sing or be fired!

Today we had a "special" staff meeting. Everyone was there including those who usually are not. The whole music division was invited to staff meeting. Our Pastor kept on swinging. Today he said, "If the elders hear or see negativity from somone they will pay them a visit, if I catch you not singing in church I WILL FIRE YOU! If you can't handle supporting the leadership of the church and it's volunteers I will accept your resignation today!" ...some serious butt kicking....so you could say we are in a worship war. Or better said....the tradionalist want to remain tradional and not give in to a "blended" service. The modern service is cool with singing Hymns, but the oldies dont want to sing praises....too bad the maturity isn't always where you think it should be...
"It's the nature of man as he grows older...to protest against change, particularly for the better."-John Steinback

1 service update pt. II

Church on sunday was a butt-spanking like no other. The whole congregation got it although I don't think half were involved. We have a "spirit of negativity" as a church. It has become to easy to complain and critique staff members. Our Pastor said "we will no longer yield to complaining". I think everyone was shocked to hear that but many were happy to here it from him.

1 service update

I ended up with a bloody nose...the service literally gave me a bloody nose on tuesday. the story starts on sunday...
I thought the service went as good as it could have possibly been. After the service people weren't jumping up and down about it...but it felt like the issue of doing muisc together as 1 church was neuttalized...i was wrong.
I got to work on tuesday and the Worship Division (aka one old lady who happened to be gone that week) blew up in my face about how aweful a job I did. That she had many serious ccomplaints and we neeeded to talk. After talking I learned that of this finite group of her friends who complained pretty much had petty complaints that were an easy fix.
Stilll...the day was hell. I had a meeting with Worship Division, senior Pastor, and spoke with Elders, and what seemed like everyojnes mom. By 3:00pm my nose couldn't stop bleeding. They where out for blood and thats what they got.

1 service

My fingers have all turned to open wounds. I'm dreaming about hypothetical services for church. I'm constantly worrying about what is going to happen on Sunday. We are going to one service. Two congregations worshipping together. I have been "warned" that in the past this "summer schedule" was pretty ugly. People standing up in the middle of the service ranting and raving for their favorite music style. Much opposition to this idea in the past. Really sounds like it failed in the past years. So...I'm a bit scared people will throw old fruit at me and yell things like "You Suck!" during church Sunday. So please pray for my congregation and myself. I just want Jesus to show up and People see him and not me.

So...he's dead huh

Sometimes as pastors do the ins-and-outs of what the job requires (marry them and bury them) one can loose sympathy.
Today my senior pastor was walking around with a group of people in our sancturary during our band practice. I thought they might be new members so I stepped off the stage and went to say hi. My pastor introduced me and as I was shaking hands he said, "this is James...he does our music." I said hello then he introduced them to me and said, "this is the Butlers...her dad died" as he pointed to one of the ladies.
They where there for a funeral appointment. It was one of the most unsympathtic things I've ever heard...and therefore funny in a unhealthy way.

Texas

So I went to Austin, Texas for the past few days to visit a college friend who had just returned back from "THE RAC". A mutal friend of ours had his car while he served over seas. Now that he is back of course he and his pregnat wife would like their car back. So, my friend Ryan and I drove it back to him....and it was the worst drive of my life.
First...we decided to drive striaght thru the night after work. this was probably our first mistake. Second...somewhere in west Texas about 2:30 in the morning the I-10 closed. We don't know why but we argued in favor of an alien crash. We sat their parked on the highway with tons of parked truckers till dawn when they re-routed us around some mountain. third,,,I got a speeding ticket. I could understand getting a ticket if I was speeding but we had decided to got the whole time on cruise control at the speed limit. So, when I was pulled over I had no idea what for...
the whole cop thing really ended up making feel victimized. The cop made me get in his car as he proceeded to give me a lecture about "would you pull over if your car was on fire?" idiotic lecture. As he handed me the ticket I was finally allowed to speak. I asked what the ticket was for and he said I was going 6 mph over the speed limit. So know I have a $120 ticket that I can't fight because I will never be in west texas again.
Once we arrived we had a great time watching digital recorded cable and homemade ice cream. My new favorite show is entourage. It is entirely inapproprate. It's about making fun of hollywood stars and their power agents. Not for children. What really gets me me in it is how accurate they get "guy talk" and the witty quirks about celebrities.

Birthday Is Over!

We had a birthday weekend....
friday: slumber party with birthday hamburgers and coldstone ice cream. Gifts included: a new digital camera, a new birthday outfit, and the entire Oprah summer book club collection
Saturday: Birthday brunch at Z'tejas followed by a day trip to the nursery followed by a Birthday dinner at a ritzy Sushi restraunt called RA followed by a birthday movie viewing of Cinderella Man. Gifts included: a 2 ft wide bowl full of hand picked cacti, a gift certificate to the mall, and a toy washer.
Sunday: had a birthday breakfast of french toast and a birthday lunch at Ricardos. Gifts included: gift certificate to Olive Garden and fancy girl soap.
We ate out way to much and had dessert with every meal! I think she got a little out of control about saturday morning with the whole "It's my Birthday!!!!!" shout outs and fit throwing. Don't worry... we have see signs of her coming down from the burgers, sugar, and soiledness highs.

Sold The Farm

it's offical...my father has sold the family farm. Congrats!...I guess. I feel bitter sweet about it. It's great my Dad doesn't have to work another day in his life if he doesn't want to, but on the other hand, it's really weird to not be able to go "home". Sure I can go to the house...but not to the farm. I guess I'll have to wipe my tears with hundred dollar bills!