It sucks to be a dad and a guy.  Weird statement?  Yeah I know.  But it makes sense when you think about how lame it is to be a guy, knowing how the guy mind works, realizing that the eyes in front of the minds of all those creatures are going to be looking at your daughter.  I say again!  It sucks to be a dad and a guy!  

Have I told you that I have a beautiful little girl named Avonlea Joy?  Greatest 6 year old girl ever (put a disputingcomment up and we can throw down).  The pic above (iPhone pic represent!) is her.  She’s spinning around in H&M after she put on her new dress and she was being absolutely adorable.   

So there in lies my dilemma.  As a dad I have a God given desire to love and protect her but as a guy I know that all guys suck.  They do!  It’s true.  Your son.  Your father.  Your brother.  Your uncle.  Definitely your uncle!  Your uncle for sure!  They are guys and that’s that.  We are sick people.  What?!  It’s our burden.  Thank God for his purifying grace and power to change.

So!  What do you do?  My daughter is only in the 2^nd grade and I’m already freaked out about little punk 7 year olds talking to her on the playground.  Excuse me young man, can you stop talking to my daughter and go play with a truck or something because my daughter doesn’t get to talk to boys until she’s older—older as, eligible for congress, older—so go play or wait a while. 

My daughter and I go on dates.  We went on a date last night and we had a great time.  I am trying to set her dating patterns now but she’s pretty clever and sometimes senses what I’m up to.  “Avonlea!  Of course all pretty girls wear nun habits and Muslim head coverings when they go on dates.  Look, it’s fun to be completely covered up from head to toe—It’s like hide and seek!  Why don’t you believe me?”  So my attempts don’t always work out, but I try.  So, I bought her a pretty dress, instead.   Shopping at the mall was the first event on our date schedule.

We walk and talk and get treats and go to the movies and get dinner and dessert.  Every time we get to a door I open it.  If I don’t—don’t worry—she definitely.  Definitely.  Definitely lets me know it.  And so I try not to forget.

Ultimately (jokes aside) I just want to be Jesus to her.  My hope is that she starts to learn now what if feels like to be treated like a daughter of the King.  Respected.  Encouraged.  Blessed.  Served.  Fought for.  Sought after.  Listened to.  Honored.  Hollywood is doing their darndest to give her a different picture of the perfect date so the challenge is no easy one.

A cheesy Renee Zellweger movie that I saw the other day gave me my new favorite line.  A father whose daughter was about to go to prom gives a Fatherly talk to the boy that’s going to take her.  Looking him right in the eye, he says, as stern and believable as can be, “You go ahead and have a good time tonight but know that whatever you do to her I will do to you.”  Yes!  That’s what I’m talking about!  That’s my line right there!  I love it.

Here’s a little picture of my daughter Avonlea.  These are the words for a song that I wrote about her perspective on the world (as I observed her perspective) when she was only 2.  It’s amazing how fitting that the lyrics still are—maybe more so now.  She’s totally special, you’ll see what I mean right away. 

My girl thinks She’s 17 walking around like she knows everything

Smelling the roses striking the poses

Everyone glancing watching her dancing

My girl she’s a beauty queen inside outside everything

She’s zany and sassy—quiet is passé

She’s living like she doesn’t care about anything

But when she walks down the street

She thinks everything’s so sweet

She thinks that life is nothing more than a big mystery

And she says

What a wonderful world scenes of plenty painted pink and purple

What a wonderful world laughter and love smiling faces everyone

Every place there is someone.  Everybody see like Avonlea

My girl lives in her dream world stars shine down in shimmer swirl

Magic places and fantasy faces

Sweepn’ her deep into nowhere land

My girl she’s my lovy dove heaven’s kiss coming from above

It’s a beautiful pleasure holding your treasure

Her smile to me is poetry

But when she walks down the street

She thinks everything’s so sweet

She thinks that life is nothing more than a big mystery

And she says

What a wonderful world scenes of plenty painted pink and purple

What a wonderful world laughter and love smiling faces everyone

Every place there is someone.  Everybody see like Avonlea

You know the day is passing by way too fast

Savor the moment then make it the past

Soon very soon it’ll be past noon

The heavens loom our star dims to soon

Well, I have to say that I, like the rest of us, was totally shocked by the news about Michael Jackson yesterday afternoon.  I got my news from my friends on Twitter.  My buddy Brody Harper posted his reaction of shock and I got the gist of the situation.  It’s a strange new world we live in with strange new ways of receiving our info.

When I first read the tweeted news, I wasn’t sure if it was legit—Don’t get me wrong, Brody is legit.  But as more and more people started to post, the picture became a little more “what the crap?!  I can’t believe that happened!” which, I’m sure you were feeling as well—even if you didn’t use an expletive out loud.  

And what was really weird was that it was less than 6 hours after Jackson’s death that it was already old news, due to such a large amount of communication on our internet social networks between each of the people that make up our circles of friends.  Not a single bit of information that I have was from an official news medium—it was all buzz from friends.  I assume that you all aren’t making it up.

I thought some good folks had some very insightful things to say.  Steve Fee (from the band Fee) said, “Crazy thought … The ‘king of pop’ stands before the ‘King of Glory’ today … Fame redefined.”  My good friend Mark South, Pastor of Origin Church, said, “Even if we have all the resources to make our “Neverland”. We can’t run from the end but we can run to Jesus.

Both are brilliant insights.  Jesus said, “What good is it if a man gains the whole world but looses his soul.”  I’m totally reminded to take inventory of my priorities by that.  Hopefully they are, and will always be, directed toward an eternity with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  I love that our stupid social networks, with all the junk that comes across everyday, can also be used to cary that message as well.  I like “redeeming stuff” like that.  Thanks for your grace God.

Well, I have mentioned several times now that weddings are a big part of Celestial’s and my life this summer, so instead of showing you my favorite Explore pics this week, I thought that I would share some of the awesome wedding moments that Celest has caught over the last few weeks.  Check them out and let me know what you think.  Grace and Peace!

Ok.  Admit it.  At some point in the last 15 years, you have sported (even if only for clever fun making purposes) a bracelet or something with the letters WWJD on it.  Of course you’re embarrassed about it—we all know that—so don’t worry.  You had good intentions I’m sure.  So don’t lie, your secret is safe here.

Here’s the bracelet that I have worn most of my life: “W.W.J.L.M.G.A.W.J.T.O.I.I.S.I.W.R.R.S.A” (What would Jesus let me get away with just this once if I said I was really, really sorry afterward?).  Yes, I have really big wrists.  Isn’t that how most of us treat righteousness?  And it sucks!  (almost as much as that stupid slogan).  It sucks because it shows such a misunderstanding of righteousness when we approach it that way.

On the other side of it, have you ever told somebody that you can’t do something because you’re a Christian?  That is the saddest answer ever.  Hey!  Come and do this with us!  Ah …no …I can’t do that …because I’m a Christian.  No!!!!!!!!  Stop it right now!  That is the worst answer ever!  Self Righteousness is what that is and it’s gross!  Lord help us!

What we should be saying is, No!!!  I WON’T do that!!!  (won’t not can’t).  I won’t do that because Jesus gave his life to set me free and I couldn’t bare to grieve his spirit that lives right here in my being; I was dead and now I am alive and have no desire for those things of that old life.

It’s like my daughter.  I over heard her playing with a friend the other day and she said something to the effect of, no, I don’t listen to that music because my mommy and daddy won’t let me.  And I thought, good girl, but what she really means is:  NOOOOOOOO!!!!  I SHAL NOT DO THAT!  FOR IT IS NOT ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT MY MOTHER AND FATHER WANT FOR ME!  THEY ARE SUCH WONDERFUL AND GOOD PARENTS AND I WOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING THAT THEY DID NOT WANT ME TO DO.  IT WOULD BREAK THEIR HEARTS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I COULD NOT BARE.  AND MY DAD IS SO VERY VERY HANDSOME AND SMART AND BRAVE!!!  That’s what she was thinking ok.  I know it.  She didn’t say that but she thought it I am certain.  It’s science.

I think you guys get my point.  We get all screwed up in our thinking about righteousness and we just need to get it straight.  We need to rearrange our thinking about our works.  Religion is: I obey, therefore I am excepted.  Saving faith is:  I am excepted therefore I obey.  The chasm between those two paradigms is so incredibly vast and it affects every aspect of a person’s life.  Grace and peace as you wrestle with that.

Do you do weird stuff and not know it?  Yeah you do.  It’s cuz you’re weird too.  Be honest.  I find out weird stuff about myself all of the time.

Sunday night I was leading worship at Origin.  I don’t use a music stand because I hate them—I hate having to look at a sheet of music while I’m worshiping.  I memorize it or I would prefer not play it (on occasion I use a music stand if I really need to do a song—but I’m never happy about it).  However, it would probably be better if I did use a stand because my memory is not so good.  I mess up words all the time, as many of you well know. 

We were singing “Where We Belong” Sunday night (some Hillsong goodness).  In the middle of the song, some lines that I completely was about to miss were coming up next.     But then they came to me by the strangest method—lip reading.  I almost laughed at myself mid song but we moved on.

We got to the chorus a moment later and I sang “We run to your throne where we belong…” and my mind went totally blank for the next line.  The lip reading thing happened again.  Weird!  Throughout the rest of the worship set, the same craziness kept going—totally distracting me every time. 

Now, I’m just trying to figure out how long I have been doing it and why nobody has ever freaked out at me for checking out their mouth through a whole worship set!  But see, I have said it many times, God intended corporate worship for a reason.  We need eachother!  That’s good biblical stuff and proof for it!  It’s also further affirmation that you need to sing… or that I need to get a music stand.  Something like that.  Thanks for being there for me.  Don’t you dare start covering your mouth during the worship service.  

Alright worship leaders, don’t try to steal my technique and teach it at worship conferences like it’s your own idea.  I know you want to, but I will hunt you down.  Just kidding.  But seriously.

Ok.  So I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was playing that house show right?  The one that’s less than 72 hrs from now?  Yeah that one.  Well, turns out it’s not exactly a “house.”  There was a little bit of confusion.  I blame myself.  Sometimes I’m not a person that pays enough attention to stuff.  My bad.  It’s whatever.

The gig is actually in an industrial section of Rocklin and the “house” element of it is that it’s a limited audience of 100 people—make sense?  So, That’s the deal.  Obviously your stoked about this new correction and you’re browsing your way to my brothers ticket site right now, I can feel it. 

And, like I said before:

6/24/2009 7:00 PM at (HOME SHOW!) Studio 21 w/ Josiah James, Push Push Pull, If A Tree Falls, & Mildrid.
4175 Cincinnati Ave. Suite 200, Rocklin, California 95765
Cost: $10 Pre-Sale $12 @the door (if not sold out).  Tickets are available HERE on Josiah’s page.

Photo By Celestial Alta

You know what will make you feel old?  Your younger sister getting married, that will do it.  Yep.  Amanda, my baby sister, she’s getting married tomorrow, but she’s only eleven.  Well, she’s not, but that’s how old she still is in my mind.  Where did the time go?  I taught her how to ride a bike and now she’s getting married?!  Hmmm… that’s weird stuff.

I am proud of her though.  And I actually do see her as a mature woman now, because she is.  After I moved out of my parents house, I remember visiting one day when it dawned on me that my little sister was now more like a peer than a kid.  We had similar interests and laughed at the same stupid stuff.  

Her birthday party that year is what really gained her some massive respect.  In a really witty and creative way, she and her friend masterfully planned a surprise birthday party. 

For themselves! 

Yeah, they completely befuddled the entire guest list.  She and her friend walked in, yelled surprise and everybody suddenly realized that they were actually attending a reverse surprise party—my sister’s own brainchild of genius.  So good!  And now she’s getting married.  And of course I’m playing music at the festivities! 

Oh man.  It’s not easy.  I have a lot of older brother emotions that have to do with baseball bats and shotguns.  But I also have a lot of excitement for the next steps of her life.  That’s all drenched in prayer and hope, a little bit of worry, but mostly the knowledge that God is going to bless her, that he has his hand on her, and their marriage.  The greatest part about my sister is that she follows Jesus and wants what he has for her life.  But I still have my older brother thoughts to get past, so I will work on that and keep a close eye on her—and her guy—in the meantime.  Anybody been there?

This cracked me up.  It reminded me of that Demetri Martin

Joke:”Graffiti’s the most passionate literature there is, you
know? It’s always like ‘Bush sucks!’ … ‘U2 Rocks!’ … I want to make
indifferent graffiti. ‘Toy Story 2 was okay’ … ‘I like Sheryl as a
friend, but I’m not sure about taking things further’ … ‘This is a
bridge’.

Oh and BTW, “Toy Story 2 was ok” has been tagged on buildings and bridges all over the country over the last 2 years.  Thank you Demetri for your positive influence.

Now, I’m not a preacher; I’m just a Christ following musical artist that blogs and leads worship and stuff—but—the Lord blows my mind!  Why the heck does he love us so much?  Here’s what’s on my mind.  I was thinking about something that I learned a while back and now I can’t get it out of my head.  The gospel is amazing!

The gospel is so crazy that the angels look at it and can’t fathom what’s going on.  The incarnation, God becoming man, Jesus leaving his thrown and taking on flesh, the Bible says that they look at this and they go nuts! 

This is freaking incredible!    

It’s this verse that I had learned about a while back (1 Peter 1:12) which says that the angels actually lust after the gospel; the word comes up as “long to look at” in our Bibles but it’s the word epithumeo, the same word that is used when Jesus says that if you even epithumeo after a woman, you’ve committed adultery.  The thing that sometimes becomes “ah whatever” in our life is the thing that the angels freak out about.  The gospel is that beautiful!  It’s gorgeous!  And we’ve been given it freely.

And here’s the biggest thing for us and the church at large—Attempts to entertain and impress don’t stand a chance.  They don’t stand a chance up against the glowing radiance of the gospel.  Martin Lloyd Jones said it so well, “The glory of the gospel is that when the Church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it.”  We are so easily distracted though aren’t we?

I love Flickr Explore.  I posted my favorite four from last week on Tuesday so, as I was browsing Explore, I had to find some excuse to get them on this blog, so that’s it.  Pictures that are creative and awesome are just such a sweet reminder of God’s common grace.  Even though our world is spinning in sin, he allows his attribute of creativity and beauty to still flourish in our world.  That’s common grace.  Think of his awesomeness when you encounter awesome things.  Favorite?   The fighting one is hilarious and brilliant in my opinion.