Fairness

Some things that might seem right and equal on the surface are not always what they seem.
Take this statement for example: "I'll do the cooking, you do the cleaning up."
This sounds fair. What could possibly be wrong with that?

Well, this could be said by a person who absolutely loves to cook to someone who has no love for doing dishes. And to make it even worse, the person doing the cooking has a tendency to be far messier than what the job entails. They tend to strew items in places they should not go.

So, when you hear something that sounds fair and apparently makes sense, look into things a little deeper and you might find a whole different story lurks below the surface.

God's Promises

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  (James 1:12)

KEY WORDS...
Blessed 
perseveres 
trial 
approved 
receive 
"crown of life" 
promised 
"those who love Him"

Sheep and Wolves

Bewildering when an ungodly person does a good deed, and disappointing when a Christian does an act of selfishness. Both contrasting extremes go against the very nature and potential of their faith and lifestyle.

Handing On a Legacy - Winter

Handing On a Legacy - Winter

The Winter arrangement of "Handing On a Legacy" has now been posted to Soundcloud.

Legacy #2

If you think the legacy you leave behind will be at your job or vocation, after just one generation you are that "who is this person" in the picture on the office wall.

Legacy

Famous people are remembered for their public accomplishments... all the rest of us, if we're remembered for a couple generations or so, are remembered for our parenting and/or family legacy.

What We Really Deserve

Entitlement can be such a nasty trait.
It showcases and brings out the very worst in human nature. It knows no socio-economic boundaries… the wealthy, the poor, and everyone in-between can be guilty of demonstrating an attitude of entitlement. It rears it's ugly head in those who have been handed life on a silver platter by their parents or ancestors, but it also is equally offensive when displayed by those who's handouts have come from the government or other institutions.

Do you feel entitled? If so, enjoy the air you breathe, 'cause that's about all you might really be entitled to. Maybe.

500 Greatest Songs of All Time

Rolling Stone magazine has a list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
Their list would be an insult to anyone who listened and enjoyed music prior to the past fifty years.
I got so bored with their list that I went ahead and skipped to the top ten. Guess what? There's only a couple in the top ten that I even like, much less would place in the top ten.

I guess their definition of "all time" is different than anyone who considers all time to be from the beginning of recorded history and not from the beginning of the rock and roll era.

I knew there had to be a reason why I was never much of a Rolling Stone magazine fan.

Most Problems have a Temporary Solution

My dilemma.
My car was so incredibly full with furniture, groceries, and other stuff I could barely squeeze into the driver's seat, much less change gears. The gear shift could not be pulled back no matter how hard I tried.
My solution.
I drove the six miles home by using 1st, 3rd, and 5th (the three forward gears). 2nd, 4th, and reverse were not an option.
I made it home, no problem.

Personal Advice to iPhone & iPad Owners…

In order to get the most out of your iPhone or iPad, you really have to get familiar with, and learn all about the iTunes App Store. It is only by adding pertinent apps that your device fully comes alive and becomes the fun tool which you had hoped it would be!

Though it's true that Apple has included several excellent apps with your device, when you consider there's over 500,000 other apps available, the iPhone/iPad only reaches it's full potential when other great apps are added to it!

The iTunes app store allows you to search for various types of apps in whatever category you might be interested in. You can read a description of it and evaluate whether the app's price is worth it. Most apps in the store are priced far lower than what you are accustomed to paying for computer apps. It's rare to find apps priced over $10… most are priced below $5, and many, many are completely FREE!

Here's the best advice I can give to you: Since it's hard to keep up with all the many apps added to the store on a daily basis, and it's also difficult to keep up with the apps which go on sale for a day or two, you need to get one of the 'Daily app alerts' apps from the store. It will tell you on a daily basis about:
1) The new apps added to the store on that day.
2) Apps which are on sale (a $5 app might now be $1, but will eventually go back up, so get it while it's priced low).
3) Apps that normally have a price, but for that day are offered FREE!

My favorite app alert is called 'AppZapp'. You can configure tons of information about what you're looking for (you might only want to be notified about game apps but not office apps, etc). By using AppZapp, I've added hundreds of apps to my iPad and have not spent much money at all. I just had to be patient and wait for that $12 app to go on sale for $2 or so.

Now go explore the app market and find out what is out there.
___________

Hint: a couple of my Facebook specific iPad apps are so excellent, they put Facebook's own website to shame. They've spoiled me to the point that when I view Facebook on a regular computer, it's quite disappointing.

a Hardened Heart

It's quite easy to comprehend when someone despicable has hardened their heart. Surely, the murderer, the pedophile, the deceitful liar, the cheating spouse, the abuser, the greedy, and society's numerous villains have hardened their hearts against what is good and true.


But, what about someone you love, respect, and admire? What about your favorite professor who has expanded your vision and filled your head with knowledge, insight, facts, and figures? The teacher who not only taught their subject with a depth and scholarly foundation, but who also reached out to help you see that many things your parents taught weren't right.


That person was also quite active in what they considered to be 'good causes'. They had several causes which they felt were making this world a better place. They considered themselves to be a do-gooder of sorts, and encouraged you to be one also… as long as you took-up-arms for what they considered to be good and upstanding. Heaven forbid you take strong stands for causes which they do not agree with. (Thesis have received an 'F' for such blasphemy.)


Oh yeah, they also helped you see the fallacy of your spiritual beliefs. They emphasized that all religions are wrong and are only for the simple, uneducated, and foolish… not for the intelligent and educated. All these religions are wrong… especially any that proclaim the name of Christ! Jesus-centered beliefs are the worst of them all.


Did I mention that the great and highly-educated professor shares something in common with all the folks mentioned in the first paragraph? They too are guilty of hardening their heart. The results of a hardened heart reaches many areas of life, not just the dark areas which you personally feel are bad and harmful.


Jesus didn't mince any words about this. Numerous verses reflect His opinion about anyone who causes someone not to believe in Him. He refers to them as "wolves, deceivers, venomous, and false teachers". He places them in the same category as the wicked who do all the harmful practices mentioned above.


We are told to 'guard our heart', not to harden it.

Tribulation

To all who take comfort in the hope you will miss the Lord’s wrath in the days of tribulation…

Don’t get too smug, for in the days leading up to that point, man’s persecution against the church will rapidly increase. It’s true that God’s wrath won’t hit yet, but life will be anything but a picnic for God’s people.

Too many believers are taking comfort where comfort should not be. Our hope is completely in the Lord… no matter how bad things get. Let your faith increase and the gospel spread, but don’t expect a life free of hardship and persecution. That was never one of Jesus’ promises.

Erroneous Beliefs

The good thing about New Age beliefs is: they come and go.

The bad thing is: they come and go.

A good well-rounded theological principle

If you can't find it in scripture, both clearly and emphatically, then don't adhere to it as a definite.

-((When hearing someone's spiritual opinion, have them show you the place (or places) it can be found in scripture, and if they can, make sure they are keeping it in correct context.))-

Too much Lent

It's interesting that a regal branch of the western church quickly adopted, altered, and adhered to ceremonies, practices, and traditions which Jesus had so strongly rebuked the established religion of His day for holding.

'Them thar outward thangs don't mean a thang if yer heart ain't ware it's sposed to be!"

Musical Influences...

The music of the 60s was the music of my youth.
- The music of the 70s was the music of my early adulthood.
The music of the 80s was the music I adopted as my own.
- The music of the early 90s I enjoyed, but was disappointed by the late 90s.
The music from 2000-on I occasionally enjoy, but most often am quite disappointed with.

I do love some of the musical gems prior to the 60s (classical, film, era, big band, symphonic, folk, etc).

Hollywood Vice #141

Taking the rare, odd and unusual and presenting it in such a way that it not only becomes accepted, but many believe it to be the norm.

Miracle on the Damascus Road - Winter

Miracle on the Damascus Road - Winter

Miracles don't just happen every day,
On Damascus road nor on any other.
If we just take the time to pray, foes become our brother.

It doesn't matter where you have gone.
Or dreamin' of what might have been.
Stumbling as we rush into strife. On this road of life.

'Miracle on the Damascus Road' is #27 within the Alpha & Omega Suite's 35 parts.

Compromise

Here's a little trick about compromise... that which is false and untrue is sure to seek compromise far sooner than that which is true and accurate. This has everything to do with the nature of truth and the nature of lies.

Compromise allows a much greater advantage to the false since it has far less to lose by compromising. Additionally, closely bonded with untruth is the area of deceit, so the false always knows that if it can get it's foot in the door through compromise, it will be in position to later assert and gain control.

Truth really has no reason to compromise with that which is not true. By compromising, truth becomes watered-down to the point that it's foundation is destined to eventually collapse.

This simple principle can be observed throughout every area of our life. That is why it's vitally important to know and understand truth.

Egypt

I was admiring the spelling of the word 'Egypt', sort of in awe at a word that begins with one vowel followed by four harmonious consonants! I have been there on two occasions but never gave any thought regarding the way the name is spelled.
A Google search revealed that historical Egyptian spellings are full of consonants... even containing words that harbor no vowels at all. This is quite different than our English words which heavily rely on vowels.

But before I jump to too many conclusions, just look at another famous Egyptian name: Cairo. In that case you've got a five letter word which contains three vowels, including an A and I together to create a long 'I' sound (unless we're referring to the town in Illinois).

--- I've blabbered on long enough, but I hope this comes in handy to anyone who feels stuck next time you're playing a spelling game!

Return of the Prodigal - Winter

Return of the Prodigal - Winter

In all honesty, this one caught me off guard.
When I composed it several years ago, I didn't fully understand it. Yes, I knew that it emphasized God's grace and redemption to all who go astray and are wayward. I fully understood the parable of the prodigal son returning to his father who greeted him with open arms... and how this perfectly illustrates our Father in heaven ready to accept us in our broken, repentant state.

What I didn't comprehend was what direction this song was supposed to take in order for the music to do justice to the strong lyrical message. Well I found out recently when contemplating and praying over the instrumental arrangement. Even I was surprised when the instruments brought out the beauty of the composition.

"Return of the Prodigal" is #28 in the Alpha & Omega Suite. This is the Winter variation from 'the Seasons'.


Wow! Even though I composed and arranged this, I'm surprised with the direction it went. ((TYJ!))

Art Museums

Honestly, have you ever noticed how many art museums are filled with so much really bad art?

-((Of course, this is only my low, humble opinion... but who says my opinion is worse than the buyers who are purchasing that junk to fill the gallery walls?))-

The Worst Song ever Written

It just goes to show how different we are in some ways.

Several months ago I saw a link to "the worst song ever written" and so out of curiosity I went to it and listened. And you know what? I loved it!

I also noticed that millions of people were absolutely wrong about the song. It was not the song that was bad... it was the studio production, recording, audio effects, and other factors which were not up to what they should have been.

There's comfort in being part of the large group, but there's occasionally truth to be found in taking a stand contrary to theirs.

Idols In The Mud - Autumn

Idols In The Mud - Autumn

______________________________

'Idols in the Mud' is dedicated to all the folks who either intentionally, or unintentionally, keep various idols in their life. Some of us stubbornly adhere to worshiping false gods; others have our idols in the form of belongings and financial security; others elevate media personalities. Either way, it is where our heart lies that prevents us from fellowshipping with the one authentic God.

'Idols in the Mud' is the brash proclamation of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. Their audacity prompted the living God to reach out and give clear evidence of His power, truth, and justice.

Thunder and lightning are heard on the second chorus. This represents the consuming fire which triumphed over the false deities Ahab and Jezebel defiantly worshiped and touted.

"There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited." (1 Kings 21:25)

_______________________

My composition 'Idols in the Mud' is one of my most exotic pieces, and the only one where two overlapping melodies compliment one another throughout the verses.

Divorced and Fired

An employer trying to explain why a co-worker has been let go is much like parents trying to explain to their child why they are getting a divorce.

Release original raw files

I have decided to release the original ‘raw’ version of the Alpha & Omega Suite.

Those are the old recordings of just singing and guitar… no other accompaniment added.

I realize there’s an audience for raw and rugged music. Also, those are the versions which formed the basis for the more-polished orchestrations which followed.

The Apostles Theme-Autumn

The Apostles Theme-Autumn

Original composition...

"The Apostles Theme"

The prestigious and highly educated leaders observed the confidence of Peter and John. They fully understood that these were uneducated and untrained men and yet their boldness, spiritual arguments, and authority were amazing and transcended their socioeconomic background!

This is the Autumn variation of the Apostles Theme, which I composed in 2007 and just recently scored.

National Parks

Top five national parks for generating area revenue...

(1) Great Smoky Mountains: $818 million
(2) Grand Canyon: $415 million
(3) Yosemite: $354 million
(4) Yellowstone: $334 million
(5) Blue Ridge Parkway: $299 million

We live in the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains. It's interesting that park generates almost double the tourism dollars as the second-place national park. It's even more interesting when considering the Smokies do not charge any admission for park visitation when almost every other national park does charge for entrance!

Gutter

"Get your mind out of the gutter."

Remember when we used to hear this saying?
Now when it's more applicable than ever, you don't hear it as often.
(And those poor old gutters seem to be overflowing.)

Inconsiderate

If you can feel the vibrations of the music blaring from the car next to you, it's much like being attacked in warfare.

File this under: "No Concern for Other People"

Know Your Tool

Some of the worst pictures are taken by the best cameras.
Why?
Because a tool is only as good as the time taken to use it well.

Eyes Wide Open - Winter

Eyes Wide Open - Winter

"Eyes Wide Open" is the novelty song from the Alpha & Omega Suite. It is written in the style of the popular music from the 1910s when audio recording was in it's infancy. This is the song of the skeptic. It is for those who are confused in their belief, but are sincerely looking for honest and truthful answers to life's questions.

God does not hold it against us when we are spiritually cynical or skeptical… as long as our attitude does not blind us from recognizing the truth when it is presented and made known to us. We are to be like the apostle Paul when he was confronted by the truth… we are to throw-away our disbelief and incorrect ideas and move ahead to the road He desires us to be on!

This is the Winter composition (piano, and much flute and panpipes as well)!

The Trial of Job Ballad - Winter

The Trial of Job Ballad - Winter

Accusations are a part of life which we've all experienced and stressed over. They happen when we're guilty and deserve punishment but they also happen when we're innocent and are being wrongfully accused. In the book of Job we are introduced to a man whom was known as the "most righteous man in all the earth", yet this man is falsely accused both by his friends and neighbors and within the heavenly realms! As a direct result of these accusations, he suffers physically, emotionally and is burdened with unimaginable distress. If there was ever a man who appears to have reason to question God's goodness, it is this man of Job!

This is the Winter version of Job's Ballad.

Friday the 13th

Even on the 13th, we can still sing with Rebecca Black's positive attitude, "It's Friday, Friday! (Yesterday was Thursday and tomorrow is Saturday)" LOL

Drink, but Don't Smoke

Once again our hypocrisy knows no bounds.

On the cruise ship we sailed on, smoking was kept to small restrictive areas.
Drunkenness was encouraged and given free reign to every corner of the ship. The Cruiseline made little to no income from cigarette sales but were literally getting rich off the sale of alcohol.
I'm sure many of those drunken, stumbling party-goers take much pride in the fact they do not smoke. Yeah, sure.

Coexist

It's utterly impossible for some things to coexist together.
...Darkness and light for example.

1) Optics (a branch of physics) states that light will overpower darkness and darkness will thrive in the absence of light.

2) Artistically, a white canvas can only be viewed at it's brightest and most intense if it remains white. Opaque or transparent colored pigments can enhance the canvas, but black paint will only result in hiding a white canvas completely.

3) Spiritually, light overpowers darkness and darkness thrives in the absence of light.

Some things can never coexist together in peace.

Don't Say You Believe in God

The Gallup poll indicates that 9 in 10 Americans say they believe in God.
Truthfully, this is not necessarily a good thing. Believing and doing something about that belief are not one and the same. If 9 in 10 Americans actually believed strong enough to do something about it, we would desire to know what is pleasing and displeasing to God and then live accordingly. We would be living so pure, righteous, and holy that the majority of our social problems would practically go away.

This is one area where we definitely should put our 'money where our mouth is'.

This is Christmas

This is Christmas...
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1)

Ignore Ignorance

No matter what you believe, there are people who believe just the opposite.

That's just another reason it's good to have an 'ignore' list.
(Or to be so neurotically open-minded you don't know what you believe.)

Art

Unfortunately, so many modern-era art schools and university art programs are so lacking in providing the most basic fundamentals of art, they rank amongst the grandest educational failures in the world today. There are absolutely no other unversity degrees which offer so little foundation or important groundwork.

My hat goes off to those schools which actually do offer important fundamentals in art-related fields.

Fame

Fame is no indication of quality. This is especially true in today's society where fame is often achieved by those who are notorious in one way or another. We have developed superstars whose only key to their fame is in their ability to generate press coverage.

This proves true for all areas which garner superstars of fame: music; art; film; television; dance; sports; politics; science; publishing; etc, etc. And, when the notorious 'fame bug' circulates, it can even envelope unlikely areas such as one's personal home life... if you do something bad enough, you can quickly become today's headline news.

So, my point is: don't try to impress by pointing out how famous a person is, and using that as an indication of just how remarkable and great they are. Christ pointed-out that those who are great in God's kingdom are those who are 'servants to all'. He elevated the meek and lowly far above the famous and mighty.

ישו שילם את זה כל (But Jesus Paid It All) - Winter

ישו שילם את זה כל (But Jesus Paid It All) - Winter

It's been one full year of writing the scored notation for the Alpha & Omega Suite! This is the twentieth part to be completed... and it's one of the best.

ישו שילם את זה כל
When playing the board game Monopoly, it helps to possess a 'get out of jail free' card. Without the card a player could forfeit enough turns to either lose the game or trail significantly behind. The card guarantees immediate dismissal from jail so the game can continue without interruption for that player. Real life doesn't offer an equivalent card... once jailed, we serve our full term if bail can't be made. When the sentence has been handed-down, there's no turning back for the law breaker.

But... we actually do have a 'get out of jail' card which we can use if we so desire. That's the purpose of "ישו שילם את זה כל". It's available to all and is there for the taking.

Wait Mate!

Mate, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Rocky Coast

Rocky Coast, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

The Old Chicken Coop

The Old Chicken Coop, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Mate

Mate, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

How Diverse are We?

'Diversity' is one of the most masterful and ingenious words in the English language. It is often used to replace words such as: mixture, different, contrasting, opposing, conglomerate, unrelated, multiples, and divisions... all of which can have negative connotations along with the positive. Yet the word diversity has practically no negative connotation whatsoever! None, nil, zilch! It is the perfect word to use when attempting to show a group of contrasting elements as being positive instead of negative.

The most common usage of the word is when referring to differing people groups attempting to share space in the same territory. Though several thousand years of quarrels, battles, and cross-border skirmishes remind us of a very real part of who we are, none-the-less, we try our best to develop an attitude of viewing societal diversity as a good, positive thing instead of the irritation which our lower nature deceitfully whispers that it is. We try to be diverse while at the same time we also get unnoyed when confronted with some of the ramifications which are a natural part of it.

History shows that we can only put up with certain types of diversity for so long until we either separate them; water them down; or remove them completely. It really is no different now than in the past. The main difference is in the focus of what is allowed to be diverse, and what isn't. The western world has become quite adept at mixing cultures and various ethnic groups. We normally don't punish differing opinions, though we educate to encourage some far above others. We even allow a smorgasbord of religious beliefs... as long as none are too outspoken or extreme. We punish certain behaviors while giving full license to others, often using a hypocritical yardstick that's not actually based upon the reasons stated for doing so.

Not all of the world offers the same freedoms towards diversity... but the western world is trying our arrogant best to make sure those other nations do conform. We would like to dictate what those people can be diverse in, and what they can't. It is all part of the package referred to as 'globalization'. In order to be one big global village of 'everyone getting along' in our diverse ways, we must all meet up with what the western powers dictate on what is allowed. On the surface this seems like a good legitimate goal but lurking underneath is that same old asperation of one group dictating to another what they can or can't do. Some things never change... no matter how much we fool ourselves into believing they have.

So--- one thing we're learning about sociological diversity is that in order to make it work, you can't really be all that diverse in your beliefs or in your opinions. In the end you must conform; be silent; but you must not be truly diverse.

Can we sink any lower?

Just when you thought that commercials in the Christmas season couldn't get any worse... think again! They've really outdone themselves this year!

Word of the day

Today's word: empathy
If you don't know what it means or don't really understand how important it is... it's probably because empathy is not something you have much of.

Welcome to Chinatown

Welcome to Chinatown, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Climbing

It is not those raised with a silver spoon in their mouth, but those who have overcome adversities, turmoils, and hardships who we can not only admire, but also learn from. When witnessing someone who battles daily with either financial, stressful, mental/neurological, sociological, or any other of the conditions which can hold us back... and yet they move ahead, we must look at our own hardships and reevaluate those things we get so bent out of shape about.

Those who deserve the greatest admiration are very seldom the ones who receive riches, glory, mass attention, and media coverage. Though they might eventually make the cover of People magazine, their true strength is exhibited before they got there... in their climb from the low place where they ascended from.

Read the Signs

We are quite skillful in blurring the lines and redefining what's natural and what isn't. Problem is, our new definitions are no more accurate than what we once believed, and pose the danger of being far less realistic. New definitions often come from societal segments who are so far removed from natural reality that their voice is in no way the best one for us to listen to.

Once again, it's all part of the basic characteristics of a society in collapse. 'Been there, done that'... it's really nothing new. Problem is, this time it's not a small regional area. It's happening on a much larger global scale.

Read the signs... they're there for all to see.

Can Paint, but Won't Do It

I'm sure you all remember Claire. You know, the pastel artist who was set-up on Gatlinburg's sidewalk churning out freehand portraits... way back in the day when Gatlinburg was known for it's wide mixture of portrait and landscape sidewalk artists. (I'm sure there are literally thousands of homes who have, or had, original art decorating the walls due to the numerous artists who made their living on the streets of the little mountain tourist Mecca.)

Well, Claire said one thing which has stuck with me for years. We were discussing the subject of time and freedom and producing art for money. I made the statement that if artists had a funded income given to them so they wouldn't have to work for a living, then they would produce far greater pieces and really enrich the world with their artistic offerings. (I was young and naive then.) Claire instantly disagreed with my sentiment. She had been a part of the art community for far more years than I had. She was a professional artist; she socialized with professional artists; she lived with professional artists, she spent most of her life involved with artists and their art. Claire said, "Nope. Most of the artists I know, if they weren't producing art out of necessity for an income, wouldn't even be doing their art hardly at all." Her observations were that though her art community was extremely hard working, putting-in ten to twelve hour days (seven days a week during the tourist season), in the off-season when the artists weren't working, they weren't even thinking about producing art. Most of the ones she socialized with would sit around drinking, partying, and producing hardly any art at all. It wasn't a matter of time or income, it was more a matter of incentive. They just didn't do it.

Since then, I have observed her words to be pretty accurate. I have been around multitudes of artists, both professional; hobbyists; and students. Just like Claire, I too have observed many artists who actually do have the time, resources and income to churn-out an abundance of masterpieces... but very few of them do. Now, I'm not generalizing about all of them. I've seen a few who get wildly creative and produce like there's no tomorrow, but they seem to be in the minority. Our human nature makes it easier for us to talk about our passions than to actually put forth the effort to really do something about them.

Don't think I'm just picking on artists. This frailty of 'producing only when it's necessary' rears it's ugly old head in many other areas of life. Artists aren't alone in this regard. But it does seem when someone is working, or creating, solo... when they don't have other people to cheer them on, or to pay them, then it's far too easy to just sit back and talk about what you would like to do. It takes a rare individual to do their best when the rewards are only felt, seen, and acknowledged by yourself.

Yep, Claire was pretty accurate in her assessment.

Freedom in Art

Though I've had full formal art training, I would guess that formal training would only contribute 20 to 30% to the artist I am now. As an artist grows and expands, their growth comes from observance, scrutinizing, problem solving, inventing, but most of all... just working at it! There's no better teacher than hands-on experience. Time spent getting your hands tarnished by whatever material you use is the classroom that really counts.

If it's not possible for you to get formal art training, no need to sulk... just self-educate and ask questions, read, study, and when you have a good idea of what you're doing... get out there and actually do it!

Have I Got a Deal for You!

Sometimes when you are offered a 'no brainer' deal, opportunity, or situation, you should stop and take a little more time to actually use your brain.

Things are not always what they appear on the surface.

Ancient History

If you interpret ancient history using modern history as your reference, there's a good chance you might be slightly incorrect in your conclusions. You could even be greatly incorrect! Ancient history must always be interpreted based upon the times, people, culture, climate, and conditions that are known for that period... and not upon our own. Historical essays, theses, and writings should be rejected or viewed with skepticism if not following this guideline.

'Pop history' should be looked upon lightly, no matter how popular it is; how much money it earns; or how greatly Oprah is impressed by it.

Honesty, Humility & a Humble Heart - Autumn

Honesty, Humility & a Humble Heart - Autumn"Lord, help me to be like David and not like Saul" (the Chorus refrains)

Punishment

"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is mistakenly viewed as a harsh and unjust punishment system. The reality is, it's one of the fairest and most humane means of doling out justice... when compared to the alternative. One reason the average person feels so sickened and repulsed by the verdicts coming out of the modern court system is because we often veer from the "punishment fits the crime" and practice unequal extremes of unjust punishment. Our sentences are often "an eye for a tooth" and "a tooth for an eye".

If you've ever been shocked when hearing a verdict announced, you know what I mean.

White Friday Flowers

White Friday Flowers, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

No Red Today

No Red Today, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.