Today we start another chapter of our extra-curricular lives as parents.  Blue starts basketball today and it will take us all the way to January.  Now, I’m pretty excited to see how this whole ’six-year-old basketball’ thing works.  Do they lower the rims?  Can six year olds dribble the ball?  It’s all pretty fascinating to me.

We’ve gotten new shoes, matching basketball shorts and shirt, and I’m still trying to convince Blue to go with me to get a headband.  He’s refusing.  Even though I tell him it’s awesome to wear headbands.  

Anyway, today is the ‘assessment’ day for the league, and I don’t really know what that means, but it’s going to be awesome to watch.  I was trying to explain to Blue what ‘assessment’ meant and told him it was sort of like tryouts.  He got a little nervous and asked me “Daddy, what if you aren’t that good”.  All I could tell him was that he would do great and all he needs to do is take the ball away from the kids not on his team.  A good offense is a good defense right?  We’ll see how it goes.

I played mostly baseball as a kid, and played basketball once in fifth grade.  What sports did you play as a kid?

So, my friend Matthew who works up at Mars Hill in Grand Rapids, Michigan sent me this package today.  Inside the bubble wrapped envelope contained four books.  Velvet Elvis, Sex God, Jesus Wants To Save Christians, all by Rob Bell, and The Hidden Power Of Electronic Culture, by Shane Hipps.  The copy of Velvet Elvis is even signed.  Now I have obviously heard of Rob Bell before, and even had a little time to talk to him at Matthew’s wedding earlier this year, but I haven’t had a chance to check out his books yet.  Sorry Rob.  

Anyway, because Matthew sent me all three of them, I’m debating whether to just start at the beginning and dive into Velvet Elvis or if I want to start with the new one.  Any ideas?

Also, I’d love you know what you guys thing about Rob.  I know he’s a pretty controversial guy, but I haven’t really heard why.  He seemed like a nice guy.  And he’s got cool design ideas for his books, and Matthew likes him, so what’s your take?

So for those of you that have been around these parts for a while now have heard what I am trying to do with SkörInc and have even seen some of the fruits of that labor.  And you “regulars” here have been an integral part in the growth and effectiveness of this whole online presence, blogging thing, even if you don’t fully know it.  Well I’ve decided to put a challenge out in front of myself and I’m dragging you along with me whether you like it or not.  Sound good?

So here’s the thing.  I need all of your help for this next challenge but I think we can pull it off.  Are you ready?  Here it is.  I’d like to get Michael W. Smith blogging.  And I don’t really have any intention of stopping wanting to get him to blog.  I know he’s part of this massive “machine” and there are tons of people involved in his career and all that, but that’s okay.  I think it can still happen.

Now, I know for a fact there are tons of ‘Nashville’ people reading this blog, and I know some of you are reading this and agreeing with me.  Now before any of you ‘Nashville’ people feel like I am trying to get a piece of your “Smitty Pie”, let me explain.  I believe that because he is who he is, he has become a very iconic fellah here in this Christian Music World.  I believe there is a part of him that is very real and very open to connecting with his listeners as evident by his few personal videos he has made.  I believe that realness and openness can be cultivated into an opportunity to truly blog well just like MercyMe, Phil Wickham, Natalie Grant and others.  Don’t you?

So here’s my proposal.  For all of you folks reading this, here’s your mission.  Get me a two hour meeting with Michael W. Smith (and his management).  Someone out there can do it.  It’s a small world and Nashville is even smaller… and the Christian Music Industry even smaller, and I’m going to keep after Mr. Smith until this meeting happens.  Sound like a plan?  Who’s with me on this one?  Let’s make it happen.

(CC)

I’ve always been fascinated by the 1940’s for no other reason than the fashion.  I wish I could have lived back then, and been able to dress like these guys.  How cool would that be?  I mean, I don’t know when the last time was that I wore a tie and I think I look pretty stupid in a hat like that, but that’s okay.  I think if I lived back in that time I could have pulled that stuff off.  

Kristin and I have talked numerous times about how we wish that we could dress like we lived in the 40’s but how there’s really just no way that we could do it and be able to afford it, for one, and second, it’s not like you can run down to Target and pick up clothes like that.

I think everyone has an “era” that they are drawn to for one reason or another.  I think for Kristin and I it’s always been the 40’s.  And what’s weird is I have no idea why other than the cool clothes.  Is that a thing?  Or are we just freaks?

What’s your “era”?

Well folks, SkörInc has another announcement to make.  First off I’d like to introduce you all to a good friend of mine, Damian Horne.  Damian is the newest member of the SkörInc team and I’m excited to see what becomes of it.

I’ve had the privilege to know Damian for a bunch of years now.  Back when I was in high school, Damian was the lead singer of a band called Silage.  You remember them don’t you?  They went on to do some great things and now Damian has set his focus on writing worship.  

Anyway, I’m excited to start working on this whole blogging thing with Damian.  He’s a great guy with a lot of great things to say.  So head over to his blog and welcome him won’t you?

Damian’s first release “Practice Of The Presence” is available on iTunes and you can pick up four of his songs for free at Noisetrade.com. Now, you all have at least five emails that you would be willing to put in to get the songs for free, but I’m wondering if we can get Damian on the front page of Noisetrade today.  Here’s what I’d like to do.  I’m willing to give you my email address to use for one of the emails if you go now and download the four songs for free.  Then you only have to come up with four more email addresses.  Sound good?  Here it is.  brody@brodyharper.com.  Ready?  Go.

(WCW)

Who won in Nashville?  McCain or Obama?

Yesterday I had a meeting of sorts with a guy that I have gotten to know over the past few months and have really grown to respect.  I know a lot of you readers here know William and probably feel the same way I do.

I met William a while back at some church function and started talking to him in the hallway of church.  One of the first things that jumped out to me was his authenticity and kindness.  Now, in my experience, typically when you meet someone at a church function it’s normal for that person to be overly nice and outgoing, and beyond that when you see them again it’s an “acquaintance” type of situation.  William is different.  William seems to genuinely care about the people he comes in contact with.  There’s something refreshing about that.  Real refreshing.

I met with William yesterday for coffee and to talk about life, internet, and what he’s been up to.  See, William is starting a church in Spring Hill with one main goal.  Love people.  And William is good at that.  It’s cool to see someone take that simple, Biblical instruction and live it out as much as he possibly can.

So if you haven’t go check out William’s blog and introduce yourself.  He’s a great guy to know.

Welcome to Tuesday.  You know what to do.

So, check this out.  I just found this site called Citizens Of Virtue, and you must go now and see what this is all about and come back here and let’s discuss.  First off, the main thing that jumps out at me is the Passionix ad at the top of the page.  The product info goes something like this.

Passionix: These pills were developed and patented through the Citizens of Virtue’s own labs. If you have a teenage child who is having difficulty handling the unbridled passions and lusts thrust upon them at this critical time of life, order a bottle of Passionix and help your child take control of those passions before they take control of your child’s life.

Oh yeah, and don’t forget the quote next to the informational brochure.

“Just because it fits doesn’t mean it goes there”

Simply brilliant.

Next you need to check out the store, where you can purchase items such as The LORD Shackle Bracelet, or The Rape of Eve, a book written by Pastor Bryson Grace and Savannah Merks.  

Now according to the site something awesome is going to happen in two days and I know I will be waiting in line to see what it is.  Will you?

So here’s your assignment.  Are you ready?  Devour this site.  Look at every link, read every word and come here with your opinions.  I’d love to know.  Is this something your church would link to?  Is this something you can someone you know would get behind?  What’s the deal?

So there it is peeps.  Let’s hear what you have to say about the Citizens Of Virtue.  Ready?  Go.

So check this out.  I noticed today that I have crossed the ‘four hundred followers’ mark on my Twitter.  Now, I realize that several of these are companies following me in order to get me to follow them and buy Viagra or something, but four hundred is a pretty substantial number I think.

Now here’s the thing.  I feel like I suck at Twitter, but I’m about to change that.  I follow several folks that are really good at using Twitter and I aspire to be one of them.  I think the thing that weirds me out about it is that I know that if I decide to Twitter something there is the chance that several people will be getting a text message from me…. saying something stupid… or pointless.  That’s intimidating to me.

But no more.  I’ve decided to try to get better at Twitter and not care about who might be sitting in a movie or in church or something like that.  I’m going to type what I think and forget that I just might be interrupting your ‘alone time’ with your husband or wife with a stupid text message about something I saw on the way to Target.  Sound good?

I imagine a lot of you are on Twitter already, but for those that aren’t, why not?  What keeps you from it?  And for those that are already on Twitter, are you following me?