Many of you know that I am obsessed with music. So, I thought I would enlighten you as to what I am currently listening to on the IPod and ITunes.

Dream Theater - "Score" This 3CD set is their final concert of their Octavarium world tour last April. The last half of the show, they played with an orchestra. Very Cool. Unlike other rock bands that played with orchestras and did not sound all that good (Kiss, Scorpions, Kansas), this orchestra is a nice touch. Check out the live versions of "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulance," or "Octavarium" to see what I mean. I am also watching the accompanying DVD. Nicely shot and definitely worth the price to see the Dream Theater "Behind the Music" retrospective.

Cheap Trick - "Rockford" Very good CD. Defintitely worth going out and getting. Rocky and ballsy and reminiscent of old Trick. Back to the roots kind of album.

Slayer - "Christ Illusion" Now, I know what you're thinking. A pastor listening to Slayer? Yes. My roots in metal go back to these guys, along with any other band I was obsessed with in 1986. This latest offering from this speed metal four is amazing. If anything to listen to Dave Lombardo play drums is worth it. I find it very interesting their take on organized religion especially Christianity. This CD has me thinking about how I could work this into my bible study I want to develop on modern metal music and the religious images and messages it speaks about us and to the world. I wrote a paper on this in seminary and would definitely like to keep delving into this.

Marillion - "Marbles Live" Marillion is a band that I got into last year, although they have been around forever. These guys are definitely like Floyd in a way...very atmospheric and spacey rock. The music leaves room to breathe and it take on this very relaxing, yet emotional feeling. I like this band alot, especially Steve Hogath's voice and keyboard work. This is the live recording of their 2004 release "Marbles." I like the live version way better...more emotion and the vibe of a live concert just adds to the listenability of this CD. Fav song on this is "Neverland." Another great Marillion song is "Easter."

Some other random CD's I am listening to:

Threshold "Critical Energy"

Rush "R30"

Judas Priest "Turbo"

Yngwie Malmsteen "Trilogy"

Dave Matthews Band "Live Trax 5, Live from Rochester Hills MI"

Phish "Live Phish 20"

OSI "Free"

Dream Theater "Octavarium," "Scenes From A Memory"

Terry Reid "Seed Of Memory"

So, let me know my friends...What's playing in your CD player or IPod? Random CD's you have been listening to for some inner-strength or peace? Songs that bring you back to a time and place? That last question will definitely be a post here sometime... More later...

Hey all. Just got back from a much needed and well-deserved vacation to the North land. It was definitely needed this time around. Dropped my wife and son at one of the million lakes in MN, then went to Minot to be with the 'rents. Dad and I fished for three days straight. Where we go is beautiful and very picture-esque. Well, as much as it can be for that area of the country. Which if you are from ND, you can appreciate its beauty...trust me. We go to a place called Graino crossing which is about forty miles northwest of Minot...fairly close to the Canadian border. We shore fish using Norwegian Pike hooks, slip bobber rigs, and frozen smelt. Last Saturday through Monday, Dad and I caught 13 fish...but, see I outfished my Dad 11 to 2. 'Bout time I outfished him. The very first Pike I caught on Saturday morning was at 8:10 AM weighing almost ten pounds. Good fish. We actually ate him that night...after my expert grilling skills were utilized (anything tastes good when it's fried in butter right). Dad and I had some needed father/son bonding time. He and I talk about any and all things I guess. We did talk about the recent resigning episode in my life. He knows what that's like...as it also happened to him. It was good to get his advice and think about my next move. When Dad and I got back on Sunday night, my Mom mentioned that my G-Parents were on their way to Minot from Idaho. They have basically taken the whole month of August and travelled everywhere with their Hi-LO. So, on Tuesday they finally came. That same day, I drove to Penn, ND (actually I sat at the entrance to Penn and waited for my Mother-out-law to bring my wife and child to me from "Tater-town USA") and picked up my wife and child, we then drove back to Minot. Trust me...Highway 2 twice in one day bites. But, it was all worth it.

Wednesday night, Travis and Kari came over with their twins, Phil came up, my sis and her beau were there, along with the rest of us...we had a big 'ole picnic at my 'rents house. It was awesome. Thursday, my wife and I left Minot about 9-ish. Rainy and icky. It rained pretty much all day. It got really interesting in MN, when we were in front of one storm cell and right behind another. The one in front of us was dumping hail, and we knew that as we drove along the interstate and saw the build-up of white along the edge of the road. It was awful. I drove until I could not see anymore and until I was about ready to drop. That was about 9PM! We stayed at the Red Carpet Inn in Osseo WI. Now, the thriving town of Osseo is well, small. This particular place we stayed at, felt empty...I mean the front desk person wasn't really around all the time, the pool in the morning was locked after it should have been opened, the breakfast area was void of any people...we were the only ones there the whole time. It was strange. Anyway, we eventually made it home on Friday morning although, once again we took our time as another storm cell was over Madison as I was thrity miles north of it. So, we avoided that and came home. This was definitely a vacation to think about and be thankful for.

Tonight, Eric and I lead worship for the last time ever. I will playing my trusty Ibanez acoustic as E lends his voice to my harmonies. Should be a good worship time. Although...it is bittersweet. Sunday I preside for the last time as well. I am not really looking forward to this weekend. Not looking foward to seeing certain people and they know who they are. But, I am looking forward to saying goodbye to some awesome people. It will be very surreal...I am sure. But, something to look forward to. Sunday, my wife, son, and I are going to a travelling Thomas the Tank Engine show. They have a full size replica of Thomas that actually runs...so we will take a train ride, and have some fun with my son who is uh, hmmmmm, how can I say this, OBSESSED with Thomas! Can there be anything more awesome than seeing your child freak out when he sees the Thomas show for the one-billionth time? I don't think so. More later...

For those of you who regularly read my blog (all five of you), you may have noticed that I removed yeterday's blog from my archives. Now, I have reason for this. I do not want certain people who may still have some control over me and my family, to have any leverage to use what they can to hurt us more. That all said, I respect the publicity factor with this blog enough right now anyway, that I have to temper what I say and how it may come off. See, leaving a church is hard enough, but being asked to leave is worse yet. Feelings of frustration, betrayal, isolation, blame, all come into play when I think about what happened to me. So, rather than put all this down here at least for now, I will step back, and put other musings and ramblings here that I was writing pre-resignation. At least then, I was weird. Now, I feel that my oddity of sorts is dwindling. Oh, and for those of you who really want to know about all this, you know how to get a hold of me. Smoke signals still work of course. Oh yeah, and thanks to you three really cool people who left your comments on the blog...I appreciate your kind words. Thanks. Well, I am going to try and solve my IPod dilemma. More later...

Definitely in a serious blackened funk today. Not all that happy, or really motivated. And you know, the funny thing is, I have no friggin clue as to why. Got paid today, so that is always good, but the money seems to already know its destination, so ergo, I have no money. I am doing a wedding this weekend for a really great couple. The colleague gets back from Europe tomorrow, so that could be good. I am visiting the shut ins and older folks tomorrow all day. I like visiting them, at least when I feel like I want to. Not sure I could pull off the smiles and warmth today all that well though. Our good friends from Nashville are visiting us this weekend before they head to the BIG Berkeley, CA for seminary...crazy man is gonna be a rev!

You know as I sit here in this vacuous space of my office thinking, all I want right now, is just some definite direction as to where this thing called my life is going. Don't we all? I mean, I had a conversation with three good friends yesterday as we sat at the China Buffet and ate our gelatinous chicken, talking about career changes and how we all want to be doing something different. I could be doing ministry only in some other type of work. And then, the strangest thoughts came into my head. Like, me being that guy in Vegas that works at some little wedding chapel, getting paid fifty bucks a wedding, dressing like the tattooed, Harley riding badass that I am screaming inside to become. Is that so wrong? OR, I could be that guy who devotes his life to some "ascetic" pursuit of becoming a touring rock show drum technician whose goal is to have that one perfectly tuned drum kit during one show for the unknown drummer I work for, all while being the band's spiritual guy. See what I mean. My mind goes and pops all over the place. How do I wait for direction then? In the meantime, I will deposit my check, have a Chili-Cheese burrito from the Bell, and go home to trim the overgrown and horrifying hedges that meet and greet our guests who are convinced we live in the Addams family house. More later...

Can I share with you a rant and a mild musing for a moment? As I was avoiding the inevitable of actually getting ready for work this morning, I was watching the Today show. The word, "butt" caught my attention. They had a special segment on how women's butts are the "new boobs." Check out this terrific intelligent piece of journalism at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/ Look for the "booty-licious" segment. Now, I am not all that sure that I can even comment and sound at least halfway intelligent with my reply to this absurdity. Butt, here is what I heard and saw. That as movie and music women who are well endowed in the rear region have gained notoriety and popularity over the years, many normal suburbanite women are feeling affirmed and are growing intensely approving of their growing behinds. The Today Show, showed J-Lo and Beyonce as their two prime examples of how these women are alright with what they have been given, or as Trace Atkins calls it, the "Badonkadonk." Let's face it...as Chris Rock once said, "J-Lo's butt is so big, they need two limos to take her anywhere...one for her body and the other for her behind." (He said it...not me!) How is it, that the newer bigger butt is in, and the smaller less fuller behind is uh, out. Who made this decision at all? Who actually had the time that they were paid for, to sit down and think this up? What genius sacrificed the need to figure out social justice issues for this load of academic wonder? I ask in jest, could Sir Mix-Alot be right in his likes and dislikes we heard so many years ago? Was he ahead of his time? If what society is saying right now is true, I tend to think so.

Here is the weird thing about this whole segment. Obviously, this segment was totally and unapologetically aimed at women viewers. Why? Because all the men I know, and are friends with, would never really think of their butts as the new penises. I mean it. How many men do you know that are petrified that their butts are not looking all that good, or at least not acceptable to society's standards of fashion? NONE! What straight man would even care? Do gay men care? Now, maybe they do, maybe they don't. I have not really had all that many gay male friends, but I am pretty sure those that I did have at one time, were more into their looks and the upkeep of them than I am with mine. Did they care about the appearance of their butts? Hmmm... However it all appears, men in general, simply do not care about the size, shape, girth, fullness, or appearance of their butts. It's just not our focus. If ladies like 'em, great. But we as men, are not about to make it acceptable for someone somewhere in a New York fashion mogul's office, to tell us the "standards" by which the male ass is to be affirmed or not, just as this is the case with the female counterpart.

Can we have some intelligent, more thought provoking segments in the morning, like how to build bigger and better miniature nuclear weapons out of randomly placed objects in the typical American garage, or how to actually gently and adequately remove the blood stain splatter from the previous night's hit off your favorite silk tie, or my favorite, how to switch communion wine with Jack Daniels without getting caught, so that everyone thinks the nice little lady on the altar guild who has been doing it since 1955, actually did it. Don't these sound more clever? Today Show...you just became lame, without even trying!!! I guess I will watch Fox news...at least they don't have segments on how the American female ass is now acceptable. They tell me what I don't want to know...they shovel it right to me, and give me a good whiff of it. I know what I am being dished. Shame on you Today Show for allowing such a useless and stupid observation be cast into the American woman's conscience. Thanks for giving them something else they can throw at us men as loaded questions. "Honey, does my butt look too thin for these jeans?" You suck Today Show...but even God loves you for being lame ;) More later...