I haven’t written a review of a new cd in years, since my days as a music buyer for a christian bookstore. Not too many times has anything come across my cd player that has been remarkable enough to warrant a review. However i'm happy to say that one such cd has come into my possession. Smash-Ups is that cd. Smash-Ups is described as:

 "Like nothing you've ever heard before, Smash-Ups features 10 new hit songs that will blow your mind! They're half of one hit song - smashed together with half of a different hit song. Featuring today's top Christian artists including dc talk, Newsboys, ZOEgirl, Audio Adrenaline, Grits, and many more, Smash-Ups will be one of the most-talked about records this year! Each Smash-Up song matches the rhythm, melody and underlying spirit of the instrumentals of one song with the vocals of another. They're not remixes and do not feature any new additional music - just the different halves of two hit songs!" (www.familychristian.com)

If you have never heard of the concept it works something like this. Two songs are mixed together using the music from one, and the lyrics from another. For example the lyrics/words from Newsboy’s Entertaining Angels are mixed on top of the music for DC Talk's colored people. Those of you who are musically talented/knowledgeable could probably explain it better, but I believe that these songs are in the same chord and have the same chord progression. With a little tweaking of speeds they can be mixed together easily creating a whole new feel to an old familiar song.

The first time I had ever heard of anything like this was on a recent trip back from vacation. I was in the middle of nowhere central California. The only radio station that I could get was a station out of Bakersfield. They played a song that was a mix of a current Jessica Simpson song and an 80’s Madonna song (Celebrate or something like that)  Even though the genre was not my favorite it really was amazing how well the songs worked together. So last week when I discovered Smash-Ups I was quick to pick it up.

Notable songs are the above mentioned Colored People/Entertaining Angels, DC Talk’s Jesus freak mixed with ZOEgirl’s Dismissed, Toby Mac’s Yours mixed with Reliant K’s Pressing on, (notice a trend here? Well those are the only dctalk/toby mac songs on the album) and the three part Audio A’s All Fall Downmixed with Steven Curtis Chapman’s Dive mixed with Grit’s Get Down.  

Other contributors are; Rebecca St James, John Reuben, Pax217, Earthsuit, Out of Eden, The Benjamin Gate, and Switchfoot. 

Anyway, to wrap this up, I highly recommend you take a listen to this cd. You can hear some of your old favorites in a whole new refreshing way. Smash-Ups is a guarantee satisfaction or your money back or something like that anyway J

tomorrow starts my last year of school (at least thats the plan). i'm on track to graudate in may of 2007! i'm very excited to be that close to finishing, however i'm learning so much i'm kind of sad that it will be over so quickly. i have decided that i will not pursue my PhD unless the funds make themselves available other than through student loans. so unless someone wants to kick in about 20k to make me Dr. Brian i'm done with school after may.

 

my classes this semester are:

 

Current Trends in Children's Ministry

The Church & Society

Hermeneutics and Bible Study Methods

Theology of Christian nurture

 

should be a very cool semester.

 

Also, today marks my 40pd weight loss day. one year ago i weighed 282, today i weigh 242. 22 more pounds to go till i hit my goal of 220!

Well i'm back in Santa Clarita after a nice 2 week vacation. My sisters wedding went off without a hitch, glad i got to be a part of it. Boise was great, was able to hang out with the football team (Meridian High) in the morning, then visit many friends in the evenings. Was great to see everyone! Now i'm back, tired, but glad to be done traveling. School starts in a week so its time to buckle down and get back to work.

 

-b

i'll be out of town the first part of august, in oregon for my sisters wedding until the 5th, then heading towards boise from the 7th-11th. see some of you in boise, some in sweet home! :)

this is really getting ridiculous. my fingernails are sweating. its over 95 degrees at 10pm. how am i supposed to sleep in this heat!!

 

 

uninspired to write any blogs. but i figured i'd check in. summer's well under way, way too hot so far!! 100 degrees loses its novelty after about a week in a row. next week is summer camp, will be nice to hang out with kids and escape the heat up near Big Bear Lake in SoCal. After camp i head to Oregon for my sisters wedding, then to Boise for a few days for vacation. then i'm back and school starts up about a week later. where do the summers go? anyway thats all i got in my for now. :)

On Sunday the 25th I went to FishFest in Irvine CA, saw some great concerts from John Tesh (i know, but its true), Natalie Grant, Delirous, Chris Tomlin and Jeremy Camp. But the cream on top, (i dont like those little cherries) was by far the Newsboys. In my (not so humble) opinion, they are the best performers in Christian music. Now that can be both good and bad, however they have really come into their own, and its a very good thing. In an hour set, they spent at least 15 minutes preaching a very solid evangelistic sermon. the rest of the show just plain rocks. They performed the classics like Shine, Breakfast, Entertaining Angles, Joy, Spirit Thing, and some of their newest stuff, including an amazing encore of I am Free.

 

The first time i saw the newsboys was in 1993, i was 17, at Jesus Northwest in Vancouver WA. I had never listened to Christian music before and was very suprised with a couple groups...specifically the drum set spinning Newsboys and a song called "Not Ashamed". From that day on i was hooked. After at least 20 or more times watching the Newsboys over the years, they seem to just get better with age.

 

It also made me realize how much I miss concerts and being involved with Christian music. Ever sinc i quit working at christian bookstores in 99 to go full time in ministry i havent really followed the "scene" much. Fishfest helped me see its time for a return of sorts.

 

So anyway, to sum it all up. Newsboys....you rock :)

I've been doing some research into the genealogy of m family the last couple of weeks. I remember when my Grandpa died that it felt like we had lost our connection with the past. So i'm trying to piece together our family tree. I met a guy online who is a distant relative who has been doing the same thing, and hopefully together we can get a better idea of our roots. Here is a picture of my great-great grandfather Thomas, his wife, and 12 kids.

 

 

This blog is really a micrcocosm of my life. I get excited about something, go all out on it for a while, then lose interest and it falls by the wayside.

 

so here i am 2006, trying to turn over a new leaf, keep on keeping on, fighting the good fight.

 

yeah yeah, we'll see, proofs in the pudding, we all know my next entry will probably be May 2008. :)

 

-brian

 

I found this site today about a new movie coming out later this month. It is the story of Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, Roger Youderin and Peter Fleming. They were missionaries in South America trying to reach out to the Acua Tribe. After making some initial contact that was positive, they attempted to establish a base camp nearby the local tribe. After landing they were never heard from again, and their bodies were later found. Several years later members of the mens families were able to minister to the Acua tribe and lead many to Christ. It is an incredible story, and the fact that it is out in major theatres amazes me.

 

one of my favorite quotes was made by Jim Elliot,

 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose"

 

-b

that i have a winter theme going on, yet i'm living in an place where winter means it runs 65-70 degrees. yesterday it was around 80 degrees outside. "winter wonderland" has a whole new meaning for me this year!

Well i must say that 2005 was one of the more interesting years that i have experienced in a long time. So i guess i'll start at the beginning:

 

January- A year ago i came back from Christmas break wrestling with the issue of what i needed to do to become a better children's minister. my supervisor Bill, had suggested some ideas to me to consider and after alot of prayer and thought i decided to return to school in pursuit of my Masters Degree.

 

February- I began looking into schools, and formally gave my leter of resignation to my supervisor and the leadership at my church.

 

March- started off the month by visiting Talbot School of Theology, attended a class, and met with some staff. I was very impressed and decided to apply. I also had an interview at a church in Laguna Beach, i really thought this would be were i ended up. Loved the church and the people, and had a great interview. This month was painful as i said my goodbyes to the families of CLC, my coworkers and my friends in boise.

 

April- on the 4th of April i left boise for Sweet Home to spend a week with my family. The middle of the month i made the move to Orange County to live with my friend Eric and his wife Tracy while i looked for a job. The end of the month included a Christian education conference where i met a man named Mike, who wanted me to come visit his church in Santa Clarita. Unfortunately the church in Laguna Beach didnt work out, and i was starting to be a bit concerned about finding a job.

 

May- In May i began interviewing at the church in Santa Clarita, while enjoying the OC lifestyle. The beach, weather, etc was great!

 

June- The beginning of June brought an answered prayer. I was offered the job in Santa Clarita, and accepted. within 5 minutes of accepting the job, the church in Laguna Beach called and asked me to come back for another job interview! (5 minutes too late!) I was able to go back to Boise and visit some friends, and then travel back to begin work on the 21st of June. Living was rough, as i didnt have a place to stay, didnt have any money, and no friends yet, so i ended up living in my car until i found a couple places to house sit.

 

July- I dont remember much about July as it was all a rush. Moving from house to house, living out of my car a few nights, staying in hotels, and trying to remember all the new names and responsibilities of ministry. I was happy to see July finish!

 

August- I found a place to live in August, my "Barnapartment" what a blessing!

 

September- Started Talbot in september, loved my classes, and really started to feel a part of my church staff. (i turned 30 this year! ugg)

 

October- School and Work consumed me!

 

November- School and Work, crunch time for an event at church that i was in charge of, and final projects coming due.

 

December- Final projects due at school, and final grades came back with high marks! Another praise! Ministry going very well, able to go home for a great Christmas in Oregon.

 

Overall I am amazed at were i am as opposed to a year ago. It was a very scary year, but God pulled me through it with some painful times, but some great experiences along the way.  Thank you to everyone who prayed for me and kept me in your thoughts in 2005. I am looking forward to what 2006 has in store!

I pray that all of you have a very blessed and Happy New Year! God Bless you all!

 

Bring on 2006!!

Well i'm on my way out to head to the airport for my trip home for Christmas. I hope you all have a great Christmas! God bless you all.

 

-brian

Congratulations on the birth of Riley Joy! born friday december 16th. a whopping 9 pounder! What a beautiful little girl!

I got my final grade back from my last remaing class and it was another A-, so 2 A's and 2 A-'s a happy brian makes!

Sometimes my mind gets stuck on stupid little thoughts/questions. So here are some of the ones i've wondered about lately. Let me know if you have any to add.

 

1. Byran Adams was 9 back in the "summer of '69".

2. Why does overwhelm and whelm mean the same thing?

3. Would i get in trouble for yelling "MOVIE!" in a fire station?

4. Shouldnt we stop at "do not pass" signs?

5. It must stink to be a male ladybug.

6. Come on now, how funny is hell?

7. What is the difference between "Whats Up?" and "Whats going down?"

8. How come when i buy a "pair of pants" i only get one?

 

My little sister is now engaged! Sounds like the wedding will be the end of June.