I recently quit my job to write and travel full-time.  I’ve been honored by all of your love + support. As a small gift to show my full heart, I recorded some songs from our recent travels. This is an exclusive, acoustic EP that will only be available until May 22nd.

–> DOWNLOAD HERE

Songs on this project include tunes from ‘Origins,’ ‘Swallowing Death, Breathing Life,’ + a new, unreleased song entitled ‘Old, Oak Tree.’

It’s only available on Noisetrade where you have the option to download it for free, or you can give a tip of your choosing.  Please download it today and share it with your friends! Help me share these sounds!!

–> DOWNLOAD HERE

Thank you, thank you, thank you – to those of you have always been in my corner and to those who are just joining us. I cannot express my gratitude to you enough.

I hope you enjoy these songs and are pointed to Jesus!

-john

Well, I did it. I quit my steady job and got in the van with my guitar.

I burned the ship and jumped in the raft.

This has been a major act of faith, but I am so happy that I did it.  I am just now beginning, but I have already learned a few things – I figured I’d share them with you here.

1.) Be thankful.

The mindset of being thankful is something that has changed my life.  No matter what obstacles you are facing or situations you are up against, there is always something to be thankful for.  So, in this time of bold faith and ‘instability’ I am choosing to celebrate everything that is good.  There will always be an unknown and there will always be an issue because we live on earth – a place that is separated from God.  However, God has chosen us and blessed us.  There are things that I never want to take for granted.

2.) Be supported.

My wife, Emily, is the most amazing woman on the planet. I mean that.  Her support and blessing and encouragement for me to jump off the boat is irreplaceable.  I am so blessed to have her in my life and on my side.

Then I have my family. And my friends.  And you (the reader) and this online community centered around Jesus and art. The list goes on and on … I could not do this without all of this support.

If you do not have support, you won’t last.  I believe we were made to do life together.  Whether it’s your spouse, or your best friend, or your family – have support.  There will always be dark nights. You will always need someone to shine through the darkness.

3.) Be present.

I am now completely responsible for all my future work. There are some nights where that can make me nervous.  Trying to think ahead and control the future – near or far – will only make you anxious.  Live in the present. Yes, plan ahead and work hard.  But at the end of the day, relax and breathe. It’s better that way.

Hi everyone,

I saw this video today and had to share it.

I have absolutely zero experience with modern day slavery or sex trafficking.  They are situations that I have never bumped into, so I have no personal story to share.

However, I do want to say that we can make a difference.  Even if you’re like me, and this is a foreign concept. You can be a part of changing the world.

On April 25th, I’ll be joining the International Justice Mission in Washington D.C.  It will be a night of worship and of music, but also a night of awareness and of prayer.  If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join me. Reserve your seat HERE.

Hi everyone, I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted a blog about Saturday Spins.

Don’t worry, we’re still spinning. You can subscribe on Spotify over here –> spoti.fi/PNj4gt

I compiled this playlist with the rainy spring days in mind. I’ve been spending a lot of hours in my office looking outside into that vey same view. It amazes me how it can either be inspiring or draining.

Anyways, this is what I’ve got on the playlist this week. What are you listening to?

1.) Closer – Tegan And Sara

2.) Darlin’ Do Not Fear – Brett Dennen

3.) Merry Go ‘Round – Kacey Musgraves (my current country music fix – love this album)

4.) Pumped Up Kicks (remix) – Foster the People

5.) Midnight City – M83 (a rainy day must)

6.) Free Fallin’ (Live) – John Mayer

7.) Yellow (Live) – Coldplay

Hi everyone, I had the chance to chat with a good friend of mine and I wanted to share it.

Seriously, go buy this book HERE!

//

JOHN: Hi Mike! Thanks for joining us today. How are you?

MIKE: Hey John, I’m doing great! Thanks for having me!

JOHN: Definitely. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

MIKE: Sure. I’m a full time husband, father and youth pastor in western Pennsylvania.

JOHN: For those of you who don’t know, Mike was my youth pastor at the end of my High School career. He’s a great guy with a great heart.

So Mike … you just wrote a book, right? Tell us about that.

MIKE: You meant to say your favorite youth pastor. Ever.

Yes, I just wrote a book with two friends of mine called ‘99 Things Every Guy Should Know.’  It is geared towards teenage and college age guys and it just came out a couple months ago.

JOHN: Awesome, and so all of you readers do not miss it, you can get it HERE.

Mike, you say it’s geared towards young men – what’s the message of the book? and why is it just written to men?

MIKE: From our experiences, we’ve seen a lot of great resources and ministry out there for adult women, adult men, young women but nothing really geared towards young men.  This is a pretty significant issue, because guys need to know what it means to be a real man.  Sadly, guys today have a limited number of men to look up to, whether it’s in the church or at home. So whether it’s a lack of Christian men as role models, a weak father figure, no father figure, etc – guys today are learning their ideas of what it looks like to be a man through our culture.

JOHN: Yeah, I completely agree. Emily and I were talking about that just yesterday, actually… about how certain negative behaviors are praised in men while shunned in women.  We definitely need more positive role models.

What topics does this book specifically address?

MIKE: We’ve broken the book down into eight main themes: Relationships, Finances, Dating & Sex, Spiritual Growth & Disciplines, Leadership, Identity, Legacy and Acceptance.  Most resources out there for guys (limited as they are) deal with the area of dating & sex, but the reality is that there’s so much more to being a man than just sexual purity.

JOHN: Yes. Thank you!! I am so glad there’s something else we can talk about. Don’t get me wrong … it’s important – but it’s not everything.

As I understand it, you co-wrote this book. Is that correct?

There’s a creative community here, and we are curious. How did that work?

MIKE: It was an interesting process, especially with having three of us involved.  We had multiple phone, text and e-mail conversations to construct the direction we wanted to go with this book.  What’s great is that all three of us are from different settings and experiences, which really helped to make this a well-rounded and applicable book in almost any setting.

JOHN: So, was it a positive experience for you?

MIKE: Definitely! I’ve known these guys for years and seriously love them.  Had I not known them, it may have been a different story, but going in with relationships already established we knew each others heart for this ministry.  Anytime we had a different thought on a topic, we were able to peel back any bias and get to the root of it, and that really benefited the book.

JOHN: That’s awesome. I haven’t done a co-write yet, but I am working on that. I think when a group can work on something together, there’s a much greater potential.

Thanks for talking with us today … any last words? How can people connect with you beyond this?

MIKE: When guys grow into being real men and who God has called them to be, that means that they will be better husbands, better fathers, better leaders, and so on.  This is something that matters.  The goal with this book is simply to help move guys in that direction.  We’ve made a Website as a starting point and we’re on Twitter and Facebook.

JOHN: Awesome. Thanks Mike. And we’ll be praying for you all! Keep it up and have a great day!

MIKE: Thanks so much John!  Appreciate the opportunity!