Cool New Phone

My new phone has a cool two mega-pixel camera and it can take some really cool pictures. Click to make them bigger.

On Children's Concert Bands

As I was listening to my brother's last (last) band concert the other day, some interesting thoughts ran through my mind. I started comparing the different styles of art to different styles of music, and I found that a beginner band is most similar to Impressionism. Perhaps it isn't similar in that it captures time or that it plays with light. I am mainly comparing the visual style of Impressionism with the audio 'style' and 'quality' of the average beginner band. In Impressionism you get exactly what the name implies, an impression or a vague (more or less) understanding of what the artist is trying to portray. You don't get a sharp, clear image, but a close idea of the intended. I think that it's the same with beginner bands. You see, when a beginner band plays, you do not get a crisp, clean sound. Each player plays (unintentionally) a slight variation of the original score. Thats where we hear the squeaks, wrong notes, sharp notes, flat notes, notes that are 'almost there but not quite', air leaks, and the like. And so we end up hearing an inkling, an Impression, of the original. Perhaps it is a strange line of logic, but I thought it was interesting.

The American Dream, It Ain't For Me

If the American dream ends in materialism,
the American dream ain't for me.

If the American dream ends in owning a Winnebago and drawing early retirement,
the American dream ain't for me.

If the American dream ends in owning a big TV and having a big house,
the American dream ain't for me.

If the American dream ends in having a "hot" wife, 2.5 kids, two dogs, and a cat,
the American dream ain't for me.

If the American dream ends in putting your parents into a home, just because you don't want to take care of them when they are older,
the American dream ain't for me.

If the American dream ends in materialism,
the American dream ain't for me.

If the American dream saves my soul,
let it be.
But, if not,
the American dream, it ain't for me.

Only the Japs

Please, don't waste your time by watching the whole thing. Only the first minute is worth anything. But seriously, some people just too much time on their hands.

Hey look, my mike is held up by the Bible, and the nature of nature

I'd like to start out with a quote from my new friend Jay. It goes something like this, "Hey look, my mike is held up by the Bible." My drumming companion said this while he was setting up his drums and 'mic-ing' them up. He literally had the mike for one of his drums held up by the Word of God. And I thought, "hey that's true." Everything is held up by the Word, or if you want, by God's decree. Just for example, let's take a rock. It's cohesion is because of God's decree in the beginning. It is the same for any object in creation. Even us.... I am probably not conveying my deep fascination and awe of this fact, but truly, I am captivated by this thought (by the way even this thought is formed by the Word or allowance of God. How cool it that?).

Now, about the nature of nature. I've been in Tennessee this week, and it has been awesome. We have gone hiking, tubing, and white water rafting, and I am strangely...giddy.?. God has been working in my heart, and I just can't help but smile. I feel like...like a son whose loving dad is spending time with me, wrestling and having man-talk, and all that stuff. Close I guess. It's hard to put it in words. I think a lot of it has to do with this vacation. Just being in nature, and seeing the beauty of God's creation. It's been a relief for my soul. So, the nature of nature for this believer is soulful refreshment and relief, with a good dose of spiritual hugs from my transcendent Daddy. I love it!