Once a Month

I guess I'm a once-a-month kind of blogger. Apparently my limited wet-ram is only capable of a little processing at a time, and all the other stuff that keeps my life running takes precedence over this blog.

That being said, I'd like to update you on our whole American Idol experience. Our town talks about little else, since our own Jason Castro is still in the running. My wife Suzanne & I went to Hollywood on Mariah Carey week & sat in the audience - right behind Teri Hatcher and Minnie Driver. If you want proof, buy this week's TV Guide & check page 14 (I'm sure the photographer was shooting for me, but Teri Hatcher forced her way into the foreground).

So, after staying 4 nights at the beautiful Hotel Bellesi in Laguna Beach (special thanks to Denny & Leesa Bellesi for the hospitality), we're back in Rockwall TX, land of "vote for Jason." I would love to share some photos and some impressions we had while in beautiful downtown AmericanIdolville, so here you go...













We arrived on Monday, drove down to Laguna Beach in our complimentary Volvo (thanks again to the Bellesis - which looks weird, but that's plural Bellesi. You only use an apostrophe if it's possessive or a contraction, right?). Anyway. We went to the show on Tuesday night, and the thing that struck me was how different it sounds in the house than on TV. I now see why the judges say stuff sometimes that makes you say "What are they smoking?" Because it sounds radically different. I still question whether or not they know what they're talking about, generally, but that's a different post altogether.

Then on Wednesday night we went to the after-party, which is really just a meal at a restaurant where all the contestants & their friends/family that are there that night eat together in a big room. That was pretty cool - I've thrown in a few pix to prove I was really there.

On Thursday we ate lunch with Denny & Leesa on a terrace overlooking the Pacific (torturous), hung out some with Jason & his A&M buddies down at Laguna Beach, and went home on Friday.

So altogether, it was a new & exciting experience, and a fun get-away for Suzanne & me. The Idol contestants were very nice & very normal, and it was cool meeting them. Traffic in LA was ridiculous. The weather was perfect. Laguna Beach was stunning. I know now why so many people want to live in Southern California.

How about it, readers? Can any of you 4 agree with me on this?

EASTER '08 set list

Okay, Easter was fun. We had over 18,000 people - no idea where they all come from. At the end of the service, I was very tempted to say "Thanks for coming today - see you next Easter!" But I didn't. 

We had Christian artist Daniel Kirkley with us, along with 18 strings from the Ft. Worth Symphony. Great videos, great graphics, great testimonies, great message. Our brand new campus in Garland (Firewheel campus - meeting 4 weeks now) had over 1800 in attendance. I have yet to hear the stats on decisions made, but I'm sure it was a good number. 

I don't mean to talk so much about numbers, but every one of those numbers is a person, and about half of them are completely unchurched. So, I'm not really feeling apologetic for being happy about the large numbers. It's totally by the grace of God that they keep showing up - not because we're so cool or anything... because we're not. But it's awesome to be a part of the great stuff that God is doing around here.

We do work hard at it, though, and if you want to see some of the videos, you can go here.

Anyway - set list...

Pre-Service:

Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve)

Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)

Worship:

Happy Day (Tim Hughes)

Everlasting God (Brenton Brown)

Solos:

My New Dawn (Daniel Kirkley)

I Know Now (Bebo Norman)

Lay it Down (Daniel Kirkley)

Texas American Idol

Attention all 4 of my blog readers: make sure you tune in to AI tonight (Wed. 2/13), or at least Tivo it. This kid that's one of my soloists here at Lake Pointe is making his first real appearance. His name is Jason Castro. Very cool guy, and a killer talent. He's had virtually zero air time so far (I think they've been saving him), but tonight he'll start showing up, because they're announcing the final 24. Not that I'm revealing anything... just watch it.

And next Tuesday, Feb. 19, when they start the live stuff, make sure you vote for him. He's a great Christian kid, and could have a strong influence. He's also just the ultimate cool - accidentally - which makes it even better. He comes from a very stable Christian family - grew up here at LP. My wife is his vocal coach, so we're pretty proud already.

Check him out, and vote like crazy! I've posted some pics here that we shot at a coaching/jam session in my office before he left for CA the second time (last week). The girl in the bottom pic is my daughter Emmy.

Lake Pointe Worship Leaders

Jam Session

Weekend Worship Set 1.6.08

Well, it's a brand new year. Which actually means nothing, but it feels good to act like it does. We brought in '08 with a big bonfire in the hills of Arkansas. And being the partier I am, I immediately went to bed.

So how did you bring in the year? And how's '08 shaping up so far?

Here's Lake Pointe's worship set for this past weekend:

We Will Shine (Matt Wheeler)
Salvation is Here (Hillsongs)
Yes You Have (Leeland)
Amazing to Me (Davis)
Unfailing Love (Tomlin)

On the music side of things... I just recently found out that my song "Great is Your Name" is going to be on the new Women of Faith CD coming out this spring, so that's cool! I heard the final mix on it already - sounds really good. Now I'm starting to wonder if I'm ever going to write another song or not...

See you
DD

Weekend Worship Set 11.11.07

Salvation is Here (Hillsongs)
As It Is In Heaven (Maher)
We Will Shine (Matt Wheeler)

This song, "We Will Shine" is a killer song, written by a guy that does contract worship leading for us at Lake Pointe. He wrote it for our Vision weekend. I would post it on here but I don't know how - if anybody knows how to stream a song on blogspot, tell me!
DD

Weekend Worship Set 11.4.07

I Will Boast (Baloche)
Our God Saves (Baloche)
My Savior My God (Shust)
This Road - solo (Ginny Owens)

Weekend Worship Set 10.28.07

Indescribable (Tomlin)
A Greater Song (Redman)
Everlasting God (Brown)
Filled With Glory (Michael Gungor)
Our God Saves (Baloche)

BTW - if you've never done this song Filled With Glory, you should check it out (Song Discovery #54 is where I got it). It really cooks, in a slow, hugely powerful way.

Also, this was our first week to add Our God Saves - that one really rocks too - even on the first time.