Flashback & Flashforward Friday - great song!!
Thank You, David Bowie
going thru a bit of change lately…new year, new car, new dog, new part-time job, new schedule/routines, no more Scrooge/facial hair, new term for the college students in my house…looking for some fresh, new ideas for blogs, songs, studies
i’m really looking forward to a little getaway this weekend with Brook to plan, dream, re-align, pray, laugh, assess, prioritize. i love that i’m truly married to my best friend!
i’m also well into The Jungle - easy but gruesome, sad read. i see why it’s a classic but wow is it just plain nasty. i think i heard about it in high school, but don’t remember reading it. i think i go with something a bit lighter when i finish this one.
What are you reading? any big changes going on in your world?
Random Monday Thots
Wildcard weekend did not disappoint, although i slept thru most of the Giants/Falcons game. But Broncos/Steelers was one for the ages! Can they beat the Pats?
Got the music recorded for a new song last night. Still working on lyrics and melody but it’s coming together. slow building ballad that goes pretty full on at the end, i’m liking this one. 1 song a week!
Having a new dog has been a very fun experience…as long as you take her out often. She has quickly become a part of the family and seems to really love us all. She’s responding to “No” and isn’t whimpering quite as much when it’s crate time. She’s a playful thing but also loves to just crash at your feet or on your lap if she can swing it.
Still not sure about the GOP candidates…i just hope i have the chance to vote for who i want to vote for when it’s our turn for a primary.
played bass for South yesterday. i’m on for bass all month. i forgot how much i missed it with all the Scrooge/Christmas/Holiday stuff going on. i love to bring the thunder!
that’s about it for now, we’re just trying to get into the swing of things with new class schedules, work schedules, new puppy, a new driver and life in general in a new year.
Flashback Friday: anyone remember the classic rock song Hocus Pocus by Focus? how about The Cleverlys version? Check out their other remakes…
Music, Elections, New Pets, NFL…Random Thots
Random thots in no particular order:
I’m taking a Facebook/Twitter/Google+ break for awhile. i just need to prove to myself that i don’t need to be connected electronically for most of the day. i want to connect in real face time, not screen time. i realize the good of those tools but also see how consuming it can be. i’ll be back on, but will just record some thots from time to time on this blog (which feeds into Twitter and Facebook…)
We’re finally getting a dog for Addyson. She’s a real cutie, shepherd/lab mix, 8 weeks old. Ad’s going to name her Lyla. We got her a cage for Christmas and promised the dog for her birthday and went and picked her out yesterday. We’re all really excited!
Listening to some great music today: Phil Wickham’s Response, The Hawk in Paris, Kris Orlowski, The Killers
Speaking of music, one of my goals is to write a new song a week. i’m currently mulling over some lyric ideas in my head. Riffs and tunes seem to come easy lately, it’s lyrics and staying focused on a single thot for a song that are the hard part. hopefully with a song every week, i can concentrate on not trying to say everything that’s in my head and heart in a single song
The Iowa Caucus kicks off the official election season tonight. As a conservative, i’m not real thrilled with the field right now. i’m hoping Rick Perry can swing it back in gear now that Cain is gone and Newt is fading. i like Santorum’s stand on family and such but his history is one of spending. i like Michele Bachmann but don’t think she’s ready to be president. Not a Romney fan. i like his business background, but he’s to car salesman for my liking and his history is bigger gov than i like. Ron Paul has some good econ ideas but everything else is to out there for me.
IA prediction: Romney, Santorum, Perry slightly ahead of Paul, Gingrich, Bachmann and the rest of them
NFL playoffs are also upon us. Holy Moly, i have no idea who will be in the Super Bowl. I would’ve said the Packers, but the Saints are playing amazing right now and the Niners are something else this year. In the AFC, the Pats are always good but vulnerable, the Steelers and Ravens are good and average…it just depends on the week. i like Tebow, but don’t think they’ll go very far. CRAZY SEASON!
I’m picking NO, Cin, Pit and Giants this weekend
Christmastime is Here…
I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I like driving around looking at the cheesy lights and decorations. I love the music. I love the cookies and treats and pies. I love the generosity that seems to spring up. I love the trees and presents…I LOVE IT ALL!
It seems this year i’ve been thinking a bit more about the Sweet Lord Baby Jesus. It’s such an oxymoron that He was born this tender, sweet, innocent child to die such a gruesome death and be counted among thieves and murders (sinners).
It’s so easy for people to love the Baby Jesus and be so offended by the Crucified Christ and the Soon Coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords - you know, the One by whose name is the only way for anyone to enter Heaven.
Any nativity scene worth it’s weight is a brilliant picture of John 3:16 - For God so love the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall be saved. Jesus left the fellowship of His Father and the Holy Spirit, the glory of Heaven to come into a very humble stable to be born of a woman and live as we live. And not only to live as we live, but to die in our place and then to rise again. AMAZING!
What a gift that God gave!
Fighting the DVD Syndrome
DVDs. Functional, dependable, useable, handy, they moved us quickly into the digital age. Bye-bye analog VHS tape, hello digital beauty that could hold so much more information and were much easier to store and probably cheaper to make. But…their days are numbered now with Blu-Ray, DVR and downloads.
I fighting that same syndrome. i’m at a weird stage. i’m old enough to remember church and worship music “back in the day” - our worship time was piano and organ, a big choir, a song leader (who kept time with wide swoops if they were good) singing hymns and Maranatha songs with a Don Moen tune thrown in for good measure. For smaller gatherings, it was a couple or three acoustic guitars and lots of harmonies.
And then the 90’s came and we brought in the “worship band”! Times were a-changing. Hillsong, Integrity, Bob Fitts, Tommy Walker, Vineyard and others were giving us real worship songs in a modern setting. It was quite an interesting time with the older generation wanting to keep the hymns and the younger wanting the guitars and drums. We would revamp the hymns with a beat and a hooky chorus to appease both camps.
I love the sound of worship now. It’s a huge mix of all genres, nations, sounds. It seems like we’re coming back to some solid lyrics and spiritual themes as well. There was a time when it seemed we were more about the sound/style than theological strength, but it’s all merging in great way now.
But it seems it’s all moving to the “next generation” and people in my age group are either producers or teachers or settled into a nice comfy church as pastor or worship pastor. I’m none of those and don’t feel like i’m done yet. I’d love to teach or produce or be a worship pastor, but that’s just not happening. I’m not ready to be tossed out with the DVDs or put on a shelf. I don’t think i’ve had my best days…maybe i have…? I thot 40s were the new 30s? Sometimes it feels like the new 60s.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the excitement and passion of the young guns. i love their creativity and energy. i want to do all i can to develop and push them. i just feel like i’ve still got excitement and passion and energy and creativity all bottled up…i just don’t look good in skinny jeans.
i keep coming back to a few recurring thoughts:
1. Be faithful with what’s in your hand. i’ve got a great marriage, amazing kids, a guitar, passion, love for the church, desire to see people connect with their Savior, creativity and most of my hair.
2. I’ve been saved AND called. i’m not just here to use up air. there’s a purpose. God believes in me even when i don’t believe in myself.
i’m thinking i just need a few kindred spirits to lock arms with and sharpen each other. there’s got to be more of us fighting the DVD Syndrome. Hang in there!
