Drumming Out Fat

"One hour later, you are feeling fabulous. You feel like a rock star. It's challenging, it's exhilarating and you just have a euphoric feeling when you are done drumming. It's something everyone can do."

I've had this thought thousands of times, but never thought of it quite this way. For me it was the days of playing in drumline during high school & college. I always loved drumming "Eights" outside early in the morning during band camp or contest/game days.

Now I have been trying to discover the will to go to a gym regularly and I think I might have found it now. The best of both worlds! Aerobics & Drums!
Burning 400 calories in an hour! What I really like about this is it's great for all ages. Move over Zumba.

Learn about "Drums Alive" & "Beat the Odds" - CLICK HERE


The Most Basic Drum Exercise I Know - "EIGHTS"

Today's "West Wing" Politics

"I think at this time of year, people look back to 'The West Wing,' because we would like to see that kind of idealized government, and those kind of leaders. And honestly, I think, behind closed doors, our real leaders are more similar to 'The West Wing' people than not."

My favorite tv show of all time is 'The West Wing.' Because 2012 is a presidential election year, I know it won't be long before I will want to go watch a bunch of episodes from all 7 seasons I have on dvd. (I'll be starting with seasons 1 & 7!) My favorite character in 'The West Wing' is speech writer Sam Seaborn, who is portrayed by actor Rob Lowe. I don't plan to ever be a politician, but who knows. If I did though I would want to be as eloquently spoken and creative as Sam Seaborn.

Rob Lowe is very active & vocal in politics, and I love when he makes references to 'The West Wing.' So I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share this article from the Huffington Post:

Rob Lowe On 'The West Wing,' Obama & Politics - CLICK HERE!!



Be sure to follow me on Twitter @cteesdale


Ben Sollee - "A Few Honest Words"

Paper Publications

Everyone knows that newspapers, magazines, and books are on the way 'out'. Internet and technology have quickly changed the way we get our news and also challenged the industry. I work for a company that distributes and publishes books & magazines, so I see everyday how the industry is being stretched.

I'll admit that I use the 'latest & greatest' methods of communication all the time. Each day I get an email with the headlines of the day from my local paper. I can click on each headline and read the news for free online. Why spend $0.75-$2.00 for a newspaper? Several times a day I click on Kentucky Sports Radio (www.kentuckysportsradio.com) to get my fill of both Kentucky Basketball & Football. Then I can go to espn.com for any national sports news and scores I desire. To top all this I can now use my smart phone to get national news (or anything else for that matter) through a variety of choices of applications. My favorites are the USA Today and Huffington Post apps.

However, over the last several weeks I have become quite fond of being able to hold a paper publication in my two hands. There is no password to enter, no updates to download, as I recently subscribed to Newsweek and Sports Illustrated magazines. I haven't quite figured out if I am feeling like a little-kid or if I feel like a grown-up, but I'm REALLY enjoying both magazines. The journalism is well-written and every article fascinates me.
I'm already planning to renew my subscription 11 months early!

Have you taken a break from reading a newspaper or magazine these last couple of years? If so, give it another shot. I'm loving it!


Follow me on Twitter - @cteesdale


Jason Mraz w/ Toca Rivera - "I Won't Give Up"

Eight years

Today is the 8th Wedding Anniversary for my wife (Teri) and I. After being 4600 miles apart the past couple of anniversaries, it's going to be wonderful just to spend the day together. Our extra bonus this year is that we are on vacation in Hawaii, and that we are with our TWO children.

We are planning to take a drive around the island of Oahu tomorrow, which is what we also did on our last anniversary we spent together. We will also probably get a little time together on the beach and then save our night out for when we get back to Lexington. There is no other way that I'd rather celebrate my anniversary with the love of my life.

Just a quick sidestep - Tomorrow will be 9 years since I proposed to Teri on the beach in Siesta Key, FL. Thanks to the assistance of my best friend Joe, that evening was one of the best of my life. (I'm sure Teri would say the same.)

Thinking back 8 years ago, I am very fond of our wedding rehearsal & dinner. Rehearsal was a breeze and lots of fun! We shared that evening with an enormous amount of family and friends. Dinner was at the church and everyone sat in a giant square. I still get goose bumps thinking about how much I enjoyed going around the room and introducing each person, one-by-one, to the entire group. We have a video (thanks to Michael Rintamaa & Steven Page) of the rehearsal evening that we get a kick out of watching each year.

Our wedding day was perfect. 60 degree weather in Lexington. I had lunch with some family & friends at Cheddars, where we watched the entire UK (#8) vs UNC (#9) basketball game that afternoon. Kentucky won of course! Then we got to the church and I had the "History of Kentucky Basketball" dvd playing in the grooms room to pass the time before the ceremony. Most of my groomsmen went to UofL with me for college, and to this day I'm grateful for them putting up with me for this.

At 5:30pm the most beautiful bride in the history of the world walked down the aisle (at the church I grew up in) and said "I do." The ceremony was beautiful. Great music, very intimate, and filled with an overwhelming amount of loved ones. Our reception followed at the Campbell House and we had an absolute blast! We surprised many by secretly taking dance lessons prior to our wedding, to make the most out of our first dance. (Tim McGraw's "My Best Friend") Teri & I even made a late-night run to McDonalds to fill our stomachs after spending much of our reception socializing with our guests. The next morning we had breakfast with our families & then took off for a week in Gatlinburg on our honeymoon.

My love for Teri continues to grow each day, and I'm so blessed to have her as my wife, best friend & soul mate. Every single day I thank God that she loves me, and that she is the mother of my children. Thank you Teri for giving me the best 8 years of my life, and I'm looking forward to the many more to come.


Tim McGraw - "My Best Friend"

Musical Blessings

Music that touches the lives of others is a blessing. When that music is written to share a personal story of one's faith, it can be awe inspiring.

Read this story about such music written by Matt Hammitt, the lead singer of the band Sanctus Real. CLICK HERE!



Matt Hammitt - "All of Me"

A New Year!

The New Year has arrived. Despite 2011 being one of the worst in our country's history, for myself it was one of the best! Family & friends are healthy, including me. Everything at my job at HDA Merchandising (and at with the music ministries at church) has been great! The highlight of the year came this past August when we welcomed our son, Ellis, into the world. So I have no complaints, nor do I intend to look back at the year that was any more.

2012 is here. My daughter Lorelei will start kindergarten in the fall. Several friends (Kerri, Amanda, Lauren) are getting married. I've got an entire year of Payed Time-Off to plan vacations. (Disney World may be in our family's near future!) The Kentucky Wildcats basketball team is going to be lots of fun to watch as they head towards #8. Lots of excitement!!

I waited until yesterday to start thinking about New Year's Resolutions. Last year, I didn't even consider one thing, so I'm ahead of the game. Here is my Final 4-part plan:

1.) Blog - I am going to write on here more often. I'll aim to vary the topics as best I can. Hopefully I'll gain more readers too.

2.) Fast Food - I have a tendancy to eat fast food WAY to much, especially when I'm on the road. Too many burgers & fries were consumed in 2011. I can do better! And I will!

3.) Exercise - I know, I know. Everyone says this one. Well I can't do any worse than I did in 2011. So I plan to walk more often around the neighborhood at least. Anything else will be a bonus!

4.) Twitter - I have been tweeting for probably about a year, but with all the changes to Facebook in 2011, I have grown to like Twitter even more. So photos will go to Facebook. Links will be shared often. Status updates will continue to show up as I please. But Twitter is going to be my thing. Follow me @cteesdale.


Happy New Year and blessing for a joyous 2012 that is full of peace & love.


Jamie Cullum - "If I Ruled the World"

Testimony for Wellspring - Nov. 27, 2011

Last weekend I read an article in the Faith & Values section of the Lexington Herald-Leader titled, “Many Christians turn a deaf ear to Contemporary Christian Music (CCM).” This article was basically stating that a very small amount of Christians exclusively listen to music similar to what we are singing here today at Wellspring.

What grabbed my attention the most, was not the writer’s commentary, but rather the remarks made by local church leaders, as either quotes within the article or comments submitted online in response to the article.

A local Disciples minister and ecumenical leader shared that they felt most CCM is “musically sappy and theologically thin” and that “it doesn't inspire, doesn't induce awe and wonder, and doesn't teach.”

A Music Director of another downtown congregation said they “found that much of the CCM was more suited for watching or listening to, instead of “congregational singing.”

My first thought, was WOW! we need to invite these folks to Wellspring. (Don’t you think?) Today is only our 7th gathering as a community of faith at Wellspring. As one of the lay leaders who plan these monthly worship experiences, I will say that we are very intentional in choosing the songs and every other aspect of the worship. We want you to feel inspired, we want you to be in awe and in wonder, and we want the words you sing and hear - to teach you.

A 15th century French mathematician, Blaise Pascal, observed that “the people who have the greatest influence in shaping the hearts and minds of any generation are not the folks who write the laws, but those who write the songs.”

As musicians for this worship experience, myself and the entire Wellspring Band are not here for you to watch or listen to. We are here to lead you in singing songs of praise as “you” worship. It’s not about us. I think songwriter, Matt Redman, says it best that “Worship can never be a performance, but an overflow of your heart.”

Our desire is that you discover that the music draws you closer to God and that you feel God’s hope, God’s peace, God’s joy, and God’s love as you sing.

Those of you who know me, primarily associate me with either music, or my family. I am a fourth-generation member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I was born & raised here at Central. My grandmother is a retired, ordained minister. My grandfather taught Sunday School here at Central, and was on staff as a custodian, both here and at Transylvania University. My mother grew up here. And now my wife, Teri and I are raising our 2 children here. Central defines who I am as a person. I love singing the bass parts of the hymns each Sunday morning. Next week you’ll see me singing with the Chancel Choir on “The Messiah.”

CCM is relatively new to me. Growing up at Central I was not around it much and it wasn’t until I was in college that I began to listen to songs from that genre. About 10 years ago I started getting opportunities to lead music at church camps and other youth gatherings throughout Kentucky. These experiences introduced me to the music, and gradually the more I listened, the more the music really impacted me. In fact, I would say it has shaped my faith more than anything else.

I travel by car a lot for my job, and I’m definitely one of those guys you will see cruising down the Bluegrass Parkway, singing and drumming my heart out. Most of the time, I’m listening to the music that we are singing here at Wellspring, or a favorite CCM artist of mine. What makes those moments so great for me is that before long I realize that I’m in worship. Right there. Alone in my car. Just God and I. As I sing songs of prayer and thanksgiving. And it never fails, that the words and melodies of those songs always leave me in awe and wonder of my relationship with God.

CCM can also nurture our life in difficult times. Before giving birth to our first child, we had a miscarriage with our first pregnancy. We had lots of questions. And we received no answers. Our faith was being tested, and we were losing hope. A few days later we went to a concert by CCM artist Mark Schultz. In the middle of the concert he performed his song “He Will Carry Me.” This was a song neither of us had heard, and before he even reached the second verse - we were both in tears. It was like our prayers were being answered, as this song gave us the inspiration we needed to get through those difficult days. Here are those opening words that touched our lives:

“I call, you hear me.
I’ve lost it all, and it’s more than I can bear.
I feel so empty.
You’re strong, I’m weary.
I’m holding on, but I feel like giving in.
But still You’re with me.
And even though I’m walking through,
The valley of the shadow.
I will hold tight to the hand of Him,
Whose love will comfort me.
And when all hope is gone,
and I’ve been wounded in the battle
He is all the strength that I will ever need,
And He will carry me.”



Whether you enjoy CCM, or not, I simply invite you to be vulnerable to the blessings that do exist in these songs. Be ready to listen, even as you sing as a congregation, because God is speaking through them. Mark Schultz. George Frideric Handel. These are two of many musicians that have shared God’s word in their music compositions. Open your ears. Open your mind. Open your heart.

I leave you with words written by Mark Schultz, which are part of the Soundtrack of My Faith:

“Live with the wonder of a child. Pray with your arms thrown open wide.
Love with a love that knows no end. Until I see you again.”