Red Bull Has Wings...

On Saturday I spent the majority of my day at the Red Bull Air Races. These things were phenomenal. Plane after plane dropped into the course so fast and just flew through it making the craziest, sharpest turns I had ever seen. The only thing that was missing was a good old fashion dog fight... that would have been cool. Here are some pictures:

To Missiongathering

Hey all you Missiongathering folks. Thank you for lettting me share my heart with you this morning and being so receptive. Im stoked to be on this journey with you all. Welcome to my blog. Welcome to my digital life. Lets have wonerful and great conversations with this forum.

Much love.

JS

Heart, Soul, Mind

This morning we started a new series at Missiongathering focused on having a "Samaritan's Heart." It was really cool to see so many people stand when Pastor Rich really challenged us as to whether or not we would start to work from our spiritual core. Im stoked to see people at Mission making their faith journey their own.

My Long Lost Brother

smiles all around...

Madden Football

So I should be sleeping right now, but instead I am getting my butt beat at Madden 07 by my good friend Troy. He is like the champ. I'm giving him all I have, but Im down by a TD with a quarter to go. Wish me luck...

Great Art

This is the latest piece from my good friend Jeremiah Miller. Amazing artwork. If you would like to see more of his stuff and support him by buying some of his art, click here.

Worship Cabaret

I just got done with my meeting at Cream (still a great place, come check it out). What an exciting time for the Creative Arts at Missiongathering. Jenn and I talked for about an hour about the possibility of doing kind of a worship collective some sunday where we incorporate musicians, poets, artists, digital artists, dancers, choirs, etc. from our community into kind of a worship collective time where we can respond to what God is doing in our own lives and in the life of our community. Great idea. I am excited about where it could go.

Cream

Im hanging out in a local coffee shop on Park waiting to meet someone from our Mission community interested in the Creative Arts called "Cream." Definitely a great place. My soy chai latte was perfect, free wi-fi and I've already run into two of my friends here. Check it out if you get a chance.

Connections

Over the last season of my life I feel that God has really been showing me just how important it is to have people around you that are going through the same things you are, and are on a similar path as you. From mentorship, to friends, to random contacts its such an amazing thing to be connected to someone that is going through the same things.
Which brings me to the concept of worship through music. Being a lead worshipper is something that takes all of your heart and all of your passion. And typically, we as artists and musicians, are very sensitive to how people receive our passion and heart Recently, I received an email from a lead worshipper friend of mine who is reading my blog:

"I also read your post about titled "Encouragement" and it sounds similar to how I often feel about our team here. Its just so fun and crazy and tiring to be allowed to play a role in what God is trying to accomplish in our respective cities. The people we do ministry with makes a big difference. I'm glad you are having a good experience with your team. So many churches dont have that luxury...though it should be the norm."

Connecting with others is so necessary to our spiritual journey and to our growth as spiritual beings. Knowing that there are others going through the same things that you are in not only reassuring, but helps to sharpen your own creative passion and heart.

Street Angels PR

I opened up the new issue of "Risen: the spiritual edge of pop culture" today to find an advertisement for Jedidiah that lists Street Angels as one of their supported causes.

If you dont know, Street Angels is a ministry here at Missiongathering that is focused on reaching out to homeless teenagers here in San Diego. Twice a month we get together and go hand out "backpacks of love" filled with essentials (deodorant, stamped envelopes, toothpaste, snacks, flashlights, socks, underwear, etc.) to homeless teens. Jedidiah has been a big supporter of Street Angels for about the last year or so.

If you'd like to learn more about Street Angels click here, or to watch the Street Angels documentary (highly recommended) click here.

Street Angels getting some Jedidiah love. Awesome.