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    <title>Todd Agnew</title>
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    <description><![CDATA[Todd Agnew

NEED

Anyone who’s ever listened to a pop song is far too familiar with the idea that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. But is the converse true? Do you not know what you need until you have it?

Todd Agnew, an artist who has long challenged listeners to ask better questions, has found at least some of his needs fulfilled as of late: the need for companionship, family, roots and direction.

But that doesn’t mean Todd finds himself in a place of creative complacency, either. Needs met in one area frequently point out deficiencies in others, and Agnew has never been one afraid of the microscope when it comes to looking at his own life.

“The perfect version of me still has a deep need for God,” Agnew says. “It’s the ongoing conversation we have with God: ‘you’re supposed to need me from the beginning. Need is not a bad thing; it’s something that ties this relationship together the correct way of me being God and you not.’ You really have to learn that and think ‘that’s what I was made, how I was designed.’ And that’s how this music was designed, as well.”

In short, Todd Agnew is taking care of his artistic need through NEED, his fourth album for Ardent Records/INO.

“It was a pretty big life change all of a sudden,” Todd says of his return to his home state of Texas, his recent marriage and becoming a stepfather. “I think I closed on my house on a Thursday and got married on a Saturday. I went from ‘single musician guy with no responsibilities’ to ‘homeowner, husband, father of two’ in 48 hours.”

For anyone, those kinds of changes could cause a whiplash effect. For a man with an admittedly critical artist’s eye, Todd’s new life opened up a brand new set of observations.

“It’s incredible, but it’s also definitely hard. There’s nothing that can prepare you for that kind of a life change, especially someone like me, who notices every detail of every failure on my part,” Todd says. “Being a husband is one thing, raising two kids is another. You can find yourself thinking, ‘Man, I didn’t do a very good job again today.’”

The presence of his wife and the kids has obviously served Todd’s need for balance in his personal life, but the veteran singer-songwriter has found an unexpected carryover into his professional existence as well. “I’ve always been kind of the hammer – walk in, speak the truth, blow up the town, walk off and let all the pastors apply that truth or pick up the pieces. Now I’m having very similar things in my marriage and in my life, where I’m definitely someone who sees the truth that needs to be spoken, but I’m watching my wife who always see the love that needs to be shared.”

The song – “Written On The Wall” – typifies a quest Todd never even realized he was on during the making of NEED. “It comes from a place of saying ‘I don’t understand all this stuff.’ I want to follow, I want to do what he wants me to do, if only he’d make it a little more obvious,” Todd admits.

Another area Todd Agnew the musician fends his needs met is the musical scope of NEED, which falls right in line with his previous projects, a broad stroke of rootsy music that touches on everything from rock ‘n’ roll to blues to soul to traditional gospel.

But that sort of musical exploration never seems to come easy, especially when trying to balance the needs of the artist with the perceived needs of the marketplace. “This record is definitely the hardest one I’ve worked on so far. It was much more of a struggling process, spread out over more than a year,” Todd says. “Finally I come to the place at the end where God goes, ‘What you need is for me to be active in what you’re doing.’”

And so that struggle – all facets of it – makes its way onto powerful tracks like the bluesy, rollicking “Deep Deep Love” and the stomp-filled “Tell Me The Story,” to the quieter, more contemplative moments found on the loping, strummy “Give Me Jesus” and the hope of “Did You Mean Me?” (with the fantastic yet familiar Sunday school notion of having “met Jesus at the felt board.”)

It’s the latter track, “Did You Mean Me?,” which Todd has had floating around in a notebook for more than a decade, which helped sharpen the focus of the album’s final push toward completion, shaking him and the project from the struggle. “When we were making the record, a friend told me that there’s no Hebrew word for ‘promise,’” Todd says. “God doesn’t need to promise. If he says it, that’s the way it’s going to be. There’s no extra need for reassurance. So the questions we have for God: ‘Does that really apply to me? Did you really promise that to me?’ are sometimes a waste of time and effort. It’s more God saying, ‘This is how it is.’”

So as Todd Agnew’s life morphed in front of him, so did his music, and so did his reactions to the changes that both were going through.

“I thought it was about me needing answers, so I could do God’s work for him. Give me the plan so I can go do this for you. Wanting to understand those things,” Todd says. “But I started to realize that what I thought I needed wasn’t exactly accurate. I really needed to learn to be dependent on God for everything.”

Todd looks up, respectfully asking for one more need to be fulfilled. “And if you’d like to give me some instruction, that would be awesome.”

“One after another, we learn that we have a need to be loved, to be rescued, to be redeemed, to be restored, all these things. Those are the universal needs, and they are all met in Jesus,” he continues. “It’s a matter of trusting God to help me walk through that, even though I don’t know what I’m doing.”


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    <item>
      <title>FREE DOWNLOAD!!</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/3794466</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Get a FREE song of mine at Freeccm.com this month! Be sure to also check out the brand new single “Joy Unspeakable” from my upcoming album "Need"- in stores October 2009!!

www.freeccm.com]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:22:31 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/3794466</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>New Single: Joy Unspeakable</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/3670107</link>
      <description><![CDATA[I've posted my new single "Joy Unspeakable" from my upcoming album Need on my page. You can also check out a video of the story behind the song in my videos or at

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=31bacd54b860040a047e

Enjoy!]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:55:08 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/3670107</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>"Joy Unspeakable" Story Behind the Song</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/videos/3670096</link>
      <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:53:47 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/videos/3670096</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Joy Unspeakable</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/audio/432809</link>
      <description><![CDATA[]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:49:21 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/audio/432809</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>What's On the Shelf</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/3249473</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The Year of Living Biblically - A.J. Jacobs

For everyone that’s new to our community, every once in a while, I’ll fill you in on what I’ve been reading. Today I’m going to tell you about a book I finished recently called, “The Year of Living Biblically” by A.J. Jacobs. Jacobs writes in the form of a memoir. He chooses unique experiences, lives them out, and writes about them. His first book was about reading through the encyclopedia. But this book is about exactly what the title says. He chose to live by the BIble, word for word, for a year. Now this is more complicated than it sounds. To start with, Jacobs is Jewish, but even he confesses that is really just by heritage alone. It is not a belief he holds on to. Additionally, he does not merely follow the parts that are popular or what we have decided is culturally relevant. He attempts to follow every verse, every command of the Bible. And in doing so, he shows us how much of it we skip. We actually obey a very small part of the Bible. I enjoyed this book a ton. Jacobs made me laugh out loud multiple times. That can be embarrassing on a plane. But it was so enlightening to see the Word of God, which we believe to be alive and active, actually applied directly to a life. It was a book that both entertained and challenged. Now this isn’t CS Lewis or Josh McDowell. It doesn’t end with him becoming a Christian. It is the record of a year when a non-believer tried to walk out the Bible. It details his successes and struggles, his insights and confusion. I really liked it.

Todd
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:05:19 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/3249473</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>NEW WEBSITE!</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/3187638</link>
      <description><![CDATA[toddagnew.com is back.  It has a simple new design with much more on the way.  We have partnered with Skorinc, a great web company who is already helping us with content and connection.  We are glad to be back in contact in a more personal way than just on the social networking sites.  We will continue to participate and communicate in as many ways as possible.  But I just wanted you to know the new site is up and I'll be blogging and putting as much new info on there as we can.  Thanks to all of you. 

 

Todd
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:23:17 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/3187638</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Velcro</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/3174108</link>
      <description><![CDATA[My five-year-old was tying her shoes today. Okay, she was velcroing her

shoes. Is ³velcroing² a word? Spellcheck seems to disagree but then it also

just disagreed with the word, ³spellcheck².  So back to the storyŠ

 

My five-year-old was velcroing her shoes today.  I¹ll be honest. It took

forever.  She actually started at 4pm yesterday. Okay, that¹s not true, but

waiting on someone to tie their shoes gets old at about the 7 second mark.

Job, I am not.  That¹s Job with a long ³o², not the way you make a living.

Anyway, she was working on her shoes and I had this overwhelming urge to

grab her feet and finish the job.  (This time it is with a short ³o².)  But

the point is I wanted to grab her shoes and help her.  Or at least hurry it

along.  But I didn¹t.  Because I wanted her to know that she could fix her

own shoes.  And I wanted her to keep getting better at it. Guess how much

better she gets at it when I do it for her?  None.  But today I took an

extra 60 seconds and waited for her, and she took one more step towards

being an independent capable possibly professional Velcro-er.

 

And I started thinking about how God looks at His kids.  Namely, me. Life,

obedience, holiness, all must look so simple to Him, and yet I sit here

struggling with every moment of it. I make it much harder than it has to be

sometimes.  And I fail often.  And I cry out to God, ³How can you stand by

and let all this happen? Are you even there?  Do you really care?²  (I

deeply apologize for that rhyme.  It was unintentional.  I promise never to

use cheap rhyme schemes like that in my music.)  But the truth is God is not

absent.  He is not passive.  He is a loving parent, knowing that I must take

these steps to become the man He wants me to be.  He aches with my

frustration.  He longs for my joy and success but not at the cost of my

growth.  He can¹t just rescue me each time.  I have to walk the steps.  And

maybe then, someday, giving cheerfully, loving the unlovely, evangelism,

holiness, all will be as easy as Velcro.  But not today.

 

 

Todd

]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:48:04 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/3174108</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Hide-and-Seek</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2792870</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Hide-and-Seek

You remember being a kid?  Like a little kid?   Kids are so funny, especially when they play hide-and-seek.  My little girl hides in the same place every time we play.  I will have just found her, I'm closing my eyes, starting to count, and she goes right back to the same place.  My little boy, while two years older and wiser, will hide in different spaces, but once he has been there for 15 seconds or so, he will start making noises, leading me to his spot.  The amazing thing about kids and this game is that they want to be found.  That is the whole point.  The point is not to win; it is to be found by the one who loves you.  


And it's the same with keeping secrets.  We'll buy a secret present for someone.  We'll agree not to talk about it.  We'll walk in the door and they'll walk right up to that person, saying, "Guess what we got you?  A candle!"  Or whatever the incredible gift we chose was.  They can't even get to their room without spilling the beans.  They will share their favorite secrets.  They will even tell us when they've done something wrong.  It is naturally in their nature to be known.  


Many times I wish we held on to this attitude as we grow up.  Instead we learn to deceive and practice secrecy.  And I mean practice!  We get better and better at it until even those closest to us only know part of who we are.  And then we feel alone.  I wonder what my life would be like if I wanted to be found.  If I trusted the One who loves me.  I wonder what my world would look like if I came seeking to share those places that I could easily hide in the dark?  If I looked forward to "spilling the beans"?


“For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”

Luke 8:17 (ESV)


God already knows our secrets, but He still wants us to cry, "Search me and know me, O God!"  There is something amazing that happens when a child seeks to be found by their Father.



And... discuss.


Todd ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 09:31:56 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2792870</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Cornerstone Festival Request</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2687320</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Hello Friends. It's Todd. If you came to see the Christmas Tour 08 edition this last winter, you will have already made the acquaintance of Andrew McKinney. He was the singer who was not Anthony Evans and he played bass for most of the tour. If you missed the tour, Andrew is basically my little brother. He is very dear to me and I lived with his family for three years in Houston. It was during that time period that I wrote and recorded Grace Like Rain, so it's a pretty special time. Maybe I should move back there. Anyway, he is an amazing godly young man and is in a band called Darcy. I am passing on his email below and I would definitely appreciate you guys supporting him. As you know, I don't ask you for much. Now, I am not a professional myspacer so the link he speaks of may not work. You may have to do it the old fashioned way and copy and paste it. I know, such work. But thanks so much for doing it and supporting a group of great young guys. Thanks.

Todd

PS The PS at the bottom is from Andrew so you can celebrate with him, not from me as I am already taken.



Hello Everyone, 

So, some of you might know me and others might only know me as Joe
McKinney's son but you should all know that I am trying to earn my living as
a free lance musician. The band that I have been playing with (Darcy) for
almost two years now has been entered into a contest to play the Cornerstone
Festival just outside of Chicago. This is one of the largest music festivals
in the U.S. and the kicker is with your votes we could play the mainstage.
The top vote getter in the new band showcase will get to play with some very
prominent bands on the mainstage of the festival.



So what I hope your asking now yourself is how can I vote? Well I'm so glad
that you asked. If you were to create an account at the cornerstone
website(no spam or info required of you) you can go to our page and vote
every day. My birthday is coming up in May and this would be an amazing (and
free) gift. If you could make it apart of your internet habit to vote daily
it would vault us to the number 1 spot and we would play the mainstage. We
are currently ranked 5th. Please help us become number 1. Thank you so
much for your time. 



Just click on the link below to get started.

http://www.cornerstonefestival.com/newbandshowcase/Darcy/ 



Much love everyone,

Andrew McKinney



P.S. I'm engaged to Monica Segui and have clearly worked my way up!!!! 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:05:47 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2687320</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Your Thoughts on a Thought on Good Friday</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2580955</link>
      <description><![CDATA[What would this weekend look like through the blood-stained tint of the cross? If we could put on glasses when we wake up tomorrow and spend the day seeing how the cross affects each life we encounter, each action we choose, and each moment we spend, how would it look to us? How would it change our perspective? And our choices? I hope it would change them greatly. I fear it would not change them at all. I fear Christ has hung for so long on our mantles that His cross is no longer is our sight. Just as over time we grow used to the wonders around us, and their magic dissipates in our lives.

A friend of mine went on a mission trip to South America. He came across a spot where he had the most beautiful view he had ever seen with his eyes. Mountains and forests. Trees and flowers. The best of God's creation. But in the midst of it, he saw a soccer game. These children did their best to follow a ball around a field and kick it. They were not distracted at all by the beauty around them; in fact, they did not even notice it. In the midst of the pinnacle of God's creation, they were fascinated by a manmade leather ball.

My kids are amazed. By everything. Sometimes it seems silly. But many times I wish I was still amazed by those things. I am so callous to all around me that I don't even notice. I hope we are not like that with the cross, but I'm fairly sure we are. Let us pray that God will open our eyes. This weekend may we see our entire world in the shadow of His cross. And be amazed.


And... discuss.


Todd 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:38:35 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2580955</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Your Thoughts on a Quote</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2532787</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Wow, the last two blog posting were advertising CD sales! I'm never a big fan of that. Well, let's hear more from you again.

"A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough for the next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs at one time to sustain life for a week. We must draw upon God's boundless store of grace from day to day as we need it." - D.L. Moody


And... discuss.

Todd 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:55:49 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2532787</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>BQ and DYSWIS on Sale!</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2482771</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Just to let everyone know. You can get Better Questions and Do You See What I See on iTunes right now for $7.99 each. What a deal. Honestly I didn't even know, but I was looking for something and ran across them. So I thought I'd let you know. For those of you who are still waiting for the next record after Reflection of Something... we present two records. At once. On sale.

Todd 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:20:06 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2482771</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Your Thoughts on a Quote</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2482769</link>
      <description><![CDATA["The gospel will flow along the same lines as gossip." ~ George Patterson


And... discuss.

Todd


P.S. Thanks to Sean Eppers for sharing this quote today]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:19:13 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2482769</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>What's on the Playlist?</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2409616</link>
      <description><![CDATA[
Now it's time to share what you've been listening to lately. Let's say, 5 cd's. Doesn't have to be that many. It just seems like a good round number. I'll start.

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

A local Austin band that has hit the big time. Great sound, good songs.

Jimmy Needham - Not WIthout Love

One of my favorite new Christian artists. Great writer, cool voice and an awesome guy. He's one of the guys I just love to hang out with and chat. And the new record is great. Check it out.

Doyle Bramhall II - Jellycream

Well, I had to drive to Little Rock late last night after a day in the studio so on the long drives Bramhall always makes an appearance. Last night I went back to his first solo record. Still a killer album. If I were to have an idol, it would be him. But God says not to, so I don't. But still you won't find a better guitar player.

The People's Church - Shine Out

Also listened to this on the road last night. It's a new worship record from my friend Michael Neale and his church in Franklin, TN. It's always weird to hear one of your own songs on someone else's record. But Michael and I wrote it together so they cut a version of it. It's called I Need No Other and it's the first part of their acoustic medley. And their record is out before mine. Anyway, good worship. I love the song Your Great Name. May have to learn that for the summer. And another good friend Luke Smallbone has a great song on it called You Captivate Me. A great new worship project to check out.

Brooke Fraser - Albertine

One of the best finds of the last year. Brooke is incredible. The writing is awesome. And you may recognize the voice as one of the girls from Hillsong United. So if you have their version of Hosanna or Lead Me To The Cross, it's her. But this record is outstanding. It's not a corporate worship record, so don't go into it expecting that. But it's definitely one of my favorites from the last few years.


All right, your turn. And... discuss.

Todd ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:40:07 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2409616</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Your Thoughts On A Quote</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2318221</link>
      <description><![CDATA["Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do. Expect unexpected things, above all that we ask or think. Each time, before you Intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!" - Andrew Murray

And... discuss.

Todd]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:42:40 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2318221</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Your Thoughts on a Quote (3.6.09)</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2200604</link>
      <description><![CDATA["Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late - and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work. To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words and get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience." A.W. Tozer

And... discuss.

Todd ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:44:12 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2200604</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>KLOVE on the iPhone &amp; Other Thoughts (3.5.09)</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2200581</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Just to let everyone know. KLOVE, the mega Christian radio station, home of our good friends the Rivers, now has an iPhone app. So you can listen to them wherever you are. I tried it out and the first song was By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North. I took it as a good sign. So just wanted you to know. They are trying to get as many people as possible to download it the first week to get it on the top download list so hopefully many people who don't listen to Christian music will notice it and try it out. And it's free. I almost said it's free, like God's grace. And while that is true, I have two problems with it. One, it's really corny. And two, God's grace is way better than a radio station on a phone. Although that is kind of cool. So I just wanted you to know about it. Both of them actually, His grace and the KLOVE app. But see, now it doesn't seem fair that KLOVE is capitalized. So maybe we can have klove and HIS GRACE. But now this whole post has veered out of control. Have a great day listening to whatever you're listening to. Actually why don't you comment back and tell me what you're listening to today? I'll start. I'm listening to...:

Kari Jobe
Blitzen Trapper
CompassionArt
Bon Iver
and shocker of all shockers: Rich Mullins

There's my five cd's for this morning. Your turn.

And... discuss.

Todd 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:43:26 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2200581</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Thoughts on Not Ash Tuesday (3.4.09)</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2200580</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Well, it's almost a week since Ash Wednesday. A week since we repented, turned away from those things detracting from our relationship with God and turned toward His will and love for our lives. So, how's it going? Lent is hard. I mean, it's like the whole New Year's Resolution, but you promised it to God, so it's got quite a bit more weight. Sometimes I wonder if repentance is supposed to be more lasting than it usually is in my life. If I struggle with it again the next day, did I really repent? Or is repentance just a continual state of life? I mean, I have quit caffeine for hours at a time. Just kidding, really for weeks at a time. I have committed to exercising more for days in a row. I have stopped certain sins for minutes, hours, months at a time. But what does that really mean? If I've discovered anything, it is that if you turn away from something but don't turn toward something else, you will fall. If you quit something negative but don't replace it with something positive, it will be replaced with something negative, often itself. I can't just turn away from sin. I have to turn toward God. I have to have His perfect purpose replace my corrupt ones. God has been working on my life in community, that I need to not only be transparent but also dependent. Only then will I find the fullness He has for me in community. But I'm not fond of leaning on others. It has been a tough week. I didn't commit to it for Lent, but it has coincided with the timing. And so, it has been a good case study for me to look at repentance. At perseverance. At turning away and turning toward. So what does perpetual repentance look like? I'm not sure yet. But I'd like to hear from you. Especially those of you that speak in language I understand. Not to discourage the rest of you. In fact, you don't even know which people I'm talking about, so just assume you're in the good group. And... discuss.

Todd ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:42:41 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2200580</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Great Weekend</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2161948</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Well, we had a great weekend in Knoxville (hence the title of the blog). Thanks to all the students of Grace Baptist who worshiped with us this weekend. Thanks also to Starfield for giving us a great new song to play. It's called Reign In Us; you should check it out on their new record.

Thanks to our friend Dave Edwards for teaching for the the weekend. And of course, one of my best friends is in town so it was great spending time with the Pinkners. But the highlight of the weekend (other than God of course) was the food. Not something I really expect from Knoxville, but it was great. We went to a place called Litton's for lunch Saturday. It was like a diner but with really awesome food. I admit I went overboard, chili burger with jalapenos and strawberry shortcake. It really wasn't fair; they have a huge counter full of desserts right when you walk in, so the whole time you're waiting for your table you're deciding which one you should have. Then that night we went to a steak place in town called Connors. Again great food. 

Then for lunch Sunday after church, we went to Puleo's. It had been on the shortlist of places to eat every time I had been to Knoxville, but we had never gone. So we did. And I was glad. I was still kind of full from the day before, so I got the soup and salad. Killer White and Red Bean Chicken Chili. And then I had a bowl of the gumbo as well. Can't ever pass up gumbo. That's an unspoken rule in my life. Well, I hope you had as great a weekend as I did. Now I have to go to a meeting. Why do I agree to breakfast meetings on Monday mornings? That's just not smart. But we'll get it over with and then I can go home. Grace and peace to you all.

Todd ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:40:09 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2161948</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Your Thoughts On A Quote</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2118274</link>
      <description><![CDATA["Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world."

- Francis Schaeffer


And... discuss.

Todd ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:46:11 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/toddagnew/posts/text/2118274</guid>
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