In this reel of endless skateboarding pods, one caught my attention (embedded below). It was a highlight on Christian Hosoi, skateboarding’s first real super star.

This clip got me interested in his documentary, and I found it on Youtube. It’s a great story of redemption. This man was on top of his world, tempted by drugs and women, and eventually fell so low that he was arrested and sent to federal prison for a 10 year sentence.

“I don’t need God, I need a lawyer.”

It’s amazing how God made himself known to Christian Hosoi at the moment he breathed these words. Watch the movie below to see how.

“It’s a movie about second chances. It’s a movie of hope.”

The below video is titled “Today”. I love the questions Rob asks, and the pictures he paints.

“If you need to celebrate how good it was, then celebrate. …then do it. But then, move on. There is a certain kind of despair that sets in when we believe that things were better back then, when we’re stuck back there, when we’re not fully present. When we’re still holding on to how things were, our arms aren’t free to embrace today.“

“Is Jesus saying to you right now about anything, about anybody, about anytime, ‘Let go, and receive a new spirit!’? So you may accept the past for what it is. May you celebrate what needs to be celebrated. And grieve what needs to be grieved. And then may you receive from God a new spirit. One for HERE, NOW, TODAY.”

While the studios were out of work, he employed his own creativity and a few well known actors and created this GENIUS piece of work. I can’t wait for the next episode.

And BTW, has Neil Patrick Harris made a come-back, or what!?!

I’ve been diggin on some David Crowder lately. He’s such a great Christian artist, if you don’t know him already. Here’s a video that hits home

Wes, Kari, Grace, and Abby came to visit this weekend. It was so much fun. They arrived on Friday and we were able to see some small parts of the town. We ate and listened to music on the green at the Promenade, visited Charlotte’s children’s library, ImagineOn, at at Pikes, went to Elevation Church, ate at the Penguin, the Roasting Company, and enjoyed our last meal together this morning at Krispy Kreme.

The girls are so wonderful to be around. They are always so happy, cheerful, and incredibly endearing. Grace loves to play, loves having attention, and really enjoys going outside and pushing her baby stroller. And Abby has to be the most pleasant baby ever. She hardly ever complains, loves being held, and when in your arms will just rest her head on your shoulder and look around the room so calmly. Wesley and Kari are amazing parents, and they make me hope I can someday be half the parents they have become.

They have only been gone for two hours, and I miss them already.

“…you either accept it, or reject it.”

We’ve all seen the commercials. But, what does it really mean to “act like men”? I think that it has something to do with fulfilling your biblical duties. Not many people enjoy hearing what they are doing wrong, or being called out, or being told that they need to step up. But, I really feel God is calling on Godly men to step up, be manly, be unashamed, and to be bold. Speak the truth, and live life abundantly.

Many people will not like this sermon. But, if you put your personal feelings aside, this sermon speaks to the heart of the issues me and my friends are going thru. For us, the message of God is not being spoken, the leaders are not speaking the whole truth (or at least we are all desiring for more), and in return nobody is empassioned about anything. It’s time to start taking the challenge of listening to the whole truth. The FULLNESS of the Gospel. Not just the parts that make you feel comfortable.

Set aside about 50 minutes, then take a listen to this. Yes, the pastor may start yelling. But, give it a chance. And take heart to the message he’s trying to deliver. In his next sermon below, he admits he “went thru several rabbit holes” in this message, but I believe the message is still so important. But, I love how he opens the sermon…

Haleluijua! Thank God for Jesus.
Stand please, and let’s ask God right now to give us open ears and hearts.
I don’t think there’s any need to come to church, unless we hear from God, and God can do something in us. Don’t you believe that?

But, what I feel is so powerful about this sermon is that the first 4 minutes is directed to other pastors.

This morning, …at the end of the 10:30 service, I said I believe the Lord is giving me a word for young pastors who may be discouraged. …I want to say to those young pastors, who for years have been excited about Sunday coming. …When you feel dead inside, that’s God’s work too! Life comes out of deadness. That’s why Jesus walked out of a tomb. …You do need to have fresh food. It is spiritual warefare. …You are in the perfect place to speak words that give life like never before! Your favorite sermon that you’ve memorized and enjoy teaching does not give life. Life only comes out of deadness to self…You are in the greatest place of ministry right now than you’ve ever been. And you’re going to see spiritual growth and life in your congregation. Because what your saying is not from somebody’s book. It’s from your own deadness.

…Jesus wanted me to tell you that.

The church I have been attending the last several months is about to start a six week series on “Identity”. I can only feel that these sermons above by my home pastor is God reaching out to set the benchmark. It’s God calling to remind the leaders to shephard the flock and guide them in a Godly fashion. We (the congregation) should not be figuring out who we are, but desire to figure out who God is, what His will is, and what he desires for us.

Click here if you are interested to hearing more sermons from Central Church of God.

Before all the people arrived, I toured the house with my video camera to snap what the home looks like when it’s all clean. I had just completed a bunch of home improvement projects to the house the week before, and I was literally putting the final coats of paint on at 2AM the previous evening.

Projects included 6′-6″ wainscoting in the living room, all around the room. I hired a carpenter to help install the wood, but I personally sanded and painted every inch. I cased a few opening in the kitchen. Wainscoting was installed up the stairway. I painted the hallway and guest bathroom, and painted the stairwell wall. Built custom bar tables for the basement. Bought new couches for the living room, and crap TV’s for the basement. (No TV cost more than $30. Thanks Craigslist!)

Have a gander.

**UPDATE: I believe the kid’s name is Lorne Wallace.

A while back Youtube deleted some of Shihan’s videos for some reason or another. But, they are now back. Here’s a series of videos from Shihan I created. Enjoy.

Andy also brought us Lazy Sunday and D@#k In a Box.

Grab the “Iran So Far” MP3 here.
Grab the “Lazy Sunday” MP3 here.

“Iran So Far”
They say true love comes only once in a lifetime
And even though we’re from opposite ends of the earth
My heart tells me you’re the one for me

Mahmoud, I remember when it started, saw you on the news
You hating gays, I was eating food
I was feeling you, and even though I disagree with almost everything you said
You ain’t wrong to me, so strong to me, you belong to me
Like a very hairy Jake Gyllenhaal to me
Mahmoud, make my heart beating out of my chest
my mind says no but my body says yes
You ain’t no threat, the only threat I see, is the threat of you not coming home to me
Our love for each other is like when atoms collide
Can’t express how I feel, and yo Adam let’s ride

And Iran, Iran so far away is your home, but in my heart you’ll stay

He ran, for the president of Iran
We ran together to a tropical island
My man, Mahmoud is known for violence
Smiling, if he can still do it then I can
They call you weasel, they say your methods are medieval
You can play the Jews, I can be your Jim Caviezel

S&M, (?) when we’re wrestlin’
You can be the port that I put my vessel in
So I try to (?) but you can still see me
With your sleepy brown eyes, butter pecan thighs
And your hairy butt… Yeah.

And Iran, Iran so far away
Come home, and in my arms you’ll stay
Used to look at the stars and dream
Around the world the same stars we’re seeing
And a twinkle in your eyes Mahmoud

Talk smooth to me, in the night sky
With you pants high waisted, damn so fly
We can take a trip to the animal zoo
And laugh at all the funny things that animals do
Like Eugene, you got me straight trippin’ boo
Hope you look at my eyes and say I’m trippin’ too
You say (?) but they already do
You should know by now, it’s you

You crazy for this world Mahmoud
You can deny the Holocaust all you want
But you can’t deny that there’s something between us
I know you say there’s no gays in Iran
But you’re in New York now baby
So time to stop hating and start living

If you haven’t heard of Mute Math before, you are really missing out. Check their PureVolume page, or Myspace page to sample some of their music.

If you haven’t seen them in concert yet, then this show is a must see! Seriously. You have to go! You won’t be disappointed. Go to the Amos’s Southend website now and buy your tickets.

The opening band, Eisley, looks interesting as well – and should be a hit with the ladies. They sound so much like Sixpence None the Richer that I could have sworn that the lead singer was the same from Sixpence. But, apparently not.

Here’s the video…

This video got me thinking about the importance of a father’s love. It can break you if you don’t have it, and it can make you do anything and everything if you do have it. I’m so blessed to have the unconditional love of not only my Heavenly Father, but my real life father as well. Some aren’t so lucky.

The above video shows everything that God does for us in our everyday life. And the videos below demonstrate how real fathers properly emulate God’s love toward their family. It’s time to give thanks to the strong men in your life.

I love this movie. A great metaphor.

Acts 20:32

Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

From her site…

We are a two piece brother and sister acoustic duo from the south east of England. We formed this band in April 2003 and have performed at several live events in our local area.

Rea and her brother have a beautiful simplicity to their music and voice. The stripped down acoustics and melodic vocals make you feel like you are listening to the Cranberries playing an unplugged set. Take a listen to the songs below and then visit their YouTube and MySpace pages. Good stuff!

ReoRae original song – Home

John Mayer cover – In Repair

Don’t think that they are all gone. Here’s proof.

via HBO’s Def Poetry – Shihan, “In Response”

via HBO’s Def Poetry – Gemineye, “Penny for Your Thoughts”

I guess this means something about the value of innocence, babies, and laughter. Or, all three combined.

Good stuff nonetheless.