The ‘Boys Are Back In Town!

Tonight I watched my first Dallas Cowboys games of the year. Phil Wickham was at the game and took THIS PICTURE. The ‘Boys are TRULY back in town. Football season pumps me up. I’m in my first ever “PAY” fantasy football league (have always just done free-bie’s) but this year THIS GUY pulled me into his so I could teach him how to pick’em.

A new season brings a new opportunity…a clean slate…and as I say annually at the end of August…THIS IS OUR YEAR.

On another note, Madden 10 for PS3 is out…and I am on the prowl.

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!

Public Service Announcement

Back in Februray, I heard Fee’s “Glory to God Forever” for the first time. I IMMEDIATELY introduced it to Harvest Bible Chapel York Region.

1 Week ago, the single was released in the U.S
Today (because Canadian Itunes SUCKS) it was released in Canada.

My buddy Travis from iMinistries saw on Twitter that I was griping last week about not getting to download it, so being the RockStar that he is, he gifted me a copy of it from U.S Itunes.

Let me tell you…this song is UNBELIEVABLE. It points us to God…It gives us a glimpse of heavenly worship…but most importantly…it draws people to a place of self-less, Christ-focused WORSHIP!

If you haven’t already…buy it. Can’t wait for the full Album “Hope Rising” in the fall!

Technology Fast

Next week I am “out of the office.”  Since I started working, I have never really “turned-off” for any extended period of time.  SO, after a challenge from my wife, my parents and my token-Aussie friend (who doesn’t read my blog anyway) I am committing to fast from cell phone/email/twitter/blogging/etc. for one week.  It does not sound like a lot (and for some people it isn’t, but for me its huge).  I guess its like anything we’re “addicted” too…for me to give up alcohol for a week would not be even the slightest of a challenge…but for an alcholic…it would be a momentous accomlishment.

The Internet, and technology are such a huge part of my life…for business, for social networking, for everything…SO, for this week, it all comes down.  I am handing my  iphone and macbook pro to my wife and will replace the time with family time, reading and prayer…it’s exciting.  THIS GUY did this for a month and seemed to have a breakthrough…here’s hoping I don’t quit my job when I come back like he did :S

See you in a week!

Summer is Coming

So it’s pretty much here.

The weather is now consistently nice…

The big-budget blockbusters are flowing like milk&honey in the promise land…

I feel the desire to golf every day of the week…

The cottage is calling my name…

BUT.

Work is CRAZY right now.  It’s mind boggling the number of files that keep piling up and meetings that continue to be scheduled.  Between work and the baby…summer preparation has been on hold.  Sure I’ve mowed the grass a few times, played golf once or twice, but the anticipation of “time off” is killing me and seems like it will never come.  On July first I head north (with “some” work in hand) for a few days.  It will be the first time I have been up there since February and the first time that my daughter can be introduced to God’s Country…Muskoka.

So…summer, thanks for being patient, I will be with you momentarily.

Mac Geeks Unite

Thus far, I have never seen 1 online event that is as widely followed as today’s big Apple Meeting.  Here’s a picture I snapped on my twitter to demonstrate how Apple owned the day…
Below is a snapshot of what the “pre-chat” on Apple Insider dot com looked like.

Pretty brutal in terms of what people get excited for.  Check out the bottom one…the guy “couldn’t sleep” the night before. Joking or not, it’s pretty sad when people idolize technology like this.  But here’s the thing…I’m just as bad!  Am I stoked about the new “copy/paste” feature on the new operating system (OS)…YES!  I was convicted today via Apple.  I had a sweet chat with my buddy @CaptainCool about tech stuff, ministry and everything in between. It is refreshing to talk about tech stuff in the context of our faith (i.e how can I use technology as a resource to spread the gospel), BUT the bridge between resource and idol is not large.
I get excited about technology sometimes…

I need to get JUST as excited about stuff that matters! At the end of my life…no iphone app, new car or cool tie will be there, just me and my Saviour…I need something more to say than…”my itunes library was SUPER up-to-date and I had great hair…”

16 Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18The LORD knows the days of the blameless,
and their heritage will remain forever;
19they are not put to shame in evil times;
in the days of famine they have abundance. Psalm 37:16-19

Weekend Review

GREAT day @ Harvest York Region this past Sunday.

A friend of mine Jake McKee came with me to play electric. I knew that we had a great set going in, and the people responded during the time of worship. It is always such a great moment when a truth-filled son is sung by people that WANT to be there! Here’s how it all went down…

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
Holy, Holy, God Almighty – C
Beautiful Jesus – A
Glory to God – B
Jesus Paid It All – B

ANNOUNCEMENTS/OFFERING
Jesus, You Are Worthy – D

MESSAGE
Karl Whittingstall – Acts 12 “God’s Power”

RESPONSE
Mighty to Save – A

As per usual, this is part of Fred McKinnon’s deal-eo

Domain is Up!

After some help from my friends Erin and Tyler (who both know a lot more than me when it comes to web stuff),

www.mattmacdonald.ca

is back up and running. It now points to this blog. Thanks to both Erin and Tyler for their help!

Big Weekend

This weekend is a big one. An exciting one. A relaxing one. I will meet some new people, play some songs and praise the Lord.

This Sunday the York Region Elders are being commissioned. I am going back to lead worship as my first time not on staff but as a ‘guest’…that will be interesting.

Hailey and I are going down to Markham tomorrow and staying in a hotel overnight. This will be a great little ‘getaway’ and will also limit the drive in the morning (yahoo!).

All that said. I am looking forward to the weekend, and am expectant for the Lord to do big things!

Weekend Done

This weekend Hailey I and went to London, Ontario for visit family.

We had a great time with her brother and my grandparents. This morning we went to Harvest London. I have some great friends on staff there. I always feel at home when I go there, and often leave feeling like I could easily call it my home church (and would if it wasn’t 2 hours away). After church we hit an all-you-can-eat sushi joint with Hailey’s family and my brother.

This morning Steve Toombs (the worship guy @ Harvest London) did a good job leading and focusing the people on coming before the Lord in a time of song.

Here is how some highlights…

Opening/Call to Worship

Our God Saves
Come Thou Fount (alternate arrangement)
Happy Day
Everthing (Hughes)

Message (Joshua 3)

Everlasting God

It is always great being a part of the congregation. This is something that I’m not overly familiar with (because in past I am usually leading), but definately something that I will get used to as I move away from my role @ Harvest York Region, and back into the congregation @ Harvest Oakville.

This is part of Fred’s thang @ Sunday Set Lists.