tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74428107434370891152023-06-21T01:06:48.391-04:00Musings on the Life of...this is me...writing that makes up my life...be it poetry, prose, essays, general observations on life as I see it...and maybe sometimes the way you see it too...musings on the life of...Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-4155169240727767672015-04-13T14:18:00.001-04:002015-04-13T14:18:38.987-04:00This is your life...or some thoughts on re-engaging cultureMy written notes for the presentation I gave while in Fairbanks:<br />
<br />
<br />
Some thoughts on re-engaging culture:<br />
<br />
We're often caught in a bit of a dichotomy in how we set out to interact with our culture. We struggle to balance the idea of "meet people where they are" with "be in the world but not of the world." If you're anything like me you probably are constantly asking yourself what that even means in the context of your life. Am I being "of the world" if I go out to a bar to meet some friends or to the movies or to a rock concert? For me the answer is no, but the Christian community has often been very much the opposite. Unless It's a Christian branded version of those things then you shouldn't participate. Only do things with other Christians so that the world doesn't drag you down. Stay inside the bubble. It may seem I'm exaggerating a bit, and probably am, but over the last 30 years it really is how Christians in general have migrated and built this isolated culture that has grown to somewhat mammoth proportions. This sprang out of the ideas of attractional ministry and building programs and myriad methods for reaching the people once we get them through the door, but it was also reactionary to what was seen as a decline in the world around them.<br />
<br />
This idea of a segregated individual pocket was not at all what was intended by the exhortation to be in the world not of it, and when we look at how Jesus interacted with the world around Him we can see that being separate and waiting for the world to come to Him was not at all what he had in mind. Word of mouth spread and lots of people heard about Him and were intrigued enough to look for Him to hear Him speak or seek healing, but Jesus wasn't just holed up in a single synagogue waiting for their arrival. He was out traveling the countryside and visiting the region, teaching His followers and everyone He met about the Father and His kingdom. Jesus wasn't looking to create a separate identity for those that followed and believed in Him but rather a fulfillment of their true identity. In the same way, He wasn't looking to segregate the people out of their culture but to transform it from the inside. Jesus wasn't afraid that the world around Him was going to infect Him....He was called a friend of sinners by the religious leaders. They were so caught up in their own rules that they missed the point of what God was after - relationship. It was this that Jesus came to model and He went to those that needed it; and then He commissioned those that believe to follow the same path.<br />
<br />
So what does that mean for us? For starters, we have to put away the "field of dreams" mentality and stop waiting for the world to come to us - we have to go out to them. Does that mean everyone needs to abandon their work and dreams and ship off to another country to be a full time missionary? Not at all! I am in no way saying that being a missionary in a foreign country isn't something worthwhile or amazing but I would challenge the idea that impacting those around you for Christ means being somewhere different from where you already are. In the same manner, it also doesn't mean that you should all have to be a pastor or teacher at your church to be sharing the good news of the gospel. 95% of us are not called to be in "full-time ministry" positions but I would again challenge the idea that being in ministry means teaching at church or leading a bible study or running a prayer meeting is all there is to it. Those things are part of it sure, but you're engaged in ministry every time you interact with the world around you. God is not expecting you to give up your dreams or careers or the things He blessed you with the talent to do; He wants to see you blossom in those things and use them to glorify Him! He has gifted you with those dreams and talents to provide you with ways to impact the culture you are a part of. He doesn't need a separate pocket of people who are only interacting with each other and using a lure to try and entice people to join; He wants to see all people reconciled to Him and to be in relationship with them and that can only happen if we are making the effort to meet them where they are. That means going out to a bar to meet a friend who's having a rough time or going to a family event to celebrate even though you're the only Believer in the group. It means talking to your neighbors and coworkers even though their lifestyles are not the same as yours. We cannot sit back and wait for them to be ready. We have to go and we have to be a part of their lives....because more than anything else people want to feel like they matter and that they are valued. It's not just random street corner evangelism or revival meetings...those things can be valid...but getting involved in people's lives, no matter how messy, and loving them and pointing the way to Jesus by our actions and sometimes our words. Bottom line: to truly impact your culture you have to be a part of it and influence it from the inside, you can't pull up the stakes and retreat to the sanitized bubble and wait for the end to come.<br />
<br />Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-13504381956277714242015-04-05T12:19:00.000-04:002015-04-05T12:19:43.027-04:00There's a Resurrection underway...or the essence of Peter I've been thinking about Peter's story for awhile....it's one I relate to in my own journey of following Christ...I so often go back and forth between bold proclamations of undying devotion and bitter denial...I think in some ways we all do...it is the constancy of the struggle we have to push beyond the flesh we want to leave behind....anyway I thought I would share a new piece and find it appropriate to do so on this wonderful Easter Sunday...<br />
<br />
<br />
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It started with the fish and a spirit crying out<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
longing to be filled with revolution and redemption<o:p></o:p></div>
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We'd read the prophets and followed John in the desert<o:p></o:p></div>
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we could sense something was coming<o:p></o:p></div>
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and then He was there calling to us<o:p></o:p></div>
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asking us to follow Him<o:p></o:p></div>
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We left our nets there on the beach<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and wandered off into a new adventure<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Three years in and things have been a whirlwind<o:p></o:p></div>
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so many wonders these eyes have seen<o:p></o:p></div>
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and I couldn't even begin to tell you them all<o:p></o:p></div>
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I sometimes scarce believe them myself<o:p></o:p></div>
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and yet I know deep within that everything He's taught<o:p></o:p></div>
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is the embodiment of truth and righteousness<o:p></o:p></div>
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It strikes me in those moments<o:p></o:p></div>
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The divinity of my Lord<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and I wonder when He will finally reveal Himself<o:p></o:p></div>
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to everyone and purge our land of these oppressors<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Tonight there's an uncertainty hanging in the air<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
covering our somber meal while He talks about his impending
death<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is mention of betrayal, abandonment<o:p></o:p></div>
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but surely He can't mean me<o:p></o:p></div>
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yet He tells me of the onrushing denial<o:p></o:p></div>
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three times and the rooster song<o:p></o:p></div>
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Steadfast I hold to my proclamation<o:p></o:p></div>
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and we retire to the evening prayer<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Roused from our unexpected dreams<o:p></o:p></div>
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greeted by the forewarned betrayal<o:p></o:p></div>
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by one of our own<o:p></o:p></div>
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anger and rage welling up within me<o:p></o:p></div>
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and my sword lashes out<o:p></o:p></div>
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to protect my Lord<o:p></o:p></div>
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yet He will not have it<o:p></o:p></div>
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He continues to proclaim events<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
are unfolding as they must<o:p></o:p></div>
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and we all scatter in fear and disbelief<o:p></o:p></div>
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bringing our dinner conversation<o:p></o:p></div>
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into the light<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I cannot let this lie <o:p></o:p></div>
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circling back in the shadows<o:p></o:p></div>
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to watch as they take Him<o:p></o:p></div>
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into the proverbial lion's den<o:p></o:p></div>
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where hungry jackals wait<o:p></o:p></div>
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to pick his bones with the teeth<o:p></o:p></div>
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of their envy<o:p></o:p></div>
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Faces coming into view<o:p></o:p></div>
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questioning me while I try to remain apart<o:p></o:p></div>
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marking me as one of His men<o:p></o:p></div>
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I deny each one more fervently than the last<o:p></o:p></div>
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and on the third I see His eyes upon me<o:p></o:p></div>
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as the rooster song fills my ears<o:p></o:p></div>
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His words thundering in my mind<o:p></o:p></div>
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Turning away at a dead run<o:p></o:p></div>
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molten torrents of tears<o:p></o:p></div>
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carving down my face as my body<o:p></o:p></div>
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is wracked with bitter sobs<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The day drags on and the crowds have gathered<o:p></o:p></div>
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covering Golgotha to see this execution<o:p></o:p></div>
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My disbelief can hardly be contained<o:p></o:p></div>
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Why has my Lord allowed this to happen?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can hear the pounding hammer and the throaty screams<o:p></o:p></div>
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the result of nails piercing flesh and bone <o:p></o:p></div>
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and they raise Him up<o:p></o:p></div>
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hanging on this tree between two thieves<o:p></o:p></div>
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breathing prayers of forgiveness to the very last<o:p></o:p></div>
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Confusion clouds my thoughts<o:p></o:p></div>
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and we run<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Three days in and things look bleak<o:p></o:p></div>
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none of us know what comes next<o:p></o:p></div>
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our world is shattered<o:p></o:p></div>
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our Lord is gone<o:p></o:p></div>
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When Mary burst in with incredible news<o:p></o:p></div>
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I could hardly believe it<o:p></o:p></div>
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We ran to the tomb<o:p></o:p></div>
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He was nowhere to be found<o:p></o:p></div>
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and His words flooded in <o:p></o:p></div>
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He is risen...could it be?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Back to the fishing nets, to what I know<o:p></o:p></div>
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maybe the adventure was just for a little while<o:p></o:p></div>
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but the fish will always be there<o:p></o:p></div>
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even if none appear to be available for the catch<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yet someone calls from the shore<o:p></o:p></div>
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"Throw your nets to the other side"<o:p></o:p></div>
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resulting in more fish than can be hauled <o:p></o:p></div>
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and I know my Lord is there<o:p></o:p></div>
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swimming for my life<o:p></o:p></div>
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in a rush to greet Him<o:p></o:p></div>
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A meal prepared to share<o:p></o:p></div>
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as was always our way<o:p></o:p></div>
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and He asks me of my love and devotion<o:p></o:p></div>
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Three times I answer<o:p></o:p></div>
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and feel the warmth of restoration<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So many years have passed since then<o:p></o:p></div>
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so many trials we've faced and miracles we've seen<o:p></o:p></div>
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The revolution we craved but never really understood<o:p></o:p></div>
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is now engulfing the world<o:p></o:p></div>
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A revolution of the heart and mind<o:p></o:p></div>
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A rebellion against the power of eternal death<o:p></o:p></div>
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which forever lost its grip that black Calvary day<o:p></o:p></div>
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our Lord Jesus reclaimed the keys<o:p></o:p></div>
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and restored creation to its rightful path<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am old now and the oppressors have finally<o:p></o:p></div>
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pronounced my sentence<o:p></o:p></div>
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They are leading me now to that place<o:p></o:p></div>
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and I see the instrument of my demise<o:p></o:p></div>
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wooden crossbeams gnarled and splintered<o:p></o:p></div>
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tied and stretched out<o:p></o:p></div>
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yet I will not let them set me upright<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am not worthy to die like my Lord<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
hang me upside down<o:p></o:p></div>
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-86046824938289773452015-02-15T01:07:00.001-05:002015-02-15T01:07:25.018-05:00Love will tear us apart...or the simple progression of thoughts in a vacuum<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Entry 13 - February 14th, 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There it is...that date blinking away up there...staring out at us
like some monolithic creature demanding our attention...February 14th...Valentine's
Day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've never really been all that interested in this particular
holiday, even during the times when I wasn't checking the box marked 'single.'
It is a completely made up commercial holiday created for the sole purpose of
selling more greeting cards and cheap chocolates. It essentially devalues the
martyrdom of a Saint, of whom there is little historical evidence to remotely
support some of the legends associated with him (them in some accounts). It
alternates between being crass or ridiculously sappy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Why do we do this to ourselves? Couples go to incredible lengths
to prove they can scale the peak of some romance mountain and end up with some
(usually) good memories and a large bill. The next day rolls around and most go
back to their routines; you know, the ones where they spend very little time
together and what time they do spend is usually spent being hypercritical of
their partner. I know, I know...that's not how it happens for everyone, there
are lots of happy couples and they don't act like that....and so on...but I'm
looking at the lowest common denominator here.
The fact of the matter is, there is a large population of individuals that
are in relationships where 98% of the time one party is doing all the work to
keep things afloat. Valentine's Day rolls around so the other party goes to
great lengths to put on a show and give a bit of a song and dance to impress
their partner and they figure that those few hours of happiness excuses them
from putting in any additional real effort until the
birthday/anniversary/Christmas rolls around. Yes I'm generalizing in a huge
way....but every single person reading this immediately thought of a couple
they know while reading this....maybe even themselves...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back to why...why does this happen? In a very real sense it's
because there are so many people that have a complete and total
misunderstanding of what love is. This is something that could take up page
after page but I'll try to be brief.
Love is not some blinding emotion...it's not the pleasure of physical
contact...or the complete lack of mental faculties in the other's
presence....not a clever rhyme or a saccharine song...those things can
accompany love but they are not its totality. Those things are all temporal and
fickle...they tempt a decadent dance but deliver an accordion polka. These
things are but fleeting sands crashing to the bottom of the hourglass and some
spend so much time chasing the ephemera that they miss the substance that holds
it all together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Love is putting others' needs before your own. It's taking the
time to truly serve the other person and experiencing what it feels like to
bring them joy. Love does not demand its own way...that's the simplest way I think
I can break that down. I will never forget the advice my Grandmother gave to me
about marriage and how to keep any committed relationship strong. She told me
that if I want to really know a successful relationship I would have to always
put my partner's needs first, and they would have to put my needs first. By
doing this, both of us would have our needs met and we would know the true
heart of Love - servant-hood. Love is not a ruler....it does not boast and
demand to be satisfied. It doesn't proclaim its desires on the populace and
entangle them in a string of questionable quandaries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't think I can really say this enough - to truly be in love
with someone, you have to be willing to lay everything on the line for them and
step into a completely foreign situation. You have to be ready to carry them
when they can't walk and to weep with them when joy is hidden. You have to be
willing to give it all up, to put your life on the line....and when two people
are in that kind of relationship they do it because they know that their
partner is doing the same for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm providing an oversimplification I'm sure....and I know there
are several of you that probably think I'm being too hard or that I'm
unrealistic...and maybe I am to some extent...but I know that we were given an
example of perfect love in action in the person of Jesus...and this is not the
love I see people trying to reflect or represent in most Valentine's Day actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what am I really trying to say...I don't know...maybe that we
need to accept the fact that all of our attempts at the sport of romance are
fleeting and temporary even with the best of intentions. Don't wait for one minuscule day on the calendar to show your love for someone...show them every
day. Take them to dinner because it's Tuesday...bring home flowers tomorrow
just because you can...plan that weekend getaway in June...skip the narcissism
of Valentines altogether and focus on growing closer together through truly
seeking intimacy with God and each other...be willing to put someone else above
yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This conversation can be so much deeper...it just takes the right
kick in the heart to get started...</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-86463989850078858512015-02-08T01:21:00.000-05:002015-02-08T01:21:06.591-05:00There was a whisper...a riot...a kiss....or something new on the first rays of the dawn...While I didn't quite finish my experiment last year of writing a post a week I didn't stop writing...I present to you in all of their imagined glory and delusions of grandeur...some new work to behold:<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Chamber for Rent<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Woke up in an abandoned hotel to
the</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">chimes on the decrepit grandfather
clock</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">signaling 2 a.m.'s arrival and the
assault</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of this measured insomnia</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They told me I'd find ghosts</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in this forgotten place</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">but the only spirits haunting me</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">are whiskey and your memories</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Familiar specters I can find</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">on any barstool in this beach town</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Stepped into the half hidden
moonlight</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">creeping past the cracking
shutters</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Silver lines dancing in the dusty
shadows</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">playing at creatures and devils in
a lurking</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">game of tag with the chimeras in
my mind</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why am I here again?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Wandering well-worn paths</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I've tread ad nauseam<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in search of different answers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in the same ancient routines</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why am I here?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Clinging to some sense</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of imagined normalcy</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and the misplaced hope</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that you'd finally see</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a chance for us to be</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">They told me I'd find ghosts</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and I suppose it's true enough</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I'm a phantom searching for</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a little peace in the shadows</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">your light left behind</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in your passing</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ishmael I Am Not<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I lost
sight of the horizon long ago</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Suspended
in the mists of twilight's gaze</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
desperately seeking a glimmer of starlight to point the way<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nothing
seems like more than what I've been given</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
those that surround me seem to think</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">there
are answers to be found in my keep</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Solutions
to the conundrums plaguing their existence</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That
one moment of clarity to illuminate it all</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
divine inspiration for future endeavors<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
tiniest pangs of guilt gnaw at my thoughts</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Knowing
I have no clues or theorems to present</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that
might validate their following...their devotion<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Still
I press on</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lashing
sails and steam</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Chasing
my own white whale</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">to the
pits of hell and beyond<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dragging
these poor souls into the wretched gale</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of my
arrogance and pride</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Drowning
in the self-inflicted torment</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Refusing
any consolation prize</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">and
lying to myself</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute1">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when I
say there was never another way...</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On Becoming Lioness<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
darkness hung in between</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
silence and the scream</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tendrils
stretching out to strangle</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the
flickering light in the guise</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of
improvement and "love"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Time
seemed glacial</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Creeping
progress measured</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in
tears and self-realization<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sparks
fly<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
suffocated light</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">refuses
to be extinguished</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in the
icy depths of</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">insecurity
and control<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It
never goes out</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Never
gives in</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
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the encompassing black</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">erupting
from such beautiful eyes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
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to endure such sadness any more</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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the sound of her voice screaming out in the night</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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the sunrise and the arrival of dawn<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
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time won't be like any before</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: center;">
<span class="CharAttribute0"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 130%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Batang; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
air is electric and she's ready to roar</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="CharAttribute0">
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="ParaAttribute0" style="line-height: 130%;">
<o:p>Enjoy everyone...see you where the sidewalk ends...</o:p></div>
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-32896710146472794312014-03-25T01:50:00.000-04:002014-03-25T01:50:17.642-04:00Do you really need more than three chords?...or She came in through the bathroom window<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>Entry 12 - March 25th, 2014</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span>Do
you really need more than three chords?...or She came in through the bathroom
window</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>There's a fantastic scene in Jack Black's movie School of Rock
where he is going to great lengths to explain the history of Rock n Roll to his
students; complete with exploded branching diagrams of how each band influenced
countless others and gave birth to enough genres and sub-genres to make your
head spin. This is me any time I get a chance to speak with someone and share
my musical passion...if you give me a few minutes and let me talk about any
subject that I please it will either be Jesus, comics/movies, or music...so you
have been warned. I have found that my love of multiple musical styles has kept
me sane on long road trips and provided me with interesting conversation with
people from all walks as pretty much everyone has a favorite band, artist or
style that they identify with and the chances are pretty good that I'll find
something to identify with in discussing it with you even if it doesn't happen
to be something that I'm particularly interested in or familiar with. Contrary
to popular belief I haven't heard everything there is out there and I'm
constantly finding new music to enjoy and new artists to consider...even if
their records are not exactly recent.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>Why do I identify with that scene so much? I guess it's because
whenever I hear a new artist...particularly in rock...I'm not just hearing them
but all the bands that might have influenced their sound. Some wear their
influences proudly; while others only hint at them subtly...either way it makes
for interesting and entertaining listening. It also means that whenever someone
mentions to me that they really like a particular band or artist I often think
of three or four others that they might like just as much or that really played
a part in the development of that particular style. I'll give you an example: a
few years back a friend of mine told me that they really enjoyed some of the
80's pop that they had heard but didn't know much other than what was on a
bunch of the one hit wonder compilations. All of that stuff is fun and cool but
I told her there was so much more that came out in the 80s that might seem more
meaningful than just A-Ha's Take on Me or Your Love by the Outfield. She was
intrigued so I pulled together some music from Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, The
Cure, Siouxsee and the Banshees, REM, My Bloody Valentine (yes I know this is technically
1990), The Police, etc...and that was really just one corner. It's hard to sum
up a musical decade, but the point was to show that it was way more interesting
and appealing than just the stuff that get's branded with the nostalgia tag.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>I suppose this might make me sound like some kinda hipster trying
to sound like I knew it all first but I'm far from that. I dislike the whole
"I'm cooler than you because I heard them first, I was a fan when they
were still practicing in the garage and giving away cassette demos"
attitude that some people take with their favorite bands and I honestly don't
see the point. Every band makes music to be heard in some capacity, and the
vast majority wants to be heard on a large scale. I'm not saying that every
band or artist is aiming for arena tours and a billion albums sold on a major
record label - and that model is dying anyway...a subject for a whole different
post - but they all want to be heard on some scale. the ones that don't want to
be heard that are really just writing and playing for catharsis aren't being
heard because they don't share their work. If they made a point to record songs
and post them online or put them on a CD or Record then you can put money on
the fact that they want someone to hear it so please stop with holier than thou
superfan routine.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>Anyway, in attempting to make some kind of point to all of this
rambling I guess I'm saying that Music is meant to be shared. You should take
the time to find new tunes and then tell your family or friends...find like-minded
people who are into the same stuff and turn the volume to 11 and rock out or
dance until you can't feel your limbs anymore. look at the bands that your
favorite artist listens to and check out their stuff too; you might find that
you like the same stuff your parents liked at your age. Above all, keep
exploring beyond what you already know. Music is universal and somewhere out
there is another person feeling the same way you do and about to press play on
a song that just might change their life...and maybe change yours along the
way.</span></span></span></div>
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-7698899212029115922014-03-16T01:12:00.001-04:002014-03-16T01:12:36.691-04:00Straining the Sands of Time...or a blip on the radar screen<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>Entry 11 - March 16th, 2014</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span>Straining
the Sands of Time...or a blip on the radar screen</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>I'm not quite sure when it begins to creep into your thoughts, but
eventually the thought of your own mortality is something that you'll have to
face. It might appear in the briefest instant when you notice a wrinkle or a
gray hair in the mirror during the morning routine...maybe as a series of
flashes when you brake hard in traffic to avoid the car in front of you and
you're not quite sure you'll stop in time. For some it's when they reach those
milestone birthdays that they dread and a party supply store makes a few bucks
on black balloons and tombstone cards...or after they have a major medical
procedure that they weren't sure they'd see the other side of. The point
is...we're mortal. We have a finite span of time in which to spend our time on
this earth and at some point we'll come face to face with just those
thoughts...but what happens when you're not sure just how you fit into the
allotted time that you have left on this spinning blue mudball?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>Recently, my Grandmother has been in the hospital with some
medical trouble and she's been really down. This recent bout is not the first
time she's had a medical scare in the last few years and she has been
increasingly aware of her remaining years, making us all aware that she knows
she is nearing the end of her terrestrial journey and that she is ready to go
home when the Lord calls. You can imagine that this doesn't necessarily make
conversations easy since most of us would rather not dwell on the fact that she
might soon pass on. I did get over to the hospital to sit with her a couple of
times during her stay and in one of our conversations she alluded to the idea
that she feels like a relic in our ever increasingly digital age. We watched as
one of the med techs came in to check and replace the battery in one of the
devices monitoring her vitals. It was a small box that had a few leads running
to a patch on her hand and the tech explained that it was transmitting her data
over a wireless signal to the main desk so the staff could keep an eye on her
levels and he just wanted to make sure it continued to run smoothly. After he
left she remarked on how out of place she felt amidst all the increasing
technology. She didn't have a computer hooked to the internet for very long and
apparently there was some sort of scam that they were almost victim of and ever
since she is afraid that it could happen again. (the fact that some scammer
called their house a few months back to tell them that I was in jail in
Amsterdam and they needed money to get me released has not alleviated those
fears...but that's another story entirely)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>Grandma and Grandpa will both be 85 this year, next month in fact.
The speed at which technology has been increasing and changing just in the
latter period of their lives is staggering and I can see why it would scare
her. The world being full of people that want to take advantage of the elderly
just makes it worse and truly makes my heart hurt. It takes a person operating
at seriously low depths to scam children and elders...we should be treasuring
them and learning from the naiveté of the young and the wisdom of the old...not
stealing from them. I could go on about that but it would take this into a
whole different area and become a bit of a rant...which is not my intention.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">I
wonder what our digital world will look like when I reach 85...will I feel as
out of place as my grandparents do? Will the technology cause me to fear I've
been left behind in a different age? I like to think that I'm pretty savvy with
this stuff but let's be honest...when I graduated from highschool 19 years ago
we didn't even have a computer in the house...I could use one at school or the
library. Now I'm on a laptop working wirelessly and my phone can do everything
that first home computer we got in 1996 did...and more. So yeah, it's safe to
say that - given 48 more years - the technology will increase 100 times over and it
may be me who feels like a relic from another era that's long since past its
expiration date. Of course there's also the question of whether or not I even
make it to 85...but we'll save that discussion for another time.</span></span></span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-8739827489885798632014-03-09T16:45:00.000-04:002014-03-09T16:45:03.077-04:00REM Sleep in Progress...or I touched the surface of Me and shattered<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Entry 10 - March 9th, 2014</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>REM Sleep in Progress...or I touched the surface of Me and shattered</b></span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Continuing the theme of the previous post...There is a
purpose to it all and if you take a chance and look into it on your own,
without any preconceptions or idle notions you just might find something more
than what the surface can see...you are more than just a sack of flesh and bone
ambling through this existence...not an accident or some cosmic twist of
fate...you were given the faculties to question and wonder...use them...and so
it begins...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>If I wonder long enough will this all make sense or is it only an
illusion?<br />
<br />
It's a question worth considering in the span between breaths, the fragile
oxygen hanging in the space between the atmosphere and inhalation, on the verge
of being the molecules that further this existence. The short frame of seconds
is all it really takes for that first thought to creep in and take
hold...giving birth to the wonder that will forever captivate the imagination
with a spark and a light that never willingly goes out. But will it make sense?
Will it be the realization that finally gives it all meaning and purpose and
drives forward towards that place where the pieces all fit together and
everything works out to the right conclusion? Or is it just another wisp of
illusion, a sleight of hand in the fog and mirrors surrounding us? Can it be
both? It's one of the things that invades my slumber in the apparition of a
dream...this idea that maybe the illusion is as close to being what makes
everything work as the reality we cling to...treading through the mundane and
the trivial like they're the only things that are certain....and in the quiet
moments when nothing stirs and the only sounds are the natural humming of the
night intermingled with the mechanical revolutions and the breath of life
filling and escaping from our lungs....the only time our guard comes down and
who we really are is laid bare for the "not so" blind eyes of the
evening...it's these moments when our most lucid thoughts play out on the
theater screens of our minds....and we dismiss them as careless wondering and
easy dreams, sometimes even nightmares....but what if all our daylight hours
were the real source of fiction? What if what we consider our normal average
daily routine was the real dream...a sort of broadcast image controlling our
range of thought...to the point where no one openly considers the idea of there
being anything more. Is this all we are? And if so then what's the point of
wondering at all? Unless....unless maybe there is something more out
there....maybe life is not so paint by the numbers cut along the dotted
lines....maybe it's a mess and a dream and a hope in knowing that each day is
another step....another chance to wonder....</span></span></span></div>
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-88069812159152701872014-03-08T11:35:00.000-05:002014-03-08T11:35:12.825-05:00The smallest span between breaths...or the short story yet to be<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Entry 09 - March 8th, 2014</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>The smallest span between breaths...or the short story yet to be</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>To be a dream...</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>The first waking
moment is always the most alarming...It's that moment when you're most unsure
if your surroundings are still part of some fantastical dream or terrifying
nightmare....or the real world you know. But what if our whole life is someone
else's dream? What if we spend all of our days chasing fleeting things that
don't satisfy and only leave us desperate for one moment of contentment...a
real sense of being loved? I think there are a lot of people out there living
their lives in a dream world that they did not create nor did they ask for and
yet there they are...shuffling along to the beat of some distant drum that
keeps them in time with whatever seems to be popular at the moment. </span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span>We are all born
into this world with nothing...no possessions, no name, no previous
experiences....and yet somehow we know that what we see around us doesn't seem
to be all there is to the world. Over time some people numb this inside of
themselves until it's nothing but a dim ember barely burning as a thought. The
thought doesn't go away though, no matter how much we would like it to just
disappear and allow us to live this self-absorbed existence. It grows and
branches out into our thoughts until it can no longer be ignored or suppressed.
It whispers to us in the moments when we let ourselves stop running after
trivial things..."there is a world that you are missing"..."you
are loved more than you realize"...."wake up o sleeper"...and
these whispers can become haunting the longer we try to ignore them.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">So where do we go
from here? Where do these whispers take us if we follow them just a little, to
look beyond the dream that we're living in? </span></span></span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-53399322341833243752014-03-07T07:41:00.002-05:002014-03-07T07:41:53.603-05:00Weighing the slings and arrows...or hey are you listening?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Entry 08 - March 7th, 2014</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Weighing the slings and arrows...or hey are you listening?</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The final installment in the Voice series....and the
questions raised are not lost on me...this life is not something that you just
make a single decision about and then never have to think about again...it's a
constant evaluation of the path you're on...there's a plethora of easier ones
branching out...but they only lead into the darkness...</span></span></div>
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</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><i>The Voice of God is Clear</i></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A single flame starts with just one spark. It sounds rather
simplistic and maybe even cliché. But it’s true. Over the course of your time
this week you’ve heard a lot of ideas and messages and it started. Right there
in the back of your mind there was a tickle, a small voice whispering to you.
And as the time has gone on that voice has echoed the things I’ve been telling
you about my Father and about His voice. Are you listening?</span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span> </span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My Father has the power in His voice to call forth the
farthest-reaching galaxy and with that power He created the universe and every
single thing within it.<span> </span>It would seem that
with a power of that magnitude He would be distant and unreachable, and yet He
cares for the well-being of every single living creature, especially you. He is
loving and kind and calling out to you amidst the cacophony of the world and
pointing out a path that leads in a different direction than the rest. Remember
that the enemy is very cunning and he’s out there constantly roaming around,
calling out in the plethora of personae that he employs. All those other paths
may seem different and sometimes they’re much easier to walk down, but they all
lead to the same place. He’s even more persistent if you choose to follow my
Father. The enemy would like nothing more than to drag you away from my Father
as fast as he can because he knows that if you are following my Father it’s bad
news for him. And while he knows that he can’t destroy you while you walk with
my Father he will do everything he can to make it hard on you. Even with all
this, when you’re following my Father there is comfort in His strength and in
Him there is a joy that the enemy cannot take from you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the midst of that calling my Father is crying out for the
lost and the broken, those who are hurting in this life. His heart breaks for
them and He wants them to know how much He cares for them. He wants you to have
a heart for them as well. The world is full of broken and hurting people,
people I died to save. People my Father loves and cherishes and wants to come
home to His family. He wants you to be the one to show them the way. Your life is
quite possibly the only picture of my Father they may ever see and it hurts Him
to see them turn away because you don’t take the time to show them that He
loves them by loving them yourself. You have been given a great gift and shown
a way to travel and He wants you to be excited by this and be willing to show
others what you’ve discovered in your time here. It‘s as simple as giving a
drink to someone who is thirsty or a hug to someone who is feeling a like the
world is caving in on them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My Father’s voice is calling out clearly and when you’ve
decided to follow Him it becomes unmistakable. The longer you walk on the path
the more you begin to recognize Him whispering to you quietly. Even with all
His power He chooses to speak to you quietly in your hearts and guide you with
a loving concern.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">God is speaking. Are you listening?</span></span></span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-14167665780225935852014-03-06T07:48:00.000-05:002014-03-06T07:48:29.502-05:00More than just lip service...or wrestling with the ghost of Tom Joad<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Entry 07 - March 6th, 2014</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>More than just lip service...or wrestling with the ghost of Tom Joad</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Moving right along, here's installment number 4 in the Voice
series:</span></span></div>
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</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><i>The Voice of God is Crying Out</i></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I imagine your life at home is pretty comfortable. All of
you have the things you need to live, food and drink, clothes to wear, a place
to sleep, and I would say a good many of you have a lot of things beyond that.
I bet some of you have an xbox or a playstation, an ipod or cellphone, and so
many other modern conveniences that make your life pleasant and possibly
easier. You’ve been blessed. There are some out there tonight who have not been
as fortunate as you are. Somewhere not far from here tonight a little boy is
going to bed hungry because there isn’t enough food for dinner. There’s a
family huddling together under a bridge to keep warm because they don’t have a
house to go back to. Over in Africa there are hundreds of people crying out for
relief from decades of war and strife; where little children are forced to be
soldiers. In some other countries in Asia young girls are pressed into slavery
in brothels and sold to men for unspeakable acts. None of these things escape
my Father’s sight. He sees all of these injustices and atrocities and it causes
him to weep. My Father is crying out for someone to go to these and show them
how much He cares for them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So what does this mean to you? I know some of you may still
be wrestling with the question of the voices and which to follow and that’s
fine; you have to come to that decision on your own. Let’s talk for a moment
though about what it actually means to follow. It requires an active
participation. There is no room for anyone to just sit off to the side and watch
the proceedings, no need for spectators. My Father is calling you to Him and
crying out for those around you who may not be able to cry out for themselves.
I imparted this to my close friends while I was here that my Father was seeking
their hearts not their sacrifices. Anyone can put on a show and make a display
of their “devotion and worship” for everyone to see, but this is not truly
following my Father’s voice. When I was questioned about following His voice
through the Law I summed it up this way: “love God with every part of your
being and then love your neighbor the same way you love yourself, all of the
Law ever given falls within this.” I also told it to my friends this way: “people
will know you’re following my Father if you love everyone the way I’ve loved
you.” I know this wasn’t an easy thing for them to understand and I can see you
might be struggling with it too. Look at it this way; if you were having a hard
time getting by wouldn’t you want someone to offer a helping hand? If your family
lost their house because of a fire, wouldn’t you want friends or neighbors or
extended family members offering to help you pick up the pieces? That’s what my
Father does for each of you and it’s the way I showed my friends how to follow
Him. </span></span></div>
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</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Like I’ve told you during our time this week, my Father
loves all of you and wants you to follow His voice. One of the biggest parts of
following Him is showing others just how much He loves them by taking care of
them the way He has taken care of you. He wants you to sit with the kid in the
lunchroom that no one else wants to sit with and show them that they’re not
invisible or unwanted. He wants you to spend some time with your elders or
visit a nursing home and talk to the residents and show them that someone is still
interested in their life and what they have to teach us. He wants you to get
involved in your community and make a difference in the lives of those who
haven’t had an easy time in life. When you do these things, even something as
simple as offering a drink to someone who is thirsty, it’s like you’ve offered
it to my Father Himself and that makes Him smile. Following the same thought if
you decide that you don’t have the time to get involved or you don’t care about
those in need or the lonely ones, it’s the same as telling my Father that you
don’t have the time for Him or the things that are important to Him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">I know some of you may be on the edge but
saying, “I’m just one person. What real difference do my actions make?” Well it
only takes one loose pebble to start an avalanche, or a single spark to start a
flame. One life can change the world. One voice can make a difference; mine
changed the course of history…and so can yours. All you have to do is speak.</span></span></span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-25986621439666983292014-03-05T09:02:00.001-05:002014-03-05T09:02:34.529-05:00Operator, how may I direct your call?...or making out the pattern in the design<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Entry 06 - March 5th, 2014</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Operator, how may I direct your call?...or making out the pattern in
the design</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Continuing with the series, here's installment number 3:</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><i>The Voice of God is Calling</i></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We talked about sound and the way it can play a part in your
daily lives. It’s more than just sound though. There are so many voices out
there clamoring for your attention. Every one of them seems to be trying to
pull you in a different direction, but I’ll let you in on something those
voices won’t tell you – they all lead to the same place. Oh sure the path they
take to get there may be unique, and may even seem to be good and true, but the
road to hell is paved with good intentions, to borrow a common phrase. The
world is full of the honestly misled, the charlatans, and those that are truly
manipulative and unabashedly evil and they all want the same thing – for you to
go along with them and follow them, or in the very least not do anything at
all, which is the same as being carried along. There is a voice that’s
different however. It’s calling out quietly and kindly, shining a light on a
path that leads to life – the voice of my Father.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the time that I spent on earth with my close group of
friends teaching them about my Father one of the things I really talked about
over and over again was that if they wanted to see and know my Father they just
needed to follow me. I got up early every day to spend time talking to my
Father, listening to Him, knowing His will. It was because of this that I could
tell them that if they had seen me and known me, then they had seen and known
my Father. It’s still true today. My Father’s voice is distinctive and will not
sound the same as the other voices out there doing their best to draw you away
with fanciful enticements. Those voices dangle empty promises of a more
fulfilling life if you have the right clothes, or the right car. Things will be
so much better if you hang out with just the right people, you’ll be cool if you’re
seen in these places. All of these things add up to nothing and serve only to
draw you away from what’s real. He may have changed skins and altered tactics
in each generation but the enemy’s aim has never wavered – his goal is and
always has been to steal, kill, and destroy. He knows nothing else. My Father
is calling out in a clear voice “Follow Me! My way leads to a life fulfilled,
not empty promises. I’m offering you the chance to really know what it means to
have life, and have it to the fullest extent possible.” </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just like I told my close friends all those years ago, if
you have seen me then you have seen the Father, we are one. If you remain in
me, I will be with you. Apart from me you can do nothing. It’s like a tree and
its branches. The branches cannot survive without the trunk of the tree with
the roots going down to the life giving water. If they want to continue living
they have to stay attached to the tree, because when they become separated
they’re not good for anything but to be used for firewood. I don’t know about
you, but the idea of being firewood is not really one that appeals to me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">So it comes down to a choice that you have to make.
Which voice do you follow - The large group making empty promises and painting
appealing pictures that they can never deliver on? Or the One calling you to be
different, the one saying to make a stand and go against the traffic? Make no
mistake, the enemy talks a good talk and his hollow speeches draw on your every
weakness. He makes you think that he really can give you all of these things
and that your life will be so much better if you just go with the flow and
don’t do anything drastic, don’t make waves. But when it comes right down to
it, all he wants is to drag you down with him. His only aim is to destroy as
many souls as he can before his time is up, and his time grows shorter by the
day. Is that what you want? Or do you want to turn and answer my Father’s calm
and loving voice, calling to you and offering you the most abundant life you
can imagine if you only come and follow Him. He doesn’t promise that it will be
easy or that you’ll be the most popular, but He does promise to be there for
you no matter what may come. Again, He won’t force you to come to Him, that’s
up to you. You’ve been blessed with an incredible gift. The choice on who you
live your life for is yours.</span></span></span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-26526088359890591202014-03-04T23:49:00.000-05:002014-03-04T23:49:16.980-05:00 The echoes of memory...or this is what Love sounds like<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Entry 05 March 4th, 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The echoes of memory...or this is what Love sounds like</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Continuing in the voice series, here's installment number 2:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Voice of God is Loving</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If I were to say to you that someone had a very loving voice
what would you think of? Would it be a certain tone or the words that they used
when speaking?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it would be the
manner in which they presented themselves while they were speaking, but I would
imagine with all of the different perceptions about love that exist in this
world today the thought of a loving voice brings many different ideas to mind.
Some of you thought of a spouse...girlfriend or boyfriend…a close family
relative…your parents or siblings. I always think of my Father’s voice.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can imagine that
some of you may be unsure of that thought. Maybe your father doesn’t exactly
come off as being <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"loving" in
your estimation of that word. It could be he doesn’t know how to express his
love vocally. Maybe he has a tendency to yell and make you feel like you’re not
living up to some expectation he has for you. Maybe it’s hard because your
father left or you’ve never known him at all. I understand and want you to know
something – so does my Father. In fact He sent me to walk among you to show the
world that He understands and wants you to know that He loves you and there is
a place for you, all of you, in His family. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I can see that some of you are still unsure about this so
let me tell you a story. Once there was a man with a rather large fortune that
he had promised to divide equally between his two sons after he passed away.
The sons were extremely pleased by this, but after a few years the younger son,
we’ll call him Johnny, decided he did not want to wait for his father to be
gone to get his share of the inheritance. So one day he went to his father and
said “Dad I’ve decided I want to get out of this place and I don’t want to wait
until after you’ve passed away to get what you’ve promised me, I want my share
now.” Surprisingly, his father agreed and let him have what he was promised.
Over the course of the next several months Johnny did every wild thing he could
think of and had always wanted to do. He threw insane parties and drank until
he couldn’t stand up, stayed with different girls every night, tried as many
drugs as he could find to get high, really thought that this was the best life
could be and that he was surrounded by all kinds of new people who were his
friends. Then one day there was no money left. All of a sudden his new friends
stopped coming over to hang out and none of the girls he’d been with would
return his calls. He was kicked out of his luxury apartment because he couldn’t
pay the rent. His drug habit was making him sick because he couldn’t buy
anything he thought would make him feel better. Johnny ended up out on a corner
downtown begging everyone who passed for some change or a bite to eat, and
ended up going to sleep in an alley with nothing. He thought of his past life,
of his father. His father had many employees, both at his company and on the
grounds of the house, and they were always taken care of above and beyond just
their regular salaries. It occurred to Johnny that perhaps his father would
take him on as an employee and that would certainly be better than being here
with nothing. So Johnny composed himself and made his way back home. Now
Johnny’s father had been watching and waiting each day for any sign that he
might be returning home and when he saw him walking up the driveway that day he
ran outside to greet him, hugging him tightly despite Johnny’s fumbling
attempts to apologize and make his offer of employment. He rushed Johnny inside
and started the shower for him, picking out a new suit and shoes for him to
wear as well. He then rented out the best restaurant in town and invited
everyone he knew to come and celebrate Johnny’s homecoming. His older son,
James, was upset by this and refused to go. When his father inquired as to why
James replied, “I’ve been here all this time, doing everything you’ve asked of
me and never once have I gotten so much as a small gathering of friends for a
party, and he runs off and spends all of his time and money on drugs, sex, and
alcohol and when he returns destitute you throw him a celebration feast!!” His
father hugged him tight and said, “James I appreciate and love all that you do
and have done for me, and look around you – everything I have is now yours. But
tonight we must celebrate your brother, for I thought he must be dead, but he’s
alive and has returned.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is the way my Father is with everyone who comes to Him.
He is gracious and compassionate and ready to forgive each of you if you will
but turn and come to Him and ask to be given a seat at the family table. He
loves you and wants what is best for you in your life and is standing there
with open arms and a smile saying come home…come join My family, I love you.</span></div>
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-46383147760442610082014-03-04T00:01:00.000-05:002014-03-04T00:01:41.283-05:00It came over the airwaves like a primal telegraph...or Tommy can you hear me?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Entry 04 - March 3rd, 2014</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It came over the airwaves like a primal telegraph...or Tommy can you
hear me?</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well I'm a few weeks behind in posting to the blog...and I'm
sure that most people are not surprised by that fact. Be that as it may, I do
have a good bit of stuff prepared that I felt compelled in my heart to share
with everyone that will in fact put me right back on target to meet my weekly
goal.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was recently reminded of a series of short messages I
wrote for my brother to be used for a week of summer camp about seven years
ago. They were told from the perspective of Jesus and used as voiceover to
video pieces that were shown to the campers as part of the daily message in
order to engage them on the nature of faith and the voice of God. I recently
reread them and felt that the words within were inspired by something more than
just me being clever and thought they might be just what hits the spot for you
today...they certainly have for me. I'll post them daily and my prayer is that
it speaks to everyone in some way...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Voice of God is Powerful</i></b></span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sound. It surrounds you in hundreds of ways throughout your
daily existence. Some of these you recognize and focus your attention on –
musical instruments, different animal calls, the breeze rustling through the
palm fronds, a nearby stream, voices of those around you – while others slip
past or are not within your auditory range – a heartbeat, a dog whistle, your
normal breathing. These things fill you and have multiple influences on how you
perceive the world around you. They are part of who you are and how you were
designed to function. It’s no wonder then that the thought of silence is both
foreign and frightening to you at times.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Close your eyes. I want you to be as quiet as you can and
imagine with me for a moment. With your eyes closed and the lack of sound it’s
almost like a void – like there is nothing. In this expanse of darkness there
is no shape or form…and yet there is a presence, something residing outside of
the darkness…moving through it. All of a sudden the silence is shattered by a
voice – commanding and powerful, but not in a loud or brash way – speaking into
that blackness. “Let there be Light.” And it happened. The darkness retreated
and a warm glow radiates and illuminates the coming creation. This happened a
lot in those first few days. The sound of His voice would fill everything and
whatever was spoken became a new part of the creation. The planets and galaxies
of stars hanging in the heavens were called forth from His lips. The animals of
the earth and sea and the birds filling the skies were realized in the words
echoing from his purposed speech. It is truly beyond understanding what kind of
power it is to be able to speak an entire universe into existence, even down to
the very beings created in His image that have been resuscitated to life by the
very breath of the Divine. Can you feel it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Think of it just for another moment. Imagine what that kind
of power must be like…to be able to create something from nothing just by
speaking it. It’s incredible…and comforting too. There is a certain comfort in
knowing that voice, knowing that at any moment it could resonate from the
heavens like thunder and send shudders through the earth…and yet He chooses to
speak quietly in our hearts and minds. David felt much the same way when he
described the nature of the voice of my Father, indeed the very nature of the
Father, when he sang about a strong tower and a refuge in the midst of daily
struggles. Even in his darkest moments, when everything seemed to be turning
against him David sang about his GOD who was above all others and commanded the
very elements of this world. David knew the voice. And he knew that, despite
all of the twisted paths that were stretched out before him, the power in my
Father’s voice was calling him down the path where he could find rest and joy
and comfort even in the midst of the most troubled times of his life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You might be asking yourself, what does that really mean to
me? Well think of it in your own life…are there times when things seem
overwhelming? Like everything and everyone seems to be trying to bring you
down? Even in my own time here on earth I had moments when I felt like even the
people I considered my best friends were not really there for me…but my Father
was always there. And He still is, if you want Him to be. That’s the truly
amazing thing about Him. Even with all of His power and strength, He will not
force Himself on you. He will wait for you to call out to Him, and He stands
there with open arms to receive you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tonight,
take comfort knowing that there is power in the voice of GOD – enough to call
forth a dozen solar systems and the infinite cosmos…enough to change your life
with a whisper, all you have to do is listen...</span></span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-2053525199825217122014-01-20T01:52:00.000-05:002014-01-20T01:52:48.317-05:00Someone told me they were sort of Post-Metal Blues...or it's only Rock n Roll but I Like It<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Entry 03 - January 19th, 2014</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Someone told me they were sort of Post-Metal Blues...or it's only Rock
n Roll but I Like It</b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have never been one to shy away from new music. In fact,
some that know me well would probably argue that I can't be pulled away from
it. I love discovering new sounds and finding new material, be it a brand new
band still slaving away in the garage trying to get the sound just right for
the local gig in town or the latest and greatest from one of the best around. It's
not a hipster thing...I don't revel in the knowledge of being the first among
my friends to have heard of a particular band or call upon the "well I
remember when they were just getting started" card...I just never tire of
finding new things to hear as the 25,000+ songs on my IPod will attest to. What
this does often mean, however, is that I am listening to things that a lot of
others haven't really gotten into yet and I get to share the new found tunes
with those around me...which can certainly have some mixed reactions since I
have extremely broad tastes and find enjoyment in virtually every genre of
music that I've come across. I've always been grateful for that since it tends
to mean I can still find something to listen to even if all I have is the FM
radio in the car on a long trip.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's not to say I don't have favorites. Rock and Metal
have been the mainstays throughout my life, but my earliest musical memories
are Neil Diamond, classic country sounds, Sesame Street , and Disney
sing-a-long records. Those childhood years were great for listening and I loved
to get the album sleeves out and look at the pictures and lyrics while the
vinyl disc spun around and the needle traced the sounds laced within. Albums
were (and still are since you can still get a lot of great new music on vinyl)
these amazing pieces of art and provided an experience that the modern CD or
mp3 track just doesn't compare to. Even if you get the deluxe edition with the
extra packaging and pictures, it doesn't hold a candle to the double gatefold
album cover of an album like Zeppelin's 'Physical Graffiti.' I could go on
about the virtues of vinyl but there are others who have already done this and
probably better than I could at any rate. Suffice it to say that I think the
listening experience of a vinyl record absorbed through a set of high quality 'over
the ear' headphones is something that should be had by everyone and you're
truly missing out if you've never done this.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So while I was exposed to a lot of country music and
singer-songwriter types, I remember the first time I really stopped and
listened to the radio at a time when it wasn't the weekend top 40 was when I
found the local college radio station on the dial. WFIT was always a great
source of cool stuff in my adolescence, especially in the mid 80s. That's where
I remember hearing The Police and The Clash for the first time, and the Smiths
and REM. I wouldn't fully absorb all of this until I got into my highschool
years but those sounds left a mark as I was drawn back to all of that and the
rediscovery was equally amazing. When I was between 10 and 12 I discovered all
of the late 80s pop metal bands and this led me to my Uncle's record
collection. My Uncle Bruce has a fantastic rock n roll record collection and I
loved when I would get the chance to go over and check them out. This
exploration led to a deep love of music by some of the greatest artists to ever
plug in a guitar and start a band - Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Who, Deep
Purple, KISS, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cream, Thin Lizzy - just to name a
few. The line was set and I was hooked, I was now a music fan for life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I still say music fan, and I think that's important. Sure I
probably have a predominantly rock collection and it's my go-to, but I
appreciate so many different things. I love to confuse Spotify; I pull up so
many artists that it tries to recommend new things and sometimes I can see the
smoke fizzling behind the screen as it tries to compile what it thinks I'll be
interested in. I love that. I've never understood the people I've met that only
seem to be able to listen to one genre of music and they can't be bothered with
anything else. What happens when those records get stale and you don't want to
hear that lyric for the millionth time? I think it would get boring pretty
fast. So take a chance on something new and expand your horizons just a
bit...you never know, you might just end up hooked yourself.</span></span></div>
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-23494293556036280622014-01-13T19:48:00.000-05:002014-01-13T19:49:40.817-05:00Falling Up...or the Lessening Weight of My Reflection<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Entry 02 - January 13th, 2014</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Falling Up...or the Lessening Weight of My Reflection</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I tend to learn a lot about myself in the quiet times...the
times when I'm alone with my thoughts. These are usually the times when it
would probably be much better for me not to be by myself...but that's a
different sort of story. Self-reflection
is something that I think is a neglected or abused process and one that most
people tend to shy away from. We don't want to look too deeply at ourselves
because what we find is unsettling, and it might spark memories or emotions
that we aren't ready to face or work on. I tend to think this is why "Reality"
TV shows are so popular, why people are obsessed with so called
"celebrities" and make outlets like TMZ and E! popular web and TV
destinations. We love to watch the famous people and live vicariously through
them on their ride at the top. We shower them with affection and
compliments...one might even say worship....because we hope we can someday be
in the same place or maybe they might bring us along for the rest of the trip.
At some point the trip takes a detour....or hits a brick wall. That's when the
real "fun" begins; because as much as we love our famous names when
they're on top, we seem to enjoy it even more on their way down crashing and
burning in some scandal. We revel in that misery...kick that pedestal out from
beneath them with a viciousness not found anywhere else but among those here in
the "civilized world.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why? well because if everyone is focused on what Joe Famous
is up to then no one is paying too much attention to my shortcomings are, and
in fact it maybe even gives me a rationalization to the actions I've been
taking. "At least I don't go out until 3 am and end up totally drunk and
naked on the paparazzi channel like Joe Famous." "I didn't take those
illegal substances like Jimmy Baseball did." "When compared to that
I'm a really great guy." And so forth...and so on...ad nauseam. It's like
we strive to meet this unattainable standard we set by comparing ourselves to
all of these people in the spotlight, and we either puff ourselves up and get
prideful or we become even more dejected because we don't make the cut. Comparing
yourself to others inevitably leads to one of those two ends...and it doesn't
matter who the comparisons are being made against - famous people, coworkers,
friends, or family members - it makes no difference in the end. The comparisons
will either insulate us within a shell of arrogance or bury us beneath the weight
of depression. In either case, we are not the whole person that we could truly
be.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This brings us back to self-reflection. We need to be able to take an honest look at
ourselves and determine if we like what's developing. I can't look at anyone
else to see if I'm making good on the improvements I'm intent on. I'm the only
one that can really answer the questions at hand and evaluate my own
progress. That doesn't mean that I can't
or shouldn't share my goals with others or that there isn't encouragement to be
found in celebrating the victories you earn along the way...or that those
others may be an invaluable resource for advice and a shoulder to lean on when
you're struggling. We may not get far comparing our road to someone else's, but
we're made to share life with one another. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We are not really built for solitary existence, although
some have seemed to find a way to go through life in such a manner. Time alone
is good and necessary for everyone one sometimes, but an entire life lived
alone is missing vital interactions. We find the road is a bit less difficult
to walk and the burden of living a bit lighter when we have others to walk
beside us and share the load. So I learn a lot about myself in the quiet times,
and I find it easier to stare at my reflection when I'm not wasting time trying
to avoid those things I don't want to see. It doesn't make those things any
more desirable...but it does get a bit less cumbersome when I stop trying to
sweep it all away and instead try to figure out what the root issue is and take
a long hard look at it. What does it really mean?</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Welcome to the art of self-reflection. Please keep your
hands and feet inside at all times while the ride is in motion and buckle up
buttercup.</span></span></div>
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-76069584863665487832014-01-05T14:06:00.001-05:002014-01-13T19:49:25.640-05:00Reflections on a birthday...or an introduction to a year of living dangerously<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Entry 01 - January 5th, 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reflections on a birthday...or an introduction to a year of living
dangerously</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A new year has come upon us, sidled on up and ushered the
previous one off into the ether. this means a lot of things to different people
and you can perhaps relate to one or two of them: new year's resolutions, new
year-new me, clean slate, etc. It's about a fresh start and about making
changes to where you currently are and where it is you think you would like to
be going. I've never been much of one for making resolutions, and I fall into
the failure percentage for the few times that I did try that out. I've
determined that if you see something in your life that needs an adjustment or a
full blown change there isn't much sense in waiting for the new year to make it
your "resolution", make the changes that need to be made so you can
reach the potential that you have. It is a convenient starting place though so
I can see why so many choose to make their changes on January 1st and I'm not
at all suggesting that you shouldn't spend some time reflecting on the year
that has past and the one coming up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For me, the new year rolling over means another birthday is
on the horizon. Yes, yes I know that everyone has another birthday coming in
the new year but mine is literally on the horizon as it occurs just 4 short
days into the new year. The ball drops, everyone watches some college football
and has a plate of ham and black eyed peas and then it's on to another birthday
for me. When I was a child I used to not like where my birthday fell on the
calendar, being only ten days after Christmas it seemed as though I was not
getting the full spectrum of the birthday celebration being that everyone was
entering the "After Christmas blues" phase and making those necessary
financial adjustments for the extra spending that happened in December. That's
not to say that I didn't have great birthdays or that my folks didn't try to
make them special because they did and I have no complaints at all about those
times. It just seemed that my friends and others who had birthday celebrations
later in the calendar had a bit more going for them...which was nonsense of
course. As I got older and through my teenage years and into young adulthood I
determined that birthdays were only as special as you made them out to be and
that the number in your age might change but that doesn't mean you have matured
nor does it indicate that you are old. I didn't need big parties or widespread
acknowledgement that it was my day, even if those things are nice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We have widespread cultural jokes about reaching certain
ages and that for some it is a big deal that they've climbed up into the higher
elevations of the aging process. They don't want to be thought of as old and
make little jokes about this being their 25th birthday...for the 10th time. We
laugh at this but I've never seen what the big deal is, except for some of
those that have lived such self-destructive lifestyles that every birthday
seems to be a miracle of sorts. As a culture we are so infinitely worried about
being thought of as "old" that people will spend thousands of dollars
trying to hold back the years and do crazy things to their bodies trying to
maintain the appearance of youth. Most of these turn out terribly and it
becomes obvious to everyone what their insecurities are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I made a decision a long time ago that I would never be
"old." I can't stop myself from aging and there is no fountain of
youth that I've had a drink from (though I do have a bottle of water from the
one in St. Augustine). Being old is a mentality, it is a state of mind that
people resign themselves to. There will be, and are, days that I feel my age
and everything aches and I just feel tired...but I refuse to be old. I will
still enjoy all of the things from my childhood days and the music I've grown
up with because there is still enjoyment to be had. I will still marvel at
sunsets on the swell of the ocean and the waves dancing along the shoreline.
There is still life left to be lived, even at 37, and I have no intentions of
stopping now or ever right up until it is my time to pass on. So this is a new
year and another birthday past...and I'm just getting warmed up.</span></div>
Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-61779991375317175312012-05-13T02:47:00.003-04:002012-05-13T02:47:52.087-04:00Cresting the Horizon...so it's Sunday morning, May 13th...roughly 2:30 AM...I really want to start something new but I just don't have the energy to sit here and really flesh out a cohesive post. So instead of that I thought I'd throw out an idea of what to expect coming down the pipe in the upcoming days, weeks, months, etc.<br />
<br />
I just recently published a book of poetry so I will probably share a few tidbits from it here and there. It should be available in an e-book format very soon and I'm pretty excited about that as well. My goal is to also use this blog as a sort of springboard for my next project, which will hopefully be a book of more prose oriented material...short stories, essays, "journal" entries, and some more poetry...so we shall see. Some of the upcoming topics that have been swirling around in my head waiting for just the right bit of inspiration:<br />
Music (always)<br />
Politics (a touchy one, but it is an election year after all...)<br />
Critics (of various different mediums)<br />
Society in general (which will encompass multiple posts hitting a few different points)<br />
The idea of a journal of sorts...so I'll end up dissecting myself for your reading pleasure<br />
<br />
all in all I'm really hoping to make writing here a much more regular occurrence so that I can keep the creativity flowing...<br />
<br />
That's all for now...see you where the sidewalk ends...Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-14959279555919719382012-05-04T01:23:00.000-04:002012-05-04T01:23:04.192-04:00Tabula Rasa...Clean slate as it were...This is a new beginning for my blog. A new day. While I haven't written anything here in over a year, I have been busy with writing and finally managed to publish a book! I was immensely happy with the way it turned out and will be talking a bit more about it at another time. For now, get used to seeing me here regularly as I have some new ideas and directions to go in...this will be my springboard for book # 2.<br />
<br />
stay tuned...Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-8245640051017596392010-09-24T00:01:00.002-04:002010-09-24T00:59:54.050-04:00I Heard One Guitar...<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It's interesting and a little bit funny sometimes for me to think about how little I've written in the last year. At one point in my life I was writing pages of stuff every day; whether poetry or short story ideas and the odd essay piece here and there, I was always jotting down what I was thinking.</span></span> I know it wasn't all good, and I'll be the first one to tell you that most of what I wrote when I started was more or less a form of catharsis. Writing was a way for me to express myself in a way that I couldn't quite do otherwise, and I'm quite glad that I was able to find it as an outlet for all the stuff I had going on inside.<br /><br />As time went on it was less about my teen angst and starry eyed puppy love and infatuation and more about finding my voice in the world. I realized I quite liked being able to express myself through the written word and being able to share my unique perspective with my friends and family and anyone else that was interested in reading a bit of sometimes hastily composed and oddly structured poetry. Creativity is not necessarily endless however, and sometimes you wait and wait for something to inspire you and nothing comes around. Eventually you stop waiting for inspiration and you have two choices: you can actively seek to be inspired or you just stop looking. I think I've been doing the latter for the better part of a year and sort of hid behind the excuse that life is busy, which is a cop out. I'm not saying my life hasn't been busy, or that work hasn't been hectic and will only continue to be more so as the year draws to an end. It has definitely been those things, but I've also had plenty of time to sit down and try to write something...anything...just to keep doing so.<br /><br />With that said, the confession of my lack of effort is now over. If you've read this far you've been wondering what any of that has to do with the title of this post. No, I'm not that random. I went to see the Black Crowes last night with my friend Ken, and both our conversation and the show itself was insightful and a testament to why music is one of the things in life I truly treasure. Anyone that really knows me, or has spent any time with me at all knows that I am always willing to talk about music and love to do so. I'm not a super talkative individual, but when music is involved in the conversation I tend to talk a lot. It doesn't really matter what type of music we're talking about since I've found that I pretty much enjoy at least some of every style that's available. I've also found that this variety in musical taste has saved me on many a long car ride or evening out at a local restaurant. I know a lot of people that listen to only one type of music or only a few styles and I've never been able to limit myself like that. There's simply too much out there worth exploring and hearing and experiencing to be satisfied with such a small sampling.<br /><br />Music is one of those universal things that people from all cultures and walks of life can relate to and appreciate, and it goes beyond any singular outlook or ideal. I think that's important. I think we should all spend more time relating to one another over a cup of coffee and a mixtape or playlist. I'm not saying that we'll all like the same songs or bands, but that's the fun of the discussion. I've always enjoyed the little insights that can be learned when someone is going on and on about the bands that they love or the first song they remember hearing as a child or the song that was playing when they had their first kiss or after their first break up. These moments are deeply personal for some and it's something special that you can have the privilege of sharing in it with them.<br /><br />Well...that's all for now...when the music's over..turn out the lights....<br /><br />See you where the sidewalk ends...Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-42761582473631850872010-09-06T00:29:00.003-04:002010-09-06T00:49:40.510-04:00crap it's been a long time...<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">so I decided to log into this tonight because I haven't in awhile</span>...and I couldn't believe the last date listed here...has it really been almost a year since I wrote anything?...so much for keeping up on a regular basis....I really have wanted to make this a regular occurrence...but I guess things got busy...and yes it's a lame excuse...but I'm using it...<br /><br />writing is about being inspired, about having a passion for words and expression that needs a release....but there is an ebb and flow....like the tide rolling along the shoreline....and I guess my tide's been out for quite some time....but I promise there's more to come....it just takes a spark.....and the match is primed and ready to strike....Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-82940692117812047682009-10-11T01:12:00.002-04:002009-10-11T02:33:05.644-04:00The rising tide of animosity...or another look at the dividing lines....<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">So I've been thinking a lot this week about one of the subjects I generally try to avoid...Politics. If you happen to look at my facebook profile under politics it says that I "prefer to stay neutral"...and most of the time I try to stay out of conversations that involve politics altogether because in most cases it goes from being an otherwise pleasant talk to an after school on the playground knock down drag out fight in a matter of minutes once the slightest inkling of difference is discovered. Why is that? What drives us to fall back on preconceived notions and prejudices once we learn how someone feels from a political standpoint? I don't necessarily have the answers to those two questions but I do feel that they're important to ask, especially in the world we live in today where things change so rapidly and attention spans get shorter by the second. They also serve as a jumping off point for what I'm going to focus on: my recent observations and what I think about the political climate in our world today.<br /><br />As previously stated, I really don't like to talk about politics. When I look at the people around me everyday and watch the news...and read snippets and blurbs online....it becomes increasingly clear that politics is one of the topics out there that has an almost immediate dividing, polarizing effect on people the instant it enters into a conversation. While it can be humorous to think of two otherwise ordinary office coworkers stripping down and dueling it out over political views ala Fight Club, the sad reality is that it often does lead to strained relations in one form or another when politics get involved. In American society in particular it seems that we're only allowed to have two sides, Republican or Democrat, and once someone learns which side of the fence you're on then automatic assumptions are made. If you're a Republican then you must be a right wing religious fundamentalist hold over that has sold everything out to the corporate special interest groups. If you're a Democrat then you're obviously a left leaning liberal who's main interests involve humanist new age philosophy, homosexuality, and the expansion of government into all sectors of the populace. And if you just so happen to fall into one of the smaller political groups then it's just assumed you're a special brand of nut that doesn't really get any real representation or acknowledgment. I may be exaggerating the details just a bit, and it certainly sounds funny....but the sad fact is that people do judge each other with their own set of preconceived notions about a particular political view.<br /><br />We had a Presidential election in 2008...and we all know the outcome. We have all been watching and talking and debating and in some cases shouting and cursing. The reactions have been both surprising and ridiculous. I have watched different people from all segments of the population and how they've reacted to our current leader in Washington DC...and I think those who have saddened me the most are my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.<br />How can I say that? Well I guess I just don't see how pissing and moaning about our President is doing anything for the cause of Jesus. I have a hard time believing that Jesus would be spending any more time worrying about our current President than he did worrying about the political rulers of his day...which is to say, he didn't. He went about doing the work of his Father. He spent time with his disciples teaching them about the Kingdom and reaching out to the sick and the poor and the hungry. We, as followers of Jesus, should be doing the same. we should be reaching out to our friends and neighbors. we should be praying for them. we should be praying for our President, not hoping that he fails. If we believe that God has everything under control and has a plan for this world, then wouldn't Barack Obama as President be a part of the plan?<br /><br />There is quite a bit more I could say...but I think it would just be me rambling. The main point I really want to make is that we need to get rid of politics altogether. it shouldn't matter if it's conservative or liberal, republican or democrat. what should matter is what's best for people. for all people. what can we do to make our country and our world a better place? It starts with people throwing out their prejudices and assumptions and talking to each other about what can be done and finding the common ground. it means that those of us who have claimed the name of Jesus as his followers start acting like it and start living the way he taught us to.<br /><br />that's all for now....comments are always welcome....<br /><br />Love God...Love Others...Love Yourself...<br /><br />see you where the sidewalk ends....<br /></span></span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-66688306284224373482009-10-08T01:29:00.002-04:002009-10-08T01:55:28.482-04:00Small slivers flickering in the distance...<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is the second set of poems I've taken the time to type up out of a few boxes I sorted through last week. It was kinda fun to read through these...trying to remember exactly what I was thinking at the time....was I thinking...what kind of emotions I was dealing with and pouring out...some of the material here is nearly ten years old...I don't always do a lot of self editing or censoring....so some may seem rough...but I like it that way most of the time...for me this is a vehicle for expression that isn't always about being polished or pristine...the best ones...the ones I connect with after the years and relate to...are often the ones that don't always have a straight forward meaning...take from them what you will...what do they mean to you?<br />the ones titled "Magnetic" are pieces I wrote on my friend Brian's fridge using his magnetic poetry kit....that was always a good time...enjoy these...let me know what you think...<br /><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Behind the Curtain</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Last in a long line</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">of repeat offenses</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Struggle to contain the flames</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">that engulf my heart</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Eyes go blind</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">in the inky darkness</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">alive in the palpitations</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">of this cruel rhythm</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Every reaction</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">is the same as before</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">dance for the marionette</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and wonder where the strings begin</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ignorant of my own fingers</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">jerking me along</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Inopportune Realization</span></span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Eyelids snap open to darkness<br />and claustrophobic tightness<br />limbs undone<br />breath ragged and in vain<br />skin brushing smooth alloy<br />so close on all sides<br />the horror of Amontillado<br /><br />...Buried Alive...</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >A Specter Looks at a Century</span></span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Restless at the dying of the light<br />pulse quickening at the sound<br />of approaching night<br />but am I really alive?<br />or just a flashing apparition<br />illumined by the first slivers<br />of this full moon rising<br />stretching these ancient limbs<br />testing long held scars for meaning<br />Look into these eyes<br />Can you really see me?<br />or am I just imaginary...</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >...Raging Inside Me</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I am living an<br />occupational hazard<br />this constant mixture<br />of darkness and light<br />An angel with the shadow<br />of a devil inside<br />stuck in a world of<br />cyclical behavior<br />Poster child for<br />a fucked up generation<br />First one to admit<br />I still don't know myself<br />at all</span><br /><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Magnetic #1</span></span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Above his need<br />was will over vision<br />language apparatus<br />am I mad?<br />Picture running water<br />languid delirious<br />together they scream<br />recall how I dream<br />summer symphony<br />would we stop<br />did we love<br />under enormous some<br />may manipulate<br />not to cry<br />crush their moment<br />sweat blood and ask me why</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Magnetic #2</span></span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Chant at bitter death<br />black life drunk<br />love like summer<br />felt all these drive her<br />worship a moment<br />picture the diamonds<br />water light skin smell<br />lazy boy still here<br />after a thousand lies<br />blood from my sadness<br />together and delicate<br />ships stop vision<br />suited to power<br />bare arm sweat<br />void yet essential<br />I loved you<br />iron sky fall<br />friend recall<br />honey I sing<br />but I'm gone</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Magnetic #3</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language like beauty<br />languid in sunshine<br />elaborate and produce<br />madmen stare at the moon<br />manipulate and incubate<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">whisper to the flood<br />road music trips me out<br />shadow symphony in winter wind<br />about a girl beneath sweet petals<br />dreams mean eternity<br />ask me sometime<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Magnetic #4</span><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><br />Felt like I could<br />dream you and me together<br />languid beneath<br />this forest moon<br />chant away the blood lust<br />drunk on honey<br />essentially crushed<br />manipulated<br />asleep in the sun<br />pink rose petals<br />did bare love<br />let your light shine<br />delirious eternity sings<br />of delicate beauty<br />a moment gone<br />still I recall<br />spring and tiny water music<br />picture a thousand<br />I only need one<br />whisper it to me<br />love above all<br />worship through language<br />live today</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Magnetic #5</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Leave after asking<br />still I whisper<br />like a man without<br />eternity<br />summer never parts<br />showing only those<br />near the void<br />alive<br />elaborate from there<br />tell me how I was<br />dream and recall<br />this black flood like death<br />screaming within bitter moments<br />shadow language produces<br />a weak symphony<br />sordid and repulsive<br />I run to the rain<br />cool and delicate<br />enormous sun soars blue sky<br />time always sees<br />true vision</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">next post will be something different...I've been thinking about a particular subject...just haven't had the time this week to sit down and flesh out my thoughts into a coherent piece...maybe this weekend...until then...see you where the sidewalk ends...</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-81142421597173897182009-10-05T03:40:00.002-04:002009-10-05T04:35:27.674-04:00Spinning in circles with golden sparklers....<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I've been doing some cleaning</span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">lately(yes I know you're all shocked) condensing some boxes of stuff...throwing out junk...and in the midst of this I found some scattered pages of all sorts...even a few napkins, a placemat, and a check stub...that I had written poems on that I had never taken the time to add to one of my computer documents. I've gone through them and started typing the ones that make the most sense or seem to be more than just an unfinished fragment and thought I would share a few of them here. Enjoy and let me know what you think!<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Light Years</span></span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">If there was ever a reason<br />for self discovery<br />I had not discarded<br />I can't remember it now<br />There are no excuses<br />I haven't used<br />to try and bury this ideal<br />Suffocate & asphyxiate<br />this truth<br />yet I don't recall being happier<br />blind & bored<br />just unaware & unconcerned<br />The faintest glimmer changed everything<br />beginning this awkward secret journey<br />plumbing the depths<br />of my stained consciousness<br />and awakening the revelation<br />that I never knew<br />the meaning of the darkness<br />until I truly saw the light<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Secondhand Oasis<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I watched it all crumble<br />and wondered why I never noticed<br />the sand that shifts around my feet<br />Strange how this temporary blindness<br />can hide this desert from me<br />I could've sworn this was a mountain<br />and yet this blistering breeze<br />has carried away every leg I thought to stand on<br />awhisper floats past<br />tickling my ear<br />and as I tilt to listen<br />eyes greet light<br />and the pain of true vision<br /><br />So my world is falling down<br />soon to be a fading memory<br />But somehow it feels good to be a failure<br />otherwise there would be no second chances<br />no time to really see</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Stained Glass</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >So often I ask myself<br />where the breaking point lies<br />How far I must endure<br />this overbearing charade<br />of a life I gave up living<br />Exhausted of trying to please<br />these dressed to kill hypocrites<br />and entombed spiritual midgets<br /><br />Is the search still worth it?<br /><br />White noise and hard rain<br />taunt my aching soul<br />beckoning toward a numbing oblivion<br />and yet something<br />buried deep within my still beating heart<br />screams for relief<br /><br />Jesus where are you?<br />I was sure you'd be here<br />but all my pious exploration ever uncovered<br />was the ghost of your memory<br />I'm tired<br />but somehow still trusting<br />wanting to live<br />and You whisper<br />...Peace..Be Still....</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Questioning the Stars</span><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><br />I sometimes speak to the midnight sky<br />wondering what weight words hold<br />in the expanse between<br />the stars & the sea<br />Do I speak in vain?<br />Are my heavenly inquiries<br />merely an exercise<br />in an unperceived futility?<br />These constant questions<br />crowd this fragile faith<br />I desperately cling to<br />in my burdened state of mind<br />Yet I am alive in the mystery<br />of it all<br />vitality streaming from the hidden things<br />Enlightenment is,<br />after all,<br />only possible if you're wondering at the darkness<br />wanting something more</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Little White Lies</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Is it really for the best<br />that I think everything is fine<br />when nothing works right<br />and I understand less<br />about the way things should be<br />the more I learn<br />how things are<br />I guess it's the lie I tell myself<br />to keep away from responsibilities<br />I don't want to accept<br />for actions I only wish<br />were someone elses'<br />Regressing further into a logic<br />I pray will stave off<br />these barbarians at the gate<br />screaming insurrection<br />that makes a quickened pulse<br />course through me from this darkened heart<br />that knows what cruel logic won't admit<br />fall asleep and tell myself<br />It's all for the best</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Fevered</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Breathe<br />Take a chance and<br />inhale another moment of life<br />Please<br />I'm not ready to give in<br />and watch another slow procession<br />Breathe<br />Remember that there's more<br />than all that pulls you down<br />Please<br />I don't think this life<br />can be the same if you go<br />Breathe<br />You still have so much to do<br />so much worth experiencing<br />Please<br />I love you<br />just<br />Breathe</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Lengthening Shadows</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I wondered at<br />the substance of this life<br />moving forward<br />in a volatile environment<br />Am I just another blip<br />on the radar screen?<br />Or maybe a shadow<br />in this march of the walking dead<br />Is this it?<br />Am I content<br />to hide here from the light?<br />So I sit and ponder<br />until the last glimmer fades<br />and then doubt<br />that the light<br />was ever there at all</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >That's all for now...see you where the sidewalk ends....</span><br /></div></div>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-6881226374200017622009-09-20T00:58:00.005-04:002009-09-20T01:53:33.290-04:00A living, breathing story...<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've been following and supporting To Write Love On Her Arms(TWLOHA) since early 2006 when I saw Anberlin in concert and noticed their bass player was wearing one of their T-Shirts. At the time I thought it was just a band but liked the sound of it so I determined I would look them up when I got home. Wasn't I surprised to learn that they were not a band at all but something altogether new. What started as a small group of people helping a friend and telling that story has since turned into an international movement with the potential of reaching millions. The thing that has always struck a chord with me is the way TWLOHA bridges the stories of peoples' lives together and proclaims to everyone "you are not alone. your story is important and we are here to share in it with you." It doesn't matter who you are or where you've been, you have a story to tell and there are people out there that want to hear it and want to share theirs with you as well and with it - Hope.<br /><br />There is hope. There is a story out there that you and I are living right now that can be an inspiration to someone...if we are willing to tell it. I'll be honest with you...I don't have a lot of answers most of the time. I make choices that I sometimes wind up wishing I could somehow find a magic "undo" button for...days that I wish were done on an etch-a-sketch so I could shake it and clear it and pretend like it never happened. It happens to everyone. that's part of living and part of the story. I know I may be oversimplifying some of the effects our choices have, but that's an altogether different and lengthy conversation...and not really the point I'm trying to make.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We seem to have this tendency to believe that our lives are not nearly as exciting or as important as those we see around us...or the ones we read about in the magazines or watch on TV. True, some people might go the complete opposite direction and think the world revolves around them and them only, but what I seem to see the most in people I meet or get to know is this minimization of themselves...sometimes to the point where they don't think that they matter to anyone and I think that's what gets to me the most...it tugs at me....because everyone matters,</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> every single one of us. Our stories need to be heard and shared...all our joy and laughter and tears and pain....we need the connection....we need to know that we are not alone in our experiences. The only way for that to really happen is for us to start sharing our story...and sharing in the stories of those around us.<br /><br />for more information on TWLOHA or to give your support/get involved go here: </span></span><a href="http://www.twloha.com"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://www.twloha.com</span></span></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />See you where the sidewalk ends...<br /></span></span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7442810743437089115.post-88893139343556900192009-09-12T02:33:00.002-04:002009-09-12T03:18:01.780-04:00Fresh breaking waves of the digital sea...<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Last weekend I went out to see the movie Gamer. I was really intrigued by the little bits and pieces I'd seen in the trailers for the film and wanted to see how the ideas would play out. I have to say that I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone, but I may give away some details so if you really want to see it without any bias then you might want to hold off on reading this until later. That being said I thought the movie was fairly good overall, although I felt they overkilled the gratuitous sexual content and could've spent some more time digging into the questions and themes they were trying to develop.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I'll break it down for you as simply as I can without giving too much away...Imagine a time not too far into the future where technology has made large strides in the arena of "virtual" reality. The first big step came with the introduction of a single chip cell that could be implanted into a human brain that would then replicate itself and come with the ability to receive signals from an outside electronic source; in effect making the newly chipped individual able to be controlled by someone else. This new technology is first introduced to consumers to be used in the format of a new program like The Sims or Second Life, but instead of creating a new virtual avatar, someone signs up to get paid to be another person's character and has to do and say whatever the person controlling them makes them. this becomes wildly successful and the technology is expanded to create a type of war game filled with prison inmates being controlled by others, and if they can survive 30 matches they win their freedom.<br /><br />Anymore would simply be giving the whole movie; but what really got me thinking, and what I wish the filmmakers had spent more time on instead of hedonism and nudity, is the questions the very idea of technologically altering our physical make up brings. Are we really willing to sacrifice our humanity for a possible technological fountain of youth? Are there really people out there willing to allow themselves to be altered in a way that would allow someone else to control their every word and move for a preset period of time in exchange for a paycheck; even if it meant that they could be made to dress or act or speak in ways that they wouldn't dream of on their own? And what would drive someone else to actually pay for the rights to control one of the others; to act in ways through them that they couldn't on their own?<br /><br />The biggest question encompasses all of the others: What does it mean to be human if we can make ourselves into something beyond it, good or bad? I mean the potential is there in what is being developed today to have impacts in the arena of health and medicine that would be beneficial to the entire world and is certainly a good thing, but those same things also might have a potential to be used badly. There are a lot of people today that play The Sims and visit Second Life and I wouldn't say that either of these are bad things, but there is the potential in both for it to be turned into a reality that the individual confuses with or even prefers to their real lives. If you could join a program where you had the ability to physically control another human being in a life or death situation, and your actions would determine whether they lived or died...would you? Would you want someone controlling you in the same situation and not have the ability to control the outcome?<br /><br />I'm really just thinking out loud here...I don't necessarily have the answers to these questions...and maybe that's part of it...dialogue and discussion....open conversation about the direction our society is moving at a rapid pace...<br /><br />What does it mean to be human?<br /></span></span>Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04614777631402120960noreply@blogger.com0