Oh, The Temptation...

What a GREAT video. So cute.

OH MY GOODNESS!

I don't often get moved to tears while listening to performances, but this is simply stunning. It is some of the best guitar work I have ever heard done. Mark Knopfler is slowly becoming my favorite guitarist ever. Enjoy this video and LISTEN TO IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH! The best part starts at 1:50...

Top 5 Favorite Concerts - #5

As promised...

My #5 favorite all-time concert! Enjoy, and check back soon for the next!

Back!

Well, I was not out nearly a month with the H1N1 virus. I was only sick for about 48 hours. The medicine I was prescribed worked wonderfully. Anyways, I'm back to good health. Things have been going well. Summer is winding down. I start school this coming Thursday and am looking forward to getting back into the school routine. I'm also looking forward to getting back into blogging. I realize I still need to post my #5 favorite concert of all time...

I'm enjoying the good weather we've had recently. It is so nice to go outside and be able to BREATHE without the humidity knocking your socks off. Fall is my favorite time of the year and I hope that we get at least a decent one this year. Well, I'm off to go fishing. Hope everyone who reads this is doing well!

Jeremy

Sick with H1N1...

Sorry for the recent hiatus. As some of you know, I was in Richmond, Virginia for a wedding and then leading worship at a children's camp in Illinois. Well, I was one of several people from that camp who are now being treated for the H1N1 "swine" flu. I am beginning to feel a little bit better. My fever broke yesterday early evening, but I'm still really achy and have a cough. I would appreciate your prayers, and will post shortly after I'm back to 100%. Thanks!

Video Blog Series Part 1 - Introduction

New video blog series! Click below to watch part 1...

Weight Lifting?!?!

Yes, that's right! I'm currently in my third week of a twelve week beginner's training routine for weight lifting. It has been a lot of fun. On days between workouts, I do a cardio workout. I've never felt better! Maybe I'll decide to post some before/after pictures as I progress?

At Work...

I've decided to devote a blog post to sharing with you where I work.


This is my cubby hole. It is where I can be found most of my time on Covenant Seminary's campus. It is in the basement of the library. It kind of gets lonely down here from time to time. However, it is a good place to escape to get some work done. My friend Will King used to sit behind me. He is graduating this year. His presence will be missed.
I have surrounded myself with greatness. Aside from numerous books, I have the company of a few friends.


These are the Rolling Stones, (L to R) Charlie Watts, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and Ronnie Wood. The Hebrew caption underneath reads "Rolling Stones". Will gave this to me with a note that says, "Jeremy - Keep Rollin' Bro!"



This is Pink Floyd, (L to R) Richard Wright, Roger Waters, Sid Barret, and Nick Mason. Absent from the photo is future guitarist, David Gilmour. These friends help to inspire me in my writing.

I hope you've enjoyed the brief tour of my cubby hole. Feel free to stop by and say 'Hello!' sometime!

Dom DeLuise - Nearsighted Doctor

A great skit featuring Dean Martin (DM, MD? -haha) and Dom DeLuise. SO many good ad-libs in this one!
Enjoy!

Dom DeLuise - The Cannonball Run Outtakes

This appears at the end of the movie The Cannonball Runwith Dom DeLuise and Burt Reynolds. Dom just can't stop laughing...and what a laugh he's got! Enjoy!

Dom DeLuise - Ballin' The Jack

Hilarious!

Dom DeLuise - The French Mistake

I've decided to post a few videos commemorating the career of Dom DeLuise. I'll be posting the videos over the next couple of days.

This first video is from the movie Blazing Saddles.
Have a good laugh!

Actor and Comedian Dom DeLuise Dead at 75

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Dom DeLuise, who spiced up such movies as "Blazing Saddles," "Silent Movie" and "The Cannonball Run" with his manic delivery and roly-poly persona, has died, his son's publicist told CNN.

Publicist Jay Schwartz did not disclose the cause of death, but DeLuise, 75, had been battling cancer for more than a year.

DeLuise was surrounded by family when he died in a Santa Monica, California, hospital Monday night, son Michael DeLuise told CNN affiliate KTLA-TV.

This is very sad. I honestly dreaded this day. My memories of DeLuise performances include his hillarious role in The Twelve Chairs, History of the World Part 1, and an appearance on The Muppet Show. The world has lost a great comedian.

You can read the rest of the story from CNN here.

Remember When...

...pay phones cost .25?
...pay phones were in use?
...gas cost .89/gallon?
...soda cans didn't have the "wide mouth"?
...cassette tapes were the norm?

Those were the days.

A Window Into The Human Soul

A wonderful song by Dylan titled "What Can I Do For You?"
The harmonica breaks are breathtaking...

Soon as a man is born, you know the sparks begin to fly,
He gets wise in his own eyes and he's made to believe a lie.
Who would deliver him from the death he's bound to die?
Well, You've done it all and there's no more anyone can pretend to do.
What can I do for You?

I know all about poison, I know all about fiery darts,
I don't care how rough the road is, show me where it starts,
Whatever pleases You, tell it to my heart.
Well, I don't deserve it but I sure did make it through.
What can I do for You?

GREAT VIDEO - WHEN YOU AWAKE

I found a great video of Rick Danko playing "When You Awake". Since this blog is named after this song, I thought I would post the video for your viewing/listening pleasure.



Rick Danko was the bass player and vocalist for The Band. Like all the other members of The Band, Danko also played every instrument and would frequently rotate depending on the songs being played. A truly gifted musician. He passed away on December 10, 1999. The music will live on forever...

J.W.R

NEW ALBUM!

I am highly anticipating the release of Bob Dylan's new album "Together Through Life" set for April 29!

Those who know me well know that I am an avid fan of Dylan. I've listened to the single "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'" and it is GREAT! Dylan's voice sounds raw and growly - which is awesome - and the music sounds very bluesy. I'm sure it will be awesome and cannot wait to buy the whole album!

Hiatus

Sorry for the brief hiatus. Things got a little hectic with classes and then we were on spring break. I've got a lot that I've been wanting to write about and hopefully I will find the time to post my thoughts.

I want to begin posting on my hopes and aspirations for after my time at Covenant Seminary. At the moment, I'm considering applying for a research position (PhD) at a few different schools. While part of me would like to pursue a post-graduate degree, a large part of me cannot wait to begin teaching full time. That being said, I'm going to also look into teaching jobs at the same time. I'll keep you posted.

OH MY GOSH!

This is INCREDIBLE!

A Wonderful Story

A GREAT story to be read here.

No Line On The Horizon - U2

Yesterday Lindsay bought me U2's newest album, "No Line on the Horizon". We took the afternoon together to lay on the bed, listen to the album, and read through the liner notes and lyrics. It was an awesome way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

This album is awesome. Bono is such a great lyricist and the band is just so incredibly talented. I've given it two really good listens to - once for the lyrics and once for the music. I haven't yet determined which tracks are my favorites. I'll post again in a week and let you know. Until then, here are a few lines from the track "White As Snow" -

Once I knew there was a love divine
Then came a time I thought it knew me not
Who can forgive forgiveness where forgiveness is not
Only the lamb as white as snow

Beautiful!

Concert Update - John Prine

Last Friday evening I had the privilege and pleasure of seeing John Prine. Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter who has a lengthy discography and won Artist of the Year in 2005. He is hailed as one of the great singer-songwriters in American music history and is known for his humor and great story telling, particularly through song.

The evening began with some BBQ at Bandana's, which was awesome. We then went down to the TouHill Performing Arts Center located on the University of Missouri Saint Louis campus. The opening act was a very talented girl named Carrie Rodriguez. She had a beautiful, yet edgy voice and was unique in that she played the tenor guitar (4 strings) as well as the fiddle. I had never seen an artist who sang and played fiddle at the same time with the fiddle being the main instrument. It was pretty awesome. She got a nice ovation at the end of her 30 minutes set. After a fairly long intermission, the energy began to escalate as the crowd of about 2500 anxiously awaited the legend.

Finally, Prine and his two backup musicians (upright base and guitar/mandolin/harmonica) entered stage left to a very warm standing ovation. They then launched into a wonderful set of songs that lasted nearly two hours. I was really happy that Prine played my favorite song of his, Long Monday. It isn't one of his more popular tunes and it is pretty much 50/50 chance of him playing it live. After about nine songs, his accompanying musicians exited the stage and John played about 4 or 5 songs by himself. He was rejoined by his band mates to close out the evening with a couple more songs. There was of course an encore, during which Carrie Rodriguez was brought out to join the band. They closed with the wonderful piece Paradise which sounded awesome with the three part harmony and fiddle.

This was one of my all time favorite concerts. One left this concert feeling as though they had seen a close friend performing some good music. The atmosphere was so intimate and pleasant. I highly recommend seeing John Prine whether you know his music or not. You will not be disappointed.

What Is Big, Green, and Happy?

Oh my goodness. I have found my new favorite song.

John Prine Tonight!!!

I am VERY excited about seeing music legend John Prine tonight. I'll give a concert update sometime next week. If you haven't heard John Prine, go get some of his music! Now!

Bizkit The Sleepwalking Dog

Here is some humor for the week. This is incredible.

NYC Official: Ban Japanese 'Rape' Video Game

Associated Press - Anti-violence advocates in New York City are taking a stand against a video game in which players stalk and rape a mother and her two daughters.

Amazon and eBay have already banned the sale of the game, called RapeLay. But City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said Monday that the game is available from other online sellers.

One of them, called jbdoujinshop.ecrater.com, says in an e-mail it has taken the game off its site as of Monday.

Quinn and the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault called on all U.S. video game distributors to refrain from selling Rapelay.

RapeLay is made by a company called Illusion, based in Yokohama, Japan.

The company has not immediately responded to an e-mail seeking comment.

WTH!?!?!?!

FBI Rescues Children From Prostitution

WASHINGTON — The FBI has rescued more than 45 suspected teenage prostitutes, some as young as 13, in a nationwide sweep to remove kids from the illegal sex trade and punish their accused pimps.

Over a three-night initiative called Operation Cross Country, federal agents working with local law enforcement also arrested more than 50 alleged pimps, according to preliminary bureau data.

The teenage prostitutes found in the investigation ranged in age from 13 to 17.

It is amazing to think that this abomination occurs around the world, much less in the United States! I recently had a conversation with a 12 year old who couldn't believe that children are forced into prostitution. It was news to him and he was shocked and disgusted by it. Wouldn't it be great if we could raise a generation of young men and women who were determined to be involved in putting a stop to this absurdity?

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry on Grownups and Numbers

"When you tell [the grownups] that you have made a new friend, they never ask you any questions about essential matters. They never say to you,

'What does his voice sound like? What games does he love best? Does he collect butterflies?'

Instead, they demand:

'How old is he? How many brothers has he? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make?'

Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him.

If you were to say to the grown-ups:

'I saw a beautiful house made of rosy brick, with geraniums in the windows and doves on the roof,'

they would not be able to get any idea of that house at all. You would have to say to them:

'I saw a house that cost 100,000 francs'

Then they would exclaim: 'Oh, what a pretty house that is!'"

Healing Through Writing...

I recently read this quote in an article by novelist Wally Lamb:

Michelangelo, the 16th-century artistic genius, once said this about his work: "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."...you and I are damaged angels-in-waiting who have the potential to sculpt our best selves with the aid of paper and pen.

Apart from being a novelist (and a good one at that - my wife's favorite!), Wally Lamb teaches writing to a group of female inmates at a high-security prison. He asserts that writing our past history and confronting emotional issues can help the healing process immensely. There is power in writing our own stories.

I've never really thought it necessary to write my memoirs at age 25 until reading this article. You can read the article in its entirety here.

Stimulus Bill A Sorry Spectacle

NEW YORK (CNN) -- "What a joke. Your Congress has voted to spend almost $790 billion of your money on a stimulus package that not a single member of either chamber has read.

The 1,073-page document wasn't posted on the government's Web site until after 10 p.m. the day before the vote to pass it was taken. I don't care if you're Evelyn Wood, you can't read almost 1,100 pages of the lawyer talk that makes up all legislation in eight or 10 hours.

The criminal part of this boondoggle is divided into two parts. The first is the Democrats promised to post the bill a full 48 hours before the vote was taken to allow members of the public to see what they were getting for their money. Both parties voted unanimously to do this ... and they lied."




Wow. This really saddens me. When will the American people wake up? I believe we should all be calling our elected officials and giving them a piece of our minds. That's what I'm going to do anyways. Is this really going to work? You can read the the rest of Jack Cafferty's commentary here.

Taken

I saw Taken this past Friday evening. Well worth the outrageous cost of a movie these days...

A Life-Changing Event

I thought that I would share a life changing event that I still remember very clearly to this day. It requires a little bit of background information.

When I was younger (12-16), my older brother Jonathan and I got hooked on hardcore and punk music. It wasn't as popular or accessible as it is today, which is probably what got us so hooked. We listened to bands that people had never heard before and the music itself was pretty "underground". We very much enjoyed being "different". We didn't listen to the music that everyone else listened to. Of course, with the music that we listened to came a pretty unique style. We had our ears pierced and gauged (you could stick your finger through the hole in my ear!) and our hair was long and in dreads, or short, bleached and spiked, or incredibly crazy. I had this hair cut that was pretty much a "reverse mullet" that was inspired by the Misfits. My bangs were about 5 inches long and the rest of my head was buzzed! Many people would say we looked like "freaks". And I guess we did.

Being "punk" meant that it wasn't cool to listen to popular music. I never listened to the radio. I never bought the CD's that everyone else had (okay, except for Brittany Spear's first album...I can't believe I just admitted that!). The crazy thing is, you could say that my siblings and I were raised to appreciate classical music.

And appreciate it we did. I played piano for four years while my brother played the cello and our sister played the viola. My favorite mornings were the ones that I would wake up to my mother playing J.S. Bach's cantatas and concertos. Looking back, I attribute my listening to hours of classical music as giving me the ear for music that I have.

And that is why my parents just couldn't understand why my brother and I enjoyed hardcore and punk. We just wanted to be different. We wanted to listen to things that nobody else was listening to.

One evening, I was doing my homework in our family room. My father was in the living room watching TV as he so often did. All of a sudden it occurred to me that he wasn't watching sports or the AMC channel that he usually watched. Instead, I heard an incredible sound. It was a band. Actually, it was The Band. I had to check it out. I knew from the moment that I heard that music that this was one of the best bands I had ever heard. I remember walking into the living room and asking my father what it was that he was watching. A&E was showing The Last Waltz which was the final performance of The Band. My father proceeded to tell me about a group of musicians who would forever change my life and how I listened to, played and appreciated music.

The Band is the best group of musicians that I have ever heard. I find it hard to put into words just how much of an impact that they have had on my appreciation for music. Over the next year, I came out of my punk phase and began to emerse myself in their music. Along the way I discovered musicians that I had heard about, but never actually heard. Musicians such as Emmylou Harris, Dr. John, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Clapton, and of course, Bob Dylan. These musicians were heavily influenced by five men who made music come alive.

I'm not sure why that memory has remained etched in my mind after about 10 years. Since discovering The Band, I've developed a profound love for classic rock. I owe it to The Band. In my opinion, there is nothing better.

Except for Bach's cantatas and concertos.

Some Excellent Fuel!

Somewhat recently I've discovered that Saint Louis carries the best coffee - Dunkin' Donuts. I'm familiar with DD, as there are thousands of walk-in locations up and down the East Coast. Unfortunately there are none here in STL. But a local grocery store does carry the DD coffee. If you haven't tried DD coffee, you should. It beats that other place's stuff by a long shot. It is a bit expensive, which is why we can't purchase it every week, but that is okay by me. It makes having it that much more special. Do yourself a favor and grab some DD coffee next time you see it!

Getting It Right...But Oh, So Wrong...

Recently my wife and I attended the national prayer breakfast in Washington D.C. It was neat to see and hear President Obama speak. However, for a few reasons, I didn't particularly enjoy his speech. At one point, the President said this:

There is no God who condones taking the life of an innocent human being. This much we know.

I wholeheartedly agree with this quote, even though many would argue what exactly is meant by the phrase "innocent human being". If by innocent, he means "has done no wrong", then we would have to further examine what is meant by the word "wrong". This of course is another subject for discussion altogether.

What has me so upset at this statement is the fact that it was made by someone who supports legislation for ending the life of both the unborn and born child. Not only does the President support legislation for partial birth abortion, but he supports legislation for refusing to give treatment to babies who are victims of failed abortions. This absurd and sickening practice is called "infanticide".

I do not see how someone who is fighting for an individual's right to extinguish the life of an unborn and born child can make the above statement with any sort of credibility as someone who believes what they are saying. The President's policy towards the lives of our unborn and born children is sickening.

Major Delay! Sorry!

Hello all. Sorry for such a delay in posting. Really, no excuse for it other than the fact that my PC crashed and is now dead. I just purchased a new macbook yesterday! It is totally awesome. SO - back to blogging in a short time. I've got to update you on El Monstero, which was AWESOME.

I'm currently taking care of a sick wife. Please pray that Lindsay will recover quickly as we fly to Washington D.C. this week for the National Prayer Breakfast. We'll also get to spend next weekend with my family in Richmond, Virginia. We are very excited. That is all for now.

Jeremy