Effect & Cause

When I was a kid, if someone asked me why I did or didn't do something I would say "because I'm a __________(religion / belief system)". Now, I'd say "because I believe _________ (belief about the matter)". I think our common consideration for others actions are the child version - "They do this because they're a Sikh", or "They don't do that because they're Mormons". When, really, maybe they are a Sikh because doing this thing is important to them. Maybe they're a Mormon because it lines up with their value system. Maybe they're a Jew because they truly believe the Torah is holy. Maybe they don't just believe it's holy because they're a Jew.

Pickin up what I'm putting down?


[afterthought: when I say "belief" I don't mean a sentimental desire for the matter to be truth, but an intellectual and/or spiritual conviction.]

momentum

Summer 2008: Wrote "Let Us Reconcile"
Fall 2008: Recorded the album
Winter 2009: West Coast Tour
Spring 2009: West Coast Tour
Summer 2009: Wrote and Recorded "Freeze & Thaw"
Fall 2009: West Coast Tour
Winter 2010: West Coast Tour
Spring 2010: West Coast Tour (starting next week!)

it's been the best 20 months of my life.

Records

I've been building my record collection - because it's irresistibly cheap. Here are my latest buys:

Stan Getz Quartet feat. Astrud Gilberto - Live @ Cafe Au Go Go
Blues Project - Live @ Town Hall
Aaron Copland, Bernstein conducting - Billy the Kid, Rondo, Appalachian Suite, + more
Blood, Sweat & Tears - self-titled, BS&T 4
John B Sebastian - self-titled
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Will The Circle Be Unbroken? (feat. every 1stgen country artist)


... yea, I think those are the recent ones. Totaling $14, i believe. 7 records. score!


These are the vinyls I'm keeping my eyes open for:

Blood, Sweat & Tears - BS&T 3, New Blood, No Sweat, Mirror Image
The Kinks - Muswell Hillbillies, Are The Village Green Preservation Society, Face to Face, Something Else, Lola vs Powerman and the Money-go-round pt 1, Arthur
The Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe in Magic, Daydream, Hums, Everything Playing
Anything Simon & Garfunkel
Procol Harum - self-titled, Shine On Brightly, A Salty Dog
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto
Something by Donovan
Elton John - Madman Across The Water
Yes- Close to the Edge, Tales of Topographical Oceans

I look for these when I go to record stores. If you find a store that has a fair amount of these artists (but for cheap, sorry, Bop Street), give me a shout! I wanna go.

liszt.

work hard.
sleep well - not too long, not too short.
eat balanced meals.
read a book a week.
read as few recent novels as you can.
dress simply.
keep your home clean.
take long baths. use the time to read if you'd like.
spend your recreation time well. don't waste it on stressful entertainment.
don't watch blockbuster movies unless the story isn't recycled.
exercise self-control.
have thick pajamas, and thin pajamas.
drink caffeine-free tea if you want to relax at night.
work in your yard when the sun's out.
learn history, theology and philosophy, so your worldview isn't a product of the times.
increase your vocabulary. with new words come new ideas.
listen to jazz. don't like it? start with dave brubeck.
listen to classical.
drink water more than anything else.
don't download music illegally unless it's a try-before-you-buy or you already own the vinyl.
look at maps.
go on walks or ride your bike.
pray for your friends.
brush your teeth.
use deodorant.
don't facebook or tweet too much. take a break.
live off of less than you earn.
give.
learn an instrument.
make mix cds for friends.
read poetry. not the fluffy stuff.
think. think. think.
be aware of your behavior.
hang out with somebody new.
go to towns you haven't been to before and explore them.
walk to the tops of mountains. big ones.
go to the ballet. and musicals.
don't play games too much. but also, play games with people.
have deep conversations.
have light conversations.
repent.
wash your sheets.
don't blog too much.
don't text too much.
seek wisdom.
cook.
rearrange your room every so often.
if you're single, enjoy it for all it's worth.
if you're taken, make sure it's something good.

what you wear, what you eat, what you listen to, what you know, how you decorate your home, how you vacation, what you do or don't do doesn't make you any more special than anyone else. don't try to give yourself value by these silly, trivial things. Seek YHWH. Know YHWH. Walk with YHWH.

Learn the teachings of Jesus and follow them.