Change Your Ways - Autumn

Change Your Ways - Autumn

I recently scored the Winter version of 'Change Your Ways', a song I wrote back in 2000 which emphasizes one of the most important doctrines in the Bible, and one that goes fully hand-in-hand with the gospel of Christ… the all important doctrine of repentance. Without true repentance there's not a single one of us who can turn to God and follow His ways. When sending His Messiah, God first paved the way by sending a prophet whom He referred to as "the greatest of all prophets" who's main message was for us to "repent and change our ways and get ready for His Christ".

Change Your Ways could have been the piece which begins the Omega, but it is concreted-in as the final piece of the Alpha.

Though I wrote both melody and lyrics almost twelve years ago, when scoring the Autumn version recently, I understood that something would be different about this arrangement. To my amazement a new counter-melody came which changes the song completely! The counter melody runs throughout this Autumn arrangement and is brought to the foreground in the second verse/chorus. If you are familiar with the original version, and with the Winter version, you will be quite surprised by what happens with this Autumn strings/symphonic rendition. It never ceases to amaze me when God's spirit works in incredible, unexpected ways!

Activism

When social activism/political activism is not based on God's established laws of morality, ethics, and virtue, though it might bring about some good, it will naturally bring about some bad as well. If the activism contains far greater ungodly principles, it will also bring about far more negative results than positive.

Hello, Jerry Springer

It's bewildering that some people don't strive to be high class. It's as if low class is good enough for them. They have the means... the social influences, the finances, the education, and the opportunities, and yet an almost conscience decision seems to be made to aim for the lowest, the trashiest, and the poorest taste possible. And all the while giving the impression they are oblivious that their sights are set so low.

Who Do You Like?

Some people we really, really like. We like everything about them. Most people we like... somewhat. Still other people we like in spite of the things which irritate us. There are a few people we try to like but we don't always succeed. Then there are those folks we just can't like, no matter what. Finally, there's the 'good riddance' folks. We would just as soon they be locked away and out of sight/out of mind. Forget about liking them! -((Hey, did I tell you that I like you?))-

The Rise of Ants

I've been around long enough to know that nobody stays on top of the hill for very long. I've seen companies far bigger than either Apple or Sony fall. Here's a wake-up call for you... tomorrow, neither Sony, Apple or Microsoft could even be around anymore. Just accept that fact. Tomorrow's giant could easily be that little no-name company that's churning out junk sold at flea markets. You never can tell. The death, demise, or shrinkage of giants has happened so often in my lifetime that I've grown to accept it. The rise of ants has also happened. Twelve years ago if anyone had told you that Apple would have a bigger year than Microsoft you would have thought them a fool. Thirty years ago you wouldn't have expected either of them to be doing as well as Sony.

Tares

I was just reading about the tares sown among the wheat... the implications are incredible! It also makes sense of so many things and sheds light on why things are, and why they aren't better than they could be. The sneaky thing about the tares is that most people standing outside of the field can mainly see the tares and not the wheat, and yet they believe the tares to be the wheat! They also aren't able to comprehend that if they were in that field, they too would be that tare which they so highly criticize.

Review

Don't you just hate reading online product reviews that receive lots of five stars... alongside tons of one star reviews too! I mean, what's this all about? The product can't be both a oner and a fiver at the same time. Either it's good, or it's bad, but it really can't be both. It's enough to cause you to lose faith in the whole consumer review process. It was probably just as valid to listen to my opinionated old grandad say, "Son, this here's a good one. That one there's a piece of junk."

How do you Spell Philosophy?

Philosophical quotations often sound far deeper and more meaningful than what they actually are. You can quote me on this. -(( We can make almost any silly thought come across as important by phrasing it in the form of a quotable statement. ))-

'One Way Traffic'

I've noticed that web forums are a place where people have a lot to say but have little desire to listen and learn.

Meetings

Though we are told how important meetings are, they are actually that time where we sit there thinking, "Boy! I've got a lot of work to do and this thing's way too long! He's going over the same old unimportant stuff which is keeping me from getting back to the really important things that must get done! Get this thing over with... please!!!"

The Speck

Too many folks are great at looking the other way when it hits close to home but are quick to point a finger when it's the actions of someone that doesn't matter to them.

Editing

Though I'm an outspoken advocate for editing and feel most things are better when edited down, another valid view is that which is taken when studying ancient writings. Scribes had to function in place of a printing press (since none existed) and over the course of time, changes, editorial decisions, and errors would be added to the original text. Our standard procedure when studying ancient manuscripts is to go back as far as possible... the closer we get to the original, the more accurate it is perceived to be.

Our Gate

Jesus' teachings are quite out of sync with modern popular thought.
The vast multitudes should really hope that He is quite wrong about the information He conveyed to us.

"Enter by the narrow gate; 
for wide is the gate and 
broad is the way that 
leads to destruction, 
and there are many who go in by it. 
Narrow is the gate 
and difficult is the way 
which leads to life, 
and there are few who find it."
— Matthew 7:13

Value

Some things, no matter how worthless you think they are, has value to someone.

Trapped

Speed traps are reminders to otherwise law-abiding citizens that they too are lawbreakers on occasion.
Unfamiliar laws bring this point home even further on the day you learn of some unknown law that you've been routinely breaking for years.

Believe

Is there ever a point that reasoning and logic stop and faith and trust have to take over? The truth is that many varied areas of our life are fueled with a supplement of faith and trust in order that we are able to get out of bed and function for the remainder of the day. But that said, each one of us do have those certain areas that we just don't have enough faith to believe in something. I know there's a few personal areas that I say, "I just don't have enough faith, and logic just doesn't supply enough facts for me to believe in (whatever)." Those are the areas that my "test paper" has a big red 'F' marked at the top.
(((Sometimes an F is not all that bad... as long as it's not of life-or-death importance... and when it boils down to 'who's grading that paper' and do I really care whether they give an A or an F. And, is the F actually an A and the A in reality an F when put into their proper light?)))

Comprehend?

Don't Assume the Unassuming

It sure would be nice if more people would learn that 'unassuming' is really a cherished way to be. It's so much more positive and uplifting than it's opposite extreme. Unassuming people don't always make history but their contribution far outweigh the negatives that so many 'history makers' have imposed on us.

Art

Sharp and detailed or fuzzy and representative?

Both are valid. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.
Both make their own contributions in their own way.
You can reject one in favor of the other, but please remember...
Both have their time and place to be most effective!

Know Who to Choose

Insightful wisdom knows when a person who you don't particularly like has the right combination of abilities and traits to do the best possible job. It also knows when the person who you like and admire is not the right one to get the job done effectively.

Argumentative

The arsenal of an argumentative spirit is: inflated ego, war-faring battle attack, showing one's dominance, lack of respect, need to win, and intolerance.
The fruit is: strife, dissension, separation, belittlement, fatigue, and many other resulting casualties.

--- All because of an improper need to be proven right in one's opinion... at any cost!

((Being referred to as argumentative is never a compliment.))

The Prophets Spoke Tonight - Winter

The Prophets Spoke Tonight - Winter

The 'Prophets Spoke Tonight' doesn't focus on just one but collectively lumps the many Hebrew prophets all together as a group. By doing so, the song covers many centuries of prophetic proclamations, our response to the message, and our dealings with the messenger. Do we listen to their warnings and proclamations or do we instead enjoy the flattery of the false prophets? The song also sings testimony to God's patience and persistence in dealing with, and allowing us the opportunity to repent and return to Him. And no, it's not pretty... but it does show humanity in our true light and it sheds light on why we need the provision God made.

Sharing

It's better to get ripped-off by a con-man than to hold on to everything you have because you're too stingy to share or give.

Get Along

There's only one easy way to get along with people, and that is: just don't
be around them!
All other ways require work and effort.

Too Many of Me

Here's a good reason why I don't sign my artwork using my name...

According to the census numbers, there are 537 Philip White's in the United States. There are another 873 who use the alternate spelling of Phillip. This makes a total of 1410 who have the same name.

A Google search shows there are multitudes of Philip White artists and musicians! But when I did a search for artists that go by pdw (which is how I sign my art) I was the only one that showed-up.

I guess my next search should be to find out how many are serving prison time for dastardly deeds. LOL

Down Through the Ages - Autumn

Down Through the Ages - Autumn

I finished scoring both arrangements of "Down Through the Ages" the end of March. This Autumn version contains plucked strings whereas the Winter version emphasizes guitar picking.