giving in

the month of september has brought some minor changes to our lifestyle. #1, jen and i started using the YMCA more than we have since last winter (almost daily). We've also both been running a lot... training for a 5k on Oct. 20th. in September I ran about 30 miles... and i hope to see that pattern continuing in future months.

we've also started eating better - avoiding fast food all together, eating healthier meals at home and avoiding unnecesary late night snacking. well, this weekend - we had to do some traveling - which forced us to eat two meals at fast food restaurants... and then tonite - i gave in after Youth Group and had to have some Taco Bell... giving in... not good. my body didn't want it, but my mind just kept repeating: taco, burrito (what's coming out of your speedo?) somehow - my mind won that battle of the wills.

i hope this week gets me back on track. that is the plan.

self control is hard. discipline is a challenge...
what would discipline be if it weren't difficult? what would be the point...

place in this world

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19...




inspired by: Boards of Canada - Dayvan Cowboy (Odd Nosdam Remix)

more to him / knowledge

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

-the Gospel of John 21:24-25

+++

so many things unknown. stories untold... wisdom not shared with us... it's kind of awe-inspiring. oh to be John... to know Jesus like he did...

but His grace is enough. head knowledge vs. heart knowledge? the longest half-yard... from the head down to the heart.

it's the heart that matters most.

Jesus said: The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to us...
... the knowledge of salvation is in our hearts...
... and lastly, knowledge without mercy and grace and kindness and forgiveness gets you nowhere... fast.

There is so much more. may our quest for love (of man + Jesus) trump our love for knowledge... every time.

sanctitatis

Vere Sanctus es, Domine Fons omnis sanctitatis, Domine

Truly, Lord, you are the Holy One, the fountain of all holiness.




inspired by Future of Forestry: Sanctitatis (YouTube)

so fresh and so clean

new things to see and look at. you've noticed, eh?

it was time for a change. the season, even though it feels like July has changed from summer to fall. the leaves will change when the warmth gives way to the rain soon.

it was time for a change.

we all need change. some fear it - but the newness of change is somewhat exhilarating, isn't it?

alas - i have changed my blog. i really like the new look. 'tis something to be proud of. now, let's hope that it will be incentive for me to blog regularly. i pray that the juices will flow... that my internal creative expressions will not be contained - but shared with one and all.

i am coming up on my three year anniversary of blogging. i hop this will be my most inspired year yet.

embrace newness today - and face the world with gladness.
...

out of nothing

the beauty of music is that a song, any song can mean a hundred different things to a hundred different people. and although it may not be the intent of the artist a song can speak to any of us in ways that artist couldn't have imagined.

to me, the YOU in this song is temptation. the I'LL SAY GOODBYE is me overcoming it all.

enjoy.



Out of nothing you came to my arms and you're right
I fell every time
You're the first and the last time that I'll ever try
So dry your eyes, I'll say goodbye, I say goodbye...

I'm left hanging like all dancing bears
I need rope to keep me in line
I can't stop them, there's more bombshells coming
I choke
More words, more lies
I'll say goodbye, I'll say goodbye...

I can't believe its come to this
Banging on a sinking ship, hoping someone hears my list
For every trial I take a fall, you never notice it no more
What we had won't conquer all
While the shots still ringing out
You do the worst to bring me down
You do the worst to take me out
I'll say goodbye, I'll say goodbye...













Embrace - Out of Nothing [sound bytes]

YouTube video of the songs dramatic conclusion (live @ Leads)

new

"Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-20

Call to Worship

belief

52:10

benediction

water

what is your favorite quality of water?

A Day in the Life: Downtown Canton

unique

Who were you uniquely made to be?

muse

Main Entry: ¹muse Pronunciation: 'myüz Function: verb Inflected Form(s): mused; mus·ing 1 : to become absorbed in thought; especially : to turn something over in the mind meditatively and often inconclusively 2 archaic : WONDER, MARVEL transitive verb : to think or say reflectively synonym see PONDER - mus·er noun

Main Entry: ²muse Function: noun : a state of deep thought or dreamy abstraction

Main Entry: ³muse Function: noun 1 capitalized : any of the nine sister goddesses in Greek mythology presiding over song and poetry and the arts and sciences 2 : a source of inspiration; especially : a guiding genius 3 : POET
--------

what are you thinking about? anything at all? what are your dreams? do you share them or keep them to yourself? do you write them down? keep a mental checklist in your brain? post them on the fridge for the world to see? do your thoughts or dreams make you feel free? what does freedom look like to you? do you think your musings are of value or that anyone, someone would gain anything, something from reading such thoughts? do you feel like you are free to express yourself? are you satisfied? who or what has squelched your dreams? what circumstances make you feel like you are nothing? why is it hard for you to feel the truth that you are unique? does your mind wander? where does it go? where does it take you? do you follow sheepishly or ambitiously? do your dreams, thoughts, musings scare you?

Express yourself. Be free.

click here: Freedom. Expression. Project. (an experiment)

Stg. Pepper + Pet Sounds

a few years ago - i took some birthday money and set it aside - to be used for something really important. i had always wanted to pick up some classic albums on CD if, for no other reason than for prosperities sake. The first two albums i purchased were The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966) and then The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

both albums were recorded and released within a year of each other. Sgt. Pepper was said to be a response to what Brian Wilson did with Pet Sounds. Both albums exuberantly convey a creative, ground breaking sound that, at the time, broke many taboos and set in place new trends in popular music. Brian Wilson's multi-layered vocal mixes from the Pet Sounds sessions are still nothing short of extraordinary. This album separated the Beach Boys from the surf rock stereotype and stands alone in their catalogue of music.

While tension between Paul McCartney and John Lennon was beginning to show for The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper proves to be a masterpiece of creativity. McCartney was at a high point (and his songs reflect that) while Lennon was a bit lower (with his songs reflecting that as well). Listen to Pepper and see if you can figure out who wrote what lyrics.

Key tracks (Pet Sounds): Wouldn't It Be Nice, Sloop John B, God Only Knows, Caroline No

Key Tracks (Sgt. Pepper): title track, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Fixing a Hole, A Day in the Life

If you are a music connoisseur you need these two albums in your collection. Listen to them. Admire them. Let them inspire you.


List of Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of all time (note #1 & #2 on the list)

making a playlist

there is a certain satisfaction that accompanies the building and creation of a playlist. the searching out of just the right songs... weeding out the good and the bad... organizing the track listing... meshing the right songs back to back - in attempts to create seamless playback... and then the anticipation of that first listen.

it feels good to create.

admit it.

and yet life is like the playlist... we spend a lot of energy getting our track listing set, so to speak... wanting things to be perfect so that our future will be bliss... but the beauty of the playlist is that is can be constantly adjusted and changed and corrected on the fly. life is the same. we never have to be content. we weren't designed to be content.

God sees the bigger picture. He sees how our 'songs' will mesh. he guides us and revels in our creations - with hopes that we will revel in His. we are his pride and joy - and if our eyes are opened we see that He is our joy as well.

life is a playlist. live it out... play it loud.





tentative title [Journey into the Morn]
SONG ... ARTIST
Intro … Trespassers William
Just Because … Jane's Addiction
Well Thought Out Twinkles … Silversun Pickups
Bloodhounds On My Trail … Black Angels, The
Seaside … The Kooks
Today … I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
Starlight … Muse
Way Back Home … Starsailor
A Place in Displacement … South
The Information … Beck
Holy Calamity (Bear Witness II) … DJ Shadow
Halfway Home … DJ Shadow
The Number Song … DJ Shadow
Fractions … Decoder Ring
Losing Color … Idiot Pilot
Paperbag Writer … Radiohead
This Is Not A Test … Radio 4
It Would Have Happened Anyway … Mogwai
Hush … Soular
Big Love [Live] … Lindsey Buckingham
Razor … Foo Fighters
Fare Thee Well … The Innocence Mission
St. Augustine … Band Of Horses
Jerusalem, My Happy Home … Ralph Stanley
Sinthtro … The Dears
Scattered Black and Whites … Elbow
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) … The Beatles
New … 100 Portraits
It's O.K. … Delirious?
Closer … Travis
RM - RF/ … Decoder Ring
The Boxer … Simon & Garfunkel
Spark … Over The Rhine
The Maker … Daniel Lanois
Outake 2: Sixty Seconds In Kingdom Come … U2
Our Secrets … Helen Stellar
The City Lights … Umbrellas
Into The West … Pilate
You Are My Joy … Reindeer Section
Salvation … Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Comforting Sounds … Mew
Polybackwards … Gus Gus

THE TEN: things googled this week

10. William Blake - Introduction to Songs of Experience (also: U2 - Beautiful Ghost / Introduction to Songs of Experience)
9. Pablo Escobar (and the fictitious film Medellin)
8. Kid Brothers of St. Frank (Rich Mullins tribute/info)
7. Northern Ireland
6. Definition of Sanctity
5. Yuri Gagarin (Russian Cosmonaut - 1st man in space) (also: featured in lyric in the song Mercury by The Prayer Chain - from the landmark album of the same title... a must have for any and all music guru)
4. Map of New York City
3. The History of the Relocation of Professional Sports Teams
2. Psalm 137 (read it all... don't skim over it)
1. Facebook (my new obsession?)

"feel"

"How do you feel close to God? I don't know. Read about the great saints, they didn't always feel close to God. Check out the Psalms - David often felt far away from God.

Closeness to God is not about feelings.
Closeness to God is about obedience.

I don't know how you "feel" close to God... and those that are close to Him don't know anything about those feelings either.

Obey - occasionally the feeling follows, but not always."

-Rich Mullins

6:46pm - July, 21, 2007

A cool breeze.
A melancholy spirit.
Green grass with weeds a plenty.
White puffy clouds.
A sparrow makes music.
Shadows and tall trees.
A stillness abounds.
Children play.
Distant, muted sounds.
An iPod plays instrumental bliss in my left ear.*
The wind picks up.
Refreshment.
A summer Saturday evening.
Blue sky overhead.
My 4 year old rides his bike.
Tiredness overcomes me.
Hide and seek across the street.
A cook-out near by.
Soaking it in.
Seeking grace, trusting instincts.
It's 6:46PM, July 21st, 2007.
And God is in this moment.