Let's face it, if we're all honest with ourselves we all have fantasies of some kind. Another word for fantasy can be meditation. It's all focused thinking. However, I believe fantasy involves more imagination and creativity than meditation. Either way, it's all about our minds exploring possibilities. What if....
Why do we have fantasies? I believe it is because we all are wired up for more than what we are and where we are at right now. We live in a world that isn't exactly what God meant, so we struggle. When reality gets a little overwhelming, we need rest. Fantasy is just one way to rest from reality. Some may pray, others may read Scripture, still others meditate.
I think it can be okay to have fantasies. When I have them, I tend to keep God in the mix. When I do this, then all is well. So I say go ahead with those fantasies and be sure to keep God somewhere in the mix. This way, it will keep your imagination in check.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
small interventions...viral effect
Currently my church is doing a message series called Viral Effect. The whole idea is that you can communicate something at a small level and it will most likely travel at an exponential rate. We see this kind of thing in Cyberspace. Whether in the land of blogs, Youtube, Myspace, Facebook,...the list goes on. This all has me thinking about my part in His whole grand epic drama.
I'm small, that's it. My part is small, but still important. I've began to pay attention to how little things can have a significant impact. It might not seem like it at the time, but it does have an impact. Jesus did say that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can say to this mountain 'move from here to there' and it will move and nothing will be impossible for us. This all says to me that a tiny bit can go a long long way. So I compare myself to a single grain of sand.
A gain of sand is tiny. To see such a thing requires concentration or even magnification. When a grain of sand works its way inside an oyster, something wonderful happens. After much time, a beautiful pearl forms. Now to the oyster, that sand is irritating. So yeah, I'm like a grain of sand. I'm small, I can be irritating, but through all the tiny little interventions I engage something beautiful can emerge.
One of my pastors has talked about dreaming big. I suppose in his position that would make sense. For me, small is good.
I'm small, that's it. My part is small, but still important. I've began to pay attention to how little things can have a significant impact. It might not seem like it at the time, but it does have an impact. Jesus did say that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can say to this mountain 'move from here to there' and it will move and nothing will be impossible for us. This all says to me that a tiny bit can go a long long way. So I compare myself to a single grain of sand.
A gain of sand is tiny. To see such a thing requires concentration or even magnification. When a grain of sand works its way inside an oyster, something wonderful happens. After much time, a beautiful pearl forms. Now to the oyster, that sand is irritating. So yeah, I'm like a grain of sand. I'm small, I can be irritating, but through all the tiny little interventions I engage something beautiful can emerge.
One of my pastors has talked about dreaming big. I suppose in his position that would make sense. For me, small is good.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
I'm not perfect by any stretch
I've heard it said before many a time from my pastors, "...you're meant for so much more." This says to me that I'm capable of so much more than I am. The hard part about all of this is when I cannot accomplish a task I want to say to my pastors, "Yeah, right...sorry, I don't believe that." I question, how can I be capable of so much more when I can't even get __________ right? (fill in the blank) Then all the limitations of this world come pressing in hard. I feel this world pushing...no, clawing at my soul saying things like "You aren't much value are you?" Yuk. The Spirit reminds me of His word, His truth, but I still can't help being drug into a fierce battle with Satan! Heh...Satan's like that ya know. He looks for any opportunity to try and take me out. HA HA...Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world! Or as Carmen would say it, "Greater is He who is in me than the snake I'm starring down!!!" Heh, and I even have a phobia of snakes.
As I look at my dog, Bella, and meditate upon the relationship she has with me, her master, it hits me like a ton of bricks. This relationship is EXACTLY the kind of relationship I have with my Master, Jesus Christ. When my wife and I leave the house, we put Bella in a create (a cage). As we leave the house, she'll yip and bark and whine. When we come home, she yips and barks and whines and paws at the door/gate of the crate. She so passionately wants to get out so she can run free and fully embrace her master. Wow...this is exactly how I am. This world is that create. It's not perfect. It's broken and it limits me from being all my Master made me to be. I can't wait until He comes back for me to let me out and be free to fully embrace my Master...and be EVERYTHING He made me to be.
As I look at my dog, Bella, and meditate upon the relationship she has with me, her master, it hits me like a ton of bricks. This relationship is EXACTLY the kind of relationship I have with my Master, Jesus Christ. When my wife and I leave the house, we put Bella in a create (a cage). As we leave the house, she'll yip and bark and whine. When we come home, she yips and barks and whines and paws at the door/gate of the crate. She so passionately wants to get out so she can run free and fully embrace her master. Wow...this is exactly how I am. This world is that create. It's not perfect. It's broken and it limits me from being all my Master made me to be. I can't wait until He comes back for me to let me out and be free to fully embrace my Master...and be EVERYTHING He made me to be.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band verses the real thing
As I've noted in my previous post, I have a PS2 now and with it the games Guitar Hero III and Rock Band. I've been reading a lot of different thoughts about these games in comparison with playing the real instruments. I myself have played the drums as well as various brass instruments, the baritone mostly, and the saxophones (bari and tenor I own) for years with various groups (concert band, jazz band, drum corps). I'd like to offer my perspective after playing GH and Rock Band myself.
As a drummer, GH/Rock Band on guitar or bass comes naturally. For me it's all about the rhythm. Once I know the rhythm, I can soar! I can even get to where I don't even need to look at the scrolling "notes" coming at me. I can simply listen to the music and know what is coming next. Pressing the fret buttons on the controller is, for me, not any different than pressing the keys on my bari sax. Again, it's all about the rhythm. Operating the strum bar (which is nothing more than a rocker switch) is, for me again, not any different that tapping out rhythms with my hands on either any surface or an actual drum, i.e. conga, bongo, djimbe. Again, it's all about the rhythm.
Now, for the drum pads of Rock Band. They are not any different than any digital drums on the market today. The kick drum pedal is the only thing that could be made a bit more sturdy. Otherwise, the drumming experience is no different than the real thing. The only thing I can say about the drum pads is the static configuration, meaning you can't reposition any of them. I'd like to be able to move each pad independently of each other configuring them to a more real feel of a drum set. Other than this, the drumming experience is fairly accurate. Playing a song for the first time is a challenge because the player is in fact sight-reading. I'm thankful for the practice mode. This allows me to learn and practice the part so when I actually perform it I know what I'm doing. Some fills are tricky and the practice does well.
Singing the vocals of Rock Band isn't any different than karaoke. My wife has done pretty well with this. She has always enjoyed karaoke anyway. Now she can do it with me playing along on either guitar or drums.
The scrolling meter bar is a plus for me as a drummer. The thick lines are the down beats with the thin lines in between representing the up beats. The tricky part is if you have a syncopated rhythm. It's challenging to determine just what the rhythm is by not having actually music notes in front of me. Fortunately for me I can listen to it to learn what it is. Thank God for practice modes.
So from a percussionist/wind instrument players' perspective, Guitar Hero and Rock Band is an enjoyable experience and quite accurate with regard to vocal and drums. I can agree with the real guitar players' perspective in that the guitar controller is nothing like the real thing, but it's still fun for those who don't play real guitar. I can say that I am inspired and may one day have the $$$ to buy a real guitar and learn to play it...God only knows.
So there's my 2 cents worth. I hope this helps.
Peace.
As a drummer, GH/Rock Band on guitar or bass comes naturally. For me it's all about the rhythm. Once I know the rhythm, I can soar! I can even get to where I don't even need to look at the scrolling "notes" coming at me. I can simply listen to the music and know what is coming next. Pressing the fret buttons on the controller is, for me, not any different than pressing the keys on my bari sax. Again, it's all about the rhythm. Operating the strum bar (which is nothing more than a rocker switch) is, for me again, not any different that tapping out rhythms with my hands on either any surface or an actual drum, i.e. conga, bongo, djimbe. Again, it's all about the rhythm.
Now, for the drum pads of Rock Band. They are not any different than any digital drums on the market today. The kick drum pedal is the only thing that could be made a bit more sturdy. Otherwise, the drumming experience is no different than the real thing. The only thing I can say about the drum pads is the static configuration, meaning you can't reposition any of them. I'd like to be able to move each pad independently of each other configuring them to a more real feel of a drum set. Other than this, the drumming experience is fairly accurate. Playing a song for the first time is a challenge because the player is in fact sight-reading. I'm thankful for the practice mode. This allows me to learn and practice the part so when I actually perform it I know what I'm doing. Some fills are tricky and the practice does well.
Singing the vocals of Rock Band isn't any different than karaoke. My wife has done pretty well with this. She has always enjoyed karaoke anyway. Now she can do it with me playing along on either guitar or drums.
The scrolling meter bar is a plus for me as a drummer. The thick lines are the down beats with the thin lines in between representing the up beats. The tricky part is if you have a syncopated rhythm. It's challenging to determine just what the rhythm is by not having actually music notes in front of me. Fortunately for me I can listen to it to learn what it is. Thank God for practice modes.
So from a percussionist/wind instrument players' perspective, Guitar Hero and Rock Band is an enjoyable experience and quite accurate with regard to vocal and drums. I can agree with the real guitar players' perspective in that the guitar controller is nothing like the real thing, but it's still fun for those who don't play real guitar. I can say that I am inspired and may one day have the $$$ to buy a real guitar and learn to play it...God only knows.
So there's my 2 cents worth. I hope this helps.
Peace.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I'm rockin' now!!!!
My birthday was this last Friday. My wife, whom I love soooooooooooooo much, gave me a PlayStation 2 along with Rock Band!!! Did I mention I love her so much? Since I have a passion for music, I really enjoy the experience of Rock Band. I also got myself Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
I'm having a blast!!!
I'm having a blast!!!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
What can happen when God shows up?
On February 29, my wife and I were involved in an auto accident in downtown South Bend. After we submitted our claim with the auto insurance company, State Farm, the car (2001 Pontiac Grand Prix) was deemed a total loss. State Farm sent money to the credit union to pay off the rest of the loan and then they are sending my wife and I the remaining amount which totals the current market value of the car, about $6,000.00. I owed about $4,000.00 to the credit union, so we get about $2,000.00. Just yesterday the salvage company came and took the car away. This looks like a bad thing.
This all was a blessing in disguise.
I took the day off on Tuesday to make sure we had all our ducks in order with State Farm, the title transfer, and all that. Then we decided to go to Tyler's in Niles to see what they had. We were connected with a young sales person named Adam and he began us on a journey that I didn't even expect. My wife and I were shown a few different cars. I did find out that Adam is also a follower of Christ...BONUS! To make a long story short, God showed up yesterday and worked all things together so that my wife and I drove home a 2003 Chrysler 300M! This car is black with black leather interior and loaded! More so than what we had in the Grand Prix. If you clicked on the link, you can see this car has a current market value of around $14,000.00. I was able to get it for around $10,500! Indeed, I'm convinced God showed up yesterday and made all of it happen the way it did. I can say this, Becka is sure smiling! :)
This all was a blessing in disguise.
I took the day off on Tuesday to make sure we had all our ducks in order with State Farm, the title transfer, and all that. Then we decided to go to Tyler's in Niles to see what they had. We were connected with a young sales person named Adam and he began us on a journey that I didn't even expect. My wife and I were shown a few different cars. I did find out that Adam is also a follower of Christ...BONUS! To make a long story short, God showed up yesterday and worked all things together so that my wife and I drove home a 2003 Chrysler 300M! This car is black with black leather interior and loaded! More so than what we had in the Grand Prix. If you clicked on the link, you can see this car has a current market value of around $14,000.00. I was able to get it for around $10,500! Indeed, I'm convinced God showed up yesterday and made all of it happen the way it did. I can say this, Becka is sure smiling! :)
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Safe? Who said anything about this life being safe?
Indeed, I don't recall anyone really saying this life we live is safe. Of course, I'm really talking about the life in Christ. It's anything but safe. It's dangerous, risky, wild, and passionate. This is the very nature of life. It is an adventure. You just never know what will happen next.
Last night my wife and I went to an REO Speedwagon concert in South Bend, IN. As we were looking for a parking spot, we got hit/rubbed by another car. I had pulled into what I thought was a parking spot, but then saw the yellow paint on the curb and realized I had pulled into a crosswalk. I wasn't in a valid parking spot. So I began to back up and WHAM! The damage was not all that bad to the car. I never even saw the other car until after it all happened. This makes me think maybe the other driver was just going too fast. We waited for the police to arrive so a report could be made. After that, my wife and I were free to go. We did go to the concert.
This whole experience just proves how life is dangerous. Life can happen so quick that you don't even see it coming. This also reminded me of just how desperately dependent on God I am. I am so thankful that no one was hurt.
Last night my wife and I went to an REO Speedwagon concert in South Bend, IN. As we were looking for a parking spot, we got hit/rubbed by another car. I had pulled into what I thought was a parking spot, but then saw the yellow paint on the curb and realized I had pulled into a crosswalk. I wasn't in a valid parking spot. So I began to back up and WHAM! The damage was not all that bad to the car. I never even saw the other car until after it all happened. This makes me think maybe the other driver was just going too fast. We waited for the police to arrive so a report could be made. After that, my wife and I were free to go. We did go to the concert.
This whole experience just proves how life is dangerous. Life can happen so quick that you don't even see it coming. This also reminded me of just how desperately dependent on God I am. I am so thankful that no one was hurt.
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