The Blog Has Moved!

Blog has moved. I’ve moved my blog over to:

www.mattmacdonald.ca

This site is not current or updated any longer.

- Matt

Get Ready…Get Set…

The new blog is ALMOST ready. After many weeks in development and coding (blah!) we’re almost ready to launch the new “look.”

Then..I turn on my phone this morning and see a msg from my tech-guru titled “Huge Blog Hang-Up…” You can imagine my nervous-ness as I opened the email.

As I twittered earlier, WordPress does not let you upload custom template to sites that they host…so.

After moving from HERE to HERE…I know have to move to HERE.

If you got to my blog all along by using www.mattmacdonald.ca then you would have NEVER had a problem, but after the advice or a few friends like THIS GUY and THIS GUY it’s time to host the blog myself..

So on Monday morning we are going live to www.mattmacdonald.ca and leaving WP Hosting behind. Please change your links/pages/subscriptions to the new domain…

P.S Apparently “give-aways” are the coolest new thing…SO…with the launch of the new look, I’m going to be giving away from swag! Stay tuned!

Mamma’s Got a Blog

My wife Hailey just a got a blog. For a softer, more intelligent version of the stories I tell…you can read what she says!

I love Hailey more each day and am so thankful for the example that she is in my life. Glory to God.

I Got It…Did You?

Yesterday morning…before I even went to work…

I downloaded (for free…with the pre-order purchase of the album) the new Fee album “Hope Rising.”

Me likes…a lot.

Rarely do albums live up to the hype they create….but this one did. Doctrinely sound…musically tight…it’s good.

Here’s the best part. I’ve heard from both THIS GUY and THIS GUY that they’re better people than musicians (which says a lot!).

Get it.

ALBUM REVIEW: Redman & Kearney

It’s been awhile since I’ve done an album review. But I HAD TO review Matt Redman’s new album “We Shall Not Be Shaken” released today.  I figured while I was at it I would also review Mat Kearney’s latest CD released in spring 2009.

Firstly let me just say…he’s done it again. Redman has taken Biblical Truths, Memorable Melodies and combined them into songs fit for congregational worship and personal devotion…all on one disk. That is not an easy thing to do. He has written songs that can be sung by 10 or 10,000 all lifting high the name of the 1 true God. This album not only draws me to the throne room, but reminds me of scriptures that have refined me, blessed me and defined me as the man that God has grown me to be. Matt Redman did it again.

Top 3 Songs:
1) The is How We Know
2) All That Really Matters
3) How Great is Your Faithfulness

This album will definitely be on repeat for awhile for me, and will be added to my top albums of 2009.

I have been listening to this album almost weekly since I bought it back in May 2009.  Mat’s ability to be melodically inventive while incredibly simplistic is what define’s this album as a “goodie.”  I specifically appreciate the contrast in moods offered between each song.  It would be irresponsible of me while reviewing this album to not at least MENTION the fact that it is VERY Coldplay-ish.  If you don’t like Coldplay…you probably won’t like this album.  The two biggest differences between Mat Kearney and Chris Martin would be Jesus and the fact that Mat doesn’t name his kids after various fruits.

Top 3 Songs:
1) Fire & Rain
2) Runaway Car
3) City of Black & White

That’s “Epic”

No…it’s really not. I tweeted earlier today about the over use of the word “EPIC” and received a mixture of responses. Some (like from THIS GUY) we’re poking fun at me…no surprise…but others claimed to enjoy the using the word. All in all, calling my friends’ band “Epic” or saying that party I just patron’d was “Epic is simply not the case…unless your friend is Bono or Paul McCartney and party you attended was held @ Madison Square Gardens and it was hosted by Michael Jordan.

Here’s my criteria for the correct use of the word Epic…

1) Is the event/source embraced and esteemed by others to the same degree?

2) Is the event/source timeless and relevant in its greatness?

3) How does the event/source compare to other comparable event sources?

Here are 3 examples that I used:

1) Becoming a Father
2) Star Wars “Empire Strikes Back”
3) The Mona Lisa

What 3 could you come up with? Do You Agree/Disagree?

I Got Robbed

For those of that follow me on twitter, you read about how my car was broken into yesterday…not a good day.

I really struggled with the whole thing. There’s something about getting in your car after someone else has just rummaged through it that makes you feel…uncomfortable. My golf clubs were the only thing taken (which we’re not cheap to replace!), but I found myself really clinging to James 1 in thanking God through this trial and praising Him for His faithfulness (no one was hurt, no damage to the car, etc.)

As I looked back on the whole incident, I was struck with a parallel in my own relationship with God.

God calls us to live blamelessly before Him, pursuing holiness. As I drove in my car, I couldn’t help but feel like I was riding in a ‘sin-bin.’ There were a few minutes during the night before, where thieves had been where I was now sitting with the sole purpose of stealing from me.

Sort of reminds me of my sin. Everything I have and am is because God has ordained it and allowed it. My health and possessions are His alone. So I guess when I don’t take care of my body, or blow money on foolish things…or worse…take pride in something that isn’t mine to begin with…I look pretty silly.

It would be like the guy that stole my golf clubs…would he feel a greater sense of accomplishment having worked and saved to buy them (like me) or from just stealing them…?

I know the example isn’t perfect, but it does put things in perspective. I feel ripped off because someone stole my golf clubs. How much more is God ripped off when we misuse the life that we have in Him.

Just some food for thought.

Where in the World??

Loved the T.V show “Where in the World is Carmen Dan Diego.”

But some have recently asked….”Where in the World is Matt MacDonald.”

In short…everywhere. Between Home///The Cottage///Relative’s Houses’…we’ve been like a touring circus.

Summer for me is really a time to unplug (not fully…did that for a week and almost died!) but just generally. I will be back to full-time blogging in September…WITH….drum-roll please…A NEW DESIGN.

My good friend Tyler has been working on a new blog lay-out for me over the summer and I am EXCITED to drop it in this space!

It Happened One Night…

So here’s the thing.

Babies are great…specifically mine…BUT you know what isn’t great…crying babies…specifically mine.

Last night, Stella (or as I refer to her “the diva”) went to bed @ 9:30pm…pretty good eh! Hailey and I watched some T.V, talked about the next few weeks, etc. At approx midnight, “the diva” decided that it was not sleep time…but scream time. She proceeded to cry off and on until 5am.

I say this…to say this…

1) My wife is AH-MA-ZING. Without a word of complaint, she tended to “the diva” and told me to go back to bed as I had to work the next day.

2) I am a suck. I am SO tired and basically running on 2 large coffee’s and 4 hours of sleep right now…she’s at home taking cat-naps whenever she can…I’m a suck…she’s a hero.

3) We need to consider moving to Australia. Our night is there day…Stella would love it!

4) I love my little girl. Even though she kept us up all night (I did sit her down in the morning and give her a talking to about her behavior), I could not help but play with her and hold her in the morning…DANG Diva Powers…!

I’m PRETTY SURE that God doesn’t want that…

||| NOTE: Outlandish Sarcasm ahead…proceed with caution |||

I saw this on a friends facebook. I guess he found it in a bookstore or something. Makes you wonder…is it really that easy to get something published? I’m contemplating ripping some bark off a tree in my backyard and seeing if someone will publish it for me…I’ll write my name on it and maybe “God wants us all to be like tree bark.” Think of the potential!

Click HERE and HERE or HERE for other great ideas…

(okay, the 3rd one is a joke)