Seriously, how can you not love someone who’s willing to put up with your silly antics and participate in them with you. I practically dragged Kristine into the room to takes pictures since I was toying around with my new lens, and as you can tell, she had no trouble getting into the mood to ham it up. Kristine is so much fun to be around and these pictures are just one of the reasons why I adore her. Thought you’d want to share in my smiles.
…are always appreciated, but how many times is the outcome good when you hear someone say “well, _______’s intentions were good”? Pretty much never, because if you’re saying that, then you’re basically defending that persons motives for screwing something up, right?
Andy Stanley (our pastor at Buckhead Church) started talking about Intentions vs. Traveling down the right path on Sunday, and it really got me thinking. I spend so much of my time using that phrase in my own brain, when speaking to myself. “Well, Stephen, your intentensions were good. You know that you meant to get up and work out this morning, but you didn’t and just because you’re seriously considering going up a pant size, doesn’t mean you didn’t mean well. Good job self, you’ve earned ice cream and a beer after dinner for your good intentions.” That’s a silly example, but how many more I have in my arsenal of intentions would take more time than I have and would probably shed too much light on my shady character.
Sure, there are instances where intentions are not the final destination due to things outside our control, but how often? How many times have I intended to be a good husband, but have instead opted at the last moment to play guitar instead of playing “dish cleaner” while waiting on Kristine to get home?…only to then scurry into the kitchen as I hear the garage door opening to work as quickly as possible, so that I get “props” for having come home and done the dishes without prompting…I am sneaky (and probably in trouble for admitting I’ve ever done that). At least lately, I’ve done dishes without first strumming the ole guitar, but my brain is constantly fighting me to “take a few minutes for yourself…you’ve worked hard today, and you deserve some “Stevo time”.
All the silly examples aside, I desire to act upon my intentions by moving along paths that will deliver me to that intended destination. I want to intend to follow God and to then meet him by going down the path of a quiet time in the morning, or by taking a “smoke break” at work to glance at Scripture to remind me of who He is. It’s been good to think of what intentions I have that I’m currently not arriving at, but also dissapointing, because I’ve realized how many things I can find excuses for not completing. The hard part is that my “excuses” are not bad things, but they do hinder me from following the paths that can lead me towards actually coming to arrive at my intended destinations.
(NOTE: “Smoke Break” stands for the 5 minutes here or there that I believe Non-Smokers deserve for “self” during the work day. We don’t smoke, yet were penalized for it by not being officially granted the permission to step outside and have a ciggy-treat. I’m all for smokers going out and smoking, but don’t we all get a few minutes then?…random rambling OVER)
It’s been more than a while since I prophesized of a musical talent that you should go out and immediately buy…it’s not because I do not have these recommendations, but simply that I haven’t had the time to adequately blog into the blog-o-sphere and let people know. So, without further ado:
BRETT DENNEN
Brett has been around for quite a while now, and I’ve been listening to him for a fair bit of time. He’s become one of my favorite folk singers around and reminds me of my favorite characteristics of Paul Simon mixed together with some new, unfamiliar, qualities that make his music attractive. His voice is unique and engaging and his lyrics make me think…he’s taken music and brought back storytelling with great music. He’s more than worth the listen, and if you’re dissapointed with Brett Dennen’s music…well, then you probably shouldn’t be listening to my recommendations anyway.
STEVE LEE
“What did you do today, Stephen Scott Lee?”
Whether you have kids, or if you just have a child-like fun-finding quality about you, Steve Lee’s album will make you smile. The entire CD takes you through a day in the life of Steve as a kid in school, who wakes up, goes to school, takes a field trip to the zoo, comes home and has dinner with the family, brushes his teeth and goes to bed. Many people would say that the CD is just for kids because the subject matter is that of children, but I say “NAY”. What’s awesome about this disc is that as it spins, you’re reminded of the magic of being a kid and seeing things like animals at the zoo or riding the bus to school with the Crazy bus driver we all know we had at that age.
You can find Steve’s music at virb.com/stevelee or you can go to myspace.com, but whatever you do, you should find him. Check out “Count to 10″, a song about getting mad and “counting to 10″ to help you cool off. Priceless.
Man, you’re just a kid
Twenty seven, where life begins
But I’m gonna have to grow into this
Style of livin’s different than my threads
v2
I’ve checked real estate off my list,
Only, I in a grey box from 9 till late
but I look on past this minute
outside this space wonderment persists
Chorus:
how beautiful is this time
knowing when day breaks
I’ll Go back to bein fine
v3
He said what is this
You call it happiness, I say it isn’t
Because I know more than measurements
20 feet past tomorrow is just one step
This is just a few lyrics from a song I’ve been thinking about lately. I spend a lot of time thinking how old and mature I must be, because of my status as a “Dad” and the fact that I own real estate, and all that other jazz that ADULTS do. But in reality, I’m still young, foolish, and all the rest…it’s the realization that I don’t have it all together, but that with Christ I will be alright..things will be fine and I just need to remember that God sees beyond what my mind is capable.
Kristine took this pic of Adler and I just before my performance at Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta on June 3rd. I edited it and it came out looking like what our band pic would look like if Adler could play an instrument. However, I always need a cute baby to help my music sound better, and he’s pretty good at lookin cute.
