Ok, who’s seen Back to the Future?  Raise your hands.  Remember everyone’s favorite bad guy – Biff?  Turns out he’s doing stand-up now.  And he sings and plays guitar, too.  Check out the song below.  I’m going to have to learn this song in the next few years.  Listen to it and you’ll know why.

He’s got a few other good videos on YouTube as well.  I recommend checking out the “Biff Song” – it’s pretty good.

So, as I mentioned last week I was in a period of job transition.  That transition appears to be over already.  As of this past Monday I am now working as a Technical Analyst over at Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems.  I’m working with a great group of people in their IT department with a focus on supporting their servers and basically jumping in and helping out with anything else that needs done.  I’m really looking forward to the opportunity and am excited about getting back into the technical stuff.

It’s also pretty cool that they are making brakes for airplanes.  I’ve always been fascinated with planes and to get to work for a company that is involved with them is pretty cool.  They make brakes and braking systems for a variety of planes.  I’m a stone’s throw – literally – from the old Goodyear Airdock which is pretty massive.  And last, but not least (and the one my wife is excited about) I’m right around the corner from the original Strickland’s Frozen Custard Stand so she’s hoping for some take home once and a while!

Thanks to all for the prayers.  We serve an amazing God whose blessings never end.

So, change has come and will continue to come.  As of this past Friday I am officially back in the job market.  I turned my notice in last week at the Westfield Group and Friday was my last day in the office.  They have been absolutely wonderful during this process and I wish everyone there nothing but the best.  My team that I worked with was great and I have no doubt that they will be very successful in their careers – and their lives.  There is a ton of talent there and I will be anxious to keep in touch and see what they are up to as the years pass.  I want to just thank everyone that I worked with and came into contact with there as each one of you have impacted me in one way or another.  I learned a lot there about business, about management and about myself and I feel that I am better because of it.

So – what’s next?  That’s the question that I don’t have an answer to.  Luckily I know who does.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

You see, I know that while this door has closed God is about to open another door.  I am as sure of that as I am anything else in my life.  Am I a little nervous?  Sure.  Am I a little anxious?  Sure.  Do I doubt that this will lead to something bigger and better?  Not for a second.  God is in control of my life and I will call upon Him and seek His will for my life.

So, look for more frequent blogging and twittering and let’s see what door opens up together.

So – if you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you’ll know that tonight was spent at the Blossom Music Center for the absolutely amazing Music Builds Tour. It was Beth and I and Mustard Guy and his wife.  I’ll get to the line-up and more in a bit.

We were blessed enough to be given four tickets by some friends of ours.  Now, these were not just regular lawn seats, or even normal pavilion seats but VIP Box seats.  These included backstage parking passes as well – which was really cool.  We turn down this little side road and pull up right behind the Ampitheater and park along side of the tour buses for all of the bands.  I really wanted to go knock on the doors and just see if I could check out their tour buses but we decided we’d rather see the concert than spend the night bailing me out of jail.  Oh yeah – and the best part – the tickets were free.  Thank you, John!  I owe you!

So, we get to our seats and Jars Of Clay starts off the night.  They were dressed in all white – and I mean ALL white!  The started with “Flood” and just rocked through a bunch of the old and new stuff.  Lots of energy – and lots of white.

Next was Robert Randolph & the Family Band.  I hadn’t heard of this group before tonight.  Robert came out and just went NUTS on a steel slide guitar.  You couldn’t help but move as the music build and they just tore it up.  Not much to sing along to – but musically it was great.

Next we were treated to Switchfoot.  I’ve seen them before and they have always put on a great concert and tonight was no exception.  Jon Foreman and the rest of the band started off with “Stars” and just kept right on going.  Lots of lights, lots of energy, lots of sound and a great set.  Jon came out into the audience for one song and sang in the middle of the pavilion at one point.  You couldn’t help but get up on your feet and dance along…well, most of us couldn’t – let me explain.

If you followed along with my Twitter updates you have an idea where this is going.  You see, as the Switchfoot set was starting the four of us are standing up, clapping along and enjoying the concert.  Crazy, I know!  At one point I thought I heard a “Sit down” from behind us but didn’t pay it any attention.  Again – we are at A CONCERT.  A SWITCHFOOT CONCERT!  So, the next thing you know, this woman comes up to Beth and asks us to sit down becuase they can’t see.  Beth and I both just kind of look at her and I smile and say, “We’re just enjoying the concert, sorry.”  We look at each other and laugh but don’t sit down.  About half-way through the set it gets a little quieter so we all sit down.  As I’m sitting down I hear from behind me someone say, “Come on, stand up”.  So, I look back and smile.  Back in that row is a guy who looks like he could snap me in half with very little effort.  I just smiled and said, “Hey, we’re just trying to enjoy the concert.”  He then replies with, “Sorry, I can’t hear you.” so I start to repeat myself and he interrupts me and says, “Sorry, I can’t hear A**holes”.  I just stopped, shook my head and turned around and smiled.  A few songs later we all stood up again and enjoyed the rest of the set.  Now – at this point I’m in total shock that 1) people would get upset by someone standing at a concert.  I mean, sure – if I’m standing jumping around at the Cleveland Orchestra I can see that…but this was Switchfoot!  and 2) that I would have someone call me that…at a Christian concert!

So…after Switchfoot ended and they were changing sets I decided to go back and introduce myself to this guy.  Of course, I don’t think my wife was too happy with that.  But it was great!  I walked back with a big smile, stuck out my hand and said, “Hey how you doing.  My name’s Jeff.  I just figured if you wanted to shout profanities at me you could at least use my name.  And you are?”  He smiled and said his name was Dave.  I then told Dave that he should know that we have every intention to stand during the entire Third Day set and that if he’d like to sit in the open seats in front of us that he was more than welcome to.  His wife beside him immediately spoke saying, it was OK, they were going to stand too and that we were fine, to enjoy the rest of the concert.  I walked back to my seat and had a good laugh, knew I had a good story – and a new blog post!

Third Day finally came out and were AWESOME!  Switchfoot rocked like crazy and while Third Day definetely brought their best we WORSHIPED!  They played a lot of stuff off their new album and from their past stuff.  When they played “Thief” from Offerings…what a song!  Tai spoke about the soldiers they met when they went on a USO tour over in Iraq and some of the stories they heard.  Then a little latter Mac talked about the album and where it was birthed from a bit.  How it has a theme of prayer flowing through it.  They played the title song “Revelation” and man did it hit home for me!  I’ll post more about that this weekend.  From God of Wonders to Creed to Call My Name to Tunnel to This Is Who I Am.  These guys are just authentic, bringing the message of God’s love.  I’ve got to wonder though – how many guitars does Mark Lee use during the night!  I mean this guy changed guitars for almost every song!  I’d love to see the gear he’s got!  It was a great way to end…expect it wasn’t over.

To close the show they brought Robert Randolph back on stage and played “Otherside”.  Then they brought Jars of Clay out and played I’ll Fly Away and finally brought Switchfoot out and did an old U2 song with all fours bands on stage!  Amazing ending to an amazing night!  It was the perfect thing that I needed after the day I had.

And of course, I made a new friend – thanks Dave!