Something to remember

Even in this world of communication, there are a lot of lonely people. I feel lonely sometimes, even right after chatting with friends and stuff. Why do I feel lonely?

I think the reason that people are lonely, or a large part of the reason, anyway, is that they don't have, or have very little fellowship. If I have goofy conversations for an hour, I'll feel empty after I'm done. If I have even a little fellowship, though, I know that the conversation was not in vain.

Anyone have any ideas/comments?

Oh, and I had a great Thanksgiving!

Nothing much

Nothin' much goin' on with me...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Tagged

Rules:1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)
The Hobbit
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence, which is: Quickly now to the top of this rock the eagles swooped one by one and set down their passengers.
4. Post the next three sentences: "Farewell!" they cried, "wherever you fare, till your eyries receive you at the journey's end!" That is the polite thing to say among eagles.
"May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks," answered Gandalf, who knew the correct reply.
5. Tag five people. Let's see. . .
Umm.... personally, I don't see the point of this, so I'm not tagging anyone, lol.

Marquee signs

Random quote of the week, from AutoBell Car Wash (on the marquee):

Temperature Drops
Still Your Stop

It takes a long time to figure it out... if you're anything like me, that is. =P

Here's an old one from a church marquee:

BBQ Blood Drive and Bake Sale

If say it kinda fast, it sounds a lot different. Try it.

Anyone else have funny marquee mess-ups?

Becoming the Archetype

For once, I'm not actually talking about the band. I'm talking about the meaning of the phrase. An archetype is, according to the Random House Dictionary:

- the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype.

The point of becoming the archetype is to become the ideal... absolute perfection. This is my greatest motivation for holiness, other than to please God. I want to become the absolute ideal.

That's about all I've got to say, so I want to hear what everyone else has to say.

Rediscovering...

...GM.

No, not the car company. GM not only stands for General Motors, but it also stands for General MIDI. Learn something new every day, huh?

Anywho, I've been rediscovering sound fonts (the basis of general midi). Most sound fonts sound terrible, but there are some that sound half-decent. =P Really, though, some do sound pretty good. I'm gonna try working with an SF2 (Sound Font 2) Sample-based synth. Who knows where it will lead?

And I've stopped using the composing program I've been using, MULAB. It kept crashing, which I believe was the result of ASIO4All, the ASIO driver I was using to run the audio.

Anywho (I love that word!), if that made any bit of sense to you, you're either a geek, a sound engineer, or Nathan.

Cheers!

Dreaming

I am resolved to not research things (such as computers, musical instruments, cars, etc. ) unless I'm actually interested in buying them. It wastes a lot of my time looking stuff up and dreaming about it.

Anywho, that's the most random and short post I've done yet, I believe.

This final breath

No I'm not dead. =P

Some lyrics I might use for a song (revised, of course)...

/verse 1/

You have been good
I've never been in need
You're all I've ever wanted on earth
Faithful You have been
You answer all my prayers
Given me more than I asked for

/chorus/

This final breath is not my own
I Lay it down before Your throne
I live my life and die this death
All for my God, my Lord, my King

/verse 2/

On this solid rock
I have spent my days
Through troubled times and hours
Now I lift my heart
In praise to my King
He redeemed me and kept me

/chorus/

/bridge/

I'll stand, I'll stand, I'll stand
Stand for my God
'Til the last dying breath
I'll stand, yeah... (repeat)

/chorus/ (2x)

/bridge/

/bridge 2/

I await glory
I await glory
Take me to glory!
God, Take me to glory!

---

That's it. Yes, I already have music for it. I think that the music fits the words, too. The verses and chorus are rather solemn, but end on an uplifting progression. The bridge is very triumphant sounding. Don't ask me to email the recording to you ('cause for one thing, I haven't recorded it yet, and the "producer" is gonna be the first to hear it.)

Yesterday, I accidentally took the marquee keys home from work. Yeah. Emily took them back in the morning, thankfully. =)

That's about it! Adieu!

Nothing to post

I really want to post Sacrifice by Tree63 again, but that would be weird, since I already devoted a whole post to it.

The trip to Maryland went really well. We were actually only gone for 48 hours (36 in Maryland). I got to meet my cousin's wife and her family, and I got to meet a few more of the Altrogges. Yes, Nathan, /those/ Altrogges. =P But, yeah, it was a good time. I only took scenic pictures, 'cause I prefer talking over taking pictures when I'm around people.

And, that's about all I've got to say... maybe I'll do like Hannah G. and post all of my favorite bands, later. I dunno.

I wrote another song (or rather finished one that I wrote a few days ago). I can't email it to anyone because it's not recorded. The guitar part is too complicated to write in MIDI. I tried, but it didn't turn out right.

Okay, that's actually all I've got to say. =)

Upon Request...

A few people requested that I post one of my songs, so here is something that I wrote yesterday and today. It's not actually finished... I just wrote it once, then put it on here. Anyway, it's the first keyboard-based piece I've written as of today. Enjoy! =)

Revelation

Revelation 22 (ESV)...

16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

20 He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

---

I don't know what it is about these verses, but when I read them last night, I literally cried. I guess that they proved to me even more God's love, and that He is coming back, and that His Word is true. I love the Bible. =)

Aaaand... I wrote a bunch of music today. Not a whole song, yet, though.

And I just finished reading Uncle Tom's Cabin. Next to the Bible, it is my favorite book. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. Even though it's not a true story (though parts are true), it really helped me to see how the Bible applies to everything. That past sentence really doesn't make any sense unless you read the book... lol. So READ IT!

How can I ever cease to lift my heart in Praise to Him?





---

I don't have much to post, but this is something that has been pressing on my heart lately. I (almost) literally weep for people who have no desire to worship our God. He is the One who has loved us from eternity. Let us, simply put, love Him back.

I wrote and recorded an entire song today. I think it's about as good as the last good one. No, Nathan, it's not the one I showed you last night. =P

The Epigone

The Epigone by Becoming the Archetype

There's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said
I'm just repeating myself repeating someone else
Equally incapable of uttering a single new thought
Yet you are ever worthy of adoration
So how can I for a moment cease to lift my heart in praise?
Your name is glory
My song is victory
And I will keep on singing
There is no opposition
Nothing can stand in your way
Make my life your own

---

Yes, it is screamo. But it's my favorite band, and their lyrics are amazing also.
An epigone is an undefined follower or imitator, btw.

I'm definitely not happy with the outcome of the election, but I'm not too sad, either. I know that God will complete his purpose through Obama, even though I can't see how. Ah, well, it's in His hands.

Random

Okay, so I haven't posted in a while (yet again)... BUT! I am posting now, so all is well.

So, I have been thinking about a few things lately...

1. Serving requires sacrifice. I had never really thought about it until recently that serving really does require sacrifice.
Some things, like opening the door for someone, require sacrifice of pride. That kind of sacrifice has an immediate effect on the server and the served (I guess that's the word I want to use). The server is moved along in the process of sanctification by becoming more humble. The served person is served (who would have guessed?). Those kinds of things are the easiest for me, because I can see the immediate effect it will have on /me/.
Other things, though, such as serving in children's ministry, require a sacrifice of time and, in a small way, relationships. When I'm helping in children's ministry, or in the Starting Point class, or doing drama team, etc, I don't get to talk to my friends during that time. If you know me very well, I usually go to church at like 7:30, and, besides setting stuff up, I like to talk to my friends who come early. So, when I'm doing children's ministry, I have to sacrifice a total of about an hour of conversation. When I do drama team, it's about an hour and a half, and the same for the Starting Point class. I really like to hang out with my friends, so doing these things really is a sacrifice for me.

What prompted me to think of this? "All I Have is Christ," duh! Really, though, it did. In the end, I'm not serving the kids in Children's ministry, or that person that I open the door for. I'm serving Jesus. If all I have really is Jesus, then serving should be a joy. When I serve, I'm worshipping Him. That's all that really matters in the end. It's worth much more than my time spent with friends, talking or just hanging-out (I know y'all know it's so. =P )

That song has really affected so many people...

2. I need to start working on evangelism. Last night, at Care Group, we talked about our "One Life" person. Again, if you know me well, you would know that I don't have a One Life person. This is mostly from my ignorance of the world around me. The media and nominal Christians have so blinded me to this dying world, that I find it hard to see the immediate surroundings as a ground for ministry. I need to start taking more of an interest in, especially, my co-workers' religious views, church background, political opinions, etc. I know that God will open the doors for evangelism through that.

3. I'm still trying to write music for Awake... my only frustration so far has been that there is no such thing as a good, free guitar virtual instrument. I've tried DVS Guitar, DSK Electric GuitarZ, SuperRiffGuitar, LemonStrum, and a few others, but none really sound like a real guitar. I guess I'll have to wait until we actually record the "real deal" for there to be a real guitar sound in my songs. Oh, well.

That's about it. I hope there was something in at least part of this post that intererested you. =)