Music using only sounds from Windows 98 and XP

This is pretty cool. Makes you wonder what kind of time some people have though.

Embedded Video

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Justin McRoberts on art

Justin McRoberts sometimes blogs for "soul-audio" and I just ran across this one on his thoughts about art. He talks about how art has been devalued by the disappointment of the consumer in the Marketplace. The whole thing is a pretty interesting read but the thing that stuck out to me was what he says DOES give art value.

"Art works contrary to this utilitarian principle, proposing that the worth of a piece is not tied solely to it’s market value, but much more closely tied to the relationship that piece has to its creator. In other words, a song has value to the one who wrote it simply because it is borne out of the heart of the artist. This relational meaning is reflective of the Divine value attributed to humanity."

This got me thinking of the correlation between art (creation) and it's creator. To think about the few things that I've created and how much those things mean to me and then to think how much God must love us, His creation. It's pretty awesome to think about the love and work that went into our existence.

On the other hand, it makes me think about how we devalue others or even ourselves in the same way that we devalue human creations. We need to remember that no matter how we might be devalued in this world, that God is our Creator and our true value is determined simply by that fact.

Stupid computers

I've spent the last couple of days without a computer because my laptop went to crap and my desktop has been down and torn apart for going on a year now. So, now Kyle's got my laptop trying to fix it and I finally spent some time to get my desktop up and running again. It's weird because I haven't actually used a personal desktop in quite sometime, at least anywhere other than work.

Anywho, I realized that being without a computer the last couple of days, I've really missed reading all the blogs I normally read on a daily basis. I don't blog very often myself, in fact, I think I've only blogged maybe 5 or 6 times since I started this, but I do get on everyday and read all of my friends blogs. I really love it. There must be something to this blogging thing.

Wilco

I went to see Wilco on the last night of their tour on Saturday night. It was the most amazing show I've ever seen. There is a huge difference between a talented band and a talented band that has "it." Wilco has more of "it" than any band out there. At least I can't imagine one that does.

They played for 3 hours and I found myself worshiping God more than I have in quite some time. He was just so evident in everything they played. I don't know what kind of relationship with God that the members of Wilco have, if any, but it doesn't really matter. Whether they are Christians or atheists, I believe that the very source of creativity in everything they did is from God. Their show was just so moving. The fact that human beings can create such amazing art is just mind blowing to me. This will not be my last Wilco show. I can't wait to have that experience again.

One other thought....The band just seemed to be having so much fun playing their music. I know it may seem this is true at any rock show you go to, but I have to wonder how much of that is the "show." I've never felt like a band was genuinely having this much fun. What I wouldn't give to have that.

Birthdays and cats

Today is my birthday. I really don't like birthdays. At least mine. I just don't get why people want to give me things and wish a happy birthday because of an event 24 years ago that I had no control over. It bugs me. I really just want to be left alone and live it like a normal day. I won't let anyone buy me presents or throw me a party. I went to lunch with my parents today and had to sneak out early just to make sure I didn't get sung to in front of a restaurant full of people.

As much as I don't like celebrating my birthday, I would have gladly let people sing to me today if I didn't have to watch my mom's 19 year old cat die...with my mom, no less. Now, I'm not a fan of cats and even though this cat has been in our family for a long time, I don't have what you would call an emotional attachment to it at all. The sad part is that this cat was born 8 days after my grandma died and so in a weird way has always been an extension of my grandma to my mom. It was extremely hard on her. I think she has finally accepted that her cat is better off now than she was 5 hours ago. She was pretty much miserable, old, and feeble. Anyway, it'll be interesting now to remember this day on my birthday in the future. Maybe it will give it a little meaning.

If I hear one more high pitched scream....I'm going to scream! High school girls drive me nuts!

Worship MUSIC

I just had a conversation with a good friend of mine about music and specifically worship music. I mentioned that I don't like most worship music and that it makes it really hard for me to enter into a proper attitude of worship. She came back with the argument that the music shouldn't matter and that worship comes from my attitude towards God at the time and how I approach it.

Now, I don't totally disagree with my friend. I agree that worship comes from my attitude, BUT, where the music and lyrics become a problem is when they become a distraction. I guess that you could still argue that, if we agree that it IS my attitude that makes the difference, then the bad music shouldn't matter. Maybe it's just me, but isn't it hard to worship when the music is terrible? What if the lyrics are ridiculous or just don't make sense? Maybe those lyrics don't resonate with how you feel. I don't think that I'm awful for being distracted by the very medium that is supposed to facilitate my worshiping God. Maybe I Am....

Thoughts?

Concerts

Last night I went to see The New Pornographers at The Pageant in St. Louis. It was a pretty cool concert except that Neko Case wasn't with them. The sad part is that she was supposed to be there but got hurt at a concert last week and so now is off the tour. Musically the band is awesome, but I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in their stage presence, or lack of stage presence. I almost got a little bored at one point during their show. I almost enjoyed the opener better. By the way, Okkervil River is very good and puts on a great show.

The big news, however, is that I was given Wilco tickets for my birthday weekend!! That's right, the third of three sold out shows in St. Louis.

BE JEALOUS...BE VERY JEALOUS!

What draws us to church?

We had Living Sacrifice this weekend at Foursquare and the church building is just unbelievable. There is a lobby with big flat screen monitors, a coffee shop, a youth room with a stage and guitar hero, a huge sanctuary/gym that has a sound system that will rival anything a major concert tour can offer, and enough cameras to film the next Die Hard movie...I hope anyway, John McClain is awesome! Oh wait! I forgot...THE ADULT SIZED PLAY PLACE WITH BALL PIT! WHAT THE CRAP!?!?!?!?

I don't have a problem with any of those things individually, especially the adult sized play place (instead of getting kicked out of McDonald's I'll just go over to Foursquare). My issue is this...at what point are we going to church because it is "cool" or "entertaining" instead of Jesus and community? Are we going to church to learn and grow or to get a white mocha latte?

I want to be clear that I'm not crapping on the people that attend this church. I know quite a few and they are amazing people. I'm just not sure how this stuff looks to others. What are we telling those that we are trying to witness to? At what point do these things become a distraction?

This was a little bit of a rant and I have quite a few other things to say on the issue. I held back quite a bit. Maybe I'm just jealous that I can't go to my church on Sunday and play in the ball pit...

The ups and downs of writing songs

I've been experimenting with songwriting lately and it's extremely stressful. When I first write something I have all these thoughts about how great it could be. I like where the song is going and my vision for the song is fairly clear. Then you put it away and sleep on it and it's like it turned to crap overnight. Doubt sets in as you try match the seemingly terrible lyrics to a melody. All of the sudden you're trying to remember what the song is even about!

All this to say...I HATE SONGWRITING! But, I'm extremely hooked. Let's just hope it gets better.

Google Analytics

So....Wick showed me Google Analytics a couple of weeks ago and I have to say that it's pretty awesome. I'm not sure why we have such a desire to know so much about the people who read our blogs but it tells you more than you could ever want to know.

Alright, so I don't really care that much about Google Analytics but it has given me a new hobby. I now visit Wick's blog several times a day from as many computers as necessary so that he'll think he is getting all kinds of unique visitors. Sometimes I even let is sit there for an hour so he thinks someone really likes him.

Don't worry Wick, I'm just kidding. You know it sounds like a blast though!

My first blog

This is my first REAL blog. I've posted things using social networking sites before but never truly blogged. I'm not sure I'm going to like it but I'm intrigued by the blogging community. Anyway, wish me luck!