Just the roadie...

Brian is very happy to work on www.jazz901.org 's email problems any time at all... ("they has yummy cookies" and play even "yummier" jazz )!!

Dalton Sherman gave this keynote address before the educational "forces" gathered in Dallas for their back-to-school event last week. I think I would have given him a standing ovation, too!   Rock on, Dalton, rock on..

I've always had a heart for the Jewish people and an interest in the Holocaust. I've recently found more articles about a Polish Holocaust survivor I've followed. The story of Irena Sendler grabbed my full attention from the moment I first read about her. During WWII, Irena (a Polish citizen) was able to secure work in the Warsaw Ghetto. She joined the organized resistance of Zegota in order to rescue children from the Nazi's. As an employee of the Social Welfare Department, she had a special permit to enter the Warsaw Ghetto, to check for signs of typhus. Under the pretext of conducting inspections of sanitary conditions, Sendler visited the ghetto and smuggled out babies and small children in ambulances and trams, sometimes disguising them as packages and even smuggling them out in tool boxes. As early as 1939, when the Germans invaded Poland, she began helping Jews by offering them food and shelter. Irena and her helpers created over 3,000 false docum...

Calvary Chapel Ministries have had a huge impact on my story and journey with Christ. Pastor Chuck (Smith) and his teaching in the late 70's transformed a lot of my thinking about Jesus. One of my all time favorite artist(s), Terry Taylor (Daniel Amos, Da, Swirling Eddies, etc.), came out of Chuck's church (along with a lot of other amazing artists). An incredible number of lives have been transformed by the realization and acceptance of who and what Jesus is through the teaching and leadership of Calvary Chapel Ministries and it's churches (Raul Ries, Greg Laurie, Bob Coy, (it's an endless list)). There is an immense sadness in my heart today as I share that Greg Laurie's 33 year old son, Christopher, was killed in a car accident early on the morning of July 24th (yesterday as I write this). I know prayers are needed for Christopher's family (he has one daughter, Stella, and his wife Brittany is due in November with another child). Prayer is definitely need...

My brother and sister-in-law shared this link with me. It is VERY powerful. Please take the time to view it and consider the depth of what will truly happen with our full surrender. I wish they had just left it alone with what God can do but I understand their point when it comes to the resources God has given us. It's not lost on me, however, how much God WILL do when we surrender it all to Him... I'm still so far away but am working on losing it (my control) more every day...

Hi all (yeah, the two of you that actually read my drivel)! Previously I've shared the wonderful story of Nathan, Tricia, (and of course, Gwyneth Rose). I'll include a short refresher of their story from Nathan's website : "My name is Nathan. My wife, Tricia has Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and had been preparing for a double lung transplant until we discovered we were pregnant. Tricia is the most incredible person I've ever met. She keeps me humble and in love. Gwyneth is our beautiful, new, baby girl, born 15+ weeks early. Tricia is now breathing with the help of donated lungs, and Gwyneth is on her way out of the NICU and into our hearts." Today, Nathan shared another wonderful video set to one of my favorite Plumb songs, "In My Arms". It is in tribute to Mother's Day and how his wife and daughter have changed his life forever. Please check out their website and story (and have the tissues ready). I'm reminded of how much mothers contribut...

Somehow I recently came by this website. I took the test and this is who I would be as a D&D character. Yes, I admit (rather freely) I had a lot of fun with this stuff "back in the day". Don't think I turned out as a warped member of society (D&D or "real" life) from it either... Curious to see who/what you might be? Click here to find out! You are a L awful Good Human /Cleric (3rd/3rd Level) Ability Scores: Strength- 15 Dexterity- 13 Constitution- 15 Intelligence- 14 Wisdom- 16 Charisma- 13 Alignment: Lawful - Good A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion. However, lawful good can be a dange...

Wondering what this stack 'o' reading says about me, that is... I've been trying to whittle it down and realized I have a LONG way to go! I look over the pile and am a bit frightened by how much it really says about who I am... anyone willing to weigh in with a comment?! (Yeah, I know I'm leaving myself w-i-d-e open...)

With the loss of another amazing artist (Larry Norman), I was going into a bit of a funk over those that have passed on that have had a pretty big impact on my life. Luckily, I also have artists and friends on the OTHER end of the age scale that are just as amazing and are tearing it up lately, wherever they play. Maron is one of these amazing people. I watched her grow up while living in Chicago. Hung out with her amazing family at shows, at the house, at coffeehouse(s), etc. I absolutely love her family, JPUSA (where she now lives), and what she has allowed God to do through her. This video (from a couple years ago) is SMOKIN' and they just about blow the roof off Cup 'o' Joy in Wisconsin with this number. I'm pretty sure you'll love it, too (man, I miss these guys)!

Man, more and more of "my people" are going home lately. I've lost another one with Larry Norman yesterday... >sigh First, from the earlier days... And finally, from one of his last shows (with Mike Roe of the 77's)

(I know I am...)

Hey all - I don't link to many other blogs but this is one that I had to. I just realized that I have been praying for these guys for a while but have been very negligent in passing the story on and asking for prayer for the family. Basically, " Confessions Of A CF Husband " is the blog of Nathan and Tricia. The blog was started as a journal of the incredible adventure Tricia has had with cystic fibrosis for most of her life. She has been in need of a double lung transplant for quite a while and Nathan has been chronicling the ride since Labor Day weekend last year. Understandably, the blog had been about Tricia and everything involved with her journey with CF. Then the unbelievable happened. Tricia became pregnant. With everything else involved, their beautiful daughter, Gwyneth Rose was born 15+ weeks early. She has been a fighter from the word "go". There is NO way I can put into words how moved I am by their story. A family of faith, there is no doubt the...

Yup... I'm really thankful... for the writer's strike. At first I was pretty bummed because (for once) there were a few intelligently written shows that popped up on the Fall TV schedule. Most have run their course and now the "mid-season replacements", reruns, and reality "frap fest" has taken over. That's where I need your help. Between sales, birthdays, Christmas, and general "gifting", I have some reading I need to complete. And I need recommendations. You won't be able to tell me whether I should read my copies of Windows Forensics, Incident Response, IIS6 Administration, or Macromedia Studio 8 as I have to get through all of those for what is defined as "work". Nope, I need some cranial stimulation via my other unread gems. These include: Spy (Ted Bell) Quiet Strength (Tony Dungy) Stories of Emergence (Mike Yaconelli) ( may he rest in peace) Confessions of a Reformission Rev. (Mark Driscoll) God Is C...

Here are both of the holiday house light display videos that I took here in Rochester. The creator had to go back out on tour with Blue Man Group (did you know there are four BMGs?!) but I wanted to include both videos here. Enjoy!!