tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-191917612012-02-16T20:06:48.704-08:00Releasing energy since 2005!J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comBlogger1541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-47752411861177179462011-05-31T05:34:00.000-07:002011-05-31T06:06:10.792-07:00

In recent years, a band that I've become attached to is one of a peculiar sort. The name itself is a bit odd and the songs are equally a bit (or a lot) off center. The band is The Mountain Goats, primarily made up of principle singer/songwriter John Darnielle. I too am a bit of an "odd duck" so perhaps my being drawn to the Goats is because these are the songs I would write if only I could

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-31571758819246469622010-12-16T04:19:00.000-08:002010-12-16T04:43:37.543-08:00

Okay, let me admit. When you think of Christmas, the name "Bob Dylan" doesn't usually come to mind. He grew up Jewish, had a series of records in the late seventies/early eighties that may have been so-called "Christian," but still, "Bob Dylan" and "Christmas" don't seem to go together. Music of this sorts is to be sung by those with the voice of a soprano from the likes of Mariah Carey and

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-60459417997928290532010-12-06T05:31:00.001-08:002010-12-06T05:40:45.908-08:00

As you may have noticed, the season of Christmas music is upon us. And as always, many noteworthy artists have released something NEW to get us through the holidays. Still, for better or worse, it's the classics that we seem to hear the most - year after year. While these so-called "classics" prevail on most radio, there's some great releases out there that typically fly below the radar.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-14661371882836723952010-11-18T04:48:00.000-08:002010-11-18T04:49:45.602-08:00

A review that I wrote for the Dublin, Ireland duo known as the Guggenheim Grotto can be found below.The Guggenheim Grotto ~ The Universe is LaughingThe Dublin, Ireland duo of Kevin May and Mick Lynch are back with their third full-length release titled The Universe is Laughing. As usual, the “dark folk” that characterized their first two releases is no less visible here. The sinister opener, “

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-25527178198973005362010-10-14T04:34:00.000-07:002010-10-14T04:49:48.780-07:00

In recent days, I've been digging some really good music. Most notably, from the recent release from Kevin Max of DC Talk fame. He has a new release out NOW titled Cotes d'Armor and it's really good! You can read my review written for local radio station WYCE below. As a side note - he's recently moved back to the GR area and will be investing some of his time and energy into the downtown

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-48781785336671004672010-09-02T05:36:00.001-07:002010-09-02T05:51:19.430-07:00

I thought I'd update you on some great music worth checking out. The first happens to be what's playing this morning at Tower Coffee. It's Arcade Fire's latest titled "Suburbs." Having listened to this a few times through already, I think it's their best yet! Another one that I'm currently digging but haven't listened to as thoroughly is Sufjan Steven's latest release - the EP titled "All

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-6673804503179570232010-08-20T04:14:00.000-07:002010-08-20T04:43:22.975-07:00

On Wednesday, had the wonderful opportunity to interview Mississippian Paul Thorn. He has an incredible story to say the least. He's a PK (preacher's kid), and most notably, a former professional boxer. He even went six rounds in a nationally televised match against Roberto Duran back in 1988. After his boxing career was over, he went back to what he'd been doing since he was a kid - playing

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-59090330508094061522010-07-02T05:13:00.000-07:002010-07-02T05:34:20.912-07:00

From time to time, I get the question - Hey, Jeff, what music are you listening to right now? What's in your CD Player in the car? What's on your ipod, etc...? So, here's my TOP 3 of what I'm currently listening to right now (NOTE: What I'm listening to changes all the time).The Holmes Brothers - Feed My SoulBrothers Wendell and Sherman Holmes sing the Blues, interlacing several genres of

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-87046403703943377702010-05-27T04:40:00.000-07:002010-05-27T05:09:49.827-07:00

The BIG news of the day is that the always prolific and much beloved Willie Nelson has cut his hair. Gone now are the long and reddish pigtails that Mr. Nelson sported for as long as my memory has been around; now replaced with short hair like he used to sport earlier in his career (before he looked like Willie Nelson). So, in light of this, what does such a BIG change mean. Well, here's my

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-47181293786222241342010-05-07T04:12:00.000-07:002010-05-07T04:19:48.222-07:00

Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to interview the Boston-based Bluegrass and Nu-Folk artists Crooked Still. They have a new album coming out on May 18 titled "Some Strange Country" and they we're in town promoting this and their upcoming concert that night at Wealthy Theater. In addition, beginning next week, their album will be streaming for FREE on NPR so that you can preview it.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-62461367613687979982010-03-25T04:30:00.000-07:002010-03-25T04:38:34.845-07:00

Hey, yesterday while raising money for 88.1 FM WYCE, I had the chance to interview another great local talent - the band known as Nate Scott and Those Eighty Acres. Grand Rapids based, they have their first full-length release out now. Not only are these guys great musicians, they also have a willingness and desire to give back to the community that they are part of. They've recently donated

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-91719496490965696712010-03-18T06:36:00.000-07:002010-03-18T06:52:50.400-07:00

Yesterday on my show I had the chance to interview Cathy Holbroke - Executive Director of the St. Cecilia Music Center. If your interested, you can find out more information about this great organization impacting the Greater Grand Rapids community right here. She shared a great deal about the organization and their purpose as a whole but her main agenda was to promote the upcoming concert this

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-78157909290130688902010-03-05T05:38:00.000-08:002010-03-05T05:51:19.730-08:00

Last week on my normally scheduled show on 88.1 WYCE (Wednesdays from Noon to 3 PM) I had the chance to interview and listen live to Chicago-based Daphne Willis. At only 22 years of age, she's truly an amazing talent. Look for some big things to come from this gal in the future. Her debut full-length release just came out in February and "boy, is it good!" You can check some of music out on

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-8214417934483927942010-02-18T06:18:00.000-08:002010-02-18T06:24:08.601-08:00

Hey, for you local music fans. My favorite little radio station on the planet (88.1 WYCE) just handed out the Jammie award to local artist Drew Nelson. In 2009 he released "Dusty Road to Beulah Land," for which he received album of the year honors. He also won a Jammie for a song off of that album - "Waiting For the Sun." If your not familiar with the local music scene, check out Mr. Drew in

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-60909779013135387432010-02-16T05:26:00.000-08:002010-02-16T05:55:01.054-08:00

A few years ago I started a different blog that I called "My Life on Music." The idea behind it was to share my thoughts on all things music since music (for me anyway) is a large part of my life. Well, I failed to keep both blogs going. So why not a little or lot of that here? After all, I haven't written anything in quite a while. I've shared those reasons in a past blog. So, for now

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-61778742422676897032009-10-12T08:35:00.000-07:002009-10-12T08:43:49.807-07:00

Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769) was one of many so-called German Pietists, known for their desire to stir the hearts of their followers in order for them to live holy and pious lives. Tersteegen was an amazing writer and preacher who also wrote several hymns (some of which were translated by John Wesley from the German into the English). In light of our recent discussion on finding joy in the

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-50479565765606148132009-09-24T04:19:00.000-07:002009-09-24T04:29:26.610-07:00

In all honesty, I've not been all that inspired as of late to write here a whole lot here on the Fuse. Not sure why, but inspiration to do anything can be a bit sporadic at times.  Such is the case with blogging.  Blogging, in all honesty, is probably one of those fads that will eventually go by the wayside.  Yes, everyone does it now but wait a couple of more years and let's track how many are

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-17678437788783479962009-08-27T06:07:00.000-07:002009-08-27T06:28:09.781-07:00

I love to go places.  If I had a choice in retirement to stay in one place or to go from place to place, I'd chose the latter.  I especially like to go to places that I've never been before.  I like to explore cities and towns that are completely new and to do so without much or any agenda.  This is the adventurous spirit in me.  This works that same for me when it comes to music.  I love

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-15325132884258865512009-08-08T18:08:00.000-07:002009-08-08T18:34:28.091-07:00

In the 2nd chapter that bears his name, James, the brother of Jesus, expends no small amount of energy trying to get a simple and yet profound message across.  In three specific instances, in verses 17, 20 and then again in verse 26, the message is the same: faith that isn't accompanied by action is useless.  In other words, if our faith isn't backed up with some sort of living out of the faith,

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-19341673925306102662009-08-03T07:12:00.000-07:002009-08-03T08:08:41.152-07:00

During this summer, the "Golf Bug" has taken over in our house.  First it was Mitchell, mowing lawns and eventually saving up enough money to buy his own brand new set of golf clubs.  Then it was Josh - similarly working on various odd jobs in order to earn enough money for his brand new set of clubs.  Thanks to Oriole Park down the street, our kids have a great place to go hit around and gain

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-2038887763942234482009-07-13T07:02:00.000-07:002009-07-13T07:27:41.248-07:00

On Sunday mornings over the last few weeks, we've been looking at what it means to Renovate our lives with the resulting benefit - a renewed mind. Paul's words are fairly clear: "Don't allow the world to be the mold and model for your lives; instead allow your mind to be transformed by God."As I mentioned in my last post, it's pretty tough for us to live virtuous lives under our own power. We

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-62176607076229915292009-07-02T06:19:00.000-07:002009-07-02T07:14:41.580-07:00

This past week, I saw jealousy surface in my now 7 -year old son Zach that I hadn't seen before. As part of our vacation, we took a hike on one of the many trails in Lincoln State Park (Indiana), one of which led to an old but still climbable Fire Tower. We knew we were looking for something to climb but I had no idea that it would be so BIG. I'm not exactly sure of the height, I'm guessing

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-17188104408481310132009-06-08T07:17:00.000-07:002009-06-08T07:19:59.750-07:00

It's been a long time since I've posted to The Fuse but new posts are coming soon! I promise... Stay tuned for some new reviews and other relevant information coming in the days ahead.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-26358565067162380062009-04-10T04:25:00.000-07:002009-04-10T04:31:52.819-07:00

Just a reminder out there for all of you - this weekend will offer an additional Easter service on Saturday night from 6 to 7:15 or so. If you have family, friends that you know won't get up on Sunday morning, why not invite them to a Saturday night service! For those of you who just can't celebrate Easter on a day other than Easter, of course we'll be having our normal worship time at 11 AM.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-42239718738824196072009-04-08T05:28:00.001-07:002009-04-08T05:35:52.451-07:00

One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is to listen to music. Thanks to local radio station 88.1 FM WYCE, I not only have a chance to get my hands on Brand New Music before it ever hits the record stores, I also get to review this great music as well! While I'm not a country music fan, the bluegrass of Donna Ulissee's latest is pretty good: Here's my review below. Check out the

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-41485709300367577222009-03-25T06:03:00.000-07:002009-03-25T06:40:05.398-07:00

Working at the coffeehouse helps me to do a lot of thinking. Thinking about what makes people tick, thinking about what makes me tick, thinking about the kind of music that MOST people like (as if that were possible) and wondering how the coming Easter season affects different people. For some, Easter is just another holiday that allows people to decorate in some fun sort of ways. For others,

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-53034865166113424312009-03-18T04:34:00.000-07:002009-03-18T04:39:15.286-07:00

A huge thanks for all of those who made it out to Tower Coffee for our first ever night time opening! It was a great time and the place was packed to say the least! Also, we've got some big things planned for Tower's Grand Opening Week beginning on Monday, April 13. We'll keep you posted.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-13581265188444513232009-03-17T11:57:00.000-07:002009-03-17T12:02:57.942-07:00

Don't forget! Tower Coffee is open tonight in celebration of St. Patrick's Day! Come and join the fun beginning at 6 PM - we'll be open until 9 PM.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-16505159634864904142009-03-07T14:27:00.000-08:002009-03-07T14:45:27.040-08:00

We we're talking about the difficulty of school with our kids this afternoon over lunch and also about the reality of what comes after school--a job of some sorts (although in today's economy that's not even a certain thing anymore). On the surface, it would seems like life gets tougher and tougher and that one's learning while in school never really ends as an individual finds themselves in a

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-11446112857335358742009-03-04T08:52:00.000-08:002009-03-04T09:37:06.731-08:00

Leading up to the latest release from legendary rockers U2 there was a lot of talk about how they were 'experimenting' in the studios like never before. However, after a couple of listens, U2 seems like the same old U2 here, picking up where they left off on their last recording, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." The craziest sound here is on their opening single: "Get on Your Boots," but even

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-55840304447201649342009-02-25T04:34:00.000-08:002009-02-25T04:56:10.895-08:00

It had to have been over twenty years since I last put on a pair of roller skates but there I was Sunday after church, lacing them up for a few trips around the local skating rink. Of course, I wasn't on my own, we had a good size group from our church there as well, including the hundreds of others that were there for the open skate. Needless to say, this made for a large crowd in rather small

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-72514295339021935082009-02-19T07:53:00.000-08:002009-02-19T08:09:43.821-08:00

Over the last few weeks, I've been writing about Bob Dylan and the role that faith has played in his music - a most interesting one to say the least. But his life and music is only one of thousands that mixes their faith and beliefs together. Really, if you listen to any "popular" music you can find songs that seem to be searching for answers to life's most perplexing problems. Here's the

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-44365445528631174572009-02-17T04:58:00.000-08:002009-02-17T05:23:03.937-08:00

It's interesting that much is made about the faith of Bob Dylan and that many questions whether his turn towards the Christian faith (from his Jewish upbringing) was simply a farce. Still, one could argue that Dylan had been wrestling with Christianity quite some time before his more explicit Christian recordings. For instance, on the song "Long Ago, Far Away," Dylan opens and closes with the

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-15376376042619297242009-02-12T19:21:00.000-08:002009-02-12T19:24:00.718-08:00

It's official. Tower Coffee is now open for business! We are open from 7 AM until NOON so be sure to stop on in and get some freshly brewed coffee or an assortment of other espresso drinks. Don't be shy! We'd love to see you. We'll have a Grand Opening in a few weeks.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-36568172510343509902009-02-09T03:27:00.000-08:002009-02-09T03:38:40.690-08:00

Much could be said about the overall library of Bob Dylan's music. While I'm somewhat a fan of Dylan, I'm by no means the Dylan expert. I leave that label for the real experts, such as those who've actually listened to his corpus of music in it's entirety. Stephen Webb, in his book that I've been reading titled "Dylan Redeemed," suggests that when one looks at the whole of Dylan's recordings,

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-69777301272902542392009-02-05T17:34:00.001-08:002009-02-05T17:36:57.307-08:00

One of my goals for this year was to read more and to do so from a variety of different genres (both fiction and non-fiction). As a result, I've been blogging less even though one of my other goals is to write more. Balance has always been tough for me. Anyway, one of those books I'm currently reading is a book about Bob Dylan called "Dylan Redeemed." Here, the author chronicles Dylan's three

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-89416428060275291842009-01-23T06:16:00.000-08:002009-01-23T06:22:10.027-08:00

Sorry for not posting in a while. The Bouma's are back on our feet (figuratively and literally) and adjusting to life with a new little one. To be fair to my wonderful, beautiful, and hard-working wife, she has the brunt of the work with Seth. Since she's breastfeeding, I can't help a whole lot with the feeding. Sure, I try to change a diaper every now and then, but Cara does 95 percent of

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-29529723471073621072009-01-09T16:00:00.000-08:002009-01-09T16:08:28.982-08:00

Here's some more pictures of the latest edition to the Bouma family.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-85176470801908653142009-01-08T17:37:00.000-08:002009-01-08T17:47:47.188-08:00

There's something beautiful about the word "home," isn't there? Yes, we like to get away every now and then but for most of us, it's always a comforting thing to come home. It's even better to come home when you've been at, of all places, the hospital. A few weeks ago, with our daughter Joy in when her appendix burst, all she wanted was to go home. And we as parents just wanted to go home too

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-37045945711131146212009-01-07T11:37:00.001-08:002009-01-07T11:45:51.691-08:00

Here's some pictures of Seth Michael Bouma. He was 6 pounds even with a full head of hair. He's having x -rays later today to see if he's broken his clavical bone from the "speedy delivery," - apparently a common sort of thing to happen. Otherwise, everyone is doing fine. I'm taking the kids up tonight to see Cara and their new little brother.Exciting times to say the least!

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-28891436183176202752009-01-07T03:52:00.000-08:002009-01-07T03:54:25.179-08:00

We are sitting at the hospital as I write this, waiting for the doctor to come in so that Cara can finally start pushing. Unlike most times, this time we had enough time to get an epideral to help with the pain of labor. Updates will follow.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-59190265985470019332009-01-02T07:52:00.000-08:002009-01-02T08:17:46.891-08:00

Most of the time, I'm dead set against making any sort of New Year's Resolutions. Yes, I've done it and like most, I've not lived up to them very well. The problem with resolutions - especially once they are verbalized - is that others will soon remind you how you've so quickly fallen off of the wagon. The main reason we fail, as I see it (and have experienced it), is that we're not truly

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-6650514926438733162008-12-31T06:34:00.000-08:002008-12-31T06:37:03.259-08:00

After a long day yesterday, we're still waiting. I was all ready to go but Cara's contractions settled down and she's much more her normal self today. So, we'll keep you all posted as things transpire but for now, things are normal. Maybe we'll have a new years day baby after all?Have a great and safe New Year's Eve and we'll see you in the New Year!

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-386852994817023892008-12-24T06:33:00.000-08:002008-12-24T06:46:55.937-08:00

I'm feeling pretty thankful today.Thankful that I have the wonderful opportunity to be a pastor in the same neck of the woods that I grew up in. Thankful that all my kids are home from the hospital and doing well. Thankful that I have a beautiful wife that does what I could never do such as birthing my children (something she'll be doing for the sixth time in only a few days). I'm also

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-29509343769219212962008-12-22T07:24:00.000-08:002008-12-22T07:49:47.872-08:00

When someone you've known passes away, a little piece of your life is removed. A void replaces a relationship you once had. As I reflect on the life of my Uncle David, I'm feeling both thankful and sad. Thankful knowing that he doesn't have to suffer any more. Sad, knowing that I'll never see him again on this side of heaven.The Good News - and there is Good News - is that when someone dies

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-46399561945500615382008-12-20T07:35:00.000-08:002008-12-20T07:53:29.714-08:00

It seems that we're all searching for a little peace in our lives. We're all searching for some sense of normalcy in the midst of the circumstances that we find ourselves in. For some of us, our jobs have been lost. This, of course, means coming to terms with the reality that what we've done for a number of years we won't be doing again. And the reality is that an uncertain future brings no

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-31095855759498869932008-12-18T17:36:00.001-08:002008-12-18T17:39:39.949-08:00

Joy is home tonight! She's still in a bit of pain every now and then but the motrin and tylenol keep it manageable. Still, she's eating and drinking well (something she wasn't doing Monday and Tuesday when she was sick). We even caught her doing a little dance on her way to the bathroom tonight from music playing in the background. Please continue to pray for healing and a quick recovery.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-38691634127199090122008-12-18T05:57:00.000-08:002008-12-18T06:05:18.227-08:00

Joy is doing pretty well today (Thursday morning) all things considered. She's in a little pain from the surgery and does not want to take any pain medication for it so she's a bit grumpy. They also took some blood from her other arm this morning. They couldn't do it from the IV so she had to get poked - something she REALLY doesn't like.The doctors have her on solid food as of this morning so

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-16995618623153049172008-12-17T06:50:00.000-08:002008-12-17T06:58:23.857-08:00

Thanks for many of your prayers concerning my daughter Joy. As some of you know, she had her appendix removed late last night (Tuesday). According to the surgeon, Dr. Roberts, the appendix had already burst and was pretty severely infected. Hence, all the pain that Joy was complaining about was understandable considering. She's a real trooper, let me tell you and a brave kid to say the least.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-78163090419584634272008-12-13T05:58:00.000-08:002008-12-13T06:20:23.878-08:00

Have you ever lost something as significant as a child? I have. In fact, with 5 kids, I'm embarrassed to say that we've lost a few of them a time or two. From a parents perspective, this brings no small amount of anxiety - frantically searching for their child.Well, Mary and Joseph had a similar experience with Jesus(see Lk. 2). At the age of 12, Jesus and his parents along with a caravan of

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-59728457354570393682008-12-12T10:36:00.000-08:002008-12-12T10:55:50.787-08:00

I stumbled upon something this afternoon that I'd like to share: According to one study found at familyresources.com, the average Christian in the U.S. spends 10 minutes with God each day (I think this is stretching) while the average American watches 4 hours of TV.Whoa! Wait a minute! Here's the source of many of my own problems. If I'm only spending 10 minutes with God amidst a day with

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-55769353257983264982008-12-11T10:33:00.001-08:002008-12-11T10:55:36.831-08:00

There's a little problem with this thing called "tradition" that I'd like to comment on. Let's face it, at the heart of our makeup is this bent towards the traditional. We joke (or some of us don't) about our family traditions. Maybe for you it's always opening presents on Christmas Day or even holding a party at your house on New Years Eve. Perhaps this year you began a new tradition of

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-18896070412680142392008-12-10T09:08:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:19:00.665-08:00

It was one o'clock or something like that when the phone rang. The time in the night when either it's a wrong number (which your hoping for) or something bad has happened. Last night it was the latter, or so I thought. The security company of the church was calling me to let me know that the motion detector had detected motion (as it should) at the front entrance to our building. I

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-25554867135905149572008-12-09T11:28:00.000-08:002008-12-09T11:52:03.636-08:00

There's something weird about going into a woman's clothing store by yourself. This, of course, is coming from a man's point of view. It's one thing to walk into Victoria's Secret with your wife and five kids - it's entirely different to walk in there on your own. People look at you funny. People wonder what your doing there and their suspicious of your motives. All that to say, I try to

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-40731002425145351772008-12-05T05:52:00.000-08:002008-12-05T06:06:09.756-08:00

I was reading in a book the other day titled "Simple Church" about how complicated we seem to make church. We seem to feel like a church isn't really an attractive one unless we offer programs for every single person we might possibly attract. For the large church, this isn't as big a problem. With a larger staff, programs can be put together to meet those needs. For the small church, this is

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-30573255713222884962008-12-04T04:22:00.000-08:002008-12-05T05:51:46.066-08:00

Today is the day that Jody and I learn how to make coffee! Yes, I know how to make coffee but not espresso, lattes, and the other more prevalent and popular drinks that many people love to drink. So, out comes Rodney Hensley, roaster and owner of Sozo's coffee, whom we'll be buying our beans from as we open Tower Coffee here in a few weeks.Here's a few things we need yet that we really don't

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-70789491315441513262008-12-03T05:14:00.000-08:002008-12-03T05:24:29.420-08:00

This morning I read these words about prayer: Prayer is the "slender nerve that moveth the muscles of Omnipotence." I've never heard it put quite that way before but I like it!In Exodus 1 and 2, we read that prayer is more than just articulate and well chosen words. Sometimes our prayers feel like this - a little too "canned." We often pray this way before dinner as we simply say: "God bless

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-35017986172393600302008-12-02T08:18:00.000-08:002008-12-02T08:51:15.699-08:00

Last night I found myself cheering for the other team. Not because I especially liked the other team but because they managed a valiant comeback and defeated our team. I felt bad for my son and his fellow teammates but I also felt good about the opposing team's ability to mount a final surge against all odds.What I didn't enjoy, and frankly found somewhat repulsive, was the attitude of the

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-72897742301804564962008-11-27T19:22:00.000-08:002008-11-27T19:46:24.646-08:00

From the end of October (Halloween) until the beginning of the New Year, things in this country are markedly different. What I mean by this is that families, friends, and even strangers come together like at no other time during the year. At Halloween, people step out of their houses and their comfort zones, and walk around with their kids or grandchildren, allowing them to walk up to houses

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-57532717285779320382008-11-26T06:11:00.001-08:002008-11-26T06:21:04.595-08:00

As I explained on Sunday, in my view, one of the biggest problems with dispensational teaching is that it gives people a false hope. In other words, if it is wrong (which I think it is) then you're telling people that they have a second chance, a second opportunity to make things right with God. While this might make for a good read, such as in the case of the Left Behind series of books

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-11975904719294397022008-11-25T08:03:00.000-08:002008-11-25T09:12:32.692-08:00

After tackling the last elephant - Are Christians raptured? - many of you had questions, comments, or were more than willing to share your opinion. I appreciate the feedback and wanted to help clarify some of the questions that were directed my way. First, again, we as Christians can all agree that Jesus will return - the debate begins as to when that occurs. As a premillenialist, I personally

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-63273213198525446922008-11-19T18:46:00.000-08:002008-11-19T19:00:50.604-08:00

This morning I was reading from Genesis 18 and Abraham's plea for Sodom. It's amazing, isn't it, that Abraham's plea actually makes a difference. God tells him that he'd spare the city of Sodom if he found 50 righteous men. Abraham, apparently not satisfied with this, wonders about whether God would do the same for 45 righteous. God, again, agrees. On and on it goes until God and Abraham

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-73952709155878333072008-11-13T18:59:00.001-08:002008-11-13T19:06:52.671-08:00

The keys have officially been turned in to the school...so, we have no place to worship this Sunday but our own. Because of this, volunteers and the contractors are working nearly around the clock to meet this weekend's deadline. Here's what's happening...Tonight, Andrew and the band set up shop and played a short set of music to see and hear how things might sound. The good news-it all works

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-39895897053599467192008-11-11T18:37:00.000-08:002008-11-11T18:50:39.050-08:00

Here's the latest news from The Voyage church and Tower Coffee. I'm sorry I don't have any pictures to show you but here goes...The carpet is being put down tomorrow. The tile is going in tomorrow and the lighting is finally done upstairs. In addition, all the upstairs windows are in and they look great! You can actually see out them unlike before - I never realized we had such an amazing

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-39971649387229744532008-11-10T19:58:00.000-08:002008-11-10T20:17:06.725-08:00

As I reflect on what Pastor Jody preached yesterday, we can indeed rejoice in the fact that God does still speak! I for one rarely hear his voice because I can't sit still long enough to hear it. Yes, somehow I've been wired with a pretty short attention span (adult ADD if you'd like) and so I have a hard time with keeping my mouth shut or my attention focused long enough to hear clearly. Yes,

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-64775061760064334592008-11-08T15:04:00.000-08:002008-11-08T15:11:27.061-08:00

Things are moving along. Thanks to all those who showed up this morning to help with putting together chairs and tables - you know who you are. Thanks also goes out to Paul for hanging the new lights.This week will prove to be especially busy: We will be having workdays on Tuesday/Thursday, and again on Saturday. On Tuesday and Thursday, we'll meet from 7 to 9 PM. We have lots of priming/

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-40119896531698480042008-11-06T05:29:00.000-08:002008-11-06T05:36:48.643-08:00

As I read a portion of Genesis 15 this morning, I was reminded that what God promises, he will indeed fulfill. As you probably know, Abraham was promised a nation. Nevertheless, as the years progressed, things we're looking pretty dim and the prospects of a son were looking even less likely. It was at that moment of frustration that Abraham called out, "O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-3841020323233182012008-10-28T12:16:00.000-07:002008-10-29T06:51:41.530-07:00

Things are happening slowly but surely with things really starting to take shape. Here's the floor going in upstairs. I hope you like. If not, perhaps it will grow on you. As you can see, we kind of went for a fun feel - one that conveyed an upbeat sort of look to it. I think the colors inside the building will also convey a similar sort of feel - warm and inviting.The downstairs is also

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-43794532713521077612008-10-22T05:48:00.001-07:002008-10-22T06:01:50.672-07:00

Why is it that things that seem so simple (like tearing out a ceiling) can turn into a far bigger project than one could ever imagine. Why is carpet hard to get up and why does wallpaper stick so well when you don't want it to and peel off when you don't want it to. These are the conundrums of life that I guess we just need to deal with. Nevertheless, it reminds me of the spiritual life a

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-85590871790199603782008-10-14T05:25:00.000-07:002008-10-14T05:29:38.183-07:00

As you know, we only have about 2 more weeks of Sunday morning services at Calvin Christian Middle School before we begin to meet at our Wilson Ave. location. However, we have a lot that needs to be done. This coming Saturday, from 9 to Noon, we will be having yet another church cleanup/painting day. The first two weekends, we've spent cleaning and throwing away some items that have been

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-53378232808218224312008-10-07T11:05:00.000-07:002008-10-07T11:23:23.152-07:00

I have to admit, one of the things that's hardest for me to do is take a FULL day off from church related stuff. I like to be busy but being busy about the right kind of stuff can often be a challenge. Too often I find myself spending time on the mundane and rather unimportant matters and too little time on the things that do matter. So, in light of that, yesterday I attempted to take the

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-66830628534126939342008-10-03T06:32:00.000-07:002008-10-03T06:41:54.726-07:00

This week as been crazy busy with not a lot of downtime to say the least. All of the paperwork for the Kent County Health Department was completed and finally turned in. It feels like Graduate School all over again with the sudden relief of turning in a semester ending research paper. Despite our best efforts to keep the Health Department out of things, we had to bite the bullet and go this

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-21203547749897801242008-09-27T18:09:00.000-07:002008-09-27T18:16:46.890-07:00

This week in our series Beautiful Disaster we are talking about sin and its effects on us as believers. In light of this, I would encourage you to take a look at John Wesley's take in his sermon titled On Sin in Believers. Wesley's sticky statement or big idea that continued throughout his ministry was that "while sin remains, it does not reign." That's essentially the nuts and bolts of this

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-25924218777514371532008-09-23T06:28:00.000-07:002008-09-23T07:00:23.188-07:00

Some of you have been wondering how things are looking. We'll we're getting there slowly but surely. I've included here a couple of pictures of the Coffee Bar as it stands. The laminate is here and ready to go and should be on very soon.Here's a picture of the counter that you wouldsee as you walk in.Here's a view of the coffebar from the middle of the floor. The back window will soon be

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-39781222405942015022008-09-20T19:47:00.000-07:002008-09-20T19:59:33.711-07:00

Today, somebody told me it was my birthday. I guess they were right but when you're in your thirties, birthdays don't have the same pizazz that they once did. I remember the days when birthdays were magical - when I couldn't stand to have to wait until after school to open my presents. But then, and slowly, the presents quit coming. Nevertheless, we don't quit getting older. In fact, the

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-41434672065195928982008-09-19T07:05:00.000-07:002008-09-19T07:32:36.911-07:00

Things are coming along as we get ready for the launch of Tower Coffee and The Voyage Church later this Fall at our Wilson Ave. Campus. Recently I met with the Health Department and discovered a few interesting tidbits that I was hoping to stay away from. We will have to be inspected twice annually and will have to be inspected prior to opening. I don't think this will delay things any but

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-1605570504620552702008-09-12T05:40:00.000-07:002008-09-12T05:51:58.981-07:00

Sometimes it seems like the ordered and mess free life is what it's all about. Let's face it; many of us wouldn't mind it if our lives were free from the mundane and free from the messes that we often find ourselves in. Still, while I believe this was God's original intent, life after the apple has no such guarantees. In fact, the only guarantee is that our lives will be filled with chaotic

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-5123524629018845102008-07-15T07:12:00.000-07:002008-07-15T07:19:34.339-07:00

Last night, Cara and I (along with our daughter Joy) had a chance to enjoy one of our favorite artists - Geoff Moore. While I probably enjoy his more edgier stuff when it was Geoff Moore and his band the Distance, his solo effort has much to be commended for. With just a guitarist and himself, Moore offered a variety of songs - old and new - mixing this in with stories and their relationship to

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-44034463885847169012008-06-26T13:24:00.000-07:002008-06-26T13:38:35.569-07:00

I like simple. I like things that I can figure out in virtually no time at all. Let me explain what I mean. Even though I'm in my thirties, and arguably part of a tech savy generation, I'm not all that up to speed on the latest and greatest of gadgets these days. For instance, I can barely use my phone. It has hundreds of things it supposedly does but all I use it for (and all I'm interested

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-32907944107761521812008-06-13T06:23:00.000-07:002008-06-13T06:42:46.671-07:00

Now we come to probably the most famous text thought to loudly proclaim this idea of the rapture- Matthew 24:36-43. Has the one "taken" been raptured and the other one "left" been left behind? Upon closer inspection and with a correct historical reading of this text, my belief is otherwise. In 24:37, Matthew states that as it was in Noah's days, so it will be when the Son of Man returns. So,

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-44256704836917651042008-06-12T05:30:00.001-07:002008-06-12T05:48:55.608-07:00

Interestingly, just got in the mail a couple of days ago a little pamphlet about the rapture and how such a theology is riddled with errors. Anyway, I'll pick up where I left off the other day and explain to you where the notion of the rapture came from.The notion of the rapture didn't exist in Christian history before roughly 1820 when a teenage girl in Glasgow, Scotland apparently had a vision

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-55163649607932969342008-06-10T05:22:00.000-07:002008-06-10T05:46:38.559-07:00

Let's look at some specifics regarding what I posted yesterday. First off, this book was written for first-century Christians in Asia Minor first and foremost. They were the audience and therefore, when we interpet the book of Revelation, we need to know that whatever the text could not have possibly meant for them back then and there, it cannot possibly mean now. For example, as Ben

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-3440039648793169002008-06-09T06:18:00.000-07:002008-06-09T06:33:22.729-07:00

Admittedly, early in my walk as a Christian I was in the process of readying myself for the eschatological (end times) phenomena known as the rapture. I was reading the Left Behind books and studying everything else that Timothy Lahaye and Jack Van Impe had to offer on the subject. Somewhere along the line, though, I began to wise up and see that any theology of the rapture is largely a gross

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-18657779586321980012008-05-23T09:55:00.001-07:002008-05-23T10:06:51.656-07:00

Sometimes it can be confusing and rather hard to understand why there are apparent (not real) contradictions in the Bible. In Ben Witherington's recent book he comments on one of these that I thought might be of help.In the parallel accounts of 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Chronicles, there are some apparent problems. For instance, what did Nathan actually say to David? What 2 Samuel reports or what 2

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-34145467958229720002008-05-15T07:37:00.001-07:002008-05-15T07:56:35.256-07:00

Just started reading Ben Witherington's book The Living Word of God: Rethinking the Theology of the Bible. Ben is a former professor of mine at Asbury that I am grateful to have studied under for nearly 4 years. He's a great theologian and historian as well as a very giving person. I wanted to comment on what I've read so far that I thought might be helpful for you the reader when it comes to

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-21572007503652845482008-05-01T07:40:00.000-07:002008-05-01T08:14:37.092-07:00

I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of "national" anythings. Yes, I know today (May 1st) is the National Day of Prayer. Yes, I think we need to pray for our country. And yes, I know that as a Pastor, some would say that I need to make a bigger deal out of such a day. But, I don't and here comes the reason why. In my opinion, to make a day out to be the "national" day of prayer is to say that

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-2516264287679807692008-04-20T11:52:00.000-07:002008-04-20T11:55:54.441-07:00

2 Timothy, a letter from the apostle Paul, begins in the usual and customary Pauline manner. The greeting, followed by a thanksgiving. But then things get more pointed and we see what’s truly on Paul’s mind. As in the case of the other letters from a jail cell, Paul is in chains and his message has been hampered to some degree. Nevertheless, what he offers is his usual encouraging tone

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-88066569366436988892008-04-18T07:06:00.000-07:002008-04-18T07:13:14.740-07:00

At Wednesday night’s Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C., former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave his “Top 10 Reasons for Dropping Out of the Race." Pretty funny stuff. Here goes: 10. There weren't as many Osmonds as I thought.9. I got tired of corkscrew landings under sniper fire.8. As a lifelong hunter, I didn't want to miss the start of the

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-49120929143944360362008-04-17T03:08:00.000-07:002008-04-17T03:17:37.804-07:00

Just yesterday we're driving down the street on our way to do some family bowling along with some other families from the church when something struck our attention. A guy (we'll leave it at that) was riding his bike. Not all that strange and who could blame him with gas prices where they are. However, what this guy on the bike was wearing was what struck us next. He had this jacket on with

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-51171773349767186352008-04-16T08:34:00.000-07:002008-04-16T08:46:38.252-07:00

One pastor runs the "cowboy church" in Texas and dresses the part - cowboy hat and big belt and all. Another pastor in Texas wears a suit and tie in a renovated sports stadium even though it seems to me that a jogging suit might be more appropriate. Regardless, how one dresses for church, and how the leader of that church dresses, undoubtedly defines who that church will be and become. If the

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-82800164423710160992008-04-15T18:39:00.000-07:002008-04-15T06:02:53.129-07:00

While I've always been a big fan of the horror movie, I rarely find one that is as intense and scary as the recently released movie - The Mist. Most horror stories , and even more so, their usually bad film adaptations, are stupid and usually make for a good laugh. I read The Mist ( a novella penned by none other then the master of horror himself- Stephen King) when I was in college. It was a

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-7725489136214739922008-04-15T08:00:00.000-07:002008-04-15T08:13:49.424-07:00

Today, as I'm reading the familiar words of David as found in Psalm 23, I can't help but see his deep connection with God. At this point in his life, David was undoubtedly connected with God in a way that all of us should strive for. The peaceful serenity that comes out of this Psalm is amazing. David sees the Lord as his "shepherd"- one that guides and directs us in the way we should go.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-6233730755241950912008-04-11T06:06:00.000-07:002008-04-11T06:30:35.442-07:00

In recent years, I've been an avid user of the library. In graduate school it was my best friend when it came to research as well as finding a quiet place to study the ever complex Greek language. In recent days, the public library in Grand Rapids has likewise been a great friend in offering me plenty of locations as well as a vast array of books, music, and even DVD's. What I can't get at one

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-24684619026271624072008-04-03T05:33:00.001-07:002008-04-03T05:37:27.010-07:00

It's not often that I include other people's writing on The Fuse, but in this instance I was particularly impressed with my old professor, Dr. Ben Witherington's discussion on Katrina and other so-called natural disasters. I have copied his thoughts here and I hope that you will find them as helpful as I did. The Wrath of Katrina The beginning of the tidal

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-53017731651359361242008-03-25T10:55:00.000-07:002008-03-25T11:03:50.639-07:00

Maybe you were as lucky as I was to hear this story the other day. A male robber with an apparent hypnotic personality was caught on tape using his skills in order to get more money than he should have from the tellers. Using the phrase: "Look into my eyes," the tellers were immediately mesmerized and gave him precisely what he asked for. Perhaps this is a new church growth strategy as well.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-8714053778939809332008-03-10T09:05:00.000-07:002008-03-10T09:15:06.861-07:00

The latest political rant is amusing while at the same time baffling. You've probably heard the supposed story (as if this constitutes a story) regarding the 3 AM ad that Hilary Clinton ran showing a little blond headed girl lying in her bed. Well, as it turns out, this little girl is now 18 years old (I think) and an avid supporter of none other than Hilary's Democratic rival, Senator Obama.

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-66163186091251959282008-02-27T05:59:00.000-08:002008-02-27T06:24:05.077-08:00

Last night in our bi-weekly Men's Group, we talked about avoidance - a problem that greatly impacted King David's family during the latter part of his reign. Despite the fact that his son Amnon raped his daughter Tamar, David never confronts Amnon about this but merely allows the anger and resentment to build. On top of this, when Absalom, Tamar's full brother gets wind of what's happened, he

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-49520792718133012992008-02-19T05:14:00.000-08:002008-02-19T05:46:34.343-08:00

Last week, on Valentine's Day, my wife and I went on a date (Yes, we still go on dates at age 36). After a nice lunch at one of the chain restaurant's, we took a few minutes to stroll through the mall and do some window shopping. Then we noticed it: Four different jewelry stores on four different corners all facing each other. My immediate thought was how in the world would you choose? As a

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-81842997062193579962008-02-14T13:19:00.001-08:002008-02-14T13:58:44.821-08:00

I must admit that the idea of baptism has always been a bit of a conundrum for me. What I mean is that I've always had a certain level of difficulty getting my head around the meaning, purpose, and intent of Christian baptism. I guess this shouldn't be too big a surprise since many churches are at odds to explain the mode and timing of such an event. Early on in my Christian walk, I was told

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19191761.post-18966688311183812222008-02-10T13:46:00.000-08:002008-02-10T13:51:48.118-08:00

What's a pastor do when he/she gets a snow day? You might think that he spends the entire day in study and doing other pastorly sort of things. Or you might think that he or she would spend some good quality time with family. Well, what did this pastor do? Sleep mostly. I've finally succumbed to what my entire family has been dealing with all week. The common cold/flu is taking its toll on

J A Boumanoreply@blogger.com