DAY OFF MIND DUMP

Posted on February 28, 2011 by markartrip

Enjoying my day off.
We took some new family pics today with Ashley and Coty our friends at Henry Photography.
I guess I need to blog about why we NEEDED the pictures. We have also been doing a bunch of paperwork….that entry will be coming soon.
Going to the CELS conference at CE National this Sunday-Tuesday.
Looking forward to some time away, but not looking forward to being away from my family. I wish I could take them everywhere and stay on schedule…not happening.
Been working on lots of thing for Momentum including sessions and some promo videos we will film and roll out after CELS.
Working on the parody songs for Momentum also. I want to take it to the next level so I am hoping Dave and I can do one for every session.
HSM is starting a new series this week called relationsLips
Josh Howard is going to break out some love song covers
Recently I have had a number of students bring up that their friends “feel bad” or “convicted” after we teach on things at HSM. I am a people pleaser and don’t ever want to offend people, but I know that we are pretty straight forward and handle God’s word right so I wasn’t sure what to say. I don’t convict, the Holy Spirit does, and I wasn’t even teaching some of the times they were referring to so I wanted to just tell them to take that up with God.
Went on our first bike ride yesterday. Check out this pic http://twitpic.com/44hrff.
I have jumped back in the saddle as one of our worship leaders. I will lead 3 more times before I fade out. We are still looking for a worship guy.
I know this is going to be one of those Apple comments that makes people hate us, but the day that I have an apple computer and phone at work my life will be better. This Blackberry is killing me right now.
Here is a glimpse into my glamorous life. Dinner-homemade chicken pot pie, and than its off to the Y with the boys. Mom is going to clean and is pretty excited about the bachelor tonight.

GRAMMY AWARD’S 2011 PREDICTION FOLLOW

Posted on February 15, 2011 by markartrip

A few weeks ago on this blog, I made my picks for this year’s Grammy Awards. Since the ceremony happened this past weekend I decided I should put up the winners and admit the picks I got wrong and see if I got any right. I hardly got anything right-2 and some half rights. The truth hurts. I wish I could blame it on something….How about it was a pretty wild year with some major unpredictable upsets?

Album of the Year

My first pick » Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster

Runner up pick » Eminem – Recovery

Actual winner » Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Record of the Year

My first pick » Eminem (featuring Rihanna) – “Love the Way You Lie”

Runner up pick » Cee Lo Green – “F— You”

Actual winner » Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

Best New Artist

My first pick » Florence & the Machine

Runner up pick » Drake

Actual winner » Esperanza Spalding

Song of the Year

My first pick » Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me”

Runner up pick » Cee Lo Green – “F— You”

Actual winner » Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals

My first pick » Sade – “Babyfather”

Runner up pick » “Glee” cast – “Don’t Stop Believin’ (Regionals Version)”

Actual winner » Train – “Hey, Soul Sister (Live)”

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

My first pick » B.o.B, Eminem and Hayley Williams – “Airplanes II”

Runner up pick » Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg – “California Gurls”

Actual winner » Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No. 1, Jeff Beck and Oumou Sangare – “Imagine”

Best Dance Recording

My first pick » Lady Gaga – “Dance in the Dark”

Runner up pick » La Roux – “In For The Kill”

Actual winner » Rihanna – “Only Girl (In the World)”

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals

My first pick » Kings of Leon – “Radioactive”

Runner up pick » Muse – “Resistance”

Actual winner » The Black Keys – “Tighten Up”

Best Hard Rock Performance

My first pick » Soundgarden – “Black Rain”

Runner up pick » Stone Temple Pilots – “Between the Lines”

Actual winner » Them Crooked Vultures – “New Fang”

Best Rock Song

My first pick » Mumford & Sons – “Little Lion Man”

Runner up pick » Kings of Leon – “Radioactive”

Actual winner » Neil Young – “Angry World”

Best Alternative Music Album

My first pick » Vampire Weekend – Contra

Runner up pick » Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Actual winner » The Black Keys – Brothers

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals

My first pick » Sade – “Soldier of Love”

Runner up pick » John Legend and the Roots – “Shine”

Actual winner » Sade – “Soldier of Love”

Best Contemporary R&B Album

My first pick » Usher – Raymond v. Raymond

Runner up pick » Chris Brown – Graffiti

Actual winner » Usher – Raymond v. Raymond

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

My first pick » Eminem and Rihanna – “Love the Way You Lie”

Runner up pick » Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

Actual winner » Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

Best Rap Song

My first pick » Eminem and Rihanna – “Love the Way You Lie”

Runner up pick » Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

Actual winner » Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

Best Rap Album

My first pick » Eminem – Recovery

Runner up pick » Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3

Actual winner » Eminem – Recovery

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

My first pick » Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson – “As She’s Walking Away”

Runner up pick » Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson – “Bad Angel”

Actual winner » Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson – “As She’s Walking Away”

Best Country Song

My first pick » Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me”

Runner up pick » Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

Actual winner » Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

Best Country Album

My first pick » Miranda Lambert – Revolution

Runner up pick » Lady Antebellum – Need You Now

Actual winner » Lady Antebellum – Need You Now

Best Americana Album

My first pick » Willie Nelson – Country Music

Runner up pick » Robert Plant – Band of Joy

Actual winner » Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone

Best Traditional Blues Album

My first pick » Jimmie Vaughan – Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites

Runner up pick » Cyndi Lauper – Memphis Blues

Actual winner » Pinetop Perkins and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith – Joined at the Hip

2011 GRAMMY TWITTER RECAP

Posted on February 14, 2011 by markartrip

The Grammy’s were this past weekend. I love watching the show and I tweeted a lot during the ceremony. If you didn’t catch it I thought I would recap here. They are in descending order. Follow me on twitter.

All the members of Arcade Fire must have the greatest prayer lives ever? #grammys #musicthatidontcareabout
@courtneycherest @sarahknepper yeah but they are seat fillers:)
The target.com commercials for wigs intrigue me. I wondered how long till Lady Gaga and Katy Perry brought them into white culture too.
Didn’t care about arcade fire until I realized they had a redhead in the group. #grammys
Its bad on most networks, but the placement of CBS personalities from their shows on the #grammys is shameless.
Been praying for @lecrae to be light and network at the #Grammys
I read that Lady Antebellum would win because most voters were divided on the record of the year but Nashville would unite. #grammys2011
@kristinartrip gets mad just seeing Jennifer Lopez with Marc Anthony or even talking about and acknowledging they are married. #grammys
Did anyone see Eminem smile tonight?….me neither. Great Lyricist but he looks like he might kill somebody 🙂 #grammys2011
I have never understood the Barbara Streisand thing. Sorry, I just don’t get it. #grammys2011
After upsetting Drake and Bieber for best new artist, it is safe to say Esperanza Spalding can never go to Canada again.
Dr. Dre and Eminem-So Good! #grammys2011
Is John Mayer trying to look like a creepy Johnny Depp? Wait a creepy Depp would be the normal one.
Cee-Lo just solidified his status as the black, chubby Elton John in that outfit.
Man the bearded buy in Lady Antebellum sure looks like Lance Bass. #grammys2011
I am trying to explain to Ross Owen why “American Honey” is a great song. He is indifferent and wants to talk about U2.
When Lady Gaga won, she (and her reaction) seemed normal until she stood up and we were reminded by her outfit she is a little different.
I have the same purple zipper suit that Usher is wearing…ironic!
I am defending Justin Bieber to everyone at our house watching the Grammys.
Question: Should I go buy a monacle like B.O.B. wore tonight?
Its still crazy to me that Muse is an arena touring and Grammy band now. They are good, but I just have them trapped in theaters forever.
Miranda Lambert is gonna deservedly win like 7 Grammy’s and non country people will be confused what is going on. #grammys2011
And as soon as I open my mouth Christina falls as the song ends and the camera pans away. She can’t win. #grammys2011
Christina Aguilera just ripped that Aretha tribute! #Grammyredemption Hudson was impressive too.

MIND DUMP 2-9-11

Posted on February 10, 2011 by markartrip

Last year I felt like every year I was gushing every Wednesday and coming home to write a mind dump. That hasn’t been the case this year but tonight was easily our best Wednesday of the year.
We went through a hard identity crisis this fall. It was from turnover of people, a senior class for the most part that is M.I.A. and it all lead to no group identity and no leadership.
We have risen from the ashes of that and for the first time this year I could see obvious momentum and see who we are and where we are going toward next year.
Tonight was week 2 in our James series.
Sarah Knepper taught tonight and freaking tore the roof off the place. It was so good I am going to start getting resume togetherJ
Tonight for a game we just showed this video and had everyone dance along to the prompts. I can’t wait to do it at Momentum with Dave and 1500 friends. It connected really well.
Everything is better post-Kalahari
Had some great conversations with people tonight. Finally seeing the prayer patio be what we wanted 2 years ago when we started it.
The Beckley’s are coming over tomorrow. I love them. If my sons don’t marry their daughters my world be shattered….seriously.
Some great conversations at staff meeting this week. The last year has been weird and I think Grace Church is emerging on the other side of that.
I met with Andrew Siders today for discpleship. We had to throw our plan out the window and go help someone in need. That is discpleship too.
One of the best parts of my job is the moments when you remember the younger version of someone and are able to see how far they have come. Will Hejduk played drums for the first time tonight. He played his heart out and is still only a freshmen but its neat to know he has been working toward that for years. Kenzie Muckway is becoming quite a worship leader. I can’t help but wonder what we could become in college at some great church in Texas.
So much going on right now. I wish I could work an extra 10 day this week and do it all. Right now I am deciding what can go undone, but I really need to do it all.
Today was Malachi’s 3^rd birthday. I think he only half understood the concept but it was so fun to celebrate with him.
I am going to get some fake black rimmed glasses and rock them better than Dwayne Wade and Justin Bieber combined….get ready!