I was in downtown Denver a few weeks ago waiting to perform on a music job and as I so often do I stopped on he 16th Street Mall to get a coffee attempting to wind down after a long drive and relax a bit before running off to perform.
I sat down with my coffee outside the coffee shop on their patio beginning to enjoy
a moment of quiet when a homeless man came up to me and said "Now you look like a gentleman, a man of decency and kindness."
At this point I already knew he wanted something because I've been around the homeless enough to recognize their spiels or "come on's"
So he and I chatted for a few minutes as he buttered me up complimenting me and saying "You must be a good man" to which I said, No not really, I do good when I can where I can, but no." Trying to perhaps make him move down the street to another "Target" so I could relax before working.
He kept on though, and then he popped the question I knew was coming "I could use a meal." To which I replied "Yes I can do that."
At first I said "Here's a Starbucks and I can get you a sandwich or something"
But as I was speaking I remembered I had a lunch in my car with sandwiches, a drink, Cookies, and a Yogurt and candy bar and I was a bit low on cash...
So I told him "actually I just remembered I have a lunch in my car and I can give you that, it's got quite a bit of food in it"
The street person got angry and said "You're jive, your dishonest, you said you would buy me a meal."
And I said kindly "Yeah, I know but I'm running a bit low on cash, and I already have a large sack lunch in my car and you can have that." And I also told him that just two months ago I was playing music on the street for extra cash, and so I knew where he was coming from.
"NO" he said, at this point getting angry and started calling me names, saying I'm a liar, dishonest, etc...
So, I started packing up my computer and camera and began trying to move away from this guy as I could see the situation was getting tense.
He continued on "Your a Jive Mother$#%#" and at this point I was also getting angry myself because I'm offering this street beggar a free sack lunch and he doesn't want it, but instead angrily wants me to buy him food and is calling me foul names.
I told him "So I guess beggars can be choosers eh?" (granted probably not the smartest thing I've said to a street person, but I was not happy at this point myself) suddenly he exploded and screamed at me "I DON'T USE MY OWN MONEY, I USE OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY."
I moved away and around this violent angry homeless man as gingerly as possible just trying to get to my car while he continued screaming at me, "YOUR JIVE, I USE OTHER PEOPLES MONEY", and began threatening me with violence...
After getting away from this demented man (and also praying for him) and driving away to my music job, I began thinking about what he said, "I don't use my money, I use OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY" and it hit me that there are literally millions of people in this country right now who think a lot like this street beggar.
From the bottom of our society to the very top of the food chain, there are those in our society who scam others to get what they want and use OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY to accomplish this.
I pondered what the angry street beggar said for a long time, and it struck me...I realized that there are many govt. officials, politicians, street con artists, those pretending to do charity work who use very little of the money meant to help the poor but instead are enriching themselves through craftily moving the substantial monies using smart but questionable financial maneuverings all the while using OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY to do it.
We see this type of thinking through a lot of our society today, small business owners facing increasingly more taxes and heavy regulations imposed by politicians who haven't worked a real job in decades, those who have been on food stamps for 20-25 years, or on welfare for decades, (and don't get me wrong, I believe strongly that people who have come on hard times should get a helping hand, because I've been in that situation myself and I try to do so myself for the less fortunate), but that sort of con artist mentality seems to be common place from the street man I met to the highest government officials. What can I get for free?, how can I use someone else's money to benefit myself?, if I can get someone else to pay my meal ticket why should I pay for it myself?
Over the last twenty five years or so I've usually been quick to give a homeless person a buck or two, or hand them a sandwich I had in the car, or even buy them a meal if I had the money to do so, but, I have to say I learned something when the violent angry street man screamed at me...My naivete was shattered so to speak, and unfortunately a bit of my innocence as well, and I've realized that there are some truly devious people in this world, who think nothing of using and conning hard working people, decent people, trusting people out of their hard earned wages. Con artists from street people to politicians at the highest echelons of Govt. who think nothing of using OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY to reach their end goals and they do so with no conscience whatsoever...Sad but true.
I'm just the Sax Player...:)
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Non Believing mind vs. the Believing mind
I've pondered this for a long time, since becoming a Christian in 1986...
The differences between the believing mind and the non believing mind.
Throughout the Bible, which the believer in God trusts as God's revealed truth to the people He created, we see that time and time again the believer relies on the fact that God is omniscient and all knowing, and that God is vastly superior in not only knowledge, but is also wiser than the mind of any human being. And how the non believing mind discounts God's wisdom, thinking himself superior to what in his mind is foolishness, and yet is shown to be thwarted and frustrated by God's own hand...
The non believer already discounts God's wisdom as foolishness, and so we see written verses like these.
"Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish." Isaiah 29:14
And again in the New Testament...
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 1 Corinthians 1:19
Numerous examples display very clearly how the wisdom of men who think themselves wise in their own eyes are frustrated by God Himself as the example of Kind Saul hunting down the innocent and righteous David in the desert shows.
"He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, "I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish. Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe." 1st Samuel 24:2
David and his men were being hunted down like Dogs by the jealous and wicked King Saul, yet God himself handed the King right into David and his men's hands, as it states in that verse above.
This happened twice where David had yet another opportunity to kill Saul, who had become wicked and jealous of David, as it says here...
"So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
I'm just the Sax Player...
The differences between the believing mind and the non believing mind.
Throughout the Bible, which the believer in God trusts as God's revealed truth to the people He created, we see that time and time again the believer relies on the fact that God is omniscient and all knowing, and that God is vastly superior in not only knowledge, but is also wiser than the mind of any human being. And how the non believing mind discounts God's wisdom, thinking himself superior to what in his mind is foolishness, and yet is shown to be thwarted and frustrated by God's own hand...
The non believer already discounts God's wisdom as foolishness, and so we see written verses like these.
"Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish." Isaiah 29:14
And again in the New Testament...
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 1 Corinthians 1:19
Numerous examples display very clearly how the wisdom of men who think themselves wise in their own eyes are frustrated by God Himself as the example of Kind Saul hunting down the innocent and righteous David in the desert shows.
"He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, "I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish. Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe." 1st Samuel 24:2
David and his men were being hunted down like Dogs by the jealous and wicked King Saul, yet God himself handed the King right into David and his men's hands, as it states in that verse above.
This happened twice where David had yet another opportunity to kill Saul, who had become wicked and jealous of David, as it says here...
"So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”
But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. 1 Samuel 26:7-8
According to these scriptures King Saul prayed to the same God that David did, the God of Israel, the God of the Bible, Our God that we believers now believe and follow today through His Son Jesus Christ...and yet the text reveals clearly that God was listening to David's prayers, while ignoring King Saul's prayers.Why is that? We might ask, why did God listen to David's prayers, but not Saul's? They were praying to the same God, so, what's the problem?
King Saul although appointed by God himself to be king of Israel had become arrogant, self serving and jealous of David's accomplishments. The people loved David, He destroyed Goliath, a nine foot giant of a man with just a slingshot and five stones as a teenager, and in so doing saved the entire nation of Israel.
Saul, although recognizing David's accomplishments which were great, became so enraged with jealousy because the people of Israel loved David and followed him, seeing that he walked with God and was not afraid to show it or talk about it, instead of thanking and recognizing that David had indeed saved King Saul's own Kingdom, he was jealous and vindictive, to the point of wanting to hunt down and kill David.
Again the bible says this...
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble…1 Cor, 1:25
And again
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-30
Over the years I've witnessed very intelligent highly educated people that refuse to believe in God or His Son Jesus Christ, that while having an appearance of wisdom, seem to lack what a lot of us call common sense, or can't seem to see the bigger picture. There's usually a huge blind spot these types have. To these folks, a believer like me or many millions of other Christians (who possibly have more College education than the non believer, or has accomplished a lot more in their careers) we are simple minded, ignorant, lacking in wisdom, not knowledgeable, and naive...And yet experience tells me that in time, the non believer begins to show a lack of real intelligence or common sense and displays a large amount of self centered arrogance, lacking in humility, while believing themselves very important, having not accomplished that much over the years. I've also witnessed and worked personally with on tours like Promise Keepers in the 90's for three straight years, and a few Christian Missionary type tours (for example in the Philippines or other poor areas with Orphans) with believers of a very high stature In the music Industry which I've been a member of for the last 40 years, who were very humble people. Some of these names are Abraham Laboriel, John Ferraro (Larry Carlton's drummer and others), Cactus Moser (Wynona Judd's Drummer and Husband), Steve Taylor (Widely known Christian Rocker and Film Maker), Nathan East, Bob Wilson (Seawind) to name a few. these Christian musicians and artists I know and have worked with personally that have accomplished things on a national, and international level, not just local or regional level, and are WORLD renown for their musical playing, producing, Film making, or songwriting, are pretty humble people...I'll end with this verse, which I've found to be very truthful and sound wisdom...
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise."
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Views on race in America (from a mixed breed Heinz 57 American)
I need to start off this blog with a disclcaimer, I don't see race, or ethnicity...why?
Because my Dad is white, His ancestors came from England and Scotland, and my Mom is half Chinese (her grandfather came from China), and is also half Hispanic, (her mom's maiden name was Martinez)
And so...I'm a mixed breed Heinz 57 American, which is true of a lot of Americans btw.
I've also met quite a few racists in my 56 years on this rock called earth,
When I was touring around the Country hitting almost all 48 lower states in a Christian rock band,
I met white racists in the south...but, I also met Hispanic racists once at a Christian conference (Spanish Speaking) at the Los Angeles Convention center. The extreme racist the trumpet player and I ran into was a Pastor (Imagine that) who angrily confronted us horn players, and said what are you doing here? You don't belong here!!.
Now, I know that not all Hispanic Pastors are racist (and my guess is that most of them are not), and I know not all people from the southern U.S. are white supremacists, that would be a generalization, that would be ludicrous to think that...
I remember the early 1970's as a teen, where the nation had just come through some extremely tense
times, the turbulent 60's had just ended, and the euphoric and materialistic 80's had not hit yet.
I was a Sax playing kid performing in H.S. and college Jazz ensembles, where we were playing
music from Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, and Quincy Jones.
Musicians I was around at that time were much less likely to be racists or have prejudicial
tendencies...why?, because we learned the history of Jazz, Funk, Rhythm and Blues as kids
(at least I did)
We already knew that much of the music we were playing in Jazz ensemble was written by American Blacks, or by composers who were likely inspired by Black Musicians like Louis Armstrong, or Herbie Hancock, or Count Basie, or any number of Black American composers.
I knew from a pictorial History of Jazz huge book we had in my parents house, and that I cut out pictures from for a school report in fifth or sixth grade, that most American music derived from the Black Spirituals, the gospel music of slaves, and those who were servants in mostly white farms and estates, and then was translated later to Bessie Smith, John Handy, Louis Armstrong, and many others, who then translated that to Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, and Tommy Dorsey in the 1940's
Who then translated that to Little Richard, Fats Domino, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis in the 1950's, who then translated that to Elvis Presley, Dave Brubeck, James Brown, Roland Kirk, The Beatles and Rolling Stones, and Aretha Franklin in the 1960's, who then translated that music to Rick James, Earth Wind and Fire, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Lorber Fusion, and a teenage Sax player growing up in the suburbs of Denver during the 1970's yours truly...
And on and on to today skipping thousands (please forgive me) until we come to Snoop Dog, Jay Z, Lecrae, Dirty Loops, Korn, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Koz, and Gerald Albright...
I made a record for a large Gospel label in in Nashville back in 1995, and when I was recording that record, one of the tunes chosen was Andrae Crouch's "Jesus is the Answer"
The Executive Producer of that record walked into the studio and said "Dave, don't put this Andrae Crouch song on the record."
To which I said, "No, It stays, Jesus is the answer stays." and it did...
I had reasons for insisting that Andrae Crouch tune stay on my record and it had to do with race...which I knew in the 1990's was still an issue even in the church, where Sunday Morning to this day is still the most segregated hour of the week...
My point in all of this is that Musicians of whatever color, whether it's the black musicians touring with Duke Ellington and Count Basie in the 1940's who had to stay in the "Colored" parts of hotels because of segregation, to today's musicians and artists like Kirk Franklin or Trombone Shorty, or Maroon 5, or little old me that's just the Sax Player have been working in close quarters with every race, color, creed, ethnic origin, or belief system for decades...
We have to...in order to make a living as a musician, you have to perform with, and get along with every race imaginable...
But having said all of that, I've held my conservative Christian beliefs and mores, and convictions through decades of performing with a LOT of people that don't see things the way I do, from my conservative Christian, and Christian rock band Compatriots in the 1980's, to touring with a multi racial Christmas tour (New Young Messiah) playing with and backing up BeBe and CeCe Winans, Israel Houghton, and Ron Kenoly, to show bands where I am currently the ONLY white (looking) person in the band...
My view on race is this...we're all created in God's image as the Bible says, the extremely tense times we seem to have gone back to, and in my opinion created purposefully to divide, reminiscent of 1970 (to me) is a sign that those of us who hold to the teachings of Jesus, have a lot more work to do...
I'm just the Sax Player...
Because my Dad is white, His ancestors came from England and Scotland, and my Mom is half Chinese (her grandfather came from China), and is also half Hispanic, (her mom's maiden name was Martinez)
And so...I'm a mixed breed Heinz 57 American, which is true of a lot of Americans btw.
I've also met quite a few racists in my 56 years on this rock called earth,
When I was touring around the Country hitting almost all 48 lower states in a Christian rock band,
I met white racists in the south...but, I also met Hispanic racists once at a Christian conference (Spanish Speaking) at the Los Angeles Convention center. The extreme racist the trumpet player and I ran into was a Pastor (Imagine that) who angrily confronted us horn players, and said what are you doing here? You don't belong here!!.
Now, I know that not all Hispanic Pastors are racist (and my guess is that most of them are not), and I know not all people from the southern U.S. are white supremacists, that would be a generalization, that would be ludicrous to think that...
I remember the early 1970's as a teen, where the nation had just come through some extremely tense
times, the turbulent 60's had just ended, and the euphoric and materialistic 80's had not hit yet.
I was a Sax playing kid performing in H.S. and college Jazz ensembles, where we were playing
music from Buddy Rich, Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, and Quincy Jones.
Musicians I was around at that time were much less likely to be racists or have prejudicial
tendencies...why?, because we learned the history of Jazz, Funk, Rhythm and Blues as kids
(at least I did)
We already knew that much of the music we were playing in Jazz ensemble was written by American Blacks, or by composers who were likely inspired by Black Musicians like Louis Armstrong, or Herbie Hancock, or Count Basie, or any number of Black American composers.
I knew from a pictorial History of Jazz huge book we had in my parents house, and that I cut out pictures from for a school report in fifth or sixth grade, that most American music derived from the Black Spirituals, the gospel music of slaves, and those who were servants in mostly white farms and estates, and then was translated later to Bessie Smith, John Handy, Louis Armstrong, and many others, who then translated that to Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, and Tommy Dorsey in the 1940's
Who then translated that to Little Richard, Fats Domino, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis in the 1950's, who then translated that to Elvis Presley, Dave Brubeck, James Brown, Roland Kirk, The Beatles and Rolling Stones, and Aretha Franklin in the 1960's, who then translated that music to Rick James, Earth Wind and Fire, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Lorber Fusion, and a teenage Sax player growing up in the suburbs of Denver during the 1970's yours truly...
And on and on to today skipping thousands (please forgive me) until we come to Snoop Dog, Jay Z, Lecrae, Dirty Loops, Korn, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Koz, and Gerald Albright...
I made a record for a large Gospel label in in Nashville back in 1995, and when I was recording that record, one of the tunes chosen was Andrae Crouch's "Jesus is the Answer"
The Executive Producer of that record walked into the studio and said "Dave, don't put this Andrae Crouch song on the record."
To which I said, "No, It stays, Jesus is the answer stays." and it did...
I had reasons for insisting that Andrae Crouch tune stay on my record and it had to do with race...which I knew in the 1990's was still an issue even in the church, where Sunday Morning to this day is still the most segregated hour of the week...
My point in all of this is that Musicians of whatever color, whether it's the black musicians touring with Duke Ellington and Count Basie in the 1940's who had to stay in the "Colored" parts of hotels because of segregation, to today's musicians and artists like Kirk Franklin or Trombone Shorty, or Maroon 5, or little old me that's just the Sax Player have been working in close quarters with every race, color, creed, ethnic origin, or belief system for decades...
We have to...in order to make a living as a musician, you have to perform with, and get along with every race imaginable...
But having said all of that, I've held my conservative Christian beliefs and mores, and convictions through decades of performing with a LOT of people that don't see things the way I do, from my conservative Christian, and Christian rock band Compatriots in the 1980's, to touring with a multi racial Christmas tour (New Young Messiah) playing with and backing up BeBe and CeCe Winans, Israel Houghton, and Ron Kenoly, to show bands where I am currently the ONLY white (looking) person in the band...
My view on race is this...we're all created in God's image as the Bible says, the extremely tense times we seem to have gone back to, and in my opinion created purposefully to divide, reminiscent of 1970 (to me) is a sign that those of us who hold to the teachings of Jesus, have a lot more work to do...
I'm just the Sax Player...
Thursday, February 19, 2015
The Chocolate Cross
I was meandering around the grocery store today as I often do...
I like looking at stuff in grocery stores, mainly because when I was a kid in the 60's-70's grocery stores were pretty much just that, a store that sold groceries.
Now (of course) grocery stores resemble small shopping malls, they sell groceries, auto parts, computer memory, DVD'S, toys of all kinds including my favorite Hot Wheels, and recently I ventured through a newish grocery store that was selling mens and womens and kids clothing besides, well..groceries.
Compared to my childhood remembrance of grocery stores, today they're like magical kingdoms with anything and everything our little hearts desire.
This afternoon wandering around the store between my day gig shifts I came across the aisle where the Holiday food and merchandise is shelved, and lo and behold it was two massive aisles of Easter candy and stuffed toys.
Just a few days ago those aisles contained every kind of Valentines candy, cards, and hoopla imaginable, it's amazing how fast modern stores changeout their holiday merch.
While looking at the incredible display of Easter chocolates, Easter jelly beans, Easter baskets, Easter stuffed bunnies, Easter egg coloring kits, the thought struck me... "I don't see one item in this huge display that brings to mind the real reason for Easter, the reason we HAVE Easter, and that is the death and ressurection of our Lord and Savior Jesus."
Don't get me wrong I still love candy, particularly jelly beans...
But, with sharp focus I went up one side of the impressive display and down the other side looking for even one item that reminded me of why there is this gigantic candy display, and that is something that brought to mind Christ's amazing sacrifice for you, and for me. His gory, sad, and horrific, but glorious sacrifice on a cross, nailed there for your sins, and my sins.
I was about to give up and hurumph away disgusted with the complete merchandising of Easter, when I spied them, a humble but redeeming little chocolate cross, and next to it a chocolate fish with the word "Jesus" imprinted on it.
My faith was restored (that's a joke, a bad one but still), and so I took my little point and shoot out that I carry everywhere and quickly photographed the chocolate cross and the chocolate fish with "Jesus" on it.
My thoughts begin to form thinking, I wonder if I'm more like the massive display of Peter Cottontail chocolate bunnies, marshmallow blue and yellow chicks, plastic eggs, fake grass, jelly beans...
Or... way up on the highest shelf almost out of reach and not too easy to find, am I more like the little chocolate cross and chocolate fish with "Jesus" stamped on it, standing out, clearly different from the thousands of other items... that reminded me why there is all that candy and goodies in the first place...
Something to ponder during this Lenten season.
I'm just the Sax Player...
I like looking at stuff in grocery stores, mainly because when I was a kid in the 60's-70's grocery stores were pretty much just that, a store that sold groceries.
Now (of course) grocery stores resemble small shopping malls, they sell groceries, auto parts, computer memory, DVD'S, toys of all kinds including my favorite Hot Wheels, and recently I ventured through a newish grocery store that was selling mens and womens and kids clothing besides, well..groceries.
Compared to my childhood remembrance of grocery stores, today they're like magical kingdoms with anything and everything our little hearts desire.
This afternoon wandering around the store between my day gig shifts I came across the aisle where the Holiday food and merchandise is shelved, and lo and behold it was two massive aisles of Easter candy and stuffed toys.
Just a few days ago those aisles contained every kind of Valentines candy, cards, and hoopla imaginable, it's amazing how fast modern stores changeout their holiday merch.
While looking at the incredible display of Easter chocolates, Easter jelly beans, Easter baskets, Easter stuffed bunnies, Easter egg coloring kits, the thought struck me... "I don't see one item in this huge display that brings to mind the real reason for Easter, the reason we HAVE Easter, and that is the death and ressurection of our Lord and Savior Jesus."
Don't get me wrong I still love candy, particularly jelly beans...
But, with sharp focus I went up one side of the impressive display and down the other side looking for even one item that reminded me of why there is this gigantic candy display, and that is something that brought to mind Christ's amazing sacrifice for you, and for me. His gory, sad, and horrific, but glorious sacrifice on a cross, nailed there for your sins, and my sins.
I was about to give up and hurumph away disgusted with the complete merchandising of Easter, when I spied them, a humble but redeeming little chocolate cross, and next to it a chocolate fish with the word "Jesus" imprinted on it.
My faith was restored (that's a joke, a bad one but still), and so I took my little point and shoot out that I carry everywhere and quickly photographed the chocolate cross and the chocolate fish with "Jesus" on it.
My thoughts begin to form thinking, I wonder if I'm more like the massive display of Peter Cottontail chocolate bunnies, marshmallow blue and yellow chicks, plastic eggs, fake grass, jelly beans...
Or... way up on the highest shelf almost out of reach and not too easy to find, am I more like the little chocolate cross and chocolate fish with "Jesus" stamped on it, standing out, clearly different from the thousands of other items... that reminded me why there is all that candy and goodies in the first place...
Something to ponder during this Lenten season.
I'm just the Sax Player...
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Left Behind Movie Review-Dave Thrush
I saw the movie (Left Behind) this afternoon, and liked it, the people in the theater liked it, It held my attention, no, it's no Lord Of the Rings but it's not supposed to be... I went specifically because so many people (including a lot of Christians) have given this film bad reviews... ( whatever happened to think different? for all my Apple product loving friends) from what I can tell, Christian movies are now NOAH with the Bible so twisted up that it's unrecognizable and Kaballa religion taking the place of the Old Testament. I find it interesting that a ton of Christians that don't like this film but DO like movies like NOAH that perverted the bible story into a grotesque form barely recognizable, or Harry Potter for instance which may have some moral value but clearly no Christian values in fact those films pushed magic, clearly forbidden in scripture. I've seen a lot of people bashing this film but who support films that are clearly not in the least Christian at all...there's clearly an agenda that many who want this film to fail I think aren't admitting, why, is a question they have to ask themselves...I've read reviews of this film (including Christianity today) that have said things about the film makers of left behind and Nicholas Cage saying they're just doing it for the money...except Nic Cages brother is a PASTOR who prodded him into doing this film. My question for those people who accuse Nic Cage or the producers of this film what do you think the producers of NOAH and Russell Crowe were after? were they producing and acting for free? Are the producers of Harry Potter who netted Billions from those films after altruism? I have no idea if the Rapture will happen, or if so, when because as the producers of this film stated at the end "No man knows the day or the hour". But I do know from scripture itself that in the twinkling of an eye we will all be changed 1 Cor. 15:51-52, and "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man be". Matt. 24:27
Sunday, April 6, 2014
READ THE BIBLE, BUT DON'T EAT MEAT AND STOP PICKING THAT FLOWER YOU BAD PERSON,
Ok, I promised my review of "Noah" so, for those interested here goes, As I type this my 16 year old is going right now to see "Noah" with his church youth group, and I gave him the same caveats that I'm about to write here.
First off I sat down at the late show and first prayed quietly this prayer, "Lord, give me sharp discernment, and good wisdom concerning this film, and show me the heart of the film", Aronofsky is an amazing film maker, very talented and good at his craft, Noah is a visually stunning film,
however (here it comes) I've learned a teeny tiny bit about film making over the years from reading excerpts and stories about Lucas, Spielberg, Cameron, etc...and I know a filmmaker personally (Steve Taylor) so, in my limited knowledge of the craft, I know enough that directors and screewriters use a lot of devices in screen writing to suck people into the story, and keep them interested, like, there has to be a good guy (hero) and a protagonist (bad guy), there's a story 'arc" (sorry, couldn't resist) there has to be the element of friction, or tension and suspense, otherwise you lose the moviegoers interest, there has to be many times a heroine (or hero) as a love interest, and there has to be suspense leading up to a climax and good ending, knowing these devices that film makers use, Aronofsky is very, very good at using these tools,and is a visual master of the craft.
But, I take issue with a couple things and they are, Aronofsky is first of all and atheist ( I researched him online), and he's also a Vegan, a Vegetarian, I don't have a problem with his Vegetarianism however, knowing this about him, his use of elements in the film portraying the very, very, bad guy, Tubal Cain (and guys) as meat eaters, and Noah, being the very good guy who says we harm no animal (even to the point of telling his son not to pick a flower) and use only what we need, is very Vegan and PC in some Hollywood crowds, but it's not at all biblical, Aronofsky's Pantheistic "save the planet" agenda I found preachy and over the top. In sharp contrast in the Bible we know that Jesus instructed his disciples when traveling,
"Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. "Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you;"Luke 10:7
And again, the Apostle Paul says here that any type of food isperfectly ok to eat as long as it's received with gratitude and thanksgiving to the Lord...
"men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer." 1 Tim. 4:4
So, Aronofsky's skillful manipulations of images to convey his personal anti meat eating agenda is erroneous and non biblical from a Judeo Christian standpoint, a second issue I have with the film's story is that Noah towards the end of the film decides that God is telling him to kill his own grandchildren.
The Biblical account clearly says that Noah had no intention of murdering his own grandchildren and, his son's were already married when on the Ark, not unmarried and wanting to bring their girlfriends on the boat, clearly, Director Aronofsky has no problem at all with not only taking license to change details of the story millions of people hold as sacred text, he totally obliterates what the bible says concerning Noah's family. I will say that Aronofsky's story does show Noah repenting and changing his heart as he's about to murder his grand children, and this is an emotionally very moving scene.
Again...these are devices that film makers use to entice people into the plot and keep them there, using highly crafted images and expert story telling to do so.
I've heard very well meaning Christians tell me that "It's just a movie, C'mon, what's the big deal?"
Well, I have to disagree, knowing how film makers craft these movies, but also being a dad myself, and seeing first hand how films have influenced my own children, and knowing that parents who loosely control or allow their kids to watch whatever they want with no restrictions, Movies can be a much greater influence than even their parents are, as kids today spend enormous time in front of a screen either big or small I know this to be true in my own experience as a father.
In conclusion, my thoughts are, while the film is visually stunning and the screen writing is very good, and my emotions were moved (particularly by the great acting job of Russel Crowe in the ending scenes) parents should be aware that Aronofsky had no intention of sticking to the actual bible story (and to his credit states that himself) and plays fast and loose with what we Christians consider a sacred bible story, and as many Hollywood directors have done for decades he pushes his own anti meat eating agenda and environmentalism way too much for my taste. (Sorry had to throw that in there :)
Ok, I promised my review of "Noah" so, for those interested here goes, As I type this my 16 year old is going right now to see "Noah" with his church youth group, and I gave him the same caveats that I'm about to write here.
First off I sat down at the late show and first prayed quietly this prayer, "Lord, give me sharp discernment, and good wisdom concerning this film, and show me the heart of the film", Aronofsky is an amazing film maker, very talented and good at his craft, Noah is a visually stunning film,
however (here it comes) I've learned a teeny tiny bit about film making over the years from reading excerpts and stories about Lucas, Spielberg, Cameron, etc...and I know a filmmaker personally (Steve Taylor) so, in my limited knowledge of the craft, I know enough that directors and screewriters use a lot of devices in screen writing to suck people into the story, and keep them interested, like, there has to be a good guy (hero) and a protagonist (bad guy), there's a story 'arc" (sorry, couldn't resist) there has to be the element of friction, or tension and suspense, otherwise you lose the moviegoers interest, there has to be many times a heroine (or hero) as a love interest, and there has to be suspense leading up to a climax and good ending, knowing these devices that film makers use, Aronofsky is very, very good at using these tools,and is a visual master of the craft.
But, I take issue with a couple things and they are, Aronofsky is first of all and atheist ( I researched him online), and he's also a Vegan, a Vegetarian, I don't have a problem with his Vegetarianism however, knowing this about him, his use of elements in the film portraying the very, very, bad guy, Tubal Cain (and guys) as meat eaters, and Noah, being the very good guy who says we harm no animal (even to the point of telling his son not to pick a flower) and use only what we need, is very Vegan and PC in some Hollywood crowds, but it's not at all biblical, Aronofsky's Pantheistic "save the planet" agenda I found preachy and over the top. In sharp contrast in the Bible we know that Jesus instructed his disciples when traveling,
"Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. "Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you;"Luke 10:7
And again, the Apostle Paul says here that any type of food isperfectly ok to eat as long as it's received with gratitude and thanksgiving to the Lord...
"men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer." 1 Tim. 4:4
So, Aronofsky's skillful manipulations of images to convey his personal anti meat eating agenda is erroneous and non biblical from a Judeo Christian standpoint, a second issue I have with the film's story is that Noah towards the end of the film decides that God is telling him to kill his own grandchildren.
The Biblical account clearly says that Noah had no intention of murdering his own grandchildren and, his son's were already married when on the Ark, not unmarried and wanting to bring their girlfriends on the boat, clearly, Director Aronofsky has no problem at all with not only taking license to change details of the story millions of people hold as sacred text, he totally obliterates what the bible says concerning Noah's family. I will say that Aronofsky's story does show Noah repenting and changing his heart as he's about to murder his grand children, and this is an emotionally very moving scene.
Again...these are devices that film makers use to entice people into the plot and keep them there, using highly crafted images and expert story telling to do so.
I've heard very well meaning Christians tell me that "It's just a movie, C'mon, what's the big deal?"
Well, I have to disagree, knowing how film makers craft these movies, but also being a dad myself, and seeing first hand how films have influenced my own children, and knowing that parents who loosely control or allow their kids to watch whatever they want with no restrictions, Movies can be a much greater influence than even their parents are, as kids today spend enormous time in front of a screen either big or small I know this to be true in my own experience as a father.
In conclusion, my thoughts are, while the film is visually stunning and the screen writing is very good, and my emotions were moved (particularly by the great acting job of Russel Crowe in the ending scenes) parents should be aware that Aronofsky had no intention of sticking to the actual bible story (and to his credit states that himself) and plays fast and loose with what we Christians consider a sacred bible story, and as many Hollywood directors have done for decades he pushes his own anti meat eating agenda and environmentalism way too much for my taste. (Sorry had to throw that in there :)
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
My meeting with Ted...
My meeting with Ted...
Sitting in the restaurant waiting for my second shift of work that day, I sat at a counter seat next to two people, one of whom was obviously mentally challenged...
As I plugged my laptop in the young man said "Hi" but I noticed he did not speak otherwise.
As I sat there going through my emails and Facebook posts, I watched and listened, I noticed the woman with the man was astonishingly patient with him..."You have to turn off your ipad and let it charge." she said. "You can't keep looking at it, why didn't you plug it in last night? she said...
He would not speak but mumble and just sort of groan.
By these "words" the lady was able to tell what he was saying, and what he wanted even though there were no words coming from his mouth...
The man would chuckle a bit, laugh and she would say "what's so funny, what's funny?"
He would just mumble or stay quiet...
She would prompt him, and say "Ok, so what's your plan? what are you going to do?" very patiently I might add...the woman had the patience of Mother Teresa for sure.
"No, we talked about that yesterday, you can't do that." she said as he "said" something to her on his ipad,
the man would mumble "humppff" as if disgusted by her answer...
As the man went to the bathroom, I struck up a conversation with the woman and asked who she worked for, I told her "You have an astonishing amount of patience."
She smiled and said "Yeah, I grew up with an autistic brother, so, I'm used to being patient"
I spoke and said "My son has Aspergers syndrome, very high functioning autism, and has three scholarships
at CCU in Denver, very brilliant kid."
"Wow", she said, "that's awesome..."
"So who do you work for?" I asked.
"A company that hired me to work with disabled people like him" she said...
Again I encouraged her and told her how amazingly patient she was with this man....
I looked at the Tablet type instrument the man had and asked "What is that? does he use that all the time?, can he type on that?"
"Yes" she said, "it's an ipad, it has a special program on it and he speaks through it, he can communicate with his group."
"Wow" that's pretty impressive, so he can talk through the ipad?" I said...
"Yes" she said.
Just about that time the man came back from the restroom, and the Lady said "Tell him your name"
So the man pushed a button on his ipad and it voiced the name in an electronic voice "Ted"
"Wow amazing, that's pretty cool..." I said.
"Yeah, it's really useful"
I shook the mans hand and said "Hi Ted, nice to meet you"
Ted shook my hand and smiled and said hi and waved...
"Well, lets get going Ted", she said, "Nice meeting you"
"You too" I said, "Have a good day Ted" as he smiled at me...
And that was my meeting with Ted in the restaurant...
Sitting in the restaurant waiting for my second shift of work that day, I sat at a counter seat next to two people, one of whom was obviously mentally challenged...
As I plugged my laptop in the young man said "Hi" but I noticed he did not speak otherwise.
As I sat there going through my emails and Facebook posts, I watched and listened, I noticed the woman with the man was astonishingly patient with him..."You have to turn off your ipad and let it charge." she said. "You can't keep looking at it, why didn't you plug it in last night? she said...
He would not speak but mumble and just sort of groan.
By these "words" the lady was able to tell what he was saying, and what he wanted even though there were no words coming from his mouth...
The man would chuckle a bit, laugh and she would say "what's so funny, what's funny?"
He would just mumble or stay quiet...
She would prompt him, and say "Ok, so what's your plan? what are you going to do?" very patiently I might add...the woman had the patience of Mother Teresa for sure.
"No, we talked about that yesterday, you can't do that." she said as he "said" something to her on his ipad,
the man would mumble "humppff" as if disgusted by her answer...
As the man went to the bathroom, I struck up a conversation with the woman and asked who she worked for, I told her "You have an astonishing amount of patience."
She smiled and said "Yeah, I grew up with an autistic brother, so, I'm used to being patient"
I spoke and said "My son has Aspergers syndrome, very high functioning autism, and has three scholarships
at CCU in Denver, very brilliant kid."
"Wow", she said, "that's awesome..."
"So who do you work for?" I asked.
"A company that hired me to work with disabled people like him" she said...
Again I encouraged her and told her how amazingly patient she was with this man....
I looked at the Tablet type instrument the man had and asked "What is that? does he use that all the time?, can he type on that?"
"Yes" she said, "it's an ipad, it has a special program on it and he speaks through it, he can communicate with his group."
"Wow" that's pretty impressive, so he can talk through the ipad?" I said...
"Yes" she said.
Just about that time the man came back from the restroom, and the Lady said "Tell him your name"
So the man pushed a button on his ipad and it voiced the name in an electronic voice "Ted"
"Wow amazing, that's pretty cool..." I said.
"Yeah, it's really useful"
I shook the mans hand and said "Hi Ted, nice to meet you"
Ted shook my hand and smiled and said hi and waved...
"Well, lets get going Ted", she said, "Nice meeting you"
"You too" I said, "Have a good day Ted" as he smiled at me...
And that was my meeting with Ted in the restaurant...
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