Out of the Blue

Sunday afternoon i was in Dover performing a wedding ceremony at cross creek ranch, when i was informed of the passing of Nate's Dad. I fist met Tim, when Nate and i started a band called Jesus Shoes, which eventually and thankfully became 9 years waiting. Tim was a constant source of support and encouragement, he spoke truth and blessings over our music, and over our lives.

I can't remember a single time where when we left the stage that Tim didn't speak life into us. He was one of those guys... you know a contagious encouragement. 

A couple years ago i went to visit him in the hospital as we recovering from a stoke... and it wasn't just 5 months ago that i saw him worshiping God and beaming with pride as Nate launched his newest dream Insideout (a killer student missions experience). 

It is comforting to know that we will most definitely see Tim again, but it is still sad to know the void he has left. Please pray for Nate and his brothers Josh and Silas... and for Nate's mom Pam.

Nate is the guy who built our stage for us here at Element, a friend for over 12 years, and a brother who could use some encouragement right about now.

If you would like to send you love the memorial service will be Saturday April 4th

at Revival Outreach Center (ROC) At 225 N. Dover Rd Dover, FL 33527 At 4pm

Chef Bobby

Ok, so most of you know that i am a foodie, and know how much i love to create in the kitchen. Well a couple of weeks ago i created my new Chef Bobby Blog, and have been loving sharing with you my thoughts and weekly creations.

I want to invite all of you to and eat my food, now before you start making your way over to my house, and before Jill starts panicking about the toys on the floor and the laundry thats still in the dryer... it not here.

I have been invited to do a Chefs Table at Chefs on the Loose here in Hyde Park. The idea is it is kind of like a live, hands-on gourmet cooking show. After you have satisfied your culinary curiosity, you will leave armed with the recipes and the know-how to make my inspirations yours.

If you would like to register (and i hope you do) go to Chefs on the Loose and they will make sure you are on the list. There is a 25 person limit, so please hurry up. The date is Thursday night April 23rd, it will be a great date with great food, and some pretty awesome friends. 

See you there!

NEW READ!!

Wow, Alan Hirsch is the freaking man!!! Check out his new book "Re-Jesus" i would be interested to hear your thoughts.  Big read that is for sure... really gets the thoughts flowing.

SPREAD THE WORD

Part of this idea of being the church is to bear the burdens of each other, to be inventive in hospitality, and to help. Good friends and fellow members of Element Grant and Hannah are in the process of adopting thier first child... and knowing both the stress and the financial strain i can't help but think the people that call themselves the church CAN help.

Please if you think about it pass this flyer out, come check out the benefit show, and we are looking to be inventive in our hospitality... and ultimately our investment into the future of this movement we call the church!

For more info check out The Heart of Adoption

 High Flight Society will be in town from Nashville, and two of our local bands Beyond Ariose and Despite Distance are giving their time and their rock fists to this nobel cause! 

Hope to see you at the show!

From all angles...

So seriously, the last couple of days have felt like i have been under some major attack.  now i don't know if it is because i have been reading a book that has caused me to think more about spiritual things, but over the last couple days i feel like i have been getting it from all angles... 

Let me explain...

Annsley is out 17 month old daughter, really she is amazing... smart, funny, out-going, and since day one she has been a really good sleeper.

Over the last couple of nights (4-5) Anns has been waking up multiple times crying, I don't know if it is a bad dream, bad Chinese food (we are not really feeding here spicy asian cuisine), or what. But you know this as well as i do... if she is crying, then we are up. Sometimes she will get herself back to sleep on her own, but not last night.

We had our normal routine, bath, playtime, brush teeth, and cuddle on daddy's lap while we watch her "shows". Only this time she screamed bloody murder when ever we tried to put her in her crib. This wasn't the normal "i don't want to go to sleep" cry... it felt like something more.

finally she went to sleep, but at 2:30am she woke to screaming again... only she could not console herself. Needless to say Jill and i didn't get too much sleep last night.

To add to the weirdness of the Anns, over the past 6-7 nights i have been having weird dreams, the kind that wake me up multiple times a night... which coupled with Annsley have left me restless.

Sometimes the dreams are scary, sometimes that are just weird... but i cant help feeling that they are not internal.

So i pray, but the dreams and the sleeplessness keep coming back.

Sunday morning was the first time in the history of Element that i felt so under attack that i couldn't think straight.

It all started when a good buddy of mine slept through his alarm (he has a baby that was up all night too), normally that wouldn't have been the biggest deal... but i needed him to help me set up the Baptism pool.

So there i was, trying to get the pool inflated, filled, and not leaking... all before the band showed up at 8. Which meant i was in fix it, git-er-done, control mode. Practice was weak... not because of the band (these guys are freaking incredible) but because my head was not in it, i missed out on the prayer time before because i was behind on everything else... so i opted to run through my message again, set out signs, and fix a leak that had let out 20-30 gallons of water! Frustrating!!!! 

By the time we took the stage to lead our church in worship... my head was far from being in the right place.

So i wasn't satisfied with the music, i felt extra vulnerable because i was imagining the thoughts going through people heads like: "Man, Bobby is off today" or "i wonder what that other church is like". 

(As i just wrote that i feel like a ton of bricks just hit me in the head... how messed up are those thoughts.)

Baptism went great, people cheered and prayed for the Carly, Lucy and Marcos... someone even put an inflatable shark in the water (they know i am deathly afraid of the pool sharks).

there was so much reason for celebration... but i felt like my chest was going to cave in... i didn't feel like myself at all.

I know i brought this home with me... as much as i kept praying i feel like i couldn't quite shake it... of course it bleeds into my family and the next thing i know Jill and i are into it.

I have been through spiritual attack before, so i wonder why this one caught me so off guard... even when i sensed it was happening i don't know why i just didnt grab the guys and ask them to pray over me... is it because i feel i have to be strong to lead? is it because i feel weird asking for peoples attention?

What ever the reason i, we, can't afford to let it go.

So i am asking... please pray for my family, our rest, for peace and clarity. Please pray for protection against the things we do not see... and please... if you see me trying to pretend like i have it in control, but clearly you know i am frazzled... do not let me leave with out praying with me.

what happened this weekend was not a horrible service (in fact aside from a song or two i thought God really spoke to us), but what happened was i felt like my joy was stolen... i missed out on the chance to celebrate, and to have peace with Jill and Anns as well as my Element family.

NEVERWAS

Ok, so maybe it was the awesome day at Element, maybe it was that i have been going a million miles an hour, maybe it was because i got to spend the whole day with my Annsley... but last night i think i watched one of the best movies ever.

Now most of you who know me understand that i am quick to bestow accolades when i am feeling good... but, well... maybe your right.

I put Anns to bed around 8ish after i made a KILLER DINNER ( go to my chef blog for recipe ) and i went through the films that just came in from netflix. I don't remember ordering this one, but that doesn't mean much as of late.

The movie was "Neverwas", and maybe it was because Galdalf's (Ian McElllen) voice is the first thing you hear, all of you know what a Lord of the Rings nerd i am... but probably it had to do with imagination.

There was something in my heart... literally that was begging for the story to be real... just for the sake of the Son... and i guess in some ways for me too.

To be honest i had never heard much about this film, and it probably only made it into my list because of Ian, but i cant stop thinking about the pain, the beauty, the childlike wonder, the perceptive... not to mention the acting, and cinematography of "Neverwas".

Puts me in a deep place this morning.

New BLog

Don't worry, i am not doing away with this one by any means... just launching a new blog dedicated solely to the food i create.

If you are looking for a killer recipe, or maybe just a little inspiration check out my new blog "The Burning Tree". Feel free to share your ideas, ask any questions, and flaunt your culinary successes and failures! 

Also... if anyone is looking for a private chef to rock your next party, just drop me a line!

Vote for one of our favorite CANVAS Artists

Jeremy is one of our CANVAS artist, as well as a good friend. He is entered in a contest with HURLEY clothing company... if his design wins could be HUGE for his family.

Take the time, spread the love, and vote for Kenedik!

All it takes is a minute to vote.You can preview my tee here:
http://www.hurley.com/micforyouth/view-design.cfm?did=98 <http://www.hurley.com/micforyouth/view-design.cfm?did=98> 
 
To vote you have to sign up to the right, then click near the Hurley logo at the top, Microphone for Youth, find my design again (Freedom Complex by Kenedik), and Vote 5. As soon as you vote it will cycle through to the other tees. (so don't keep clicking 5 or you'll vote for the others as well) If you want to see all the tees, just click the microphone for youth graphic. 

If you could vote and/or tell a few friends to vote, I'd really appreciate it. 


Thanks man!!


Jeremy