รวบรวมเรียบเรียงแปล โดย สว อิเฎล
ห้ามนำไปใช้ใน Website อื่นโดยไม่ได้รับอนุญาต
หากต้องการสอบถามเพิ่มเติมเกี่ยวกับผลงานวง ให้ถามที่ http://board.thaimisc.com/manson

อ่านหน้าอื่น ๆ : ประวัติ วง Marilyn Manson, ประวัติ นาย Marilyn Manson, ประวัติ Twiggy Ramirez, ประวัติ Madonna Wayne Gacy (Pogo), ประวัติ John 5, ประวัติ Zim Zum, ประวัติ Ginger Fish

ชื่อจริงคือ John Lowery เขาเกิดวันที่ July 30, 1971 เขาเล่นกีตาร์ตั้งแต่อายุ 6 และตั้งแต่ 1989 จนถึงปัจจุบันเขาเป็น studio guitarist และได้ทำงานร่วมกับวงต่าง ๆ ได้แก่ Red Square Black, foSTted, Ryan Downe, Wilson Phillips, Night Rangers, Two, Ozzy Osbourne, Raven Payne, One Way, Salt ‘n’ Peppa, kd lang, Pepperland, Lita Ford, Leah Andreone, David Lee Roth, และ Marilyn Manson เขาเริ่มที่วง Red Square Black ด้วย Randy Castillo ซึ่งเป็น drumist เก่าแก่ของ Ozzy บางทีเขาอาจจะยังเล่นอยู่กับคนพวกนี้ ถ้าเขาไม่ได้ถูกคัดเลือกจากมือ Guitarist จำนวน 2000 คนให้มาเล่นใน the KD Lang 1996 world tour เขาใช้ guitar ยี่ห้อ Ibanez รุ่น GAX Series และ AMP คือ Laney VH100R heads

เขามาสมัครเป็นมือกีตาร์วง Marilyn Manson หลังจาก Zim Zum ทำให้ Zim Zum ได้ตำแหน่งนั้นไปก่อน และท้ายที่สุด เมื่อเขาร่วมวง เขาก็ได้เล่นเพลงที่ Zim Zum แต่งทิ้งไว้

John 5 Guitarist, ภาพวาดโดย สว อิเฎล

รวบรวมเรียบเรียงแปล โดย สว อิเฎล
ห้ามนำไปใช้ใน Website อื่นโดยไม่ได้รับอนุญาต
หากต้องการสอบถามเพิ่มเติมเกี่ยวกับผลงานวง ให้ถามที่ http://board.thaimisc.com/manson

อ่านหน้าอื่น ๆ : ประวัติ วง Marilyn Manson, ประวัติ นาย Marilyn Manson, ประวัติ Twiggy Ramirez, ประวัติ Madonna Wayne Gacy (Pogo), ประวัติ John 5, ประวัติ Zim Zum, ประวัติ Ginger Fish

Zim Zum มีชื่อเดิมว่า Timothy Michael Linton เขาเกิดที่ Chicago เมืองหลวงที่มีที่ตั้งอยู่ทางตอนใต้ของรัฐ Illinois เขาถูกเลี้ยงดูมาโดยแม่และยายของเขา โตขึ้นเลยกลายเป็น Bi-Sexual เจาะหัวนม และยังเป็นลูกคนสุดท้องโดยมีพี่ชายอีกคน Zimmy เริ่มเล่นกีตาร์ตอนอายุได้ 13 ปี เพราะเขาไม่มีอะไรจะทำ และไปดูคอนเสริตครั้งแรกกับแม่ – รู้ไหมว่าเหมือนใคร?!! Joey จาก SlipKnoT และ Yoshiki จาก X Japan ที่ไปดูคอนเสริตครั้งแรกกับแม่ – มีคนบอกว่า แม่ของ Zimmy เป็นสาว Punk

Zim Zum Panic! at the Disco nono Court

ต่อมา Zimmy ได้ทำงานที่ร้านซ่อมกีต้าร์ และเล่นให้วงดนตรีท้องถิ่นบางวง และที่โด่งดังที่สุดคือ Life, Sex and Death (LSD) เขาเล่นให้วงนี้แต่ไม่ได้ร่วมอัดเสียงด้วยเพราะไม่ต้องการที่จะเดินทางร่วมทางกับวงนี้เมื่อทราบว่าวงนี้จะจาก Chicago ไป Los Angeles นอกจากนี้ เขายังมีข่าวลือที่ว่าเขาให้สายกีตาร์รัดคอตัวเองแล้วเขาจะสามารถสำเร็จควาใคร่ได้ (Autoerotic)

พฤษภาคมปี 1996 Zimmy ได้เห็นประกาศหนึ่งใน Chicago Reader เกี่ยวกับ Marilyn Manson ต้องการมือกีตาร์ ใครอยากเป็นให้ส่ง ไป Zimmy ก็เลยส่งไป และส่งรูปไปให้ด้วย ไม่นานหลังจากนั้นเขาก็ได้รับการติดต่อกลับ เขาจึงบินไปที่ New Orleans เพื่อทดลองแสดงจริง และเขาก็ได้งาน หลังจากที่มีข่าวว่าก่อนหน้านี้เขาตกงาน เราไม่แน่ใจนะว่าจริงหรือเปล่า

MV ตัวแรกที่เราได้เห็น Zimmy คือ The Beautiful People และก็คงอีกหลายตัว ข้าพเจ้าเคยเป็นใน Long Hard Rock Out of Hell ที่เริ่มต้นด้วยเขา Live ครั้งแรกของ Zimmy กับ Manson คือ Nothing Night วันที่ 5 กันยายน 1996 ที่ New York City (NYC) Manson เล่นแบบเดิมที่เรารู้จักกันดี จบเวทีเมื่อไรก็จะทำลายข้าวของ เขาเหวี่ยงขาตั้งไมค์ ไปโดนปลาขิง ผู้เป็นมือกลอง และปลาขิงก็ถูกส่งเข้าโรงพยาบาลทันที

ระหว่างการ tour กับ Manson Zimmy ใช้กีตาร์ที่เขาประกอบขึ้นเอง 3 ตัว แต่ก็มีบางตัวที่ซื้อเขามา เราสามารถเห็น Zimmy ใน live ที่ชื่อ Irresponsible Hate Anthem และเขายังเป็นคนที่ช่วยแต่งเพลงในอลบัมที่ชื่อ Mechanical Animals ที่ออกมนปี 1998 แต่หลังจากนั้นเขาก็ลาออกจากวง คนที่มาเล่นเพลงที่เขาแต่งในการออก tour สำหรับอลบัมนี้คือ John Lowery หรือ John 5 น่าเสียดายจริง ๆ เพราะเขาควรจะได้เล่นเพลงที่เขาแต่งเอง Zimmy ไม่ได้มีเรื่องกับ Manson แต่เขาบอกว่า มันพอแล้วที่เขาจะอยู่ที่นี่ เขาออกไปวงที่มีแนวดนตรีแตกต่างจาก Manson คือ the Pop Culture Suicides

Zim Zum with Marilyn Manson

ต่อมาเราจะมารู้เรื่องเรื่องชื่อของเขาจากปากของเขาเอง :

Zim Zum มาจากจุดเริ่มต้นของเวลาช่วงที่พระเจ้ายังไม่สร้างสรรพสิ่งในโลกมนุษย์ พระเจ้าได้สร้างบางสิ่งบางอย่างที่นอกเหนือจากตัวพระองค์ท่าน อาธิ รูโบ๋ ซึ่งไม่ใช่ตัวของพระเจ้า เพราะพระเจ้าอยู่ทุกหนทุกแห่ง ( รูโบ๋ คือที่ที่ไม่มีอะไรเลย ดังนั้นมันก็เลยไม่ใช่พระเจ้า ) และ รูโบ๋ นี้เรียกว่า Zim Zum.

หลังจากนี้เขาก็เข้าสู่ห้วงของการอธิบายเกี่ยวกับการค้นพบวินาทีสุดท้าย เกี่ยวกับชื่อของเขาที่สัมพันธ์กับสมาชิกในวงคนอื่นอื่น ด้วย ดารา hollywood ที่เป็น ฆาตรกรต่อเนื่อง

Zim Zum ดูเหมือนจะมีความหมายใน Bible แต่มันก็เหมือนกับชื่อคนอื่น ๆ เช่นกัน เขาเล่าเมื่อเขากำลังเล่นอยู่กับ internet… ก็มีเด็กมาชี้ให้เห็นว่ามันมี Model หนึ่งจากยุค 1940’s ซึ่งมีชื่อเริ่มต้นว่า Zim และ มีฆาตรกรต่อเนื่อง 2 ตัวจากยุค 1970’s ตัวหนึ่งมาจากญี่ปุ่น อีกตัวมาจาก U.S.A. และชื่อสุดท้ายของทั้งสองคือ Zum เขาจึงดีใจมาก!

We are sitting at our gate, watching the sun come up, wishing we could start the pilgrimage all over again. There are many things to report…

At the empty tomb

Before most of you dear readers went to bed on Sunday evening–after the glorious victory–we were already in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher.

We celebrated Holy Mass in the tomb of Christ itself, receiving the Lord’s Body and Blood in the very place where He rose from the dead.

…I neglected to mention earlier that some of us enjoyed camel rides by the Dead Sea…

…We visited the Mount of Olives:

At the top of it, the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven. On the slope of it, He taught His disciples the Our Father. He descended it on a donkey on Palm Sunday–we walked down the ancient pathway that He used.

At the bottom we prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.

In the Garden of Gethsemane

…We made the Way of the Cross right where the Lord Jesus made it…

…We visited the Pools of Bethesda. The Blessed Mother was born nearby, in the home of Joachim and Anne, near the Sheep Gate of the ancient wall of Jerusalem, near the Temple.

St. Anne, pray for us

…Schema, people: I have much more to tell. But it will have to await the gracious period of denouement after a holy pilgrimage.

We will board our flight home shortly. See you back in the homeland.

Saying goodbye to Jerusalem Regency hotel

รวบรวมเรียบเรียงแปล โดย สว อิเฎล
ห้ามนำไปใช้ใน Website อื่นโดยไม่ได้รับอนุญาต
หากต้องการสอบถามเพิ่มเติมเกี่ยวกับผลงานวง ให้ถามที่ http://board.thaimisc.com/manson

อ่านหน้าอื่น ๆ : ประวัติ วง Marilyn Manson, ประวัติ นาย Marilyn Manson, ประวัติ Twiggy Ramirez, ประวัติ Madonna Wayne Gacy (Pogo), ประวัติ John 5, ประวัติ Zim Zum, ประวัติ Ginger Fish

Marilyn Manson มาจากการรวมกันของชื่อ Marilyn Monroe และ Charles Manson ทั้งสองท่านนี้เป็นที่รู้จักกันดีในยุค 1960’s คนหนึ่งแสดงอิทธิพลในขั้วบวก อีกคนแสดงอิทธิพลในขั้วลบ คือ Marilyn Monroe และ Charles Manson ซึ่งสมาชิคทุคทนในรุ่นแรก ๆ มีการตั้งชื่อแบบเดียวกันหมด คือ ดาราสาว และ ฆาตกร การตั้งชื่อเช่นนี้สิ้นสุดลงในในสมัยที่ John 5 เข้ามาเล่น

1989 ที่ Southern Florida เมื่อ Marilyn Manson กับ Daisy ผู้เป็น guitarist ซึ่งทั้งสองบุกบ่าผ่าฟันเป็นลูกน้องของวงอื่นมาตั้ง 5 วง ได้จับมือกันก่อตั้งวงดนตรีขึ้นมาเอง

1990 Marilyn Manson ได้กลายเป็น Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids ได้มีชื่อวงตามชื่อของนักร้องนั่นก็คือ Marilyn Manson ส่วน Daisy เป็น lead guitarist มี Gidget Gein เป็น bassist และมี Madonna Wayne Gacy เป็น keyboardist ( replaced Zsa Zsa Speck) และ drum machine

1991 Sara Lee Lucas ได้มาทดแทนเสียงกลองที่มาจาก machine

Marilyn Manson and The Spooky Kids, Drawing by Sw Eden

1992, Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids ได้เปลี่ยนชื่อเป็น Marilyn Manson จากนั้น เขาได้รวบรวมชื่อเสียงทั่วท้องถิ่นนั้น มีสามวงมาแข่ง เขาได้เป็นผู้ชนะใน local music award Singles ของพวกเขาได้แก่ Dope Hat, Lunchbox, My Monkey ก็ได้รับการ vote ให้ชนะเลิศ

1993 เขาได้รับสัญญาจาก Trent Reznor และได้เข้า join กับวง NIN ในการ tour ของปี 1994 และ Album แรกก็ได้ ออกมา ให้ชื่อว่า Portrait of an American Family ซึ่งเป็น underway โดยมี Trent Reznor เป็น producer และเมื่อปลายปีย่างเข้ามาถึง Gidget Gein ซึ่งเป็น bassist ได้ออกจากวงเพราะมีปัญหาเรื่องติดยา และ Twiggy Ramirez จาก Amboog-A-Lard, ก็มาเป็น bassist คนใหม่ Gidget Gein เสียชีวิตลงเมื่อ 8 ตุลาคม 2008 เขาเป็นมือเบสที่มีฝีมือเหนือชั้นมาก คุณสามารถดูได้ใน Music Video “Lunchbox” สมัย Marilyn Manson and The Spooky Kids

1994 เป็นปีแห่งความรุ่งโรจน์โชตินาการสำหรับครอบครัว Manson พวกเขาได้เข้าร่วมการ tours ระดับประเทศกับ NIN ทำให้ได้นับชื่อเสียงและสิ่งอื่น ๆ อย่างไรก็ตามในช่วงแรก ๆ นั้น พวกเขาไม่เป็นที่ยอมรับใน Salt Lake City ต่อมา Manson บังเกิดได้พบ Dr. Anton Szandor LaVey ซึ่งเป็นผู้ก่อตั้ง Church of Satan และ Dr. LaVey ก็ให้ชื่อมันว่า Manson หมายถึง บาทหลวงของ Church of Satan ดังนั้นหน้าที่นี้ก็เลยยกให้ Manson ไปโดยปริยาย ดูเหมือนว่าปัจจุบันนี้ Reverend Manson คือชื่อที่เป็นที่น่าปิติยินดีสำหรับ Manson ( นามของนักบวช ) ทำให้ คนออกมาต่อต้านมากมายเมื่อ Marilyn Manson แสดงภาพยนต์เรื่อง King Shot เป็น Pope ในปี 2007

Dead Marilyn Manson, Drawing by Sw Eden

ระหว่างการ Tour กับวงดนตรีอื่น มือกลองที่ชื่อ Sara Lee Lucas ได้ถูกให้ออกจากวง ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างเขาก็ Manson นั้นได้เกิดดิ่งลงเหว ถึงขั้นนรก ในระหว่างการ Tour ครั้งนี้ ทำให้ Manson โทรศัพท์ไปหามือกลองฟลอริดา Frank Kenneth Wilson หรือ ปลาขิง Ginger Fish

Daisy Berkowitz ซึ่งเป็นสมาชิกรุ่นแรก ๆ ก็ต้องมาออกในปี 1996 Zim Zum ได้สมัครเข้าเป็นมือกีตาร์ของวง และสอบผ่าน 3 เพลงบังคับ หลังจากนั้น การบันทึกเสียง Mechanical Animal ก็ได้รับการยอมรับว่าเป็นครั้งที่ดีที่สุดตั้งแต่ตั้งวงมา ซึ่งมันทั้งมืดและหนักหน่วง เพราะเขาได้รับความสนใจอย่างมากจากสาธารณชนที่แลเห็นว่าเขาเสื่อมทราม เด็ก ๆ บางคน ได้ก่อคดีฆ่าตัวตาย ซึ่งคาดว่าเกิดจากเพลงของเขา ซึ่งมีชื่อว่า The Reflecting God

หลังจากที่ Zim Zum อยู่ในวงได้ 2 ปีเขาก็ได้กลับไปหาพระเจ้าอย่างเป็นทางการในวันที่ July 18th, 1998 แต่เขาก็ยังคงสามารถรักษามิตรภาพกับ Marilyn Manson ได้เป็นอย่างดี ZimZum รู้สึกว่ามันถึงเวลาแล้วที่เขาควรจะไปให้พ้นเสียที เขากล่าวว่าเขาและ Marilyn สามารถไปด้วยกันได้ดี John Lowery หรือ John 5 ซึ่งเป็นมือกีตาร์จาก David Lee Roths หรือที่เรียกว่า DLR Band ได้มาแทนเขา ก่อนหน้านี้ นาย John 5 ยังเป็นสมาชิกหนึ่งในสมาชิก 2 คนของวง Rob Halfords ที่จริงแล้ว John 5 ได้สมัครเป็นมือกีตาร์ในช่วงเวลาเดียวกับ Zim Zum จากการติดประกาศของวง แต่ Zim Zum มาสมัครก่อน ดังนั้น Marilyn Manson เลยให้สัญญาว่าจะให้เขาเล่นหลังจาก Zim Zum ไป

Zim Zum Panic! at the Disco nono Court, Drawing by Sw Eden

กล่าวโดยสรุปแล้ว หลังจากที่ Zim Zum ออกจากวงเขาก็ได้ออก CD ที่ 4 คือ Mechanical Animals ซึ่งแตกต่างโดยสิ้นเชิงกับแนวเพลงเดิมของเขา เพราะรู้สึกว่าเขาจะมีความสุขมากกว่าเดิม ปัจจุบันนี้ Zim Zum ทำวงของเขาเอง และยังรักษาเอกลักษณ์กีตาร์สุดเทห์ ในวง THE POP CULTURE SUICIDES

เรื่องที่เกิดในวง Marilyn Manson มักจะเป็นเช่นนี้ คือ Daisy Berkowitz แต่งเพลง แล้วตัวเองก็ออกจากวง ทำให้คนที่เล่นเพลงของ Daisy ใน Live กลายเป็น Zim Zum และเมื่อ Zim Zum แต่งเพลงใน Mechanical Animal เขาก็ออกจากวง ทำให้ John 5 ต้องเล่นเพลงที่ Zim Zum แต่ง

Marilyn Manson BBC News, Drawing by Sw Eden

Marilyn Manson ต้องติดอยู่กับคดีที่ต้องขึ้นศาลเป็นเวลานาน หลังจาก release Mechanical Animals เพียง 2 สัปดาห์ หลังจากเสร็จสิ้นคดีที่ศาล Daisy Berkowitz กำลังฟ้องร้องเรียกค่าเสียหายจากวง เพราะว่าเขาคิดว่าเขาได้สูญเสีย credit กับเหตุการณ์ที่เกิดขึ้น ดูเหมือนความสัมพันธ์ทั้งสองจะแตกหัก แต่หลังจากนั้น ไม่ถึง 5 ปี เขาก็จับมือกัน รวบรวมเพลงจาก Spooky Kids ที่เป็นซิงเกิล มาออกใหม่ Daisy ยังเป็นคนให้สัมภาษณ์ในการทำประวัติ Video ของ Marilyn Manson อีกด้วย เขาพูดถึงชีวิตวัยรุ่นของพวกเขาใน Florida ที่ Marilyn Manson พยายามชักชวนให้เขา อ่าน Bible

Money Rumor of Marilyn Manson and Daisy Berkowitz, Drawing by Sw Eden

2002 ปลายปี Tim Skold จาก MDFMK หรือกลับด้วนคือ KMFDM มาเป็น producer วิดีโอ Tainted love และแทน Twiggy และ หลังจากนั้น John 5 ได้ออกจากวง แทนด้วย Mark Chaussee จาก Danzig

2006 Manson จะออกงานใหม่ปลายปี และ remix This is Halloween ให้ภาพยนต์ renew Nightmare before Christmas ของ Tim Burton ซึ่งมีเพื่อน ๆ ของ Marilyn Manson ทำ remix เพลงเหล่านั้นด้วย แต่ถึงอย่างไร เพลงหลักก็คือ This is Halloween วง Panic! at the Disco ก็ทำเพลงนี้ แต่ไม่ดีเท่า Marilyn Manson นอกจากนี้ยังมี Sally’s Song โดย Fiona Apple ที่คนลือกันว่าเป็นแฟนของ มาลิลิน แมนสัน ด้วย และวงสุด Hot อย่าง Fall Out Boy ทำเพลง What’s This

Tim Skold Angry, Drawing by Sw Eden

2007 Marilyn Manson ออกอลบัม Drink Me Eat Me แต่ไม่ประสพน์ความสำเร็จเท่า The Golden Age Of Grotesque Twiggy Ramirez กลับมาอีกครั้งในปีเดียวกัน เขาบอกว่า ยิ่งอยู่ห่างจาก Manson เท่าไร ก็ทำให้เขาคิดถึงมากขึ้น Tim Skold ได้กลับไปอยู่วงเดิม คือ KMFDM ในปี 2009

ปี 2008 Marilyn Manson พบกับปัญหาอีกครั้งเมื่อ Pogo หรือ Madonna Wayne Gacy ออกจากวง และฟ้องเขาว่าวักลอบเงินวง เช่น ซื้อชุดเมียฮิตเลอร์ ให้แก่ Dita และจ่ายเงิน 12 ล้านเหรียญให้แก่ Evan Rachel Wood ใน Heart-Shaped Glasses Video และยังซื้อกระดูกเด็กจีนเป็น collection ของตัวเอง

2009 ต้นปี อลบัม The High End of Low ออกมาโดยความช่วยเหลือส่วนใหญ่เป็นของ Twiggy Ramirez หรือ Jeordie White แม้เขาจะเสียเวลามากกับวง Marilyn Manson เขาก็ยังไม่ทิ้งวง Goon Moon ที่เขาอยู่หลังจาก NIN (Nine Inch Nails) และ A Perfect Circle ระหว่างที่ห่างไกลจาก Manson นั่นเอง แฟนเพลงคาดหวังจะได้ฟัง Anti-Christ style อีก แต่ Twiggy บอกว่าเมื่อก่อนเขายังเด็ก เขาเลยทำมัน

The Spooky Kids, Drawing by Sw Eden

Yesterday, a dear family friend went home to be with Jesus.  Val was very special to us – oftentimes the way to a parent’s heart is thru their children and “Miss Val” loved children, she loved our children, both Mikey and Morgan had her in Sunday School.  She was a source of light and joy to all who knew her.

I was thankful that last night in our family reading and study of the book of John, we were up to John 5.  Jesus is again tangling with the Jewish Pharisees who are more worried about the tiny infractions than keeping the whole spirit and purpose of the Law.  Jesus finally just lays it down for them and essentially says…”Guys, seriously, look…(John 5:23b-24)

Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

There are some really important things in those verses.  First of all, Jesus inextricably links himself with the Father. If you were to back up farther in verses 19-23 you’d see he expands further on this. Jesus is from the Father, he really can’t say it any more clearly than that.  I’m it guys.  Hello?  Do you not get it yet?  Your whole religious lives are set up to honor God but you are failing to see that God sent me, and so you really aren’t honoring him then, are you?

Second, he explains the way of salvation and guaranteed eternal life. 

“Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life.”

If anyone hears what Jesus is saying, and you believe he is from the Father – he “has” eternal life.  Not “will have” eternal life. Not “could have” eternal life if you keep all the crazy laws about not carrying your mat on the Sabbath…”has”.  As in already has it.  Already obtained. A present reality.  This means there is no gap in our life if we understand who Jesus was and believe.  This means that moment Miss Val closed her eyes and breathed her last breath here on Earth, she opened her eyes in the presence of Jesus.  Think about that for a minute.

Third, those who believe Jesus “will not come into judgement.”  Why?  Well, a clue is back in verse 22 – “the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.” If we understand who Jesus was where then was this judgement of our sins? On the cross.  That’s where Jesus, the Son, paid for all the sins of the “whole world” (1 John 1:22).  We all have a choice, God has offered his Son Jesus for the payment of the sins of the whole world – however if we do not come to understand that, we cannot then have our sins judged on the cross – our sins are still ‘on us.’ (John 3:36).   When Jesus returns, he will be returning to judge the sins of those who have not come to faith in Him, and that is place no one wants to be. Is God trying to get your attention? Is he stirring up your heart to know more about this?  Is he beginning to open your eyes so that you understand this?

Fourth, if you believe, if God has opened your eyes and given you understanding of this message – look at the end of v24- ”has passed from death to life.”  Now it’s past tense, like ’already happened.’  “Passed.” Our names are already written in the book of life, our sins are judged on the cross and we have assurance of eternal life.

Colossians 1:13-14 helps us out here too — (notice the use of more past tense!)

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

  As I was talking and praying with Val’s husband on the phone last night, a part of us was rejoicing in the assurance of knowing that Val is already with the Father, already praising Jesus – she is receiving the benefits now of these wonderful words on John, and the rock solid promises that will get their family thru these coming days and years.

We love you, Val.  Can’t wait to worship with you again.

but I just can’t resist. (This relates to the picture below :] )

I have two things to say about tonight’s show (Rob Zombie at the Dodge Theatre, October 30, 2009, with Shawn):

I have seen him play twice now and it’s just mesmerizing.

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXoXSyU1M-c

My favorite song tonight, except maybe Scum of the Earth, Sick Bubblegum, and American Witch.
Mr. Zombie has such a stage presence, and the stage itself is glittering and sometimes literally aflame, with never a lack of something to watch flashing behind the musicians. The whole band was also very friendly and encouraging to the large crowd.

Also, the Nekromantix played. They are all extremely talented and fun musicians and I am deeply embarrassed for the intoxicated gentleman sitting a few rows behind us who was rudely booing them.

However, my ears are still ringing and I am desperately behind on, oh, everything.
So to sleep!

I always look forward to Rob Bell’s session when he is at Catalyst.   Rob is the pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, MI. but is probably better known for the “Nooma” series of videos he has produced.  He is also a popular author and Conference speaker.  

He began his session by telling about a conversation he had recently had with a young  pastor who said he wanted to quit. Rob asked him to draw a pie chart of what he does every week.  He had been a pastor for a year and wanted to quit every day.  Then Rob said, “So I asked if he practiced Sabbath.” and there was total silence.  At this point I knew that my lifestyle was going to be challenged!

The Sabbath rest is one of those concepts and truths that I intellectually agree with, but which is so counter-cultural that I do not practice it with any consistency. I am just too achievement oriented to take the time for silence.  But let’s get back to Rob Bell. 

He next tackled the prime directive of church growth: Bigger is better.  He reminded us of  what happened to Jesus in John 6 – “…from this time on many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him…”

Jesus laid down his expectation and they didn’t think they could fulfill them so the crowd thinned.  What would Jesus say to modern church growth experts that say if you do A then B then C, then there will be growth and numbers? Sometimes the crowd thins, and people leave, even ones who are close to you.

Rob hammered his point home by tell the story recorded in Luke 21.  Jesus saw the rich giving large gifts and a poor widow giving a small gift yet even though the rich had given more money Jesus said that the poor widow had given more than all of them.  The poor widow gave “more” out of her poverty than the “more” that the rich gave out of their prosperity.  More is not always more.  What we naturally think is an important measurement may not be how God measures things.

Rob continued his assault on the status quo by appealing to John 5:19, where Jesus says, “the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing.”  His work comes from a grounded, centered, calm place where He only has a few things to do, and He sets out to do it.  He is not distracted.  He is not stressed.  There is a difference between something that is hard and difficult and something that is a burden.  Rob’s point: God will not give you a burden you can’t carry.

Rob pointed out that of the ten commandments in Exodus 20, the first 9 are external and measurable,  but the last commandment about coveting is not externally observable.  Rob believes that the “tenth” is sort of  a reward for following the first 9 rules: if we do then we won’t have a problem with the 10th rule because we won’t want anyone else’s life.  Then he went for the jugular by applying this to ministry! 

Rob asked “Have you had a deep dissatisfaction with what you’ve done?  Are you carrying this burden for this thing you’re building for God?  Have you stressed about the size of your church or organization?  Do you carry the burden of feeling like you have not accomplished enough for God?”   Then came the application: God wants to set you free from that.  Jesus wants you to simply enjoy the place that you are at and the work that is in front of you.  At this point I was squirming in my seat but there were more questions to come.

“Is there any way in your ministry, that you have neglected to take care of yourself?”  Rob reminded us that we are called by Jesus to “love your neighbor as yourself.”   Rob’s point: We need to take care of ourselves so that we can be energized.  At this point Rob asked the pointed question he had asked the pastor in his opening story “Have you been observing a sabbath?  Which day of the week are you busy doing nothing?  Which day of the week have you set aside to feed your own soul so on the other six you have enough food to share with others?  Which day of the week can you not be reached by phone or email?”  I was sweating but Rob was finished!

“Does your spouse get your very best, or does your spouse get what is left over from the church? Do your kids get your very best, or do they get the scraps?” Ouch!  (I bet there wasn’t a pastor or any chuch leader at Catalyst that didn’t feel like they had been punched in the gut) We all know it but Rob hammered it home - our children pick up on what really matters to us without us saying a word. If it is not going well at home, it will not go well at church.

Rob ended by inviting us into the peaceful, calm place in the center of Jesus’ love.  Jesus invites us to simply enjoy the place that we are at and the work that is in front of us.  His love isn’t based on accomplishment.

May God make me believe that to the core of my soul!

Great news! I’ve busted into the New Testament! It is so sweet to be reading the NT having read the entire OT…to actually SEE the prophecies come to life in Jesus…to see how much of the OT is quoted in the NT. Amazing.

I’m in John 5 and I came across verses 23-24 and there is so much in them — amazing stuff.

24Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25″Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

There are some really sweet promises and assurances in here:

• “whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me HAS eternal life” — as in it is IMMEDIATE.  Think about it…our earthly bodies will pass away, but that verse is assuring us that we already have eternal life now…an assurance that we will be immediately in the presence of Jesus upon these old tentative bodies finally calling it quits – ASSURANCE.
• “He does not come into judgment” — If we believe…we will not face judgment for our sins – why not?  Because Jesus already did.  He took all our sins on the cross and paid the penalty for our sins, there is nothing left to be judged if we believe in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.  — we are fully JUSTIFIED
• “has passed from death to life” – in case you didn’t get it the first time…the work is done, we have eternal life, starting now.  “has passed”  — as in already happened! More ASSURANCE!
• “an hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live” — the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation – in our natural state we are ’spiritually dead’  and when we hear the words and work of Jesus, the Spirit opens our hearts to the message and we believe – we LIVE, we are REGENERATED!  New life.  And just to confirm, Jesus himself indicates that he is the one who brings life “…is NOW here”

That’s a nice way to start a Thursday morning, eh?

-M

I learned recently to my dismay that a longtime donor will not give any money to the Task Force during the next fiscal year. Not only was this donor an old friend but also a substantial contributor. The CEO of this corporation frequently expressed pleasure with the work of the Task Force at the Peachtree-Pine shelter. The only word that I received is that a committee decision not to renew funding was based on the fact that the Task Force is “not stable enough.” I could have told these folks that the Task Force has never been and never will be “stable enough.” The heel that presses our neck would never permit financial stability. I ponder “Not Stable Enough.”

Before venturing a guess as to what it means, I want to say a word about giving money. People have the freedom to give or not to give; that is not the question. The right NOT to give is the same for groups: foundations, garden clubs, cathedrals, corporations, small businesses, churches, cathouses; synagogues, mosques or strip clubs.

For instance, I would never give a bean to the Atlanta United Way. My focus is poor people, and I know United Way employs Debi Starnes whose $45,000 salary (every six months) is funneled from Central Atlanta Progress to her bank account. Oh yes, a hotel pays $5,000 of that total, but the Czar under oath couldn’t remember which one. Debi Starnes hurts poor people; she takes water from them when they are thirsty; she orders Rachet Rob “I’ll turn your water off” Hunter to keep them out of the bathroom when they need to go potty; she refuses to let them bath, and then calls them “abysmal.” So, I don’t have to help CAP pay Starnes to torture homeless people; CAP’s millions can do that. I prefer not to join Starnes or CAP or Ratchet Rob “I’ll turn your water off” Hunter or David “Great news” Wardell or the loon at Georgia State who induced Wardell’s ejaculation or A. J. “We’re all kind of mystified” Robinson or Richard “We’re in!” Orr or Rufus “Squirt em with my robot” Terrell by giving money to United Way. The choice is mine.

“Not Stable Enough” carries a fruit basket of possibilities. Since Debi, like Georgia, is always on our mind, we have to ask does she have a plant in that committee the same as she does at the Peachtree-Pine Shelter? Do her tentacles reach as far as the bowels of corporations? Is her TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE all pervasive? “Not stable enough” might mean from a committees’ standpoint that politically the Task Force is just a little too hot to handle just now. Business may suffer if we give what we have given for so long. “Not stable enough” might mean I don’t want to question the wisdom of our leaders at CAP. And on and on we could go from STATUS QUO safety to Charles Dickens’ “Voice of Society” to those stinking homeless people are just disgusting anyway. Whatever the phrase might mean to this committee, the generous funding that came for years is cut off. But many generous and loving people from that corporation still volunteer with love and care for the people at Peachtree-Pine.

To speak of a spiritual standard in a corporate committee might be a bit of a stretch. I don’t know, though. I know many folks in the corporate community who see their businesses as ministries, helping others. I sincerely agree. I know the billionaire Chic fila folks close on Sundays in order to keep the Sabbath holy (which by the way is Saturday). Surely there are myriads of corporate people who are spiritually minded folks.

Therefore to ask our corporate committee to put a spiritual “test” on their decision to cut funds that sustain the poor might not be too far fetched. A “spiritual” standard for some would be “What would Jesus do?” On the stability of the Task Force or the stability of any one or anything in need of help, what did Jesus do? What do the writers of Scripture say that Jesus did?

The first miracle attributed to Jesus in the New Testament took place at a wedding feast. The wedding at Cana. Oops! They ran out of wine! Jesus’ mother told her son that the host is out of wine, and she told him in a way that strongly implied that she wanted him to help with the problem. What did he do? Did he call in the disciples to check to see who failed to plan properly? How in the world could someone have been so unstable as to run out of wine. Did he say, “You know, this wealthy host needs to learn a lesson. I think he should have to do without anymore wine.” Did he say the host is simply “Not stable enough.” Of course not. Jesus called for pots of water and then made 150 gallons of wine. The guests asked why did the host wait until the end of the party to serve his best wine. Two things happened. One, there was a need. Two, Jesus was asked to help. “Not stable enough” did not cross his mind.

What was Jesus’ response to the lame man in John 5 who for 38 years had waited to be healed at the pool of Bethesda? Tradition held that the first person to reach the pool after it was disturbed was healed of his sickness. This poor man was unstable and had lost the race for 38 years. Jesus saw him and knew the problem. What did Jesus do? Did he call the committee to study the situation? Did he tell the man he wanted to help him, but he appears to be clearly “Not stable enough”? Did Jesus say now you work on moving just a bit quicker and you apply next year and we’ll talk. None of the above. Jesus asked the man lame for 38 years if he wanted to be well. Note please that he explained to Jesus that he was not quick enough to get to the pool before someone else beat him to the pool every single time. Jesus did not say that you are “not stable enough.” He did say I heal you; get up and walk. Instantly, with no committee input the man walked away healed.

How did Jesus respond to the young woman dragged before him in the temple (John 8. 1-11). Men in the community had caught her redhanded with a man. No man was dragged in with her, only the “woman” whom some Bible scholars believe may have been a teen. Jesus listens to the blood thirsty mob of men holding stones in their hands. The mob quotes the Law of Moses which says anyone caught in the act is to be stoned to death. The men asked Jesus, hoping to trap him, “What do you say?” To the question Jesus answered nothing but bent down to write on the ground with his finger. When the mob continued asking he stood up and said to them, “If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” The oldest old boy there was the first to drop his rock; all the others followed him. The only two left were Jesus and the woman. Jesus did not address her instability. He did not reject her because she proved “Not stable enough.” He said, Where are your accusers? He asked her did not one of them condemn you? She answered, No, Sir. He said I don’t either; you go and sin no more.

We could go on and on throughout the New Testament. When people needed help Jesus responded with compassion. The man with the withered hand was not sent to therapy to get a little more stable. When Lazarus was raised from the dead he was not rejected because he wasn’t moving very well. Perhaps our decision on whether to help should be quided by the need and not by committee buyoff.

James Wilson Beaty, PhD
Jeremiah 22.16

Ozzy Osbourne Tribute

Sunset Strip Music Festival

House Of Blues Sunset

W. Hollywood, CA

September 10, 2009

It’s been 40 years…can you believe it?  Ozzy has been inspiring us musically for 40 years now.  To help celebrate this, the Hollywood rock community joined together and kicked off the 2^nd Annual Sunset Strip Music Festival with a special tribute honoring rock legend, Ozzy Osbourne.

The SSMF event honors icons who have made an impact on the legacy of The Sunset Strip. On Ozzy Osbourne’s first U.S. tour with Black Sabbath in 1970, the band performed a five-night stand at the legendary Whisky A Go-Go.

Ozzy’s well deserved tribute included special guest speakers Slash of Guns N’ Roses, actor Billy Bob Thornton, Henry Rollins of Black Flag, Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee, and comedian Jim Norton.

The evening commenced with an all star jam / tribute that included musicians John 5, Steve Stevens, Billy Morrison, Frank Perez, Steve Jones, Kenny Arnoff, Chris Chaney, Donovan Leitch, Mark McGrath and Corey Taylor.

The SSMF culminated into a huge live show that blocked the streets of the Sunset Strip that had Ozzy as the headliner and Korn as direct support.  Sure, the traffic and parking was nuts, but it was mind-blowing to see the Sunset Strip shut down…all in the name of rock!

I will be posting some live shots of Ozzy and Korn from the big event in the next few days.

Stay tuned…

]]> http://dietrichthrall.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/rob-zombie-hellbilly-deluxe-2-u-s-tour-dates/ Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:39:33 +0000 dietrichthrall http://dietrichthrall.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/rob-zombie-hellbilly-deluxe-2-u-s-tour-dates/

ROB ZOMBIE

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Slash con su propio modelo Les Paul Gibson

Tras la muerte del luthier Les Paul, quien inmortalizó la guitarra que lleva su mismo nombre para la marca Gibson, comenzaron las condolencias de grandes guitarristas como Slash o Ace Frehley, a través de mensajes por twitter.

Slash, guitarrista de Velvet Revolver y ex liro de Guns N’ Roses  habló de Les Paul: “ Murió mi  amigo y mentor Les Paul. Murió hoy a los 94 años de edad, él fue uno de los más grandes seres humanos que yo haya conocido, descanse en paz Les”.

Ace Frehley, ex guitarrista líder de Kiss, quien siempre se la ha identificado con una Les Paul humeante también recordó al luthier: “Perdimos a un guitarrista innovador y una leyenda actual. Les Paul todos te extrañaremos”.

John 5, guitarrista de Rob Zombie también habló de la muerte de Les: “Tristes noticias han pasado con la muerte de mi amigo Les Paul”.

Tom Morello también twitteó en su blog:  “Gracias Les Paul por los instrumentos que cambiaron el curso de la música. Si tu rockeas o has estado rockeando, todo ha sido gracias a Les Paul”.

Joe Satriani, considerado uno de los mejores guitarristas del rock, aunque no se le identifica tocando la guitarra Les Paul, mandó un breve mensaje en honor al luthier: “Les Paul, la velocidad de Dios. RIP”.

Tonight I have the opportunity to preach at an ecumenical evening service outdoors in the park. It’s going to be really hot, so I’m not planning to talk for too long. What follows is the outline of my talk. Before you go any further, click this link and read John 5:1-17 so you’ll be familiar with the passage from the Gospel.

* * *

The question isn’t designed to be a stumper: “Do you want to be made well?” So says Jesus to the man, who has been sitting by the pool of Bethzatha for 38 years. 38 years! The locals probably stop seeing him after six months. After a year, he probably melts into the architecture.  After ten, the stones behind his back probably retain their original color, while the rest fade in the sunlight. 20 years. Each day is the same, and he never makes it into the pool. 30 years. Each day is the same, but he no longer even attempts to crawl to the water. 38 years. Each day is the same, and his excuse as to why he is still sitting here is his response to anything anybody says to him.

“Do you want to be made well?” The obvious answer is “YES! Of course, I want to be made well.” But, perhaps the question might stump the man more easily than I originally thought. If he’s made well, he’ll have to stand up and leave the pool and find something new to do. He’ll have to negotiate a place that has no doubt changed in the last 38 years. He’ll have to begin a new life full of new possibilities and chances and hopes and dangers. If he’s made well, his paralysis will be healed, but the paralyzing familiarity of the routine will also need a cure.

No wonder he fails to answer Jesus’ question: “Do you want to be made well?” Yes is the correct answer, but this paralyzing familiarity makes No look more and more attractive. The man answers neither Yes nor No. Instead, he replies with what sounds like a well-rehearsed speech: “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.” If you read the previous chapter of John, you’d notice that Jesus doesn’t need a bucket to offer living water. So, he sure doesn’t need a pool now. Jesus is the gift of God, and the man at the pool of Bethzatha has encountered so much more than he bargained for.

Jesus asks the question, and the man deflects it. Jesus doesn’t ask it again. Nor does he say anything like: “You are healed!” or “Be healed!” or “You have been made well!” No. Jesus is not interested simply in giving health to the man. Now, giving him health seems like a pretty good reason to me. Jesus knows better. Saying “You are healed” leaves the man the opportunity to remain paralyzed by familiarity, to stay seated with his back to the bright stones and melted into the architecture. But Jesus doesn’t give the man this option.

Instead, Jesus commands the man to act: “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” Somewhere between this command and the man obeying it, Jesus heals him. But the healing is secondary to Jesus’ desire to change the man’s situation. Jesus, the gift of God, gives him new life by denying him the option to remain in his current condition. By saying, “Stand up, take your mat and walk,” Jesus confronts the man with the terrifying new possibility: Believe what I am saying to you, obey my commands, and you will discover abilities that 38 years of monotony have made inaccessible to you. I am the gift of God, and I am here to bestow upon you the gifts of movement and change and renewal. I have healed you, but you won’t notice it until you get up.

While I am not physically disabled like the man at the pool of Bethzatha, I suffer all too often from the paralysis of familiarity. All too often, I mistake routine for life. All too often, I recite instead of pray. I mumble instead of proclaim. I talk instead of listen, afraid that if I were to listen, Christ might confront me and tell me to stand and take and walk. When did I become so complacent, I wonder? When did I melt into the architecture of my life, content to sit with the stones warming my back?

Every time I discover that I have fallen back into this complacency, this paralysis of familiarity, I wonder when I will be healed, when the waters will be stirred up and I can tip myself into the pool. Then I hear Christ calling out to me: Forget the pool. I healed you already. You’ll realize it if you stand up, take your mat and walk.

Yesterdy, we looked at the encounter Jesus had with the lame man at the Pool of Bethesda.  The man had been there, knocked down, alone, and broken for 38 years, or to put it into perspective 13,870 days.  That’s a long time to suffer!  But then Jesus came.  (Don’t you love that sentence?)  Upon arriving at the scene, Jesus spoke two sentences and the man was made whole.

All of us have areas of our lives that have been knocked down and broken.  All of us have felt alone.  All of us have cried out for the “But then” moment with Jesus.  Wherever you find yourself today, know that Jesus has the ability to change your situation in the space of two sentences.  He is the kindest man you’ll ever know, and He changes everything when He enters the room.

If you have a need and would like someone to stand with you in prayer, drop me a line today at efcsweetwater@aol.com.  Let’s pray together for your “But then” encounter with Jesus.

Podcast

Follow the link to access this Sunday’s message “Healing at the Pool” from John Chapter 5.

Links

Want to see a picture of the Pool of Bethesda?  Archaeologists believe they have found it.  You can check it out by clicking HERE.

Our first Kid’s School of Worship was an over the top radical event.  Many thanks to Pastor Lolo and the 30+ volunteers who gave their time, talent, and sweat to put together such an amazing school for our children.   You can catch a play by play recap of the School of Worship on the Beauty of the Bible weblog.  Click here to check out Night 1, Night 2, and Night 3.

On the Radar

Our Baptism service venue has changed!  We will now meet at First Christian Church on Hailey Street this Wednesday, August 5^th, at 7 pm.  I hope you will come celebrate with us as our friends in Christ are baptized!  On a personal note, my heart is ecstatic as I look forward to baptizing my daughter, Brenna Grace, as my sister in the Lord this Wednesday!  You can contact me by email if you desire to be baptized this Wednesday.

The youth are leaving for Six Flags this Thursday, August 6^th!  We will meet at the church at 7:00 am and be back home around midnight, with a fun-packed day in between!

School is just around the corner, and Sweetwater Aglow will be hosting their annual Back To School Prayer Walk on Tuesday, August 11, 6:30 pm, at Lighthouse Assembly (on Newman Street).  Make plans to come pray for our schools!

Are you a new member at EFC?  Interested in joining and partnering with us?  We invite you to attend a Membership Dessert on Monday, August 17, at 7:00 pm.  Childcare will be available.

You  Heard it at EFC

Been trying to remember one of those awesome songs we sang?  Here is our worship list from yesterday, for those of you who just absolutely need a copy for yourself.  You can find them for purchase on itunes.com.

1. “Dancing Generation” by Matt Redmand
2. “I Have Found” by Kim Walker
3. “The More I Seek You” by Kari Jobe
4. “When I Think About The Lord” by Shane and Shane

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, we will continue our series “That’s My King!” from the book of John.

Like most people, I have various people that I really look up to. One of those people is a pretty well known Christian author. Recently on his blog, he wrote about a political speech he had heard. He pretty much bashed the politician and everything this person said in the speech as hard as possible. While I don’t like this politician at all, I was appalled at what was written about the speech. It was not uplifting, unifying, or anywhere close to being Christ-like. Yes, we should hold our politicians and leaders accountable, and, yes, Jesus did overturn tables in the Temple. But this post was not holding someone accountable–it was not overturning tables with a holy anger. It was purely a personal attack.

After reading the post, I was more than disappointed. How was that post helpful to anyone? How did it show Christ’s love? All I could think about is that article adding fuel to the fires of dissension. I’m not saying that you should never write or say anything that could potentially making someone angry. Jesus did that all the time. In fact, most of what He said made people angry. However, there is a difference between challenging people’s ideas or pointing out a wrong and slander.

This whole thing got me thinking about two things.

The first is how much we need Jesus. I strongly believe that that post was written in a moment of not communing with God. We all have those moments when we say or do something really stupid all because our hearts turned away for a split second. For anyone who is actively seeking a relationship with Jesus, I think this is one of the ways that we fall into sin–we have that moment of not thinking, and Satan takes full advantage of the opportunity. It happens so fast that we don’t even realize what is going on until we hear the words coming out of our mouth, and even then we may not notice. Thankfully, our sins are forgiven, but I still think that God grieves in these moments.

The second thing that I am reminded of is how we need to be very aware of what we are saying, especially in public forums. What we say needs to be an extension of God’s love. Anything that is said or written will be seen by people who don’t know Jesus. If you say something really bad about someone, how does that show anyone how Christ transforms a life? We are supposed to be noticeably different in how we speak and act. If we are just like everyone else, if we openly say degrading things about people, it gives good reason for someone to believe that Christians are hypocrites and not any different than anyone else. If you are going to say that you are a Christian, everything you do needs to be done out of love for God and love for the people around you. Otherwise, you are just like the Pharisees.

Yes, we all have our disappointing moments (I know I have my fair share). Yes, we will probably be disappointed at people we respect when they have their moments. But let’s all agree to try harder, to work with Jesus and not against Him. No, none of us is perfect without Christ. But I have decided to no longer use that as an excuse for my actions, because the key to that previous statement is “without Christ.” I have been perfected through Christ’s resurrection, which means I can do ALL things through His power.

I think the key to living a perfect life comes down to two things. First of all, all of our sins have already been forgiven. So, technically, we have already been made perfect. Secondly, for the everyday struggles, I think the story of the man at the healing pool in John 5 is very helpful. Here, Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath and then called God His Father, which angered the Pharisees. In response, Jesus said in verse 19, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” If we always are looking towards God, then we will see what He is doing. If we only do what we see Him doing, then we will always be doing His will.

“That little bit of sadness in the mornings you spoke of? I think I know what that is. Perhaps you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing.”
the movie Unbreakable (2000)

Unbreakable gets lost in the recent spike in superhero movies: Spiderman, Batman, Ironman, Hancock, The Fantastic Four, Superman—even Laura Croft. Admittedly, part of the problem is that Unbreakable was released more than 8 years ago and was the follow-up to writer/director M. Night Shyamalan’s wildly acclaimed The Sixth Sense. If you haven’t seen Unbreakable, the movie focuses on David Dunn–a man who has never been sick, never been hurt, the only survivor of a horrific train wreck, and who can bench press a ton of weight. Even though all the signs are there, he never, not once, stops to wonder if he has been created to be more than a security guard. Instead, like the man by the pool at Bethesda, he is content to greet each day the same, allowing today to flow seamlessly and effortless into tomorrow (John 5:4ff). What we come to find out—what David does not know—is that David Dunn is a superhero cut from the same cloth as the ones mentioned above, yet he has never donned a cape, attempted a rescue, searched his heart, been touched with passion, or even tried to fly.

Have you stopped to wonder why these superhero movies are so successful? Really, the plot lines are fairly consistent, yet the lines at the box office aren’t getting any shorter. It could be that we sense a greater calling on our own lives; that we’re all struggling to find the superhero dwelling within and we allow ourselves—maybe even prefer—to be satisfied watching superhero-ness played out on the screen. Scripture can support this reaction to that “little bit of sadness”.

You are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6)

You are God’s “work of art,” created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10)

You’ve been given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)

Christ Himself is in you (Colossians 1:27)

You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

The truth is, yes, we are more than tainted by the fall and Original Sin. We cannot begin to fathom what was lost, but neither can we begin to fathom what we have to re-gain. And maybe the taint resulting from the events of Genesis 3 and the stain of sin—as true as this is—do not represent what is “truest” about us.

Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God delights in us with shouts of joy. God delights in us—even the messes we make. He is cheering for us. He has created each of us “fearfully” and “wonderfully”, but I wonder how many of us live as such. Our days represents God’s curriculum of life and every day brings with it another opportunity to find the superhero within.

1. "Sounds Of Impalement" – 4:16
2. "Heretic’s Fork" – 3:51
3. "Noisemaker’s Fife" – 5:23
4. "Pity Belt" – 1:36
5. "Cleansing The Soul" – 5:40
6. "The Judas Cradle" – 4:24
7. " Pear Of Anguish" – 1:01
8. "The Lead Sprinkler" – 5:35
9. "Scavenger’s Daughter" – 6:45
10. "Requiem" – 4:26

2008 – Requiem: Download

1. "First Victim" – 1:04
2. "The Werewolf of Westeria" – 8:39 (Featuring Joe Satriani)
3. "27 Needles" – 6:55
4. "Bella Kiss" – 1:30
5. "Black Widow of La Porte" – 7:25 (Featuring James Root)
6. "Welcome to the Jungle" – 4:28 (Guns N’ Roses cover)
7. "Harold Rollings Hymn" – 0:53
8. "Dead Art in Plainfield" – 8:01
9. "Young Thing" – 3:04 (Chet Atkins cover)
10. "The Washing Away of Wrong" – 8:43 (Featuring Eric Johnson)
11. "July 31st (The Last Stand)" – 4:10

2007 – The Devil Knows My Name: Download

1. "Damaged" – 3:04
2. "Soul of a Robot" – 3:34
3. "Gein with Envy" – 2:07
4. "Sin" – 4:08
5. "Behind the Nut Love" – 1:43
6. "Blues Balls" – 3:28
7. "Fiddler’s" – 3:12
8. "Gods and Monsters" – 4:10
9. "2 Die 4" – 4:06
10. "Death Valley" – 3:57
11. "Perineum" – 5:07
12. "Dénouement" – 4:17

2005 – Songs For Sanity: Download

1. "Needles CA" – 3:22
2. "Feisty Cadavers" – 4:12
3. "Pulling Strings" – 3:45
4. "Sugar Foot Rag" – 3:04
5. "Dead Man’s Dream" – 3:29
6. "Sweet Georgia Brown" – 2:43
7. "Flatlines, Thin Lines" – 3:35
8. "Liberty" – 2:23
9. "Vertigo" – 3:47
10. "18969 Ventura Blvd" – 2:37
11. "Zugg Island Convict" – 3:21
12. "Salt Creek" – 2:51
13. "Goodnight" – 3:14

2004 – Vertigo: Download

Depois de muitos boatos,  agora foi confirmado por Ozzy Osbourne, a saída do guitarrista Zakk Wylde, o motivo seria que além do música ter sua própria banda, o Black Label Society, as atuais músicas de Ozzy estavam soando demais com a banda do guitarrista.

Ozzy também revelou que  testou o guitarrista John 5, ex-Marilyn Manson, mas  percebeu que a chance poderia ser melhor utilizada, e não foi por culpa do próprio cantor, deixando no ar a possibilidade do guitarrista ocupar o cargo.

O novo disco de Ozzy ainda não tem data para ser lançado e as gravações estão correndo devagar, algumas delas foram feitas pelo Zakk, mas Ozzy já disse que não pensa usar essas gravações.

Review:

John 5, famoso por ter sido guitarrista do Marilyn Manson. Porém pra ser sincero, lá ele não mostrava nem 20% da capacidade que tinha, se mostrasse com certeza já seria muito mais conhecido.

Em seu terceiro álbum de estúdio, talvez o mais famoso, John 5 mostra todo seu virtuosismo quando o assunto é música, seja ela country (ex: “27 Needles”), um rock bem pesado (ex: “Black Widow Of La Porte”).

Curiosidades que eu sei:
- O cd recebeu esse nome não porque o John é do capiroto, mas sim porque John (segundo ele mesmo) tem a pior vida pessoal do mundo, e não consegue manter um relacionamente, e aí ele diz que tem pacto com o demônio. Daí que vem o nome (:
- Esse cd tem participações especiais do Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson e James Root
- John 5 começou a ter interesse em se tornar guitarrista profissional graças a música “Welcome To The Jungle” dos Guns n’ Roses, por isso o cover.
—————————————————————-
Curiosidades do Wikipedia:
- “O nome “The Werewolf of Westeria” era o nickname do assassino Albert Fish.
- “27 Needles” é uma referencia a Albert Fish também, num raio-x feito a Albert Fish foram encontradas 27 agulhas de tamanhos variados, enfiados na sua zona pelvica.
- “Black Widow of La Porte” é uma referencia à assassina Belle Gunness.
- “Harold Rollings Hymn” é uma edição editada da musica que Danny Rollings, um assassino cantou antes de ser executado.
- “Dead Art In Plainfield” é uma referencia ao assassino Ed Gein, que trabalhou na área de Plainfield
- “July 31st (The Last Stand)” é uma referencia à ultima vitima de David Berkowitz, que foi morta a 31 de Julho. Também esta é a data de nascimento de John 5.

Baixem o cd e aproveitem-no.

Faixas:

1- First Victim
2- The Werewolf Of Westeria
3- 27 Needles
4- Bella Kiss
5- Black Widow Of La Porte
6- Welcome To The Jungle
7- Harold Rollings Hymn
8- Dead Art In The Painfield
9- Young Thing
10- The Washing Away Of Wrong
11- July 31st (The Last Stand)

Faixas recomendadas: “Black Widow Of La Porte”, “27 Needles”, “Welcome To The Jungle”, “The Washing Away Of Wrong”

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