Monthly Archives: November 2016

SIN CITY & 2 Legends

by in Arts and Entertainment, Dreams, Personal Development | Leave a comment

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Rick Wakeman, Ace Andres, Trevor Rabin and Jon Anderson

 

I don’t know how to keep this epic Odyssey short because it really consists of various people and getting to meet 2 Heroes and 2 cents worth of advice on American Airlines.

I’ve flown 200,000 + miles on United Airlines.(In one year) I’m no stranger to air travel.  I’ve flown from LAX to Atlanta and back on American Airlines and wanted to kiss the ground each time I got off the plane.  For some reason, on my recent trip to Las Vegas (Sin City), I couldn’t just fly from Reno NV to Las Vegas NV.  (Like SF to LA or Seattle to Portland) NO!  I had to fly from Reno to Phoenix (2 hour layover) then to Sin City.  The return trip was in reverse. I have a new least favorite airport. (Atlanta being the first) But avoid McCarran International if at all possible.

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Viva Las Vegas

There are 3 things I’m annoyed by in airports. (not counting TSA)

Trains/shuttles.  If you need a tram or subway to get you to ground transportation or your gate, the airport is too damn big.
People movers aka flat escalators. If you need a moving track to stand on the airport is too damn big. (Only exception is O’Hare because of the PRETTY LIGHTS)

Last are gates that are a mile apart. In Phoenix, they have two long people Movers to get you from Terminal A to Terminal B.  (Note* don’t touch the handrail unless you’ve brought hand sanitizer with you (3.5 oz. of less)

This works for all destinations. If you have to use a Taxi (Über not withstanding) call the concierge at the hotel and ask what the meter reads from the airport to your hotel.  This way you don’t get “literally” taken for a ride. If the round trip Taxi fee is more than the price of a car rental for the whole time you’re there, rent the car. (Check to see if Hotel parking is free first)

 

Viva ARW

When you get older, you realize time is more valuable than money. (If you have enough money) yes, I know the word “enough” is ambiguous. Some say you can never have enough money. If you can pay your bills and not have to borrow money to do something, then I recommend reading King Solomon’s book, Ecclesiastes.  For you pagan hippies, it’s the book in the Bible the Byrds’ song Turn, Turn, Turn came from . *Hint; It’s in the old testament.

I Posted This on Facebook’s Todd Rundgren Radio on September 10th 2016. There are only three living Musicians that I would pay to see perform. Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman and Todd Rundgren. In a recent interview shortly after David Bowie’s death, Rick Wakeman talks about recording “Life on Mars”. He said he was really impressed by David’s key modulations.

I had just performed “A dream goes on forever” written by Todd Rundgren (18 chords?) live for the first time. So I asked Rick what his thoughts on “Todd’s” songwriting were.

Expecting to hear tremendous accolades, Rick replied: “Sorry, I do not have any Todd CDs”. Oh well. Most of my songwriting mentors put Todd at the top of their list of best song writers and producers.

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As you can see I not only met Rick Wakeman and Trevor Rabin but we posed like the Beatles from the “Meet the Beatles” album (back cover) All of us had fun pretending to be the Fab four.  John made the funniest comment of the night.  When I moved Jon Anderson from the middle of the group to the far right, I said: “OK, Jon you’re Ringo.  Trevor I need you to put your left outstretched hand on Jon’s right shoulder”.  As I moved Rick Wakeman (Who appears to be 10 feet tall and bullet proof) he gave me that look of “How dare you touch me”.  I must confess, I think a few drops of urine came out when he gave me the look.  Rick, however; was cordial when I said: “Rick, you’re Maca and I need you to hold your chin with your hand”.  Jon Anderson then said: “Well who do you get to be”? (Like little kids playing make believe)
I responded: “I’m going to be John Lennon. Wouldn’t you want to be John?”  Jon said: “Well of course”.  I think we all had fun and “Played” like little kids for just a few moments.

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Todd Rundgren

Now it’s time to meet Todd. Then who knows?

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Michio Kaku

Michio Kaku? The Theoretical Physicist?  He’s a modern day Einstein that believes in the possibility that we are not alone and the “Truth is Out There”.

Meeting Rick was like kissing the King’s Ring. Meeting Trevor was like meeting a long lost Twin. We had so much in common.  It was wonderful to see him on stage using the Slide I gave him that “I” used on my recording of “Sleepwalk”.  To me, they were just performers like myself only much more experienced and polished.

coveyDr. Stephen R. Covey

Meeting Trevor and Rick wasn’t the spiritual moment I talked about when I wrote the article “Meeting Stephen Covey”. Perhaps it’s because Stephen changed my life and I owe my adult core values and character to the late Dr.Covey. Rick Wakeman and Trevor Rabin are fellow musicians that I greatly admire. They didn’t change me. It was an honor to meet them. Dr. Covey was a blessing.

If I ever have to go to Sin City again, it will be too soon and I will have to think about it twice.

 

 

 

Believing in God Part 5

by in Spiritual Relilgion | Leave a comment

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THE 10 COMMANDMENTS

1.“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.

This part sounds easy but since it is the first if must be the most important.  Believe me when I say it is the most important and the hardest to adhere to.  The line “You shall have no other gods before me”.  What does that mean?  If you believe in only one true god how can I have other gods before the Creator?

Whatever consumes your focus in life can be your god.  Money is a huge god.  Facebook status (How many friends I have) can be your god.  ANGER can be your god.  Sex can be your god. ~ cut it out!

2.“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

To make sure we understand the first, we are not to build a “Carved Image”. Huh?  We are not supposed to create a Temple or a Sculpture that we worship.  Has anyone ever seen this before?

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3.“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Reverend (yuk) Wright?  GD America?  Naw, this man is what is referred to in the Bible as a false prophet. He’s more of a profit.  But taking God’s name, Taking Christ’s name, AND taking the name of the Holy Spirit in vain. (Using them uselessly) is wrong. Don’t do it.  It’s number 3 on the Top 10 list.  It is that important to our Creator.  It’s so important, you capitalize the pronoun when referring to Him.  So cut out your OMGs.  Don’t shout Oh god.  NO Jesus H ……., are you getting it?  Personally I think it triggers an Omnipresent God that sees all, hears all, and knows all.  When you take God’s name in vain, you cry wolf.  So when you pray for God’s help, after a day full of OMGs on-line, perhaps you should wonder why your prayer isn’t answered on YOUR time frame. Show some respect for the God that keeps you alive.

4.“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

I have trouble understanding this one.  Dogmatic organized religion got in and changed our calendar.  You can lay this one on the Catholics.  Constantine (the supposed first Christian emperor of Rome) Changed the Sabbath day from Saturday to Sunday.  Here we see politics at its lowest.  At the time Constantine converted, a popular competitive religion, (since Christians were being murdered) was “Sun worshipping”, thus the first day of the week was called “Sunday”.

In Mark 2:27  Jesus gave the Catholics a reason to change the Sabbath day. In Mark 2:27 Jesus says: “The Sabbath was made for man.  Man was not made for the Sabbath”.  I hate to say it, but the Catholics are known for manipulating the word of God.
In Romans 14:5 Paul wrote: “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind”.

There is NO scripture that changes the Sabbath from the 7th day to the 1st.   In the new Testament or new “Covenant”  The first day of the week, many reference the practices that were done on the 1st day of the week.  If you’ve read Genesis, God rested on the 7th day.  Today that is Saturday.  Ultimately, I say worship God everyday.  This is one of those Commandments that God says that he will know those who are keeping His covenant.

5.“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

This appears self explanatory.  As an adult who lost his mother at the age of 11 due to Alcoholism, and my father at the age of 20, I can only wonder life would have been like had I had the gift of parents who would have wanted the best for me as an adult.

6.“You shall not murder.

What you need to know about this commandment is that the translation is a word that specifically means “murder”  It is often read: “Thou shall not kill”.  This is the “Anti-war/Anti-death penalty” that is sold to try and give their agendas legitimacy.  It’s not.  It says: “Thou shall not MURDER”.

7.“You shall not commit adultery.

Adultery is defined as a married person having sex with a person they are NOT married to.  Although it is not a commandment, fornication is condemned in Revelation along with homosexuality and a number of other sex acts.  Premarital sex is not part of the definition (sex between two unmarried singles). It is considered fornication. (by definition.) However, Adultery is considered fornication.  Homosexuality is also considered fornication.

8.“You shall not steal.

This is self-explanatory. To take (another person’s property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.

9.“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Originally this literally means, you don’t perjure yourself against your neighbor or tell your neighbor you saw his wife with another guy, etc…   I’m looking at the last 3 words that say “Against your neighbor”.

On the other hand, remember, our God is a God of truth.  Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the light”.  Does this mean telling your kids that “Santa Clause brought their Christmas presents”.  Or that the tooth fairy left the money and took their tooth is a sin?  In short, yes.  If you practice white lies, then white, in time becomes grey.  Harmless white lies causes you to grow with the habit of believing some lying is OK.

10.  “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

This again in its own context is like the 7th & 9th Commandments.  If you study the parable of the good Samaritan, the question is asked: “Who then is my neighbor”?  The answer is whoever shows care or Agape love for you is your neighbor.  I will say that “Covet” and “Lust” is not the same as having a healthy appreciation for whatever it is you admire that your neighbor owns.

If my neighbor is married to a beautiful blond, and I go out and find a beautiful blond, that is not coveting.  If my neighbor has a Ferrari 328gt and I start a savings account for my Ferrari, that’s not coveting his Ferrari.  If I want HIS Ferrari, then YES it is coveting his property.  If I am lusting after his wife and can only have HIS wife (Like David and Bathsheba). Yes it is coveting.

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If I see Kate Upton on the cover of Sports Illustrated and am aroused, am I lusting for her?  I don’t think so.  I am appreciative of her appearance.  If Kate Upton is my neighbor and I see her sunbathing in her backyard and I go over to borrow a cup of sugar with a condom in my back pocket am I lusting?  Oh yes. Probably.  Only God knows your heart.

Intention becomes the definition.