Most people that knew Bryan Ruan, whether they knew him well, or not, have heard by now–he passed away earlier today. We heard through a friend that he fell off of a house a couple of days ago and was put in the ICU in critical condition. They operated on him and removed parts of his skull and brain to try and accommodate the swelling of his head, but were unsuccessful. He was then put on life support because he was unable to breathe on his own, and was in a vegetative state. The doctors instructed his recently widowed mother (Bryan’s dad died about two weeks ago) and sister home to decide whether or not to pull the plug. I cannot begin to imagine…I’m not sure what happened next, but we heard today that he did pass away.

Bryan was probably a year older than I.

Bryan was an incredible drummer. I had the privilege of playing with him in our chapel band at APU, as well as touring with him and performing alongside of him in the University Choir and Orchestra at APU. My memories of Bryan are almost always of him laughing. I’m a little bit of a loss right now of what to say about such a great guy. I guess I’ve never really done this before for a friend. I haven’t really talked to him much recently, but I was talking to another friend who was really shaken up by it (obviously, they were closer). I guess I just know this will be like a shockwave through the hundreds of folks connected to APU and UCO and to Bryan through whatever means. It is not everyday that a former classmate dies.
I will not forget Bryan.

–
On a lighter note, I had a great time being a part of the worship service with my wife, mom, and sister. April (my sis) led worship and did a really great job, my mom and Christy sang on the worship team with her. April, Christy, and I sang “You Are God Alone” as a special music–it was pretty sweet. It almost went off without a hitch…but the power in Twain Harte went off right before we started our sound check, which of course threw us for a little loop–but April compensated very well…then right before the worship service began, the power came back on and we kinda changed the order of what we were doing. There were a couple of times where I just looked at April and was like, “What song is next??” Haha…It was fun. I only knew a couple of the songs, so it was cool to hear some of what another church is singing.
I also got to talk to the wife of my the former pastor of the church (he passed away about seven years ago). She is just the sweetest thing! It was fun. She was asking all kinds of questions about Noah, and it was great to see her. Yeah, I think I took her daughter to the prom, or our Christmas banquet, or something…maybe I didn’t…I can’t really remember…oh wait, I totally did. Christy bumped into her and talked to her a little bit…

I also just watched Aeon Flux at my sister’s house. She’s got a crystal clear 42″ plasma TV with pumpin’ surround sound. It was pretty cool, and the movie wasn’t too bad, either. I liked it, you know, sci-fi.

Coming home Tuesday…

I know you’re all dying to know how Wicked was. Yes, it was
awesome. You should beg, borrow, or steal to get tickets. The music is superb,
the acting was fantastic, the sets and lights were amazing, and it IS the best
musical I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen quite a few of them…
Yes, it’s better than The Phantom of the Opera
Yes, it’s better than Les Miserables
Yes, it’s better than Miss Saigon, and Rent, and The
Producers, and Movin’ Out. It’s better than anything else out there. It was
amazing, and it’s sold out everywhere. However, I heard that they just signed a
contract with The Pantages Theater in Hollywood
to do a 5-year run, so don’t be too disappointed if you can’t see it right now.

–Funny side story: Paul Plunk (the Music Director at Midway
before me) stopped by the church one time and was talking to Chuck and I about
stuff. His whole family are Broadway fanatics—acting, singing, drama, all of
that stuff—and he was talking about Wicked. He was saying it was going to be
the next big thing and everybody is going to see it, etc…etc…etc.. And I just
remember thinking to myself, “Yeah right, buddy—stop trying to impress us with
your fancy, schmancy Broadway knowledge”. Obviously, I was wrong—in more ways
than one. Wicked is the big thing now, and my attitude was out of line as well…

I guess I can’t say a whole lot more than that right now
about Wicked. It is a very complex show, and it really moved along. I was never
bored or not completely engaged in what was going on. It was also hilarious. I
mean, it really has the whole package—and that is rare.

Just a quick note though, go see it before too long. Kristen
Chenowith and Idina Menzel played Glinda and Elphaba on Broadway (respectively)
and there are others playing those roles now. But here’s the deal, if you wait
five or ten years, you’ll eventually see if with a stupid, washed up pop-star
in the lead like when we saw RENT with a Spice Girl playing the lead girl role.
She was awful. SO if you wait too long you might see Jessica Simpson or Britney
Spears playing Glinda, and I guarantee
that would be disaster.

In other news, I get to play piano at the church I grew up
in this weekend while we’re visiting my family. I can’t wait! We’re also going
to sing with my sister, who is leading worship that weekend. It’s totally going
to be fun…

My fascination with movies began early, alongside my love
for video games. I can still remember vividly the day my mother told me about
the new cable box we had and explained how to operate it—I can remember exactly
where I was standing and what the sun looked like shining into the large
windows of our living room. That was the first time I explored shows like The New Mickey Mouse Club, Tiny Toons, and Saved By the Bell.

I also loved the original NES (and later the SNES) and
watching movies with my friends, but it was the summer of 1993 that movies
exploded into  my life in a way that
would change me forever—it was the summer Jurassic Park
came out. That summer my family went on a two or three week vacation in my
grandma’s RV up to Oregon and Washington to visit my Dad’s family in Tacoma
and Seattle. We
must have seen Jurassic Park 8 times that summer. Every time we made a stop
along the way, we watched it with someone in our extended family that had not
yet seen it.

It was my Uncle Lee, however, that changed the way I watched
movies forever. I remember one of these trips to see JP, the rest of our family
was in the restroom and Uncle Lee and I were left staring at movie posters for
upcoming films. We were chatting about how great JP was, and he mentioned something
about how Steven Speilberg was a great director. I inquired, and he talked a
little about how much impact a director has on a film, and how certain
directors team with certain producers, and how John Williams scores all of
Speilberg’s films, and so on. It was from that point on that I looked more
often at the bottom of the movie poster than at the headline actor or actress
(or the pictures on the poster). It was like a great awakening happened that
day. Many thanks to my Uncle Lee for opening my eyes to the art of filmmaking—I
really have never been the same.

On to the present day…we saw M. Night Shyamalan’s Lady in
the Water again last night. I loved it the second time as well. There are so
many wonderful theme’s in Night’s movies, he never is making a movie about the
premise of the film, there are morals and messages in his films that really
shine through. For instance, Signs was not about Aliens attacking earth, it was
about a Priest finding his way back to the faith. The Village was not about an
old-fashioned town surrounded by creatures they feared, it was about true love
and innocence. In that same fashion, this film was not just a fairy-tale, it
was about community, and finding your purpose (hey maybe Night goes to
Saddleback?? Oh wait…he lives in Philadelphia…).
It was about restoration and healing, and how the things you do now may have
impact on things you know nothing about in the future. This film is deep and
rich with meaning, and Night has a profound way of delivering that message to
us in a way that is thrilling and poignant. He communicates to his audience in
a way that makes them a part of the story.

It is too bad the mass public are too bent on seeing action
and special effects to pause for one of the most enjoyable stories all summer.
I’m afraid Night’s message may get lost among a summer filled with superhero’s
and sea-fairing pirates.

I think this has quite a bit of meaning for me and our family right now. Things are looking up after a couple of things yesterday, but we really are seeking wisdom right now and waiting and praying a lot about several things.

When I met with the Pastor of the church I might work at yesterday I found myself getting more excited than I had previously. In our early conversations, he was speaking more to having me on as a choir director (only) as opposed to our conversation yesterday, where I told him I’d feel more comfortable being in a part-time Music Pastor role. I’d really prefer to have complete control over the music, rather than just be a part of the system, especially when I feel like I have something to offer and/or could do a great job being in charge. I know, it sounds super controlling or egotistical, but I do feel like I have giftings in that area and have spent enough time in minor roles being frustrated by poor leaders. Again, I don’t want to go around tooting my horn, or tooting at all really…(heeheehee) but I feel compelled to lead in a situation like that. Now, if this were, say, the LA Philharmonic, I would not feel so compelled…I hope that makes sense.
So we’ll have a couple more meetings and interviews and such, and perhaps begin sometime in September if it all works out.

I’ll let Christy fill you in on the meeting with the lawyer…

Oh, and I forgot to mention, dispite the fact that Lady in the Water bombed at the box office, it was an incredible movie. M. Night Shyamalan is a very deep and profound storyteller/movie maker, I am sad to see that the masses cannot appreciate that. In my opinion, there are few better than him right now in the movie making business. I have a GREAT deal of respect for him as an artist. I loved it, and so did Christy. In fact, it’s her favorite movie of the summer so far.

EDIT: Finally got internet back. Yippee. If I don’t get a discount from Charter, adios muchachos. I mean, 4 days out of a 28 day billing cycle is 14 percent off my bill. Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.

So, we’re still without internet and phone at home as far as
I know. I think I’m going to ditch Charter, I’ve had nothing but problems…

We have a meeting with the Lawyer today, we’ll fill you in
later…

Nathaniel’s birthday party was really fun. What a success!
We had it at a park in San Dimas
despite the 110 degree heat and scattered showers, although the clouds helped
to keep the direct sun away. It was a Cars themed party and I made a cake (I
always home-make special cakes for our parties) that I sprayed red with a 3-D speedway
carved into the top with a Lightning McQueen car racing around a black-frosting
race track—not to mention the green grass (sprinkles) in the middle of the
track. Oh, geez, it’s too hard to describe, I’ll post a picture as soon as I
get one. The cake aside, everyone had a blast throwing water balloons and
shooting each other with water guns. Thanks to our San Diego homies that made the trip all the
way up for the party.

I knew this was going to happen, but Christy kept pushing it
off. Ryli finally told Nathaniel that she didn’t want to marry him anymore. It
was a classic moment. They were having this heated discussion about something
and Ryli just yelled out “But I don’t WANT to marry you anymore!!” We all found
it hilarious, but it devastating for Nathaniel…I think he’ll bounce back.
(hahaha)

We’re talking to a church in Covina
about some work in choir and worship leading, and I think I’m going to take the
job for the show in Irvine.
I watched the DVD last night and it looks like the production is right up my
alley. I’m excited about it!

I would have updated sooner, but our internet and phone service at home are not functioning. I’m currently writing this from my in laws house on dial-up. Well, dial-up that works is a lot better than broadband that doesn’t. Ugh, poopoo on Charter Cable.

Tomorrow we have a meeting with the lawyer that will represent Noah in September before the school district. We covet your prayers. I’ll update more soon.

Info on the Michael W. Smith concert at my church in October here. I hope to see all of you there.
It is the concert in Yorba Linda on OCT 15th. Check it out.

EDIT ADD:

OH MY GOSH! I just got an email from our Regional Center accepting our offer to withdraw our request for a fair hearing and APPROVING 33 hours a week of therapy for Noah.
This is HUGE.
HUGE!
We really needed this to have more hours going in to our IEP so we can keep them, and continue with Noah in Lovaas.
This is a great blessing. Thank you, Lord!

I think I neglected to mention (since Christy wrote about it
already) what a great time the two of us had on our day-date on Friday. I had a
half day at work, and friends generously babysat for us, so Christy and I
headed off around 1PM to the beach and dinner. I was great to have
uninterrupted time with my love. We very seldom get time to just be together
and get away from all the daily routine and stress of normal life. We had a
wonderful time just being together—I highly recommend it for you married folk.

Cool things have been happening with Noah. We’ll post about
it soon, but I’ll just tell you that it is very encouraging to us.

We had dinner with a great couple last night at their house
in San Dimas.
The guy is a new psychology professor here at APU, and we met him when I
emailed the psych dept about getting students to hire for the Lovaas Workshop
Model. This dude recruited some awesome students for us, and he seemed so nice
we wanted to hang out with him! So we did, and it was great fun. He and his wife
and baby live in a cool house in San
Dimas near downtown, and on Wednesday nights there is
live music in the park, so after dinner and dessert we moseyed over to hear an
all chick rock band. I’m pretty sure one chick sole job was playing the
tambourine…

Working out is great, AND I’m wearing flip-flops in the
shower now—too bad they are Kermit-the-Frog green…

Nathaniel is turning 5 this Saturday. It’s pretty hard to
believe!

I listened to Alive Forever this morning and yesterday
morning. It’s impossible for me to hear that album without thinking about the
Midway Praise Choir & Orchestra. Impossible.

On that note, I’ve been listening to quite a bit more music
lately at work (and during my cardio). You can check out what I’ve been
listening to here. It’s a cool site that keeps track of the songs I’ve been
playing on my iTunes.

I was thinking about Noah this morning, and praying about
his future (long term and short term), when this came to mind:

       For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

       I praise you because I am
fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.

       My frame was not hidden
from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of
the earth,

       Your eyes saw my unformed body.

       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.

This is just a small portion of the whole thing.

I am exceedingly glad that Noah is here for a purpose. It
cannot be a random thing that he has autism-not if I believe what I do
believe. Although often for us it is very stressful and trying to muddle
through the lawyers, and the money, and the many, many details there are
surrounding the care Noah receives, there are also those times I am reminded
that Noah was formed by God inside Christy’s womb, long ago. We are trying our
best to get Noah the care he needs, and working very hard to that end, but I
know that above all else, Noah will be taken care of regardless of anything we do.
He is in the hands of someone much more powerful than any of us–and for that, I am
eternally grateful.