The Hoppers are a top notch organization, and i wanted to thank them for allowing me to serve in that capacity. I hope to do many more. God bless you all, and have a wonderful Sunday!

So yesterday I recorded the last bit of my new E.P. coming out soon. Yes, it’s been a long time since I went there, and I wanted to be done much sooner. Glad I waited. Justin Taylor and Zach Beane came and recorded on the record. My oh my. Let’s just say that they both provided some UNREAL help to me and this project.

There were some great moments Tuesday and I was fortunate enough to have them on tape. Just amazing stuff.

Zach’s stuff coming soon. You can find Justin Taylor at…

www.iamjustintaylor.com

Peace and Love, and off to bed for me.

So he began to plant.

Some accounts say that the fields that he worked numbered in the hundreds of thousands of acres. John started at age twenty five, and did not stop until he died. For a nation of rugged individualists, he was an icon. He still is. Many families owe their lives to him. All some of them ate for weeks were apples. The fruits of his labor. People would be thanking God for ‘Johnny Appleseed’ even through the Civil War and beyond.

My point is simply this. You never know who or how many people you will be affecting when you plant seeds. Literally. So plant the seeds that will nourish other people. Be alert and aware of events and surroundings that will allow you to plant seeds. Then, plant without expectation. Life lesson #2, plant the seeds.

Maybe you are one who thinks that others should do for you. I know many people who would rather others do for them, so they won’t have too. I can say that I am not one of these people. For those of you who are, jump into something head first and finish. You’ll be amazed at how you feel.

For those that feel ‘entitled’ to everything because of who you are or what you do, a word of warning. One day you will answer for using your ‘entitlement’ for selfish reasons. There are only a handful of things we are entitled to. My challenge to you is to truly find those things. A helpful hint is to be unselfish in your search. If you seek, you will find.

Lord forgive me for time I’ve wasted. Thank you for another day to ‘do’ rather than ‘complain’.

People who know me well know that I am very passionate about baseball. I believe it to be one of only a handful of things that are uniquely American. It is heartbreaking, joyous, interactive, seductive, and utterly beautiful. Men who fail 7 out of 10 times are heros. Drunkards, cowards and thieves are projected to mythical status in just an instant. Yet the game is so slow-paced, you can have a conversation with the person beside you. Baseball, like America, is the ultimate paradox.

It is the only game in which the defense has the ball. So many times as Americans, we feel we are playing defense just to stay alive. We believe we are fighting and scrapping to just get 3 shots at hitting the ball. It can be played on a corner lot, or a farmer’s field, or in a city alley. Prisons, Military Bases and Elementary schools have fields. And 20 years before we fought to become a nation for all people, Jackie Robinson ran out of the dugout to play 1st base; making this a sport for all people, no matter what the condition.

Baseball sets and follows the seasons. The Hope of Spring. The hotness and angst of late summer. The cold, dying truths of autumn. Baseball is an American struggle, between individual and collective, reform and rebirth, worker and owner. We have played baseball for hundreds of years. We have warred with foreign and domestic enemies, struggled with ourselves and even the meaning of freedom, and still we have played. Because baseball is THE American struggle, it has survived.

Baseball fosters in us hope of renewal, success even in failure, and the chance to touch home just one more time.

Written for my Dad who loved baseball more than I. Words and emotions fail to describe how much I miss you.

i have also realized that parenting is not for the faint of heart. When i became a father, my whole world-view was altered tremendously. Yet one more mouth to feed. One more life that i am responsible for. Everyday. This little girl will be molded more by my wife and i than anyone, or anything else. Sobering to say the least. Forever is the word that comes to mind.

i lost my dad to cancer just 11 days after i was married. i miss him more than i can describe, and wish he was here to tell me how to be a dad. but he’s not. This is not a pity party. It is to prove a point.

Every man needs his father. i don’t care how old i get, i will forever long for the knowledge, wisdom and comfort that fathers provide. i will always want for the interpersonal relationship that children and fathers have. i have that now on the father end. And, i have that with my father in heaven. So, kids and adults: honor your mother and father this week. Fulfill the longing in your heart to love and to be loved by your parents.

Fathers: man up. Be the example in your child’s life. If you don’t know how, get help from your dad. And, help is in the bible. The ultimate example of fatherhood.

Always remember: We are not promised tomorrow.

Then i think of Jesus praying in the garden.  While the disciples slept, He prayed.  More than likely for them and himself.  i bet He didn’t lose track of time.  He knew his time was not his own.  i wonder when i will learn this concept of dying to myself in order that others will be lifted up. It’s not easy when your ego is as super-human as Sampson’s strength.

How often should we die to ourselves?  How many Rob Blackwell’s will i have to destroy before i get it right?  Build a wall to tear it down, right?  Does my time mean anything if it’s not for others?  Too many questions to fully understand in an evening.

Prayer for tonight:  Lord, let me never think my time is more important than anyone else’s.  Thank you that you died for me knowing that i’d fail you everyday.  Your grace and mercy quench me, and sustain me.

The writing and playing continues as Avrile gets old. 8.5 months now. Time flies. Well, off to bed.  More death and carnage as i try to die to myself yet again tomorrow. Man, only Jesus is worth this

and that makes you worth it.

Today was busy.  David Horne and I spent it recording new stuff for everyone to share in.  It was and is awesome.  Learning more everyday about sharing what God has given me.  I really hope you all can catch a live show in the near future.  There is still a ton of work to do to ensure that I put my best effort forward.  Music and content is and will be getting better, which is exciting.

I believe that we should strive to do that in everything.  This means that we all need to be better at what we do.  This involves knowing the who, what, when, where , why and how of our daily lives.  I hope by following me on this journey, you will be inspired to do everything you need to in order to become GREAT.  Not just good.  Look out world, I’m gonna get you.  And I have a bunch of people to encourage to do the same.

Real change we can believe in.

Maybe that was the wow factor of this record.  As an artist, I’ve come to realize that my work does not define me.  It comes from me.  I define it.  I hope people love what I do, but I can’t hold it against someone if they don’t like it.  It doesn’t mean they don’t like me.  They just don’t like what I’ve done.

Artists tend to put their heart and soul into projects.  When critics tear the work apart, it’s like they are tearing the very soul out of the artist.  We can’t keep defining ourselves in these products and dealings.  I am not what I do:  what I do is A PART of me.  Not the whole.

Having said that, I try to make what I do GREAT.  I believe that good is the mortal enemy of Great.  They battle back and forth in our lives for control of our mind and our actions.  We by nature will want to settle for good.  That shouldn’t happen.  We only have a certain number of days.  We should be able to look back with no regrets on what we’ve done.  Fight the natural tendency and make your life GREAT!

Sure, John Mayer will sell millions of records and concert tickets this year.  People will still dig his stuff.  I will still question whether or not it’s ‘great’ rather than just ‘good’.

I believe that in the end, he won’t care:  because he has stated that this record is a snapshot of his heart. (paraphrase)  I am glad to hear an artist do the art, and then offer it with little thought of positive reaction.  He’s just doing his thing.

So, hats off John Mayer.  Way to wear your heart on your sleeve.

I hope in the end that people love what I do.  I pray that in the end, I have loved others more than myself and made sure everything I did had purpose and meaning in some one’s life.  This is the ‘greatness’ I want to achieve more than anything.

Also, thanks to all who have started coming here to see what’s going on.  My prayer is that you find this website to be as warm and comforting as that coffee shop was this past weekend.  I really do look forward to sharing this adventure with you.  As the holidays approach, let’s all be mindful of what we are thankful for and ways that we can remember this everyday, not just once a year.  i am thankful for wonderful, selfless people in my life who  encourage and equip me to be able to do life.  You all are amazing, and unbelievable at the same time.  I pray that I can be that in your lives one day.  I am sure that you can think of things to be thankful for.  Live them.  Be the reason someone is thankful.  As the song says ‘live like you were dyin’.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Even at 2:24am, the world seems alive: big.  I can hear cars drive by my small house and I wonder if they have had the same 24-hour experiences I have.  The fact they are driving at this time of day:  does that mean they are out of the norm or just chugging through the same old routine.  I wouldn’t know because I’m usually asleep by now.

I guess my point in all this is that just because it doesn’t involve you doesn’t mean it’s not happening.  The world continues to spin.  People are on the road even at 2:28 am.  The train barrels by.  People are aware and alive.  Things are shaking.

This doesn’t mean that we are insignificant; but that we are not the only ones who…fill in the blank.  So even though I hurt today, doesn’t mean there is not someone out there who is hurting.  Probably more than me.  And the cool thing is, that there is a God who knows it, and is with us, and calls us into action.  Even at 2:33 am.  What’s He calling you to do today?