I’ve thought about starting a few bands in my lifetime. I was actually in one singing group once, but that was another time in another world.
I’d like to give you all some of the names I’ve come up with. They’re all dependent upon the type of music that we, the band make. The inspiration behind the name is hidden within the link.

Rybee (with a backwards ‘r’) : Childrens music
Jon Bonnie : 80’s rock
Bloody Manson : Death metal/acid rock/evil tunes
Jim Johnson and the chain gang : Easy listening/folk rock
Big Fat Whiner Babies : Country
Mo-thoven : Classical
Mo T : Rap

I’ve recently been made aware of the fact that I’m not paranoid enough! I had no idea that I needed to be paranoid, but apparently I do. I said that I would be honored for a terrorist to read my blog. I said that I didn’t care if a terrorist saw pictures of my family. I said that it didn’t bother me if my head turned up on some website pasted onto another mans naked body…or worse…I said, who really gives a rip?
The answer I received was shocking.
Did you know that bad guys read blogs in order to find their prey? Did you know that dirty men and women get sexual pleasure by reading our blogs? Did you know that terrorists find their next victims by blog surfing? Me neither! But it’s true I guess. So from now on I will no longer post any pictures of myself, my family, or anyone I love. I don’t want to do anything that will hurt those who are precious to me.
So now, I must find some way to urge you to protect yourself from the evil men who like to look at our pictures! Stop putting them on the web! Stop handing your children over to the dark side! STOP! If not for yourself, do it for my child who shall remain nameless. Don’t let the villains get us! Get rid of all personal photos, all proper names, anything that might reveal your location, and most of all make sure that you spread the word before a terrorist finds someone you love.
With that said, I would like to post a picture in lieu of a photo of my family….

I went camping this last week with wife and child. It was beautiful.
I love camping. It’s funny, though, how silly it all is. You go away to a place where you feel like your in the wild, but with showers. You sleep on the ground (nevermind the air mattress that was blown up with a portable pump), brave the elements (in your $150 tent designed by some nerd who sits at a computer), you eat rustic food (with your propane powered stove), and sleep and wake by the light of the sun (except for when you turn on your nifty lantern). It’s silly really. Did you know that when some people go camping they actually bring heaters, TV’s, stereos, computers, and all sorts of other nifty things. Or let us dig in even deeper, did you know that when some people go “camping” (I use quotation marks because I am using the word camping so loosely) in motorhomes! That means that they actually bring a house on wheels to go camping in. Wait, wait, wait. Let me see if this is right. They escape the clutter of life and home by going to a nearby parking lot that is called a campground in a car that has been constructed to look and live like a home. Whazux? (I’m not sure what that means).

To all of you who actually go camping all rustic style…congrats. I wish I could, but I can’t. I have a baby and a loving wife to makes many sacrifices for me, her love stud.

Here is why I love camping. Stars are beautiful. Trees are beautiful. Mountains and lakes and driftwood is beautiful. Doing nothing occasionally is beautiful. Playing Yahtzee with my wife is beautiful. Going on walks with my kid is beautiful. Helping my son pick out the best pinecone and rock to carry around is gorgeous. Sitting by the fire is gorgeous. Playing with fire is wonderful too. Smelling like smoke. Going to bed early. Waking up early. Reading often. Praying often. Escape. Escape. Escape from demands. Escape from appointments. Escape from traffic. Escape from the clock. Escape from business (as in too busy, not big business. I’m not clear on the spelling difference…and don’t waste your time by telling me ’cause I don’t really care).

I think that God might live in campgrounds. I mean, I know that as a born again Christian, he lives in me. But, I think that I hear him better in campgrounds and hiking. I see him. I get to know him. When I’ve forgotten to look, I find him again. I gain clarity out there. I remember Him more out there…now if I could only live in a tent in downtown ‘Couve…

First off, before I get to my real post, I would like to let everyone know that my dad was baptized in the summer of ’69! How awesome is that? I wish I had known this before ’cause I would have written a cool parody song (see Jimmy Fallon) like: “I got the Holy Spirit. Got it at Camp Yamhill…” thats all I’ve got. But you can see that there is so much potential here.

Now sing this song with me if you know it:
I’m in right, out right, up right, down right, happy all the time. I’m in right, out right, up right, down right, happy all the time.
Since Jesus Christ came in and took away my sin. I’m in right, out right, up right, down right, happy all the time.

Did you ever learn that oldie? Well, whats up with those words? Sorry for all those Christians who occasionally get sad. Too bad for you, ’cause if you were really a Christ follower you would be happy all the time!

Or how about this oldie:
Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon. Many will meet their doom. Trumpets will sound. All of the dead shall rise. Righteous meet in the sky….

What if we renamed that song to “you’re going to hell and I’m not!” Or something evangelistic like that. It’s such a zippy and happy little song that it is almost impossible to mourn the spiritual death of millions of peoples. Too bad because I think thats a very sad thought. For quite some time I haven’t liked that song because I feel like I’m rejoicing in others damnation. Maybe that is accurate and maybe it isn’t. Maybe it only has to do with the heart of the one singing. Or maybe the line in that song just sucks. Decide for yourself.