Alright, so as I was proofreading my blog yesterday, as I do on a regular basis since I want to give all of you who take the time to stop by the best product possible, I read something that might need some further explanation.
When I say that going to the water park made me feel like I was going to hell every three seconds, I want the world to know that I was not checking out 14-18 year old girls. I don't think anyone who went on the trip read it that way, we joked about it all week, but I can see clearly how someone else could read it wrong. I wasn't checking anyone out. To look around at Blue Bayou Water Park and not see a 14-18 year old girl in a bikini would be kinda like looking around Blue Bayou Water Park and not seeing WATER!
So, here's the rant. Most of my girls' arguments against one piece swimsuits is that they're impossible to find, and I have to respect that. So, they ended up wearing tank tops over their bikinis, which is NOT just as good. But I have to wonder how difficult it is to try and raise a young lady in today's world who respects herself and her body and those around her.
Look at the TV and the movies. Everywhere we look we see that dressing like this and acting like this is OK, is actually the cool thing to do. Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, even squeaky clean Hilary Duff, I would never let my daughter out of the house in the things they wear. But, everyday on the TV or in the magazines there they are, hanging out all over the place, teaching young girls who want to be like them that it's ok to wear clothes that don't cover 90% of your body.
So, I understand, it's not my girls fault! You can't find a shirt that's not tight or doesn't show belly. You can't find pants that don't come down so far you can almost see...well...you know. They don't make them. So, even if girls wanted to they couldn't.
So, I guess this message is to clothing designers as much as it is girls. Anyone remember how mystery is sexy? I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but ya know what sometimes its what you DON'T see that's the turn on. For example: I think Jessica Alba is the hottest girl around simply because she hasn't shone her boobs in a movie to get to the top.
OK, so I felt like I was going to hell at the water park because of what my eyes saw. And I would have to be blind and my eyes ripped out with a soup spoon to not see it.
These days you tell a girl she looks like a prostitute and she says thank you!
Alright, a couple of "Get off my lawns", "Turn down that music's", and "This is a street not a racetrack's" and I'm officially my grandfather.
See ya, everybody,
Brad
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Louisiana BaYOO!
Greetings and Salutations One and All,
I'm back. If you weren't yourself presently aware, my grammer sucks. Also, I've been gone for a week on a mission trip to Louisianna. Here's the recap.
Unbelievable, horrific, rewarding, amazing, hilarious, heart-wrenching, exhausting. If you're interested in more detailed info, read on.
Well, a week ago Saturday I was in a wedding and Mrs. Caldwell was in another so we drove the I-70 Train together later that night. Mustoe and Adam were waiting for us at the door and after about a half an hour I was out on the floor. Not a big day, although Dru and I did have some good talks.
Sunday we drove and drove and drove and drove. I have to hand it to my van rental guy, 'cause we had a sweet ride. On the way down we watched Meet the Fockers, Karate Kid Part. 1, Ghostbusters, Star Wars: A New Hope, and some SNL dvds. We arrived in Kenner (See ya in Kenner) LA around 6:30 or 7:00. Had dinner and met with our work groups for the first time.
Monday was a short work day because of orientation. There were mainly three guys in charge, Darrel, Warren, and Tommy. Tommy moved down from Detroit or somewhere and has been sleeping on a cot in a Sunday School room for ten months. He was just recently given a part time position, before that he was all volunteer. Anyway, the orientation was not exactly uplifting. Lots of "wear your masks all the time" and "watch out for snakes". Also, a lot of "the bad element has returned". But it was good and these guys really know what they're talking about. So, we headed to work.
...And got lost. The guy in the lead, Vince, has never heard of "Being in the lead etiquette". Changing lanes without signaling, turning right on red. It was impossible. But, we eventually got to our worksite around lunch time, so we ate before we got work.
We split up the youth groups into 6 work teams for the week, which, MUSTOE, I think was a great idea. My work group was Leah, Caldwell's sister, Andy, an adult from Mustoe's church who attends Dad's church when he's in school, Anna, Tim, Sexy Lexi (Alex), Niky and Renee from Mustoe's church, Galen and Emily from my church, and Danielle from Florida. Great bunch of folks that I'm better off for having met.
Our first house, due to a not-out-fault mixup, was to be worked on by three teams until a dry wall job could be found. That's a lot of people for a tiny house. We carried out ruined furniture, the fridge, old pictures of kids birthday parties and posed by the Christmas tree. Then we started tearing down the destroyed drywall. Which, with all the reverance to a person's home I can have. Was FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!!!! So, that was fun, and that was pretty much our first day.
Like usually happens with me, everybody I first met, especially NicNic and NayNay (the girls from my group), thought I hated them at first. Although this was not the case, I spent most of the first night with my kids, joking around and playing cards. Later I explained to the girls that if I were nice to them, I could go to jail, so they understood, after telling me they thought I was a grumpy 84 year old man trapped in a 24 year old body, which sounds about right to me. But, by the end of the trip, we all loved each other like it should've been. Being down there, in LA i mean, with people you don't know, is a good way to get to know them pretty quick.
Alright, it went on like that for a two more days. One group went off to be drywalling experts, Dru!, and my team and Dustin Bryson's team continued with the house. So, within the recap, I will recap some funny/touching stories from our house.
We never met our lady, which was sad, but we did meet her mother. The first day, Galen, of course it's one of my kids, decided to help two other guys get the kitchen counter down. The other two guys knew the water was off, Galen didn't. Galen took a big old sledge hammer swing to the edge of the sink and a steady stream of water about an inch in diameter sprayed all the way across the room to the opposite wall. We took the fridge out of the kitchen window, which was kinda fun. The three muskateers, Alex, Galen and Nathan took down the cealings and had to wear funny "ET" suits that, judging from the sweat pouring off them at break time, hot as hell. It was good getting to know Dustin, he's a cool cat, although he sucks at the Cajun pronunciation game. He's kinda like Babe Ruth: he strikes out a lot, but when he gets a hold of one, it's out of the park. Niky and Renee found a bunch of change, which I said throw out of course (remember, grumpy old man) but they kept it and counted it and when it came ot 49 dollars, added a dollar of their own, which I thought was pretty cool of them. My relationship with my group solidified at the end of the second day when a water fight broke out waiting for the other group. They learned that I wasn't grumpy all the time, I'm just quiet and have that look. They also learned that about half of what I say is not to be taken seriously.
So, that's our house. From Monday to 1:00 Wednesday we completely cleaned out, gutted and swept up a house, bringing our lady one step closer to moving back into her home.
Wednesday afternoon was really cool. We took 7 vehicles, bad idea, on a tour of New Orleans. Our first stop was the 17th Street Canal, where one of the levees broke. The most fascinating thing was a row of town houses. There were three townhomes connected to each other, a hundred yard gap where nothing stood, and then four more identical townhomes on the other side of the levee break. A FOOTBALL FIELD SIZE STREACH OF HOMES, GONE. But, it was amazing to see the rebuilding process in this area, the rich side town, and compare it to where we were working. It was great to see my kid Dylan in his element, which is photography. Dylan is Dennis the Menace, Bart Simpson, and the squirrel from Over the Hedge, rolled into one and dipped into a bathtub of liquified Speed. But put a camera in his hands and he could be mistaken for an adult.
From our stop in the rebuilding rich, white neighborhood, we drove to the Ninth Ward, one of the poorest areas of our NATION let alone New Orleans. We saw the infamous house-on-top-of-a-truck. We saw a tree growing inside a car. We saw a lone tricycle in the front yard. I cannot explain to you in words what it felt like to be there, or even what it truly looked like. It looked kinda like a movie set, which Caldwell and I made a joke about which I'm sick to my stomach thinking about still. Surreal is only part of it. It's the most surreal place I've ever been, yet at the same time, it's more real than anything I've ever seen.
The Ninth Ward will not be reconstructed. It will be bulldozed. Acres and Acres of neighborhood, gone forever. Turned into a greenspace, a park across the river from the real neighborhoods, the ones worth rebuilding, the white neighborhood, the rich neighborhood.
The Ninth Ward is where we met Roosevelt. Roosevelt came riding up on his bike and asked one of our girls (who was not by herself, don't worry) if we were a church group and could we pray for him. She got an adult, and the adult found me. I thought that myself and the other adult would put our hands on Roosevelt and move off to the corner and say a prayer. But as we moved about twenty-thirty kids got in a circle around Roosevelt. We joined hands and I said a prayer. The girls were crying, the guys were trying not to and failing. As Roosevelt thanked us and turned to ride off he said, "Now I gotta go find somewhere to sleep tonight."
I need a minute after typing that, and I was there, so take a minute, there's much much more!!
After the Ninth Ward we went down to the still-intact French Quarter, which seemed to me like a dirtier Las Vegas with more culture. I didn't like it. It was 7:30 on a Wednesday night and there were guys stumbling drunk in the streets and girls in bikinis handing out jello shots on the corners. Not for me.
Thursday was another work day, and, I think, the best. Mustoe joined our work team of two groups, so I got hang out with him all day, which was nice. I'd've (that's right, the double contraction, what are you gonna do about it?) liked to work with Caldwell some but we didn't get a chance to, except of course for THE FRIDGE which I'll get to in a second. The owner was there on Thursday. She was Thai with a name like Mena, or Myna. It was pretty but I couldn't pronouce it. She was a widow, not from the flood, who lived alone in the big house. She had driven from Dallas just to be with us as we worked on her house. We only had one day here so we made a plan and got to work. Highlights: cutting my finger and actually feeling like I did something that week, the rats in the kitchen, and , of course, demolishing the bathroom in the garage. There was this built bathroom our in the garage, literally like a Water Closet. Mustoe, Nathan, Galen and myself totally smacked that thing up like Ike Turner (sorry old joke for mustoe). The ax worked the best. We swung at the wooden doors of the closet with all our might, throwing out sholders and tearing down the wood frame. Mustoe had a mis-hit, and immediately went into the Colossus Power-Up from the old X-Men video game. The next time I"m with any of you, ask me to do it for you but it looks like this aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAARGGH!
And then took off the whole door in his next swing. I tell, if there was a soundtrack to my life, it would've been playing "Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangsta" or "O Fortuna" (that opera music that's played when the ringwraiths are chasing Frodo on that elf chicks horse). It was beautiful. After we were sure that the bathroom was dead, we came out to find Mena, her son-in-law, and Dustin in the backyard looking at us like idiots.
One more story and then the water park and then we're done guys, lower your sholder and power through to the end.
Everything was going smoothly at Mena's house, until we went 'round the corner and saw a giant fridge laying on its back. We tried moving out long ways, side ways and upside down. We took the doors off the house and tried again. Nothing. When Mena said in her thick Thai that she had to take to door off to get the fridge inside, we thought she meant the back door to the house. She didn't. This fridge was not leaving the house with its doors on. Let me set this up a little. This fridge had food inside it, Milk, Mayo, Eggs, that had been through a hurricane, through a flood, and then had sat for ten months in LA heat and humidity. We decided to wait for the end of the day to get the fridge out. So, when everything else was done, and everyone else was in the vans with the air on and plenty of water, Adam Caldwell, Mustoe, Dustin, Jake and I went back inside to get the fridge. We came up with a plan and executed. Dustin pulled the doors off, we tipped it over on it's side and Jake and a kid named Tyce hoed out all the rotten, disgusting food onto a tarp. When they started hoeing, and got all that riled up and moving again, it wasn't overwhelming, it was worse. Every few breaths you'd get a mouthful of the most fowl smelling, putrid thing in the whole world. Then you'd have some ok breaths, and that fowl monster would come back. Truly gut-wrenching. We pushed the doorless beast out the back door and to the curb. Got in the trucks and drove away.
The next day I thought I was going to hell about every three seconds. We went to the Blue Bayou Water Park and all of Mustoe and my girls put on their swimsuits. My girls were prepared with t-shirts and tank tops to where over them but when I saw that Mustoe's group had not apparently heard him when we said no two-pieces (something "He just wouldn't think of") I told my girls they could do as they pleased. And so, for the next 6 hours I thought I was going straight to hell about every three seconds.
The water park, exept of the hell part, was awesome. Adam, Mustoe, Jake and I, weighed so much that we got the most air on this one ride that the lifegaurd had ever seen. And then, the most amazing three hours of my life ensued. Mustoe, rented tubes, Lazy River, Three and a Half hours. That's right, Mustoe and I spent three and a half hours after lunch innertubing round and round the lazy river. It was glorious. Different groups of kids and adults would come to see us (I'd feel like going to hell some more). We talked about stuff, and nothing. We talked and not talked, we not-talked for hours. It was awesome.
Alright, everybody, the longest blog entry in the world is finally complete. If you have a chance to go on a trip to New Orleans, go right away. It was unbelievable but I'm glad to be home.
"You must be the change you seek" -Ghandi
Too summerize this whole entry in Cajun:
Salutation
Transportation
Introductions
Communication
Deconstruction
Devastation
Repulsion
Completion
Anticipation
Damnation
Exhaustion
I'm outie 5,000, take it sleazy,
B
I'm back. If you weren't yourself presently aware, my grammer sucks. Also, I've been gone for a week on a mission trip to Louisianna. Here's the recap.
Unbelievable, horrific, rewarding, amazing, hilarious, heart-wrenching, exhausting. If you're interested in more detailed info, read on.
Well, a week ago Saturday I was in a wedding and Mrs. Caldwell was in another so we drove the I-70 Train together later that night. Mustoe and Adam were waiting for us at the door and after about a half an hour I was out on the floor. Not a big day, although Dru and I did have some good talks.
Sunday we drove and drove and drove and drove. I have to hand it to my van rental guy, 'cause we had a sweet ride. On the way down we watched Meet the Fockers, Karate Kid Part. 1, Ghostbusters, Star Wars: A New Hope, and some SNL dvds. We arrived in Kenner (See ya in Kenner) LA around 6:30 or 7:00. Had dinner and met with our work groups for the first time.
Monday was a short work day because of orientation. There were mainly three guys in charge, Darrel, Warren, and Tommy. Tommy moved down from Detroit or somewhere and has been sleeping on a cot in a Sunday School room for ten months. He was just recently given a part time position, before that he was all volunteer. Anyway, the orientation was not exactly uplifting. Lots of "wear your masks all the time" and "watch out for snakes". Also, a lot of "the bad element has returned". But it was good and these guys really know what they're talking about. So, we headed to work.
...And got lost. The guy in the lead, Vince, has never heard of "Being in the lead etiquette". Changing lanes without signaling, turning right on red. It was impossible. But, we eventually got to our worksite around lunch time, so we ate before we got work.
We split up the youth groups into 6 work teams for the week, which, MUSTOE, I think was a great idea. My work group was Leah, Caldwell's sister, Andy, an adult from Mustoe's church who attends Dad's church when he's in school, Anna, Tim, Sexy Lexi (Alex), Niky and Renee from Mustoe's church, Galen and Emily from my church, and Danielle from Florida. Great bunch of folks that I'm better off for having met.
Our first house, due to a not-out-fault mixup, was to be worked on by three teams until a dry wall job could be found. That's a lot of people for a tiny house. We carried out ruined furniture, the fridge, old pictures of kids birthday parties and posed by the Christmas tree. Then we started tearing down the destroyed drywall. Which, with all the reverance to a person's home I can have. Was FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!!!! So, that was fun, and that was pretty much our first day.
Like usually happens with me, everybody I first met, especially NicNic and NayNay (the girls from my group), thought I hated them at first. Although this was not the case, I spent most of the first night with my kids, joking around and playing cards. Later I explained to the girls that if I were nice to them, I could go to jail, so they understood, after telling me they thought I was a grumpy 84 year old man trapped in a 24 year old body, which sounds about right to me. But, by the end of the trip, we all loved each other like it should've been. Being down there, in LA i mean, with people you don't know, is a good way to get to know them pretty quick.
Alright, it went on like that for a two more days. One group went off to be drywalling experts, Dru!, and my team and Dustin Bryson's team continued with the house. So, within the recap, I will recap some funny/touching stories from our house.
We never met our lady, which was sad, but we did meet her mother. The first day, Galen, of course it's one of my kids, decided to help two other guys get the kitchen counter down. The other two guys knew the water was off, Galen didn't. Galen took a big old sledge hammer swing to the edge of the sink and a steady stream of water about an inch in diameter sprayed all the way across the room to the opposite wall. We took the fridge out of the kitchen window, which was kinda fun. The three muskateers, Alex, Galen and Nathan took down the cealings and had to wear funny "ET" suits that, judging from the sweat pouring off them at break time, hot as hell. It was good getting to know Dustin, he's a cool cat, although he sucks at the Cajun pronunciation game. He's kinda like Babe Ruth: he strikes out a lot, but when he gets a hold of one, it's out of the park. Niky and Renee found a bunch of change, which I said throw out of course (remember, grumpy old man) but they kept it and counted it and when it came ot 49 dollars, added a dollar of their own, which I thought was pretty cool of them. My relationship with my group solidified at the end of the second day when a water fight broke out waiting for the other group. They learned that I wasn't grumpy all the time, I'm just quiet and have that look. They also learned that about half of what I say is not to be taken seriously.
So, that's our house. From Monday to 1:00 Wednesday we completely cleaned out, gutted and swept up a house, bringing our lady one step closer to moving back into her home.
Wednesday afternoon was really cool. We took 7 vehicles, bad idea, on a tour of New Orleans. Our first stop was the 17th Street Canal, where one of the levees broke. The most fascinating thing was a row of town houses. There were three townhomes connected to each other, a hundred yard gap where nothing stood, and then four more identical townhomes on the other side of the levee break. A FOOTBALL FIELD SIZE STREACH OF HOMES, GONE. But, it was amazing to see the rebuilding process in this area, the rich side town, and compare it to where we were working. It was great to see my kid Dylan in his element, which is photography. Dylan is Dennis the Menace, Bart Simpson, and the squirrel from Over the Hedge, rolled into one and dipped into a bathtub of liquified Speed. But put a camera in his hands and he could be mistaken for an adult.
From our stop in the rebuilding rich, white neighborhood, we drove to the Ninth Ward, one of the poorest areas of our NATION let alone New Orleans. We saw the infamous house-on-top-of-a-truck. We saw a tree growing inside a car. We saw a lone tricycle in the front yard. I cannot explain to you in words what it felt like to be there, or even what it truly looked like. It looked kinda like a movie set, which Caldwell and I made a joke about which I'm sick to my stomach thinking about still. Surreal is only part of it. It's the most surreal place I've ever been, yet at the same time, it's more real than anything I've ever seen.
The Ninth Ward will not be reconstructed. It will be bulldozed. Acres and Acres of neighborhood, gone forever. Turned into a greenspace, a park across the river from the real neighborhoods, the ones worth rebuilding, the white neighborhood, the rich neighborhood.
The Ninth Ward is where we met Roosevelt. Roosevelt came riding up on his bike and asked one of our girls (who was not by herself, don't worry) if we were a church group and could we pray for him. She got an adult, and the adult found me. I thought that myself and the other adult would put our hands on Roosevelt and move off to the corner and say a prayer. But as we moved about twenty-thirty kids got in a circle around Roosevelt. We joined hands and I said a prayer. The girls were crying, the guys were trying not to and failing. As Roosevelt thanked us and turned to ride off he said, "Now I gotta go find somewhere to sleep tonight."
I need a minute after typing that, and I was there, so take a minute, there's much much more!!
After the Ninth Ward we went down to the still-intact French Quarter, which seemed to me like a dirtier Las Vegas with more culture. I didn't like it. It was 7:30 on a Wednesday night and there were guys stumbling drunk in the streets and girls in bikinis handing out jello shots on the corners. Not for me.
Thursday was another work day, and, I think, the best. Mustoe joined our work team of two groups, so I got hang out with him all day, which was nice. I'd've (that's right, the double contraction, what are you gonna do about it?) liked to work with Caldwell some but we didn't get a chance to, except of course for THE FRIDGE which I'll get to in a second. The owner was there on Thursday. She was Thai with a name like Mena, or Myna. It was pretty but I couldn't pronouce it. She was a widow, not from the flood, who lived alone in the big house. She had driven from Dallas just to be with us as we worked on her house. We only had one day here so we made a plan and got to work. Highlights: cutting my finger and actually feeling like I did something that week, the rats in the kitchen, and , of course, demolishing the bathroom in the garage. There was this built bathroom our in the garage, literally like a Water Closet. Mustoe, Nathan, Galen and myself totally smacked that thing up like Ike Turner (sorry old joke for mustoe). The ax worked the best. We swung at the wooden doors of the closet with all our might, throwing out sholders and tearing down the wood frame. Mustoe had a mis-hit, and immediately went into the Colossus Power-Up from the old X-Men video game. The next time I"m with any of you, ask me to do it for you but it looks like this aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAARGGH!
And then took off the whole door in his next swing. I tell, if there was a soundtrack to my life, it would've been playing "Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangsta" or "O Fortuna" (that opera music that's played when the ringwraiths are chasing Frodo on that elf chicks horse). It was beautiful. After we were sure that the bathroom was dead, we came out to find Mena, her son-in-law, and Dustin in the backyard looking at us like idiots.
One more story and then the water park and then we're done guys, lower your sholder and power through to the end.
Everything was going smoothly at Mena's house, until we went 'round the corner and saw a giant fridge laying on its back. We tried moving out long ways, side ways and upside down. We took the doors off the house and tried again. Nothing. When Mena said in her thick Thai that she had to take to door off to get the fridge inside, we thought she meant the back door to the house. She didn't. This fridge was not leaving the house with its doors on. Let me set this up a little. This fridge had food inside it, Milk, Mayo, Eggs, that had been through a hurricane, through a flood, and then had sat for ten months in LA heat and humidity. We decided to wait for the end of the day to get the fridge out. So, when everything else was done, and everyone else was in the vans with the air on and plenty of water, Adam Caldwell, Mustoe, Dustin, Jake and I went back inside to get the fridge. We came up with a plan and executed. Dustin pulled the doors off, we tipped it over on it's side and Jake and a kid named Tyce hoed out all the rotten, disgusting food onto a tarp. When they started hoeing, and got all that riled up and moving again, it wasn't overwhelming, it was worse. Every few breaths you'd get a mouthful of the most fowl smelling, putrid thing in the whole world. Then you'd have some ok breaths, and that fowl monster would come back. Truly gut-wrenching. We pushed the doorless beast out the back door and to the curb. Got in the trucks and drove away.
The next day I thought I was going to hell about every three seconds. We went to the Blue Bayou Water Park and all of Mustoe and my girls put on their swimsuits. My girls were prepared with t-shirts and tank tops to where over them but when I saw that Mustoe's group had not apparently heard him when we said no two-pieces (something "He just wouldn't think of") I told my girls they could do as they pleased. And so, for the next 6 hours I thought I was going straight to hell about every three seconds.
The water park, exept of the hell part, was awesome. Adam, Mustoe, Jake and I, weighed so much that we got the most air on this one ride that the lifegaurd had ever seen. And then, the most amazing three hours of my life ensued. Mustoe, rented tubes, Lazy River, Three and a Half hours. That's right, Mustoe and I spent three and a half hours after lunch innertubing round and round the lazy river. It was glorious. Different groups of kids and adults would come to see us (I'd feel like going to hell some more). We talked about stuff, and nothing. We talked and not talked, we not-talked for hours. It was awesome.
Alright, everybody, the longest blog entry in the world is finally complete. If you have a chance to go on a trip to New Orleans, go right away. It was unbelievable but I'm glad to be home.
"You must be the change you seek" -Ghandi
Too summerize this whole entry in Cajun:
Salutation
Transportation
Introductions
Communication
Deconstruction
Devastation
Repulsion
Completion
Anticipation
Damnation
Exhaustion
I'm outie 5,000, take it sleazy,
B
Thursday, June 15, 2006
What John Saw
Inspired by the dismal remaking of The Omen and, partially, the politically apocalyptic V for Vendetta, both of which I saw last weekend, I have decided to make a movie.
I'll do this in my spare time of course, between finishing school and starting a heavy metal church. (Andy, thanks for putting heavy metal and ecclesiology in the same sentence!)
The movie is entitled "What John Saw". We have had movies about the Anti-Christ (The Omen 1-4), we've had movies about the end of the world (The Day After Tomorrow, End of Days, and the dredfull Left Behind series), but we've never had an actual literal translation of the book of Revelation.
Picture it:
The movie opens with a bronze, iron, gold Jesus decending from the heavens with AN ACTUAL TWO SIDED SWORD coming out of his mouth. The four horsemen of the Apocolypse come flying in on their quad-colored steeds. The beast with seven heads comes lumbering out of the sea to terrorize the villagers. And the battle between Satan's minions and the Good Souls.
Who wouldn't come to see that movie? The Book of Revelation, literally, is a great horror movie.
The trailer's the best part:
Close up on man's face watching something behind camera. His eyes keep getting bigger and bigger as the horror of what he's seeing sinks in. His terrified expression on his face, we mouths the words "Holy Shh-" Quick cut to movie title "What John Saw"-Find out Summer 2012.
Awesome, Awesome,
Brad
I'll do this in my spare time of course, between finishing school and starting a heavy metal church. (Andy, thanks for putting heavy metal and ecclesiology in the same sentence!)
The movie is entitled "What John Saw". We have had movies about the Anti-Christ (The Omen 1-4), we've had movies about the end of the world (The Day After Tomorrow, End of Days, and the dredfull Left Behind series), but we've never had an actual literal translation of the book of Revelation.
Picture it:
The movie opens with a bronze, iron, gold Jesus decending from the heavens with AN ACTUAL TWO SIDED SWORD coming out of his mouth. The four horsemen of the Apocolypse come flying in on their quad-colored steeds. The beast with seven heads comes lumbering out of the sea to terrorize the villagers. And the battle between Satan's minions and the Good Souls.
Who wouldn't come to see that movie? The Book of Revelation, literally, is a great horror movie.
The trailer's the best part:
Close up on man's face watching something behind camera. His eyes keep getting bigger and bigger as the horror of what he's seeing sinks in. His terrified expression on his face, we mouths the words "Holy Shh-" Quick cut to movie title "What John Saw"-Find out Summer 2012.
Awesome, Awesome,
Brad
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
More Thoughts on Metal Methodism
I can't get this out of my head. Maybe that means I'm on to something.
Here's some more reasons I think Metal Edge United Methodist Church would work:
1. There is need. Despite popular belief, not all metalheads are Satan-Worshipping, Violence-Loving, Beer-Swilling Neanderthals. For the most part, metalheads are mostly-white, blue-collar people who are fiercely loyal to the music they love. While good heavy metal music is always aggressive, it is not, neccessarily, violent. It expresses anger at political, social, and, yes, religious structures that have left an entire group of people forgotten and outcast. And, if you think that there's no need because you've never had anyone at your church who cares about heavy metal music: A. you're wrong, every church has metalheads in it already. and B. when they aren't there, it's because the church doesn't speak to them.
2. The Gospel speaks to headbangers too. Jesus' message of a life-changing grace and mercy given to all people, especially the outcasts, is exactly what metal fans need to hear. Heavy metal is about fighting the power, it's about venting frustration, it's about being in community with strangers with a common love and it's about anger, frustration and revolution against any power stucture that does not lead to the betterment of everyone. That sounds like Jesus to me. It seems to me that people have just sort of given up spreading the message to metalheads, resorting to simply boycotting and protesting concerts like Marilyn Manson (who, by the way, is simply a man playing a role who, sometimes, writes good songs [remember Beautiful People], stop taking him so seriously. He's acting, and everytime you protest, he sells more records.) Jesus calls us to spread the message to all the world, and metal fans need to hear about grace and redemption just as much as the rest of us.
3. Heavy Metal lends itself towards powerful, creative worship experiences. Heavy metal music is about theatrics (I know, I just said heavy metal was about anger, frustration, revolution. I'm talking about Heavy Metal as a movement above, here I mean the music and concerts themselves). The imagry, the lyrics, the symbols, it's all there already. Imagine, as Alice Cooper threw a live chicken into the crowd and pieces of said chicken began being thrown back to him, imagine throwing a blessed loaf of communion bread into the crowd. As Ozzy sprays the faithful with water from a hose, imagine actually, literally, washing the congregation in the blessed juice, the symbol of Jesus' blood. OK, those are extreme. But I'll tell you what, Metalheads would love it.
All this sounds very performance oriented, I know. I am the first to say that the main problem with "contemporary" worship is that it's not worship but performance. However, metal shows are full of liturgy, call and response from lead singer to crowd, and message, James Hetfield talked at length about how much better Metallica sounded now that they were clean and sober and happy. It is not at all that hard to quickly and powerfully convert a rock show into a worship experience.
4. The most successful cross-over Christian music is heavy metal music. As I Lay Dying, Atreyu, Avenged Sevenfold, Norma Jean, P.O.D, Project 86, and lest we forget, Stryper. All metal bands. All extrememly successful in terms of cross-over from Christian lists to secular lists. Why is this? Because metal music is real, it's honest. Stephen Curtis Chapman doesn't have anything real to say to you unless your an upper-middle class, white, suburban, preppy mainline Christian. Christian metal can speak to Christians but also secularists because of the honesty in the music.
I envision a church that is based on inclusion, community, loyalty, discipleship, mission, conversation, passion, sacrifice, learning, and evolving. (positive voice)
I envision a church in which the music isn't boring, the message isn't irrelevant, the connection isn't superficial, the mission isn't self-serving, and the goal isn't numbers. (negative voice)
Metal Edge United Methodist Church
"We Pray in the Pit" (for those of you who are unhip, that's mosh-pit, but its unhip to call it that)
"Shreading the Gospel to the World" (again, shreading is the art of playing metal guitar)
I like the sound of that. Let me know what you think Blogosphere.
In the immortal words of Kirk Hammet, guitarist for the biggest band in the world, Metallica,
"Metallica's all about music, not the length of our hair." (check out Metallica Behind the Music from VH1)
It's a long way to the top, if you wanna rock'n'roll,
Brad
Here's some more reasons I think Metal Edge United Methodist Church would work:
1. There is need. Despite popular belief, not all metalheads are Satan-Worshipping, Violence-Loving, Beer-Swilling Neanderthals. For the most part, metalheads are mostly-white, blue-collar people who are fiercely loyal to the music they love. While good heavy metal music is always aggressive, it is not, neccessarily, violent. It expresses anger at political, social, and, yes, religious structures that have left an entire group of people forgotten and outcast. And, if you think that there's no need because you've never had anyone at your church who cares about heavy metal music: A. you're wrong, every church has metalheads in it already. and B. when they aren't there, it's because the church doesn't speak to them.
2. The Gospel speaks to headbangers too. Jesus' message of a life-changing grace and mercy given to all people, especially the outcasts, is exactly what metal fans need to hear. Heavy metal is about fighting the power, it's about venting frustration, it's about being in community with strangers with a common love and it's about anger, frustration and revolution against any power stucture that does not lead to the betterment of everyone. That sounds like Jesus to me. It seems to me that people have just sort of given up spreading the message to metalheads, resorting to simply boycotting and protesting concerts like Marilyn Manson (who, by the way, is simply a man playing a role who, sometimes, writes good songs [remember Beautiful People], stop taking him so seriously. He's acting, and everytime you protest, he sells more records.) Jesus calls us to spread the message to all the world, and metal fans need to hear about grace and redemption just as much as the rest of us.
3. Heavy Metal lends itself towards powerful, creative worship experiences. Heavy metal music is about theatrics (I know, I just said heavy metal was about anger, frustration, revolution. I'm talking about Heavy Metal as a movement above, here I mean the music and concerts themselves). The imagry, the lyrics, the symbols, it's all there already. Imagine, as Alice Cooper threw a live chicken into the crowd and pieces of said chicken began being thrown back to him, imagine throwing a blessed loaf of communion bread into the crowd. As Ozzy sprays the faithful with water from a hose, imagine actually, literally, washing the congregation in the blessed juice, the symbol of Jesus' blood. OK, those are extreme. But I'll tell you what, Metalheads would love it.
All this sounds very performance oriented, I know. I am the first to say that the main problem with "contemporary" worship is that it's not worship but performance. However, metal shows are full of liturgy, call and response from lead singer to crowd, and message, James Hetfield talked at length about how much better Metallica sounded now that they were clean and sober and happy. It is not at all that hard to quickly and powerfully convert a rock show into a worship experience.
4. The most successful cross-over Christian music is heavy metal music. As I Lay Dying, Atreyu, Avenged Sevenfold, Norma Jean, P.O.D, Project 86, and lest we forget, Stryper. All metal bands. All extrememly successful in terms of cross-over from Christian lists to secular lists. Why is this? Because metal music is real, it's honest. Stephen Curtis Chapman doesn't have anything real to say to you unless your an upper-middle class, white, suburban, preppy mainline Christian. Christian metal can speak to Christians but also secularists because of the honesty in the music.
I envision a church that is based on inclusion, community, loyalty, discipleship, mission, conversation, passion, sacrifice, learning, and evolving. (positive voice)
I envision a church in which the music isn't boring, the message isn't irrelevant, the connection isn't superficial, the mission isn't self-serving, and the goal isn't numbers. (negative voice)
Metal Edge United Methodist Church
"We Pray in the Pit" (for those of you who are unhip, that's mosh-pit, but its unhip to call it that)
"Shreading the Gospel to the World" (again, shreading is the art of playing metal guitar)
I like the sound of that. Let me know what you think Blogosphere.
In the immortal words of Kirk Hammet, guitarist for the biggest band in the world, Metallica,
"Metallica's all about music, not the length of our hair." (check out Metallica Behind the Music from VH1)
It's a long way to the top, if you wanna rock'n'roll,
Brad
My Calling
Every year on the drive home from Annual Conference my head is full of ideas. Mainly, ideas about how to make Annual Conference suck less. But, sometimes, however, I get real ideas. Last year, on the way home from Conference I solidified my calling to young adult/college ministry.
This year, I was drinking Mt. Dew and listening to some Iron Maiden to stay awake and it hit me. I think perhaps I have stumbled upon something real for my life OR have come up with an idea solely based on sleep deprivation and Hwy 13 wind in my ears.
Metal Edge United Methodist Church
"We Pray in the Pit"
"Shreading the Gospel to the World"
That's right, Iron Maiden, Mt. Dew and perhaps a God-nudge, have lead me to the dream of creating a church, a UNITED METHODIST church, for the heavy metal community. We would set up in an abondoned warehouse downtown or an old storefront saloon or something. We would sing our praises in drop D tuning and double bass drums.
Picture this, a come as you are church, communion every week, covenant discipleship groups, homeless outreach ministry, and, every Sunday morning worship is a rock show. With a mosh pit, with pyrotechnics. But, MORE IMPORTANT, also with a relevant message to the group perhaps most shunned by modern mainline Christians, the metalheads. Metalheads are the most loyal people on the face of the planet. They rejoiced together when Metallica finally won the Heavy Metal Grammy. They cried together when Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed at his own concert. Why can't they worship together? Every church has at least one youth that dresses in big black pants. That's fine in high school, but when they grow up, they're still metal fans, and since being a metal fan as an adult is kinda looked down upon, I think a lot of these people leave the church or are going to churches that really don't facilitate any kind of discipleship.
Christian Metalheads deserve a place of worship that speaks to them, where they can come freely and be themselves, and where they can listen to killer heavy metal music.
When I went to see Metallica from five feat away from the stage, I was amazed. 50,000 people knew every word, every lick, every fill. I saw 50,000 people doing absolutely everything that James Hetfield told them to. Imagine that kind of devotion and dedication in your church.
Metal 'til I die, Brad
This year, I was drinking Mt. Dew and listening to some Iron Maiden to stay awake and it hit me. I think perhaps I have stumbled upon something real for my life OR have come up with an idea solely based on sleep deprivation and Hwy 13 wind in my ears.
Metal Edge United Methodist Church
"We Pray in the Pit"
"Shreading the Gospel to the World"
That's right, Iron Maiden, Mt. Dew and perhaps a God-nudge, have lead me to the dream of creating a church, a UNITED METHODIST church, for the heavy metal community. We would set up in an abondoned warehouse downtown or an old storefront saloon or something. We would sing our praises in drop D tuning and double bass drums.
Picture this, a come as you are church, communion every week, covenant discipleship groups, homeless outreach ministry, and, every Sunday morning worship is a rock show. With a mosh pit, with pyrotechnics. But, MORE IMPORTANT, also with a relevant message to the group perhaps most shunned by modern mainline Christians, the metalheads. Metalheads are the most loyal people on the face of the planet. They rejoiced together when Metallica finally won the Heavy Metal Grammy. They cried together when Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed at his own concert. Why can't they worship together? Every church has at least one youth that dresses in big black pants. That's fine in high school, but when they grow up, they're still metal fans, and since being a metal fan as an adult is kinda looked down upon, I think a lot of these people leave the church or are going to churches that really don't facilitate any kind of discipleship.
Christian Metalheads deserve a place of worship that speaks to them, where they can come freely and be themselves, and where they can listen to killer heavy metal music.
When I went to see Metallica from five feat away from the stage, I was amazed. 50,000 people knew every word, every lick, every fill. I saw 50,000 people doing absolutely everything that James Hetfield told them to. Imagine that kind of devotion and dedication in your church.
Metal 'til I die, Brad
Best Week Ever?
Hey everybody, I know it's been too long since I've graced the world wide web with my presence. I tried to get an entry in between my birthday weekend and Annual Conference but the system was down. Man, I wrote an awesome entry too, so here goes in shortened version.
I've had one of the greatest weeks of my life. Two weeks ago, Lindsey and I saw the Dave Matthews Band (my third, her first) and they were on fire. Three new songs and at least one song from every album. It was awesome.
Then it was off to St. Loius and Sarah and Dennis' wedding. It was a whole lot of fun. There were only about 10 of us at the party after awhile but we had a blast telling the horrible DJ what songs to play next.
The next morning we picked up Mr. Ryan Bates and headed to the Lake of the Ozarks, met by Hilary Alexander and Tyler O'Banion and later Honora Bates. This is where it really got kicked up a notch. Truly one of the best experiences of my life. Just sitting around with good food, good drinks, good water, good tunes, and great friends. We've put the weekend on our calanders for, oh, the next 80 years. We actually halfseriously talked about all moving down there and getting a place together. After that weekend, I'd do it in a second.
So, it's time for the birthday present wrap-up.
My parents gave me a new queen size mattress. Not very exciting I know, but I slept through the night for the first time in years the past few nights so thank you so much.
A Family Guy Chicken Fight t-shirt, a t-shirt from Bradley University that just says "Bradley", an interview book with Bono, the 1000th issue and a subscription to Rolling Stone magazine, a Jack Johnson CD, a Trevor Hall CD, The Toy DVD, Blazing Saddles DVD, and Napoleon Dynamite pens.
And now, the coup de grais, from the Saturday Night Live Best of Collection: Adam Sandler, Cheri Oteri, Christopher Walken, Dan Akroyd, Eddie Murphy, John Belushi, Jimmy Fallon, Mike Myers, Molly Shannon, Steve Martin, and Tracy Morgan. I think I'm forgetting one.
So, there it is. Thanks to everyone for a great birthday. I hope that all who read this can have at least one weekend this summer as good as this.
~Brad
I've had one of the greatest weeks of my life. Two weeks ago, Lindsey and I saw the Dave Matthews Band (my third, her first) and they were on fire. Three new songs and at least one song from every album. It was awesome.
Then it was off to St. Loius and Sarah and Dennis' wedding. It was a whole lot of fun. There were only about 10 of us at the party after awhile but we had a blast telling the horrible DJ what songs to play next.
The next morning we picked up Mr. Ryan Bates and headed to the Lake of the Ozarks, met by Hilary Alexander and Tyler O'Banion and later Honora Bates. This is where it really got kicked up a notch. Truly one of the best experiences of my life. Just sitting around with good food, good drinks, good water, good tunes, and great friends. We've put the weekend on our calanders for, oh, the next 80 years. We actually halfseriously talked about all moving down there and getting a place together. After that weekend, I'd do it in a second.
So, it's time for the birthday present wrap-up.
My parents gave me a new queen size mattress. Not very exciting I know, but I slept through the night for the first time in years the past few nights so thank you so much.
A Family Guy Chicken Fight t-shirt, a t-shirt from Bradley University that just says "Bradley", an interview book with Bono, the 1000th issue and a subscription to Rolling Stone magazine, a Jack Johnson CD, a Trevor Hall CD, The Toy DVD, Blazing Saddles DVD, and Napoleon Dynamite pens.
And now, the coup de grais, from the Saturday Night Live Best of Collection: Adam Sandler, Cheri Oteri, Christopher Walken, Dan Akroyd, Eddie Murphy, John Belushi, Jimmy Fallon, Mike Myers, Molly Shannon, Steve Martin, and Tracy Morgan. I think I'm forgetting one.
So, there it is. Thanks to everyone for a great birthday. I hope that all who read this can have at least one weekend this summer as good as this.
~Brad
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Cheap Little Excuses
Here's a list of cheap little excuses for why I'm not blogging recently.
1. This week: Two days of work, crazy busy planning youth mission trip. Weds. have to pick up a tux after five and make it to the Dave show by seven. Thurs. drive through Columbia, drop off dog, drive to St. Loius, be in wedding. Friday, be in wedding. Saturday, drive to the lake, pick up Ryan Bates in St. Loius, Fiona in Columbia, continue down for birthday weekend.
2. Next week: Three day work week, still crazy busy. Annual Conference in Spfd.
3. Week after: Finalize plans for mission trip, wedding weekend.
4. Week after: Leave on my first mission trip as youth pastor.
So, yeah, I'm not finding the time to get online and rant or rave or muse or discuss or debate or anything else. So, deal with it. I'll see you in July.
B
1. This week: Two days of work, crazy busy planning youth mission trip. Weds. have to pick up a tux after five and make it to the Dave show by seven. Thurs. drive through Columbia, drop off dog, drive to St. Loius, be in wedding. Friday, be in wedding. Saturday, drive to the lake, pick up Ryan Bates in St. Loius, Fiona in Columbia, continue down for birthday weekend.
2. Next week: Three day work week, still crazy busy. Annual Conference in Spfd.
3. Week after: Finalize plans for mission trip, wedding weekend.
4. Week after: Leave on my first mission trip as youth pastor.
So, yeah, I'm not finding the time to get online and rant or rave or muse or discuss or debate or anything else. So, deal with it. I'll see you in July.
B
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
All is Right with the World
Well, my world at least. Tonight, I turn in my final final of my first year at St. Paul School of Theology. Tomorrow night, Lindsey, me and bunch of St. Paul people are going to Dave and Busters, an big arcade with adult beverages, and three great bands put out three great albums.
I'm feelin' fine! The 31st, Vee and I go to the Dave MAtthews concert and then it's off to St. Louis for Sarah's wedding and THEN down to the lake for my birthday weekend. Good stuff all around.
The three great bands and three great albums I refer to are as follows:
Pearl Jam-Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam came out with their best album in 10 years. Matt Cameron is the best rock drummer around. Mike McCready on guitar is unbelievable, again. For someone who never lost faith in the boys from Seattle, I love everything they've ever done, even Binaural, it's great to see a solid rock band put out a solid rock album.
Red Hot Chili Peppers-Stadium Arcadium
Alright, Anthony Kedis can't sing. Ok, some of the songs sound exactly the same. But, I love this album. The Peppers have always been weird and there's no change here. There going in a different direction, a more mature sound, and I like it. Flea, what can you say, best bassist anywhere. And what the hell does John Frusciante take to come up with guitar licks like that, and where can I get some. Clean it up, Johnny!
Tool-Ten Thousand Days
You either love or hate Tool. And I love them. This is probably the last album from the weirded-out, cross-dressing, Pagan-following, cosmic number counting, foursome, and it lives up to the hype. Danny Carey is the most apendage-independent drummer there's ever been. I swear the toe of his foot and the heel of his foot are playing two different times zones. It's unbelieavable heavy but beatiful and melodic. Maynard is pleasingly angry but poingant and elegant. A great, great rock album.
AND I almost forgot.
Rob Zombie-Educated Horses
Rob Zombie stripped down his overtly technical and processed sounds and a lot heavier in the process.
So, FOUR great bands with FOUR great new albums. This guy's did what all musicians dream of, each album gets better the more you listen to it.
Life is good,
Brad
I'm feelin' fine! The 31st, Vee and I go to the Dave MAtthews concert and then it's off to St. Louis for Sarah's wedding and THEN down to the lake for my birthday weekend. Good stuff all around.
The three great bands and three great albums I refer to are as follows:
Pearl Jam-Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam came out with their best album in 10 years. Matt Cameron is the best rock drummer around. Mike McCready on guitar is unbelievable, again. For someone who never lost faith in the boys from Seattle, I love everything they've ever done, even Binaural, it's great to see a solid rock band put out a solid rock album.
Red Hot Chili Peppers-Stadium Arcadium
Alright, Anthony Kedis can't sing. Ok, some of the songs sound exactly the same. But, I love this album. The Peppers have always been weird and there's no change here. There going in a different direction, a more mature sound, and I like it. Flea, what can you say, best bassist anywhere. And what the hell does John Frusciante take to come up with guitar licks like that, and where can I get some. Clean it up, Johnny!
Tool-Ten Thousand Days
You either love or hate Tool. And I love them. This is probably the last album from the weirded-out, cross-dressing, Pagan-following, cosmic number counting, foursome, and it lives up to the hype. Danny Carey is the most apendage-independent drummer there's ever been. I swear the toe of his foot and the heel of his foot are playing two different times zones. It's unbelieavable heavy but beatiful and melodic. Maynard is pleasingly angry but poingant and elegant. A great, great rock album.
AND I almost forgot.
Rob Zombie-Educated Horses
Rob Zombie stripped down his overtly technical and processed sounds and a lot heavier in the process.
So, FOUR great bands with FOUR great new albums. This guy's did what all musicians dream of, each album gets better the more you listen to it.
Life is good,
Brad
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Sad Day
"The time will come
One day you'll see
When we can all be one"
~Freddie Mercury of Queen
Well, it's a sad day to be a United Methodist. I add my voice of dissention to chorus. The Judicial Council's decision today was a wrong one, a bad one. However, like my brother, I understand the reasoning in the decision. It is not the job of the Judicial Council to make moral decisions for the UMC. That's the General Conferences job, and from what dad tells me about the last couple of those, we'll probably reach a decision in, oh, around the time I retire.
Still, it's sad. A pastor now has the right, the responsibility, to accept or exclude anyone he or she wishes. that's not our job, as I said before, that's God's.
Proud to be American and a United Methodist, but currently pissed at them both,
Brad
One day you'll see
When we can all be one"
~Freddie Mercury of Queen
Well, it's a sad day to be a United Methodist. I add my voice of dissention to chorus. The Judicial Council's decision today was a wrong one, a bad one. However, like my brother, I understand the reasoning in the decision. It is not the job of the Judicial Council to make moral decisions for the UMC. That's the General Conferences job, and from what dad tells me about the last couple of those, we'll probably reach a decision in, oh, around the time I retire.
Still, it's sad. A pastor now has the right, the responsibility, to accept or exclude anyone he or she wishes. that's not our job, as I said before, that's God's.
Proud to be American and a United Methodist, but currently pissed at them both,
Brad
A Little More Conversation Please...
Well, I've decided to get into the mix of conversation surrounding the Judicial Council Meetings here in KC that's been going around the blog world. As many things in my life, my explaination of why I think the Council should overturn the decision will be much simpler than my brother's. He's much smarter than I. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about here's the deal: some preacher somewhere denied a homosexual man membership in his church. That preacher, after a bit of confusion, was backed by his superiors. The Judicial council is voting on whether or not to overturn that backing. that's how I understand it.
So, here's my explanation:
IT'S NOT UP TO US.
There it is. That's all. Who can and cannot come to church, have a relationship with God, or attain ultimate salvation is not our decision, it's God's. In the Wesleyan tradition, we believe in a thing called grace. Nothing you do, no action from you, no set of rules that we check off, get us saved. Nothing but the grace of God. That's it.
Alright, so there's my say. CMU graduation this weekend, me and Vee will be going back to the Alma Mater to see Mustoe, Abby, Crystal, Melissa and other folks walk the line and get the illustrious title of CMU alum. Congrats.
California Love, Brad
ps Rock and Roll is not dead after all. Fans of punk-based, straight ahead rock go get the new Pearl Jam album. Fans of heavier stuff, go get the new Tool album. Also coming this month, Robert Randolph and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Good stuff, good stuff.
So, here's my explanation:
IT'S NOT UP TO US.
There it is. That's all. Who can and cannot come to church, have a relationship with God, or attain ultimate salvation is not our decision, it's God's. In the Wesleyan tradition, we believe in a thing called grace. Nothing you do, no action from you, no set of rules that we check off, get us saved. Nothing but the grace of God. That's it.
Alright, so there's my say. CMU graduation this weekend, me and Vee will be going back to the Alma Mater to see Mustoe, Abby, Crystal, Melissa and other folks walk the line and get the illustrious title of CMU alum. Congrats.
California Love, Brad
ps Rock and Roll is not dead after all. Fans of punk-based, straight ahead rock go get the new Pearl Jam album. Fans of heavier stuff, go get the new Tool album. Also coming this month, Robert Randolph and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Good stuff, good stuff.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
My Life's One Regret
I'm usually not one for self-reflection. I like to think of myself as a stoic, take things as they come, instinct kinda guy. But, this week I've been thinking a lot about my past, present and maybe future.
So, Vee(that's Lindsey's middle name, by the way) and I went to see Martin Sexton on Friday night. He and his opening act, the Trevor Hall Band, were great. He was, actually, unbelievable. The guy used to be a street player, you know, those guys on the Plaza or hanging out in front of the Cherry St. Artisan in CoMO. Just a guy, a guitar, and a cheap little amplifier. Now, he tours the country, has a small but strong and loyal fan base, just a guy, a guitar, and a fancy sound system. Anyway, it got me thinking, I really wish I would have done something with my bands.
I've been in three bands, with a couple of projects that were little more than two guys in a basement. First was Golgotha, Todd Monroe, Sam Giffith and me. Our biggest show, Barnswings, Ozark MO. Then Preserve with some college guys from a pentecostal church but they loved Pearl Jam and U2 and played like them. Our biggest show, playing for one of their church rallys. In between there, Tom and I wrote one song in his basement. OK, one song, but it was a good song, if not a little ripped off from our favorite band at the time, Tool. Our biggest gig, Tom's family and recording our one song onto cassette tape.
Then I went to college, met Adam Caldwell, Ray Malik and our red haired, stage fright ridden quaterback. I don't know what our name was, or if we had one, but our biggest show was the Halloween party in the basement of Woodward Hall.
Then, Adam Mustoe, Ryan McClouth and wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaddddddeee! came to school and Blessed was born. wwwwwwwwwwwade decided to go be more man than any of us ever will and build trucks with his bare hands or something, and Jamie Diffee, a far better bassist and all around cooler guy joined the mix. Our biggest show, almost 2,500 screaming teenagers and an $1,000 pay check.
I gotta tell ya, we were good. With no real sound, no real style, and really no rehersals, we were good. We could've been great, we could've been contenders.
I'm playing music now with Jen Klein, another pastor, and my brother(something I never thought i'd get the honor of doing) and everytime we play I'm reminded of how much I miss being in a band. Writing songs, perfecting them, performing them. That's it. I don't think I've ever felt as truly in my element, so completly myself, as when we rocked the end of "Blessed" for about 7 minutes at our first WOW. I don't think I've ever felt as whole as when Mustoe said "freeze" and 2,500 hundred screaming teenagers actually did what he said. That place blew up. I don't think I've felt as accomplished as when I heard my own drums on, first of all, cassette with Tom and then CD with Blessed.
So, there it is. I regret, my life's only one, that we didn't try harder in these bands. Really just Tom and Blessed. I miss being in a band, I miss creating music, I miss playing on stage, I miss kids buying my broken and signed drum sticks for 21 dollars. I don't know if I'll ever get the chance again, and that's fine. But I hope I do.
I know it's only rock and roll, but I like it,
Brad Bryan, Drummer
So, Vee(that's Lindsey's middle name, by the way) and I went to see Martin Sexton on Friday night. He and his opening act, the Trevor Hall Band, were great. He was, actually, unbelievable. The guy used to be a street player, you know, those guys on the Plaza or hanging out in front of the Cherry St. Artisan in CoMO. Just a guy, a guitar, and a cheap little amplifier. Now, he tours the country, has a small but strong and loyal fan base, just a guy, a guitar, and a fancy sound system. Anyway, it got me thinking, I really wish I would have done something with my bands.
I've been in three bands, with a couple of projects that were little more than two guys in a basement. First was Golgotha, Todd Monroe, Sam Giffith and me. Our biggest show, Barnswings, Ozark MO. Then Preserve with some college guys from a pentecostal church but they loved Pearl Jam and U2 and played like them. Our biggest show, playing for one of their church rallys. In between there, Tom and I wrote one song in his basement. OK, one song, but it was a good song, if not a little ripped off from our favorite band at the time, Tool. Our biggest gig, Tom's family and recording our one song onto cassette tape.
Then I went to college, met Adam Caldwell, Ray Malik and our red haired, stage fright ridden quaterback. I don't know what our name was, or if we had one, but our biggest show was the Halloween party in the basement of Woodward Hall.
Then, Adam Mustoe, Ryan McClouth and wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaddddddeee! came to school and Blessed was born. wwwwwwwwwwwade decided to go be more man than any of us ever will and build trucks with his bare hands or something, and Jamie Diffee, a far better bassist and all around cooler guy joined the mix. Our biggest show, almost 2,500 screaming teenagers and an $1,000 pay check.
I gotta tell ya, we were good. With no real sound, no real style, and really no rehersals, we were good. We could've been great, we could've been contenders.
I'm playing music now with Jen Klein, another pastor, and my brother(something I never thought i'd get the honor of doing) and everytime we play I'm reminded of how much I miss being in a band. Writing songs, perfecting them, performing them. That's it. I don't think I've ever felt as truly in my element, so completly myself, as when we rocked the end of "Blessed" for about 7 minutes at our first WOW. I don't think I've ever felt as whole as when Mustoe said "freeze" and 2,500 hundred screaming teenagers actually did what he said. That place blew up. I don't think I've felt as accomplished as when I heard my own drums on, first of all, cassette with Tom and then CD with Blessed.
So, there it is. I regret, my life's only one, that we didn't try harder in these bands. Really just Tom and Blessed. I miss being in a band, I miss creating music, I miss playing on stage, I miss kids buying my broken and signed drum sticks for 21 dollars. I don't know if I'll ever get the chance again, and that's fine. But I hope I do.
I know it's only rock and roll, but I like it,
Brad Bryan, Drummer
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
For Adam Caldwell
Holy crap I'm a Calvinist!!
So, AC, I took your little quiz things I think they may be flawed a bit. I am Chalcedon compliant, no surprise there. I am tied for being Wesleyan and Liberal theologically, again nothing of note. But, then, I take the Which Theologian Are You? quiz and JOHN FREAKIN' CALVIN narrowly beats out mister Paul Tillich. And, I say it's flawed because John Wesley is not a choice for a theologian but Wesleyan is a choice for theological world. How can Wesleyan be a theology if Wesley wasn't a theologian.
Anyway, I'd like to take this oppurtunity to give you all a sample of Bryanian Theology. Now, understand, Barth wrote Dogmatics for about 40 years and never finished it and I have about 15 minutes before I have to go. Here we go.
Doctrine of God: Truly, Wholy, Wonderfully in love with ALL OF CREATION.
Human Condition: Separation. We were created to be with God, our choices separated us.
Christology: Reunion. God became fully human to reconnect the creation with the creator.
Soterilogy(doctrine of salvation): Salvation ultimately rests in the grace of God, nothing we do can save us.
Doctrine of Sin: That which separates us from God further than we are. Choices.
Ecclesiology(doctrine of the church): The church exsists to expose people to the grace of God in Jesus Christ and to actively work towards the social, political, educational, economical, racial, sexual, orientational, and environmental justice of all creation.
Old Testament: Mostly metaphorically, not literally, true in nature, meant to instruct and reveal God's active presence in creation.
New Testament: Meant to first and foremost be seen for its original meaning to its original readers, THEN read for us today. A human product, which in turn makes it seem more real and true to me.
Eschatology(doctrine of End Times): I have no freakin' clue and I don't think we're supposed to know and i don't think it matters one bit to what the church does in this world.
So, there you have it. That's what I think. However, I also think that no human being has ownership of the truth. We won't know for sure until we're on the wrong side of the grass and by then it'll be too late. Conversation and dialogue are key for world religions to bring about the justice that we all seek.
All I have to figure out now is whether it should be BRY-n-e-n (say the letters) or BRYAN-ee-n.
Thanks for the inspiration AC, I'd be interested if you my cohorts in the theological realm of things or any other of my readers would offer similar synopses of their theological stances.
See you in the next world, (except you, lynz I'll see you today, and you andy I'll see you thursday, and you AC/dru/dennis/mustoe i'll see you at graduation, and you mom and dad I'll see you soon, and you tom, i'll see you this summer sometime) But, eventually, I guess, I'll see you in the next world, whatever that might be.
B. James Bryan (my theologian moniker)
So, AC, I took your little quiz things I think they may be flawed a bit. I am Chalcedon compliant, no surprise there. I am tied for being Wesleyan and Liberal theologically, again nothing of note. But, then, I take the Which Theologian Are You? quiz and JOHN FREAKIN' CALVIN narrowly beats out mister Paul Tillich. And, I say it's flawed because John Wesley is not a choice for a theologian but Wesleyan is a choice for theological world. How can Wesleyan be a theology if Wesley wasn't a theologian.
Anyway, I'd like to take this oppurtunity to give you all a sample of Bryanian Theology. Now, understand, Barth wrote Dogmatics for about 40 years and never finished it and I have about 15 minutes before I have to go. Here we go.
Doctrine of God: Truly, Wholy, Wonderfully in love with ALL OF CREATION.
Human Condition: Separation. We were created to be with God, our choices separated us.
Christology: Reunion. God became fully human to reconnect the creation with the creator.
Soterilogy(doctrine of salvation): Salvation ultimately rests in the grace of God, nothing we do can save us.
Doctrine of Sin: That which separates us from God further than we are. Choices.
Ecclesiology(doctrine of the church): The church exsists to expose people to the grace of God in Jesus Christ and to actively work towards the social, political, educational, economical, racial, sexual, orientational, and environmental justice of all creation.
Old Testament: Mostly metaphorically, not literally, true in nature, meant to instruct and reveal God's active presence in creation.
New Testament: Meant to first and foremost be seen for its original meaning to its original readers, THEN read for us today. A human product, which in turn makes it seem more real and true to me.
Eschatology(doctrine of End Times): I have no freakin' clue and I don't think we're supposed to know and i don't think it matters one bit to what the church does in this world.
So, there you have it. That's what I think. However, I also think that no human being has ownership of the truth. We won't know for sure until we're on the wrong side of the grass and by then it'll be too late. Conversation and dialogue are key for world religions to bring about the justice that we all seek.
All I have to figure out now is whether it should be BRY-n-e-n (say the letters) or BRYAN-ee-n.
Thanks for the inspiration AC, I'd be interested if you my cohorts in the theological realm of things or any other of my readers would offer similar synopses of their theological stances.
See you in the next world, (except you, lynz I'll see you today, and you andy I'll see you thursday, and you AC/dru/dennis/mustoe i'll see you at graduation, and you mom and dad I'll see you soon, and you tom, i'll see you this summer sometime) But, eventually, I guess, I'll see you in the next world, whatever that might be.
B. James Bryan (my theologian moniker)
Friday, April 21, 2006
Some things I've learned
Hey everybody,
I'm working on my final paper for Systematic Theology class. It's called, How My Mind Has Changed. So, here's some brainstorming style thoughts that I've learned this year.
The names matthew, mark, luke, and john were put on the Gospels 2oo years after they were written. Call me dense, but I never considered that.
I have power, even when I don't mean to. I have power as a man, as a white man, and as a preacher. Even when I'm trying to be empowering, this power travels with me.
Augustine said on his death bed that everything he ever said was garbage.
St. Julian of Norwich, who wrote about the beauty of God's creation and treating others as children of God, locked her self in a cell with only one servant companion for the last 40 years of her life. She was also kinda crazy, praying for and recieving an illness that almost killed her.
Karl Barth was a smart guy. He wrote a 13 volume theology called Church Dogmatics. The word volume is misleading however, since some of the volume are actually 6 books long!!!! He died before he could finish his masterpiece. The part he never finished: Redemption. God's funny.
Apparently, the New Zealand accent is so strong that living and working in the US for 16 years cannot stop its power.
There were at least four letters to the Corinthians. What happened to the others?
The sect of Jesus followers, sort of, that lived in Qumran (the dead sea scroll place) thought that Habbakkuk was the most important book since sliced manna. HABBAKKUK!! (AC-there's nothing in Malachai)
Atonement is the least creative word in history. It's meaning: at-one-ment. The opposite of atonement, you ask? gotohellment.
And finally, people who raise their hands to ask questions in seminary, apparently, don't have to actually ask any questions. They can just illumine us all with the beacon of light that is their brilliance.
Ah, the wonders of higher education.
~B
I'm working on my final paper for Systematic Theology class. It's called, How My Mind Has Changed. So, here's some brainstorming style thoughts that I've learned this year.
The names matthew, mark, luke, and john were put on the Gospels 2oo years after they were written. Call me dense, but I never considered that.
I have power, even when I don't mean to. I have power as a man, as a white man, and as a preacher. Even when I'm trying to be empowering, this power travels with me.
Augustine said on his death bed that everything he ever said was garbage.
St. Julian of Norwich, who wrote about the beauty of God's creation and treating others as children of God, locked her self in a cell with only one servant companion for the last 40 years of her life. She was also kinda crazy, praying for and recieving an illness that almost killed her.
Karl Barth was a smart guy. He wrote a 13 volume theology called Church Dogmatics. The word volume is misleading however, since some of the volume are actually 6 books long!!!! He died before he could finish his masterpiece. The part he never finished: Redemption. God's funny.
Apparently, the New Zealand accent is so strong that living and working in the US for 16 years cannot stop its power.
There were at least four letters to the Corinthians. What happened to the others?
The sect of Jesus followers, sort of, that lived in Qumran (the dead sea scroll place) thought that Habbakkuk was the most important book since sliced manna. HABBAKKUK!! (AC-there's nothing in Malachai)
Atonement is the least creative word in history. It's meaning: at-one-ment. The opposite of atonement, you ask? gotohellment.
And finally, people who raise their hands to ask questions in seminary, apparently, don't have to actually ask any questions. They can just illumine us all with the beacon of light that is their brilliance.
Ah, the wonders of higher education.
~B
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Words of Wisdom
Let me give you some background: there's a recent movement in the church called the Confessing Church movement. This is primarially a conservative group of folks whose main goal would be to create a checklist of beliefs one has to attest in order to be a United Methodist. (I'm sure some of those beliefs would be "I am not an Illegal Immigrant" or "I do not love those in my own gender").
The words "Confessing Church" come from Karl Barth (that's Bart, for those who haven't been or it's been 30 years since you were in seminary). So, here are some important words from the man from whom this movement took its name.
"Since God became incarnate is Jesus, and every human being is, by definition, related to Jesus of Nazareth, therefore, every human being is related to God Incarnate and should be treated as such"
Can you imagine a city, a church, a world where every person was treated by every other person as God's blessed and beloved child? I'm sad to say that I almost can't imagine such a place. In a world where some people are still treated as less than people, let alone part of the divine family, it's hard to imagine what this place would be like is we actually took the foremost theologian of the past 100 years at his word and put that word into action.
The next time I get cut off or stuck behind someone on 71, the next time a waiter gets my order wrong, the next time a fellow student raises their hand to make a statement and not ask a question, I'm gonna try and remember that they too are a child of God, a relative of Jesus, and should be treated as such.
~Brad
The words "Confessing Church" come from Karl Barth (that's Bart, for those who haven't been or it's been 30 years since you were in seminary). So, here are some important words from the man from whom this movement took its name.
"Since God became incarnate is Jesus, and every human being is, by definition, related to Jesus of Nazareth, therefore, every human being is related to God Incarnate and should be treated as such"
Can you imagine a city, a church, a world where every person was treated by every other person as God's blessed and beloved child? I'm sad to say that I almost can't imagine such a place. In a world where some people are still treated as less than people, let alone part of the divine family, it's hard to imagine what this place would be like is we actually took the foremost theologian of the past 100 years at his word and put that word into action.
The next time I get cut off or stuck behind someone on 71, the next time a waiter gets my order wrong, the next time a fellow student raises their hand to make a statement and not ask a question, I'm gonna try and remember that they too are a child of God, a relative of Jesus, and should be treated as such.
~Brad
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Spring Fever Redux
Well, this is probably the most stressed out I've ever been. School's gearing up and getting pretty busy: this week a take home test, next week an exegesis paper, the next week an annotated bibliography and the next week THREE tests. Also, I had to do my taxes this week and although, because of the wisdom of my parents, we're getting money back this year, just walking into that taxman's building is stressful. And, on top of all of that, a "family emergency" has taken my boss out of church, meaning I have a 100% increase in worship leadership and pastoral care responsibilities.
I need summer. I long for it. I need to spend time at the lake with my family and friends. I need to have Saturdays not spent inside working on papers but at the park with my dog. Ya know what I look forward too? Growing up you're always balancing too many responsibilities. Like right now, I'm a student AND a pastor. I can't wait for the day when I'm just one thing. I know the duties will grow and the stress won't go away, but I'll just be one thing. I won't have to struggle between two full time occupations. When I go home from a long day at work I won't have to immediately sit down for a long night of homework. I can't wait.
It's 80 degrees, without a cloud in the sky, and I'm at the computer, writing this....
Brad
I need summer. I long for it. I need to spend time at the lake with my family and friends. I need to have Saturdays not spent inside working on papers but at the park with my dog. Ya know what I look forward too? Growing up you're always balancing too many responsibilities. Like right now, I'm a student AND a pastor. I can't wait for the day when I'm just one thing. I know the duties will grow and the stress won't go away, but I'll just be one thing. I won't have to struggle between two full time occupations. When I go home from a long day at work I won't have to immediately sit down for a long night of homework. I can't wait.
It's 80 degrees, without a cloud in the sky, and I'm at the computer, writing this....
Brad
Friday, April 07, 2006
Pride
Early Morning
April Four
Shot rang out in the Memphis sky
Free at last
They took your life
They could not take your PRIDE!
~Thanks, MLK, sorry I'm late.
Well, folks, I'm suffering from some serious spring fever. This weather has been unbelievable. With my girl on my arm and my dog on the leash, I don't think there's anywhere I'd rather be right now than at the park, or the lake.
I told the staff that I was upset that I had to usher, for Sarah and Dennis' wedding, on my birthday, and I got a lot of "welcome to adulthood" type comments. Ya know, I hope I never lose the idea that my birthday is special and I shouldn't be working. Birthdays should be spent with friends and family. And, I hope I never lose spring fever. I hope I never lose senioritis. The idea that when it's "Sunny with a high of 75" (to quote the fellas of Reliant K) one should not be crammed into an office somewhere or running around to meetings. Especially those of us who work in the theological realm. Weather like this is God's gift to us, and any preacher who DOESN'T get outside, write a sermon at the park, take a walk for a meeting instead of staying in the board room, or something is missing the point.
This week, my friends, don't deny spring fever because that's what adults do. Embrace it. Get outside. I'll think you'll find that you are actually happy to be alive.
I hope and pray that becoming an adult doesn't mean denying ourselves of anything fun, as some folks around here seem to think. Gotta go, I think I'll go to the park.
Brad
April Four
Shot rang out in the Memphis sky
Free at last
They took your life
They could not take your PRIDE!
~Thanks, MLK, sorry I'm late.
Well, folks, I'm suffering from some serious spring fever. This weather has been unbelievable. With my girl on my arm and my dog on the leash, I don't think there's anywhere I'd rather be right now than at the park, or the lake.
I told the staff that I was upset that I had to usher, for Sarah and Dennis' wedding, on my birthday, and I got a lot of "welcome to adulthood" type comments. Ya know, I hope I never lose the idea that my birthday is special and I shouldn't be working. Birthdays should be spent with friends and family. And, I hope I never lose spring fever. I hope I never lose senioritis. The idea that when it's "Sunny with a high of 75" (to quote the fellas of Reliant K) one should not be crammed into an office somewhere or running around to meetings. Especially those of us who work in the theological realm. Weather like this is God's gift to us, and any preacher who DOESN'T get outside, write a sermon at the park, take a walk for a meeting instead of staying in the board room, or something is missing the point.
This week, my friends, don't deny spring fever because that's what adults do. Embrace it. Get outside. I'll think you'll find that you are actually happy to be alive.
I hope and pray that becoming an adult doesn't mean denying ourselves of anything fun, as some folks around here seem to think. Gotta go, I think I'll go to the park.
Brad
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
11 Years!!
Excuse me as I wipe the throw up off my computer after reading my brother's last comment. I haven't seen cheese like that since the Donnie and Marie Reunion Tour.
Your birthday has not slipped my mind, Older and Wiser, but I can't very well post what YOU want for YOUR birthday on MY blog. That would be connectional and I think you know how that's discouraged around here. No, no, how could I ever forget my brother's birthday, which is two months and ELEVEN YEARS!!!!!! before mine.
Anyway, Tyler's coming up this weekend and I'm pretty stoked. For those new to the life of Brad, Tyler O'Banion is my best friend whom I've known since 7th grade. Sports came and went, music tastes changed, we each spent time locked into high school relationships that, apparently, everyone else knew wouldn't work, but we haven't changed. Norm Stewart basketball camp and we've never looked back. So, it'll be great to spend some time with him before he gets married and I never see him again.
What else, what else? Well, I had my District Council of Ordained Ministry committee meeting yesterday and I still have a job, so that's good. I got two how's your father's, two how's your grandfather's and even one how's your brother. But, we got into the meeting and good ol' Steve Campbell, the boss of both me and my brother who has changed both our diapers, said that most of the family stuff is in my head, that he and the board don't have any expectations for me, and that they recognize the unique gifts I bring to the table. So, that was nice to hear.
I got King Kong and watched all 3 hours and 8 minutes of it after this meeting. I watched some of the bonus features and still think Andy Serkis, who gave us the motion footage for Gollum and King Kong, should get an Acadamy Award.
Well, I think that's all the rambling info I can come up with for today, I hope all is well with everyone out there in blogland,
Oh, and in case I forget, Happy Birthday Big Bro,
Younger and Stronger,
Brad
Your birthday has not slipped my mind, Older and Wiser, but I can't very well post what YOU want for YOUR birthday on MY blog. That would be connectional and I think you know how that's discouraged around here. No, no, how could I ever forget my brother's birthday, which is two months and ELEVEN YEARS!!!!!! before mine.
Anyway, Tyler's coming up this weekend and I'm pretty stoked. For those new to the life of Brad, Tyler O'Banion is my best friend whom I've known since 7th grade. Sports came and went, music tastes changed, we each spent time locked into high school relationships that, apparently, everyone else knew wouldn't work, but we haven't changed. Norm Stewart basketball camp and we've never looked back. So, it'll be great to spend some time with him before he gets married and I never see him again.
What else, what else? Well, I had my District Council of Ordained Ministry committee meeting yesterday and I still have a job, so that's good. I got two how's your father's, two how's your grandfather's and even one how's your brother. But, we got into the meeting and good ol' Steve Campbell, the boss of both me and my brother who has changed both our diapers, said that most of the family stuff is in my head, that he and the board don't have any expectations for me, and that they recognize the unique gifts I bring to the table. So, that was nice to hear.
I got King Kong and watched all 3 hours and 8 minutes of it after this meeting. I watched some of the bonus features and still think Andy Serkis, who gave us the motion footage for Gollum and King Kong, should get an Acadamy Award.
Well, I think that's all the rambling info I can come up with for today, I hope all is well with everyone out there in blogland,
Oh, and in case I forget, Happy Birthday Big Bro,
Younger and Stronger,
Brad
Friday, March 24, 2006
It's B-day time!!
I actually looked at my calander the other (yes, I have a calander. It comes in sort of briefcase form, its more of a binder with handles.) and realized that you all only have two months to shop for my birthday presents!! So in the interest of getting cool stuff...er...imean...aiding your shopping so that you benefit from this somehow, I'm giving you my list!!
1. An iPod docking stereo: I'm tired of either not listening to music in my house or listening through computer speakers.
2. A new couch or recliner: I know, I know. I shed a tear for "The Beast" too, but it's time to retire it. I need furniture that doesn't come from Goodwill, my parents old stuff, or that I stole from someone's dorm room.
3. A digital camera: it's high time I joined the ranks of other great Bryan photographers like R. Andrew and James J.
4. A new matress: the lumps, the bowed middle, my back. 'Nuff Z'nuff.
Alright, obviously those four ideas are pretty much for two people in particular. They are in order of desire not necessarily need and the list is by no means exaustive.
For the rest of you:
DVD's are always a good bet, here's some that top my list:
The Shield(TV Show): any season
Indiana Jones Collection
Superman Collection
Alien Collection
Die Hard Collection
Sean Connery James Bond Collection
Lethal Weapon Collection
Books are also a good bet, I've gotten in the habit of reading lately for some reason, and need something to get me through the summer. When I moved from Fayette I left behind books by three of my favorite authors and I'd like to start collecting them again. So, here they are:
1. Anything by Stephen King, except the Dark Tower books which I have.
2. Anything by Robert Ludlum, the guy behind the Jason Bourne spy novels.
3. Anything by Micheal Connely, detective Harry Bosch.
Let's see, what else?
Anything drum or food related is always good.
Always looking for music: right now especially classical and more jazz.
I'd like some camping stuff.
And, if you must, if you absolutely have to, if you have to resort to the gift certificate, Best Buy tops the list, Target comes next, and then Old Navy.
Wow, I've done it. This is the single most selfish piece of liturature ever written. I should win, like, a nobel prize for self-serving inward-looking prose.
I also want peace on earth, a lower dependence on foriegn oil, death to WalMart, Nike, and the rest, less money in Washington, more unity in the Church, food for everybody in the world, an end to Aids/HIV in Africa, and Bush to be held accountable for his illegal actions.
There, that completely makes up for asking for stuff, huh? That's what I thought.
Two months and two days 'til 24, Bradley James Bryan
1. An iPod docking stereo: I'm tired of either not listening to music in my house or listening through computer speakers.
2. A new couch or recliner: I know, I know. I shed a tear for "The Beast" too, but it's time to retire it. I need furniture that doesn't come from Goodwill, my parents old stuff, or that I stole from someone's dorm room.
3. A digital camera: it's high time I joined the ranks of other great Bryan photographers like R. Andrew and James J.
4. A new matress: the lumps, the bowed middle, my back. 'Nuff Z'nuff.
Alright, obviously those four ideas are pretty much for two people in particular. They are in order of desire not necessarily need and the list is by no means exaustive.
For the rest of you:
DVD's are always a good bet, here's some that top my list:
The Shield(TV Show): any season
Indiana Jones Collection
Superman Collection
Alien Collection
Die Hard Collection
Sean Connery James Bond Collection
Lethal Weapon Collection
Books are also a good bet, I've gotten in the habit of reading lately for some reason, and need something to get me through the summer. When I moved from Fayette I left behind books by three of my favorite authors and I'd like to start collecting them again. So, here they are:
1. Anything by Stephen King, except the Dark Tower books which I have.
2. Anything by Robert Ludlum, the guy behind the Jason Bourne spy novels.
3. Anything by Micheal Connely, detective Harry Bosch.
Let's see, what else?
Anything drum or food related is always good.
Always looking for music: right now especially classical and more jazz.
I'd like some camping stuff.
And, if you must, if you absolutely have to, if you have to resort to the gift certificate, Best Buy tops the list, Target comes next, and then Old Navy.
Wow, I've done it. This is the single most selfish piece of liturature ever written. I should win, like, a nobel prize for self-serving inward-looking prose.
I also want peace on earth, a lower dependence on foriegn oil, death to WalMart, Nike, and the rest, less money in Washington, more unity in the Church, food for everybody in the world, an end to Aids/HIV in Africa, and Bush to be held accountable for his illegal actions.
There, that completely makes up for asking for stuff, huh? That's what I thought.
Two months and two days 'til 24, Bradley James Bryan
Monday, March 20, 2006
My Bradley Boys
Just a quick note to congradulate all my boys down at Bradley University. While I didn't get my bracket in in time with my boys from CMU, I did pick Bradley over Kansas on Lindsey and I's bracket. I always knew someone would make something of that name.
~Bradley James Bryan
~Bradley James Bryan
Lower Murder Rate Be Damned....
WE WANT A SUPER BOWL!!!! Soon, the residents of Kansas City will be voting on whether or not to raise taxes for a proposed renivation of our two pro sports stadiums. If our teams were worth this trouble, I'd be fine with this. But since the Chiefs can't make it past the first game of the playoffs, EVER, and the Royals are just unbelievably horrible, I do take some issue with even the idea of a tax.
When we hit 100 murders last year, did anyone propose raising taxes to help the police department? When we hit 130 murders last year, did anyone say let's raise money to promote jobs in our poorest areas? Let's stop the gangs? Do everything we can do ensure everyone in Kansas City has the same opportunities for education and employment?
Or, has anyone said yes to a bill to raise taxes for our dismal public school system. I have 15 kids in my youth group. They go to 5 different private schools. Our school's are horrible. The teachers don't get paid, the kids don't have the resources, they are vacant school buildings all over the place. NO, every time a bill comes up it gets tossed back down.
But, we love our Chiefs don't we. And for some reason that God, or maybe the devil, only knows we stick by our Royals. And everybody knows building on to the stadiums will be great job opps, for about a year. And a Super Bowl will bring in lots of tourism dollars, for ONE DAY!!!!
Come on, people, Brad
When we hit 100 murders last year, did anyone propose raising taxes to help the police department? When we hit 130 murders last year, did anyone say let's raise money to promote jobs in our poorest areas? Let's stop the gangs? Do everything we can do ensure everyone in Kansas City has the same opportunities for education and employment?
Or, has anyone said yes to a bill to raise taxes for our dismal public school system. I have 15 kids in my youth group. They go to 5 different private schools. Our school's are horrible. The teachers don't get paid, the kids don't have the resources, they are vacant school buildings all over the place. NO, every time a bill comes up it gets tossed back down.
But, we love our Chiefs don't we. And for some reason that God, or maybe the devil, only knows we stick by our Royals. And everybody knows building on to the stadiums will be great job opps, for about a year. And a Super Bowl will bring in lots of tourism dollars, for ONE DAY!!!!
Come on, people, Brad
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Clarification
Hey ya'll, this is an addendum to my last post:
To get to the Lil' Brudder cartoon, you need to click on "sb email" at the bottom of the main page. Just click "come on in" when the site comes up. And don't forget to look for the words you can click on when the e-mail's over. I'm serious. That little guy, he's got the heart of a champion.
Brad
To get to the Lil' Brudder cartoon, you need to click on "sb email" at the bottom of the main page. Just click "come on in" when the site comes up. And don't forget to look for the words you can click on when the e-mail's over. I'm serious. That little guy, he's got the heart of a champion.
Brad
Clarification
Hey ya'll, this is an addendum to my last post:
To get to the Lil' Brudder cartoon, you need to click on "sb email" at the bottom of the main page. Just click "come on in" when the site comes up. And don't forget to look for the words you can click on when the e-mail's over. I'm serious. That little guy, he's got the heart of a champion.
Brad
To get to the Lil' Brudder cartoon, you need to click on "sb email" at the bottom of the main page. Just click "come on in" when the site comes up. And don't forget to look for the words you can click on when the e-mail's over. I'm serious. That little guy, he's got the heart of a champion.
Brad
Doing the Blog World a Friggen' Service!
Hey guys, just a quick one today. I hope it'll get you a laugh. It's gray and rainy today and I'm working on a take home test. So, I needed one.
Do yourself a favor: Go to www.homestarrunner.com
Click on e-mail
Scroll down to an e-mail title "crying"
Watch and enjoy the story of Lil' Brudder
Also, I ordered two t-shirts today from busted tees.com (they're cheap, mom)
One features an anglo-Jesus flying through the air on a hang glider, an extatic look on his face, underneath the words:
What Wouldn't Jesus Do?
The second is a photo of an anglo-Jesus, sans facial hair: Jesus Shaves.
I think the sacralidge is justified because Jesus is clearly white and therefore not the real Jesus!
This lent, take a dump, fast, get closer to God, and remember to laugh,
Brad
ps, don't forget the homestar runner cartoon
Do yourself a favor: Go to www.homestarrunner.com
Click on e-mail
Scroll down to an e-mail title "crying"
Watch and enjoy the story of Lil' Brudder
Also, I ordered two t-shirts today from busted tees.com (they're cheap, mom)
One features an anglo-Jesus flying through the air on a hang glider, an extatic look on his face, underneath the words:
What Wouldn't Jesus Do?
The second is a photo of an anglo-Jesus, sans facial hair: Jesus Shaves.
I think the sacralidge is justified because Jesus is clearly white and therefore not the real Jesus!
This lent, take a dump, fast, get closer to God, and remember to laugh,
Brad
ps, don't forget the homestar runner cartoon
Monday, March 06, 2006
King Kong got robbed, man!
You've got to have some pretty big grapes to deny a giant ape his little golden statue. So, the Oscars have come and gone again, and I have to say, I'm pretty pleased. This year's awards were given to relatively small movies, with relatively small audiences, with huge subjects. The beauty and heartache of socially unacceptable love, racism in today's world, the fight for freedom of speech and the press, and assassination as a duty sent from God. As I expected, none of the actors in King Kong got anything, although they won for sound and visual affects. people don't seem to understand, THERE WAS NOTHING THERE!!! Philip Hoffman does a funny voice for three hours, Reese Witherspoon plays a down south girl with razor wit and devilish charm(oh wait, she IS a down south girl with razor wit and devilish charm) and they walk away winners. Naomi Watts is terrified of nothing, befriends nothing, makes nothing fall in love with her, and winds up killing nothing, and we all thought there was something there!!! Not to mention Andy Serkis, who lived with gorillas for months and brought Kong's moves and voice to life. Anyway, I'm glad that nothing went to the number one movie of the year: Dukes of Hazard. All in all a good night.
The Lost party is continuing, one more four episode DVD to go. It's wedding season and I've got four in the next four weekends. Everything else is going great.
Talk atcha later, Brad
The Lost party is continuing, one more four episode DVD to go. It's wedding season and I've got four in the next four weekends. Everything else is going great.
Talk atcha later, Brad
Friday, February 24, 2006
Everybody's Workin' for the Weekend
Hey everybody,
Well, the ski trip has come and gone and, aparently, skiing just isn't my thing. I got sick after the first day and didn't ski. Thus, I've been sick all week and still am not 100%. Note to self and all in reading range: NEVER MAKE FRIDAY THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK YOU WORK!! It sucks. I'm pretty excited for the weekend. I've been watching Lost since the beginning and Lindsey and I are going to have a Lost weekend with Red Lobster, island drinks and the complete first season of Lost on DVD, stretched over two days of course. And, this Sunday i'm preaching and playing drums and Mom, Amanda and maybe Nanny will be here to hear me.
In other news, I bought an X-box, Halo and Halo 2 off a kid on the ski trip for $100. No, mom, i'm not neglecting my studies. No, Adams, i'm still not as good as you too.
Speaking of the two Adam's, funny story: So, there's this old person adventure day at our church on Fridays. In the hall is a table of old magazines, old people like they're magazines. And who do I see staring up at me from within the table, Carter Snow. Coming into work in the morning, and there's the Snowman, Mr. Missouri Conservationist, checking the clipboard in the forest. Pretty funny. I gave him a call and left a message.
I don't think there's much more going on. I apologize for the lengthy and rather ranting post last week. This country's in bad shape. And, as Dad said, it's not just that. Our world is in pretty sad shape right now. My friend Tom is recording a few songs for a demo. He calls his project "Compassion in Exile". Pretty fitting in think.
If anyone wants to help me save our environment and lessen our dependence on foreign oil by buying me a new Trailblazer or Tahoe that runs on that corn gas, let me know.
Brad
Well, the ski trip has come and gone and, aparently, skiing just isn't my thing. I got sick after the first day and didn't ski. Thus, I've been sick all week and still am not 100%. Note to self and all in reading range: NEVER MAKE FRIDAY THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK YOU WORK!! It sucks. I'm pretty excited for the weekend. I've been watching Lost since the beginning and Lindsey and I are going to have a Lost weekend with Red Lobster, island drinks and the complete first season of Lost on DVD, stretched over two days of course. And, this Sunday i'm preaching and playing drums and Mom, Amanda and maybe Nanny will be here to hear me.
In other news, I bought an X-box, Halo and Halo 2 off a kid on the ski trip for $100. No, mom, i'm not neglecting my studies. No, Adams, i'm still not as good as you too.
Speaking of the two Adam's, funny story: So, there's this old person adventure day at our church on Fridays. In the hall is a table of old magazines, old people like they're magazines. And who do I see staring up at me from within the table, Carter Snow. Coming into work in the morning, and there's the Snowman, Mr. Missouri Conservationist, checking the clipboard in the forest. Pretty funny. I gave him a call and left a message.
I don't think there's much more going on. I apologize for the lengthy and rather ranting post last week. This country's in bad shape. And, as Dad said, it's not just that. Our world is in pretty sad shape right now. My friend Tom is recording a few songs for a demo. He calls his project "Compassion in Exile". Pretty fitting in think.
If anyone wants to help me save our environment and lessen our dependence on foreign oil by buying me a new Trailblazer or Tahoe that runs on that corn gas, let me know.
Brad
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Playing Catch Up
Hello one and all,
I've been busy finding a balance with school back in the picture, so my posts have been a little slow lately. So, this is my chance at catching up. It might get long, so hold on to your seats!!
Heavy stuff first, has anybody noticed and does anybody care that our administration is probably one of the worst in history. Our White House BROKE THE LAW!!!! And, instead of owning up to WARRENTLESS wiretapping, in other words spying on the American people, there's talk now of just creating a new law that allows for it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! Let's see, the last time one of our presidents broke the law.......what happened.....I'm trying to remember.....oh yeah, NIXON HAPPENED. We're fighting a war we never should've started, and believe me, we did start it, and it's not going to end anytime soon. Taking the troops out now would be disasterous for Iraq. So, let's see, the last time our president went to war without support and it turned into a debacle....ummm...oh yeah, NIXON AGAIN!!! Anybody remember Vietnam. So there's that war, that's unending and all about oil not the freedom of Iraq. And then there's this other war, remember the whole Osama Bin Ladin thing. Somehow, this guy can get his video feeds to the local news, but the richest and most sophisticated military in the history of the world can't find him. Once again, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Then there's the whole Supreme Court thing. Let me just appoint my little puppet king who will vote how I tell them to vote. Yeah, that's fair. And THEN, there's the illegal, ILLEGAL PEOPLE, wiretapping that our White House sanctioned and put into action. Not only should they be kicked out of office, they should be arrested!! Oh yeah, and let's not forget the way the White House handled Katrina and now have regressed to just ignoring it!! It's much more important to find out who to blame for this shit than to actually help this people get their homes and lives back. Oh, AND THEN, there's the angry troll who will be our president if Dubya has another nasty bike wreck. This is our second in line to the most powerful man in the world. A senile, angry totalitarian who thinks there's nothing wrong with a little torture if it's done in the name of, brace yourselves, THE WAR ON TERROR. A man who can't tell a 78 yr old man from a deer and waits almost a week to say ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!!! Oh, and I almost forgot, the website link on my brothers site, www.entertherainbow.blopspot.com, pointed out to me that we have 150,000 Hiroshima size atomic weapons that cost us billions of dollars a year just to maintain. Oh no, Iran, we can't let you have any nuclear weapons, after all, your Muslim and everybody knows Muslims can't be trusted. We could cut more than half of our military budget and still be the richest army in the world. Our country is going to hell and nobody seems to care. It's time to do something about it. Write congresspersons, join this www.truemajority.org to get information about when to write. And most of all, VOTE.
But, here's the bad part, the Democrats don't have anything better to offer. I know that the Republican's won't have the next president, but whoever we do get won't be much better. Hilary Clinton? A black man will be president before a woman, I garauntee it. John Kerry? John McCain? Seen those guys, they lost to Dubya. They lost to a man who tripled our national deficit in less than four years!!!
When you really think about it, the level of corruption and ineptitude of this administration should frighten, anger, worry, and intice you to action.
All right, deep breath, in, two three four, out, two three four. We're in trouble, is all I'm saying.
Here's the good stuff. Lynz and i babysat my niece and nephew last Saturaday. No, i didn't mean last Sat. Night. I meant last Saturday day, all day. And, I've done some pretty crazy things in my life but that...was...awesome!!! Those kids are one of the best things that's ever happened to me. For example, we were playing dinosaurs in Wes' room and Wes and I were bad guys and Lynz and Cori were good guys. Then, Cori says, get this, "Let's just all be good guys, why does there have to be bad guys in the game?" She's almost eight and has a better foriegn policy than our pres. Sorry, i'm done talking about that. And then Wes, who just turned five and has his broken arm slung up in his blanket with gause around his whole body (by the way a five year old swaddled up like that is just about the cutest thing in the world), Wes turns to Lindsey and says "Ya know, Lindsey, I didn't like Chicken Little.....I loved it!!!" And as we played Cranium, the family fun game edition, he kept saying things like "For example" and "The thing is". Cori has a such an ear for music she gets upset when she can't hum a song correctly, but she knows it's wrong and knows why it's wrong. Amazing, amazing, amazing kids. Mom and Dad, ask Andy to bring along the Cranium game. We played for 7 of the total 8 hours we were there.
Second thing of note, I saw Robert Randolph and the Family Band again. From the front row again. And it was awesome, again. If you've never been to a rock show, or have forgotten what it's like, go see RRFB as soon as you can and no matter how close or far away they come to you. It was unbelieveable. Other than Metallica from five feet away, probably the greatest entertainment thing i've ever seen. (Mustoe, Bela Fleck March 31st, we're going.)
Thirdly, Lindsey got me a mandolin for V Day. In the words of Mr. Mustoe, "You better lock this one up, this one's a keeper." Um, the girl, not the mandolin. But i've had it for exactly one day and have learn one song already, Golden Slippers. It's a pain to keep in tune, but it's awesome nonetheless. My goal, of course, is "Battle for Evermore" from Led Zeppelin Four. But, i'll have to settle for Golden Slippers for now. So, the tally is now: PRETTY DANG GOOD AT: drums, TOTALLY MEDIORCRE AT: guitar, piano, and mandolin. Here I come accordian.
Lastly, Tomorrow night I leave for God's home away from home, Colorado. I'll be skiing for three days straight, no classes missed! I'm really really excited but just hoping that I won't get hurt this time. I've been twice, been hurt twice. So we'll see, I'm more mature and stronger now. But, after all, I'm not 18 anymore.
Wow, I'm sorry if you were just getting on real quick to see if Brad had written anything. If i'm gonna post once a week, It's probably gonna be long. Thanks for coming by.
What's so funny about peace, love and understanding,
brad
I've been busy finding a balance with school back in the picture, so my posts have been a little slow lately. So, this is my chance at catching up. It might get long, so hold on to your seats!!
Heavy stuff first, has anybody noticed and does anybody care that our administration is probably one of the worst in history. Our White House BROKE THE LAW!!!! And, instead of owning up to WARRENTLESS wiretapping, in other words spying on the American people, there's talk now of just creating a new law that allows for it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! Let's see, the last time one of our presidents broke the law.......what happened.....I'm trying to remember.....oh yeah, NIXON HAPPENED. We're fighting a war we never should've started, and believe me, we did start it, and it's not going to end anytime soon. Taking the troops out now would be disasterous for Iraq. So, let's see, the last time our president went to war without support and it turned into a debacle....ummm...oh yeah, NIXON AGAIN!!! Anybody remember Vietnam. So there's that war, that's unending and all about oil not the freedom of Iraq. And then there's this other war, remember the whole Osama Bin Ladin thing. Somehow, this guy can get his video feeds to the local news, but the richest and most sophisticated military in the history of the world can't find him. Once again, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Then there's the whole Supreme Court thing. Let me just appoint my little puppet king who will vote how I tell them to vote. Yeah, that's fair. And THEN, there's the illegal, ILLEGAL PEOPLE, wiretapping that our White House sanctioned and put into action. Not only should they be kicked out of office, they should be arrested!! Oh yeah, and let's not forget the way the White House handled Katrina and now have regressed to just ignoring it!! It's much more important to find out who to blame for this shit than to actually help this people get their homes and lives back. Oh, AND THEN, there's the angry troll who will be our president if Dubya has another nasty bike wreck. This is our second in line to the most powerful man in the world. A senile, angry totalitarian who thinks there's nothing wrong with a little torture if it's done in the name of, brace yourselves, THE WAR ON TERROR. A man who can't tell a 78 yr old man from a deer and waits almost a week to say ANYTHING ABOUT IT!!!! Oh, and I almost forgot, the website link on my brothers site, www.entertherainbow.blopspot.com, pointed out to me that we have 150,000 Hiroshima size atomic weapons that cost us billions of dollars a year just to maintain. Oh no, Iran, we can't let you have any nuclear weapons, after all, your Muslim and everybody knows Muslims can't be trusted. We could cut more than half of our military budget and still be the richest army in the world. Our country is going to hell and nobody seems to care. It's time to do something about it. Write congresspersons, join this www.truemajority.org to get information about when to write. And most of all, VOTE.
But, here's the bad part, the Democrats don't have anything better to offer. I know that the Republican's won't have the next president, but whoever we do get won't be much better. Hilary Clinton? A black man will be president before a woman, I garauntee it. John Kerry? John McCain? Seen those guys, they lost to Dubya. They lost to a man who tripled our national deficit in less than four years!!!
When you really think about it, the level of corruption and ineptitude of this administration should frighten, anger, worry, and intice you to action.
All right, deep breath, in, two three four, out, two three four. We're in trouble, is all I'm saying.
Here's the good stuff. Lynz and i babysat my niece and nephew last Saturaday. No, i didn't mean last Sat. Night. I meant last Saturday day, all day. And, I've done some pretty crazy things in my life but that...was...awesome!!! Those kids are one of the best things that's ever happened to me. For example, we were playing dinosaurs in Wes' room and Wes and I were bad guys and Lynz and Cori were good guys. Then, Cori says, get this, "Let's just all be good guys, why does there have to be bad guys in the game?" She's almost eight and has a better foriegn policy than our pres. Sorry, i'm done talking about that. And then Wes, who just turned five and has his broken arm slung up in his blanket with gause around his whole body (by the way a five year old swaddled up like that is just about the cutest thing in the world), Wes turns to Lindsey and says "Ya know, Lindsey, I didn't like Chicken Little.....I loved it!!!" And as we played Cranium, the family fun game edition, he kept saying things like "For example" and "The thing is". Cori has a such an ear for music she gets upset when she can't hum a song correctly, but she knows it's wrong and knows why it's wrong. Amazing, amazing, amazing kids. Mom and Dad, ask Andy to bring along the Cranium game. We played for 7 of the total 8 hours we were there.
Second thing of note, I saw Robert Randolph and the Family Band again. From the front row again. And it was awesome, again. If you've never been to a rock show, or have forgotten what it's like, go see RRFB as soon as you can and no matter how close or far away they come to you. It was unbelieveable. Other than Metallica from five feet away, probably the greatest entertainment thing i've ever seen. (Mustoe, Bela Fleck March 31st, we're going.)
Thirdly, Lindsey got me a mandolin for V Day. In the words of Mr. Mustoe, "You better lock this one up, this one's a keeper." Um, the girl, not the mandolin. But i've had it for exactly one day and have learn one song already, Golden Slippers. It's a pain to keep in tune, but it's awesome nonetheless. My goal, of course, is "Battle for Evermore" from Led Zeppelin Four. But, i'll have to settle for Golden Slippers for now. So, the tally is now: PRETTY DANG GOOD AT: drums, TOTALLY MEDIORCRE AT: guitar, piano, and mandolin. Here I come accordian.
Lastly, Tomorrow night I leave for God's home away from home, Colorado. I'll be skiing for three days straight, no classes missed! I'm really really excited but just hoping that I won't get hurt this time. I've been twice, been hurt twice. So we'll see, I'm more mature and stronger now. But, after all, I'm not 18 anymore.
Wow, I'm sorry if you were just getting on real quick to see if Brad had written anything. If i'm gonna post once a week, It's probably gonna be long. Thanks for coming by.
What's so funny about peace, love and understanding,
brad
Monday, February 06, 2006
I've been tagged.
Ya know, tag is being banned all over KC because it's too violent. Can you imaging a playground without tag? How else will popular kids learn that they're better than everyone else? How else will fat kids learn that they're slower than everybody else? How else will the smelly kid learn that noone wants to touch him/her, even in tag? Anyway, here goes.
Four jobs that I've had:
(all in one year)
Central Methodist College Resident Assistant
Pizza Hut cook and delivery driver extrodinaire
Daytime cafe/personal trainer @ THE ZOOONNNNEEEE!!!!!
Pastor, St. Paul United Methodist Church
Four movies I could watch over and over:
Snatch
Anchorman
LOTR
Kill Bill vol. 1
Four TV shows I love to watch:
Family Guy
The Sheild
Lost
The 700 Club (for material only)
Four places I've lived:
Springfield, MO
Fayette, MO
Kansas City, MO
England, United Kingdom
Four places I've visited on vacation:
(much much more than four but these are my favorites)
Banff National Park, Canada
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Rafting down the Grand Canyon with Dad
Neurschwanstein Castle, Germany
Four Websites I visit daily:
homestarrunner.com
entertherainbow.blogspot.com
postsecret.com
and, um, hotmail, i guess
Four restaurants:
Hong Kong Inn, Springfield, MO
Mexican Villa, Springfield, MO
Shakespeare Pizza, Columbia, MO
Smokestack BBQ, Kansas City, MO
Four places I'd rather be (or things I'd rather be doing):
Our Lake house
Colorado
Behind a drumset
On the radio
Four things that make me mad (nice addition Mr. Mustoe):
When people ride in a bench seat and the girl is sitting right next to the guy.
Hands free cell phone people.
Pat Robertson.
People who don't update their blogs. (just kidding)
I too am adding one that I can't believe no one has added already
Four CD's that I will never tire of listening too:
Led Zeppelin 4
Pantera- Cowboys from Hell
Failure-Fantastic Planet
Pearl Jam- Ten
And, in an interest to stop the violence, I am not tagging anyone.
Brad
Four jobs that I've had:
(all in one year)
Central Methodist College Resident Assistant
Pizza Hut cook and delivery driver extrodinaire
Daytime cafe/personal trainer @ THE ZOOONNNNEEEE!!!!!
Pastor, St. Paul United Methodist Church
Four movies I could watch over and over:
Snatch
Anchorman
LOTR
Kill Bill vol. 1
Four TV shows I love to watch:
Family Guy
The Sheild
Lost
The 700 Club (for material only)
Four places I've lived:
Springfield, MO
Fayette, MO
Kansas City, MO
England, United Kingdom
Four places I've visited on vacation:
(much much more than four but these are my favorites)
Banff National Park, Canada
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Rafting down the Grand Canyon with Dad
Neurschwanstein Castle, Germany
Four Websites I visit daily:
homestarrunner.com
entertherainbow.blogspot.com
postsecret.com
and, um, hotmail, i guess
Four restaurants:
Hong Kong Inn, Springfield, MO
Mexican Villa, Springfield, MO
Shakespeare Pizza, Columbia, MO
Smokestack BBQ, Kansas City, MO
Four places I'd rather be (or things I'd rather be doing):
Our Lake house
Colorado
Behind a drumset
On the radio
Four things that make me mad (nice addition Mr. Mustoe):
When people ride in a bench seat and the girl is sitting right next to the guy.
Hands free cell phone people.
Pat Robertson.
People who don't update their blogs. (just kidding)
I too am adding one that I can't believe no one has added already
Four CD's that I will never tire of listening too:
Led Zeppelin 4
Pantera- Cowboys from Hell
Failure-Fantastic Planet
Pearl Jam- Ten
And, in an interest to stop the violence, I am not tagging anyone.
Brad
Friday, February 03, 2006
A Kiwi and a V that sounds like a U...
Well, school is back in full swing. I've got New Testament with a Kiwi (that's a person from New Zealand and not an ethnic slur, they use it on themselves) , Theology with Kris Kvam (pronouced Kuam), and Preaching with Graves. I don't know Graves and don't have the class until next Wednesday. I'm pretty excited about this semester, not only because I've got great teachers (Warren Carter literally wrote the book on the NT), but because we're getting into my areas of interest, theology and preaching. I'm looking forward to it.
That's pretty much all that's going on,
thanks for stopping by guys, thanks for reading my blog,
Brad
That's pretty much all that's going on,
thanks for stopping by guys, thanks for reading my blog,
Brad
Friday, January 27, 2006
Welcome to the Machine
Hello friends and neighbors,
Most of you know my thoughts on today's music scene. For those who don't, I think it sucks.
We're going through some sort of weird 80's electronic synth phase that I just don't get. We tried that, it failed, why are we doing it again? Bands like the Killers (the only band that does it pretty well), Yellowcard, Fall Out boy, all last years big breakthrough bands have keyboards at the forefront. So, going historically, i guess we have to suffer through another wave of horrible, blond haired LA spandex bands, before we get to the good stuff again, that will only last for a few years before the golden boy kills himself for being popular and rich. Sorry for the run-on, but nobody wants to see another Poison.
So, I went back. With my recent iPod issues, I lost some of the music I had. I went out the other day and bought three albums that EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE WORLD should own.
Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall, from Pink Floyd. If you haven't heard these albums in a while, get them back out, or go buy the digitally remastered versions, or if you're a casual fan, go buy the greatest hits collection. I think it's very sad that music made thirty years ago is better and more progressive than anything that's out there today. The genius song writing of Roger Waters, the haunting (and actucally creative) keyboards of Nick Mason, the beautifully simple drumming of Dave Wright, and the greatest guitar tone of all time, David Gilmore. Well, a tie for first with Brian May of Queen. Unbelievable, groundbreaking and intoxicating music.
What bands nowadays are doing, seeing which era they can most sound like, The Stokes and Jet (the 60s), Maroon 5 (the 70s), Modest Mouse, The Killers, Panic at the Disco (the 80s), is completely inept. Someone needs to take music forward not back.
But until then, we've got to back to find descent music to listen to. So, for the good of the world, here's ten albums that every person in the world should own:
1. The Beatles-Let it Be
2. Led Zeppelin-Four, or ZOSO, or Self-titled
3. Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon
4. Jimi Hendrix- Are You Experienced?
5. Van Halen-1984
6. Michael Jackson- Thriller
7. The Rolling Stones- (the one with Sympathy for the Devil)
8. The Clash- London Calling
9. Pearl Jam- Ten
10. U2- Joshua Tree
And, just so you don't think all is lost, there is some hope out there:
Coldplay-x&y
U2-How to dismantle an atomic bomb
The Killers-Hot Fuss (they do their thing very well)
Queens of the Stone Age-Lullabies to Paralize
Jack Johnson- In Between Dreams (Jack doesn't change much but he lives in Hawaii, you can't really blame him)
A Mars Volta- Frances the Mute
Just a few bands that i think are doing it right and taking rock music in a direction it needs to go.
Happy Listening, your resident music snob, Brad
Most of you know my thoughts on today's music scene. For those who don't, I think it sucks.
We're going through some sort of weird 80's electronic synth phase that I just don't get. We tried that, it failed, why are we doing it again? Bands like the Killers (the only band that does it pretty well), Yellowcard, Fall Out boy, all last years big breakthrough bands have keyboards at the forefront. So, going historically, i guess we have to suffer through another wave of horrible, blond haired LA spandex bands, before we get to the good stuff again, that will only last for a few years before the golden boy kills himself for being popular and rich. Sorry for the run-on, but nobody wants to see another Poison.
So, I went back. With my recent iPod issues, I lost some of the music I had. I went out the other day and bought three albums that EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE WORLD should own.
Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall, from Pink Floyd. If you haven't heard these albums in a while, get them back out, or go buy the digitally remastered versions, or if you're a casual fan, go buy the greatest hits collection. I think it's very sad that music made thirty years ago is better and more progressive than anything that's out there today. The genius song writing of Roger Waters, the haunting (and actucally creative) keyboards of Nick Mason, the beautifully simple drumming of Dave Wright, and the greatest guitar tone of all time, David Gilmore. Well, a tie for first with Brian May of Queen. Unbelievable, groundbreaking and intoxicating music.
What bands nowadays are doing, seeing which era they can most sound like, The Stokes and Jet (the 60s), Maroon 5 (the 70s), Modest Mouse, The Killers, Panic at the Disco (the 80s), is completely inept. Someone needs to take music forward not back.
But until then, we've got to back to find descent music to listen to. So, for the good of the world, here's ten albums that every person in the world should own:
1. The Beatles-Let it Be
2. Led Zeppelin-Four, or ZOSO, or Self-titled
3. Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon
4. Jimi Hendrix- Are You Experienced?
5. Van Halen-1984
6. Michael Jackson- Thriller
7. The Rolling Stones- (the one with Sympathy for the Devil)
8. The Clash- London Calling
9. Pearl Jam- Ten
10. U2- Joshua Tree
And, just so you don't think all is lost, there is some hope out there:
Coldplay-x&y
U2-How to dismantle an atomic bomb
The Killers-Hot Fuss (they do their thing very well)
Queens of the Stone Age-Lullabies to Paralize
Jack Johnson- In Between Dreams (Jack doesn't change much but he lives in Hawaii, you can't really blame him)
A Mars Volta- Frances the Mute
Just a few bands that i think are doing it right and taking rock music in a direction it needs to go.
Happy Listening, your resident music snob, Brad
Monday, January 23, 2006
Serious Writers' Blog
Can something called blogging be serious?
I got Mustoe writing blog quadrilogies, Caldwell writing about fasting and responding very seriously to the Narnia thing.
Let me apologize. I think it's great that some choose to use this world of blogging for theological and philosophical discussion; heck, I'll even join in occasionally. But, rest assurd, if your coming to my site you'll get a full dose of what I'm thinking, ranting or laughing about on any given day. But nothing else. No exposition, hardly any explanation, and really no reflection.
As most of you know, I'll do the reflecting on my own.
Taking you guys taking blogging too seriously way too seriously,
Brad
ps. all i'm saying about Narnia is that it's a great movie. not a great CHRISTIAN movie. just a great movie. i hope people are touched by the story and find the allusions to Christ powerful. but i also hope we can enjoy the series as just movies.
I got Mustoe writing blog quadrilogies, Caldwell writing about fasting and responding very seriously to the Narnia thing.
Let me apologize. I think it's great that some choose to use this world of blogging for theological and philosophical discussion; heck, I'll even join in occasionally. But, rest assurd, if your coming to my site you'll get a full dose of what I'm thinking, ranting or laughing about on any given day. But nothing else. No exposition, hardly any explanation, and really no reflection.
As most of you know, I'll do the reflecting on my own.
Taking you guys taking blogging too seriously way too seriously,
Brad
ps. all i'm saying about Narnia is that it's a great movie. not a great CHRISTIAN movie. just a great movie. i hope people are touched by the story and find the allusions to Christ powerful. but i also hope we can enjoy the series as just movies.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Lions, Djembes and Gay Cowboys, Oh My!!
Wow, where do I begin? Sorry for the absence ladies and gentlemen. As my friend Adam put it, I'm getting pounded in the blogging world.
First off, excuses. My last blog was Dec. 19th about King Kong. Since then I've been sick, on vacation, at minister's school, and back at work too busy catching up on things to get online. Those are my excuses.
Second, what I've done:
The whole family has been together three times: our regular Plaza trip where we ate at Buca de Beppo, or Joe's Basement, on the Plaza. Mom got lost going to the bathroom and we pigged out on three types of pasta and a dessert that just kept getting better as you read. Oh chocolate cake, oh chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, oh its two pieces of chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream chocolate syrup whipped cream and some Italian thing, taramasu? Anyway, we took a picture of it. It was truly breathtaking. The best part about this was Wesley asking me why we were eating at Poopy de Diapo!
The second get together was Monday after Christmas. Mom, dad, Steph and I came back from CoMo and Lindsey met us at the N. KC Bryans for the comparing of gifts. Andy got a new tent. I finally got a big boy djembe (that's a hand drum). 14 incher that matches the pattern of my little guy!! After dinner we played Kersplatt or something, an Uno based weird animal/color/number game. All in all a good night. The best part, Wesley got a drumset!! (andy, lessons are 25 bucks an hour and I'm free on Saturdays)
The third party was for my much older sister's birthday on 1/8. (give props to Elvis Aaron Presley as well) We went to Brio on the plaza for more Italian, higher class but not as fun and not as much as Joe's. Wesley annouced my arrival to the whole restaurant and Cori annouced that she threw up three times yesterday and "only made the bucket once." We then retired once again to the NKC Bryan's place, even though mine was 5 minutes away. (apparently there's a space issue at my house) Steph got a bunch of old lady presents and...just kidding! She's young and looking better than ever!
I kept big old Shaquette for a week while my family was in Dallas. (that's my dog, or my parents' dog or the family's dog, or whoseever she is) She is pretty old, and pretty fat and got these fatty bubbles all over her. And then there's Fiona. She's young, skinny and has K9HD (doggie hyper activity disorder). But, i think Shaq had fun.
Probably the biggest thing I did, in that it lasted the longest was Minister's School. It was pretty good, but I was disappointed as some of you might imagine. It was a lot of fun playing in the band, especially with Dad and Andy. I'm sorry I was a little young to ever really have time or skill enough to play more with the family. Anytime you need a drummer, I'm available. (except on the 10 and 11th of march, wink wink Calds) What struck me most about Minister's school was how many people thought our band, made of ministerial misfits who haven't played in weeks or years and have NEVER played together, was the greatest thing to happen to worship since broken bread (haha). What are these people doing with the music in there worship? What we did was fun, and it accomplished the goal it set out to do. But imagine what we'd do with practice!!
So, I had a pretty serious talk with Mom at Minister's School. Mom has a way of making feelings i didn't even know were there come out like a geiser. I love where I am, in KC and I love being in school. I love being with Lindsey and being around Ryan Bates. I love dog parks and the plaza and being close to my sibs. But, I just don't like working in a church. I still feel a call to ministry, but maybe just in the setting i'm in now or maybe in general, I don't know if working in a church is for me. I'm feeling pretty good already this year though. I've been freed up a little to do more creative things and working hard on the youth group and young adult ministry here and it's getting better. It makes me wonder if this sort of specialized ministry is more my thing. Campus ministry, youth ministry, young adult ministry that sort of thing. We'll see how I feel in four years, cause I know I want to finish school.
Ok, now I mentioned Lions and gay cowboys. I saw Narnia and Brokeback Mountain over the break. Narnia was awesome but I didn't remember the Jesus reference so loud and clear in the book. I really hope our friends in the conservative Christian realm don't jump on Narnia's back and we can enjoy them as movies alone. OK, Brokeback Mountain......no big deal at all! I have to say i'm pretty disappointed in my newly adopted home town which i thought to be pretty progressive. Brokeback is only playing in three theaters in KC metro area. THREE!!!!! And the excuse can't be marketing, it just won best picture! There are about 7 seconds of gay sex during which you can't see any skin and there's a lot of painful grunting. Other than that, it's just another boring love story that doesn't resolve happily. I don't think it's the best picture, although the acting is great. With all the heterosexual sex that on tv, in magazines, in the paper, and in the movies, this is the stupidest controversy I've seen in a while. Honestly, we see more obsenity on MTV or the OC. If people should be upset it's because these men are married and cheating on their wives and cheating on each other with other guys. We can't make a movie about a normal healthy gay relationship but we can easily put Flavor of Love on television (a show where girls who wear nothing compete for the love of mentally retarded aging hobbit Flavor Flav) Alright I'm done.
My brother's brother in law is a better man than I: I'm going to mention Pat Robertson twice in this article. That sentence, and this next one. Pat Robertson is a fat headed, bigotted, senile idiot and must be stopped. There, feel better.
So now I'm back. Working, getting ready for school, hanging out with Bates and Lindsey of course. Not too much going on right now. I've been working out and dieting, not just because it's the new year but because I reached the 235 pound mark and that's just ridiculous.
I hope everyone's Christmastide was a good one and all your dreams come true.
Good to be back America, Brad
First off, excuses. My last blog was Dec. 19th about King Kong. Since then I've been sick, on vacation, at minister's school, and back at work too busy catching up on things to get online. Those are my excuses.
Second, what I've done:
The whole family has been together three times: our regular Plaza trip where we ate at Buca de Beppo, or Joe's Basement, on the Plaza. Mom got lost going to the bathroom and we pigged out on three types of pasta and a dessert that just kept getting better as you read. Oh chocolate cake, oh chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, oh its two pieces of chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream chocolate syrup whipped cream and some Italian thing, taramasu? Anyway, we took a picture of it. It was truly breathtaking. The best part about this was Wesley asking me why we were eating at Poopy de Diapo!
The second get together was Monday after Christmas. Mom, dad, Steph and I came back from CoMo and Lindsey met us at the N. KC Bryans for the comparing of gifts. Andy got a new tent. I finally got a big boy djembe (that's a hand drum). 14 incher that matches the pattern of my little guy!! After dinner we played Kersplatt or something, an Uno based weird animal/color/number game. All in all a good night. The best part, Wesley got a drumset!! (andy, lessons are 25 bucks an hour and I'm free on Saturdays)
The third party was for my much older sister's birthday on 1/8. (give props to Elvis Aaron Presley as well) We went to Brio on the plaza for more Italian, higher class but not as fun and not as much as Joe's. Wesley annouced my arrival to the whole restaurant and Cori annouced that she threw up three times yesterday and "only made the bucket once." We then retired once again to the NKC Bryan's place, even though mine was 5 minutes away. (apparently there's a space issue at my house) Steph got a bunch of old lady presents and...just kidding! She's young and looking better than ever!
I kept big old Shaquette for a week while my family was in Dallas. (that's my dog, or my parents' dog or the family's dog, or whoseever she is) She is pretty old, and pretty fat and got these fatty bubbles all over her. And then there's Fiona. She's young, skinny and has K9HD (doggie hyper activity disorder). But, i think Shaq had fun.
Probably the biggest thing I did, in that it lasted the longest was Minister's School. It was pretty good, but I was disappointed as some of you might imagine. It was a lot of fun playing in the band, especially with Dad and Andy. I'm sorry I was a little young to ever really have time or skill enough to play more with the family. Anytime you need a drummer, I'm available. (except on the 10 and 11th of march, wink wink Calds) What struck me most about Minister's school was how many people thought our band, made of ministerial misfits who haven't played in weeks or years and have NEVER played together, was the greatest thing to happen to worship since broken bread (haha). What are these people doing with the music in there worship? What we did was fun, and it accomplished the goal it set out to do. But imagine what we'd do with practice!!
So, I had a pretty serious talk with Mom at Minister's School. Mom has a way of making feelings i didn't even know were there come out like a geiser. I love where I am, in KC and I love being in school. I love being with Lindsey and being around Ryan Bates. I love dog parks and the plaza and being close to my sibs. But, I just don't like working in a church. I still feel a call to ministry, but maybe just in the setting i'm in now or maybe in general, I don't know if working in a church is for me. I'm feeling pretty good already this year though. I've been freed up a little to do more creative things and working hard on the youth group and young adult ministry here and it's getting better. It makes me wonder if this sort of specialized ministry is more my thing. Campus ministry, youth ministry, young adult ministry that sort of thing. We'll see how I feel in four years, cause I know I want to finish school.
Ok, now I mentioned Lions and gay cowboys. I saw Narnia and Brokeback Mountain over the break. Narnia was awesome but I didn't remember the Jesus reference so loud and clear in the book. I really hope our friends in the conservative Christian realm don't jump on Narnia's back and we can enjoy them as movies alone. OK, Brokeback Mountain......no big deal at all! I have to say i'm pretty disappointed in my newly adopted home town which i thought to be pretty progressive. Brokeback is only playing in three theaters in KC metro area. THREE!!!!! And the excuse can't be marketing, it just won best picture! There are about 7 seconds of gay sex during which you can't see any skin and there's a lot of painful grunting. Other than that, it's just another boring love story that doesn't resolve happily. I don't think it's the best picture, although the acting is great. With all the heterosexual sex that on tv, in magazines, in the paper, and in the movies, this is the stupidest controversy I've seen in a while. Honestly, we see more obsenity on MTV or the OC. If people should be upset it's because these men are married and cheating on their wives and cheating on each other with other guys. We can't make a movie about a normal healthy gay relationship but we can easily put Flavor of Love on television (a show where girls who wear nothing compete for the love of mentally retarded aging hobbit Flavor Flav) Alright I'm done.
My brother's brother in law is a better man than I: I'm going to mention Pat Robertson twice in this article. That sentence, and this next one. Pat Robertson is a fat headed, bigotted, senile idiot and must be stopped. There, feel better.
So now I'm back. Working, getting ready for school, hanging out with Bates and Lindsey of course. Not too much going on right now. I've been working out and dieting, not just because it's the new year but because I reached the 235 pound mark and that's just ridiculous.
I hope everyone's Christmastide was a good one and all your dreams come true.
Good to be back America, Brad
Monday, December 19, 2005
King Kong Goes Ape
Sorry for the bad 1930's headline, but I was in the mood. I saw King Kong this weekend with Lindsey, Sarah and Dennis. And I mean, I've seen some pretty cool things in my life but......that......was.......AWESOME!!!!! Yes, it takes them an hour to get to Skull Island and yes, you can't not laugh at Jack Black. But, the giant ape fighting three T. Rex's while holding on to his new girly toy? Unbelievable! If Naomi Watts doesn't get an oscar there's something wrong with the world. And how about some Oscar love for Andy Serkis. Who's Andy Serkis and why do I care, you ask?? He's the guy who spent two months in Rwanda studying the movements of gorillas and then got dressed up in a black suit with balls all over it to bring Kong to life. Also the very same Andy Serkis who did the same thing for Gollum in LOTR. Give him a freakin' oscar, he played a giant gorilla!!!!!!
Awesome awesome awesome. So awesome I didn't even realize my ass was numb until hour two!
Advocate for the Advancement of Big Hairy Apes, or AABHA,
Brad
Awesome awesome awesome. So awesome I didn't even realize my ass was numb until hour two!
Advocate for the Advancement of Big Hairy Apes, or AABHA,
Brad
Friday, December 16, 2005
You must be the change you seek.....Gandhi
Kudos, as always to Mom and Dad.
Someone needs to step and let people know that Christians really are normal people with normal problems and normal questions about God and the Bible. Who you ask?? Well, us!
We must be the change we want to happen, thanks 'rents,
Brad
Someone needs to step and let people know that Christians really are normal people with normal problems and normal questions about God and the Bible. Who you ask?? Well, us!
We must be the change we want to happen, thanks 'rents,
Brad
The King of Kongs
Don't worry, I'm not going to ruin any movies for anyone this week. Just wanted to tell everybody how excited I am to see King Kong. It's gonna be freakin' sweet. My girl said we'll celebrate my end of a semester by doing anything I wanted soooo, I think I'll make her sit through a 3 hour and 8 minute monkey movie.
On the way to Skull Island, Brad
On the way to Skull Island, Brad
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Noones, the captain of coolness
You don't know Noones, Andy?!?! Aw, man, he's like the coolest guy in the world! He lurks in the shadows of men's hearts and behind the dumpster of Chipotle behind my house. I've never seen his face and, yet, he's the most beautiful being I've ever seen. But, again, if he's gonna comment on my blog, I'm done, man. Done.
Brad
ps...Sorry, I've been watching Strong Bad this morning (which if you have some time at work, brotherman, go see homestarrunner.com) I know its sort of been played out ever since Todd Oberlin started thinking it was cool. But, it's still got the goods...the comedy goods, that is. Not, like, canned corn and milk.
Brad
ps...Sorry, I've been watching Strong Bad this morning (which if you have some time at work, brotherman, go see homestarrunner.com) I know its sort of been played out ever since Todd Oberlin started thinking it was cool. But, it's still got the goods...the comedy goods, that is. Not, like, canned corn and milk.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Laughing Stock
Hey all,
I was watching Comedy Central's Last Laugh '05 this weekend, a show where famous comics, David Spade, Carlos Mencia, Sarah Silverman, etc, reflect comedically on the last year. Every comic on the show had at least one joke about Christians in their act. The Christians that are in the media, that is, the right wing blow hards and liberal fanatics, have made the Christian faith into a laughing stock. And, by the way, the jokes were true and HIIIIIlarious! Someone needs to step up and say, yeah, I'm a Christian and no I'm not crazy.
B
ps, I live for the validation of my peers; if noones gonna comment on my blogs, then I'm just gonna stop...so...uh!
I was watching Comedy Central's Last Laugh '05 this weekend, a show where famous comics, David Spade, Carlos Mencia, Sarah Silverman, etc, reflect comedically on the last year. Every comic on the show had at least one joke about Christians in their act. The Christians that are in the media, that is, the right wing blow hards and liberal fanatics, have made the Christian faith into a laughing stock. And, by the way, the jokes were true and HIIIIIlarious! Someone needs to step up and say, yeah, I'm a Christian and no I'm not crazy.
B
ps, I live for the validation of my peers; if noones gonna comment on my blogs, then I'm just gonna stop...so...uh!
Monday, December 05, 2005
Back to Zero
Recently, all two thousand four hundred thirty seven songs on my iPod were erased. (we don't need to talk about how, MUSTOE). This wouldn't be a big deal, but my computer is so slow and diseased that I can't even get the songs from my original 200 CDs back on.
All this, and the all out riots over XBox 360, reminded me of my love of the movie Fight Club and the reasons behind that love. In the movie, Tyler Durdin comes into Edward Norton character's life and totally turns it upside down, freeing him from the oppresive rule of his things. "The things you own end up owning you". I am so dependent on the things in my life. Especially technology. I have to admit I was pissed off when my iPod got erased. Why? My grandfather's sort of depressed right now, Lindsey's grandparents aren't doing too well, not to mention all the war in the world, all the people dying of AIDS, starvation and malnutrition in Africa, all the people still without homes in our own country, all 117 murders in KC this year, and I get pissed off because my expensive "hottest thing on the market" MP3 player went back to zero. I can take my computer to a store and have it defragged or something and get the songs back on and then I can have Mustoe bring his computer up and do the same thing we did to get his songs the first time and it'll be fixed. And what will it cost? Time! That's it. It's just an inconvienence and I was pissed about it. "The things you own end up owning you" People are getting their bones broken over a gaming system here folks; What're we doing?
Now, the second half of the movie, Tyler Durdin forms a anti-materialism coalition in the abandoned house that he a Ed Norton live in. However, in their pursuit to free people from our materialist, capitalist society, they come up with a plan to destroy the HQ's of all five top credit card companies, bringing everyone....back to zero. This group, devoted to freedom, became really a terroist organization led by a crazy man. (watch this movie!!!)
We need things. That's the sad truth. We have to live with things in our lives. But it's when those things end up controlling our lives, when those things are more important than the people in our lives, more important than the things going on in the world and evils done by the evil people around the world, from our country and otherwise, that our possessions end up possessing us.
Mustoe, I don't blame you, and I ain't made atchya. You are my Tyler Durdin. Let's just hope I don't wake up and realize that you and I are the same person.
unplugging, b
All this, and the all out riots over XBox 360, reminded me of my love of the movie Fight Club and the reasons behind that love. In the movie, Tyler Durdin comes into Edward Norton character's life and totally turns it upside down, freeing him from the oppresive rule of his things. "The things you own end up owning you". I am so dependent on the things in my life. Especially technology. I have to admit I was pissed off when my iPod got erased. Why? My grandfather's sort of depressed right now, Lindsey's grandparents aren't doing too well, not to mention all the war in the world, all the people dying of AIDS, starvation and malnutrition in Africa, all the people still without homes in our own country, all 117 murders in KC this year, and I get pissed off because my expensive "hottest thing on the market" MP3 player went back to zero. I can take my computer to a store and have it defragged or something and get the songs back on and then I can have Mustoe bring his computer up and do the same thing we did to get his songs the first time and it'll be fixed. And what will it cost? Time! That's it. It's just an inconvienence and I was pissed about it. "The things you own end up owning you" People are getting their bones broken over a gaming system here folks; What're we doing?
Now, the second half of the movie, Tyler Durdin forms a anti-materialism coalition in the abandoned house that he a Ed Norton live in. However, in their pursuit to free people from our materialist, capitalist society, they come up with a plan to destroy the HQ's of all five top credit card companies, bringing everyone....back to zero. This group, devoted to freedom, became really a terroist organization led by a crazy man. (watch this movie!!!)
We need things. That's the sad truth. We have to live with things in our lives. But it's when those things end up controlling our lives, when those things are more important than the people in our lives, more important than the things going on in the world and evils done by the evil people around the world, from our country and otherwise, that our possessions end up possessing us.
Mustoe, I don't blame you, and I ain't made atchya. You are my Tyler Durdin. Let's just hope I don't wake up and realize that you and I are the same person.
unplugging, b
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Thanksgiving Memories
Ahh, Thanksgiving. The laughs, the family, the food, the farts.
I spent a good long break with family in CoMO this past weekend. It was just what I needed.
All told, on Thanksgiving afternoon, there were ten people, one very old dog, one very big dog, one very excited dog, and my sister's thing, CoCo. The food was great, Nanny is still the best cook in the world. My cousins Nate and Amanda and I started talking like Kip at the dinner table and none of the old people had a clue!! (Just kidding, Mom!) Try saying, The mash potatoes have just the neccessary amound of mash in a Kip voice. Let the hilarity ensue. That night, like my brother, I saw the new Harry Pooter, er Potter. My mother, my aunt, my cousins and my cousin-in-law-to-be, who's name is Brad (we call him the Duece, cause I was in this family first!) all took up a row. Unlike my brother, I don't read. Therefore, I was not disappointed. I thought it was great. Great choice for the dark lord, even if his nose didn't come back, Erin.
Friday I woke up at 1:30. That's right. But, in all fairness, I went to bed at 3:00, so I only slept for ten hours. Friday night was Amanda and Brad's engagement party. Amanda bought three bottles of wine at ALDI'S so naturally I brought my own: Woodchuck, an adult cider and Michelob Lager. Very fun. We called it, of course, an "I guess you could say things are getting pretty serious" party. A bunch of Aunt Cathy's crazy friends came and one of them newFamily Guy and who Kip was. So, once again, hilarity ensued. Spent the night and played Trivial Pursuit with the cous's. Nate didn't notice that he hadn't had a turn in 10 minutes. Good times.
Saturday, I actually did it. I went shopping on thanksgiving weekend. But, i had a specific agenda so it wasn't so bad.
All in all, a great weekend and much much too short.
Later, B
I spent a good long break with family in CoMO this past weekend. It was just what I needed.
All told, on Thanksgiving afternoon, there were ten people, one very old dog, one very big dog, one very excited dog, and my sister's thing, CoCo. The food was great, Nanny is still the best cook in the world. My cousins Nate and Amanda and I started talking like Kip at the dinner table and none of the old people had a clue!! (Just kidding, Mom!) Try saying, The mash potatoes have just the neccessary amound of mash in a Kip voice. Let the hilarity ensue. That night, like my brother, I saw the new Harry Pooter, er Potter. My mother, my aunt, my cousins and my cousin-in-law-to-be, who's name is Brad (we call him the Duece, cause I was in this family first!) all took up a row. Unlike my brother, I don't read. Therefore, I was not disappointed. I thought it was great. Great choice for the dark lord, even if his nose didn't come back, Erin.
Friday I woke up at 1:30. That's right. But, in all fairness, I went to bed at 3:00, so I only slept for ten hours. Friday night was Amanda and Brad's engagement party. Amanda bought three bottles of wine at ALDI'S so naturally I brought my own: Woodchuck, an adult cider and Michelob Lager. Very fun. We called it, of course, an "I guess you could say things are getting pretty serious" party. A bunch of Aunt Cathy's crazy friends came and one of them newFamily Guy and who Kip was. So, once again, hilarity ensued. Spent the night and played Trivial Pursuit with the cous's. Nate didn't notice that he hadn't had a turn in 10 minutes. Good times.
Saturday, I actually did it. I went shopping on thanksgiving weekend. But, i had a specific agenda so it wasn't so bad.
All in all, a great weekend and much much too short.
Later, B
Monday, November 21, 2005
That Johnny Cash's full of crap, man!
So, I saw Walk the Line with Lindsey last night. And I have to say I'm a little disappointed. Here's the back story:
When my friends and I all got Ipod's at the same time we started buying music together. With 5,000 songs to come up with up we wanted the best that every genre had to offer. Johnny Cash is the best the old-fashioned rocknroll country has to offer so we bought the Essential J. C. , 40 of his best loved songs. And I have to say that I loved it. Every single song sounds exactly the same (I apologize is you just spit on your computer trying to say that) but it's great. It's the words. He sings about hard times in prisons, bar fights, and boy's with girls names. He sings about floods and hard post-depression country living.
And the movie.....ITS A FREAKIN' LOVE STORY!!!! Come on people. Or should I say, come on Johnny, may you rest in peace. Over the past year, from listening to the music, I had come to think that the Man in Black was the toughest son of a bitch on the planet earth, punching and agougin' in the blood and the mud and the beer. Turns out he was just another strung out rocknroll junkie with a remarkably boring life who cheated on his wife and couldn't really play the guitar all that well.
I've gotta say, the movie had its cool parts. Waakeen, or whatever, did a great job and Reece Witherspoon is probably the hottest woman in the world right now. The best parts were Cash's one liners, all mentioned in the trailors. "What's with all the black? Look's like you're going to a funeral..." "Maybe I am" and "Mr. Cash, would you mind refrainin' from singin' anymore songs that remind the inmates that they're in prison?" "You think they forgot!"
That's the badass Man in Black that I wanted to see. But, no, this story, like any other story ever worth being told, was all about a girl.
So, go see Walk the Line if you're a Johnny Cash or Waakeen Pheonix fan. Go see it if you like bio pics. Or, just go see it if you really liked Ray and want to see it again, only with a white guy!!!
Boy Named Brad,
brad
When my friends and I all got Ipod's at the same time we started buying music together. With 5,000 songs to come up with up we wanted the best that every genre had to offer. Johnny Cash is the best the old-fashioned rocknroll country has to offer so we bought the Essential J. C. , 40 of his best loved songs. And I have to say that I loved it. Every single song sounds exactly the same (I apologize is you just spit on your computer trying to say that) but it's great. It's the words. He sings about hard times in prisons, bar fights, and boy's with girls names. He sings about floods and hard post-depression country living.
And the movie.....ITS A FREAKIN' LOVE STORY!!!! Come on people. Or should I say, come on Johnny, may you rest in peace. Over the past year, from listening to the music, I had come to think that the Man in Black was the toughest son of a bitch on the planet earth, punching and agougin' in the blood and the mud and the beer. Turns out he was just another strung out rocknroll junkie with a remarkably boring life who cheated on his wife and couldn't really play the guitar all that well.
I've gotta say, the movie had its cool parts. Waakeen, or whatever, did a great job and Reece Witherspoon is probably the hottest woman in the world right now. The best parts were Cash's one liners, all mentioned in the trailors. "What's with all the black? Look's like you're going to a funeral..." "Maybe I am" and "Mr. Cash, would you mind refrainin' from singin' anymore songs that remind the inmates that they're in prison?" "You think they forgot!"
That's the badass Man in Black that I wanted to see. But, no, this story, like any other story ever worth being told, was all about a girl.
So, go see Walk the Line if you're a Johnny Cash or Waakeen Pheonix fan. Go see it if you like bio pics. Or, just go see it if you really liked Ray and want to see it again, only with a white guy!!!
Boy Named Brad,
brad
Monday, November 07, 2005
Having Fun:24, Serving our fellow humans: 12
Alright, I love my church. I'll start by saying that. Central United Methodist Church is a heathly, active place and our church is full of socially minded people. However, we have now doubled the number of people going on a volunteer trip to the Gulf Coast with people signing up left and right for the yearly ski trip around the same time...
This ski trip is a big deal in our church. It started as a youth trip but over the past few years has turned into a church wide group of about 40 people going. We have now reached the 12 person mark for a joint volunteer trip with St. Johns and Country Club UMC's. I am thankful for those 12 and, with the groups from the other churches, it seems we have just the right number going. Any more would be too many to handle. But it's amazing to me how quickly we sign up for something that we know will be fun, and how reluctant we are to do anything to help our fellow human beings. (Of course, I say WE because I've signed up for the ski trip. Only because the mission trip is over a week and I can't miss school, the ski trip is over a weekend and I won't miss any) Why is it so hard to committ to these things? It's still a trip, it's the same amount of time, it's a little less amount of money. Instead of flying down the snowy slopes, they'll be serving meals or building houses. I don't know. Why's it so hard for me to sign up? Because I'll miss school?!? When did i start caring about school so much?
Lord, help us!
Brad
This ski trip is a big deal in our church. It started as a youth trip but over the past few years has turned into a church wide group of about 40 people going. We have now reached the 12 person mark for a joint volunteer trip with St. Johns and Country Club UMC's. I am thankful for those 12 and, with the groups from the other churches, it seems we have just the right number going. Any more would be too many to handle. But it's amazing to me how quickly we sign up for something that we know will be fun, and how reluctant we are to do anything to help our fellow human beings. (Of course, I say WE because I've signed up for the ski trip. Only because the mission trip is over a week and I can't miss school, the ski trip is over a weekend and I won't miss any) Why is it so hard to committ to these things? It's still a trip, it's the same amount of time, it's a little less amount of money. Instead of flying down the snowy slopes, they'll be serving meals or building houses. I don't know. Why's it so hard for me to sign up? Because I'll miss school?!? When did i start caring about school so much?
Lord, help us!
Brad
Friday, November 04, 2005
If I had a million dollars....
I have to admit, Mcdonalds' gets me everytime. Every year this monopoly game comes along and every year I gain ten pounds in the hopes of winning the one million dollar jackpot. I guess that makes me greedy, I guess that makes me a rube of the capitalists, but so be it.
So, here's what I'd do if I won, no, even better, here's what I'd do with the 340 million powerball jackpot:
1. first and foremost, I wouldn't give one red cent to the church. That's right. Giving that much money to the church, that is putting it in the offering plate, for the finance and trustee's committees to fight over is not my idea of titheing. I would give more than 10% to an organization that I thought was doing God's work in this world, like UMCOR or ReStart here in KC, or something. I think God would see the logic.
2. Of course the second thing I would do would be to get a new drumset. A Pearl Master's Custom Series complete with double bass pedal (for calds), all the wood blocks I could want (for mustoe), and about twenty or thirty cymbals (a present for Brad).
3. I guess I would move, but not far. I like where I live and don't need anything bigger, just another room for band practice.
4. That's right, BAND PRACTICE!! With 340 million, i figure even Mr. Moneybags Mustoe would do the band fulltime. (Along with the promise of all the nuggets and frosties the little guy could eat) So, our coffee shop, live music, musical instrument and record store would be born. Adam would be manager of Christian and Punk sections, Mustoe pop, singer/songwriter, and corporate rock sections, Diffee, METAL!!!, Ryan, weird ultra-snobbing grad school musician type stuff and me, undergroud alternative, post-punk, post-rock grunge garage band stuff. And each of us would be in charge of the musical instrument of choice. Adam you can have, I dunno, microphones, I guess. And this shop would only be a front for our real jobs of course. With that much money we'd not really have turn a profit, so we'd just run our band out of the store.
4. A 70's stlye, painted up Chevy Conversion Van. Yeah, one with the ladder on the back.
5. I would give a million each to every household in my family, I mean, its only like a tenth.
6. Invest the rest to live of the interest and be able to play drums all day long.
Yeah, that'd be sweet. Doesn't hurt to day dream once and awhile.
Poor preacher/grad student, Brad
ps...Mom, sorry about the language in the last one, but those people took something away from me. For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be a United Methodist.
So, here's what I'd do if I won, no, even better, here's what I'd do with the 340 million powerball jackpot:
1. first and foremost, I wouldn't give one red cent to the church. That's right. Giving that much money to the church, that is putting it in the offering plate, for the finance and trustee's committees to fight over is not my idea of titheing. I would give more than 10% to an organization that I thought was doing God's work in this world, like UMCOR or ReStart here in KC, or something. I think God would see the logic.
2. Of course the second thing I would do would be to get a new drumset. A Pearl Master's Custom Series complete with double bass pedal (for calds), all the wood blocks I could want (for mustoe), and about twenty or thirty cymbals (a present for Brad).
3. I guess I would move, but not far. I like where I live and don't need anything bigger, just another room for band practice.
4. That's right, BAND PRACTICE!! With 340 million, i figure even Mr. Moneybags Mustoe would do the band fulltime. (Along with the promise of all the nuggets and frosties the little guy could eat) So, our coffee shop, live music, musical instrument and record store would be born. Adam would be manager of Christian and Punk sections, Mustoe pop, singer/songwriter, and corporate rock sections, Diffee, METAL!!!, Ryan, weird ultra-snobbing grad school musician type stuff and me, undergroud alternative, post-punk, post-rock grunge garage band stuff. And each of us would be in charge of the musical instrument of choice. Adam you can have, I dunno, microphones, I guess. And this shop would only be a front for our real jobs of course. With that much money we'd not really have turn a profit, so we'd just run our band out of the store.
4. A 70's stlye, painted up Chevy Conversion Van. Yeah, one with the ladder on the back.
5. I would give a million each to every household in my family, I mean, its only like a tenth.
6. Invest the rest to live of the interest and be able to play drums all day long.
Yeah, that'd be sweet. Doesn't hurt to day dream once and awhile.
Poor preacher/grad student, Brad
ps...Mom, sorry about the language in the last one, but those people took something away from me. For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be a United Methodist.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
What the %@#$?!?
November 2005, United Methodist pastor excommunicates a homosexual member from a congregation, and the Conference supports him!!!!!
Hey United Methodist Church....What the #@$%???
Hey United Methodist Church....the 17th century Catholics and the Puritans called, they want their practices back!!!!
Hey United Methodist Church...Jerry Fallwell and Rev. Fred Phelps called, they say, "good show!"
For another Bryan family reaction, visit www.entertherainbow.blogspot.com
Disgusted, Brad
Hey United Methodist Church....What the #@$%???
Hey United Methodist Church....the 17th century Catholics and the Puritans called, they want their practices back!!!!
Hey United Methodist Church...Jerry Fallwell and Rev. Fred Phelps called, they say, "good show!"
For another Bryan family reaction, visit www.entertherainbow.blogspot.com
Disgusted, Brad
Monday, October 31, 2005
The Purpose of Blogging
Before I continue in this endevor I must explain how I see the purpose of blogging. Blogging is, to me, a way to get everything out of me that I have no way of getting out in the real world. This means that my blog will be made up of rants, complaints, and various things that I find wrong with the world we live in. I don't offer any explanations or solutions, I am merely expressing my thoughts. I appreciate the feedback, and understand that others are using their online journaling experience in somewhat of a more positive outlet, including the good and the bad. But not me. Mine's just bad. And, ya know what, it's actually helping. Those of you who know me personally know that I'm somewhat of a negative person; some might say pessimist, others might say asshole, but whatever the title I can tend to be on the down side of things. Since I've been posting my rants and lamentations, I have found myself being more positive and, really, happy offline! So, I'm sorry to the Jews for Jesus, I'm sorry for the musicians trying to make money AND good records. But, if I say it online, I won't say it offline. So, continue visiting to hear my commentaries, mostly negative, sometimes funny, on the world we live in as it comes to me. If you're looking for inspiration, come hear me preach on Nov. the 27th at Central UMC. Cause it ain't here brother!
Negatively, rantingly, and most of all, honestly yours,
Brad
Negatively, rantingly, and most of all, honestly yours,
Brad
Ranting Explanation
Ok, I should explain. I don't know anything about Jews for Jesus. I don't know any Jews for Jesus. I was simply responding to the feelings expressed by a Jewish woman I had talked to earlier that day. I'm sure Jews for Jesus are wonderful people and experience deep faith connections. I apologize for ranting before I had any info. However, where I stand right now, with the knowledge I have....I really don't get it!
Brad
Brad
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Jews for Wishywashyness
I visited a Jewish congreagation today with a group from school, Congregation Benai Jehudah, it was called, and in her opening statements the guide, a wonderful German lady named Birta, was listing the different kinds of Judaism, Traditional, Conservative, and Reform. She then gave us her commentary on the so called Jews for Jesus. She has a big problem with those people saying, "you're either pregnant or you're not pregnant". And, ya know, I totally agree. I tend to be an open minded guy. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that women can be preachers, homosexuals can be happily married, and even Republicans can be Christians. But you can't be a Jew for Jesus!@! It's impossible. On this issue my mind is closed. You either are a Jew, believing in the coming Messiah (the first coming) or the Messianic Age, that we're all living and working towards God's Kingdom on Earth, or you believe that Jesus is the Christ. The Bible says no wishywashyness, I'm paraphrasing of course, and in think this means if you're going to believe in something, believe it all the way. Do not be lukewarm. I'm sure that Jews of Jesus are wonderful people and I don't judge them. But, come on, you're either a Christian or you're not, a Jew or not.
that's all today, B
that's all today, B
Friday, October 21, 2005
The Homicide Race
I was watching the news last night and, as is every night, there was a report of another couple of murders here in the greater KC area. As sick as the acts themselves are, what sickened me was the reporting of these horrors. Every news channel has a running tally of how many murders and each night the number climbs and climbs. Now, of course people are going to keep track. City halls, police departments, national crime survey's, what have you. But it seems to me that anytime we start reporting things in terms of numbers, it's like keeping score. We don't keep track of how many years we've been drinking, we count the days we haven't. There is always a sense of pride behind listing numbers. I've got this many cars, this many kids, this many cd's, seen this many concerts, and, oh yeah, had this many murders in my town. I'm so sick from this violence and sicker from the treatment of this violence by our news crews. I know it's there job to simply report and not comment, but there comes a time when the good of human kind has to come before journalistic integrity. Just once I'd like to see the handsome guy on Channel 5, right after saying KC has reached the 100 murder mark, say "and I just think that's horrible, something has to be done people."
You must be the change you seek,
Brad
You must be the change you seek,
Brad
Monday, October 17, 2005
Music Needs a Savior, Too!
So, I don't listen to the radio. I have my cd's and my iPod and have no need to. But I did today and realized why I don't anymore. Music Sucks. Period. Everyone sounds like everyone else. There's no creativity anymore. No one's breaking any new ground.
"KRDL, Kurdle 109, We spoil music for everyone"
"KLON, Klone Radio, We have the songs that sound more like everyone else, than anyone else."
A few selections from my current favorite savior of rock, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. He really hits on something here, I think. All these wannabe, cry-baby neopunk bands trying to be Green Day sound and look exactly the same. All these I'm better than brittany cause I write my own songs and play an instrument girls sound and look exactly the same. All these gold mouthpiece, unintelligable fake thugs trying to be Dr. Dre sound and look exactly the same.
Gone are the days when music was an artistic expression. Gone are the days when music was used to speak out against injustice, intolerence, and ignorance. Gone are the days when music was anything close to ground breaking and forward looking. Now, it's a business. People become musicians not because they have something to say but because they want to be millionares.
I pray to the gods of rock, send us another Jim Morrison, another John Lennon, another Little Richard, another John Bonham, something, ANYTHING BUT THIS CRAP!!!
And somebody please tell the RollingStones to get off the stage already!
Keep yours ears open, I feel the messiah coming
Brad
"KRDL, Kurdle 109, We spoil music for everyone"
"KLON, Klone Radio, We have the songs that sound more like everyone else, than anyone else."
A few selections from my current favorite savior of rock, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. He really hits on something here, I think. All these wannabe, cry-baby neopunk bands trying to be Green Day sound and look exactly the same. All these I'm better than brittany cause I write my own songs and play an instrument girls sound and look exactly the same. All these gold mouthpiece, unintelligable fake thugs trying to be Dr. Dre sound and look exactly the same.
Gone are the days when music was an artistic expression. Gone are the days when music was used to speak out against injustice, intolerence, and ignorance. Gone are the days when music was anything close to ground breaking and forward looking. Now, it's a business. People become musicians not because they have something to say but because they want to be millionares.
I pray to the gods of rock, send us another Jim Morrison, another John Lennon, another Little Richard, another John Bonham, something, ANYTHING BUT THIS CRAP!!!
And somebody please tell the RollingStones to get off the stage already!
Keep yours ears open, I feel the messiah coming
Brad
Hail to the Thief
As things begin to fall apart for our fearful leader, I thought I'd take an opportunity to refer you all to an article on another George in Newsweek last week. George Clooney is tired of liberal being a dirty word and, frankly, so am I. We're not all barefoot, treehugging, anti-administration but pro-big government neo-hippies anymore. And at least we don't have to put loaded words like compassionate in front of our moniker to show that we care about people.
Some people say everything works in a cycle no matter who's in office; that the nation's surplus and balanced budget going to a chaotic tailspin into billions of deficit dollars is noone's fault. It's just the cycle of economy and culture. Alright, maybe. But with the recent insights into this administration's incompetence, I think it's safe to say that it's time for a change. I'm tired of choosing the lesser of two evils and still getting the greater one anyway. Liberal politics needs a savior. We don't need Hilary Clinton, who will get votes just cause she's a she and not because of her qualifications. We don't need John Kerry or his wife's ketchup money. We need someone who's not afraid of being liberal, and who understands that sometimes, like, say when a major part of the country is in disastor and people are losing lives and homes and jobs, politics aren't the answer.
Sometimes I think Martin Sheen and Genna Davis should run for president.
Brad
Some people say everything works in a cycle no matter who's in office; that the nation's surplus and balanced budget going to a chaotic tailspin into billions of deficit dollars is noone's fault. It's just the cycle of economy and culture. Alright, maybe. But with the recent insights into this administration's incompetence, I think it's safe to say that it's time for a change. I'm tired of choosing the lesser of two evils and still getting the greater one anyway. Liberal politics needs a savior. We don't need Hilary Clinton, who will get votes just cause she's a she and not because of her qualifications. We don't need John Kerry or his wife's ketchup money. We need someone who's not afraid of being liberal, and who understands that sometimes, like, say when a major part of the country is in disastor and people are losing lives and homes and jobs, politics aren't the answer.
Sometimes I think Martin Sheen and Genna Davis should run for president.
Brad
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