JonathanBryant.info

-First of all, I can’t BELIEVE I missed Stevie Wonder on the Grammys tonight! AHHHH!!!
-We were hanging with Scott and Catherine and Emma… which was well worth missing Stevie. I can watch the replay tomorrow.
-Foothills Toccoa went great today!
-We changed up the service order a bit, and I think I liked it better and people connected better. We did 3 songs straight at 0:00 (on the countdown) instead of breaking up the set with Welcome and Announcements. I like. We’re gonna keep it through this series, and then ask around and see what people think.
-Speaking of this series, it’s called “Revolution – The Beatles Guide to Family”
-Greg BROUGHT it today! He spoke on marriage and our responsibility to our spouse.
-We are doing a Beatles song each week that corresponds with the message. It’s challenging, but people really connect and get into it!
-The set today was: All Because of Jesus (Fee) – All We Need (Hall) – Jesus Paid it All ( Stanfill) – All You Need is Love (Beatles, Robert Walsh arrangement).
-I had a great band today that played TOGETHER! It made my job EASY.
-Shannon is doing a great job leading the people of Foothills Toccoa. He gave a little speech this morning during prayer that FIRED US UP! It was about remembering why we do what we do… loved it!
-Foothills Toccoa is a church that meets in a gym. That means we have to turn the GYM into a place for PEOPLE TO ENCOUNTER CHRIST. Another thing is, the gym is used during the week, so we have ONE DAY to do it! It’s gotta go up Saturday and come down Sunday. We have the best volunteers in the world, and their commitment to Jesus and the vision of FT is evident and inspiring.
-Did I mention I love our volunteers??
-Candice and I are thinking about a home. We’ve been cool with living in an apartment for the last 3 1/2 years (since we’ve been married). But, it seems like it may be time to make the plunge, especially since the big tax credit thing is happening now… please be praying for us.
-Also, be praying that God would lead us. We now live in Central, Candice works in Easley (30min north of Central), and I work in Seneca (30min south of Central) and Toccoa (1hr5min south of Central). It would be great to work closer to each other and closer to our jobs. Candice’s job (teacher) is pretty tight right now and schools aren’t doing much hiring… but what would be AMAZING is to move to Seneca/Westminster and for her to find a job around there. That way we could be a few minutes from work, a few minutes from each other during the day, and actually PLUGGED IN TO OUR CHURCH AND COMMUNITY. It’s a big jump, but if Candice can find a job, we’d make the move in a heartbeat!
-I just got finished doing bills for the month and I’m amazed how God has blessed us. Candice just took a pay cut and I’m only part time… but, He has given us a few extra dollars a month so we can bless people, and I LOVE IT!
-One of my favorite things to do is pour into people… emotionally, spiritually, AND FINANCIALLY!
-Tithing 10% to your local church is a mandate given by the Word of God. Just thought I’d say that.
-Offerings are anything over and above your tithe that you give to the local church or use to bless others. Just thought I’d say that.
-Jesus said that we should give all we’ve got. Just thought I’d say that.
-I’m about to crash… it’s been a long day.
-Our power bill was $45 higher than it was last month. Wow. Was your’s higher this month?
-I’m so grateful to be where I am right now in life. I’m 25, and BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF! Beautiful wife, wonderful daughter, supportive family, amazing church family, and SO MUCH MORE! I’m humbled when I think about how big God is, and how He takes care of His kids.
-You’re a child of God. How’s He taking care of you?
-I’m gonna crash. Goodnight!

-Great day at Foothills this morning. The set looked like: “Love the Lord” – Brewster, “Freedom Song” – Desperation Band, “You Never Let Go” – Redman, “You Found Me” – The Fray.
-The band NAILED IT today! Great guys with a heart for worship and excellence.
-I need to start blogging more. I should just go ahead and put it on my ToDo list.
-Speaking of, I have been using ZenBe Lists. It’s phenomenal, simple, and has a GREAT iPhone/iPod Touch interface. Check it out!
-I am SO grateful for my computer. In the last week, I have: made and finished ToDo Lists, picked out set lists, practiced using Garageband, made tracks and click using Reason/Ableton/Garageband, emailed, Twittered, Facebooked, set up bands and people, uploaded music and charts for this and next week’s teams… I am SO grateful for my computer.
-The first thing I’m doing when I get paid is getting a gym membership. We had to give ours up when I stopped working last year, and it’ll be good to get back in there. Also, I’ll start updating my Weight Loss Journey again. There hasn’t been much Loss to document, as of yet.
-I’m watching American Chopper on PBS as I’m writing this. Since when is AC on PBS? Haha.
-I’m gonna be connecting with a friend I haven’t really hung with in years this week, hopefully. I’m stoked. He was the guy that really convinced me (by the way he lived) that Jesus is real and has a TON to do with our everyday lives. I hope it all works out.
-Abigail is everywhere. Climbing. Running. Falling. She’s a mess and I love every minute of it!
-I am learning to use Reason and Ableton live this week. I’ve used Reason before, but I’m getting a pro lesson from a guy that’s been using it for YEARS. I’m excited… it’s gonna be like drinking from a fire hydrant, though.
-We just ordered an M Audio Axiom 21 key Midi Controller and an M Audio Firewire 410 interface. They use it in Seneca, and it works great. Basically, it’s a way to trigger tracks I’ve made in Reason and output them to stereo channels, and also output a separate click channel. Yeah! It’s gonna be awesome!
-Just started using PlanningCenterOnline.com. It makes my life a ton easier.
-New things starting make me happy. Old things fading away make me a little sentimental, but not too bad. Things change, we just gotta roll with them.

I’m done, because dinner has to happen. CATCH YOU LATER!!

-Another good day at Foothills. I was in Seneca today, playing in Eric’s band for the last time in the foreseeable future. I’ll be in Toccoa next week, and I’m PUMPED!
-Good set today: .Friend of God .You Never Let Go .What a Friend We Have in Jesus (SWEET arrangement by Scott Henderson. I got to play acoustic. It went over VERY well) .We Need Each Other (Sanctus Real).
-Had to change from electric to acoustic today during a song transition. Went well, but BIG possibility for disaster!
-I think the most excited thing for me today came after the first service. David Odom (one of the other leaders @ Foothills) has been using the band I’ll be working with from Toccoa Falls college. Now, I’ve heard these guys and gals were good… but I had no idea. Eric, Rachael, Candice, Abigail, and I were headed out to lunch and I forgot my phone in the green room. So I go back through the auditorium and the band is ROCKING! So I look and the acoustic player is Scott from TF. Then I see that the drummer is from TF. Then I see Heather from TF singing and blowing the roof off. Over half the band was made up of college students and it was QUALITY! I’m really looking forward to connecting with the students and making some great relationships and musical strides in Toccoa.
-So I start work tomorrow. Wow.
-Tomorrow is “Meeting Day.” Everyone has warned me about it… but I love meetings. I do enjoy being prepared and connected.
-We’ll be choosing another day for me to work during the week (Wed or Thurs probably). So my work week will look like: Monday in Seneca, Wed of Thurs in Toccoa, Saturday setup and practice in Toccoa, Sunday service and teardown.
-I’m really excited to be working with Shannon, the campus pastor, very closely. He has a heart for Toccoa, and he’s PUMPED about the new year.
-Money’s pretty tight right now. I haven’t had a steady job in about 5 1/2 months. Just being honest.
-February 1st will be a relief. It’s payday. Like a real, we’re getting 2 checks, payday. I’m excited.
-I think Shannon (campus pastor) and I are going to invest in an M Audio midi controller and Interface to work with Reason and Ableton. If you understand what that is, cool. I only halfway get it. (It has to deal with making loops and click tracks to use during worship).
-I think that I need to invest in some sort of modeling device for my guitar. Foothills uses no amps for guitars or bass, only modeling devices through in-ears, so no stage noise. Good system, but I don’t have the hardware yet. Maybe I could sell some of my analog gear to purchase one, we’ll see. Anyone used one (Line 6 X3 live? Vox Tonelab?)? Got opinions?
-We’re about to go to the store and get a shower curtain. FUN! Haha.
-I had my first baking success last night. Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing. I am HORRIBLE at baking, but usually a good cook. Last night I actually got the cupcakes right. Yea!
-Candice is still feeling bad. I’m trying to take care of her. She’s sweet when she’s sick.
-We had a blast with Eric, Rachael, and Dakota at Copper River today. (Eric is the worship pastor at Foothills and Rachael is his wife. Dakota is their very cool kid).

Ok, shower curtain, here we come! Goodnight everyone!
Full work day report to come tomorrow!

Last Sunday Night Thoughts of the year… here goes:

-We visitied Emmanuel Wesleyan Church this morning. I say ‘visited’ because I haven’t stepped foot in the doors in over two years, but it’s dear to me. Emmanuel Wesleyan is the church I went to right after my salvation experience in 2001. They supported me in my decision, helped me through college, and loved me every step of the way.
-I love those people.
-The service was a bit less-than-captivating. Everyone seemed a bit “checked out.”
-The pastor taught on the name of Jesus, and how it is unchanging and transforming. Really great ideas!
-Honestly, it really annoys me when a teacher uses a TON of other peoples’ information to create a message. The guy this morning used almost A DOZEN multi-sentence quotes and stories… he started with them, made his points with them, and wrapped it up with them. The thoughts in the middle that were his own were BRILLIANT… which makes me wish he would’ve relied a bit more on original thoughts than quotes and stories. Oh well.
-We hit up my aunt’s house for soup and family time after church.
-Then to my GMa’s to hang for a bit.
-I had Burger King for the first time in a while… didn’t sit too well. Ouch.
-Just got done hanging with my good friend Jeramie. He’s an awesome guy that loves Jesus and doesn’t care who knows… but isn’t one to think he’s better than anyone. He’s been transformed by the Living Gospel, and realizes that without it, he’s lost. I love that. I wanna be more like him.
-I’m getting ready to watch House with my wife and hit the sack. Big day tomorrow hanging with my mom and running around town a bit.
-New York on Tuesday!!!
-I’m getting a bit anxious about NYC for NYE. Honestly, if it got canceled, I wouldn’t be completely heartbroken… but I do wanna go. It’s gonna be a blast, and I know we’ll have some great stories to tell. The more I think about the experience, the more excited I get. The more I think about the money, time, and crowds, the less excited I get. I’m like the waves, up and down.
-I am excited about NYC!
-House is on, gotta go!

WOW! ALMOST CHRISTMAS!

-My family and I leave for a whirlwind two weeks tomorrow morning.
—First to Lincolnton, NC to be with Candice’s family from Monday night through Friday morning (26th).
—Then to Roanoke, VA to be with my family from Friday afternoon through Wednesday morning (31st).
—Then to TIMES SQUARE NYC FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE! We have a friend up there so free place to stay and carpooling so basically nothing for gas.
—Then back to VA to pick up the baby on Friday morning (2nd).
—Then back to SC to get a good night’s sleep on Friday night (2nd).
—Then to Foothills Toccoa to practice Saturday afternoon.
—CRASH SATURDAY ALL DAY! Unpack, wash clothes, etc.
—First day at Foothills Toccoa on the 4th!
—Wow… that’s a wicked two weeks, but it’ll be worth it.
-Speaking of Foothills, I put together my first worship set since the end of July… that’s 5 months! I’ve led worship in the meantime, but it’s always been a guest thing where the songs were already chosen.
-Picking songs for a new place is always weird, considering you don’t know what songs that they have/haven’t been doing. I chose the best I could and the worship Pastor is gonna get back to me about which ones are familiar.
-I’m excited about the week of the 11th or the 18th. I’m (hopefully) going to visit a great friend in Indiana. Gonna go hang out with him and his family, and also evaluate the new stuff that’s happening at his church. STOKED ABOUT THIS!!
-I have to drive tomorrow, so I’m cutting this short and hitting the hay. G’night and make sure to follow my Twitter the next couple of weeks. Craziness, here we come!!

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So, today was a very good day. The early service at Foothills was great and it was baptism service, so it was a blast. Here’s my day:

-Like I said, the early service at Foothills was rocking. They had both worship leaders, Eric and David, in one service which was cool. They usually split up duties between the 1st and 2nd services and their new Toccoa Campus. It was interesting having them both on stage at once. They’re both great musicians and leaders who I have the priveledge of calling my friends.

-They had some technical difficulties, but all in all they pulled it off.

-Baptism service was a bit different. They had extended worship, a sermonette (still 35min! haha), and then worship while they took the people getting baptized to their youth auditorium. While the last few songs were played, the people getting baptized were on the screens via closed circuit TV. Pretty cool idea.

-We were joined this morning by a couple friends from college. Scott and Catherine are people we’ve always clicked with, and we’ve been hanging with them more and more since they’ve moved back to SC.

-Speaking of Scott & Cat, we’ve been over to their house a couple times to play a game called Settlers of Catan. It’s kind of like Risk, but not as big, I don’t think. I thought I would hate it, but now I think about it in my sleep.

-After church, we came home and decorated the Christmas tree while drinking my famous apple cider. Candice did most of the work, and I let her because she’s so dang good at it. I’m sitting here looking at it and it’s one of the best looking trees I’ve ever seen.

-After the tree happened, we all three took a nice Sunday nap, and now I’m watching the Steelers get waxed by the Cowboys. Boo.

-In other news, I’m pretty surprised about how the NFL has turned out this year. Underdogs pulling it out, teams picked to win just rolling over during the 2nd half. It makes it a bit interesting, I like. It also helps my odds, as I’m an avid gambler and have made a fortune on the NFL and dog races.

-Kidding about the gambling, by the way. It’s ok mom, don’t call.

-I looked up last night and the clock said 4:00am, and that was it. I was up. It wasn’t like one of those, “I could go back to sleep if I tried, ” feelings… I was up. So I came in the living room to check my e-mail, and had an inbox full of notes from a friend on a book he just read. He sends me these notes and we discuss them back and forth using GoogleDocs. Fun times.

-Speaking of that, I’m really excited about the next 18mo of my life. It’s gonna be tough, and maybe a little slower than I’d hope… but it’s all good. Details coming.

I’m gonna go have some dinner before it’s too late. Remember to check out my Weight Loss Journey page and look for updates every week. Just click on the link and then pick the week you’d like to see. I’m including pictures, weight, and how it’s going. It’s just the first week, so I’m still very fat, but I can already see progress. Thanks, also, for those who have commented and e-mailed with your own stories and encouragement… it means the world to me.

Alright… dinner and football, here I come. Have a wonderful evening!

-Today was a great day at Foothills!
-Here is the set:
***Saved – Third Day
***Today is the Day – Lincoln Brewster
***Sing Sing Sing – Chris Tomlin
***Jesus Messiah – Chris Tomlin
-Today was my first day playing through a modeler like this, it’s an amp simulator so there’s actually no amp. It simulates an amp, pedals, delays, reverbs, chorus, distortions, etc. Honestly, practice was SO weird but this morning everything came together and I almost forgot I wasn’t playing an amp. Pretty rad!
-The pastor had a conversation with me… yeah, that’s it. Sometimes pastors get too busy to hang out and chat with their people, and it makes an impact on their volunteers, whether they know it (or want to admit it), or not. It sets the mood for the entire experience.
-Greg Oraham had the best word I’ve heard in a long while. He’s a great speaker, and TOGETHER. (I’ve heard he takes Thursday afternoons and rehearses the message for hours to ensure both services hear the same thing.)
-I saw a bunch of people I know, and had a pile of Facebook messages and Twitters when I got home. It was good to connect with some people I hadn’t seen in a while. It reminded me of how sucky a friend I am when it comes to keeping in touch with people who aren’t in my daily routine. I’m working on it.
-Got to talk gear with some of the guys in the greenroom this morning, I fed my addiction, for now.
-Speaking of, the greenroom at Foothills was OFF THE HOOK! Big, spacious, comfortable, perfect feed from the service piped in and shown on a HUGE flatscreen. They did it right when they built their new building.
-I love the cold weather. I wore my P-coat this morning and it was just right. Brr.
-Came home and made tacos while Candice took a nap, and then I took a nap while she did some school stuff for tomorrow. I woke up 3 hours later OUT OF IT. Didn’t plan on sleeping that long, but it was the best nap I’ve had in a long time.
-We’re about to go to the store and grab some things for the next couple of days. I love Sunday nights!

Good day! Hope you had a great one too. Wanna tell me about it?