AS IRON SHARPENS IRON,SO ONE MAN SHARPENS ANOTHER.PROVERBS 27:17.
It was back in the year 2000, at a church in Marysville. I saw a blonde man wearing dark glassess, using a cane, and having a bit of a struggle with some stairs. I walked over and gave him a hand. At first I thought he was blind. Little did I know in those few steps. Arm and arm as we walked, that a relationship sealed with Christ would be cemented! I did realize one thing as we got to the top of the stairs Matthew said DUDE THOOSE SHOES ARE SWEET!!!! He was not blind!
Over the next almost 9 years what happened was unmasked life. The Joys, the struggles, the pains, and the deepest intamcy between two friends. Formed through the unity of Jesus Christ our Lord. That friendship changed my life forever. With Matthew everything was over the top! We spent so many nights jamming, laughing, eating, skateboarding, crying, reading, praying and embracing each other as brothers in Christ. We also had the joy of watching our children grow. It was an extended family. In all of this there was a dream and passion we shared that was indescribable for life, to grow as God lead us, and to use our talent to honor the Lord. So we made our plans a Christian Metal band Desperately Wicked. Like so many of our plans some never happen, how we want or think they should. I know God has a plan for each one of us. He places people in our lives that he knows will help love and encourage each other. That is truly what Matthew and I shared. What a blessing from God! Along with our plans we don't know how much time we have? We should treat each day as it were the last.
Revelations 3:20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door. I will come in and eat with him and he with me. Revelations 21:4 He will wipe every tear from there eyes. There will be no more death,or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed. The biggest blessing of all is that Matthew is in heaven with our Lord and savior Jesus Christ! Those who know the Lord will see Matthew again.
I eagerly await that day. I must say I'm sorry now but I'm more excited to see Jesus then Matthew but I know I will see both.
God Bless all of you!!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
From Mike
Matthew, it would be difficult to capture what Matthew brought to me and my family, he brought smiles, laughter, and a genuineness that was rare before we met him and even harder to come by now.
Nearly every Saturday night over the past 6 or 7 months I got to spend time with the most gifted drummer I have ever met, but that’s not the half of it. Matthew could have played with anyone he chose to but somehow God stuck him and Jim with me, poor guys. He was always encouraging and the three of us spent many hours laughing and playing music, often at the same time.
Looking back I felt like a 9 year old kid spending one of my best summers with good friends wishing it would never end, but change is inevitable. I’ll never let my so called “summer” with Matthew end, I know he enjoyed the music we made and the time we spent together, and as long as we have a few recordings my family will know the warmth of that “summer” with Mathew too.
Mathew I know your listening so I wanted to take this time to apologize for losing count, being tone deaf, playing out of key, and to thank you for not throwing the sticks at me. I love you brother and I’ll be seeing you.
Mike
Nearly every Saturday night over the past 6 or 7 months I got to spend time with the most gifted drummer I have ever met, but that’s not the half of it. Matthew could have played with anyone he chose to but somehow God stuck him and Jim with me, poor guys. He was always encouraging and the three of us spent many hours laughing and playing music, often at the same time.
Looking back I felt like a 9 year old kid spending one of my best summers with good friends wishing it would never end, but change is inevitable. I’ll never let my so called “summer” with Matthew end, I know he enjoyed the music we made and the time we spent together, and as long as we have a few recordings my family will know the warmth of that “summer” with Mathew too.
Mathew I know your listening so I wanted to take this time to apologize for losing count, being tone deaf, playing out of key, and to thank you for not throwing the sticks at me. I love you brother and I’ll be seeing you.
Mike
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Second slideshow from Jimmy
This is another slideshow that I put together to honor Matthew. They are from a stack of pictures from Jimmy McAdams. Thanks Jimmy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhApLgETPS8
You will have to click the link to YouTube to see it
Thanks
Bill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhApLgETPS8
You will have to click the link to YouTube to see it
Thanks
Bill
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Readings from Matthew's celebration...
I am Ron Lunsford,
Matthew was a friend of mine, I knew him for six years . He was a carpenter who helped me on several projects. After a very short time I began to know Matthew very well, we became friends, when Matthew needed a place to live; I rented him one of my houses.
I knew Matthew in some good days of his life and in some of the most trying days of his life. I was there for him when he was hurting and needed a friend to give comfort, and I was there to be his mentor when he needed a kick in the pants. In addition, he was always there for me often on a minutes notice when I needed him.
Matthew was a talented musician, a gifted carpenter who could frame, trim, pour concrete, lay tile, hang drywall, pretty much a true Jack-Of-All-Trades.
He was a gregarious person who was noticed immediately upon entering a room, he was funny, often surprisingly humble, and was the most generous person with his time I have ever known
Nevertheless, apart of all that, the two things that come to my mind when I reflect on Matthew’s life are:
No matter how bad the times were for him, when he had no work, or had some other crisis in his life or family, work, health, Matthew would always respond the same way. Hey Matthew how’s it going? "I am truly blessed." I must have heard him say that one thousand times. Oh, Matthew was often a little off color with a remark, some folks did not get Matthew, but I did, he often had turmoil but he always recognized God was in control. The other thing is this, Matthew has worked on many projects in my house, a bathroom remodel or adding on to the deck, painting a room or repairing damage from an insurance claim. Many times, I observed him at the beginning of his shift. First thing he would do is open a pocket sized bible read a verse then set the tiny bible on my work bench in the garage and have a cup of coffee (by the way they were always mega cup sized) and then work through out the day. He had many good and bad days but when he was working at my house, he always started with a verse from his tiny little Bible. I suppose that was built into his day wherever he was. His tiny little bible must have laid upon many workbenches over the years. I am glad I saw that, I am glad to know that when no one was there, and no one was watching That Matthew started his workday with the Lord.
Matthew if you can some how hear me know that many will miss you, And that your life touched many others. God Bless you buddy.
Matthew was a friend of mine, I knew him for six years . He was a carpenter who helped me on several projects. After a very short time I began to know Matthew very well, we became friends, when Matthew needed a place to live; I rented him one of my houses.
I knew Matthew in some good days of his life and in some of the most trying days of his life. I was there for him when he was hurting and needed a friend to give comfort, and I was there to be his mentor when he needed a kick in the pants. In addition, he was always there for me often on a minutes notice when I needed him.
Matthew was a talented musician, a gifted carpenter who could frame, trim, pour concrete, lay tile, hang drywall, pretty much a true Jack-Of-All-Trades.
He was a gregarious person who was noticed immediately upon entering a room, he was funny, often surprisingly humble, and was the most generous person with his time I have ever known
Nevertheless, apart of all that, the two things that come to my mind when I reflect on Matthew’s life are:
No matter how bad the times were for him, when he had no work, or had some other crisis in his life or family, work, health, Matthew would always respond the same way. Hey Matthew how’s it going? "I am truly blessed." I must have heard him say that one thousand times. Oh, Matthew was often a little off color with a remark, some folks did not get Matthew, but I did, he often had turmoil but he always recognized God was in control. The other thing is this, Matthew has worked on many projects in my house, a bathroom remodel or adding on to the deck, painting a room or repairing damage from an insurance claim. Many times, I observed him at the beginning of his shift. First thing he would do is open a pocket sized bible read a verse then set the tiny bible on my work bench in the garage and have a cup of coffee (by the way they were always mega cup sized) and then work through out the day. He had many good and bad days but when he was working at my house, he always started with a verse from his tiny little Bible. I suppose that was built into his day wherever he was. His tiny little bible must have laid upon many workbenches over the years. I am glad I saw that, I am glad to know that when no one was there, and no one was watching That Matthew started his workday with the Lord.
Matthew if you can some how hear me know that many will miss you, And that your life touched many others. God Bless you buddy.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Slideshow
Here is the slideshow. Many have asked for a copy of this. This is a lower res version for the net. Email me at alienfishz@yahoo.com and I'll send you a copy on a CD. I'm also trying to include some music that Matthew was part of in the last couple of years. Jams and full songs. The jams are taken from tapes so are a little rough.
Thanks to all who attended...
Wow! I was overwhelmed to see so many at the celebration of Matthews life. It was more than I could have asked for, to see so many whom Matthew had meant so much to. There was laughter and tears for my friend. The way it should be. I only hope that when I pass that there would be half as many.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Musicians Jam after Matthews memorial
Right after Matthew's memorial there will be an all musicians jam to honor Matt. Coleen has asked Camano Chapel to let us use the stage area for this purpose and they have agreed. Everyone is invited to bring your instruments to the church for the jam.
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