DJ Paine

for those of you {which is most “normal” folk} who are not wrapped up in the ghetto of christian media and entertainment: Derek Webb is an american dude who had a fairly successful christian band called Caedmon’s Call. i wouldn’t call myself a big fan, though i have a few of their albums. i appreciated the band and Derek Webb because there was an essence of authentic-ness to his lyrics and even his vocal delivery… i hadn’t thought about him or the band for a few years until i heard on the grapevine about some broo-ha-ha over his new album. i looked into it and apparently it’s because he says the word “shit” on one song.
sigh.
really?
are we -{and i am using the word we because i am a christian and part of the church in the truest sense of the word.} – still so immature that when one of our artists passionately expresses himself in ART he might use a “profane” word? are we that weak that we can’t take one little artists out pouring? could it be that he HAS to use whatever is in him to convey exactly what he believes Father has shown him?
Anyway…
so i finally heard some of the new album, and blow me down, it is excellent. Right up my alley. The production is fantastic, gone are the rootsy folksy christian nashville sound of Caedman’s Call, and instead there are loops, samples and chopped up electronics. I LOVE IT.
and as for me: i believe that on so many levels:
musically
creatively
artistically
spiritually
and just honouring Father because you are jumping out into that abyss of creating and loosing yourself in it all….
this is the best stuff that i’ve heard Derek Webb do.
but what do i know hey?

here are some videos.
check out Derek Webb online here.

just a little while ago my oldest son Drummond hopped out of his bunk bed and came into my office and i said “yes???” {waiting for some sort of excuse to be out of bed} – Drummond said “i was just thinking…” and as i grabbed him i finished off his sentence with “thinking of how your going to have a sore bottom if you get out of bed again?” he replied “no dad, i was just thinking about Hell, and i don’t want to go there. i’ve been thinking about it…” as he said this with such an ernest look on his face and the trust he had in his eyes i immediately regretted the crack about him getting a smack for getting out of bed. So i asked him more about what he meant, what he was scared of and what he wanted to do… we ended up in me and benita’s bedroom looking at what Jesus says about Himself and what Paul says about being “saved”. Drummond has heard all these stories since he was small, but tonight it began, just a little bit, to fall into place. in his 5 and 1/2 year old heart and mind he knew that he didn’t always do what was right, he knew Father was perfect & Jesus is the way to Him. i did my best as his dad and as a christian to explain that Hell is Hell because you are separated from Jesus & Father and alone, while Heaven is only Heaven because you are with Father & Jesus and you are not alone. i ended up asking Drum if he wanted to talk to Father {pray} and he did, and he thanked Father for Heaven and for Hell. he thanked Father for Jesus and he told Him he believes. He told Father that he hopes that one day he will be in Heaven with Him and with his two brothers Galvin & Judah. Benita cried a little. i asked Drum if there was anyone he wanted to tell about all of this, he said “yes, Galvin” i said “no Galvin is asleep, is there anyone you’d like to call on the phone and tell?” “Papa Will & Mama Dot?” {benita’s parents} – so he called them and there was much christian grandparent joy. i tucked Drum back in his bunk bed and kissed him, told him how proud and thankful i am of him, he told me “i just don’t know what Heaven looks like…” i told him that i didn’t either, but i told him what a few scriptures say… as he was thinking that over he rolled over and fell fast asleep in a couple of minutes. i wonder what he is dreaming about right now?
tonight is a special night… i wish this quite joy and thankfulness i feel as a christian parent could be shared with all others. i am thankful and so grateful for so much more than i deserve…

if you grew up in conservative christian circles in the 80′s / 90′s then you might be familiar with the mighty mullet & moustachioed one known as Ray Boltz…

he was incredibly popular with camps and “special numbers”… i can’t tell you how many times i’ve heard someone belt out Ray’s hit “Thank You” in church services through the years…

he was in my opinion the king of “schmaltz”: soppy emotional numbers that old ladies would weep to… not my cup of tea…

he released a gang of albums {15?!} in his career, married with kids and all round super christian dude in the nsahville “CCM” scene.

anyway today i learnt that a few days he ago he “came out” publicly as a homosexual. read about it here. you can even see how he looks with no mullet these days on his website here.
you know back in the day i might have been really upset about this, and i know that thousands of his previous fans will be devastated over this, his albums and music will be pulled from radio stations, from stores and a lot of his “product” will be thrown out by his once fans… but i don’t feel upset… for one, i never really liked his gig, but big picture wise, it’s not my place to condemn him, his story is not over yet, and i know Jesus is not finished working in Ray’s life. My world view and doctrine / dogma has not changed at all {i believe that quite clearly that Father has revealed through His word in the Bible that homosexuality is just one of myriad of deviations from His designed sexuality, right up there with adultery, divorce, lust etc}… but you know what has changed in me? my understanding of how LOVING Father is, how patient He is, how Big He is…. and i know all of that applies to Ray Boltz and his journey…. Father is not finished with Ray yet, and Jesus has not called me to sit on a little throne of judgement to condemn him.
does that make sense?

{note- if you are not a christian or not interested in the church, move along, there is nothing to see here.}

“The Lakeland Outpouring.. from the blog “Fire In My Bones”
. – interesting read…

i am a “post organised church” christian {whatever that means}.
but i never get tired of being amazed at the absolute stupidity of the “charismatic movement”. i know that might sound mean and nasty, but seriously folks, how stupid does the “mass christian mob” act and look to anyone with one ounce of intelligence?
here is a “word” for the modern church: “discernment”.
look it up.
in the dictionary & the bible.
you are all after “gifts” and “signs”? well how about the gift of discernment? shoot for that one because that is what the world really needs… not sham healings, scam “revivals” and more christian in-breeding.
just grow up…please.

you know what troubles me about that blog post from “fire in my bones”? despite the quite thoughtful write up and excellent points and questions asked through out the piece, at the end mr J. Lee Grady still says: “I still believe that God desires to visit our nation in supernatural power. I know He wants to heal multitudes, and I will continue praying for a healing revival to sweep across the United States.” where in the world do you get that from Mr Grady? from any actual biblical source? from anything based in reality? or just a feeling? a “prophetic word”? just nationalistic jingo? watch your language, to say that you “believe God desires” is pretty full on. why not be honest and say with much more human-ness “i really hope” or “wouldn’t it be awesome” or “i wish”? to put that back on God as something He desires is…. just not based in any biblical reality… it is exactly that type of wanting something “more” that get’s people into the Lakeland type foolishness in the first place….

… that is all from me… for now… what do you think?

as mentioned a couple of days ago, i have a second interview with compassion australia tomorrow {friday 18th} for the position of Event & Partner Artists Relationship Manager. the thing is, i really want the job. in the week since the first interview and actually thinking about it, praying about it and researching up on it, my heart has changed and i am totally all about this job…. Psalm 37:4 {in the king james english} Delight thyself also in the LORD: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. i’ve grown to understand the meaning of this promise not as Father being the genie or santa clause in the sky, but as the more amazing beauty that happens when one is in love with Father and is walking with Him, and His spirit changes their heart, moulds it like pottery… changes the very desires one has, changes the outlook and motivation of ones heart… in some way i feel like He has done that in my heart, and now my desire is for this job, where a week ago the desire wasn’t really there.
but the more i want it it, the greater the anxiety that i’m gonna muck it up somehow… in the style of Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm and that i am setting myself up for disappointment. somehow i’m gonna do some i am not an anxious person, not a nervous person, i’m pretty unflappable really, and i’m sure come tomorrow 1:30pm sydney time, i’ll be fine. it’s just the now- this before time, the anticipation is like a bowling ball sitting in my stomach.
anyway, here’s the deal: tomorrow i get up {QLD time} at 3:30am, we bundle everyone up and pile in the car and drive the one hour and 15 minutes to brisbane airport for the 6am flight to newcastle. {after last weeks fiasco of missing the flight, i’m not taking any chances.} i hire a car from newcastle airport and cruise around till around lunch time, when i’ll have to find somewhere to get changed and then head over to the Compassion HQ. 1:30 interview and then more hanging around. i then cruise back to the airport, drop car, catch bus to the train station and then go the hour on the train to gosford – where i will be hanging, staying, speaking and photographing at the 3-5-1 camp, that part will be fine, fun and rewarding. it’s just tomorrow in newcastle….
hey, if you are the praying type then please talk to Father about me and this job. i’m all pregnant with expectation…

- picture by me from a wonderful pregnancy shoot from last week on main beach.

last night we got in back home to southport from our trip to sydney, just benita and i, the boys stayed here on the gold coast with my folks…
it was a massive weekend- and to tell the story right i have to give you a little back story…
here’s the rundown:
the end of 2007 & the first week of this new year, benita and i have been talking and praying about what are we going to do in this new year… what does our Father want for us? where is this road taking us? where do we want to go from here? it’s not a mid life crisis {well maybe if i die at 70} but we feel that change is brewing out on the horizon. we talked about taking my experience and skills with the christian music industry, my passion for helping people and not to mention my photography and using all of that in an organisation that is actually doing something worthwhile…. names like “Compassion” & “the Bible Society” came up and we prayed about it….
wednesday 2nd jan – benita finds a job advertised for “Event & Partner Artists Relationship Manager” for Compassion Australia. applications close in two days on friday 4th.
thursday 3rd & friday 4th, struggle through and write a resume, first real resume i’ve done in over 14 years. i email it off by the cut off time…
-
fast forward a week.
friday 11th jan – wake up at 4:44am here on southport, gold coast. my mum comes over around 5am to pick us all up and take benita and i to coolangatta airport. it is pouring down with rain, and i mean pouring. we arrive 5 minutes after jetstar’s check in time cut off and have to pay $120 to get transferred onto the next flight to sydney. thanks jetstar.
say goodbye to my mum the boys, no tears so that’s good. it’s the first time both benita and i have left both of them for a night, let alone three.
the flight to sydney is only just over an hour, but at the moment new south wales and the south eastern states are all on daylight savings and we are not, so we leave around 7:30 and arrive in syndey at around 9:45; loose an hour. Matthew “mistery” Peet picks us up 10am {sydney time} and we head back to his place in Auburn – on the way to his place i get a phone call from Liz from Compassion, good news; i’m on the short list for the job, and since i’m in sydney {i had mentioned that in my email} am i able to come up to newcastle for a “pre”-interview” with one of the men who will be doing the real interviews next week. “no problems!” i say “see you at 1:30.”

we drop matt and turn around and drive straight to newcastle. get there on 1:30 and head in for a two hour chat with the very enlightening David Harrison of Compassion. benita sat in on the interview too, and it went great. after confirming i definitely should make the actual interviews with the rest of the decision makers on friday 18th, David showed us around the very impressive new compassion complex and we waved goodbye around 4pm.
we jumped back in to mistery’s old Hyundai Excel and drove directly back to sydney, to a pre wedding family dinner with the Keegans & Proctors at the Keegans house in Quakers Hill. David & Claire were invited too, so we had a wonderful dinner with all the wonderful family. catching up with always great Kyle Keegan.
we then drive over the tracks into seven hills and stay with our dear friends Keren & Claudio “wizdm” Rodriguez for the night.

saturday 12th jan – it was team DJP all the way – me, b and dave & claire faulmann {benita’s brother}. we do the boys at the keegans, we do the girls at the proctors, ceremony, afternoon tea/reception, family shots, bridal party, the couple… from 9am to 9pm. the couple: meg & DJ, are incredible. i’ve known them both since they were kids. seriously. i first met DJ when his family came out to australia from the USA in 1991, he was 5. they are great friends and just two of the most beautiful people ever. it was an honour to photograph their day, and in all seriousness, we did an amazing job. world class. award winning. we are awesome.
back to Keren & Claude’s for the night.

sunday 13th jan – had a nice slow morning catching up with claude & keren at their place, we did a little shopping, repacked everything, bought some plane tickets for this coming weekend, had lunch with them back at their place, looked at keren’s latest europe photographs and then we headed out to “The Embassy” and got to hang out with them for their first service of 2008.

The Embassy is a very casual church run by Evan Peet {mistery’s “little” brother – pictured} our one and only “fake aunty” Kristy DeLaney goes there as well and it was her birthday on thursday the 10th, it was also marcelo “oakbridge”s birthday so we went out to Happy Chef in the always fun suburb of Campsie. a quick dinner with the gang and then off to the airport.
we lost an hour coming back – left at 9:25pm and arrived at 9:45pm – not bad. my oldest mate Aaron Spence came and picked us up and dropped us back home where we fell into our water bed and collapsed of exhaustion at around 11pm…

phew!
what a weekend!
and back to newcastle i fly this friday…
in the meantime check out these shots of team DJP at the end of a massive wedding shoot:
the always spectacular claire & david faulmann:

benita the angel of light and the dark one:

and if you read all that. you are awesome.
leave a comment why don’t you!

so we’ve moved…
we started sleeping here at 9 north street in our beloved old two story “queenslander”on sunday night 19th august. and it’s going great. we love it.
the day before we started sleeping here we got 4 new tires on our station wagon. benita found a great deal at the local Goodyear dealership. 4 new goodyear tyres fitted and wheel balance, with a 6 month check up etc… all for $360. good deal. very happy.
week one – monday august 20th > sunday august 26th
for the first week we were in here, it really rained all week. seriously. it was crazy- so much rain. on the saturday 25th benita’s parents “papa will & mama dot” arrived here on the coast for a weeks holiday with us. sunday 26th was Galvin’s 1st birthday – we had a great day, even though he slept through most of his party.
week two – monday august 27th > sunday september 2nd
benita was pretty sick {i think her body went into shut down mode because her mum was here to take over} but we managed to have a great time with the folks- we painted the living room, b, the boys and her folks plus our good friend shelly spence & her son elijah- went to Dreamworld on thursday, it was drummond and galvin’s first time… aaahhhh. on friday {which was a public holiday here on the gold coast – for the gc show} they all went up to tambourine mountain for the afternoon…. the in-laws left on saturday 1st september – it was great having them here!
now last week around thursday, i had a flat tire {oh that’s why you talked about the tires…} and i changed the tire and thought nothing of it, then friday i had two flat tires, and then the next day three. talking to one of our neighbors he said that someone kept doing it, and he had gone through six tires! and as some people know, if you have any damage to the wall of your tyre then there is nothing you can do, in australia it’s not legal to fix them. so saturday i was pretty bummed.
today my folks came over and i was able to use their car to take the tyres off mine and fill em back up with air, put them back on and i drove out to the dealer. Nathan and the team there said they would take a look, they were pretty banmboozled. i prayed like crazy that they could fix them cheap or something, money is tight at the moment so i really begged Father that something good would happen….
i gotta phone call a little while later, Nathan said that he and the Goodyear Area Rep had a look and said the tires had all been “staked” and they were ruined… they felt really bad for us, so the rep decided to GIVE US FOUR FREE TYRES – no charge, fitted, balanced, the works.
i nearly cried.
so that made my day, and they now have a costumer for life, and i will recommend them to anyone!
if you are around this way and need tyres. check them out.
needless to say we will be parking under our house from now on.

so there ya go…
our first two weeks in southport! weeeee

download the song:
download the MP3 “Broken Ladders To Glory

by one of my heroes Terry Taylor: {emphasis added by me to the lines that make my heart ache with truth}

“When the day is done
We’ll get out of here
When the race is run
and the coast is clear
jump a sinking ship
Grab a falling leaf
I’ll place a smoke ring ’round your yellow fingers
and a rose in your teeth

and we’ll go climbing broken ladders to glory

When the faithful doubt
feel the rafters shake
feel our souls wear out
and our laces break
You’re my ravaged nun
I’m your greasy priest
playing taps upon a battered toy trumpet
’til the lock’s released

When the beast is crowned
we’ll be at the dance
You in your tattered gown
me in my underpants
I will turn to salt
You will turn to sand
We’ll get blown across the cracked linoleum
out to the promise land

When the day is done
We’ll get out of here…

hope you’re not expecting the big happy djp today…
feeling sorta “blah” this afternoon…. so why not talk about that?

i also leave you with a full song from the unique band and good friends sons of korah – the lyrics from the song come from the book of Psalms, chapter or song 130

enjoy.

 

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probably the last solo driving road trip i make to sydney and back for a long while….

 

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