Best of 2011: Music and Beer

For those of you who can’t get through the holidays without reading someone’s opinion on insignificant products in regards to the wide spectrum of life, here is my “best of” list.

Really though, I believe it’s a healthy practice to look back on oneself at year’s end. Rediscovering and reflecting over what I’ve spent my money, time, and ears on over the course of a year is something I’ve always enjoyed.

Now that it’s almost over, were the things my heart desired worth all the fuss? Did it last more than two weeks in my Ipod? (Yes I’m still rocking an Ipod, not Ipad, Itouch, or Iphone. I’m cool like that).

As I get older, I find myself not purchasing as much music or seeing as many movies as I used to. So this year, I decided to include some other things I’m starting to enjoy, including but not limited to: beer, old vinyl records, as well as disappointing albums that made me want to punch walrus’ in their teeth.

25

Well here it is. I’m 25. Great… In all seriousness today has been an awesome day. I really feel like an adult, mature and all.

For instance, I went shopping with my grandma. Then I went to math class. I’m about to watch Thor on blu ray. So yes, as you can gather, I’m basically still 15. What is ten years anyways?

Speaking of 15, my band played a show last night in Spokane. We played 2nd and the first band was a group of 15 year olds playing Romones -ish type music.What’s truly enjoyable about my band, is that since we fit into a lot of varieties of “rock,” we get to play with a lot of different types of bands. There are some that are great, and then there are some that are just not my cup of tea, coffee, or egg nog.

Living Without

I’ve always thought it fun to live without. To test the body, to test the spirit. I’m not talking in terms of fasting, although beneficial in its own right, but more so, just living without.

It’s good to remind ourselves that there are dangers of having everything we want. That maybe its a bad idea to have all our desires met at full capacity all the time, in as little time as possible. It’s the American way, right? There is nothing wrong with being blessed, but what if it got to a point where we stopped caring about others?

The truth is, the more stuff I accumulate, the less I care about other people. Luxury corrupts compassion. Comfort-ability gives way to complacency. It’s a truth in my life I’ve had to realize as of late.

The Divine Prankster

Sometimes I wonder if God plays pranks. I don’t know why I woke up with this thought in my head this morning, but what if?

Four years ago I tried to save some money. So I lived with my friends for a while.  It was a stage of my life where I was moving around a lot, living for free in people’s spare bedrooms, couches, and floors, wherever I could. This one kid, Nikko, graciously let me sleep in his bedroom for about three or four months. He was an interesting fella. I remember we used to pretend we’d wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares and jump out of bed for the laugh of it. (For the record we were in two different beds).

This was also the stage of the iPod where everybody either had an iHome, a Logitech docking station, or some other off brand device. It was basically a dock to plug and play your iPod through. A clock that occasionally played music (nod to Mitch Hedburg).

I remember I docked my iPod one night to let it charge and soon fell asleep. There was no alarm set, nothing out of the ordinary. In fact at that point of the iPod’s life, it was a baby pod. Not a blemish.

Around three in the morning or so, the iHome turned on. All by itself. The first song off of Underoath’s “Define the Great Line” started playing, at the loudest possible volume the speakers could carry.

We both jumped out of bed when we heard a strange man in our bedroom yelling:

“WAKE UP! WAKE UP!”

Now why would this ever happen? There is no explanation. After laughing ourselves almost to death, we eventually calmed down, went back to sleep and forgot about it. (In separate beds).

Sure, you can boil it down to a “glitch.” But really?

What if God is creative in how he deals with us? What if he allows the angels to have a little fun when they deliver signs and wake up calls? While I’m not sure if it’s healthy to try and fit God into our pocket, I believe it’s fun to try and find the God in us.

We give God credit for so much, but often count him out of humor? He created that too right?

The same God who paints the skies every evening and morning for us, who grows the sweetest sunburst tomatoes, the juiciest freestone peaches, also gives us the awkward pauses that make way for better friendship and the inspiration to make others laugh when they need it.

What has blown me away lately, are not the subtle signs of God in nature, but the countless personalities I come across in a single day. Like a fingerprint of the infinite, a divine mosaic. God placed our personalities inside of us as a reflection of Him.

Don’t get caught up looking for God and forget that He is inside you. And when we enjoy the life He created us to enjoy, I believe our Creator smiles.

What a thought.

Robbing Hell with Rob Bell

Do you only read books that you agree with? Books that fluff your beliefs and make you feel comfortable? Or is it healthy to be challenged? I think so.

“Love Wins” by Rob Bell is a healthy challenge of a read. It’s not his best book by far, but I’d say it’s definitely solid; worth your time at least. The main point for Bell, I believe, is to open up a conversation. How many people in the church hold views and have questions but are too afraid to ask them? I know a couple.

Have you ever wondered:
If God is love, how can he be okay with billions of people being tortured in Hell for eternity? I have.

Or how about:
What about the people who never had a chance? People who didn’t grow up in Christian homes and were shown everything opposite of God’s ways? Is God okay with them burning because they grew up in a crappy environment? Why didn’t God just put them in a good environment if He loves them so much?

And finally:
Why punish someone if they never have a chance to learn from their mistakes?
(as in Hell… for eternity)

Kevin Claude Van Damnit!: The Perils of Landscaping

You know in the action movies where the hero jumps out of a car right before the cliff? I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. The camera pans down as the car falls. The car explodes. Logic tells us that the hero couldn’t possibly die half way through the movie, but the thought creeps in. Did he make it? After a couple solemn moments of stillness, the hero’s hand dramatically reaches up over the edge and pulls himself to safety. He made it… I’ve always wanted to do that.

I thought today was going to be an easy day. You know… day off from the market, a little yard work, a little sunshine. I didn’t realize I’d be jumping off a riding mow as it plunged downhill.

I should explain.

One Year Thingamagoo

Well I thought I’d take a break from our luxurious vacation and blog a little bit about the whole one year anniversary thingamagoo.

I don’t really have too much to say, other than that being married is an awesome, fulfilling, and challenging adventure. Although it may sound cliche, it is true that marriage isn’t always easy. Especially when your spouse isn’t as perfect as you. Ha ha, no but seriously…

Fly Fishing: The First Outing

Today I went fly fishing for the first time. Those of you who have been before are probably already laughing. In my defense, I have been practicing. I’m currently taking a class down at the college for summer to help take care of some PE credits. We cast on the soccer field, people walk by and snicker. It’s mildly humiliating.

Well I finally ventured out today with a brand new tackle box full of flies, tippets and leader lines.

I caught so much stuff! First, I caught my hat. Then after catching the bushes behind me a few times, I lost a fly in the water. After replacing it, I caught the tree above my head and lost yet another fly. 

Why I Hate Fireworks

Last night, sitting on my white plastic chair, watching my tax dollars explode into an abundant array of colors in the sky, all I could really think about was the irony of America’s favorite holiday. How did we get here? How did I get here? How many marshmallows did I really eat?

Let me fill you in.

We have this holiday here in America called Independence Day. It’s usually held on July 4^th.  As far as I know, we celebrate it every year.  It’s a day where family members forward each other e-motional e-mails about the hardships of our forefathers. You get them, I get them, nobody reads them.

Lake Psychology and Death Cab

Today I bought the new Death Cab album, and it got me thinking. Why? Why do I buy music? It’s ridiculous if you think about it.

Not in the “you can steal it for free sense,” I believe that is wrong.

But more so the, “I want to own this because I feel like I should.”

There’s this lake-front house that I like to look at when my wife and I take scooter rides–close to when the sun sets. It’s the most incredible home I’ve ever seen. It has this European-cottage/cabin/castle look to it; big but not enormous.