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Say You've Been Threatened By Gangsters...
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| This Journal Is Over... |
[04 May 2006|05:07pm] |
Yep. Done. The end. Longest running LJ I've ever had and the one most neglected.
New one though and I promise it'll get updates almost every day (in story form - maybe I can make a novel out of it in a year or two!).
http://streetfeeling.livejournal.com
Add me. I'll add you back. Hooray for that.
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[09 Feb 2006|12:04pm] |
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The Suicide Machines |
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Last night at Reckless, Mellie and I found the first Franz record ($7), Roman Gods by The Fleshtones ($4), Flash Flash Flash by The Explosion ($6), Teenage Depression by Eddie and The Hotrods ($6) and Ray Charles at Newport ($1).
Proof positive that vinyl is not only hip, but it's CHEAP too!
I've been digging into the bible more lately and I've been forgetting how much of a positive spin it puts on my entire day. I don't pout as much.
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[03 Feb 2006|01:50pm] |
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Yesterday when Mellie and I went to Dave's on Clark, we found Aretha's Greatest Hits, a Temptations record from '67, the first LL Cool J record, Catch A Fire by The Wailers and a few others...all for a dollar or so. Oh yeah...and some 12" singles for 25c each like The Concretes and Duran Duran.
Let me tell you...record hunting is my favourite thing in the entire world. Well...in terms of materialist hobbies I guess. Mellie's been telling me that I love my record collection more then her.
Now doesn't that sound ridiculous?!?
Only an hour more and I'm off work for today. It's so nice having Mellie back home now and not all the way in New Jersey, I look forward to seeing her each afternoon after I get off of work. I don't think I lose my excitement at all with each passing time either.
Not much else to write about. Life's pretty nice right now.
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[28 Jan 2006|05:06pm] |
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Chuck freakin' Berry - Johnny B. Goode |
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Ah dang. I'm back.
Six month layoff and now I'm using this thing again.
What's been going on in the last six months?
Well...I moved from Lancaster, PA to Chicago and I'm living at JPUSA again.
My record collection started back up and it's grown by about 450 (literally that many...I aspire to own half of Chicago's vinyl).
oh yeah...and Mellie and I are engaged.
You can't see the ring that well...but it's 14k white gold with a black onyx diamond in the middle.
We're in New Jersey right now and we're leaving to Chicago on Monday.
More later...I think.
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[23 Jul 2005|12:45am] |
Someone buy this dang iPod off of me.
It's two months old, has some minor scratches (which can EASILY be removed with a solvent), has somewhere around 300 albums on it and it's a 40gig.
I paid 400 for it but it's your's for 300. I'll even throw in a super hotttttt iPod case.
WHO WANTS IT!?
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[20 Jul 2005|02:31am] |
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I never seem to write on here anymore...
We went dumpster diving tonight and ended up finding a gaggle of great things (most of them quite useless), the best one I found was a vinyl record with the theme songs from The Munsters and The Addams Family on it. This will be a gift for Mellie.
a few things on my heart lately though...
I read No Compromise, the life story of Keith Green today. As time has gone on, I've started to get more into artists that are relevant and spirit filled and I haven't had much interest in much of anything else (with the exception of all the Two Tone ska I listen to). I used to look up to musicians for the records they made and the image and attitude they put across.
It's odd to think that I'm only 20 and I've been into punk rock for the better part of 10 years. I've always had heavier music shoved at me from all sides, be it the nu-metal of my highschool years or the metalcore of my post highschool years and while I've liked a select few of the bands from each of those, punk rock always struck a chord because it hit closer to home for me. The anger wasn't born of teen angst by upper middle class whities (well, some of it was..but not all of it) and the attitude was just so upfront and unrelenting. Bands like the Replacements, early Squad Five-O, One 21 and several several others made sense because their music was working class and down to earth. I wasn't well off (still not even close...I'm well below the poverty lines by most standards), I was never really given much materially and over time I came to the point of not minding that. It made more sense to me because it wasn't superficial or shallow.
Nowadays I look towards people like Robert and Edie from Headnoise, Keith Green, the Psalters, Otto from Blaster The Rocketman, the guys in One 21, Reese Roper, Aaron Weiss and other musicians because of the things that they stand for. They all stand for Christ in real and relevant ways without any sugary pretense and even more then that, they're humans. They make mistakes, have struggles and deal with downfalls, hills and valleys just like anyone else. I don't look to them as idols, I look to them as examples of people who are living out their lives following the same Saviour that I do.
While reading Keith Green's biography today, I noted his zeal and his desire for truth. When he found it, he refused to let go of it. Many called him a legalist and an extremist, a religous nut. Many hated him for his stance and the platforms he took when addressing the church and the things he found wrong with Christians. As time has gone on, I've begun to realize that my hatred of legalism and things encompassed within the word have been borne of a lazy spirit. When Christ called us to live for him, he didn't call us to blow up abortion clinics or solicit people's money, but he did call us to seperate ourselves.
An apple tree is made an apple tree by the Grace of God, but in order to be considered an apple tree, it must produce apples.
It's a simple analogy I know, but it makes sense. As Christians, we're called to be set apart. We're not called to be religous elitists and we're not above anyone else. We're called to love people and we're called to live by the things set before us in the bible. Works don't get you into heaven, but Jesus said that if we loved him, we'd follow his teachings.
'Why do you say 'Lord, Lord!' and then not obey me?'
Keith Green made note in many of his journal entries about things that he struggled with and was constantly trying to work through them. Many of them were every day occurences and things that many of us have in common today. For me I know that I daily struggle with things like lust, feeling inadequate to the standards set before me by the world (one of many reasons why I've taken the crust role in my hygiene, appearance and beliefs), controlling my words, gossipping and slandering others (in the name of God half of the time no less) and not saying things in compassion and love.
Near the end of Green's life, some friends pulled him aside and informed him that while what he was saying while calling out the Christian right (and left) was correct and dead on, he often sacrificed love and tact while saying it. The goal is to find a balance. Yes we have Grace, but without showing it to others, without realizing everything within its meaning, it's absolutely worthless to us.
the rest of this is going to give you the impression that I'm an absolute weirdo...
( Read more... )
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[06 Jul 2005|07:57pm] |
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So...Cornerstone.
Just where do I begin?
I arrived in New York City on Tuesday and we hung out. It wasn't as impressive as people have told me, but it's big nonetheless.
I'm still looking for those Ninja Turtles though...
We left on Wednesday morning to get to Illinois and 30 minutes into the trip the tarp flew off the top of the mini van followed soon after by two pieces of luggage. How we managed to get them all back in one piece (on a major six lane highway no less) is beyond me. Once we put everything into the van (no sense strapping it to the top again right?) we were off. Literally moments after we got back onto the road, a tire blew. This put us back a couple of hours. The trip total was around 20 hours with us leaving at 7:30 in the morning, getting onto the road after the tire incident around 11 and then arriving around 4 on Thursday morning.
As in years past, I would describe what bands I saw...but I'll give a list. Take a moment to marvel at how short the list is while still being more awesome then your list (which I'm sure is four times longer).
Spitfire (STILL good after seven years!), One 21 (last show ever. Probably one of my favorite bands of all time...ALL TIME. Let me repeat this...ALL TIME.), Red Lipstick Death (death rock that actually ISN'T irritating), Hyperdrive Go! (my good friend Scott Potter's band. Remember that guy? We terrorized EVERYBODY at Cornerstone '03), The Huntingtons (final show ever. Went on a stellar note. Good show Cliffy!), Headnoise, American Culture eXperiments (uhm...yeah.), Bloodlined Calligraphy, No Innocent Victim, The Showdown (go in the pit and git 'em!), Divebomber (what...no Evil Robot!?), Hook Line and Sinker (oh yes. Ska. That's right...SKA!), The Satire, and countless others I'm sure.
Highlights for the fest...hmm...finding a Lust Control record for a dollar and giving it to Doug. Some dude coming up and telling me that it was odd for him to meet someone whose stuff he's read 'all these years' while I was in charge of the HM table (it caught me off guard. It was also another example of how my pride will never die regardless of how much I try to kill it...dying to one's self is any every day thing). Getting kicked in the face by Austin at the Goodyear (beautiful...simply beautiful), Sean...the dissapearing and re-appearing boy, hanging out with David and Anna for a good part of the fest, all the new people we met along the way, seeing alot of JPUSA's for the first time in nearly a year and being greeted warmly by the greater majority of them, and of course...spending the whole time holding hands with my dearest Mellie.....
I learned alot at this year's fest. Alot about Grace and forgiveness. I rebuilt a bridge with a fellow Jpusa who thought I was just as mad at him as I thought he was mad at me. It was yet another reminder of why forgiveness, grace, and love towards others is such a needed thing day after day in our lives.
That's really about it. Cornerstone was rather uneventful this year but I don't mind at all. I've noticed that as the years go by, the focus is less on the music for me. It's more on hanging out with people and actually building and working on relationships. The first year I went, I wanted the music streamlined into my veins. Last year I still wanted to load up on shows but not as much because conversation with new people and old friends was starting to take precedence. This year the conversations won out and I ended up missing alot of shows due to them. I don't regret it a single bit either...
I'll be in New York for the next couple of days and I'll be back on the weekend. The manager from Seattle's Best (the coffee place in the mall) called Chris and Beth and left a message asking if I still wanted a job. God provides. All this time I was worried and God's going 'idiot! I'm still here!'.
Mellie and I are praying about it, but we might be going back to JPUSA in the next couple of years together. We talked to a few people and it's all clear for us to come back whenever we want. Ah man...can you imagine that? Me...married. akdjfjasxdflkasdlfasdkfjsd
This has probably been one of the best weeks of my life...
oh...and uhm...
( Read more... )
Shyeah!
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[11 Jun 2005|12:43pm] |
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i find myself walking around the streets of Lancaster alot these days. Downtown is probably my favorite place and it's best to walk at night.
God's doing alot of great stuff right now and I'm growing very rapidly in light of the stand still and stagnancy that I had just three months ago.
i think i'm going to close this journal because I never use it...
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[24 May 2005|03:24pm] |
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The Selecter - Three Minute Hero |
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Right now one of my favorite songs is The Beat's cover of Smokey Robinson's Tears of A Clown. I've hated every other cover of this song because they were all so poppy and sugarcoated. This one is too but it's got that two tone thing to it.
I've been unhealthily addicted to two tone and first wave ska lately.
All I've been able to listen to is The Beat (the ENGLISH beat for all you Americans), Madness, The Selecter, The Specials, Prince Buster, The Ethiopians, Laurel Aitken and GAGGLES of others...
I really like ska.
One band I LOVE is Not For The Crowd. They were a band during the third wave thing a few years back but played a sound that was distinctly two tone and first wave crossed together. Does anyone (and by anyone I mean Raye or Tiffy) have anything by them that you can push my way?
Phillipians 4:8 - Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is anything of virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.
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[13 May 2005|02:48pm] |
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Cool Hand Luke |
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My sweet Jesus,
I love you.
And I'm trying so hard.
It's not so easy,
down here anymore.
Everyone just treats me,
like I'm crazy or something.
Sometimes I feel like I am,
because no one seems to understand.
But if I'm a fool, I'm a fool for you.
And if I'm alive, I'm living just for you.
If I sing a song, then I sing for you.
I sing all day long, in everything I do.
My sweet Jesus,
I'm sorry,
that I let you down again.
It's not so easy,
Down here anymore.
Everyone just treats me,
like I'm crazy or something.
And sometimes, I feel like I am.
Because no one seems to understand.
But if I'm a fool, I'm a fool for you.
and if I'm alive, I'm living just for you.
If I sing a song, then I sing for you.
I sing all day long, in everything I do.
I will rejoice in this foolishness.
I will rejoice in this foolishness.
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[01 May 2005|08:08pm] |
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The Rocket Summer |
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Saturday, April 30, 2005
So yesterday at work during my downtime, I was doing this study that I found by this theoligan named Bob Deffinbaugh on the subject of having wisdom and discerning the will of God. He brought up some excellent points in it - for example:
"Our inability to grasp God's ways and His will stems not only from our human frailty (our simplicity), but from our fallenness. If being human hinders us from knowing God's will, our sinfulness hinders us from seeking it or submitting to it."
the basic translation for that could be found when Paul says "I do what I hate to do..."
Deffinbaugh later goes further in detail about this nature by saying "before we can answer the question, 'what shall I do?' we must first ask the question, 'whom do I trust?' The greatest obstacle to my seeking the will of God and doing it is my attitude of self-sufficiency and self-trust".
Lately I've started to understand the power of words and the damage they can cause. I've also noticed the good they can bring as well. Though it may take years for me to achieve it, right now I'm trying to think on every word that leaves my mouth before I say it so that I don't slander or put down anyone. This was somewhat hard at work yesterday when one of my managers brought up the subject of their beef with another manager. I just sorta sat there and nodded my head.
I'm already accepting that I'm gonna be sitting out when friends are joking around about stuff that isn't of the nicest variety. I'm not trying to be a stick in the mud, I'm just wanting to regulate and be in control of my words.
One's character, his way, can be discerned by the pattern he has established in his conduct.
Today...
So initially I was thinking that controlling my words and my actions were going to be a war in themselves. I didn't know that those were only a part of it. Not only do I have to think on my words and the things that leave my mouth, but I also need to think on how I deliver those words.
Sometimes when our words have the best intentions and our motives are in the right place, the person receiving them can take them completely wrong and be offended due to how we're saying them. Oftentimes I've been told that the way I deliver words is in a condescending or exaggerant tone. These tones don't indicate love and they don't indicate grace. They seem more like instigation. My hope is that my ways of saying things will go hand in hand with what I say in becoming more and more like Christ.
I've also begun to realize how judgemental I am. I don't mean to do it, it's something of a subconscious thing. That's no excuse by any means - but none of us like to admit our faults do we? Especially when there are so many faults to come clean with in the first place...
Everyone needs love and grace regardless of what they look like or who they are. This applies to the punk rock girl at the show or the middle aged yuppie at the Smoothie King. I'm not saying that we need to sit there and talk to every single one of them, but I am saying that we're supposed to look at them with love and not condemnation or an evil eye. Our hearts are supposed to be soft and merciful and our patience and forgiveness is supposed to be limitless.
I seriously didn't know this was going to be a constant thing. I didn't know I was gonna be monitoring this every second. Sometimes I say things before I even think them and in my eyes, that's the worst state a person can have if they can't even control their words. I want every word that comes out of my mouth to be constuctive and full of love whether I'm talking about Christ or whether I'm talking about a pair of shoes.
It's only through interaction with others that these things are realized and can be improved upon. I'd like to be thankful for everything that comes my way and be patient with everything and everyone I see...
Jesus my heart is all I have to give to you.
So weak and so unworthy, this simply will not do.
No alabaster jar, no diamond in the rough.
For your body that was broken, how can this be enough?
By me you were abandoned, by me you were betrayed.
Yet in your arms and in your heart forever I have stayed...
- Showbread
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[28 Apr 2005|06:05pm] |
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Alkaline Trio |
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Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
5:2
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
5:3
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
5:4
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
wow.
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[21 Apr 2005|10:35pm] |
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Morella's Forest |
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It seems like the more I'm willing to live in obedience to God, the more things he finds and goes ok. I'm gonna take this now. and proceeds to pluck them away. One by one, He's looking through each area in my life and I'm getting rid of things and walking away from others.
It's all part of the whittling process I suppose. All of it is God preparing me to work towards the goal that I was made for. Everything works out. I believe in the ministry that I've been called into.
It's good to have genuine faith in something and it not be fake. First time in my life I've felt 100% real about something and not hesitant in the slightest. It's good to be straight and on track with atleast one thing these days...
So what's my music box playing these days?
Well I did make a rather nice mix earlier.
Check it:
Danielson Famile: Nice of Me
The Shins: Young Pilgrims
Fairmont: Shooting Yourself In The Foot
Wilco: Ashes of American Flags
Mates of State: Fluke
Jimmy Eat World: If You Don't
Elvis Costello: I'm Not Angry
Driver Eight: Waiting For Godot
Say Anything: The Writhing South
Starflyer 59: The Big Idea
The Close: Daine Don't Dive
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists: Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone?
Morella's Forest: Glitter
Nancy Sinatra: Bang Bang
Kevin Max: Deconstructing Venus
Jesse Malin: High Lonesome
Fine China: For All Centuries
Tom Petty: You Wreck Me
Weezer: The Good Life
Embrace: Last Song
Have an awesome night!
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[19 Apr 2005|09:28am] |
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up the punx...or something.
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[13 Apr 2005|02:18pm] |
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God's bringing revival.
Just you watch...
It's time to stand up and count yourself among those whom you serve your allegiance too.
I would die tonight for my beliefs.
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[25 Mar 2005|11:08am] |
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Kids Like Us - Motherfuck Crystal Lake |
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So one of Les's friends has been staying with us for the last few days and she has this little eight week old dog. The thing's cute but it chewed through my iPod cord which means I can't hook it up to the computer now.
sweet.
Chicago at the end of May and it's gonna be gooooooooood.
I should have enough money saved up to hang a month or two of rent and Kyle and I should have something nailed down by early July.
Speaking of Kyle, I've rejoined Day of Reckoning, the old school hardcore band that I played in for a hot minute before leaving Chicago to come back to Atlanta. Kyle's their guitarist and by all accounts after speaking to Jake (their drummer) and Andrew (their vocalist), I'll be in action once I get back up there. Listen to DOR
Next show will be on June 4th at The 5th Annual Great Alrington Heist w/Righteous Jams, Mental, Kill Your Idols, Slumlords, The Killer, Death Before Dishonor, and Madball.
anything else to report on?
life's positive.
keep it that way.
ex ex ex
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[08 Mar 2005|02:51pm] |
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Social Distortion |
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Strikefirst Record's Hit The Deck are almost 99.9% positive that they'll be going with The Forensic Scene to take care of all of their booking needs. I've been in correspondance with Jordan their vocalist about it and he's pretty excited. It'll be good to have a band on their level with the agency along with the others that are already on. I'm excited to be doing this...
Chicago in three months.
Holyyyyyyyyyy cow am I excited.
As of right now it's looking like Mellie, Kyle and I with one or two other people (possibly?). It's gonna be some good stuff and some goodtimes.
I'm seeing Comeback Kid and Bane on Saturday with Lett.
posi x 5
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[03 Mar 2005|04:47pm] |
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The Wednesdays |
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So in an attempt to start networking across the country using an obvious tool. Forensic now has a LiveJournal. As of right now I'm in a bunch of communities for the purpose of getting contacts so that I can book the bands I have when they go out on tour.
Add it! ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) _forensicscene
and if anyone has any good contacts or has any good venues in their states ... let me know! I need all of the contacts I can get.
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[27 Feb 2005|02:58pm] |
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I never really post here anymore.
How's everyone been?
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[18 Feb 2005|05:45pm] |
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Alright dudes, new number!
Four Oh Four . Two Four Six . Oh Eight Six Four
send me love.
no crazy people calling though.
fruits.
I'm seeing Ashes Fall and Come Out Swinging tomorrow night at Penny 2.
Gonna set things with getting Ashes Fall signed onto Forensic.
Come Out Swinging is interested in doing the same.
Two for the price of one.
Rockage.
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