Hey…if you’re new, welcome!
If you’ve been reading for a while, first off, thank you! Secondly, there are going to be many changes coming in the next few weeks. A new focus. A new theme. New content.
Please bear with me and let me know what you think. If you notice something that just sucks, please let me know! 
Every Friday I will post a few things I’m digging right now and a few I’m not. This could be anything from people to products, q-tips to quiet times. Pretty much anything. These aren’t meant to be full blog posts, just introductions to things/people you may or may not know about. Let me know what you think! BTW, these are in no particular order…
Faves:
#5: FM Static -- Take Me As I Am
Funny story. I’ve been listening to/singing this song for months now. I hear it on the radio ALL. THE. TIME! I could never figure out who sang it. Every time I heard it, they never announced the band or song title and always forgot to go looking for it. No one seemed to know. Finally yesterday I heard the song and realized about 10 seconds in that the woman on the radio had announced the band. I had to try and rewind and remember what she said. It worked. If you haven’t heard the song, check it out below!
#4: Ryan Detzel -- ThisIsReverb.com
*Photo by DetzelPretzel
Ryan Detzel is a tattoo’d, photo-taking, gourmet-cheffing pastor from Cincy. He’s the pastor at Vineyard Westside. He’s an amazing cook and an awesome photographer. He has two of the cutest kids ever (after my kids of course). On top of ministry info, he creates some crazy awesome recipes and loads of photos on his site. Go check him out!
#3: Ben Arment -- Whiteboard Sessions
*Photo by Story Chicago
Church Planter. Story Conference. Experience and Innovation Director. Catalyst Conference. Mentor. Dream Year. Author.
Ben Arment is, and has been, everywhere.
I’m really excited about The Whiteboard Sessions. 1 Day. 7 Influential Leaders. 30 Minutes Each.
Jonathan Fallwell. Al Mohler. James MacDonald. John Tyson. Perry Noble. Tony Morgan. Eric Mason. Worship Leader, Carlos Whitaker. Talk about a lineup!
This is straight from the Whiteboard site:
The Whiteboard Sessions is a one-day conference on Friday, May 21, 2010 about ideas in ministry -- ideas that will stretch our thinking and shape the church’s future. Eight, influential leaders will have 30 minutes each to present one, compelling idea. This could be a biblical conviction, a proven strategy, a recent epiphany, or even a raw, untested theory.
We’re asking the presenters not to bring a canned presentation, but rather to treat Whiteboard as an extended, senior-level staff meeting. We want them to roll up their sleeves and talk openly and honestly about what works or doesn’t work in their ministries. We believe you will be stretched by their thinking and challenged by their insights.
I can’t wait! Go check it out!
#2: Carlos Whitaker -- EP
*Photo by Loswhit
After spending 10 years in Cali as a Creative Arts/Worship Pastor at Sandals Church, Carlos left to work with Andy Stanley at Buckhead Church in Atlanta. Now he has signed with Integrity Music and is in the process of relocating to Chicago to work with Soul City Church as they launch this year. Los is a busy, busy man. I’ve been following him over the last year and even in that time have seen his ministry grow in amazing ways. God is using him for some amazing things. This week marked the release of his 3 song EP and saw it rise to #1 on iTunes in Christian music on day one! His full album drops on April 27th, but don’t wait. Go get his EP RIGHT HERE! I promise you won’t regret it.
#1: Apple -- iPad
9.7 inch multi-touch screen. Up to 64 GB Storage. Wi-Fi. 3G. Bluetooth. 1.5 lbs. 1/2″ inch thick. Wether you have a need for one or not doesn’t matter. You can’t deny it’s sexiness.
I had the privilege on New Years Eve to do a photo shoot for my good friend Clark Withers.
Clark is one of those go to guys who can do anything and everything. No matter what you need, Clark “knows a guy”. He’s an expert sound engineer and creative consultant. He has a heart to leave this world a better place than when he got here.
Clark is launching Media Procast and I’m also a part of his Rumsey Collaborative project. He also just launched a new blog over here. He’s doing some amazing stuff, go check him out and tell him I sent you!
This was my first real client shoot and learned a lot even while doing this shoot. Check out the rest here and let me know what you think!
(if you’re viewing this on an RSS or mobile device, please click through to see the full size, thanks)
15JUN04: LS and I’s daughter, Juliette Laine, was born 3 months premature with Hydrops Fetalis.
15JUN04: LS and I’s daughter, Juliette Laine, died from complications related to Hydrops Fetalis. She is my angel. She will always be with me.
Those are her actual footprints from birth. It’s been worked on twice and still needs some work, maybe this year.
This post is part #3 of my 52 Weeks project. My goal is to post one self portrait a week throughout all 2010. Let me know what you think.
Ok, so last night Libby and I tweeted this…
Just won a wedding planner and a wedding dress!!! Awesome!!!!
…and…
@lsgagle6 and I have some big news for tomorrow! Check out the blog (http://blog.jhgagle.com) in the morning to read about it!
So here’s the deal. Few people have known us long enough to really know where Libby and I come from. Without telling our whole story, I’ll skip to 2002. When Libby and I married, we didn’t have the money for an elaborate wedding. We didn’t have time for a honeymoon. We chose to have a quick and cheap courthouse marriage. We didn’t have a honeymoon (in fact, we’ve never had a 1-on-1 vacation together). We’ve always wanted to have a ceremony with the dress and the cake and the family all around. Due to deployments, complications, kids and money we have never been able to catch up to our dreams. We’re finally going to do it.
February 22, 2012
Our 10 year anniversary. We’re getting married. The dress. The cake. The family. The registry (hey, it’s our wedding and besides, we didn’t get one the first time!), the (relatively tame) bachelor(ette) parties…. Everything.
Conveniently, Libby won a local contest getting a free wedding planner and HUGE dress discount. We already know our colors, who we want as photographer. It’s really gonna happen!
February 22, 2012…put it on your calendar!
This post is more to keep track for myself, but also to keep me on my goals in a public forum, haha. Feel free to keep me in check.
Updated as of 10FEB09
