2,721. That’s what tied the record.

Tonight DJ tied Lou Gehrig for the Yankees all-time hits leader.  Most likely in the next couple of days (probably tomorrow) when the Yanks play the Orioles, he’ll get at least one hit and stand alone as the Yankees all-time hits leader.  He’s arguably the best shortstop of all-time, at worst top five all-time.  To do what he’s done, and especially on the winningest baseball franchise in history, is incredible.  

In my book he’s the greatest shortstop of all-time.

We went up to Northern Indiana for Labor Day weekend, to spend some time with my mom’s side of the family.  It has been close to 8 years since ALL of us had been together in one room enjoying each other’s company. We had a great time!

I’m going to be leading worship this weekend at Sun Valley Community Church in Gilbert.  It’s going to be an incredible weekend with over 108 people getting baptized between four services.  The music last night came together real nicely during rehearsal.  We are going to be playing and singing as people are getting dunked.  It’s going to be like one big celebration party!  This is a shot from last nights rehearsal…

On Tuesday I got a tattoo that says: phaino

Phaino is a greek word that means light, or to shine.  I’ve always been intrigued with that word.  One of my favorite scriptures is Philippians 2:14-15 which says

Do everything without complaining or arguing so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights (some translations say bright stars) in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Like I said, I’m always attempting to live this out. Many times I fail at arguing and complaining to much, and I’m definitely not clean and innocent. But, I strive to live like this everyday. Now it will be a daily reminder that I need to be a light, a positive influence, to the world around me, the world I live in, the people that I interact with. That hopefully (notice the stress on hopefully) I will be like Jesus to them.

Cheeseburgers + Potato Salad + Bake Beans + Strawberry Shortcake with Ice Cream + Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest + FREEDOM = Independence Day.

Today when Michelle and I were taking a stroll through our neighborhood, everything just seemed right.

The sky was a deep blue, with a few clouds strolling by. There were kids who were playing out in their front yard, smiling, laughing, just having a good old time. There was a nice cool breeze that was blowing on us as we were walking. You could hear the wind rustling through the trees. And the grass just seemed so green, it was like it had been painted. The birds were singing like they had no care in the world. Not to mention I was enjoying being with my bride.

For those few moments around our block, it felt like everything was right in the world. It felt like this was just the way everything is suppose to be.

If you haven’t downloaded the new Live FREE Coldplay album, go here and do it now.

Freaking hilarious!! Gotta watch it more than once…

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

(They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.)

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Romans 8:31-39 (The Message)

After three years.. lifemusicministry.com is going to bite the dust.. and the JonLloydBlog.com is going to rise. It’s going to be the same blog, same content, same person, and it will still be about life, music, and ministry. The only change is the title and domain name to yours truly.

So.. for all of you RSS peeps and all of the 3 people (well, hopefully I have more than that) that subscribe to this blog.. if you wouldn’t mind, please make those changes to your blog rolls and keep the link love alive and well.