MxPx - Secret Weapon

I know that this album has been out for a few months, but I just started this blog so give me some slack.

I have been a MxPx fan ever since I bought Teenage Politics. Since then I have bought every album they have released. Their newest album "Secret Weapon" is not their best work, but it is certainly not their worst.

This album is full of fun, light-hearted pop-punk songs that make you want to roll down your window and drive to a nursing home where you want to bake cookies for old people all day. It is just a fund album.

The album kicks off with "Secret Weapon" which is a fun start to this new album. It is a simple song which makes you bob your head. This song is followed by "Shut It Down" which is a song about spending a little too much time with technology and not enough time with real people. This song also contains a little shout out to The Clash when you hear Mike Herrera yell over the opening guitar, "This is a public service announcement....with guitar!!!" If you do not understand this slight homage paid to a great band then I highly recommend you go out and buy Combat Rock by the Clash.

"Here's To The Life" is another high quality song that also lays on a slight spiritual feel to the album. This song seems to be about desiring to get back to the life you want to live, not the one that you end up living.

The next two tracks, "Top Of The Charts" and "Punk Rock Celebrity" are probably the two weakest songs on this album. They are a little too "poppy" for my taste. However, the next track, "Contention" is straight forward punk rock which makes you want to break something, which is ironic because the song is about how violence does not solve any problem.

"Angels" is a great song that discusses the desire to move on to a better place in eternity. "Drowning" is also a fun song that is laced with introspection.

The remaining tracks on this album seem to all have their strong points, whether it is the Rancid influenced song "Chop Shop" which is based on an actual murder that took place in the band's hometown, or Beach Boys influenced "Tightly Wound" which is probably my favorite track on the album.

I highly recommend purchasing this CD.

Songs to listen to:

-Tightly Wound

-Bass So Low

-You're On Fire

Songs to skip over:

-Punk Rock Celebrity

-Hoo-Ha Jangle

-Top Of The Charts

On a scale of one to ten:

8.5

microwavable chinese food

No matter what the box says...it tastes like crap

talk radio theology

Today on my hour long commute home from work I decided to flip on the radio to see what was happening in the world of sports. In case you did not know, I tend to only listen to Cd's or ESPN radio in the car. However, ESPN was only talking about the Patriots and how they are evil because they taped the Jets defensive signals.

After a while I got tired of this and decided to flip through random channels to see what what kind of information I could use to rot my brain.

The first time I flipped the channel I came across a very angry conservative who was complaining that George Bush was too liberal (yes, you read that right). It seemed to him that everything that was happening around him was wrong and that he wanted everyone to know about it. I listened to this short obese man with perfectly parted grey hair and a three piece suit talk for about fifteen minutes before I changed the station. In case you are wondering I am describing him according the image that popped in my head as he spoke. During the course of this time I never heard him say what he actually believed.

When I flipped the station I landed on another talk radio program that was on the other side of the spectrum. The lady, who I pictured to have a scarf in her hair and wearing a tie-dye shirt with pink tinted sunglasses, was complaining that republicans were a bunch of liars and that they should all be forced to endure the torture that they have put different people through. I ended up listening to this lady for about twenty minutes before I gave up and went back to here people on ESPN comparing Michael Vick to Pete Rose. Through the time listening the liberal station I also never heard them say what they actually believe.

I began thinking about how the Church tends to respond to people who adhere to a different belief system than it's own. I think that far to often we resort to the same tactics as hot winded talk radio hosts. We tend to be more focused on making sure that we are bashing what others believe rather than stating what we believe.

I think that taking this approach to what some call "apologetics" as being a completely faithless act that shows the world that we are scared that other religions might point to a truth that the Bible does not point to.

If we as the Church were sure of the truth of the gospel we would not get caught up in attempting to tear down other belief systems. They would not threaten us. We would only be concerned with how accurately we are presenting the truth, not how effectively we are dismissing lies.

It is time for Christians to stop being concerned how we can point out the faults in the darkness and start being concerned with how we can enhance the light. The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ does not need us to take down it's competition. It is an insult to the Bible to think so. God's word is truth, it always has been, it always will be, so please don't be threatened by what other people believe, just hold fast to truth.

"Why ask the darkness why it is so dark, it is far more beneficial to ask the light why it is not as bright as it should be." - Rob Bell

new job

I am currently looking for a new job. Hopefully something that will involve at least 3 of the following...

-More money than I need (that means more to give away).
-Benifits that do not cost more than doctor's visits.
-A chair that does not hurt by back at the end of the day.
-A place to flex my creative muscle (I think that it located in the ear lobe).
-A place with a concern for people.
-A place with a concern for eternity.
-A place with out a line to use the microwave at lunch.
-A place where people clean the seat (you know what I am talking about).
-A place with free weekly massages for all employees.
-A place that appreciates me quoting movies and TV shows such as The Office, Scrubs, Blades of Glory, Office Space, Tommy Boy, and Swingers.
-Cigarette breaks for people who don't smoke.

and last but not least...

-NAP TIME!!!!

But seriously, there is something to be said about loving your job and feeling like you are contributing to a place that contributes to something bigger than itself. Whow knows what the future holds...maybe the Ghost of Christmas Past will visit me soon.

matrimony

So I am now a month into this strange world called marriage. We are back in the swing of things and I am loving it. There is still a lot to learn in terms of how to be a good husband, but I will get there. So far I have found out a few things.

-Women have A LOT of stuff in the bathroom. In our bathroom there are four cabinets and two drawers. Meredith uses all but 1/2 of one drawer.

-Apparently dirty underwear on the floor is not "acceptable".

-My idea of clean and her idea of clean are different. (I take the stance that as long as there is nothing growing on the mess then it is clean).

-I have also learned that it does take A LOT of work.

This is not a surprise to me, I knew going in to marriage that it would be work. I love the work though. There is nothing like spending time with my best friend, getting to know her more, watching college football together, and all kinds of other things.

I am starting to see why the bible relates the Christian experience to that of a marriage. It is not all easy. It takes work. There are highs, lows, and a degree of "figuring it all out".

In the midst of figuring it all out it is good to know that we are loved by the bridegroom.

Not a long post, or a deep one. Just some thoughts. I also wanted a chance to put a wedding picture or two on here...

This is us outside of the reception hall.

Me and all of my groomsman.

CAKE!!!