iTunes

As you may or may not have read - Jason hooked me up with a sweet iTunes gift card. The card was worth $20. It didn’t take me long - but this is how I spent my money.

1. Bone Palace Ballet by Chiodos. I bought the entire album. There are a couple of really awesome songs - but I haven’t really gotten into it yet.
2. No Air by Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown. I have been hearing this song on the radio so much lately - it is so catchy. I hate that I love it.
3. Umbrella by All Time Low. One of my new favorite bands covered Rhianna’s hit song. It is incredible.
4. Love Song by Sara Bareilles. Another song that I hear on the radio a lot. I try not to listen to the radio at all - but this song comes on and I love it. This one isn’t so much of a guilty pleasure. Good song.
5. Underdog Alma Mater by Forever the Sickest Kids. This is the other album I bought - it was on sale for $6.99. I love it - I love pop-punk.

I think the most amazing thing is that i have 14 cents left over. That means I bought 26 songs for $19.86. What music have you bought lately?

Do Work

First off - I don’t really know where I have been.  I always feel obligated to apologize or explain why I haven’t blogged any time that I get slack.  I am not going to do that today.

This week we are starting a new series at LINC.  I am really excited about it.  It is called “Do Work.”  I am very pumped about this summer.

This summer is going to be filled with several opportunities for our students to “do work.”

Secondly - check out Tyler’s message.  This website is sweet.  Divide the Sea made me a (real) fan on Saturday night.  Ben has started a blog.  And this game is so addictive.

Check These Out.

This video was amazing. Check it out on Tyler’s or B-Coop’s blogs. Seriously - read their blogs. They are a) in love with Jesus and b) working with students at NewSpring Church.

I randomly ran across this post today. Interesting perspective.

Fall Out Boy redid a Michael Jackson song. What do you think?

Check out what Tyler has to say about prayer.

Brad asks a question that has plagued my mind for years.

I want to try one of these.

I think I like this band a lot.

My wonderful wife bought me this t-shirt.

Muxtape

Remember I said that I was going to put the songs that were going to be in the Guitar Hero Tournament?  April Fool’s.

I saw a couple of weeks ago an online mixtape maker.  It is called Muxtape.  What you do is upload songs and basically make a mixtape that you listen to online.  You can listen to a bunch of other people’s mixes.  Here is mine.

Slightly Ashamed

If you check my list of things I don’t like - you will see that David Archuleta is on that list.  I look at him and his boyish good looks and humble attitude and the whole package makes me sick.  He is an ‘alpha male.’  There is no wrong that this kid could do.  He did mess up a song.  But this week he sang a song that I had never heard.  I didn’t want to tell anyone about this, but i feel like I need to defend my position.  I still don’t like Archuleta - but his performance this week was awesome.  So much so - that I bought it on iTunes.  I bought the whole David Archuleta version of “You’re the Voice” on iTunes.

And because I don’t know a good way to segue into this - so I will just say it.  Another song that will be played during the Guitar Hero Tournament is Woman by Wolfmother.

Guitar Hero Tournament

I announced earlier in the week that there would be a Guitar Hero Tournament on Friday.  I have reconsidered.  Having less than a week to prepare for this is ridiculous.  But on Saturday, April 5 at 6:00 - the tournament will be held at Patat Automotive.  I am going to be releasing songs that definitely will be in the tourney.

The songs will be coming from both Guitar Hero II and III.   The first round will be songs from either the first or second set of each game.  Songs will be played head to head and each pairing will play a different song.  As you progress through the rounds - the songs will inevitably get harder.

The first song to be revealed is (drum-roll please) Mississippi Queen by Mountain.

Tuesday Review

As many people know - Tuesday is the day that new albums are released. Hopefully - I will be reviewing several albums as summer gets here. There are several bands that are releasing new albums in the next couple of months that I am very excited about. Today - Panic at the Disco (or as Cliff says - Danger at the Arcade) dropped their sophomore release - Pretty. Odd.

I had heard that things were different and that they were going in a different direction with their music - but i had no idea that this was where we were headed. I was told that the new album was reminiscent of the Beatles. And after listening to it (three times) this morning - I have to agree. Very reminiscent of the Beatles. More importantly it is amazing. This album will get in your head and you won’t want to get it out.

What are you doing right now? Buy this album. Download it from iTunes. You won’t regret this.

This was truly love at first listen. I can’t accurately rate this album. But - right now I give it 5 out 5 stars.

Panic at the Disco - you have blown my mind.

Hiatus

I took a short hiatus from blogging this week.  Honestly - there was no reason for it.  I had the time to blog.  I could have done it.  I don’t know.  I haven’t even read anyone’s blog.  I don’t know what the deal has been.  I guess nothing really.  But it has been a busy week.  A good week - just busy.  I just got back from UNLEASH Conference at New Spring.  Wow.  It was awesome.  Tomorrow I will be talking more about what I learned and things like that.  Here are a few bullets:

• David Cook was awesome on Tuesday night.  I hate to admit it - but I love American Idol.
• I just wrapped up a series at LINC (Wednesday night student ministry service) on sex and dating.
• It is really awkward talking about sex with 6th and 7th grade girls in the room.
• Laura Beth has been sick.  As a matter of fact - she took her first ever sick day.
• Bloom no longer carries the green tea that I have fallen in love with.  C’mon Bloom.
• Go Camp sign ups are in full force.  Please - if you are a middle school or high school student at Freedom, sign up.  It is going to be awesome.
• You can be friends with Go Camp on MySpace or join the Facebook group.
• This summer is going to be sick.
• Keep Spring Break open.  There will be some chilling and awesomeness to be done and had during Spring Break.

Stay tuned - I am returning to blogging.