BabuLife

New to the Blog World?

Lately I've had a lot of hits from folks visiting BabuLife from our Senior Pastor's blog.  So to all you Gracers new to blogs and reading them, I thought I'd point you to a great tool for reading blogs.  For a definition of RSS, check out Brian's post here.

If you're interested in beginning, click the "Subscribe in a reader" icon below my pic on the right side bar.  From there you can choose from a number of reader options.  I prefer Bloglines.

To all of you out there clicking from Tim's site, I'm glad you're here!  I'd love to know who you are, so please don't be a stranger and be sure to drop a comment saying howdy.

Fingerjiggin'

Pete had a great link on his site.  Interested in knowing how many words per minute you can type?  Check this game out.

By the way, I'm 52 words per minute.  How bout you?

HT: Pete

Worship Confessional: 6/10/07

This week we had a few punches on the worship team.  I got a call last night from our keyboard player that she was ill and wouldn't make it in.  Thanks to Little g for jumping in and learning three songs this morning in about 20 minutes.  Not only was our keyboard player ill, but our female vocalist was sick as well.

All was well during sound check until we got to the song "You are Holy" which requires a female lead.  I completely forgot we were doing that tune.  Up steps my wife who took over without a hitch.  She rocked!!! 
This week was a songlist filled with some oldies.

• Let Everything that Has Breath - Redman
• Meet With Me - Ten Shekel Shirt
• You Are My King - Passion
• You Are Holy (Prince of Peace) - Michael W. Smith
• You Never Let Go - Redman

Itching for some new tunes.  I think we'll bust out some David Crowder...that's for you Brad Smith.

Meet Your Adversary

Watch the video...be sure to watch it all.  Check Brian's post for more info on the video here.

1 Peter 5:8, 9 Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world

HT: Brian

New to Cable...Any Recommendations?

After paying off some debts this year, my wife and I plunged back into the world of cable television. I've learned there are some things on cable that I could totally live without, and there are some things that I've found I enjoy greatly that I couldn't get on the usual 6 channel option of local TV.  Here's what I've found enjoyable:

1. Battlestar Galactica - This is NOTHING like the old show.  Well...there are some similarities (like the title).  This show has me gripped.  It fulfills my sci-fi fix until fall of 2008.  Except I just jumped in when the season was ending and Battlestar won't return until 2008.  I guess it gives me time to go watch previous seasons.  Anyone else into this show?
2. SpongeBobSquarePants - Seriously.  I'm about 7 years behind on this, but it hits my immature funny bone pretty good.
3. TVLand - Back when I was walking to school barefoot, in the snow, uphill both ways...we used to watch reruns of Andy Griffith, Leave it to Beaver, I Love Lucy etc. all the time on local TV.  Now local TV is filled with nothing but judge shows and Oprah.  Some of the best TV is found on these old shows.  Andy Griffith is probably my fave (the black & white ones with Barney of course).
4. VH1 - Best of (decades, music genres etc) I'm a sucker for pop culture history.  I think VH1 has uncovered the fact that everyone longs to revisit their youth.  I am especially fond of the '80s shows.
5. Discovering what happened to the band "They Might Be Giants".  Much of the Disney morning music is done by them.  Hot Dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog...if you're a Mickey Mouse watcher in the mornings you know what I'm talking about.

Not so enjoyable:

1. Hannah Montana - My oldest seems to like this.  Not cool.
2. Sweet Life of Zack and Cody - Again, my oldest seems to like...not so cool.
3. Having to verify everything the kids want to watch.  I need to lock some channels. While I enjoy the pop culture stuff of VH1, it's not so suitable for the younglings. Anyone else a channel locker?
4. The options.  Seriously...how can you flip through 100 channels and still find nothing on.  That's when I know it's time to walk away.
5. MTV - I hate this channel.  There's no music.  I worry my girls will find this channel.  I need to figure out that locking channel thing.

Some day maybe we'll take the next leap and get Tivo.  Baby steps.  Any recommendations?

Fellowship Offers Worship Audition Package

Hey worship leaders! Check out the new downloadable package offered by Creative Pastors. I've wanted something like this for years...finally someone has made their stuff available!  Check it out here.

Do You Cover Your Ears During Worship?

It's hard to make everyone happy with decibal levels in worship.  Some folks like their steak rare, others are medium folks while some prefer their meat charred.  Just like they like their ear drums.

We run around 95 - 98 decibals which is the recommended max that I've seen.  Now at Ignite...we crank it up to 100 or a little over.  Should we offer ear plugs?

Super Cool Person of the Week: James

Allow me to introduce you to Jimmy-Luv.  A frequent commenter here at BabuLife, he's known as J-luv.  As you can see from his pic he's a smooth bass playing dude.

James is super cool this week because he's been a rock over the past 7 years or so on the worship team.  Along with Brad (a previous super cool person), he's been with the team since Grace Church's transition from very traditional to our current worship music style.  There are folks who exhude an air of confidence that can come off as arrogant, James is not one of those.  I love having James on the team because he knows where his confidence comes from...Jesus Christ Himself.  James is a guy who I look to as a source of encouragement and a source of leadership on our team because of his strong faith in Christ and His word.  I've often heard James say to me..."I'll submit to your leadership, just tell me what you want".  I love it!

While he's a smooth bass player onstage, he also has a passion and desire to see people struggling with addictions and vices overcome them.  J-Luv leads the Celebrate Recovery ministry at Grace.  James is not only a great leader of worship on stage, but off the stage he lives a life given to Christ oftentimes inspiring me to be a better follower of Christ. He's a great person to have on the team and one of my closest friends.  Thanks Jimmy-Luv for giving your talents and heart to the Lord on the worship team and loving others at Grace through C.R.

If you see James this week, be sure to say, "Hey Jimmy-Luv, you're SUPER COOL!!!

Last Ignite...Until Fall 07

Tonight will be the final first Wednesday worship until this fall (October or November). You won't want to miss tonight.  Seriously...you MUST be there for the first song.  It's one we've never done before.  You'll either love it...or hate it.  But you won't know unless you come.  So...come.  And come early.  If there are only 5 people in the auditorium, we might push the clock back.  But if we don't, those 5 people will be the only ones who will have heard the new song.

I would love for it to be loud tonight.  I mean lots of shouts and lots of clapping.  Not the kind of loud with kids screaming and running crazy...just people totally focused on making noise for the Lord.  Bring your kids in, have them sit with your family and use tonight as an opportunity to teach your children what it means to worship the living God.  It should be a good time tonight with lots of music.

See you tonight!
-Babu

May I Be a Sacrifice - Rough Draft Audio

A couple months ago I posted about a desire within me to get cranking on some original tunes.  It was really a desire to get moving on reconnecting myself in an area of my life that gives me pleasure and replenishment.  I mentioned that I was thinking about posting a clip of an original tune that God had given me some time ago.  After mulling it over and arguing with myself and seeking a little insight from a friend or two...I'm posting a VERY rough draft of a song.  I mean, I'm talking unprofessional, bare-bones, digital recorder no effects type of recording here.  I didn't post a studio recorded version because I don't want to include the other fellas in it thinking they'd probably be miffed at me by the rough nature of the recordings.  So here 'tis.  Just me and the accoustic playing a tune.  Maybe we'll bust out a full version at the August Ignite?

Let me know what you think!  Of course, you can be brutally honest as well.  Just be nice please.