so, i am officially a licensed leasing agent in the city of chicago. yep, i rent people apartments... but not just any apartments... FATTY apartments that rock their world.if you or anyone you know is looking for a place to rent in chicago, drop me a line!
check out my cool little bio here... it's pretty elaborate and professional.
Posted byfunkyaxe at 6:31 AM 1 comments
a whirlwind about
4.14.2009
been a while since i've posted anything... not sure if anyone's even left to hear/read it!
just in case you are still listening... here's a little update on things...
since the ending of my job at park last month, life's seemed like a whirlwind of activity - which is ironic considering the LOSS of a full-time job taking up 40-60 hours a week of my time!
however, i am working on a few endeavors which i would like to share a little about...
1) a little start-up website service with a buddy of mine. if you have a website that you would like to see increased traffic, page hits and maximized search results using SEO (search engine optimization) tools and resources, let me know. i'd love to help you out!
2) i have started my own little "techy" blog. check it out at www.techstealz.com.
3) shaina and i are preparing to play for the wedding of some people from park in a couple of weeks. it's going to be a lot of fun. our set list includes some phil wickham, crowder, and others... should be great. the date is may 2.
just wanted to throw out a little buzz to let anyone who's left know that i'm still here... and i fully intend to pick back up and get back on this thing. things seem to be settling down a little bit (although i still have not landed a full time gig just yet)... but i am getting more of a handle on my schedule and getting some clarity on where i want to go. more to come on that.
pace!
Posted byfunkyaxe at 2:14 AM 0 comments
an ending... and beginning again soon.
3.03.2009
so, my time at park has officially ended. we are still wrapping things up and seeking where we are to be for this next season of our lives. we definitely feel that we've found a home here, so hopefully whatever i find will allow us to still be planted here as a part of the Park community. we'll see.
as this season of employment ends, i would like to write 5 things that i love about park, as it seems appropriate to get my mind off of everything else that's weighing me down:
1) park is not afraid to try something new.
since i've been here, jackson has never ceased to preach to our staff that failure is success if it means you tried something new and learned from it. risk is essential - the church needs more of it! i am grateful for being encouraged to push the envelope and not just settle for doing things the way we've always done them, just because they are the way we've always done them!
2) park understands culture
i love being able to talk to people at church about things that i would talk to people about from day to day in any other venue. granted, there are always the "churchy" conversations that take place that revolve around ministry objectives, christian pop culture, etc... but, the feel i get for the most part is that park is truly a part of this city, and reflects in it the receivable aspects of the culture around us, all the while hopefully making a subtle influence to reverse the rejectable aspects of it while redeeming what is redeemable. gospel at work, folks.
3) park holds true to the Word - unashamedly
one thing that i have been HUGELY impacted by that park is adamate about is that the Word WILL be preached word-for-word, and what the bible says will be stood by, regardless of our cultural leanings or our "personal" convictions. i love that.
4) park has a strong body of male leadership
this is a tricky one for some folks... but, for me, it's a biblical issue. clearly, the bible lays out a very solid case for the roles men and women should fulfill in the church. i believe the church should be led by men - not because women shouldn't be eager to serve and be used, but because if men aren't leading, it means somebody isn't stepping up and fulfilling their role. plain and simple. when men don't step up and lead, things get out of whack. so, all that to say, i love that park is led my men of G-d and supports men stepping up to the plate and doing what G-d has called them to, while seeking to lead in a loving, serving way to the church, Christ's bride.
5) park is diverse
if you are familiar with park, i know what you're thinking... how can a church that's 98% white yuppies be diverse? well, the reality is, this church feels homogenous if you are only focused on race. true. but, when you really start to see what goes on here, which i have had the privelage of doing over the last year or so... you start to see a lot more about what goes into things. park may cater predominantly to a certain "type" of person racially and economically, but, factoring in all the elements involved, there is a pretty diverse scope of talents, vocations, and overall gifts and resources brought to the table. i see park growing in so many areas of diversity - and it may not be primarily race, but, to be honest, i don't think race is always the issue. that said, i hope to see it continue, and i pray that we as a community grow in embracing one another, despite the look of our garb, our particular gifting or ability, or what our primary interests entail. we have a ton of room to grow, don't get me wrong... but, i see that growth happening, one step, one person, and one unique aspect of culture at a time.
so, that's it for now. 5 things i love about park - my community - my home. i pray we continue to be a part of what G-d is doing here, and i pray that we can still be involved to the capacity that we have been before - and maybe even more in the long run! regardless of what happens, i have peace in my heart, and i know that the Lord will provide for park and the carson family. because, quite frankly, the lines between the two are much blurrier than they ever were before.
now, the job hunt! (this is the part that sucks)
Posted byfunkyaxe at 9:32 AM 2 comments
Labels: faith, family, life, this sucks
banksy
2.18.2009
haven't posted in a WHILE... not much to say i guess. however, i had to share a bit of the creative genius known as banksy. i have been looking at his art for several months now, and it amazes me continually how notable this character has become, and how many people have discovered him.
seriously, just youtube "banksy" and it's amazing what you'll come up with. anyway, just thought i'd pass along another inspiring artist out there doing his thing. viva la revolucion!
Posted byfunkyaxe at 11:22 AM 0 comments
Happy Birthday Emma (and Shaina and David)!
1.25.2009
Emma and Grandma
The prized birthday possession - a baby doll!
Uncle Brian and Aunt Jodie partied it up with us!
Posted byfunkyaxe at 9:03 PM 1 comments
leading from within
1.24.2009
today is the one-day leadership seminar at park. so far, so good. i came a little bit late, but what i've seen has been valuable and inspiring. more to follow...Posted byfunkyaxe at 11:15 AM 0 comments
another late night
so, apparently, the only time that i can create new blog posts is when it is approaching dawn and i can't seem to get any sleep... however, instead of a LONG post of spiritual/deep babble, i'm going to post a few updates on things that i've discovered since my last posting...
1) a cool new blog that i recommend checking out (reformissionary.com) thanks scott!
2) also, i recently discovered that the onion has gone web-friendly with news stories in video. loads of video fun, and the same classic satire that's made the onion a chicago staple for years.
3) something i discovered from an old friend's blog; ben gibbard and zooey deschanel? shaina's gonna love this... wow!
4) in other news, emma turned 1 on MONDAY, and can now finally sit up in a forward-facing car seat - which was her birthday present for turning 1! happy birthday memma!
5) shaina turns 24 next thursday. her birthday present was (is) a macbook - which i gave to her a week early because it was too good to wait. she LOVES it. and is SO glad that she has it NOW.
6) our tech/video director at park and i put together our favorite collaboration project to date for MLK day. it was a lot of fun. live RATM in conjuction with compelling MLK footage - all synced with a click track and performed live at all our services on MLK weekend. good times.
so, a little generic and a little personal. hopefully there will be more to come. and not just when it's 4am and i haven't slept and have no other way to occupy my mind... we'll see.
Posted byfunkyaxe at 3:46 AM 0 comments
Labels: family, life, sweetness
it's late/early... and G-d is alive and well...
1.14.2009
so, last night the house was empty. shaina and the kids were out in the burbs where we stayed over the weekend. saturday night was the soup cook-off, and then sunday i had to trek back and forth to and from the city for services.
it's always weird coming home to an empty house, especially when you're used to walking in to a blast of warm air, the smell of whatever shaina cooked up last in the kitchen (home-baked bread, popcorn on the stove top, peppermint tea...), and most of the time (on the nights when i don't come home after 10pm) two kids playing in the living room who tromp around and hop when daddy comes home to show me their latest discovery from their world of learning (aka 'play'). usually i barely have time to hang up my coat and take off my gloves before i'm bombarded with a squealing crawler who can somehow dash the length of the room in under 5 seconds, and a bouncing 2-year-old who often wants to immediately initiate a game of 'fight' or 'chase' or 'quick pick me up so i can try and squirm out of your arms to show you my latest discovery!'
last night, however, this was not the case. there was not a light on in the whole house. it was after midnight, and the heat was turned down since we were gone for the weekend, so the house had sort of a stale coolness to it. the leftover messes that we disregarded cleaning before we skipped town were amidst the chaos of toys and random 'baby things' and were the only objects to greet me as i came through the door. after turning on the heat, hitting a few lights, and wondering what i would do to wind down, i found myself perusing various youtube videos of driscoll messages, hilarious news outtakes and tv blooper videos, and some video of a few keith green live performances. before i knew it, i was approaching the wee hours of the morning.
for some reason, being alone left my thoughts to get the best of me, and my head seemed to be relentless in its swarming of various to-dos, projects i'm working on, work-related things, etc... until i looked at the clock and was shocked to see that it was already 5am!
so, after pulling an almost-all-nighter (i ended up with about 2 and 1/2 hours of solid shut-eye), i figured i would be tired tonight and would sleep well after such little sleep and a swarm of tasks that i spent most of the later part of my day swimming through. particularly with the family being home now, and the kids being tucked in bed, there is a serene sense of peace and contentment knowing that everyone is safe at home, where i am with them. however, the last couple of hours laying in bed have left me with just a slight nod-off, and a mind racing with swarms of thoughtful material. and no sleep.
so here i am, trying to get some release from my internal dilemma.
just before i had the idea of spilling some thoughts through this medium, it occurred to me that, although i don't really understand fully why, i am slightly grateful for this dilemma of not being able to sleep. i guess it's sort of tied in with this philosophy of mine that i'd like to take a minute to explain...
basically, throughout my life, i have encountered a plethora of circumstances that i've found myself in the middle of that were completely out of my control. for starters, the family i was born into, the body i was given, the talents and abilities that G-d hardwired into me, and my personality before even coming into existence were all things that i could have done nothing to influence in any way, and all have contributed to a variety of situations in my life that are far beyond my realm of control, whether i realized their existence and accessibility or not. what i mean by that, in this instance, is that i feel quite strongly that the majority of situations that i have encountered in life have taught me that truly not having control, and being fully aware of my lack of it, is often the most rewarding place to be in due to having been truly graced with the faith to believe that G-d is at the center of it all, and that He is in fact the one that has control... and that my best interest is in knowing and resting in the fact that G-d is my only true source of sustainment. i see it as sort of a 'resting' position, knowing that circumstances could perhaps be much more ideal according to my understanding, and that maybe if i thought long and hard about it, i could come to a seemingly much better idea of how things ought to be than how they are in reality. but the true joy, and true contentment that i long for, i have found solely in resting in the knowledge that G-d alone can provide the only substance worth attaining, and that there is no other means or avenue in which we can obtain it but by Him alone and, more crucially, IN Him alone
simply put, when i feel that things are out of my control, and my current situation is contrary to what i would consider 'ideal,' i am reminded that G-d has a better plan, and His ways are far better than mine, and He holds the master plan, and He is ultimately the one in control. and for some reason, something about that is reassuring. life seems so much more sustained and plentiful when i am surrendering it with the full knowledge that it is safe in G-d's hands.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD." Isa. 55:8
i suppose that is true peace for me...
so, all that to say, i am tired, and i should be sleeping. but i'm glad i'm not. because the Lord has kept me up for a reason, and i believe His Spirit is responsible in more ways than i can or probably ever will imagine for all of the events that will transpire and have transpired in my life.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Rom. 8:28
the bottom line is, it's not up to us. whatever IT is, it's just simply NOT up to us.
i suppose every day i should THANK G-D for that!
Posted byfunkyaxe at 1:48 AM 0 comments
daddy's job
12.22.2008
so, as of about a month ago, caleb has begun to understand the concept of work... sort of.
for december, i have been playing drums for all of our sunday services at park. it's been a lot of fun for me - getting to do something i don't normally do. i've really enjoyed it. although, the most fun for me has been getting to write/arrange original tunes and christmas carols.
anyway, as caleb has recently been learning to deal with me leaving for work in the mornings, he has also been seeing me consistently playing the drums at church for services, practices, etc... and has concluded in his little 2-year-old mind what daddy's "work" consists of...
you guessed it, playing the drums!
it's hilarious... now, when i leave for work in the morning, his question several times has been "daddy go work... play drums?" it's the cutest thing in the world.
needless to say, i'm sure he's looking forward to a life of hard work, which apparently consists of playing drums all day long for a living! it could be worse! and he's already well on his way...
now, while playing drums isn't the FULL extent of my work week... i have to admit, it's hard not to get an occasional jam session in when there's a set just 15 feet away from my desk... =)
i just love the way a two-year-old's mind works!
Posted byfunkyaxe at 2:28 PM 0 comments
a scripture for today
12.16.2008
today as i read ephesians chapter 5, something stuck out to me:
"walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord." (emphasis added)
often i am concerned with getting away with as much as i can get away with that will serve me, and doing as little as possible when it comes to helping others - just enough to get by. the reality is, very seldom am i actually acting out of a love for God, and a desire for what pleases Him. if that were my concern, i would be constantly looking for ways to serve other people, and i would always use my body for what glorifies Him, and not myself.
the reality is, i would be lost without His direction... i am grateful for this sobering reminder. as david wrote in the psalms, i need God to bring to light His commandments; to remind me of His ordinances, so that i may walk in them and do what is pleasing to Him. i am so quick to forget my position, and lose sight of how i am called to live. may His word be always fresh on my lips, and may i never falter in seeking to do what is pleasing in His sight. amen.
Posted byfunkyaxe at 11:25 AM 1 comments
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