I've always liked Journey.
Even back in my "rap music is the only cool music" stage, I remember having a cassette tape with different rap songs on it, and right smack in the middle of the tape, there was Journey's "Don't Stop Believing".
No matter where you are, it seems that when "DSB" comes on, everybody starts singing.
The last time I remember hearing it was when me and some of my buds were out on a "Fellas Night Out".
We had gone to the Atlanta Roller Derby to watch a bout. One of my boys had done some refereeing for them in the past. If you know anything about Roller Derby, they all have nicknames, even the refs. His was "Uncle Buck Nekkid". I just thought you should know that.
Then we went to Manuel's Tavern for dinner and socializing.
We then walked down N. Highland Ave. to the Dark Horse Tavern.
Underneath the Dark Horse, there is a place called 10 High.
A few nights a week, 10 High hosts "Metalsome", live band karaoke.
This is unlike anything I had seen before.
There's this rocking band that plays along while whoever wants to, grabs the mike and wails.
I'm not talking B-52's or John Denver here.
There were songs by Metallica, Faith No More, Pearl Jam, and Buck Cherry, among others.
As soft as it got was "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams and this one by Journey.
It was two girls that chose these two.
Of course, everybody in the place sang along.
None of my group "performed" that night, but we decided to pick a song and be ready for next time.
Now, should I go with Green Day or Billy Idol?
Decisions, decisions.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
J.S. Bach-Mass in B Minor, BWV 232/ Agnes Dei
My friend, Alan Knox, asked a stirring question earlier this week.
He asked, "Do we prefer our Jesus to stay in a manger instead of outside an empty tomb?"
His discussion can be found in his blog at
http://www.alanknox.net/2011/04/do-we-prefer-our-jesus-to-stay-in-a-manger-instead-of-outside-an-empty-tomb/
This question has haunted me all week.
Of course, you can't have one without the other, but, maybe Easter would be the more appropriate time to exchange gifts in honor of the One that gave the ultimate gift.
I know that my celebration of Holy Week hasn't been much of a celebration thus far.
However, I have started gathering some information from different websites on great ways to celebrate and reflect on the Passion, for next year.
You'll have to tune in next year to see how I'm doing.
I pray all have a great Good Friday and a safe Happy Easter.
It's Friday...but Sunday's coming.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
He asked, "Do we prefer our Jesus to stay in a manger instead of outside an empty tomb?"
His discussion can be found in his blog at
http://www.alanknox.net/2011/04/do-we-prefer-our-jesus-to-stay-in-a-manger-instead-of-outside-an-empty-tomb/
This question has haunted me all week.
Of course, you can't have one without the other, but, maybe Easter would be the more appropriate time to exchange gifts in honor of the One that gave the ultimate gift.
I know that my celebration of Holy Week hasn't been much of a celebration thus far.
However, I have started gathering some information from different websites on great ways to celebrate and reflect on the Passion, for next year.
You'll have to tune in next year to see how I'm doing.
I pray all have a great Good Friday and a safe Happy Easter.
It's Friday...but Sunday's coming.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Alan Jackson- The Old Rugged Cross
Next week is Holy Week.
I guess the older that I get, the more the word "sacrifice" means to me.
I think of some of the sacrifices my folks had to make so that my life would be easier.
I think of the sacrifices that American troops across the globe, as well as their families back home, make to insure my freedom.
Some have paid the highest price.
And finally, I think of the Ultimate Sacrifice that was made over 2000 years ago, on a hill, in the Middle East.
A sacrifice, not only to make my life easier, or to give me freedom, (which by the way it has done), but to also secure my eternity.
The cross.
The brutal symbol of punishment and execution has become the sign pointing to true liberty and mercy for all.
I guess the older that I get, the more the word "sacrifice" means to me.
I think of some of the sacrifices my folks had to make so that my life would be easier.
I think of the sacrifices that American troops across the globe, as well as their families back home, make to insure my freedom.
Some have paid the highest price.
And finally, I think of the Ultimate Sacrifice that was made over 2000 years ago, on a hill, in the Middle East.
A sacrifice, not only to make my life easier, or to give me freedom, (which by the way it has done), but to also secure my eternity.
The cross.
The brutal symbol of punishment and execution has become the sign pointing to true liberty and mercy for all.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
They Might Be Giants-Meet The Elements
When I was in chiropractic school, I was able to live at home with my parents.
That's kind of a "good news/ bad news" scenario.
On one hand, I saved about $50,000 in student loans for housing. Good.
On the other hand, I lived with my parents.
Just kidding my folks are pretty awesome.
But because I chose to live at home, I commuted from College Park to Marietta about 5 days a week, for about 3 and a half years.
During this time, I was listening to alot of Album 88, the college-run radio station out of Georgia State University.
There was one particular DJ that I enjoyed listening to that played some of my favorites.
Everyday at the end of his show, he would play "Birdhouse in your Soul" by They Might Be Giants.
I remember when he was graduating and on his last radio show for the university, hearing him play his "swan song" for the last time.
Pardon while I reminisce.
Alright, I know.
It's true. The Giants are quirky.
But now that they are making kid's music, and good quality kid's music, I think their quirkiness is...well oddly awesome.
Check it out and let me know what you think.
That's kind of a "good news/ bad news" scenario.
On one hand, I saved about $50,000 in student loans for housing. Good.
On the other hand, I lived with my parents.
Just kidding my folks are pretty awesome.
But because I chose to live at home, I commuted from College Park to Marietta about 5 days a week, for about 3 and a half years.
During this time, I was listening to alot of Album 88, the college-run radio station out of Georgia State University.
There was one particular DJ that I enjoyed listening to that played some of my favorites.
Everyday at the end of his show, he would play "Birdhouse in your Soul" by They Might Be Giants.
I remember when he was graduating and on his last radio show for the university, hearing him play his "swan song" for the last time.
Pardon while I reminisce.
Alright, I know.
It's true. The Giants are quirky.
But now that they are making kid's music, and good quality kid's music, I think their quirkiness is...well oddly awesome.
Check it out and let me know what you think.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Bing Crosby-Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's An Irish Lullaby)
33 days.
That's how long Ella lived in this world.
I saw her last night.
So small and so pink, lying motionless in a tiny wooden box.
I hadn't seen or talked to John, probably since high school.
We played soccer together as kids and went to school for 3 years together.
We did a little hanging out back then, but he was better friends with Lee.
Lee's wife, Darlene, sent me a message on Tuesday to tell me about Ella.
It appears that after a week, John and his wife, Mira, noticed that something was wrong.
She had a rare disease, that just a few short weeks later, claimed her young, fragile life.
What do you say to someone that is going through that?
That's what I was asking myself as I was driving to the funeral home.
I realized that it probably doesn't really matter what I say.
Today, I also realize that I needed to go see her for myself, just as much as I needed to show love and support to John and his family.
You see, the whole way home, I tried to reason with God...that He somehow made a mistake.
That led me to question some of my foundational beliefs in God.
If God is perfect and holy and good, and God created everything, where did evil come from? The Scriptures say that nothing evil comes from God, so it wasn't making sense to me.
I couldn't let it go. I searched through different passages and commentaries until I found John McArthur's words: "When God created angels and God created humans, he gave them intelligence. He gave them reason, and he gave them choice.And there is a sequence. I put those words in that order for a purpose. Intelligence gave them the ability to understand things. Reason gave them the ability to process that understanding toward behavior. And choice gave them the freedom to determine that behavior. Intelligence, reason, and choice. Bottom line: With what they knew, and with the ability they had to process that information, they would be brought to a choice. And whether angels or men, they would have the choice either to obey God or not to obey God."
I had heard this before, but what I read next brought me back.
"Evil is not a created thing. Evil is not a substance. Evil is not an entity. Evil is not a being. Evil is not a force. Evil is not some floating spirit. Evil is a lack of moral perfection. God created absolute perfection. Wherever a lack of that exists, sin exists. And that cannot exist in the nature of God or in anything that God makes. Evil comes into existence when God's creatures fall short of the standard of moral perfection."
Thank you, Lord, for Ella's life; for her parents, John and Mira; and for her Creator.
Give them peace during this extremely difficult time.
And, thank you, for your patience with your kids.
Especially me.
Ella Marie Bynum
Born: February 14, 2011
Died: March 19, 2011
That's how long Ella lived in this world.
I saw her last night.
So small and so pink, lying motionless in a tiny wooden box.
I hadn't seen or talked to John, probably since high school.
We played soccer together as kids and went to school for 3 years together.
We did a little hanging out back then, but he was better friends with Lee.
Lee's wife, Darlene, sent me a message on Tuesday to tell me about Ella.
It appears that after a week, John and his wife, Mira, noticed that something was wrong.
She had a rare disease, that just a few short weeks later, claimed her young, fragile life.
What do you say to someone that is going through that?
That's what I was asking myself as I was driving to the funeral home.
I realized that it probably doesn't really matter what I say.
Today, I also realize that I needed to go see her for myself, just as much as I needed to show love and support to John and his family.
You see, the whole way home, I tried to reason with God...that He somehow made a mistake.
That led me to question some of my foundational beliefs in God.
If God is perfect and holy and good, and God created everything, where did evil come from? The Scriptures say that nothing evil comes from God, so it wasn't making sense to me.
I couldn't let it go. I searched through different passages and commentaries until I found John McArthur's words: "When God created angels and God created humans, he gave them intelligence. He gave them reason, and he gave them choice.And there is a sequence. I put those words in that order for a purpose. Intelligence gave them the ability to understand things. Reason gave them the ability to process that understanding toward behavior. And choice gave them the freedom to determine that behavior. Intelligence, reason, and choice. Bottom line: With what they knew, and with the ability they had to process that information, they would be brought to a choice. And whether angels or men, they would have the choice either to obey God or not to obey God."
I had heard this before, but what I read next brought me back.
"Evil is not a created thing. Evil is not a substance. Evil is not an entity. Evil is not a being. Evil is not a force. Evil is not some floating spirit. Evil is a lack of moral perfection. God created absolute perfection. Wherever a lack of that exists, sin exists. And that cannot exist in the nature of God or in anything that God makes. Evil comes into existence when God's creatures fall short of the standard of moral perfection."
Thank you, Lord, for Ella's life; for her parents, John and Mira; and for her Creator.
Give them peace during this extremely difficult time.
And, thank you, for your patience with your kids.
Especially me.
Ella Marie Bynum
Born: February 14, 2011
Died: March 19, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Etta James- At Last
It's finally here.
I've been waiting all year, since last year, that is.
March Madness is upon us.
There was a time in my life when I didn't give a rip about college basketball.
Then came that fateful night.
It was March 28, 1992.
I was hanging out with my boys at Hooters, minding my own business.
There was alot of people there that night yelling at the TVs.
A game was on.
It was Duke vs. Kentucky.
I wasn't paying much attention at first, but as the game went on, even a casual observer could tell that this one was going down to the wire.
Back and forth it went.
Then came overtime. Both teams wanted it.
At the end of the game, Duke trailed Kentucky 103-102 with 2.1 seconds left in the game.
I was paying attention at this point.
Duke had the ball, but had to travel the length of the court with not a lot of time.
Grant Hill threw the ball in. He tossed a pass the length of the court to Christian Laettner.
Laettner caught the ball, dribbled once, turned, and at the buzzer, sank what has been called simply "The Shot", to give the Blue Devils the win.
I remember there was a guy at Hooter's that I didn't care so much for that was a Kentucky fan. After listening to his smart remarks all night, I had decided that I was hoping Duke won.
After they won the way that they did, I was a fan.
Incidentally, Duke went on to defeat Michigan that year to win the National Championship.
I've been waiting all year, since last year, that is.
March Madness is upon us.
There was a time in my life when I didn't give a rip about college basketball.
Then came that fateful night.
It was March 28, 1992.
I was hanging out with my boys at Hooters, minding my own business.
There was alot of people there that night yelling at the TVs.
A game was on.
It was Duke vs. Kentucky.
I wasn't paying much attention at first, but as the game went on, even a casual observer could tell that this one was going down to the wire.
Back and forth it went.
Then came overtime. Both teams wanted it.
At the end of the game, Duke trailed Kentucky 103-102 with 2.1 seconds left in the game.
I was paying attention at this point.
Duke had the ball, but had to travel the length of the court with not a lot of time.
Grant Hill threw the ball in. He tossed a pass the length of the court to Christian Laettner.
Laettner caught the ball, dribbled once, turned, and at the buzzer, sank what has been called simply "The Shot", to give the Blue Devils the win.
I remember there was a guy at Hooter's that I didn't care so much for that was a Kentucky fan. After listening to his smart remarks all night, I had decided that I was hoping Duke won.
After they won the way that they did, I was a fan.
Incidentally, Duke went on to defeat Michigan that year to win the National Championship.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Linkin Park- In The End
Back in college, my friend, Rob and I, would spend most nights at a club in midtown Atlanta called The Masquerade.
The club is actually still there.
It's kind of a dark, spooky place, where you feel like you should probably shower before and after you go in.
The club has three levels: Heaven is upstairs, where live bands played often. Purgatory was on the middle level, where there was a game room and places to sit and chat.
Hell was the bottom level, where DJ's would play the latest house, techno, industrial, and other dance music.
It definitely drew an interesting crowd.
But it was fun and that was our spot.
It also was our spot partly because another one of our boys, Tony, worked there as security.
In fact, one night, after lingering too long at the open bar, Rob wouldn't quit stage-diving and Tony threatened to throw him out.
We saw some cool bands there.
The Skatenigs. Spiritualized. The Jesus and Mary Chain.
One of my favorites was Stuck Mojo.
Stuck Mojo were pioneers in the rap/metal fusion.
Their shows were always very lively.
Because of them, groups like Rage Against The Machine, Limp Bizkit, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Linkin Park rose to popularity in the early to mid 90's.
Here's some Linkin Park mashing it up with one of their chart-toppers.
The club is actually still there.
It's kind of a dark, spooky place, where you feel like you should probably shower before and after you go in.
The club has three levels: Heaven is upstairs, where live bands played often. Purgatory was on the middle level, where there was a game room and places to sit and chat.
Hell was the bottom level, where DJ's would play the latest house, techno, industrial, and other dance music.
It definitely drew an interesting crowd.
But it was fun and that was our spot.
It also was our spot partly because another one of our boys, Tony, worked there as security.
In fact, one night, after lingering too long at the open bar, Rob wouldn't quit stage-diving and Tony threatened to throw him out.
We saw some cool bands there.
The Skatenigs. Spiritualized. The Jesus and Mary Chain.
One of my favorites was Stuck Mojo.
Stuck Mojo were pioneers in the rap/metal fusion.
Their shows were always very lively.
Because of them, groups like Rage Against The Machine, Limp Bizkit, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Linkin Park rose to popularity in the early to mid 90's.
Here's some Linkin Park mashing it up with one of their chart-toppers.
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