Internets, We Have A Picture

27 April 2009 by

So several of y’all have mentioned wanting to SEE A PICTURE OF THE AMY, ALREADY.

sligh-grant-alternate-photo2
photo by Kay Williams

Here’s Chris Sligh (I didn’t say a word to him, either, because CHICKEN GOES BOK BOK) and the oh-so-lovely Amy Grant at ASCAP’s Christian Music Awards.

And a couple of things occur to me as I look at this picture (a picture I did not take, by the way – ASCAP had a real-live professional photographer in attendance).

First, Amy Grant looks almost exactly like she looked twenty years ago. The only difference is that she’s even prettier now.

Second, some people navigate college and their early 20s without missing a beat in their faith. I was not one of those people. I really struggled from about 21-25. There were a few mountaintops (the memory of one retreat in particular continues to be very special to me) – but mostly lots and lots of valleys. Lots of bad choices. Lots of pretending that I had my act together when in reality I was pretty stinkin’ miserable. Lots of trying to distance myself from God because I wanted to do things my way and on my terms – not to mention that I figured He wouldn’t want to have a whole lot to do with me given ALL THE REBELLION.

Anyhoo.

Even in that not-so-sunshiney time, when I didn’t want to surrender to anything that I perceived as getting in the way of the life I thought I wanted, there were days when I’d pull out my copy of Amy Grant’s “The Collection,” and inevitably, as I listened, I would cry. And sometimes I’d wonder what in the world I’d done to the girl who loved Jesus so wholeheartedly as a teenager, and I’d wish with everything in me that things could be that simple again.

What I know now is that things could have been that simple again – I’m the one who overcomplicated them. Got distracted. Compromised. Thought I knew better. Blah blah blahtedy the early 20s are hateful blah blah blah.

What I also know now is that God never let go of me during that time. I can see Him all over the place as I look back on those years. And one way He continued to remind me who I was in Him was through Amy Grant’s music. Even as I type that I think GAH, COULD YOU SOUND A LITTLE MORE LIKE A JR. HIGH DIARY, PLEASE? – but it’s true. And so when I saw her last Monday night, I got a little emotional and teary and whathaveyou. Not because I think she’s some big shot singer person. Not because I think she’s better than the rest of us because she’s famous.

But because she was faithful to sing the music that God put on her heart, and those songs made a difference in my life, and I AM SO STINKIN’ GRATEFUL.

That is all.

Filed Under: ASCAP, Faith

Linky Interwebby Awesomeness 04.26.09

26 April 2009 by

– Over at the Praise Baby blog, you can win some real-live, grown-up CDs: Casting Crowns, Third Day, etc. And all you have to do to win is to leave a comment. Head over to the Praise Baby blog to enter.

– In light of the Compassion Bloggers trip to India and all, here’s a friendly reminder that if you’re a Compassion sponsor, you can write to your sponsor child(ren) online.

– Pete’s first post from Kolkata took my breath away.

Filed Under: Daily Awesome

Compassion Goes To India

24 April 2009 by

Every once in awhile I’ll go through a phase where I look at my blog and think Yep. I’m done. Time to shut ‘er down. Don’t get me wrong – I love the “writing” and the reading and the interacting with all the internets; most of the time it’s about seventy two different kinds of fun for me. But every once in awhile, for whatever reason, I just feel like I’m done. Like it’s been a good run, but it’s over.

But then there’s Compassion. And what Compassion is doing on the web is nothing short of remarkable. Their work is impacting the lives of families all over the world as they release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. And more often than not, when I want to turn off the blawg, Compassion is the thing that keeps me going. Being a tiny little part of the work that they do has been one of the greatest privileges of my whole life. No kidding.

This morning the latest group of Compassion bloggers is leaving for Calcutta (Kolkata), India, and I think it would be a mighty fine thing indeed if we would commit to praying for them. Pray that they would have peace about being away from their families. Pray that they will sleep well (my experience was that it’s very, very difficult to make the mental wheels stop spinning when you climb in the bed every night). Pray that God will give them the words they need to express what’s on their heart. And pray that their readers will be responsive to those words, that they would be willing to step out and release a child from poverty in Jesus’ name.

If you’re not familiar with the work Compassion does, you can check out the Compassion website for more info. You can also read about Compassion’s earlier blogger trips to Uganda and the Dominican Republic.

It’ll be bloggy bidness as usual around here during the India trip, but that bloggy bidness will be peppered with lots of reminders to read about what’s happening in Kolkata. I cannot begin to imagine what our sweet bloggy friends are going to experience over there – but I know it will change them forever.

And more importantly, I know it will change the lives of hundreds of children.

I can’t wait to see what happens.

Filed Under: Compassion

I’m Just A 44 Year-Old Guy With A Paper Route

23 April 2009 by

Given all the funny in last week’s episode of The Office (“SPIN MOVE!”), tonight’s episode has some mighty big shoes to fill. Will The Michael Scott Paper Company get some new clients? Will Dunder-Mifflin beg Michael & Co. to come back? Will Al Capella get any $9,000 gigs (with a merch table, no less)?

I can’t wait to find out.

1. “Ever since I’ve gotten clean there’s something about fresh, morning air that just really makes me sick.”

2. “We think it says Alleluia Church of Scranton in Korean.”

3. “I don’t want to have said that. But I think it’s important that you know it.”

4. “Charles, I got your memo! Thank you!”

“Been there. Done that.”

5. “David Wallace! Hello we’ve been expecting you, David Wallace!”

6. “Come along, afterthought.”

7. “When a child gets behind the wheel of a car and runs into a tree, you don’t blame the child. You blame the 30 year-old woman who got in the passenger seat and said, ‘Drive, kid. I trust you.'”

8. “I say we fill Michael’s office with bees.”

9. “Aw, man – if only Michael had children. Then we could really apply the pressure.”

10. “See you upstairs, you titans of industry.”

“Well, we’re not only tight ends, we’re also quarterbacks.”

11. “Well, well, well – how the turn tables…”

12. “I’ll see your situation and raise you a situation.”

13. “How about $60,000?”

14. “OH – WE ARE SO. RICH.”

15. “One. Case of the Beet Bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm.”

16. “Wouldn’t you rather have a fishing pole than a fish?”

“I’d rather have $60,000.”

17. “I want my old job back. I want my old parking space back. I want a Sebring. And I want Charles gone.”

18. “Our balls are in your court.”

19. “That’s what I’m TALKIN’ ABOUT!”

20. Michael propping that foot up on Jim’s desk – PRICELESS.

Did y’all love it as much as I did?

Filed Under: TV Is My Friend

Several Things

22 April 2009 by

– I have been working like crazy to catch up on all the TV I missed when I was in Nashville. It is a grueling task, but I am committed. Right now I’m taking a little break because I thought I’d better get something to drink. Because I find that when watching excessive amounts of television, it’s always wise to stay well-hydrated. It helps with the leg cramps.

– This next sentence will only make sense to you if you’re watching “24,” and if you’re not watching “24” feel free to skip to the next thing, but I just need to say this: Y’all, I cannot believe that Tony Almeda. THE NERVE.

– I do have a picture of Amy Grant from the ASCAP dinner, but I haven’t gotten it uploaded yet. The picture doesn’t show off her hair in its full glory, but it will definitely give you the general idea. Also: I did not take the picture because I was too afraid to talk to her. However, we did make eye contact very briefly and I smiled. THAT WAS THE BEST I COULD DO, Y’ALL.

– And speaking of the ASCAP Awards, I have another post or two that I’ll put up sometime very soon when the DVR is no longer demanding so much of my attention.

– Earlier this afternoon I was talking to Annie, and she told me that she and her family were about to go eat at a restaurant that serves fried green beans as an appetizer.

“Well,” I replied, “I’m going to need to hear more about this.”

Apparently this restaurant takes whole, cooked green beans, batters them, and then slaps them in a deep fryer until they’re golden and crispy.

I don’t know when I’ve ever been more intrigued by a fried food that I’ve not yet experienced.

So Annie told me she’d send me a picture from the restaurant, and as my mama would say, IT CAME THROUGH ON THE EMAIL just a few minutes ago.

photo1

Have y’all ever heard of such?

Filed Under: Rambling

American Idol, Top 7 (Again)

21 April 2009 by

Don’t even get me started about how glad I am to have Matt Giraud back again this week, and on top of that, I am THRILLED that we’re gonna get to hear some disco tonight. Why? Because I LOVE ME SOME 70s MUSIC. As along as it’s not “MacArthur Park” because, well, I just don’t get it.

Lil Rounds – “I’m Every Woman” – This song is a little tired as far as AI goes, I think – somebody sings it EVERY SINGLE YEAR. And once again, Lil didn’t really do anything to make this song her own. She just did sort of a fancy karaoke version, and it didn’t really blow me away. It was a’ight, but I’m not sure it was enough. However, she did seem MUCH more comfortable, and that was nice to see.

Kris Allen – “She Works Hard For The Money” – Oh my word – he totally put a Dave Barnes-ian / Matt Wertz-ian / Marc Broussard-ian groove on that song, and it was AWESOME. I loved the acoustic feel (RIGHT UP MY MUSICAL ALLEY, IT WAS), and I have to say that was one of my top five AI moments ever. Loved it SO MUCH. Good grief he’s talented.

Danny Gokey – “September” – This has nothing to do with Danny’s performance, but Earth Wind & Fire is one of those bands that just makes me HAPPY. Anyway. This song is totally Danny’s comfort zone – big vocal, lots of funky, and I liked how he interacted with the background singers. HOWEVER, as strong as his vocals were, he didn’t show as much originality as Kris. I don’t think that’s going to hurt him ONE IOTA in this competition, mind you, because he can flat-out sing – and I thought this was a really fun performance.

Allison Iraheta – “Hot Stuff” – I’m sorry, but when she sings lyrics that are way too mature for her, she loses me from the get-go. I don’t know if that’s fair entirely fair to her or not, but there’s just something that makes me uncomfortable about a 16 year-old girl singing those lyrics. Plus, I thought the arrangement was way too slow and as a result it felt like she never picked up any momentum. I just wish she’d done something a little peppier and a little more age-appropriate. KC & the Sunshine Band, maybe?

Adam Lambert – “If I Can’t Have You” – This was actually my favorite performance of Adam’s, and admittedly I have not been his biggest fan because I feel like he screams a lot. Tonight he didn’t scream as much, and I really liked the way he ended the song. I also liked that it was way more controlled than, say, what he did last week. So I say well done.

Matt Giraud – “Stayin’ Alive” – At first I thought that Matt singing this song was a really bad decision, but then he started singing and I decided it might be a good call after all. I loved the R&B spin he put on it, and I liked the arrangement. I still like Matt the very best when he’s sitting behind the piano, but his vocals were way better this week than last. However, he wasn’t as original as Kris and Adam, and this week, I think he needed to be. Don’t know if it’ll be enough to keep him in this thing for another week or not.

Anoop Desai – “Dim All The Lights” – I really liked the first part of this song when he did his Anoop-ish ballad-y thing – but when the tempo of the song got a little faster, it started to feel a little outdated to me. So while he was smart to highlight his strengths at the beginning of the song, he reminded us of his weaknesses in the last part of the song. This one’s a toss-up.

So for me the best of the night was Kris Allen – hands down. And I think anyone whose name isn’t Kris, Danny or Adam could potentially be in danger when they eliminate two people tomorrow night. It’s not that the other four aren’t good, but tonight, they weren’t nearly as strong.

What did y’all think?

If you’d like to add your own AI post to the Mr. Linky, please leave the permalink to your specific post and not your general blog URL.

Filed Under: TV Is My Friend
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