I'd hate to be convicted by this jury

I have never had to do jury duty before. My Dad did once. He wasn't allowed to tell me anything that happened due to security (it was a high profile case).

Keeping quiet, wouldn't be a problem with this jury member... talk about crazy.

Beautiful Things

Whilst on one of my infamous CD shopping sprees at the Treasure House, I picked up Gungor's CD Beautiful Things.

I'm impressed. Great CD, buy it. I could talk all about the songs and how they have ministered to me, but I'm not. I am going to talk about the album art. That's right... the album art. I have never really seen album art convey a message before... but Gungor has changed that.

A quick glance at the cover and it looks like a bunch of flowers. Look closer, skulls, guns and drugs are making up those flowers... what's with that?

Well whether or not this was the desired result, here's what it means to me.

We [humans] are sinful, fallen beings. Wars, drug addictions, porn, that is what we default too. Despite this fact God still loves us, takes us and makes these beautiful pictures out of us, we are still sinful, fallen beings, but something more. We become Beautiful Things in Gods eyes, mosaics if you will.

That's impacted me.

This song sums it up...

Goldstream's Green River

Talk about bizarre. At first I thought this was a joke... not so.

Some scientists ran some tests and they figure someone dumped some dye called Fluorescein into the water.

Thankfully they think it's non-toxic, but all the same, talk about a bad (and dangerous) prank.

New Years Resolutions 2011

O.K, New Year's was a few days ago, but it's taken me this long to come up with a resolution!

I usually don't bother making any, mainly because I make them all year long. This year is different.

I saw a chart in the Christian Harold about reading the Bible in one year. I've read the entire Bible before, but I usually miss certain books when doing my regular devotions (Leviticus). So this year I figure I'll do the Bible in one year. It's hopefully going to provide some incites into some books (Leviticus) that I have never noticed before and hey, any resolution involving God, works for me!

I'll keep you posted as to how it goes...

U.F.O (...no not the Larry Norman song).

Happy New Year!
This New Year's weekend was a very normal one for me. I Listened to the Top 50 and then went to bed at 10:00... end New Year's Eve. New Year's Day we went over to my Grandma's for a dinner, which is where the title for this blog entry comes in (no I didn't see an alien on the way there). We watched a Christian movie called Unidentified.
A quick plot summery - Two journalists start to look into the possibility of U.F.O's and abductions.
I liked the film.


Firstly: Acting was good.

Secondly: The story was interesting and kept you guessing.

Thirdly: It had Rebecka St. James in it.

It provided a spin on U.F.Os that I had never concidered before and made for some interesting conversations afterward... it seems people put more thought to the subject then I realized.

Check out the trailer here

This Christmas

Something strange has happened to me this year. Two things actually.

Firstly, I'm enjoying The Little Drummer Boy. I won't lie, I have always despised this song. This year though something has changed... I've actually been enjoying the song, turning it up when it comes on LIFE even!!! What's up with that?

The second thing is I don't want anything for Christmas.

As a young child (5 or 6 if you must know) my Mom had told me that "some day, I'll know that it is better to give than to receive". (This was her way of getting out of the question "What do you want for Christmas")? I thought she was crazy... there would always be an action figure, LEGO® set or toy car that I'd want... not so. In fact I'm looking forward to giving more than ever.

I don't really need anything, and everything that I want is ridiculously expensive (hobbies are pricey... ask a musician). The point of Christmas is Christ and I think I know that now. More than ever.

So the only item on my wish list this year is socks... and a CD with Little Drummer Boy on it!

The Best of 2010

Christmas time is here. It's everywhere you go. Tinsel, tin foil, Christmas cheer. I have officially finished Christmas shopping, but in the event you haven't, here are a few gift suggestions for the music lovers on your list.

House of Heroes - Suburba. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this record. The whole project is about growing up in Suburban America, the dreams that we have and the need for God in it all. Great Album. Plus you can hear God Save the Foolish Kings over and over and over and ove......

Jars of Clay - The Shelter. This wasn't my favorite cd of 2010 (see above) but it is still solid. It features a ton of artists. I counted them one day, but I forget how many there where... 17 cameos?

Group 1 Crew - Outta Space Love. This cd marked a major change for everyone's favorite hip-hop act from Florida. They went from a mixed bag of styles to a dance/urban/mo-town sound. A good listen.

Anberlin - Dark Is The Way Light Is The Place. O.K. I don't own this cd. But, in my defense I have listened to it. It is arguably my favorite Anberlin cd. Very melodic, yet they turn it up when appropriate.

Charmaine - Love Reality. Once again I don't own this record yet (**hint** **hint**), but it's really good. Charmaine is able to deliver a power pop/techno hybrid that is music to my ears (and most critic's ears).

David Crowder* Band - Church Music. O.K Church Music came out last year... but it is a really good album...

And these are my "pleasant surprises" for the year--

Rend Collective Experiment - Organic Family Hymnal. Who? Ya that is what I said. But after buying the cd, I became a fan. R.C.E. comes from Ireland, which becomes evedent in their music. David Crowder is even an honorary member!

Future of Forestry - Travel I, II & III. I had heard of Future of Forestry while watching one of their music videos in the Treasure House. Then I forgot about them. Then I got Travel I,II and III (a 3 ep collection). Wow was I impressed. They rock, that's all I can say. These eps are ambient and imaginative with some interesting twists.

There you have it, my favorite cds of the year. In no way am I saying that these are the best, they are however the best that I have heard. If there is a cd that you'd recommend, let me know!