Offering great promise of what's
to come, the holiday season is a
magical time. But with Valentine's
Day approaching quickly, New
Years Eve is now merely a memory.
So how's 2015 shaping up? Well,
for me, it's been pretty darn good.
_____________________________________
SURF, SAND AND CENTRAL LIFE
As a longtime resident of Florida's Space Coast, I became a HUGE (yet anonymous) admirer of Senior Pastor Randy Alonso and his thriving local, multi campus Central Life Church at the time of my spiritual awakening back in 2010. I was drawn immediately to the powerful "Good News" message of Jesus Christ as presented on Central Life's popular radio show, heard weekday mornings on my favorite hometown station — WMIE 91.5 FM. Hence, I was delighted when this faith-focused, grace-based, non-denominational church recently launched its newest campus in Indialantic, Florida — (practically) inches from my beachside home.
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| An incredible faith-focused, grace-based, non-denominational church. |
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| Doing church at Central Life with my baby brother - C'MON! |
Pastor Randy and I "connected" quickly upon my first visit to the new CL campus last November — and I also was welcomed warmly by campus pastor Ryan Alonso as well as the entire church family. In fact, as 2015 has unfolded, and relationships have developed, I've been afforded wonderful opportunities in which to serve at CL — I even expect to accompany Randy on a pilgrimage to Israel, later this year. Good stuff, to be sure. But the best part of this story is that I now can more easily entice friends to join me for church, as this new beachside CL locale is geographically quite appealing to many of my most-loved peeps.
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| Welcome to Central Life Church - Indialantic, FL. |
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| 2015 pre-Super Bowl cookout at Central Life Church. |
I look forward to sharing much more about the incredible things that God is doing throughout my hometown surf community via Central Life Church in my various 2015 feature stories. Stay tuned!
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| SERVICE WITH A SMILE! I'm honored to serve as the new "Coffee Boy" at Central Life Church. |
A "SERIOS" CELEBRATION
After a few years of inactivity, my award-winning hard rock band Dead Serios was snatched from the jaws of retirement when we (rather surprisingly) found ourselves performing at a major U.S. music festival on September 26, 2014. And on January 24, 2015, we celebrated our official 30th anniversary, live onstage at the legendary King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida.
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| My longtime security guy, Kirk Sands, protects me from ALL worldly harm! |
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| Dead Serios band and cast members, backstage at The King Center. |
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| Here I am in my dressing room on 1.24.15 with cast member, Leia Dunn, who plays the role of "Juicy Lucy" in the Dead Serios show. |
We pulled out all the stops (and props) for our high-energy anniversary concert — delivering 14 of our best-known classics, a full cast of crazy onstage characters and a host of special guest performers for the hundreds of hometown fans who packed the King Center's Studio Theatre. And with the exception of tearing the popliteus muscle in my right calf — just two seconds into the show (which hurt like a muther), our performance was a well-executed, arena-caliber production. Mad props to our world-class crew. *FULL DISCLOSURE: If you lack an adolescent sense of humor and / or a penchant for brash garage-rock, you may hurt yourself getting flustered during Dead Serios' (relatively) wholesome, PG-rated show.
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| We opened the show with the Dead Serios classic, "Lawn Care Studs." |
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| Dead Serios bassist, Joe DelCorvo, onstage with world-renown guest violinist, Michelle Jones, during the January 2015 King Center concert. |
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| Dead Serios stage show character, "Buster," attempting to entice guitarist, Stephen Pooley, with "something green." |
The Dead Serios anniversary show proved to be an incredible experience for band members and fans alike. We even had the performance shot professionally for an upcoming concert DVD release. Although I remain uncertain regarding the long-term future of the band, we will likely make at least two more major concert appearances in 2015. (Dead Serios on the web)
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| More than a mere band, Dead Serios has become a "theater army!" |
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| Dead Serios fans are the best in the world. |
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| Shot live during our January 2015 performance, the first-ever Dead Serios concert DVD will be released in late February. (Watch the YouTube preview now) |
VINYL CONFESSIONS
I had a little free time on my hands one Saturday shortly after the holidays. Recognizing the dire need for new floor mats and seat covers for my just-purchased Chevy, I ventured out for the first time in years to the one place where I knew that all of my wildest dreams could (and would) come true — Melbourne, Florida's world-famous Renniger's Flea Market, located just a few miles west of my hometown, Satellite Beach.
As I took in the hundreds of vendors and specialty shops, offering an array of such must-have items as fluorescent smart phone cases, personalized trucker hats, costume jewelry, NASCAR memorabilia, lawn care gadgets, chili dogs, gyros and used Mariah Carey CDs, I stumbled into Flashback. Owned and operated by my new pal, Frank, Flashback possesses all the authentic charm of an old school record shop. With the intoxicating fragrance of strawberry incense permeating the air, Frank's place boasts wall-to-wall bins and crates full of reasonably-priced, top-quality vintage LPs from an endless "Who's Who" roster of iconic / classic rock artists, as well as a second-to-none selection of eye-catching pop culture posters.
For the iGadget generation whose only "music" purchases involve keying in redemption codes from their iTunes Christmas gift cards, a visit to Flashback may seem as random as spotting an actual musician at the recent Grammy Awards. However, for those who yearn for the good ol' days — visiting the local record store and "talking shop" with that "cool guy," sporting the ponytail as he cues up the hottest grooves on the in-store turntable, a Flashback experience may be more exciting and satisfying than an excursion to The Magic Kingdom.
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| Located at the flea market in Melbourne, Florida, Flashback offers an incredible selection of used LPs and super-cool pop culture memorabilia. |
FIRST AND GOAL
Although I'm certainly not a gambling man, I do enjoy what's become the friendly annual Super Bowl wager with my (near) lifelong friend and current writing partner, Bryan Dumas. Now residing in Shreveport, Louisiana, Bryan is a manly, NFL know-it-all-type, while I carry a pink Hannah Montana purse and have had little connection to the game since Emmitt Smith retired. However, my gift of revelation regarding the NFL became abundantly clear when I accurately predicted the outcome of the Denver / Seattle match-up in last year's "Big Game." That friendly, pre-kickoff wager won me a $10 Starbucks gift card, courtesy of Bryan. Then, I did it again when I predicted the outcome of the recent New England / Seattle championship. And by the next morning I had received my second annual $10 Starbucks electronic gift card. Thanks Bryan — I look forward to taking your money again when I predict the outcome of the New England / Dallas Super Bowl, next year. FYI, when it comes to the NFL, always listen to the guy wearing rainbow nail polish.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Yes, it may only be mid-February, but 2015 is playing out quite nicely. And it's only gonna get better. Next month, I'll be heading to Orlando's Amway Center for one of the final stops on the current Fleetwood Mac world tour. Although I've seen both Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham live as solo artists, oddly, this will be my first time seeing the actual full band. And as part of a special VIP promotion, I'll even be participating in an exclusive pre-show, Mick Fleetwood meet-and-greet. Stand by, that story is gonna be a doozie! #BucketListCompleted
-Christopher Long
(February 2015)
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