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The Lighten Up Gear Blog
I’m Not A Bum; I’m A Human Being
Yesterday I was restless, and when I'm restless sometimes I'll surf videos on YouTube. Yesterday I stumbled across this interview with Ronald Davis, a homeless man in Chicago. He was wearing the same barn jacket that I own except his was significantly more worn out....
Andy Mineo Hits Des Moines with the Uncomfortable Tour
I love my kids. And I really like Andy Mineo. Mix those two together, and get yourself an amazing night. I had been sitting on a gift certificate for Wooly's, one of my favorite music venues here in Des Moines, for almost a year. But a few months ago something caught...
Baby Photos, Disciple, Red, TFK, and Skillet
Stress happens. It's something that happens to us on a day-to-day basis, and everyone deals with it in a variety of ways. Call me strange, but I've been dealing with stress in a couple of polar opposite manners: baby photos and heavy metal. I work in a marketing...
New Young & Free (Y&F) Snapbacks & Beanies
Young and Free (AKA Y&F) is at it again producing some great new music (including the 5-song EP "This Is Living") as well as some great new snapbacks and beanies. Hillsong Young & Free (Y&F) Music Let's start with the music. Have you had a chance to listen...
Hillsong Young & Free (Y&F) Launches New Store, T-Shirts, Snapbacks and Beanies
Good news for all of you Hillsong Young & Free fans out there. Y&F just launched a new web store and introduced a new line of t-shirts, sweatshirts, snapbacks and beanies. Here are some of the t-shirts that you can purchase on the Y&F website. [gallery...
Introducing Our God Over Bacon T-Shirt
I'm from Iowa. We like our fair share of bacon here. Last week, professional golfer Mark Calcavecchia, won The Principal Charity Classic wearing bacon-patterned pants. My local donut shop offers bacon maple donuts. At the Iowa State Fair you can get a Bacon Mac N...
10 More Cool Christian Snapback Hats
Last fall, we wrote a blog post about our 10 favorite Christian apparel snapback hats. You guys definitely have good taste, and we're proud to say that we've driven a lot of traffic to some great Christian brands to check out their gear. This year, we've discovered...
New Hillsong United Empires T-Shirts
Today's a great day. Want to know why? It's because Hillsong United's new album "Empires" launched worldwide. That's worth celebrating right? What's also great is that Hillsong United will be touring this summer on the Outcry Tour with artists including: Jesus...
Best of 2014: Top 10 Christian Shirts
I've never really done anything "by the book" so it makes perfectly good sense to me to take time out of the middle of the year to recap 2014 and our top 10 best-selling Christian t-shirts. But first, let me say thanks. Last year was an epic year for Lighten Up Gear,...
Lighten Up Gear Is Back Online
A couple of weeks ago, my previous hosting provider decided to take my website (along with a few others) hostage. It's a long story (thankfully it wasn't anything I did), but I ultimately decided to transfer my domains and hosting service over to my new friends at...
Could this Easter service win America’s Got Talent?
If you've ever read my BaldTees.com blog, you'll know that I am a huge Howie Mandel and America's Got Talent fan. Watching that show is one of my family's favorite pastimes and since I'm bald, I'm naturally love watching and supporting Howie Mandel. Awkward...
Favorite T-Shirt from SoCal Vacation
Last week, my family was on vacation in Southern California (San Diego / Carlsbad) having some great family time and enjoying the sun. (It was a long winter in Iowa...although I got a lot of respect for the folks in Boston, MA). My wife loves the beach. Now you know....
The Best Sermon on Forgiveness
A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Troy Nesbitt (the lead pastor of Cornerstone Church of Ames & Ankeny) gave one of the most heartfelt, passionate and stirring sermons I've ever heard on forgiveness. I was so moved I immediately shared it with my parents and some of...
Dinner Devotionals for Families
If your family is like mine, then dinners can be a little crazy and hectic. It used to be a lot crazier when our children were younger - especially our twin sons. Trying to feed two toddlers as a family just didn't work so a lot of times we'd just have dinner after...
Skittles and Progressive Get Marshawn Lynch to Talk
Nice work out of Progressive Auto Insurance and Skittles. They managed to get Seattle Seahawks' elusive running back, Marshawn Lynch to talk to the cameras. The irony of the whole situation is that it took a little money. Sponsorship money. If you aren't following...
Spiritual Attack, Bad Dreams or Just a Terrible Fever?
There's a song written and performed by Tedashii (and Flame) called "Make War" that appears on his album "Identity Crisis". If you're unfamiliar with this song and like Christian Hip-Hop, I would challenge you to listen to this every morning before you start your day....
When God Answers Your Racial Reconciliation Prayers
Ever since the Michael Brown and Eric Garner verdicts were announced, I have been struggling at what I should do. I live in a predominantly white community here in Des Moines and work in an even whiter town an hour east of here. I read a lot of the posts and tweets by...
Meet Hip-Hop Artist Illijam & Liberty University Student Ben Walters
I love it when God orchestrates new friendships. I don't specifically remember how we were officially introduced other than it was the magic of Twitter. Since then, I've been listening to Illijam and following his hip-hop career. Only God knows where He's going to...