clearlychaos

“With Everything” by Hillsong… this song is...

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:13:37 -0400

“With Everything” by Hillsong… this song is lighting me up right now. :)

A short little promo for the Baptism service coming up on August...

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:41:01 -0400

A short little promo for the Baptism service coming up on August 22. If you wanna sign up or grab some more info go here: http://www.oakbrookchurch.com/baptism

Dadness: class begins tonight

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:06:12 -0400

Well it’s here.

The first baby class is tonight.

Not sure what goes on at these things, but if you know me you know that I’ve got a super short attention span and i’m pretty quick on the chuckle, so the combination of the two should be a perfect combination for this class about this kinda stuff. :)

I can’t believe the classes are here. That means we’re seriously on the home stretch.

In 10 weeks I’m gonna have a daughter.

Strange to think about I’m so close to meeting a little person that’s gonna re-define my life for the rest of my life…

crazy.

I’ll let ya know how this class goes… I’ll try not to embarrass my wife. :)

cheers,
j

Haiti Video 2010. A short little mash up of some pics and...

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:26:36 -0400

Haiti Video 2010. A short little mash up of some pics and videos from our Haiti trip.

Dadness Update

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:07:47 -0400

I feel our little girl move like crazy now. Not just kicks, but like these crazy pushes.. wow it’s weird… but AWESOME. :)

The room is getting so close to completion. It’s crazy to walk by there everyday and see all the stuff… this is really happening.

Gretch has washed the clothes we have and has ‘em in drawers and some hanging in the closet.

Carter is so funny, everytime we’re in the babies room he comes and tries to sit on our laps… I think he senses himself getting replaced haha… he’s such a good boy, it’s still just him and I holding the dude factor down at the Lee house.

We’ve moved on to having doctor’s appointments every 2 weeks… that means we’re real close…

We start the “classes” in a couple weeks, that should be interesting… haha…

I’m reading a book “the happiest baby on the block” - WOW.

I’m trying not to watch anything that makes me think of girls at age 13.

Gretch’s belly is really popping out there… she’s so cute. :)

It’s only like 11 weeks away.

That’s like 11 Mondays.

woah.

then I shall be a dad, and have a daughter.

can’t wait to meet that little one, she’s gonna blow my mind.

cheers,

Set List | 07.18

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:57:04 -0400

I have to say last sunday was CRAZY. I got back from Haiti around midnight on saturday, where I was leading worship every morning with a ghetto sound system, no lights, no video, a not-so-in-tune guitar, and a bunch of haitians that don’t speak english, and was standing on the stage @oakbrookchurch a few hours later. CRAZY.

But it was soooo good! :)

the trip was awesome, and unlike the first time, that sent me into a little bit of a tailspin for a while, this second trip did the opposite. It just gave me hope… because the CHURCH is alive and well down in HAITI, and God is soooo much bigger than we make Him.

I’ll write more about Haiti later as I keep processing what God wanted to teach me down there… but for now here’s a little about the setlist sunday morning.

Prelude: #41 by The Dave Matthews Band

that’s right, one of the greatest songs ever written. I butchered it in comparison, but it sure was fun playing… I love that our church will play a song like that… how many church’s do you know that are playing a little DMB for the prelude? haha… I love that!

Worship Set:

Say, Say by Kristian Stanfil

I’m really digging this song… it’s seriously FUN, and it’s got spectacular lyrics “I Believe in Kingdom Come Son of God King of Love.” Yes please. Oh, and it has this awesome little measure of 2/4 in a 4/4 song, I don’t know that’s just fun.

Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin

What a great song to sing over my friends down in Haiti… “The Church will stand she will endure” AMEN.

How Great is Our God / Our God is Greater by Chris Tomlin

I mashed up these two songs a bit, but I loved singing them after seeing the scripture about who God is. I love how songs like these so capture our RESPONSE to GOD… meaning it captures just what I want to say back to God after I see/hear/read/experience something about HIM…

all for now… cheers,
j

It’s kinda bouncy, but this video was taken by my friend...

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:06:29 -0400

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

It’s kinda bouncy, but this video was taken by my friend Kris from the back of a truck following the Koupon soccer team home from a game they just won 3-0… there’s another video of us once we get into the village and it seems like every person comes out, but I could’t resist posting this one…

listen to the team as they cheer “CURTIS FOR LIFE!”

priceless.

j

Just a few Haiti pics… more to come. :)

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:50:06 -0400

Just a few Haiti pics… more to come. :)

Haiti 2010 | day one

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:47:00 -0400

it’s actually our 3rd full day but I’ll post these as I get the internet. :)

Yesterday we had a lay-over in NY, an overnight… went smooth. JFK was pretty easy to navigate, the team is having a blast getting to know each other better. We got to the hotel in the evening and ordered some NY style pizza… fold it up and put it down, so good. :)

We woke up and had forever to chill at the airport… I remember being tired and so excited to get back to Haiti…

We got into Haiti right before lunch, the plane landed and we actually walked off the plane on a jetway, i think that’s what it’s called. Last year they just opened the door and we walked onto the tarmac, this year, there’s obviously been some money put into the airport. As we’re walking off the plane you can look accross the runway and see the little US base with a few military choppers and transport vehicles, kinda crazy.

Imigration and baggage claim was set up in a temporary barn… no A/C… seriously intense heat. the baggage claim was honestly one of the crazier things i’ve ever done, seemed like 1,000 hot and sweaty Haitians and a few white people all clamoring for bags as they SLOWLY roll out of the conveyor.

They only lost 4 of our 16 bags, which isn’t bad, but 3 of those bags had dinners in them… haha… guess we’ll stretch those pancakes out a little farther. :)

that night we got to the apartment, settled in, and went to bed pretty quick, it was gonna be an early morning at church.

There’s another guy, soon to be joined by another two guys also staying the apartment with us… he’s a Canadian, so you know he’s crazy. He’s heading up construction on an addition they are putting onto the Clinic… very cool.

This morning we woke up really early to head to church… that was awesome. It was a special sunday, so they had the WHOLE church, kids and all, packed into the cafeteria-turned-church. They grew so much that they had to move from the actual church building… what an AWESOME problem… God is doing such cool things through Aurthor (the missionary here) and the men and women that he has leading the church… just amazing.

They asked us to do a song, Kris, katie and myself pulled off glory to god forever… nothing like a little FEE in a church in Haiti.. haha.. I had to sing hunched over a podium playing a guitar with a strap I could barely fit around me… Haitians are thin :) but it was something I won’t soon forget.

after lunch we hung out for a bit, then we all took a walk through the village right next to double harvest (Koupon) with Curtis. Curtis has been in Haiti for months, teaching english and creating soccer teams… he is a rock star in that village… you’ll see when I post some video and pics soon.

It always blows my mind walking through Koupon. I hope it’s marked in me forever. And this being my second trip just makes it even crazier… because you KNOW people… you REMEMBER faces… crazy. Tinom showed us his house, he’s a kid that plays on Curtis’ team… must be like 18 or so… he lives in a stick and mud hut with a friend. they both sleep on a twin size bed. crazy.

we stopped at an assistant coach of Curtis’ house, Woodley, to watch the 2nd half of the world cup. Now that was really crazy… the world cup on a porch in Haiti. INSANE.

then tonight I drove aurthor’s truck and followed Curtis and the Koupon soccer team to a village about 20 minutes away. A few adventures all in one… driving was really something… and the soccer team was out of control excited.

Curtis has these guys so disciplined, they warm up together just like a team you’d see in the US… it was impressive to watch. They played beautiful soccer. Passing… teamwork… crazy talented guys.

Then what the real craziness is was when we drove back it was dark, and we drove down through Koupon with the team hanging off the trucks yelling… as we got into the village kids and adults started coming out of the woodwork yelling. It was out of control! Honestly one of the coolest experiences of my whole life.

Lenny Kravitz Crashes a choir concert in New Orleans… this...

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:01:15 -0400

Lenny Kravitz Crashes a choir concert in New Orleans… this is so cool…

“Apple of my Eye” Video shot on iPhone 4 and edited...

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:08:45 -0400

“Apple of my Eye” Video shot on iPhone 4 and edited on iPhone 4. WOW.

Just a few pics… I had the incredible privilege to lead...

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:47:26 -0400

Just a few pics… I had the incredible privilege to lead worship with some friends at CDYC 2010 this past week. A room full of junior high kids = the craziest energy I’ve ever seen. Seriously. The last night of the camp was out of control… we’re talking these kids as loud as 110+ db WITHOUT the sound system… haha… so fun!

I also got to lead with my friend Tony, so awesome to be able to lead these kids along side him….

It was an awesome week, the band just killed it, Adam (main CDYC conference dude) just leads an incredible team… it was so awesome to get to jump in for a bit in what God is doing among them!!!

That's crazy!

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:33:04 -0400

I felt my kid move like never before.

It wasn’t a kick.

It wasn’t a punch.

It was like she was moving accross my wife’s stomach.

that was weird.

I can’t wait to meet that little one!

dadness shall be epic.

Set List | 06.13

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:47:00 -0400

A while back I used to post the set list after I’d lead on a sunday… in case people wanted to grab the songs, or where just curious about why we sang what we sang.

I’m gonna start again. :)

I had a lot of fun today… the set was a few of my favorites…

1. All Because of Jesus by Steve Fee
If you’re around Oakbrook you know this one for sure. :) I love a song with a simple melody and a huge amount of heart… and this for sure fit’s that bill. So fitting to sing in this series, how true is it that we are ALIVE because of JESUS! True life is found in HIM. Not to mention Brandon’s delay guitar makes my heart happy.

2. Walk the World by Charlie Hall
I told everybody Sunday morning that I’d been praying the words of this song all week, which was really a stinking awesome thing for me. The words are so action oriented, and if you pray ‘em and mean ‘em, I promise it’ll move you into action if you let it. I especially resonate with the second verse and prechorus… check it out again:

“and we where born for this, born for this day and time, our prayers flow into love, giving our lives. broken but singing, our hearts keep shining.”

This really pushes me into action, our PRAYERS flow into LOVE… into me truly LOVING people… such a good song with good words to have on our lips.

This song also has a crazy sick groove… or is it worship disco music? Either way, I love it.

3. Forever Changed by Eddie Kirkland
One of my favorite new songs… I love the minor and kinda dark verses and the big major chorus. I love the simple words… especially the bridge…”The power of sin is broken I have been set free, for I have died and Jesus is alive in me.” Some things are so true you just have to sing them and put your whole heart behind them. I can’t help but get into it when I sing words like this! You can grab this song on the North Point Live “Awake” CD.

Man I have fun leading on Sundays… it’s such a priveledge to get to play and sing with some of the most talented people around… I love our church!

cheers,
j

Typeface interior design: It's not what you think

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:36:35 -0400

Typeface interior design: It's not what you think

We got a crib and dresser for the baby yesterday....

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:07:07 -0400

We got a crib and dresser for the baby yesterday. @gretchenannlee HOOKED UP a deal! (surprising right?) One companies “old style” is a new parents new crib. :) When that stuff is in the babies room it’s gonna be crazy… and on a side note, didn’t know there where so many options with cribs… haha… add it to the list of things you learn as you become a dad. :)

embracing my dadness…
j

"Fans (of soccer) say the scarcity of goals is the whole point. A goal at the highest level of the..."

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:20:53 -0400

“

Fans (of soccer) say the scarcity of goals is the whole point. A goal at the highest level of the game is a miracle. Consider the odds. You have to move a ball across a large field, eluding 10 obstinate foes, without using your hands. You cannot legally pass the ball to a teammate who has raced past the last defender. Once you approach the goal, you must put the ball into a net eight yards wide and eight feet high, guarded by the one man on the field allowed to use his hands. It is, when you think about it, an impossible task.

What it takes to score a goal goes beyond hitting a home run, beyond scoring a touchdown, beyond slipping the puck past the hockey goalie. It is something beyond athletic skill, something that transcends ball handling and deft touch and a powerful shot. It takes, for the lack of a better word, magic.

”

- Joe Posnanski, Sports Illustrated

US Soccer on the cover of SI. I think we could run into the top...

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:19:45 -0400

US Soccer on the cover of SI. I think we could run into the top 8… Maybe if we get lucky final 4…Oh yeah. The World Cup is soon… Very soon.

joellarison: Hey Oakbrook Church peeps. I am leading this new...

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:04:01 -0400

joellarison:

Hey Oakbrook Church peeps. I am leading this new song this weekend. I am so excited to sing this song with you guys. It’s called “No Reason to Hide” by Hillsong.

So check out this song, download it, burn it…this gives ya’ll a head start to sing as one big family on Sunday AM.

3 reasons I love this song

1. The first line in the Chorus is the WHOLE DEAL..the whole good news. “You’re alive and we are free…you are everything we need.” Simple but powerful words that include the heart of why the Church exists and why Jesus matters today.

2. The words in the verses are awesome for me. They challenge me to live out my faith throughout the week and throughout whatever situation I find myself in. “There is a city that waits for us, it’s time we took all the lampshades off.”

3. This song just stinkin rocks. Loud guitars, big drums…and come on, who doesn’t love a big “WHOAH, OHH” in a song. Instant anthem. Add water.

I’m looking forward to it guys and gals. Have a great rest of the week! See ya’ll at Church on Sunday, but remember to be the Church this week!

Thoughts in Dadness

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 08:13:23 -0400

I watched ‘Away We Go’ last night. First time I’ve watched it knowing I’m gonna have a kid. It changed the experience to say the least…

I painted the babies room this weekend. It’s not that my wife’s growing belly doesn’t make it seem real, but there’s something about this empty room that’s painted a new color that makes it feel like its so soon…