Tis been a while......

since my last blog,so here is a little update. Im now dating(thanks eharmony!), the group of musicians that play lead with me are more of a blessing than they can ever know,and the church where I serve is flourishing in the sense that we are seeing lives changed,and i got a major hair cut. Anyways,enough small talk onto what we call in the bizz......"my blog"

I find it odd the number of pastors that have reached "celebrity status". I recently read an article in people magazine about a pastor at well known "megachurch" and the interview was on this dudes private jet. More and more lately I see pastors on tv pettling their new whatever, and christian authors and speakers charging bukoos of money just to get them to speak somewhere. If you open your mouth and out comes the an arc angel that actually heals a woman's arthritis, sure ill give you 10000 dollars to come to my church and/or school but the chances of that being the case are slim.

I don't think it was ever intended for the role of pastor or preacher was meant to be a way of becoming rich and well known. The point im trying to make is that its so easy for us to do the things that are going to benefit us and put that cheese in our pockets but thats not the gospel. The greatest commandment is to love others as ourselves. Give a little,share the wealth,its not easy, its a struggle but when the needs of others are put before a new computer,or a new outfit,or a jet,or gracing the cover people magazine,or selling 1000000 records, thats when you see radical change.

New Music-My own little review.

So this past week I got three new cds. All three being very good records,1.Anberlin-New Surrender 2.Kings of Leon-Only by the night 3. Daniel Bashta-My Worship in Motion.


The new Anberlin album is the first one theyve done on a major label,alot of people have said it isnt very good. If youve listened to or followed them since the beginning this album is kind of a throwback. To me its probably their 2nd best album, the best being "Never Take Friendship Personal" I like it but then again who the heck am I?

Kings of Leons' fourth album is actually really really good. I wasnt an actual fan if them until i heard the new record.it is head and shoulders above anything theyve done before.

Daniel Bashta, this dude is relatively unknown,especially if you dont listen to "worship" music. His songwriting is incredible and the music itself is sooooo good.Hes raw,emotional,intense,and ive never seen him live. Love the song "Awakening",its a really really powerful song.

Is He enough?

the answer to that question should be yes, but far more often it's no.We have the hope of Jesus Christ.His grace sustains and it never fails.He payed the ultimate price for us.He left His throne in heaven and came to earth as a servant.He came here to give us life more abundant.He gives and He takes away.He loves when we don't.Yet somehow for whatever reason He isn't enough.We have a house,we need a bigger one,we have a job,we need a better paying one,we have food,but we need finer food,we have cars,we need a nicer one with more comfortable seats.
When things are going great we dont seem to need all the Christ offers us,but when ____ hits the fan,we need Him now. Good or bad,high or low He should be enough for us,because He is enough.When we seem to have everything give Him praise,when we have nothing,thank for the air we still breathe.

Hey yall

i started this blog not really expecting anyone to read it or to even care what i had to say. but when people started responding,i felt alot of pressure to start writing things that were captivating,trendy,intriguing,etc,etc,.those adjectives arent really me.im a pretty simple dude,with some pretty simple thoughts.if my blogs arent deep enough,or dont want to make you sell everything you own and ship yourself to a remote part of the world, i apologize.there are a ton of blogs out there that might(not that we shouldnt give sacrificially). so that being said. i found out my bestfriend will be moving to china in august.he is the one friend ive had that has/continues to be there when i need him and even when ive done him wrong.im going to miss the kid terribly,but i know what he's doing is what he was created to do.i respect him as a person,love him as a brother,and will be praying for him while he's gone.God is doing some amazing things in my life and those around me,and i feel so priviledged to be in the position im in right now.

today......

im sore from putting together James and Christies new bed platform. Anytime i do any sort of manual labor i realize those kinds of things arent what i was really put on this earth to do.I dont mind helping a friend (especially a friend who rewards me with arbys and a friendly game of NCAA 09,in which i won last night),or any random person for that matter.I just know that where im at in my life as far as a "job" is concerned,i couldnt be happier,humbled,thrilled,excited,etc,etc,etc. God has put me in this position and im so pumped to see whats going to happen next.

You'll Come-Brooke Fraser

As surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us
Certain as Your word endures

Chains be broken lives be healed
Eyes be opened Christ is revealed



Good stuff.

if i hear one more person say.......

they aren't voting for Obama because he is the Antichrist i'm going to scream(which might scare the crap out of the table of church ladies next to me here at whataburger)! Who i think is the best candidate aside, who are we to think our vote is going to keep the antichrist out of power?(please note im not at all insinuating in any way that Obama is the antichrist either,this is simply a thought.I understand that assuming he is,is just as arrogant as the thought of our votes keeping the antichrist out of power)That being said, we have zero control over the actual antichrist being put into power.Folks it's going to happen,we all have to keep living and just accept the fact that the world as we know it is coming to an end.All praise be to God for that.
-much love Eric

So I voted yesterday.......

and something really aggravated me about the way the local voting is handled. I live in an area that is Shiite republican,not conservative,REPUBLICAN.Don't get me wrong,there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a republican,Nothing(I can't stress that enough).Nor is there anything wrong with being a democrat(though i feel here it is quite taboo).I just don't think shouting across the entire precinct "HERE IS YOUR DEMOCRATIC/NON-PARTISAN BALLOT" is at all necessary.It was said more than six time in such a loud,negative,judgmental sort of tone.The way we vote and the parties we choose to be a part do not in any way determine the kind of person we are. It's just a label for crap's sake! I am an imperfect,messed up,broken,sinner who has a new,beautiful life in Jesus Christ.My political views,don't define me, my Savior,who lives in and through me defines me.Just because i don't sport a donkey or an elephant on my chest doesn't make me less of an american,or a person,and it certainly doesn't make me less a child of the supreme Creator. P.S-i don't know why half way through my font changed
Much love-Eric

this is not as serious as my previous posts.

today James and I were updating the church's webpage and we both felt we needed to change the leadership info.So he gets up to use the bathroom and turns his computer around(mind you,mine was also in front of me, so now im looking like a mega-dork) and has the page up for me to write about myself.I had no idea how difficult of a task that was.How do write your good qualities out for the world wide web to see without coming across as a total arrogant jerkface? Im really not that good at much,but the things I do semi-excel in, I definitely don't want to be overly proud of you know?

Today.....

this goes along with what i wrote yesterday.I wasn't saying that reading my bible is the only way for me or anyone else to experience God.We can experience God anywhere.Bars, supper clubs,movie theatres,coffee shops,etc,etc.,and we can experience Him through anyone.One of my best friends told me today that a mutual friend of ours accepted Christ today and i immediatly felt the presence of God and Him saying"Im as real today as Ive always been"! We dont experience God in one single place,Hes everywhere,and Hes calling out to us and most of the time we take it as something else. The bible is not the only place we find and hear from God,if thats the case the whole ommnicent,ommnipitent thing is a lie.But on the same token the bible is real,and relevant,and powerful,and when i read it i dont want it being something i do just to cross off a list or to feel ive got the upper hand in next weeks open discussion bible study.i want to be a time for God to show and tell me who He is and what His will for me is,and to give me guidance to handle whatever situatuion i find myself in. I know this seems to jump around but thats just me and if it doesnt make sense to you maybe we can talk face to face. Much Love-Eric

Ohh you know...

Since sunday night I've been wrestling with something,"do we read our bibles to further know God in an intimate way,or are we reading it so that we have the knowledge of what it says"?That question hit me like a freaking boulder! I have not picked mine up since sunday night,and have been wondering,and talking to God about whether or not I'm really wanting to experience Him everytime I open up my bible.The thought that i could be in some weird sub-conscious way only wanting a knowledge of the bible rather than hearing the voice of God freaks me out.As of now I'm talking to God asking Him to just love me and reveal Himself to me,and really just seeking what He wants for me. Im trying to let go of some of my own fears and insecurities,and just let Him take complete control,because Im totally blessed beyond belief to be in the position Im in right now.I want Him to be glorified and me just be used solely for that purpose. Thats all ive got today. Much Love-Eric

My friend Brian

He's a great dude and plays guitar in a band called Colour Academy(formerly The Skyline Drive).Anyways,those dudes have been busting tail forever now.Ive had the chance to see them from when they first started as a Praise/Worship band to where they are now.I can say in all honesty(not just because theyre awesome dudes and i love them to death) that I dig theyre music.Cliff has turned into a really awesome songwriter/frontman and,Doug is about the sickest drummer around,Beck is a freaking genuis with a six string,and Red dude is a stellar guitarist and pretty much one of my best friends.Couldnt be a more solid group of dudes.If you want to listen to a really good band,or see a great live show,go check them out.Cop Trains,planes,and automobiles off itunes,or make your way to Enterprise,Al Aug 26.

Eric