A taste of the awesomeness

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The Civil Wars @WorkPlay in Birmingham

Benny Hinn, Ultimate Power

Marie is asleep in the next room and I'm trying with all my strength not to wake her up laughing at this video.  It's brilliant!

"Barton Hollow" | The Civil Wars | Live on The Jay Leno Show (January 14th, 2011)

They absolutely nailed this performance, I'm so excited more people
are getting to hear their music!

Some 2011 Resolutions

I'm not one to make resolutions, but I thought this might be a good idea to put my own personal goals for the year out there. There is something about writing/typing things out that make them more real to me.

So this year...

* I will be slow to add "friends" on Facebook.

I have too many friends already. I value my friends and it is interesting to see what acquaintances are up to. By limiting my Facebook friends, there is less clutter from people I barely know and I can focus on keeping up with those I am more connected with. I'd rather have few Facebook friends and more real life ones.

* I will invest my time in genuine relationships that will be messy and difficult.

Nothing compares to face to face relationships. They can be tough work. But genuine friendships can last a lifetime and make it worth living.

* The thing that will most fascinate and infatuate me will be my relationship with God.

There are so many things in the world that arrest my attention. In 2011, I want to become more focused and attentive to what matters most. Not someone famous, not a new gadget, not my job, or a hobby or even a family member, God is much more fascinating and compelling than any of those things. It's time I devote my mental and physical attention like I believe it.

* I will learn how to be a better leader and a better servant.

As a person seeking to be paid to do ministry this year, I desire to be a better leader by pouring into and serving others sacrificially.

* I will make my marriage second to my relationship with God.

Marie, you're #2! I know that doesn't sound very romantic, but as I let God pour onto me, He enables me to love my wife/family more completely. After all, God is the source of love.

* I will learn to make the most of the present.

I constantly am thinking if the next thing I have to do. I'm obsessed with the future and it's not healthy. This year, I want to fall in love with the present. I want to learn to cherish every moment today. Yesterday is over and can't be changed. The future doesn't exist yet. The only thing I can control is how I live today. The present is a gift to be cherished.

How about you? What is a goal you have this year for yourself and why?

Hitchcock would love this

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I took this video at my work today. It was a flock of black birds. Smaller than crows, they had some blue-green coloring around their necks. Anyone know what they are?

Meet Elphie, she's on crack

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p30.mov (7315 KB)

This is normal behavior for her.

Musings on newlywed life and Christmas

It's been a month since I married the incredible Marie Pasco and things are just starting to get settled. Our home looks habitable (just don't go in the bedrooms yet), and we're entertaining our first guests this week.

I have been asked several times "Erik, how does it feel to be married?" Well to be honest, it feels more like a continuation of a great relationship than an entirely new experience. I'm loving it. It's nice to have your best friend living with you and it's awesome to not have to drive home after an evening together.

I spent my first Christmas as a married man with Marie's family. It was a little sad to be away from home in Ohio, but it was exciting to get a little Christmas snow down here in Alabama.

The cool thing about getting married is that all those family traditions you remember growing up with? You get to create your own new traditions. This year Marie and I got to start a few new Christmas traditions we hope to pass on to our children (some day).

Now that things are getting back to semi-normal, I will begin the hard work of finding a new youth ministry position. Marie and I are praying that God would lead us to a community of believers that would allow us to grow and use our unique gifts to minister to teens and families. Please be in prayer with us as we search.

As a new year approaches, I'm reminded of how much God has provided for Marie and I over the last year. 2010 was a great year. Here's to 2011!