I forgot I had this thing

Is anyone still out there. I totally forgot I even had a blog. If you're not on facebook, then you probably won't see many updates from me.

Soooo. What's been happening. Uhhmmm.
I got a new job, they learneded me stuff well.
I still don't have a decent acoustic. Is it still possible to get a custom Maton MSH model.
I've replaced the speakers in my amp for a Celstion G12H and a greenback. The greenback is way nicer sounding than the G12H, so I should have just got 2 of them. I've got a Line 6 M5 on order, which I should have by this Sunday.

That'll do. It'll probably be my last post on blogspot, at least until I have something decent to say to the masses.

Lisa: "Do we have any food that wasn't brutally slaughtered?"
Homer: "Well, I think the veal died of loneliness."

New flat and other stuff

It took me nearly 18 months but I did it. I finally moved out of home again, into a new flat. I'm living with a couple from church, Matt and Renee. They have been my K Group leaders since I got back to NZ and got married last year. In May they purchased their first home and had a room spare which I grabbed. It's absolutely brilliant. We're 5 minutes away from church, and 2 minutes away from the motorway, meaning 15 minutes away from work. It's the simple things in life that matter, like being able to choose what to eat for dinner, and the brand of laundry powder that I want to wash my clothes with. The first big shop at the supermarket was a liberating experience. Just to have that independence again, and the sense of adventure that I have to look after myself. It sounds so silly, except when you've been living back home again, and you lose the ability to make these decisions. I've now been there about 9 weeks.

3 weeks ago we had our official church opening. This was a celebration of the new building, and the change of the church name, which came into affect on the opening day. Albany Christian Centre is now Albany City Church. The name offers so more more inspiration and vision, than the old name. I love it.

We practiced for about 3 weeks before the opening. It was kind of like a recital, except it's not about you, there's heaps more people there, and the day will be remembered by everyone there so much more.

We did really good though. I was stoked for my team. We had a choir for the first time, with about 15 people in it. All the band and singers went the extra mile to rehearse, and the overall standard of music in those involved rosed dramatically.

The best thing is that the day itself was so cool. We were able to lead people into an experience where they connected with God. So often at all the pomp and ceremony of these things it gets lost what it is that we're really there for. We had people crying in the national anthem. The emphasise of the day was on bringing glory to God, and that is what stands out. Mission accomplished.

Check out me and my new guitar. It's been a breath of fresh air to my playing. Part of it's the lower output, single coil pickups in comparison to a Les Paul style guitar. It's just one of those beautiful sounds. My Dad liked my guitar so much that when he went looking for a guitar he ended up choosing exactly the same guitar. We don't play together, so he can get away with it.

I also did my hair up. Blond fringe and tail, and black rinse through the rest. I had highlighted tips before that which I preferred, but this still looks cool. I did this especially for the opening.

I've now been looking after the church music team directly under Pastor Don for 4-5 months now. We're getting past that honeymoon period, and now the reality is kicking in. The good news is that the team is just improving all the time. The enthusiasm for worship at church is growing. We're bringing in new songs every other week. I feel like I'm doing what God is calling me to do. I can only look forward to the next step that he has for me.

And if you haven't seen the Simpons Movie yet, then you need to take yourself to the nearest cinema ASAP.

Rainier: My eyes! The goggles do nothing!

Change is in the air

So my life has changed quite a lot in a short period of time. The thing is that the head of the creative department at church, has decided to resign. It was something that God has inspired him to do, and I wish him all the best in wherever God moves him to next. For me though this means that where there is a hole, something needs to fill it, and that means responsibility. I'll make it clear, I am not the new head of the creative department, but I am in charge of all the music at church.

So all my training at SCA is coming into use now. I'm now a leader in the church, and have a large team to lead. I've got the fallout of a family leaving, and helping with some other exceptional change that is happening at church. I had been given the task of looking after the music at the end of last year, but have always had Pete to give advice, and help deal with tricky situations that occur. Now it's up to me. OK, so I've got God on my side, and the full backing of the leadership team at church, but it still freaks me out.

The other completely amazing thing is that the music at church has gone to new levels. Passion to worship is in the hearts of the team, and in the congregation. The last 3 weeks services have been "off the hook". God's hijacked the service a few times, and just ministered to people. We had an acoustic worship set on Good Friday with the youth, and again God just came down. There were probably 20-30 people down the front, most of them on their knees in worship to God.

And just when things couldn't get any better, we had a visit from a local TV news station. Prime TV have their offices over the road from church, and they wanted a clip for the 5:30 news (Prime News - First at 5:30). We're just stoked that we had setup the stage with a giant cross, and put lights up and made the place look absolutely brilliant beforehand. We only found out they were coming in at 9:58, so we couldn't do anything to get it looking good. It think God set us up again. They showed some clips of the music team, including me, and some interviews with Pastor Don and some other church members. Albany CC was on display to the rest of New Zealand on one of the main Christian holidays of the year. We're all pretty stoked about it.

There is a youth camp "Surge" at the end of next week on the shores of Lake Rotorua. I'm helping the band for that learn some new songs. "God O God, take a hold of me..." I got the music from Ryan last year, but only introduced the team it at the last practice. The're absolutely loving it, and I reckon the youth at camp are gonna go nut's when we play it. Surge is going to be amazing.

And I got a new G&L tribute ASAT special guitar. Solid body, Blueburst, Maple neck.... Nice. Check out www.glguitars.com/tribute/instruments/ASAT_Special/index.asp for a preview. But remember I have a maple (light wood, rather than the dark wood in the photo) neck. It plays real well, and has a great sound. It has large single coil pickups, so gives that great clear sound, but pushes well when needed.

Remember to Stay Cool

Troy McClure: Don't kid yourself, Jimmy. If a cow ever got the chance, he'd eat you and everyone you care about!

Revenge of the sand people

OK. Sand people are small little things, but when you're outnumbered, they're dangerous. But enough Star Wars trivia. So it's been another 4 months since my last blog, and I'm now well overdue on my rambles on the life of Jon.

I've just been given the task of looking after the worship bands at church. This involves picking new songs, developing the bands musicians skills, working dynamics, and cool stuff like that. I'm really looking forward to seeing what can be done here. It's like all my training at SCA is now starting to be put to good use. I just hope I can step up to the mark as much as I'd like to. I want every individual, and all the bands to move to a greater level of musicianship, and with that will come an anointing that comes when skilled craftsmen perform their art. I guess half the trick is to keep making it fun.

Why is it that when you start to make an impact for the kingdom of God that the devil keeps trying to attack you? I always figured that he always has a go when people are standing up to tear down hell and build up the kingdom of God. I know he's been trying to take me out again. But he can't win ;)

Our church has been under incredible spiritual attack in the last 2 months or so. Fear and depression has gripped many people. Accidents have been happening far more often than the norm. On 1 day we had 3 motorbike accidents, including 1 that paralyzed and nearly drowned our senior pastor. It's only because of God that he is alive, and is getting better and better each day. He now has full mobility, and just minor things still bothering him.

Over New Years we had a beach mission out at Whangamata in the Coromandel Peninsula. When me and the first few people arrived at the camp site, the place was absolutely loose. Guys were walking around, most of them drunk and openly on drugs, either looking for girls, or looking for a fight. It was the first time that I became really aware of the devils hold on people, or on a physical area. The next day the rest of the crew arrived, we set up a big Marquee tent and invited the whole campsite to hang with us; and they did. The whole campsite was instantly transformed by us being there. And it wasn't just us saying so either, it was people that had been there before. We just had a safe place where everyone knew that they were welcome to come, beer, smokes, swearing and all that. We didn't judge them, but just loved on them, giving them free coffee, and hot chocolate, and just hanging out. We talked to heaps of guys, planting little seeds from God into them. A few people got healed. There was a guy who had a sore knee, or something like that. One of our team prayed for him and he got better. He was like "What did you guys do to me", then he told all his mates what had happened. We had a few people that wanted to talk to us about becoming a Christian too, including some who wanted to come back when their mates weren't there. It often seemed to be the case that somebody would be talking to someone, and they'd just be getting on the edge of something and then that persons mates would come and drag them away. That's when you know the devils not liking it. But the seeds were planted, and we know that it's God who allows the seed to grow. I managed to make conversations with people in the evening by using my telescope. I'd aim it at the moon, or after midnight at the planet Saturn. Usually the first words to come out of their mouth was a wow, or what the F***. We'd have a good sized group just hanging around, and we'd be able to talk to them.

Works going well. We're in the middle of expanding into Melbourne and Sydney. There may be a chance that I'll be needing to pay a few trips over as part of that. If I do then I'll have to pay my Aussie friends a visit. Even better, I've now got a team of developers that are coming on board. 2 students who are working part time while they finish their studies, and an ex-WizBang worker who is rejoining the team. Maybe now I can finally finish off that table mapping mod that we've been talking about for the last 5 years.

Homer: A woman is a lot like a refrigerator. 6 feet tall, 300 pounds ... it makes ice.

Victory shall be mine (and other random titles)

So I went back to Sydney for a week a while back. Mainly to just have a good ol holiday, which I hadn't had for nearly 4 years. It was a little weird having a holiday in a place I lived, and worked my butt off in. But I really enjoyed it.

First night I was there I went to Tim Williams recital. Dude, he put on the best performance I've seen in a long time (outside of my own). The sound was just huge, but absolutley crisp. The songs were great, the band had a good time performing and we all had a good time watching him. Just brilliant. He'd been planning it ever since he started at SCA, so he knew exactly what he wanted to do.

The next night, I had Peter, who's the head of Creative at Albany, come to church with me at CCC. He was over for work, completely independently of me... but there at exactly the same time. He had a good ol chat to heaps of the guys and lecturers at SCA, so he now know's alot more about what I've been through for the previous 3 years. When I got back to NZ, he got me to speak about my experience at SCA to the rest of the creative dept, and have had some people express interest in studying over there.

Back to my Aussie adventures. On Tuesday I spent the day at SCA, going to all the degree lectures that were on that day. The first lecture didn't make a whole lot of sense, but I guess you get that when you come in on week 8. Jeff's class was just a breath of fresh air. I'd heard this class a few times, but it's just good to be reminded again.

Right after classes, I was off to Kootomba in the Blue Mountains. I'd never been there before, even after living in Sydney for the previous 3 years. I arrived late in the afternoon on the train and settled myself into a backpackers. The next day I got up early and looked for some fun. I found a place that does abseilling so booked myself in for an adventure. We were taken to a place near Mt Victoria (which happens to be the 3rd Mt Victoria I know, after the ones in Devonport and Wellington), and settled in for the first of 4 descents. The first was just a practice 3 metre descent, and was just to get to know the equipment. After that was a 15, then 30 metre descent. All of which were handled pretty easily. Then we were off to the big one. A 60 metre descent (and walk back up). Standing up on the end, and just looking down is scary enough, but when you start to lean back and get the sound of the wind whistling through you helmet makes it something else.

In the afternoon I walked from Echo point, after viewing the 3 Sisters, down to the bottom of scenic world, passing a load of Waterfalls, and other scenic views on the way, over a 2 hour walk. At the bottom of scenic world, they had an old coal mine. They had done up a display about it and lots of little facts about the plant life down there. The trip back up took a little over a minute thanks to the rail line they had. It just happens to be the steepest rail line in the world, going at a 50 degree incline for about 250 meters. I'm just thankful I didn't have to walk back up.

The next day, I carted myself back to Sydney, visiting Koorong on the way.

The rest of my trip was spent catching up with people. Going to church, and having lunch/dinner with people. It's amazing how many people I know back in Sydney. I have a completely different life back there, that most people, back here in Auckland just aren't aware of. If only there was a bridge, that I could drive over, and be back home again in the afternoon.

Big shout out to Nathan, Sam, Mark and Struan who looked after me in my old flat, while I was there. Thanks for your hospitality.

Marge: Homer, the plant called. They said if you don't show up tomorrow don't bother showing up on Monday.
Homer: Woo-hoo. Four-day weekend.

And finally, Jon comes back, to Austraaalia

Yeah the rumours are tue. At least for 9 nine days. I'll be back in town from September 2 till September 11. Yay.

As for the rest of my life....

I've finally started playing at church, 1 week ago Sunday. They really wanted to make sure I wasn't a scoundral, and all the rest of it. It was one of those humbling experiences. "But I have an advanced diploma signed by Phil Pringle and Jeff Crabtree, that says I'm all that and more....", no, God wants me to wait a bit. Aaaaaaagh. I want it now. No. Ok then it hurt, but I'm glad I'm in, and didn't do anything stupid in my impatience. The fruits of it will turn up I'm sure.

As for the experience of playing. My amplifier decided it was going to blow 2 fuses and a couple of tubes, total cost so far... $120+ But now I've got a fault that needs to be fixed. This is going to cost if I can't do it myself. The devil was just trying to spoil my day, but he didn't win and in the end I had a great time. Rocked hard and gave something new to the church. Why is it that just before something great I find myself coming under attack from the devil. The only answer is that because he knows that one of my missions is to destroy his kingdom, bringing people from under his power to the liberty of Jesus.

Work is rocketing along. I've just put out the largest release in years. Putting in Skins and a new licencing scheme, and integrated EFTPOS tipping, and an automatic espresso maker, OK maybe not the last one. But it's out now, and is being tested by many of our top sites.

I've recently found myself getting really into astronomy. This happened after a trip to the Auckland observatory. Saw Saturn and it's rings through a telescope, and all that. Waited 2 months to get some funds together and now I've got a telescope of my own, a 6 inch reflector. Unfortunately now Saturn is too close to the sun to be seen. I'll have to wait until Xmas before it starts to be visable at a reasonable hour again (before midnight, I don't do mornings). So I've zoomed in on Jupiter and found Uranus (no crude jokes please), and found a few other interesting things.

I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends who are still living in Sydney. Contact me when I get there, and book me in for dinner. I'll be at Tim's recital, whether I'll be awake or not after a flight that day we'll have to wait and see.

Homer: You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way.

Is anyone still listening?

First off. Apologies to all the millions and millions of Jons fans who have had no update on their favorite superstar. I have been a little busy with work and taking over the world.

Emmaus visited me at the end of January for the Parachute Festival. I had promised them the use of my gear, but had to take back the offer when it was delayed. They put on some great shows at Parachute and at their other shows they did while they were over here. It was great having one last adventure with some Australian mates, but this time back on my home soil.

The Parachute Festival itself rocked. Delirious delivered, Amberlin rocked, and God was smiling over the whole event. It was my 10th Parachute, so I'm now a veteran of some sort. Maybe one year I'll actually play.

Now that my gear has arrived, I'm looking at getting into the Albany Christian Centre music team. I have to go through the process of being a member of the church, and having them check me out, before I can even go for an audition. They basically want to make sure that I'm on a similar wavelength to them, and aren't a scoundral. It's frustrating having to wait, but I know that in the long run will be worth it. When I'm in a position of responsibilty I'll be able to say that I had to go through all the processes as everyone else, and that no-one gets favorites or quick entry, even if they have an advanced diploma in contemporary music and worship leading from a prestigious overseas school.

And I nearly forgot my car. I got a 1997 Mitsubishi Legnum. It's an 1800CC wagon, with all the bells and whistles. Jap import for $NZ4900 from Turners Auctions. It drives real good too. 2 weekends ago I drove to Wellington and back (to watch WWE Smackdown at Westpac Stadium) and did the return journey on only 1 tank of gas. I then drove into work and back the next day before filling it. A total of 711kms on one tank. The fact that the tank cost me $83 is irrelevant cos petrol is so stinking expensive. It was $1.58 a litre when I filled it.

Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.