21 posts tagged “sunday”

hello folks. ^_^

This has been a very interesting weekend for me. I have come to this conclusion before and began microblogging again but this time I think I may cut it out all together. I have not written a post in so long I actually became afraid of writing because I felt like I have forgotten how to write. I have allowed myself to let my thoughts to condensed to 140 characters. Maybe some people can do both, blog and microblog...for me I cannot. I feel like I have been down this road before and allowed myself to be hooked on twitter/plurk and this time even worse. I need to truly begin to use those tools for what they are supposed to be used for, sharing interesting links.

Another cool thing is that I have finally sat down and began watching the premium channels HBO and Cimemax. I had no idea how many channels just these two [HBO/Cinemax] are now. In the past two days I think I have seen close to a dozen of movies from Michael Clayton, The Black Dahlia, 300, Hitman, The Transformers, The American Gangster, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Top Gun, A Scanner Darkly. It's amazing how I have missed premiere channels. I'm not interesting in the original shows on HBO but getting to catch up on movies from the present and the past is okay. To be honest, sitting here and writing this feels good. I have began and stopped countless times to start a post only to abandon it because I felt it was not interesting but now it's coming back to me that I need to write for me.

Starting tomorrow I will begin writing for the very blog that used to mean the world to me, Theology & Technology and then begin making podcast again for MyLoveForMusic. It's funny how things come back full circle. I guess because you have to find what brought you pure joy in the very beginning.

It's amazing to me that when tracks pop in my head how I'm going to mesh them together. Sometimes it worries me that it doesn't sound "too far" out there but then it passes but I have to remind myself that to me it has always been "music" to me no matter what genre it may be from and in the process this is how podcast like this come about and I hope I never forget that concept.

Growing up whatever I heard I liked I tried to get it whether buying the LPs, the 45s, the cassettes or taping the tracks off the radio (that was when radio stations were worth listening to) and made my own mixtape with a mixture of r&b, pop. Now years later I am blessed to be able to share my taste in music with so many people and it is so cool.

Big shout out goes to gcgal(her Plurk site and her Vox site) from Australia over at plurk, she began listening to my podcasts and she said she has been enjoying them and my geek brother Luis who told me he has been playing my podcast while in training so when hearing that it encourage me to put together another podcast. These artists I don't think you would ever find on one CD but thanks to the wonderful world of technology I can put them all under one umbrella. I have 2 tracks from Donald Fagen's "Morph the Cat". I have to admit I have had this LP but never took time out to sit down and listen to the tracks and to be honest shame on me. His other LPs get heavy rotation on my iPod (The Nightfly and Kamakiriad). I'm thinking in the future to do a spotlight podcast on Donald Fagen from his 3 solo LPs. I have 3 tracks from Stacy Lattisaw in this music set because the recent Old School Wednesday from ejflavors triggered a my schoolboy crush on her again. Yes I know that was over 20 years ago but let me enjoy my fantasy via 1984 okay? Thank you.

I hope you get a chance to kick back and relax for the next hour or so to this compositions.
[to listen & download click here]

Compositions and Artists...

1. A Momentary Change of Heart-Alex de Grassi
2. Ashes to Ashes-David Bowie
3. Sojourner-Paul McCandless
4. Let Me Be Your Angel-Stacy Lattisaw
5. Every Deep Dream-Philip Aaberg
6. Morph the Cat-Donald Fagen
7. Circular Birds-Montreux
8. Love On A Two Way Street-Stacy Lattisaw
9. Woman At The Well-Tim Story
10. Mary Shut the Garden Door-Donald Fagen
11. Jaco [Edit]-Turtle Island String Quartet
12. Soul Mate-Michael Franks
13. The Opening of Doors-Will Ackerman
14. Perfect Combination-Stacy Lattisaw feat. Johnny Gill
15. It's the Way She Moves-Michael Manson

reflections from ODB "Showing Up" & the passage for today

The really great thing about the devotions from Our Daily Bread is that it breaks it's meaning down in reference to understanding God, Jesus Christ, how to communicate with him that a child can understand. This morning devotion [Showing Up] hit a cord with me this morning. When you pray you have to do it every day, even when you do not feel like it. You have to keep that line of communication open with God because if you don't you find yourself making excuse after excuse not to pray. If you don't do this then you begin to treat our Lord and Savior like a "genie in a bottle going to him only in emergencies.

That is what I have been doing and I'm being honest with myself. I have allowed myself to think of God's word as a chore and not a pleasure and that is so wrong. What he has done for me I can't begin to measure and at times when reading the devotions and God's word I find myself struggling to read it and sometimes feel myself rushing through Bible and that is not right. It's amazing how I have become so lazy in reference to reading His word because when I am really honest with myself I find so much peace when reading God's word, applying His word but yet many times I do not feel like doing it. There is no excuse for me NOT to do this and from this day forth I have to hold myself accountable for my action. I can't use the excuse of not reading because I'm too busy. As a person told me years ago. You and Bill Gates have the same amount of time in the day (24 hours)...it's what you do with them is what counts".

As the writer in the devotion from today says,

"The writer Nancy Mairs says she attends church in the same spirit she goes to her desk every morning to write, so that if an idea comes she’ll be there to receive it. I approach prayer the same way. I keep on whether it feels like I am profiting or not. I show up in hopes of getting to know God better, perhaps hearing from Him in ways accessible only through solitude."

Today is that day for me. I will go to bed at the proper time, spend time with God, write when I feel like it or not. I have to put things in order because if I want to be my best, if I want to know the will of God for my life, I have to use the tools that have been blessed with because it is so true...if you don't use them, you will lose them.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, &
Have a Wonderful Sunday.

Great podcast to check out today: Thru The Bible Q&A w/J. Vernon McGee

really diggin' this track that Fave showcased on his latest Friday Favecast. Thanx Fave and thanx Soulbounce for giving this cat some space on your blog. I may not come from the "A" but I definitely need to visit
Enjoy...

Ad_american_boy

Anthony David

here it is close to 3am and I'm recording ANOTHER podcast(this is what I get for falling asleep at 8pm...but it's all good). I guess this is a blessing because I will be very busy starting this upcoming Monday until December because of working my jobs and school so it's best I try and get as many podcasts under my belt. I love relaxing music because it makes me reflect, count my blessings, and appreciate that God has giving me the gift and drive to put these podcasts together.

Kick back and enjoy this 3rd installment of MyLoveForMusic:Twilight Volume 3.

{click here to listen...right click to download}
o1.A Sunday at Home-Ralf Illenberger(Narada Guitar:15 Years of Collected Works)
o2.Dodo-Dave Matthews(Some Devil)
o3.Bermuda Triangle-Artie Traum(Acoustic Jazz Guitar)
o4.Heaven-BeBe & CeCe Winans(Greatest Hits)
o5.West End-Steve Oliver(First View)
o6.Yet Again-Demania[de Grassi/Manring/Garcia](Demania)
o7.Love Lips-Bob James w/Earl Klugh(One on One)
o8.Hands of Time-Groove Armada(Soundtrack Collateral)
o9.Waiting For the Rains-Colin Chin(Circadian Rhythms)
1o.Air for Keetu-Paul Winter(Canyon Lullaby)
11.Frogs On Ice-Mike Marshall and Darol Anger:The Duo Live(At Home And On The Range)
12.Black Waters-The Doobie Brothers(Best of the Doobies)
13.No Wontons for Elvis-Michael Manring(The Book of Flame)
14.A Month of Sundays-Don Henley(Building the Perfect Beast)
15.Sunset Grill-Don Henley(Building the Perfect Beast)
16.Whenever You're Around-Jill Scott/George Duke(The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3)
17.Glory Glory-Wayman Tisdale(Hang Time)

bandwidth provided by ejflavors

shout outs to all of the podcasters that inspire me, push me to do my best so I can bring some of the best laid back music to the masses and to let you(the listeners) know that good music is still being made...you just have to seek it out, you will not be disappointed.

Lewis_Hebrides

The Richness Of Humility>>>click here
devotion from rbc ministries

I love how God's word can put me back in my place, get me back on track when it comes to projects I have begun, especially when it has come to my blogs and podcast. This devotion kicks me in the butt to let me know that I started my music podcast to showcase 1) quality music 2) to be able to share music from different genres 3) that I have a way of now sharing my taste in music and not get ridicule for it.

Sometimes I can find myself feeling sorry for myself and then I have to realize when it comes to my podcast that is a hobby for me and not a paying job and God lets me know that to keep my priorities in perspective. God has to remind that when I keep my thoughts, my mind, my focus on Him, that is when opportunities will open up for me. Granted he is not going to do it for because this is a covenant, he[God] is not my "genie in the bottle" but at the same time I must remain humble in the process.

This devotion has reminded me that when I listen to music, when I share music with the masses that is really my outlet, the way I relax. He lets me know instead of griping about rather or not anyone appreciate what you do be thankful that you have know how to bring it to the masses, that you have the tools and equipment to bring to the masses, that you have the voice to say how you feel when it comes to music, that you have a spouse that does not look down upon you when it comes to putting your podcast together, that you have a spouse that doesn't make fun of you when it comes to your taste of music, that if only one person checks out your podcast that's okay. The main thing is that when you do what you do that it does not bring shame to His name...that is the main thing. When I look at it in the frame of mind, I am truly blessed.

I have to keep this concept when writing my blogs or recording my podcast...

“It is amazing what can be accomplished when we don’t care who gets the credit.”

I'm not going to lie, time to time we all wish to be acknowledge for what we do but as Christ Jesus has taught that when you receive human notice that is your reward and I am learning that it only last for just a moment. I have to always put God first, my queen second, me third. Whenever I have followed this order things have always come out good and whenever I begin thinking, "do people really appreciate what I do?" or begin to over analyze things it blows up in my face.

When I think of doing right by others God rewards me...when I think that what I am doing I should receive credit for it brings me to sorrow because pride is creeping in and as the author of today's devotion states..

Pride and grace cannot dwell in the same place.

Two great messages that also help me put things into perspective by the wonderful Dr. David Jeremiah from Turning Point

• Courage When Friends Disappoint You(Pt. o1)
• Courage When Friends Disappoint You(Pt. o2)

translation=get over yourself DarrenKeith.

Join The Choir>>>more
devotion from rbc ministries

This is a very "on point" devotion because it makes you realize that if you came to the Lord at a very young age you are truly blessed. Now allowing Jesus Christ into your heart at any age is a wonderful thing because you realize that what you thought you were missing out in the world you were not, who you thought were your friends really was not.

Sometimes coming to the Lord at a later age has benefits because sometime when you look "seasoned" people tend to respect what you say quicker than someone that is young; but let me tell you the reason for coming to the Lord at a young age.

First, you realize that what you to yourself and to others have consequences...you learn to respect authority at a very young age. It's amazing what I see when it comes to some young people. Last month I was taking pictures outside our apartment when three young children spotted me. They ran me down and ask me if took a picture of their sign they made on the frozen pond behind our apartment. When I went back and saw what it said, {F*** U}, I turned to them and said, "I can't take a picture of that". Young boy just shrugged his shoulders and went back to what he was doing like "oh well, your loss." As I told my beautiful wife about this she said some key points,

1. He should have be ashamed to do participated in that activity in the first place.
2. He should have been ashamed to even approach a grown person to begin with
3. You should have said to him, "where do you live?"

Everything she said was on the money. I wasn't a saint growing up but there was some things you just did not do in front of adults whether if you were saved or not. You did not use profanity in front of grown-ups, you addressed them by "Mister, Misses, Ms." and "Ma'am" and "Sir"

Another plus of coming to the Lord at a very young age is you love yourself, you see that life is not fair, you develop patience, you always strive to do your best in everything you do and most important when you get older you will not have many, "Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda" moments. What are those?

Those are past regrets. This is something that Satan uses on people, Christians and non-Christians alike. God has forgiving us of our sins when you accept Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior...no doubt about it. But every so often we allow our past to hold us prisoner every now and then in some area in our lives. I am guilty of this as well. I think about if I had listened about not having sex before marriage because I have had to many "close calls" worrying if I was going to become a parent (especially since I never wanted children, is that dumb or what...that is how children come about...through sex); if I had listened about not "shackin' up"...for me, I wasted so much time, money because living together is not the best of both worlds, it's the worst of both worlds. On one hand you are not married to that person but on the other hand you do not want to walk away and to be honest what's the ol' saying..."Why buy milk when you got the cow at home."

When coming to God early in life many times you save yourself a lot of headaches and most important you learn that God is not trying you stop from "having fun" he's trying to save you from "unnecessary heartache". We already live in a fallen world so why add unnecessary hurt to it in the process?

Be Blessed, Be Safe,
& Have a Wonderful Sunday

Spiritual Message for today
What Does It Look Like?[part 2]
{click to listen...right click to download}
In Touch Ministries

My Tech Picks for Sunday:
audio pick:
MacBreak Weekly 77: Fries Done
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Scott Bourne, Alex Lindsay, and Merlin Mann.

tech story:
Yahoo's Jerry Yang is no Bill Gates
Want iPhone Apps? Get Ready to Shop in iTunes
MacBook Pros running dry in the channel ahead of refreshes

My download pick:
Firefox 3 beta 3

crosspost from MyLifeOnThisEarth

First of all I wish to apologize for the long post but sometimes you can't sum things up in a couple of paragraphs...

Flipping the channels and came across a 60minute reporter interviewing Joel Osteen and called his ministry a "Cash Cow". I just shake my head. It's amazing that many pastors can not catch a break. We as a nation dog them out one way or another. I like Osteen, I don't follow him as close as my lovely wife. I tend to lean more toward the men and woman I mention in this post. Earlier this morning I began jotting down people of God I truly respect. Some of the names people may or may agree with me but for me this morning was a turning point in my life. I was watching Dr. Charles Stanley and I looked at his congregation and a humble spirit came over me. I truly enjoy watching and listening to Dr. Stanley.

I have mentioned this before but when I watched away from God and when Dr. Stanley would come on television it was something about him that made me just stop and watch him and when I came back to God he was one of the very first men of God I listened to, supported, and I hope I get a chance to meet him before he goes to be with the Lord.

Here is my list of people I try and listen to on a daily basis...

The reason why I truly love their ministries is there is no "hooping and hollering"...they truly teach the world of God. They seem very humble, they teach unity, they make learning God's word simple, they stick to God's word, no compromising. When listening to these individuals it's truly a blessing.

Greg Laurie I have to say makes me smile each and every time I hear him preach and teach. His sense of humor may be "corny" sometimes but all and all most of his jokes are funny. One thing I truly enjoy is that he reaches the young people. He never compromises God's word but at the same times lets you know that God words always stays the same and that he love you us very deeply.

The late J. Vernon McGee was one of the first men I listened to when I first gave my life to Christ Jesus. When first listening to him it was kind of hard because of his voice but over time I have grown to love his "southern drawl" and his knowledge of God's word is very awesome. I truly love his "Question and Answer" segments on Saturdays, I learn so much.

The Adrian Rogers is a man I wish I could have had as a Theology professor. His love for God's word and the way he prepares his messages is pretty cool. I also enjoy the he researches his data to truly connect with the congregation.

Pastor Paul Sheppard I just began listening to him last year but to hear him speak God's word and bring it home makes me stop and just listen time and time again. What Pastor Sheppard brings to the table is realness. He takes you along with him, his ups and downs. He in St. Louis he comes on at 5:30am but to me he's worth it (and if I miss him I can catch him on oneplace.com)

Dr. David Jeremiah I find myself listening to his sermons over and over again. I believe I have mentioned that when Zondra and I ever visit San Diego we will visit his church. A cancer survivor he knows being in the valley and is not afraid to share his fears, he weaknesses and his lows. One of my favorite series by him was his "loneliness". If you go on oneplace.com look them up and they will help you out so much. He tackles the loneliness of singleness, being a spouse, of being older and other situations.

Love her or hate her I really like Joyce Meyers. She is not as dramatic to me as Paula White (I know many, including my wife really likes Paula but I just can't get with her. She works for my wife but I can do without the "slap your neighbor in the back of the head" routine---that really gets under my skin). Joyce to me is one of those aunts that tells it like it is and even though it may come off harsh in reality it's really out of love. Mrs. Meyers shares how when she was in the world how she painted herself a victim and when she became saved how she was sometimes because too religious and over time she learned to become love instead of judgmental.

I know people (and again speaking of my lovely wife) she can follow T.D. Jakes, Paula White, Cleflo Dollar, Bishop Eddie Long) but I just can't relate to them. Maybe it's because I grew up in churches like theirs, I don't need the "over the top" preaching...just teach me, there is a time for praise and worship and there is a time for preaching but I feel when men and women of God have to yell, shout, and say stuff like, "watch this, watch this, watch this" over and over to get my attention I find that insulting. I don't need someone to keep telling me, "turn to your neighbor" Why do some pastors do that? I really do not like that.

While I can not get with these speakers I also have a hard time listening to men like D. James Kennedy and Dr. James Dobson. I have listen to some of their programs but in my opinion I think most of their messages are geared toward White America. Some people may not feel that way but for me I feel the only times when they wish for people of color to unite with them is when the matter of any gay issue is on tap and after that has died down it's like, "okay, back to the cellar." That may sound harsh but I think men like Dobson do not realize that we as African American find abortion, teen pregnancy, living together outside of marriage, having children outside of marriage just as crippling as White America.

I know we do not live in a perfect society but as I commented on a fellow Christ's sight, Adrian Rogers said it best, "Christianity is the only army that shoot it's own wounded." There is no perfect church nor perfect Christians but as I have said to my wife, "the church is somewhere we are suppose to be able to relax, not be judge, to be able to share our hurts, not tense up and worry about who is going to use our pain against you."

I love God's word, I love followers of Christ but this year I have found more peace with Christians and geeks online than within our church but hearing and seeing Dr. Charles Stanley made this Sunday worthwhile and as I have said time and time again...

Thank you heavenly Father for placing men and women in my path that loves God and keeps me focus on God's word and not people actions.

DSCF4121-1

Maybe that's not a fitting title but I have to get back to myself. Three weeks ago me and the place where I was employment "went our separate ways" so to speak and to be honest I have been kinda of down; not because of the job but not working and I have been in a funk ever since. I have not wanting to blog, to listen to podcast, not do anything. I have shut myself off from people that I know care for me and as of tonight this "funk" is coming to a end. Tonight I went for a walk. It was cold, dark, wet (icicles coming from the limbs of trees) but I needed to get out and spend some time with God. I have drifted away from him because I have not wanting to get in His word and I know that is straight from the pits of hell.

So I got out of our home, took my iPod, listened to Greg Laurie and some of the Friday Favecast (Happy one year anniversary guy) and I as I listened to Greg, Fave, looking at the townhomes, the villas around me I began to come alive again. Then once I came back inside (my right foot felt like it was wet) I sat back in our bedroom and watched Joyce Meyers with the Mrs. and it truly was an "on time" word for me. I been having a pity party...as Joyce Meyers said tonight, it was like Satan was winding me up making me feel sorry for myself saying, "what about me, what about me, what about me." She also mentioned about being a blessing for others and not looking for anything back from people and she hit the nail right on the head. I have being in this mode of "writing something when I feel like it" and every time I felt like it another feeling would have me saying to myself, "you really do not have anything to share."

Everyone has felt this way one time or another but as one friend has said, "do not let it overtake you" and I think it was getting to that point. I'm not saying I'm a Superman but I know being down for this long is not who I am and I can't wait until I "feel" like writing again to begin writing again. I have so much to be thankful for and I was allowing Satan to cloud my blessings. I have a wife who loves me, I have God's word to get me through this, I have friends via internet, my geek brother in Florida, my iPods, podcast to encourage me.

This may sound superficial to some people that I'm thankful for gadgets but for me it's not. For the longest I was at a job where I could not listen to my podcast, to write, to listen to my music and I was miserable. I sat around people all day which I had nothing in common with and I now I have a chance to get back to what I truly enjoy. I know I will have to find another job down the line but I have been blessed to get back into school and I may just wipe my blogs out and start fresh because sometimes you have to tear some things down to get a fresh look at where you need and want to go. One thing I have a bad habit of doing is posting and not going back and reading them because sometimes you have to remind yourself how far you have come, how far you have grown in order to see why you began what you started. I started my blogs to help common folks in the tech world. I never said I knew it all and many people know this about me but what I know I ask God to help me share it because every little bit of wisdom helps. I also started my blogs because of my love for God's word, for the music I love and after working at my previous job I lost that focus and now God is giving me a second chance to get back to what he put into my heart.

So here I sit in front of my computer just keyboarding away and I think this is what God has been trying to tell me this week, "Get back on the horse. You are not perfect, share with others how you feel because you are not an island to yourself. Just be true to yourself because that is all you can do. As long as you are not bringing shame to my name, to your wife and you are helping people to the best of your ability that is all that matters. As Joyce Meyers said today, begin your day by asking God, "Who can I be a blessing to today" and when you lay your head down ask God, "Okay, did I bless someone to the best of my ability?"

It's about pleasing God, helping others, saying yes when I can, saying no sometimes and just letting yourself know as well as others that sometimes you have to get turned upside down in order to know where your true source of strength lies, who you need to depend on and that you can not please everyone and people like you for who you are and not what you have.

crosspost from MyLifeOnThisEarth

Now why couldn't they have come out with this article yesterday when I needed it. Oh well, better late than never. ^_^ Wisdom never gets old.