Thanksgiving break

Sorry I haven't updated this for a while!

I've been so busy finishing up my Christmas ask letter I've barely had enough time to breathe! But now that that's finally out of the way, I can actually write something on here!

It's super late, but I realized I never wrote about my Thanksgiving vacation. It was a great time with family and friends and I was really thankful to see my church family as well.

I ate so much turkey I think I became one for a day. Gobble, gobble is right!

This was one of the cutest things I've ever seen. And it's so cool because it's one of the church kids wearing the blue sky nine sticker! hehehe

I've posted up my newest newsletter!

Just click on the "Newsletters" drop-down menu on the right of the webpage to view it.

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

Sorry I haven't updated this in a while. Way too much has been going on!

I've recently moved into a new place, which is a total praise, because I found this random guy off of roommates.com literally three days before my lease was up. My lease was up on Oct. 31st and he called me on the 28th. I went to check out his place on the 29th and it looked great.

It's been a little over two weeks now since I've been there and it's been working out great so far. He was divorced four years ago and is now still living with his kids, but both his kids are older. Ashton is 12 and Alex is 16.

I know you're thinking, "you're living with kids???" It's definitely not what I quite had in mind at first and it's taken some adjusting to, but it's really a sweet deal. I'm paying very little compared to what I actually have!

I have my own room, which is plenty spacious for me, that came with tons of free furniture! He already had a queen-sized bed in there, a computer desk and two dresser drawers, so I didn't need to purchase any new furniture! Praise God!

He's got a garage, washer and dryer, nice kitchen, a deck out back, huge living room with a huge TV, and he's allowing me to use the master bathroom as pretty much my own bathroom. So in the end, I lucked out big time.

I've already gotten into some pretty cool conversations with him about what I do for a living and what Keynote is. Interestingly enough, he has two cousins that are actually pastors! Get that! I look forward to more conversations with him when I can talk more about faith issues.

So, with all that said, my living situation this coming year looks like it will be WAY better than it was :)


What else is happening with me?

1. Regrouping - Well, Chasing Elvis is losing a member :(

Sadly, Laura Piscitello has been reslated to be in blue sky nine as the lead vocalist. Another new staff was originally supposed to fill the lead vocalist spot but the Lord led her away from Keynote and she's no longer coming to be with us. :( And she was actually part of my new staff training class too! Sad! So, with that huge need in the band, Laura was asked by the leadership if she was willing to step in and switch bands. She agreed.

BOO! I'M SAD! I already told Pishy I was upset at her >:| But what can you do? God apparently has different plans, and in this ministry, you've always gotta be flexible with most everything.

2. Church History Class - We just started our church history class today! This is part of Crusade's IBS (Institute of Biblical Studies) program for all staff while they are a part of Crusade. All full-time staff that haven't taken this course yet were required to take it.

It's pretty intense. We've got to cover everything from the 1st century church until the modern church! IN SIX DAYS! We're expected to read the entire textbook we have for the class from cover to cover. And ya know, if I actually manage to do that (I'm on p. 211 so far), it'll be the first time EVER that I've finished an entire textbook for any class I've taken. I don't think I ever did that in college once!

3. Practicing - The North warehouse at Keynote's old office has become like my second home. I'm there maybe a few hours each day trying to practice as much as I can for this upcoming new season with tons of new material for Chasing Elvis.

It's been a huge blessing to just set up my drums and virtually play at any time and for however long to my heart's content! It really is the Lord's provision. I've almost come to view Keynote as a sort of second music school for drums because of how much I practice and the musical knowledge I've been able to soak up while here.

I've been able to make huge strides in my drumming, which I know I wouldn't have been able to had I stayed in New York and not come out here for full-time ministry. The lessons I've had with Dane Clark have been HUGELY instrumental in changing the way I play and molding me into a much better drummer. I ain't there yet, and probably never will be, but man, I'm WAY better than I first started here. Praise God.

So anyways, I'll be putting in the hours and chugging along to know the parts as best as I can before rehearsal starts on the 27th, right after Thanksgiving weekend (which is my birthday by the way!)

4. Counseling - When Dave Roux, my spiritual development coach, asked me how counseling was going the last time we met, I told him that all this "stuff" in my heart keeps coming up to the surface and it's ugly and hard to look at sometimes. "So it's going well then," he said. I begrudgingly replied, "I guess..."

That is indeed what God is doing in my life. My counselor said in our last session that it seems like God is doing all this to back me into a corner until I let Him love me. He's allowing me to go all my different routes until all my efforts are exhausted, I give up all my striving, and just let Him love me. I've got a long ways to go...please pray for me.


And that's about all that's happening now in a nutshell. I'm excited for the Thanksgiving holiday and some much needed rest time before the busy prep season starts up again.

Blessings everyone!

Keynote just recently celebrated their 40th anniversary! Along with that, we recently acquired a new headquarters, complete with a new, rehearsal facility that is in the process of being built! It's a pretty amazing story.

Below is the full story about us featured on Campus Crusade's staff website. I've also included the story about Carole's 8-year prayer for our ministry that was finally answered.

Enjoy!

____________________________________________________________________
Keynote Moves into New Headquarters
By Gabriel de Guia
Posted:08.Sep.2006














Keynote leadership in front of new building.


Keynote, the music division of Campus Crusade for Christ, dedicated their new headquarters on August 18, 2006.

The new site dramatically increases their space from 7,000 square feet to 42,000 square feet.

Their previous office, a converted two-story home, lacked room to grow.

The house brimmed with 45 cubicles, a classroom and a board room - also known as the living room.

Keynote and its 100 staff members needed a larger place.

"It's hard to cast vision and recruit when people see our space and don't know where they'd fit," says Keynote Director Chris Zaugg.

The new headquarters will provide multiple rehearsal rooms, enabling several bands to practice at the same time, something they didn't have before. It will also grant the ability to host concerts and fundraising events and much-needed office space.

Aware of the building needs of the ministry, a long-time friend and financial donor to Keynote contacted Chris in December of 2005 with an idea.

After initial discussions about a facility twice the size of their home office, the businessman returned to Chris a few weeks later.

He presented plans for two buildings - an existing one and one to be built.

Keynote plans to host a celebration event in their new facility as they commemorate 40 years of ministry in October.

Keynote, striving to partner with as many Campus Crusade ministries as they can, adopted the slogan, "Imagine the possibilities."



Keynote's Headquarters: Answering an 8-year Prayer

By Gabriel de Guia
Posted:08.Sep.2006

"I began praying that God would blow open the doors," says Carole Bongard, associate executive director for Keynote.

In 1998, the 15-year-staff member and mother of two prayed for a place big enough for 200 staff members.

They needed a facility that could house all of their summer project students and help cast vision for prospective donors and future staff members.

A year after she began praying, Carole says God gave her a vision which she put to paper. She produced a sketch of a dark, brick building with a pond, a flagpole, and an arching driveway. She also knew of a second building, but couldn't see it.

Wanting to keep the vision private, she only told a few people about the picture.

John Pescio, a fellow Keynote staff member, was one of them. He accompanied Carole on their first visit to the new site.

"Carole, do you remember that conversation we had several years ago?" asked John as they approached. "This is what we talked about, right down to the flagpole and circular drive in the front."

Tears filled Carole's eyes as they drew closer.

"What I envisioned years prior was right in front of my face," says Carole. "I couldn't believe it."

I join the 'Elvi' starting today! Woohoo!

Let me introduce the new band to you! Drum roll please...


Arlee Brandt - Keyboard/Vocals


















Jen Barger - Bass


















Laura Piscitello - Guitar/Vocals



















And, of course, our fearless leader, Mr. Jimmy FauntLeRoy - Lead Guitar/Vocals





















I'm uber excited about the new band! Chasing Elvis is a pseudo-funky alternative rock band that plays a mix of originals and covers. Needless to say, I'll have my work cut out for me this year!

This will be the first time I'll be playing drums in a more funk rock based element. It should prove really interesting and a good stretching experience for me musically.

You can check out our website at www.chasingelvis.com and also listen to a sample of our music online at www.keynotefuel.com

Jimmy is a hilarious guy with a real talent for songwriting. You can catch some of his hilarity on his podcast that he has on his personal webpage at littlelordmusic.com. But please note, his hilarity is not for the faint of heart or young of ears. :) Listen with discretion!

Hope you had a safe, fun, and happy Halloween.

Night