devastation & reform

Cowboy Church

I had a chance to play guitar for the amazingly talented Leslie Lowe at a slightly different venue than normal. I knew the church was called, "Cowboy Church" but seriously, how far would they take it? I planned on seeing a few cowboy hats and a bunch of polished up Justin boots on wannabe cowboys - I couldn't have been more wrong.

These are real life cowboys & cowgirls. They ride horses, raise cattle, and their boots aren't for looks they're for working. They meet at Triad Livestock Arena, no a/c, the "floor" is dirt, the stage is a car-hauler type trailer, they baptized people in a water trough, and they brought the to-be-baptized into the arena in the back of a dualie pick-up truck. I felt so out of place, yet so much at home.

Stick around after the service is over and they'll even let you or the kiddies saddle up and ride around the arena. The folks at Triad Cowboy Church were some of the finest people I've ever met and I can honestly say that I've never felt more welcome in any church I've ever been to.

(Great article about TCC)

       

Set:

Grace Flows Down
Come to Jesus - Mindy Smith
I Saw the Light - Hank Sr

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Waiting on a plane

Picking up Ma Wagner from the airport. She's been on a week long trip to Jamaica with my bro & his United CWC crew.

I missed my mama. Fo reals. 

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TWLOHA

...but we will be her church, the body of Christ coming alive to meet her needs, to write love on her arms.

I remember calling to buy my first To Write Love On Her Arms shirt in late '06. I remember seeing a backstage pic of Jon Foreman on Switchfoot's myspace page and I had to find out who created it and where they were for sale. I found TWLOHA's myspace page (Yes I was a proud user of myspace.com and I still fancy it for finding new music) and the only shirt available was the Title Shirt. I still wear it proudly and most times, I re-read Renee's story printed on the inside before I put it on. Three and some years later, hundreds of festivals, a USA Today Ad, here is Diddy posting this image on his blog for millions of new eyeballs to see.

It's amazing how far a good story, one of hope and redemption, can travel.

more twloha:

facebook | twitter | faq's | store

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Guitar Lesson

This is how you play an F#maj7 on guitar folks

(via @seancwatkins)

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Links

Things I learned from today:

• Learning to say No to Bad Ideas from www.alistapart.com

• How to be Happy in Business from www.whatconsumesme.com

• You Don't Give a Sh*t About Anyone But Yourself from whatconsumesme.com

• Diffusion of Innovations from www.wikipedia.org

• Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action (TED talk) on youtube.com

• Every Monster Has a Big Shadow from www.sethgodin.typepad.com

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Passion

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People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it.

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Tobacco Rd

My photo of Tobacco Rd in Danville, VA is being used on the city's website

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I fought the law.. they still get paid

Back a few months ago I was pulled over by a Guilford County Sheriff. I was pulled over by a Guilford County Sheriff while in the High Point city limits. I was issued a ticket from an officer who has a history of harassing folks for "having probable cause to believe that on Thursday... 2010 in the county named above you did unlawfully and willfully AT A SPEED IN EXCESS OF 55MPH OUTSIDE MUNICIPAL CORPORATE LIMITS."  He listed the area as a "Residential" area, in Vicinity/City of Colfax.

The deputy chose to forgo using that fancy radar detector and just went with his instincts on this one.  After all, he had probable cause to believe I was speeding. Why are we buying this fancy radar equipment that cost tax payers ridiculous amounts when we can just eye-ball it?  I understand what "probable cause" is supposed to be, but when a ticket is dropped and you still have to pay the court $180 it seems that probable cause could just be code for "opportunity for revenue."

The coolest part is, not only did he not clock me, but he pulled me over in my own neighborhood.  Actually, he pulled in behind me and blocked me in my own driveway. As if him hauling ace up behind me wasn't enough to get my attention he also thought it appropriate to keep his blue lights on, you know, just in case the neighbors had missed his Rosco P. Coltrain entrance into the neighborhood. Good work fellas, keep on keeping the streets crime free.

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Every Life Has a Story

Read Dan Cathy's blog. He's an incredible inspiration.

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The Do Lectures

How US Public School almost killed an Entreprenuer

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Peaks of Otter

One scenic overlook, one Parkway, one Wifey, one lady playing a dulcimer, one Peak of Otter, info, more info, overlook.

               

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Coming soon...

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Pedalboard

Nigel Hendroff (@Droff):
Hillsong Live...the pedal board http://tweetphoto.com/34673707

http://twitter.com/Droff/status/19441152762

(Sent via Seesmic http://www.seesmic.com)

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Birthday Wishes

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I have a birthday coming up, and since it's all about me all the time I feel privileged, no, entitled to ridiculously expensive things that I think you should buy me (but that I would never buy for myself or spend as much on for your birthday) So, now that we agree on the fact that I am getting what I want, feel free to buy me the newly released Honda Chronograph Stainless Band watch for $329.00 or the Leather Band Chronograph II for $279.00. I would be okay with either.

Head on over to the HPD - Honda Racing Store to pick you out something nice for your bday, just keep it under $20 because, you know, it's all about me.
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July 4th

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Bistro B

I'm no restaurant review guy, but I do find joy in discovering cool new places to dine. And I am way too excited when the new place we've found lives up to, or in the case of Bistro B exceeds, whatever expectations I've conjured up from reading reviews, checking out their fb page, checking Yelp, etc.

I had the Angus Beef filet (the smaller 7oz) along with a Gouden Carolus Ambrio bottle of brew (a beer made by a brewery that has been in business since 1369AD!). Krystle had a flank steak salad that her tiny appetite was impressed with. We chose a table outside since the weather was nice, but we will definitely be back again (dressed more suitably) to dine inside in the classy dining area. Anyone who knows me knows I value the customer service at a restaurant as much as the quality of the food (if you don't appreciate my business then I don't care how good your food is, you aren't getting any more of my money) and the service was great too thanks to Lauren, our hostess/waitress.  

Bistro B is an extremely nice restaurant that would fit right in on Elm St downtown Greensboro, luckily though we get to keep them in Kernersville all to ourselves away from the big city.        

Check out Bistro B & Wine Bar on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kernersville-NC/Bistro-B-Wine-Bar/309362347567

     

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Ground Control

Swapped out my old Eibach Sportline springs for a new Ground Control setup tonight. My DA has seen more suspension revisions than I can even remember, but every iteration has used the same Eibach's. We've used Sportlines on several DA's before and they always end up sitting perfectly. I suspect that with mine being an RS that maybe the slightly lighter weight has something to do with it? Anyways, whatever the cause, I've never been happy with the ride height and have always wanted it another 3/4 inch or so lower.

Also, I've always been curious about using stiffer springs rates since she's not my daily beater anymore and ride comfort isn't an issue for me. The guy's at Ground Control knew exactly what I was looking for and sent me a set of their "auto-x / aggressive" rate springs (430lbs/in & 350lbs/in). Honestly I'm glad I took their advise because I was headed towards doubling that 350lb on the rear and it would probably have been a nightmare on the street.

Everything went smooth with the install, mainly because I was already using Koni's, so less mods were required. The only real mod was cutting the dust shield (you shorten it by about 3in so it doesn't bottom out into the threaded collar) , but a cut-off tool makes quick work of that.   

It is getting late so I just took it out for a quick spin tonight on the way home and so far I'm pretty impressed. Especially with initial body roll - there's zero! I'll update later after we get a chance to head up NC Hwy 89 to test it out.

               

*the Enkei's in the pic are for sale. I would love to get rid of them immediately. 17x7 40mm offset 4x100 bolt pattern - $400 obo

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Vengeance, a Badge, and a Gun (part II)

— Article on Open-Carry in NC 

(read through the comments and just pretend that these people are internet trolls that don't exist in real life)

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Things I learned today

+ Calculate exactly what time you should wake up, then set the alarm to at least an hour before

+ Dogs really are man's best friend - (no change on cats, they are still satanic little rats)

+ There are only 2 stalls in the Men's public restrooms at Hanging Rock State Park - the one on the right is too small to close the door once you're in

+ Mt. Airy is, in fact, just as small town awesome as you remember it - visit often 

+ Antiques 101: Sometimes one man's trash isn't anyone's treasure, it really was just trash

+ Make more friends. Somehow the friends you have made will end you up on top of Smith Mountain overlooking the entire lake for the 4th of July fireworks

+ Most importantly: remember that you and your wife were brought together by a sense of adventure - don't stop taking her on adventures you grumpy old fart

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Rappin' to stay relevant

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