Josh Ambrose

They’ve posted albums by Kate York and Disappointed by Candy.

I advise continuing to check out the site.

This is for Gary and Julie.

So, Everyone who’s Anyone (and a whole lotta wannabes) are giving away their music for free on the nets these days.

Here’s another one: www.noisetrade.com

Of interest: Sixpence’s new EP, Kate Herzig (a new favorite as of downloading), Waterdeep, Derek Webb…

Let me know if there are others on there that I should check out.

Kirsten and I have been talking about a question re. worship.

Should worship leaders lead out of an overflow in their own lives?

Historically, this has been my philosophical conviction.

At the current moment, however, when I come to participate in worship, I often feel as “needy” as anyone else in the room. I’m not necessarily looking to “lead” anyone–I just want to meet with God, to lay my questions and struggles at his feet, and declare something in faith. Ideally, I would think this would be the kind of “lead worshipper” that Matt Redman talks about in his (excellent) book, as opposed to a “leader.

More and more, I desire to be as honest with God as I think he wants us to be (which is totally). The same goes with my relationships with other people, both inside and outside of a church setting (and I use that word in the “two or more gathered” context). Sometimes, this doesn’t look like leading out of an “overflow” in my life, or equipping others…sometimes the only encouragement I can give others comes from my declaring something in faith that I need for myself just as much as the other people in the room, and not out of an overflow of conviction.

But I know from personal experience and observation that it can be very dangerous for people to “lead” from a place of need/discontent with God. I think it is extremely foolish to give people a blank check, as it were, to shrug off all sense of personal spiritual responsibility. What’s the difference?

I tend to think it’s a combination of factors, including whether you’re looking for that time to be your healing, and (again) your honesty. Am I trying to present a front to anyone (including God!), or am I trying to behave a certain why to usher in a certain atmosphere, a certain set of reactions?

I think there is scriptural evidence that we are supposed to prepare and to come with the overflow of our hearts. I think there is also evidence that we are supposed to simply come with our needs and hurts…

Most of all, I conclude, we’re supposed to simply come and be completely honest with the one who knows everything about us. And while I think there are movements that have greatly abused the idea of “speaking things into existence”/”declaring”/”creating spiritual reality,” I think there is truth to be winnowed from the idea. Maybe the answer is to do it in humility, and not from a place of spiritual pride? From complete recognition of our need, that isn’t fatalistic or dramatic, but simply Honest?

What do you think?

My biggest problem as a photographer? Well, you may have your own opinion…but time. (To all those that have waited in the past, are waiting now, and will be waiting in the future–thanks). Editing twenty gigs of raw images on a five year old computer and a trial version of photoshop takes time.

As does the rest of my life. I’m put in an awkward situation these days when people ask me what I’ve been up to. I am not a fan of people continually boasting about their exploits–yet when I say I’m working all the time, it’s simply the truth. Hopefully, it looks to be winding down a bit now…trust me, it’s not an exploit in my book!

- Stay out of The Road.

-Be prepared to have something to complain about at any given point. If not, make something up. Weather, finances, girlfriends, vehicles, the f’ing politicians, and the economy are good candidates. Mexican immigrants are an ideal fall-back. Worse case scenario: a long, guttural sigh with a mournful scratch of the neck suffices.

- Diss foremen, coworkers, tools, and situations, but speak in respectful, almost-hushed tones of The Road. A good eye widening is advisable.

- Be prepared to comment on the scenery of different job sites and/or driving routes.

- Scenery does not = trees.

- College towns on hot days makes “f’ing sweet” scenery.

- Even if you never take a lunch break, your boss will find an excuse to accuse you of having your hands in your pockets.

- Beware of people who use your first name. They are trying to manipulate you into getting them something, or against someone.

- If someone talks about some sweet videos he brought home, he isn’t talking about cinema…or anything you can find at your local Blockbuster, for that matter.

- No matter how many stories you hear about the management’s drinking habits, they are best not alluded to face-to-face.

- Network on the sly with other companies and workers. This gives you a fall-back if you’re ever let go (or worse), and gives you leverage when it comes time to talk about wages.

- Taking out the trash wins points.

- Asking for more money loses all of said points.

- Do not mention that you went to college.

- Even worse, don’t mention that you actually graduated from college. This is important for both your standing and your own self-esteem.

- Listen to either hard rock or country. Nothing in between. Do not, REPEAT, Do not be caught dead listening to NPR. Sidenote: remember, the ability to sing every line of a commercial is more valued than the ability to talk about politics, history, or literature

- If you are caught listening to the wrong station, accuse a rival of playing a horrid, g-dawful joke on you, damn his scurvy hide!

-When people talk about playing music, they mean they get together with the neighbor’s kids and play Guitar Hero and drink beer.

- When They Say that the job will reap a good reward, they mean they will keep you at the lowest possible wage that They can until They give the higher paying job to someone they are related to or went to pong parties in highschool with…

- When your coworker wants to talk about gardening, he ain’t growing carrots and parsley.

- If you have long hair and if you are laid back, you will be asked the share the “good stuff” on a daily basis. No amount of conversation will ever change this assumption. They Know the real reason for your calm in the face of stress.

- Use of the f’word is mandatory.

- And the s’word.

- And a lot of other words.

-These words can be used as verbs, nouns, adjectives, prepositions, and a whole lot of brand-new utilization of communication you don’t quite know how to classify.

- If people tell you to come over and bring a shovel with you, you’re going to dig their sewer line while they supervise. But don’t get in Their Road.

So said MacArthur. Whether I would be better off sticking to his first proclamation is yet to be seen…

Sixty hour work weeks killed my posting.

But I got a new lens, for a (freakin’ awesome) wedding I’m shooting next weekend. Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8, for those interested. Next up, the 30mm f/1.8 and the 70-200mm f/2.8. Anyone else want something shot?

And that new acquisition makes me excited.

Not to mention that I’m between part-time jobs…so with only my regular forty hr, I had a bit of time this week.

The difference between this and my old lens is already freakin’ amazing. I adjusted some light levels on two of these pictures and converted the one to BW….and that is all, which is amazing me.

Glass makes all the difference.

In quick movie blurb…

Lars and the Real Girl–terribly awkward to explain (and watch, initially) but terribly funny as a result. In a sincere, heart-felt kind of way, a la Juno. I agree with critics who herald the church/community aspect as the most redeeming part of the film, far above and beyond any metamorphosis in Lars himself. I highly recommend it.

In music, the new Hammock is out–and they’re a band I cannot get enough of.

Sixpence is making new music. Which is good. But they’re featuring more songs from Leigh, whose voice I grew up loving…but past experience with her lyric ability makes me grow dubious (with the exception of the great song off the self-titled). Both Sixpence and OTR continue making noises about being less literary and less esoteric. Newsflash: that’s why we love you, guys. Keep the musical, lyric, and artistic exploration and allusion going, or this is one hardcore fan, at least, who will continue to put your latest releases on the bottom shelf with much chagrin. And tears. I’m not asking for sad songs, or that you deny where you are in life or your true artistic self, (etc), but please. Pretty please.

Finally, in light of Myanmar, I strongly recommend the old favorite, Feed the Children
.