Merry Christmas!
(If you don't know the TRUE meaning of Christmas, just listen to Linus....)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
(If you don't know the TRUE meaning of Christmas, just listen to Linus....)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Haha
This image is funny, but the situation it parodies (Rob Bell's falling away from orthodox Christian doctrine) is very sad indeed...
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Random
This is kinda fruity, but I thought it was funny. Sad thing is, I remember most of this stuff. Ah, memories...
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Humility of Christ
Check out this absolutely amazing (and biblical) Christian hip-hop song by Timothy Brindle, called "The Humility of Christ". Not only are the rhymes incredible, but he does a great job of capturing the multitude of ways Christ was required to humble himself, in order to come to earth as a man and save us from our sins. Praise Him!
"How can one man, in a matter of hours, drain the cup of God's wrath, that would have taken an eternity to pour out on me? How can that be?"
Who'd assume that this could be?
Who'd assume that this could be?
Who'd assume that this could be? (God became a man)
Who'd assume that this could be?
Forever, before the creation, or there was Satan
The Son was with the Spirit and Father in glorification
Before worship, or fine angels above
The Trinity was in the perfect triangle of love.
Chilled with no-one else, no need for others
'Cause God is self-sufficient, fulfilled within himself.
And we can only guess the conversation,
But the Son agreed to rescue those the Father gave Him.
And although this Lord should be worshiped
He volunteered to take upon the form of a Servant
The Father commanded yet asked Him to come
So now let's examine the fashion it was done...
Let me ask you if you seem confused with this:
God passed through His own creature's uterus.
I admit this is odd, yet the Bible can persuade me:
An omnipotent God, crying as a baby?
No doctors around, no spot could be found
To give birth to a child, the only option in town
Was to be born in a feeding trough with breeding cows
And feces piles, the scene was foul
It wasn't fancy but raunchy
How the Son of God was born next to camels and donkeys
What an awesome feat, to drop so deep
And cop His sheep, He then stepped down
He took a quantum leap.
And I'm amazed how God, infinite in wealth,
Put aside His fame and limited himself
To time and space with eyes and legs
He died to save a violent race
Whose sin would bring Him hell.
Who'd assume that this could be,
God became a man penetrating into human history
But He did it completely opposite than people thought He would
So unbelievers' mockin' it.
Who'd assume that this could be,
You became a man penetrating into human history
But You did it completely opposite than I thought You would
So I was mockin' it.
The promised Messiah didn't come in the honor of sire
But humbly rockin' some modest attire
So people missed it, to be specific
The legalistic thought the King would be the richest
And we know we like commodities
But the possessor of all riches chose a life of poverty.
Wait, it's not the descendant of David, is this?
Yes, and He's descended the greatest distance
He chilled with sinners and tax robbers
Amongst His creatures who, to Him, were grasshoppers
He dwelt with the lower class, lowly men
And those known as trash were His chosen kin
And the unbelieving Jews were sick of Him
They said, "He runs with a team of stupid fishermen,
And speaks to Samaritans and barbarians."
Pharisees stared at Him with harsh arrogance
Its shown when the Savior took notice of beggars,
Healed the blind and sick, and those with lowest of wages
He even touched those with leprosy
Which was seen as the most disgusting known infection, see?
Wait, are you kidding me?
Watch Jesus go low and wash Peter's toes, what great humility!
See the second person of the Trinity
Came down to rescue workers of iniquity
Check His earthly ministry, He didn't make a bed
He had no place to lay His head.
But He became bound to His own law, but we found no flaw
Was from a rugged town, so wrong!
Slumbered and slept, hungered and wept and sweated
Plunged to our depth, and some of our depth's pathetic.
The humblest yet, the humblest death that's dreaded
The Son is our rest, come under Him, get His credit.
No question that He's G-O-D
But He laid aside the full expression of His deity
And surfed the chasm no words can fathom
How God walked this earth which is cursed from Adam
No question that You're G-O-D
But You laid aside the full expression of Your deity
And surfed the chasm no words can fathom
How You walked this wicked earth...
He was falsely condemned by Jews and filthy pagans
Now the cross, the peak of His humiliation
No discussion, sure they'd best remove Him
He got the most disgusting form of execution.
He who sits upon the throne and rules
Was kicked and stomped and spit upon by Roman fools
Despised by Israel, tried by simple souls
But was silent when struck by violent imbeciles
And Jesus was able to call down legions of angels
But He was too faithful
Gracious and patient was Him,
Yet he was hated and forsaken by men.
Like Jews they hated his soul, Judas betrayed Him for gold
When it was tough his crew was afraid so they rolled
Suckers, they murked Him, the suffering servant
Was beat up and looked like He was cut by a surgeon
Slaughtered, bleeding, gushing, oozing blood
The Father pleased to crush Him whom He loved
So He probably didn't even feel the crown and nails
He had to suffer more than that to bring down the veil
Our eyes are haughty and our lies are naughty
The Holy Christ bore our sins inside His body
Yeah, his veins they burst, but no one's pain was worse
'Cause the One who made the earth became a curse
And He was one with the Father's essence
But on the cross the God of heaven's cut off His presence
So I can't share any language
That can rightly describe the Christ's despair and his anguish
So forever will I tell,
In three hours Christ suffered more than any sinner ever will in hell
He who had infinite joy and pleasure
Became a Man of Sorrows so we can join forever.
He took a cosmic plunge, put on some lungs,
On the cross became to God a sponge
To soak up His wrath
So the wicked wouldn't be sifted and blown into chaff...
"How can one man, in a matter of hours, drain the cup of God's wrath, that would have taken an eternity to pour out on me? How can that be?"
Who'd assume that this could be?
Who'd assume that this could be?
Who'd assume that this could be? (God became a man)
Who'd assume that this could be?
Forever, before the creation, or there was Satan
The Son was with the Spirit and Father in glorification
Before worship, or fine angels above
The Trinity was in the perfect triangle of love.
Chilled with no-one else, no need for others
'Cause God is self-sufficient, fulfilled within himself.
And we can only guess the conversation,
But the Son agreed to rescue those the Father gave Him.
And although this Lord should be worshiped
He volunteered to take upon the form of a Servant
The Father commanded yet asked Him to come
So now let's examine the fashion it was done...
Let me ask you if you seem confused with this:
God passed through His own creature's uterus.
I admit this is odd, yet the Bible can persuade me:
An omnipotent God, crying as a baby?
No doctors around, no spot could be found
To give birth to a child, the only option in town
Was to be born in a feeding trough with breeding cows
And feces piles, the scene was foul
It wasn't fancy but raunchy
How the Son of God was born next to camels and donkeys
What an awesome feat, to drop so deep
And cop His sheep, He then stepped down
He took a quantum leap.
And I'm amazed how God, infinite in wealth,
Put aside His fame and limited himself
To time and space with eyes and legs
He died to save a violent race
Whose sin would bring Him hell.
Who'd assume that this could be,
God became a man penetrating into human history
But He did it completely opposite than people thought He would
So unbelievers' mockin' it.
Who'd assume that this could be,
You became a man penetrating into human history
But You did it completely opposite than I thought You would
So I was mockin' it.
The promised Messiah didn't come in the honor of sire
But humbly rockin' some modest attire
So people missed it, to be specific
The legalistic thought the King would be the richest
And we know we like commodities
But the possessor of all riches chose a life of poverty.
Wait, it's not the descendant of David, is this?
Yes, and He's descended the greatest distance
He chilled with sinners and tax robbers
Amongst His creatures who, to Him, were grasshoppers
He dwelt with the lower class, lowly men
And those known as trash were His chosen kin
And the unbelieving Jews were sick of Him
They said, "He runs with a team of stupid fishermen,
And speaks to Samaritans and barbarians."
Pharisees stared at Him with harsh arrogance
Its shown when the Savior took notice of beggars,
Healed the blind and sick, and those with lowest of wages
He even touched those with leprosy
Which was seen as the most disgusting known infection, see?
Wait, are you kidding me?
Watch Jesus go low and wash Peter's toes, what great humility!
See the second person of the Trinity
Came down to rescue workers of iniquity
Check His earthly ministry, He didn't make a bed
He had no place to lay His head.
But He became bound to His own law, but we found no flaw
Was from a rugged town, so wrong!
Slumbered and slept, hungered and wept and sweated
Plunged to our depth, and some of our depth's pathetic.
The humblest yet, the humblest death that's dreaded
The Son is our rest, come under Him, get His credit.
No question that He's G-O-D
But He laid aside the full expression of His deity
And surfed the chasm no words can fathom
How God walked this earth which is cursed from Adam
No question that You're G-O-D
But You laid aside the full expression of Your deity
And surfed the chasm no words can fathom
How You walked this wicked earth...
He was falsely condemned by Jews and filthy pagans
Now the cross, the peak of His humiliation
No discussion, sure they'd best remove Him
He got the most disgusting form of execution.
He who sits upon the throne and rules
Was kicked and stomped and spit upon by Roman fools
Despised by Israel, tried by simple souls
But was silent when struck by violent imbeciles
And Jesus was able to call down legions of angels
But He was too faithful
Gracious and patient was Him,
Yet he was hated and forsaken by men.
Like Jews they hated his soul, Judas betrayed Him for gold
When it was tough his crew was afraid so they rolled
Suckers, they murked Him, the suffering servant
Was beat up and looked like He was cut by a surgeon
Slaughtered, bleeding, gushing, oozing blood
The Father pleased to crush Him whom He loved
So He probably didn't even feel the crown and nails
He had to suffer more than that to bring down the veil
Our eyes are haughty and our lies are naughty
The Holy Christ bore our sins inside His body
Yeah, his veins they burst, but no one's pain was worse
'Cause the One who made the earth became a curse
And He was one with the Father's essence
But on the cross the God of heaven's cut off His presence
So I can't share any language
That can rightly describe the Christ's despair and his anguish
So forever will I tell,
In three hours Christ suffered more than any sinner ever will in hell
He who had infinite joy and pleasure
Became a Man of Sorrows so we can join forever.
He took a cosmic plunge, put on some lungs,
On the cross became to God a sponge
To soak up His wrath
So the wicked wouldn't be sifted and blown into chaff...
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Cataloochee
Zach, Sarah, and I had a wonderful ski weekend at Cataloochee (near Maggie Valley NC, Megan's old stomping ground). Unfortunately, Cathy was feeling sick just before and was not able to go.
But other than that, we had a wonderful time, and both Zach and Sarah did very well with their "ski skills". Sarah, who had only been skiing once, got bored with the "bunny slope" after about ten minutes, and spent the rest of the weekend cruising down the main slopes like a pro.
Here are some videos (sorry that two of them are portrait instead of landscape...):
But other than that, we had a wonderful time, and both Zach and Sarah did very well with their "ski skills". Sarah, who had only been skiing once, got bored with the "bunny slope" after about ten minutes, and spent the rest of the weekend cruising down the main slopes like a pro.
Here are some videos (sorry that two of them are portrait instead of landscape...):
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Fun in the Snow
Cathy and I had some serious fun yesterday involving Zach, Sarah, sleds, and a snowy hill at the park... Enjoy.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Snow!
While today's snowstorm wasn't the historic event that was predicted, it was a great snow nonetheless. Cathy and I measured between five and six inches of snow, but it seemed like more.
One of my favorite historic photographs of Simpsonville was taken on a similar snowy day, probably sometime before World War II. It is a photo of folks (grownups!) playing in the snow in front of the old Simpsonville train depot. Unlike many old photos, this one captures a brief moment of fun back in the days when times were tougher, and there were fewer moments available for play.
These days, that same Simpsonville train depot is a thriving ice cream shop, one which owes no small part of its success to our family's patronage! And today, myself and three other grownups (you know who you are!) definitely took some time to act like kids and have fun playing in the snow. As they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
In any case, here's a couple photos of the same snowy scene, separated only by time...
One of my favorite historic photographs of Simpsonville was taken on a similar snowy day, probably sometime before World War II. It is a photo of folks (grownups!) playing in the snow in front of the old Simpsonville train depot. Unlike many old photos, this one captures a brief moment of fun back in the days when times were tougher, and there were fewer moments available for play.
These days, that same Simpsonville train depot is a thriving ice cream shop, one which owes no small part of its success to our family's patronage! And today, myself and three other grownups (you know who you are!) definitely took some time to act like kids and have fun playing in the snow. As they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
In any case, here's a couple photos of the same snowy scene, separated only by time...
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Beach
I think it is safe to say the the entire "extended Baker family" is looking forward to our upcoming beach vacation!
I, for one, am tired, spent, burnt out, fatigued, stressed, and generally in need of a week away with my favorite peeps in the world!
So, I bring to you my top ten favorite family beach trip traditions:
10. Indoor beachball - Not sure how this tradition got started, but basically it involves everyone sitting around the condo living room, hitting a a multicolored beachball, and trying to keep it from touching the floor by any means possible (hitting, kicking, karate, etc). I know, it sounds really dull, but we have had some crazy hilarious moments over the years, and I can attest that we have never broken any lamps or windows (but we have come awfully close!).
9. Cheapo Skeeball prizes - One night each year, early in the week, we head down to the Garden City arcade, blow a crazy amount of quarters in the Skeeball machines in order to acquire precious TICKETS, which in turn allow us to purchase the cheapest plastic Chinese toys available on this planet. Yes, its a ripoff, except for the fact that we discovered two cheapo toys which provide tremendous entertainment value: parachute men, and bow/arrow kits. The parachute men, which we purchase by the dozens with our Skeeball tickets, are traditionally launched from the 12th floor of the condo, to see if they will sail on the billowing winds, all the way to Conway. (Usually, they end up dropping like a stone and adorning the parking lot below...). A more recent discovery are the bow and arrow kits. These consist of a plastic bow and four suction-cup arrows. Normally, I am convinced to stand against the glass sliding window, while Brandon and Zach attempt to shoot an apple (or other object) off the top of my head. Somehow I get the idea that they are usually NOT aiming at my head... I seem to recall that Brandon is particularly dangerous in this respect.
8. Taboo - Taboo is the game where you try and get your partner to guess a word, by giving them hints which do NOT include any of the words on a list. For example, the word might be "dog", but you cannot say "bark", "pet", "bone", or "fetch". We have had some hilarious games over the years, particularly when Sherri's sister Anita was playing. And, I do recall Sarah and I teaming up to put a hurtin on our opponents... Sarah, who shall we wup up on this year?
7. Swimming in the ocean - Although I am big fan of swimming pools, alas, we will not have one available this year at our rental house. However, I personally prefer the REAL surf, the big blue Atlantic. Although I may appear not so manly in terms of getting INTO the ocean (yes, it takes me ten minutes to get used to the freezing water), once I get used to the water I love it. Our traditions include such classics as "see who can last longest without moving their feet off the bottom", "chickenfights", "seaweed in the swim trunks", and "throwing sand at Zach's head when he comes up for a breath." Hopefully, we won't be kept out of the water by, say, a huge oil slick moving up from the Gulf!
6. Golf with the guys - Although I play golf about as well as Larry King runs the Boston Marathon, I always look forward to getting to spend four or five hours with "the guys": Brandon, Zach, and Pop. Pop and Brandon have always golfed pretty well, and Zach is coming on strong, whereas I...well, I enjoy being out there! Suffice it to say, I keep score not by number of strokes, but by the number of golf balls I have lost in the woods or the water! Looking forward to long drives, straight putts, good laughs, and my once-a-year cigar!
5. Yum Yum shop - If you really know Garden City beach, you know the Yum Yum shop. You know the flavors - Superman, Birthday Cake, Moose Tracks, cookies n cream, cookie dough, mint chocolate chip.... Start saving room in the ole tummy NOW, because diets go out the window on Yum Yum night(s).
4. Crossword puzzles - OK, I realize this is a luxury that only Sherry and I seem to enjoy... Sherry starts collecting crossword puzzles from the Greenville News a month in advance, but we always seem to burn through them all in just a few days. Cryptoquotes and all! Darn we're good!
3. Honey buns - Most of us try and eat healthy all year long, but for seven days every summer, we completely fall off the wagon due to the presence of...Kroger Honey Buns! Oh my goodness, these things have got to be 2000 calories each, and made of sugar-crusted sugar, but wow... Pop one of these puppies in the microwave for a few seconds, and my goodness.... Shame on us!!! ha
2. Setback tournaments - The arrival of nightfall at the beach means one thing to the Scott family... Get out those cards, start talkin smack, and team up for some Setback! We have some great family memories of setback games past... Uncle Bill yelling "Cha CHANG", a young Zachary bidding six on every hand (and generally making it), bad results from husband/wife teamings, and Pop saying "ah, its just a little ole game...". Open up some new decks, clear the table off, and let's get started!
1. Sara J's - After a long day in the sun and surf, there's nothing like a good shower, putting on some decent clothes, and heading down to Sara J's for the "senior combination plate"! Shrimp- shrimp-shrimp, with hushpuppies and a loaded baked potato, if you know what I mean. (Here's hoping and praying that BP didn't mess up the shrimp part!) Eating out as a family doesn't get much better than that. Besides, what other restaurant that you know of sports an oil painting of a sweaty monkey in a Sunday dress? (Also, we get the free entertainment of watching Brandon stuff his shorts pockets full of those Sara J's green mints!).
So there you have it, just a few of the reasons I am looking forward to our beach vacation. No doubt we will relive some of these family traditions this year, and probably create some new ones.
Surfs up!
I, for one, am tired, spent, burnt out, fatigued, stressed, and generally in need of a week away with my favorite peeps in the world!
So, I bring to you my top ten favorite family beach trip traditions:
10. Indoor beachball - Not sure how this tradition got started, but basically it involves everyone sitting around the condo living room, hitting a a multicolored beachball, and trying to keep it from touching the floor by any means possible (hitting, kicking, karate, etc). I know, it sounds really dull, but we have had some crazy hilarious moments over the years, and I can attest that we have never broken any lamps or windows (but we have come awfully close!).
9. Cheapo Skeeball prizes - One night each year, early in the week, we head down to the Garden City arcade, blow a crazy amount of quarters in the Skeeball machines in order to acquire precious TICKETS, which in turn allow us to purchase the cheapest plastic Chinese toys available on this planet. Yes, its a ripoff, except for the fact that we discovered two cheapo toys which provide tremendous entertainment value: parachute men, and bow/arrow kits. The parachute men, which we purchase by the dozens with our Skeeball tickets, are traditionally launched from the 12th floor of the condo, to see if they will sail on the billowing winds, all the way to Conway. (Usually, they end up dropping like a stone and adorning the parking lot below...). A more recent discovery are the bow and arrow kits. These consist of a plastic bow and four suction-cup arrows. Normally, I am convinced to stand against the glass sliding window, while Brandon and Zach attempt to shoot an apple (or other object) off the top of my head. Somehow I get the idea that they are usually NOT aiming at my head... I seem to recall that Brandon is particularly dangerous in this respect.
8. Taboo - Taboo is the game where you try and get your partner to guess a word, by giving them hints which do NOT include any of the words on a list. For example, the word might be "dog", but you cannot say "bark", "pet", "bone", or "fetch". We have had some hilarious games over the years, particularly when Sherri's sister Anita was playing. And, I do recall Sarah and I teaming up to put a hurtin on our opponents... Sarah, who shall we wup up on this year?
7. Swimming in the ocean - Although I am big fan of swimming pools, alas, we will not have one available this year at our rental house. However, I personally prefer the REAL surf, the big blue Atlantic. Although I may appear not so manly in terms of getting INTO the ocean (yes, it takes me ten minutes to get used to the freezing water), once I get used to the water I love it. Our traditions include such classics as "see who can last longest without moving their feet off the bottom", "chickenfights", "seaweed in the swim trunks", and "throwing sand at Zach's head when he comes up for a breath." Hopefully, we won't be kept out of the water by, say, a huge oil slick moving up from the Gulf!
6. Golf with the guys - Although I play golf about as well as Larry King runs the Boston Marathon, I always look forward to getting to spend four or five hours with "the guys": Brandon, Zach, and Pop. Pop and Brandon have always golfed pretty well, and Zach is coming on strong, whereas I...well, I enjoy being out there! Suffice it to say, I keep score not by number of strokes, but by the number of golf balls I have lost in the woods or the water! Looking forward to long drives, straight putts, good laughs, and my once-a-year cigar!
5. Yum Yum shop - If you really know Garden City beach, you know the Yum Yum shop. You know the flavors - Superman, Birthday Cake, Moose Tracks, cookies n cream, cookie dough, mint chocolate chip.... Start saving room in the ole tummy NOW, because diets go out the window on Yum Yum night(s).
4. Crossword puzzles - OK, I realize this is a luxury that only Sherry and I seem to enjoy... Sherry starts collecting crossword puzzles from the Greenville News a month in advance, but we always seem to burn through them all in just a few days. Cryptoquotes and all! Darn we're good!
3. Honey buns - Most of us try and eat healthy all year long, but for seven days every summer, we completely fall off the wagon due to the presence of...Kroger Honey Buns! Oh my goodness, these things have got to be 2000 calories each, and made of sugar-crusted sugar, but wow... Pop one of these puppies in the microwave for a few seconds, and my goodness.... Shame on us!!! ha
2. Setback tournaments - The arrival of nightfall at the beach means one thing to the Scott family... Get out those cards, start talkin smack, and team up for some Setback! We have some great family memories of setback games past... Uncle Bill yelling "Cha CHANG", a young Zachary bidding six on every hand (and generally making it), bad results from husband/wife teamings, and Pop saying "ah, its just a little ole game...". Open up some new decks, clear the table off, and let's get started!
1. Sara J's - After a long day in the sun and surf, there's nothing like a good shower, putting on some decent clothes, and heading down to Sara J's for the "senior combination plate"! Shrimp- shrimp-shrimp, with hushpuppies and a loaded baked potato, if you know what I mean. (Here's hoping and praying that BP didn't mess up the shrimp part!) Eating out as a family doesn't get much better than that. Besides, what other restaurant that you know of sports an oil painting of a sweaty monkey in a Sunday dress? (Also, we get the free entertainment of watching Brandon stuff his shorts pockets full of those Sara J's green mints!).
So there you have it, just a few of the reasons I am looking forward to our beach vacation. No doubt we will relive some of these family traditions this year, and probably create some new ones.
Surfs up!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Rare, Random Post
Hah, I snuck a blog post when no one was looking! (Yes, it has been a while!!!)
In tonight's rare, completely random post, I gotta vent a bit on things I currently LOVE and HATE (or at least severly dislike, for those of you who are of the "we don't use the word HATE" variety).
"HATE":
- Cold weather. That's right, I ain't diggin it. Not a big fan of coldness in general, but after three or four months of winter, it gets REALLY OLD and I'm jonesin for some warmth, know what I'm sayin? Now, I realize Brandon and Megan are not gonna have much pity on me, since they are still shoveling snow, but nonetheless I feel I must express my great disapproval for the fact that it is not warm and sunny.
- Lame TV commercials. Right now there is a weight loss commercial with some really creepy skinny guy in a way-too-tight tee shirt. Not a good look for him. Also, there's a Greenville-area spokesmodel with a really high-pitched, annoying voice. She appears on a number of different commercials, during which Cathy or I will instinctively push the "mute" button...problem solved! And how about those horrible "local" car dealership ads (you know what I'm talking about).
- Being sick. As in, get sick, tough it out for ten days, decide its not going away on its own, see doctor, get Z-Pack, finish Z-Pack with no apparent results, decide I'll just get used to feeling blah. *Sigh*
LOVE:
- Chilling at home. After a busy last few months (wedding, Christx, two weeks in France during January, etc), it is so nice just to be able to chill out at home a bit. Cathy and I (and Rupert) have our little daily routines, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Life is good.
- Pickin and grinnin. My band is back in the recording studio (WhiteStone Studios on downtown Greenville), working on our second studio CD. We put in two 10-hour days this weekend (!) and managed to lay down all the instrumental tracks for 8 songs. This coming weekend, we should finish the music for the remaining 4 songs, and start on vocals. Recording is sort of "musical drudgery", but the end product should be worth all the effort.
- Fun with family. Last night, Zach and Sarah invited Cathy and I over to their apartment for dinner. A good time was had by all! First, a killer dinner consisting of Sarah Gilliam's fine home-cooked chili and cornbread. Oh, and Blue Bell cherry cheesecake ice cream for dessert! An old friend from Temple Baptist (Heath Burns) was able to join us as well. We topped the evening off by playing a little Guitar Hero, complete with drums, guitar, and vocals. My favorite song? Gotta be our rendition of Bon Jovi's "Livin on a Prayer", with Miss Gilliam on the stratospheric vocals and my little woman on the screamin electric guitar. We had a great time...thanks Zach and Sarah!
- Beach. I gotta admit that I am spending some amount of time daydreaming about our beach vacation this summer. Cathy has rented a condo near the Garden City pier, and I think its going to be a blast. Hopefully, the whole gang will be able to come (Zach and Sarah, Brandon and Megan, Bob & Sherry, me and Cathy, and Rupert of course!). I'll start saving up my quarters for the Skee Ball machine!
Oh well, thanks for reading. Hopefully I will have another post before too many days go by!
In tonight's rare, completely random post, I gotta vent a bit on things I currently LOVE and HATE (or at least severly dislike, for those of you who are of the "we don't use the word HATE" variety).
"HATE":
- Cold weather. That's right, I ain't diggin it. Not a big fan of coldness in general, but after three or four months of winter, it gets REALLY OLD and I'm jonesin for some warmth, know what I'm sayin? Now, I realize Brandon and Megan are not gonna have much pity on me, since they are still shoveling snow, but nonetheless I feel I must express my great disapproval for the fact that it is not warm and sunny.
- Lame TV commercials. Right now there is a weight loss commercial with some really creepy skinny guy in a way-too-tight tee shirt. Not a good look for him. Also, there's a Greenville-area spokesmodel with a really high-pitched, annoying voice. She appears on a number of different commercials, during which Cathy or I will instinctively push the "mute" button...problem solved! And how about those horrible "local" car dealership ads (you know what I'm talking about).
- Being sick. As in, get sick, tough it out for ten days, decide its not going away on its own, see doctor, get Z-Pack, finish Z-Pack with no apparent results, decide I'll just get used to feeling blah. *Sigh*
LOVE:
- Chilling at home. After a busy last few months (wedding, Christx, two weeks in France during January, etc), it is so nice just to be able to chill out at home a bit. Cathy and I (and Rupert) have our little daily routines, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Life is good.
- Pickin and grinnin. My band is back in the recording studio (WhiteStone Studios on downtown Greenville), working on our second studio CD. We put in two 10-hour days this weekend (!) and managed to lay down all the instrumental tracks for 8 songs. This coming weekend, we should finish the music for the remaining 4 songs, and start on vocals. Recording is sort of "musical drudgery", but the end product should be worth all the effort.
- Fun with family. Last night, Zach and Sarah invited Cathy and I over to their apartment for dinner. A good time was had by all! First, a killer dinner consisting of Sarah Gilliam's fine home-cooked chili and cornbread. Oh, and Blue Bell cherry cheesecake ice cream for dessert! An old friend from Temple Baptist (Heath Burns) was able to join us as well. We topped the evening off by playing a little Guitar Hero, complete with drums, guitar, and vocals. My favorite song? Gotta be our rendition of Bon Jovi's "Livin on a Prayer", with Miss Gilliam on the stratospheric vocals and my little woman on the screamin electric guitar. We had a great time...thanks Zach and Sarah!
- Beach. I gotta admit that I am spending some amount of time daydreaming about our beach vacation this summer. Cathy has rented a condo near the Garden City pier, and I think its going to be a blast. Hopefully, the whole gang will be able to come (Zach and Sarah, Brandon and Megan, Bob & Sherry, me and Cathy, and Rupert of course!). I'll start saving up my quarters for the Skee Ball machine!
Oh well, thanks for reading. Hopefully I will have another post before too many days go by!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Rant
What day is today?
September 11th.
Does that ring a bell? Is there anything special about September 11th, anything that stands out in your mind? Is there any significance to this date???
Apparently, Google.com does not think so. Good ole Google, everyone's favorite search engine. You know, the one that changes its "Google" logo on important days, such as holidays or famous people's birth/death dates?
Well, I suppose 9/11 doesn't mean much to the folks at Google, for today their homepage logo is curiously unadorned by any references TO THE SINGULAR MOST HISTORICAL DATE OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
While I'd like to believe that this omission represented some gross forgetfulness on their part (a mistake that even a first grader wouldn't make if you asked them about 9/11), common sense tells me that perhaps the folks at Google have some sort of agenda or worldview that wants to downplay the significance of 9/11.
Given that fact that Google has also failed to change their logo on other patriotic days such as Veteran's Day and Memorial Day, I can't help but wonder if my suspicions about their political leanings are true.
Shame on you, Google.
September 11th.
Does that ring a bell? Is there anything special about September 11th, anything that stands out in your mind? Is there any significance to this date???
Apparently, Google.com does not think so. Good ole Google, everyone's favorite search engine. You know, the one that changes its "Google" logo on important days, such as holidays or famous people's birth/death dates?
Well, I suppose 9/11 doesn't mean much to the folks at Google, for today their homepage logo is curiously unadorned by any references TO THE SINGULAR MOST HISTORICAL DATE OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
While I'd like to believe that this omission represented some gross forgetfulness on their part (a mistake that even a first grader wouldn't make if you asked them about 9/11), common sense tells me that perhaps the folks at Google have some sort of agenda or worldview that wants to downplay the significance of 9/11.
Given that fact that Google has also failed to change their logo on other patriotic days such as Veteran's Day and Memorial Day, I can't help but wonder if my suspicions about their political leanings are true.
Shame on you, Google.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Fancy B
OK, this is sort of a calligraphy project, sort of a drawing project. Not sure what inspired it, but it was fun.
Basically, a ridiculously fancy capital B, copied freehand from an 1883 book of ornate lettering...
Basically, a ridiculously fancy capital B, copied freehand from an 1883 book of ornate lettering...
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Bargain
OK, my wife and I went to some antique stores up in the mountains, and I bought......a Parker 51 special desk set. Onyx base, black pen with chrome tip. Nib seems to be a medium, and lays down a good thick line.
The price? $16, BUT she said that entire booth was 50% off, so I got it for $8. Shweeet!
I like buying pens, but I LOVE buying pens at ridiculously good prices!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Blood
Here's a little calligraphy project, reflecting on the agony Jesus suffered in the garden of Gesthemene. I cannot imagine the battle raging inside him, the temptation to avoid the cross, to call down legions of angels to save himself...
What a Savior we have!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Flex
OK, here's a rule: don't try and write with a flex-nib fountain pen in one hand, while trying to film the action with your cell phone in the other hand!
Not the best video quality (grainy, low light, subject not centered, etc) but I think it gets the idea across!
Techie details:
Not the best video quality (grainy, low light, subject not centered, etc) but I think it gets the idea across!
Techie details:
- Pen = 100-year old A.A. Waterman eyedropper fountain pen with gold semi-flex nib
- Paper = Clairefontaine 90 g/cm2 Seyes-ruled (bought in Clermont-Ferrand)
- Ink = Private Reserve Dakota Red.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Turquoise
Here's another little calligraphy project...
- Pen: 1915-ish Arthur A Waterman eyedropper flex-nib fountain pen
- Ink: Pelikan Turquoise
- Paper: Clairefontaine Seyes-ruled
- Quote: Christian missionary Jim Elliot, who gave his life for the cause of the Gospel
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Artsy
Well, the long dull days of winter seem to over (finally!)...
Over the last few months, I've been on sort of an artsy kick, experimenting a bit with watercolor painting and lately with flex-nib calligraphy...
Watercolor-wise, I have done four paintings over the last month or so...three for Cathy and one for me! Cathy's paintings are all garden and flower related: a pink rose, a blue hydrangea, and a garden-y cottage:
Last week, I painted something for me - its a closeup of the hood of a 1940's Pontiac, complete with the Indian hood ornament. Painting shiny chrome is very challenging, especially with watercolor, but I think it came out pretty well...
On the calligraphy front, yesterday I bought another old flex-nib fountain pen, an A.A. Waterman. Got a steal on it, only $15. These pens are what people used about 100 years ago, and using them you can get some wonderful calligraphy effects, varying thin and thick lines. Maybe I'll do something that combines the watercolor with the calligraphy... Any ideas?
Over the last few months, I've been on sort of an artsy kick, experimenting a bit with watercolor painting and lately with flex-nib calligraphy...
Watercolor-wise, I have done four paintings over the last month or so...three for Cathy and one for me! Cathy's paintings are all garden and flower related: a pink rose, a blue hydrangea, and a garden-y cottage:
Last week, I painted something for me - its a closeup of the hood of a 1940's Pontiac, complete with the Indian hood ornament. Painting shiny chrome is very challenging, especially with watercolor, but I think it came out pretty well...
On the calligraphy front, yesterday I bought another old flex-nib fountain pen, an A.A. Waterman. Got a steal on it, only $15. These pens are what people used about 100 years ago, and using them you can get some wonderful calligraphy effects, varying thin and thick lines. Maybe I'll do something that combines the watercolor with the calligraphy... Any ideas?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Music
My talented and lovely wife Cathy put up a great blog post, about how songs are so amazing at being able to bring back memories, both good and bad...
I liked her post, and thought I'd post a few random ones from my childhood...
Like Cathy, I will probably do another post on Christian music which has played a big role in my life...
Ciao!
I liked her post, and thought I'd post a few random ones from my childhood...
- "Like a Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell - I have a distant memory of being in the car with my Dad at night, coming back from some random shopping trip in the nearby town Fairfax. This song was playing on the AM radio, and I remember Dad humming along, tapping out the snare drum on 2 and 4 with his wedding ring against the steering wheel. Its one of those tiny, warm, happy memories.
- "Ebony Eyes" by Bob Welch - Another Dad memory. The year is 1976, and one of the big fads that year is beer can collecting. My brother David and I were really into it, and were always trying to figure out how to get cans from other parts of the US, and from other countries. A bar in DC (Brickskeller) boasted having over 500 kinds of beer. So, David and I talked Dad into going into DC and buying a case of beer, with 24 different brands. We drove there on a Saturday, and this song came on the radio. Another good (although sort of bizarre) memory of Dad!
- "Cat Scratch Fever" by Ted Nugent - I remember going on a church youth group event in junior high school (to a roller rink in Sterling VA?) and this playing on the radio. Sort of a big contrast, there, don'tcha think?
- "Deacon Blues" by Steely Dan - Mid 70s, long car ride in the Green Machine (1971 Ford Ranch Wagon station wagon) to Wisconsin, two adults and 3 kids (no Angela yet), bright sunny day, radio playing. Good times.
- "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by Stevie Wonder - This is a great memory. I think I was about 12, and
I came down with something and was in the bed for a number of days. Couldn't do much but lay there. My Dad bought me a red Panasonic portable AM radio, just out of the blue, as a gift. It had a little white earphone (one ear only) so I could listen to it at night without bothering my brother, who shared the room. On this little radio, I remember listening to Casey Kasem's Top 40 countdown, laying there in my bed. Someone sent out this song as a "special dedication", and for some reason I remember that moment. That little radio was my introduction to pop music, and (part of) the start of a lifelong love of music. Probably my favorite gift anyone has ever given me. :) Still have that radio (see picture).
Like Cathy, I will probably do another post on Christian music which has played a big role in my life...
Ciao!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Ambigrams
You know those blog posts that you read and say, "Wow, I wish I could write meaningful, moving, uplifting posts like that!" ?
Well, this isn't one of those!
In my long tradition of bizarre, random post topics that continue to confound and baffle my lovely wife (as in, "where on earth did you come up with that?"), I present to you "ambigrams".
Ambigrams are words that are written in a "font" such that the same word can be read when you turn it upside down. I first saw this on an album cover long ago, and since I am into calligraphy and lettering and such, I thought it was cool...
Here's an example (be sure and turn your head or your screen upside down and test it!):
(That's the word "Revelation", in case you had trouble reading it...)
Or, sometimes it reads as one word right-side up, and another word upside-down, like this one (Life/Death):
Kinda neat, IMHO.
Anyhow, here's my first attempt, using my own name...
Want your name done this way? Drop me a note on the blog, and I'll take a shot at your name!
Well, this isn't one of those!
In my long tradition of bizarre, random post topics that continue to confound and baffle my lovely wife (as in, "where on earth did you come up with that?"), I present to you "ambigrams".
Ambigrams are words that are written in a "font" such that the same word can be read when you turn it upside down. I first saw this on an album cover long ago, and since I am into calligraphy and lettering and such, I thought it was cool...
Here's an example (be sure and turn your head or your screen upside down and test it!):
(That's the word "Revelation", in case you had trouble reading it...)
Or, sometimes it reads as one word right-side up, and another word upside-down, like this one (Life/Death):
Kinda neat, IMHO.
Anyhow, here's my first attempt, using my own name...
Want your name done this way? Drop me a note on the blog, and I'll take a shot at your name!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
In The Zone
OK, I'll start off with the usual "sorry I haven't blogged in so long, been busy, yada yada..."
Yesterday was pretty cool. My band, Last Road Bluegrass, drove up to Spindale NC and recorded a "live in-studio" session for WNCW.
WNCW is an "eclectic" radio station in western NC, that plays good music from every genre (blues, jazz, rock, celtic, bluegrass, etc etc). For 15+ years, I have been tuning in on Saturdays to listen to their all-bluegrass show, "Going Across The Mountain." It is one of the highest-rated bluegrass radio shows in the country, and is heard every week in northern GA, western NC, southwestern VA, and eastern TN.
So, it was really cool that our band was asked to come and do an in-studio "show"! We played five songs live (as in, one take, no edits!) and were interviewed by the show's host, Dennis Jones. For those of you who might like to tune in, the show will air next Saturday, 28 Feb, at 11 AM on 88.7 FM.
We were a bit nervous about the "one take only" thing...if you mess up a song, that's what gets broadcast! So, you pretty much have to nail it on the first take. Fortunately, things went very well. The picking was solid, the vocals were on pitch with tight phrasing, the tempos were right, and there was a good "vibe" on all the songs. You could say we were "in the zone".
It was a good time. All the hours of practice, re-working vocal arrangements, and working on breaks paid off. Dennis says that on the average Saturday, up to 25,000 people tune in to Going Across the Mountain. That's a lot of people that will hear the gospel message through our original songs like "Set A Place At The Table" and "There Is A Promised Land"!
Now, fast forward to this morning. Cathy and I have started a new Sunday School class at First Baptist Simpsonville, and are in our third week of it. Things are going well -- we have about 12 or 13 people who have come each week! That's a great start.
It has been a pleasure for me to be able to once again sit under Cathy's teaching. In the same way that God uniquely equipped me to play music (bluegrass and otherwise!), God made Cathy to teach the Word of God. When she is teaching, you can tell that she is "in her zone" -- doing exactly what God has uniquely created her to do. It is an awesome thing, seeing people who have discovered their "zone" and are pouring their time/efforts into honing their craft for God's glory.
Mind you, Cathy would want me to point out that she does not want the glory for this, it should all go to God. It is He who has given us our abilities and talents, He who has given us the time and good health to be able to serve Him. Nonetheless, it has been wonderful for me to see, over the past three weeks, my wonderful wife serving Christ in the exact area he has gifted her for. You go girl!
Do you know what God uniquely created you to do, for Him? Have you ever experienced the peace and satisfaction that comes from knowing that you are doing what you were made to do?
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