Ok, I'm way way late on starting this this year. And to complicate things slightly, rather than "plug and play" hymns and special music into the previous year's order of service as was my pastor's instructions to me for the past five years, he tells me he "wouldn't mind trying a different approach."

Our church has both traditional and contemporary services on Sunday mornings, but only one Christmas Eve service and no Christmas day service (unless Christmas day falls on a Sunday, which it doesn't this year). Last year was the first Christmas since we had started the contemporary service. At first I was told to make the service appeal to all members, but keep it toward the traditional side of things. Ok. I inserted two praise songs at different points in the service. Born in Bethlehem by Third Day and Light of the Stable by Selah. I think I set Born In Bethlehem as special music and Light of the Stable to be sung with the congregation. What ended up happening after Pastor did his final edit of the service was both praise songs were moved to pre-service, not even the last two pieces pre-service, and we were ordered to strike the vocal side of our praise team set-up before the service began. (The instruments stayed set and accompanied a few of the hymns in lieu of or in addition to the organ.) Again though, he says he "wouldn't mind trying a different approach" this year, and has grown a little bit in his appreciation of contemporary worship. It should also be noted that between the recent money issue and a few other issues, several families have left the church and whereas we used to have about equal attendance between the two services, lately more people have been worshipping at the contemporary service.

I'll put a disclaimer here, I'm not trolling for a flame war on contemporary vs traditional. Even our contemporary service is still pretty traditional, following the liturgical framework of the divine service just with different words, songs, and instrumentation. And we incorporate traditional hymnody into our contemporary service as well. What I'm looking for is advice on what either I may set up musically or my pastor may do as part of the service that will be different from our usual approach and hopefully will make all of our members as comfortable as possible regardless of their preference of style. Since I'm so late, I also need something that can be thrown together in 24 days well enough to bring before God. I'm thinking no choir stuff, since we don't have a standing choir anymore (most of our choir members became our praise team and that keeps them busy enough, we'd have to have lots of extra rehearsal time to put together a choral piece or two), but maybe my sister or I could do a solo or duet that might take less prep time and involve less rehearsal. Our organist can learn pretty much anything at the drop of a hat, and our praise team is comfortable with hymns and can usually learn a song in 1-2 rehearsals.

Ok, here's what we did last year. The only changes in the four years before that were some of the choir pieces and the praise pieces. Hymns I more or less left as they were except I think I added "Of the Father's Love Begotten." (For you non-Lutherans, when I say LSB I mean Lutheran Service Book, our hymnal. For the most part, it's unimportant, just figured I'd put the LSB hymn/page numbers in for those Lutherans who might want to refer to them.)

Pre-service:

• Organist's Choice
• Priase Team: Born In Bethlehem (Third Day)
• Praise Team: Light of the Stable (Selah)
• Choir: Breath of Heaven (Amy Grant)

Opening Hymn: O Come O Come Emmanuel LSB 357 ST 1
Invocation
Confession/Absolution
Introit
Choir: All Is Well (Michael W. Smith)
Isaiah 9:2-7
Congregational Hymn: O Little Town of Bethlehem LSB 361 ST 1-2
Luke 2:1-5
Hymn: Once In Royal David's City LSB 376 (ST 1 soloist, remainder congregation)
Luke 2:6-7
Choir: Infant Holy Infant Lowly LSB 393
Luke 2:8-12
Congregational Hymn: What Child Is This LSB 370
Luke 2:13-14
Congregational Hymn: Angels We Have Heard On High LSB 368
Luke 2:15-20
Congregational Hymn: Away In A Manger LSB 364
Sermon
Offering
Prayers of the Church
Service of the Sacrament LSB 160
Distribution Hymns:

• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing LSB 380
• O Come All Ye Faithful LSB 379
• Of The Father's Love Begotten LSB 384

Service of Light (Congregation's candles are lit, the three Pastor/Congregation exchanges on LSB 243 are exchanged, but rather than go into the canticle after that he went right to the Collect designated for Christmas Eve.)
Hymn: Silent Night (first stanza pastor solo in German with guitar, then all three stanzas in English with congregation, pastor's guitar, and praise team guitars)
Benediction
Closing Hymn: Joy To the World LSB 387

So yeah, different than that. Not looking for a total new service to fall into my lap that both pastor and congregation will love, but I'd be thrilled to have some ideas since I'll need to distribute music and start rehearsing ASAP.

The following 22 people will be singing Motown this Friday:

 Congratulations to all.  For anyone not familiar with Region Idol, come to the Hall of Justice, 220 S. Main in Crown Point this Friday at 7 pm.  A five dollar donation to support multiple sclerosis research is all you need to see some of Northwest Indiana's best talent!

So I discovered yesterday that the Sears Tower is now the Willis Tower. What the bloody hell? First Comiskey Park, then most of the theatres in Chicago, then Marshall Fields, now the former tallest building in the world? What are they gonna rename next? The whole city? Is this phenomenon going to expand past Chicago city limits? Are they gonna rename the Statue of Liberty or the Washington Monument?

*vomits*

I'm in a position I'm not used to being in right now. Normally when I do manage to find a girl, any religious issue present in the relationship if any is over how I could possibly be a Christian at all and how much nonsense it is. (Yeah, I do pick some real winners ) This time I stopped looking and trusted in God, and a good beautiful Christian woman just sorta fell into my lap. This one isn't criticizing me for my faith. She's actually trying to make sure we agree. Scary.

We spent hours going through decision theology and have come to the conclusion that our only disagreement really is some semantics and exactly where it is that God's work ends and our own faith begins, and to what extent faith is a gift from God vs being something of ourselves. Now we're into infant baptism. Yay.  The major issues now are the role of free will in relation to sinful nature and exactly what baptism is (something ordained by God to create faith, or simply an expression of faith).

I pray that we're able to resolve this issue. Courtney and I haven't been together very long, but we've grown very attached in the short time. Attachment aside, we both agree that we need to come to a better agreement before we get into any serious long-term commitment. Neither of us are really willing to compromise our own faith either. Two very good signs I think. It's just kinda rough making it actually work.  Not to mention scary as hell to be having this conversation now.  I figured it would be months before we got to that point.

Input is appreciated from theology geeks and non-theology geeks alike.

Do You Believe in Love
by Huey Lewis and the News

I was walking down a one way street
Just a looking for someone to meet
One woman who was looking for a man
Now Im hoping that the feeling is right
And Im wondering if youll stay for the night
So Im coming (I dont wanna be lonely)
I wanna love you all over

Do you believe in love
Do you believe it true
Do you believe in love
Oh you can bet I believe it too

Now the feeling is beginning to grow
And the meaning is something you only know
If you believe it take my hand and Ill take your heart
Now Im wondering where does true love begin
Im going under so Im lettin you in
My woman (I dont wanna be lonely)
I wanna love you all over

Do you believe in love
Do you believe it true
Do you believe in love
Oh you can bet I believe it too

I use to have you in a photograph
(Im so glad its changed)
But now Ive got you and its gonna last
(do you believe in love)

Do you believe in love
Do you believe it true
Do you believe in love
Oh you can bet I believe it too

Nine hours til I meet Courtney in person for the first time :)  I totally have butterflies and stuff just thinking about it.  *squeal*

To do list today:  Haircut, organize bedroom, Noah's birthday party, shower, and be on a train downtown by 6:20.

I know I write these entries pretty much every time I visit Wisconsin, but that's when the feelings get stirred up.  And this time there's another opportunity that needs to be acted on very soon if I choose to act on it at all.  I figure I'll throw the whole situation out for comments.  I know I'm the one that ultimately needs to make the decision, but I welcome more (and better) brains than mine to process the facts as well.  I mean if I act too hastily here I run the risk of giving myself the financial shaft and impacting others as well, but if I go my usual route of complete inaction, I run the risk of passing up a wonderful opportunity that may not come around again.  

Here's the situation: My best friend Meg recently moved into the first floor of a house.  The second floor is still for rent.  The upper unit is a four-bedroom with a total rent of $750.  I wouldn't be there myself though, the expenses would be spent three ways.  Enter our cast of characters:  Randie is so gay he makes Eric Reithel look straight.  Sure, there are benefits to having a live-in hair stylist/makeup artist/manicurist, but he looks like a male Dose, acts like a male Dose, and I fear may possibly share her mental instability as well.  Randie is the unknown in this situation--I've met him two or three times, all at parties.  At least I wouldn't be the only one snoring though.  Also enter Marick.  Marick is among my "I was interested but she wasn't so now I supress my feelings as much as I can" file.  (Yes, I know, that's a pretty fat file.)  I know I can live with Marick because there was a 2-month period when I first met her that I pretty much did.  Marick is a cube slave during the week, a schedule I'm used to adapting around anyway from living with my parents..  Along with Marick comes her young son Evan.  I haven't spent time with him since before he could talk, and I'm not exactly sure what the current custody schedule entails, but kids seem to love me and I generally love them, so I don't forsee a problem.  Controlling my surpressed feelings for Marick is a slight worry,, but a challenge I'm confident I can handle, given the commonality of that situation with me.  The unknown is balanced out with a good friend whose company I enjoy.

Every situation has its pros and cons, and this is no different.  Here's a 5:45 am with little to no sleep and active cat allergies brainstorm, but feel free to point out any others I may have overlooked.  That's why I'm posting this, after all.

Pros:

• Closer to most of my friends
• New location means new friends, new possibilities
• I'd have two major markets close enough to look for side jobs in
• Sharing a two-unit house with friends means no concerns about theft of thngs left in basement or back yard
• Could probably consolidate food budget and take turns cooking for everybody upstairs and down, save money.
• Ditto with Internet connection.  Yay for wi-fi.
• Much easier access to Meg and Brenna.
• Close to Chicago, Milwaukee, the hospital, the beach, shopping, and Great America
• New schools to attempt when I'm ready.
• No smells of steel mills and refineries.
• My uncle is pretty damn strange.

Cons:

• Further from both immediate and extended family, ie Seth, Noah, Logan, my aunts
• I'd go from having the second shortest commute to my main job to having the longest in the dept.
• Gas, tolls, and waking up early comes with that commute.  And I like the job too much to leave.
• Further from church.  While I could find another here, nobody at my current one is currently capable of or ready to assume my responsibilities there.
• No more CPCT (although I could find another theatre to work with, I value the friendships I've developed directly and indirectly through CPCT).
• No more Tuesdays wiith Jenn and probably limited Fridays with Rich.
• Further from friends and interests in NW Indiana.
• Unlikely I'd be able to continue as back-up man and possible part timer with Dr. Karaoke DJ Service.
• Further from Ghost Central.
• No more random spur of the moment getting wasted and discussing theology with Jacob
• Financial impact:  My current arrangements are no rent for the next month or two then $150/mo which includes utilities.  My only house expense is the groceries I use.  That would be upped to $250/mo plus 1/3 utilities should I accept the new arrangements.  Mind you I'd still have my student loans, credit cards, car expenses, etc.  When I first started my new job, covering that would have been no problem.  Hours have been cut since then and my 70 hour weeks turned into 17.  So unless I find some side work, I'm having problems paying my bills as it is, much less an increase on them.  My hours will get a little bit better come spring when more events are booked, but probably won't go back to the massive amounts of overtime until the economy improves, which will probably not be til early Fall.

That's about all I can think of right now.  I'd value any other pros, cons, comments about any that I've listed, or comments about the balance between the two.  Sure it's my decision, I want to make sure its an informed one.

It's a Woot Off.  Come on, Bag O Crap!

In other news, semifinals in the Cavanaugh's contest are tomorrow (Tuesday) night.  I can use all the support I can get.  Call me if you wanna come.  I still have my $50 tab too, maybe I'll share.

...Or is everything really better in Wisconsin?

I've been here nine hours on a random visit, and I'm starting again to question why I'm not here on a more permanent basis.  I'd be further from my family, chuch, and work, all of which I love very much.  Then again, I'd not be so far that a day trip is out of the question.  Actually, I think Kenosha might still be a closer commute than what my boss has.  And of course I have many more friends here in Wisconsin, the air is better, the food is better, and hell, even the girls are better.

I'm not in financial shape to make that move now, but I'm thinking aboujt it again as a definite goal.

01. megeratrin03 
02. moshing_nekked 
03. stopshoot1 
04. megeratrin03 
05. megeratrin03 
06. sadistwolf 
07. srbrimhall 
08. pezamistik 
09. pezamistik 
10. pezamistik 
11. noonesbeeyatch7 
12. srbrimhall 
13. megeratrin03 
14. oiomure 
15. tasslehoff_7 
16. kerianne1378 
17. bluealienjr 
18. megeratrin03 
19. umi_no_touki 
20. ilovestewie04 
21. ashes2maddox 
22. miranda_lavias 
23. amndad 
24. ashes2maddox 
25. megeratrin03 
26. lissa_cereal 
27. megeratrin03 
28. umi_no_touki 
29. lissa_cereal 
30. Sure, you can have the list.  But ONLY, and I mean ONLY if you're going to do and post it.  Comment if you're interested.

Just finished my first day at the new job. I like it already.

There are so many hoops to jump through to get hired in at a casino I'm starting to feel like a circus animal.

For the first time in what seems like forever, I'm about to go to work.

Not saying this apples to anything or providing any other details. Just asking.

Poll #1247091 JustAQuestion
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 8

How long do you wait after the beginning of limited to no contact with a significant other before you just assume they broke up with you without telling you?