had seen them do during the Appetite for Construction tour, “Stars” was followed by “Oh Gravity” and the crowd was roaring out the words to both songs. No question about it, there was a tremendous amount of mutual appreciation in the room all night as the affection between band and fans was the palpable undercurrent throughout the night.
Foreman is known for mixing it up with the crowd, and this night’s show was no exception. Front row fans were given the chance to see Foreman up close and personal when during “This is Your Life” he walked the security barrier like a tightrope, holding hands with fans and singing directly to one or two fortunate souls. At another point in the evening, “On Fire” meshed into “High and Dry” then gave way to a full version of “Shadow Proves the Sunshine” so that Jon could travel out through the audience and into the back corner of the venue. Fans there were obviously thrilled to have the front man so close, and once again Foreman showed why he is a master at connecting to a crowd.
It’s fairly obvious to anyone who has experienced a Switchfoot show that band members connect well to each other, too. And for concert goers Thursday, April 3, that connection meant we all got to show our love for guitarist Drew Shirley when bandmates surprised him onstage with a cake and balloons during the “American Dream” freeze. Foreman grinned like a Cheshire cat as he led the crowd in a singing Happy Birthday to Drew, and the surprise was exactly that. True to Switchfoot form, fans had a chance to connect even more by signing a large birthday card for Drew at the merch table prior to the start of the show. Several fans had brought in balloons and signs for the occasion and it was obvious the band enjoyed the crowd participation.
The party atmosphere didn’t die down, though, and Switchfoot sounded better throughout the entire set than I’ve ever heard them sound before. The set list included “Faust, Midas, and Myself” and a mash up of Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” and “Gone”. In support of and in tribute to To Write Love on Her Arms, “Love is the Movement” is being played this tour. The song title has been used for promotional merch for the organization, and the guys did a tremendous job playing it for fans that night. Fans who have followed the band for years as well as newer fans were all singing the mantra-like line at the end ‘get up, get out, love is moving you now’.
The set list was solid, but for one lucky fan (Emily Makar), Jon granted her request to play “Lonely Nation” in lieu of “Ammunition” and also honored her by dedicating the song to her. Switchfoot closed out the set with their huge hit “Meant to Live” but the relentless chanting of a charged up crowd thirsty for more brought Foreman back out to play “Your Love is Strong” a selection from his new Spring EP. It was a transcendent moment, and time seemed to stop as many sang along. The song itself is a step into a new realm for Jon as even he has called it a worship song. No stops followed though as Jon immediately launched into the familiar chord progression that introduces “Dare you To Move”. No one in the crowd was silent for the completion of the encore as Switchfoot resoundingly brought down the house.
It was the best Switchfoot show I’ve ever seen, and I’ve witness quite a few. All members of the band looked incredibly happy, there was a birthday to celebrate, we were settled in one of the best venues in the southeast, and the entire band was in top form, musically and personally. The show was such a good time, I’ll be going again to the Jacksonville show in a few weeks. I would urge anyone within striking distance of this tour to make it a priority to find a way to go. Up In Arms tour is currently in the Midwest, comes back to the east coast in a few weeks, and will finish up in California May 10.

Coolness! My concert photography slideshow

Exciting! This comes to you by way of Myspace...via my flickr...

Appetite for construction tour review

All concert photos are here!


It’s not often that two incredibly talented and accomplished bands tour together and willingly share the stage, a vision, and even a song. And not only do these two bands collectively melt the faces off of concert goers each night, but they’ve also invited up and coming band Ruth to join them on the tour and to do the same. All this musical majesty its happening right now across the country on the Switchfoot/Relient K/Ruth Appetite for Construction tour. Recently I was fortunate enough to catch this show not once, but twice as the tour visited two of my favorite South Carolina cities, capital city Columbia, Greenville, the city where I grew up.

Relying on what I had been reading about this tour from interviews, reports, and eye-witness accounts from switchfoot “boardies”, I knew that without paper and pen in hand I would forget most of the mind blowing elements of the night. Plus, I’m horrible at remembering set lists, and I wanted to make sure I got that part right. So, at one show, with camera in hand and from the front row, I shot. At one show, I wrote. And at both shows I rocked my little heart out to some of the best known mainstream/Christian rock on the scene right now.

The alt-rock band Ruth, who hail from Washington State, began the night with a tight, well played set featuring stand out songs from their debut CD Second Hand Dreaming. Lead singer and guitarist Dustin Ruth also plays a mean harmonica, a skill he deftly demonstrated in the set’s opener, title track “Second Hand Dreaming”. But not only were listeners treated to harmonica, there was plenty of solid slide guitar in the next selection. Ruth’s vocals are spot on, and the tight harmonies the group is known for really stood out on selections like “I am Yours’ and “Work it Out”. The set ended with the poignant “Mr. Turner” which Dustin described as a song of hope for those people you are constantly praying for in hopes that their hearts will change. And not only was the song amazing, the jam session that closed it was the perfect way to end the set with a lot of energy, setting the stage nicely for Relient K.

Ruth did it’s job to make sure the crowd was ready to rock out and after a few set changes, the lights went down, the crowd screamed, and Relient K introduced their set with simulated radio static alternating with intermittent snippets of familiar songs like Jefferson Starship’s “We Built this City”. With a lot of drama, the Relient K banner unfurling as a backdrop, and the fans screaming maniacally, RK hit the stage with the high energy “Consequences” and followed it up with crowd favorite “Devastation and Reform” Lead singer Matt Theissen used a distortion mike for a good portion of the song adding an interesting effect to the lyric. Lead guitarist Matt Hoopes had a platform to really shine in DAR and took full advantage of the chance to wow the crowd with his prowess on the guitar.

While DAR may have been Hoopes chance to steal the spotlight, the impact of “The Best Thing” belonged to Thiessen who made keyboard work look like child’s play. Thiessen is a master at the keyboard and is completely comfortable with intricate patterns and keyboard runs that are played with the dexterity of a concert pianist.

Thiessen’s writing style is also stellar, and lyrically he is known for tongue in cheek overtones and humorous treatments of serious subjects. By introducing “In love with the 80’s” by playing Tears for Fears “Head over heels” and then later singing a tribute to the TV show “The Office” that incorporated the show’s theme song, Thiessen entertained the audience with not only his musical genius, but also with his sense of humor.

Relient K kept the energy alive through a stunning 15 song set that included one selection from their recent release “Let it snow, baby, Let it reindeer”. And snow it did!! As Thiessen’s band rocked out to “Sleigh Ride”, snow fell indoors on the concert goers. Yes, I said snow fell…and though it was fake snow, it was still a really cool effect. The set also included the opportunity for one lucky female to play guitar on the popular “Sadie Hawkins Dance”. A few other fans were pulled up on stage for the same song and had a blast playing percussion. One participant genuinely surprised Theissen and Hoopes by doing a back flip at the end of the song. Relient K ended the set with the powerful “Who I am hates who I’ve been” leaving the stage not just warm, but blazing hot and ready for Switchfoot to continue rocking out the house.

There are few bands who can create and maintain as much energy on stage as Switchfoot, and this night, fans were not disappointed with the showmanship of Jon Foreman and the adept musical skills of fellow band members Tim Foreman, Chad Butler, Drew Shirley and Jerome Fontamillas. I have had the privilege of seeing this band live several times over the years, and I can honestly say that, on this tour, Switchfoot has gone to the next level with an intricate light show, better sound, and innovative takes on concert standards.

The set began with the familiar guitar hooks of “Meant to Live” but morphed into the energetic strains of “Oh! Gravity” . Without missing a beat, “Stars” was up next, and it sounded even better live than the recorded version. Multi-tasker keys player Jerome Fontamillas switched to guitar for “Stars” and at one point, all four guitarists were standing on floor amps. Visually, this was a very powerful moment. Front man Jon Foreman knows how to keep a crowd engaged, and when the synthed opening notes of “This is Your Life” began, fans went crazy knowing that Foreman was about to use his guitar pick-ups as vocal mikes to amp his haunting voice at the beginning. “Gone” ‘mashed up’ with Beyonce’s huge hit “Crazy in Love” was a great follow up to the more introspective “TIYL” and showed that the ‘foot knows how to bring down the house and have some fun. In the Columbia show, Foreman even threw a little of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” into the mix.

Blazing out of the middle of the set list was the innovative, edgy “Dirty Second Hands”. I have to say that there is no way of really knowing what it’s like to see Jon Foreman go crazy on a cymbal while accompanied by Drew Shirley’s screaming guitar solo while frenetic strobe lights flash relentlessly unless you experience it first hand. Truly, this moment in the concert was mind-blowing and even having witnessed it several times this year, for me it had not lost one ounce of impact.

In addition from deafening crowd sing alongs on favorites like “Meant to Live” and “On Fire” another great concert moment happened when bands Ruth and Relient K joined Switchfoot on the stage to play the new song “Rebuild”. The song was penned by Thiessen and Foreman specifically for this tour, and it was obvious that a great camaraderie has built up between these bands as they thoroughly enjoyed their time on stage together. Jon even pulled up a young audience member to participate on percussion, saying that the kid was his “look-alike”.

Jon frequently enlightens and entertains fans with commentary that introduces songs, and according to him, “Head Over Heels” another fan favorite from their lastest CD “Oh! Gravity.” made it to the set list by repeated fan requests. The song was added to the set list for this tour and sounded amazing live. Tim Foreman’s backing vocals were very strong and he sounded eerily like Jon on sections where he echoed the melody line.

As the ‘foot’s set ended, fans screamed, stomped, and chanted for the encore. The band obliged with a powerful version of Dare You to Move. Foreman began the song alone on stage and was joined by band mates for the second verse…but the audience was already with him screaming out every word.

There are a few dates left on the tour, and if you haven’t had a chance to catch this show yet, make plans to do so now. Less than halfway through Relient K’s set, my friend turned to me and said “This is worth way more than $25” to which I definitely agreed. And the best part of the tour is that these three bands are raising money ($1 from every ticket goes to benefit Habitat for Humanity) and awareness of local Habitat chapters throughout the country. The energy, the message, the music, all passionately poured out on stage for the consumption of the fans was without a doubt one of the best experiences I’ve had in a while. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing all three bands in a live setting again, and whether its on a combined tour or their own separate tours, I’ll be there.

Switchkruth- Columbia/Greenville

Pix now, review later. Enjoy!






This was an amazing show. SF and RK should tour together forever....

NeedtoBreathe- THE HEAT review

To say that NeedtoBreathe’s latest effort, The Heat, is one of my favorite CD’s of the summer would really be an understatement. To be honest, it’s one of my favorite CD’s of the year. This four man band hailing from my home state of South Carolina has grown by leaps and bounds over their last CD. Their debut disc, Shine, made me sit up and take notice, but The Heat made me a fan for life. Musically and lyrically, the band has produced a solid effort that hopefully will earn some much deserved critical acclaim

Brothers Bear and Bo Rinehart have done a great job with song writing, and as always, bands who write their own material seem to earn my respect immediately. I love the southern rock undertones of stand out songs like “Run Away” and with lyrics like

It’s easy to find potential in the before, but we look the same in the afters…

listeners are challenged to think about what they are hearing. “Run Away” actually happens to be my favorite track in the collection and features an impressive accappella breakdown in the middle of the song that builds nicely into the final repetition of the chorus. There are layers and layers of sound on this particular song, and the first time I heard it, I hit repeat before the song was even over.

The songs are well crafted musically and a variety of instruments are brought in to create sounds that are reflective of the musical tapestry the Rinehart brothers were exposed to growing up. Subtle southern rock with a tinge of the blues (The Heat), bold gospel inspired soul (Washed by the Water), big brass similar to the sounds of the 70’s band Chicago (Movin’ On) and lilting acoustic (More Time, Second Chances) are all painted beautifully over a canvas of impressive lyrics. I can’t say enough about the distinct southern crawl (that’s not a typo… listen to the man sing and you’ll know what I’m talking about) of Bear Rinehart’s voice. Honestly, his voice is so well textured and so flexible that it is arguably the most impressive instrument on the album.

I was most moved by the song “Return”. The lyric reminds me of the story of the prodigal son, and the plea “return to me” is repeated in the closing bars of the song over a very sparse instrumentation. Gorgeous. Equally moving is “Streets of Gold”, a surprisingly upbeat song about losing someone to a protracted illness. The line,

All of the time it takes to figure it out could be the moments you can’t live without

is one that anyone who has loved someone with a terminal illness can fully appreciate. The whole song is underpinned with a strong bass line and has a very nice percussive break in the first verse.

Another topic tackled is the typical commitment phobic behavior of the modern male. “Looks like Love” will earn the favor of all women who hear it because of this one line;

“Our hearts can only shake when there’s risk that they could break. Yeah it’s a chance that I will take”
I can hear the sighing now. The song is a refreshing reminder that some men “get it” where relationships are concerned, don’t go the way of the world, and can commit to what is right in relationships.

Nestled in the center of the album on track eight is the stunning “Signature of the Divine” There is no question that this is a praise song. It reminds me of something that the Newsboys might do, and placing it in the center of the CD I believe is no accident. I think it has potential to be used in many churches due to the overt praise centered lyrics, easy chord progression and readily learned melody line. I definitely plan to find a way to incorporate it into our church’s contemporary service!

There are so many other songs that standout on this album and each track is unique. I had trouble writing this review, not because there wasn’t enough say but because there is too much to say! The CD is incredibly rich, and I fully believe it deserves a Dove award nomination this year. I’ll even go so far as to say that I believe it deserves a Grammy nod. I have the pleasure of attending a NeedtoBreathe concert in the very near future and I am really looking forward to hearing these songs performed live. And yes, it’s true that part of the reason I was initially drawn to this band IS because they are from tiny Possum Kingdom, South Carolina, but their musical prowess and attention to lyrics are the reasons I’ll stick around to hear what they do next.

switchfoot Valdosta, GA

Great show...last one in the US until the Fall tour cranks up! Should be a blast 'cause they'll be with Relient K!
Many many many thanks to Mr. Jon Foreman for making these photos possible. Thanks to Gabby, Matt, and Marc from Wild Adventures, too. The people who work at Wild Adventures are the nicest people on the planet!!!























Look carefully at this photo and you'll see "Loyd" written on Jon's left hand. Yep.

You can see all the photos here. Enjoy!

Ratatouille review

Beginning with Toy Story and moving on through A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc. (my personal favorite), Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, last summer’s Cars, and this summer’s blockbuster Ratatouille, the production team at Disney Pixar has steadily built a solid reputation as the best computer animation outfit in the business. And fortunately for movie goers, they have not concentrated solely on technical perfection but have also consistently developed strong story lines and likable characters. Ratatouille is no exception to Disney Pixar’s formula and is charming, beautifully illustrated, well- voiced and entertaining. The most stunning aspect of the film is the digital artwork, amazingly detailed and brilliantly colored. The artwork alone is reason enough to see this film on the big screen, but fortunately, Director Brad Bird has the given the viewer much more in this film than just pretty pictures.

Ratatouille is the story of Remy, a country rat with an inclination towards creating fine cuisine whose life intersects with that of an insecure, awkward young man named Alfredo Linguini. Remy, because of a tragic separation from his family, has ended up in Paris at the famed five star restaurant, Gusteau’s. Linguini has ended up at Gusteau’s at the request of his deceased mother, who begged a favor from the head chef by asking that Linguini be given a job as the kitchen boy. Through a series of humorous events, Remy and Linguini become unlikely partners the first night Linguini is hired. Remy is able to “cook” by deftly controlling Linguini’s movements through hair pulling, and as a result, Linguini becomes a rising star in the culinary world. Remy and Linguini discover that they need each other, Linguini to protect the life of the rat-turned-chef, and Remy to protect the secret of Linguini’s “success” in the kitchen. These two are living double lives, so to speak, and much has to be hidden from co-workers (I mean, seriously, what is one to do with a RAT in the kitchen?) The majority of the humor in the film is rooted in the fact that neither Remy nor Linguini can tell their secret to anyone and must work hard to keep Skinner, the head chef, from finding out the truth. The audience knows the secret the entire time, and tension is built when we watch the villainous Skinner slowly begin to unravel the mystery of Linguini’s talent.


High notes in the film are the voice acting work of Janeane Garafolo (Collette) and Brad Garret as the warm and ever encouraging Gusteau. There cannot be enough positive comments made about the breathtaking computer artwork we are treated to throughout the film. This isn’t just a visual treat, it’s a feast, and the film is incredibly well-crafted. For me personally, the best part of the film is Peter O’Toole’s (Anton Ego) eloquent monologue that closes the story. It is arguably one of the most well written monologues in modern cinema.

Although the plot is a tad bit predictable, the charm and wit of the film are enough to make us stop wishing for some fantastic plot twist in the end. The story line is simple, and we see accurate consequences come as the result of some bad choices made on the part of both of our heroes. The over-riding theme is that one is to pursue his calling, even if one seems to be the least likely person qualified to do what he is called to do. Another positive message is that the needs of others ultimately are more important than our own and sacrificing for someone else can be highly rewarding. Probably the most beautifully communicated message is that our pre-conceived notions about people (or rats) can sometimes be wrong. Because these themes are based in truth, parents can use this story to help teach their children some valuable lessons.

Parents will want to be warned ahead of time that there are some concepts that may need to be explained after seeing the movie with younger children. The issue of Linguini’s unknown paternity is a major element used to build conflict in the film. Also in one scene Chef Skinner plies young Linguini with wine in an effort to learn the truth about Linguini’s culinary skills. However, there are life lessons to be learned even within these scenes and wise parents will use the concepts presented as a platform for great discussion.

Ratatouille is a pleasant film that flows smoothly along and tells a charming story. I would recommend this film for children between the ages of seven and twelve, but adults of all ages will enjoy the movie with or without the company of children. Vive La Ratatouille!

This review is also posted at

Oh! Gravity. review

Few bands have been able to turn out two albums in less than two years, much less have a significant evolution between the two. Switchfoot has managed to do that with it’s follow up to 2005’s Nothing is Sound. What started as an EP for the Grammy nominated band Switchfoot turned into the stunning 6th album entitled Oh! Gravity. Jon Foreman, lead singer and songwriter for the group has stated that the recordings began just for funand for the sake of recording. But with the addition of Steve Lilywhite and Tim Palmer to the production team, the project became more than just a fun EP. Oh! Gravity was born with all five members of the band in the studio at the same time recording, discussing, reworking, and mainly feeling their way through the album, and it shows.

Whereas Nothing is Sound is weighty in sound and in subject matter, Oh! Gravity manages to stay thought provoking yet provide levity at the same time. The title track has the signature switchfoot sound with giant guitar hooks created by Drew Shirley, a catchy chorus and of course lyrics that make the listener stop and think. Jon’s half yelled/half sung vocals on the chorus adeptly convey the bewilderment one encounters when observing that gravity forces us into position physically but does nothing to “keep us together” on an emotional or social level. The song also represents a step away from tamer sounds previously heard on multi-platinum disc The Beautiful Letdown

Following Oh! Gravity is “American Dream” which could easily be turned into an anthem for this generation of students who are looking for more than monetary gains to equal success. The next track “Awakening” begins with an echoing primal call (voiced by Tim Foreman and Jerome Fontamillas when played in concert) and Chad Butler’s riveting snare drum intro. The energy never lets up in what could prove to be switchfoot’s next mainstream hit.

Another standout on the CD is the innovative, alt-country sounding “Dirty Second Hands” co-written by long time friend of the band, Todd Cooper. Rhythmically, this is a very ambitious song. Chad Butler has been quoted as saying that it keeps him on his toes and is a challenge to play live. There are layers and layers of sound on this song, and over the top of it all is the twang of a dobra. Also, listeners should pay close attention to the background vocals. I love the interjection of breathy panting early in the song as it adds another layer to an already complex rhythmic structure. By far, this is one of switchfoot’s greatest songs, and it shows a creative progression that most bands neglect if they become lost in formula pop.

My absolute favorite track is “4:12”. This bass driven, melodic account of one’s questioning of his purpose on this earth demands a second listen every time. I absolutely love what Tim Foreman does with the bass line. It’s beautifully played and constantly moving, providing the perfect foundation for the other instrumentation, including some interesting electronica infused in the second verse by keyboard master, Jerome Fontamillas.

The only thing I’m surprised about on this CD is the omission of the powerful song “The Sound in My Mouth”. This track is currently available on an EP (Oh! EP) that is being given away with each merchandise purchase made by fans at concerts. I was blown away by the lyrical content, the experimentation with sound, and the resonance of truth within the track

Overall, I’m most impressed with Jon Foreman’s vocals on each track. There are few lead vocalists who convey more passion with their delivery than Jon Foreman does, and the grit, growls and occasional falsetto he uses provide the perfect vocal texture for each song. And once again, Foreman has written lyrics that stay grounded in Truth. While there are no overt references to Foreman’s faith in Christ, the Truth is evident in abundance. I was especially challenged by the song “Burn Out Bright” and have begun to desire that I burn out bright for the Kingdom of God while I still have time on this earth.

There is much to discover on switchfoot’s latest, and dare I say greatest CD. This disc demands that listeners focus carefully on all the layers, turns, lyrics, and passion that is poured into each track. One may not “get it” on the first spin, but trust me, continue listening and you’ll be hooked. There is no question in my mind that switchfoot has turned out its best CD yet. Because there has been such forward movement on this project, I can’t wait to see what’s next!

This review is also posted at http://titletrakk.com

We should all be chillin' like Doug. It's summer time!!!

Transcendent

Every once in a while, you get to part of a moment that is much larger than it's intended to be because, to borrow a quote from Bono of U2, God walks into the room.

That happened for me Friday night at the graduation ceremony for the 2007 Graduating Class of First Baptist Church School. The valedictorian is someone I know and love well. I've had the privilege of being his youth pastor for the past three years, and I was blown away by his Valedictorian speech because it was truly a transcendent moment.

Trent had called me a few days before asking me to pray for him as he wrote his speech. I'm sure I'm not the only one he called because he really believes in the power of prayer. Anyway, he was fully aware that this was the last time he would be able to address the people he had spent his childhood with and he wanted to leave them with words that would matter.

While Trent was speaking, it was like the time stopped. Most people in the room were so focused on what he was saying that there was a true partnership between communicator and receiver. Transcendent, inspired, definitely God.

Here is the speech in full. He was gracious enough to let me post it...



1 June 2007
Existence
To my classmates-- Congratulations! High school is over. As we journey outward may our lives be caught up in adventure and mystery and passion. Here are a few suggestions to take along for the road that I’ve either remembered or looked up over the past few days:
• “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” 1 Thess. 5:23
• Be graceful when people wrong you, because you will need grace before the day is out.
• Do not resist discipline. It means you are loved, and though it is painful now, “it will produce a harvest of righteousness” later. (Hebrews 12:11)
• To borrow a phrase from C. S. Lewis, do not give in to “the seduction of ease.” Nothing worth having comes without difficulty.
• Judge a person by their actions, not by their appearance or words. Some of the most genuinely good people you will meet will be the ones with mohawks and raggedy clothes.
• Laugh as often as you can, for merriment is ailment for the soul.
• A good meal is always better shared.
• Don’t listen to conventional wisdom, but instead seek the Wisdom that lasts.
• Tomorrow doesn’t really exist, so everyday, burnout brightly.
• Never kiss someone unless you mean it.
• Material possessions provide the most satisfaction when they are given away.
• Life is all about love. All these awards and recognitions and successes don’t count for anything. What counts is how much love flows out of my life. What counts is how much love flows out of your life.
In the next minute or so, I would like to tell you how not to exist. I seek to offer how to move beyond existence into deep living. I submit that there is one Way to lasting joy and fulfillment, and that is found in a certain man from Nazareth. I submit that you must eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to find any manner of life at all. And I’m not talking about the short-haired, clean shaven Jesus that glares at you when you use curse words, who only drinks grape juice, and who walks around with that better-than-you-are air of self righteousness. I’m not talking about the Jesus who is too holy to know what an attractive woman looks like or who is too idealistic to care about money. I’m talking about the Jesus who reaches out and touches the decayed, disfigured hand of a leper--and it heals. I’m talking about the Jesus who offers forgiveness to a woman caught in the very act of adultery when the religious people would stone her. Irquote m talking about the Jesus who drinks wine, but enjoys it without getting drunk. The Jesus who has completely experienced all our humanity, who has felt the tug of temptations, yet withstood them. I speak of the Jesus who knows how difficult life is, because He has gone through it, and having gone through it, remained pure. I speak of the Jesus who knowing all of our troubles and insecurities and desires and having over come them stands saying, “There is a better way to life and I will help you through it.”
The good news of the gospel is that there is a God who can, and who will, heal your pain, free you from your addictions, give you rest in your trials, provide you with a true and lasting family, no matter what has happened to yours, and who will fill your life with love and purpose if you will trust it to Him and follow Him. That is the way I submit to get past existence.
And now, I would like to close with a prayer, so, as always, only if you would so choose, please pray with me for a moment and forever, because the fragrance of prayer lingers eternally:
Father, thank you for getting us this far. Thank you for getting me this far. Thank you for your grace in life, and thank you that throughout all the worst pain and trouble this life can bring, you are still there, you are still good, and you are still awfully glorious. Please let wisdom truly flow into all of us as we set out upon the adventure of this next stage of life. Please let us be successful in the way you measure success. And please, Lord, I ask that You pour out Yourself on us. All of this I seek in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain and is resurrected. Amen.

Sell it!

In the interest of not joining the "American Consumer" club, churches would do well to heed the advice of Jesus in John 2:16 "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade". Are we selling Jesus? Are we making Christianity and the redeemed life a commodity? How tempting it is to sell the most precious gift we've ever been given in the name of evangelism. To package it neatly, to make it pallatable, to make it fashionable. But Jesus isn't a quick fix. Jesus calls us to transformation. And frankly, not many people are interested in a complete overhaul. It simply costs too much!
The truth is the truth. We should not attempt to sell it, to water it down, to restructure it, to make it fit someone's life (or lifestyle).
The truth is the word. The word is life. Unfiltered, unhindered, unmarketable, it is the most powerful thing we'll ever encounter. Jesus is the truth, the way, and the life.
Now, dont' get the idea that I'm against Christians entering the marketplace with products that promote truth and glorify God. I'm just saying we'd better be careful that our motives are right in doing so. And as far as evangelism goes, well, the same goes for that. Jesus isn't something we sell to our neighbors as insurance against a life that could go south.
God, give us pure hearts out of which are born pure motives. Let us never attempt to reduce the power of redemption into a 5 step program to a better life that can be sold on infomercials the world over. Amen!

Shrek the Third

Ah, what an adorable movie! Of course, watching it with my 7 year old daughter made it all the more adorable, but truly, it was an enjoyable film and did not disappoint.

All our favorite characters are back, of course, and Donkey stole the show again. No one, and I mean no one, could have done Donkey better than Eddie Murphy. Shrek's character has mellowed somewhat from the grumpy friendless ogre in the original, but he still has a slew of great one-liners, many of which he saves for the climax of the plot. Fiona was a little less of a player, although she does manage to galvanize the princesses of Far Far Away into a force to be reckoned with. Sleeping Beauty was so well animated and well played...a narcoleptic Princess in the face of eminent danger is always going to be funny.

Favorite scenes...the "croaking" scene (one of the best death scenes EVER), Shrek's nightmare, Pinnochio's verbal adeptness, and the whole bit where Donkey and Puss do a "Freaky Friday" sort of body exchange midway through the movie.

The only critcisms I have are that the pacing was a little off...the film started off with a ton of great humorous moments, one right after the other, but then flagged a little when it was necessary to build the plot. This happened a few times throughout the film, but overall, there weren't too many flat moments. I also was a little disappointed that Shrek's uncouth characteristics were capitalized on instead of his trademark grumpiness.

Pluses were the animation, the addition of new characters (Merlin is outstanding), numerous references to pop-culture (see you can pick up references to Mary Poppins, Monty Python and The Holy Grail, and the Six Million Dollar man),and an outstanding soundtrack. Oh, and slapstick humor in animation form is always a winner...how else can a half a ballroom burn down due to a chain of events that begins when Shrek's royal clothing begins to come undone?

The moral was well communicated as well...we live up to who we are, not who others say we are. I loved it. It fits with the theme of my life lately...seek out why God has created you and who He's created you to be and live up to it, regardless of the nay-sayers in your life.

I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars...or some such rating that puts it in the higher than average category. It's definitely worth paying to see in the theater AND owning on DVD.

AWAKENING!