evan mcelrath dot com

A change

2010-04-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

For a few posts now I have been also making the post at my other site. This was par of a grand scheme to slowly roll over and just have that blog. Now I may still make posts here, but comments are now going to be disabled from this site in order to get the comments at realevanmcelrath.com. That is where I will primarily be from now on. If you on Facebook you can become a fan of realevanmcelrath.com and it will give you notice when I post something new, or just have random thoughts.

All of creation

2010-04-22T23:25:00.001-07:00

Those of you who know me, should know I am not a fan of the band Mercy Me. They just aren't my kind of music. In fact a couple weeks ago when we went to the Roadshow I went with the mindset of just having to put up with them. That being said. Funny how sometimes you find greatness in things you don't want to. They put on a good time. Early in the set they played a new song "All of Creation" I was like that's a pretty decent song. Then later as they were wrapping up they came back to the ending of that song again. Ever since that song has been engrained in my brain. I don't know why, and I didn't want it there to be honest. I ended up buying it on iTunes. Maybe there's a reason it's stuck? Could be it's a catchy song? Or maybe there's another reason. I wanted to post the song on here, but since I am now writing this from somewhere other than my computer I can't. I will post the words.

All of Creation by Mercy Me

Separated until the veil was torn
The moment that hope was born
and guilt was pardoned once and for all

Captivated but no longer bound by chains
left at an empty grave
the sinner and the sacred resolved

[chorus:]
and all of creation sing with me now
lift up your voice and lay your burden down
and all of creation sing with me now
fill up the heavens let his glory resound

Time has faded and we see him face to face
every doubt erased forever we will worhip the king

[repeat chorus]

ohh ah ohhh...ohh ah ohhh

the reason we breathe is to sing of his glory
and for all he has done praise the father praise the son and the spirit in one

[repeat chorus 2x]

and every knee will bow oh and every tongue praise the father praise the son and the spirit in one

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Grace, such a thing to give away!

2010-04-11T23:19:00.001-07:00

Wow. It has been a while since I last wrote here. I have been a little er......lot busy over the past few weeks. I have to say I've been loving it though. After this coming up week though I am going to need to relax and take a day where I do nothing. Who am I kidding, that probably won't happen.

So what am I going to write about here. I'm on the second paragraph, and I still have no clue except that this will end up as a double post. On both of my sites that is. So........oh how about this? There is a song by a band, fascinating isn't it, anyway a band that I like very much. Maybe even say my favorite band. This band has an album Church Music. That's what it's called. (side note: I have a vinyl copy of the album! Now you're jealous) while it is a great album, not my favorite by them (which happens to be A Collision or 3+4=7, actual title) Church Music has probably my favorite song. Maybe even my alltime favorite song, but we'll see about that. It's called Oh Happiness.

It starts like this:

"Oh Happiness

There's grace enough for us and the whole human race. "

Which isn't that a great message? I think so cause without grace what would we have to live for? For it's by grace that we have been saved!

The end of the first verse says "such a thing to give away" talking about grace. If you haven't heard this song and you see me and want to hear it have me play it for you, cause I know just by hearing the first few notes of the song I can feel myself getting happier and anytime I sing it I feel this joy because it's true.

Oh Happiness by The David Crowder*Band

Oh Happiness

Theres grace

Enough for us

And the whole human race

Friend or foe,
Stranger or kin,
All who come,
Begin again.

Hard or frail,
Rich or poor,
All who need,
May fear no more.

Such a thing to give away.

Oh Happiness
There is grace,
Enough for us,
And the whole human race.

All regrets,
Let go, forget
There’s something that
Mends all of that.

Such a thing to give away.

Oh Happiness
There is grace,
Enough for us,
And the whole human race.

Sound the church bells,
Let ‘em ring,
Let ‘em ring,
For everything
Can redeemed,
We can be redeemed
Oh all of us.

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Sitting here

2010-03-24T17:15:00.001-07:00

So right now I am sitting here in overdrive sort of waiting for the high school band to start practicing. I mean a couple of them are just playing around with their instruments. I guess the drummer just got here as well. So far I have only voice coming through the system so in a way I am glad cause this way it's not my mix. On the other hand the drums can be so loud they overpower everything else which makes me want it in the system. Overall it doesn't really matter cause it'll sound ok.

This morning I kind of gave up on Through Painted Deserts. I got 5 chapters in and found myself asking, do I care? The answer was not really and it had taken 3 weeks to get that far so I put it aside. I started reading Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus. It had been on my bookshelf since last June. I had kept saying I'll get to it later. I guess that means now. I already have gottne further in this one than Deserts.

So now they started practicing.

Hoping that there will be no computer problems tonight for the music. That seems to be a theme for the past couple weeks. Now I just had to fix their lights. It gets pretty hot up there and they wanted to be cooler. I guess I could also turn on the air conditioner. Ok I am about to go through the rounds of opening rooms for tonight. Late.

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Throw aways

2010-03-15T12:46:00.001-07:00

I find that I throw away close to 50% of the posts I write. I don't know why. I get to the end of the post and instead of publishing it I delete. Now in some instances I reread what I wrote and decided I didn't like my writing(mostly). Other times I write a response to something that is going on and before I publish I run through what my publishing really means. Sometimes no response is better than response that is spur of the moment. Other times I may table responses until steam has settled and I can thoughtfully enter into the conversation. To me there is nothing worse than just adding to the noise. Same thing with comments. I don't always respond to comments. I try to as much as I can, but since I don't believe in moderating every comment sometimes I let comments sit.

Ironically this post has been written and deleted a few times.

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Stuff I'm doing

2010-03-11T12:42:00.001-08:00

Ok so. I haven't written much here lately. I thought maybe an update on how things are going. I gave up on the skipping the lunch meal about a week into lent. I don't usually eat breakfast because I have a hard time eating before 8am. So I was finding myself with very little energy after noon. Also I will admit I haven't been perfect sticking to only water. The other day I thought I might be working at night so I had a coke to get dome caffeine. What I have found is that I don't have to have a coke or coffee. That water is enjoyable itself. I know this may sound weird but I've found that hot water is amazing. I have been drinking that during times I would normally drink coffee. I don't really like cold water though. Room temperature or hotter is best. Even on a hot day. Also I've found that I've fallen more behind on my reading and reading.

I just recently finished a book by David Crowder and Mike Hogan titled Everyone Wants To Go To Heaven But Nobody Wants To Die. It was fascinating. I picked it up because of David Crowder and it looked like it would be a good read. The subject matter kind of surprised me a little though. Death, the soul, and the history of bluegrass. Death was the more overarching subject. The style was cool as well. They includes IM's as part of the book and during those in italics they told bigger more personal stories. Like throughout those David told the story of his friend Kyle Lake's death and how he dealt with it. I don't know if you remember but a few years ago a pastor was electrocuted during a baptism and died, that was Kyle Lake. Also in the book is what they call columns. Which are just three stories that span the book and without spoiling it has a fantastic ending. I find I understand the album A Collision better now after reading the book.

Now I am reading Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller. I am just three chapters in so I don't have any sort of comments yet.

I have started a new blog as of now. Have just short informational posts right now. Looking to do some more substantial writing there. Will probably get a Twitter account dedicated for that site. Maybe even other social media for it. I don't know yet. Still trying to figure out why people will read what I write and why they will care. Maybe they won't but I'm giving them the chance.

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Check this out

2010-03-02T15:34:00.001-08:00

So I found the most amazingly awesome site today. Ok that may be a little over the top. Mostly because it is my site that I found. It is realevanmcelrath.com . Right now it is a blog type site and I don't know what the ratio of posting here or there will be. You can read what all will be posted about there in the about page. That site will have a more focused mission as in type of post/subject matter. Thanks for reading.

Hey guess what. I'm sending thisfrom my iPhone. So it may be short and misprlled.

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A Serious Post

2010-02-15T23:02:00.001-08:00

Wednesday starts the period of time leading up to Easter called Lent. I have been thinking, really since last year, of participating in this time. Why, you may ask. Isn't it a Catholic thing? Honestly, I have no idea. I know they partake, but to my knowledge many others do as well. Now I don't know what all is involved in this other than fasting from something. So here goes. For the Lenten season leading up to Easter I am going to abstain (impressed by my use of a big word) from any drinks that have flavor, basically aqua only, and from my middle of the day meal. Since the start of the year I have been on a Bible reading plan and right now I am four days behind, which is weird because I enjoy doing the reading but oftentimes I keep putting it off in favor of less productive things, so I will use the lunchtime to do my reading and reading. On Sundays I will eat at lunchtime because that is usually the only meal of the day. Now why am I writing this in a public forum? I dunno, thought I would share what I was thinking about. Also going in I know this is going to be extremely difficult because I like my coffee, but ultimately this will be more beneficial. Maybe. I'm not completely sold on it, but want to do it nonetheless.

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The Myth Of A Christian Nation?

2010-02-11T15:57:00.001-08:00

I just finished reading a book by Gregory A. Boyd titled The Myth Of A Christian Nation: How The Quest For Political Power Is Killing The Church. It was a very interesting read, and you know what? I agree with his assessment that there is not nor has there ever been a "Christian Nation." To begin with the word Christian means to be Christ like.

To be Christ like that means that we are supposed to love unconditionally. I could stop there because there has never been a nation that has loved unconditionally. I will however quote one of my favorite paragraphs from the book.

"Love is patient and kind; enslaving and torturing is neither. Love is never rude; burning people alive is. Love does not insist on it's own way and is not irritable or resentful when others disagree; compelling people to agree with you by using force is the direct antithesis. Love doesn't rejoice in wrongdoing, even if (especially if) those rejoicing credit God, who supposedly gave them the power to do it. love bears all things while believing the best in others and hoping the best for others; imprisoning, enslaving, and killing others in the name of your religious views is not bearing their burdens, believing the best about them, or hoping for the best for them. It's that simple." -Gregory A. Boyd, The Myth Of A Christian Nation.

In it's quest for power the church is guilty of all these things. The author frequently talks about the kingdom of the world versus the Kingdom of God. All nations have a kingdom of the world "power over" frame of mind, which is that they use their power and influence to try to control you. While Kingdom of God people are supposed to have a "power under" mindset meaning that you are to serve and show love without condition. This includes homosexuals, people who get and/or perform abortion, terrorists, serial killers, gang members, your neighbor next door. That is the way of Christ. Not to use power over to try to force them to conform to your moral standards. We are not called to be their moral guidance, we are called to love them unconditionally.

This includes the use of violence and wars. Even in a "just" war. (I'm not sure there is a such thing as a just war, cause doesn't everybody on every side think that their cause is "just"). Jesus never said to use violence, in fact he spoke against the use of violence (Matt 26:52). He spoke of turning the other cheek and loving your enemy.

Now some of you may disagree with this, in fact I will guarantee some of you won't agree with this. You know what, I'm okay with that. Why you may say, because this is what I have been convicted of. I will say that even if you disagree, read the book. I will gladly lend it out to anyone who would want to read it. If nothing else it will get you thinking. Is this really what Jesus had in mind when he spoke of the Kingdom of God.

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things you find googling your name, it's a video watch it.

2010-02-02T19:01:00.001-08:00

via vimeo.com

Sorry. I googled my name today and my vimeo channel came up and this video was there so I had to post it again because I didn't even have to watch it and I started laughing. I think the truly most frightening moment happens at about the 41 second mark. This was one of my first editing jobs. Probably the one I laugh the most with. We went with the total cheesefest.

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can it get any better?

2010-01-29T15:24:00.001-08:00

via fastfood.freedomblogging.com

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Oh, Happiness

2010-01-21T00:31:00.001-08:00

Oh happiness, there’s grace Enough for us and the whole human race Oh happiness, there’s grace Enough for us and the whole human race Friend or foe Stranger or friend All who come Begin again Hard or frail Rich or poor All in need Need fear no more Such a thing to give away Oh happiness, there’s grace Enough for us and the whole human race Oh happiness, there’s grace Enough for us and the whole human race All regrets Let go forget There’s something that Mends all of it Such a thing to give away Oh happiness, there’s grace Enough for us and the whole human race Oh happiness, there’s grace Enough for us and the whole human race Sound the church bells let them ring Let them ring, for everything can be redeemed We can be redeemed, oh all of us Oh happiness, there’s grace Enough for us and the whole human race Oh happiness, there’s grace Enough for us and the whole human race

Oh, Happiness- David Crowder Band

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True Story

2010-01-20T01:06:00.001-08:00

So today was a boatload of fun. (pun intended (keep reading you'll get it. I hope)). It really was. It started out with a nice normal Tuesday morning. Then Mike decided to start the staff meeting on time at 9. That should have been my first clue that all was not well with the world. Side note: during the meeting mike was saying something "profound" and he paused, just as he paused the rain stick percussion thing made noise. All by itself, there was no one around it. Again missed clues.

Well after the meeting I went down to the Live Venue to check if there were any leaks from our rain Monday. I didn't find any! Fast forward a half hour. It starts raining. Innocent enough. After a bit I go get lunch and bring it back to the church cause I like to eat and then read on my lunch break. Apparently while I am eating it just starts pouring and I mean pouring. This creates problems since I had only brought my rain coat and not rain pants or boots and I got to go get towels to take to the SMO because a leak has developed. Just walking the 200 feet and back my pants got soaked. Like wring out and fill a bucket soaked. So I get towels to the SMO. I now have to go change because my feet are soaked, my pants are soaked. Not good.

I drive home. Funny note here. I had to turn right from the left lanes because the roads were that flooded. Anyhow once I get home and start changing I hear that now there is a tornado warning. I put on my rain gear. Full set and yes it's yellow. Except the boots they're brown. Get back to the church. And find numerous lakes on our property. Including right at our storage garages and of course Lake Parkcrest. So we, a bunch of us, get the water away from the garages. We decide that we need sandbags so Scott S. and Loren go to get some. So about two hours later they get back and we fill half the sandbags. Scott then goes to get the second half of the sand. The rest of us go tarp the roof where the bad leak was. Oh it's stopped raining at this point. Scott gets back and we finish sand bagging. Then everybody leaves including me cause it is now 6:30.

I have small group at 7:30. So I had to get cleaned up for that. I'd did and went. It was an "epic" small group, true story.

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The Rock and Worship Roadshow

2010-01-18T18:08:00.001-08:00

via therockandworshiproadshow.com

Here is this video from therockandworshiproadshow.com. It looks like it should be an awesome show. Not entirely sure of when they are going to be where. Except for they will be at the Long Beach Arena on April 8, 2010. I am planning on going, and you should go to when they are in your area. $10 at the door is all it costs.

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Top albums of 2009

2010-01-06T01:25:00.001-08:00

Ok so they might not all be 2009 releases, or they might be? I'm just saying these are the top 9 albums I came across last year.

9. Black Eyed Peas- The E.N.D. Now I know it doesn't seem like my kind of music. The album is very good though. It definitely got significant play time on my iPod. Highlights: I gotta feeling, boom boom pow.

8. JET- Shaka Rock. Really the first jet album I had ever listened to. It definitely made me a fan. I even got a chance to see them play live in November. Highlights: she's a genius, beat on repeat, k.I.a., black hearts (on fire).

7. Switchfoot- Hello Hurricane. Switchfoots best album since "the beautiful letdown" and that's saying something. Although it hasn't gotten huge play time (due to timing of it's release). Highlights: the sound, mess of me, hello hurricane.

6. Kutless- It Is Well. The second worship album kutless has released. I was a little wary before I heard it. After not so much. It is an amazing album. Highlights: it is well, what faith can do, give us clean hands.

5. DC*B- Church Music. This was actually the one I anticipated the most. I even got it on vinyl. Crowder puts out another amazing album. Complete with a Flyleaf cover. Highlights: all around me, how he loves, oh happiness.

4. Skillet- Awake. Skillet=amazing music. Again bad timing along with switchfoot. Highlights: hero (was actually used by NBC for NFL promotions), it's not me it's you, Lucy.

3. Flyleaf- Memento Mori. I'll admit normally I'm not a huge fan of chick rock singers. However lacey's voice is amazing. The album just flows. No weak points. Highlights: beautiful bride, alive, treasure, tiny hearts.

2. Thousand Foot Krutch- Welcome To The Masquerade. Starts off perfectly with a minute intro of loud rocking instrumental that just flows into the title track. Then every song is awesome and rocking. It was hard not to make this one number one. I hadn't really payed attention to tfk since The Art Of Breaking. This one is well worth it. Highlights: the invitation, e for extinction, smack down, and of course the title track.

1. Capital Lights- This Is An Outrage. Honestly I found this in December after hearing a Christmas song they do, which coincidently is my favorite. High energy, more of a loose type. Not like hard rock. Can't really describe it. Great music for playing loudly. Highlights: let the little lady talk, mile away, outrage.

Hope you enjoyed reading this. If you check out the music I hope you enjoy it. I do.

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Books I read this year

2009-12-27T00:50:00.001-08:00

I'll admit I fell short of my goal by two books. However the total number was what I had planned on. I just went out of order. Anyways here is a list of the books I read this year.

Revolution by Ron Paul
The Only Road North by Erik Mirandette
The Shack by William Young
Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus
Uprising by Erwin McManus
Wide Awake by Erwin McManus
The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus
The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
A Million Miles In A Thousand Years by Donald Miller
Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
Drops Like Stars by Rob Bell

I think that is all of them. Which if you know me, is a lot of books. Before this year I think I had read 5 books in the last 5 years. So a little improvement. Now my five favorites that I read this year have to be: blue like jazz, chasing daylight, the only road north, a million miles, and the hole in our gospel. Those are in no particular order.

So far for this next year I have some books already lined up.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan
The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight
The Myth of a Christian Nation by Greg Boyd
Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus
Stand Against the Wind by Erwin McManus

I think after that I am not sure, but I should have a good idea by the time I get there.

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My kind of fun

2009-12-21T20:54:00.001-08:00

So this past weekend we had our Christmas Services at church. As a result I got a chance to have my kind of fun last week. I got to do the lighting for the services. I don't mean running them either (although I did do that for the first two services), but designing the lighting for the services.

That is something I enjoy doing. Being on top of a ladder 20' in the air. Having to roughly guess peoples height by memory, and luckily guessing pretty close. Well it was all fun. My two favorite portions were at the beginning and the end. We opened with the song "The Glory Of It All" sung by Scott (song is By DC*B). I wish I had a video of it, but I don't. Throughout the song the choir people got up from seats in the audience while it was dark. They had candles and would filter up to the stage. After the first Chorus two choir people had readings, then the same after the second chorus. Throughout the song the lighting is building up from being dark on stage as the song builds. I wish I could describe it better. At the end it winds down quickly so it went back to dim light on only the band. From there on the opposite side of the stage was a reading done by Rachel. That lighting gave me the most trouble. I had two lights on her. One on the stage left side which was where she was, the other stage right. The stage left light was my more intense light because it was essential almost over her head. Which made a nice effect. During the 11:00 service Sunday morning. That light decided it wanted to turn on and off by itself while it was being used. I needed it for all of two minutes and it was being a jerkface. However during our break I decided that I was going to give it another chance. It worked perfectly for the next service at 3. Then during the 5 o'clock service it starts doing it's thing again. I was doing the video in the building next door, so I had to run into the service (I was quiet about it) and make sure I got the light out of the cue. I called it names like meaniehead and called it out on twitter. ( 19 anyone?) So sorry people in the 11 and 5 o'clock services on Sunday. Wasn't planned.

However what was planned was probably my favorite light sequence. Which was in the final number "angels we have heard on high." It featured 3 drummers set on the stage. Oh in case you don't know. On our stage we have a 10' high by about 20' ? wide screen on the floor. The song starts out with the drummers playing silhouetted on the background. Then band and singers join in and the lights come up. At the end there is a big drum solo type thing. So the end in the silhouette again. I will post the video below. You may have seen it because it has gotten spread around on FB pretty good.

That last number also brought on the biggest party of the night. Location: Sound Booth, Time: the last service of the weekend, Guests: only about half the church staff. Everybody in the booth was dancing, singing, clapping, laughing, cheering (especially when Scott M. brought out the Cowbell). That is not something I normally do, but it was fun. Now I wasn't moving as much as some of the people back there, but I was clapping, singing, cheering just as loud. It was a great time.

Christmas Eve Service Finale 12-19-2009 from Paula McElrath on Vimeo.

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one word............ gamesmanship

2009-11-29T18:50:00.001-08:00

via youtube.com

I don't know what UCLA was so upset about. I thought calling the timeout while USC was kneeling was so they could get their offense back out there. USC was just being helpful to them. They gave them over 40 seconds to run the offense.

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this is impressive

2009-11-17T17:43:00.001-08:00

via highschool.rivals.com

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As I sit here

2009-11-15T23:47:00.001-08:00

Ok so this may be a few random ramblings, but I couldn't think of an entire post for each of them so here goes:

A bit ago I made a post about my summer. In one of the comments there was a statement that I have been pondering ever since. It said that "safety is doing God's will in your life" or something to that degree. While I can't say I disagree completely with this statement, after all if you are doing God's will most likely you will get to spend eternity with him, I do disagree with it. I think it is not necessarily going to always safe or comfortable. In my own opinion I think it is a lot safer in doing nothing rather than living your life in a way of following Jesus.

Second: I recently got the new Kutless album. In one of the songs there is a line: "impossible is not a word, just a reason not to try." many times in my life I get stuck on something being impossible, but it is usually myself outthinking myself. So I don't try whatever it is and never find out how it could have turned out.

What else is there to write about? At this point I'm not sure. I mean I have ideas, but don't know exactly how to put them to paper er............. blog.

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Kiva

2009-10-29T12:28:00.001-07:00

I wanted to let you know about Kiva (www.kiva.org), a non-profit that allows you to lend as little as $25 to a specific low-income entrepreneur across the globe.

You choose who to lend to - whether a baker in Afghanistan, a goat herder in Uganda, a farmer in Peru, a restaurateur in Cambodia, or a tailor in Iraq - and as they repay their loan, you get your money back. It's a powerful and sustainable way to empower someone right now to lift themselves out of poverty.

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Doing Hard Things

2009-10-23T00:32:00.001-07:00

I am not very good at this.

I like for things to be nice and easy. I don't want to step out of my comfort zone. I don't want to expose my way of thinking to others. I don't like to share my ideas for fear someone may disagree or think down on them.

I find it funny that pretty much everything I have read this year speaks on stepping up and siezing your moment and stepping out of your comfort zone. I have written here before that I started leading (co- leading actually) a high school small group at church. This is a huge step for me. Right now we are in the middle of studying a book called "Do Hard Things."

I will say that for the most part I am working and maybe even succeeding at doing hard things. There is a glaring spot that I recognize that I still let fear run that area. It seems like every time I think I gain momentum and overrule the fear something sets me back. I will say that it is mostly my mind. My thinking goes from excitement to worry to fear. I am tired of this. I want to move on from this to overcome the obstacle. I don't want to let fear decide how I make decisions. Even as I am writing this I am going through the range of emotion.

Every night I ask for the opportunity to be confident and bold in this area, and I'll admit that most of the time I fail when the opportunity comes up.

I was going to write that I was going to try to do better but trying isn't good enough. I will do better. I will be more confident.

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What do these pictures have in common?

2009-10-19T23:03:00.001-07:00

Kind of random I know, but I thought it was kinda funny. Seeing the Angel one today reminded me of the other. Can you find him. It's Pat Sajak.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Aids Walk

2009-10-18T16:37:00.001-07:00

This was taken after we had finished the Aids Walk. I stole this picture from Rachel's Twitter. I think she said that our group raised $1400. It was an awesome experience to walk this thing.

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A thought on my reading

2009-10-06T22:56:00.001-07:00

If you follow my tweets or are my friend on Facebook you may know that right now I am reading "The Hole In Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. I have completed seven chapters so far and one of the most prevelant themes so far is "are you willing to be open to God's will for your life"?

Now that probably sounds like I could have just tweeted that, but I think that question is much more important to go to just a select group.

I will say that I am glad that I read what somebody had blogged about this book, and I am glad it was mentioned in a sermon at church by a guest speaker. I am glad that I decided to start reading more and decided that this book was going to make my reading list.

"God wants each of us to surrender our lives to Him completely, to follow Him, to obey His commands, and to show His love to others. But before we can demonstrate that love and offer the gospel to the rest of the world, we have to fill the hole in our gospel." Richard Stearns, The Hole In Our Gospel

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Dancing ump = awesomeness

2009-10-01T21:14:00.001-07:00

via deadspin.com

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This Week In Baseball feature on The Angels/Nick Adenhart

2009-09-25T12:46:00.001-07:00

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Sports

2009-09-23T00:49:00.001-07:00

Here is a question. Can you watch a sporting event with interest if you have no interest or fandom of either team playing?

I will answer for myself. I find that in football I can get pretty bored watching some games. I mean if my fantasy quarterback or running back is playing I will root for those guys. Otherwise I stick to my teams.

Baseball there is always a possibility to see history at every game. However I tend to enjoy a game more when I know the players. Especially when I can complain about Quinlan playing or Fuentes pitching the ninth. Baseball is a game of small intricacies.

Hockey is a game that I can watch two teams play that I have no interest in. Mainly because they can beat the crap out of each other and it is such a fast fluid game.

Second to last thing before I end this. I think I should remind everyone of my teams in order of my passion for them. First Angels, Ducks, Trojans, and then Eagles.

Ok lastly. This is something I noticed Saturday then again Sunday and even more tonight. I want to have a feeling like Washington fans did Saturday. To have that kind of excitement and joy over doing something you're not supposed to do. Now I wouldn't trade winning for anything, but I would like to see less of the quiet arrogance and more childlike passion. I noticed both Sunday, at the Dodger game, and Monday, watching MNF, that while I enjoyed watching those games I had no interest in either of them other than giving friends hard times about their teams. Tonight at the Angel game, it is sad to say but I was surprised at the passion shown for a regular season game. Whenever the Yankee fans started cheering they were quickly overpowered. Then something I have never seen in Angel Stadium but during one of the rallies Angel fans were standing and cheering almost the entire time. It was more intense than the post season game I went to. The most passionate fans I have ever witnessed live is when I went to Ducks v. Red wings playoff game the year the Ducks won it all. The Ponda was rocking the entire time. It was the loudest building I have ever been in.

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Flogging Molly

2009-09-16T15:43:00.001-07:00

via youtube.com

A few weeks ago I tweeted about listening to Flogging Molly. Well since most people have never heard of them I thought I would post some of the sweet goodness.

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My summer

2009-09-15T01:05:00.001-07:00

This post is inspired by last weeks staff meeting. I have been trying to find time to write this ever since.

I will start my summer early say April. At that point I was convinced I was supposed to move. I thought that was what I was supposed to do. Then Tyler and Lauren's wedding happened. I think that was really the turning point. After that the feeling of my having to move was gone like I was told no. I applied for Long Beach City College to take some classes. Literaly the next day I sent an email to my old boss at Parkcrest to see if I could come in and do some volunteer work. I was under my truck doing some work when I got a call that she needed a temporary worker. I was thrilled, at that point I hadn't worked since December and it was now May. I had been looking for work. After a few weeks of temporary work I was given a more permanent position.

This time around I have a much better attitude. Before I think I saw it more as a job than as an opportunity to do ministry. Well anyway I didn't end up back in school because I was not able to access any of my scholarship money from the state, but I think at this point it is for the best. I am volunteering at the church on my days off. Doing my regular work. I have also been given the opportunity to share my video making talents with the high school. (I posted that here before). From that I was suggested to do a little work putting pictures on the website. More recently I was starting to feel as if I should work with the high school, and I had many people reinforcing that thought. So I was given that opportunity and have taken it. This week will mark the second week of small groups.

It is now September and I feel like over these last five months I have really grown a lot. I have been a lot more faithful reading my bible and praying. I feel a lot more confident than I have ever felt. There are still some situations which I get real anxious and I do stupid things, but who doesn't. I just need to work on those things.

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Uprising

2009-09-14T22:15:00.001-07:00

I just finished reading Uprising by Erwin McManus. This one took me a month and a half mostly because I wasn't motivated to read or when I was I just kept being distracted and didn't want to force it.
It is a great book. It isn't for everyone though. If you are ok living life as you do and don't want to step up to live as we are called to live then skip this one. It will definitely change you.

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We can dance if we want to....

2009-09-07T09:41:00.001-07:00

via youtube.com

OK sorry but this is just one of those songs that is both awesome and gets stuck in your head. It could quite possibly be my favorite, maybe.

Do you have a random song that you just enjoy listening to?

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Just a list

2009-09-01T15:53:00.001-07:00

This isn't a big deal post. Just one that I thought I needed to do to get this information down and recorded somewhere. Also a little public so people can ask me how I am doing on it. It is my reading list for the year.

Read: The Only Road North by Erik Mirandette
The Shack by William Young
Chasing DaylIght by Erwin McManus
Revolution: A Manifesto by Ron Paul
Drops Like Stars by Rob Bell
These are books I have read so far this year. Which is huge because I haven't ever really been into reading. Next list will probably make you think I am crazy based on the first list and the length of time I want to accomplish this in.

Still to read this year: Uprising by Erwin McManus
Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus
Wide Awake by Erwin McManus
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns
A reread of Sex God by Rob Bell
A reread of Jesus Wants To Save Christians by Rob Bell
I want to try to have read these by the end of the year. The last two I want to read and note up like I did with Velvet Elvis.

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Seriously, getting pumped for hockey season already

2009-08-26T22:19:00.001-07:00

via youtube.com

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oops

2009-08-26T22:10:00.001-07:00

via youtube.com

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Job and Nooma 24 Whirlwind

2009-08-24T22:02:00.001-07:00

So Job is a fascinating book.

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Is it ok to go without title

2009-08-23T22:49:00.001-07:00

Ok I'm going to be honest here. I don't know how this will come across. I am going to continue with the post though.

Is the issue of money a taboo? Why do people feel wrong about talking about it? I'm not talking about specifics, like how much. Rather more like, do you tithe, make donations, what kind of company do you support?

I believe that being generous is a better way to live. I believe that if you have the resources to help someone out you should do it.

Here are some ways I give back: I support and give micro loans through Kiva. It is a great organization that helps people around the world raise money for needs some personal most business and instead of it just giving them money they pay it back like a loan. There are no penalties for failing to pay other than not getting loans in the future. Loans start at $25 and it is a great way to give.
Toms shoes is another. You may have heard or seen them on tv or other ads around. They give a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair you buy. Looking at them you may say they aren't worth what you pay, but the cause is well worth it. If the only shoes I ever buy again are TOMS that would be perfectly acceptable.
These are just a couple ways I give on top of tithes.

If you are comfortable, share how you help.

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Some thoughts

2009-08-22T00:20:00.001-07:00

So from the time I had graduated high school until last year I had read a total of one book. Then someone suggested Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis. That has quickly become one of my favorites. I have marked up that book with notes and highlights. Since then I have read his other 3 books including Drops Like Stars that was released recently. He is a thought provoking author.

Another author I have been really into lately is Erwin McManus. I have finished Chasing Daylight and am currently working on Uprising. I love the way he writes and challenges you through his writing.

I have several books lined up after Uprising including Soul Cravings, Wide Awake, a second read through of Sex God and Jesus Wants To Save Christians, and another book that I have seen around a lot lately The Hole In Our Gospel ( I think that's the title).

I am hoping to have completed all this reading by the end of the year. That's five and a half in a little over four months. Doable? Yeah if I am motivated to read. Which is the challenge for me.

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New TD Celebration? Maybe????

2009-08-21T20:46:00.001-07:00

via youtube.com

This is just awesome.

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Twitter Will Kill You

2009-08-17T22:46:00.001-07:00

via youtube.com

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Random thoughts from me

2009-08-13T00:54:00.001-07:00

Ok sorry I haven't written or posted anything lately. I have no excuses, I just haven't gotten it done.

Hey the Eagles have their first pre season game tonight. Against the fourth most hated team in the league, New England, behind Dallas, New York, and Washington of course.

The Angels have just swept the Rays of Tampa Bay.

I actually made it to two games this week. Monday the Smiths had tickets and invited us. Tuesday I went with Ryan with the tickets I got from Tyler and Lauren for my birthday.

I am really excited about the new college and twenty somethings thing that is starting on September 10.

True story. I was reading Chasing Daylight (formerly Seizing Your Divine Moment) by Erwin McManus. It is all about well seizing your divine moment. Well I was wondering where my first opportunity was going to come from. It came in the form of an email from Rachel Oblon inviting me to a meeting to discuss the new thing that's going on. Talk about timing.

I have also been thinking and replaying the meeting in my head. I always seem to come up with responses after the fact.

I also have come to the conclusion that I am not an "idea" person. Well that may not be completely true. I find that coming up with new original ideas is not my gift. However I can take your idea and toy around with it to see if I can improve upon it.
Example: a few years ago for the Christmas eve services Brent had an idea of projecting onto the wall behind the stage. His idea was to have projectors on both sides, just the normal rectangle graphic on the wall. We went and tested it to see if it would work and it appeared huge on the wall. That is when I had the idea of putting the projectors on there sides and masking to fill the white part of the wall. Brent's original idea. My revision.

I don't know how many people actually read this. Nor do I care about numbers anymore. If I am authentic here that is all that matters.

Evan

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Random photo from the far east

2009-07-26T22:19:00.001-07:00

They called it assault with a deadly weapon. I gave the three of them ( Kaitlin, Lindsay, and Emily) a strike each.

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Here is a random thought

2009-07-26T22:10:00.001-07:00

Ok maybe not so much a thought as much as an observance. Have you ever noticed in sports if someone disagrees with a call a lot of times they jump in the air?

Discuss

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David Crowder Band

2009-07-24T15:15:00.001-07:00

via youtube.com

I just got today the Remedy Club Tour album by David Crowder* Band. It is a live album from their recent tour. It includes a full concert DVD. I couldn't find video of that anywhere online so I decided to just show one of my favorite Crowder songs from a Harvest Crusade. You probably have seen this before on one of my blogs but this is the Squirrel Free version of Foreverandever Etc...

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WOW

2009-07-23T14:53:00.001-07:00

via deadspin.com

Probably the best catch I have ever seen to preserve a perfecto. Even among all time catches this one will be up there now.

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Storytime...............A little

2009-07-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

A week ago Friday I had gone to dinner with my parents at Five Guys. From there we went to Target just across the parking lot. While there I received two texts at almost the same time. One was from Tyler arranging lunch for the next day, the other was from one of my mom's friends asking if I could help put together a picture show for the High School Trip to Brazil. After sending and receiving a couple of clarifying messages I agreed and she said she would have Rachel, the High School Pastor, contact me with info.

About an hour later I get a text from a strange number so I open it. It was Rachel asking about the slide show again. So we arrange to meet the next day so I ca get the footage for the video. So now it was Saturday, the video was for Sunday morning. So I get the stuff around 11:30. Tyler and Lauren came around 12 to pick me up to go to lunch. After lunch I need to get back to the video. I have a dilemma on my hands. Find a way to move pictures from a foreign, to me, program or learn the program and edit in that. With help from Tyler and Lauren we find a way to get the pictures and stuff out of the program. Now I can start editing. Except for one thing church is starting soon and they "need" the computer to run the video for the service.

After I get off work around 9 I go to move my car from the back of the church to the front where there are more lights. It initial starts to start but then nothing. It was getting zero power from anywhere. I call my dad e comes down and tries one of the things I tried and it worked. My car was now getting power. I move it. Then go in to start the editing. It was a relatively fast edit. Taking me until a little after twelve. However the fun was just beginning because for the next three hours I try and fail to get a file to play smoothly through the computer it was going to be played on. Eventually I make a DVD copy, which I should have done way earlier.

Sunday morning it gets used during the High School Service, after the video the students who went on the trip shared about it. It was pretty cool to be able to be there and hear it all. Anyways here is the final product.

Brazil Slideshow from Evan McElrath on Vimeo.

Discoveries

2009-07-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

Recently I received as a gift an iPhone. It is an amazing piece of technology. You can play music on it, use it as a phone, and it can run applications on it. I had no idea what applications I wanted to put on it. There are tons of them. The first I got was a MLB app (big surprise). After that I read a few blogs that had them listed. On a few of those I saw an application TED. I had heard about TED before. Never really checked it out in great depth. So I looked it up. It was free, so I put it on my phone. It is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

If you don't know what TED is it is essentially "ideas worth spreading." That's how they describe themselves. The website has videos of different speakers sharing their ideas. Usually limited to 18 minutes. I want to place a couple here to give you an idea of what they are like, so that you may go check out this site.

Here is something new to look at

2009-07-09T23:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't been around here much the last couple of weeks. I will try harder to make this a little higher of a priority. In the meantime here is a new video from one of my favorite bands.

2009-06-25T12:29:00.001-07:00

Shoes

2009-06-24T10:16:00.000-07:00

This morning my first pair of TOMS shoes arrived. I ordered them back on June 1, but didn't realize I had ordered a backordered pair.

"With every pair you purchase. TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need."

The Shack

2009-06-19T15:50:00.000-07:00

So for the second time this week I havefinished a book. This time wasThe Shack by William P. Young. I had been wanting to read this for a while because it had been a popular book and wanted to see what all the hype was. It was a great book. Like the last book I read and posted about I won't give it away because you should read it.

visit: www.theshackbook.com

Drops Like Stars

2009-06-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

We plot, we plan, we assume things are going to go
A certain way and then they don’t and we find ourselves
In a new place, a place we haven’t been before, a place
We never would have imagined on our own,

And so it was difficult and unexpected and maybe even
Tragic and yet it opened us up and freed us to see
Things in a whole new way

Suffering does that—
It hurts,
But it also creates.

How many of the most significant moments in your
Life came not because it all went right, but because
It all fell apart?

It’s strange how there can be art in the agony…

The Drops Like Stars tour is a two
Hour exploration of the endlessly complex
Relationship between suffering and creativity—
And I’d love to see you there.

robbell.com

The Only Road North

2009-06-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

This book kind of just appeared out of nowhere for me. My mom had borrowed it from Tyler a while back and since I am headed up this coming up weekend she gave it to me to take back. So I picked it up and read the back of the book. It looked interesting enough, but I only had two weeks and I am not a particularly fast reader (as in I don't usually just sit down to read).

I decided on Wednesday to start reading it. I read a couple chapters Thursday. Saturday and Sunday I finished it. Mostly in two sittings. This book is great. The author is telling his true story of his time in Africa. It is mostly about his motorcycle ride with his brother and two friends from South Africa to Egypt. I don't want to give away too much of the book because I want you to read it. I think it is a beneficial read for everybody.

2009-06-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

I am here

2009-06-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

I am here, but haven't had a chance to post. I will. Keep checking back.

Looking forward

2009-06-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward in a few weeks as I close down evanmcelrath.com for now. I loved having it but it just wasn't feasible to keep it at this point. Plus I can do just as much writing here. I want to try to get away from posting a lot of videos. Check back in the next few weeks for this to come online more.