Top 10 Albums of 2011: #1

#1: Cool Hand Luke - Of Man

Concept albums are hard to come by these days. And generally that's a good thing: most of the time, concept albums are bloated, self-indulgent albums that fail due to at least two reasons: (1) most of the time, even a double album doesn't give us enough time for us to fall in love with the characters or the plot of a concept album. It's hard enough for a movie to do so - to have only ten songs to develop a concept leaves a lot of holes; and (2) usually at some point of a concept album, the music just isn't dramatic and compelling enough to hold our interest.

Cool Hand Luke has been a favorite band of mine since I first heard their album "The Fires Of Life". And when I heard that they were disbanding for good, I was a little sad because really good music by Christians is hard to come by sometimes. Plus - besides The Juliana Theory, Cool Hand Luke was really the only band in the last decade who was making music that I would like to make if I was in a band.

Of Man tells the story of Jesus' final days: from the Last Supper, through the trials and crucifixion up to when he ascended to heaven. This story is told through the perspective of the people in His life and who witnessed the Passion of His final week. Cool Hand Luke through music and lyrics recreates this well-known story so vividly that I can almost see it happening in my mind as I listen to these songs. Each song is so well-crafted, so haunting, that it has honestly changed me. And that is what the number one album each year should do: change you.

It is a dark retelling which isn't for everyone. Perhaps though because it is the same story we have heard a thousand times, that this version will be compelling for some people because it is different. I will miss Cool Hand Luke but am thankful that their final album is truly their masterpiece: hypnotic, mesmerizing, brutally honest, compelling, life-changing, ambitious, and hopeful.

Standout singles: all of them, but especially Are You Coming, His Eyes, Two Versions

The Top Ten Albums of 2011: #2

#3: Gungor - Ghosts Upon The Earth

A lot of creative types - myself included - have latched onto Gungor as the "band that will save worship music from its bloated self-indulgent mediocrity." With David Crowder stepping down after ten years of writing creative, thought-provoking worship tunes, we need another band to rise to the challenge, and Gungor is that band. After their last release "Beautiful Things," I thought Michael Gungor and company had reached its limit of creativity and out of the box musical composition, but I was wrong because Ghosts Upon The Earth surpasses its predecessor.

Upon first listen I was honestly a little disappointed, because I felt the music was that disjointed and that different. It was like this band had decided to balance the worship music scale by stepping as far away from the stuff you hear on K-Love as possible, and it unnerved me to tell the truth. But the more I listened to this CD, the more I began to appreciate the lengths that Gungor was willing to go to give a gift worth giving to God with this music. Even the song that unnerved me the most, "Wake Up O Sleeper" has become my favorite song on the album, because I love how it takes what seems to be disjointed acoustic instrument playing, adds some poignant lyrics and a sweet melody and melds it into a beautiful song. It's almost like they decided to take the idea of the song Beautiful Things and express the same idea musically.

I almost put this album as number one because it is so ambitious, so audacious in fact - but #1 to me seems to be even more ambitious if not as musically compelling.

Standout singles: Wake Up Sleeper, Brother Moon, This Is Not The End

The Top Ten Albums of 2011: #4 and #3

#4: Jason Gray - A Way To See In The Dark

I feel like Jason Gray has taken a look into my own life and written songs that either perfectly describe how I'm feeling/have felt, or that have been written to encourage me to find hope in those times when you feel like giving up, using lines such as: "After awhile in the dark your eyes will adjust/In the shadows you will find a hand you can trust."

Brutally honest and raw, the songs on Jason Gray's 2011 release vacillate between Gray's own admission of his struggle with fear and pain, and reminding us all that we have a God who can not only help us in the darkness, that he came into our darkness to be the Light of the World. I had the opportunity to hear Jason Gray speak and sing on Andrew Peterson's "Behold The Lamb Of God" Christmas tour, and it gave me a little glimpse into the man behind these songs. As for the music, it's really good too, alternating between soft acoustic numbers and rousing full-band anthems. This is a CD I find myself returning to time and time again, one of the reasons being that his song "Without Running Away" has become one of my life songs, because it really describes the way I feel a lot of the time.

Standout singles: Without Running Away, Remind Me Who I Am, Nothing Is Wasted



#3: Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

I have been waiting since Coldplay released "A Rush Of Blood To The Head" for an album that excited me about the band as much as that one did. X&Y was a mixed bag, no doubt; Viva La Vida had some incredible tunes and much ambition, but felt a little disjointed as a whole album. Heck, even one of the songs on that album felt like an amalgam of three different songs.

I listened to Mylo Xyloto on repeat pretty much the whole time I was in Dallas for a technology convention. Each song on this album is rather amazing and contributes to the album as a whole. Whereas their last CD emphasized death, this CD to me is a vision of what Chris Martin and company feel about life after death: heaven, the afterlife, paradise - whatever you want to call it - these songs offer a definite opinion.

The addition of electronica courtesy of Brian Eno has polarized fans on this album. However, as someone who loved U2's last CD No Line On The Horizon, I love this addition and believe it adds to what Coldplay is trying to achieve on this CD. Even the Rhianna guest spot on Princess Of China - something I would normally not appreciate, because I am not a fan - works.

Standout singles: Paradise, Us Against The World, U.F.O.

The Top Ten Albums of 2011: #6 and #5

#6: The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

It seems like this CD has been out forever, but it was released in 2011. I first heard this duo - made up of John Paul White and Joy Williams, two Nashville singer-songwriters who came together during a writing session (and the rest is of course history) - when I downloaded their two song Christmas EP for free last year. (If you haven't downloaded free music from NoiseTrade, I would suggest doing so. I have found many bands/artists that are under the radar before they make it big.) I was immediately intrigued by the intricate yet soft acoustic guitar, and the incredible harmonies that come out of these two people. Then I got their "Live at Eddie's Attic" (also free on NoiseTrade) and was blown away. White and Williams get mistaken as married often; they are that comfortable with each other on and off stage.

Barton Hollow is a wonderful CD. You may have heard the haunting piano song "Poison and Wine" on several TV shows this past year, or perhaps you saw them perform "Barton Hollow" on Conan or another talk show. I'm not sure there has been a more critically lauded musical act this year than The Civil Wars. They definitely deserve it, because this CD is amazing.

Standout singles: Barton Hollow, Poison and Wine, 20 Years



#5: The City Harmonic - I Have A Dream (It Feels Like Home)

You may not have heard of The City Harmonic. It's a shame because this up-and-coming worship band has put out two of the best worship CDs of the past several years. Their first one, which was a six-song EP, was an incredible collection of piano-driven tunes, amazing melodies, and soaring background vocals. You may have heard their biggest hit so far, called "Manifesto" which is basically the Apostle's Creed plus the Lord's Prayer put to a driving beat. (Here's the video)



I thought it would be hard to top their EP, but I was wrong. Their full-length debut album is incredible. Taking the idea of Martin Luther King, Jr's speech "I Have A Dream", The City Harmonic expands on it and takes it to the next level through song. There is not a single song on here that I skip - and that is saying a lot, because there aren't very many albums that I can say that of. If you like piano-driven rock music a la The Fray or older Coldplay put to great worship lyrics, look no further than The City Harmonic.

Are you amazed that all this adulation is for an album I have as #5? That tells you how much I like the top 4 albums.

Standout singles: Yours, Mountaintop, Wake Me Up

Top Ten Albums of 2011: #8 and #7

#8: Owl City - All Things Bright And Beautiful

Not only does Owl City have the coolest name ever - Adam Young - but he puts out some really great music. If Ocean Eyes was just the icing on the cake of what Owl City could do when it comes to creating music in your basement, All Things Bright And Beautiful is the actual cake. Creative, whimsical music that soars with memorable melodies, electronic sounds, and even some traditional instruments, All Things Bright And Beautiful will make you rethink musicians who were discovered on MySpace. This album is that good.

Standout singles: Galaxies, Deer In The Headlights, Dreams Don't Turn To Dust



#7: John Mark McMillan - Economy

Yes, he used to be known as "that guy who wrote How He Loves, and I'm really uncomfortable about that sloppy wet kiss line so I'm going to change it," but John Mark McMillan now is comfortably lodged into the worship music scene. John Mark McMillan is different than most worship leaders and songwriters, however, because the music isn't formulaic, and when I'm listening to his CDs, I feel like I'm driving down Route 66 in the heart of America, driving by once-shiny towns now battered and bruised by the interstate system, and McMillan is sharing his heart with me as we cruise down the road together.

I love his honesty. I love his scratchy, unpolished voice. It certainly isn't worship music for those who like easy Psalty book answers and your standard G C Em C chord progression. It is for those who have more questions than answers, who like their music tinged with some Southern rock or a simple acoustic, and who listen to lyrics like "Chase me down like a lion, like a bird of prey, Lift me up from the ashes of my heart's own shallow grave, 'Cause I know that I love you, but sometimes I'm afraid" and know that John Mark is telling their story too.

Standout singles: Daylight, Love You Swore, Seen A Darkness

The Top Ten Albums of 2011: #10, #9

#10: Know Hope Collective

2007 was a tough year for Christian music as the band Audio Adrenaline said goodbye after a long career. I remember when I was in college when a friend of mine bought their first album (on cassette, that tells you how long it has been) and raved about them. When I listened to them for the first time, I thought they were actually terrible. And if you talk with the original members of Audio A, they will admit as such. However, their next album was better, and by the time Bloom hit, Audio Adrenaline was a band that wrote fun songs and started having radio hits.

When I heard that two of the founding band members were forming a worship band, I was a little skeptical. In fact, I didn't buy the album at all until our worship intern this summer let me listen to their CD. And I immediately liked it. Mark Stuart and Will McGinness have put together a great group of songs (including a couple of Audio Adrenaline favorites) that direct your thoughts towards God. And this album wasn't written in a vacuum, but out of the time, money and energy that Mark and Will give to their mission to Haiti. I highly recommend this album.

Standout singles: Attention, Build Us Back, Ocean Floor



#9 - Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

Who would have figured that Dave Grohl would have a more successful (and in my opinion, a better) career with Foo Fighters than with Nirvana? I know most music afficionados believe that some FF albums are better than others; personally, I can find something great about every album. I happily make the claim that Foo Fighters are the best rock band out there right now, period. Something that happened this year that made Foo Fighters endear themselves to me even more was their counter-protest song they did in front of the protesters from Westboro Baptist Church.

What I love most about this album is the different guitar sounds that are used for each song, and I wonder how these songs would be live, because it just seems like there are so many great things going on musically with each song. This is just a fun album to listen to - Taylor Hawkins has never sound better on the drums, and the harmonies that are used on some of these songs are just incredible.

Standout singles: Bridge Burning, Rope, These Days

Top 10 Albums of 2011

I am really behind in movies, so that list is going to have to wait. 2011 was a great year for music, at least for the music I like to listen to. It was hard to rank them all, but on my road trip to Maryland, I had plenty of opportunity to listen to all of them and rank them all. In the past I have just listed them all in one post; this time I am going to do two albums for each post until the last two. Agree or disagree with my rankings? Let me know!

Next post: #10 and #9.

Isn't There Anyone Who Knows What Christmas Is All About?

"True Charlie Brown. I can tell you what Christmas is all about."

Christmas Carol Devotion #4: O Come O Come Emmanuel

Love what the devotional guide I've been reading has to say:

Time after time, the Israelites found themselves separated from God - always by their own doing. And God would eventually deliver them, only to be betrayed by His chosen people again. So we find two constant themes in the Old Testament:

- The Israelites, no matter how hard they tried, were unfaithful to God.

- God remained faithful and fulfilled the promises He made to them.

Through His prophets, God made many promises. Isaiah 7:14 says, "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and you shall call His name Emmanuel." The name Emmanuel translates as "God with us." It's a remarkable promise - the Ultimate Being and Creator of the Universe promising to make Himself physically present with the people who have proven themselves unworthy.

In one of the most somber Christmas songs, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," there is an embraced tension within Israel. They are in exile, separated from God yet again. With a somber perspective, they choose to rejoice in the promise God has made to them. With nothing else to cling to, in the midst of desperation and loneliness, they recall and proclaim the promise that God would be with them - knowing that, in spite of their unfaithfulness, God is faithful to His promises.

--

So much to chew on here. I've liked this song for a long time and we always do it at least once at Christmas. My personal favorite is the Future of Forestry version, although I really like the Chasing Furies one too. I was going to use this song for our Christmas day service, but it really doesn't make sense to do so. On Christmas Day, the hopeful expectation of the Messiah isn't an expectation anymore, it happens and we celebrate the Messiah's birth, not the hope of His birth.

I've always loved the idea of Emmanuel, too. "God With Us." (For a great video about God With Us, check out this one.) At the beginning of Jesus' birth, we are told that His name will be Emmanuel, which means God With Us. At the end of Jesus' life, He told us that He will be with us always..." So from the first of His life to the last of His life on earth, Jesus promised that He would be with us.

But it gets better.

Because in Acts, when Jesus leaves His disciples, the promise of God With Us becomes something even greater, even more special. Why? Because God With Us has now become God In Us. The Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, we tend to kind of ignore The Spirit. We don't talk about him/her much, we tend to downplay their role in our lives, and that's a shame. Because Jesus said that we would do greater things than He did while He was on earth. Because He was sending someone to be our helper, our advocate (John 14).

Okay, I'm off track. This song reminds me of what Adam, our student minister, said in his message during Thanksgiving weekend. That it's easy to give thanks for the good things that have already happened to us. It's a lot hard to give thanks for the good things we are praying about and expecting to have happen. In the same way, it's easy to rejoice that the Messiah is coming when He is already here. It is much harder to rejoice in the Messiah who is yet to come.

Christmas Carol Devotion #3: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Really, I'm just following the order of the YouVersion devotional plan. I would not have put this song into the list, personally. I like the song okay, but I have a feeling I'm going to be upset down the road when one of my favorite carols is missing (like O Holy Night or The First Noel).

Anyway, I like most of the sultry female voice versions of this song that I've heard on the radio, but I also really like the Relient K version of this song - I used it as the background to our announcement video this past Sunday.

I want to focus on the first three lines of this song:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on our troubles will be out of sight

Did you know that these lyrics were not the original lyrics? This song was written for a musical starring Judy Garland called Meet Me In St. Louis. Garland and the director of the musical criticized the lyrics as depressing. I don't blame them, look at the original first three lines:

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
It may be your last
Next year we may all be living in the past

Depressing, huh? Did you know that another line in this song was changed at an even later date, after several versions became popular? The original line "From now on we'll have to muddle through somehow" was changed to "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough."

Can you imagine this song being popular at all with the original lyric? No way. We want our Christmas to be merry and bright. Which I definitely agree with, although I think sometimes our desire for a merry Christmas blinds us to the fact that the first Christmas had some merriness to it; yet it also had a lot of pain, a lot of confusion, etc. Two songs remind me of this. One is a song from the CD Behold The Lamb Of God by Andrew Peterson. Just two nights ago I got to see A.P. and friends perform this entire CD in concert, it was amazing. Anyway, one of the songs is called Labor Of Love and it starts out like this:

It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother's hand to hold

Another song, which I'm contemplating doing this Sunday for special music, reminds us of the forces at work - both spiritual and human - when Christ was born and how it is the same today as it was then.

If You were born today
We'd kill You by age eight
Never get the chance to say
Joy to the world, peace on the earth
Forgive them for they know not what they do...

By all means, let's have a merry Christmas. But let's not forget that a woman had labor pains, it was cold in the stable, babies were killed by the insane king Herod, a family had to flee to Egypt, and a baby would grow up to one day die on a cruel cross for things He did not do.

Song List - December 4th, 2011

Want to restart this as well so if you didn't get a chance to come to Miamisburg Christian Church on a Sunday, you can see what songs you missed! Of course this Sunday we started our Christmas stuff. Here is what we did:

Glory To God Forever (Fee)/O Come Let Us Adore Him

All Creation Sing (Joy To The World) - North Point version

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Mercy Me version

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Kutless version

Glory In The Highest - Chris Tomlin


special music (myself and Kim): Give This Christmas Away - Matthew West

Christmas Carol Devotion #2: Angels We Have Heard On High

True story: in the summer of 1991, I was on a camp team for Pacific Christian College. Our job was to go to Christian camps all summer long, promote the school, and do whatever the camp directors needed us to do. It was a tough summer in many ways - driving from camp to camp (this was before cell phones and GPS devices), pouring your life into high school students for a week, and then having to say goodbye to them and then do the same the next week, etc. The last four weeks of the summer were even more difficult because my camp team partner had some health issues, so she had to return home while I went out on my own. Thankfully the last four camps I was part of were incredible - one in northern California, two weeks at Wi-Ne_Ma in Oregon, and one week up in Washington, just north of Tacoma.

At the California one, I was asked to be the "sponsor" for the kids who came without youth groups, so I hung out with them all week long. One night everyone broke into their groups outside, and my smaller group hung out at the campfire. Nobody was really in any mood to talk about stuff that happened that day, so someone suggested singing some songs around the campfire. Now mind you, there were eight of us at the most around the campfire. We sang for about an hour and had one of the best worship times I've ever had. The best part of the story is this (and remember, it's true): later that night I was talking with a youth minister, and he was telling me that although he had a good night talking with his students, that he wished he could have gone over to the campfire to sing songs, since everyone else at the camp went over there. I told him that actually there were only eight of us at the campfire, and with an incredulous look on his face, he told me that from where his group was, it sounded like there were 200 people around the campfire singing songs. Another talk with a different youth minister confirmed this.

Ever since then, I have attributed it to angels singing with us. At the time, I wasn't really that "into" the idea of angels or demons or the supernatural. But it opened my eyes to the fact that the spiritual world is out there, and things happen that can only be explained by "other" forces at work in our world. Just thinking about that night at the campfire brings me to a sense of awe, of being grateful that for a brief moment in time, it was like God pulling open the curtain so I can get just a glimpse of His glory.

Angels We Have Heard On High has been a favorite carol of mine for some time. I'm not sure what my favorite version of this song is, although I've always liked Michael W. Smith's Gloria on his first Christmas album. I've loved that album for a long time - one of the reasons is that it is the last really good memory I have of my stepfather. When I was in college, he flew out to California from Florida, and then we drove up to see his daughter in Merced. I happened to have this Michael W. Smith Christmas cassette with me, and we listened to it all the way up and all the way back.

One of my favorite Bible stories as it relates to Christmas is the story of the shepherds being visited by the host of angels. I love it because it reminds me of how ludicrous it sounds, that God didn't announce the birth of his Son to Caesar or the heads of state or to the chief officials. He announced it to a bunch of lowly shepherds, smelly dudes out in the fields who had no power, no royalty - just a bunch of sheep. It reminds me that God doesn't care about prestige or position or pedigree. He cares for all, and gives his most important announcements to those who are willing and ready to hear.

I want to close with an excerpt from the YouVersion devotional on this carol:

"It seems like people tend to have fewer experiences these days of complete awe. Technology has brought so much of the world to our living rooms and fingertips that we can see anything we want and feel like we are at anyplace we want to be. Unfortunately, most of us probably have fewer awe-inspiring moments with God like we should. Our relationship with Him often becomes too comfortable and even ordinary.

This Christmas, make an attempt to regain those awe-inspiring moments with God. Strive to make your relationship with Him something so inspiring that it causes you to rejoice like the angels did. Don't let your relationship with Him be ordinary, but rather make it extraordinary."

Christmas Carol Devotion #1: Joy To The World

Have I told you how much I love the YouVersion app for the iPad? Lots of translations, you can highlight, you can add your own notes, etc. There are also some really good daily devotionals that can help you in your daily Bible reading and walk with God. I am presently doing three of them, including a Christmas Carol Devotional that takes a Christmas song each day and talks about them.

I love Christmas songs. And being a worship minister has some great advantages in this department because you can start listening to Christmas songs and no one will think you are loony (at least not completely.) My favorite Christmas song has been documented in this blog (that would be O Holy Night, I am sure it will come up in this devotional), but I am excited to look at other Christmas songs and glean a deeper truth from them.

First up on the docket is Joy To The World. I have two favorite versions of this song right now. One is called All Creation Sing (Joy To The World), originally done by Fee but the North Point version is awesome. The other version is Future of Forestry's version, which throws in a little bit of All Creatures Of Our God And King and just has a cool sound.

I think sometimes in the Christmas season, it is hard to find people who are joyful. I read several different stories of crazy Black Friday incidents, including a lady in California who pepper sprayed other shoppers so she could get to the good stuff first. I watched a video of what seemed to be a thousand people pour into an Urban Outfitters store. We are often tired from shopping, tired from Christmas festivities and school plays and holiday office parties and opening cards and getting pictures with Santa and hearing those Salvation Army bells ringing incessantly and more...to actually stop during this craziness and think of things to be joyful about seems almost anti-Christmas season, right?

One way I try to be joyful is thinking about the little things that go on in our lives in December: my birthday, my grandmother's birthday, Debby and my anniversary, cookie and goodie baking (and collecting) with our brother-in-law's huge family down in Cincinnati, Christmas eve services at our church, finding new versions of songs to try out this year, etc. Today I experienced a joyful moment as I helped set up our worship center's stage to look like the movie set of It's A Wonderful Life. Taking time to find joy in the little things this holiday season is a great way to have a joyful spirit this time of the year. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. EGG NOG.

What are some things that remind you to stay joyful during this time of the year? Ultimately, reminding myself of why I do this stuff every year - because our Lord was born, because our Savior reigns, and that He rules the world, not through force and demands, but through truth and grace is the best way to keep a joyful spirit now and any time of year.

41...

I turned 41 twenty-two minutes ago. Actually, that is probably not true. I think I was born at 10 in the morning or something, so I haven't officially turned 41 yet. Some thoughts about 41 and aging one more year (day):

- my mom never got to see her forty-first year; her life was tragically cut down at age forty from lymphoma.

- when I think about my mom and stepfather and when they hit their late thirties/early forties, it just seems so bizarre. I just don't feel as old as I thought they were when I was a teenager. I don't feel as responsible as I assumed they were. I do know I have made some better choices than they have, which makes me feel slightly better. Perhaps it is because my daughter is ten years younger than I was when my parents hit forty that makes me feel younger.

- I think about death a lot more now that I am in my forties. Not in a morbid way, but more of a "what legacy will I leave my daughter and what mark will I make on this world" type of a way. I have to admit, death kind of freaks me out.

I have been thinking about what I would like to experience in my forty-first year and who I want to become in this year. Some glimpses:

- I want to be a better friend to those who have been great friends to me. One of my problems is that I am one of the most non-observant people in the history of the world, and I just don't notice when someone needs help or is hurting or whatever. God, increase my discernment in this area.

- we are in the process of helping a couple of people who are struggling in life, and although it is challenging and frustrating at times, my hope is that we can not only continue to help them out but also perhaps we can help more people.

- my passion for fighting human trafficking has been rather hot and cold as of late: I believe some of it is a lack of time to devote to this cause; but I also sense some discouragement through the second half of 2011 because we have seen a large number of task force members just disappear on us. God, please help us connect and network with others who have this passion and who will stand with us.

- I need to spend more time in the woods, on a bicycle, climbing a hill, skiing (even if it is Ohio style skiing) and adventure seeking.

- help me Lord to apply these Dave Ramsey principles to my life now that I don't hear him talk for 45 minutes every week for 13 weeks.

- I need to pray more, journal more, blog more, and express through writing what I am learning, what I am frustrated with in this world and with myself, and what God is showing me. I need to be quiet more, to listen to that gentle whisper, to cling to the Vine that sustains, strengthens and ignites me.

That about does it for now. As my 45th minute of being 41 quickly approaches (it takes more time blogging with an iPad I have found), I hope that as you read this post that you find yourself wondering how God is going to use you in whatever number of year you are in right now.

I might get back into this...

Strange world called blogging. I am extremely busy these days: between working long hours at church, co-leading an anti-trafficking task force, spending time with my family and going to see my daughter at her cheer competitions and now seeing her cheer at third grade boys basketball games (wow are those games exciting...), not to mention the time suck that is the iPad, I just don't seem to find time for blogging. But I am going to try to find time. Reasons? First, blogging is an outlet for me to put my thoughts down. Right now they just kind of float around in my brain, doing me no good, and certainly no one else too. I honestly think I have a couple of good ideas each day that never get put to use because I don't write them down. They may be good ideas about the books that I am going to write someday. They may be about creative things we are thinking of doing at church. Writing them down and talking about them will help me hopefully utilize these ideas. Third, I have had a few people ask me why I don't blog anymore, and since I feel like one of my skills is writing, I should probably do more of it.

So...expect some posts to come from me soon. No, really this time.