The cutest book in the world

I've just finished a book you have to read if you've ever:

1. Owned a pet
2. Currently own a pet
3. Are thinking about getting a pet.....well, I guess get the pet first then read the book.


Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan is about the sweetest book I have read in a while. Sugary sweet maybe, but if you've ever owned a pet you'll get it. It's a quick read, I spent my lunch hours the last few days alternating between histerical laughter and being on the brink of tears (definately a scary thing when you're eating out in public.) This retrospecive of the author's (and his family's) 15 years with his faithful companion is just irresistable.

Good night all....I'm up way past my bedtime... ;)

Music and the Church (AKA - too much time on my hands driving around)

I don’t take a lot of time on this blog to write about the “deeper” thoughts that go running through my head. I’m not sure why that is, except that writing has never been my strong suit. In high school I was in AP everything, except for AP English. I think I just disliked writing papers. Eh, eventually I learned to just write in my own voice and that’s usually what you “hear” when I write (grant you, sarcasm never seems to translate well.) That little aside behind us, I thought I would try every once in a while to share some of the stuff that goes through my brain on a semi-random basis.

Today, for instance, I was thinking about contemporary Christian music (ccm) and the way I’ve seen it change over my lifetime. Some of those changes have been good, others not so good. In particular I was contemplating the trend toward “praise” music that’s been going on for the past few years. Admittedly I’ve never been a fan of the new “praise & worship” trend. I’ve always felt that the purpose of song in worship was to pull you closer to Jesus and His Word. A lot of the songs I hear just seem to want to make me feel good about me (insert broad paintbrush here). Or they use “Christian-esque” sounding language without any meaning (yup, getting a good coat o’ paint on the ole house of cards today). Or my personal favorite, spiritualizing actual events or types without really proclaiming to the people the physical realities (“Days of Elijah”, anyone? Yes, he is coming on a white horse. No, he hasn’t come yet). Maybe I’m just turning into a grumpy old man, but there seems to me to be something different about the whole situation now. What used to be loudly proclaimed as a musical ministry to those outside the church suddenly turned into an industry with its own target market right inside the sanctuary. Where songwriters used to find ways to share the Gospel through music, now it feels like we share personal experiences and stories instead. Is that bad? Not necessarily, but I feel like it winds up being somewhat fake. It’s as though we use it as a substitute for relationship…for community. It’s easier to identify with the thought or feeling in a song rather than with a person. Rather than using that communication in a didactic way, we try to use it as a substitute for an intimate connection.

So in an attempt to fake my own intimate connections with people, do you have any comments? Am I totally off the mark? Hitting some points? Help me formulate some thoughts on this. In the meantime I’m going to go back and listen to some vintage Petra and Steven Curtis Chapman and revel in the glory days that were the 80’s. ;)

Changes

So I've got some of the first round of changes up on the website now. My goal is to make this something of a website about Julie and me, but also to put news and info about things I find interesting out there as well. Kind of a one-stop shop for all my interests. If you happen to be one of my scientifically calculated half-readers, let me know what you think. What stuff could I improve? Anything you'd like to see? I hope to keep working on the pictures section soon.

Jim

www.jimsweb.us

Hmmm...ok

I know I just posted. Two in one day would be kind of weird. But here's a somewhat surreal bit of news I just read:

Chicago is getting to release Chicago XXX (March 21)......cool

Said record is produced by Jay DeMarcus. Bass player for Rascal Flatts. Oh yeah...the rest of RF also contributes on the album......huh?

Chicago will be touring this summer with Huey Lewis & the News......cool

So I'm full of mixed feelings. I love Chicago and I'm looking forward to hearing an album of new material. And they're touring with Huey Lewis & the News. I like that. More than a 70's/80's thing, I just always have a lot more respect for working musicians that have made a living. Much more than these flash in the pan well-marketed karoke singer (I mean vocalists). But this whole thing about it being produced by the guy from Rascal Flatts? Well, I guess we'll just have to see.

I'm Still Alive

One of the biggest problems with having a blog is that you need to keep it up. You stop writing on it for awhile and even the writer begins to doubt his own existence ("I blog, therfore I am?") So for the one person who actually reads this on a regular basis* here's all the news that's fit to print:

• Julie went to Washington DC this weekend to go visit some girlfriends. Fortunately she got in before the snow hit the area. From what she's said it isn't too bad, she should be able to fly back out without a problem this week.

• A side effect of Julie's trip is that I'm at home alone with the cats. It's not all that bad, I'm catching up on some projects I'd been wanting to work on: filing away comic books, working on website changes, getting a couple of things finished for work. The bad thing is that we just started the kitties on their diet. We're only feeding them twice a day. Normally it's not too bad, but today I'm getting the BIG EYES. They're driving me nuts. I fed them this morning. We're just trying to go a little longer before I feed you again..... quit looking at me. QUIT LOOKING AT ME!!!!!

(Ahem....ok, I'm better. I must admit, I've never been so loved as I have been since we started the twice a day feedings)

I had a first practice yesterday with a couple of other trombone players from Ypsi. We're trying to get a trio together for an ensemble concert we have coming up in a month or so. Should be fun. We selected a couple of pieces to work up. I forgot how nice a "choir" of trombones can sound together.

Since I'm working on comic books here's the news that's grabbed my interest:

• Dark Horse is jumping the Star Wars universe 100 years into the future from A New Hope. They're already running series based on the Knights of the Old Republic, as well one set during the Rebellion. They figure this gives them a nice playground that is safe from the Del Rey book series. I'm still in Star Wars geek heaven.

• Grant Morrison is taking over writing duties for Batman. Hmmm. Hmmm.

One final note, Fox aired the last four episodes of Arrested Development on Friday night. What a show. I still say that is one of the funniest shows on tv. I only hope someone comes to their senses and picks it up. I lieu of AD, I do get to watch This Is Wonderland on CBC. If you have a chance, catch this show. It cracks me up. I love the tagline on the season one boxset, "Law & Order without the order."

Alrighty, a happy Sunday night to all. Simone says "mrrrow"**



*note - audience size scientifically estimated on possibility of accidental selection of random link that forwards the surfer to this page. No guarantee is given that said surfer actually reads page or really even cares at all.

** "mrrrow" - roughly translated "Feed me now, chunky man". My mistake, I thought it meant "bye"