I’ve hit the new CD jackpot over the past few days; last weekend found Jill Phillips‘ new Nobody’s Got It All Together in my mailbox. Yesterday then brought Andy Osenga’s new The Morning and remastered Photographs. I’ve listened through each of them about once so far. Good stuff. I’m sure I’ll post more, at least on Osenga, later.

I just realized that I haven’t posted anything yet about the Square Peg Alliance. The Alliance is a group of artists that have banded together, feeling that they are the square pegs that don’t quite fit in the round holes that music is expected to be these days. The aforementioned Andy Osenga and Jill Phillips are members, as well as other artists I write about here from time to time, like Randall Goodgame, Andrew Peterson, Andy Gullahorn, Derek Webb, and Sandra McCracken. Their website isn’t much yet, but the fan website over at squarepegalliance.net is up and kicking. I am actually on staff for the website, but I’m afraid I haven’t done a whole lot with it yet…

Well it’s long past time for a weekend update.

Becky’s folks have been here for just over a week now (since May 20th) and we’ve been enjoying their visit. They will be leaving tomorrow to continue on their adventure across the USA. Becky’s mom is blogging their adventures, you might want to follow along! But that’s not about the weekend, now, is it?

Friday night my folks, my brother Ryan, and sister Rebecca came to visit. It was great to see them again. Rebecca is getting ready to move down to Cedar Rapids in a few weeks, so we’ll be seeing quite a bit more of her, I think. Which would be a good thing.

Saturday we didn’t do too much; some shopping occurred, and Becky and I went to a graduation party for a young man from church.

Sunday was busy. I led the WT playing the bass for the first time. It went pretty well, and I sure enjoyed playing bass. Wish I had an opportunity to do it more often. But I’m not about to want to get rid of the bass player we already have - he’s awesome. Then at the end of the first service we dedicated Addison. Then the second service was pretty much the same except we had two baptisms, and no baby dedication.

Sunday afternoon we all went out to Stone City to visit the Berberich’s. It’s always a good time. Stayed there until around 6:30. Then late Sunday night Becky, Ryan, Rebecca and I went to see the new X-Men movie. It was pretty good, but not nearly as good as X1 and X2. Still, it was fun to go out on the town and have mom and dad stay home with the kiddos.
Monday we slept in, grilled out, and then my family took off for their homes. So things are finally calming down. But then last night Laura was up 6 times during the night throwing up. She was one unhappy camper. We quickly progressed through all the sheets we had for her crib, and then went to blankets and towels. She was sleeping OK, but just kept waking up vomiting. Yuck. But Becky reports that she’s doing better today, that some food is staying down, so hopefully she’s on the mend.

With so little sleep last night, something tells me I won’t manage to stay up through the whole Suns-Mavericks game tonight…

Only the best birthday wishes to my beautiful wife who turns 29 today. She is a faithful partner, dear friend, and loving mother to our girls. I am truly blessed.

Becky’s parents are in town this week, so we’ll all go out for dinner to our new favorite BBQ place tonight to celebrate. And, woohoo for me, I knew what I wanted to get her for a gift, bought it on time, and got it wrapped up. Well, sort of wrapped up. It’s at least in a box… Maybe I’m getting this husbandly-gift-giving stuff down finally…

OK, let’s see how many search engine hits that title gets me.
But seriously, folks, if you’ve read my blog for long, you’ve heard me rave about Andrew Osenga. You’ve even seen some pictures. If you’ve really explored my site you might have followed the link over on the right and visited his blog. But now you have the chance to get a free download of one of the songs off of his new album. This is an offer too good to pass up. Do it. Now.

I’ve heard just about enough about The DaVinci Code by now.

First, the hoopla over the best-selling novel.

Then, the adulation from the press and all of the discussion regarding the “historicity” of the fiction.

Next, the Christian reaction to the movie, covering the entire spectrum from “Cool” to “Yawn” to “EVIL, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES AND BURN THE HERETICS WHILE YOU’RE RUNNING!!!”.

So it was with some hesitation that I read a piece on Opinion Journal today entitled “Debunking the Debunkers”. The topic: how would C.S. Lewis have responded to DaVinci Code fans? I was glad I read the article.

“I have been reading poems, vision-literature, legends, myths all my life,” Lewis wrote. “I know what they are like. I know that not one of them is like this [the Bible].”

So said Lewis, and he was right.

The wrap-up:

Here is the real harm of these modern conspiracy theories: They may appeal to our emotions, but they violate our common sense. They reject reason, just as surely as they reject revelation. “I do not wish to reduce the skeptical element in your minds,” Lewis explained. “I am only suggesting that it need not be reserved exclusively for the New Testament and the Creeds. Try doubting something else.”

Good stuff.

My brother Andrew doesn’t keep a blog, doesn’t email much, and isn’t even in the country right now. Nonetheless, I must mark today as a memorable date for him - he has left his teenaged years forever.

Happy 20th Birthday Andrew!

What a week.

Monday was wonderful.

Tuesday was lousy.

Wednesday was much, much better.

Now we get Thursday and Friday, and then the weekend and a week’s visit from the in-laws. And I like my in-laws. And on top of that, it means free babysitting for a couple nights so Becky and I can go out!
Such is life from Iowa.

Monday night was our second church softball game of the year, and it was beautiful. We were afraid the rain was going to keep us from playing, but it held off until just after we finished. The night was perfect, we had enough players, and we played solid the whole game. We got hits when we needed them, even our weakest players drew some walks, came around and scored, and I managed a couple good defensive plays at third base. This reminds me why I enjoy softball so much - the fun with friends, a good competitive game…. what a blessing, and good times.

That’s the question that the InternetMonk asks in a column over the weekend. His summary:

The Gospel is relevant. Our methods can’t be irrelevant, but they have to allow the relevance of Christ to come to the forefront.

Amen, brother.

That’s the question that the InternetMonk asks in a column over the weekend. His summary:

The Gospel is relevant. Our methods can’t be irrelevant, but they have to allow the relevance of Christ to come to the forefront.

Amen, brother.