I’m coming back to the teachings and stories of Jesus. I think that sometimes I have gotten caught up in dogma and tradition and have missed the depth and power and “basics”. Jesus was deep. Really deep. I’ve been taught and have been studying the bible my whole life, and am beginning to realize that there is a world going on behind the commentaries and concordances that I missed. Things like, where is the geographical location of heaven? Explain this one:

1″Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father

5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

After reading this really long status update war that was unfolding on Facebook, I have come to a conclusion. I think people in general, don’t know what they are talking about, me included. We say stuff a lot and like to talk and here ourselves talk, and watch other people here us talk, but nothing is ever fact. So, I have outlined a list of tip-off words below that will forewarn you in any conversation that you are about to here an opinion:

1. “they say that…”
2. “besides, every knows that…”
3. “why don’t they just…”
4. “Did you here that…”
5. “They always…”
6. “It’s the same with the…”

I have decided that I am going to try and get better at not having my own opinions about stuff. Or at least not voicing them, but maybe even not having them at all. I think I’m gona try being more concerned with facts and less concerned with my views. Better yet, more concerned with individual people and less with any views. If I want to be heard, I will open Garageband, click on preferences, make sure that internal microphone is active, and record myself telling myself all of the unverifiable opinions that I can think about a certain subject. I will then burn this to a CDr and put it in my car and listen to me as I drive, like I do with demos and stuff. I will think that I am really smart and will probably even argue with myself about what I am saying. Regardless, I will spare those around me from having to hear me talk about stuff that I don’t really have a grasp on anyway. Opinions look like onions and onions give me heartburn and opinions make peoples breath smell.

hold me to it…

I am the sum of all my kin
My mothers nose
My fathers chin
My oldest sisters eyes and brow
Her younger sister’s ashen skin
My brother’s twin and best of friend
My Papaw’s name
My Grammy’s grin
Some Irish, German, Indian
Or simpler still, “American”
(C) 2010

Giving up coffee and switching to green tea. I just drank too much coffee and that might be bad for me. Who knows…

On April 17th, Heartland Church and the Fishers Rotary Club will be hosting a movie premier for “Living Well”, a documentary on the well projects that are going on in Sierra Leone, Africa. George Wiley (Director) and I, visited Sierra Leone in December of ‘09 along with members of Fishers Rotary to see first hand the need for clean water and how we can become a catalyst for the construction of 100 wells by 2011. This was an eye opening experience that changed my life forever. I worked firsthand to produce the soundtrack for the documentary and am proud to invite all of you exclusively to the premier. The premier is on Friday, April 17th at Heartland Church. Tickets are $25, $50, and $100. 100% of ticket sales the night of the premier will go directly to World Hope International to advance the “100 Wells Project”. Tickets are available at Heartland Church. Don’t miss it.