Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg 7…..MAX!

I have begun to realize some of my best thinking, laughing, blogging, at times weeping has been past the hours of 11 p.m.   No matter how little sleep I get….I will still stay up to listen to music, watch Conan, or blog….sometimes all three at the same time!!!!!I have discovered more new music, made up more new guitar chord progressions, and amazed myself on how peculiar I really am in the late hours of the night than any other part of the day. Late nights are good for the soul, not necessarity of the immune system but who needs that? I get a lot of guiance from God in these illuminous times…..He is always there, but God knows me best…..he knows these are the hours that I am made for so he punches me in the face in these times. Yea, thats right….God, gives me a left and right hand hook to the face.(he is God he doesn’t favor one hand so he just hits you with both….)What I am trying to say is, I used to get mad at myself for staying up so late and never getting sleep.  Just recently I have learned that this is me, I am owning up to the fact that I will never catch up on sleep.I don’t really know where to go from here, I love late nights! So much dicovery, conviction, and entertainment goes on during these hours.  My sleep suffers for it, but I would trade for the world…….most nights…JLuc. 

one thing to say….

I really only have one thing to say right now, and that is…….

When it comes to music, sleep is overrated…..

I love my guitar!

AND

my guitar loves me!

JLuc.

new music….

I am a musician….yea I know.  In being a musician, everyone assumes that I listen to all kinds of music.  Well, I am here to say that, they are completely right. Think about it….I post blogs on the music I have been listening to lately.  Well, I keep my iPod consistently filling with new music. Some I like and can’t get enough of, others are short memories in my mind.  A few months ago I made an extremely late iTunes purchases of Hillsong United’s latest album, All of the Above.  Well, i couldn’t playing this album, everytime I got in my car, everytime I went to my room.  I would come up with excuses to listen to this album over anything else.  Turn the clock 3 weeks…..I made another iTunes purchase, I bought Radiohead’s new album, In Rainbows, as well as Hillsong’s 2006 album, United We Stand (I had this album but it was a copy and it got ruined).  I have listened to In Rainbows often and really like it, but I honestly believe I have listened to both Hillsong albums every single day since the purchases.  All I can say is, music moves people.  I get moved by music, all kinds of music and describe how I feel when music hits me.  But there is very few words I can describe to explain the true emotion and intimacy that is put in to these songs.  United We Stand is a live album that shows the true worship that just oozes out of all of these members of that band.  They are real! I have seen them live and they have such a presence and anointing of God.  This is the best example of what using your gift and calling that God gave you to your best ability is.  Truly two very amazing albums, with catchy guitar lick, sweet drum fills, incredible bass lines, and most importantly true and raw lyrics that at one moment kick you in the mouth and at the other moment makes you want to shout to rooftops, or make you want to blow out the windows of your car…wherever you are at.  I strongly encourage anyone reading to buy these albums, they have honestly changed my life, and helped me see the vision God has for me, and helped me understand His purpose for us in this world……Become United! JLuc.

it’s a apple world…..windows is just misreable in it…

If you know me, you know that I have an unhinging obsession with Apple.  All they do constantly makes my love for that company grow even greater.  Their latest splash was the introduction of the Macbook Air.  This laptop is the smallest one ever.  0.76 inches thin when closed. 13inch screen.  Unreal wireless capability.  I could go on for days on how cool this machine is.  All I have to say with that is….they are just showing off.  Even better, is the fact that with their growing popularity they are still rocking it out more than ever!  Usually a company will have some popularity and will get lazy, or cocky and faulter, not this company.  They truly have a grasp on innovation.   Well, I was on the internet today, watching past keynotes from Steve Jobs.  Where he was talking about making the safari browser more popular than ever.  Enter….Safari on Window. You have got to be kidding me.  This browser is supposed to run faster than Internet Explorer and Firefox, in every area.  Well, me being a little skeptical, I went and downloaded Safari to see if it really was better.  Literally FIVE minutes later it was my default browser and Firefox was removed from my computer.  All I need to say is…..apple is taking over and windows has nothing for it.JLuc. 

my latest obsession…

I have been through a lot in the past days and months.  One thing that I have discovered is my appetite.  Now, I know what you probably doing at this moment….you are probably throwing together this short list of foods or snacks to guess what food or snack I am talking about.  Well, I will definitely inform you that this has nothing to with food.  my latest obsession is…God and my hunger for more.  Never in my life have I been dried up and just thirsted for more of him.  Through this time I have felt convicted, emotionally exhausted, liberated, and even physically drained.  I don’t know how to explain my “epiphany” moment, but just one day I realized why I was feeling this way.

I want more of YOU God.

I even want all that I can handle….

I have been trying to grow closer to him, take on anything that he has planned for me in the short future and as well as the long term.  I don’t really have much more to say on this, the only thing I want to do is live it all out for him.  Sell out…for him.  Rock out with him. BE with him…..

JLuc

a second home…

Most people in life have a house. Some even have multiple houses. How many have a home? A place where they are ultimately more comfortable than any other place in the world. A place where they can do things that they would never do in public. Where they can rock some sweet gym shorts with holes all in them and super-high tube socks with slippers. What’s even better than having that one place where you can do all that is a 2nd home. For me I could categorize many of my close friends homes as a second home, but the place where spend the most time, sometimes even more than my 1st home is my church. Stevens Creek Church. Over the last few years, I have been heavily involved in the music there along with working with youth, and even being the worship leader there. I speak great things on this place because it is a comfortable place that God has put in my life to keep me grounded and sane. It is also a place God has provided for me in order to grow, learn, absorb, and has even been there for me to have opportunities to lead his people. Its been a crazy ride. I started out being a backup acoustic guitar player for the youth band back in high school to…well, basically being the “go to” guy to lead worship when our worship pastor in out or is speaking. Then when I am not doing that I play the wicked sounds on electric regularly. Just last week I got the opportunity to lead, and it was a humbling, powerful, insane, life-changing experience. I have lead before for main services, but this one was different. This one, I realized I was made to worship. I know that sounds really elementary, and that I should be embarrassed that I just realized that, but I finally chewed on that for a while and it threw me for a loop.

The fact that God created me….

He made me in his image….

He made me for a purpose on this earth…

He made ME to Worship HIM….

Through all of my problems, through all of my transgressions, through all of my dirt, through all of my success, through all of my callings, through all of my worth…..

My ultimate purpose….what i was MADE to do is to give all the glory to Him.

He GAVE me the natural ability to lift my hands, shout, sing, run, dance, bow down, and live my life for him.

That knowledge alone makes me want to

worship Him.

love him.

walk with him.

sell out to him.

God gave me this church, this second home for opportunity…..to use my natural abilities to worship Him!!!

Is he cool or what?!?!

JLuc.

where did oh seven go?

well….what a year it has been! A lot has happened in the world and in my world.  Many failures have taken place and some successes.  Overall, i can’t really be disappoint in this year. God has put me through many tests and challenges to help me grow as a person, a man, a Christian, and even a musician.  I think God also put me through the things i went through in order to help me know what it feels like to go through these things to be prepared in life.  God definitely put me through 2007 to prepare me for 2008.  I would like to sit here and type that 2008 will be this awesome, uplifting year but I am not anywhere close to feeling confident that that will be the case.  All i can do is stay steadfast and strong with God, be friends with Him, LOVE him.  I am no longer going to make a ridiculous new years resolution that I will constantly break and disappoint myself….the only thing i want to do is promise myself and God that I will just Love God, Serve Him, and build a great relationship with him.  I want to start by telling everyone, I Love God….and he is the coolest!

JLuc.

breaking the hiatus…

Well, its been a while. I haven’t made an appearance in the blogger world in a few weeks, because….well life has taken over. I just finished up school for the semester, I had a lot of work time at the Starbucks to fill, and computer/iPod problems have haunted me. Well, I am hear to say….it is all good! I got everything with my car fixed, finished papers and finals, and work isn’t overwhelming any longer. It has been a really good last few days, my fire for guitar playing, singing, and especially songwriting has been refueled in a big way. All I needed was some musical inspiration and some amazing himself from the big man. I feel like things in the coming months are going to rockin’ and I can’t wait to be a part of whatever awesome things God has in store. Things were just kind of floating aimlessly for me in the last month, but in the last day or two I have had a couple “cup half-full” moments with life, love, music, and most importantly God. Things are good, and God is awesome….

JLuc.

More Turkey for me….

Well, Thanksgiving is quickly coming to and end, all the food that was prepared today is either being packed away in to the fridge to eaten for the next 3 weeks, or being wasted and thrown away….sad.  As I look back on this day, stomach filled to the max, tired as can be because I was deprived of my after-lunch nap, and thinking about going back in to the kitchen to get a third helping of banana pudding, I think about how this day is overwhelmingly over commercialized.  This holiday is a huge deal, it is the only holiday where out of no where three days are taken off for school so we can eat and travel and sleep…a lot.  Sure there are reasons behind why we take so many days off and why it is so commercialized, but when it comes down to it….that is what this holiday has become.  It no longer feels like a day where we can just sit around look at the people we are eating with and smile because we are thankful that that person is in our life.  Most are scoping or mapping out how they will take on the most chaotic day in the history of the United States, the day after Thanksgiving, better known as….Black Friday!!! 

I went to dictionary.com and put in the word Thanksgiving, the first definition that i read was; the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, esp. to God.  I feel like that is so far from being done on this day.  We need to get back to the basics.  This is one day, ONE day to show our appreciation to God and others for what they do and how much they mean to us.  Instead we turn it in to a commercialized day to preceed the biggest shopping day of the year.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I love turkey just as much as the next person, i just feel we need to get back to the point to where we thank God for this land that we stole from the Native Americans, and the food that we know and love, and also thank HIM for the loving people in our lives that are always there for us and mean the world to us.  That’s what Thanksgiving should be about…and the people that care to make it about what it originally was about make the effort with your family.  It will make it a stronger, more meaningful day for everyone.  I hope everyone is safe on their shopping excursions and please don’t be mean to the starbucks baristas they will make your drink the best they can as fast as they can.  Have a great Black Friday everyone!

How do you categorize being excited and miserable at the same time?

Its Monday, Veterans Day, and it is also time for a new cell phone for me.  Well, I have had a cell phone for a while now, but I have always been that guy or person that has the lame cell phone.  My phones are always beat up, ragged looking phones.  Well, this was finally my chance to have the cool phone.  Although, I must add that nothing is cooler than the iPhone, so I going based on what is almost as cool as the iPhone.  Anyway, I went this past afternoon and got a cell phone, and, well, I felt like I was a salespersons dream because I was going for everything they were dishing out.  After about 30 minutes I realized that my monthly bill was going to be almost 100 bones.  Then, I scaled it down to about half that.  Well I got my phone, I am pumped because it is easy to work with, it has a full keyboard, I can text message now, its the jam!  Well, at the same time I have realized all the money I will be spending from hear on in.  So which feeling am I supposed to take hold of?  Well, my answer for myself is this….I am going to be excited, but not overly-excited.  If I do that I will stay grounded on what I have to pay for and get done.  So…the life lesson today is, Stay grounded, dont’t fall for everything, because if you do…well, the ground will hurt.

This is a picture of my new phone….I also have a new number, so, if you need it let me know….

(This was a small blogample of how random i am)

JLuc.

so small….

I am college student…enough said.  Even though I have passed that age where I think that I am invincible, there are times where I feel bigger or more inmportant than I actually am….I know, even though I may not be important sometimes I feel more important than I actually am. (trust me I am getting to a point)  Anyways, one of the classes that I am taking is physical science, and in this class we have been talking about space and everything involved with space.  We have talked about comets, stars, constellations, nebulas, giants, super giants, moons, etc.  Throughout life I have had my doubts of God and the truth of how things exist.  Taking this class has helped those doubts go away completely.  It amazing how the sun, moon, and even the earth is so….strategically placed.  The planet earth is the only planet that takes 24 hours to rotate.  No one would be able to live on any other planet because the days are far too long.  Mercury and Venus are too close to the sun to have life because the amount heat that is put on the planet, and Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and so on are too far from the sun to have life because the lack of sunlight and heat that they receive….the only planet that has that perfect amount is Earth….coincidence?  i think not.  I am pretty a “bang” couldn’t well place something like that.

The sun’s diameter is 1,392,000,000 meters and it would take 109-110 earth’s to fill that diameter.  Think that’s big? Giants and super giants are stars that are considered to be 10 to 50 times bigger than the sun.  How big do I feel right now?  There are stars way bigger than the biggest star we see, the sun, and we can’t see how big they are because they are so many light years away(even saying that doesn’t even put in to words how small I feel). 

There are so many things I have learned in the last couple of weeks that make me confident in what I believe.  This in no coincidence, the earth, trees, the moon, stars, sand, water, relationships, music, parents, love, fellowship, our purpose.  God didn’t create this universe for all of us to just think things are coincidence, he has a purpose for everyone.  Not only did he create stars, and the sun, and the earth, and the moon for us to enjoy and look at, he created it for us to live and live out our purpose that he has intended for us.

 I feel small…..because I am small compared to the greatness God has created for me, and I should thank God everyday for how small he makes me feel.

JLuc. 

new music tuesday…i mean thursday….The Fratellis

Well, it’s time to talk about music, yes, music.  Nothing I like like to talk about more than a good rock/pop band.  The band I chose to talk about this week is The Fratellis.  This Scotish born rock band hits on all cylinders for me.  Being that I am a guitar player, I am a sucker for great guitar skills, and Jon fratelli, lead singer and guitarist, has just that.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I like good, clever guitar licks and sweet overdrive sounds…not just anything.  Jon, has the skills, wits, and charming lyrics to withstand many of the great lead sing/lead guitarist of the past.  I have been known to not be a big fan of punk, but when it comes to brit-punk/pop i say…Bring it on!!!    Unless they suck then I say….go away.  The Fratellis have huge guitar driven, anthem-like songs that would make anyone want to listen over and over.  They are also the type of band where I could hang out at a bar or club and enjoy there show or be at a huge arena and head bang until my neck gave out on me.  Seriously, if you want to rock and you have an appreciation for sweet guitar licks and effects, check them out.

Track 1-6 are all my favorites…that should show how good the album is

JLuc.

The weekend that was……

Well, where do I start.  I have to say this was one of the weirdest, exciting, anticlimactic, outlandish weekend’s that I have ever seen and been a part of.  It started off with pay day, which was the only normal thing of the day.  Then, I had to work at the coffee empire that is Starbucks later that day until.  It was around 7 o’clock eastern time, I had been at work for a few hours by this time and was deep in to work washing dishes, when all of a sudden we lost power.  I just looked up and around puzzled.  It was getting dark outside, so it was rather dark in the store, out only source of light was the emergency exit signs.  We thought maybe it was just our building, but we looked further and almost the entire street that my store is located on had no power.  No street lights worked and it was mad chaos.  I saw cars going scattering in every direction until the cops showed up.  Well, power ended up being out for almost 3 hours, in which we did not stay around for we closed up shop 2 hours early.

The next day, I had to work in the morning.  While I was there I was taking an order standing at the drive-thru window when a man, walking swiftly, put his hand in our tip jar and stole money right in front of our eyes.  Turns out that we have had problems with this man before, so we called the cops.  We got the cops to track him down.  The found the man within a few minutes.  The cops sent in private investigators in to get information from us.  I had to sit down with an investigator for about 15 minutes to tell him what happened.  This man, who probably stole 5 bones at the most, was charged with a felony, how much crazier can you get!?!?!

To top that day off, when I got home I sat down to watch my Dawgs play my least favorite team in all of the world.  I thought it would be just like any other game that I had seen.  Well, it was a bizarre one.  A whole team ran out on the field, there were numerous personal foul penalties, and craziest of all….WE WON!!!  Man, it feels so good to say that we beat the horrible gators.  If there was a rule that we could only hate one person or thing…mine would be the Florida Gators.  We put it to them it was a fantastic weekend. 

Today, I got the privelege of leading 3 services in worship.  I love leading people in worship and love getting a response from the crowd and responding with that crowd towards God.  I usually play electric guitar and lead in the youth, but this week our worship pastor, Todd, spoke today.  The musix, the worship, the message definitely put a sane cap on the strange and out of place weekend.  God is in control, no matter how many times I doubt him or turn away, he will always be there holding on to me. 

here is the service I lead worship if you wanna check it out…. www.stevenscreek.net (click on the 10.28.07 service)

JLuc.

The Fall Classic

In my opinion, one of the toughest sports to play is baseball.  The main reasoning is you have to play 162 games, and most of the time you play hurt.  There is more criticism on baseball players than any other kind of athlete.  With that said, it is that time of year again, the time of year that all of the baseball players play all of those games for.  The World Series!!!  Well, even though my Braves didn’t make it (wait till next year) the Sox made…oh yeah!  Now, I understand that the Rockies are on a roll and that have won a crazy amount of games in the last month, but in that time they never faced what is called Red Sox Nation.  A powerful empire that rolls over any enemy that they face, and they are going to Conquer the World Series this year.  Yep, I said it, the Sox will win this series and have a second ring in four years.  This will be a good October, and then next year The Braves will win it and Francoeur will be the MVP…..right

JLuc.

iMac Attack

I am at this moment, writing this blog on one of 2 iMac’s my church has. This one is in the youth room where all the video, music, and technology. I just had to write everyone in the blog world from here because it is just a different world from here. I wish I owned the amazing piece of machinery. Anyway, got to get a move on to the house, have to serve people their Starbucks in the morning…..LATTE!!!!

JLuc.

The Legend that is Starbucks….

Believe it or not it is very hard to write about this empire, due to the fact that almost everything that could be said about Sbux almost has been said.  Well, I have a relatively different view than most….because I am a shot pourin, frappuccino rockin, milk steamin, coffee brewin Starbucks Barista.  Yes, I know what you are thinking…man you are so lucky, you get free drinks, free coffee, now that’s livin life…well I am here to tell you, on the contrary, there is a dark side to starbucks.  It’s the side that only partners see…and it’s, well….awesome!!!

Honestly, there really isn’t anything bad about Starbucks or working for Starbucks. It is really all it is cracked up to be.  NOW….I do want to take the time to give a few pointers/information/insight on what can help your experience at Starbucks worth while when interacting with a starbucks partner (these are things NOT to do in order to keep the partners from laughing at you when you leave).  Here we go!

1. Under no circumstances should you ever ask for a caramel macchiato with no foam and whip….it completely defeats the purpose of the drink.  Instead, order a vanilla latte with whip and caramel drizzle.  It’s cheaper and makes more since

2. Never call the frappuccino anything other than the Frappuccino!!!  not Frappe, Frappachini, Frapalatte, mochaccino, and especially not FRAP!  No mater what you think, it does not fit the sbux lingo.

3. If you get a regular brewed coffee, never pour some of the excess coffee into the trashcan….trust me, you get more than people talking about you

4. Don’t ever ask for an iced Hot chocolate. (seriously, it has happened)

5. And Finally(for now) Never put shots of espresso in a Strawberries and creme frappuccino, its just nasty!!!

With information you have now, your Starbucks experience will more enjoyable and you wont get weird looks, unless your in to that sort of thing then…gor for it!

GOULET!!!!!

JLuc.

God things…

Sometimes it’s hard….I am talking about talking with God.  The only reason I say sometimes is to hide true feeling on it which is, it is hard many times to talk and be with God.  There have been numerous occasions where I make an effort, most of the time it is a lackluster attempt, to be with God and it usually feels like a time when you see someone you went to high school with that you didn’t really like but you made eye contact and it is too late to just ignore that person’s existence in you immediate space.  I’m not saying that I don’t like God and the time I spend with but many times I feel awkward and out of place.  At times I feel my relationship is suffering.  I do know that he is on my side, all the issues I having with school, and life in general…everything works out.  I totally give God every inch of the credit for all that he has done for me. 

I just recently turned 21, I know…old, and I have been told by many, some joking most trying to be funny but being painstakingly serious, that life goes all down hill from here.  I don’t believe that and I am definitely not buying in to that.  My life is beginning now and I am going to Carpe the Diem!! God is in control and and he will always be in my favor and on my side.  I have to take the initiative to make things happen.  

Always remember God provides the doors, but we are the one’s who have to drop kick them open…….

JLuc. 

new music tuesday…Menos el Oso

I always get emails from iTunes titled, new music tuesday, so I figured I would start doing that…except i will probably do new music Monday-Sunday.  Anywho, I’d like to take this post to talk about one of my new favorite bands, Minus The Bear….weird name huh?  I first heard a friend talking about them and I was puzzled by the name, I had no idea what it meant, and I still don’t.  The coincidentally I saw them on tv and I liked what I heard. So, I downloaded their cd and was immediately hooked.  I am a sucker for crazy effects on the guitars and they have that,  I am also a sucker for sweet timed stops and on point meter, and they have it all.  Lead singer, Jake Snider, has rocking solid vocals and melodic tones.  All together, this band has got it going on and you, yea YOU need to check them out.  Latest album, Planet Of Ice, is out now!!

JLuc.

frustrations of a pc….

You know, there were days when I thought a pc was the greatest thing on earth.  The sad thing is, is I don’t really remember those times.  Those days are long gone, I now want to set fire to the conglomeration known as the PC.  For example, I have a desktop pc in my room that i keep all of my music files and also use for school.  This computer isn’t the best but it gets by, well I haven’t used it in probably a week because I haven’t needed it except for charging my iPod.  I turned it on today to get some pictures from my files a what do you know….it has a virus! a VIRUS!!!! I haven’t used it!  Even when i do use it. it’s for checking email, listening to music and looking at the occasional photo from my files.  This can only happen to pc’s.  Out of nowhere I can’t use it because mozilla wont open and nothing will work except iTunes (thank God…).  Where is a mac when you need one, or when I need one.  I have been trying for a few years now to get a mac, but have been unable to get one because I am a poor college kid, well this is the last straw….TRUST ME, with much prayer and saving up you will see me with a mac soon.  Well…in closing, I just ask you to pray for my computer frustrations to go down and my chances of a comsuming a mac to go up.

JLuc.

a late bloomer to the blogger world

yep, I am a late bloomer!!  The only blogging I have done is on my myspace page.  I am excited to to be a part of the movement.  Hopefully I haven’t joined too late or else I will be hugely depressed.  Okay, not really, but I figured I would chance it.  Anyway, hopefully people will read my blogs or I will just continue to write them for myself which sounds awkwardly sad.  Can’t wait for what happens 

JLuc