Scott Landry

A few years ago, I drove through the flatlands of Nebraska eager for a glimpse of Colorado mountains on the horizon. With everything we owned in a U-Haul behind us, Amy and I contemplated what our lives would be like as we approached this new chapter….”What was on the other side of that line of horizon ahead of us?” As a good friend puts it, “The fear made it fun.”

As I look ahead to 2010 with everyone else, I have two options. I can allow the uncertainty of tomorrow fuel me or cripple me.

I want God’s best. What I know in my head is that God’s best far exceeds what I would wish or hope for in and of myself. What God CAN do and DESIRES to do in and through me is beyond my comprehension. If he told me today what is going to happen tomorrow, I wouldn’t be able to wrap my head around it. I probably wouldn’t believe it. This is hard to put into words, but what I long for is a desire to long for what he can do as opposed to what I wish he would do. Simply put, his will above my own….but at the moment, it feels deeper than that because it isn’t just words anymore…it’s real…to me.

What’s ahead? I don’t know. That makes it fun. It’s a little scary. But I can’t wait.

I love playing music.

Ever since I start playing guitar 8 years ago, I’ve been in a band. There’s just something about playing music with, and in front of people that gets me going. My latest sonic adventure, “Hello Paisley” is with a bunch of great gents from Yellowknife. We started as a praise team for our youth service at church, but now have branched out and are writing our own material which, I think, is pretty sweet.

Here’s my take on the band members, and what we’re up to.

Anton Debogorski plays the drums, and man, this kid can rock. He’s a high school student, but his talent far exceeds his years. Not only is he a talented player, but he has a very creative ear for music, and hears parts within a song most people miss. He brings a special part to writing. More than all that, Anton is one of the nicest, friendliest people I know.

Jonathan Sy (aka – the Asian Architect) brings the low end via the bass guitar. Jon is one of the most talented, yet anal, musicians I know. This guy is so picky…but I have to admit, I love that about him. He wants it to sound like it can, and should. I love watching Jon get into our music. He doesn’t “rock out” but more “rocks in place.” You have to see it to get it.

Benji Straker is the more than eye candy. He’s a mean guitar player, has a sweet voice, and I think, together, we write pretty good songs. Although we differ a lot in our music preferences, there are some things we agree on (mainly that Nickleback sucks). At first, I thought that would make it harder for our styles to gel, but the opposite has happened – they compliment each other nicely. I am more of a pop rock style player, where Benji really brings the harder rock sound into the mix. I love his sound.

Mark Switzer (aka Stage Right) makes this band for me. Mark is my best friend, and to be doing this music with him is special for me. Mark brings more to the sound than any one can hear. His acoustic playing is ever growing, and his voice, in my opinion, is the best in the band.

“Hello Paisley” entered Yellowknife’s version of Battle of the Bands. 15 bands competed this past Friday night, with the top 6 moving on to the finals which are being held on Canada Day. I am happy to say that we were picked to move on… so, if you live in Yellowknife, come check us out on Canada Day.

This past Sunday I started a new teaching series entitled,”Mr. & Mrs.”

I got the idea from reading Little Miss and Mr. Men books. I used to love those books growing up.
What struck me about the books is how each characters name comes from a choice they make: Mr. Happy, Miss Chatterbox, Mr. Grumpy, etc. Every day we make choices that define us in the eyes of people. That’s what we’re talking about. If you are interested, the daily study guides for the series are being made available through the church website – www.ykchurchofchrist.ca

This is going to be a summer to remember. I am going to some sweet concerts, and one of them is going to be the trip of a life time.

June 18 – Snow Patrol and Coldplay
July 6 – Green Day
July 24 – u2….in DUBLIN, IRELAND

Mark Switzer and I have been talking about going to Ireland to see u2 for years. This is going to be one amazing adventure. We will be in Dublin for a week prior to the concert to check out the area. If you have ever been, and have some advice, please pass it along.

Have you ever been in the midst of a moment, and you knew that what you were experiencing was more than “just a moment,” it was a “defining moment?”

This past Sunday was one of those days for me.

The Austin’s (a family that attends YKCofC) asked me if I would be willing to dedicate their twin sons, Malcolm and Lachlan, during the morning service. I was humbled, honored, excited, but mostly I was scared. “This is an important moment. Don’t screw it up. These two little guys have a ’story.’” One of those stories that every one seems to know. If you don’t know the story, I’ll sum it up for you: These boys are miracles.

As I lay in bed Saturday night, I asked the Lord, “What do I say? How do I say it? Give me a powerful, profound thought that will put this family’s journey all in perspective.” Nothing. That’s what I got. It wasn’t until Sunday morning, while holding one of the boys, that God spoke to me. It wasn’t anything for me to say, it was something for me to hear. “Scott, I want to show you something.”The moment was about me learning more about him. 

For months, I and the rest of the church family joined the Austin’s in their journey.  We, as a community of people, came together to call on God. We reminded God who he was. We assured him we weren’t going away. We made our will very clear to him, and yet I am confident he knew that even though we were telling him what we wanted, we were also wanting him to know, we wanted the peace that only he can give when things don’t work out how we want. Now, months down the road in our journey together, I, literally, was holding the will of an entire church family. A healthy baby boy.  

As we gathered around this amazing family to pray, I heard tears, I felt love, and I smelled the sweet aroma of a baby’s head. The moment moved me. Assured me. Fueled me. Most of all, it reminded me. It reminded me that God isn’t just good when what I want happens. He’s good because he created the tears I was hearing. He defined the love I was experiencing, and he made the scent that came from that little boy’s head. 

God knew we…I…needed this moment. I think I’ll stay stuck on this moment for a while.

(Excerpt from iGod series Daily Study available in the “READ” Section)

Read Psalm 51

At the time of this writing, I am 26 (now 4) days away from a vacation in Hawaii. When talking to my friends in ministry, I tell them I am going on a mission trip. I love to hear the groans.

Let’s go for a walk on the beach. Right now.

Imagine the scene in your mind’s eye. To the right of us, nothing but miles of lush greenery and light brown sand. To the left, the most beautiful blue water with light tops of white crashing down.

What’s that noise?

Do you hear it?

The faint sound of wind blowing in your ear.

Now quickly, turn 180 degrees. What do you hear? Nothing..

Did the wind stop blowing? Turn 180 degrees again. Wind…

Turn 180 degrees again. No wind. I’m getting dizzy.

Turn 180 degrees again…whoops, I fell down.

Your direction determines your ability to hear the wind. The wind never stopped, but your position affected your ability to hear it.

Are you in a position to hear from God?

This is my preaching Hero. His name: Bishop TD Jakes. 

Moses said, “Lord I have a stutter, I’m not your man.” This guy has a stutter, and I wish I had it. For years I have prayed, “Oh God. Why can’t I speak like TD Jakes? (Besides the fact that he is black and pentecostal and I am whiter than snow and Wesleycostal – Wesleyan with a pinch of Pentecostal).

Give this clip a listen, and what you’ll hear is power. I believe God has anointed this man to be “A” voice. I had a chance to talk to Bishop Jakes a few years back, and when I shook his hand, and as he introduced himself, I looked into his eyes, and I saw in them a sensitivity and a genuineness I rarely see in preachers. I have to confess that at times I talk to people and am looking beyond them. You know what that’s like. You feel like you don’t really matter. Well, this man looked right into my eyes, and I honestly felt as if he didn’t care about who else was in the room. When I listen to him speak, I feel the same way. Why? My conclusion is because he is filled with the Holy Spirit. Truly anointed.

I used to pray that I would be able to communicate like TD Jakes, now I know better, I pray to have the same Spirit he has.

I had an “Aha!” moment today at the gym.

Normally that would be a good thing, but I was running on the treadmill when it happened and I lost my concentration almost long enough to end up like one of those poor fools on America’s Funniest Home Videos who slips and falls off the treadmill into a wall.

As my running speed increased with my elapsed time, it hit me. “I’m going as hard as I can, but I’m not going anywhere.” So I asked myself, “Self (which is what I call myself when I’m talking to myself) why are you doing this? 

I understand all the health benefits to exercise, so don’t roll your eyes and wonder why I would ask such an obvious question. What I was really asking myself is, “Why do I spend so much time and energy  doing so many things that get me no where?” Everything from pursuing that next purchase to wanting to lose that extra pound or two, in the grand scheme of my life, has little or no significance when compared to the eternal things I could and should be pursuing. 

Paul says it this way in one of his letters to Timothy: “For physical training is of little value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8)

I don’t imagine Paul as some slob walking around with a belly hanging out. He doesn’t seem the lazy type. What I think he is saying here is, “How much time do you spend pushing your body to be healthy, when it’s going to fade over time anyway? I’m all for taking care of our body, after all it’s a temple of the Holy Spirit, but how much time do you spend working out? Is the time you spend at the gym more than the time you spend exercising the disciplines of your faith? Are you getting anywhere, or are you spending all sorts of energy and time running around in circles?”

I didn’t slip and fall off the treadmill, nor did I lift my new PB (personal best) but I can honestly say my time at the gym today provided me some huge gains.

For those of you who are interested, the iLike section of the website is where I will share thoughts on music, books, movies, and other forms of media. 

I just added a Top-50 itunes playlist. There are a few disclaimers added along with the playlist, but all in all, I am pretty satisfied with it.