The American Dream

I've been thinking a lot lately about how much stuff I own.  I have a lot.  We all do.  But there is something especially wrong with me where I want 2 of everything...like I get an awesome guitar and I want another one...or I'll go to buy a pair of jeans and I'll buy 2.  As of late, this has been getting on my nerves.  

Most of the world does not live like middle America.  I can get in my car and drive anywhere I want, anytime I want, and buy pretty much anything I want.  I've been reading about American wealth compared to the rest of the world and the average per capita income in America in 2000 was $34,100 while the average world CPI was $7,410.  The average world CPI includes the US and other wealthy European countries so it's askew.  Info from the World Bank states that 56% of the world's population lives in extreme poverty, surviving on an income of $730 per year ($2 a day).....while 28% of the world's population lives off $1 a day.

I say none of that to depress you.  I say it to make you think.  How much did the pair of jeans you are currently wearing cost?  Where were they made?  How many pair of jeans do you own?  (I am speaking to myself....mine cost a lot and I have 10 pair of them.  I am embarrassed).  

The terrible thing is that people all over the world are forced to work in very bad working conditions just to make that $1 a day.  I've read some stories of people being tricked into slavery and they have no other choice.  Rich countries want their goods cheap so they can make the most profit.....and we keep buying it.  

I don't know a lot about Fair Trade but I know it works with poverty stricken countries to offer a fair price for their product.  It makes sure people aren't being taken advantage of and provides a healthy work environment for employees.  Sweat shops are real.  Slavery is still prevalent.  I know it's hard to wrap your head around b/c we have it so good in America.  The way you spend your money matters.  I encourage you to get off your rear and do something.  

I'm not saying sell all your possessions and live on the street...I am saying don't be duped by the American dream of nice house, nice new car every 3 years, nice clothes, big TV, newer house, bigger TV, stuff, stuff, stuff, stuff, stuff.  I am saying be conscience of how you spend your money.  Do you need surround sound, do you need 4 coffees every day, do you need 10 pair of super nice jeans?  Stuff isn't bad it's the mindset it gets you in that is destructive.  Buying clothes with a credit card is dumb.  Having 14 coats in your closet is dumb.  

This is all opinion but I say this:  buy nice things with a clear conscience.  Maybe buy a nice pair of jeans once a year.....or something like that.  Save for a while (while giving money to church, orphans, widows, and people in need) then buy a TV.  Think before you spend.  Make sure you aren't supporting harsh living conditions in third world countries with your purchases.  

I dont think I  will single handedly save the world.  The movie No Country For Old Men depressed me deeply b/c, seemingly, evil triumphed.  But the theme of the movie was about fighting....no matter how dark things look around you, no matter how evil things are.....be a light.  Even a small light in a lot of darkness is bright.  You are going to be held responsible for the choices you make.  You can make a difference.  It sure is better than sitting around, surrounded with stuff, eating cheeseburgers, encapsulated in your American bubble doing nothing.  We Americans simply live a lifestyle that is beyond imagination for most of the poor in the world.  You are rich.  Thank God and do something!  

Here are some ideas:

Don't give tons of worthless gifts this Christmas.  Volunteer at a homeless shelter or buy necessities for families who are broke.  Check out this video.     

Sponsor a child through Compassion International.  

Give at least 10% of your money to your church.  Don't make excuses for not tithing.  Giving time is not tithing.  Giving 10% of your money is tithing.  This one is pretty self explanatory.  If you don't tithe because your church "doesn't use the money well" then find a new church.  It is a big deal to not give God 10% of what is already His.  

Think everytime you swipe your credit card.  Think about how that money is being used.  Think about someone other than yourself for a change.  

If  you are like me and have tons of stuff stop buying and start giving stuff away.  Do I need 5 TVs, 2 microwaves, 4 guitars, 12 pair of shoes, 2 computers??  I bet it would make some one's year to receives something like that.  

The bottom line is we need to do something.  We are the richest country to ever walk the earth and with that privilege comes a responsibility.  There are people that need our help.  Free up some money so you can give more away.  Don't go into HUGE debt that will prohibit you from being financially free.  Take small, baby steps now.  If we don't help people in need who will?  

Keeping Me Humble

Tonight at United (a rad, student led ministry at Wofford where I lead worship) I was singing Marvelous Light and it was super fun and everyone was singing loud and whatnot....then I decided to go into the part of Jesus Paid It All that says "Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead"....you know....but I hadn't practiced it or anything but I had been singing it all day and knew it'd be a great little chorus to throw in.  

When I got finished singing that part I wanted to end by singing the chorus (Jesus paid it all/all to Him I owe/sin had left a crimson stain/He washed it white as snow) but I got about this far:

Je...

uhhh  Je....

Jesus...

I couldn't find the note!  I am on the stage in front of thousands of people (or 80) and I am stuck!  I ended on a C and I needed to sing a G and I couldn't find it anywhere.  This has never happened ever.  Ever.  I don't have a clue what people did (i am sure they felt awkward for me.....oh MAN, I made people feel uncomfortable....that stinks...haha) b/c I was on the stage trying to find the note.  I was perplexed.  That G was hiding....and I never did find it. 

I think I said something like "sorry, I'm the worst worship leader ever" or something like that....because the moment was OVER.  I just drew a blank and stopped.  Wow

Now, I take full responsibility for tonights debacle but I must tell you something.  I have been super sick this week - sore throat, head ache, stopped up nose and ears, my balance has been off.....and I had trouble singing the first couple songs.  My head felt weird.  I was struggling to sing.  Then I just crashed and burned.....you must understand as a singer not being able to find a note is odd....notes just come natural.  It's like a nascar driver forgetting how to change gears (not a sport) or a lumber jack forgetting how to swing an axe (definitely a sport).  My ears popped during the middle of United and I could hear and singing on key got easier.  

Like I said, I take responsibility....I am a loser....some people pointed that out to me afterwards (with love and it was very funny) but this cold didnt help.  It was probably my biggest mess up since the year 2000 at USCs FCA when I was leading worship with Christy Parker and forgot how to play Shout to the North as we were in the middle of it.  I just stopped and said "uhhh...next song".  Yikes.  Was anyone there?  Do you remember that?  Wow.  

But that stuff keeps me humble.  It's hard to think you're the man when that happens and I love it.  I'm playing at Upward in about 6 hours...I hope it goes better.  Haha.  

Disclaimer:  As a worship leader, I trust God is in control of everything.  He dictates what happens...not me.  So why did He decide to hide the G from me tonight?  Where is the line between practicing (works) and trusting God will make it work (faith)?  All I know is I am called to play skillfully and trust Him.  Beyond that I don't know much.  

Not A Sport

I hate when I watch the top ten plays on SportsCenter and things like soccer, hockey,  NBA basketball or any women's sport is featured in the list.  They aren't sports.  A sport has to be something where you aren't sitting the entire time, can't chew tobacco or smoke while playing said sport, and most important - your "sport" has to be fun to watch which is why when soccer, hockey, NBA basketball, Nascar, Poker Tournaments, or Bowling comes on I am changing the channel.  

I would rather watch commercials than watch that garbage.  Now that baseball is over (granted you can chew tobacco while playing baseball...it's still a sport b/c it's awesome and fun to watch and b/c I said so) and it's NBA time, i'm a little sad to watch SportsCenter.  I may even change it to Everybody Loves Raymond (the show you can only like if you are 1 of these 3):

A Nerd

Married

Old

If you are 2 of those 3 then you pay extra for the Nascar channel and you love Hot Pockets.  If you are 3 of those 3 then you are named Ron Ridings and you have never watched a sporting event (or TV altogether) ever.  (except your son's football games at Boiling Springs which doesn't make the list as an actual sport b/c we lost by an average of 65 every week).  

Don't get me started on girl sports....just look at ticket sales, airtime, and merchandizing.  Give up.  

That is all.   

Chicago

Two weeks ago I decided to drive to Chicago alone.  Apparently no one can go on a trip from Wednesday to Friday....losers.  (By the way, if you ever want to hang out or get married or go camping please don't do it over the weekend or at night....that's when I work.  What's with no one wanting to hang out from 8 am to 1 pm?)  

But I was prepared.  I downloaded tons of new songs, podcasts, and sermons for the trip.  I had no idea how far I would be driving or what states I would be driving through on the way...I just wrote down directions and went.  Oh yeah, my friend Tim moved there this summer and didn't have anyone to drive his truck up there (his 2 year old son just rode the whole way...and slept....lazy) so I told him i'd drive it up there the first chance I got.  

I left at 7 am.  The ipod worked beautifully till about 7:14 am at which point I was left with complete silence.  I thought I would die without anything to rock to but, weird enough, the drive was awesome.  I stopped 3 times (only for gas and food)....I did stop for about an hour in Lexington, KY b/c of a huge wreck - but I was able to stretch my legs and talk to truckers which was terrific.  

The best part was I had no clue where Chicago was....I mean, I knew it was in the midwest, somewhere in Illinois but that was about it.  I had no clue what to expect.  (by the way who knew it was on a Great Lake??  Not this guy).  But I loved driving through Knoxville and Louisville, I hated every mile of Indiana - the worst, flattest, longest, most boring state ever.  But I crossed into Illinois on a huge, radical bridge and I could see Chicago.  Man, it was HUGE...way bigger than Boiling Springs.  I was finally there....yay!  So I called Tim to see if I was close to his exit and he then told me he doesn't exactly live in Chicago.....I had 2 more hours to drive.  That was the saddest news I think I had ever heard up to that point in my life.  I was ready to be out of the 1995 Ford Ranger five speed with no radio and no space for my legs.  

14 hours and about 900 miles and I was there.  Tim and Bonnie and the Todd are the coolest people who live 2 hours outside of Chicago ever.  

Bonnie showed me around the city the next day.  We did hilarious touristy stuff:  Sears Tower, Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile (shopping...bought a t-shirt...i'm actually wearing it right now), Wrigley Field, and of course, and Tim met us after work for Giordanos Deep Dish Pizza.  I rode in a city bus, a train, a taxi, and an airplane all in one day.  It was awesome.  

But of course the best part was seeing Tim and Bonnie.  They're the type of people that make the club get crunk, you know?  They're real; they're blunt; they love Jesus; and best of all - they're rich.  Maybe not but I miss them big time and I am super happy that I got to see them.  Everyone misses them.  Everyone wants to be like them....it's pretty neato.  Although the drive really wasn't bad at all I enjoyed the 2 hour plane ride home a lot more.  I recommend taking an airplane not a 1995 Ford Ranger.  It was a great trip - I love my life and I love them Blakeneys.  

Side note:  The Sears Tower has always struck me as odd.  Sears?  Didn't they go bankrupt?  Indeed, they built the worlds tallest building, placing a stake in America to show how awesome they are....theeeeeeeeeeen had to move out about 15 years later b/c they couldn't afford it.  Haha.  That makes me laugh.  They are now in a nasty, dumpy one story building in Indiana (I made that up...but that would be the worst transition ever).  Anyway, the Sears Tower makes about as much sense as the Brendals Tower or Sky City Tower or the Hamricks Tower.  Remember those stores??  Brandals had great baseball cards and Hamricks is where everyone will go if they dont go to heaven.  Awful.  

PS

The conference we played at the Memorial Auditorium was for a Women's Conference, which makes it way cooler right??  No?  There were women crying everywhere.  Just kidding.  

On Tour WIth Jerry Seinfeld

I did the coolest thing over the weekend; something that I've only dreamed of ever doing...I wouldn't have believed it had I not been there....I got a job at a tattoo parlor, no, I led worship at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. Yay

It was awesome. We played for a conference last Saturday. We went early Friday morning to set up and do a sound check and walking in was hilarious. We just stood there like 14 year olds for about an hour. All the artists who have been there (Hank Williams Jr, Aaron Tippen, Derek Trucks, Jerry Seinfeld, Elmo) sign the walls around the stage. Oh yeah, the stage is 7 stories tall....it is the biggest stage I have ever played on. It was ridiculous.

We had a green room and catered food and dressing rooms, it was hot. But we are small time rednecks...we didn't know what was going on. All I could think about was this was the exact same stage Jerry Seinfeld stood on....his content was a liiiiiiiiiiiiittle bit different than ours....but, man, who would have ever guessed I'd be melting faces where Seinfeld had melted? Not this guy.

The coolest thing about it is we got to lead worship. I am super happy that I get to do what I love and I get fun opportunities like the Memorial Auditorium. I was like a little kid the entire day - running around the first 3 floors where all the dressing rooms are and the secret tunnels and a whole other auditorium in the basement...it was rad.

But I must say the only reason I get to stand on that stage (or a college campus or a church) is because of Jesus. I am not the greatest guitar player, I am not the funniest comedian, and I sure won't ever be in any beauty pageant (tons of Mrs South Carolina's signed the wall....whoooooooo cares). I am just a plain dude with a boring, high voice that loves to see the Holy Spirit usher people before the throne of God. And God continues to use me.

Okay, dumb story time: Since we were there, we had to do climb to the cat walk, duh. And Shag had dropped a doughnut from the top and it exploded. It was awesome. So we decided that we needed to drop a cream filled doug (umm, dougs) 7 stories onto Stu's stomach. Hes the man for volunteering. So I climb to the top with a day old cream filled doug and direct Stu to where I think it's going to land. I tell you, we should join the circus, that monster hit him right in the bread basket leaving a HUGE red mark and drawing a little blood. I wish you could've seen it.

The next time you get the opportunity to be on a gigantic stage do not pass up the chance to throw old food onto your friends. You'll be glad you didn't.

William Lowell Harritt pt 3

For those of you who dont know, Bill "Thicks" Harritt is the man. Is calling him "Thicks" mean? I don't know, I've never really thought about it till I saw it in writing just now. Anyway we went to the University together and had a class together freshman year. It was speech class, the one class that Bill and I were made for. After each speech all the students had to grade their peers and write a little comment about the speech. When Bill finished his speech I wrote "you are hot...how about you call me some time...wink". And he called me. It was BFF at first sight.

William is my clone. We are the same person. I love when he is home and visits me. If someone would have told us freshman year that we'd both be working for churches 9 years later we would've laughed really hard and loud. But, alas, here we are loving our jobs.

The final edition of the Bill Harritt visit was last night - we drove to Greenville to meet a "girl" who Bill claimed to know for supper. Of course we stopped for Duchess Honey Buns on the way...duh. Nothing cleanses the pallet like a ball of sugary dough. Funny, Bill's "friend" never showed up....."she" had a flat tire or the flu or got lost or something.

Just kidding. Brooke is the girl version of Bill..in dress only. I knew it was her when we drove up b/c she was wearing a mountain hadware jacket, flip flops, and a pink polo - Bill's favorite outfit (Bill's 2nd favorite outfit - Tri Delta t-shirt, super short shorts, and a pair of new balances....those are the only 2 outfits you will see Bill in....unless it is the morning before a Gamecock football game when he does his ritual dance around the house in his long johns....he is a weirdo).

We had big plans to wake up this morning early and grab coffee before he headed back to Alabama but he woke me up at 10 and said goodbye. Goodbye Bill, may your raspy yawn yell ring out in the ears of many, and may your future always be filled with the Duchess.