"Jacked" available at Big Break

 

I just received word today that the shipment has been made to Panama City Beach, and my first book, "Jacked", will be available when you get to Big Break! I wish I could give out free copies to everyone, but alas, my publisher would send me to prison if I did so. However, they will be available for the very inexpensive price of $4.00 to any student that can cough up a few Washingtons.

I'm so excited for the release of "Jacked", and when it becomes fully available online (which will be very soon) I'll let you know the web address where you can order one.

Thoughts on Significance and the Olympics

"Who am I if I'm not a skier?"-Lindsay Vonn

Let me first start by saying that I've been totally riveted by the Winter Olympics this year. I never really thought that I would care about 'Men's Nordic Finals' or 'Women's Curling', but I simply can't get enough of these Olympic Winter Games (NBC is praising God that most people are feeling that way...it's really all they've got).

Interestingly, though, I caught a short interview with downhill skier, Lindsay Vonn before the Olympics started this year, and she casually said something that made me pause and think more deeply about where our significance comes from and what I really believe success is in light of my view of God. In the midst of answering a few questions from an NBC reporter, she said, "who am I if I'm not a skier?"

Vonn, of course, probably communicated that without much thought in an attempt to validate who she is and what she does as a profession, but it really struck me that in her reality, being a skier is all of who she is...at least in her mind. That is, however, simply not true.

There is much more to Lindsay Vonn than just being a skier and perhaps one day (I hope) she will come to that realization without a tragedy befalling her. Ironically, she fell yesterday on the downhill slope and broke her right pinky finger, so we'll have to wait and see if this subsequently effects her skiing in the immediate future.

C.S. Lewis once said (and I'm paraphrasing here), "You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." How backward is that in comparison to everything else taught by the communicators of this world? Our significance cannot come from what we do and rest wholeheartedly on the performances we put out day after day, it must come from another place (a heavenly place) that once understood in its purest sense, alleviates the need and pressure to try harder all the time.

The Olympics have opened my eyes to how much value we place on performance. Notice I said we. I am 100% guilty of validating my life based upon how good I've performed in a given situation. But after connecting with the truth that God accepts me for who I am (a retched sinner, saved by the perfection of Jesus Christ alone), my performance barometer begins to loose its effect when I think about what kind of person I am.

Awesome Big Break Promo from U of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

This is more like a short film than an advertisement. Love it, love it, love it!

Bridgewater Postponed, Big Break Prep

Unfortunately, the north east snow decided once again to rear its horrible ugly head and ruin more plans. I was supposed to perform last night at Bridgewater College in southwest VA, but alas, nature intervened.

The good news is that the performance has been rescheduled for April 12, alleviating any possible snowfall induced cancelations. I'm sad that I wasn't able to be there, but I'm still excited to show up in a couple of months.

In the mean time, I'm furiously working on my stuff for Big Break this year. I should be done with the major preparations very soon, but I'll still have to do some filming and editing of video while I'm on site at the Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, FL. It's really going to be an amazing time and I can't wait to see everyone there! I'll keep you posted on what I'm up to so stay tuned to this blog...

West Virginia University

Thursday night is the night. I'm traveling to Morgantown, West Virginia for the very first time in my life. In addition to being at WVU for the first time, I'll be performing my seminar at Cru. If you're around, come on over at 9:00 and I'll see you there.

Hopefully, I won't come back home with a beard.

University of Pennsylvania

Apparently, I'm an idiot and got a lot of information wrong (including the date and actual school) about my visit to the University of Pennsylvania. Everything has been updated now, and I'll be there this Thursday night at 7:30pm.

The events calendar is now correct. Check it out for the specific location on campus. I'm looking forward to it!

My Book

Some of you may know this already, but for the last 5 months or so, I've been working on a book to be published through CruPress. The book is about evangelism and it's essentially a five week study to be done individually or with a group of like-minded peeps you happen to call "friends".

The book was sent off today and is now officially out of my hands and on the computer of a designer that will make it look very pretty...in a rugged and masculine kind of way, but pretty nonetheless.

I'll keep you updated as I know more about its progress, but the goal is to have the book printed and ready to go by the start of Big Break this year, which is the beginning of March. I pray that happens and I'm super excited that it will be coming out soon.

More to come...

My Brush with Famous People - Part 2

shelby_danMe and Dan Haseltine from Jars of Clay at RADIATE09. He was literally one of the nicest celebrities I've ever come in contact with.

My Brush with Famous People

Me and Chris Sligh in the green room at RADIATE09. In case you were wondering, I'm the one on the left. Yes, he was bigger than me. Yes, most people chuckle when they see this picture and notice how much bigger he is than me, so you're not the first. Yes, he was nice.

There. Enough said.

Chris Sligh Interview-Part 4 of 4

Partial performance of "Empty Me" and goodbye to Chris Sligh.