I, along with some members of my church's youth group, are going to see the new movie, "Amazing Grace," which comes out Friday. From what I can see in the previews, I looks like it'll be done well. Well, we'll find out when we see it a week from tonight.

Rick Warren, author of the best-selling book, "The Purpose-drive Life," has a blog which contains a substantial list of Christian bloggers. You can see this list at: http://rickwarren.typepad.com/rick_warren/2007/02/christian_blogg.html

Well that's it for now. Be well.

Jim

It's been a while.

Sorry, that it has been so long since my last post. I just haven't been home in over a month except to sleep. Between work at the mission, my church youth group and adult Sunday School classes, the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, and private lessons, I just haven't had time, even to completely check my e-mail. Things should lighten up a bit in December. I'm no longer accepting gigs outside of the Carmel Symphony, although I already have a few quintet gigs that have been scheduled for quite some time.

So, any way, don't give up on me. I'll return to blogging as soon as I can.

Free Tickets

I have a pair of free tickets for this Saturday's Carmel Symphony Orchestra concert at Westfield High School at 7:30 pm. I am the Principal Trombonist with this orchestra. It'll be a great concert featuring world-renowned pianist Andrey Kasparov performing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. We are also doing Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and Kodaly's Dances of Galanta.

The first person from whom I receive a request for these tickets will receive them. Please, send your request to brassworld@aol.com. Please, don't request the tickets unless you are able to attend.

Thanks,

Jim

What's something you like to do...
on Halloween?	Go to a certain historic cemetery and observe the people who expect to see a ghost.
when you have a day off from work?	Spend several hours in a forest.
to calm your nerves before speaking in public?	Go number two.
before going on a date?	Hmmm... It's been a while. I'll have to think about that.
Have you ever used...
a typewriter?	Yep. I took a typing class in high school.
a phonograph (record player)?	Yep. I still do.
the Heimlich maneuver on someone?	No. But, I've witnessed it three times. All of them at band camp.
jealousy as a method for getting the attention of someone from the opposite sex?	I don't think so. But, I think I might have been used for that purpose.
a handkerchief?	No.
Has anyone ever handed you...
a round tuit?	Yes.
a subpoena?	No.
Do you know how to...
change a tire on an automobile?	Yes. But, I once blew out 2 tires on Madison Ave. in Greenwood. Several people did that day due to a large crack that happened in the road surface.
tie a tie?	Yes
speak a language other than English?	un poco.
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Howdy All!

Yesterday, I mentioned that Kellee, one of my sisters, and her husband Kent had a dog (Kadie) as well as a cow. Well, Kadie ate some D-con (rat poison) today and had a trip to the vet. Fortunately, it looks like she will be OK. Like I said, Kadie is like a child to Kent and Kellee.

I did something really stupid today. I was on my way home for lunch. I made a brief detour and picked-up a bag of ice at the corner convenience store. Then, I went home. However, I forgot about the bag of ice. I didn't discover it until I had returned to work an hour later. I wish I could say that was a rare occurence.

Well, I kept things nice and light in my first post. Today, I thought I might tackle a deeper subject: Surah 2:87-89 from the Koran (Qur'an). I am including three different English translations for the sake of clarity. After that is 2 Timothy 4:1-4 from the Bible, which is acknowledge by the Koran to have existed first. I am also including three different English translations of this passage for the sake of clarity. This is an interesting paring of thoughts. I'm just curious as to how you guys might respond to this paring of thoughts. I won't be judgmental so long as your comments are civil.

N.J. Dawood Translation:

87. To Moses We gave the Scriptures and after him We sent other apostles. We gave Jesus the son of Mary veritable signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Will you then scorn each apostle whose message does not suit your fancies, charging some with imposture and slaying others? 88. They say: 'Our hearts are sealed.' But Allah has cursed them for their unbelief. They have but little faith. 89. And now that a Book confirming their own has come to them from Allah, they deny it, although they know it to be the truth and have long prayed for help against the unbelievers. May Allah's curse be upon the infidels!

Next Translation (taken from Jewish Virtual Library):

[87] We gave Musa the Book and followed him up with a succession of Messengers; We gave 'Isa, the son of Maryam, Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you a Messenger with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride? Some ye called impostors, and others ye slay!

[88] They say: "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word: we need no more)." Nay, Allah's curse is on them for their blasphemy: little is it they believe.

[89] And when there comes to them a Book from Allah, confirming what is with them - although from of old they had prayed for victory against those without Faith - when there comes to them that which they (should) have recognized. They refused to believe in it but the curse of Allah is on those without Faith.

M.H. Shakir Translation:

[2.87] And most certainly We gave Musa the Book and We sent apostles after him one after another; and We gave Isa, the son of Marium, clear arguments and strengthened him with the holy spirit, What! whenever then an apostle came to you with that which your souls did not desire, you were insolent so you called some liars and some you slew.
[2.88] And they say: Our hearts are covered. Nay, Allah has cursed them on account of their unbelief; so little it is that they believe.
[2.89] And when there came to them a Book from Allah verifying that which they have, and aforetime they used to pray for victory against those who disbelieve, but when there came to them (Prophet) that which they did not recognize, they disbelieved in him; so Allah's curse is on the unbelievers.

2 Timothy 4:1-4

King James Bible

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

New American Bible (Catholic)

1. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: 2. proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. 3. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers 4. and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.

New American Standard

1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Well that's all for today. Have a great one!

Jim

Howdy All!

Welcome! This is my first attempt at starting a blog. So, I'm learning as I go along. I procrastinated doing one because I wondered what I might have to say that anyone would find remotely interesting. But, I thought I'd give it a shot. Frankly, I'll probably only have time to update the blog once or twice a week. I hope that that won't too terribly affect the usefulness of this blog. Please, leave comments and suggestions.


Kellee, one of my sisters, has two animals that she considers to be members of the family. To her, they are her children. Just for the fun of it, I morphed the two together. I actually have a 5-second movie of this. But, it was too large to upload to the blog. So, this pic will have to suffice.

I'm not a huge fan of surveys, especially the ones that ask about one's sex life. However, I did one I saw on Rose's blog. So, I'm sharing my answers to that survey.

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name:	Jim
Birthday:	July 15
Birthplace:	Indianapolis
Current Location:	Mooresville
Eye Color:	Brown/Hazel
Hair Color:	Brown
Height:	6' 1"
Right Handed or Left Handed:	South paw
The Shoes You Wore Today:	Black Dr. Scholl's and White Reeboks
Your Weakness:	I avoid making business calls until I absolutely have to.
Your Fears:	That I'll overlook an opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone.
Your Perfect Pizza:	Heather, my sister, makes wonderful homemade pizzas.
Your Most Overused Phrase On an IM:	I rarely do the IM thing.
Thoughts First Waking Up:	Lord, please help me to wake up. (I'm not a morning person.)
Your Best Physical Feature:	I haven't really thought about it.
Your Bedtime:	It's supposed to be 10 PM. Sometimes, I make it by then.
Your Most Missed Memory:	Most of them are from my Butler University days.
Pepsi or Coke:	Cherry Coke
MacDonalds or Burger King:	Jimmy John's -- I'm not a big burger fan.
Single or Group Dates:	Hmmm, speaking of missed memories...
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	Snapple
Chocolate or Vanilla:	I prefer vanilla ice cream, but love Almond Joys as well.
Cappuccino or Coffee:	I've never had a sip of coffee.
Do you Smoke:	no
Do you Swear:	Once every 2 or 3 years.
Do you Sing:	Yes, but not on stage.
Do you Shower Daily:	Usually.
Have you Been in Love:	Yes
Do you want to go to College:	Been there; done that.
Do you want to get Married:	Yes
Do you belive in yourself:	I tend to doubt my abilities and strengths a lot.
Do you get Motion Sickness:	Only if I haven't eaten in a while or am very short of sleep.
Do you think you are Attractive:	I guess I'm fair to partly cloudy.
Are you a Health Freak:	No. But, I do ride a bike when I can.
Do you get along with your Parents:	Usually
Do you like Thunderstorms:	Yes, as long as I can view them under a solid shelter.
Do you play an Instrument:	Yes, the trombone.
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	no
In the past month have you Smoked:	no
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	no
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	no
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	no
Have you ever eaten a box of Oreos:	no
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	no
In the past month have you been on Stage:	Yes, I was in a skit at church.
In the past month have you been Dumped:	no
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	no
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	not that I can remember.
Ever been Drunk:	no
Ever been called a Tease:	not in many years
Ever been Beaten up:	no
Ever Shoplifted:	not that I can remember
How do you want to Die:	a sinner saved by God's grace
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	a kind-hearted old fart
What country would you most like to Visit:	hmmm, not sure
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:	doesn't matter
Favourite Hair Color:	doesn't matter
Short or Long Hair:	I'm not fond of the Sinead O'Conner style. I'm OK with most anything else.
Height:	within 1 foot of my height, I suppose. Honestly, I don't know that this matters.
Weight:	I'm not sure how to answer this.
Best Clothing Style:	Anything but grunge.
Number of Drugs I have taken:	I had a prescriptions that knocked me out when I was younger. That was enough to steer me away from drugs.
Number of CDs I own:	a bunch
Number of Piercings:	none
Number of Tattoos:	none
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	too many to count
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The youth group at my church, before the message, played a watered down version of "Deal or No Deal" tonight. The top prize was only $100 rather than $6,000,000. Three contestants were selected. The final contestant actually won $40. The second contestant won 50 cents. That was a shame considering the "bank" had offered him $37.50. I don't think that I could handle playing the real version of "Deal or No Deal." I'd be way too on edge.

Well, that's it for now.

Looking forwarding to your responses.

Jim