What About Bob

American Idol

I haven't weighed in on American Idol this season.  So much happened tonight that I had to blog.  Before I begin, what is the deal with Paula tonight?  Can she keep with with how many songs they've sung?  I mean, my wife thought I had missed part of the show on the DVR.  Focus.  Focus.

OK... here's the run-down.  We're in the home stretch with 5 remaining singers in this SINGING talent.  Here is my take.

1.     David Cook should win.  Here's why
Creativity - I love his arrangement choices to make the song his own. His melody decisions and ad-libs are well done.  Risk-Taker - Selection of music shows willingness to take a chance.  Versatility - He has shown much variety and versatility in using contrasting styles and instrumentations.  Although his strengths lie in Rock  (ie Music of the Night), he can sing anything.  On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best, I rank David at a 9.

2.    David Archuleta should be a close number 2.  In fact, the only think keeping him from winning the whole thing is his inexperience.  This guy is by far the most talented vocally.  His vocals are awesome. He will get a recording contract.  I rank Archuleta a 8.5.

*Carly Smithson was voted out in week six. This was a huge mistake!  I believe that the teenagers won the phone voting battle in week six. Her version of "Jesus Christ, Superstar" was off the charts. She has been strong throughout. I guess her tattoos and foreign accent didn't register well in the teenage popularity contest. I see Cook, Archuleta, and Carly solidly at the top 3. All others fall way behind. While she may be off the show, she WILL get a record deal and succeed. I rank her much higher than the remaining singers at a 8.

3.    Syesha Mercado's talent should take her to the third position (unless the teenage popularity vote prevails).  She has come on stronger in the last 3 weeks.  Since Andrew Lloyd Webber, she has come out of her shell and really competed.  I predict she will have some success in musical theatre.  I rank her at a 6.5.

The remaining Top 5 candidates are only around because of the TPV factor (teenage popular vote).  They are NOT better than the following people who have already been voted off:  Michael Johns, Chikezie, Kristy Lee Cook, Ramiele Malubay, Amanda Overmyer, and of course Carly.

4.  Brooke White will leave the show in 4th place.  She may even outlast Syesha because of the TPV and end up in the top 3.  But if you look at strictly vocal talent, she shouldn't even be in the top 10.  She is a nice girl and very authentic.  She connects well and receives alot of sympathy votes.  I'm sure she is the kindest of them all and would probably receive the congeniality award if one were given.  But unfortunately, she isn't a Top 10 talent.  She has very little stage presence and only feels comfortable hiding behind an instrument.  I rank Brooke a 3.

5.  Jason Castro is from my neighborhood here in the DFW area.  He doesn't belong in the Top 5.  He is a One Trick Pony.  His best effort came with "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" ala Kaulana Kanekoa/Vince Esquire style.  That song was in Castro's sweet spot.  But that spot is limited.  Unless he can sit down and do the layed-back style, Castro falls flat on his face.  The ONLY reason he is where he is now is the TPV.  And remember that the TPV is 90 percent female (in my estimation).  To those teenage girls, he's cute.  Just not talented.  It seems for the last two weeks he hasn't even tried.  It's like he sees the writing on the walls and has understood that more talented people have passed him by.  If he even belonged in the top 12 he should have gone out the first week.  I mean can you even compare Jason's voice to Carly or Michael Johns, or even Chikezie???   Not even in the same neighborhood.  A year after this season, he'll be lucky to get a gig at Joe's Crab Shack in Plano.  I rank Jason a 2.

SIDE NOTE
And what's the deal with the mosh pit in front.  Can anyone stop the waving arms?  Why do they have to wave the arms???   It's like some kind of mindless, smelly human metronome pit(s).  Half the time they aren't even on the beat.  The other times artists in rubato moments feel the struggle of keeping time with the waving arms. Someone must stop the waving of the arms!!

Overall, this season has been great!  Alot of talent.

Bobby Jindal on The Tonight Show

It was great to see Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  Jindal has already done an awesome job in Louisiana.  He is the nation's youngest governor at the age of 36...my wife's age. 

There is a lot of hype online and in the media about Jindal.  Political pundits have already labeled him the future of the GOP and the next Ronald Reagan. Jindal is the first elected Indian American governor in U.S. history.  Tonight's appearance on NBC's Tonight Show comes amidst the growing buzz about Jindal possibly being named the vice presidential candidate on the Republican ticket. 

One of Jindal's passions is to help make the great state of Louisiana a place to stay and live unlike today's mass exodus.  I hope he keeps his commitment to the state and continues to guide the recover and re-development that is happening because of Katrina.  I'm already seeing changes that will restore confidence in elected officials.  I think Jindal has a great political career ahead of him.  Let Louisiana benefit from his leadership before we send him to Washington.

Birthday Moments

It was a perfect day. We had a week's worth of storms, tornado warnings and baseball-size hail.  All cleared and the ground dried giving way to a beautiful weekend.  Eli's party was held at "The Castle", a beautiful park in Highland Village.  A great celebration as my son turned 6 years old.

Watch until the end.  Don't miss the balloon fiasco.

VCC Technical Ministries

These guys work hard and receive little credit - little praise and all 
the negatives that happen.  It's truly an act of a servant's heart.

VCC Staff Retreat 2

VCC Staff was on Retreat this past week.  We visited The Fish In Midtown Dallas.
Only 6 of the 12 were willing to sample the raw fish.
Jenny H. thought she was ordering cooked salmon!
Other than the Filet Mignon, Ben found refuge in the fancy restrooms.

 

6 years ago God blessed us with a son. Elijah Conner Chambless was
born! Tonight we celebrate together at Patrizzio's. On Friday we are
having a big party!

VCC Staff Retreat

VCC staff were treated to an awesome dinner at Bob's Steak and Chop House in Dallas. 

We celebrated John S' birthday.  John turns 27 and gave us this memorable quote:   "Life is Short... Live Hard."  John is our Small Groups Pastor at Valley Creek.

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Worship Leading Styles

Paul Baloche has a great web site - www.leadworship.com.  In one of his articles he comments on these common pitfalls in leading worship.

Worship leaders occupy a position that requires a great deal of sensitivity.  Because of that, one of the most important skills to apply is prayerful self examination of our stage time to make sure that we don't use our talents in a gratuitous manner.  In our struggle to walk that fine line, we have to remember that more isn't always better.  Overuse of certain leading devices can sometimes be distracting to the people you hope to usher into a place of worship.

The Vegas Praise Worship Leader - Performanced based with over-the-top worship and musical virtuosity hitting every vocal pitch and key while the backup dancers shoot bottle rockets that whistle in tune and explode to spell  G-O-D.

The Lost in Space Worship Leader - Always leads with eyes closed, lost in worship.  That's usually a person who is attempting to personally connect with God, to really discern things in the Spirit, and they're trying, on a personal level, to focus their heart and mind on the Lord.  It's important to realize that when we're leading worship we're more like waiters.  It's not our turn to sit down and eat our dinner.  We may worship, but we actually have a role at that moment, and our job is to wait on others.  We have to be willing to give up a little bit of our overwhelming connection with God and connect with Him through serving His people.

The Sermonizer - The worship leader who needs to ad-lib share before after and even during the pauses of most songs.  Worship leaders - let the pastor preach.  Occasionally, you may want to set up the time of worship with a brief,(capital B), Brief Scripture or a thought that sets the tone for that first song.  But, be very measured.  A little goes a long way. 

The Broken Record - Each song is a fifteen-minute worship extravaganza that repeats the verse, chorus, verse....  Do all things in moderation.  It's not unspiritual to just do the song like the CD and then move on to the next one.

The Worship Aerobics Instructor - The worship leader who dictates standing, sitting, clapping, hugging, jumping, and relay races through the narthex during the service as if you were leading a production of Sweatin' to the Church's Oldies.  This one has more to do with the attitude and teh language of respecting where people are at and gently, respectfully encouraging them into certain actions, but you can certainly overdo it.

Read More HERE.

Making of the Cake

Thank You Cake People!
So many people were a part of the making of our promotional cakes.  Here are a few photos.
We will party soon.  Be looking for our After The Cake Celebration invitation.  For more pics, check out the photo album.