Some simple praises to God:
1) Retrieved my ATM card at the credit union I left it at on Wednesday during my lunch break
2) My mom came back from Hawai’i on Tuesday night.  She and my dad went up to NorCal on Wednesday night though and will be up there through the Memorial Day weekend.
3) I love my small group – God’s Anointed Servants!  We’re high octane!  Nothing less than the best!

The Indianapolis 500 is at 9 AM PDT on ABC this Sunday!  Watch/tape it if you can!  I hope Helio Castroneves or Tony Kanaan win the Indy 500.  If Helio can win, it would be his third Indy 500 victory (2001, 2002).  Both are great drivers to watch!

Hopefully, you’re listening to “Audience of One” by Big Daddy Weave off their debut album One and Only.

Ryan and Lisa’s wedding on Sunday was BEAUTIFUL and AWESOME!  What was a most pleasant surprise was that they made contributions to Compassion International on behalf of every guest!  That’s an idea I may have to ask them if I can “copy/steal” for my own special day.

I had a somewhat tough day yesterday (Tuesday)…

1) Left my ATM card in the outdoor ATM of LA Federal Credit Union on 300 S. Glendale.  I went to during my lunch break.  I didn’t realize it until after 5 PM yesterday when I replayed in my head that I don’t remember getting my receipt and card.  No unfamiliar transactions have been made with it yet (Praise the Lord!).  I doubt someone will be able to figure its PIN out and no, it’s not as easy as the Spaceballs air lock combination.  I’ll need to call my credit union this (Wednesday) morning and try to get it taken care of.

2) When I came back to my car after work, the car that parked behind me parked with its front bumper still touching my car’s rear bumper.  Its front license plate driver side corner was pressed against my car’s rear bumper where the license plate area is.  I don’t think it left too much of a mark.  I was so tempted to retaliate (I thought about just kicking the old early 1990’s Honda Accord), but I figured if I did something stupid like that, it would come back to bite me in the butt.  Because if the driver of that vehicle has any reason to suspect me combined with the fact that I street park everyday, my car would be an easy target for many worse things.  So I guess I’ll just “suck it up” and go on with life.

3) Close call below

I was traveling South at about 35 mph on Russell Ave. between Newmark Ave. and Graves Ave. on the way home tonight when a Honda Element made a sudden right onto the street in front of me!  I guess he didn’t see me through the parked cars on the side of the street?  He should’ve if he’s in a “high and mighty” SUV (www.esuvee.com)!  He also didn’t look left, right, and then left again!  That last part is very important!  I saw the back of his head as he began his sudden pull out.  He should’ve crept out so I could at least see him and so he could give himself more time to see traffic.  Thank God Russell Ave. isn’t a heavily traversed street otherwise Devoted Dan (a.k.a. “Double D” – my car) and me would’ve been toast.  If there would’ve been a car traveling North on Russell, i would’ve had to hit it, the Element pulling out, or a parked car because they is no way I would’ve been able to stop in that short distance.  The evasive action I took was to swerve left into the other lane and quickly back into the Southbound lane.  I honked my horn quick and short too, but by the time I was doing that, I was already going around the Element.  I did this all with just my left hand too since I was just cruising along at the time and only had my left hand on the wheel.  I better make a mental note to myself for the future when I’m traving along Russell.  I probably will harbor a grudge against all Honda Element drivers from now on as well! j/k!

Right after the near miss (why do people call it that?  A near miss is a hit, no?  A near hit would imply a miss, right?), er, close call and when I got home, I thought about how my seemingly rough/tough day paled in comparison to the difficult lives countless people are living in the rest of the world day in and day out.

All of you out there in Xanga-land (yes, YOU!), let’s try to keep things in perspective when we have these rough ‘n’ tough days!  There are so many people out there in the world who would easily thing what we “endure” is a cakewalk/walk in the park.  May we continue to have God’s heart for all people and strive to reach Every Single One.

Here’s one way you can help:

For a little over $1 a day, you can make a huge difference in a little boy or girl’s life, as well as his or her family’s.  Would you please consider and listen to anything God may be saying to you and putting on your heart to help those who cannot help themselves.  After all, we were and still are helpless and hopeless with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who makes all things possible and all things new!

You’re listening to “Every Single One” by Geoff Moore and Ben Glover.

I miss Geoff Moore.

Yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday) when I had some time to sit around and reminisce about some of the times I had with him over the years.

Some highlights

-Febraury 13, 1999 – Picking Geoff, Roscoe Meek (formerly of The Distance…as in Geoff Moore & The Distance), and Geoff’s manager at the time from Los Angeles International Airport with Jerry Tom using my family’s van for the True Love Waits rally at Six Flags Magic Mountain

-June 2000 – Met Geoff and Roscoe again at Youth For Christ’s DCLA 2000 Youth Evangelism conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  I gave Geoff a CUTCO fishing knife he said he still uses to this day!  He said it’s great!  The next time I see him (I don’t know when that will be), I’m going to try to give him a CUTCO catalog.

– May 26, 2002 – I saw Geoff and Roscoe at Bayside Church in Granite Bay, CA (near Sacramento).  I was able to introduce my mom and sister to him that day.

-July 2003 – Picking Geoff and his guitarist, Dana Weaver (formerly of the original Smalltown Poets and the original Sonicflood), from Sacramento (International?) Airport and selling Geoff’s merchandise at his DCLA 2003 booth.  It was totally fun hanging out with the guys!  I best remember picking and dropping them off at the airport, having breakfast with them and Danny Oertli (great solo artist www.dannyoertli.com), and working Geoff’s table with Dana and a few other volunteers.

On a different note, how about those FIRST PLACE (w00t!!!) San Diego Padres and California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim)?!   The Chicago Cubs haven’t gotten things in gear yet, but Mark’s been pitching pretty well lately only to receive some “no decisions.”  He takes the hill (the pitcher’s mound) today (Sunday) against the impressive Chicago White Sox.

In closing, I will dedicate this song out there to those of you who are my friends!  I’m definitely not the coolest or most popular or socialable/gregarious guy around, but I really do appreciate each and every one of you.  The song is “Thanks to You” off of Geoff’s 1999 self-titled solo album.  It’s a duet sung by him and some guy named Steven Curtis Chapman.  So to all of you out there, thanks to you and all thanks and praise to God!!!

Thanks to You
I’ve been picked up when I was low
And I never have been left alone
I know it’s true thanks to you
And I have had my burdens shared
There’ve been valleys that I have been carried through
Thanks to you

So I won’t let another moment slip away
Right here, right now
I’ve got to stop and say

Chorus
Thanks to you
I learned to laugh a little bit harder
Thanks to you
I never cry alone
Thanks to you
I know what it means to have a friend that’s true
Thanks to you

I remember all the walks
And all the crazy things I got talked into
Thanks to you
And even now I am amazed
When I think of all the ways God’s voice came through
Thanks to you

Through all the thick and thin and places in-between
We have been side-by-side
That is why you hear me singing

Chorus

Thanks to you
For never giving up
Thanks to you
For sometimes giving in
Thanks to you
For always listening

Thanks to you

Chatter
Steven: Thanks to you.
Geoff: No, no.  Thanks to you.
Steven: No.  I insist, Geoff.  Thanks to you.
Geoff: All right.  Thanks to me!
Both (laughter)

Thanks to you
I know what it means to have a friend that’s true

Last Chorus
Thanks to you
I learned to laugh a whole lot harder
Thanks to you
I never cry alone
Thanks to you
I know what it means to have a friend that’s true
Thanks to you

Thanks to you

Jesus, I want to fall in love with You.

Love Song for a Savior

In open fields of wild flowers,
She breathes the air and flies away
She thanks her Jesus for the daisies and the roses in no simple language
Someday she’ll understand the meaning of it all
He’s more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens
As close as a heartbeat or a song on her lips
Someday she’ll trust Him and learn how to see Him
Someday He’ll call her and she will come running 
And fall in His arms, the tears will fall down and she’ll pray,

“I want to fall in love with You”

Sitting silent wearing Sunday best
The sermon echoes through the walls
A great salvation through it calls to the people
Who stare into nowhere, and can’t feel the chains on their souls
He’s more than the laughter or the stars in the heavens
As close as a heartbeat or a song on our lips
Someday we’ll trust Him and learn how to see Him
Someday He’ll call us and we will come running 
And fall in His arms, the tears will fall down and we’ll pray,

“I want to fall in love with You”

It seems too easy to call you “Savior,”
Not close enough to call you “God”
So as I sit and think of words I can mention to show my devotion

“I want to fall in love with You”

“My heart beats for You”

Continuing with this past Sunday’s message…

He Reigns
Newsboys

It’s the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It’s the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God’s holy fire
It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir

It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns

Let it rise above the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this

All God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns, He reigns
All God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns, He reigns

And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they’ve just heard
‘Cause all the powers of darkness
Can’t drown out a single word

When all God’s children sing out
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns, He reigns
All God’s children sing out
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He Reigns, He reigns

All God’s people singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns (hallelujah)
He Reigns (He reigns), hallelujah
All God’s people singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns (hallelujah)
He Reigns (He reigns), hallelujah
All God’s people singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns (hallelujah)
He Reigns (hallelujah…)
All God’s people singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns (hallelujah)
He Reigns (hallelujah…)
All God’s people singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns (hallelujah)
He Reigns (hallelujah…)

All God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns
All God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns
He reigns

Xanga ate my post!  Grrrr!  

Here’s the Cliff notes version: AWESOME day at church even though nothing extraordinary happened, I love my current TTP class (hermeneutics)

Revelations 5:9-10 – READ IT HERE!

LET’S ROCK and worship the King!!!  

Agnus Dei

Alleluia, Alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia, Alleluia
For our Lord God Almighty reigns
Alleluia

Chorus
Holy, Holy
Are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are Holy, Holy
Are You Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are Holy (Amen)

Holy, You are Holy
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
You are Holy
Holy, You are Holy
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
I worship You

King of Kings
Lord of lords
I worship You

Congrats to all of my fellow USC Trojans who graduated yesterday, Friday, May 13, 2005!!!

It was awesome seeing and hearing part of the band at the USC Pharmacy program’s centennial graduation!  I almost felt like I was at a football game again!

For those of you wondering, my background picture is a photograph of me running the football my senior year for a 60+ yard touchdown (bear in mind that the fields we played on in our 8-man league were only 80 yards long) on that very play.  My home jersey (navy blue) was #7 and my road jersey (white) was #8 (go figure – my predecessor who was #7 kept his road jersey).  My baseball jersey was #2.

Can’t fight the music…must join in…you should too!  Just place your fingers like a peace sign, or “V” for victory, as Winston Churchill did in WWII, and move your entire forearm forward every time at the appropriate intervals (those of you who can keep a beat should be able to figure it out and join in one of USC finest traditions)!

Fight on and God bless!

I decided to give this a whirl after seeing Tiff‘s hilarious result!  I wish Los Angeles was somewhere on my result.  After all, I wish they all could be California girls!  j/k!  I LOVE L.A. except for the Laker$ and Dodger$ (sorry, Jonathan, that is the way I must spell them)!  I’m 1/16 Hawaiian so Honolulu isn’t too bad other than the fact that it’s extremely humid and on the small island of O’ahu which doesn’t have enough things for me to do (no professional sports or uber-awesome college teams or major race tracks).  San Diego is AWESOME (Go Padres!)!  I lived there the summer of 2002.  I thought it got a little too chilly during even the summer nights.

American Cities That Best Fit You:

70% Honolulu

65% Atlanta

65% San Diego

60% Austin

60% Denver

Which American Cities Best Fit You?

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there!  Actually, according to the fifth commandment, everyday should be mother’s and father’s day!

New song is up!  It’s “A Friend Like You” by Geoff Moore and Steven Curtis Chapman originally off of Geoff Moore & The Distance’s Friend Like U album (©1992 ForeFront Records).  This new rendition is a lot like the way Geoff and Dana (Weaver, a member of the original Sonicflood) sing and play this song live in concert!

I also would like to give major props to Dr. Brent from our church.  Many of you may not know who he and his wife Jasmine are.  I give him a lot of credit for being a living and loving member of Christ’s body here at our church.  My mom also shared with me that he’s a fellow Trojan too!  Seriously though, God has used this man to mobilize His people and efforts to the other side of this world for His glory.  Steve shared with me that he was even involved with getting evangelist Luis Palau, Michael Chang, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Geoff (and Dana) overseas not too long ago to do God’s work.

Sing along with me now!!!

A Friend Like You
Words and music by Geoff Moore and Steven Curtis Chapman

The Lone Ranger and Tonto
Laurel and Hardy
Batman and Robin
It was Snoopy and Charlie
Friends through thick and thin
Friends to the very end
I think you would agree
That’s how it is for you and me

Chorus
I, I, I want you to know
I need you
I, I, I want you to know
It’s true
There’s no, no, no, no way
I’m naked without you
It’s so good to know
That I’ve got a friend like you

Well I tell you it’s black
But you see it white
You say go left
But I know, I know, I know it’s right
No matter where we go
Be it through the highs and lows
I will be by your side
‘Cause you and I are friends for life

Chorus

Through all of the laughter and the tears
Through all of the questions and the fears
Through all of the winning, and the losing, and trying
He (God) will be by our side
‘Cause you and I are friends for life

Chorus

 
I got Geoff’s new albums in the mail today!  Check out what Geoff wrote in the liner notes!

EDIT (in response to Josh’s comment): Most of the songs are new renditions of older works Geoff had sung.  Six of the songs were written by Geoff and Steven Curtis Chapman.  Some of the newer songs were written with Joel Hanson (formerly of PFR – “pray for rain”) and Ben Glover.

http://www.joelhanson.com

http://www.freshreleases.com/albums/329.html

A Word About “Every Single One.”

Today all over the world children are waiting for someone, someone to reach out and offer them a hand.  We may not be able to reach into those places, but Compassion International can.  Their reach is long and wide, like the love of Jesus they carry with them to hundreds of thousands of children everyday.  But millions more wait.  Jesus was poor.  You can still find Him there in the eyes of these children.  I invite you to do something you were created to do, reach out to a poor child in the name of Jesus.  Partner with Compassion, not only to provide bread, but to introduce the Bread of Life.  Not until just some are helped, but every single one.

Blessings,
Geoff Moore

As (fellow lefty) Keanu Reeves would say, “Whoa!”  AMEN!!!

Every Single One – Part I
http://www.freshreleases.com/albums/1850.html
1. Your Day
2. Good to Be Alive
3. Every Single One
4. Simple Heart
5. If You Could See What I See
6. A Friend Like You
7. That’s When I’ll Know I’m Home
8. This Is My Father’s World
9. Passionate Man
10. Only A Fool

Every Single One – Part II
http://www.freshreleases.com/albums/1913.html
1. Every Single One
2. Captured
3. The Vow
4. Listen To Our Hearts
5. Heart and Soul
6. Home Run
7. Foundations
8. That’s What Love Will Do
9. The Everlasting
10. When All Is Said and Done