Why I'm Pro Life...

For anyone that pays attention to the news at all over the last 40 years or so, you've certainly noticed that Pro Life vs. Pro Choice (or Pro Abortion) is still to this day one of the most divisive topics in our society and in the Church (The Church as a whole Protestant and Catholic) and possibly the most divisive.

I recently read a an article by self described Progressive Christian writer Rachel Held Evans on this very subject, and, it has finally prompted me to do the same....so here goes.
While I come from the complete opposite background and viewpoints on abortion as Evans does, I did agree with some (but not all) of what she had to say on this issue...But first a bit of my background.
I was raised in a nominal Catholic home in the 1960's and 70's, I say nominal because it was, that's just a fact, my Mom specifically tried (like any good Catholic Mom does) to get my brother and I to Church which many times failed...

My boyhood household was for the most part liberal,  (of course keep in mind liberal meant something quite different in the Kennedy/Johnson era than it does now)
My parents were not Fundamentalists or Conservatives of any sort, voted the straight Democratic Party line and were Catholics typical of that era. Which meant,  Bronco's football on Sunday's for my dad who had worked a long week as an electrician, and my mom typically cooked a good Sunday dinner of pot roast or the venerable meatloaf.

Religion played a part of our household scene, but not a very major part, and reading the Bible was something the priest did, except for Catechism class which...I hated, because it took my good Saturday morning cartoon watching away, and my mom made sure my brother and I went to Catechism classes to my chagrin because I was missing Looney Tunes and Scooby Doo.

 After growing up in the Denver suburbs and partying like a good number of my 70's compatriots did, going off to College at C.S.U. (That's Colorado State) on a partial music scholarship, dropping out of College, working as a printer for a short period, and then getting a professional music gig six nights a week in a local Denver top 40 band (when those gigs were around, which they're not anymore, sadly) something very strange happened...I went on the road in a Christian Rock Band with a High School friend of mine and became a born again Christian after three years in that traveling Christian minstrel extravaganza known as "Steve Taylor and Some Band"

 Needless to say this admittance was a shock to my family at the time (mid eighties) and they didn't know what to think of my new adventures in born again land...But that's a whole other Blog.

While in STASB we did one tour around the Country with another Christian rock band where there were T-Shirts we sold that helped keep the band on the road with the "Choose Life" moniker on them, which was a very popular saying at the time. Little did I know at the time was that saying came from the Bible (oddly enough)

Unlike Rachel Held Evans, I was not privy to the Conservative upbringing knowing what the "Pro Life" movement was really all about. I knew (as a Catholic) that 'Thou shalt not Kill" was one of the Ten Commandments and that abortion was...well, wrong. Catholics (even very nominal ones like myself) knew sort of instinctively I think that abortion was just plain wrong. "Thou Shall not Kill" meant exactly that even if one didn't know the Bible well at all (which I didn't at that time)

When I compare myself to my then young conservative Christian friends at that time who grew up in fairly strict Conservative homes, I suffer some of the same angst and rejection about my spiritual upbringing that they do ( You may turn on the poor me sign now) about their spiritual upbringing, except for the OPPOSITE reason. I had no prodding to read the bible as a kid, I had no one reading bible stories to me at six or seven just before bed, I had no Sunday School or youth groups I was a regular part of, and so, naturally I think I had a lot of spiritual confusion which later came out in a desperate search for spiritual meaning by dabbling in everything from New Age books to Eastern Religious Philosophy in High School and College. I was desperately looking for deeper meaning in my life like a lot of 70's post hippies were beyond what I had been taught (or not taught)

And then I found Jesus...not religion, and that difference was an important one...

The Bible I now know is full of evidence that God is most definitely Pro Life and definitely not "Pro Choice" except today, I understand through God's written word that He has provided for us, that that is so.

How do I know that? someone might say. Well, for instance, the "Choose Life" saying that was so popular 25 years ago in certain circles is from the book of Deuteronomy, "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deuteronomy 30:19.     And, this one from The Book of Isaiah..."Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother's womb he has spoken my name."      And lastly, there's this sentence from the Prophet Jeremiah, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb " Jeremiah 1:5. So, for me there is a lot of evidence from God's word itself that He knows us humans before we are even born!  That being the case, if God knows us before we are born, what makes we humans think we have the "Choice" to destroy that life I ask?

But, beyond all other evidence, what makes this sojourner unequivocally "ProLife" is my own personal life experience...My son, now twenty and a Junior in College at Colorado Christian University with scholarships had a 50/50 chance of coming out of the Hospital which was down the road from our then California home.  There were pretty severe complications my wife was having with the pregnancy at that time and she had toxemia, which can kill the baby, but also kill the mother. It's a very serious condition some women get during pregnancy that caused our son to be born very prematurely in 1993, over seven weeks to be exact, and his birth weight was a very low two pounds two ounces.

 My son, whom I played my sax for before he was even born, we were told, would be deformed, that he would have something called Achondroplasia which is a rare form of Dwarfism. Our doctor at the time said that we should have an amniocentesis to check for genetic abnormalities and said there's a small but real chance that would put the birth at risk, and that, we might want a possible abortion. When that was spoken to my wife and I it shocked and angered me. That, the child we wanted very much would be aborted because of a possible deformity was offensive to me and, to be blunt I let our doctor know that very clearly. Abortion was out of the question, and we would take him deformities or not which I think may have surprised her.

As it turned out, our first child was NOT deformed, did not have dwarfism, and he turned out to be the huge blessing we had hoped for even though the pregnancy and birth was very difficult.

So there you have it...Why this spiritual traveler on life's road is Pro Life, and thanks for listening...

I'm just the sax player...

Where was God at Aurora Century 16?

My son and I at Aurora Century 16 in 2011

I took my kids to around 40 films at the Aurora Century 16...

My boys and I watched Star Wars films, Shrek, Ice Age, and any number of movies just like any other parent in America. That's why I had to come back here 7 months after the terrible night in July when an orange haired psychopath took it upon himself to enter in what should have been an enjoyable time for mostly teens and young people...
 I taught a young band student a few years ago who happened to be in that Theater last July, and, thankfully, was not hurt, at least physically.

And so, like so many in the Denver area I have a personal connection with Aurora Century 16. I have memories with my two boys there, that, are now tainted, not quite the same. I 'm not sure I'm ready to go back in that theater yet. even with all of the beautiful facelift and remodeling. Just not quite ready...

 I cannot imagine the horror of that night, and I hope I never have to, but particularly I pray to God my kids never have to live through a nightmare like that awful night....and I'm very concerned for my two boys who will be here when I'm gone that they may live in a much more violent, aggressive, and dangerous society.

Newly remodeled Cinemark Century Theater

I just read an article on CNN about the increase of atheists in America...apparently, those without faith are increasing in our land of the free and home of the brave. The CNN article had a video by a blogger/writer who is very vocal about his atheism to the point that he was sounding off in a homemade video about the more recent Sandy Hook shootings, railing against an evangelical Christian on another video stating that "We've taken God out of our schools, we cannot mention his name there, or pray to him publicly. How can we expect him to be there if we have dis-invited Him?"
The young atheists response was " How can an all powerful Deity, a God that is everywhere and all powerful not be there if we dis-invite him? What kind of a God is this?"

I actually relate to this young atheists question, to a point... however what this intelligent but misguided young man, like so many, young and old today don't take into consideration is that God gives all of us free will...an all powerful God gives men, women, teens, good and bad, rich and poor, white, black, brown, yellow and red, free will because he doesn't want automatons, He doesn't create robots without free choice...that is an act of a truly loving God, not an act of a controlling angry deity that so many like to think He is.

God, (and I believe an all powerful God) gives us free will because He cares for us. Much like a parent that allows their teenage son or daughter more freedom, more choice, more autonomy to choose what they want to do as they mature instead of telling them what they may or may not do for every situation that comes up, God allows us to freely choose our actions, our deeds, and that means we suffer the consequences, or gain the benefits of those choices.

Many, many have asked, "How can a loving God allow the evil that took place in the Aurora theater that night?, where...was God that night?

And the answer is the same, we have been given free will to do evil...or good.

As I walked around the newly remodeled Century (now Cinemark) theater, I sensed something I've felt before...a feeling of reverence, as if I was walking into a five hundred year old Church in Europe. I sensed a quiet, holy presence as if angels were standing over this theater. The other place I feel this same reverential, holy presence is at Columbine H.S., whenever I drive by there near Clement park.

It's almost as if God places angels over these sites of terrible tragedy and sadness to remind his people that He is with us always. As the Lord Himself said in the scriptures... "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age"

And we can indeed be encouraged by that.


Remember, I'm just the Sax Player...

The Next 40 Days...

In the 1990's I was privileged to witness something very extraordinary up close and personal...It's what some in the Christian Church call a "Revival" that is to say a spiritual awakening of Christian believers moved to draw closer to God and His Son Jesus. I'm not a Theologian, just a Sax Player so I don't know the history of these movements called revivals, I'll leave that to the Church Historians and Theological Professors...

What I do know is that I was a Musician in a Band (actually three Bands) that performed what is known as Worship Music at Stadiums across America for three straight years starting in 1995-1997. I've never experienced anything like it since.

The Christian movement I was playing music for was known as "Promise Keepers" and we performed music in a myriad of Football Stadiums from The Los Angeles Colosseum, to Chicago's Soldier Field, and Texas Stadium as well as my hometown's Mile High Stadium in Denver Colorado. Every one of these events were packed full of men who wanted to draw closer to God and learn more about the God of the Bible.

I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but during this time period we (the Bands) performed for probably a Million people (or more) at these events leading stadiums full of men in what is known as Worship Music, or music that is designed to draw people that believe (and some that may not believe) in Jesus Christ's atoning Blood and sacrifice into a closer Communion with their maker.

As I stated I'm not a theologian, but I'm pretty confident that a spiritual movement that draws at least a million people to repentance (and that's a key operating word here) or, turning men away from their lives of sin and corruption to a new life that is free from these things  can be safely called a Revival in the historical sense.

 I'm so glad you asked why I bring this esoteric stuff up not well known outside of Christianity, because starting today, January 28, 2013, I'm starting 40 days of straight prayer for a Revival in our Country, a non stop (well except for Coffee Breaks, Lunch and hopefully a few Gigs of course) Prayer session for a spiritual awakening in this Land of the Free and Home of the Brave of ours.

Someone may ask "Why are you doing that? our nation is doing just fine" And to that I would say, no, we are not doing just fine. Our Country is in Massive debt for one, almost 17 Trillion and counting, and any economist will tell you that even the greatest most powerful Nation the Earth has ever seen is not excluded from the laws of finance and debt. At some point, our economic fault line will rupture much like the San Andreas Fault in California will someday rupture.

We are also as a Nation becoming more and more morally bankrupt...think about it for a minute. We now condone and finance the morally corrupt practice of abortion on demand. You may call it "Choice" or "Reproductive Freedom" but what it boils down to is the destruction and annihilation of tiny human beings, even after being partially born. The old Testament (if you read the Bible) talks about a generation of people who were so decadent and corrupt that they had actually began sacrificing their OWN children to false gods. These people burned their OWN son's and daughters in sacrificial fires burning them alive. Disgusting right? Did you know that a saline abortion is doing exactly that?, burning a tiny living human being in it's mother's womb (which should be the SAFEST place a tiny human being could be) with salt burning the baby alive?
I know a little about this issue because my own son was born 20 years ago at 2 pounds 2 ounces, and was supposed to be deformed (he is not). The main doctor told us we had the option of abortion to which I replied that is unthinkable and was angered that a professional that took the hippocratic oath to save lives, was telling us we had the "option" to kill our own child. My son now attends Colorado Christian University on three scholarships...

I took my two boys to the Aurora Century 16 Theaters probably 30-40 times to see movies as they were growing up. It was a great place and less expensive than some other theaters in the area to take my kids to see current films. And then the unthinkable happened...A psychotic College student dressed in Black with orange hair walked into that theater I took my kids to and systematically murdered and wounded a large group of movie goers. A former band student of mine was at that Theater that night and was thankfully not hurt.

14 years ago two psychotic deranged High school students walked into Columbine High School and murdered at point blank range 13 of their classmates not 20 minutes from where I worked as a musician at a large Church in Littleton, Colorado.

How can anyone say with a straight face we are doing fine as a Nation? If you believe that, either you are incredibly deluded ignoring what's right in front of your face or you're not a truthful person...

And so that's why I'm starting (already started actually) 40 days of  prayer for Revival, for a spiritual awakening that is paramount if we are to turn things around in this Country. You're welcome to join me if you're so moved to. Thanks.

Remember, I'm just the Sax Player...

True Earthlings Vs. Decepticons

 In recent years, some of us earthlings have been engaging and battling the most dangerous Alien of all...the Decepticon. The Decepticon appears, acts, and even talks like a real, true Earthling.

The Decepticon Alien infiltrates and invades the habitat, environment, workplace, and even the Temple of the true earthling with the desire of taking over and ruling the environment of the true earthling. He ( or She) may even think he is a true earthling himself but most Decepticons know deep within their alien inner beings they are not a true earthling.

 Decepticons are identified by extreme patience on the part of true earthlings and by not only listening to what the Decepticon says, but watching very closely their deeds and personal actions which are almost always the opposite of each other. The reason this is so is because the inner being or "heart" of the Decpticon has not been changed although they will appear exactly as all other true earthlings. Another way the earthling can see the Decepticon is they are also not very fond of "Life" as the Master Visionary sees life which is "All Human and Alien life is sacred, even those not deemed fit or worthy" and the Decepticon views True earthling Freedom as an unnecessary evil in the way of A "Good, Equal, and orderly Society"

 The Decepticon is usually a very friendly, well mannered, well dressed, likable, usually highly educated and accomplished being who talks about "peace" and an orderly society often, but not the kind of peace that true earthlings possess in their inner beings, but the peace Decepticons speak of is a community peace or even a National or "World" Peace.

 Unfortunately the kind of peace the Decepticon highly desires is always at the expense of those the Decepticon deems less worthy or "unfit" and whole galaxies of true earthlings have been wiped out or made slaves and servants of the Decepticons.We know this from the history annals of the Galaxies although the Decepticons have tried to suppress these stories.

Many Decepticons have been very successful in recent galactic time frames of infiltrating and even ousting true earthlings from whole habitats and Temples of earthlings because they have become so weakened from complacency, apathy, and the desire for otherworldly comforts which dulls the earthlings radar and senses capable of detecting Decepticons.

The true earthling recognizes and detects the Decepticons because they are constantly in touch with, and know very well the Master Visionary, the Master Visionary who made all of the earthlings, the Earth itself, the Alien Planets and all alien and earth like life forms in the Galaxies.

The earthlings not capable of detecting the Decepticons fall prey to their Field or "Aura" of deception, are easily led, are not close enough to the Master Visionary and thus cannot tell the difference between a true earthling and a Decepticon, to the Weak earthling's unfortunate final deception.

Saturday Forecast: PM Rain, Cooler Sunday « CBS Denver

My Photo was used in this CBS 4 Denver Broadcast...Saturday Forecast: PM Rain, Cooler Sunday « CBS Denver

WWJT-What would Jesus Tweet?

What would Jesus Tweet?

Would Jesus Tweet the Sermon on the Mount? The Beatitudes?
@Judas.."What you are about to do, do it quickly" ? Or more like...
@Disciples.."Let the little Children come and do not hinder them, for such is the kingdom of God" ?

 If Our Lord were on the earth today walking around with his iphone, (or would He have a much more modest device like a used Blackberry or Droid?) would He even Tweet? And if He did what would those Tweets look like?

@President Obama.. That stuff about making my schools and hospitals that are called by my name purchase insurance that pays for the death of my precious little ones...We have to talk."

Or would it look more like this? @RushLimbaugh..."I understand what you're doing, and I know why you're doing it, but you have left your first love. Repent therefore and return."

Or maybe Christ would stick purely with the Word of God? His word.
@America..."You cannot serve two masters, either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

I wonder If Jesus would try to be diplomatic and conciliatory...sort of like a lot of Christians today want all of us to be.
@ELCA..."Go ahead and ordain Gay Pastors, I never said one way or the other so it's totally fine with me, Peace and Love."

Or, would He be more straightforward and direct like @ModernPharisees..."Woe to you theological professors at major Universities, you hypocrites! you clean the outside of the cup and dish but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence."

Perhaps @Jesus on Twitter would be a lot softer and just stick to the easy, pleasing to hear tweets like @Religious leaders..."It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. But go and learn what this means, I desire mercy not sacrifice, for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Maybe if Jesus were here today he would be a technophobe, rejecting corporate technology? but I kinda doubt that seeing as He spoke to crowds of thousands 2,000 years ago and obviously had no problem with the social media of the day. (Speaking really, really loud)

I wonder if Jesus would Tweet about his miracles?  "I fed 5,000 people today with just five loaves of bread and a few fish...they didn't think I could do it! LOL"

Or, @Mary "I healed a Leper today..the Pharisees were watching  "

I'm not a theologian, but I think Jesus wouldn't leave out anything or try to be too diplomatic...seeing as how He's God and all and wants what's best for us...

Don't shoot me, I'm just the Sax Player..

THE NEW IMPROVED PROGRESSIVE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

THE NEW IMPROVED PROGRESSIVE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE...

I pledge my Taxes, to the Government,
Of the Divided States of Amerikka,
And to the Republikk, For which it Stands not,
5 Nations, Easily Divisible,
With Tyranny but Equality for some.

 Don't shoot me I'm just the Sax Player... Blog Posted By Dave Thrush April 23, 2012