Its How You Say It.
Genesis 11: 6
“Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set their mind out to do will be impossible for them!”
This scripture is in the middle of the story of the tower of babel in the Bible. It was not long after the Flood that the people of the Earth were all gathered together in one place, speaking the same language. They set out to build a tower to the heavens. A crazy task, but one that even God thought they could complete because of one reason.
Thoughts on God’s Creative Process pt.2
The other morning I woke up at 4:30am and felt like Jesus wanted to show me something. So I pulled my iPhone from under my pillow… (its a habit that carries over from when my wife and I were dating and I was in California and she was in Chicago – different time zones and you don’t want to miss THAT call.)
I felt God lead me to John’s Good News (read: Gospel of John) and read Chaper 1:1-5. Then it was time to pull out the laptop, open Evernote and start writing stuff down. These are the thoughts that came out of that moment. I considered editing them into a more presentable format, but I thought I would share the raw version directly from Evernote.
Creation brings illumination.
John 1
1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He existed in the beginning with God.3 God created everything through him,and nothing was created except through him.4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,t and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness,and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Extinguish = overcome, comprehend or understand..
The goal of creation is to bring life to the world. Life occurs in the light and darkness can’t understand it. Therefore in order have life, there must first be light.
Our goal as the church is to create in order to bring light. (enlighten, illuminate, shed light upon)
We know that Jesus is the light of the world.
We know that Jesus is the Word of God.
We know that Jesus is gives life.
We know there is no life, except through Jesus.
Darkness is uncreated space.
Darkness is the absence of life.
Darkness is the absence of light.
Darkness is the with out understanding.
Darkness is before understanding – before we understand, we are in the dark. But once we understand, we can never go back to not understanding. Once we overcome, we can not go back to not overcoming.
Creation was created to bring light and life. Everything that is created has a responsibility to be a creator. Therefore it is our responsibility as creators to shed light, bring light, create light, and therefore create life.
If the goal of every creation is to in the end give life – and we know that life only comes through Jesus, then the goal of every creation should be Jesus. (The Word is with and is) He gives life and life gives light (the once known, can never be unknown, never extinguishable, never again un-understandable Salvation of Jesus.)
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After reviewing these thoughts I remembered a video I saw a while back that I think is cool and somewhat fitting…
-That is all
And her name will be…
About ten days ago my wife and I found out that we are having a daughter. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am about this. I was hoping that we would have a girl. I can’t wait for that first Princess Leia Halloween Costume and to put a golf club in her hand. The best thing is that I will get to take her on dates, show her how to be treated by a boy.
We have decided to name her Matalyne Knight after Danielle’s Great Grandmother. (I like Knight as in Jedi Knight, and for D, it might be Jordan Knight. Either way, it sounds cool) We will call her Mattie.
I am really excited to be a dad.
Take Heart
Today I am sitting in the hospital room with my wife, Danielle. She has severe morning sickness & the doctor wanted to admit her for a couple days.
Its been awhile.. How are you?
Time flies by when you’re having fun. It has been quite a while since I’ve posted anything. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was driving to Birmingham with Tim Schraeder to go to the Hillsong United Aftermath Tour.
So.
Here’s an update on what’s been going on…
Slideshow from Hillsong United – Aftermath
Last night was an amazing night. My wife, Danielle, Tim Schraeder & I all drove from Nashville to Birmingham to worship Jesus with Hillsong United. It was the first time in a while that I have been able to sit in and experience the worship night. I was moved, I was touched, I experienced God in a new way. Suffice to say.. It was a great night. I snapped a few pictures from the night on my phone. Check them out.
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How to gage your manliness…
Let me start by saying that I have no idea if this is how to gage manliness, I just thought it was funny.
Today I was texting with a friend of mine who told me that he dislocated his elbow snowboarding. I asked him if the doc gave him any happy pills to ease the pain. His response was pretty awesome. And I quote, “haha no happy pills. I’m a man. I rubbed some dirt on it and hit the road.”
My reply: (Insert Tim Allen Grunt Here)
So in honor of my manly friend who rubs dirt on his injuries.. this one is for you.
Sidenote: Has anyone come up with an acceptable text version of the Man Grunt? If you have or can come up with one leave it in the comments. You will be helping men everywhere.
We Can Make Our Own Plans
This morning I woke up, made myself an english muffin & sat down to read my Bible & browse though some blogs.
I started reading Proverbs 16.
1 We can make our own plans,
but the Lord gives the right answer.
Notes from the Force of Relationships
The Force of Relationships
But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 NLT
Everything God does in your life flows through the conduit of Relationships
Continuing on in Faith.
2011 has been an adventure. Albeit a different one then the end of 2010, but requiring just as much faith as ever.
Upon arriving in Nashville, I made a mad hustle to find a job. (I posted earlier about getting hired, read it here.) After a week at that job, it became clear that it wasn’t a fit. However, it was a struggle for me to admit that it wasn’t working because I was afraid that there might not be anything else.
Superbowl Weekend
Super Sunday is just a couple days away and I for one am pumped. I could care less who wins, but I do like the hype. In celebration of the Super Bowl and Commericalism at it’s best here are a couple videos that I have really enjoyed.
2nd Day on the Job
Yesterday I started working at Nside Management. I am now officially in the music business. So far I am enjoying the work. Developing marketing ideas, social media ideas, and all in all working to get our artists “out there.”
I am new to the music business and I am learning quickly what its like. There is a lot of good music out there and it is easy to come by.
So how can we distinguish our artist from the rest? I have been thinking about this for going on 30 hours now and I think I have three ideas. I am gonna lay them out there, you tell me what you think.
1) The music has to connect emotionally.
2) The music has to be experiential.
3) The music has to be empowering.
That’s it, thats what I got. Thats how I plan to approach this business. Well as of today…
Searching for inspiration… – A Rant
I happen to be sitting in Starbucks at the moment.
Usually, when I come here, I find it to be a really inspiring environment. I love to watch the different people who make Starbucks their office, their breakroom or their creative space. Today is a rare experience, PCs out number Apples 3 to 1. Oh strike that I missed the macbook pro sitting on the table, the ipad in the corner and the fact that my wife & I are both on apple computers. All is right with the world Apple:5 PC: 3
I am supposed to be sitting here working on Social Media Protocol & Strategy, a script for the Weekend Sermon Opener at Oasis Church, or at least reading something to help me grow in my knowledge. But not today. Today I can’t concentrate, the music in here is boring & annoying me, everytime the door opens I get cold & even skyping with my sister wasn’t fun. I know – I should just leave, but I don’t want to leave. I like it here, this is my creative spot, my third place (yes, Starbucks wins, it is my 3rd place), I usually get inspired here, why not today. Plus, my wife likes it & she seems to be getting stuff done just fine…
I need help, what do you do when you hit a creative block? When you know that there is a lot to do, but just can’t focus on anything for any amount of time. Leave me some comments. Thanks…
Never Let Me Down – What I Learned in 2010
One thing I found, one thing I found
Oh no you’ll neva let me down
-Kanye West
This has been quite a year. Over the past several days I have been browsing blogs and reading many of the year’s reflections. In doing so, I began to reflect on my own year: the defeats, the victories, the endings, the beginnings & the in betweens. There are a lot of lists going around, so here is mine.
What I learned in 2010:
INFLUENCERS
I was browsing my homie @holaratcha‘s blog, I Hate Church and I came across his post about this short film simply titled INFLUENCERS. I was intrugied by it so I thought I would share. This is the full version of the film and it is about 14 min long. I find it very intriguing.
INFLUENCERS is a short documentary that explores what it means to be an influencer and how trends and creativity become contagious today in music, fashion and entertainment.
From There to Here… in 60 Days
Guest Blog from My Wife. DanielleHage.com
The Gate, (in Olde Norse, Gata), means a way, street or narrow passage.
The gate I have traveled in my life the last 60 days has landed me here…Nashville, Tennessee. At times, the gate did not seem like a way with purpose, traveling a street in the right direction, or a narrow passage, where my journey was guided in one direction.
The synopsis of changes in my life since October 30, 2010 include:
- moving out of Chicago
- leaving my job
- traveling across the country
- marrying my best friend
- choosing a city, and moving
The Hages have arrived… In Nashville
Today Danielle & I arrived in Nashville.
We are staying with a wonderful lady who is the receptionist for Oasis Church. Upon our arrival we had the privilege to meet a 20 year old girl named Bethany.
My Faith Adventure – A New Journey Begins
The last several months have been an amazing adventure.
I have traveled from Chicago,IL to Laguna Niguel,CA; from Laguna Niguel, CA to Nashville, TN; from Nashville,TN to Eldridge, IA; to Cincinnati, OH back to Nashville, TN; then to Little Rock; Dallas; Oklahoma City & back to Laguna Niguel.
During that amazing trip, my now wife, Danielle, joined up with me & we have been sharing this adventure together since Halloween.
Tomorrow is Christmas Day, which makes it one week & one day since Danielle and I have been married (you can see our wedding on ustream here).
