Almost Famous...

...Mmmmm bop to the top

It's true I "met" hanson on friday night. In as much as you can meet someone in a dinner line or shake hands across the table next to you. And by that definition I "met" donald miller, jars of clay, Mat Kearney on friday as well at a small fund raiser down town.

It's cool but they really are just people with a job. Some of them arn't even "cool" they're kind of socially akward. But either way it makes no difference. I'm leaving on friday to go to a wedding in syracuse; can't say i'm pumped about the cold.

More later.

j.

Broken Arm Pete and The Fortune Cookie

One summer I was working in NH at the Trading Post we had a kid come in early season with a broken arm. For the rest of the season, even after the cast was gone and his arm was fully functional the nick name remained we even made him a name tag if I recall correctly.

Another friend of mine from the east coast hurt his ankle in a soccer accident and shortly after coming out of his "boot" had to go back in due to a re-fracturing after a hiking trip. He had a list of nick names "the boot, the crutch, crutchy etc." Again that stick with him to this day.

Naming the infirmity as identity. How often do we do this? I know there have been seasons of my life, while I was struggling with this, and that where those struggles in my mind overshadowed all other areas of my life. I allowed the enemy to discredit any forward progress because I was "j. the struggler". And after the struggle was gone, I named myself by the scar tissue.

This is a tool of the enemy, yes we need to acknowledge our wounds, seek healing, and forgiveness. But this does not mean we should take them on as who we are. YOUR WOUND IS NOT YOUR IDENTITY! Do not let your life be discredited by Satan because you don't feel well.

Now be careful to hear me I am not saying we can have a pet sin or a deep secret and as long as the other areas of our life are clean this "wound" can just sit and puss. Take care of that thing. But if your arm is broken put it in a cast take the medicine but don't quit walking or working just because you can't do it all. Whatever Pauls infirmity was he obviously kept on.

I pray forgivness and healing over you right now in Jesus name. I say to the enemy you will not call him/her by the name of their wound any longer. They are God's chosen saint Holy and set apart. Free from condemnation and blessed for his service.

There is a fortune cookie on my fridge that reads, "God has given them one face and they have put on another". Don't put on another the one he's given you is beautiful made in His image.

Blessings,
j.

j.

Notes #7 Self Employment and Provision.

A business card, and band account, and check card with MORRISLESS printed on it are opened and on their way.

God has provided a desk, a bed (I was sleeping on the floor) The right amounts of money at the right time. I can't begin to tell you all that He has done and provided.

My needs now are for a computer with design software. He will provide.

I have my first client. a photographer. It's the cloud the size of a mans hand. It's the first fruits. He is faithful.

j.

redefining momentum...

...the obligatory valentines day post.

In the past I've had a number of things to say on this the scheduled day of love. I will not gripe about "singleness awareness" or pool some deep spiritual experience of love. I will only relate a quick anecdote from my experiences thus far.

Throughout different parts of my life I have prayed the Lord would spare my life or tarry until I was ready. As a child it was until I got this toy or that toy, until I had made lot's of money, until I was married and had sex (which at 16 are the same thing to some Christian guys)and so on. I no longer ask the lord to tarry. It's not that that I've lived all I want to live and can't wait to go "home". It's something deeper.

I've spent much time worrying about time. Regardless of what I believe of sovereignty...I'm just not worried about MY plans any more. I've been in such a hurry, I've missed things along the way. It's good to have vision. Without it we perish; but if I only look to the future what of the details? And believe me He is in the details. And all the "big stuff" is just a ripple of those little decisions. There's a reason why "thy will be done" comes before "supply our daily needs" and why we are asked to seek first the kingdom of God.

Do I want to have a wife and be "successful" and prosperous? Absolutely. But even if I am not THERE IS A GOD and He is faithful. (Dan. 2:27-28, 3;17-18) I have looked and failed, I have missed the mark and waited on the future for comfort. I have mistaken ignorance for vision. And now with what humility God will sustain I move forward. At His pace, and by His grace.

j.

Notes #6 Snow. Are you kidding me

I moved to nashville for a few reasons one being the obvious, music. Another reason I moved here was to get away from cold weather and hey it was seventy degrees here about a week ago, but this morning I opened my window shade only to discover a ground covered in snow. I should have known it was going to happen based on my near death experience last night...the road was laced with black ice and of-course they don't have salt trucks this far south.

On tuesday (a week ago) I recieved a phone call from my accountant (my mother) informing (pleading with) me not to spend any more money. It seems after the rent, phone, and insurance bills were paid there was on 23 dollars left in the pot. You better believe I started praying for all kinds of blessings. Wed morning i received a call from my friend joy (the australilan) asking if I had plans for the weekend...(I assumed she meant social) She then informed me her friend mat is a product manager (merch guy) for the witner jam tour (mercy me, skillet, barlow girl, group 1 crew, new song, etc.) was very sick and needed a fill in for this leg of the tour.
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I needed a min to think, sadly I almost said no because I had made some social plans for the weekend...duh! God was answering my prayer and I almost missed it. Well it was a rough weekend 67 hours in four days with little sleep in between loading and unloading trailers, setting up displays, walking around stadiums selling glow sticks.

At the end of the weekend I made enough to pay my rent, phone bill, and insurance next month and pay for the ticket I need to be in a friends wedding the end of the month. Praise God he is faithful to meet our needs. Oh and I took a break from ramen last night to eat a good meal, don't be to alarmed I'm back to the soup today.

j.

Notes Week#3 Out on tour.

Not Pillar but close...Mercy Me?

One friends miss fortune is an others blessing. I met Matt on Sunday He plays bass for Alabaster Box he also is a product manager for winter jam (Mercy Me, Barlow Girl, Skillet, and Mandisa's Current tour.) Matt is sick, with the flu, like many of my friends here in Nashville. Joy works for Matts band and is my good friend, she called me today and asked if I could take Matts place on the next leg of the tour.

I'm leaving today and I'll be back monday. I'll be florida, georgia, and mississippi (i still love spelling that word, I'll be moving boxes and selling glow sticks and what not nothing to glamorous (thank's fergie).

I also started this week working as a photography agent and when I figure out exactly what that means I'll let you know. Hopefully if I can make enough on these side jobs and contracts I can save enough to put out the E.P. and start playing shows. Right now i'm down to 23 dollars in my checking account and I have a plane ticket to buy and a tux to rent for a wedding then end of the month.

one day at a time.
j.

Notes from Nashville... Driving.

I've been doing a lot of driving lately, which is more than I can say for the nearly perfect patriots last night. I will leave my disappointment un-vented here.

On Saturday I got up around six and drove across town to a "womens center" which sits up the road from the Christian counseling center. We stood outside the abortion clinic for 2.5 hours, from they time they opened till they stopped taking appointments. The parking lot was full within a half hour, and there was a line of women in the lobby. It was heart breaking. I didn't think there would be so many. We prayed and some spoke gently words of hope and caring. "There are other options", "We can offer help".

I drove back and forth to franklin 3 times in the last 2 days its like a half hour each way. But it's for the greater good, I did not get the job for Pillar but I may be working as a photographers agent, and doing some booking on the side.

I've been trying to write and I'm close to finishing a song, it's been tough getting settled in. I'll try and post some pictures of life so far.

j.