Rambling On

New York, New York!

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 05:55:00 +0000

They say (who's They anyways!?) a picture is worth a thousand words... so here's a bunch of pictures 'cause I'm too lazy to write a lot these days and I'm sure it's gonna take a while just to upload them all ;) Oh, they are from the day we had off in NY so we decided to go to NYC for the day!

On the bus on the way in with a view on Manhattan Island.

Going down into the Subway.

The train's a comin'...

In NYC; the people, cars, buildings, and ads!

Naked Cowboy. Tourists were getting their picture with him. He was soon removed by the NYC police.

Jord in front of the Hard Rock Cafe.

Broadway!

If you're going to NYC you gotta have 2 things. A hot dog and Pizza.

Hot Dog. (It wasn't that good; I had a much better one in Toronto a few years ago.)

Pizza. This was amazing! Ham and Bacon but they had lots of different kinds; this one was just callin' my name. We walked around until we saw a shop that had really good looking pies!

Grand Central Station.

It sure is grand :)

Even had trains too. Who knew!?

Us walkin' around.

Or standing....

Radio City Music Hall! Maybe some day I'll get to play there...

Me talkin' to my lady ;)

The ads were crazy at night!

There was a bigger McDonalds sign but I didn't get a good pic of it. I also should have had a Big Mac just to say I had a Big Mac from NYC.

The bus ride back to our hotel.

LL, "That's my boat...." ;)

Random Tour Thoughts and some photos.

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:12:00 +0000

Americans drink way too much pop or "soda".

In the Mid-West there are a lot of corn fields.

You buy everything at Wal-Mart :(

Indiana drivers are pretty inconsiderate.

There are a lot more "Adult" stores along the hi-ways.

It can get really hot and humid down here. You really want AC.

Canadian Health Care is a wonderful thing, so stop complaining about wait times!

Sept 15, 2007 Update.

It just occured to me that all of my thoughts are a little negative. Now while traveling for such a long time you can get a little road weary, however, there are a few perks.

Sometimes you get some amazing home cooked food!

There is some really beautiful landscapes as you go a little more eastern and get away the cornfields.

I'm seeing a lot of the US. Although most of it's the hiway.

I get to watch Discovery and the History Channel :)

I get to play music every night!!!

The Cottage: Part IV

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 03:04:00 +0000

Outside the deck is coming along.

Two bathrooms. The guest one behind and the master off of the master bedroom.

The kitchen where Linda-Lee is standing.

Going downstairs...

I like to save the good stuff for last ;)

Words Together.

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 15:27:00 +0000

Written language is funny. String a bunch of words together and you can communicate something, but sometimes the body of words can communicate something more than what they are just saying. Today I was prompted to post these words as I was driving home from the Easter service that was cancelled due to an obscene amount of snow in April...

"The Jaws of Life"
Written by Wintersleep

Hold me like a child
In your warm, warm arms
Whisper parables
Keep me safe from harm

Oh my sagging skin
Oh my burning skies
I will close my eyes
I will close my eyes

There was laughter once
There were pretty songs
Pull the metal shards
Thin my clotted blood

Oh my rotted skin
Oh my burning skies
I will close my eyes
I will close my eyes

Oh the jaws of life (x3)
___________________________

"Times Like These"
Written by the Foo Fighters...I think.

I am a one way motorway
I'm the one that drives away
then follows you back home
I am a street light shining
I'm a wild light blinding bright
burning off alone

it's times like these you learn to live again
it's times like these you give and give again
it's times like these you learn to love again
it's times like these time and time again

I am a new day rising
I'm a brand new sky
to hang the stars upon tonight
I am a little divided
do I stay or run away
and leave it all behind?

it's times like these you learn to live again
it's times like these you give and give again
it's times like these you learn to love again
it's times like these time and time again

__________________________________

Psalm 139 (CEV)

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

The LORD Is Always Near

1You have looked deep into my heart, LORD, and you know all about me.

2You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts.

3You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.

4Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say,

5and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side.

6I can't understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.

7Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight?

8If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there. If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.

9Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean.

10Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.

11Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over."

12But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.

13You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body,

14and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt.

15Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below,

16but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do.

17Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine.

18I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach. And when I awake, I will find you nearby.

19How I wish that you would kill all cruel and heartless people and protect me from them!

20They are always rebelling and speaking evil of you.

21You know I hate anyone who hates you, LORD, and refuses to obey.

22They are my enemies too, and I truly hate them.

23Look deep into my heart, God, and find out everything I am thinking.

24Don't let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way that time has proven true.

Random Stuff...

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 02:18:00 +0000

Today I went for a nice walk at Point Pleasant Park with my friend Nick. Walked along the waterfront path, then we literally climed along the rocks on the way back. I've never done that down there in my life even though I love doing that. I think we built 4 or 5 Inookshooks with old bricks.

We went out for a bite to eat after and spent about an hour looking at this Porsche 911 Carrera 4 parked right in front of the window we were sitting at. It costs just under $109,000. It was grey though and had different rims.

The new recording is sounding amazing! It's being mixed in New York by Chuck Zwicky. Please buy it when it comes out. Radio will be spinning it in May. It will be in stores June 23. I think you'll be able to buy it from us sooner I hope.

So this blog "tagging" thing has got me three times. I responded once but not on my blog. I ignored the second and it happened again so I'll just post the old one here and see if I can think of anything else. Then I'm done with tagging and won't do it anymore. (For those of you who don't know what it is, it's just that if you get tagged you have to write 5 things most people wouldn't know about you then tag 5 others.)

These five are from Kelley's tag...

1. I think of cool designs for rings in my head. Perhaps someday I'll get one made.

2. I almost have my black belt in Karate. I don't have it because I don't have the time to commit to getting it. Perhaps someday I will.

3. I'm in love with Porsches. Always have been, always will. Perhaps someday I'll be able to purchase one but I'll have to hide it so people don't judge me.

4. Jordan and I have been in a band together for 13 years! Perhaps someday we'll actually make some money at it.

5. I have a crush on every girl. (You gotta watch "Teen Girl Squad" on Homestarrunner.com to get that one.)

Here's some for Julia...

1. I commonly refer to Ketchup as "Nectar of the gods."

2. I hate chapped lips.

3. I recently discovered more Zeppelin albums that I don't own and they rock.

4. I think American money looks like play money.

5. I don't drink coffee or tea. I'll have hot chocolate maybe 3 or 4 times a year.

6. I hate it when people don't floss. uggg...

7. I collect rocks from far away places I've been. They help me remember the place, they are one of a kind, and free!

8. I'm generally attracted to cheery, extroverted women. I tend to be an introvert.

9. I think I'm going to like gardening when I'm older.

10. I'm thinking of getting my Motor bike liscence this summer.

Forging a Weapon

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 02:23:00 +0000

Been recording the next CD in Halifax and Columbus OH the past few weeks. I've had the image in my mind a few times of it being a spiritual weapon forged. I'm really excited for everyone to hear it.

Art Connection.

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 01:26:00 +0000

I bought this painting recently from my friend, Melissa, whom I first met a few years back when she had first moved to Halifax. At that time she was a new follower of Christ trying to find her way and come into her gifts. We spent a little time together here and there. I took her to see Lunenburg for the first time in the winter; got a fisherman on the wharf to take our picture, and we sung to Coldplay at the top of our lungs in the car. I was loving her (as a friend) and was just starting to defrag my mind myself after being out of the post secondary educational system myself for a few years. Besides music there was little or no art in my life for about 6 or 7 years. Her brother died in a car crash shortly after that and I lost touch with her.

Fast forward a few years later and I see her again at a local city worship / prayer meeting called The Well. While I was mixing sound for a prophet and two angels (by the way, it's very easy to make angels sound good!) I watched Melissa paint this painting over the course of the evening. I had spoken with her earlier and she expressed to me that she was feeling angry because she felt that some of the organizers were not leaving opportunity for people to share what The Lord may place on their hearts to share. I was also in the same space at that time because I was feeling that the church I attend programs everything to the Nth degree and leaves very little room for The Spirit to move and allow people to participate rather than spectate. So on that particular night I felt like I connected to this painting. This was the result.

Deeper

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:14:00 +0000

"I need a fix 'cause I'm going down" - Lennon/McCartney

Gotta go deeper; gotta get lower...

Psalm Reality

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 17:54:00 +0000

Walter Brueggemann suggests one obvious reason for the candor in the book of Psalms: "because life is like that, and these poems are intended to speak to all of life, not just part of it." Brueggmann finds it jarring to visit upbeat evangelical churches and hear only happy songs, when half of the songs are "songs of lament, protest, and complaint about the incoherence that is experienced in the world. At least it is clear that a church that goes on singing "happy songs" in the face of raw reality is doing something very different from what the Bible itself does."

Excerpt from P. Yancey's book Prayer.

Concerning Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:10:00 +0000

Things have been pretty dry. I've been helping some people (mostly indirectly, but non the less) come out of / work through links and ties to Freemasonry while not being properly covered. I'm realizing the effects of that now. Gotta have people praying for ya when you go into warfare even when you think its something small.

I've also been reflecting on this Christmas season. Has anybody else noticed the word Christmas being removed from most adds and signage? "Holidays" is the new politically correct term.

Something struck home at 3 AM last night; consumerism is now a full fledged religion of North America. It's affected the way I pray. I need to un-convert.

"How often do I come to God not with consumer requests but simply a desire to spend time with God, to discern what God wants for me and not vice versa?"

Other thoughts on prayer and His presence...

"I have learned so see prayer not as my way of establishing God's presence, rather as my way of responding to God's presence that is a fact whether or not I can detect it."

"... I remind myself that prayer means keeping company with God who is already present."

"... God is already present in my life and all around me; prayer offers the chance to attend and respond to that presence."

Reminds me of The Practice the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.

Concerning listening...

"The quieter the mind, the more powerful, the worthier, the deeper, the more telling and more perfect the prayer is." - Meiser Eckhart

"I became more convinced than ever that God finds ways to communicate to those who truly seek God, especially when we lower the volume of the surrounding static"

"I need to think more about God when I am praying. Even the Lords prayer centers first in what God wants from us. "Hallowed be thy name, your kingdom come, your will be done" - God wants us to desire these things, to orient our lives around them."

"... I mysteriously found that the answers to my prayers for guidance were around me all along. Nothing changed but my receptors; through prayer I opened them to God."

"Though my needs may drive me to prayer, there I come face-to-face with my greatest need: an encounter with God's own self."

"Prayer that is based on relationship and not transaction may be the most freedom-enhancing way of connecting to a God whose vantage point we can never achieve and hardly imagine. Quoting a Psalm, Peter assures us that "the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer." We need not bang a drum or bring animal sacrifices to get God's full attention; we already have it."

*Words in green are quotes from P. Yancey's book Prayer.

Advice for any Season.

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 02:13:00 +0000

Spend quality time with family and friends. Take some pictures. Be thankful.

Cottage Project: Part III

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 02:07:00 +0000

Cottage Project. Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 23:18:00 +0000

Went down Sunday. Here's what I found...

Hot Water Hustle

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 03:21:00 +0000

Been so busy lately... on with the blog.

Wednesday night I was pleasantly surprised with a small swimming pool of water in my basement. Well, not really but it was a lot of water, hot water to be exact. I quickly turned off the water main grabbed almost every towel I could find, Mike, and Jord and frantically began to sop up water. (I should really buy a mop.) Thankfully it had not quite reached the finished half of the basement where I wouldn't be able to soak up the water underneath the floor. Once we had control of the water I sent the boys upstairs and said to myself "This will make a great blog!" Hence the following pictures... All in all, it took about 8 hours from buying a tank to having it finished Thursday evening. I then went to work until 12:30 am....ugggg.

There's the villian, hiding like a coward in the back corner.

The leak. Arrrrgh! I hate rust!

It took about 2 hours (Wed night to about 1:30AM) to drain the tank because of the rust and crud blocking the drain outlet. I cut the pipes with a hacksaw and took it out. I also took this opportunity to move the oil line behind the new tank.

Here's the new tank.

Check out those solder joints girls!

Voila! Kinda fun actually. Well, at least untill I get my credit card bill...
I always wanted to buy a pipe cutter. I figured this was a good excuse as any!

Designed Redemption

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 03:41:00 +0000

I found this shell casing at work the other day. It's from Sarajevo. There is a pretty detailed design stamped into it. What struck me was that somebody took and object whose sole purpose and design was for destruction and death and redreemed it into something beautiful.

War is hell on earth. Remember those who have fallen.

EPH 6:12

Mmmm... VW GTI goodness.....

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:42:00 +0000

Out with the old, in with the new! I've always wanted a GTI. Figured I'd better do it while I'm single and childless. I'm taking suggestions for names.

Questionable Theology Part III

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 21:10:00 +0000

Please read Matts entry from Nov 4. Click HERE.

Some exciting news Tuesday or Wednesday!...

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:43:00 +0000

Questionable Theology: Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 01:12:00 +0000

Please read Matts entry from Oct 23. Click HERE. Part I can be found on Oct 14.

Thanks to all who commented on my last post! Lots of great thoughts; keep 'em coming!

I'm a Steak Man.

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 16:26:00 +0000

I gotta be honest. My traditional Sunday morning church service is not doing it for me anymore. I mean, how many times do I have to hear the gospel message? Don't get me wrong; some people need it and it's where they're at. But it's not where I'm at. Maybe I'm just a little disillusioned? Help me out here.

Is the traditional Sunday morning service where I’m supposed to be fed milk or meat? What is its role? I don't want milk anymore. I'm a steak man. Perhaps we're supposed to get meat in a small group during the week? Some of you might say "You need to be involved more. That's where you'll grow." I am involved, I enjoy it and I do grow, but that's not what we’re talking about here.

Perhaps we have this all backwards? What if I was fed meat at church, chewed on it for a few days then discussed more and deeper with my peers in my small group during the week? How would that work? But what about the people who need milk? Well maybe our role as meat eaters is to nurse the ones who have been born into our midst until they can eat meat? Some of you, who are reading this that are in my small group, may be saying that's exactly what we're doing, discussing Sundays message on Thursdays. My question to you would be what was the focus of todays message? Was it the gospel for maybe 2 or 3 percent of the people or feeding steak to the other 97 percent of the people who already on that journey. I can't answer that question for you, but I can tell you about what I felt when I left. If the main focus of the traditional Sunday morning message is "getting souls into the Kingdom" then what will the flock look like in a few years?

The gospel is relevant to all generations, but is the way it's being presented to my generation relevant? I'd never ask a friend that doesn't follow Christ to come to my church. That statement is incredible and tragic, but honest. Am I ashamed of Christ or His message? Or am I afraid that they would never come back or be totally turned off to Christianity? Perhaps I'm being too cynical or judgmental?

Just some of my thoughts in the discussion...

Matt Walsh. Questionable Theology: Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 22:12:00 +0000

One of the motives of this weblog is to prevoke thought about spititual matters and raise the spiritual climate of the maritimes. One of my closest friends who I went to Junior High and High School with, Matt Walsh, has a lot of Biblical studies under his belt and has just started his own blog with a similar vision in mind.

So from time to time I'm going to point you in his direction because I think we can all learn something.

Please read this weblog.

A Whispering

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 21:25:00 +0000

2:42 AM. Just finished watching Romeo & Juliet. The one from 1997 with Claire Daines and Leo DeCaprio. They both die in the end, for love of each other.

Do you ever hear God whispering to you? The past few weeks He’s been whispering to me. The message at church about mourning and grieving; and small group the same. Friends talking about the color black and black clothes. Another friend died her hair black. Crows following me during a walk in the park and perched on branches high above to greet meet when ever I go outside. Prophets prophesying about getting lower, going deeper and dieing. A dream of being smothered. Another dream of eye surgery and receiving new eyes.

Does it all mean something? What is God saying? The feeling is like an orchestra tuning before the symphony. Everything is swirling around and out of tune, and now slowly starts to come to a focus, starting to be in tune and resonate together with one voice.

I’ve really been enjoying autumn this year. Last year I was on tour with the band and missed it. I love alone time, being still and quite. Lately during those times I’ve felt what I thought was loneliness, sadness and perhaps even depression. But its not. It’s what I think is another type of grieving. Grieving over the life I had and what I thought I wanted. What I worked so hard to get; and yet it’s mixed with joy. Joy because deep in my heart I know this new life is better. Not easier but better.

For only when we truly die to ourselves can we really live. Christ is our perfect example of this. Death brings new life; new life brings joy. New life has new eyes…

Steve & Marsha Greene

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 02:17:00 +0000

Snook this one without the flash.

For more pics click here.

It was a nice day. I like my new little camera.

Been thinking a lot about my next post. Prolly be a few more days...

My Parents Cottage Project

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 02:26:00 +0000

I hope it's not getting too heavy on here. Here are some pics I took a few weeks ago of my parents new cottage. These are for you Charlotte because they're too big to email!

The guest cabin they built first.

Some pics of the lake.

I look forward to when it's finished. It's a great place to go to get away from the city. About 1.5H from Halifax.

Notice and Disclaimer to Readers

noreply@blogger.com (Tim) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 15:13:00 +0000

Notice: Any comments signed "Anonymous" will not be published.

Disclaimer: The author of this blog (me) does not claim to be a perfect person or claim to know everything about God and His ways. See 1 Corinthians 1:25. Furthermore, the views expressed in this blog may not always reflect the authority, and be in harmony with, the Word of God because of my sinful nature. See Romans 3:23. If any person(s) disagrees with what I have posted, I welcome and invite signed comments (within reason) so that we may engage in an adult, peaceful, and Christ centered discussion. I will also prayerfully consider, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, and with the advice of my peers and those in authority over me (mentors and pastors) the readers comments.

In my opinion, readers who disagree with that I have posted, but do not sign their name either A: Don't really believe what they are saying or B: Are ashamed of their comments /convictions and do not wish to be held accountable for what they have said.

I will most likely continue to post about "Hot" topics in the future. One of my desires is that followers of Christ know what they believe in, and more importantly why they believe it...