I’ve had numerous bizarre dreams at night lately, so I’ve decided I’m going to start sharing them. Hopefully you won’t think I’m crazy (that is, if you don’t already think I’m crazy).

I was going on a couple errands with my mom during the afternoon, after which we planned to pick up lunch to go and take it home. Well, the errands and shopping took a very long time (as expected) so my empty man stomach began getting frustrated.

We finally, after about a two hour delay due to errands, drove into a drive-through and were on the way home with the food (mom was driving) when I realized the purchase receipt indicated we were profoundly overcharged for our food. What should have been an order of $15 at the most (which I realize is sort of expensive for drive-through food, so maybe we went to Pei Wei or something?) was $40 on the receipt. Too much! Well, to my stomach’s dismay Mom decides to go correct the money issue before we go home and eat.

On the way to the restaurant, on a beautiful sunny day with our windows down at a long stoplight, a crazed squirrel climbs in the drivers side window and mom begins screaming like mad in panic. I jump out, but in her shock I can’t convince her to get out too. The squirrel eventually runs out the open passenger window.

Then I woke up.

Which reminds me of a video PSA David Crowder once put out…

[Image from tekguy1]

We all love music, especially discovering new music. Here is where we share the freshest, most original, and impactful music we know of. Maybe the best band you heard this week performed alternative folk, metalcore, pop, or funk music. The genre spectrum is wide, so let’s share and experience variation!

As I was watching one of my favorite shows on TV this week, Chuck, I heard this wonderful song playing in one scene so I Googled the lyrics and found the artist. The guy’s name is Daniel Zott- and he’s downright amazing. He’s one of those “one-man-band” kind of artists. He plays all the instruments as well as sings.

(In case you were wondering what song I heard on Chuck, it’s called “Living A Lie!” and it’s from the Let’s Just Admit and The Self​-​proclaimed album.)

Daniel lets you completely preview every song from every album he has on his website. I really respect this practice of Daniel’s. In fact I think it should be the standard for artists wanting to make a living on music in this Internet world- and thankfully he does too. It’s what music lovers expect. We want to know we aren’t buying a crap product. On top of this, Daniel’s albums are so cheap you can’t help but buy one after hearing his talent.

Head over to Daniel Zott’s website to preview all of his music you want, and also connect with him on Twitter.

Also, comment below, and tell me about some new music you’ve stumbled upon recently. Don’t be shy!

[Image from Marcelo Graciano]

In my thinking, church doesn’t exist for the benefit of its members. It exists to equip its members for the benefit of the world.

-Brian McLaren

If we’re trying to not let the gospel get diluted or polluted with all kinds of other influences, at the end of the day we have to trust that the Holy Spirit will guide us.

-Brian McLaren

We all love music, especially discovering new music. Here is where we share the freshest, most original, and impactful music we know of. Maybe the best band you heard this week performed alternative folk, metalcore, pop, or funk music. The genre spectrum is wide, so let’s share and experience variation!

I’ve been on a big worship music streak lately. I guess I’ve needed it to keep my spirits up, but I’ve really enjoyed finding some new favorite artists and bands. This week’s Fresh Music Friday artist is Carlos Whittaker.

Carlos is more than a passionate worship music leader, he literally heads up all creative media at Buckhead Church in Atlanta, home of well known pastor and communicator Andy Stanley. Carlos also regularly maintains his blog Ragamuffin Soul which is always updated with everything from deep questions the Church needs to be facing to funny stories (and video) of him getting pulled over for speeding tickets.

Whittaker has a full length album coming out in March, but for now you can pick up his 3 song EP on the iTunes Store. Do it. I definitely love it.

Check him out on his MySpace, Twitter, and blog.

Also, comment below, and tell me about some new music you’ve stumbled upon recently. Don’t be shy!

[Image from Marcelo Graciano]

What if faith were more like earth than a building? What if faith could never be stable in the way God intends it to be if it didn’t have forward momentum and if that momentum weren’t in the field of the gravity of God himself? And if you don’t like that metaphor, think of a bird in flight or a bicycle or a ship on the sea. In each case, there’s movement in relation to some larger forces and realities. Stability comes through an interplay of those factors. Stability is not always as simple as a static building sitting on a solid foundation.

-Brian McLaren

Either Christianity itself is flawed, failing, untrue, or our modern, Western, commercialized, industrial-strength version of it is in need of a fresh look, a serious revision.

-Brian McLaren

Instead of telling ourselves “We mustn’t give in to these sin-nature desires,” we can instead say with scriptural authority, “Help us God, because You have brought us into a new, Spirit-nature that gives us the power for you to deliver us from these sin-nature desires.”

It’s all about God and his constant rescue of us, his bride.

Galations 5:16

Today’s New International Version

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

New Living Translation

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

The Message

My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness.

We all love music, especially discovering new music. Here is where we share the freshest, most original, and impactful music we know of. Maybe the best band you heard this week performed alternative folk, metalcore, pop, or funk music. The genre spectrum is wide, so let’s share and experience variation!

Audrey Assad is this week’s Fresh Music Friday artist. She’s an aspiring Christian pop singer with a very piano-based style. Audrey Assad is a fresh voice in the Christian music scene with well developed lyrics which go beyond shallow thoughts and delve deeper into creative expression.

You can check Audrey Assad out at her website, MySpace, and Twitter.

So, comment below, and tell me about some new music you’ve stumbled upon recently. Don’t be shy!

[Image from Marcelo Graciano]

Has anyone around you ever verbalized something you’ve been tossing around in your thoughts but the right words never did seem to form in the right order at the right time?

This post resonated within me because it’s basically about leaders creating hype for their “product” or “vision.”

Thoughts on that regarding the church: It’s very dangerous to solely rely on a sense of excitement hoping that an emotional response will trigger a vision taking flight. In fact as a servant-leader in the church that would be quite irresponsible, and I’ve sadly seen it happen to some degree personally and from ministries afar.

Leaders beware of falling into that! Be responsible. Own your position.