Another one of my adventures this weekend was snowshoeing with Dan, Stacey, KC, and Hilary up at Mount Baker. What was even more fun was we ended up hiking in the dark - the sun really sets early! We had a good time (for the most part…), I had forgotten how much I enjoy to showshoe. This post is basically to show the large amount of random photos from the hike (from both Dan and my camera). So…

(Click for larger image in the gallery)

Fun times, I want to go out again!! (Well Dan and I actually went all the way out again today to try and find his ring… no dice. )
-Matt Jones

Yay for Christmas parties! My first party of the season was with my dad’s side of the family. I, unfortunately, don’t get to see them too often, so it is always great to be able to get together with them when I can. There is always lots of very tasty food, too many presents, and fun times catching up and seeing what has beeing going on in people’s lives. It was really great to see them!

And now for some pictures from the party! Click an image for a larger version and the gallery.

Thanks everyone for a great day! I look forward to seeing you again soon! I love you all!

-Matt Jones

A good way to finalize the fall term at Regent was to head down south and see a Christmas performance by Late Tuesday, Andy Davis, and Acoustic Christmas. I met up with Marcie at the Q Cafe for a great show that highlighted some great Christmas tunes. Late Tuesday and Acoustic Christmas were even part of this year’s Christmas in the Northwest (a fundraiser for Children’s Hospitals) along with Dave Matthews, Harvey Danger and many others.

This really was a great show. I had heard good things about Andy Davis and I can understand why! He is quite talented and seemed to easily keep the audience entertained. I would definitely recommend his stuff. The three guys of Acoustic Christmas were also very enjoyable and entertaining. I just ordered their Christmas CD (Its only $10 people! Pick it up!) because their renditions of some of my favorite Christmas music are done wonderfully, I especially like having a violin in with the mix of guitars. And, of course, Dana, Tara, and Jocelyn put on another great show. They have been working hard this winter promoting the Christmas in the Northwest CD and putting on shows all over the state. If I hadn’t been able to convince you to check out the music, you really should do it now! They won’t be doing shows for a while as they will be working on their next album that is slated to come out late spring (this will definitely make it more difficult to get a date with Dana! Someone help me out! ). Look forward to that!

I hope that the ladies won’t mind, but I have uploaded four of the songs off their Christmas EP for your listening pleasure (you should also buy it from them):
O Come O Come Emmanuel (3.92 MB)
O Holy Night (5.18 MB)
Their two original pieces on the EP:
Storybook Beautiful (3.57 MB)
This Holiday (3.05 MB)

I only took two pictures at the end of the night when all three groups came on stage to sing, click for the larger image (they are basically the same pictures, sorry I didn’t get more!):

Thanks for the show and Merry Christmas!

-Matt Jones

I have finally made it down to my parents’ house in Bonney Lake after a very busy and enjoyable weekend. I will try to get pictures up from my various adventures over the next day or two. Here is a run-down of the weekend (for those that aren’t really into personal blogs, feel free to skip this post…).

And here I am. More to follow!

-Matt Jones

I finished my paper for Christian Spirit and I actually fairly happy with it, although I have no idea if it is what Hindmarsh wants! (I will post the paper on Thursday) I was primarily discussing Gordon Fee’s view of the Holy Spirit as discussed in his Listening to the Spirit in the Text. I highly recommend this book to everyone out there. The book is a collection of essays from other publications (many from Regent College’s Crux) and cover a pretty wide variety of topics.

Two more finals to go. I haven’t packed yet for Christmas break. Late Tuesday concert at Q Cafe on Friday night in Seattle. Dad’s side of the family Christmas party Saturday in Edmonds. Leann’s “Ugly Christmas Sweater Fest 2005″ in Bellingham on Sunday. Have dinner with friends from high school in Tacoma on Monday. Busy busy busy! But at least I will be done with the term shortly! This will probably be my worst term, grade wise, but I did really enjoy it and I learned a lot, so I guess that’s good…

I will leave you with a few quotes from Fee’s Listening to the Spirit in the Text:

The proper aim of all true theology is doxology. Theology that does not begin and end in worship is not biblical at all.

True spirituality, therefore, is nothing more nor less than life by the Spirit.

Thus prayer as rejoicing, thanksgiving, and petition marked Paul’s own spirituality (life in the Spirit in terms of personal devotion), and was waht heurgen, and prayed, for his congregations. Paul was a pray-er before he was a doer or a thinker.

It is the presentness of the kingdom in Jesus that untimately serves as the basis for the ongoing global mission of the church.

What Jesus began “both to do and say” is not the misintry he has left his church until he comes again.

I could provide numerous others, the book is filled with many powerful statements and challenges, check it out!

-Matt Jones

Fitting alliteration. Tonight I skipped my last Christian Spirit class (did I mention that I will eventually be a teacher?) and drove down to Bellingham to enjoy a lovely evening of some amazing music offered by Late Tuesday and John Van Deusen at Bay Street Coffee. I know I have talked about these two groups before, but really, they are amazing and you should be listening to (and buying) their stuff! If you want to read/see/hear more about both from me, click my tags below, if you want to get more from them, click their links above.

John started the evening and played both old and new. I am blown away by his abilities (he is only 18!), his lyrics are clever and original and his voice is one that isn’t expected from a teenager. That is not to mention his magic on the guitar and keys. I guess my point is this: be on the lookout! He seems to be pretty down to earth and he has amazing support from both his parents (I met his mom tonight - very nice lady) so I hope everything goes well for him down the road. One of his new songs, Upside Down Tree, is pretty good and I am looking forward to hearing it on his forthcoming release. I would love to see a full length JVD show sometime! I recorded part of it at the show for you to see and hear (although the quality isn’t very good…). PLEASE NOTE: the file is very large, if you need me to break it down into small portions, please email me. Click to download (85.2 MB).

Next, the lovely ladies of Late Tuesday played a variety of songs but focused on their Christmas stuff (they have a great Christmas EP available at their site). The trio plays so well off each other and know how to entertain the crowd (it was a big crowd in a small coffee place). Their harmonies can’t be beat! Every time I see LT play I am left wanting more! They are playing again at the Q Cafe in Seattle the day after my last final (Friday, December 16th) so I might just have to head down earlier than planned… I also recorded a bit of their performance of Silent Night complete with Tara on the accordian! Again, PLEASE NOTE, the file is large, and still not very good quality… Click to download (72.0 MB). [EDIT: I have broken the clip into three somewhat smaller pieces, the links are available in the comment section.]

I hope I have convinced you that you should be listening to Late Tuesday and John Van Deusen, if not, I can’t comprehend why! Also, I noticed that no one has set me up with Dana yet, what’s with that?

Finally, here are a few pictures. Like the video, I am not very pleased with the picture quality. I think I need to start bringing my better quality camera when I am going to be in dark enviroments. But here they are anyway! Click a picture to take you to a larger version and the gallery.

So I am assuming I will see you at the Q Cafe in a week? Thought so. Hopefully I will get some better pictures next time.

-Matt Jones

I am in the midst of papers, reading, and finals - so naturally the most logical thing to do is head down to Bellingham for some lovely and festive Christmas music! Bay Street Coffee is hosting both, yes, that’s right, both, Late Tuesday and John Van Deusen - this is an amazing combination folks! If you are in the area (or even if you aren’t!) on Wednesday (the 7th), come check it out. The show starts at 7:00pm and I don’t believe there is a cost, although you are to bring a coat, blanket, or food to donate. This is going to be an amazing show with two great bands and is well worth your time. I hope to see you there!

If you want to know more about the bands, either see their sites (linked above) or see my posts on John Van Deusen or Late Tuesday. And for your listening pleasure, here are two of Late Tuesday’s Christmas songs off their Christmas EP: This Holiday (3.05 MB) and Storybook Beautiful (3.57 MB). Enjoy!

-Matt Jones