What a Weekend

The past two days have been so great.

Last night, I played a show at Color Cube. Such a great venue. Total hipster vibe; art consignment, DIY feel. I dug it. It was the first show I've played in over a year so I was very excited going into it. I played a 30 minute set and instantly felt at home again, on stage.

The band I played with, Battleschool was phenomenal. These guys really know how to put on a great show and they make great, dynamic, powerful music. Listen to them. Their singer came up to me after my set and told me they'd been on the road for 5 weeks and I was the first act they've played with that he's actually enjoyed. That was an incredible compliment.

I woke up early this morning for worship and picked up Tim for coffee before rehearsal. Practice was just awesome. Playing with great musicians across the board is a really great experience. I led on "From the Inside Out" and loved the chance to get to lead the congregation. The Spirit was so present in worship this morning, I could feel that God was really working in someone's heart this morning through worship. The message was equally powerful and spoke to my heart. I felt empowered, leaving church.

Finally, tonight I saw my buddy Matt Shockey play at house venue, Big Red House. Matt sounded great. I love this guy's lyrics, he's a true poet with passion for conveying his heart through song. I dig that.

Dig a pony

Oldie but a goodie

This is an oldie but a goodie... I'm recording a few songs for my friends who have yet to hear me perform live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxJl1WWYXEE

Sooooo looking forward to next Saturday. I'm going to give it all I have!

Mixed Bag? Noppppe.

Well... I'm playing a show next Saturday night at a venue called "Color Cube," in Boise. I am verrrrrrry very excited about that. I'm playing a 30 minute set and I have so many songs in the lineup that I am beside myself with joy to perform live.

Tonight, I practiced old songs and new songs. I breathed new life into old words and changed a few around while I was at it. Even though the vibe was a little sad, I was joyful rehearsing them. I felt really proud of my work, and I seriously can't wait to get these songs out in the open where they belong. Most of my new friends here in Boise have never heard me sing, so it will be a fun night.

It's really funny to me how Satan tries to attack us the most after a time of joy. How great a God we serve, who can erase any sorrow and replace it with joy! His love is precious to me. God reminded me of hope, tonight. He reassured me of peace. Ahhh. I'm so grateful for the reassurance of God's promises. Thank you, Lord.

HD /// Worship

Ever since I got a laptop with an HD screen, I've become addicted to HD. I have a folder on my computer filled with HD background images, I watch football highlights every Monday morning in HD and all the YouTube videos I look at better be HD or it just isn't the same. I would probably watch paint dry in HD, given the chance. Just sayin'

///

I think one of the best ways we can grow is when we are made uncomfortable by God. After leading worship for over two years at Pathways, (and in my last six months there, leading the adult services on a semi-regular basis) I got comfortable with the "job" of leading worship. Big mistake. I haven't led worship within the context of a church service in over two months. What I've come to realize in that amount of time is this: Leading worship is an incredible privilege that should never be taken lightly. There is a hole of sorts in my life and it's caused me to do something; worship simply for the sake of worshiping.

Not being in the position of "worship leader" has been really healthy for my relationship with God. I read an awesome article about worship in Biola Magazine that confirmed a lot of what I was feeling about worship. The "Woe is me" approach to worship mentioned in the article is one I've always tried to stick to. For example, who am I that I'm being entrusted with this amazing responsibility to lead others in worship? When we see ourselves in the light of almighty God, I don't think our honest reaction is always, "Glory to God, you are amazing, awesome and powerful!" (Although, it can be)

The response of worship I tend to lean towards has been, "You are incredible, God! Thank you, for not wiping me out with the amazing power that only You possess when I know I deserve it. Thank you! You are good, You are merciful!" It was refreshing to see someone else out there who didn't see a point in singing celebratory, happy worship songs all the time. While we have an infinite number of things to be happy, thankful and joy-filled over, we also have a great deal to tackle in grace, justice, mercy and our failures. Thanking God for all He does and continues to do for us, in the face of this is remarkable and worth singing about! However, we can't truly be thankful to God for what He's done until we understand the depths from which He's saved us.

The article also caused me to see a lot of attitude adjustments I need to make before I can fully be ready to lead again.

For starters, the mindset of thinking being a worship leader made me "somebody" was a complete joke. Leading worship doesn't make you more special, more worshipful or more capable of worship. If anything, it should make you more humble. Being a worship leader as I see it now, is an individual standing in front of a congregation, telling them and showing them that worship is the appropriate response to God. If I'm on stage singing and you're in the congregation, we are doing the exact same thing. God doesn't count my worship more worthy because I'm holding a guitar and singing into a microphone. It's okay to get excited when worshiping God. It's okay to cry when worshiping God, it's okay to shout, to dance, to act like a fool. Not having led worship in such a long period of time has made me want it more.

Another major one is the notion that incorporating hymns into the worship set in various forms (i.e. scripture reading, singing, speaking) is a great way to bring generations of young and old together. As a kid, I hated hymns. I thought they boring, slow and strictly for old people. I almost loved the separation my "cool rock worship songs" created in the congregation of young and old. Stupid kid. Ha ha. I've been attending a Baptist church quite a bit, here and they love their hymns. You know what? So do I.

I could go on and on and on about worship, since it's really been on my heart lately. What I've come to realize is this: leading worship is an incredible privilege that should never be taken lightly, or for granted. For now, I'm praying for a church to lead worship at, and loving every opportunity to play any part I can in a worship service.

Justin

Classified Reader

I recorded a new song tonight and I am stoked on it. I wrote it last November and never thought of a way to arrange it that would sound interesting. Very excited to release the demo recording.

"Classified Reader"

I read the classifieds, alone
I know that you're out there, somewhere
You're grocery shopping, fixing up your hair for no one in particular

I talk to myself

Because I don't know what to do with thoughts inside my head

They tell me sometimes, 'You're better off dead.' but I know I'm not

Do you know someone?

Maybe I should move to Texas or Maine

(Some place where they don't know my name)
But circumstances, they just stay the same

So I guess I'll stay home for days, even weeks and months at a time
I'll order in, I'll use my cell phone
My friends will ask, "Where did he go?"
Where did I go?

Do you know someone?
Do you know someone I can love?

I Hope That You Sing Video Demo

Working on the arrangement of "I Hope That You Sing" this afternoon. Experimenting with looping rhythm stuff for the first time...

Justin

'The Arson'

Sometimes it's hard to admit you're wrong, especially when it involves having hurt someone. Reflecting on such things sucks really, really bad. People talk about living without regret; but I can't because there are things I regret. No amount of sorry can change anything, but it certainly is a humbling feeling. I know everything happens for a reason, and yes, I learned my lesson but still... Ouch.

"The Arson"

I built you a home out selfish wood and I lit a match, without thinking

Each flame tore apart memories I'd saved of you

Your heart turned to ash, and I was the arson

Who fled the scene, went somewhere dark

Now all I have left are the charred remains of you

Justin

I've never played the blues

I have to get up for work in about four hours. I got into bed tonight but a song was stirring within me, keeping me awake. Writing was my only option and I'm pleased to say, I love the results...

I loved the things we'd do

But I was the sun and you were the moon

Ever-a-changing tune

Though, I just kept singing you

Girl, I just kept singing you

Problems I tend to hide

A bouquet in my hand, now there's stars in your eyes

Quick, go put them inside

Before all these flowers die

Quick, before this river runs dry

The music is real pretty, too. Very excited to finish this, and the others I've started. I should get my recording things in the mail tomorrow and hopefully get started on recording the new stuff.

Justin

Before I get all deep on you...

Soooo, everything I've posted on this blog has been so...serious. Those of you who know me know that I am crazy, hyperactive and sillllly. I only act normal to maintain the illusion of normalcy for the sake of others' comfort. Basically, I'm really weird. Ask my family. Seriously, really, really weird.

That being said, I'm embarking on the first track of my new R&B/Hip Hop side-project, called "Dishman." Yes, I'm serious (but at the same time, it's a complete joke). I've never done this genre, so I'm looking at it as a learning experience and lofty musical endeavor.

I just started programming the drums in Reason and I already am just giddy, thinking about how funny/awesome this is going to be when it's done. All kidding aside, you will get this song stuck in your head when you hear it. And before I get all deep on you, I won't.

It's been a little sad not having as much income as I used to because now that I have time to play guitar, I want pedals. I narrowed my list down to a few delightful treasures of ambiance:

• Diamond Tremelo - It's got a double-speed feature, lots of different settings for modes, and it's analog with tap-tempo. It's heaven-sent.
• Strymon Bluesky Reverberator - I can't even tell you how much I want this. It's shimmer feature is like the blaring of angels' trumpets in heaven.
• Electro-harmonix POG 2 - The organ feature, the 12-string feature and memory bank are awesome, while the higher, unstable frequencies of the upper octave are sooo wonderfully balanced. Mmmm.

Being a guitarist is an illness. An illness without a cure. I could probably fill an entire house with all the gear I'd like to have around. You think I'm kidding.

Justin

This is a man filled with passion...

Yesterday, I took my electric guitar to get serviced and fine-tuned. Since I've never had any of my instruments serviced here in Idaho, I used a guy named John Cleary at the suggestion of a friend. I took my guitar over to John's house to drop it off to find a living room filled with guitars, amps, records, cd's and tapes. It was obvious after speaking to John only a few moments, music is his life and guitars are his passion. He knew seemingly everything there is to know about everything guitar.

When I went back today, John presented my guitar and had me plug in to give it a spin. It played better than it did when I first bought it, and felt incredible. He keep telling me what a "beautiful gui-tar" I had, and coming from John, that meant a lot.

I don't know about you, but when I meet someone passionate about something, I'm drawn to them. I wanted to share John's passion, the way he talked about guitars. I wanted to know what he knew. I wanted his wisdom.

After I got home, I wondered what my life would be like if I was as passionate about Jesus as John is about guitars. I wondered if I could be so passionate about Jesus that people would recognize that passion within moments of meeting me. John has spent his life reading books, and learning the ins and outs of the guitar. God gave us The Bible so we would do the same thing.

James 1:5-7

^"5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

God wants us to be wise. God wants us to know Him. Knowing someone, or something requires a deep understanding of that person or thing, in entirety. In the relationship we have with God as Christians, we need to know everything about Him. Not only does this help us achieve intimacy with God, it gives others a reason to be interested in God. If someone knew you were a Christian and you never bothered to talk about God, do you think that person would care to ask you about Him?

Justin