Family Fun-4.jpg, originally uploaded by Elijah Stephen.

Celest and I are teens again. That includes taking cute-silly-fun photos. I’m thinking about getting braces. Does anybody else have an irrepressible desire to TP something?

I am eternally impressed with Killer Whales—thank you documentaries.  The question is which you think would win a fight: a Great White or a Killer Whale.  The show went on to prove that it is indisputably the Killer Whale.  Shock and awe right?  How could Shamu take out the King of the Sea?  (Hmm… I just did a google search and apparently the term “king of the sea” is reserved for Tuna and King Triton from Little Mermaid—thank you Google image—my bad).

Anyway!  What really fascinated me was not the sheer coolness of the big black and white fish; it was the genius that is behind the way that they go about their attacks.

To kill a shark, the Orca has learned that it merely has to flip the shark on it back.  Once flipped, the Shark is paralyzed and can’t correct because a thing called tonic immobility kicks in—game over!  This actually got captured on video in the waters near San Francisco during one of the largest gathering of Great Whites on the California Coast

The most amazing thing about the event is that every one of the Great Whites in the area vanished the same day. One of the Sharks had a tracker on, and it headed straight to the continental shelf and dove 1500 feet and toward Hawaii.  Total panick!

I love that!  Doesn’t that feel like justice has been served?  I think that surfers should take up the Killer Whale as their official mascot.  It blows my mind how we continually come to know new and fascinating things about the creation around us, and the amazingness of its creatures.  It’s a beautiful thing.

This was funny but sad.  Anger is funny to me.  I don’t know, it’s just one of those weird automatic reactions that you can’t help.  When I see somebody get angry at something that could otherwise be handled calmly, I just laugh.  Other people might get sad or embarrassed about lame behavior like that and that’s probably more appropriate but I can’t help my reaction.

Last night my wife and I went to the movies (a cheap date when you find movie passes that you forgot you had) and we witnessed this silliness.  We walked into the theatre and it was about 3/4 full.  We sat down a couple rows up where we found a couple open seats.  Separated by one seat, we sat next to a bigger girl in her 20’s and her date.  The seats in front us were all empty.  We put our feet up on the seats in front of us—which happens to be seat-choosing criteria for us—and the couple next to us was doing the same.  We were totally comfy!

The previews were rolling and in strolled the antagonist: a group of 3 that moved into our comfortable foot chairs.  It was sad for me but it was not the proverbial end of the world.  The girl next to us, however, flipped out!  I began to smile.  Luckily she didn’t see me or she may have tried to beat me up—angry people don’t like it when you smile.  Over the noise of the theatre she started cussing and saying stuff that I can neither repeat or remember and the person in front of her totally ignored her—another thing that angry people totally hate.

As the tirade went on so did the smiling and ignoring.  The smiling turned into small chuckles that had to be held in and finally her totally embarrassed date ended it by offering his seat since it was still empty.  She declined and that was the end of it.  See, angry people don’t really want what they are trying to get that bad, they simply can’t handle having things taken from them, a little something that lingers from when they were 2.  At any rate.  It is my own vice that I am amused by such behavior.  I apologize.  Does anybody have any counsel or empathy… perhaps a similar story?  Care to share?  You’re not “that guy” are you?

Thinking about blogging again soon… but still a little too crazy with stuff. Trying to catch up. So many things to share. Life is awesome but insane right now. 3 Song EP coming soon! I recently started liking the North West United States as well as Foamy Black and White Mocha’s with Wip (2 completely different categories in case you were thrown for a loop thinking they were related… not so much). I’ll be back soon. Music. Family. Finishing a Double Major. Ecclesia stuff too. Really, really great surprise party that I threw for Celestial. I’ll tell you about all this stuff soon! Hang tight. Grace and Peace. BRB : )

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.

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?

Can I just take a second to brag about my friends?  Ok, I will.  Car trouble has obviously been nuts for us the last few months and, as of this week, both of my cars are dead.  Dead.  Dead.  Dead. (You’ve seen one of them still sitting in the Nugget parking lot for the last week, and I apologize, I will take care of that soon).  Celestial and I are currently sharing my mom’s car—Thanks mom!

Now, some friends of ours came over the other night and totally totally blessed us (I don’t think they want us to mention their names, so I will have to leave them being know affectionately as “Some Friends”). 

How did they bless us?  Well, knowing that we are poor artists supported by ministry, and being moved by the Spirit of God (who also knows that we are poor artists supported by ministry) they offered us a bunch of money to put toward getting a new car or (if possible) fixing both cars up to good running condition again.  Is that awesome or what?!  And it was that same day that Celestial and I had realized that we had no solution.  We simply reminded each other that God has always taken care of us and that he will continue to do just that.  The Lord is Amazing! 

Now, here’s what I love the most.  This is the best picture of Acts 2:44-45 that I have personally seen in a long time.  They were in community together, living lives closely enough that needs were obvious.  And they gave up whatever they could to help those in need. 

This is so cool.  This is the love that Jesus was talking about that would set Christians apart from the world.  It was the believers in need that the Christians were giving to.  Acts 2:47.  After it describes all the giving that the believers had going on amongst each other it says, “And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.”  As we live together and genuinely love each other like this, that’s when the offensiveness of the gospel becomes attractive—it calls us sinners; it says that it’s the only way; it tells us to give up everything, but then look how beautiful it is when it is lived out!

Thanks for letting me brag about my friends.  I think they get it and how awesome would the Church be if the rest of us lived more like that—me and you.  I am totally humbled.  So, what’s your story?  Have you seen the gospel being lived like that lately?  

Oh my gosh!  I am such a sheltered white boy!  I told you on Saturday that I was on my way to shoot a wedding with my wife Celestial in Sac Town.  We drove home at about 11:00 that night after a very long day of capturing moments—a beautiful, but very long string of moments; those folks can party. 

On our way home things got a little crazy with us little Rocklin white kids mixed up in the ghetto!

Our transmission has recently started going out.  What I mean by that—since I know nothing about cars—is that my car makes a funny grinding sounds during random moments of a drive and, given the oil puddle and low levels of it in the transmission, we assume with certainty: TRANSMISSION PROBLEM!!!  It’s always the transmission right?

Well, I was a bad husband and forgot to purchase the transmission fluid that needed to be added (sorry Celestial) and given the substantial increase in curious grinding noise, an immediate stop was going to be required.  So, we keep our eyes open and pull into the next gas station we see with lights on.

Bad choice!  There were lights, but not enough.  There were people, but not friendly ones.  There were different races but none like mine (calm down, I’ve got a little of everything in me).  Conditions were not perfect.  But we needed oil!  So in I went.

As I came out, two guys followed me, and my oil, back to my car.

Scary guy:  Hey, do you have a light? 

Silly White Boy (Me):  No dude, sorry, I don’t.

Scary guy:  How about a couple bucks so I can get one?

Silly White Boy (Me):  Awh, Sorry dude, no cash.

(Scary guy gets right in my face and this is the part where I start to wet myself).

Scary Guy:  Hey, brrroww! (insert sarcasm, slurred speech, and alcohol breath) “Dude” isn’t something that you say in these parts.  You say dude to the wrong person and you’re going to get yourself killed.

Silly White Boy (Me):  (trying to maintain composure) Oh yeah?  My bad, I will totally keep that in mind.

Scary Guy:  Good.  But you need to say you’re sorry. 

Silly White Boy: (thinking: Not good. Need wisdom Lord. Help).  I totally apologize.   

Scary Guy:  No, say you’re sorry. 

Silly White Boy:  I am very sorry.

So, kinda bizarre and freaky right?  Well, thank you Jesus, after I said sorry for my dude calling, I was clear headed enough to redirect scary guy’s mass of energy (and the other guy) off of wanting to kill me and into the task at hand—my Transmission!

I don’t know if you have ever had the privilege of watching 2 wasted guys try to figure out how to check the Transmission oil, but it is quite amusing.  They spent about 5 minutes taking off every cap on my engine—the wiper wash was no exception; apparently it’s not always easy to tell the difference between a container of Windex and a transmission. 

At any rate, we are alive.  We got out of there after there were no more caps to remove and just before my radiator got filled with transmission fluid.  It felt like a safe time to leave and so we just took care of the fluid a safer distance down the way.

No joke, this was one of the few instances in my life where I have been legitimately frightened for my wife’s or my well being.  (BTW, Celestial was ducking down in the front seat gettin ready to call 911 the whole time lest you think I exaggerate the intensity).

Ok.  So what do you think?  What would you have done? 

Tonight was crazy!  When was the last time your church didn’t have a time of worship because the worship pastor didn’t show up?  Yeah… I can’t remember the last time I heard of that happening either. 

I told you that my 97 Camry is ghetto but, as of tonight’s events, it’s official.  I was on my way to Calvary Auburn at 6:00 to play their 7:00 service and I stopped at Peet’s Coffee to get a little caffeine.  Now, I always know that whenever I turn off my car it may take 10 minutes to start backup—Why?—Because my Camry’s Ghetto!  But I was hoping I would get lucky. 

I didn’t!

Coming back to my car, I turned the key.  Nothing!  But this happens all the time, so no worries.  I simply wait a few minutes and then it’s ready to start.  (I wish it were like the movies where you hit the dashboard and it fires right up).

Just then my drummer buddy Serge happened by Peet’s.  He let me out of my car and I decided to kill 10 minutes with him while my car thought about starting—He had to let me out of my car because my inside handle is broken and when the car wont start, the window doesn’t roll down for me to stick my hand outside and open it myself.  Why? Ghetto!!!

No need to call Calvary and tell them that there is a problem because there is none; this sort of thing has been a part of my daily routine for the last couple of months.  So, Serge and I kill a few minutes talking about music and stuff and then he goes on his way and I go back to my car with nothing but positive expectations.  I turn the key.  Nothing! Turned it again.  Nothing!!  Turned it again—you get the point.  Fervent prayers ensue!!!  

Now, I totally need to call Calvary.  A little sadness, a little panic.  I have no phone number but Greg’s—he’s the senior pastor who is out of town at a pastor’s conference.  So, I do the only logical thing: I post up a Twitter & FB status update to several hundred people to see if anyone is in the area who can give me a lift to the service that starts in 35 minutes.  Alas!  Twitter is down at the moment.  I try reposting 3 times.  It’s getting no better.  And I can’t even call the church to let them no about the situation.   

But! (Commence cue card for audience to sigh in huge relief) I called my friend Nathan.  I said: “DUDE. MY CAR. HELP!!!”  He said he was on his way and he was there within 10 minutes.  (for anybody who doesn’t live in suburb Rocklin and thinks I could have just called a cab… I laugh at you).  We got to the church 5 minutes before 7:00 and all was well at Calvary Auburn that night.  My car, on the other hand, not so well. 

The moral of the story is:  Thank you Jesus!  And, also, when it comes to cars, buy Camrys (they’re good cars), but if they become as Ghetto as mine (after 200,000 mi) then …make sure you have friends.

So, Wednesday night, what were you doing?  Where were you when I needed you?  

I Guess I haven’t been to the Mall in a while but I just saw this today.  Pretty excited.  No more driving to Sacramento for the Genius Bar.  Hope they open soon!  We are totally anxious.  Any other Mac people in the house?