I'm just a fool waiting

life is amazing

2010-05-19T13:18:00.000-07:00

that is all

Dear God,

2008-12-04T19:01:00.000-08:00

I'm in Your hands now. Make me.
-josh

Head Trippin'

2008-10-27T22:52:00.000-07:00

So today I was hopping around on Ruckus (Ruckus.com) and I noticed that Jonathan Davis (of KoRn) has a new single out. Well....this I HAD to hear. It was alright. Definitely funny.
Pretty much an interesting observation/ode to the hip-hop/club scene with a heavy nu-metal spin. I like it...but it was musically just empty. Then I remembered that Brian Welch released his new cd not too long ago. Sure enough: the full album (Save Me From Myself) was available for download.

Before I give my full analysis of the cd I feel lead to clear up the air. I am not writing this
because I am a "Christian" and as such I feel the necessity to glorify Brian Welch for becoming another "born-again like me". First of all I feel the term "Christian" comes with a multitude of nasty yet true stereotypes. There is an unfortunate guilt i feel sometimes calling myself a Christian. I am a follower of Jesus of Nazareth. Yes, I call him Savior. He lived an amazingly revolutionary life on many levels. Yes, I believe he was wholly God and wholly a man. Yes, as far as my finite mind can comprehend his death through crucifixion was a necessity. It fulfilled prophecy and was the culminating sacrifice to pay penance for my "sin" (by sin i mean all those shitty things i do often...yes, the term "shitty" is necessary). As for Brian finding that same liberation/salvation/freedom in Christ (Jesus of Nazareth)...rock on. And for his open voice on the associated topics concerning his conversion: look into what he has to say. It is very interesting. Very cool.

Now...with that cleared up...

This CD blows me away. To compare it to KoRn would be an injustice to all of the artists concerned but i definitely see now that KoRn is not the same without Head but all that means is that KoRn is who they were due to the contributions of all the original members. Head has made it obvious that Save Me from Myself is not on any level an attempt by Head to produce a Christian alternative to KoRn. This is purely an independent album where Brian is free to express and explore his newfound faith just as much as his musical independence. "I want to make music that will help people. I want to use every dime of the money I make off the songs to build skate parks for kids," he said. "My life now is about helping kids."

The production is incredible-sometimes a bit overproduced but not at all at the sacrifice of raw passion as is often the case when an artist makes it and has the money for good equipment :). The music is HEAVY to boot and definitely not lacking in talent or listenability. No wonder KoRn wants him back so badly. "I miss that motherfucker," says Jonathan Davis of KoRn. Brian's vocals are surprising and beautiful, an accomplished mix of melody and throaty-passionate metal "screaming". Brian was definitely blessed with a capable voice as seen on the track "Washed By Blood" especially. His voice ranges from a breathy and low chant reminiscent of Andrew Schwab from Project 86 (on the track "Loyalty") to those heavy metal screams and melodic multi-part
harmonies. The music itself is also well-blended. Symphonic and choral orchestration meet up beautifully with the heavy power chord drive that epitomizes metal. The sound is complex but not muddy or chaotic with it's fair share of simple breakdowns. This album, if given the chance, will appeal to the metal purists, modern (popular) rock lovers, hardcore followers and even the new generation of screamo/post-hardcore fanatics.

Although lacking in exceptional poetic grandeur the lyrical content is deep and meaningful; a rarity among modern rock bands. Money for example is a warning about making money an idol. "Your god is money so bow down to it / you act so funny just look at yourself / you've lost your family / your friends all use you / you can't buy happiness so get down on your knees" Flush gives an honest description of the ugly side of Brian's rock and roll lifestyle past. Re-Bel opens up with a dare i say cute children's choir: "...sundays we all go to church but we don't even sing" the children sing of their woes while brian comes back with a message that they are not alone anymore; he feels their pain...or is it that He feels their pain? The title track explores his day to day decisions regarding suicide, fatherhood, his inner demons, his struggles to find happiness and contentment, etc. "God save me from myself! I'm begging You, God Save me from my hell!"
Die Religion Die screams "I'm sick of all your rules, there's so many...you put my name to shame. I'm everything you're not...It's time to see religion die." An obvious exploration of the pitfalls of religion in contrast to the relationship aspect of Jesus' gospel "children come and lay with me / I want you all to be mine". These lyrics will easily be interpretted as "preachy" by many but "honest" seems like a more fitting description.

This is one album i will definitely be picking up as soon as possible. Give it a chance.

In honor of the impending elections:

2008-10-14T23:32:00.001-07:00

A few reasons why Reagan was the greatest President America has ever had:

A people free to choose will always choose peace.
Ronald Reagan

Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have.
Ronald Reagan

All great change in America begins at the dinner table.
Ronald Reagan

Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty.
Ronald Reagan

Democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man.
Ronald Reagan

Don't be afraid to see what you see.
Ronald Reagan

Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known.
Ronald Reagan

Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States.
Ronald Reagan

Facts are stubborn things.
Ronald Reagan

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
Ronald Reagan

Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.
Ronald Reagan

Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.
Ronald Reagan

Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.
Ronald Reagan

Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.
Ronald Reagan

Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.
Ronald Reagan

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Ronald Reagan

Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them.
Ronald Reagan

Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They're just braver five minutes longer.
Ronald Reagan

I call upon the scientific community in our country, those who gave us nuclear weapons, to turn their great talents now to the cause of mankind and world peace: to give us the means of rendering these nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete.
Ronald Reagan

I favor the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and it must be enforced at gunpoint if necessary.
Ronald Reagan

I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the US Congress.
Ronald Reagan

I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there's purpose and worth to each and every life.
Ronald Reagan

I've never been able to understand why a Republican contributor is a 'fat cat' and a Democratic contributor of the same amount of money is a 'public-spirited philanthropist'.
Ronald Reagan

I've often said there's nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse.
Ronald Reagan

If the federal government had been around when the Creator was putting His hand to this state, Indiana wouldn't be here. It'd still be waiting for an environmental impact statement.
Ronald Reagan

If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.
Ronald Reagan

If we love our country, we should also love our countrymen.
Ronald Reagan

Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit man.
Ronald Reagan

Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders.
Ronald Reagan

It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.
Ronald Reagan

It is difficult to believe that people are still starving in this country because food isn't available.
Ronald Reagan

Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our time, that in our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race; we kept them free; we kept the faith.
Ronald Reagan

Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music.
Ronald Reagan

Man is not free unless government is limited.
Ronald Reagan

My philosophy of life is that if we make up our mind what we are going to make of our lives, then work hard toward that goal, we never lose - somehow we win out.
Ronald Reagan

No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!
Ronald Reagan

No mother would ever willingly sacrifice her sons for territorial gain, for economic advantage, for ideology.
Ronald Reagan

Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.
Ronald Reagan

Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.
Ronald Reagan

People do not make wars; governments do.
Ronald Reagan

Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.
Ronald Reagan

Protecting the rights of even the least individual among us is basically the only excuse the government has for even existing.
Ronald Reagan

Recession is when a neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours.
Ronald Reagan

Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15.
Ronald Reagan

Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.
Ronald Reagan

Status quo, you know, is Latin for 'the mess we're in'.
Ronald Reagan

Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out.
Ronald Reagan

The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would steal them away.
Ronald Reagan

The greatest security for Israel is to create new Egypts.
Ronald Reagan

The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.
Ronald Reagan

The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much.
Ronald Reagan

The taxpayer - that's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.
Ronald Reagan

The thought of being President frightens me and I do not think I want the job.
Ronald Reagan

There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.
Ronald Reagan

There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.
Ronald Reagan

There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.
Ronald Reagan

They say the world has become too complex for simple answers. They are wrong.
Ronald Reagan

Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.
Ronald Reagan

To paraphrase Winston Churchill, I did not take the oath I have just taken with the intention of presiding over the dissolution of the world's strongest economy.
Ronald Reagan

Today we did what we had to do. They counted on America to be passive. They counted wrong.
Ronald Reagan

Unemployment insurance is a pre-paid vacation for freeloaders.
Ronald Reagan

We are never defeated unless we give up on God.
Ronald Reagan

We can not play innocents abroad in a world that is not innocent.
Ronald Reagan

We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.
Ronald Reagan

We have the duty to protect the life of an unborn child.
Ronald Reagan

We might come closer to balancing the Budget if all of us lived closer to the Commandments and the Golden Rule.
Ronald Reagan

We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions.
Ronald Reagan

We should measure welfare's success by how many people leave welfare, not by how many are added.
Ronald Reagan

We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we will always be free.
Ronald Reagan

Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.
Ronald Reagan

What we have found in this country, and maybe we're more aware of it now, is one problem that we've had, even in the best of times, and that is the people who are sleeping on the grates, the homeless, you might say, by choice.
Ronald Reagan

When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.
Ronald Reagan

While I take inspiration from the past, like most Americans, I live for the future.
Ronald Reagan

Within the covers of the Bible are all the answers for all the problems men face.
Ronald Reagan

Without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure.
Ronald Reagan

You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by the way he eats jelly beans.
Ronald Reagan

And now to those who support Obama i must point out these quotes:

To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last - but eat you he will.
Ronald Reagan

Trust, but verify.
Ronald Reagan

hey all!

2008-10-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

any tips on how to use this blogger thing would be appreciated

I chose to start blogging here because myspace and facebook are just too shallow.

too juvenile.

Blogger just seems more adult.

is this html coded?

Street Preachers at Sac State today...

2008-10-07T20:02:00.000-07:00

I am sorry to everyone who experienced that today.

I just want everybody who reads this to hear a different message.
This is it:

-God wants to hang out with you.

-God loves you.

-God wants you to love others.

-God does not hate you for your sin. He sure as hell hates sin.

-Yeah, sin sucks...we all do it.
I do think that the bible expressly condemns homosexuality, I do think the bible teaches against drunkenness, I do think that the bible condemns many things as seen in galatians 5
"19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God"
These things most would agree are not excellent lifestyle patterns. God still loves those people. God loves those who practice homosexuality as much as he loves the preacher who eats too much or shouts too loudly or condemns too quickly as much as he loves ANYONE.

-Because God loves you, you should then pursue the things that He upholds as right Galatians 5 also says " 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
"

-God offers freely the gift of salvation from the shitty things of the world. The things that make you feel guilty, the guilt itself, the self destroying patterns of "sin" and our nature of imperfection. No, a relationship with God does not make you perfect or better than anyone else but it IS a salvation. No, God will not give you great wealth, the perfect job, or the perfect trophy wife/husband but He will give you hope. No, God will not make you happy all the time, or protect you from everything that will go wrong but He will give you peace.

-God does not hate those men preaching today...there hearts were in the right place but their actions were a reflection of one of many deep problems within religion. I think that they were just trying to be loved by God. They thought genuinely that they were serving God.

-I believe the greatest salvation lies in the God of the Bible. I believe the greatest salvation comes from Jesus.

-I believe God wants us to care for the sick, needy, hurting, etc.

-I am a sinner.

To the christians who read this and hate those who were preaching today

2 corinthians 2 says "5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
"