I’m trying really hard to stay focused on what is important to me. I’m taking more serious measures to stay focused on my relationship with God. I want to always be hungry. I think you are in a good place if you are constantly hungry. You shouldn’t ever be completely content in your walk with Christ. We’ve all heard this before, but its about being uncomfortable. Christ is infinite, so I guess that means there is never a final destination. You never come to a certain point where you say “Woo!! I made it!” There is always more to learn, and always more room to grow.

So I recently started a reading plan on YouVersion.com.  I am currently reading through the Gospels. I’m not too sure you if you realize this, but those are some pretty important books. There is even an iPhone app for it!

I’ve also been reading some “hip” Christian books that were probably written in a Starbucks while the writer was drinking a 5$ cup of coffee, wearing 200$ jeans, and typing words on a 2000$ computer about how Jesus wants us to live. There isn’t anything wrong with those books, but its important to read what Jesus actually said for ourselves.

I recommend the reading plans. These are helpful for me because I’m not a big reader, and probably wouldn’t have the motivation to read on my own. It seems like, as of lately, that reading God’s Word is the only thing that keeps my head on straight.

-Kurtis

Come all you weary with your heavy loads
Lay down your burdens find rest for your souls
Cause my yoke is easy and my burden is kind
I’ll take yours upon me and you can take mine

Come all you weary move through the earth
You’ve been spurned at fine restaurants and kicked out of church
Got a couple of loaves sit down at my feet
Lend me your ears and we’ll break bread and eat

Come all you weary
Come gather round near me
Find rest for your souls

Come all you weary, you cripples you lame
I’ll help you along you can lay down your canes
We’ve got a long way to go but we’ll travel as friends
The lights growing bright further on further in

Come all you weary
Come gather round near me
Find rest for your souls

Rest for your souls

Come all you weary
Come gather round near me
Find rest for your souls

So me and the dudes just got back from an amazing three days at Winter Xtreme in Branson, Missouri. We got to play with some pretty cool bands including Skillet, Newsong, Casting Crowns, Brandon Heath, Julian Drive and Stellar Kart.  It was pretty incredible getting to lead worship for over 5000 kids at once.  Not to mention that CCB got to ride a tour bus for the first time together.  That was pretty cool.

The first night was kinda chaotic.  Everyone was running a little bit behind, so we were kind of rushed to get on stage to sound check.  We had to start setting up our stuff while Brandon Heaths band was still on stage.  I accidentally rolled my amp over some of the guitar players cables and he got really mad at me.  I tried to apologize, but he wasnt having it.  It was pretty funny how he reacted.  He was wearing a really dumb looking hat that night, so I guess thats why he was mad. He was really good though.  Way better that me.  Other than that one small incident, everyone else we met was super awesome/super nice.  And I’m sure the guy who got mad at me is a good dude.  I think everyone was a little stressed at that point, so I wont hold anything against anyone.

The ride home was very long.  We were on the bus for 24 hours straight.  Luckily, i didnt get any sleep while i was there, so I slept in my bed for at least 20 of those 24 hours.  It was nice.  The beds on the bus were pretty awesome.

Overall, it was a great experience.  I hope this opens many new doors for the CCB.  Love playing/traveling with those dudes.

-Kurtis

So recently, I got into a couple of interesting debates with a couple of really good friends.  These people disagreed with me on issues that I didn’t think they would.  These are also people who rarely disagree with me.

I was caught off guard.

Im actually not going to get in to the main issue we discussed.  We did discuss this smaller side question, and I’d like to see some thoughts on that before I post the other question. (If I do it at all….)

Here’s the question……

Are there different degrees of love?  Are there only different types of love rather than degrees?  Do the different types of love represent different degrees of love?  Should there be different degrees of love?

Ready… set… COMMENT!!!

AND I REALLY DO WANT YOU TO COMMENT ON THIS!! ANYONE CAN COMMENT. YOU DONT HAVE TO HAVE YOUR OWN BLOG ACCOUNT!!!!

-Kurtis

In case anyone is interested, I’m gonna post a real quick summary of how we got engaged.

These are the three main things i was focused on….

1) Food

2) Song

3) Ring

My original plan was to take her on a picnic, since we had kinda talked about doing that anyways.  I ran into a couple problems with that though…

Problem 1) The weather.  The ground was wet, and it was still cloudy and kinda depressing looking.

Problem 2) We are currently in McDonough, so there arent really many good picnic destinations. (Unless you like Nascar, fishing, camo, and beer, in that order.)

Problem 3) She decided to go shopping with her mom that day, not knowing i had this planned obviously.  By the time she was done, i figured it would be too dark/cold to do a picnic.

I had to change my plans last minute which kinda stressed me out.  I know with something like this, you shouldnt have to change your plans last minute, but i did.  And it worked out.

Basically what i did was set up a fancy table for dinner and lit a ton of candles.  She was not expecting this when she got to my house, so that was a surprise in itself.  I got some Olive Garden to-go because she likes italian food and i figured id rather get something good rather than try and cook it myself. ha.

After dinner, we went to the other room where i had several candles lit.  It looked pretty awesome.  I told her I had another surprise for her. (By this point, i figured she knew what was about to happen….) I got my guitar and sang her the song i wrote her.  Keep in mind, she has been wanting me to write her a song for the last 4 1/2 years, but i was too big of a loser to do it until now.  She started to cry a little bit, but not nearly as much as i hoped. haha!  Shes just not much of a crier.  I think the song was cheesy, but girls like that kind of stuff.  She loved it!  After that, I told her I had one more surprise.  Thats when I said all the sappy stuff and got down on one knee.  It was pretty awesome.  I was nervous/excited the whole time.

So I know it may not seem like this super extravagant  proposal that you might see in a movie, but it was really special and personal to us, and thats what matters most.  All I know is that I am super excited and I feel kinda bad for her because she has to put up with me for the rest of her life!!!!!!  But i sure do love her!!!

Thats all!  Here are a couple pics…

Im sitting in class learning about budgeting within the church.  I guess its important stuff if I’m going to work in this field, but its pretty boring.

In more important news, I’m still pulling for Phillies and Yankees in the World Series.  Its looking good.  I want the Phillies to win the World Series, but Im not so sure if they will anymore.  I dont think the bullpen can hold a team like the yankees.  Oh well, we will see.  There isnt any reason for this post.  Im just bored in class.

How bout them Falcons?  The dirty birds have been doing dirty work lately.  Are the Falcons super bowl contenders?  Thoughts?

“Throughout time, somewhere between forty-five billion and one hundred twenty-five billion people have lived on this earth.  Thats 125,000,000,000.  In about fifty years (give or take a couple of decades), no one will remember you.  Everyone you know will be dead.  Certainly no one will care what job you had, what car you drove, what school you attended, or what clothes you wore.”

- Francis Chan – “Crazy Love”

Thats right people.  We are just a mist on this earth that soon disappears.  We are just the extras in GOD’S movie.  You know, the extra where you only see the back of their head for about 1/10 of a second…. The one no one cares about.  All the things you think matter in life, (cars, clothes, being trendy, ect.) well, they dont.  Not even a little.  Why do we still act like everything is about us?  I’m guilty too, as always.

Our lives are supposed to point to God. Period.

- Kurtis

So, I was picking the Braves and the Yankees to play each other in the world series for a while now.  People thought I was crazy, but I have more confidence in my Braves than most people.  People always want to talk about how bad they suck at baseball, but they are forgetting they were among the best for 14 years in a row.  Toward the end of the season, they came close to winning the wild card.  Suddenly, I didnt look as crazy.

The Rockies ended up winning out, so we didnt make it.

Since the Braves didnt make it, im calling Yankees and Phillies in the World Series.  I will be rooting for the Phillies not because I am a Phillies fan, but because I want the NL East to be well represented.  It makes the Braves look better I guess.

With that said…. who are your World Series picks?? (I know that no one will comment on this.  I will continue to look like a loser.  Its worth a shot though…)

So I’ve been listening to a couple new records that I would recommend to everyone. Here we go….

Thrice – “Beggars” – This is a great record. Its not really like anything else Thrice has ever put out in my opinion, but I guess all of their records are like that. When you can change it up with every record and it still be good, you are a good band. Most bands cant pull this off.

MuteMath – “Armistice” – Another great one.  This band is still at the top of my “best live bands” list.  This record is also a little bit different than previous releases.  It seems like its more “computerized” with less real instruments.  The cool thing is, i know they still pull off all the “computery” stuff live.

Emery – “In Shallow Seas We Sail” – This is still probably my favorite out of all of them right now.  Ive even had this one for a while now and im still not tired of it.  I think its that good.  I’d probably listen to anything these guys put out.  They have been one of my top 3 favorite bands for a while now.

Paramore – “Brand New Eyes” – I havent listened to these guys (and girl) in a while now, but i decided to check out the new record.  I havent got all the way through it yet, but so far the first song on the record is the only one im that impressed with.  But that one song is really really good.  I havent listened to enough of it yet though.

Ive also heard that the new “Muse” record is good.  I havent really got a chance to listen to it yet though.

Are there any more good records that have come out lately??