Happy Birthday to Me!!!

My wife got me a birthday present... Even though it's not til Saturday... We have been talking about it for a while. It is the most beautiful instrument I have ever played... I am not kidding... We kinda sold some of my other music gear that I do not use much as well as my other acoustic guitar to get ready for it. It was hard to part with that one as it has been with me all over the world but it was too nice to get played as little as it would have. I believe she went to a good home though... he seems as though he would take great care of her...

It's tough to explain but I feel like this new guitar has been mine for a long time... I do feel a strange bond to it already... and I do not feel as though my old guitar is upset about it... almost like she was happy for me... (you could be thinking this is wierd that I am assuming these guitars have feelings... to you I have no comment... you may be right)

We picked it up today from Harry's... great people here... if you like music, guitars, basses, amps, and accessories... then shop here...

I do believe owning something this nice comes with an expectation of using it well and wisely... Kinda the "to whom much is given, much is required" deal... I take that very seriously and pray God would give me a song to sing worth singing... songs that can both lead our community/God's Church in *worship and create things, thoughts, and emotions that only music can... (I also hope I have a lot of fun playing great music with it... filled with times of many dances)

*(I do not believe you have to have an acoustic guitar, a band, or any music at all for that matter for those in God's church to worship... on the other hand that is part of what we do and part my calling in life - sorry for the disclaimer, but it needed to be said)

sorry for the interuption... back to the post
I am thrilled to have this guitar... I am thrilled to have a wife who would want me to have something like this... I am even more thrilled to have a wife, family, and friends to think through with me if this was a good investment of our resources...

Here is a pic of the new addition to the family... (He/She doesn't have a name yet... any suggestions???)



Cheers!!!

-J

and on a side note... Diana and I have a new house...

find the pics here...

beautiful house... downtown... not exactly the safest neighborhood downtown.. ok, could be considered the "worst" in some regards... but only if you count things like "drug dealing" and "crime" as "bad"... Diana and I, on the other hand, are considering it a blessing to live life with people that are not exactly like us... that we would have the opportunity of not just seeing life as clean all the time... we are hoping it would change us... and that in some way we could offer change...

We hope in some ways this can speak to the idea of the gospel being counter-cultural... that we don't "need" to live lives isolating ourselves from those who are different... we are also convinced, for us, it is easier to pretend the world is better than it is by avoiding "broken places"... as a church we talk about the importance keeping ourselves around need and around the broken in an attempt to keep us sensitive to the world around us... we are certain, that without a doubt, this will keep need in front of our eyes like never before...

If I were honest, I selfishly... for the Kingdom's sake (if that makes sense) pray this would allow for others to want to do the same... I believe (in the core of who I am) it is possible for love to win in environments where people only know drugs, or hate, or crime, or prostitution... I believe the gospel calls us to live life free of fear and full of love for everyone on this earth and in every neighborhood...

my mom is nervous... mostly because she is the most loving mother a child could have... and she flat out loves me... she says she doesn't know if one family can make a difference... I told her that is ok b/c there are 2 families making the trip into the house...

yes there is a reason why I am saying we... yes it is more than just Diana and I... yes there is an explanation why these pics are on Jeff's blog too...

more to come...

-J

Still in Michigan.. It is still cold...

The conference so far has been amazing... The teaching/discussion this morning was on how we as God's Church are to be broken and poured out for the world... just as Christ was broken and poured out for us... This was put in context of Paul claiming we find life in our death... "strength" in our weakness... admitting we can be broken... seeking "Humanity over perfection"... even realizing if we are in fact allowing ourselves to be broken... we need to find ways for us to be put back together... so much depth to this conversation and I haven't been able to shake it all day...

Honestly I have taken notes all day and do not feel like writing much so maybe more once I get home... Jasen summed up a bit of tonights session here.

Shannon and I have had a blast... a whole lot of laughs... It's been great catching up with Jasen and Amanda... The time here so far, even though only a day, has been good for my soul... Here's a few pics from today...


Jasen and Amanda


Shannon parking entirely too close to a snow bank...


Shannon refusing to admit he was entirely too close to the snow bank...



me excited for snow and for the free books we got today...

Love you guys... Diana, I miss you babe...

-Jason

I have never been to Michigan before... it is cold...

I am up in Michigan for a conference at Mars Hill. Shannon Smith made the trip up with me and I am excited to hang out with him for a few days. Wish we hung out more back home...

Also here in Michigan is my bud Jasen and his lovely wife Amanda. They came up from Houston for the same conference. So good to see them again... It's only been since Christmas yet seems so much longer...

Last night when we landed we picked up the Ashdown's and Headed over to Mars Hill to catch their 6 o'clock gathering. Afterwards we went over to Red Robin to catch dinner, a beer, and watch a little football...

Hats of to the Colts... a surprising comeback... it just might be their year...

More updates from dates from Michigan coming soon...

The updates will probably begin with something like this... this is my 2nd day in Michigan... and it's still cold...

Much Love,

-J

Benefits...

I took these pictures this morning before I left house... This is one of the benfits of living in the house of one of your best friends... you get to see their kids looking this cute from time to time... Seriously... this is incredible... can't imagine it getting much more adorable than this...

I was gonna make a joke about how cute she was - and then mention how Abigail looked cute too... but I couldn't even do that... too adorable...

Just thought I'd share the picture...

Have a great weekend!

-J

No plans tonight?!?!?!?!

Tonight... Go to Lincoln Theatre and see these guys... They are good for Raleigh, good for the music scene, and good for the ears... They put on a great show... It will be a good time... Rock-n-Roll is good... oh, yes... it is good!!!

Cheers...

-J

For a brief moment...

Allow me to step out of my mode of "we live in a world of excess" to tell you of a new thing that is really cool...

Apple has done it again

News released yesterday... comes out in June...

remind me that I don't need one...

thanks for the support,

-Jason

ps
thanks to all who have helped solve and add to the fun of the Apple Pie Crisis on the previous post... you have led to much ammusement for many as well as seen a snapshot into my life and unfortunately my life... honestly, it's a heck of a lot of fun!!!

This was interesting...

Brandon Guy asks me this morning if I ever got my apple pie that he made for me. Rest of conversation went as follows:

Me: no, when was I supposed to?

Brandon: I gave it to Jeff to give to you... I know it's your favorite and you asked for one a while back...

Me: interesting... he never mentioned it... when was this?

Brandon: just before Christmas... maybe you were out of town so he ate it...

Me: ok, well I will look into it...

Brandon: well, ask him if it was good b/c it was a new homemade reciepe I found...

Me: well... I will ask him...


Next conversation

Me: Jeff... did Brandon guy ever give you an apple pie to give to me???

Jeff: well... yeah, but you never mentioned an apple pie..

Me: what???

Jeff: well you never told me you were expecting one.... so I thought I should take care of it...

me: it was a gift to me.. i didn't know he was making it for me...

Jeff: well, i just figured you didnt appreciate it... He said you asked for one...

me: I didnt know I even had it!!!!!! how was I supposed to be appreciative...

Jeff: He said you asked for it... you never told me that...

me: I dont tell you everything I like... why do i need to tell you if someone is getting me something... he told you it was for me!!!!

Jeff: Well... you were out of town for Christmas when we ate it... we served it at our Christmas Eve get together at our house... I didnt want it to go bad...

me: Jeff, seriously... we came home on Christmas day... that is one day after you ate it...

Jeff: well, you didnt mention to me you were getting one so I didnt know you appreciated it... and i didn't want it to go bad... It was a bit undercooked anyways... really good, but a bit undercooked...

me: unbelieveable...

Jeff: (smiling at me)

_______________________________________

Just thought I would share this with you... I am still uncertain at Mr. Ramsey's logic through this whole situation and also wondering why I was never even told I was given an apple pie...

Perhaps someone can shed some light on the subject for me...

Well... have a good weekend... and I encourage anyone given an apple pie to give to someone else... please.. please... make sure they at least are given a piece...

Happy Times...

-Jason