Project one was all talk. The presentation had a touch of music and a bunch of photography, but it was lacking a giant chunk of my passion.

Project two lacked a little bit less, but it was still weighed, measured and found wanting.

But the final project felt good. It felt full. It felt like my wheelhouse.

So what do I love?....community, music, poetry, speech, and beauty...(among a bunch of other things)

Project three...on the table stage...with peers and loved ones watching and participating...was a "wheelhouse" experience for me.

Give it a listen and I hope you dig it.



Important Side Note About Me...

One day, Erwin McManus (one of my favorite authors) was writing in his study. His 14 year old son busted in on his father's book progress and began ranting and raving about a huge stumbling block that was in his way when it came to Christianity. (Erwin happens to be one of the most renowned communicators of the Gospel alive today and he pastors a church in California called Mosaic) His son started to cry a bit and he began to ask his dad a deluge of really intense questions.

"Was I just lucky to be born in America dad?" "What if I'd been born in a country where I didn't have money or safety, dad?" "Is it really fair that I have a pastor for a father and I heard about Jesus initially from you?" "There's so much hurt everywhere, dad...what made me worthy to be born where I was and not somewhere else...somewhere less safe...less free...less comfortable...less open to religion?"

Rather than freak out and start dissecting his son's questions with bible verses and re-hashed quotes from famous preachers....Erwin looked at his son and said this...

"Son, I've never forced you to be somebody who loves Jesus....I've never made you read your bible or punished you for your questions about who Christ is or what religion in America is like...your decision to try and follow the teachings of Jesus has been, and will continue to be, your own...so I ask you son... WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT YOUR QUESTIONS???....WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE GONNA BE???"

The young boy stopped talking...he breathed a little more evenly...he stopped pacing...he sat down and thought for a long silent few moments...and his response was gorgeous to me...

"Well dad....I feel like I've met God...and I get this feeling he loves me and everybody else who has a beating heart in this world...Yes, I have questions...but I guess any response I have will have to START with the fact that I feel like I know God....and that He knows me..."

I am that little boy...I have his questions...(and many others)....but my response, like his, is one of hope....

I have met the Father....and He knows and loves me...